25th Dec 2013

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

SAFAR 22, 1435 AH

www.kuwaittimes.net

Khorafi demands probe into ‘conspiracy’ tape MPs call for work stoppage during Friday prayers

By B Izzak and A Saleh

MANSOURA, Egypt: Egyptian men inspect destruction in this city north of Cairo following a powerful car bomb explosion yesterday. — AFP

Massive attack kills 15 at Egypt police HQ CAIRO: A suicide bomber detonated a car packed with explosives at a police compound in Egypt’s Nile Delta yesterday, killing 15 people, the interior ministry said, in one of the deadliest attacks since the army deposed President Mohamed Morsi in July. At least 12 policemen were among those killed in the overnight blast in the city of Mansoura, north of Cairo, and about 140 people were wounded, security officials said. The army-backed government vowed to fight “black terrorism”, saying the attack would not upset a political transition plan whose next step is a January referendum on a new constitution.

“We heard a loud noise and I found blood all over my body,” one wounded man told state television, speaking from a hospital bed with his head wrapped in bandages.

“We all ran downstairs to find our colleagues on the

ground in blood.” The attack prompted a cabinet statement declaring Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation, though officials did not directly accuse the group of staging the attack. The Brotherhood, which is already outlawed, condemned the bombing as “an attack on the unity of the Egyptian people”.

Later yesterday, hundreds of angry people in Mansoura stormed and torched buildings and shops they suspected to be owned by Brotherhood members, witnesses and state media said. Others attacked and torched an empty bus after earlier seeing one of its passengers flashing the four finger hand sign symbolising the killing of hundreds of Morsi supporters at a protest camp broken up by the police in August.

Continued on Page 13

Mideast unrest casts pall over Christmas KUWAIT/BETHLEHEM: Thousands celebrated Christmas in Bethlehem yesterday at a time when unrest across the Middle East threatens to drive even more Christians from the cradle of their faith. In Kuwait, Christians thronged the National Evangelical Church and the Holy Family Cathedral - representing the two biggest Christian denominations in Kuwait - which held back-to-back services in multiple languages late into the night. In his message during the traditional bonfire service, senior pastor Warren Reeve thanked the government of Kuwait for the religious freedom and toler-

ance in the state.

Pope Francis was to celebrate his first Christmas mass since becoming pontiff, as Christians from ancient communities in Syria flee its civil war and others struggle to rebuild after the devastating typhoon that struck the Philippines this year. In the West Bank town of Bethlehem, the historic site of Jesus’ birth, Jerusalem’s Latin patriarch Fuad Twal was to celebrate midnight mass attended by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and other dignitaries.

Continued on Page 13

KUWAIT: Christians attend Mass at a church in Kuwait City on Christmas Eve. — Photo by Joseph Shagra (See Page 3)

KUWAIT: Former National Assembly speaker Jassem AlKhorafi yesterday filed a complaint to the public attorney urging him to investigate allegations made against him in an alleged tape. Khorafi called for investigating certain Twitter accounts that claimed that the recording was a conversation between him and former prime minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad AlSabah, alleging that they plotted to destabilize the country.

A written statement released by Khorafi’s lawyer and his son Luay said that the tweeters claimed that the tape was in the possession of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahd AlSabah, a senior member of the ruling family and a former Cabinet minister, and that he was going to hand over the tape to the leadership. Sheikh Ahmad was forced to resign as a minister a few years ago when around a dozen pro-government MPs voted against him in the Assembly during a debate over a grilling filed against him. He was a minister for around a decade. The rumors reportedly mentioned other political figures as being part of the alleged conspiracy, naming former parliament deputy speaker Abdurrahman Al-Anjari, whose name was also mentioned in comments posted

by MP Safa Al-Hashem on Twitter.

Khorafi said that the tweeters claimed that the tape speaks about a conspiracy aimed at destabilizing the country and create changes in the leadership and in which other personalities will take part. The former speaker said the complaint is aimed at stopping a plot by some to sow discord between the leadership and

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honest and dedicated people so that the political scene will be vacant for them. Khorafi appealed to the public attorney to issue the necessary orders to obtain the alleged tape and listen to it in order to uncover the plot by enemies of Kuwait who aim at destabilizing the country. Users of social networks have been all atwitter about the alleged tape since the past week.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister HH Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak Al-Sabah yesterday conveyed the resignations of his ministers to HH the Amir but no decision was immediately taken amid reports that the new Cabinet is highly expected to be formed before Jan 7, the date for the next Assembly session. Assembly speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem meanwhile said MPs have agreed to hold additional parliamentary sessions to speed up the process of approving legislations delayed by grillings and the resignation of the ministers. Ghanem said MPs are prepared to meet daily in order to complete all the draft laws that have been approved by the Assembly panels, adding that the delay was not caused

by MPs but by events not in the hands of the Assembly.

The speaker said he hopes that the new Cabinet will be ready before the Jan 7 parliamentary session in order to start work.

Separately, five Islamist lawmakers yesterday proposed a law stipulating to ban work during Friday noon prayers. The MPs said that work should stop at least half an hour before the prayers until the prayers are over. Friday prayers normally take around 30-45 minutes. The lawmakers proposed that violators should be fined KD 1,000 and the offending shop closed for one month.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

LOCAL

Political activist shot at on Seventh Ring Road Police impersonators arrested KUWAIT: Investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest a suspect who shot at a Kuwaiti man’s car on the Seventh Ring Road on Monday. In his statements to police, citizen Mutlaq Al-Sanad said that an SUV approached his car and a man inside fired gunshots, with one hitting his car.

Police arrived to the scene shortly after the man made the emergency call, and the bullet was recovered from the backseat of his car. The man was identified by some news websites as a political activist.

Meanwhile, a lawyer filed a case at Yarmouk police station and indicated that a motorist deliberately hit his vehicle for unknown reasons.

The Kuwaiti man added the incident happened

the area. Further investigations are ongoing.

KD 13,000 scam Maidan Hawally police are looking into a case involving a woman who accused an alleged company owner of scam. In her statements to police, the woman, a Kuwaiti in her 40s, said that the suspect disappeared after she paid him KD 13,000 to buy an apartment in Egypt. She added that she realized she was scammed after traveling to Egypt and discovering that the apartment she thought she had bought was already owned and occupied. The suspect is being summoned for questioning.

Meanwhile, an Interior Ministry employee filed

KUWAIT: An Asian succumbed to injuries he sustained during a car accident at the intersection of industrial Ardhiya and Sabah Al-Nasser areas. The victim was trapped in the car, and Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh firemen tried to save him, but he died upon arrival at Farwaniya hospital.

— Photos by Hanan Al-Saadoun while he was driving with his family in the area.

Investigations are ongoing.

Work mishap A construction worker died in an accident in Sabah Al-Salem on Monday. Paramedics and police arrived to the scene shortly after the incident was reported, but found that the worker had already succumbed to his injuries.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the Egyptian man lost balance and fell to the ground while working on the second floor of a house in

a case with Sabah Al-Salem police in which he stated that KD 6,500 were stolen from his bank account. The Kuwaiti man said that he received a text message indicating that the money was withdrawn from his bank account, despite the fact that his ATM card was with him at the time.

Armed robbery Investigations are ongoing to arrest suspects accused of committing an armed robbery at an Abdali farm Sunday. The case was filed early morning after police were approached by a

Kuwaiti man who said that six people stole money from keepers at his farm at gunpoint. The man had gone to his farm only to find the three Asian workers tied to their beds. They later told him that six people tied them up and stole a total of KD 240 they had. They added that the suspects stormed the farm late at night and that one of them was holding an AK-47.

Kidnap and rape Jahra police are looking to reveal the mystery behind a case involving a woman who says that she was subjected to kidnap and rape, whereas investigators indicate that they have reasons to believe that there is more to the case than what she has told them. Police were able to find the woman Monday morning in a farm in the desert near Mutlaa Road following an emergency call in which the woman said that she was kidnapped from Salmiya the previous night and raped in a desert location. Police discovered that the woman was hungover at the time, suggesting that she was drunk at the time of the alleged kidnap. The woman said that she did not know the identity of her kidnapper, but police believe that she could be lying judging from a previous case in which she was subjected to beating and theft while drunk at a party held in the Jahra desert. Investigations are ongoing.

Impersonators held Jahra police arrested two men who mugged a pedestrian while pretending to be police detectives. The case was filed a couple of weeks before when a Pakistani man reported that two men stole KD 300 and his cell phone at gunpoint after they stopped him and identified themselves as police detectives. Following their arrest Monday, the two denied the accusations but later admitted when the victim identified them in a police lineup. They were taken to the authorities to face charges.

Attempted murder A search is on for a male suspect who faces attempted murder charges after leaving two police officers injured on Jamal Abdul Nasser Road. The incident happened Monday morning when the officers ordered the suspect to pull over after discovering he was wanted for criminal charges by checking his car’s information.

The suspect hit one of the officers’ car during the car chase, leaving the officer injured. The other officer stepped outside his vehicle to check on his comrade, at which point the bedoon (stateless) man reportedly ran him down and escaped.

The two policemen were hospitalized and a case was filed for investigations.

KUWAIT: President of Sadu House Sheikha Altaf Salem Al Ali Al-Sabah with Zain Kuwait’s Corporate Communications and Relations Department Manager Waleed Al-Khashti in a group photo.

Zain partners with Sadu House for fifth consecutive year KUWAIT: Zain, the leading telecommunications company in Kuwait, announced yesterday the renewal of its partnership with Sadu House for the fifth consecutive year. Zain’s partnership and support for Sadu House activities continues as a sign of the company’s corporate social responsibility and support for local organizations that strengthen treasured Kuwaiti traditions.

Zain’s ongoing partnership with Sadu House comes in line with its Corporate Social Responsibility strategy that support national organizations and projects which preserve the treasured and valued Kuwaiti traditions.

Zain considers private sector institutions an important part of society and thus considers such partnerships a vital move towards implementing and reinforcing its Corporate Social Responsibility strategy.

Waleed Al-Khashti, Zain Kuwait’s Corporate Communications and Relations

Manager said: “We congratulate every single member of the Sadu House institution for their dedicated efforts in managing and organizing activities that contribute to educating the youth on our much valued Kuwaiti traditions.”

“Zain always supports and caters to organizations and efforts that aim at preserving the Kuwaiti heritage and contribute to spreading it to the public and particularly within the youth. With such efforts, new generations will have a great chance at learning about their country’s traditions and values, which will deliver an added value to their and society’s well-being” Al-Khashti added.

As a leading telecommunications company, Zain will continue supporting similar initiatives and events that fall under its responsibility towards the society and its wellbeing as a Kuwaiti company.

Panel to examine heritage site KUWAIT: Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud AlSabah yesterday ordered formation of a panel to examine the ancient Sheikh Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Palace, one of Kuwait’s historic landmark sites.

The team will examine terms and specifications included in a contract with a company tasked with renovating the palace, also known as Diwan Khazaal, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Information yesterday.

The committee will also ensure that the

company chosen for the renovation work is qualified for maintaining relics.

It will comprise Chairman of the Kuwait Society of Engineers Iyad Al-Homoud, experienced architects, and Munir Al-Otaibi, the rapporteur of the panel of experts at the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters.

The statement added that the panel would also ensure that the company abides by safety regulations and precautions.The team will also investigate circumstances of recent collapse of an ancient wall that caused death of two workers. — KUNA

Kuwait hosts tourism workshop KUWAIT: Institutional work is key to implementing touristic plans on scientific basis, a senior Saudi official said during an economic event held recently in Kuwait.

Munther Al-Ansari, Director of the Tourism Information and Research Centre (MAS) in Saudi Arabia’s Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, made these statements during a workshop held in cooperation with the Leaders Group for Consultation Company inside the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “Tourism prices is an important indicator for improving information systems in this sector and make analysis based on which future policies can be put”, Al-Ansari said.

The workshop featured demonstrations in which Al-Ansari explained how the center obtains data that are used to draw future touristic policies in Saudi Arabia, such as daily and monthly surveys to determine the number of visitors that arrive to the kingdom through the airport, seaports and land border checkpoints.

KUWAIT: MAS Director Munther Al-Ansari (second from left) stands next to Leaders Group General Manager Nabila Al-Anjari in a group photo.

AL chief receives Sheikha Fariha CAIRO: Secretary General of the League of Arab States, Dr Nabil Elarabi received here yesterday Chairperson of the Kuwaiti Society for the Ideal Family Sheikha Fariha Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Sheikha Fariha was accompanied by President of the Arab Family Organization Jamal Obeid and Head of Egypt’s National Council for Women Dr. Mervat Tallawy.

Sheikha Fariha said in a statement after the meeting that she was privileged to meet with the Secretary General, saying they shed light on issues pertinent to the Arab family and how to manage to create a successful and useful Arab family in the

society which is the nucleus of young people.

For his part, Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the Arab League Ambassador Aziz Al-Daihani, who attended the meeting, said that the presence of Sheikha Fariha and her meeting with the Secretary General was an evidence of the keenness of the State of Kuwait and Sheikha Fariha in supporting the Arab League and its institutions.

Al-Daihani added that there is a great Kuwaiti recognition for former Arab League Secretary General Dr Esmat Abdel Meguid, who passed away this week, for his enormous support of Kuwait’s rights. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Fire broke out in a house in Eqaila area yesterday, prompting Mangaf and Qurain centers to respond. The fire was in the first floor. Firemen rescued a maid who was trapped in the second floor. No injuries were reported. — Photos by Hanan Al-Saadoun

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

LOCAL

KUWAIT: Christians celebrate Christmas with friends and family at the Catholic church yesterday. —- Photos by Joseph Shagra

Christians celebrate Christmas in Kuwait

By Ben Garcia

Kuwait denies supporting Syria fighters KUWAIT: Kuwait did not receive an official letter from the United States requesting procedures to stop financial support to fighters in Syria, a senior government official said recently while at the same time insisting that “support goes through official channels for humanitarian aid”.

“The Kuwaiti government provides support through official channels that is restricted to humanitarian and aid works”, said the ‘diplomatic sources’ who were quoted yesterday by Al-Rai. They spoke on condition of anonymity to comment on news

speculating that extremist fighters in Syria receive funding from individuals in Kuwait. “[The reports] could probably be referring to funds collected through charity organizations or those aid groups in Syria that receive aid and then offer to fighters there,” the sources said.

The US Department of State had urged leaders of Middle Eastern countries to stop funding members of the Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and to prevent movement of foreign fighters towards Syria.

Seminar on integration of people with disabilities DOHA: A two-day seminar discussing the integration of people with disabilities in national development started yesterday under the umbrella of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and the National Human Rights Committee.

The seminar aims to put forward perceptions about the integration of the roles of institutions concerned with people with disabilities, and the exchange of experiences and expertise in integrating disability issues in development, according to the Qatari News Agency.

The council’s Secretary General Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Fehaid Al-Hajri said the

symposium is an important juncture in the national efforts led by the council to promote welfare policies and social protection for families and individuals in order to achieve the goal of a just and comprehensive society based on diversified health, social and economic characteristics and providing equal opportunities for everyone.

Addressing participants as the seminar opened, Al-Hajri said the event aims to find a common vision to crystalize and activate the cause of integrating the issues of people with disabilities as an integral part of the national development strategy. —- KUNA

KUWAIT: Col Adel Al-Ibrahim, the Assistant Director at the Interior Ministry’s General Department for Correctional Institutions, rewarded servicemen and department employees who participated in activities held as part of the GCC Unified Inmates Week which concluded last week.

Kuwaiti students in France ‘safe’ PARIS: The Kuwaiti students in France are “safe and sound” following the the storm that battered the country, it was announced here yesterday.

President of the Cultural Office in Paris Dr Abdelrahman Al-Radhwan said that he had informed the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education Rashed Al-Nuwaihidh on the safety of the Kuwaiti students studying in the French universities.

Many Kuwaiti students have left their resi-

dences to celebrate the holidays.

Much of north-western France was pounded by 100-kilomtre-an-hour winds Monday night and well into Tuesday, disrupting Christmas travel and causing major power outages, weather and media report said.

“Meteo France” issued storm warnings for a swath of the north west, including 23 of France’s 90 or so districts, starting at the coastal areas on the English Channel and in Brittany, and working inland. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Many Christians braved the cold in Kuwait last night to mark Christmas with friends and family at churches and in the company of their families at home. The National Evangelical (Lighthouse) Church hosted three consecutive services - the traditional bonfire service from 6 pm, the Christmas Eve service (10 pm-12) and midnight Mass. The Holy Family Cathedral arranged several masses in Tagalog, Malayalam, Konkani, Bengali, Tamil, English, French, Korean, Italian and Arabic from 9 pm last night till 4 am today.

Filipinos concluded their nine consecutive days of dawn masses (held from 5 in the morning) from Dec 16 to 24 in anticipation of Christmas Day which they organized in churches in Salmiya and Kuwait City. Filipinos converged in large numbers to celebrate this tradition famously known back home as Simbang Gabi (Dawn Masses), a tradition dating back from the time of Spanish colonization. After church services, expats meet at restaurants and malls around Kuwait City to catch up with friends and family, making it almost impossible for many motorists to enter Kuwait City on this day.

The National Evangelical Church and the Holy Family Cathedral, representing biggest Christian denominations in Kuwait, are both situated in Kuwait City although they have various satellite churches in some parts of Kuwait. In his message during the traditional bonfire service at the Lighthouse Church, senior pastor Warren Reeve thanked the government of Kuwait for religious freedom and tolerance.

“As part of the body of Christ, we would like to thank Kuwait for their support of Christmas here. Thank to HH the Amir, HH the Crown Prince and members of parliament and Cabinet ministers. We pray for them and their people now that we are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.” He also wished Christians a happy and joyous arrival of Christ in their lives.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

LOCAL

letters to Muna

kuwait digest Al-Anbaa

Modern female infanticide!

‘Big stories behind it’

By Arwa Al-Waqian Dear Muna, Read your article in Kuwait Times, India vs US, on the arrest of an Indian woman diplomat in US, and I think it is not as simple as that. From what we can understand from the reports, it seems there was concerted conspiracy against her. Otherwise why the maid’s family was hurriedly taken to US? Why the same US law doesn’t take into account the fact that the maid may be lying as stated by Indian government? If any US citizen was treated the same way according to the laws of other countries, will they leave it as such? What is the plight of Julian Assange and Snowden who exposed so many clandestine activities of the US worldwide?

Param

I

have so many stories and tales that all indicate that Arab societies have been doing well in humiliating women with blessings from her own folks who still practice female infanticide in ways other than burying them alive. At the age of nine only, Nojoud was forced to get married to a man 30 years older than her who had promised her father not to touch her until she reached puberty but broke his promise only two days after the wedding. Nojoud suffered a lot because of this man and told her folks that he had been raping and beating her. All they did was ask her to show more patience because he was her husband who enshrouds her from monsters on the street!

Families in the Arab world find a lot of excuses for bad husbands. The funny thing is that their daughter’s happiness forms the least of their worries as if she is a disgrace and that they should be thankful to Allah for finding someone to marry her even if she is a minor. Nojoud was divorced at the age of ten to become Yemen’s and, probably, the world’s youngest divorcee!

Families in the Arab world find a lot of excuses for bad husbands. The funny thing is that their daughter’s happiness forms the least of their worries .

Because of her tribe’s traditions that do not allow the Islamic-approved chance for couples to see each other before marriage, Asma was wedded to a man she had never seen. What’s new in it? People have been paying much more attention to traditions than to religion! After signing the marriage contract and the wedding was over, and, despite his own ugliness, once the man laid eyes on her, he immediately divorced her because she did not match ‘the beauty standards he had sought and dreamt of in a wife’.

Nevertheless, Asma lived in disgrace because she was divorced on the first day of a marriage that is the shortest in her family and probably in all Saudi Arabia!

Ma’ali is a woman who had been married for twenty years during which her husband never touched her and she is still a virgin simply because she would not live in a crowded house and her folks advised her to be patient as ‘sex is not everything in this world’. Had things been the other way round, a woman would have been cursed for depriving her husband from his rightful marital rights. She has been seeing a shrink for ten years now and she is probably the oldest ‘virgin’ wife in Egypt!

Suad, a teacher from Kuwait, is married to her cousin who is very keen on swallowing half of her salary to spend it on his own mistresses. Whenever she refuses giving him money, he beats and threatens to divorce her, which forces her to keep silent merely to keep their children living amongst their parents and, accordingly, she is still suffering so far. Al-Jarida

In my view

Constitutional court’s ruling

By Jaafar Rajab

I

don’t care about the constitutional court’s ruling. I am not an MP, so I didn’t need to stay awake all night counting the stars and praying to God that the parliament is not dissolved. I am not an opposition former MP , so I didn’t have to pray that the parliament is dissolved, new elections are held, and I run this time to ‘defend the public funds’ and ‘stand in the face of corruption’.

The average citizen is not concerned about the games of those on top. Their concerns are focused on what affects their daily lives. They never had a picture with a minister, chitchatted with an MP, or even dreamed of being more than a manager at their office. You wouldn’t find them waiting eagerly for the constitutional court’s ruling, because they know that it will not fill their fridges, fix their cars, or add one dinar to their bank accounts.

The average citizen, the one who jumps out of bed in the morning to avoid reporting late to work; the one who has to stop by more than one school to drop his kids before going to work; the one who carries a jumper cable and a jerry can filled with gas in the trunk of their cars just in case - these people have more things to worry about than the silly games of the government and parliament. They are hoping that the ministry of electricity and water sticks to its promise and does not cut power from their houses.

They are waiting for the interior ministry to find a solution for the traffic jam problem that the government created.

They are waiting for the ministry of planning to tell them how their children’s fate will be like in 20 years, 10 years or even a month. They are waiting for the information minister to tell them why workers die under rubble without anyone held accountable.

They are waiting for the communications minister to

announce the opening of a decent airport, for the education minister to open a new university, and for the foreign minister to explain to them what’s going on around the region and where the government stands on it.

People simply want to be reassured about the future of their children after they lost hope in their present. — Al-Rai

They are waiting for the ministry of planning to tell them how their children’s fate will be like in 20 years, 10 years or even a month. They are waiting for the information minister to tell them why workers die under rubble without anyone held accountable.

Dear Muna, As an Indian I agree what you said. Just for your information, behind the scene, this is some kind of political issues between US and India. I know what is the matter behind this. John Kerry has directly involved himself in this small issue. Why? Please go back to 1980s newspapers while the current Indian prime minister was working in the Reserve Bank of India. Big stories behind the scene.

Some Middle East and some Eastern countries are still corrupt..In Kuwait, the wasta system has to be removed. Indian people don’t have to go abroad to do jobs if the government takes proper action against corruption. But our people won’t change, that’s the problem. Trillionsof dollars has been stolen in India.

Kuwaiti nationals need to obey the rules and regulations in their own country. If they are not following their own regulations, then how will other nationals follow the rules. Most traffic jams are by Kuwaiti nationals.

They stop their vehicles in the middle of the road to buy stuff from bakalas, even on roundabouts. No authorities question them. Why? This way, most traffic jams occur. Today evening some Kuwaiti kids under 18 were drifting the vehicles on a highway. The concerned authorities do not take proper action over such stupidities. Even if they are caught by authorities, within hours, they will be out due to influence (wasta). We are all human, so why do we need to discriminate by color, race or nationality? For what purpose are we all fighting?

Everyone’s blood is red, right? God never teaches discrimination. At the end of life, humans can’t take any items from this world that they collect after all this fighting. So my advice to all people in the world is to love each other and respect humanity. We are born in this world is for some reason. So do the proper things and help poor people who are suffering. Don’t discriminate for any reason. Make sure your own citizens are following the rules and regulations. Then we all are safe.

Indian reader Dear Muna, I refer to your article Kuwait Times, India vs US. Do you know when Raymond Davis brutally murdered two Pakistanis in Lahore in 2011, US claimed that he had immunity under the Vienna Convention, even though he was not a diplomatic official. Do you not think that US has double standards?

Zulfiqar

kuwait digest

There are no poor in Kuwait!

By Thaar Al-Rasheedi

kuwait digest

kuwait digest

You can’t give what you don’t have

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij

T

here is activity from some political groups, so to speak, to determine national priorities and put together a vision for what the situation in Kuwait should be in the short term.

All visions that political groups announced exceed - either skillfully or naively - the current situation and draw a bright future with dreams and ambitions that are hard to accomplish at the present time. In other words, the groups are running away from facing the current reality by rejecting it or refusing to live with it, and instead announce vague or delusional projects for the future.

Politically speaking, there are groups promoting the concept of constitutional monarchy. Of course, this proposal deals primarily with political leadership. The constitution here is the document that explains the form of this leadership or its level of dominance. Meanwhile, rights, duties and the relationship between institutions and social structure remain ambiguous, ignored or more accurately, subject to the current social and political traditions.

To be more accurate, we can say that outdated traditions control the general behavior of the society. It is not a secret that the state’s leadership is almost completely exclusive to the ruling family, whereas the social

authority is monopolized by tribal and religious groups. That is why groups dominating the social scene push political amendments while at the same time make sure that old traditions remain unchanged.

From the economic standpoint, we hear promises regarding diversification of income resources and creating nonoil incomes. However, we hear little explanations regarding who is going to handle this process. Is it going to be technical labor forces that Kuwait will import? Or is Kuwait going to turn to underemployed nationals who are supposed to become a productive force? Diversification of income and creating nonoil resources are dreams and empty promises if they are not backed by realistic assessment to our social situation and traditions, as well as efforts to educate the Kuwaiti individual on how to become an active member of the 21st century society.

However, this is impossible to happen in light of the current activity of political groups who are concerned about the shapes of authority while at the same time remain subjected to outdated social conditions which - and not the shapes of political authority - is what is obstructing development in Kuwait.

— Al-Qabas

Too many promises

By Dr Wael Al-Hasawi

T

he constitutional court’s ruling is not important, nor is the government’s resignation or the formation of the new Cabinet. What is more important than all of this is the government’s work process - how it tackles key issues we face today and how it deals with obstacles that stand between Kuwait and achieving development. The absence of the ‘reward and punishment’ concept is arguably the main problem that Kuwait faces today.

No official from the public or private sector was ever held accountable for the many convictions, thefts and violations committed. There is no way, I repeat, there is no way that Kuwait can achieve stability and realize its ambitions as long as corrupt individuals continue to control the country and its destiny.

How many corrupt individuals were handed punishment after they were convicted in court? How much of stolen funds have been recovered? And how many people were jailed after being convicted for stealing public funds? We have heard and continue to hear ministers promising to take legal action against

visa traffickers and end human trafficking in Kuwait. One minister even threatened to reveal the names of individuals involved in such practices. What happened then? No names were revealed, and no one was sent to the public prosecution on human trafficking charges.

Nothing happened, except for the fact that traffickers became more confident that they can continue their crimes while avoid punishment.

We heard similar promises against merchants who sell bad food, and no action was taken. Even in cases which cost Kuwait billions of dinars because of errors, such as the K-Dow deal, no responsible parties were recognized. Debate over the multimillion-dinar deposits case is still ongoing in the parliament. But it seems that officials are forgetting the saying of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who explained that nations are driven to their end when guilty influential people are allowed to escape punishment.

The Cabinet’s formation is irrelevant, as law enforcement and punishment of violators is the most effective way to achieve change in Kuwait. —- Al-Rai

There is no way, I repeat, there is no way that Kuwait can achieve stability and realize its ambitions as long as corrupt individuals continue to control the country and its destiny.

W

hen some senior official appears on TV stating that there are no poor people in Kuwait, he is right, but this is only because he does not know the real misery of 90 percent of citizens. His Excellency talks out of his own experiences and the acquaintances he mingles with in lofty diwaniyas where people usually talk about purchasing a house for a million dinars or spending a quarter million on restoring another. They talk about spending millions as if they were talking about buying a KFC meal!

This is why I don’t blame him for thinking that there are no poor in Kuwait. The luxurious marble-clad diwaniyas he visits give him such an impression and he does not realize that round 500,000 citizens live in rented houses and that over 106,000 people have applied for a government-provided house and are still waiting.

Yes, indeed. Salaries are high but, on the other hand, there is hardly a citizen who still has a single dinar by the 15th of each month. This is not because he is an extravagant spender, it is rather because of the high cost of rents, installments and soaring prices right under the government’s nose and with its consensus.

Our currency is only high in local markets and accordingly, all prices of foodstuff, medicine, private hospital bills and clothes have gone mad because in Kuwait, a trader can double or triple the price of his goods without accountability!

On the 21st of the month in an oil-rich country, one can see citizens at gas stations to buy petrol for only two or three dinars, yet some people still say that there are no poor in Kuwait while others justify crowds at gas stations on the low price of petrol. Some people argue that Kuwaitis travel four times annually, forgetting that those are only the better off ones whereas the underprivileged strives and makes lots of calculations before deciding to take his kids to the cinema, dine out or take such a recreational adventure!

Your Highness the PM, if you and your Cabinet wish to know the truth about how the real 90 percent of your citizens live, ask each minster to live for five days with a Kuwaiti family and you will know where the problem lies and you will know the names of those robbing us in the name of free trade! Yes, our country is very rich and we have a declared surplus of KD 13 billion, but 90 percent of us are not that rich. In fact we are experiencing intentional poverty on the last fifteen days of each month!

The bottom line is, if you own a million dinars or more, please stop talking about poverty in Kuwait! - AlAnbaa

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

LOCAL

DGCA provides facilities to KAC

KUWAIT: Lt Gen Nasser Al-Daei, the undersecretary of the Kuwait National Guard, invited members of the moral guidance and human resources departments in order to reward them for the successful ‘Development and Loyalty to Kuwait’ initiative concluded recently. Al-Daei said that the initiative, held for the second straight year and featured courses for 104 Kuwaiti young men, comes as part of ‘the strategic plan for the National Guard’s commitment to its social role’.

KUWAIT: Kuwait International Airport works on providing Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC) with all facilities needed to develop the company, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Chairman Fawaz Al-Farah.

Al-Farah who received the newlyappointed Chairperson of the Board of KAC Rasha Al-Roumi said yesterday that the DGCA is running various projects aiming to develop and expand the airport.

Al-Roumi expressed her gratitude towards the DGCA, praising its cooperation with KAC. She hoped the DGCA would

cooperate with the KAC in the open sky policy and introduce the latest and advanced aircraft.

Developing and expanding the company’s fleet is a priority to the Kuwaiti government, she noted, adding that Kuwait Airways had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Airbus company recently. The company is putting huge efforts to compete with the current top aviation companies at Kuwait Airport to provide the best services, said Al-Roumi.

The chairperson visited Kuwait Airport’s passenger terminals 1 and 2. — KUNA

UNHCR hails Kuwait role in supporting Syrian refugees Stage set for second donor conference CAIRO: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Arab League lauded the efforts made by His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in supporting the Syrian refugees. After his meeting with Arab League Chief Dr Nabil Elaraby, the Regional representative of UNHCR Mohamed Al-Dairy told the press that Kuwait’s role in supporting the Syrian refugees is highly appreciated especially since Kuwait has taken on its shoulders hosting the donor conferences for the Syrians.

He also expressed appreciation of Kuwait for honoring its pledge of giving $300 million in the 2013 donor conference; other countries only paid 68 percent of a total pledges of $1.6 billion. In addition, he lauded Saudi Arabia and UAE for their efforts in helping the displaced Syrians. Kuwait will continue its endeavors in helping the Syrians by hosting its second donor conference next month with the presence of chiefs from the UN, Arab League and other international humanitarian organizations. Al-Dairy discussed during his meeting with Elaraby the latest developments of the Syrian refugees who are being displaced in Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey and other neighboring countries.

He added that 2013 has seen 1.7 million Syrians fleeing to neighboring countries. As the new year is approaching, Al-Dairy hoped that the international community would strive harder to find a peaceful solution for this humanitarian crisis that has been taking place in Syria for some years now.

For that reason, the Arab League is pinning greater hope on the Geneva 2 peace conference on Syria to finding a permanent wayout for this calamity. On the amount of financial help the UNHCR is aspiring to achieve in the second gathering of the donor conference, due to be held next month in

Kuwait, Al-Dairy said that a regional plan was announced on December 16 to collect $4.2 billion to help the Syrian refugees inside and outside of Syria, which it hoped to gather.

UNHCR is also appreciating the hospitality of Jordan and Lebanon for taking in the Syrian refugees. Latest statistics show that there are more than 820,000 Syrian refugees in Lebanon and more than 650,000 others in Jordan. This huge numbers of additional population have created extra burden on the two governments, he noted.

Kuwait will host the second Syria donors conference in mid-January 2014 to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian refugees who are suffering deteriorating conditions for the third year now.

The Syrian refugees along with a large number of international organizations pin high hopes on the upcoming conference, and the effort is of greater importance still in view of the current climate and weather conditions in the region.

President of the Jordan National Red Crescent Society Dr Mohammad Al-Hadid praised the humanitarian initiative of the Kuwaiti leadership and people of hosting the second Syrian donors’ conference. He also hailed Kuwait’s continuous support to all humanitarian gestures towards the Syrian refugees.

He expressed hope that this conference will be as successful as the first one, which raised much more than anticipated. For his part, foreign relations and finance official for the Kuwaiti support to the coordination regional office for Syrian refugees for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR Ma’moun Mohsen said, the importance of such conference comes from being hosted by Kuwait which is playing a pioneering role in the humanitarian work field. He particularly recalled Kuwait’s remarkable support of the United Nations (UN)

regional plan for humanitarian aid for the Syrian refugees valued at $6.5 million. This conference convenes as the humanitarian situation in Syrian deteriorates further and further due to continued conflict which is causing soaring numbers of people who are internally displaced as well as pushing up the numbers of refugees in neighboring countries, namely Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, and Iraq, he said. The number of Syrian refugees in neighboring countries is expected to go up from 2.3 million refugees in 2013 to around 4.1 million refugees in 2014, he added.

Head of “the wounded” project at Al-Jazeera Hospital in Jordan Dr Badria Shikh Al-Basatieh hailed Kuwaiti support of Syrian refugees. She pointed out that this project is 99.9 percent sponsored by Kuwait.

She joined other officials and professionals in stressing the importance of the second Syria donors conference, at a time of dire need.

Kuwaiti relief efforts in support of Syrian refugees in Jordan contributed in providing medical treatment to more than 6,000 injured Syrians, she pointed out. As for future efforts, she called for more coordination between the donor countries and civil society institutions, and urged those in the field to benefit from the Kuwaiti experience in charity work which goes over 60 years back.

The Kuwaiti Ambassador to Jordan Dr. Hamad Al-Duaij for his part said this conference is held for the second time upon the instructions of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah “to draw attention of the international community to the suffering of the Syrian people and rally global support for them.” The UN estimates that the number of Syrians who fled violence in their homeland to neighboring countries since the outbreak of the crisis in March 2011 is around 2.3 million people. — KUNA

KUWAIT: KAC and DGCA officials pose for a group photo during the meeting.

Al-Hajri meets Sudan minister KHARTOUM: Kuwait’s Ambassador to S u d a n , Ta l a l M a n s o u r A l - H a j r i , d i s c u s s e d ye s t e rd a y w i t h S u d a n e s e Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Ahmed Saad Omar, bilateral relations between the two countries and ways of enhancing them.

Ambassador Al-Hajri said that the Sudanese minister stressed on the depth of relations between Kuwait and Sudan, and encouraged boosting cooperation between the two countries. He also

praised Kuwait’s support to Sudan in regional and international forums especially the Kuwait Fund Arab Economic Development for supporting development projects that in turn strengthen the Sudanese economy.

Minister Omar also appreciated efforts of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, government and people for aid presented to recent floods victims as well as hundreds of Kuwaiti charity projects in different areas of Sudan. — KUNA

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

LOCAL

Kuwait’s outdoor spaces

Kaifan park

F

rom October to May the weather in Kuwait is perfect for outdoor fun. Now with many kids out of school on winter break, it’s the perfect time to explore Kuwait’s outdoor parks and playgrounds. So here is a list of some of Kuwait’s best outdoor spaces to help you plan your outings.

Dahiya Abdullah Al Salem park walking track and lots of green lawn for an early morning picnic. Kuwait Moms Guide loves this for early Friday mornings when the weather turns cold and the kids need some extra space to run and play. Kaifan is

The Corniche The Corniche from Marina Crescent to the Scientific Center is a lovely stretch to walk and there are scattered small play areas, grassy verges and sections of beach for the children to explore. One of Kuwait Moms Guide’s favorite early morning spots. Posted signs say that dogs and bikes are prohibited but both can be regularly seen enjoying a bit of fresh seaside air.

ground, trees made from used tires, art installations including a Mona Lisa built from old computer parts and grassy lawns. A must see and a great way to introduce the idea of recycling to your children. Built by the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research.

Dahiya Abdullah al Salem Park Next to the famous local landmark, the Fatima Mosque, is a lovely and very clean park. The park includes a well kept climbing structure with slides as well as a wide grassy lawn perfect for morning picnics.

There are also enough sidewalks for kids to ride bikes and its well off the road so they can roam freely.

Located in Block 3 just past the gas station.

Egaila Beach Along the Gulf road, Egaila Beach has open grassy spaces and an outdoor children’s play area. There is an entrance fee and the beach can become especially crowded on the weekends and evenings. Great for early morning time spent outside.

Salwa park Salwa park straddles blocks 10 and 11 in Salwa close to the Sixth Ring Road exit. The park sits behind the Kuwait English School and McDonald’s and includes several climbing structures, slides and an open grassy area as well as football (soccer) courts. Well maintained and with seating at the McDonalds.

Shaab residential park Shaab residential park is a favorite of Kuwait Moms Guide. This small corner park at the entrance to Shaab residential is a great place for a play date. The park includes a climbing structure, swings and slides that are age appropriate as well as a duck pond and open grassy areas for kids to run around. There is also a walking track and exercise equipment for moms. Shaded and surrounded by grass, the park is well maintained, has its own parking, is just down the street from the coop, McDonald’s and a coffee shop and is conveniently located just off the Fahaheel expressway.

Kaifan park (Al Andalus Park) Located in Kaifan in block 7, this park includes a playground with slides, climbing, swings and a merrygo-round. It also has water fountains, a football pitch,

located off the 3rd Ring Road just before you get to Shuwaikh. Bring a picnic and a blanket. But we would advise against pets as this is a neighborhood park and some local residents might not appreciate dogs in the park.

Green Island On the Gulf Road, between Salmiya and Kuwait City, the Green Island is a great weekend destination for

Sabah al Salem playground Located in Block 1 just next to the Abulfadl Alabbas Ibn Ali Ibn Abi Talib Mosque is a small playground and walking track. Relatively new, the playground is clean and includes slides and climbing structures. You can see the playground from the roundabout where Roads 3 and 4 intersect.

Yarmouk Park - Tire Tree

Souq Sharq play area Outside, next to Debenhams is a small play area for kids, with a climbing structure and slides and small, grassy verge. Great for the kids to play with nanny supervision while moms are shopping.

Souq Mubarakiya The old souq in downtown Kuwait City has two spacious and well equipped outdoor but covered play areas near the food court. The play areas are age appropriate - with one designed for younger children and one with older kids in mind. These areas include climbing structures, swings, slides, tunnels, small cars and bouncy rides all placed atop spongy carpeting for safe landings. Great for a Friday or Saturday trip and conveniently located next to several Arabic cafes.

Shaab Residential park McDonald’s on the Gulf Road The play area at the McDonald’s on the Gulf road sits at the apex of the Corniche walkway and includes a sandpit, climbing structures, slides and swings. It is just behind the McDonald’s and there are chairs and tables for sitting outside. Indoors, upstairs, is a small climbing tunnel area when it’s too hot to be outside.

Mishref (Oasis / Wataniya) walking track and playgrounds Part of the Mishref pedestrian walkway, the playground area is located on the southeast corner in block 5 and can be seen from the junction where Fahaheel Expressway (Highway 30) and Sixth Ring Road meets.

There are also tennis courts, a small football pitch for the kids and in the springtime lovely patches of neatly cut grass and rows of colorful flowers. Indeed, several Kuwaiti neighborhoods including Qortuba, Yarmouk and Rawda have public park areas with play areas for children.

spending a day outside. There is an artificial lake, restaurants and cafes, a Roman amphitheater, picnic areas and several kids play areas. You can rent bikes or take the trolley and there are several entertainment activities/events held there throughout the year.

Touristic Garden Located in Jleeb Al Shuyoukh, the Touristic Garden is a great place during fall and spring for a day’s outing.

Includes a Roman amphitheater, grassy laws, flower beds and shrubs and perfect for picnics or a stroll. Age appropriate play structures for children but not toddlers. Entry is free all week except for official holidays, celebration and conferences days. Touristic Garden is open daily from 4pm to midnight summer and from 3pm to 10:30pm in winter. Telephone: 2242-8394

Yarmouk Recycled Park Made of recycled products, the Yarmouk park in block 2 is a beautiful example of recycling. It has a play-

Kuwait Zoo The zoo, located in Omariya, has in addition to a wide variety of animals, a large, grassy lawn and play area for children. Perfect for a Saturday morning picnic.

Story and photos courtesy of Kuwait Moms Guide (www.kuwaitmomsguide.com)

Salmiya park

Corniche

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

In bomb-hit city, Egyptians vent anger on Brotherhood

Turkey graft scandal threatens AKP domination Page 10

Page 8

JUBA: A displaced woman and child receive food assistance from workers of WFP and non-governmental organizations including Oxfam at the UN compound where she has taken shelter yesterday. — AFP

Nation-building effort squandered Crisis between S Sudan prez and deputy long festered JUBA/NAIROBI: At a well-attended investor conference in South Sudan’s capital just three weeks ago, President Salva Kiir declared that the world’s newest country was “at last safe” and open for business. It was a bold assertion from a nation that only gained independence from Sudan in 2011 after decades mired in conflict. It suggested the moment had come to cap a huge international effort to build a state.

But it proved spectacularly ill-timed. On Dec 15, fighting erupted in Juba that has swiftly spread beyond the capital along ethnic faultlines, exposing the failure of national reconciliation efforts, the limited influence of generous foreign sponsors and the reluctance of rebel fighters-turned-statesmen to give up the tactics of bush conflict.

Whether South Sudan tips into a broader ethnic war or draws back from the brink largely depends on two men who have long tussled for power: the president from the dominant Dinka tribe and the ambitious deputy he sacked in July, Riek Machar, a Nuer. Both ethnic groups, spurred on by their leaders, have clashed in the past, giving the latest spiral of violence an air of depressing inevitability for many South Sudanese, desperate for development in one of the poorest places in Africa. “Neither cares much about their people,” said Chuo, who repairs motorbikes in Juba. “Instead, they are focusing too much on personal grudges - the leftovers from their old days.”

The United States and other Western backers of the new nation are scrambling with regional African states to broker talks, but have limited leverage to end fighting that has killed hundreds of people and driven 40,000 to UN bases for shelter. Failure to halt the escalation could have wider fallout in an already volatile region. Sudan may be drawn in if there is a threat to oil fields from which it derives vital fees from pumping crude across its land. And other neighbours fret about a descent into chaos. Uganda has already sent troops to Juba.

Both leaders say they are ready to talk. But old habits die hard. Kiir said he was the target of a “foiled coup” and rounded up rivals. Machar slipped away and has mustered militia forces. “I am in the bush, and I am trying my best to have a better negotiating position,” Machar, 61, who holds a doctorate from Britain’s University of Bradford, told Reuters on a crackly mobile phone line from an undisclosed location.

Missed Opportunities The international community has poured in billions of dollars of aid and sent in a myriad of advisers to build the new state. But it has been unable to fix the dysfunction that has festered at the top of government and which came to a head in the summer when 62-year-old Kiir dismissed his vice president. “Opportunities were certainly missed to engage in more robust preventive diplomacy over the past few months as the political crisis began gathering momentum,” said John Prendergast, member of a US group of intellectuals that cajoled Washington to back South Sudan’s split from Sudan.

In spite of Kiir’s confident comments launching the Dec 4-5 investment conference, a showdown had long been brewing with Machar, who has made no secret of his presi-

dential ambitions. For almost a year before Machar’s dismissal, the two men’s relationship in office was defined by “miscommunication or mistrust or silence”, said former culture ministry undersecretary Jok Madut Jok, who left his post in April. The power play caused stasis in government, and most worryingly derailed crucial efforts to build a program of national reconciliation between bigger ethnic groups, such as Dinka and Nuer, and the dozens of others that have long clashed over control of the south’s scant resources.

Jok, now chairman of the Sudd Institute think-tank, described how Machar formed a committee to draw up a “practical, scientific” plan to rebuild ethnic relations, only to have it disbanded by Kiir, who put church leaders in charge to “focus on praying away the woes of South Sudan and nothing more”. Those who know the two men give similar accounts of the two characters on whose shoulders so much rests. Kiir, largely educated in the bush, has patched up militia rivalries to hold together the brittle SPLM/SPLA that fought Sudan and now runs the south. But they say he lacks the vision of his predecessor, John Garang, who died in a helicopter crash in 2005, the year a peace deal was signed with Sudan.

Machar, his acquaintances say, is a highly intelligent rival whose political ambitions tend to trump any national agenda. He led a splinter SPLA group in 1991 and his Nuer troops massacred Dinkas in Bor town that year. In 1997, he signed a unilateral deal with Khartoum that gave him an official post in Sudan. “Anything short of the two men sitting down and trying to work it out will not work,” said Jok. But bringing the two together for now has hit deadlock. Kiir’s government has refused to release the group of rival politicians he detained. Machar says they must be freed as they are the ones who will handle any negotiations.

Shifting Loyalties Much may depend on Kiir’s reputation as a conciliator, often bringing in rival militias even though it could mean putting political influence before competence in government. “Kiir has always said that he doesn’t want his people to turn back again to war,” said Foreign Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin, citing the president’s past talks with opponents.

“We talked to them and they were absorbed into our government.”

Eric Reeves, a fellow American activist for South Sudan with Prendergast, said Machar needed to be convinced that prolonging any ethnic conflict would mean he would lose US or other Western support. “But there is no real leverage,” he said. The United Nations plans to beef up its peacekeeping force in South Sudan, where the Akobo UN base was overrun and looted by Nuers who are blamed for killing 11 Dinkas sheltering there. But the patchwork nature of the SPLA army and shifting loyalties means there is little chance of turning the UNMISS force into a robust intervention brigade like the one that quelled a rebellion in next door Democratic Republic of Congo. “If you don’t know where your enemy is coming from, or who your enemy is, it doesn’t really matter how heavily armed you are,” said Reeves. —Reuters

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

A decade on, quake-hit Bam eyes new era BAM, Iran: There are few signs left of the killer earthquake that reduced to rubble the Iranian city of Bam and its celebrated citadel, but a decade later survivors are still haunted. The 6.6 magnitude quake struck at dawn on December 26, 2003, devastating Bam, killing 26,000 people and leaving 75,000 homeless. Nearly 80 percent of Bam’s infrastructure was damaged, while the desert citadel, once considered the world’s largest adobe building, crumbled. The disaster was so severe that Iran agreed to open up its doors to international aid, even allowing US planes loaded with humanitarian supplies to land on its soil for the first time since the two countries severed relations in 1980.

Reconstruction experts rushed to

rebuild Bam and UNESCO inscribed the citadel on its World Heritage List, marking it “in danger” following the quake. A decade later the city has come back to life and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation has removed the citadel from its danger list.

Japanese engineers have repaired the water distribution system, while French experts helped to build a hospital. A new quake-proof bazaar also emerged from the ruins of the old one in the historic district, and new steel-structured homes were built replacing the mud brick ones of yore. A ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of the quake is to be held tomorrow at the Fajr (Dawn) sports complex which director Behzad Bahmanian calls “the symbol of our rebirth”. In his

$0.60 for cake: Al-Qaeda records every expense TIMBUKTU, Mali: The convoy of cars bearing the black Al-Qaeda flag came at high speed, and the manager of the modest grocery store thought he was about to get robbed. Mohamed Djitteye rushed to lock his till and cowered behind the counter.

He was dumbfounded when instead, the Al-Qaeda commander gently opened the grocery’s glass door and asked for a pot of mustard. Then he asked for a receipt.

Confused and scared, Djitteye didn’t understand. So the jihadist repeated his request. Could he please have a receipt for the $1.60 purchase?

This transaction in northern Mali shows what might seem an unusual preoccupation for a terror group: Al-Qaeda is obsessed with documenting the most minute expenses. In more than 100 receipts left in a building occupied by AlQaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in Timbuktu earlier this year, the extremists assiduously tracked their cash flow, recording purchases as small as a single light bulb. The often tiny amounts are carefully written out in pencil and colored pen on scraps of paper and Post-it notes: The equivalent of $1.80 for a bar of soap; $8 for a packet of macaroni; $14 for a tube of super glue.

The accounting system on display in the documents found by AP is a mirror image of what researchers have discovered in other parts of the world where AlQaeda operates, including Afghanistan, Somalia and Iraq. The terror group’s documents around the world also include corporate workshop schedules, salary spreadsheets, philanthropy budgets, job applications, public relations advice and letters from the equivalent of a human resources division.

Taken together, the evidence suggests that far from being a fly-by-night, fragmented terror organization, Al-Qaeda is attempting to behave like a multinational corporation, with what amounts to a company-wide financial policy across its different chapters. “They have to have bookkeeping techniques because of the nature of the business they are in,” said Brookings Institution fellow William McCants, a former adviser to the US State Department’s Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism. “They have so few ways to keep control of their operatives, to rein them in and make them do what they are supposed to do. They have to run it like a business.”

The picture that emerges from what is one of the largest stashes of Al-Qaeda documents to be made public shows a rigid bureaucracy, replete with a chief executive, a board of directors and departments such as human resources and public relations. Experts say each branch of AlQaeda replicates the same corporate structure.

Al-Qaeda’s Grocery List Among the most revealing documents are the receipts, which offer a granular view of how Al-Qaeda’s fighters lived every day as well as its larger priorities.

“For the smallest thing, they wanted a receipt,” said 31-year-old Djitteye, who runs the Idy Market on the sand-carpeted main boulevard in Timbuktu. “Even for a tin of Nescafe.” An inordinate number of receipts are for groceries, suggesting a diet of macaroni with meat and tomato sauce, as well as large quantities of powdered milk. There are 27 invoices for meat, 13 for tomatoes, 11 for milk, 11 for pasta, seven for onions, and many others for tea, sugar, and honey.

They record the $0.60 cake one of their fighters ate, and the $1.80 bar of soap another used to wash his hands. They list a broom for $3 and bleach for $3.30. These relatively petty amounts are logged with the same care as the $5,400 advance they gave to one commander, or the $330 they spent to buy 3,300 rounds of ammunition.

Keeping close track of expenses is part of Al-Qaeda’s DNA, say multiple experts, including FBI agents who were assigned to track the terror group in the years just after its founding.

This habit, they say, can be traced back more than three decades to when a young Osama bin Laden entered King Abdul Aziz University in Saudi Arabia in 1976 to study economics, and went on to run part of his millionaire father’s construction company.

After he was exiled to Sudan in 1992, bin Laden founded what became the country’s largest conglomerate. His companies and their numerous subsidiaries invested in everything from importing trucks to exporting sesame, white corn and watermelons. From the get-go, bin Laden was obsessed with enforcing corporate man-

agement techniques on his more than 500 employees, according to Al-Qaeda expert Lawrence Wright, author of a well-known history of the terror group. Workers had to submit forms in triplicate for even the smallest purchases - the same requirement bin Laden later imposed on the first Al-Qaeda recruits, he said.

In Afghanistan, detailed accounting records found in an abandoned Al-Qaeda camp in 2001 included salary lists, stringent documentation on each fighter, job application forms asking for level of education and language skills, as well as notebook after notebook of expenses. In Iraq, US forces recovered entire Excel spreadsheets, detailing salaries for Al-Qaeda fighters. “People think that this is done on the back of an envelope. It isn’t,” says Dan Coleman, a former FBI special agent who was in charge of the bin Laden case file from 1996 to 2004. One of the first raids on an Al-Qaeda safe house was led by Coleman in 1997. Among the dozens of invoices he found inside the operative’s home in Kenya were stacks of gas station receipts, going back eight years.

Terrorist Expense Reports This detailed accounting system allows Al-Qaeda to keep track of the significant sums of money involved in feeding, training and recruiting thousands of fighters.

It’s also an attempt to keep track of the fighters themselves, who often operate remotely. The majority of the invoices found on a cement floor in a building in Timbuktu are scribbled by hand, on Post-it notes, on lined math paper or on the backs of envelopes, as if operatives in the field were using whatever writing surface they could find. Others are typed, sometimes repeating the same items, in what may serve as formal expense reports for their higher-ups. Al-Qaeda clearly required such expense reports - in a letter from the stash, middle managers chide a terrorist for not handing his in on time.

In informal open-air markets such as those of Timbuktu, vendors didn’t have receipts to hand out. So, traders say, members of Al-Qaeda came in pairs, one to negotiate the sale, and the other to record prices on a notepad. This practice is reflected in the fact that almost all the receipts are written in Arabic, a language few residents of Timbuktu know how to write. The fighters would ask for a price, and then write it down in their Bloc Note, a notebook brand sold locally, said pharmacist Ibrahim Djitteye. “It surprised me at first,” he said. “But I came to the conclusion that they are here for a very specific mission.... And when you are on assignment, you need to give a report. They have their own higher-ups, who are expecting them to account for what they spent.”

The corporate nature of the organization is also on display in the types of activities they funded. For example, two receipts, for $4,000 and $6,800, are listed as funds for “workshops”, another concept borrowed from business. A flier found in another building occupied by their fighters confirm that Al-Qaeda held the equivalent of corporate training retreats. It lists detailed schedules: Early morning exercise from 5 to 6:30 am; lessons on how to use a GPS from 10 to 10:30 am; arms training from 10:30 am to noon; and various afternoon classes on preaching to other Muslims, nationalism and democracy.

The Nuts and Bolts of Governing A relatively small ratio of the receipts are expense reports for fighters and weapons. One unit presented a politely worded request for funds, entitled: “The list of names of mujahideen who are asking for clothes and boots to protect themselves from the cold.” Far more deal with the mundane aspects of running a state, such as keeping the lights on. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb invaded Timbuktu in April 2012, and took over its state-run utilities, paying to have fuel trucked in from neighboring Algeria. One invoice shows they paid $3,720 for 20 barrels of diesel for the city’s power station.

There’s also an advance for the prison and a detailed budget for the Islamic Tribunal, where judges were paid $2 per day to hear cases. Along with the nuts and bolts of governing, it’s clear that the fighters were actively trying to woo the population. They set aside money for charity: $4 for medicine “for a Shiite with a sick child”, and $100 in financial aid for a man’s wedding. And they reimbursed residents for damages, such as $50 for structural repairs, with a note that the house in question “was hit by mujahideen cars.”—AP

office, overlooking the 6,000-seat stadium, Governor Hossein Zainol Salehi said most of the reconstruction was completed four years after the quake struck.

“Bam is now the most quake-proof city in the country,” he said, noting houses had been rebuilt with stronger construction material but that traditional architecture had been respected.

‘Cracks with every jolt’ Salehi said the reconstruction drive cost nearly 20,000 billion rials, or about $667 million at the current exchange rate - an astronomical amount in sanctionshit Iran. “But this is not enough to solve all the problems,” he said, noting many residents were still in need of psychological support for trauma suffered from the

quake. Although Bam residents say they are grateful to “all the foreigners who helped” them rebuild their lives, some doubt the new infrastructure is truly quake-proof. “We see new cracks with every jolt,” said Yasser, a DVD merchant in the bazaar which was flattened in 2003 but completely rebuilt after four years.

Iran sits on seismic fault lines and has been hit by many earthquakes of various magnitudes over the years. Yasser, 26, said he is still traumatised by memories of the 2003 quake and recalled that not so long ago he fled his home and pitched a tent in the street after Ban was hit by a minor temblor. “It is always the same, we are always afraid, even after a little quake,” said Ali Moshki, who lost six family members in the disaster.

Governor Salehi said the reconstruction was essential for Bam’s economic revival and its 107,000-strong population - 17,000 more than a decade ago.

Traditionally known for its dates and oranges, Bam has also been bolstered with a vast industrial zone on the outskirts of town which is churning out 100,000 Chinese cars annually. “We welcome all investors with open arms,” said Salehi. The city received almost one million visitors before the 2003 quake, and is hoping to revive its tourism industry, he said, adding there were 150 sites to visit in addition to the citadel but not enough guestrooms. Salehi said he was hoped to build more hotels in Bam, where there are only two four-star ones and some motels. — AFP

Israeli, Palestinian girl killed in Gaza flare-up Another Palestinian killed in separate incident GAZA: A Gaza sniper shot dead an Israeli civilian over the border yesterday and Israel hit back with air strikes on two Hamas training camps which hospital officials said killed a Palestinian girl near one of the targets. The Israeli man, who the military said was working on Israel’s security fence, was the first Israeli killed on the Gaza frontier in more than a year. His death, which drew a swift threat of retaliation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, came amid heightened tensions after two suspected Palestinian attacks - a bus bombing near Tel Aviv on Sunday that caused no casualties and the wounding of an Israeli policeman in a stabbing on Monday.

Officials from Hamas, the Islamic group which rules Gaza, and witnesses said Israeli aircraft bombed the group’s training camps in Khan Younis and al-Bureij. Witnesses said Israeli tanks fired shells east of Gaza city. Gaza hospital officials said a girl, whom they estimated was twoyears-old, was killed by shrapnel during the Israeli strike on the Bureij facility. She was standing with other family members outside their home near the camp and two of her brothers were wounded, the officials said.

Earlier, a Palestinian was killed in a separate incident in northern Gaza, hospital officials said. An Israeli military spokeswoman said he was handling an explosive device near the security fence and that soldiers fired at him after warnings. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the sniper attack, which followed a Palestinian rocket strike on southern Israel on Sunday that caused no casualties. “This is an extremely grave incident and we will not ignore it,” said Netanyahu, who was visiting the southern town of Sderot, about a kilometre from the Gaza border, at the time of the shooting. “Our policy has been to thwart (Palestinian attacks) and to respond (to them) forcefully, and that is what we will do in this case,” he said, referring to the shoot-

RAFAH: A Palestinian girl waits at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip yesterday. Egyptian authorities partially opened Rafah Crossing, Gaza’s main window to the world, for three days for humanitarian cases and stranded students, border officials said. — AFP cerns of a new Palestinian uprising as peace talks ing, in a statement released by his office.

However, since an eight-day war in Nov 2012, show few signs of progress. Hamas praised both Israel and Gaza’s Hamas Islamist rulers have Sunday’s bus bombing - the first in Israel in more been wary of taking military action that could than a year - but stopped short of claiming trigger widescale fighting. No one was hurt in responsibility. Violence in the West Bank has Sunday’s bomb blast on the bus, which had increased in recent months. At least 19 been evacuated after the explosives were spot- Palestinians and four Israelis have been killed in ted, and the wounded policeman was expected the occupied territory since the US-brokered to recover. But the incidents, which Israel talks on Palestinian statehood resumed in July blamed on Palestinian militants, fuelled con- after a three-year break. — Reuters

MANSOURA, Egypt: Egyptians carry the body of one of the 13 people killed in a car bomb attack earlier in the day during his funeral in this city north of Cairo yesterday. — AP

In bomb-hit city, Egyptians vent anger on Brotherhood MANSOURA, Egypt: Angry Egyptians standing on piles of debris and shattered glass pointed the finger of blame at the Muslim Brotherhood after a car bomb ripped through Mansoura’s police headquarters yesterday. “The people want the execution of the Muslim Brotherhood,” shouted residents amid the wreckage of burntout cars and collapsed walls left by the predawn blast, which peeled off a section of the building. Twelve policemen and a civilian died in the attack and more than 100 people were wounded.

At a nearby hospital, the floor of the emergency room was slick with blood as medics rushed in casualties. Mostafa Hadi, a policemen who survived the attack, said the blast sent him flying through the air moments after he had left the safety of his armoured truck outside the headquarters. “I heard a massive explosion behind me. I flew through glass and wreckage and then lost consciousness,” he said from his stretcher, his head swathed in a bandages. Egypt

has been deeply polarised since the military ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, who belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood, with regular clashes between his supporters and opponents.

The military-installed government that took office after the ouster of Morsi has launched a crackdown on his supporters, mainly from the Brotherhood, that has left more than 1,000 people dead and thousands arrested. And it was at the Brotherhood that residents of Mansoura, a Nile Delta city north of Cairo, vented their anger over yesterday ’s attack. “ The Muslim Brotherhood wants to come to power in any way, by shedding blood, using force or by destruction,” Wael Hamdy, 50, told an AFP correspondent at the site of the blast.

The 85-year-old Islamist movement prevailed in a series of polls following the overthrow of longtime dictator Hosni Mubarak in 2011, bringing to power Morsi as Egypt’s first freely elected leader. Yesterday’s explosion was massive and

caused a part of the police headquarters to cave in. Its impact was felt around 20 km away and it shattered windows of nearby buildings. The facade of the police headquarters had been ripped off, and charred and mangled vehicles could be seen amid the debris of collapsed walls of nearby buildings.

Bulldozers were deployed to clear the streets of the debris - wrecked cars, iron bars and slabs of concrete. Dozens of policemen wearing helmets and brandishing shields took up positions around the blast site, cordoning off the headquarters and keeping angry residents away. “The people, the army and the police are together,” shouted the crowds. “We will teach them good manners, we will show the Muslim Brotherhood what real anger is,” they chanted, behind them the municipal building and a theatre that also bore the brunt of the attack. Some carrying posters showing Morsi in red prison garb usually worn by death row inmates, chanted slogans in honour of those killed.—AFP

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

Turkey graft scandal threatens AKP domination ANKARA: A high-profile graft scandal is hitting Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan with the biggest challenge yet to his 11 years in power and raises the stakes for elections set for next year. The fast-moving police enquiry that struck at the heart of Turkey’s ruling political elite, including sons of government ministers and businessmen, has thrown up a serious challenge for Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP), which already weathered mass street protests in June.

But instead of students and the secular opposition, a onetime ally is at the heart of the crisis: Fethullah Gulen, a reserved but deeply influential imam based in the United States who still holds a commanding clout in the corridors of Turkish power. Though he communicates largely through video messages, Gulen remains a towering presence, with followers holding key positions in the police, judiciary and secret services in a network Erdogan allies call a “state within a state”. It is this secretive, parallel network that AKP loyalists accuse of trying to sabotage the government through a “dirty” corruption investigation against some of the most important names in Turkey’s ruling-party elite.

CONFLICT BURSTS INTO OPEN Cracks in the once tight relationship

between Erdogan and the Gulen movement have been deepening for years, but with the crisis now in the open, the outcome of elections next year could hang in the balance. “It already appears that we will witness the toughest elections in the republic’s history,” said political analyst and journalist Rusen Cakir, referring to local polls in March. “But the fact that one of the camps in this fight has no political party is complicating the matter.”

The local elections on March 30, including a contest for the control of Turkey’s largest city Istanbul, are now being seen as a key indicator of where the political fault-lines lie nation-wide.

“The race for Istanbul has always been closely contested between the AKP and the secular/leftist opposition,” said Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish Research Program at The Washington Institute.

“If the Gulen movement can now use its influence among voters and the financial base to tilt the race in favor of the opposition, it will prove itself as an effective power against Erdogan,” he added. The stakes are high for Erdogan.

Fast in the tracks of the local polls are presidential elections in August, which for the first time will be open to all voters. It is widely expected that the still popular Erdogan will run and eventually

replace his longtime AKP acolyte Abdullah Gul, if the constitution is changed to give the post US-style executive powers.

But the anti-corruption platform that has long served the party is now tarnished, columnist Kadri Gursel wrote in the Milliyet newspaper. The AKP, he wrote, has long claimed to be the national bulwark against the corruption disease, but since the December 17 probe, this image of purity has been exposed as “fake”. The party taking its name from AK Party-AK means “white” and “clear” in Turkish-has climbed to power with the claim to eradicate the chronic problem of corruption which erased its predecessors from political scene.

Fiercely trying to preserve their domination, Erdogan and the AKP are fighting hard against the Gulen movement.

Once the corruption probe launched, Erdogan countered by purging senior police officials including the Istanbul police chief who oversaw the raids and appointed a little-known governor as the new chief. And in a sign that Erdogan refuses to take the probe at face -value, the government has refrained from steps to sanction ministers caught up in the probe, though some reports said a comprehensive reshuffle was in the works.

70 perish as Nigeria troops battle Boko Haram fighters ABUJA: Nigeria’s military said yesterday it had killed at least 50 Islamist rebels fleeing towards Cameroon in a battle in which 15 of its own soldiers and five civilians also died. Nigerian forces have stepped up an offensive in the volatile northeast in the past few days, after Boko Haram fighters armed with grenade launchers and anti-aircraft guns attacked an army barracks in the town of Bama on Friday. The military often reports significant casualties among insurgents, while rarely admitting losses among its own troops or civilians. The figures it gave for Monday ’s battle near the Cameroon border could not immediately be verified.

Defense spokesman Brigadier General Chris Olukolade said the

military had targeted insurgents behind the Bama attack and that 20 vehicles used in that raid had been spotted from the air and destroyed. “Although a good number of the insurgents escaped with bullet wounds, while some have been arrested, over 50 of them died in the course of exchange of fire with ground troops in the operations to apprehend fleeing terrorists,” he said.

Boko Haram, which is fighting to revive a medieval Islamic caliphate in today’s religiouslymixed Nigeria, rarely talks to the media but occasionally sends video statements anonymously.

President Goodluck Jonathan last month extended a state of emergency in areas worst affected by the insurgency. The military began

an offensive in May that initially drove the Islamists from large parts of the northeast, but they fell back into the hilly area of Gwoza, near the Cameroon border, from where they have launched deadly counter-attacks.

Boko Haram is still seen as the main security threat to Nigeria, Africa’s leading energy producer.

The group claimed responsibility for a coordinated strike on Dec 2 on the air force base and military barracks in the main northeastern city of Maiduguri in the first major assault on the heavily guarded city this year. Fearing Boko Haram attacks over Christmas, Nigerian police have ordered extra patrols, surveillance and covert operations to protect potential targets.— Reuters

ISTANBUL: A protester marks the victory sign while standing in front of a barricade set on fire during a demonstration in the Asian side of Istanbul. Turkey’s prime minister has thrown down the gauntlet to his rivals, warning he will “break their hands” if they use allegations of high-level corruption to undermine his rule. —AFP This showdown between Erdogan and Gulen is “not surprising”, said Cagaptay. “The movement has its own media, universities, think-tanks, and businesses and followers in the bureaucracy and appears to be the only force

that can challenge Erdogan.” But, he added, if Erdogan won the race despite Gulenists, he would be confirmed as “Turkey’s most dominant political figure in modern history as well as having subjugated the Gulen movement.”— AFP

Italy’s ‘St Valentine’s Beast’ jailed in France Belgium’s ‘Devil’s Pastor’ serial killer dies in jail NICE: An Italian serial killer known as the “St Valentine’s Beast” who fled to France after being allowed out of prison to visit his mother was sentenced to jail by a French court on Monday. Already serving a sentence in Italy for extortion, Bartolomeo Gagliano, went on the run last Tuesday after being granted a good behavior pass. He hijacked a car and forced the driver to take him to Genoa, 170 km (105 miles) from France.

French police arrested the 55-yearold in Menton, just over the border. A court in Nice handed Gagliano a 10month prison sentence for carrying a gun and false identity papers. He will be transferred to an appeal court in Aix-en-Provence on Thursday which will rule on a demand to extradite him back to Italy to serve the rest of a 2006 extortion sentence.

He has already served out sentences for three murders committed in the 1980s. Declared mentally ill by Italian courts, Gagliano earned his

nickname in February 1989 when he killed his third victim on Valentine’s Day after breaking out of a psychiatric ward. In 1983, he escaped from a separate institution where he had been confined for murdering a woman and then held a family hostage and was recaptured only after a shoot-out with police.

Italian Justice Minister Annamaria Cancellieri was summoned to explain in parliament why Gagliano was let out on leave despite previous escapes that ended in violence. Cancellieri promised a “fact-finding” inquiry into the affair. Gagliano, his features gaunt and struggling to speak coherently, told the Nice court he could not remember the events of the past week and repeatedly expressed his desire to see his mother in Italy, a Reuters reporter at the proceedings said.

BELGIUM’S ‘DEVIL’S PASTOR’ In another development, Andras Pandy, one of Belgium’s worst serial

killers dubbed the “Devil’s Pastor”, died overnight in a jail in northwestern Bruges aged 86, the Belga news agency reported Monday. Described by psychiatrists as an “asocial paranoid”, the preacher of Hungarian origin was sentenced to life in prison in 2002.He was convicted of killing his two wives, two sons and two stepdaughters, and of raping three of his natural or adopted daughters, in a string of attacks in the late 1980s.

The trial heard how some of the victims’ remains had been dissolved in acid baths while others had been chopped up and left in gutters. His daughter Agnes was also found guilty of five of the six murders and was jailed for 21 years. She was a key witness against her father. The pair were only arrested in 1997 following the Marc Dutroux paedophile scandal which stunned Belgium and prompted police to reopen inquiries into several other unsolved disappearances.

Agnes was released on parole in 2010.— Agencies

Chadians under fire in volatile Central Africa BANGUI: “Welcome to Bangui”, reads a stone plaque at the airport greeting visitors to the Central African Republic capital. A stone’s throw away, the body of a young man lies in the dust, his head showing a gaping bullet wound. Chadian soldiers, part of a UNmandated peacekeeping force, had opened fire Monday on thousands of stone-throwing protesters, injuring around 40, three seriously, while killing the youth. Kneeling next to the body, amid shouts from an agitated crowd, the victim’s brother cries: “The Seleka (ex-rebels) killed by mother and my father. And today they’ve killed my brother.”

French soldiers come for the body and transport the wounded to a nearby field hospital set up by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF - Doctors Without Borders). Trying to quell the protesters’ rage, they shoot in the air to disperse them. The protesters, mainly Christians, had gathered at the airport at dawn to demand the departure of the Chadian members of the African force known as MISCA. The Chadians, mainly because they are Muslim, are accused of complicity with the Seleka rebels who overthrew president Francois Bozize in March in the predominantly Christian country.

Interim president Michel Djotodia officially disbanded Seleka, but some of its members went rogue, leading to months of killing, rape and pillagingand prompting Christians to form vigilante groups in response. Amnesty International says some 1,000 people have been killed since December 5, mostly by Muslim ex-rebels but also in Christian reprisal attacks. Chadian and Sudanese mercenaries within Seleka are blamed for many of the worst crimes against civilians.

Chadian peacekeepers of MISCA are associated with the former rebels because they hail from the north of the Central African Republic near the border with Chad. The so-called “antibalaka” (anti-machete) Christian vigilante groups have also targeted Chadian civilians who own countless little shops in Bangui. At the MSF field hospital, the wounded lie on the ground awaiting treatment. “I came to watch the demonstration,” said Ludovic Feinguina, 24, blood oozing from around a bandage on his leg.

BANGUI: An anti-Balaka militiaman gestures in a street of the Gobongo neighborhood in Bangui. — AFP Along with dozens of other com“I’m not sure who fired on me.”

Suddenly a wheelbarrow cuts patriots, a Chadian student who gave through the noise and smoke of the his name as Raymond hangs out outcamp, bearing an unconscious young side the heavily fortified Chadian man whose head is bleeding profuse- embassy in central Bangui. “We and ly. “Muslims hacked him with the Central Africans have a linked hismachetes,” exclaims Feinguina. “The tory, we are neighbors. I have never foreigners must go.” For thousands of hurt anyone, so I am sorry to have to Chadians who live in Bangui, there is leave, but I have no choice,” he said. no longer any alternative. “What do On Sunday, Ndjamena announced you think we should do? We have to that it would repatriate any nationals leave, and that’s it,” said Raymond “in distress”. “We’re afraid. We’re always Ngakoutou, an elderly Chadian hop- afraid,” said Blague Mobetis, another ing to leave. “We’ve realized that we student waiting to go home. “It’s can’t explain to all Central Africans impossible to live like this. I don’t that we have nothing to do with the want to pay for the Seleka mercenarSeleka who are committing abuses,” ies. “It should never have ended like this.”—AFP he said.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

Maoists agree to join constituent assembly Month-long political deadlock ends

BANGKOK: An anti-government protester holds a Thai national flag during a rally outside a stadium yesterday. — AFP

Thai protesters vow to hound PM, thwart poll BANGKOK: Thai anti-government protesters abandoned efforts to block candidates from signing up for a February election yesterday but vowed to hound Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and thwart a poll she is expected to win. The protesters want Thailand’s fragile democracy to be suspended, fearing the Feb 2 election would only entrench the power of Yingluck’s billionaire family, which is hugely popular among the rural poor of the populous north and northeast.

At their peak, rallies seeking to overthrow Yingluck and install an appointed government have attracted more than 200,000 people, with strong backing from Bangkok’s middle classes. Many among the Bangkok elite believe rural voters have been bought off by populist policies that have fuelled government graft. Thirty-five parties have signed up for the poll, despite attempts by protesters to stop them when registrations opened at a Bangkok sports stadium on Monday.

Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy premier famed for fiery speeches, called off the blockade yesterday but promised to ramp up the campaign and chase Yingluck from office.

Yingluck, the sister of self-exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, called a snap poll two weeks ago to try to deflate the protests. The noisy but mainly

peaceful protests are driven by anger over Thaksin’s influence over his sister’s government. “If Yingluck doesn’t resign or stays until February 2, we will block all parts of Bangkok and will not allow a single Bangkokian to cast a vote,” Suthep told supporters.

“If you see Yingluck, no matter where she is, please call us, or post it on social media and we’ll send our mobile units to chase her everywhere,” he said. Yingluck has been in her Puea Thai Party’s northern strongholds courting support while her credibility is attacked in Bangkok.

She has been on the road for six of the past eight days and yesterday extended her trip until the New Year. The election has been made more uncertain by a boycott by the main opposition Democrat Party, which draws its support from Bangkok and the south, the same base as Suthep’s group.

STRAIN ON ECONOMY The Democrats have not won an election in 21 years but are backed by a powerful Bangkok establishment of generals, bureaucrats and influential conservatives with deep disdain for Thaksin, a man they say bent laws to enrich his family and cemented his power through cronyism and political patronage.

The latest round of turmoil in the eight-year crisis has taken its toll on the economy, Southeast Asia’s second

biggest, and has affected tourism. It has delayed plans to spend $65 billion on infrastructure, which the government had hoped would offset struggling exports. The baht fell to an almost fouryear low against the US dollar low on Monday. A central bank official said yesterday the bank had moved to smooth excessive volatility in the currency but gave no details.

Uncertainty surrounds whether the election will actually take place or if protests, which so far have failed to stop the government from working, will turn violent in the hope a coup-prone military with little love for Thaksin would intervene. The military, however, has vowed to stay neutral and has offered to help the polls run smoothly. The Election Commission reiterated yesterday the election would go ahead as planned.

The protests seemed unlikely a few months ago, when Thaksin’s enemies appeared content to tolerate the government. However, Puea Thai made a costly blunder in November, when the party tried to force an amnesty bill through parliament that would have nullified Thaksin’s 2008 graft conviction and allowed him to return from Dubai. The bill was scrapped but it struck a nerve with many Thais who oppose the influence of his family and friends. — Reuters

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s Maoists agreed yesterday to join the country’s constituent assembly, ending a month-long political deadlock and raising hopes of long-awaited political stability in the Himalayan nation. A senior leader said the Maoists, who took power at the ballot box after a decade-long civil war but were routed in last month’s election for a new assembly, would join the body after other political parties promised to probe their claims of vote-rigging. “We have agreed to join the assembly and help draft a constitution,” senior Maoist official Narayan Kaji Shrestha said. The assembly will act as a parliament as well as drafting a new charter.

The Maoists threw the country into renewed turmoil when they claimed fraud in the November 19 elections, which were seen as key to completing a peace process after the war that killed 16,000 ended in 2006. The former rebels swept the first post-war elections in 2008, toppling the 240-year-old Hindu monarchy and transforming the kingdom into a secular republic. But impoverished Nepal has been in disarray since then, with a string of coalition governments squabbling and failing to write a constitution. The first assembly eventually collapsed in 2012.

The Maoists-including rebel-leader-turned-politician Pushpa Kamal Dahal, better known as Prachanda-have faced criticism over their apparent lavish lifestyles, a stark

contrast to their revolutionary ideals. At the November polls, the former guerrillas won just 80 out of 575 seats and came a distant third behind the Nepali Congress and Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) parties. Prachanda demanded a halt to vote-counting and claimed fraud after results showed him losing his Kathmandu constituency, where he eventually came a distant third.

But the Maoists on Tuesday signed a deal forged with the other parties to join the assembly, after a clause on the promised probe was included. Senior Maoist leader Shrestha said they signed the agreement “for the sake of the peace process”. “If each party remains adamant on its position, then how can we reach a deal?” he said. “Our focus now is on delivering the constitution within a year.”

Ram Chandra Paudel, a senior leader from the Nepali Congress which is expected to lead the new government, told reporters: “This agreement has made us all very happy.” “This is the first step towards drafting the constitution,” Paudel said. International observers have expressed concern at the impact of the prolonged turmoil on Nepal, which relies on tourism, remittances and aid, and where annual economic growth has slumped to 4.6 percent. Inflation remains in the double digits, forcing hundreds of thousands of Nepalis to migrate overseas for jobs. — AFP

Khodorkovsky to reunite in Berlin with wife, children MOSCOW: Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky is set to reunite with his wife Inna and their three children in Berlin on Christmas Eve after spending 10 years in a Russian jail, his spokeswoman said yesterday. “The family is coming today,” spokeswoman Olga Pispanen said. “They have not been together for 10 years.”

They will meet up in Berlin where Khodorkovsky went after walking free from a prison in northwestern Russia following a pardon from President Vladimir Putin on Friday.

Khodorkovsky, who has said he would stay out of Russia, is mulling a move to Switzerland where his twin sons go to school and would like to discuss that plan with his family, the spokeswoman said. The Swiss foreign ministry said he applied yesterday for a three-month Schengen visa to travel to Switzerland.

Khodorkovsky’s wife Inna and their three children, who are believed to have been in Moscow when Khodorkovsky flew to Berlin, have had to sort out their travel documents before going to Germany. “My family is my main treasure and we are together despite the years, kilometers and barbed wire,” Russia’s one-time richest man said in one interview from prison. He said he had seen lots of lonely people in prison and felt “ashamed” because he had a great family. “In the lottery of fate I won big time,” he said, stressing his wife was waiting for him.

“I would not be able to exist without her. She is one half of

my heart.” On Saturday, Khodorkovsky, 50, reunited with his elderly parents, Marina and Boris, and his eldest son Pavel, child from his first marriage. Putin shocked Russia on Thursday by announcing he would pardon Khodorkovsky, who was jailed for financial crimes in separate convictions in 2005 and 2010. He had served time in Siberia and the region of Karelia close to the Finnish border and had been due for release in August 2014. Russian investigators had earlier raised the prospect of a third criminal case against the Kremlin critic.

‘QUIET SHOCK’ Khodorkovsky asked for a pardon on humanitarian grounds because his 79-year-old mother suffers from cancer. His daughter Anastasia Khodorkovskaya said she was driving and became “hysterical” when she received a text from her mother saying their father would soon be released. “I stopped at a traffic light and realized I could not go any further,” she told opposition magazine The New Times, noting her two brothers Ilya and Gleb were in a state of “quiet shock.” “They have only seen and remember him from within prison walls.” “I do not remember the last time we celebrated the New Year as a family,” she added. “When dad was put in jail I was 12.” Khodorkovsky’s supporters say the imprisonment was Putin’s revenge against the former oil tycoon who financed the political opposition and openly criticized the Russian strongman. — AFP

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

In typhoon’s wake, Christmas infused with tragedy TACLOBAN: Christmas lights blink in a handful of restaurants in Tacloban, but at nightfall, much of this city flattened by Typhoon Haiyan slips into darkness. A few downtown shops have reopened.

Roadside vendors peddle fruits of the season: oranges and red apples. There is rebuilding, though much of it consists of residents hammering shelters out of scavenged debris.

The Nov 8 typhoon killed more than 6,100 people in the eastern Philippines, displaced at least 4 million others and left its most gruesome mark on Tacloban, a city of 240,000 that will need years to recover. Soon after the storm, Philippine Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla promised to restore power by Christmas Eve or resign, and indeed, electricity has returned to nearly all of the more than 300 towns that lost it.

But relatively few people are able to use it. Officials say many storm-ravaged houses and shops will spend the holidays in the dark because their wiring systems are damaged. City Hall, a seaside hilltop complex surrounded by ruins, buzzes with typhoon relief work, with dozens of staffers and foreign aid workers busy on the phone or huddled in talks. “I am hoping by a year you’ll see some significant improvements,” Mayor Alfred Romualdez says. But he’s not sure when his city will fully bounce back.

CHRISTMAS DAY MASS Christmas Day Mass here will be cele-

News

in brief

Twin blasts kill three in Pakistan’s Karachi KARACHI: At least three people were killed and 30 injured in twin bomb blasts targeting Shiite Muslims in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi yesterday, officials said. The blasts occurred as Shiites observed the 40th day of mourning of the martyrdom of Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad. The first blast came near the wall of a Shiite mosque in Orangi Town, a bustling western suburb, followed by another powerful explosion a short distance away. An official from Abbasi Shaheed Hospital said three bodies were brought to the hospital along with 30 injured.

“Both the bombs were detonated with brief intervals, the second was quite fatal,” Chaudhry Asad, a senior police officer said. City police chief Shahid Hayat told reporters that both were timer devices. A third bomb exploded near Numaish Chowrangi in the eastern district but no casualty was reported. The spot was supposed to be on the route of the Shiite procession. Pakistan has seen a steep rise in sectarian violence after a deadly clash between Sunni and Shiite Muslim groups in the cantonment city of Rawalpindi in November that left around a dozen people dead. Authorities switched off cell phone services in dozens of cities across the country yesterday as a security measure, while 10,000 soldiers were put on standby.

Six women among 16 killed in Xinjiang clash BEIJING: Six Uighur women were among 16 people killed in a clash in China’s restive Xinjiang region last week, campaign groups said, contradicting Beijing’s version of events.

The Munich-based World Uyghur Congress and Radio Free Asia, which is funded by the US government, said that police raided a house where an extended family was gathering. Xinjiang, in China’s far west, is home to the mainly Muslim Uighur minority and Chinese authorities say that “terrorists” were responsible for the incident. But World Uighur Congress spokesman Alim Seytoff, citing information from two residents of Saybagh village, where the clash took place, said: “It was a massacre of a family who had gathered to prepare for the upcoming wedding of one of their children.” According to Radio Free Asia, one resident said that the local police chief “triggered the incident by lifting the veil of a woman during the raid on the house”.

The dead included two police officers, with the other 14 all Uighurs. Xinjiang has for years seen spasms of violence that Beijing attributes to terrorism and separatism but rights groups say is triggered by cultural oppression, intrusive security measures and a wave of immigration by China’s Han majority.

Ukraine bans 36 foreigners including Georgian leader KIEV: Ukraine has banned entry to former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili and 35 other foreigners suspected of working with the opposition “to destabilize” the country amid mass pro-EU protests, a report said yesterday.

The Ukrainian foreign ministry and the security service have declared Saakashvili, 29 other Georgians, five US citizens and one Serb as persona non grata, the Kommersant Ukraine daily reported. The banned Georgians are mostly businessmen while the US citizens blacklisted are NGO members and academics. According to the newspaper, the decision was made at the request of Oleg Tsarev, a lawmaker from the ruling Regions Party who feared “frequent visits of foreign political consultants.” “Their activities are posing a threat to national security,” he said in his appeal to authorities, attaching a list of “persons who could represent the political interests of other countries.” Contacted by AFP, neither the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) or the foreign ministry could confirm the information. But on Friday, the Ukrainian authorities briefly detained and then deported a Georgian journalist from Rustavi 2 television station, David Kakulia, who was covering demonstrations in the Ukrainian capital Kiev.

brated by the papal envoy. There will be a Christmas Eve dinner for foreign aid workers and local officials. But mostly, Christmas will be a celebration amid deprivation, in tents, makeshift homes and

scenery first and then come back after the holidays.”

Fire officer Rolando Unay gently lifts a black cadaver bag left on a roadside by villagers in Tacloban city. “It’s a child,” he tells

TACLOBAN: Residents and survivors of Super Typhoon Haiyan decorate a giant lantern amongst the debris from destroyed houses in the coastal area of Tacloban, on the eve of Christmas.—AFP damaged churches. The smell of death remains in parts of the city. Thousands of people have simply left. “Many of them, I know, prefer not to spend it here,” Romualdez says. “Maybe a change of

his team of corpse collectors. As their orange dump truck cruises along a main road adorned with Christmas trees, motorists and passers-by cover their noses. More than six weeks after Typhoon

Haiyan struck, leaving well over 2,000 people dead in Tacloban alone, this sad work continues. Soldiers, police, firefighters and volunteers have cleared what had been a heartbreaking landscape of bodies strewn across the ruined city, but the stench in scattered mounds of debris means there are more left to find.

HOLDING BACK TEARS Unay, a doting grandfather with five children, says that although the work is difficult he sees the good in it. “Every time I lift a child’s body, I could feel that the agony of a parent, a family somewhere, is about to end,” he said. At a corner, a distraught fisherman, Hubert Labanan, waves at Unay’s truck to stop. He points to the remains of his mother by the roadside.

Villagers found her remains under a pile of wood and other debris that they cleared while preparing to repair a house.

Holding back tears, Labanan tells Unay’s crew that he had lost his own home in the storm and was too poor to bury his mother in a cemetery. He begged that she be taken to a mass grave. As Unay’s team left with his mother’s remains, Labanan waved goodbye, then stood motionless until the orange truck vanished from his sight. In early November, Eledio Moro thought he had Christmas figured out. He was going to surprise his 2-year-old daughter, Aubrey, with a pink toy motorbike. For his wife, a gold bracelet, or maybe an expensive Western-brand shirt.

He owned a restaurant and a moneylending business. His new house was one of the grandest in the poor coastal neighborhood. Last year, he draped it in the best and brightest Christmas lights. “We worked hard and were doing well then suddenly, like a bubble that burst, I lost everything,” he says. Like many in Tacloban, Moro ignored an order from authorities to evacuate as Haiyan approached, thinking his house could withstand the storm.

RECONNECT SURVIVORS There are thousands of families desperately searching for lost loved ones.

Sometimes, their stories have happy endings. A website run with backing from the International Committee of the Red Cross allows people to report missing relatives and gives survivors the ability to tell them, “I am alive.” As of Dec 17, more than 840 people were reported missing by relatives through the website, and about half the cases were resolved by the Red Cross, ICRC spokesman Atishay Abbhi says.

Meanwhile, aid workers on the streets try to reconnect survivors with worried relatives. Red Cross worker Cheka Lontabo’s team found a 5-year-old boy named Gabriel sleeping on a garbage heap in Tacloban city last week. A circuitous search eventually led the Red Cross to the mother, who lost her shanty in the storm and had taken shelter with her four children in a fly-strewn former gym. —AP

China commits $6.5 billion for Pakistani nuke project Beijing seeks to strengthen ties with strategic partner ISLAMABAD: China has committed $6.5 billion to finance the construction of a major nuclear power project in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi as it seeks to strengthen ties with its strategic partner, Pakistani officials said. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif broke ground on the $9.59 billion project last month but officials have provided few details of how they plan to finance it.

Financing documents seen by Reuters showed China National Nuclear Cooperation (CNNC) has promised to grant a loan of at least $6.5 billion to finance the project which will have two reactors with a capacity of 1,100 megawatts each. Two members of the government’s energy team and three sources close to the deal confirmed this. CNNC was not available for comment.

“China has complete confidence in Pakistan’s capacity to run a nuclear power plant with all checks in place,” said Ansar Parvez, chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission which runs the civilian nuclear program. “As things stand, the performance and capacity of nuclear power plants in Pakistan is far better compared to non-nuclear plants.” Parvez declined to give more details of the funding but said it would be completed by 2019 and each of

the two reactors would be larger than the combined power of all nuclear reactors now operating in Pakistan.

As part of the deal, China has also waived a $250,000 insurance premium on the loan, said two sources in the Energy Ministry with knowledge of the project.

They declined to be identified as they are not authorized to speak to the media about the financing. Pakistan and China, both nuclear-armed nations, consider each other close friends and their ties have been underpinned by common wariness of India and a desire to hedge against US influence in South Asia.

Pakistan sees nuclear energy as key to its efforts to solve power shortages that have crippled its economy. Pakistan generates about 11,000 MW of power while total demand is about 15,000 MW. Blackouts lasting more than half a day in some areas have infuriated many Pakistanis and sparked violent protests, undermining an economy already beset by high unemployment, widespread poverty, crime and sectarian and insurgent violence. Under its long-term energy plan, Pakistan hopes to produce more than 40,000 MW of electricity through nuclear plants by 2050.

The United States sealed a nuclear supply deal with India in 2008, irking both

China and Pakistan. Pakistan wants a similar agreement with the United States but it is reluctant, largely because Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan admitted in 2004 to transferring nuclear secrets to North Korea, Iran and Iraq. “There should be no double standards in terms of civilian nuclear deals,” Parvez said. “Pakistan has energy needs and the building of two new reactors should convince everyone that international embargos and restrictions and Indian lobbying won’t stop us.”

PROLIFERATION FEARS Pakistan carried out its first nuclear tests in 1998, soon after India conducted tests.

Both refuse to join the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, which would oblige them to scrap atomic weapons. China has already helped supply two nuclear reactors at the Chashma nuclear power complex in Pakistan’s Punjab region, while another two are also under construction with Chinese assistance.

China’s nuclear cooperation with Pakistan has caused unease in Washington, Delhi and other capitals due to fears about commitment to nuclear non-proliferation rules. China says its nuclear ties with Pakistan are entirely peaceful and come under International Atomic Energy Agency

safeguards. It has not given details of the project’s financing but state media has put its total value at $9.59 billion.

“Bilateral cooperation in the energy sector is to help ameliorate Pakistan’s energy shortages,” Chinese Foreign Ministr y spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Monday. “This accords with the interests of the Pakistani people.” Three prominent physicists recently raised questions about the safety, design and cost of the new reactors in Karachi, sparking a national debate.

“There is no official information about preparedness for a nuclear accident in Karachi that is available publicly,” said Zia Mian, a Pakistani-American physicist who directs the Project on Peace and Security in South Asia at Princeton University.

“The only real obstacle that may exist to the new reactors being built is if the citizens of Karachi decide they do not want to live with the risks these reactors create.” But Pakistan’s new energy minister has dismissed the critics. “Every 1,000 megawatts of electricity produced through nuclear energy saves you $1 billion in oil imports,” Khawaja Asif, the minister for water and power said. “If critics can give me alternatives and other platforms to raise money for low-cost, clean power, I’m willing to listen.”— Reuters

South Korea warns of ‘merciless’ response to North’s provocations

BRITANNY: A man walks in a flooded street in Morlaix, Britanny, where the city center is under 1.4 meters (four feet) of water yesterday. — AFP

Storm wreaks havoc in Britain and France LONDON: Disrupted transport networks and power cuts wreaked havoc in Britain and France yesterday, one of the busiest travel and shopping days of the year just before Christmas, after hurricane-force winds and torrential rain lashed the region. Winds of up to 90 mph hit both sides of the Channel, killing at least three people, as heavy downpours caused rivers to flood, traffic bottlenecks, and rail, flight and ferry services to be cancelled. Airports in the south of Britain were disrupted with some flights from Britain’s busiest airport, Heathrow, cancelled or delayed, while the country’s second busiest airport, Gatwick, said that one terminal had been hit by a major power outage.

British train operators also cancelled hundreds of services yesterday morning, by which time the storm had abated, leaving hundreds of thousands of people stranded and unable to travel in and out of London.

The weather is expected to be a blow for British retailers, eager to cash in on the traditional pre-Christmas rush.

“Given retailers’ hopes that the last couple of days before Christmas would see a final strong surge in sales, the awful weather could not have come at a worse time,” IHS analyst Howard Archer said.

Brittany and Normandy were among the regions worst hit in France, where 240,000 homes were deprived of electricity while in southern England, 100,000 homes were cut off from the power grid.

British police said one man, 48, drowned in the Rothay River near Ambleside, Cumbria, in northern England, after falling into the river trying to save his dog, which survived, while a woman’s body was found in a river in North Wales.

In France, a teenager was killed and another seriously injured on Monday when a wall in a building site

collapsed in Normandy. Naval authorities said a Russian sailor was reported missing after being blown overboard a cargo ship off the coast of Brest.

Energy network groups in both countries said engineers were working to address the damage before the Christmas festivities start. A spokesman for France’s SNCF national rail service said there were numerous delays but that no rail lines had been put out of service by the storms so far.

Britain’s Environment Agency said flooding was expected to affect much of the country with 250 flood alerts, 80 flood warnings and one severe flood warning in place. Some towns in France’s Brittany region faced severe flooding. Further wet and stormy weather could hit Britain’s shores on Friday, warned the country’s weather forecasting service, causing more headaches for retailers during “the sales”, the usually busy post-Christmas discounting period.— Reuters

SEOUL: South Korea’s president yesterday warned Seoul would react “mercilessly to any provocations” from the North, describing the situation over the border as “ominous” as she visited a frontline guard post. Seoul and Washington have been increasingly concerned over the stability of the North Korean regime following the execution two weeks ago of Jang Song-Thaek, a high-level official and uncle of young leader Kim Jong-Un. “The security situation on the Korean peninsula is very grave. North Korea’s internal situation is ominous, raising concerns about provocations,” said South Korean President Park Geun-Hye, wearing a military uniform on her first visit to the tense border since taking office in February.

“We should react sternly and mercilessly to any provocations by North Korea,” she said, calling for “watertight security readiness”. Her warning came as Kim, flanked by senior military officials, visited the mausoleum of his late father in Pyongyang to pay his respects on an important anniversary.

Kim visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, which houses the embalmed bodies of his late father and grandfather, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

Kim’s father, Kim Jong-Il, was formally made the country’s top military commander on December 24 in 1991 - three years before the death of his own father and the country’s founding president, Kim Il-Sung. TV news footage showed Kim, clad in a dark Mao suit, standing before the white statues of his two predecessors, accompanied by dozens of uniformed military officials who bowed deeply towards the statues. Among the top military cadres accompanying the young ruler were Choe Ryong-Hae, the director of the military’s political department, and defense chief Jang JongNam, KCNA said.

The visit came 12 days after Kim executed his once-powerful uncle in the biggest political upheaval since he took power after the death of his father two years ago. Jang Song-Thaek, once the country’s unofficial number two, was executed on December 12 after being accused of corruption and plotting a coup. The shock purge-staged in an unusually public and dramatic fashion-has raised concerns about potential political instability in the isolated communist state.

Jang Song-Thaek, 67, played a key role in cementing the power of the inexperienced Kim, but his increasing political influence and power was resented by his nephew barely half his age, analysts said. His growing control over the country’s lucrative mineral trades drew ire of other top officials and played a role in his downfall, Seoul’s intelligence chief said Monday. The reclusive state’s propaganda mill has since gone into overdrive describing Jang as a traitor while extolling Kim’s leadership. Tens of thousands of troops pledged loyalty to him in a mass rally on the death anniversary of his father last Tuesday. The Kim dynasty has ruled the impoverished but nuclear-armed state since 1948 with an iron fist and pervasive personality cult. — AFP

NEWS Mideast unrest casts pall over...

Continued from Page 1 Thousands of pilgrims and tourists made their way past Israel’s controversial separation wall to reach the Palestinian hilltop town, where snow remains on the ground from a rare winter blizzard this month. A giant Santa was set up in Manger Square, outside the centuries-old Church of the Nativity, where a candle-lit grotto marks the spot where Christians believe the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus. In a homily to be delivered at the Christmas Eve mass, Twal called for a “just and equitable solution” to the decades-old IsraeliPalestinian conflict.

“This painful reality raises numerous questions concerning our future in this country and causes us much worry,” the 73-year-old patriarch planned to say, according to a copy of the homily obtained by AFP. But “the answer lies neither in emigration nor in closing in on ourselves. It consists in staying here and in living and dying here,” he said. “From this Holy Place, we remember all the adversities in our world: from civil wars in Africa to the typhoon in the Philippines, the difficult situation in Egypt and in Iraq, the tragedy playing out in Syria,” Twal said.

An estimated 126,000 people have been killed in Syria, where a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests first held in March 2011 ignited a fullblown civil war with no end in sight. Among the millions displaced by the war are thousands of residents of the historic Christian village of Maalula, many of whom still speak the ancient Aramaic of Jesus. Juliana, a 22-year-old Maalula refugee in Damascus, recalled past Christmas at home as “joyful. We would decorate the Christmas tree, and friends and relatives would get together for midnight mass. People were happy”. “This year, we will

attend mass of course but there won’t be any Christmas tree or manger. We are refugees now.”

In the Philippines it was not war but a devastating act of nature, Super Typhoon Haiyan, which flattened entire towns and left nearly 8,000 people dead or missing. Filipinos who survived the disaster defiantly prepared to celebrate Christmas in their ruined communities, where hogs were roasted and churches filled to overflowing. “Nothing can stop us from welcoming Christmas even though we have lost our home,” 63-year-old Ellen Miano said in Tacloban, which bore the brunt of the storm.

On a lighter note, the US government said it had officially cleared Santa Claus for entry to the United States after the authorities waived stringent livestock checks on his reindeer. And NASA astronauts embarked on a rare Christmas Eve spacewalk to make repairs on the International Space Station. Pope Francis was to celebrate the solemn Christmas Vigil mass in St Peter’s Basilica from 2030 GMT before delivering his “Urbi et Orbi” (“To the City and the World”) blessing today at St Peter’s Square - where he first appeared after his election in March. The 77-year-old pontiff plans to make his first visit to the Holy Land in May 2014.

Francis has voiced growing concern about the plight of Christian minorities in Syria and across the region, where the hopes of the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings have faded as radical Islamist groups have exploited the chaos following the fall of long-ruling autocrats. “We will not resign ourselves to imagining a Middle East without Christians,” the pope said in November at a meeting with Middle East patriarchs. “Syria, Iraq, Egypt and other areas of the Holy Land sometimes overflow with tears.” — AFP

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

Massive attack kills 15 at Egypt police HQ Continued from Page 1 The blast underlined the risk of militancy moving to the densely populated Nile Valley from the Sinai Peninsula, where attacks have killed some 200 soldiers and police since July. “We face an enemy that has no religion or nation,” Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim, the survivor of an assassination attempt in Cairo in September, said at the scene of the blast. The interior ministry said the car bomb attack was carried out by a suicide bomber, citing evidence gathered at the scene. The presidency said such attacks “only increase the state’s determination to uproot terrorism”. Police “combat units” would deploy across the country with orders to use live ammunition, state TV reported.

Egypt has endured the bloodiest internal strife in its modern history since the army removed Mursi, the nation’s first freely elected leader, on July 3 after big protests against him. The security forces have killed hundreds of his supporters as part of a campaign to repress his Muslim Brotherhood, until then Egypt’s most powerful political and religious organisation, while lethal attacks on the security forces have proliferated. Some analysts say Egypt could face a sustained Islamist insurrection, a risk compounded by a flood of weapons smuggled out of neighbouring Libya since the uprising against Muammar Gaddafi began there almost three years ago.

The state has outlawed the Brotherhood and driven it underground, jailing thousands of its supporters and accusing the group of turning to violence, a charge it denies. The Sinai Peninsula, which borders Israel and the Gaza Strip to the east, has been the site of most of the major attacks since Mursi’s ouster: a car bomb killed 10 soldiers there in November, and 24 policemen died in an August ambush. Many of the Sinai attacks, as well as the failed attempt on the life of Ibrahim, the interior minister, have been claimed by a group called Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (Supporters of Jerusalem).

There have also been lethal attacks on security forces in the Nile Delta, though nothing on the scale of yesterday’s blast. “An attack of this type has the effect of intimidating people and discouraging them from taking part in the(constitutional) referendum,” said Mustapha Kamel Al-Sayid, a professor of political science at Cairo University. Ibrahim described the car bombing as an attempt to terrorise citizens before the mid-January vote, which is to be followed

An Egyptian policeman stands guard at the site of the explosion yesterday. — AP by presidential and parliamentary elections next year. He said the security forces would fully secure the referendum.

The bomb shattered the police building’s windows and badly damaged neighbouring buildings, bringing down the wall of at least one in Mansoura’s town centre, state TV footage showed.

Mansoura has been the scene of other attacks since Morsi’s removal. — Reuters

ANALYSIS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

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Issues

A year later, Abe has big ‘to do’ list

By Shingo Ito year after a landslide national election, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is riding high as his plan to rescue the economy earns praise at home and abroad, but chinks in his armour are beginning to show. The unprecedented policy blitz, dubbed Abenomics, ushered in growth that led G7 nations in the first half of the year, stoked a sizzling stock market rally and offered a tantalising end to years of deflation.

When Abe formed his cabinet on Dec 26 he had the backing of a large proportion of the population to follow through with a pledge to reverse two decades of lacklustre growth and debilitating deflation.

Then at the beginning of 2013 he declared that “Japan is back” in a speech to the New York Stock Exchange, saying his prescription of big government spending and monetary easing would reinvigorate the world’s number-three economy. He embarked on a roadshow abroad to sell Brand Japan, including signing a nuclear reactor deal in Turkey and focussing on fastgrowing economies in Southeast Asia. “This has been a very hectic year, travelling a lot overseas,” Abe said in speech last week, adding he visited over two dozen countries since election night.

His globetrotting burnished an image of a strong leader committed to getting things done in a country where the pace of policy is often glacial. And Tokyo’s winning bid to host the 2020 Olympics gave national pride another shot in the arm, as well as promises of further economic benefits. “Abenomics definitely deserves praise,” said Ivan Tselichtchev, economics professor at Niigata University of Management. “It has greatly improved sentiment among investors and consumers which is a positive for economy.” Applause for the two-time premier is a far cry from 2006 when his term ended in ignominy and illness after just a year in office.

This time around, Abe’s efforts are bearing fruit. His policies and those of his new central bank governor Haruhiko Kuroda helped sharply weaken the yen the unit has lost a fifth of its value against the dollar this year, giving a boost to exporters - while the stock market has surged more than 50 percent to a six-year high.

Economic growth slowed in the third quarter, but business confidence remains at a six-year high, while a key inflation indicator in October rose at the fastest pace since the late ‘90s. But observers say firms must now raise wages so employees have more to spend, driving the economy and giving the corporate sector confidence to expand.

An increase in pay packets is even more crucial ahead of a sales tax rise next year to 8.0 percent from 5.0 percent, a move aimed at shrinking Japan’s huge national debt, proportionately the worst among wealthy nations. The International Monetary Fund, among others, has welcomed Tokyo’s efforts to get its fiscal house in order, but the tax rise has stoked fears it will derail a recovery. The last sales tax rise, in 1997, foreshadowed the fall into deflation.

A

‘I’m worried about our future’ And while the economy is moving to move in the right direction, there is a growing disillusionment with the leadership. An unpopular state secrets bill, raw tensions with China and South Korea, and growing doubts about Tokyo’s print-and-spend economic policies are beginning to test Abe’s popularity. “My husband’s salary has not changed in the past eight years and now rising prices are affecting the family’s budget,” said 42-yearold Tokyo resident Yasuyo Sakata. “Abenomics is for other people. I haven’t felt any positive impact from it, and I’m worried about our future.”

Criticism like Sakata’s is a worry for Abe, whose place in the history books rests on him convincing ordinary people that his much-lauded policies will help them, rather than just lift company profits and share prices.

For detractors such as Noriko Hama, economics professor at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Abenomics is “a bunch of all the wrong ideas for all the wrong reasons”, a money-printing exercise that will saddle Japan with more debt. Critics and advocates alike have warned that promised economic reforms - including more flexible labour markets and free trade deals - are essential for the growth plan to work. “Progress on structural reforms has been disappointing,” Capital Economics said.—AFP

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The editor reserves the right to edit any submission as necessary.

China’s army its pride and challenge

By David Lague and Charlie Zhu t’s part of the lore of modern China. When paramount leader Deng Xiaoping was handing over power a generation ago, a widely recounted tale goes, he had some advice for his successor. For every five working days, spend four with the top brass of the People’s Liberation Army. The latest leader of China, Xi Jinping, shows every sign of applying that lesson. A month after assuming power in November last year, Xi visited the province of Guangdong on his first major political tour. Of the five days he spent there, three were at a military base, according to official coverage of his trip.

The son of a Communist revolutionary commander, Xi built his career as a friend of the army, and at times an official in it. But he still feels compelled to ask his generals for something in return: loyalty. “First, we must keep in mind that the military must unswervingly adhere to the party’s absolute leadership and obey the party’s orders,” he said on one of his many military inspection tours.

Xi’s injunction that the party comes first is a sign of the insecurity modern Chinese leaders feel at the top of their nation’s huge and increasingly powerful armed forces, military experts say. As it grows mightier, the People’s Liberation Army is growing trickier to govern. The PLA’s rising global profile is integral to Xi’s stated vision for the nation: the “China Dream,” a rejuvenated country that’s both peace-loving and militarily powerful. But Xi is less a true military man than Deng and the founder of the People’s Republic, Mao Zedong. He is fundamentally a career bureaucrat, like his immediate predecessors, Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin.

Like them, Xi has to win over the force that keeps the Communist Party in power. But he must do so at a time when the PLA is more self-confident than ever, mounting the first serious challenge to the naval dominance of the United States since the end of the Cold War. “It will take time for Xi to take control of the military,” says Huang Jing, an authority on the PLA at the National University of Singapore. “Most of the senior generals were not appointed by Xi. Instead they were all appointed by his predecessors.”

The rise of a nationalistic leader with military leanings comes as the People’s Liberation Army, with 2.3 million men and women under arms, is the hard edge of a rising China. China’s annual military spending is now second only to that of the US armed forces.

The PLA navy is projecting power further into the Pacific. Years of buying, copying and sometimes stealing technology have helped the PLA narrow its capability gap with the United States and other rivals in Asia.

I

Beyond Borders Xi, as chairman of the Central Military Commission, is commander-in-chief alongside his roles as party general secretary and president. He now oversees armed forces that are influencing events far beyond China’s borders. Fleets of Chinese warships patrol disputed territories in Asian seas. On Dec 5, a Chinese warship forced a US guided missile cruiser, the USS Cowpens, to take evasive action in the South China Sea, the US Navy said. The incident, in international waters, appeared to be an attempt to prevent the US ship from observing sea trials of China’s new aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, naval experts said.

PLA fighters now scramble to guard the controversial air defense zone that Beijing imposed last month off its east coast.

The Chinese navy also cruises the Indian Ocean, contributing to international anti-piracy efforts, while PLA peacekeepers are on duty in Africa and the Middle East In hardened silos and on mobile transporters, the PLA’s Second Artillery Corps is modernizing China’s modest but expanding armory of nuclear missiles, Chinese and foreign military analysts say. During Xi’s tenure, likely to last another nine years, this force is expected to be bolstered with China’s first effective ballistic-missile nuclear submarines. If PLA engineers can make them stealthy, these subs will be capable of retaliating if China comes under nuclear attack, according to Chinese and foreign military assessments.

All this has been a dramatic change. In the late 1990s, visiting foreign military officers scoffed at China’s poorly equipped army.

After more than three decades of soaring military spending, infusions of foreign and domestic technology and improvements in training, the PLA is transformed. “There is no question China’s power is growing,” says Li Nan, an analyst of the Chinese military at the United States Naval War College. “That is contributing to a higher level of confidence.”

Reflecting the more complex military challenges China faces, Xi has moved to establish a national security commission, thought to be modeled on the US National Security Council. No details about the proposed new body have been released. Foreign diplomats believe it is aimed at tightening coordination between China’s sprawling military, intelligence, diplomatic and internal security agencies. Xi is likely to head the new body, according to several people familiar with the move.

Xi is keeping his generals close. The military’s top two commanders are almost always photographed at his elbow on his frequent visits to exercises, frontline units and military schools: army General Fan Changlong and air force General Xu Qiliang. He has also been quick to begin putting his own men at the top of the

PLA hierarchy. Within days of taking over from Hu Jintao as head of the Central Military Commission in November last year, Xi promoted Wei Fenghe, commander of the Second Artillery Corps and member of the CMC, to full general. In late July and early August, he promoted six officers to the rank of four-star general, and 18 to lieutenant-general.

Eleven of those 24 officers are political generals, said Bijoy Das, a Chinese expert at India’s Institute of Defence Analysis. “In essence it indicates that the Party is co-opting a section of the PLA echelon to ensure that the ‘Party holds the gun,’” he said. Xi is shown mixing with the lower ranks, too. Dressed in plain militarystyle khaki slacks and shirt, the solidly built 60-year-old stands in mess lines, selects a plate and chopsticks from a stack and is filmed eating and chatting with soldiers and sailors.

Military Princeling Xi, like all of China’s Communist leaders, insists the PLA is bound with the party’s fortunes. The army delivered political power with its civil war victory in 1949 over the Nationalists. It fought the US to a prestige-enhancing stalemate in Korea. It buffered tumult at home in the early decades of the People’s Republic and ended the 1989 Tiananmen protests in a bloody crackdown. In his task of cementing ties with the generals, Xi had a head start. His father, Xi Zhongxun, was a Communist guerrilla fighter who

divided between rival political benefactors and regional commands. While Xi was working his way up, Deng’s successor, Jiang Zemin, was promoting dozens of senior officers who remain in positions of power today. Jiang was the man Deng advised to tend to the generals. In retirement, Jiang remains one of China’s leading power brokers. His military appointments made sure his influence would outlast his term. Hu Jintao, who replaced Jiang, likewise sought to anchor his position through military promotions and patronage before handing over to Xi. Both Jiang and Hu kept the funding tap wide open for new military hardware and substantially improved pay and conditions for the troops.

Xi appears set to maintain heavy military spending despite competing needs. A hundred million Chinese still live in poverty, according to official measures, and there is growing pressure to spend more on health, education and pollution control. Official defense spending is set to climb 10.7 per cent this year to $119 billion. Much spending takes place outside the budget, however, and many analysts estimate real outlays are closer to $200 billion, second only to the United States. The US Defense Department’s 2012 budget totaled $566 billion.

Friendly Generals As Xi came to power at the 18th Party Congress in November last year, there was substantial turnover in the Central Military

In this June 5, 1989 file photo, a Chinese man stands alone to block a line of tanks heading east on Beijing’s Cangan Blvd in Tiananmen Square. — AP became a senior political leader and an architect of the market reforms that ignited China’s economic boom. That makes Xi a “princeling” of the leadership, and he rubbed shoulders with other offspring of Communist China’s founding elite.

Throughout his career, Xi has appeared to march in step with the PLA. In his first job after graduating from Tsinghua University, he was a key aide in the general office of the Central Military Commission, the top military council he now runs. Xi was secretary to Geng Biao, a defense minister and former military subordinate of Xi’s father. He held no rank, but his duties were considered military service. “The military sees Xi as one of their own,” says a person with ties to the leadership. As he climbed the rungs of China’s provincial bureaucracy, Xi had a parallel career as a political commissar in local army headquarters, units of the PLA and the People’s Armed Police, the party’s paramilitary internal security force.

He was careful to defer to important old soldiers. About 10 years ago, when Xi was party chief in Zhejiang Province, a retired vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, Zhang Zhen, visited Zhejiang Province to celebrate his birthday. Xi, then provincial party chief, broke with his official duties for several days to accompany the civil war veteran. “Zhang Zhen was very touched with Xi’s respect for old cadres,” said the individual with leadership ties. “Those who came to offer their birthday felicitations all saw Xi next to Zhang. It was a plus for Xi.” Zhang Zhen’s own princeling son, general Zhang Haiyang, is now political commissar of the Second Artillery Force.

As China has grown richer and better educated, the middle ranks of the PLA have filled with technically trained specialist officers. Along with that have come consistent if muted calls for China to have a fully professional army: one loyal to the state rather than the party, and free from the parallel supervision of political commissars who monitor the forces at virtually every level. Amid these rumblings, the army remains deeply politicized, military analysts say. The PLA has long-standing internal factions and loyalties

Commission. Eight of 10 uniformed members of the council were replaced. It isn’t clear if there is close patronage or loyalty between Xi and his top commanders. But other princelings, Chinese military analysts and foreign military attaches identify several generals with whom Xi is on especially good terms. One is Central Military Commission member Zhang Youxia. Also close are two officers outside that top body: army General Liu Yuan and air force General Liu Yazhou. (The two Lius are not related).

Like Xi, these officers are princelings. Zhang Youxia is the son of General Zhang Zongxun, a celebrated senior commander in PLA’s wars against the Japanese and the Nationalists. The elder Zhang fought civil war battles with Xi’s father in north-western Shaanxi Province, according to people familiar with both men’s family background. People close to the military say Xi last year wanted to nominate Zhang, now head of the PLA’s General Armaments Department, as one of the two vice chairmen of the CMC. Retired leaders Jiang and Hu vetoed the move, these people say.

Liu Yuan and Liu Yazhou are engaged in what they have described as an undeclared war by subversive foreign forces to unseat the Chinese Communist Party. They have also warned of the danger that unchecked corruption poses to the party’s survival. Liu Yuan, 61, is the son of former president Liu Shaoqi, once designated to succeed Mao before he was brutally purged in the Cultural Revolution and died in custody. The elder Liu was posthumously rehabilitated after Mao’s death, clearing the way for his son’s life of privilege.

In a late start to a military career, Liu Yuan joined the People’s Armed Police as a political commissar at 41 before transferring to the army. He is now commissar of the PLA’s General Logistics Department. Xi has publicly acknowledged his friendship with Liu on a number of occasions. Liu Yuan was also close to the powerful regional party chief Bo Xilai. Bo was sentenced to life imprisonment in September for bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power. Liu first attracted wide attention for a rambling essay he wrote as a preface for a friend’s book in 2010.—Reuters

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

S P ORTS

Villa striker Benteke out of Palace clash BRUSSELS: Injured Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke will miss his team’s Premier League clash at home to Crystal Palace tomorrow as he is undergoing physiotherapy in his native Belgium until Friday. The 23-year-old Belgian international has been struggling with knee and hip injuries since the close season and decided to meet up with physiotherapist Lieven Maesschalck, who also works for the Belgian national soccer team, in Antwerp.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen also spent some time with Maesschalck recently, recovering from an ankle injury. “Vertonghen has already left but Christian Benteke will stay until Friday,” a spokeswoman for the Move to Cure physiotherapy centre in Antwerp, where Maesschalck works, said. Benteke, who scored 19 Premier League goals last season, has struggled to make his mark this campaign, failing to find the net in the past 10 matches as Villa have slipped to 13th in the table. He could be fit for Villa’s following home match against Swansea City on Saturday and their away trip to Sunderland on Jan 1. —Reuters

Egyptian domestic league prepares for belated start CAIRO: Egyptian clubs will make a belated start to their domestic soccer season yesterday, hopeful of completing it after security issues cut short the last two campaigns. The 2013-14 season marks the return of Al Masry for the first time since the Port Said stadium riot in February last year when 74 people, mostly fans of opponents Al Ahli, were killed. Spectators were crushed when panicked crowds tried to escape from the stadium after a pitch invasion by supporters of Al Masry. Others fell or were thrown from terraces. The violent clashes shocked Egypt and resulted in the 2011-12 season being immediately halted and a host of sanctions for the Port Said club. Club football then suffered a near year-long standstill before a new season belatedly got underway, only for it to be halted in July after the army ousted the country’s president Mohamed Mursi with one round of the 2012-13 regular season left. The 22 clubs in the top flight will be divided into two groups with play-offs at the end of the season to determine the champions. All games will be played behind closed doors, the Egyptian Football Association announced. Al Masry have been ordered to play their matches at Suez, while military stadiums in Cairo will host the games of African champions Al Ahli and their arch rivals Zamalek, both of whom command passionate followings. The pair have been placed in separate groups. — Reuters

Swansea’s Michu out for six weeks LONDON: Swansea City striker Michu faces ankle surgery that will rule him out for six weeks and may push the injury-hit Welsh club to seek a replacement in the January transfer window. The Spaniard underwent a scan on his injured ankle after missing Sunday’s 2-1 home defeat by Everton. The 27-year-old, who has scored six goals in all competitions this season, has had ankle and knee problems in recent months. “It’s not good news,” manager Michael Laudrup told the club website (www.swanseacity.net) yesterday. “Unfortunately it has been confirmed that he will need an operation. “The good news is that it can be done in the next week - and he should be back playing in around a month and a half. “But what has happened in the last couple of weeks has changed things. We will probably do something now - in January - and try to add something that we don’t have in certain positions,” said Laudrup. “The numbers are a bit down and that is risky for the last four months of the season.” Laudrup said he could sign Spanish forward Iago Aspas, 26, on loan from Liverpool. “He is an interesting player but he is at Liverpool and they have injuries as well so that might not be possible,” he added. “We are looking at other options.”— Reuters

TEC dethrone AECK to become 16th RMC Champions

KUWAIT: CETAA 16th RMC Runners-up “AECK” with trophy.

I felt like clown but I’m still in form: Pietersen MELBOURNE: Kevin Pietersen felt like a “clown” after getting out in the first innings of the second test but maintained yesterday he has been in prime form during England’s heavy defeats in the opening three Ashes matches. The flamboyant right-handed batsman has averaged 27.50 in the three games, way below his career test average of 47-plus, and been criticized for the manner of his dismissals. Pietersen, though, scotched the idea that he was thinking of following spinner Graeme Swann into early retirement. “I’m 33 years of age,” he told reporters ahead of the fourth test against Australia that starts tomorrow. “I’m batting as well as I’ve ever batted.

“I’ll retire when I can’t get up to play for England but I’m as good as gold at the moment. I felt like a clown in Adelaide when I hit that ball to mid-wicket off Peter Siddle. “I just didn’t feel good at the crease at all. Some days you have them,” said Pietersen. “Every other time I’ve batted on this trip, I’ve felt really, really good. I’ve got myself ‘in’ every time I’ve batted and a couple of times I’ve got out and a couple of

other times fortune didn’t favor the brave.”

Pietersen flicked Siddle straight to George Bailey at short mid-wicket in the second test in Adelaide in an attempt to dominate the seam bowler after England had lost two early wickets.

NO ADJUSTMENTS But the South Africa-born cricketer said he felt no need to make adjustments to his approach in the future. “It’s just a case of making sure I keep doing what I do because it’s proved successful,” added Pietersen. “If the situation dictates a certain way that I play, I’ve proved over the last however many years that I’ll play to the situation of the game. “I haven’t got 100 in this series.

Who knows? I might get one tomorrow and we might be sitting here all nice and happy.”

England are determined to salvage some lost pride in the fourth test but Australia will have no lack of motivation during the two remaining matches, according to wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Haddin.

“I’ve been on the end of a few hidings from England so, from my point of view, it’s not that hard at all,” said Haddin. —Reuters

South Africa seek better fortunes at Kingsmead JOHANNESBURG: South Africa will seek to arrest a dismal Durban run of four straight defeats at Kingsmead when they host India in the second and final test tomorrow, four days after their epic draw in Johannesburg. The Proteas are at a loss to explain their miserable run at one of the country’s premier test grounds, where they have not won since beating West Indies in 2008.

Australia, England, India and Sri Lanka have all enjoyed handsome triumphs in Durban over the world’s top ranked test team since then and vice-captain AB de Villiers cannot fathom the poor run. “I am confused about Durban. I don’t know what to expect,” he told reporters. “I am going to play it like I always play my cricket. I am going to take it one ball at a time and use my experience to adapt as quickly as I can. So will the whole team.” De Villiers suggested it would be a good toss to win, with a lively pitch expected for the first part of the test. “I think there will be a bit of movement on the first day.

Batting first always seemed the better option in the past. “I don’t expect as many cracks as there was at the Wanderers. It will probably be a bit more green, a bit firmer, and there may be a bit of turn towards the end of the test.” South Africa’s overall record at Kingsmead is symmetrical - they have won 13, lost 13 and been involved

in 13 draws. Durban-based fast-bowler Kyle Abbott should come into the side for Morne Morkel, who suffered an ankle ligament strain in the first test at the Wanderers, but it is the spin department that will give the selectors the most pause for thought.

LACKED CONTROL Imran Tahir went at five runs an over in the first test and was a pressure release for the Indian batsmen. De Villiers defended the Pakistan-born 34-year-old. “Immi (Imran Tahir) has bowled really well in the last few months. He didn’t have a great game at the Wanderers but that is part of sport. We know what he is capable of,” De Villiers said. “It’s always tempting to get Immi into your starting XI, even if you play on a road. Even on glass, he can get you wickets.

“He seems to run through the tail easily. It’s a tough decision to make. We lacked control at the Wanderers, not just from Immi, from all the bowlers.” While there has been a furore at home over the team’s decision to settle for a draw in the first test where they were eight runs short of a world record victory target of 458, little has been made of India’s inability to close the game out. The tourists had 136 overs to take 10 wickets on a wearing pitch with variable bounce but managed just seven against a defiant display of batting by the hosts. —Reuters

DURBAN: Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (left) and bowler Pragyan Ohja play football during a training session ahead of the second cricket test match between India and South Africa at the Sahara Stadium Kingsmead in Durban today. —AFP

KUWAIT: In the final of the 16th Prof Ramachandran Memorial Cricket Tournament (RMC) conducted by College of Engineering Trivandrum Alumini Association (CETAA) and sponsored by GTE Olayan Co held on 20th Dec 2013, TEC defeated reigning champions AECK by 28 runs in a hard fought final. It came as no real surprise as TEC were the team to beat by their authoritative and consistent performance throughout the tournament even though AECK with some quality players in their line-up were always a formidable opponent. Winning a crucial toss and batting first, TEC got off to a comfortable start with openers Girish (16) and Suresh (10) putting on 41 runs for the 1 st wicket in 7 overs before Girish was caught at short cover by Rafi off Smithosh. Dinto (18) joined Suresh and took the score to 71 by the 11 th overs but their dismissal at the same score saw AECK tighten the screws with some accurate bowling and fielding.

None of the remaining batsmen could make any headway and TEC finished on 86 for 9 wickets off their 15 overs loosing 7 wickets in their last 4 overs.

Mahesh was the most impressive of the AECK bowlers taking 4 wickets for 18 runs with good help from Remon, Smithosh and Abulais (1 wicket each).

Wides and a few uncharacteristic miss-fields did not help AECK’s cause at crucial times.

In reply, AECK never got going tied down by the spirited bowling and fielding of TEC. The loss of inform Mahesh caught behind off Merton for 0 in the 1st over was a pointer of things to follow. No 3 batsman Rafi who had some classy knocks behind him was the main hope now for AECK. But his fall in the 3rd over caught by Girish at deep mid wicket off a full toss from Merton sounded the death knell for AECK. After 4 overs AECK could progress only to a meagre 11 runs. Remon fought gamely and tried to extricate himself from the relentless pressure applied by TEC. The fact that Remon (10) was the only player to reach double figures and to hit the only boundary

KUWAIT: CETAA 16th RMC Winners ‘TEC’ with trophy. of the innings showed the stranglehold TEC had in the field. When Remon was caught at point slashing at a full toss in the 8th over, AECK lost their way and were all out for 58 in the 14th over leaving TEC worthy winners by 28 runs. For TEC all the bowlers bowled with discipline and zest with Girish (3 wickets for 16) Merton (2 for 4), Shajeer (2 for 10) being the main wicket takers splendidly supported by Dinto and Sreekumar (1 wicket each).

The Guests of Honor for the day were Mr Mohamed Al Sahli, Tapan Ramesh and Mr Noof (GTE Olayan) Shaji Jose (NCC) and Shyam Mohan (Nouri Est). Among others Messrs Suresh Krishnan

(GC), Santhosh Kumar (GC-elect) and Sageer (GTE Olayan) were present to witness the match. Girish (TEC) got 2 awards named Man of the Match and Best Batsman, while Shajeer (TEC) was selected the Best Bowler and Mahesh (AECK) the Player of the Tournament. Individual prizes, trophies and medals were given away by Messrs Harikumar, President, CETAA, Tapan Ramesh, Mohamed Al Sahli, Shaji Jose and Jose K (CETAA). Vijayakumar (CETAA) welcomed the gathering while Sebastian, Secretary, CETAA thanked each and every one for making the tournament a grand success by their presence and support.

Punch-drunk England’s pride on line in the Boxing Day test MELBOURNE: An Ashes series that promised so much has all but fizzled with Australia taking an unassailable 3-0 lead, but Melbourne’s Boxing Day test offers some intrigue as to whether England will continue to self-destruct or salvage some pride from a turbulent campaign. Arriving as comfortable winners of the northern Ashes series earlier this year, Alastair Cook’s team has not had its problems to seek Down Under with spiritless efforts in the field and tumult off it.

Graeme Swann’s retirement this week, cast as selfless by the spinner but slammed as gutless by critical British media, has only added to the air of a team in disarray. The Coliseum-like Melbourne Cricket Ground might be the world’s loneliest place for a team attempting to regroup after passing a sombre Christmas. Dead rubber notwithstanding, a festive crowd of more than 80,000 are expected to flock to the ground for tomorrow’s opening day of the fourth test.

England belted Australia in their last MCG meeting to retain the Ashes in 2010-11, but the hosts have humiliated India and Sri Lanka in the two tests at the ground since. Sri Lanka’s innings and 201-run defeat last year included seamer Mitchell Johnson taking six wickets, while breaking the forefinger of master batsman Kumar Sangakkara and the thumb of wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene in a man-of-the-match performance.

“We’re playing good cricket at the moment,” Australia’s in-form opening batsman David Warner told reporters at the MCG on Tuesday.

“We need to really drive it into England. “We are here to play our brand of cricket and that’s why we’re up 3-0 at the moment.” The pint-sized Warner’s turnaround has been symbolic of Australia’s revival from their own forgettable campaign in England, which started with a coach’s sacking and ended in an ignominious 30 series defeat.

Exiled for two tests of the northern series after punching England batsman Joe Root at a bar in the leadup, the pugnacious 27-year-old has struck two centuries and an unbeaten 83 Down Under to add steel to a previously brittle batting order. Days after Warner controversially described Jonathan Trott’s cheap dismissals in the series-opener in Brisbane as “pretty poor and pretty weak”, the out-of-sorts England number three left the tour to deal with a stress-related illness.

LOTTERY Warner can claim no small credit for the retirement of Swann, having shown his team mates the way by blasting the spinner’s second ball of the series over his head for four, a portent of what lay ahead for the 34-year-old. After announcing his retirement, Swann further destabilized the England camp by remarking that some current players were “up their own backsides”, a comment interpreted by British media as a parting shot at some of his team mates.

Swann later clarified that he was referring to non-England players in his column in Britain’s The Sun newspaper. Swann’s retirement robs

England of a seasoned campaigner, a sharp fielder, solid tactician and perhaps more critically, a rare voice of levity in an often tense dressing room.

Stepping into the breach is Monty Panesar, whose return to the test team in Adelaide yielded match figures of 2-198 and two fluffed catching chances that ultimately cost over 100 runs.

The Luton-born left-armer becomes his team’s top spinner again, five years after relinquishing that title to Swann. Many of England’s other selections remain a lottery. Few have performed consistently. Team director Andy Flower, who may be another casualty of this tour, said all positions were up for review. Wicketkeeper Matt Prior, who has had a dreadful series behind the stamps and at the crease, is on the most shaky ground and may be dropped in favor of the unproven Jonny Bairstow.

Neither of England’s third-choice seamers in Tim Bresnan and Chris Tremlett have asserted themselves, potentially opening up the door for a recall for Steven Finn or uncapped Northern Irishman Boyd Rankin. Front-line paceman Stuart Broad may be rested after suffering a foot injury when he was struck by a venomous delivery from Johnson in the third test defeat in Perth. Australia’s injury-prone seamer Ryan Harris has been managing a knee complaint, but appeared to train without discomfort on Tuesday, boosting the hosts’ hopes of bringing the same triumphant team into a fourth successive test. — Reuters

Steyn upset by fans’ criticisms CAPE TOWN: South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn was left distressed after being heavily criticized by his own fans for opting against chasing victory in the drawn first test against India, the team’s vicecaptain AB de Villiers said. The hosts finished eight runs short of a world record target of 458 as they cautiously played out the final three overs at the Wanderers on Sunday, settling for a draw with three wickets in hand. Victory would have comfortably eclipsed the current world record of 418 runs chased down by West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2003.

Steyn was at the crease with Vernon Philander and was seen instructing his batting partner to be cautious, which led to the duo being booed off the field by their own supporters despite salvaging an excellent draw from a game that India dominated for the first four days. “Dale was really upset, he struggled to handle it,” AB de Villiers, who leads the team in limited-overs matches, told reporters. “It really took Graeme (Smith) and a few guys to help him handle it immediately, because of the crowds, the booing and everyone criticizing him and Vernon (Philander).

“They took a lot of strain and it was up to the team to pull through that but it was really tough.”

De Villiers, who made 103 in a 205-run stand with Du Plessis (134) to set up the chance for an unlikely victory, reassured Steyn that he made the right decision. “A lot of people are blaming Dale and Vernon but I honestly believe that the numbers nine, 10, 11 should never be going for the runs. It’s up to the top six to score the runs,” he said. “If responsibility is going to be thrown around, it’s on me, Faf (du Plessis) and JP (Duminy) and maybe a little bit on Vern at the end there.

“The minute Dale walked to the crease, the right thing to do was to save the test match and I thought they did that brilliantly well.” De Villiers said captain Smith and coach Russell Domingo have stressed on the achievement of the draw after South Africa made 450 for seven in the second innings on a wearing pitch, the third highest fourth innings total in the history of the game. “At the end, we had a really good team chat, where Russell and Graeme spoke really wise words and I think the whole team is in a good space after that,” the wicketkeeper-batsman added. —Reuters

South African bowler Dale Steyn

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

S P ORTS

Sharks overcome Avalanche Blackhawks too much for the Devils SAN JOSE: Joe Pavelski scored with just under 20 seconds left in regulation to tie the game and Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau scored in the shootout to lift the San Jose Sharks to a 5-4 win over the Colorado Avalanche 5-4 on Monday night. Erik Johnson and Jamie McGinn scored goals 12 seconds apart in the final two minutes to put the Avalanche ahead. Johnson’s 6-on-4 power play goal slipped under the left shoulder of Sharks goalie Antti Niemi to knot things, and McGinn’s goal also came with an extra skater as he beat Niemi to the stick side. Pavelski tied it after taking a pass from Joe Thornton, who has an 11-game point streak against the Avalanche. Jason Demers, Brent Burns and Matthew Irwin also scored for the Sharks. Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog tallied for the Avalanche and Semyon Varlamov made 41 saves.

UFA: Torchbearer poses for a photo with children in Ufa, the regional capital of the Volga River region of Bashkortostan, about 1200 kilometers (750 miles) east of Moscow. — AFP

Avalanches, poor visibility

may disrupt Sochi Games MOSCOW: Russian meteorologists have no concerns about a shortage of snow for the Winter Olympics in February but believe avalanches and poor visibility could disrupt the Sochi Games. The slopes where ski races and other mountain events will be held, high above the sub-tropical Black Sea shore, should have two to seven meters (6.5 to 23 feet) of snow, said the head of Rosgidromet state forecasting Alexander Frolov.

Frolov also told a news briefing there was “a risk that a two, three-day cyclone may set in and significantly complicate our lives. Then the avalanche danger will increase and we will have to ... interrupt the Games”. Avalanches are common in winter and emergency services in Russia fire artillery rounds at the slopes to force the snowpack to come down safely. “The second risk for us is low visibility when the cloud cover comes down,” said Frolov.

President Vladimir Putin has staked his personal and political prestige on a successful Games in a location where most of the venues have had to be built from scratch. Sochi Games chief Dmitry Chernyshenko has said the weather is viewed as a bigger potential problem for the organizers than security or infrastructure of a Games that has cost Russia around $50 billion. Unusually warm temperatures last winter prompted organizers of Russia’s first post-Soviet Olympics, and first Winter Games, to store about 450,000 cubic meters (16 million cubic feet) of snow in the mountains just in case.

SOCHI GAMES BOYCOTT Meanwhile, Russia yesterday dismissed the impact of a decision by US and some European leaders to skip the opening of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi over Moscow’s record on human rights. US President Barack

Obama last week named two openly gay sports stars but no acting official to his Games delegation, in a message of opposition to a ban on “homosexual propaganda” that Russia imposed this year.

French President Francois Hollande and British Prime Minister David Cameron are among a clutch of EU leaders who have also decided to skip the Games’ opening ceremony on February 7. Russian Olympic Committee chief Alexander Zhukov said the high-profile absences would have no impact on the Games.

“This will in no way affect the Olympic Games or alter their significance,” Russian news agencies quoted Zhukov as saying in Moscow’s first reported response to Obama’s decision.

“The Olympic Games are a competition for athletes and everything else is optional. The point is the competition itself and not whether 20 or 30 leaders attend.” A Sochi boycott has been supported by Western celebrities and rights groups concerned that the anti-gay propaganda legislation will permit Russian authorities to launch a wider crackdown against homosexual rights.

Their calls were supported on Monday

by Nadezhda Tolokonnikova of the antiKremlin punk group Pussy Riot upon her release for prison under a general amnesty in the run-up to the Sochi event.

“I appeal for a boycott, I appeal for honesty,” Tolokonnikova said. Tolokonnikova and her band mate Maria Alyokhina were sentenced to two-year terms in penal colonies for performing a protest song against President Vladimir Putin in Moscow’s main cathedral. Tolokonnikova said on Monday that a Sochi Games boycott would underscore nations’ concern about a general deterioration of political freedoms in Russia under Putin’s 13-year reign. —Agencies

SYDNEY: A crew discusses tactics as the crews prepare for the Sydney to Hobart yacht race in Sydney yesterday. Crews have been warned to brace for a bumpy, challenging ride in this week’s Sydney to Hobart yacht race, with updated forecasts of gale force winds dampening record hopes for the field of 94 boats. — AFP

Sydney-Hobart crews brace for wild winds SYDNEY: Crews were yesterday warned to brace for a bumpy, challenging ride in this week’s Sydney to Hobart yacht race, with updated forecasts of gale force winds dampening record hopes. Delivering its annual prerace briefing, the weather bureau said the field of 94 boats could expect a strong southerly of up to 30 knots and possible thunderstorms at the starting line at Sydney Harbor tomorrow morning, instead of the favorable conditions earlier forecast.

The headwind would ease and a northeaster pick up as the fleet worked its way down the coast, but meteorologist Andrew Treloar said a cold front would hit on Saturday night, bringing wild gale-force conditions for boats crossing the Bass Strait, which separates Tasmania from the Australian mainland.

“Getting into Bass Strait on Saturday they could be picking up strong winds ahead of the front, and then the front moves through the eastern part of Bass Strait later on the Saturday,” Treloar told reporters.

“That could come through with a pretty big push. At the moment we would be expecting at least strong winds and possibly gales.” Treloar said it was a different weather picture to the devastating storm in the 1998 race which sank five yachts and killed six sailors but “nevertheless we have to be on

guard”. Tomorrow’s stormy conditions and headwinds mean a new race record is now unlikely and defending champion Wild Oats XI will have a battle on its hands to take line honors. “It’s going to be a very tricky race, don’t rip up your tickets until the death,” said Wild Oats skipper Mark Richards. “There’s a big variation in designs, and each boat will have favored conditions for themselves at some time, and not so much down the track.” Anthony Bell from rival supermaxi Perpetual LOYAL said he had gone from a “little bit depressed a day or so ago” to feeling heartened by the new forecast. “Things are much more uncertain now, I think we’re going to be in for a proper boat race,” said Bell.

The shifting weather patterns mean the 628nautical mile dash to Hobart may be won on navigation and skill rather than sheer speed, heartening the crews of the smaller boats.

Mystery entrant Beau Geste, from Hong Kong, is among those fancying their chances. “This thing is really going to be a different beast, she’s a big, powerful boat, and she’s going to go really well downwind,” said trimmer Dave Sweet of businessman Karl Kwok’s Botin 80. “We’re a bit of a dark horse to the fleet, but she is a dark horse to us as well. We don’t really know what the boat’s capable of, but we’ll find out in the race that’s for sure.” — AFP

STARS 5, KINGS 2 Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn scored on Dallas’ first two shots against the unbeaten Martin Jones and rookie linemate Valeri Nichushkin got the goahead goal on a power play in the second period, leading Dallas over Los Angeles. Cody Eakin scored an insurance goal with 4:48 remaining against Jones, who stopped 19 shots in his first NHL loss.

Shawn Horcuff was credited with an empty-net goal after he was tripped from behind by Drew Doughty in the Kings zone. Kari Lehtonen made 30 saves to record his league-leading 12th road victory, sending the Kings to their second loss in 11 games and just their third in regulation over the last 23. Justin Williams and Jarret Stoll scored first-period goals for Los Angeles. The Kings played without captain Dustin Brown, who missed his first game of the season due to an illness.

SABRES 2, COYOTES 1, OT Ryan Miller made 36 saves and Mark Pysyk scored an unusual goal at 3:47 of overtime to lift short-handed Buffalo over Phoenix. Pysyk, who was called up earlier in the day from Rochester of the AHL, scored when his deflected shot hit Martin Hanzal and became lodged in the back of Mike Smith’s jersey. The goalie retreated into his crease, unwittingly carrying the puck across the line and ending the game. Tyler Ennis also scored for Buffalo, which is 4-0-1 in its last five home games after starting the season 3-12-1 at First Niagara Center. The Sabres started the game with just 16 skaters after a virus left Linus Omark, Cody Hodgson, Ville Leino, Marcus Foligno and Alexander Sulzer unable to play.

Buffalo was only able to recall defenseman Pysyk and left wing Johan Larsson from Rochester because the team was en route to the Spengler Cup tournament in Davos, Switzerland. Hanzal scored for the Coyotes, who concluded a four-game road trip with a 1-1-2 record. Smith made 30 saves.

RANGERS 2, MAPLES LEAFS 1, SO Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan scored shootout goals and backup goalie Cam Talbot earned his second win in two nights as New York shook off a late tying tally to beat Toronto.

Zuccarello and Stepan scored in the first two rounds, and Talbot stopped Nazem Kadri in the third to end it. Kadri scored a disputed goal with 1:24 left in regulation to force overtime. Jonathan Bernier was exceptional for Toronto, making 42 saves through overtime and allowing only JT Miller’s goal 7:04 into the third period. The Maple Leafs played their third straight shootout and lost for the second consecutive time. They are 2-5-2 in their last nine.

BLACKHAWKS 5, DEVILS 2 Patrick Sharp scored twice and Patrick Kane, Bryan Bickell and Nick Leddy also connected to lead Chicago over New Jersey. Stephen Gionta and Michael Ryder scored for the Devils, whose seasonhigh four-game point streak (3-0-1) ended. Kane has points in 12 straight games, matching his career high - set earlier this season and just before this run.

Chicago rookie Antti Raanta stopped 10 shots in his seventh straight start - all since Blackhawks top goalie Corey Crawford suffered a lower-body injury on Dec 8.

FLAMES 4, BLUES 3, SO Joe Colborne scored the only goal of the shootout to give Calgary an improbable comefrom-behind win over St Louis. Colborne took the first attempt in the shootout and beat Jaroslav Halak on a deke for his third goal on four attempts this season in the tiebreaker. Reto Berra turned aside TJ Oshie, Derek Roy and Magnus Paajarvi in the shootout to earn the win. Mark Giordano forced overtime by scoring the tying goal with 5 seconds left in the third period. Jiri Hudler and Mike Cammalleri also scored for Calgary (14-17-6), which snapped a three-game losing streak. Kevin Shattenkirk, Jaden Schwartz and Paajarvi scored for the Blues (24-7-5), who are 5-1-2 in their last eight.

DUCKS 3, CAPITALS 2 Hampus Lindholm scored the winner at 14:24 of the third period and Anaheim rallied past Washington in coach Bruce Boudreau’s return to the Verizon Center. Andrew Cogliano had a goal and an assist, and Saku Koivu added a goal for Anaheim.

The Ducks (27-7-5) extended their franchise-best winning streak to nine games and lead the NHL with 58 points. A potential tying goal on a shot by

EDMONTON: Members of the Edmonton Oilers mix it up with members of the Winnipeg Jets during an NHL game at Rexall Place on December 23, 2013 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. — AFP

NHL results/standings Buffalo 2, Phoenix 1 (OT); NY Rangers 2, Toronto 1 (SO); Anaheim 3, Washington 2; Columbus 4, Carolina 3; Ottawa 5, Pittsburgh 0; NY Islanders 3, Detroit 0; Tampa Bay 6, Florida 1; Philadelphia 4, Minnesota 1; Chicago 5, New Jersey 2; Boston 6, Nashville 2; Calgary 4, St. Louis 3 (SO); Edmonton 6, Winnipeg 2; Dallas 5, Los Angeles 2; San Jose 5, Colorado 4 (SO).

Western Conference Pacific Division W L OTL GF Anaheim 27 7 5 127 Los Angeles 25 9 4 106 San Jose 23 8 6 121 Vancouver 22 11 6 106 Phoenix 19 10 7 111 Calgary 14 17 6 95 Edmonton 12 24 3 101 Central Division Chicago 26 7 6 145 St. Louis 24 7 5 128 Colorado 23 10 3 106 Minnesota 20 14 5 88 Dallas 18 12 6 106 Winnipeg 16 18 5 103 Nashville 16 17 4 85

GA 98 76 94 93 110 118 135

PTS 59 54 52 50 45 34 27

107 85 88 96 107 116 109

58 53 49 45 42 37 36

Alex Ovechkin that hit the crossbar and landed just outside the line with about three minutes left was reviewed and ruled no goal. Anaheim’s Jonas Hiller had 16 saves. Mikhail Grabovski and Nicklas Backstrom scored for Washington.

BLUE JACKETS 4, HURRICANES 3 Ryan Johansen and Jack Skille scored 1:28 apart late in the third period to rally Columbus over Carolina. Jeff Skinner scored two goals and Alexander Semin gave Carolina the lead midway through the third period before Columbus came back to win. Columbus also got goals from Artem Anisimov and Corey Tropp as the Blue Jackets beat Carolina for the sixth straight time. Mike McKenna, playing his fourth game with the Blue Jackets, made 30 saves to earn his first win of the season.

SENATORS 5, PENGUINS 0 Craig Anderson made 27 saves for his second shutout of the season and Ottawa defeated Pittsburgh to snap Marc-Andre Fleury’s five-game winning streak. The game was close after two periods but the Senators dominated the Penguins in the third outshooting them 15-9 while getting goals from Erik Karlsson, Kyle Turris and Cory Conacher.

Zack Smith and Bobby Ryan also scored for the Senators and Anderson earned the 24th shutout of his career. Fleury finished with 24 saves for the Penguins.

OILERS 6, JETS 2 Taylor Hall had a goal and two assists and Edmonton snapped a season-high six-game skid with a victory over Winnipeg. Jordan Eberle, David Perron, Sam Gagner, Nail Yakupov and Jeff Petry also scored for the Oilers, who had been shut out in three of their previous five games and outscored 246 during their losing streak. Mark Stuart and Andrew Ladd responded for the Jets, who have lost two in a

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division Boston 25 10 2 106 77 52 23 11 3 106 87 49 Tampa Bay Montreal 22 13 3 96 84 47 Detroit 17 13 9 99 108 43 Toronto 18 16 5 106 113 41 Ottawa 15 17 7 111 126 37 Florida 14 19 5 88 123 33 Buffalo 10 24 3 66 105 23 Metropolitan Division Pittsburgh 27 11 1 121 88 55 19 14 4 117 112 42 Washington Philadelphia 17 16 4 93 104 38 NY Rangers 18 18 2 88 102 38 New Jersey 15 16 7 92 99 37 Columbus 16 17 4 101 106 36 Carolina 14 15 8 86 105 36 NY Islanders 11 20 7 96 129 29 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L). row and have gone 3-6-1 in their past 10 games.

ISLANDERS 3, RED WINGS 0 Evgeni Nabokov made 23 saves for his 56th career shutout in New York’s win over Detroit. Kyle Okposo, Michael Grabner, Casey Cizikas scored for the Islanders, who have only won three of their past 17 (3-10-4). Petr Mrazek stopped 16 shots for Detroit.

LIGHTNING 6, PANTHERS 1 Martin St Louis had a goal and two assists and Tampa Bay extended its winning streak to five games with a victory over Florida. Valtteri Filppula had a goal and an assist and Victor Hedman had three assists. J T Brown added two third-period goals for Tampa Bay. Alexander Killorn and Tyler Johnson also scored for the Lightning. Ben Bishop made 28 saves for his 20th victory of the season.

Sean Bergenheim scored and Scott Clemmensen made 30 saves for Florida.

FLYERS 4, WILD 1 Wayne Simmonds had two goals and an assist and Philadelphia beat Minnesota to extend its home win streak to nine games. Luke Schenn and Claude Giroux also scored for the Flyers, whose rose above .500 for the second time this season (17-164). Mikael Grandlund tallied for the Wild, who fell to 2-7-0 all-time at the Wells Fargo Center. The Wild are 1-7-1 in their last nine road games.

BRUINS 6, PREDATORS 2 Carl Soderberg scored on a power play and had two assists and Jarome Iginla added a pair of goals to carry Boston past Nashville. Brad Marchand, Matt Fraser and Reilly Smith also scored for Boston, which gave coach Claude Julien his 400th career win.

Tuukka Rask made 32 saves for Boston. Craig Smith scored twice for Nashville. — AP

Top-ranked Wildcats roll over NAU 77-44 TUCSON: Nick Johnson scored 20 points, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson added 14 and topranked Arizona rolled over Northern Arizona 77-44 on Monday night to complete its second straight undefeated non-conference season. Arizona (13-0) played its second straight g a m e w i t h o u t i n j u re d c e n t e r K a l e b Tarczewski, but didn’t really need him, grabbing control with a 27-4 first-half run. The Wi l d c a t s d o m i n a t e d t h e s m a l l - p ro g r a m Lumberjacks defensively, holding them to 36 percent shooting while scoring 18 points off 23 turnovers. Arizona has won 27 straight non-conference games. Brandon Ashley had 11 points and nine rebounds for the Wildcats, who don’t play again until their Pac-12 opene r a g a i n s t Wa s h i n g t o n S t a t e o n J a n 2 .

Aaseem Dixon had nine points for Northern Arizona (3-8).

No 14 Iowa State cruise past Akron Georges Niang scored 15 of his 22 points in the second half, and No 14 Iowa State beat Akron 83-60 on Monday to match the best start in school history. Melvin Ejim had 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Cyclones, who improved to 10-0 for the first time since 1996-97 season.

DeAndre Kane added 15 points and 11 boards. Iowa State advanced to the final of the Diamond Head Classic. It will play South C a ro l i n a o r B o i s e S t a t e fo r t h e t i t l e o n We d n e s d a y n i g h t . R e g g i e M c Ad a m s l e d Akron (6-3) with 13 points. Iowa State erased

an early eight-point deficit with a 17-3 run.

Niang hit a 3-pointer right before the buzzer to make it 37-31 at halftime.

Iowa State scored 46 points and shot just over 55 percent in the second half, mostly on layups and dunks. The Cyclones finished with 42 points in the paint. With eight minutes left, Kane found Ejim under the basket for a dunk that gave the Cyclones a 70-50 lead.

Akron shot 40 percent in the half, but made just 5 of 18 3-pointers and attempted no free throws. The Zips were 11 for 35 from long range and 1 for 6 at the line for the game.

Dustin Hogue had 18 points for Iowa State.

Niang was 7 for 11 from the field and 4 for 4 at the line in his fourth consecutive game with at least 20 points. — Agencies

S P ORTS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

Photo of the day

RACING

Dynaste aims to fulfill Pipe’s King George dream LONDON: The Pipe stable has hovered up Grand Nationals, Gold Cups and Champion Hurdles, yet the King George VI Chase has proved frustratingly elusive for the all-conquering yard. Dynaste could well put that anomaly right on Thursday when the talented French import lines up against eight rivals in the traditional Boxing Day showpiece. Martin Pipe, 15 times champion trainer, revolutionized the complex art of training jump horses and on his retirement his racing empire passed into the capable hands of his son David.

The Pipes have come close before in the mid-season highlight-notably with Challenger Du Luc in 1997 and Madison du Berlais in 2009. And this season hopes have grown at Pond House on the border of Devon and Somerset that the grey Dynaste can finally crack the King George riddle. The upwardly mobile sevenyear-old vies for favouritism in the ante-post betting after an eye catching seasonal reappearance in Haydock’s Betfair Chase last month.

Challenging for the lead two fences from home Dynaste, under Tom Scudamore, was eventually held on the run in by Cue Card, who had the advantage of a previous run. Pipe junior is optimistic that Dynaste can

make up the near five length deficit with Cue Card come Thursday at a track where he landed a Grade 1 novice chase on the same card last year. “I only wish the race was tomorrow,” Dynaste’s handler told The Daily Telegraph last Saturday. Cue Card proved a popular winner of the Betfair for his trainer-jockey combination of Colin Tizzard and his son Joe. An enthusiastic jumper Cue Card dispelled any stamina fears with a comprehensive win in the Betfair dispelling doubts over his ability to see out a three mile trip raised by his performance in last year’s King George. There he made mistakes, weakening to finish a tired horse, beaten over 20 lengths by Long Run. Twelve months on he merits renewed respect and heads the ante-post betting, although on the flip side his yard has been hit by a virus and has sent out only one winner from 19 runners in December.

Tizzard senior though is upbeat, reporting of his stable star: “He’s done all his fast work. He seems in very, very good form and, if there was any more rain, I wouldn’t be worried at all. “I’m not concerned about his stamina. I think we put that to bed the last time.”

Last year’s runner-up, Captain Chris, was all set to try

and go one better but he was pulled out of the race on Monday after picking up a minor injury in a schooling session. Paul Nicholls is represented by Silviniaco Conti, who may improve on his third in the Betfair, and Al Ferof, who advertised his claims with a battling win up at Cheltenham in the Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase in November. The eight-year-old has had one outing since, seeing off his only rival French Opera in a Grade Two chase at Ascot. With last year’s winner Long Run, who wears a visor for the first time to help his concentration, failing to impress when a lacklustre fourth behind Cue Card at Haydock trainer Nicky Henderson could have a stronger candidate in the blinkered Riverside Theatre.

On the scoresheet at last year’s Cheltenham Festival the mount of Barry Geraghty warmed up with success in a high grade chase at Huntingdon a fortnight ago.

The horse he beat there, Champion Court, Menorah, and Mount Benbulben complete the nine-runner field.

Despite the pre-Christmas storms battering Britain Kempton’s clerk of the course Barney Clifford predicts the going for the King George will be no worse than soft. — AFP

Hawks overwhelmed by Heat MIAMI: LeBron James scored 38 points, Michael Beasley made two free throws with 9.2 seconds left to put Miami up for good, and the Heat beat the Atlanta Hawks 121-119 in overtime on Monday night. The Heat wasted an early 13-0 lead, then rallied from seven points down in the final 90 seconds of the fourth quarter. Ray Allen made three free throws with 8 seconds left in regulation to send it to overtime, after getting fouled by Atlanta’s DeMarre Carroll. Allen finished with 19 points, Mario Chalmers and Chris Andersen each scored 12 and Chris Bosh finished with 11 for the Heat, who played without Dwyane Wade and still beat the Hawks for the ninth straight time. Jeff Teague scored 26 points, Paul Millsap made seven 3-pointers on the way to a 25-point night, and Al Horford finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds for Atlanta. Kyle Korver scored 15 for the Hawks, who had a chance to win it at the end of overtime, but never got a good look. Chalmers used Miami’s foul to give with 2.3 seconds left, sending Atlanta back to the huddle where it used its last time out to draw a play.

high school. He became the career scoring leader in New York state, scoring nearly 3,000 points at Abraham Lincoln High School. David West finished with 13 points for the Pacers, who pulled away in the third period, when Paul Pierce was ejected for a flagrant foul in only the second scoreless game of his career. Indiana followed its only losing streak of the season by beating Houston and Boston by a combined 60 points, then blew this one open after a competitive first half. Joe Johnson scored 17 points for the Nets, who lost their third straight. Kevin Garnett, moving to the center spot after Brook Lopez was lost to a broken right foot, had 12.

BOBCATS 111, BUCKS 110, OT Al Jefferson had a season-high 26 points, and Kemba Walker nearly had a triple double as the Bobcats won for the fourth time in five games.

Jefferson was 12 of 23 from the field as the

Smith added 18 points and 10 rebounds. The Knicks also got a boost from the return of Raymond Felton, who had missed six games with a strained left hamstring. They earned their eight straight victory over the Magic. Arron Afflalo led Orlando with 26 points. Glen Davis added 20 and Jameer Nelson 17. The Magic have lost three straight and 11 13.

PISTONS 115, CAVALIERS 92 Josh Smith scored 25 points, Brandon Jennings added 21 and Detroit won for the seventh time in eight road games. Jennings also had 13 assists for Detroit, which went ahead for good midway through the first quarter and built a 21-point lead late in the first half. The margin reached 28 points in the fourth quarter as the Pistons rolled to their biggest win of the season. Kyrie Irving scored 21 points for Cleveland, which last lost four of five.

Cavaliers center Andrew Bynum was scoreless in

PELICANS 113, KINGS 87 Tyreke Evans made a memorable return, scoring a season-high 25 points and adding 12 assists to help New Orleans snap a four-game losing streak. The Pelicans pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Kings 36-23 to salvage their only victory on a five-game road trip. Evans was a major factor in the second half, scoring 13 points.

DeMarcus Cousins had 24 points and 14 rebounds for the Kings, who committed 22 turnovers in losing for the sixth time in eight games. Isaiah Thomas had 21 points and Marcus Thornton had 19. Rudy Gay made 2-of -12 shots and scored 11 points. Anthony Davis had 21 points and 11 rebounds for New Orleans. Jrue Holiday had 17 points and 10 assists, and Eric Gordon also had 17 points.

SUNS 117, LAKERS 90 Gerald Green hit six 3-pointers and scored 22 points and Miles Plumlee grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds. Plumlee added 17 points while having his way inside with an ailing Pao Gasol in the Suns’ third straight win. Marcus Morris added 19 points on 5-of-6 shooting from 3-point range for Phoenix, which held a 62-39 edge on the boards in their eighth win in nine games. Nick Young scored 19 points and Jodie Meeks 18 for the undermanned Lakers, who fell to 12 since Kobe Bryant was sidelined with a knee injury. Gasol, who sat out Saturday’s loss to Golden State with an upper respiratory infection, started but had little energy as Plumlee scored on alley-oop dunks, post moves and putbacks.

WARRIORS 89, NUGGETS 81 David Lee had 28 points and 10 rebounds for his ninth straight double-double. Stephen Curry, battling foul trouble much of the night, added 14 points in the first meeting between the teams since the Warriors, as the sixth seed, ousted thirdseeded Denver 4-2 in the first round of the playoffs last spring. Klay Thompson scored eight of his 13 points in the fourth quarter, helping Golden State overcome a fourth-quarter deficit for the fourth time this season and sending the Nuggets to their season-high fourth consecutive loss. Ty Lawson had 16 points to lead Denver, which was outscored 25-15 in the final period. Andre Miller and Timofey Mozgov had 14 points apiece.

MAVERICKS 111, ROCKETS 104 Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter for Dallas. Houston cut the lead to six after a 3-pointer by Aaron Brooks with about 3 1/2 minutes left, but Nowitzki knocked down consecutive baskets to push the Mavericks lead to 107-97. Dwight Howard had 29 points and 15 rebounds for the Rockets, who were playing their second straight game without leading scorer James Harden, who was out with a sprained left ankle. Dallas started the final period by using a 9-4 run powered by three 3-pointers, including two from Jae Crowder, to push the lead to 95-82.

Jeremy Lin, who has been out since Dec. 13 because of back spasms, scored 20 and Chandler Parsons had 21 for Houston.

PACERS 103, NETS 86 Lance Stephenson scored a career-high 26 points in his hometown, Paul George also had 26, and the Indiana Pacers went on to their third straight easy victory. Stephenson, who recorded his NBA-leading third triple-double of the season Sunday in a rout of Boston, did most of his damage as a scorer, back where he did plenty of it in

MIAMI: Atlanta Hawks’ Paul Millsap (4) can’t make a shot as Miami Heat’s Chris Andersen (11) and Michael Beasley (8) defend in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game on Monday, Dec 23, 2013. — AP

NBA results/standings Charlotte 111, Milwaukee 110 (OT); Detroit 115, Cleveland 92; NY Knicks 103, Orlando 98; Indiana 103, Brooklyn 86; Miami 121, Atlanta 119 (OT); Dallas 111, Houston 104; Memphis 104, Utah 94; San Antonio 112, Toronto 99; Golden State 89, Denver 81; Phoenix 117, LA Lakers 90; New Orleans 113, Sacramento 100.

Western Conference Eastern Conference Atlantic Division Northwest Division W L PCT GB Portland 23 5 .821 Toronto 11 15 .423 5 .815 0.5 Oklahoma City 22 Boston 12 17 .414 0.5 Denver 14 13 .519 8.5 NY Knicks 9 18 .333 2.5 Minnesota 13 15 .464 10 Brooklyn 9 18 .333 2.5 Utah 8 23 .258 16.5 Philadelphia 8 20 .286 4 Pacific Division Central Division LA Clippers 20 9 .690 Indiana 23 5 .821 17 10 .630 2 Phoenix Detroit 14 16 .467 10 Golden State 16 13 .552 4 Chicago 10 16 .385 12 LA Lakers 13 15 .464 6.5 Cleveland 10 17 .370 12.5 Sacramento 8 19 .296 11 Milwaukee 6 22 .214 17 Southwest Division Southeast Division San Antonio 22 6 .786 Miami 21 6 .778 18 11 .621 4.5 Houston Atlanta 15 13 .536 6.5 Dallas 16 12 .571 6 Charlotte 14 15 .483 8 New Orleans 12 14 .462 9 Washington 12 13 .480 8 Memphis 12 15 .444 9.5 Orlando 8 20 .286 13.5

Bobcats (14-15) overcame an 18-point first half deficit. Walker had 25 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, and Anthony Tolliver had 12 points on four 3-pointers. Rookie Cody Zeller added a careerhigh 12 points. It’s the third time in the last four games the Bobcats have come back from at least 16 points down to win. Brandon Knight had 26 points and 14 assists to lead the Bucks (6-22), who have lost five of their last six games.

KNICKS 103, MAGIC 98 Carmelo Anthony had 19 points before leaving the game with a sprained left ankle in the third quarter. New York led by 25 points before having its lead cut all the way to a point in the fourth quarter. Beno Udrih hit six straight free-throws in the final 26 seconds to help preserve the win. J R

22 minutes, missing all 11 shots from the field and getting seven rebounds. Detroit is 6-10 on its own court and was coming off home losses to Charlotte and Houston, but took control early.

Tony Parker had 26 points and eight assists for San Antonio. Manu Ginobili had 18 points and Danny Green was 4 for 6 on 3-pointers in scoring 14 points for San Antonio (21-7). Kawhi Leonard added 13 points and 10 rebounds after missing Saturday’s game due to a dental procedure. Kyle Lowry and Terrence Ross had 23 points each and DeMar DeRozan added 13 points for Toronto (1115). The Raptors had won two straight and four of five entering Monday’s game. They got within three or less on numerous occasions in the second half, but couldn’t complete the rallies against the Spurs. — AP

Dawid Godziek performs a 360 doublebar spin at his backyard in Suszec, Poland on October 23rd 2013. —www.redbullcontentpool.com

Federer at a crossroads Serena eyes history PARIS: Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray open the 2014 season in Abu Dhabi tomorrow with Roger Federer hoping his absence isn’t an indicator of more misery ahead. World number one Nadal provided the comeback story of 2013, winning 10 titles, including a record eighth French Open and a second US Open which took his majors haul to 13. Djokovic defended his Australian Open crown while Murray claimed Britain’s first Wimbledon mens’ title in 77 years.

But while the big three start their new campaigns with a leisurely three-day stroll in the Gulf, record 17-time major winner Federer begins his 17th season as a professional in Brisbane and with his career at a crossroads. In 2013, the world number six failed to reach a Grand Slam final for the first time since 2002 and his second-round defeat at Wimbledon ended his run of 36 consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final appearances. Federer will turn 33 in August but is acutely aware that his great hero, Pete Sampras, quit at 31 and at the top of his game, having secured a fifth US Open.

His record against the sport’s big three also makes for worrying reading-he is 1022 against Nadal having lost all four matches against the great Spaniard this year and 9-11 when up against Murray, losing their one clash in 2013. He is still ahead in his rivalry with Djokovic at 16-15 but lost both their meetings this year while the Serb has taken six of their last eight matches. The Swiss goes into 2014 having severed his ties with long-time coach Paul Annacone, one of a number of players to have tweaked their back-up teams over the winter. “For me, it’s pretty simple: this is what I used to do as a little boy. It’s something that always is there in your DNA,” said Federer, who will be playing a warm-up tournament in Australia for the first time in 11 years. After Brisbane, where he is top seed, Federer heads for the Australian Open, a title he has captured on four occasions but where he has fallen in the semifinals on his last three visits. Nadal missed the UAE tournament in 2012 as well as the Australian Open as he nursed a knee injury for seven months, but he had a recordsetting 2013, losing just seven times in 82 matches.

TITLES AND WEDDING BELLS The 27-year-old is now just four majors behind Federer and with five years on his long-standing rival, is widely expected to pass the mark of the Swiss whose last major was the 2012 Wimbledon title. Djokovic stunned tennis by hiring Boris Becker as his new head coach, a decision prompted by his desperate desire to improve a record that reads six Grand Slam titles but also six defeats in finals at majors.

As well as defending his Australian Open title, Djokovic also has another big date lined up for early in the new year, marrying longtime girlfriend Jelena Ristic to whom he got engaged in September. Murray missed the closing tournaments of 2013 to undergo back surgery and once his Abu Dhabi stint is over he will join Nadal as the leading attraction in Doha which, along with Brisbane and Chennai, opens the competitive season. “I know how hard it is to win the majors,” Murray, who lost his first four Grand Slam finals, told Sky Sports News.

“It may never happen again, I might not win another one but I just want to give myself the best chance to do that. Hopefully I’ll give myself an opportunity to win another one.” The WTA Tour starts in Brisbane and Auckland and will conclude with a new home in Singapore for the season-ending championships. Six of the world’s top 10 will be in Brisbane led by defending champion Serena Williams. The American will be 33 in 2014 but her rock-solid confidence and iron will are as intimidating as ever. Williams ended 2013 with 11 titles while triumphs at the French and US Opens took her Grand Slam haul to 17, one off the mark shared by Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova and just five away from Steffi Graf’s Open Era record of 22. Williams enjoyed a match record of 78 wins against just four defeats, claimed the seasonending WTA Championships title and became the oldest number one player. Victoria Azarenka, comfortably Williams’ biggest rival, also features in Brisbane as does Maria Sharapova who was forced to shut down her 2013 campaign at Cincinnati in August because of a shoulder injury.

Sharapova has hired Sven Groeneveld, the former coach of Monica Seles, in an effort to knock Williams off her perch. However, Sharapova has a 2-14 record against the American with both those wins coming way back in 2004. World number two Azarenka has won just three of her 16 meetings against Williams, although she split their four clashes in 2013 and for a second successive season took her great rival to three sets in the US Open final. — AFP

NEW YORK: File picture shows Rafael Nadal of Spain playing a shot during the 2013 US Open men’s singles final at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. — AFP

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

S P ORTS

Suarez dreams as race goes into festive overdrive LONDON: Few players have undergone the transformation from sinner to saint that Luis Suarez is experiencing this season and the prolific Uruguay striker is now dreaming of winning the Premier League with Liverpool. Liverpool went top of the table by beating Cardiff City 3-1 on Saturday, Suarez scoring twice to take his season’s tally to 19 goals from 12 league matches ahead of the busy Christmas holiday program which offers no let-up in the title race.

The Anfield club visit fellow contenders Manchester City on Thursday before travelling to Chelsea on Sunday and Suarez, who missed the opening five matches of the season following a ban imposed last season for biting an opponent, is a man reborn. “It is my dream, I hope to win the league and a big trophy with Liverpool,” he was quoted as saying on the club website (www.liverpoolfc.com) on Monday.

Suarez signed a new four-year contract last week and according to the Daily Telegraph newspaper is scoring goals “to make the likes of (former Anfield greats) Ian Rush, Roger Hunt and Robbie Fowler appear like they were occasional marksmen”. The race for the title reaches the halfway stage with four rounds of matches over Christmas and New Year including the weekend program which concluded on Monday with Arsenal’s 0-0 draw with Chelsea at the Emirates. Arsenal, who led the way from midSeptember until Liverpool went top on Saturday, remain second behind The Reds on goal difference.

With Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho extending his unbeaten run against counterpart Arsene Wenger to 10 matches, Liverpool head into Christmas as the top side for the first time since 2008. Unlike Germany where there is an unofficial ‘winter cham-

pion’, no such accolade exists in England but historically it is no bad thing to top the table at this time of the year. The top team at Christmas in the 21 completed Premier League seasons has won the title 10 times. Seven of the last nine champions, and all of the last four title winners, were first on Dec 25. The last team to be first at Christmas and miss out on the title were Liverpool in 2009.

CLOSE RACE This time last year eventual champions Manchester United held a four-point lead over Manchester City going into Christmas and were 11 clear of third-placed Chelsea but this season the race is much closer. Liverpool now have 36 points and the leading eight teams are separated by only eight points, down to champions United with 28.

Despite varying ups and downs in the first half of the season the top eight - Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, Everton, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United all have realistic hopes of finishing in the top four.

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta said last week: “Christmas is so important. Does it matter that this current team has not won the title before? No, it doesn’t. “What is important is that you get as many points as you can over Christmas. That’s what counts.” Following Monday’s game, Arsenal visit relegation-threatened West Ham United in a London derby on Dec 26, the same day as champions United travel to Hull City. Two days later, Manchester City host struggling Crystal Palace and United go to Norwich City. On Dec 29, Liverpool visit Chelsea while Arsenal make the long trip to Newcastle.

Everton have two home games to take a grip on

Barkley not for sale at any price: Everton’s Martinez LONDON: Everton manager Roberto Martinez has claimed that his club would not sell breakthrough Premier League star Ross Barkley even if they received a world-record offer for him. Barkley, 20, has been one of the most impressive performers during the first half of the season and hit the headlines again on Sunday when his fine late free-kick gave Everton a 2-1 win at Swansea City. The midfielder made his England debut in September and is being tipped for a place in the squad for next year’s World Cup, while Martinez has compared him favorably with Michael Ballack and Paul Gascoigne.

However, the Spaniard has warned potential suitors that even a fee comparable to the £86 million ($141 million, 103 million euros) that Real Madrid reportedly paid for Gareth Bale would

not be enough to prise Barkley away from Goodison Park. “Ross is in a moment of his career where first, he knows that he needs to carry on developing and this is the perfect place to do that,” Martinez said, in comments reported by several British newspapers yesterday.

“Second, he is a mad Evertonian and enjoying every single second. And third, we are in the middle of a season where we would never, ever consider disrupting what we have got in our squad now.

“It is not the right time for the player or the club to consider anything. Even if we got a Gareth Bale-size valuation we would never even consider it in January (when the transfer window re-opens).”

Everton are currently in fifth place in the Premier League table, two points below leaders Liverpool, and host Sunderland in their next fixture tomorrow. — AFP

Petkovic to take over Swiss job after Hitzfeld PARIS: Lazio coach Vladimir Petkovic will become Switzerland manager when Ottmar Hitzfeld retires from soccer after next year’s World Cup finals, the Swiss FA (ASF) said on Monday. “The successor to Ottmar Hitzfeld as Swiss national team coach is Vladimir Petkovic (50). The present coach of Lazio... signed a contract on Monday with the Swiss Football Association,” the ASF said on its website (www.football.ch).

Sarajevo-born Petkovic’s contract starts on July 1, 2014 and runs until the end of 2015 but it will be extended through Euro 2016 in France if Switzerland qualify for the tournament. Petkovic will take over a national team that has blossomed under 64-year-old German Hitzfeld to the point where the Swiss are one of the seeds for the 2014 Brazil World Cup where they will play Ecuador, France and Honduras in Group E. “I’m fully aware that on the one hand I have a hard act to follow, but on the other I’m taking on a really well-established team with good prospects,” Petkovic said.

“This is all the more important since we

won’t have the chance to play an international match (after I take over as coach) before the start of the Euro qualifiers.” FIFA’s August international date has been removed from the calendar from the 2014/15 season. The draw for the Euro qualifiers will be made in February. Petkovic, who calls himself Swiss and CroatianBosnian according to the ASF, played as a midfielder in several teams in the former Yugoslavia before emigrating to Switzerland in 1987 where he played for Sion, Bellinzona and Locarno.

He also worked at at Bellinzona as manager before coaching Young Boys, Turkish side Samsunspor and Sion. He joined Rome-based Lazio in Serie A last year and led them to an Italian Cup success in his first season in charge. Hitzfeld, a seasoned coach who has worked at Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund and steered both clubs to the Champions League crown, has built a multi-ethnic Switzerland squad that should fit well with Petkovic since he took charge in 2008. — Reuters

LONDON: Arsenal's Mesut Ozil (left) is tackled by Chelsea's Frank Lampard during their English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates stadium in London. — AP

Liverpool’s Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez a top four spot, against bottom club Sunderland on Dec. 26 and faltering Southampton three days later.

Spurs, with Tim Sherwood installed as head coach on Monday following last week’s departure of Andre Villas-Boas, follow up Sunday’s 3-2 win at Southampton with home games against West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City before playing at Manchester United on New Year’s Day. Being bottom at Christmas almost certainly heralds relegation at the end of the season.

Since 1992-93, when the Premier League started,

only one club bottom at Christmas has escaped the drop - West Bromwich Albion in 2004-05.

Sunderland have 10 points from 17 matches and face Everton and Cardiff City away before hosting Aston Villa on New Year’s Day. “We need to turn things around soon if we are to survive,” said Sunderland manager Gus Poyet. “We could do with Luis Suarez, he’s not bad is he?”, he joked after the Uruguayan bagged his 19th goal on Saturday - seven more than the entire Sunderland team have managed this season. — Reuters

Sherwood replaces sacked Spurs manager Villas-Boas Attacking style will appeal to demanding Spurs supporters LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur have given the inexperienced Tim Sherwood the chance to stamp his mark on the ambitious London club by naming him on Monday as head coach until the end of next season with their sights on the top four. The Premier League club have promoted their former midfield player from his role as youth development manager to replace Andre Villas-Boas, 36, exactly a week after the Portuguese coach was sacked following a humiliating 5-0 home loss to Liverpool.

“We were extremely reluctant to make a change mid-season, but felt we had to do so in the club’s best interests,” chairman Daniel Levy said on the club website (www.tottenhamhotspur.com). “We have a great squad and we owe them a head coach who will bring out the best in them and allow them to flourish and enjoy a strong, exciting finish to the season. “We are in the fortunate position of having within our club a talented coach in Tim Sherwood. We believe Tim has both the knowledge and the drive to take the squad forward.”

A technically highly-rated coach, the 44year-old Sherwood won the Premier League as captain of Blackburn Rovers in 1995 before joining Spurs four years later and staying until 2003 before returning five years later to join the coaching staff. Sherwood was brought back to the club by former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp who said this week: “...let’s hope Tim can get the job, he has great knowledge of the game. They have got a boy on their books who knows the game inside out.”

ATTACKING FOOTBALL Sherwood takes over a team on which Spurs spent more than the 100 million euros ($137.07 million) they got for Gareth Bale from Real Madrid in the close season on internationals like Roberto Soldado, Paulinho, Erik Lamela and

Christian Eriksen. Chairman Levy is known to be short on patience, having sacked seven manager’s during his time at the club, but Sherwood will hope his brand of attacking football can deliver a top-four finish and a place in next season’s Champions League.

That was the minimum requirement that eluded Villas-Boas with the former Chelsea and Porto manager losing his job despite taking Spurs to their record Premier League points tally last term when they came fifth and missed out on Europe’s top table. The Portuguese, who took over in July 2012, had been under pressure after a 6-0 thrashing at Manchester City last month following a 3-0 home reverse by West Ham United, who again won at White Hart lane in the League Cup quarter-final last week.

The disappointing 2-1 Cup exit was Sherwood’s first game as interim head coach but he engineered a 3-2 win at Southampton on Sunday to leave Tottenham seventh in the standings, six points off leaders Liverpool and north London rivals Arsenal. That result helped his claims to be given the top job on a permanent basis and Sherwood, a combative midfielder who played nearly 100 games for the club before joining Portsmouth, now has a chance to show what he can do in his first job as head coach.

Spurs scored three league goals for the first time this season at Southampton and Sherwood said: “I like to set teams up like that (to attack). There are no rules, there are different ways to win a football match. You have to do what you believe.” His former Tottenham team mates, Les Ferdinand and Steffen Freund, plus Chris Ramsey, are in a new first-team set which should find favor with the club’s demanding supporters who grew frustrated with the negative tactics adopted by VillasBoas. — Reuters

SOUTHAMPTON: Tottenham Hotspur’s English interim manager Tim Sherwood applauds to acknowledge the crowd at the end of the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton. — AFP

Boring? I know, says Mourinho after drab draw with Arsenal LONDON: ‘Boring, Boring Chelsea’ chanted the Arsenal fans at Jose Mourinho after Monday’s drab 0-0 draw in the Premier League, and the Portuguese coach did not disagree. “I agree, I’ve played against (Arsenal) 10 times and never lost, what more do you call me?” Mourinho, who once again won the tactical battle against Arsene Wenger at a rainswept Emirates Stadium, told reporters. “What are they going to say? ‘Funny, Funny Jose’? Ten times and they don’t win once.

“I think Arsenal fans should just be happy, Arsenal are doing very well, they are in the Champions League and they have every reason to believe they can be back challenging for the title,” added Mourinho. It was easy to understand the home fans’ frustration as their side missed the chance to move above Liverpool and return to the top of the table in time for Christmas.

Arsenal manager Wenger was also left frustrated after his 10th failure to beat Mourinho, feeling his side should have had a first-half penalty when Willian appeared to catch the ankle of Theo Walcott.

“I think it was a penalty on Walcott, 100 percent,” Wenger said. “After that we played with great focus and concentration but in the second half we couldn’t get the goal we deserved. “They defended well, we didn’t find our zippy moments. They were happy with a point and we weren’t.” After a barnstorming start to the season Arsenal have picked up only two points from the last nine available, and the scars of a 6-3 defeat

by Manchester City were still visible on Monday as they played without their usual freedom.

“Four games without a win doesn’t help (confidence),” Wenger, whose side also lost to Napoli in the Champions League, told reporters. “We were a bit edgy at the start of the game but in the second half we took control. “The defeats at Napoli and Man city left a little weight in our heads but we want to be strong enough to deal with.” Apart from Frank Lampard’s volley which

LONDON: Chelsea’s Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho is pictured during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium in London on December 23, 2013. — AFP shook the Arsenal crossbar and a late chance wasted by Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud, there was little in the way of goal attempts.

Mourinho, who left creative talents Oscar and Juan Mata on the bench, said that suited him just fine as Arsenal passed the ball around without penetrating. “Arsenal were playing Arteta to Sagna, Sagna to Arteta, Arteta to Gibbs, Gibbs to Arteta and my players were just compact and had no problems,” Mourinho said. “The public were frustrated because they were expecting goals, chances and saves but nothing was happening. We had one big chances and many half

chances, they had one big chance and no half chances. We played tactically very well.”

Mourinho also played down Arsenal’s complaints about John Obi Mikel’s bone-jarring tackle on Arteta in the first half, which referee Mike Dean ruled fair. “They like to cry,” Mourinho said.

“This is English football. It was a hard one, an aggressive one, but football is for men or women with fantastic attitude. “It’s true, there are other sports without contact. I respect them but football is a game of contact. “English football, winter, water on the pitch, sliding tackles at speed but be proud. I think the referee did well.” — Reuters

James scores 38 as Heat hold off Hawks in overtime

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

Sherwood replaces sacked Spurs manager

19

Blackhawks too much for the Devils

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LONDON: Chelsea’s Andre Schuerrle (right) fends off the tackle of Arsenal’s Bacary Sagna during their English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates stadium on Monday, Dec 23, 2013. — AP

Gunners frustrated in goalless stalemate Arsenal, Chelsea serve up bleak midwinter draw Arsenal 0

Chelsea 0

LONDON: A fixture billed as a pre-Christmas cracker was more ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ than ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ as Arsenal’s hopes of regaining top spot in the Premier League fizzled out in a turgid 0-0 draw with Chelsea. Nine days after losing 6-3 at Manchester City and having seen their title rivals steal a march on them at the weekend, Arsenal found themselves stifled by a defensive Chelsea side and hardly managed a shot on target. The home fans chanted “Boring, Boring Chelsea” on a rain-lashed night in north London but the visitors actually had the better of what few chances there were and will take greater satisfaction from a spiritdampening encounter.

Both sides moved up a place in the table,

Arsenal to second with 36 points, behind leaders Liverpool on goal difference, while Chelsea returned to the top four with 34 points, above Everton also on goal difference. It could have been even better for Chelsea had Frank Lampard’s first-half volley hit the back of the net rather than the underside of the crossbar.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who has never lost to Arsene Wenger in 10 meetings after Monday’s draw, appeared quite content to maintain his hold over the Frenchman.

“We controlled the game very well. There was one big chance for us and lots of half chances and for them one big chance and no half chances,” Mourinho told reporters. “It was a tactical match. A match that Arsenal wants to win but doesn’t want to lose and Chelsea wants to win but doesn’t want to lose,” Mourinho told Sky Sports. “The (Chelsea) goalkeeper (Petr Cech) was not in the game, we controlled the game defensively. We let (Arsenal midfielder) Mikel Arteta play the ball from side to side, we were completely under control.”

CAST LIST Fans who braved a howling gale and driv-

ing rain might have wished they had stayed at home to wrap up the Christmas presents.

Many home fans booed at the final whistle and their frustrations were shared by Wenger, who felt his side should have been awarded a firsthalf penalty when Theo Walcott was caught on the ankle by Brazilian midfielder Willian. “I think it was a penalty, honestly. If I am wrong I apologise but from outside it looked a penalty,” he said.

“Chelsea defended well, they were wellorganized and we didn’t find our zippy movements to play through the lines as we can do.

“But I think in the second half there was room to win the game. Overall they were happy with a point, we were not happy with a point.”

Despite a cast list featuring the likes of internationals Mesut Ozil, Eden Hazard and Walcott, it was a night for the defenders’ union to reestablish their authority after a flurry of highscoring Premier League matches in recent weeks.

With Liverpool, Manchester City, Everton and improving champions Manchester United ratcheting up the pressure on long-timer league leaders Arsenal, it was a chance for Wenger’s side to shrug off recent disappoint-

ments and reassert themselves before a busy holiday program. Chelsea were in Scrooge-like mood, though. The visitors, with the creative talents of Brazilian Oscar and Spaniard Juan Mata left to get a soaking on the bench, worked tirelessly to stifle Arsenal’s attacking verve.

Chelsea had the better chances in a tepid first half, the best of which saw Lampard crash a volley against the bar after being beautifully teed up by Hazard’s chipped pass. Arsenal then screamed for a penalty when Willian left Walcott in a heap, seconds after Chelsea midfierlder John Obi Mikel clattered into Arteta with what initially looked like a dangerous tackle but video replays showed was hard but fair. Chelsea’s Fernando Torres ploughed a lone furrow up front, forcing Wojciech Szczesny into a comfortable save, while Arsenal counterpart Olivier Giroud was also scavenging for scraps.

If anything the second half was more tedious than the first as the match descended into a tetchy midfield battle that briefly boiled over when Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic caught Ozil in the face with his studs. It took Arsenal nearly 80 minutes to engineer their best chance of the game but

EPL TABLE LONDON: English Premier League table after yesterday’s match (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Liverpool 17 11 3 3 42 19 36 Arsenal 17 11 3 3 33 17 36 Man City 17 11 2 4 51 20 35 Chelsea 17 10 4 3 32 18 34 Everton 17 9 7 1 29 16 34 Newcastle 17 9 3 5 24 22 30 Tottenham 17 9 3 5 18 23 30 Man Utd 17 8 4 5 28 20 28 Southampton 17 6 6 5 22 18 24 Stoke 17 5 6 6 17 21 21 Swansea 17 5 5 7 23 23 20 Hull 17 5 5 7 14 20 20 Aston Villa 17 5 4 8 17 23 19 Norwich 17 5 4 8 15 29 19 Cardiff 17 4 5 8 13 25 17 West Brom 17 3 7 7 18 23 16 West Ham 17 3 5 9 14 22 14 Crystal Palace 17 4 1 12 11 27 13 Fulham 17 4 1 12 17 34 13 Sunderland 17 2 4 11 12 30 10

Frenchman Giroud sliced a left-foot shot horribly wide from inside the penalty area, the cue for many fans to head for the exits on a cold and night. — Reuters

49ers down Falcons SAN FRANCISCO: On a night they cheered “The Catch” and all the San Francisco greats of old, the current 49ers looked ready to move that success right into the future at a flashy new stadium. In one emphatic finish, NaVorro Bowman, Colin Kaepernick and the Niners sealed their postseason berth in a ceremonious regular-season farewell for Candlestick Park. Bowman returned an interception 89 yards for a touchdown with 1:10 remaining, and the 49ers clinched a playoff spot with a wild 34-24 victory against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night in the likely final game at The Stick.

“That’s been the best thing I’ve ever seen happen in a football game,” coach Jim Harbaugh said.

“Might’ve been close to ‘The Catch.’” Tramaine Brock broke up a pass intended for Harry Douglas and Bowman got his hands on the ball and took off. He was joined in the end zone by his teammates for a jubilant dog pile. “I always say a lot of plays are made when you run to the ball,” Bowman said. “That’s all I was doing was just running to the ball, trying to make a tackle, and it popped up and I was able to make a play for my team.”

Matt Ryan threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Roddy White with 8:42 remaining and a 2-yard score to Tony Gonzalez with 2:09 left as the Falcons (4-11) made things interesting until the end. Atlanta’s Jason Snelling recovered the ensuing onside kick as the

Falcons got the ball back and were driving for a potential go-ahead score when San Francisco (11-4) capitalized with one of its biggest takeaways yet.

“When we got the onside kick at the end, we had a great opportunity to win but it wasn’t meant to be,” Ryan said. “Sometimes the ball bounces in the other direction. That’s been the case for us.” Kaepernick ran for a 4-yard touchdown and threw a 10-yard TD pass to Anquan Boldin, and Frank Gore scored on a 1-yard touchdown run as the 49ers used a big second half to clinch a third straight playoff season and fifth consecutive victory. They put up 169 yards in the third quarter after managing just 113 in the first half as the sellout crowd fell momentarily quiet.

San Francisco still has a slim chance at winning a third consecutive NFC West crown and earning a firstround bye if St. Louis wins at Seattle and the 49ers beat Arizona on the road. They can win the NFC’s top seed with the same scenario, plus a Carolina loss at Atlanta. During an evening of fanfare and famous faces for Candlestick’s ceremonious farewell, Kaepernick took charge as his team made good on Harbaugh’s mantra for the week: “We don’t want to be the guys who screw up the final game in Candlestick.”

“Best birthday present I’ve ever gotten, second only to being born,” quipped Harbaugh on his 50th birthday. “That was awesome.” Boldin had a 10-yard

touchdown catch that tied it at 10 with 12:03 left in the third, and Kaepernick ran for a score early in the fourth. This rematch of the NFC championship game featuring teams headed in opposite directions was another thriller. The 49ers won 28-24 last January in Atlanta to return to the Super Bowl for the first time in 18 years.

Boldin caught six passes for 72 yards and went over 1,000 yards receiving for the sixth time in his career and first since 2009. With the future of the 49ers on display, there were plenty of glimpses to the past - and five Super Bowl titles. “There’s a lot of history in this stadium,” Bowman said. “For this to be the last game, we cannot leave it with an L. So I’m glad we got the W.” Joe Montana’s winning touchdown pass to Dwight Clark - dubbed “The Catch” - was celebrated at halftime as the No 1 moment during a top-10 countdown during each home game this year.

The special spot in the right corner of the north end zone was marked with a gold dot. That victory in the NFC championship game after the 1981 season sent San Francisco to its first Super Bowl title. The 49ers are set to move into $1.2 billion Levi’s Stadium at team headquarters in Santa Clara while Candlestick waits out its implosion day. White had 12 catches for 141 yards and retiring Falcons tight end Gonzalez eight for 63 yards in his final game back in the Bay Area, where he starred collegiately at California.

SAN FRANCISCO: Atlanta Falcons running back Steven Jackson (39) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers’ Ahmad Brooks (55) and Glenn Dorsey during the first half of an NFL football game in San Francisco on Monday, Dec 23, 2013. — AP

Business WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

Gulf issuance to surge in 2014, Abu Dhabi may return Page 22

Post-Soviet union ready for 2015 launch: Putin Page 23

Dubai Shopping Festival 2014 set to welcome visitors

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Japan approves record $922 billion budget Page 25

NEW YORK: A trader (L) works as New York City Ballet dancers (R) pose on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange after ringing the opening bell yesterday in New York. US stocks moved higher in a holiday-shortened session yesterday after a report showed a bigger than expected jump in durable goods orders in November. — AFP

US durable goods orders jumped 3.5% WASHINGTON: Businesses stepped up their orders for long-lasting US manufactured goods in November. And a key category that signals business investment plans climbed at the fastest pace in 10 months.

The surge in orders for durable goods, which are products expected to last at least three years, was the latest evidence of a rebound in manufacturing. The gains will likely provide support for the economy into 2014.

The Commerce Department said Tuesday that orders for durable goods jumped 3.5 percent last month compared with October, when they had fallen 0.7 percent. The increase was

led by a 21.8 percent surge in demand for commercial aircraft, which can be volatile.

Core capital goods, a category that tracks business investment, rose 4.5 percent, the biggest gain since January. This category is seen as a gauge of business plans to expand and modernize and as a measure of business confidence.

Last month’s rise in core capital goods, a category that excludes defense and aircraft, followed declines of 0.7 percent in October and 1.2 percent in September. It was the strongest gain since an 8.9 percent increase in January.

Demand for transportation products rose 8.4 percent, led by a surge in commercial aircraft orders. Orders for motor vehicles and parts increased 3.3 percent. Automakers have been enjoying a banner sales year. Orders for communications equipment shot up 13 percent. Demand rose 5.3 percent for computers and 3.8 percent for machinery.

Other reports have also signaled a strengthening manufacturing sector. The Institute for Supply Management has reported that its gauge of manufacturing activity rose in November at the fastest pace in 21/2 years.

Factories ramped up production and hiring.

According to the ISM gauge, manufacturing activity has expanded for six straight months after hitting a rough patch in the spring. A separate report showed that factories increased output in November for a fourth straight month, led by a surge in auto production.

The government said last week that the economy grew at a 4.1 percent annual rate in the July-September quarter. It was only the second time since the recovery began in mid2009 that annual growth has topped 4 percent in any quarter. Economists think annual growth has slowed to between 2 percent and

2.5 percent in the current quarter, reflecting a slowing in business stockpiling. But they are growing confident that the economy will gain momentum in 2014 as the drag from tax increases and federal spending cuts enacted this year fades.

Strong auto sales and a healthier housing market have boosted demand for steel and other metals, auto parts, furniture and appliances. Overseas demand for many goods has also risen as Europe has climbed out of recession, Japan is growing faster and China’s economy, while slowing, is still expanding at a healthy pace. — AP

US sales of new homes slip 2.1% WASHINGTON: Sales of new homes slipped slightly in November after a big surge the previous month. The figures add to evidence that the housing market is struggling to sustain the pace of its recovery.

Sales dipped 2.1 percent in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 464,000, the Commerce Department said yesterday. In October, new-home sales had shot up 17.6 percent, the biggest monthly gain in more two decades. October’s annual sales pace of 474,000 was the highest since July 2008.

The annual pace of new-home sales remains well below the 700,000 generally consistent with a healthy market.

Before the rebound in October, home sales had slowed over the summer. They did so after mortgage rates spiked amid investor concerns about how fast the Federal Reserve would remove its support for the economy. In November, sales of new homes dropped 26.6 percent in the Midwest and 9.1 percent in the South. Sales rose 31.1 percent in the West and 15.2 percent in the Northeast.

The median price of a new home sold in November rose to $270,900, up 10.6 percent from a year ago. There were 167,000 new homes on the market at the end of November, a drop of 6.7 percent from the October inventory. That would translate into

a tight supply of 4.3 months at the November sales pace.

Fed to cut $85bn in bond purchases Mortgage rates remain nearly a full percentage point higher than in the spring. Rates rose in May after the Fed first signaled that it might slow its $85 billion in monthly bond purchases. But mortgage rates have declined a bit after peaking at 4.6 percent in August.

The latest average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage was 4.29 percent.

The National Association of Realtors said last week that the number of people who bought existing homes in November fell for a third straight month. The lingering effects of the partial government shutdown in October might have deterred some sales.

Still, the government said builders broke ground on homes at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.09 million homes and apartments in November. That was the fastest pace since February 2008 and was 23 percent higher than in October.

The Fed announced last week that it will begin in January its long-anticipated move to trim its monthly bond purchases. The Fed said it would cut the $85 billion in purchases it has been making by a modest $10 billion. It indicated that further cuts would take place in coming months if the economy keeps improving. Long-term rates could head up after the OHIO: In this Monday, Nov 11, 2013 photo, a worker caulks the peak of a new condominium complex under construction in Pepper Pike, Ohio.

Fed pulls back on its bond buying. — AP The Commerce Department releases new home sales for November yesterday. — AP

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

BUSINESS

Gulf stocks bullish in 2014, economic risks to slow rise Markets still returning to 2008 peaks

HANOI: People queue for discounted products outside an electronic appliances store in Hanoi yesterday. Vietnam’s economy grew 5.42 percent in 2013, picking up speed slightly after its worst performance in more than a decade the previous year, according to an official estimate released on Monday. — AFP

Gulf issuance to surge in 2014, Abu Dhabi may return DUBAI: Bond issuance from the Gulf Arab region is set to surge next year on the back of heavy infrastructure spending and refinancing needs, while the Abu Dhabi sovereign may return to the market after an absence of nearly five years.

The region’s issuance of conventional bonds and sukuk fell to $28.97 billion this year from $36.90 billion in 2012, according to IFR, a Thomson Reuters unit.

That was partly because of jitters about the US Federal Reserve’s plans to cut its monetary stimulus, which widened bond spreads globally, and partly due to both Abu Dhabi and its government-related entities (GREs) staying away from the market.

Now the Fed has started cutting back and global markets are reacting calmly, however.

Meanwhile, billions of dollars of Abu Dhabilinked obligations are due in the next 12 months, and the emirate is expected to replace at least some with new paper.

“We think $40-45 billion could be possible next year as more non-government issuers come to the market and large sovereign refinancings boost the overall volumes,” said Klaus Froehlich, head of investment banking for the Middle East and North Africa at Morgan Stanley.

Development Co, which has $1.25 billion due in May, and Tourism Development and Investment Co , which has $1 billion maturing in October.

One constraint on the debt market may be the ready availability of bank loans. Lenders in the United Arab Emirates are extremely liquid after a sustained period of low loan growth, with a loan-to-deposit ratio across the UAE banking system of just 92.8 percent in September compared to a November 2011 peak of 102 percent, according to central bank data.

Asset-hungry local banks are complemented by international lenders willing to lend cheaply in the hope of securing fee-paying future business. This leads to cases such as International Petroleum Investment Co, which has been refinancing a $2 billion loan through about 12 banks. The facility is split evenly between three- and five-year tranches at 40 and 50 basis points over the London Interbank Offered Rate.

Such attractive terms in the loan market, even for five-year money, may remove the need to tap the bond market, said a UAEbased banker, speaking on condition of anonymity as he wasn’t allowed to talk to media.

Impending return?

The Abu Dhabi sovereign, which has $1.5 billion due to mature in April, has not issued debt publicly since its debut deal in 2009.

Factors behind its reluctance appear to include its substantial cash reserves, a long internal review of the borrowing practices of its GREs, and concern about fellow emirate Dubai piling up debt. These factors mean a new bond to replace the maturing obligation is not certain next year.

“There would be a lot of investor interest in Abu Dhabi sovereign paper,” said Chavan Bhogaita, executive director for credit and alternative investments at National Bank of Abu Dhabi. “But the argument that they don’t need the money is quite powerful and I don’t think their position in this regard has changed in the last 12 months.”

Bankers have long promoted the benefits for local GREs and corporations of having a sovereign curve to price off, but large budget surpluses have made many Gulf governments reluctant to act upon this advice - only Qatar, Dubai and Bahrain are regular issuers.

However, this hasn’t stopped Abu Dhabi GREs, which enjoy strong ratings due to their state links, from issuing in the past, and some are expected to tap the market again in 2014.

Abu Dhabi National Energy Co (TAQA) with a $1 billion bond due in September - has already sent out an invitation to banks to pitch for a role on a 2014 debt issue, IFR reported this month.

Other Abu Dhabi GREs with obligations maturing next year include Mubadala

New borrowers But the increasing sophistication of regional firms and their borrowing habits means more first-time bond issuers are expected from the Gulf in 2014, continuing the trend of the last couple of years.

In 2013, the market saw new banks - Al Hilal Bank and Al Khaliji Commercial Bank - as well as corporates such as Batelco, GEMS Education and Topaz Marine issue debut deals, with the latter two showing other growing firms that successful financings can be completed in the bond market.

“What you’re seeing now is more issuers thinking of high-yield bonds, as there is a realisation that not only single A rated entities can issue debt but also lesser-rated or those without a rating,” said Froehlich.

Perhaps the most high-profile maiden issue expected in 2014 is Etisalat, which is said to be targeting the bond market to refinance a bridging arrangement for its purchase of a majority stake in Maroc Telecom.

Much sought-after Saudi Arabian issuance in the US dollar space could come from Saudi Electricity Co (SEC), which has chosen banks for a sukuk in early 2014, and ACWA Power, which has long talked about a debut deal. Overall, though, Saudi Arabian deals outside the kingdom are likely to remain thin on the ground. “A lot of international investors want to see more Saudi issuance, especially in hard currencies like dollars. But we haven’t had that because of the liquid domestic market in the kingdom,” said NBAD’s Bhogaita.— Reuters

DUBAI: Gulf Arab stock markets will stay bullish in 2014 but rises are likely to slow because valuations have become more expensive and there are threats to the strong economic outlook, fund managers say.

US and European markets have regained peaks hit before the global financial crisis in 2008. Gulf markets are still around 15 to 50 percent below those peaks - so they have plenty of room to continue playing catch-up. The region is gradually becoming a mainstream investment destination for international funds. That trend looks set to persist, with equity index compilers MSCI and S&P Dow Jones Indices due to upgrade Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to emerging market status next year.

But Gulf stocks are no longer as cheap as they were relative to the rest of the world, and some economic shifts may not be ideal for markets. So their uptrends are likely to moderate, and sectors may not gain across the board as they did this year.

“There should be some moderation in the scale of rerating” the Gulf markets higher, said Amer Khan, fund manager at Shuaa Asset Management, though he predicted “tangible and visible earnings growth” for the region.

Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, where the main stock index has risen 25 percent this year, will continue to benefit from growth in consumer spending and government expenditure on infrastructure and welfare. Banks, which account for about 30 percent of the index, may lead the market up. Although their profit growth is expected to be limited to single digits, analysts say interest margins have started stabilising after a period of decline, and firm US interest rates next year may reinforce that trend.

“We’re very optimistic on banks in the countries which have strong macroeconomic environments, so Saudi Arabia, UAE and Oman,” said Bassel Khatoun, co-head for regional equities at Franklin Templeton Investments.

But there are risks for the Saudi market. Labour reforms launched this year have caused hundreds of thousands of illegal foreign workers to be deported; while this may help the economy in the long term, pushing more Saudis into private sector jobs, for now it is disrupting some companies which rely on cheap foreign labour and driving up their costs. “There is upside in banks because net interest margins have stabilised but the top line could be affected by the potential slowdown in some sectors like real estate, construction, cement and retail,” said Ali Adou, portfolio manager at Abu Dhabi-based The National Investor. “Labour issues will put pressure on the market overall, especially on the construction sector. The impact of delayed projects will be felt for the next two to three quarters.”

While the government’s fiscal policy is still expansionary, the 2014 budget, released on Monday,

shows the government is starting to curb expenditure after years of huge increases; next year’s 4.3 percent rise in planned state spending is far smaller than the 19 percent leap envisaged by the 2013 budget plan, and the lowest increase since 3.5 percent in 2003. Lower state spending growth could slow the economy. The Finance Ministry predicted on Monday that gross domestic product would rise 3.8 percent this year, down from 5.8 percent in 2012.

Another threat to the stock market is the risk of lower oil prices; this would hit the petrochemical sector, which also accounts for about 30 percent of market capitalisation.

Saudi officials continue to insist there is no need to cut the country’s oil output to hold up prices. But that could start to change if Libya’s politics stabilise next year, boosting Libyan oil exports - and more importantly, if Iran reaches an international deal on its nuclear programme that allows large supplies of Iranian oil to resume.

A potential boost to Saudi Arabia would be a decision to open its stock market to direct foreign investment; the reform has been under preparation for years and could happen quickly. So far, however, officials appear to be in hurry to implement it and risk a wave of instability in the market.

Saudi Arabia’s market is trading at just under 15 times its estimated 2013 earnings. That is not cheap; MSCI’s emerging markets index is below 11 times and its MSCI ACWI index, which spans both emerging and developed markets, is around 14.

UAE, Qatar The UAE and Qatar will benefit next year from an inflow of passive foreign funds responding to their upgrades to emerging market status.

Economic and real estate booms look set to continue in Dubai, where the index is up 102 percent year-to-date, making it one of the world’s best-performing markets. Investor appetite has been boosted further by the emirate’s success last month in winning the right to host the World Expo 2020, which will justify new property and infrastructure projects.

Qatar has said it will step up spending next year on infrastructure projects that are expected to cost tens of billions of dollars in the next decade, many of them in preparation to host the 2022 World Cup soccer tournament.

“Qatar is still interesting. There’s so much government spending over the next five years and the market reflects good corporate growth and high dividend yield,” said Franklin Templeton’s Khatoun.

Big spending plans will not necessarily translate into strong stock price performance, however.

Qatar’s market, up 26 percent this year, is trading at just under 13 times estimated 2013 earnings, meaning it is no longer very cheap.

There is doubt over how much capacity Qatari companies have to benefit from the infrastructure

spending, much of which will go to foreign firms. In a report last week, Fitch Ratings said Qatari banks benefited from a supportive environment provided by the government, but rapid growth might run up against capacity limitations and asset quality problems. And next year’s inflow of foreign funds into Qatar and the UAE may not have a huge impact.

Analysts estimate each country may attract an additional $500 million because of the MSCI upgrade; Qatar’s market capitalisation is about $150 billion.

In Dubai, which is trading at more than 15 times 2013 earnings, there is no doubt that the economic outlook is strong - but much of that is already priced into stocks. For that reason, some fund managers are preparing for waves of profit-taking next year. A Reuters survey of Middle East-based investment institutions last month found a third expected to raise their equity allocations to the UAE in the next three months, but a third expected to cut them.

“We’re re-positioning right now towards more defensive yield plays with prospect for the first quarter,” said Marwan Shurrab, fund manager and head of trading at Vision Investments. “Expectations are that focus will continue on construction and real estate due to their ability to issue new projects and capitalise on the Expo 2020.”

Kuwait Kuwait’s market, up 29 percent year-to-date, has been among the Gulf’s disappointments this year and its performance in 2014 is likely to depend largely on its political climate, which will determine whether billions of dollars of planned economic development projects can actually go ahead.

The market rose over 40 percent early this year on hopes that an easing of tensions between the cabinet and a confrontational parliament would clear the way for the projects. But stocks then fell back as it became clear those hopes were premature and as political bickering resumed.

“There is a huge disappointment from the government saying it will implement projects but the actual spending is not coming through,” said Fouad Abdulrahman Alhadlaq, deputy general manager at Kuwait’s Al Dar Asset Management.

There was fresh political noise this week as Kuwait’s cabinet ministers submitted their resignations to the prime minister, which could pave the way for a cabinet reshuffle. The move seemed designed to avoid a no-confidence vote in parliament against the planning and development minister. “There are a lot of projects on paper - if they come true on the ground, it should have a huge impact on the market,” Alhadlaq said of Kuwait’s infrastructure plans.

Kuwaiti banks, which account for about 40 percent of market capitalisation, are expected to post earnings growth of between 10 and 15 percent next year, Alhadlaq said. — Reuters

ANAHEIM: In this Thursday, Nov. 28, 2013, file photo, Robert McCormick, 23, whose car is not big enough for a 60-inch HDTV he purchased from a Kmart store, talks on the phone while waiting for his father-in-law to bring his pickup truck in Anaheim, Calif. The Commerce Department releases the report on durable goods for November, yesterday. — AP

EXCHANGE RATES Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. ASIAN COUNTRIES 2.715 4.581 2.675 2.164 2.864 224.260 36.545 3.639 6.388 8.658 0.271 0.273 GCC COUNTRIES Saudi Riyal 75.590 Qatari Riyal 77.886 Omani Riyal 736.360 Bahraini Dinar 752.890 UAE Dirham 77.197 ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 40.000 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 40.510 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.322 Tunisian Dinar 172.410 Jordanian Dinar 400.300 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.902 Syrian Lira 2.020 Morocco Dirham 35.112 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 283.350 Euro 389.040 Sterling Pound 464.690 Canadian dollar 268.070 Turkish lira 135.740 Swiss Franc 318.370 Australian Dollar 253.460 US Dollar Buying 282.150 GOLD 20 Gram 231.000 10 Gram 117.000 5 Gram 61.000 Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal transfer Irani Riyal cash

UAE Exchange Centre WLL COUNTRY Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro US Dollar Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

SELL DRAFT 257.17 270.79 321.21 390.89 282.75 466.14 2.77 3.637 4.577 2.166 2.871 2.685 77.05 752.56 40.92 402.42 735.33 78.08 75.53

SELL CASH 257.000 271.000 321.000 393.000 285.000 469.000 2.800 3.800 4.890 2.600 3.400 2.760 77.400 753.400 41.100 407.500 741.400 78.400 75.800

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Rate for Transfer US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat

Selling Rate 282.700 269.510 461.550 390.375 319.945 746.465 76.945 78.500 76.255 398.510 40.993 2.160 4.567 2.652 3.632 6.379 694.370 3.745 09.800

Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit Chinese Yuan Renminbi

Singapore Dollar South African Rand Sri Lankan Rupee Taiwan Thai Baht

3.010 3.855 88.370 46.975

Bahrain Exchange Company CURRENCY Belgian Franc British Pound Czech Korune Danish Krone Euro Norwegian Krone Romanian Leu Slovakia Swedish Krona Swiss Franc Turkish Lira Australian Dollar New Zealand Dollar Canadian Dollar US Dollars US Dollars Mint Bangladesh Taka Chinese Yuan Hong Kong Dollar Indian Rupee Indonesian Rupiah Japanese Yen Kenyan Shilling Korean Won Malaysian Ringgit Nepalese Rupee Pakistan Rupee Philippine Peso Sierra Leone

BUY Europe 0.007365 0.456104 0.006068 0.047823 0.381665 0.041944 0.086169 0.008122 0.038973 0.309775 0.137426 Australasia 0.243982 0.225293 America 0.261024 0.279250 0.279750 Asia 0.003584 0.045180 0.034452 0.004378 0.000019 0.002629 0.003296 0.000257 0.083508 0.002978 0.002462 0.006407 0.000069

SELL 0.008365 0.465104 0.018068 0.052823 0.389165 0.047144 0.86169 0.018122 0.043973 0.319975 0.144426 0.255482 0.234793 0.269524 0.283600 0.283600 0.004184 0.048680 0.037202 0.004779 0.000025 0.002809 0.003296 0.000272 0.089508 0.003148 0.002742 0.006687 0.000075

Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Iranian Riyal Iraqi Dinar Jordanian Dinar Kuwaiti Dinar Lebanese Pound Moroccan Dirhams Nigerian Naira Omani Riyal Qatar Riyal Saudi Riyal Syrian Pound Tunisian Dinar Turkish Lira UAE Dirhams Yemeni Riyal

0.219875 0.021305 0.001875 0.009306 0.008447 Arab 0.745135 0.037504 0.000078 0.000187 0.395430 1.0000000 0.000139 0.022681 0.001199 0.728942 0.077119 0.074923 0.002171 0.167875 0.137426 0.076164 0.001287

0.225875 0.029805 0.002455 0.009486 0.008997 0.753135 0.040604 0.000080 0.000247 0.402930 1.0000000 0.000239 0.046681 0.001834 0.735622 0.078332 0.075623 0.002391 0.175875 0.144426 0.077313 0.001367

Al Mulla Exchange Currency US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal *Rates are subject to change

Transfer Rate (Per 1000) 282.800 388.900 463.500 267.850 4.580 40.855 2.162 3.638 6.368 2.681 753.000 77.050 75.500

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

BUSINESS

Gold up before Christmas but headed for big yearly loss NEW YORK/LONDON: Gold edged higher yesterday in the final session before Christmas as bargain hunters appeared after prices fell to six-month lows of around $1,200 an ounce. Volume remained thin as the majority of players tried to even out their holdings and avoid significant new positions ahead of the yearend.

“People are trying to avoid paying higher taxes than necessary for positions that will be marked-to-market at the end of Dec. 31, so there’s quite a bit of portfolio evening out that’s going on, so to speak,” said George Gero, a gold market

analyst and vice president at RBC Capital Markets Global Futures in New York.

“There’s also been some short-covering and bargain hunting that has emerged since we got to below $1,200 in the last couple of days.” The spot price of bullion was up 0.3 percent at $1,201.50 an ounce at 11:04 a.m. EST (1604 GMT).

US gold futures’ benchmark February contract was up 0.4 percent at $1,201.30.

Gold tumbled to six-month lows of around $1,185 on Friday after the US Federal Reserve said it would start scaling back its long-running monetary

stimulus program, which had helped drive the market to record highs above $1,900 in 2011.

Years of increased central bank liquidity and record-low interest rates encouraged investors to put money into noninterest-bearing assets and safe havens such as gold. But this year, gold down is 28 percent, ending a 12-year rally.

“It is clear in our view that gold can expect little in the way of support from Western investment markets,” HSBC said in a note. “Investors continue to lighten long positions, exit the gold exchangetraded funds or go outright short.”

Holdings in the SPDR Gold Trust, the world’s largest gold-backed exchangetraded fund, fell 8.40 tonnes to 805.72 tonnes on Monday, the lowest in nearly five years. Strengthening US data continue to weaken gold’s status as a hedge against the economy. US consumer spending rose in November at the fastest pace since June, data showed on Monday, while consumer sentiment hit a five -month high heading into the yearend.

“The broad consensus is that 2014 is going to be a better year for the global economy,” Macquarie analyst Matthew

Turner said. “There’s less risk of shocks because the euro zone crisis seems to have stabilised, some of the emerging market concerns seem to have faded, the U.S. is reducing QE and inflation is going to remain low,” he added. “Without a major shock, investor demand (for gold) seems unlikely to pick up.”

Among other precious metals, silver was flat at $19.41 an ounce. Spot platinum was up 0.6 percent at $1,331.24 an ounce, having fallen to its lowest since early July at $1,309.75 on Thursday. Spot palladium was down 0.4 percent at $690 an ounce. — Reuters

Finland looks to old foe Russia for new investment Opportunity to renew contacts with Russian oligarchs

KUWAIT: Al Thuraya winner receiving his prize from Venkat Menon, acting Chief Retail Banking Officer.

Burgan Bank awards first Audi R8 to its winner KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced that it has awarded Sabry Hamed Al Hajeej with his recent prize, the Audi R8 sports car, part of the Al Thuraya Account first draw.

The announcement of the bank’s recent winner took place amid a grand celebration that took place earlier at the Avenues Mall.

Sabry expressed his appreciation and excitement while receiving his brand new car from Venkat Menon the acting Chief Retail Banking Officer, who welcomed and congratulated him.

Al Thuraya Account is the only salary account in Kuwait that provides its customers with the chance to win on a quarterly basis. The account aims at raising the frequency of customers winning one of the

world’s most admired sports cars.

Customers can look forward to the next draw taking place in March 2014 that will announce the second lucky winner.

Al Thuraya Account’s features range from the option to hold money in Kuwaiti dinar and any other major currency, access to account-related services such as standing orders, loans and credit cards and much more. The account has been further developed in response to offering more innovative benefits and increasing customers’ chances to win.

Opening an Al Thuraya account is simple; customers are required to visit their nearest Burgan Bank branch and obtain all the necessary details.

Post-Soviet union ready for 2015 launch: Putin MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that the final pieces were in place for the 2015 launch of an economic union with Belarus and Kazakhstan that Moscow hopes can also be joined by Ukraine.

Putin said following talks with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Belarussian leader Alexander Lukashenko that the so-called Eurasian Economic Union would turn into a new source of economic growth for all involved.

The new alliance would replace a much looser Eurasian Customs Union that Russia formed with the two exSoviet nations in an effort to build up a free trade group rivalling the 28-nation EU bloc.

“Government representatives of the troika (Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus) ... have developed the draft of the institutional part of the Eurasian Economic Union agreement,” news agencies quoted Putin as saying.

“This document determines the international legal status, organisational frameworks, the objectives and mechanisms of how the union will operate starting on January 1, 2015,” Putin said.

Putin has made the creation of a post-

Soviet economic union that could one day even be joined by nations such as Turkey and India the keystone project of his third Kremlin term.

Russia has put immense pressure on Ukraine to join the alliance and threatened economic sanctions against Kiev when it was on the verge of signing a landmark trade and political association deal with Brussels last month.

Kiev’s decision to spurn the EU pact sparked the biggest protests since the 2004 pro-democracy Orange Revolution and exposed the deep cultural rifts running between the nationalist west of Ukraine and its more Russified eastern parts.

But the size of those protests began to ebb when Ukraine agreed a $15 billion bailout package with Russia that also included a one-third cut in the price Moscow charges its neighbour for natural gas.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was not present for Tuesday’s meeting in Moscow but had earlier said that Kiev was ready to study joining specific clauses of the Russianled bloc. Kiev was represented at Tuesday ’s talks by Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov. — AFP

TOKYO: President of Japan’s auto maker Suzuki Motor, Osamu Suzuki, introduces the company’s new mini sports ulility vehicle (SUV) called “Hustler” at a press conference in Tokyo yesterday. The Hustler, equipped with a 660cc engine, will go on sale from January 8, 2014. — AFP

HELSINKI: For generations, Finland has lived fearfully in the shadow of its giant Russian neighbour, but today Russia could be the answer to the Finnish economy’s woes. As they creep deeper into recession, the Finns may turn east for investment, while trying to forget a century under the Tsar followed by two hot wars and a cold one against the Soviets.

“There might be some prejudices,” said Heli Simola at the Institute for Economies in Transition in Helsinki. “But these attitudes aren’t an obstacle for commercial exchanges.” Fresh data released by the Finnish government last week showed that the economy will contract 1.2 percent this year, worse than the 0.5 percent drop previously forecast. This underlines a need for foreign cash, and for Finland, which has Europe’s longest border with Russia, where else to look than east?

The military struggles of the 20th century have been replaced by the entirely different challenge to attract Russian investment. But it’s a struggle Finland may be losing. “Finland hasn’t met its goals. We haven’t managed to attract as many Russian investments as we expected,” said Kari Liuhto, Professor of International Business at Turku University.

According to Finland’s central bank, Russian investments between 2002 and 2012 amounted to 245 million euros ($338 million), fifty times less than the 12.9 billion euros from the country’s western neighbour Sweden.

Indeed, Russian investment in Finland is less than one tenth of Finland’s own 3 billion euros of investment into Russia over the same period.

Even if Russian money channelled through EU banks is added, “that doesn’t change the general perspective”, said Heli Simola, an economist at the Bank of Finland Institute for Economies in Transition.

Since late 2012, the government has launched a charm offensive to attract investment, par ticularly from Russia. But so far, Russians have remained unimpressed by claims that Finland is an EU entry point with a strong infrastructure and clear legal framework.

Russian investors “lack information” and “don’t know how to invest in Finland,” said Tuomo Airaksinen, head of the agency Invest in Finland. “They don’t know the legislation nor the risks. For many, the Russian market is enough for now,” he said.

Close yet complicated relationship To be sure, there has been some interest by Russian oligarchs and Kremlin-run businesses in their western neighbour. In July, Finnish Fennovoima picked Russian nuclear giant Rosatom to build a plant on Finland’s west coast

MOSCOW: Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (L) and his Belarus counterpart Alexander Lukashenko (R) shake hands as they attend a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, at the Kremlin in Moscow, yesterday. —AFP in a deal which was expected to give Rosatom a 34 percent stake in its Finnish partner.

A month earlier Russians bought one of Helsinki’s main spor ting arenas, Har twall Areena-which plays host to major international ice hockey matches including NHL premiere games.

Also, the Russian Internet search engine Yandex is building a large data centre in the eastern town of Maentsaelae, and in 2011 Russia’s state-owned USC acquired 50 percent of the Archtech Helsinki shipyard, one of the world’s biggest builders of icebreakers.

“Russia’s importance will grow. These projects from the last two or three years prove it,” Airaksinen said. Professor Liuhto at Turku University sees “a good lobbying opportunity” in the Hartwall Areena deal, since the resident hockey team, Jokerit, plans to leave the Finnish league to join Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League.

“It’s a great opportunity to renew contacts with the Russian oligarchs who come to see matches featuring Russian teams,” Liuhto said, adding that much business in Russia revolves on personal networks.

Finland has a long history of privileged yet

complicated relations with Russia, from which it became independent in 1917. While the Nordic country remained west of the Iron Curtain during the Cold War, it was par tially within Moscow’s sphere of influence and benefitted from preferential trade deals with the Soviet Union.

But today, closer economic ties with Russia are a sensitive issue for many in a country which still bears the scars of two major wars with their eastern neighbour in 1939-1940 and 1941-1944.

The Hartwall Areena purchase provoked strong reactions from ice hockey fans and many Finns are wary of Russians buying second homes in the popular east of the country.

And scenes of violent protests in Ukraine after Vladimir Putin’s Russia helped scuttle closer ties between Kiev and the EU only rattles nerves further. According to a survey commissioned by the environmental group Greenpeace, 60 percent of Finns are opposed to Russian participation in the Fennovoima nuclear power project.

But for those welcoming the investments as a much-needed boost to a struggling economy, old animosities should not get in the way when rubles could start rolling in from the east. —AFP

Bargain-hungry shoppers buy less on weekend before Christmas ELMHURST: US consumers shopped less on the final weekend before Christmas despite deeper discounts, the latest sign of how difficult a season this is turning out to be for retailers.

Shoppers also showed signs they will do more of their spending after Dec. 25 than they did in the same period last year, in hopes of snagging even more deals.

Analytics firm RetailNext estimated that US retail sales fell at brick-and-mortar stores over the weekend, which included two of the four most important shopping days of the season, compared with the same days last year. That does not include online sales, which have been strong.

The number of visits to stores fell 4 percent, RetailNext said. “Retailers recognize that consumers will wait as long as they need to,” said Charles O’Shea, senior analyst at Moody ’s Investors Service. Analysts have said this is turning out to be the most competitive holiday season since the recession, forcing retailers to ramp up promotions. The season generates 30 percent of sales and 40 percent of profits for many stores.

Major retailers significantly boosted the frequency of their promotions in the first part of December, according to data prepared for Reuters by Market Track, a firm that provides market research for top retailers and manufacturers.

Morgan Stanley analyst Kimberly Greenberg estimated in a research note that up to 85 percent of all goods at specialty apparel retailers were on sale this past weekend, compared with 75 percent a year earlier. She also said holiday season sales were likely to miss forecasts. Data firm ShopperTrak estimated retail sales fell 2.1 percent over the weekend.

Holding out for bargains Katrina Attis, who was shopping at a J.C. Penney Co Inc store in a mall in Elmhurst, New York, on Sunday, said she focuses on her immediate family before Christmas. For herself and other members of her family, she will shop next

week, when she expects bigger bargains.

“I’m doing my shopping on a budget, which is why I’m digging through the clearance bin,” said Attis, 25. Moody’s O’Shea, who noted bigger discounts this past weekend than in the corresponding weekend in 2012 as he did store checks in various cities, said the problem was particularly acute for specialty apparel retailers.

He cited teen apparel chain Abercrombie & Fitch as one of the stores with the most noticeable increases in price cuts. Rival Aeropostale Inc, which is trying to stanch deep sales declines, was touting up to 70 percent off everything in its stores on Sunday.

While electronics chains have benefited from best-selling items like Microsoft Corp’s Xbox One video-game console and Sony Corp’s rival PlayStation 4, clothing has been a harder sell, he said.

No. 3 US retailer Target Corp suffered from a 5 percent reduction in customer traffic over the weekend in the wake of a massive data breach,

retail consultancy Customer Growth Partners LLC said. Hackers stole data from up to 40 million credit and debit cards of shoppers who visited Target stores during the first three weeks of the holiday season in the second-largest such breach reported by a US retailer.

Some cheer Still, some retailers seem to be faring well.

Chad Hastings, general manager of Town East Mall in Mesquite, Texas, said the department stores in his mall told him sales this weekend were better than expected. The mall is anchored

by Penney, Macy’s Inc , Dillard’s Inc and Sears.

Retailers caught a break from Mother Nature.

Despite a winter storm that hit major Midwestern markets such as Chicago and Detroit, no event was severe enough to disrupt holiday shopping in any part of the country, said Evan Gold, a senior vice president at Planalytics, a weather consulting firm in Ber wyn, Pennsylvania.— Reuters

LONDON: People shopping on Oxford Street in central London on December yesterday.— AFP

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

BUSINESS

Mary Barra, a child of GM, prepares to lead it

DETROIT: In this Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, file photo, General Motors Senior Vice President Mary Barra, left, President of North America Mark Reuss, center, and Cadillac Chief Engineer David Leone react after the Cadillac ATS is named North American Car of the Year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Barra was named GM’s next CEO yesterday, making her the first woman to lead a US car company. — AP

DETROIT: When Mary Barra was born in 1962, General Motors was selling half the cars on US roads. In her booming middleclass suburb north of Detroit, the woman who will soon become GM’s CEO remembers pining as a 10-year-old for her cousin’s red Camaro convertible and tinkering in the garage with her father, a die maker who spent four decades at GM. In 33 years at GM, Barra has worked in engineering, communications and human resources. She’s gained in-depth knowledge of a company whose complexity contributed to its losing ground to rivals and, four years ago, a trip through bankruptcy court. In each stop, Barra analyzed the situation and simplified things. For instance, she streamlined designs by using the same parts in many different models.

One of her professors at General Motors Institute, now Kettering University, saw evidence of her managerial abilities early on.

“She was great in getting jobs done, putting a team together and making sure that it’s being done right,” Mo Torfeh says. “She was always the person who took charge.”

Now it’s up to Barra - the first woman to lead a global automaker - to ensure GM prospers for a new generation of 212,000 employees spread over 23 time zones. GM’s board unanimously approved her for the post two weeks ago after CEO Dan Akerson announced he would step down to help his wife battle cancer.

Strong new products Barra, 52, inherits a company that’s putting out strong new products and making money. Since leaving bankruptcy in 2009, GM has racked up almost $20 billion in profits. But it also faces intense competition in its home market and challenges in Europe and other regions.

Friends and colleagues say Barra has an unusual mix of skills. She’s fiercely intelligent yet humble and approachable. She’s collaborative but is often the person who takes charge. And she’s not afraid to make changes.

“When you put her in a position that’s completely new to her, she does an amazing job of getting grounded, understanding what’s important and what’s not and executing very well,” said Gary Cowger, a former GM executive who mentored Barra.

Barra, who declined to be interviewed for this story, has said she had an early aptitude for math and science. Her mother, one of eight children who never attended college, encouraged Barra and made higher education a priority for her and her brother.

“She was so supportive, not saying ‘You have to do this or that,’ but whatever you do, put your heart in it,” Barra said at Inforum, a professional development group for women, at an event in Detroit last year.

Barra joined GM at 18. She was a co-op student, working for several months at a time at GM’s Pontiac division while studying for her engineering degree at General Motors Institute, a Flint, Mich., college then owned by the company.

In a lab where students worked in teams to build electric motor controls, Barra showed natural management skills not often found in engineers, said Torfeh, the veteran professor who instructed Barra in at least two classes.

Barra was near the top of her class, but wasn’t the smartest engineer. Her people skills, however, were so strong that Torfeh thought at the time Barra would rise high in the male-dominated auto business.

Through the years, Barra stayed in touch with Torfeh. Last June, when she spoke at Kettering’s commencement, Barra took time to congratulate Torfeh and his daughter, who was graduating that day.

GMI was the training ground for many female executives in the auto industry,

including Diana Tremblay, a GM vice president, and Carla Bailo, head of Nissan Motor Co.’s research in the Americas.

It’s a man’s world Bailo, who graduated a year before Barra and serves with her on Kettering’s board, said it’s understandable how many of the women who started in the male-dominated 1980s became leaders.

“If you had the guts and gumption to stick that out, to say, ‘This is a man’s world and I need to blend in,’ that makes us some of the most adaptive people in the industry,” she said. Barra graduated from GMI in 1985, and GM eventually sent her to Stanford University to earn an MBA. When she returned, she rotated through a number of jobs, including executive assistant to then-CEO Jack Smith, a role often given to rising stars. She headed midsize car engineering and managed GM’s DetroitHamtramck plant.

Just after the 2009 bankruptcy, thenCEO Ed Whitacre put her in charge of human resources, a stop that isn’t normally along the CEO track. But in Barra’s case HR was key. GM had to keep talented people from jumping ship so it had bench strength to recover. Few people left.

In 2011, Akerson plucked Barra from HR to run GM’s huge worldwide product development, an operation he says was in chaos at the time. Through all the moves, Barra did the same thing she did in college - took charge and got people to work as a team, said Grace Lieblein, GM’s vice president of purchasing and a close friend of Barra’s.

“It’s almost always Mary who stands up and says she’ll take that on,” Lieblein says.

One recent problem she took on was the Chevrolet Malibu, a midsize car with roots back to GM’s pre-bankruptcy era. GM rushed an updated version to market in 2012. The car looked dull and sold poorly.

Barra and her team made fixes in under a year, something unheard of at GM. The new version reached showrooms in the fall and sales are up.

Barra does have holes in her resume.

She has little experience in sales and marketing or accounting, two key areas that she’ll have to rely on others to manage. But Whitacre said she’ll overcome any knowledge gaps. “What she doesn’t know she’ll pick up quite quickly,” he says.

Barra made $4.85 million last year, including a $750,000 base salary plus stock units. The pay for her new job hasn’t been determined, but it’s no longer capped by government pay restrictions. Much has been made about Barra’s gender. At the Inforum meeting last year, she stiffened when the issue came up.

“We all come to the table, we all work hard, we all bring out skills and that’s the way I’ve always thought of it,” she said. “I never went and said, ‘That happened to me because I’m a woman.’ Just don’t go there.”

Barra believes in balancing work and family. She’s been married for 27 years to Tony Barra, a technology consultant, and has two teenage children and a dog. She sometimes tells executives and engineers who are working late to go home.

Because her job spans so many time zones, there’s much travel and days are long. She’s on several corporate, nonprofit and university boards. She likes to go to dinner with friends, but after kid activities, there’s little time left for her own hobbies. “I don’t have a lot of free time, but that’s the life I’ve designed right now,” she told Inforum.

When Akerson announced Barra’s appointment as CEO in a broadcast to employees, many of them applauded spontaneously, Lieblein said. “I just thought, ‘wow, that is so cool,’” Lieblein said. “She cares about people and they know it.” — AP

ING sells S Korean ING Life Korea for $1.73bn THE HAGUE: Dutch banker ING yesterday said it has completed the sale of its South Korean insurance arm ING Life Korea to private equity firm MBK partners in a deal worth around 1.27 billion euros ($1.73 billion). But the Amsterdam-based banker reiterated that the deal resulted in a 1.0 billioneuro after-tax loss “of which 950 million euros were recorded in its 2013 third quarter results” on November 6. ING posted an 84.7 percent plunge in net profit for the third quarter on the back of the loss-making sale to MBK. Profits spiralled from 659 million euros in 2012 to 101 million euros.

ING is now left with a 10 percent indirect stake in ING Life Korea, equivalent to an amount of approximately 80 million euros in the company, which employs 1,000 people and serves 1.3 million clients.

The Netherlands’ biggest bank announced the deal on August 26, which forms part ING’s drive to restructure its business as it sought to finish repaying 10 billion euros in state aid, received in 2008 during the height of the financial crisis.

The banker has already paid back more than 11.5 billion euros on the state’s loan received in October 2008 and is expected to pay two more instalments each worth 1.1 billion euros by May 2015, ING spokesman Raymond Vermeulen said. So far, ING has sold business in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Latin America and Asia under its restructuring.

MBK Partners has offices in Seoul, Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong. It has around 20 companies its portfolio and more than $8.0 billion in capital under management. —AFP

S&P raises long term credit of Ahli United Bank to ‘BBB+’ MANAMA: Ahli United Bank B.S.C (AUB) has announced that on 19th December 2013 Standard & Poor’s, the world’s leading source of credit ratings, raised its long-term counterparty credit rating on the bank from “BBB”to “BBB+” stable.

Fahad Al-Rajaan, Chairman of Ahli United Bank said, “ The upgrading of AUB long term credit rating to BBB+ stable reflects the underlying strength of AUB Group and is a strong endorsement for its regional business model which has proven to be resilient and diversified over the years.”

Fahad Al-Rajaan

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

BUSINESS

Bavaria tries to woo back ‘bright minds’ BERLIN: Crying out for engineers and IT specialists, Bavaria is rolling out the red carpet to Germans living abroad to lure them back home to work in the wealthy southern state. With Germany’s lowest unemployment rate, Bavaria boasts a jobs landscape that many in Europe can only dream of-jobs left unfilled because there’s nobody there to employ.

With a title fitting for a movie, the “Return To Bavaria” scheme, implemented last year and financed by the regional economy ministry, aims to reverse the brain drain by providing a welcoming hand to badly-needed workers returning home.

“Bavaria needs bright minds,” chirps the Munich-based initiative’s website.

“That’s why the ‘Return to Bavaria’ initiative is looking to attract Bavarian and German top performers living abroad back home to Bavaria.”

More than three million expatriate Germans live in the 34 member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development alone.

The scheme targets countries with large populations of German citizens such as Switzerland, Austria, the United States or Australia.

Through conferences and roundtables, it aims to reach out and give practical support to potential returnees. If all that isn’t enough, “Bavarian Evenings” also serve up traditional pretzels, sausages and frothy beer as a taste of home.

“We also ensure personalised advice with support for the job hunt and for integrating in Bavaria,” said Kerstin Duebner-Gee, who heads the centre.

In practical terms, help can range from putting candidates in contact with potential employers, helping with

schools, ploughing through bureaucracy or finding work for spouses.

One or two ‘returnees’ a week “On average we have one or two candidates who sign a work contract a week,” Duebner-Gee said with satisfaction, having handled “several hundred” cases. After six years in the Australian city of Melbourne, German immunologist Gregor Lichtfuss is one of them.

With the help of “Return to Bavaria”, he has just signed a contract with a Bavarian company and told AFP by email that he enjoyed help on applications and on gauging salaries. “All the sorts of things you don’t have access to when not on the ground,” he said.

A lack of qualified workers, also felt in Bavaria’s neighbouring state of BadenWuerttemberg, costs German small- and medium-sized businesses more than 30

billion euros ($41 billion) a year, according to a recent study by US accountancy giant Ernst & Young.

To counter the problem, authorities and companies have instigated different methods, including employment schemes with extra training for those who fail at school, drawing mothers back to work and tapping into the young workforce in Spain or Italy where prospects are much dimmer.

But enticing Germans back to Germany is particularly cost-effective.

Although she declined to divulge the actual budget for the project, DuebnerGee said: “We don’t need to do a lot of publicity, the candidates are generally convinced they want to come back.” “For many, the idea is driven by personal reasons,” she added.

But Lichtfuss said he was not enticed

by Bavaria in particular. “ The most

important thing for me was to go where an interesting opportunity presented itself,” he said. If something better crops up, he said he would not hesitate to again up sticks and leave. But others resist the enticement-and job opportunities — having left Germany to find a new way of life.

“Our family lives here now,” explained Andreas Kafka, an IT security specialist who went to live in Melbourne two years ago with his wife and three children. The family likes the school system there and enjoys the pace of life and beaches. It would take a great deal to bring them back to Germany, they said.

“It would really need to be a super good offer, with a brilliant salary, all the move costs covered, private school fees paid, professional retraining for my wife,” he said in an email to AFP. “That’s quite unrealistic.” —AFP

China aim for 7.5% growth in 2014 as exports recover ‘Stability remains the watchword’

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) chats with Finance Minister Taro Aso at a cabinet meeting at Abe’s office in Tokyo yesterday. Japan approved its biggest ever budget yesterday, as an improving economy and a sales tax hike made room for more defence spending and the first step towards achieving a balanced budget. —AFP

Japan approves record $922 billion budget TOKYO: Japan approved its biggest ever budget yesterday, as an improving economy and a sales tax hike in made room for more defence spending and the first step towards achieving a balanced budget.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet rubber-stamped a plan that will see the government spend 95.88 trillion yen ($922 billion) in the year from April 2014, up from 92.61 trillion yen the previous year.

The figure is the largest in Japan’s history due to changes in accounting rules and a sales tax hike, which will rise from five percent to eight on April 1. The lion’s share of the extra revenue is ear-marked for spending on snow-balling medical fees and other social welfare costs.

Even so, the projected primary balance deficit-the shortfall between what the government gets and what it spends on everything apart from debt-servicing-is expected to shrink by 5.2 trillion yen to 18.0 trillion. That means Japan’s national debtalready the highest proportionately in the industrialised world-will continue to rise,

albeit at a slower pace. The government’s official policy is that Japan’s primary balance should be in surplus by 2020, although most analysts expect that target to be missed.

In line with defence policies announced last week that are intended to shore up the way Japan protects its remote islands at a time of rising tensions with China, military spending will increase for the second consecutive year. Overall it will rise 2.8 percent to 4.88 trillion yen, accounting for 5.1 percent of the whole budget. The bulk of the increase reflects salary hikes, with just 0.8 percent set aside for new fighter jets, drones and a new amphibious unit.

Until last year, Japan’s military budget had been shrinking for a decade, in contrast with China’s, which has seen double digit rises most years over the same period.

But that did not stop Beijing lashing out at the plans when they were announced last week, with a spokesman saying they “must cause concern to neighbouring countries in Asia”. —AFP

Foreign cash surge stokes Spainish property market MADRID: A grand yellow-brick edifice in Madrid’s poshest shopping district, the ABC Serrano mall is a Spanish symbol of tradition and elegance. Only it isn’t Spanish anymore. Like shops, offices, and apartments across Spain, it has been snapped up by foreign buyers, who are streaming back a year after economists were warning the country faced ruin.

“Since this summer there has been investment fever in Spain,” said Jose Luis Ruiz, an independent real estate consultant. “There are dozens of investment funds from all the major countries, such as Americans, Germans and British, who are focussing on Spain.”

Topped by a cupola and overlaid with blue tiles, ABC Serrano was formerly home to ABC, a leading conservative newspaper.

“It had become obsolete over the years but it still benefits from its unique location,” said Thierry Julienne, chairman of IBA Capital Partners, the international investment group that bought the building. “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to recreate a first-rate landmark in the socio-economic fabric of central Madrid,” he told AFP. Los Angeles-based real estate giant CBRE said in a report that investment in Spanish real estate has returned to the levels it reached before the crisis of 2008, when a decade-long building boom went bust.

Such investment doubled in 2013 to four billion euros ($5.5 billion) thanks to international investors, it said. Mikel MarcoGardoqui, CBRE’s director of cross-border investment in Spain, said the surge was driven largely by investment funds from the United States, Britain and France, plus rich private investors from Latin America.

“Lots of investors, mostly international ones, are coming back to the market, and that is driving a slight recovery in prices,” he told AFP. “There is lots of floor space available, the prices are starting to rise, profitability has improved, so they are coming back to the market very actively.”

In the residential sector, Ruiz said, “there are loads of foreigners-French, Belgians,

Dutch, British, Germans and lately Russianswho want to have a house here for their retirement, or as a second residence.”

‘Good fortune’ to be popular with tourists House prices rose by 0.7 percent overall in Spain in the third quarter of this year, the National Statistics Institute said-the first rise since 2010. The figure was hailed as a further sign of recovery after news that Spain timidly emerged from recession in the third quarter of this year.

But professionals remained cautious, even if prices are starting to rise in coveted spots such as the sunny coasts. Spain’s banks, which were bailed out last year with 41 billion euros ($56 billion) of international rescue funds, still have piles of cheap properties left over from the building boom, which have lost much of their value.

The overall rise in house prices “is a positive figure, obviously,” said Carlos FerrerBonsoms, a Madrid-based director at international real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle.

“But at the same time people are asking how it is possible when you consider how long the banks will take to get rid of the stocks they have.” Fernando Encinar, one of the founders of Spain’s leading property advertising website Idealista, estimated the number of unsold homes on the market at 1.5 million, casting doubt on the prospects for a sustained recovery in prices.

Nevertheless, he said, home purchases in certain areas and among certain people are thriving. Middle-class Moroccans are buying homes in Malaga and “the French are buying like crazy on the Costa Brava,” an eastern beach region long popular with the British.

Another increasingly common profile of buyer, Encinar added, is the so-called “Russian widow”, set up with her children in a house in sunny Spain while the working father stays based in Russia. The 2008 collapse plunged Spain into a double-dip recession, throwing families into poverty and driving the unemployment rate up to 26 percent.— AFP

BEIJING: China will likely stick with this year’s growth target of 7.5 percent for 2014 as top leaders balance the need to keep the economy on an even keel while pushing through necessary structural reforms, sources at top government think tanks said.

Growth will be supported by a steady recovery in China’s exports next year thanks to stronger demand from developed economies, the commerce ministry’s think tank said. The 2014 growth target was endorsed at the annual Central Economic Work Conference earlier this month, when top leaders pledged to maintain policy stability and reasonable economic growth at the closed-door meeting.

Prior to the Dec. 10-13 meeting, some top think tanks, including the State Information Centre and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, had proposed to lower next year’s growth target to 7 percent to create more room for reforms and discourage local governments from pursuing high growth rates.

Top leaders believe that maintaining the 7.5 percent target will help keep growth humming to create more jobs, while providing wiggle room to deepen reforms, government economists involved in the discussions about the plans said. “Two camps who proposed growth target 7 percent or 7.5 percent - made their points. But the government favours 7.5 percent,” said an economist at the State Information Centre, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.

Key economic targets for 2014 will be announced by the goverment during the annual parliament meeting in March. The world’s second-largest economy is widely seen growing around 7.6-7.7 percent in 2013, just ahead of the government’s 7.5 percent growth target, but still near the weakest pace since the Asian 1997-98 financial crisis.

Stability remains the watchword as President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang seek to put the economy on a more sustainable footing. Li said economic growth of 7.2 percent was needed to keep a lid on unemployment.

Beijing had maintained a target for growth of 8 percent for eight years before cutting it in 2012 to 7.5 percent. Some policy advisers believe the government may change the way it manages the economy by avoiding setting a specific growth target next year - in line with its pledge to allow market forces to play a decisive role allocating resources.

At a key party plenum in November, Chinese

SHANGHAI: An investor looks at the stock price monitor at a private securities company yesterday in Shanghai, China. Asian markets continued gains yesterday as US stocks extended rallies on growing optimism over the US economy. Trading volumes remained light ahead of Christmas. — AP leaders pledged to make the most sweeping changes to the economy and the country’s social fabric in nearly three decades. “The government has said it will not intervene in allocating resources, so it will be difficult for it to set a target on economic growth,” said Zhao Xijun, deputy head of the Finance and Securities Institute at Renmin University in Beijing.

“They can still refer to targets in 2013. To maintain stability means that economic growth cannot be lower than 2013 and inflation cannot be higher than 2013,” he said.

Stronger exports seen The government may also stick with this year’s 3.5 percent inflation target for 2014, but economists cautioned that price pressures could rise as China frees up energy and utility prices.

Annual inflation in 2013 is seen at 2.6-2.7 percent, below the target.

With developed economies showing signs of

sustained recovery, the government has more confidence in targeting steady economic growth next year, economists said.

The commerce ministry’s think thank forecast that China’s exports may grow at least 10 percent in 2014 thanks to improved global demand, especially from developed countries. “The external environment may show some improvements from this year. Exports could grow 10 percent or slightly faster,” Li Jian, head of foreign trade research of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told Reuters.

Exports are on track to grow around 8 percent this year. But the yuan’s appreciation, along with rising wages, is putting pressure on local exporters, Li said. The yuan has risen around 36 percent since its landmark revaluation in 2005.

“It’s very difficult for exporters to cope with the appreciation. Some firms have hit the wall,” he said. —Reuters

Asian markets higher after Wall St records HONG KONG: Asian markets extended gains yesterday following another record-breaking close on Wall Street, with Japan’s Nikkei tapping a six-year closing high as the dollar renewed its upward trend against the yen.

Chinese shares enjoyed a second day of buying, although there are still lingering fears about a liquidity crisis despite a cash injection from the country’s central bank. Tokyo added 0.12 percent, or 18.91 points, to 15,889.33, its highest finish since December 2007.

Hong Kong rose 1.13 percent, or 257.99 points to 23,179.55, Sydney closed 0.67 percent, or 35.3 points, higher at 5,327.2 and Seoul was 0.24 percent higher, adding 4.70 points to 2,001.59. Shanghai ended 0.15 percent higher, advancing 3.20 points to 2,092.91.

Manila was closed for a public holiday. On Wall Street the Dow and S&P 500 closed Monday at all-time highs yet again after fresh Commerce Department data pointed to a 0.5 percent increase in consumer spending in November, the second month in a row to see a rise.

An estimate of consumer confidence by the University of Michigan also showed an improvement in December. The news added to a run of recent figures showing a pick-up in the US economy-including data on unemployment and economic growth-indicating it is well on the road to recovery.

And last week the Federal Reserve gave it a vote of confidence as it said it would from next month reduce its stimulus programme by $10 billion to $75 billion a month.

The Dow rose 0.45 percent to 16,294.61,

while the S&P 500 advanced 0.53 percent to 1,827.99. The Nasdaq added 1.08 percent to end at 4,148.90. The dollar continued to benefit from the positive news out of Washington.

In afternoon Asian trade it was at 104.26 yen compared with 104.11 yen in New York. The greenback is approaching the five-year high of 104.63 yen touched last week.

The euro bought $1.3682 and 142.61 yen against $1.3695 and 142.58 yen. Traders are keeping an eye on China, where authorities last week said they had pumped almost $50 billion into financial markets to avert a cash crunch, which had sent interbank borrowing rates to six-month highs and left banks unable to borrow.

The turmoil came as banks and other investors scrambled for cash as they approach the end of the year, when they typically have to meet regulatory requirements and funding demands from companies.

“The negative sentiment toward China’s cash crunch has been eased after the central bank’s latest move,” Steven Leung, head of institutional sales at UOB Kay Hian, told Dow Jones Newswires.

However, while equities are slightly higher, analysts warn the problem may not have gone away just yet and will be looking to see whether the People’s Bank of China continues to feed the system.

On oil markets New York’s main contract, West Texas Intermediate for February delivery, was down 25 cents at $98.66 in early Asian trading. Brent North Sea crude for February fell one cent to $111.56.

Gold fetched $1,197.50 at 1048 GMT com-

pared with $1,195.04 late Monday.

In other markets: Taipei was flat, edging down 5.97 points to 8,450.49.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. fell 0.96 percent to Tw$103.0 while smartphone maker HTC rose 4.06 percent to Tw$141.0.

Wellington rose 0.96 percent, or 45.30 points, to 4,76794. Contact Energy was up 0.80 percent at NZ$5.06, Warehouse Group rose 2.74 percent to NZ$3.75 and Air New Zealand was steady at NZ$1.62.

Kuala Lumpur gained 0.14 percent, or 2.63 points, to 1,835.49. UEM Sunrise rose 1.8 percent to 2.30 ringgit, while Felda Global Ventures Holdings shed 1.8 percent to 4.37 ringgit.

Jakarta ended up 0.32 percent, or 13.23 points, at 4,202.83. State miner Aneka Tambang rose 5.88 percent to 1,080 rupiah, while retailer Hero Supermarket fell 1.92 percent to 2,550 rupiah.

Singapore closed up 0.36 percent, or 11.07 points, at 3,127.29. Singapore Telecom rose 0.56 percent to Sg$3.60 while vehicle distributor Jardine Cycle and Carriage edged up 0.14 percent to Sg$35.36.

Bangkok ended flat, edging up 0.99 points to 1,327.13. Coal producer Banpu lost 3.15 percent to 30.75 baht, while oil company PTT rose 0.70 percent to 288.00 baht.

Mumbai fell 0.32 percent, or 68.32 points, to 21,032.71. Private Tata Power lost 3.20 percent to 86.20 rupees while India’s third largest IT outsourcer Wipro slipped 2.10 percent to 540.30 rupees. — AFP

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

BUSINESS

Dubai Shopping Festival 2014 set to welcome visitors

Al Jawhara winner Tareq Salama receives his prize from Mohammed Al Othman, NBK’s Executive Manager, Consumer Banking Group.

Four KD 5,000 winners in NBK’s Al Jawhara weekly draws KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) announced the four lucky winners in Al Jawhara week ly draws during the month of December.

NBK has re -launched Al Jawhara account by offering customers more chances to win bigger prizes; KD 5,000 week ly, KD 125,000 monthly and a grand prize of KD 250,000 quarterly.

Tareq Mohammed Arabi Maghawri Salama, Heir of the late Abdulrasoul Abul Sadeq, Abed Razzaq Ghamen Saqer Al Qudhaiby and Musaed Mohammad Sultan Nayef each won KD 5,000. The winners expressed their gratitude and thanked NBK for its great services and promotions.

Al Jawhara is one of Kuwait’s leading

cash prize accounts offering numerous benefits to its customers. Not only is it an interest-free account with regular deposit and withdrawal privileges, it also entitles account holders to enter the weekly, monthly and quarterly Al Jawhara draws. Each KD 50 in an Al Jawhara account entitles the customer to one chance in any of the draws. All prizes are automatically credited to the winners’ accounts the day after the draw.

The more money held in Al Jawhara account, the greater the chances of winning. Al Jawhara account is available to both Kuwaitis and expats and can be opened at any of NBK’s branches in Kuwait.

Wataniya Telecom appoints Alia Al Faris as director of sales KUWAIT: Wataniya Telecom announced yesterday that it has appointed Alia Al Faris for the position of VIP Director in the Sales Division in the company. Her appointment will have a significant impact on the department.

Al Faris will assist in the development and functionality of the VIP department team and will enhance the level of its performance.

Alia Al Faris will be responsible for increasing Wataniya’s market share of VIP customers and productively managing the retention of the top revenue customers. To achieve that, she will be developing and implementing strategic market positioning and business development plans targeting VIP clients. She will provide leadership, expertise and professional advice on VIP clients to her team. Al Faris will ensure that growth and sales targets are achieved.

Alia Al Faris holds a bachelor degree in Political Science from Kuwait University.

She joins Wataniya Telecom with a

wealth of experience in the investment and telecommunications sectors, having held a variety of senior positions.

Prior to joining Wataniya, Alia Al Faris was board member at both Ajal Finance and Investment Company and Pearl of Kuwait Real Estate Company. She has held a Chairman position at The International Health Service Company, and a Manager of Asset Management at the International Investment Group. She has also worked for Zumorroda Investment Company as a Portfolio Analyst. Al Faris has also been an employee at Wataniya Telecom for eight years in the Sales Division as a Team Leader.

Wataniya Telecom welcomes Alia Al Faris again on board. She will bring her expertise to improve the level of performance in the VIP department which will enhance performance of the Sales Division in the next phase of the company’s growth. Wataniya is looking forward to a great progress in the division.

DUBAI: Dubai has unveiled the Calendar of Events for the 19th edition of Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), which will be held from 2 January to 2 February, 2014, setting the stage for highlighting the emirate as an international family tourism destination that offers unique shopping experiences.

The DSF 2014 Calendar of Events features a line-up of over 150 events and activities spread across the city at key DSF destinations such as Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, Al Seef Street, Al Rigga Street, and The Walk- Jumeirah Beach Residence. It features attractions in diverse fields from shopping to entertainment, fashion to lifestyle, and arts and culture including international shows, concerts, shopping promotions, and mega raffles offering prizes worth millions of dirhams, that is a true manifestation of the festival theme “Shop at your Best” aimed at ensuring it becomes the most memorable edition yet since the shopping and entertainment extravaganza was launched in 1996.

Unveiling the DSF 2014 Calendar of Events, Laila Mohammed Suhail, CEO, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, an agency of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, and the organizers of the annual DSF, said: “With all eyes on Dubai post Expo 2020 win, we are fully aware that we have to rise up to the expectations as DSF 2014 is the first festival after the announcement. We have made extra efforts to make sure that DSF truly lives up to its reputation as a festival for all by identifying a number of additional and special areas of Dubai to host the numerous activities to enable maximum exposure and opportunities for visitors to experience the vibrancy of this extravaganza and also reap its benefits. Indeed, DSF compliments Dubai’s position as the tourism destination of choice in the region by narrowing the gap between the tourism and retail sectors under a common platform where businesses in both sectors work together to give visitors an enriching and memorable holiday experience”.

Studies have revealed that Dubai is well on course to achieving its Tourism Vision for 2020 of attracting 20 million tourists and 300 billion dirhams in tourism revenues annually, of which a major share would come from retail sales. Retail purchases by visitors is set to reach almost 33 billion dirhams by 2017, accounting for more than a

quarter of total sales, which is expected to increase at 5.7 per cent annually over the period 2013-2017.

Laila Suhail DSF 2014 Calendar of Events The 19th edition of the Dubai Shopping Festival will get into full swing right from the opening day on January 2nd, ensuring that the festive spirit permeates throughout the city during the 32-day extravaganza.

From the DSF Carnival - the biggest carnival parade in the history of festival, to exciting fashion events such as the The Vertical Fashion Show done from mind-boggling heights, from spectacular fireworks to international concerts, theatrical and character shows that entice the visitors into a fun-filled journey packed with lots of entertainment and excitement, DSF promises to create unforgettable memories for families from around the world.

Other highlights Other highlights include Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour by Cirque du Soleil, the DSF Music Nights concerts featuring some of the popular artistes and entertainers in the Arab world including Mohamed Mounir, Nancy Ajram, Rabeh Saqer, Balqees , Mohammed Abdo, Hatem al Iraqi and Majid Al Mohandes, the Bedouin Lifestyle that will recreate the classic atmosphere of a bygone era and Carpet & Art Oasis, an exhibition and sale of some of the rarest, largest, and most unique carpets and rugs from around the world, as well works of art and handicrafts are also on display.

Further at the Al Shindagha Heritage Area, a wide spread of activities showcasing the rich Emirati heritage will offer visitors the opportunity to absorb the heritage and culture of the UAE through several activities such as traditional folklore groups, traditional weddings diving shows, traditional games and bands, a traditional souk, traditional food, marine-related handicrafts, a falconry show and a camel caravan.

DSF is known for its mind-boggling raffles and promotions and the 19th edition will be no different as it will be offering life-changing prizes and big rewards for shoppers throughout the 32day extravaganza including the Infiniti Mega Raffle that will give visitors the dream opportunity take home daily not one but two luxury Infiniti cars a cash prize of AED 100,000! DSF visitors can also win one Nissan car a day at the Nissan Grand Raffle while the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group will be running a multi-million dirham Gold Raffle offering shoppers the chance to win fabulous gold prizes and Diamond Solitaire rings every day.

What’s more, shoppers can also participate in a SHOP & WIN promotion to win a cash prize of AED 500,000 while customers who dine at participating food outlets in the DINE & WIN promotion stand to win a prize of AED 350,000 in cash.

Journalists from the regional media will also be honoured for their efforts at showcasing and creating awareness of DSF 2014 at the annual DSF Journalism Award. Entries for the Award are judged by a highly respected jury panel on an evaluation criteria based on the style of writing, quality of research, quality of content, overall presentation, creativity in news angle, and the overall impact of the story.

Eicher unveils the future of Indian trucking with the all new Pro series KUWAIT: Eicher unveiled its entire new range of future generation trucks and buses at an impressive product reveal function in Pithampur on December 2, 2013.

On display were 11 new products (both trucks and buses) covering the entire 5 to 49 tonne gross vehicle weight range.

While continuing to address the large sized value segment, the new range also marks the entry of Eicher brand into the emerging premium segment that requires higher power and torque combination as well as a greater degree of refinement and sophistication.

The all new product range has been named the Eicher Pro series. Adopting the most professional and holistic approach to modernise the Indian trucking industry, the new brand philosophy is to Go Pro; that is to give Indian trucking a truly professional offering which will lead to higher productivity, profitability and prosperity for the customer. Eicher’s new Pro series trucks and buses promise to deliver best-in-class fuel efficiency, higher loading capacity, superior uptime and overall vehicle life time profitability.

With a completely new Pegasus-based front styling across the product family, the new range of vehicles are a quantum leap in each and every aspect, from exterior design to engine technology to cabin features. The new heavy duty range of trucks revealed today will be powered by new generation engines adapted from Volvo Group technology with power capacity of 180-280 hp with high fuel efficiency, reliability and long life.

In a special message relayed during the event, Olof Persson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Volvo Group said. The trucks launched today are the embodiment of our joint efforts over the last five years. The vital combination of the Volvo Group’s world class technology and the frugal cost expertise and management of Eicher has created a range that will set new standards amongst customers with high demands on profitability, flexibility and driver effectiveness.

Speaking at the occasion, Siddhartha Lal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Eicher Motors Ltd. said, The Volvo Group and Eicher Motors came together five years ago with a vision to modernize the Indian commercial vehicle industry; and we are here today to present the most professional, holistic and progressive approach to Indian trucking. Our philosophy of Go Pro implies that our customers can truly work with and rely on a professional partner.

Eicher’s products, service and attitude are truly professional, and this enables our customers to become more productive, profitable and prosperous in their work and life.

In addition to other senior executives from Volvo Group, Joachim Rosenberg, Executive Vice

President, Volvo Group Trucks Sales & Marketing and JVs, Asia Pacific and Philippe Divry, Senior Vice President, Trucks Joint Venture India were also present at the occasion.

Delighted of the progress of the JV, Joachim Rosenberg, said, Today Eicher is considered as the 5th brand in the competitive portfolio of Volvo Group brands. It is an integral part of the Volvo Group’s strategy to expand in Asia and oth-

extremely excited today.

The Eicher brand has got a strong foundation with the most advanced manufacturing facilities and product quality, backed by an all-India dealership and service reach that is highly capable. In addition, the new Pro series will provide our customers the best end-to-end solutions for their commercial transportation requirements, Aggarwal added further.

er growth markets. With the launch of the Pro series of trucks by Eicher, our strategy in Asia gets further strengthened.

“With the improvement in infrastructure and road network in India, there is a requirement of more effective transport chains. The new Pro series of trucks being revealed today is in a prime position to meet these requirements”, Rosenberg added further.

Speaking at the occasion, Vinod Aggarwal, Chief Executive Officer, VE Commercial Vehicles Limited said, Today marks an important milestone in our journey to become a significant player in the commercial vehicle industry and these new products will play a very important role in reaching our goal. The entire VECV team is

The Eicher Pro series range will be launched in a phased manner starting February, 2014.

Commercial Vehicles Limited (VECV) VE Commercial Vehicles Limited (VECV) is a 50-50 joint venture between the Volvo Group and Eicher Motors Limited. In operation since July 2008, the company includes the complete range of Eicher branded trucks and buses, VE Powertrain, Eicher’s components and engineering design services businesses, the sales and distribution business of Volvo Trucks as well as aftermarket support to Volvo Buses in India. VECV’s vision is to be recognized as the industry leader driving modernization in commercial transportation in India and the developing world.

Apollo Tyres shares soar on Cooper deal uncertainty NEW DELHI: Shares of India’s Apollo Tyres rocketed by nearly eight percent yesterday on investors’ hopes that the company would walk away from a $2.5 billion debtfunded deal to buy US-based Cooper Tire & Rubber.

The proposed merger between Apollo Tyres Ltd of India and the much larger Cooper Tire & Rubber, would create the world’s seventh-largest tyre maker by revenue. But the transaction has become bogged down in labour problems embroiling Cooper’s US and Chinese operations, lack of financial information about the US firm’s Chinese venture and a worsening performance

by Cooper’s US tyre business.

The merger agreement, signed in June, is valid up to December 31 after which Apollo can drop the deal.

“The stock rose on the assumption that the company will walk away from the Cooper deal which will be a big positive for it,” Kishor Ostwal, managing director at Mumbai’s CNI Research, told The Press Trust of India.

Neither side has said they are giving up on the merger. But Mumbai’s Ambit Capital brokerage said in an investors’ note that if the acquisition falls through, “this could be significantly positive for Apollo shareholders”.

Shares of Apollo Tyres climbed 7.95 percent to 100.90 rupees on the Bombay Stock Exchange yesterday. Cooper Tire shares were down 1.18 percent at $21.75 in New York in pre-market trade on Tuesday-far below Apollo’s offer in June of $35 per share.

Apollo shares have surged 25 percent in seven trading sessions since it announced the US Delaware Supreme Court had ruled in its favour in its legal wrangle with Cooper Tire.

The takeover bid would be India’s biggest for a US company and had been seen as another sign of growing Indian interest in overseas acquisitions. But the deal landed in US court over charges by the US firm that its Indian suitor was delaying the transaction to wrestle down the offer price and was suffering from “buyer’s remorse”.

Apollo denied the allegations but conceded it would be tough at the initial offer price to find lenders to finance the deal due to Cooper’s problems. Apollo

insisted last week “it continues to believe in the merits” of the transaction. If a deal is clinched before the December 31 deadline, it would likely involve a significant cut in the offer price, analysts say.

But in a sign it may be giving up on the transaction, Cooper said on December 20 it “intends to pursue this case as an action for damages”. Indian analysts were unhappy about Apollo’s bid, saying it was paying too much for the US company and would be overloaded with debt.

Analysts have compared the proposed acquisition to a minnow swallowing a whale. Apollo had annual revenue of $2.5 billion in 2012 while Cooper’s revenue totalled $4.2 billion. — AFP

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

technology

Cover up in computer hacking case LONDON: Labour has been accused of a “cover-up” after refusing to publish an internal report following allegations of computer hacking by the son of a shadow minister.

Chris Vobe, a Labour councillor in Warrington North and the son of shadow home office minister Helen Jones, was investigated by police last year.

Ed Miliband, the labour leader, subsequently ordered an investigation and the Warrington North Labour Party was put into special measures.

However, Labour has refused to publish the findings of its investigation and Tory MPs are now calling on make it report.

In April the Crown Prosecution Service said there was enough evidence to charge Mr Vobe, but decided it was not in the public interest to do so. The Tories have written to the CPS asking them to review the decision.

The controversy follows the scandal in Falkirk, where the Unite union was accused of conspiring to rig the Labour Party candidate selection by signing up members without their knowledge.

Priti Patel, a Conservative MP, has written to the Labour leader Ed Miliband demanding an explanation of why the report by Lord Kennedy, a Labour peer, has not been placed in the public domain.

She said: “No one in the Labour party will take the need for transparency seriously but there is a huge public interest issue here

about the sort of tactics that people can get away with using.

“It doesn’t reflect well on those that have been involved in the investigation when they cover up a report like this.

“This is all about it transparency, and by keeping this report secret, it is clear that they have something deeply undesirable to hide.”

In April a spokesman for Cheshire Police said that a “full file of evidence” had been provided to the CPS before the decision was taken on whether to prosecute.

After the arrest of Councillor Vobe Labour central office despatched Lord Kennedy to investigate the party. He produced a report which Labour have refused to publish although it is thought the party is now no longer allowed to select candidates for the upcoming local elections without the clear support of the national party in London.

According to reports Lord Kennedy also recommended the party remove the Warrington Labour website and that audited accounts are to be filed with head office.

Vobe was contacted for comment but did not respond by the time of publication.

A Labour spokesperson said: “The Labour Party undertook an investigation into internal disagreements between members in Warrington.

“A report which made recommendations to help overcome those problems is now being implemented.” —-Reuters

‘Irreplaceable scientific data must be saved’ LONDON: Researchers at the University of British Columbia chose a random set of 516 studies published between 1991 and 2001 and found that all data from the two-year-old papers was still available but that the chance of it still existing fell off by 17 per cent for each year of age.

The paper, published this week in Current Biology, warns that scientists are “poor stewards of their data” and calls for journals to begin uploading information onto public archives so it can be preserved for the future.

Having access to the raw data of a study is vital in order for other scientists to asses, replicate or build on that work.

Data was requested from the authors of each of the randomly-chosen studies, but the researchers found that the odds for even finding a working email address declined by seven per cent each year since publication.

Tim Vines, a visiting scholar at the University of British Columbia and one of

the authors of the paper, said: “Publicly funded science generates an extraordinary amount of data each year. Much of these data are unique to a time and place, and is thus irreplaceable, and many other datasets are expensive to regenerate.

“The current system of leaving data with authors means that almost all of it is lost over time, unavailable for validation of the original results or to use for entirely new purposes. “I don’t think anybody expects to easily obtain data from a 50year-old paper, but to find that almost all the datasets are gone at 20 years was a bit of a surprise.”

Vines argues that papers with readily accessible data are more valuable for society and thus should get priority for publication.

“Losing data is a waste of research funds and it limits how we can do science. Concerted action is needed to ensure it is saved for future research,” he said.

NEW YORK: Chet Kanojia, founder and CEO of Aereo, Inc., shows a tablet displaying his company’s technology, in New York. Aereo is one of several startups created to deliver traditional media over the Internet without licensing agreements. —- AP

WASHINGTON, District of Columbia: A photographer takes a selfie from the top of the US Capitol dome during a tour of the dome in this December 19, 2013 file photo in Washington, DC. Self-portraiture has been around for centuries, but the global proliferation of smartphones with built-in digital cameras - plus the ability to share photos instantly on social media - has taken the genre to a new level. — AFP

With selfies, world turns the camera on itself Term of endearment for the self WASHINGTON: Stuck on a ledge halfway up a 1,000-meter cliff in Oman, his climbing rope sliced in two by sharp rocks, Jimmy Chin did what anyone else would have done in his predicament. He took a selfie. “I had some time to figure out what I was going to do,” said Chin, a National Geographic photographer whose images of extreme climbing by the Straits of Hormuz appear in the magazine’s January issue.

“That’s when I took the selfie,” he said. “It was one of those moments when, ‘Well, I’m a Nat Geo photographer’. I had to document (the moment). It was pretty classic.”

Self-portraiture has been around for centuries, but the global proliferation of smartphones with built-in digital cameras-plus the ability to share photos instantly on social media-has taken the genre to a new level.

With 2013 coming to a close, the publishers of the hallowed Oxford English Dictionary, arguably the final authority in anglophone lexicography, declared selfie to be their “word of the year.” “Selfie: noun, informal. A photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website,” according to Oxford. “Also: selfy. Plural: selfies.”

Internet search provider Yahoo meanwhile estimates that in 2014, about 880 billion photographs will be taken. That’s 123 photos for every man, woman and child on Earth. Many will be selfies.

Incredible sign In Britain, a survey for Samsung found that 17 percent of men, and 10 percent of women, take selfies because “they enjoy taking goodlooking photos of themselves.”

“I think ‘selfie’ is a term of endearment for the self, in a way,” said Sarah Kennel, curator of photography at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, who admits to taking the odd selfie herself. “It does reflect a kind of narcis-

sism in our culture,” she said.

US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron got tongues wagging when they took a selfie with Danish leader Helle Thorning Schmidt at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service in South Africa.

“What an incredible sign of the times,” children’s photographer Sarah Sloboda, author of the e-book “How to Take the Best Selfies,” told AFP. “That’s the kind of thing you can put in a time capsule to represent this period.”

No one knows if Obama and friends had even heard of Selfies at Funerals, an equally controversial Tumblr compilation of, well, selfies taken at funerals, mainly by young people.

“When a teen tweets out a funeral selfie, their friends don’t castigate them,” its founder Jason Feifer explained in Britain’s Guardian newspaper.

“They understand that their friend, in their own way, is expressing an emotion they may not have words for. It’s a visual language that older people even those like me, in their 30ssimply don’t speak.”

The year also saw Pope Francis in a selfie with teenagers at the Vatican, as well as pop diva Beyonce turning up in a smiling fan’s selfie in Australia, to cite a couple of Time magazine’s “11 most memorable selfies of 2013.”

From Los Angeles, gossip blogger Perez Hilton declared a pink-haired Miley Cyrus posing for herself in a skimpy Lil’ Kim Halloween costume his favorite among countless celebrity selfies over the past 12 months.

But there’s no need to be famous to become famous for a selfie.

‘Disservice’ to women Thanks to Reddit and other social media websites, goofy selfies of a proud twentysomething dad in the Pacific Northwest state of Oregon mimicking the faces of his newborn baby daughter went viral overnight.

Japan unveils 500 kmph bullet train TOKYO: Fast and Furious! Japan has unveiled its new “levitating” bullet train, designed to travel at speeds of up to 500 kmph, which has undergone its first test on tracks.

Japan’s first commercial model of a magnetically levitated train has been placed on an outdoor test track. Officials at Central Japan Railway unveiled the L0 model on Monday at its test track in Yamanashi Prefecture, central Japan.

The track is being extended to 43 kilometres to enable full-fledged test runs.

The 5-car train, towed by a locomotive, ran on the track slowly to check whether the train bottom has proper clearance from devices on

the ground.

Commercial runs of the maglev train are scheduled to start between Tokyo and Nagoya in 2027.

The train will travel at speeds of up to 500 kilometres per hour and will link the 2 cities in 40 minutes, NewsonJapan.com reported.

The train boasts a semi-square cross-section to maximise the interior space.

The final train will consist of 16 carriages carrying up to 1,000 passengers at a time, with plans underway to extend the line to Osaka by 2045, according to media reports.

The plan is ultimately to create a highspeed mass transit maglev network across the

country.

It was in 1964 that Japan was propelled to the forefront of transport technology after it unveiled its first bullet train known as “shinkansen” to coincide with its hosting of the Olympic Games. India is set to benefit from the famed Japanese bullet train technology, with Tokyo pledging to invest heavily in building high speed railway systems in the country.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe issued a joint statement last month in which they laid down the course of co-operation between the two countries on setting up high speed railway systems in India. — PTI

In this Oct. 21, 2013 photo, the conveyer from the dome to the gasifier awaits use at the Mississippi Power’s Kemper County energy facility in central Mississippi near DeKalb. Construction continues at the power plant that is designed to use a soft form of coal called lignite in a gasification process to generate power. The plant, America’s newest, most expensive coal-fired power plant is hailed as one of the cleanest on the planet, thanks to government-backed technology that removes carbon dioxide and keeps it out of the atmosphere. Once the carbon is stripped away, it will be used to do something that is not so green at all - extract oil. Power companies sell the carbon dioxide to oil companies, which pump it into old oil fields to force more crude to the surface. — AP

“We just watched the camera screen and copied whatever face she was making,” explained Eddie Wheeler to his fellow Reddit users.

In Norway, popular fitness blogger Caroline Berg Eriksen snapped herself in a mirror, wearing bra and panties, showing off a firm flat tummy just four days after she gave birth.

Critics branded her selfie a “disservice” to women, but Eriksen struck back, saying she took it-and shared it-”because I’m proud of myself and my body for something as tough as a pregnancy/birth.”

And then there was the young woman in New York who snapped a selfie with the Brooklyn Bridge-and an attempted suicide leap-in the background. That image caused a stir when it made page one of the New York Post. “A selfie is a sort of perversion (and) a conquest of social virtual terrain,” said Parisbased travel photographer Jean-Francois Vibert, who blogs at www.macandphoto.com.

“Happily, perversion is not prohibited,” added Vibert, who namechecks the flamboyant pop star Nicki Minaj for selfies “so ‘trash,’ it’s self-mockery. On that level, the selfie is decadence for a totally decadent era.”

Kennel said self-portraits are as old as photography itself.

The National Gallery’s current exhibition of the work of Charles Marville features selfies of the 19th century French photographer in which he styles himself as a suave Parisian boulevardier-the hipster of his day.

Meanwhile, in London, the National Portrait Gallery has just put out a call for selfies to be included in a panel discussion on January 16 entitled “The Curated Ego: What Makes a Good Selfie?” In announcing the event, organizers identified Russian Grand Duchess Anastasia as “one of the first teenagers to take a selfie.” That was in 1914, when she was 13. Alas, she had no Facebook or Twitter account to share it on. —- AFP

Britain pardons gay ‘father of computing’ LONDON: Britain yesterday granted a posthumous pardon to Alan Turing, the World War II code-breaking hero who committed suicide after he was convicted of the then crime of homosexuality.

Turing is often hailed as a father of modern computing and he played a pivotal role in breaking Germany’s “Enigma” code, an effort that some historians say brought an early end to World War II. He died in 1954 after eating an apple laced with cyanide, two years after he was sentenced to chemical castration for the “gross indecency” of homosexuality. A coroner ruled that Turing committed suicide, though this has since been questioned.

Queen Elizabeth II has now pardoned Turing for “a sentence we would now consider unjust and discriminatory”, justice minister Chris Grayling said.

Homosexuality was decriminalised in Britain in 1967. “A pardon from the queen is a fitting tribute to an exceptional man,” Grayling said. Prime Minister David Cameron said the code-breaker’s work had saved “countless lives”.

“Alan Turing was a remarkable man who played a key role in saving this country in World War II by cracking the German Enigma code,” Cameron said.

“He also left a remarkable national legacy through his substantial scientific achievements, often being referred to as the father of modern computing.”

The Enigma code was used to encrypt communications between German U-boats in the North Atlantic ocean. Turing’s efforts to break it were virtually unknown to the

public at the time of his death, as his work was kept secret until 1974.

Turing also published pioneering work on early computers, writing in a 1936 paper of a “universal Turing machine”.

Having told people he was trying to “build a brain”, his theory was the first to consider feeding programmes into a machine as data, allowing a single machine to perform the functions of many-just like today’s computers.

He lost his job at Britain’s electronic eavesdropping agency GCHQ after he was convicted and poisoned himself with cyanide at the age of 41.

A GCHQ spokesperson on Tuesday said the agency was “delighted about the pardon”. The pardon is a victory for supporters, including leading scientists such as Britain’s Stephen Hawking, who have long campaigned to clear Turing’s name.

Britain’s prime minister in 2009, Gordon Brown, issued a posthumous apology to the code-breaker, saying he had been treated “terribly”.

But the government rejected a call to grant an official pardon last year on the grounds that Turing was properly convicted of what was then a criminal offence.

More than 37,000 people signed an online petition last year calling for a pardon. Pardons are usually only granted in Britain when the person is innocent of the offence and when it is requested by someone with a vested interest, such as a family member. Turing’s pardon is extremely rare in that it has been granted despite neither of these conditions being met. — AFP

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

Assess BRCA risk in women with family history NEW YORK: Women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer should be assessed to see if those cancers could be linked to certain mutations, according to new recommendations. Only if the assessments suggest a possible connection should women get genetic counseling and - if warranted be tested for BRCA mutations, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) confirmed yesterday.

The panel’s final recommendation largely mir-

rors draft guidelines released earlier this year. “The first thing to understand is the vast majority of women will not need this testing and will not benefit from it,” Dr Douglas K Owens said. Owens is a member of the USPSTF as well as a professor at Stanford University and senior investigator at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in California.

“We’re talking about a small group of women that have a family history that suggests there may

be a risk of BRCA mutations,” he told Reuters Health.

One in 300 to one in 500 women has a so-called BRCA mutation - a version of a gene with small changes in it that heighten the risk of developing cancer. Depending on their specific gene changes, those women have up to a 65 percent chance of getting breast cancer by age 70 and up to a 39 percent chance of getting ovarian cancer.

Women who test positive for the mutations

may take medication to reduce their risk of cancer or have their breasts and ovaries removed. They can also opt for intensive cancer screening although how well that prevents advanced disease and death is unknown. The recommendations are based on a new review of the current evidence on testing and counseling for BRCA mutations. Both are published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. — Reuters

The clue to white, bright, natural teeth

By Dr Mohamad Fouad

‘W

hite Hollywood style teeth’ is a great demand and in fact it’s easily achieved nowadays with growing knowledge and technology. This is really a large topic to be addressed at once. I will be talking in this article only on how to achieve bright white natural teeth.

In order to have white teeth, first you have to understand the nature of the teeth and the causes of teeth staining. Our teeth are made up of long tubes of white calcium crystals. It is widely accepted to have teeth as white as the ‘whiteness of your eyes’. There are 2 types of teeth staining; our teeth could be stained from outside or from inner surface of these tubes.

The outer surface stains are due to plaque accumulation which becomes hard after sometime (around 2 weeks) and turns brown with coffee and smoking.

Thus it is hard to remove the stains with regular brushing at home. To treat such stains you need professional scaling and polishing by the dentist. The other cause of teeth staining is from the inside of the tubules which needs whitening gel to be applied within them.

Mainly ‘hydrogen peroxide’ is used to treat such cases. There are 2 types of whitening, depending on the strength of the gel. ‘Laser Whitening’ which is a professional strong gel that is activated with laser which should be applied by your dentist. It is applied for 45mins and can be repeated only after 6 months of the procedure. The other type is the low strength gel and that comes in various forms in the market. The most common form is ‘Home Whitening Kit’ that kind is applied on the teeth in a plastic shell and worn overnight or at least for 6 hours every day for 2 weeks.

The other types are like whitening strips or whitening pens that less commonly used and this treatment can be repeated each month until you have a satisfied result. In my opinion mixing the ways is very effective, make ‘laser whitening’ and follow it with ‘home whitening’ and repeat every 6 months.

In conclusion we should know that ‘teeth whitening’ is not a magic, it has some limitation and could not be appropriate for your problem. So, it is always recommended to have professional advice by your dentist regarding the specific treatment needed for your case.

Dr Mohamad Fouad

INDONESIA: Indonesian members of the JRSCA (Javan Rhino Study and Conservation Area) inspecting the forest inside Ujung Kulon National Park, in Indonesia’s Banten province.

INDONESIA: Indonesian rangers from the Rhino Monitoring Unit (RMU) preparing for a-ten-day monitoring trip at Ujung Kulon National Park in Indonesia’s Banten province.

Indonesia builds sanctuary to save world’s rarest rhino INDONESIA: On a leaf-covered dirt path overlooking lush paddy fields in western Indonesia, the world’s rarest rhino had left a trail of hoofprints in the soft mud and bite marks on foliage. For people seeking a glimpse of the Javan rhino-revered in local folklore as Abah Gede, or the Great Father-such small signs are likely to be the closest they get. There are thought to be only around 50 of the animals left in existence, all living in the wild in Ujung Kulon National Park, an area of stunning natural beauty on the western tip of Indonesia’s main island of Java.

But now conservationists are hoping that the country’s first ever Javan rhino sanctuary, which will open in the park in the coming months, can pull the animal back from the brink of extinction. The shy creature, whose folds of loose skin give it the appearance of wearing armour plating, once numbered in the thousands and roamed across Southeast Asia. But, like other rhino species across the world, poaching and human encroachment on its habitat has led to a dramatic population decline, with the International Union for Conservation of Nature saying the animal is “making its last stand”. The new sanctuary will encompass 5,100 hectares (12,600 acres) of lush rainforest, freshwater streams and mudholes in the park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

A new sanctuary It is not due to open until March but park officials say that from hoofprints and bite marks, they believe nine rhinos have already wandered into new areas set aside for them. “It means our scheme to turn this sanctuary into a comfortable home for them is working,” the park’s habitat manager Rusdianto, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, told AFP. The rhinos were already living mainly in one corner of the park. But the new sanctuary has expanded the area suitable for them and relocated farmers who were living there to reduce the chances of animalhuman conflict. An electric fence is also being constructedthe final piece of work that needs to be completed-to mark the boundary and prevent the rhinos from straying out of the sanctuary and humans from coming in. Park officials, who are government employees, have also been planting suitable food for the rhinos.

During a recent visit by AFP, workers were seen clearing palm trees from the area and replacing them with shrubs and small trees. “We hope this sanctuary will hasten breeding and lead to more births of this treasured rare animal,” park chief Moh Haryono told AFP. “In a more enclosed space, the male and female rhino will have more opportunities to frolic and mate freely.” Rhinos around the world are under threat.

Yet setting up the sanctuary, which is government-run

INDONESIA: This handout shows a rhino drinking at a watering hole at Indonesia’s Ujung Kulon National Park.

INDONESIA: A member of the JRSCA (Javan Rhino Study and Conservation Area) showing compounds of a rhino foot print in Ujung Kulon National Park in Indonesia’s Banten province.

but fully funded by US-based charity the International Rhino Foundation, has been no easy task. It was originally due to open in 2011 but was held up due to red tape, a common problem in the sprawling Indonesian archipelago, which has a huge and often inefficient bureaucracy.

the critically endangered Sumatran rhinos remain; in 2011 the IUCN declared a rhino subspecies in western Africa extinct; and the group has said the Central African northern white rhino is “possibly extinct”.

Compensation for a farmland Work also stalled for a year due to protests from residents demanding compensation for farmland they had to give up, as well as from local animal activists who felt the use of heavy machinery to build the fence threatened the environment. However all obstacles now seem to have been overcome and, barring any last-minute hold-ups, the sanctuary should officially open soon. Nevertheless it is just a small step in an uphill battle to save the Javan rhino.

Officials in Ujung Kulon believe there were 51 of the rhinos in 2012, including eight calves, basing their estimate on images captured by hidden cameras. They hope the true figure may be in the 70s and will have a new estimate once data for 2013 has been collated.

The case of the Javan rhinoceros highlights the plight of rhinos across the world, with other species also deemed to be under threat and some subspecies already believed to have died out. Poaching in particular represents a severe threat, with rhino horns used in traditional Asian medicine fetching ever higher prices on the black market despite a lack of scientific evidence showing horn has any medicinal value. In Indonesia, fewer than 100 of

Efforts to save Javan rhino Asia has stepped up efforts to save the region’s dwindling rhino populations, with representatives from several countries in October attending a conference on the issue on the western Indonesian island of Sumatra. Countries represented, including Indonesia, Nepal and India, pledged to take steps to grow their rhino populations by three percent annually. For the Javan rhino, its population already decimated, the threat is no longer poaching but food scarcity, illness and the risk of natural disasters in an archipelago where earthquakes and landslides are common, according to WWF Indonesia.

Despite the myriad threats, wildlife officials are hopeful the new sanctuary is a step in the right direction. They have also been heartened by strong support from the local community. Any effort to save the Great Father is applauded in an area where centuries-old beliefs persist and intertwine with the vast majority’s Muslim faith. “We must do all we can to prevent the Javan rhino from becoming extinct,” Suhaya, a 67-year-old farmer who goes by one name, told AFP. “Locals here believe that Abah Gede must not vanish from the face of the Earth, or disaster will befall us.” — AFP

Lactation consultants can boost breastfeeding NEW YORK: Having access to even a few hours with a professional specially trained to help women breastfeed may raise the number of women who start breastfeeding and stick with it, according to a new study. Lactation consultants are certified through the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners and may work in hospitals, offices or public health programs.

Women in the new study who spent an average total of three hours with a lactation consultant were almost three times more likely to start breastfeeding their newborns and to still be breastfeeding three months later. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization recommend exclusive breastfeeding for all babies’ first six months. In reality, at least 25 percent of babies in the US are never breastfed at all, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

enough to spend with you, but they often don’t.”

When mothers get home, few have the energy to seek out breastfeeding resources in the community, she said. Long term, many women are still uncomfortable breastfeeding in public and may not have the time or opportunity to pump milk when they return to work or school.

For the study, Bonuck and her team conducted two clinical trials, one among low-income women and one among more economically diverse women.

Participants were primarily Hispanic and black, and two-thirds were overweight or obese. For the first tri-

al, half of the women had pre- and postnatal lactation consultant visits and their doctors were reminded by electronic prompts to speak to the patients about breastfeeding during office visits. The other half of the women just got usual prenatal care.

Among the women who received extra attention to breastfeeding, 16 percent were feeding their babies only with breast milk at three months of age, compared to 6 percent of the women who got no extra attention. The second trial included four groups of women: one with lactation consultants, one with electronic prompts for doctors, one with

both interventions and one with neither. The women who only got electronic prompts to their doctors didn’t seem to breastfeed any more than the comparison group, but those who got lactation consultants or consultants plus electronic prompts did.

Twenty percent of the women who had lactation consultants only were frequently breastfeeding at three months, compared to 17 percent of those who got the consultant and electronic prompts and only 8 percent in the comparison group, Bonuck’s team reports in the American Journal of Public Health.

Even though most of the women were overweight or obese, a population that usually has particular difficulty breastfeeding, according to Bonuck, lactation consultants did seem to make a measurable difference.

Expectant moms can visit the website of the International Lactation Consultant Organization to find a consultant nearby, Bonuck said.

Breastfeeding benefits As the amount of a baby’s nourishment coming from breastfeeding increases, and the length of time its mother breastfeeds grows, baby’s risk of pneumonia, colds, leukemia and throat and ear infections goes down, author Karen Bonuck told Reuters Health. Bonuck, a professor of family and social medicine and of obstetrics & gynecology and women’s health at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, led the investigation.

Many factors influence whether or not a mother breastfeeds, she said. “Right after birth, there are often difficulties with positioning the infant and knowing they are drinking enough,” Bonuck said.

“Hospital help is great, when a nurse has long

Consultants before and after giving birth According to Rebecca L Mannel, director of lactation services at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City, lactation consultants “are the only healthcare professional specifically trained to manage the full spectrum of breastfeeding, from prenatal to postpartum, from normal healthy moms and babies to complicated situations involving maternal risk factors or illness or infants born preterm or with some other health complication.”

Ideally, consultants should be available for women before giving birth and immediately after,

not only to help them navigate the physical ins-andouts of breastfeeding, but to talk through any misconceptions, family or social support needs and make a plan for incorporating breastfeeding into a return to work plan, said Mannel, who was not involved in the new study.

“They should be a standard member of the health care team when it comes to pregnancy, childbirth and infant growth and development,” she added. Most mothers don’t have easy access to lactation consultants, since hospitals are rarely staffed adequately, Mannel said. Hospitals tend to treat the consultants as luxury items and not necessities, she said.

“While other prenatal providers, including nursing staff can provide some of the basic breastfeeding education to prepare women for the hospital experience and initiation of breastfeeding, this does not happen consistently,” Mannel said. “Other prenatal care providers have multiple issues they need to address with pregnant women and breastfeeding is easy to put off and ultimately not address.”

One of the biggest barriers to accessing lactation consultants, Mannel said echoing the study authors, is insurance coverage. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare, requires coverage of lactation care but does not specify who should provide the care or how many times a mother can access it. “Many insurance companies haven’t changed anything, other than to say mom can go the MD or nurse practitioner for breastfeeding care - who are often not adequately trained to provide care for breastfeeding difficulties or complications,” Mannel said.— Reuters

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

The Korean Pear: A fruit with many names K

oreans call “bae” a “Korean pear” in English, but the fruit is also sometimes called Nashi apple, apple pear, Asian pear, Japanese pear, Chinese pear, sand pear, and bapple. I usually see them labeled as ‘apple pears’ in grocery stores in my neighborhood. It is not, as this name might suggest, a hybrid between an apple and a pear. It’s a good descriptive name though, as their round shape, crunchiness, and texture do resemble apples.

MIAMI: In this Friday, Dec 20, 2013 photo, certified enrollment specialist Richelle Baker, right, talks to Martha Medina, left, and her daughter Martha, both from Hialeah, Fla., at a Healthcare Insurance Marketplace office. — AP

Last-minute insurance shoppers get 1-day extension CHICAGO: The Obama administration extended Monday’s deadline for signing up for health insurance by a day, giving Americans in 36 states more time to select a plan. It was the latest in a series of pushed-back deadlines and delays that have marked the rollout of the health care law, the signature legislative achievement of Obama’s first term. President Barack Obama himself signed up for coverage through the government site over the weekend - a purely symbolic move since he will continue to get health care through the military as commander in chief. He chose a less-expensive “bronze” plan.

Julie Bataille, a spokeswoman for the federal agency in charge of the overhaul, said the grace period - was being offered to accommodate people from different time zones and to allow for any technical problems that might result from a last-minute rush of applicants. The HealthCare.gov site had a disastrous, glitch-prone debut in October but has gone through extensive improvements to make it more reliable and increase its capacity, and the administration said the system was running well Monday.

By the afternoon, the site had received a record 850,000 visits, five times the number logged by the same time last Monday, the administration said. Bataille said the system was handling the volume with error rates of less than 1 in 200 and response times of less than one second. The Obama administration is hoping for a surge of year-end enrollments to show that the technical problems were merely a tempo-

rary setback. That would also go a long way toward easing concerns that insurance companies won’t be able to sign up enough young, healthy people to keep prices low for everyone.

But the grace period may have been a tacit acknowledgement that the website remains vulnerable to heavy traffic. What’s more, the delay offered critics of “Obamacare” another opportunity to argue that the law still isn’t working and that Obama keeps changing the rules. The administration was careful not to characterize yesterday as a new deadline or an extension, likening the move instead to the Election Day practice in which people who are in line when the polls close are still allowed to vote.

The government’s original deadline already had been pushed back a week because of the website problems. The extra day will add to the already daunting administrative problems that insurance companies face, such as inaccuracies on applications, said industry consultant Robert Laszewski.

“Insurers would like to have two to three weeks to process applications. Now they’re going to have a week, less one more day,” he said. “When the day is done, it doesn’t help.” Obama said on Friday that more than 1 million Americans had enrolled for coverage since Oct 1. The administration’s estimates call for 3.3 million to sign up by Dec 31, and the target is 7 million by the end of March. After that, people who fail to buy coverage can face tax penalties. — AP

The taste of Bae Like apples, Asian pears taste best when they ripen on the tree and are ready to eat as soon as they are harvested. They do not to soften and get sweeter as Western pears do, so you do not wait to eat them. Asian pears are hard, crisp, sweet, slightly tart at the core, and very juicy. Because of their high water content, they are not generally cooked into pies or preserved into jams or jellies. In the Korean home, they are peeled and enjoyed raw as a dessert or a snack, are eaten raw in salads, and use as sweetener in cooking and marinating.

• •

• • • The gift of pears Growing Asian pears can be labor intensive and the fruit is bruised easily from rough handling, packing, or picking (they need to be packed with individual padding or in soft trays like eggs). Because of this, these pears can be quite expensive and, among Koreans and other East Asians, are given as gifts or served to guests.

Buying and storing Asian Pears Asian pears range in color from green to yellow to brown. When you are buying them, try to find fragrant and firm fruit with little or no bruises on the skin. They keep well, and can keep for a couple weeks in a cool, dry place or for a few months in the refrigerator.

• • •

Health benefits of pears Pears fruit is packed with health benefiting nutrients such as dietary fiber, anti-oxidants, minerals and vitamins, which are necessary for optimum health. Total measured antioxidant strength (ORAC value) in the fruit is 2941 μmol TE/100 g.

Pears are a good source of dietary fiber. 100 g fruit provides 3.1 g or 8% of fiber per 100g. Regular eating of this fruit may offer protection against colon cancer. Most of the fiber in them is non soluble polysaccharide (NSP), which functions as a good bulk laxative in the gut.

Additionally, the gritty fiber content binds to cancer-causing toxins and chemicals in the colon, protecting its mucous membrane from contact with these compounds.

In addition, pear fruit is one of the very low calorie fruits, provides 58 calories per 100g. Just a few sections a day in the diet can bring significant reduction in weight and blood LDL cholesterol levels.

They contain good quantities of vitamin C. Fresh fruits provide about 7% of RDA per 100 g.

They are moderate sources of antioxidant flavonoids phyto-nutrients such as beta-carotene, lutein and zea-xanthin. These compounds, along with vitamin C and A, help the body protected from harmful free radicals.

The fruit is a good source of minerals such as copper, iron, potassium, manganese and magnesium as well as B-complex vitamins such as folates, riboflavin and pyridoxine (vitamin B-6).

Although not well documented, pears are among the least allergenic of all fruits and are therefore recommended by health practitioners as a safe alternative in the preparation of food products for allergy sufferers.

Pears have suggested in various traditional medicines being useful in treating colitis, chronic gallbladder disorders, arthritis and gout.

—koreanfood.about.com and www.nutrition-and-you.com

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

SEND US YOUR INSTAGRAM PICS

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hat’s more fun than clicking a beautiful picture? Sharing it with others! Let other people see the way you see Kuwait - through your lens. Friday Times will feature snapshots of Kuwait through Instagram feeds. If you want to share your Instagram photos, email us at instagram@kuwaittimes.net

Greetings

Enjoy the taste of true Espresso at Vergnano Cafe at Olympia Complex

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Mu’ath Abdulhameed celebrated his third birthday in a party hosted by his parents and attended by family and friends.

he superior quality of the blends comes from the meticulous selection of the best raw materials available, and from an extraordinary production process. Cafe Vergnano is the first to introduce an innovation that brings all the passion and pleasure of the perfect

espresso to everyday life at home.

Espresso is now available in Kuwait, through Al-Sanabel Al-Thahabiya Est. Tel: 22413795/98. Espresso Vergnano can be ordered through www.taw9eel.com Espresso Vergnano capsules are compatible with other espresso machines.

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Announcement ‘Yuva for India’ youth development camp

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he day-long integral youth development camp ‘Yuva for India’ announced by Vichar Bharathi Kuwait in association with Yuva Darshan invites applications for registration. The camp is open to teenage Indian students from the various schools in Kuwait. The camp includes an inaugural session by Dr P S Menon, Department of Pediatrics, Ministry of Defense, Kuwait followed by five informative sessions. These sessions will be handled on relevant subjects by Adv Jayasooryan, Managing Director, VIAS Civil Service Academy, Lalitha Premkumar, Vice Principal, Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan, Kuwait, Carol Marshal, US Educational Consultant, and Shilpa Pathak, Clinical Psychologist and Counselor, Salmiya Indian Model School Kuwait. The camp aims at imparting knowledge and information for the integral development of the youth through entertainment and interaction. The camp is scheduled to be conducted on 17th January, 2014 at Indian Community School, Khaithan branch from 9 am till 5 pm. For more details and registration log on to www.sevadarshan.com

KDMCA new office bearers

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uravilangad Deva Matha College Alumni association (KDMCA) elected its new office bearers for the year 2013-2014. Jaison Joseph as President, Bindu Jayesh as Vice President, Boby Pattani as General Secretary, Shibu John as Joint Secretary, Daiju Kuncheriya as Treasurer, Lack Chakola as Joint Treasurer. Other committee & area conveners are, Literary Secretary, Johnson, Sports Secretary, Baby Valiathazhathu, Arts Secretary Jojo Mathew, K J Johan as Media Secretary, Shaji Chirathadam advisory Board Chairman, Jose Pullanthi and Sunny Varkey are Auditors, Program Committee Convener, Maxi Mani. Area Conveners, Abbassiya: Johnson Sebastian & Jibu George, Salmiya: Lakh Chakola & Anoop Vasu, Reggai: Jayesh John and Jojo Alumkal, Fahaheel: Baby Valiathazhathu & Tomy Iykarettu.

The meeting was inaugurated by KJ John KDMCA Advisory Board Member. KDMCA President Jose Pullanthi and Jose controlled presidium. General Secretary Jojo Mathew presented the central committee report and, Treasurer Manoharan Nair presented financial report. Raju Zacharias, Jayesh John, K.J. Johan, Maxy Mani, Sunny Varkey, Rashmi Pappadi are delivered felicitations. Jaison Joseph delivered the vote of thanks.

ICSK offers tribute to the legacy of Nelson Mandela

IKEA Restaurant & Cafe spreads the Season’s joy!

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KEA Restaurant & CafÈ recently announced that it will be offering a specially prepared sliced roasted turkey meal for its customers this holiday season. The complete package is only for KD 1.950 and will be available on December 25th and 26th.

Keeping the traditions and diverse cultures in mind, IKEA Restaurant & Cafe each year hosts a special seasonal festival dedicated to a specific cuisine. This year, visitors can look forward to a delightful meal of sliced breast of roasted turkey, served with a side of mashed potatoes with brown gravy & cranberry sauce,

along with a fruit salad and a soft drink.

IKEA Restaurant & Cafe uphold international quality standards and cultural preferences in their kitchen and F&B service - including using Halal processed meat, UTZ Certified Coffee & meals being cooked in zero percent Tran’s fat oil serves as the perfect health alternative to control cholesterol. Furthermore, IKEA restaurant’s Swedish Breakfast & Family offer at an unbelievable price is any shopper’s ideal start to the day. In addition to that, IKEA Bistro Frozen Yogurt “low fat low price” is a sweet delight not to be missed while leaving the store.

Chitragupt Sabha New Year celebrations

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he society wishes all its members and families a very happy and prosperous New Year. Chitragupt Sabha, Kuwait, fondly called CGK, is a society of Indians belonging essentially from northern, central and eastern regions of the country. The objective is to promote Indian culture in foreign land. It holds at least four functions in a year including that for Holi and Diwali with a lot of fanfare. Nurturing of children to develop a strong personality has always been a special theme. Also, members share

their views on various issues of topical interest. A very forward looking environment exists The celebrations for the New Year are planned on 10th January to mark a prosperous beginning for all its members.

CGK invites all eligible Indian nationals to join the society. The contact persons are Harish Saxena, Vivek Srivatsava and Alok Nigam. They will guide new corners about the objectives of the society and getting the membership.

he Indian Community School, Kuwait (ICSK) organized a solemn gathering as a tribute to the legacy of the late President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, the great champion of humanity. The gathering was held at the ICSK Senior auditorium on Tuesday, 17th December 2013. The South African Ambassador to Kuwait, Delary Van Tonder was the chief guest to the gathering and accepted the tribute on behalf of South Africa.

The Honorary Chairman to the ICSK Board Ashok Kalra, the Honorary Secretary Viay Karayil, the academic committee member Bobby Mathew, Board members, Parent Advisory Council members, Principals of ICSK Branch schools, teachers and students of ICSK passionately averred their allegiance and homage to the great hero.

The ambassador, expressed great appreciation for conducting such an event to pay a befitting homage to the late hero, Nelson Mandela. While quoting from Mandela’s autobiography, he emphasized specially upon the lines, “I have walked that long road to freedom. I have made missteps along the way, but I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb” using this to convey the fact of the great leader’s life as the message to humanity.

He urged the students to read and understand more about the great leader and to be inspired by his noble motives.

He euologised the memory of Madiba and talked about the importance of carrying ahead the great legacy left behind by him. Service to humanity, understanding the needs of the oppressed and creating pathways to overcome exploitation are the noble virtues taught and practiced by the “great Madiba.” He talked of Mahatma Gandhi, the Indian icon whose profound influence moulded the ideology of Ahimsa in the works of Mandela and further pointed out that it is the utmost responsibility of the student community to carry forward the messages of our great leaders.

The Principal of ICSK Senior, Dr V.Binumon welcomed the gathering. He quoted Einstein about the greatness of Mahatma Gandhi that “the generations ahead will wonder if such a person existed in flesh and blood because of the simplicity and extreme love for humanity.”

He aptly pointed out that these same words can be used to describe the greatness of Mandela, the embodiment of love, tolerance, sympathy and zest for freedom. Ashok Kalra offered homage to

the departed soul in his short yet eloquent speech. He remarked upon the long years of relationship shared between India and South Africa and recounted the instances that triggered the spirit of patriotism in Mahatma Gandhi during his visit to South Africa.

He also remarked that Mandela’s admiration for the ways of Mahatma Gandhi, namely tolerance and nonviolence has brought both the nations closer over the years. Vijay Karayil, the Honorary Secretary, expressed his profound sorrow at the loss of Mandela, a beacon of hope for the oppressed and suffering. He recounted the personal sufferings that Madiba had to undergo in order to help the oppressed.

Expressing profound gratitude for his valuable time and words of wisdom, Vijay Karayil handed out a scroll with the signatures of all the members of ICSK senior. It was a scroll prepared by the students, painstakingly collecting the signature of every one. The ambassador thanked the students and promised that he will treasure this along with the numerous mementoes he has collected.

Ashok Kalra handed out a memento on behalf of the school to mark the school’s special appreciation. A power point presentation on the life of the great leader added charm to the occasion. Students were privileged for an interactive session with the esteemed ambassador, it was not only informative but also highly inspirational. As an answer to a question by a student regarding the rejuvenation of the youth due to the teachings of Mandela, the ambassador replied that his life was the greatest message, he has left behind a great legacy to be completed by the generations to come, and it becomes the responsibility of each one of us to hold up his values.

The ambassador presented the school library with a few books written by Mandela, his autobiography,” The long walk to freedom” included. Tender induced the sparks of leadership among the students by highlighting Mandela’s’ motto that a leader should empower himself to inspire others. He also appreciated the school in its earnest efforts for conducting such a memorial and remarked that it is the first time he has attended such a function in any of the Indian schools in Kuwait. A series of programmers followed, all in memory of the great leader. Skit, mime, poetry and speeches made the occasion truly memorable.

It was a glorious moment last week at the Life Abundant International Fountain Church Kuwait City as families, friends and well-wishers celebrated with Uche and Chinwe, as they exchanged their marital vows. May God bless the new couple as they journey from glory to glory all the days of their lives Amen.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

Farewell to Myanmar ambassador

Embassy Information

The outgoing Ambassador of Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Ko Ko Lat hosted a farewell dinner at his residence for the ambassador of Nepal at the weekend. Diplomats and their spouse and media persons attened the function.—Photos by Joseph Shagra

EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA The Embassy of Australia has announced that Kuwait citizens can apply for and receive visit visas in 10 working days through www.immi.gov.au.

All other processing of visas and Immigration matters are handled by the Australian Visa Application Centre located in Al Banwan Building, 4B, 1st Floor, Al Qibla Area, Ali Al Salem Street, Kuwait City. Visit. www.vfs-au-gcc.com for more info. The Embassy of Australia does not have a visa or immigration department.

All processing of visas and immigration matters is conducted by the Australian Consulate-General in Dubai. Email: Info.ausdxb@vfshelpline.com ( VIS), immigration.dubai@dfat.gov.au ( Visa Office), Tel: +971 4 205 5900 ( VFS), Fax: + 971 4 355 0708 ( Visa Office). Notary and passport services are available by appointment. Appointments can be made by calling the Embassy on 22322422.

Sabah Al-Ahmad Center rewards computer teachers nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada in Kuwait does not have a visa or immigration department. All processing of visa and immigration matters including enquiries is conducted by the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Individuals who are interested in working, studying, visiting or immigrating to Canada should contact the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, website: www.UAE.gc.ca or www.goingtocanada.gc.ca, E-mail: abdbiim-enquiry@international.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakei St, Block 4 in Da’aiyah.

Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is open from 07:30 to 12:30. Consular services for Canadian citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00, Sunday through Wednesday. nnnnnnn

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he Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for Giftedness and Creativity awarded 30 computer skills teachers who successfully passed a ‘robot teacher preparation’ course that was concluded last month.

The event was organized yesterday at the Qadsiya

Youth Center under the patronage of Minister of Education Nayef Al-Hajraf and attendance of MOE Undersecretary Maryam Al-Wutaid.

The teachers represent 60 public schools from all of Kuwait’s educational districts, the center’s Chairman Dr

Badr Al-Omar said in a speech. “600 robot toolboxes were distributed to the teachers in order to spread creativity awareness within elementary and middle schools around Kuwait”, he said.

KKCA holds Christmas & New Year celebration

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uwait Knanaya Cultural Association held their Christmas and New Year celebration on Thursday 19th December 2013 at HiDine auditorium under the leadership of President Siby Kurumullor along with many cultural and variety of programs.

The program was inaugurated by President Siby Kurumullor. Association Secretary Aji Monippally gave the welcome speech and presented the annual report. Prasad Arikupuram (President Karimkunnam association) Titus Thomas, Biju Jacob, Jacob Alappattu, Mrs Elsamma Titus, Mrs Biji Thomas, Mrs Jincy Sunny, Mrs Lisamma Lukose, Mrs Censy James, Mrs Julie, Mrs Bobini, Ms Beneetta Jose and Ms Maria Titus presented their best wishes on behalf of the association.

Followed by various variety of programs

mesmerized the crowd.

The Cultural programs were performed by Maria Titus, Beneetta Mary Jose, Binil Tom Jose, Bibina Baby, Merlin Titus, Maria Titus, Clare Biju, Karol Biju, Helen Thomas, Hentry Thomas, Alwin Roy, Melow Sunny, Misty Sunny, Alen Roy, Ann Mary Siby, Alia Anna Siby, Alwin George, Elwin George, Anabel Shyju, Jestin James, Chrisa Mary Jose, Nohid Aji, Neha Aji, Sumi Susan Sabu, Ninitha Aji, Teenu Xavier Glory Ann Jerry and Ruby Ann Jerry Philip Simon Kallarkaniyil gave vote of thanks. After this, the committee members for the following year was elected consisting of 20 members. The final event of the day was performed by Knanaya Orchestra.

EMBASSY OF GREECE The Embassy of Greece in Kuwait has the pleasure to announce that visa applications must be submitted to Schengen Visa Application Centre (VFS office) located at 12th floor, Al-Naser Tower, Fahad Al-Salem Street, Al-Qibla area, Kuwait City, (Parking at Souk Watia). For information please call 22281046 from 08:30 to 17:00 (Sunday to Thursday).

Working hours: Submission from 08:30 to 15:30. Passport collection from 16:00 to 17:00. For visa applications please visit the following website www.mfa.gr/kuwait. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF US The US Embassy in Kuwait has new procedures for obtaining appointments and picking up passports after visa issuance. Beginning August 9, 2013, we now provide an online visa appointment system, live call center, and in-person pick-up facilities in Kuwait.

Please monitor our website and social media for additional information. This new system offers more flexibility for travelers to the US and to meet the increase in demand for visa appointments.

The general application steps on the new visa appointment system are: 1. Go to www.ustraveldocs.com/kw (if this is the first time on ustraveldocs.com, you will need to create a profile to login).

2. Please complete your DS-160 Online Visa Application which is available at ceac.state.gov/genNIV. 3. Please print and take your deposit slip to any Burgan Bank location to pay your visa application fee.

4. Schedule an appointment for your visa interview online at www.ustraveldocs.com/kw or by phone through the Call Center (at +965-2227-1673).

5. If you need to change or cancel your appointment, please do so 24 hours beforehand, as a courtesy to other applicants. For more information, please visit the US Embassy website - kuwait.usembassy.gov - as it is the best source of information regarding these changes. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF CHINA he office of the Defence Attache of the Embassy of People’s Republic of China has moved to its new location. Qortuba, Block 4, Street 4, House71.

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

TV PROGRAMS 00:20 Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol 01:25 Eastenders 01:55 Doctors 02:25 Whitechapel 03:10 Carols From King’s 2010 04:30 Last Of The Summer Wine: Xmas 2008 05:00 Charlie & Lola: Special 2007 05:20 Nina And The Neurons 05:35 Teletubbies 06:00 Tweenies 06:20 Robbie The Reindeer: Legend Of The Lost Tribe 06:50 Teletubbies 07:15 Mr Bloom’s Nursery: Hoe! Hoe! Hoe! 07:40 The Nativity 09:10 Eastenders 09:40 Doctors 10:10 My Family: Christmas 2008 10:40 My Family: Christmas 2008 11:10 As Time Goes By: Christmas 2005 12:00 As Time Goes By: Christmas 2005 12:50 Eastenders 13:20 Doctors 13:50 Our Queen 14:40 Our Queen 15:30 Sally Lockhart Mysteries 17:00 Eastenders 17:30 Doctors 18:00 Doctor Who 19:00 My Family: Christmas 2008 19:30 Absolutely Fabulous: Xmas 2011 20:00 Great Expectations 20:50 Bleak Old Shop Of Stuff: Christmas Special 21:25 Swingin’ Christmas 22:50 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 23:35 The Office

00:30 Bargain Hunt 01:15 The Hairy Bakers’ Christmas Special 02:05 Hairy Bikers’ Christmas Party 03:00 Homes Under The Hammer 03:50 Homes Under The Hammer 04:40 Homes Under The Hammer 05:35 Homes Under The Hammer 06:30 The Hairy Bakers’ Christmas Special 07:20 Hairy Bikers’ Christmas Party 08:10 Bargain Hunt 08:55 Homes Under The Hammer 09:50 Homes Under The Hammer 10:40 Homes Under The Hammer 11:35 Homes Under The Hammer 12:30 The Hairy Bakers’ Christmas Special 13:25 Hairy Bikers’ Christmas Party 14:15 French Food At Home 14:40 DIY SOS: The Big Build 15:35 DIY SOS: The Big Build 16:30 DIY SOS: The Big Build 17:25 DIY SOS: The Big Build 18:20 DIY SOS: The Big Build 19:15 DIY SOS: The Big Build 20:10 Come Dine With Me: Supersize 21:45 Come Dine With Me 22:35 Antiques Roadshow 23:30 Antiques Roadshow

00:30 Get Out Alive With Bear Grylls 01:20 Swimming With Monsters: Steve Backshall 02:10 River Monsters 03:00 Mythbusters 03:50 Border Security 04:15 Storage Hunters 04:40 Flip Men 05:05 How Do They Do It? 05:30 How It’s Made 06:00 Sons Of Guns

07:00 Mythbusters 07:50 Alaska: The Last Frontier 08:40 Fast N’ Loud 09:30 Border Security 09:55 Storage Hunters 10:20 Flip Men 10:45 How Do They Do It? 11:10 How It’s Made 11:35 Get Out Alive With Bear Grylls 12:25 Swimming With Monsters: Steve Backshall 13:15 River Monsters 14:05 Border Security 14:30 Storage Hunters 14:55 Flip Men 15:20 Finding Bigfoot 16:10 Fast N’ Loud 17:00 Ultimate Survival 17:50 Dirty Jobs 18:40 Mythbusters 19:30 Sons Of Guns 20:20 Storage Hunters 20:45 Flip Men 21:10 How Do They Do It? 21:35 How It’s Made 22:00 You Have Been Warned 22:50 Treehouse Masters

00:15 Food Factory 00:40 Squeamish 01:05 Squeamish 01:30 Food Factory 02:00 Kitchen Chemistry 08:00 Tech Toys 360 08:25 Tech Toys 360 08:50 Gadget Show - World Tour 09:15 Tech Toys 360 09:40 Tech Toys 360 10:05 Gadget Show - World Tour 10:30 Tech Toys 360 11:00 Tech Toys 360 11:25 Wallace & Gromit’s World Of Invention 11:50 Wallace & Gromit’s World Of Invention 14:00 Kitchen Chemistry 14:50 Food Factory 15:20 Kitchen Chemistry 16:10 Kitchen Chemistry 17:00 Tech Toys 360 17:25 Tech Toys 360 17:55 Gadget Show - World Tour 18:20 Tech Toys 360 18:45 Tech Toys 360 19:10 Gadget Show - World Tour 19:35 Tech Toys 360 20:00 Tech Toys 360 20:30 Gadget Show - World Tour 20:55 Tech Toys 360 21:20 Tech Toys 360 21:45 Gadget Show - World Tour 22:10 Tech Toys 360 22:35 Tech Toys 360 23:00 Gadget Show - World Tour 23:25 Tech Toys 360 23:50 Tech Toys 360

00:00 00:20 00:45 01:05 01:30 01:50 02:15 02:35 03:00 03:20 03:45 04:05 04:30 04:50 05:15 05:35 06:00 06:25 06:45 07:10 07:35 07:55 08:20 08:45

The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody Sonny With A Chance Sonny With A Chance Suite Life On Deck Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody Sonny With A Chance Sonny With A Chance Suite Life On Deck Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Austin And Ally Austin And Ally A.N.T. Farm A.N.T. Farm Gravity Falls My Babysitter’s A Vampire Jessie Good Luck Charlie

09:05 09:30 11:25 11:50 12:15 12:35 13:00 13:25 13:45 14:10 14:35 15:00 15:25 15:50 16:10 17:00 17:20 17:45 18:30 18:55 19:20 20:05 20:30 20:50 21:15 21:40 22:00 22:25 22:50 23:10 23:35

Dog With A Blog The Incredibles Wolfblood Suite Life On Deck A.N.T. Farm Austin And Ally Shake It Up That’s So Raven Jessie Good Luck Charlie Dog With A Blog Wolfblood Gravity Falls Jessie Violetta A.N.T. Farm Wolfblood Abominable Christmas Good Luck Charlie Mako Mermaids Violetta Jessie My Babysitter’s A Vampire Wolfblood Gravity Falls Shake It Up Austin And Ally A.N.T. Farm Good Luck Charlie Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place

00:40 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Special 01:30 Iron Chef America Special 02:20 Jeni Barnett’s Christmas Hamper 02:45 Chopped 03:35 Chopped 04:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Special 05:15 Iron Chef America Special 06:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Special 06:50 Food Network Challenge 07:35 Jeni Barnett’s Christmas Hamper 08:00 Unwrapped 08:50 Food Network All-Star 09:40 Food Network’s Christmas Kitchen 10:05 Siba’s Festive Table 10:30 Food Network Challenge 11:20 Spicy Christmas With Thomasina Miers 11:45 Unwrapped 12:35 Food(Ography) 13:25 Giada’s Family Christmas 14:15 Barefoot In London 15:05 Siba’s Festive Table 15:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Special 16:20 Spicy Christmas With Thomasina Miers 16:45 Chopped 17:30 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 18:00 Unwrapped 18:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Special 19:40 Giada’s Family Christmas 20:30 Chopped 21:20 Chopped 22:10 Iron Chef America Special 23:00 Chopped 23:50 Chopped

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 02:00 Louie 02:30 Veep 03:30 Melissa & Joey 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 1600 Penn 06:00 Last Man Standing 06:30 Friends 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:30 1600 Penn 09:30 The Crazy Ones 10:30 Friends 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 Last Man Standing

DARLING COMPANION ON OSN MOVIES FESTIVAL

02:30 Insane Experience - RideIculous 03:00 Off Limits 04:00 Reza’s African Kitchen 04:30 Reza’s African Kitchen 05:00 Bizarre Foods America 06:00 Airport 24/7: Miami 06:30 Airport 24/7: Miami 07:00 World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides 08:00 Globe Trekker 09:00 Descending 10:00 Monumental Mysteries 11:00 Monumental Mysteries 12:00 Monumental Mysteries

13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00 23:30

Monumental Mysteries Monumental Mysteries Monumental Mysteries Monumental Mysteries Monumental Mysteries Monumental Mysteries Monumental Mysteries Baggage Battles Baggage Battles Baggage Battles Baggage Battles Baggage Battles Baggage Battles Baggage Battles Baggage Battles

Kate Winslet on the advantages of being hot and sticky in ‘Labor Day’

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MY WEEK WITH MARILYN ON OSN MOVIES HD 13:00 1600 Penn 13:30 Friends 14:00 Melissa & Joey 14:30 The Crazy Ones 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 Last Man Standing 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:30 Ben And Kate 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 The New Normal 22:30 Louie 23:00 Veep 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

Royal Pains Top Gear (UK) Hemlock Grove Rescue Me Grey’s Anatomy Bunheads Royal Pains Drop Dead Diva Bones Grey’s Anatomy Bunheads Top Gear (UK) Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Bones Royal Pains Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Bones Franklin & Bash Perception Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. Hannibal

00:00 03:00 04:00 07:30 09:00 10:30 12:00 14:00 15:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Switched At Birth Treme Boardwalk Empire Coronation Street C.S.I. Coronation Street C.S.I. Switched At Birth Live Good Morning America C.S.I. Switched At Birth Parenthood C.S.I. Switched At Birth Boardwalk Empire Treme

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

The Last Stand Wrong Side Of Town Summer’s Blood Beverly Hills Cop 3 Brake True Justice: Blood Alley Riddle Swamp Shark True Justice: Blood Alley Sins Expiation Swamp Shark Mad Max

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 PG15 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00

Wrong Side Of Town-18 Summer’s Blood-18 Beverly Hills Cop 3-PG15 Brake-PG15 True Justice: Blood AlleyRiddle-PG15 Swamp Shark-PG15 True Justice: Blood Alley Sins Expiation-PG15 Swamp Shark-PG15 Mad Max-18

00:00 The Guard-PG15 02:00 Old School-18 04:00 3 Holiday Tails-PG 06:00 Scrooged-PG15 08:00 Mrs. Miracle-PG15 10:00 12 Wishes Of Christmas-PG15 12:00 3 Holiday Tails-PG 14:00 My Dog’s Christmas MiraclePG15 16:00 12 Wishes Of Christmas-PG15 18:00 Home Alone: The Holiday Heist-PG 20:00 All American Christmas-PG15 22:00 A Very Harold And Kuma

01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 16:00 19:00 21:15 23:30

The Wild Hunt-PG15 Argo-PG15 Cinderella PT 1-PG15 Cinderella PT 2-PG15 The Wild Hunt-PG15 Argo-PG15 Treasure Island-PG15 Neverland-PG Anna Karenina-PG15 Flight-18 The Hot Potato-PG15

01:45 Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close-PG 04:00 Darling Companion-PG15 06:00 Falling In Love-PG15 07:45 Like Crazy-PG15 09:15 The National Tree-PG15 11:00 Golden Christmas 3-PG15 13:00 The Chorus-PG15 15:00 Mystery, Alaska-PG15 17:00 Golden Christmas 3-PG15 19:00 Lost Christmas-PG15 21:00 96 Minutes-PG15 23:00 The Descendants-PG15

01:15 My Week With Marilyn-PG15 03:00 People Like Us-PG15 05:00 The Girl-PG15 07:00 Oh Christmas Tree-PG15 09:00 Brave-PG 11:00 A Christmas Wish-PG15 13:00 The Odd Life Of Timothy Green-PG 15:00 The Big Year-PG 17:00 Brave-PG 18:45 Oz The Great And PowerfulPG 21:00 Christmas At Castlebury Hall 23:00 This Is 40-18

01:00 A Very Fairy Christmas 02:30 Barbie: A Perfect Christmas 04:00 MIA And The Migoo 06:00 A Very Fairy Christmas 07:30 Arthur’s Missing Pal 09:15 The Elf Who Stole Christmas 11:00 The Swan Princess Christmas 12:30 Alvin And The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked 14:00 Santa’s Magic Crystal 16:00 The Polar Express 18:00 Arthur Christmas 20:00 Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups 22:00 Santa’s Magic Crystal 23:30 Arthur’s Missing Pal

00:00 Shark Night-PG15 02:00 Superman vs. The Elite-PG15 04:00 The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom-PG 06:00 Cheerful Weather For The Wedding-PG15 08:00 Rise Of The Guardians-PG 10:00 Arthur 3: And The War Of Two Worlds-PG

12:00 Here Comes The Boom-PG15 14:00 Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Dog Days-PG 16:00 Rise Of The Guardians-PG 18:00 Dark Shadows-PG15 20:00 The Sweeney-18 22:00 The Man With The Iron Fists-

02:00 Futbol Mundial 02:30 World Match Racing Tour 04:30 Top 14 06:30 Top 14 Highlights 07:00 Darts 13:00 The Open Championship 14:00 The USPGA Championship 15:00 EURO Tour Weekly Review Of The Year 16:00 The Fedex Cup 17:00 PGA Tour Year In Review 18:00 America’s Cup Review Show 19:00 HSBC Sevens World Series 22:30 Darts

ason Reitman’s “Labor Day” is a love story or sorts between three people who have no business being together: a fragile divorced mother, her 13-year-old son and an escaped convict who essentially takes them hostage in a store, moves into their house for the weekend and turns into the perfect man (if you ignore the murder conviction and the jailbreak). Unsettling and unconventional, the adaptation of Joyce Maynard’s novel is essentially a three-person drama, with Gattlin Griffith (“Changeling”) as the son, Josh Brolin as the convict and six-time Oscar nominee (and one-time winner) Kate Winslet as the mother. Winslet spoke to TheWrap from London, then in the final stages of pregnancy with her third child.

When I saw “Labor Day,” much of the audience was clearly wondering why your character does some of the things she does. Did you like embracing behavior that seems inexplicable? The elements of the unknown in “Labor Day” were something that I really appreciated. I particularly loved how suspenseful it was, not only in the beginning but throughout. I love that, and I love the fact that when I look at Adele, I still can’t answer the question, “Why does she take him home?” The honest answer to that is, “I don’t know.” And I liked not knowing.] But isn’t it tricky to play a scene if you don’t know why the character is acting a certain way?

Yes, yes, you’re right. I definitely did feel I had to have my own version of what was going on for her. And I remember thinking in that particular moment, OK, I’ve got those two options here, I’m just going to play the truth of it. All she could see, there was a stranger with blood down the side of his face, and he had a very determined grip on the back of her son’s neck. And she had to comply with what he was asking, just in order to have her son by her side. That was my truth in that moment. That informed her decision, her next step, her next breath, everything. And I don’t think beyond that she actually thought that much.

She certainly wasn’t thinking, in two days I’m going to be in love with this guy. No. My God, no.

Falling in love with an escaped convict Was it hard to understand why she would fall for him so quickly? I’m really thinking how I answer this question, only because I want to make sure I’m giving you the completely right answer. At the end of the day, it’s the book and it’s what Joyce wrote. Did I think it was implausible? No. I didn’t think it was implausible that two people could fall in love that quickly - or at least believe that they were falling in love.

I think that actually, when you strip away the circum-

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stances surrounding the meeting, surrounding his prison conviction and everything that had happened with her as well, it’s very simple. It’s two people who meet in exceptionally wayward circumstances and just fall in love. Two pretty damaged people. Yeah. But I really admired Adele in a way. She isn’t hooked on medication for her shaking and sinking into a bottle of gin. She is warm. She’s fragile, yes, and she’s marked and scarred. But that doesn’t mean she has to be brittle and cold. She actually does have this gigantic heart - she’s just forgotten about it over the years.

There’s so much about herself that she has forgotten, so much that she actually had to leave behind because it was too painful to carry around anymore. And so for me, playing her, I wanted her to have lots of different colors. And that might sound really kind of like wanky actor-speak, but I didn’t want her to be just blue and white and cold and grey and broken. I wanted there to be more powerful colors in there, the colors that she had once been that had been muted over the years.

Acting with small crew Much of the film takes place in one house with only three actors. Did the shoot have that intimacy? It did, I have to say. There are two things that Jason really likes to pull off in his film shoots. One is a really small crew, which he absolutely achieved with this. And the other is to shoot chronologically. And with “Labor Day,” we were able to do that fairly consistently throughout.

Also, Jason is not a fan of rehearsal, and I would say that his decision not to rehearse really lent itself particularly well to the atmosphere that he was wanting to create.

Because there’s a newness and a rawness to any child actor.

Gattlin is a very sweet, untouched kid, and Jason’s decision not to rehearse us kept Gattlin always on that edge of feeling just a little bit nervous, not quite knowing what’s going to happen next.

The first time Josh and Gattlin met was when we filmed the first scene in Price Mart, and Gattlin was actually shaking in his shoes. He was all right with me by then, I’d been with him for a couple of weeks, and I’d managed to relax him a bit. We were friends, and I was just Kate. But suddenly there was Josh, sweating and bleeding and looking a bit scary. —Reuters

Classifieds WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

Kuwait SHARQIA-1 THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (DIG) THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (DIG) NO FRITHE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (DIG) HATOULY RAGEL (DIG) HATOULY RAGEL (DIG) THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (DIG) THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (DIG)

KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (19/12/2013 TO 25/12/2013) 1:45 PM 1:15 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

SHARQIA-2 FROZEN (DIG-3D) FROZEN (DIG-3D) TARZAN (DIG-3D) FROZEN (DIG-3D) THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (DIG) THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (DIG)

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:15 PM 12:15 AM

SHARQIA-3 HOURS (DIG) HAUNTER (DIG) DHOOM 3 (DIG) (HINDI) HAUNTER (DIG) HOURS (DIG) HAUNTER (DIG) HOURS (DIG)

2:00 PM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:00 PM 9:15 PM 11:15 PM 1:15 AM

MUHALAB-1 HOURS (DIG) HOURS (DIG) DHOOM 3 (DIG) (HINDI) HOURS (DIG) HATOULY RAGEL (DIG) HOURS (DIG)

12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:00 PM

MUHALAB-2 THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (DIG) BLOOD OF REDEMPTION (DIG) THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (DIG) BLOOD OF REDEMPTION (DIG) THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (DIG)

1:00 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 9:45 PM

MUHALAB-3 FROZEN (DIG-3D) FROZEN (DIG-3D) THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (DIG-3D) THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (DIG-3D) FANAR-1 HOURS (DIG) BLOOD OF REDEMPTION (DIG) HOURS (DIG) HOURS (DIG) BLOOD OF REDEMPTION (DIG) HOURS (DIG) BLOOD OF REDEMPTION (DIG) FANAR-2 FROZEN (DIG) FROZEN (DIG) FROZEN (DIG) THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (DIG) THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (DIG) THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (DIG) FANAR-3 DHOOM 3 (DIG) (HINDI) DHOOM 3 (DIG) (HINDI)

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 9:00 PM 12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM 1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM 12:30 PM 3:45 PM

DHOOM 3 (DIG) (HINDI) DHOOM 3 (DIG) (HINDI) THE FROZEN GROUND (DIG) THE FROZEN GROUND (DIG) HATOULY RAGEL (DIG) THE FROZEN GROUND (DIG)

7:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 PM 3:45 PM 7:00 PM 10:15 PM

FANAR-4 TARZAN (DIG-3D) TARZAN (DIG-3D) THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (DIG-3D) THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (DIG-3D) THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (DIG-3D)

2:15 PM 4:15 PM 6:15 PM 9:15 PM 12:15 AM

FANAR-5 A MADEA CHRISTMAS (DIG) HAUNTER (DIG) A MADEA CHRISTMAS (DIG) A MADEA CHRISTMAS (DIG) HATOULY RAGEL (DIG) HAUNTER (DIG)

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

MARINA-1 THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (DIG) THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (DIG) HATOULY RAGEL (DIG) HATOULY RAGEL (DIG) THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (DIG) THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (DIG)

12:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM

MARINA-2 HOURS (DIG) SAVING SANTA (DIG) HAUNTER (DIG) HOURS (DIG) HOURS (DIG) HAUNTER (DIG) HOURS (DIG)

12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 8:45 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

MARINA-3 FROZEN (DIG-3D) TARZAN (DIG-3D) FROZEN (DIG-3D) THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (DIG) THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (DIG)

2:00 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 9:00 PM 12:05 AM

AVENUES-1 A MADEA CHRISTMAS (DIG) A MADEA CHRISTMAS (DIG) A MADEA CHRISTMAS (DIG) THE CITIZEN (DIG) A MADEA CHRISTMAS (DIG) A MADEA CHRISTMAS (DIG)

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

AVENUES-2 HAUNTER (DIG) SAVING SANTA (DIG) HAUNTER (DIG) HAUNTER (DIG) HAUNTER (DIG) HAUNTER (DIG)

2:00 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM 8:45 PM 11:00 PM 1:15 AM

AVENUES-3 DHOOM 3 (DIG) (HINDI) DHOOM 3 (DIG) (HINDI) DHOOM 3 (DIG) (HINDI) DHOOM 3 (DIG) (HINDI)

1:00 PM 4:15 PM 7:30 PM 10:45 PM

FOR SALE

ACCOMMODATION Abraq Khaitan full room and sharing room available for decent bachelor with Goan in double bedroom flat with internet, kitchen facility, beside main road and bus stop, near police station round about.

Contact: 24745162 or 97523316. (C 4602) 24-12-2013

Selling Mazda 6 (2004 model) white color car, mileage 124,000 kms only.

Body, chassis, engine, gear, A/C, exteriors etc all in good condition and well maintained. Expecting KD 550. Call 66596645.

(C 4601) 18-12-2013

Sharing accommodation available for decent bachelor non-smoking, Amman Street, one big room, opposite to Al Rashid hospital.

Please contact: 66232356/55862576.

(C 4600) 18-12-2013

Prayer timings

Fajr: Shorook Duhr: Asr: Maghrib: Isha:

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry aboutthe Civil ID card is

1889988

112 No: 16027

05:15 06:40 11:48 14:38 16:56 18:19

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

Airlines JAI JZR JZR THY QTR ETH GFA THY UAE ETD OMA MSR QTR FDB THY DHX FDB JZR BAW KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE KAC ABY GBG QTR IRM ETD FDB GFA IRA IAW JZR JZR MEA TMA MSC IRM UAE SVA JZR JZR MSR KAC CLX KNE KAC FDB QTR KAC

Arrival Flights on Wednesday 25/12/2013 Flt Route Time 574 MUMBAI 00:10 267 BEIRUT 00:40 539 CAIRO 00:40 772 ISTANBUL 00:45 1084 DOHA 00:55 620 ADDIS ABABA 01:45 211 BAHRAIN 02:10 764 SABIHA 02:15 853 DUBAI 02:35 305 ABU DHABI-INTL 02:45 643 MUSCAT 03:05 612 CAIRO 03:10 1076 DOHA 03:45 67 DUBAI 04:00 770 ISTANBUL 05:35 170 BAHRAIN 05:40 69 DUBAI 05:50 529 ASYUT 06:20 157 LONDON 06:40 412 MANILA 06:45 53 DUBAI 07:50 206 ISLAMABAD 07:40 302 MUMBAI 07:55 352 COCHIN 08:10 344 CHENNAI 08:35 855 DUBAI 08:40 362 COLOMBO 08:45 125 SHARJAH 09:00 913 BISHKEK 09:00 1070 DOHA 09:10 1186 TEHRAN 09:15 301 ABU DHABI-INTL 09:20 55 DUBAI 09:40 213 BAHRAIN 10:40 603 SHIRAZ 10:45 157 BAGHDAD 11:00 143 DAMMAM 11:40 165 DUBAI 11:30 404 BEIRUT 11:55 213 BEIRUT 12:10 403 ASYUT 12:20 1188 MASHAD 12:40 871 DUBAI 12:50 9330 MEDINAH 12:35 141 DAMMAM 12:30 561 SOHAG 12:55 610 CAIRO 13:00 382 DELHI 13:05 792 LUXEMBOURG 13:15 480 TAIF 13:15 522 NAJAF 13:45 57 DUBAI 13:50 1078 DOHA 13:55 672 DUBAI 14:00

MSR SVA KAC KNE IRC GFA JAV KNE JZR KAC JZR QTR UAE ETD RJA JZR JZR JZR SVA ABY GFA KAC KAC RBG JZR QTR FDB KAC IYE KAC KAC KAC KAC GFA KAC OMA FDB MSC JAI ABY ETD AXB MSR DLH ALK MEA ETD UAE GFA QTR FDB JAI AIC JZR JZR JZR

575 500 790 472 6692 221 621 462 329 538 327 1072 857 303 640 787 777 357 510 127 215 384 542 553 177 1080 63 786 826 618 674 102 166 217 774 647 61 405 572 129 919 489 606 634 229 402 307 859 219 1074 59 576 975 135 239 185

SHARM EL SHEIKH JEDDAH MEDINAH JEDDAH MASHAD BAHRAIN AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA MEDINAH NAJAF SHARM EL SHEIKH NAJAF DOHA DUBAI ABU DHABI-INTL AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA RIYADH JEDDAH MASHAD RIYADH SHARJAH BAHRAIN DHAKA CAIRO ALEXANDRIA DUBAI DOHA DUBAI JEDDAH SANAA DOHA DUBAI NEW YORK PARIS BAHRAIN RIYADH MUSCAT DUBAI SOHAG MUMBAI SHARJAH ABU DHABI-INTL COCHIN LUXOR FRANKFURT COLOMBO BEIRUT ABU DHABI-INTL DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA DUBAI COCHIN CHENNAI BAHRAIN AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA DUBAI

14:15 14:30 14:25 14:35 14:35 15:00 15:05 15:45 16:00 16:05 16:45 16:40 16:40 16:50 16:55 17:00 17:55 17:55 17:15 17:25 17:30 17:45 18:05 18:15 18:20 18:40 18:45 18:45 18:55 19:00 19:25 19:35 19:10 19:30 19:30 19:55 20:05 20:05 20:10 20:20 20:25 20:35 20:45 20:55 21:10 21:20 21:35 21:40 21:45 22:00 22:00 22:15 22:30 22:05 22:20 23:20

Airlines AIC SYR UAL JAI DLH ETH THY UAE KAC ETD OMA MSR QTR FDB QTR KAC JZR FDB JZR THY GFA THY KAC JZR FDB BAW JZR KAC ABY KAC UAE KAC ETD KAC QTR FDB IRM KAC GBG GFA KAC IRA JZR IAW KAC JZR JZR MEA KAC MSC JZR JZR JZR TMA MSR SVA

Departure Flights on Wednesday 25/12/2013 Flt Route Time 982 AHMEDABAD 00:05 1452 DAMASCUS 00:35 981 WASHINGTON 00:55 573 MUMBAI 01:10 635 FRANKFURT 02:10 621 ADDIS ABABA 02:45 773 ISTANBUL-ATATURK 02:55 854 DUBAI 03:50 381 DELHI 03:50 306 ABU DHABI 04:00 644 MUSCAT 04:05 613 CAIRO 04:10 1085 DOHA 04:15 68 DUBAI 04:40 1077 DOHA 05:15 383 DHAKA 05:15 560 SOHAG 06:20 70 DUBAI 06:30 164 DUBAI 06:55 765 ISTANBUL-SABIHA 07:05 212 BAHRAIN 07:15 771 ISTANBUL-ATATURK 07:30 537 SHARM EL SHEIKH 08:10 142 DAMMAM 08:30 54 DUBAI 08:30 156 LONDON 08:45 140 DAMMAM 09:20 671 DUBAI 09:30 126 SHARJAH 09:40 789 MADINAH 09:45 856 DUBAI 09:55 117 NEW YORK 10:00 302 ABU DHABI 10:05 521 AL NAJAF 10:05 1071 DOHA 10:10 56 DUBAI 10:20 1187 TEHRAN 10:30 175 FRANKFURT 10:45 914 SHARJAH 11:00 214 BAHRAIN 11:25 541 CAIRO 11:30 602 SHIRAZ 11:45 356 MASHHAD 11:55 158 AL NAJAF 12:00 103 LONDON 12:20 776 JEDDAH 12:25 328 AL NAJAF 12:45 405 BEIRUT 12:55 785 JEDDAH 13:00 406 SOHAG 13:20 326 AL NAJAF 13:30 786 RIYADH 13:35 176 DUBAI 13:45 223 AL MAKTOUM INTERNATIONAL 13:45 611 CAIRO 14:00 2331 JEDDAH 14:00

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

IRM KNE UAE FDB CLX QTR MSR KAC KAC KNE IRC GFA SVA KAC JAV KNE JZR ETD QTR UAE JZR RJA ABY SVA GFA JZR JZR RBG JZR JZR FDB QTR IYE GFA FDB OMA KAC KAC ABY MSC JAI KAC MSR DHX ALK MEA ETD ETD GFA KAC FDB UAE KAC QTR JAI JZR JZR KAC

1189 481 872 58 792 1079 576 673 617 473 6693 222 503 773 622 463 238 304 1073 858 538 641 128 511 216 184 266 554 134 554 64 1081 827 218 62 648 331 361 120 404 571 351 619 171 230 403 308 920 220 301 60 860 205 1075 575 528 502 415

MASHHAD TAIF DUBAI DUBAI GIALAM DOHA SHARM EL SHEIKH DUBAI DOHA JEDDAH MASHHAD BAHRAIN MADINAH RIYADH AMMAN MADINAH AMMAN ABU DHABI DOHA DUBAI CAIRO AMMAN SHARJAH RIYADH BAHRAIN DUBAI BEIRUT ALEXANDRIA BAHRAIN ALEXANDRIA DUBAI DOHA RIYAN MUKALLA BAHRAIN DUBAI MUSCAT TRIVANDRUM COLOMBO SHARJAH ASYUT MUMBAI KOCHI ALEXANDRIA BAHRAIN COLOMBO BEIRUT ABU DHABI ABU DHABI BAHRAIN MUMBAI DUBAI DUBAI ISLAMABAD DOHA ABU DHABI ASYUT LUXOR KUALA LUMPUR

14:05 14:10 14:15 14:30 14:45 14:55 15:00 15:05 15:30 15:30 15:35 15:45 15:45 16:05 16:25 16:30 16:55 17:35 17:40 17:50 17:50 17:55 18:05 18:15 18:20 18:40 18:50 18:55 19:10 19:20 19:25 19:40 19:55 20:15 20:45 20:55 20:55 21:00 21:00 21:05 21:10 21:10 21:45 21:50 22:10 22:20 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:50 22:55 23:10 23:15 23:25 23:30 23:55

34

s ta rs CROSSWORD 409

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19) ARIES Your friends, associates or family may see your humorous side today, as well as something of an eccentric nature. By allowing yourself the freedom of creativity and intuitiveness, you may find new insights or breakthroughs regarding your living situation or life conditions. Others value you for your independent traits. You could feel the importance of caring for others or in having them care for you today—this could be on a public rather than a private level. You have needs and you sense the needs of others. If you can figure out how to fit the two elements together, that is what will make life work for you. A powerful need for nurturing is a bigger than usual aspect in your life. It may be your turn to volunteer for a favorite charity tonight.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Luck shines on you today. Communications are highlighted. This is an ideal day for you to get many things accomplished. Partners or superiors stand strong in favor of more research on your ideas. Supervisors work closely with you. Stop and reexamine your approach. Don’t be afraid to offer your point of view. Kindness wins and a compromise may be in order. You feel more secure in your work situation than ever before. This afternoon you may find that important news comes by mail. Put all of your energy into completing a personal project later today. Your friends are in a mystical mood. Laugh, enjoy your friends and be of good cheer; a celebration or reunion brings lots of laughter as well as remember-when conversations.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

ACROSS 1. Horny projecting mouth of a bird.

4. Low stingless nettle of Central and South America having velvety brownish-green toothed leaves and clusters of small green flowers.

12. A constellation in the southern hemisphere near Telescopium and Norma.

15. A sweetened beverage of diluted fruit juice.

16. A large sailing ship that was engaged in the British trade with India.

17. The longer of the two telegraphic signals used in Morse code.

18. A prosthesis that replaces a missing leg.

19. At surface level.

20. A nucleic acid consisting of large molecules shaped like a double helix.

21. (Akkadian) God of wisdom.

22. A sock with a separation for the big toe.

23. Moderate in type or degree or effect or force.

25. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

26. At all times.

29. A silvery soft waxy metallic element of the alkali metal group.

31. A young woman making her debut into society.

32. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

35. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

39. Roman general who commanded the fleet that defeated the forces of Antony and Cleopatra at Actium (63-12 BC).

43. (informal) Of the highest quality.

44. Any of a number of fishes of the family Carangidae.

45. Angular distance above the horizon (especially of a celestial object).

46. Flowing in drops.

47. A hard gray lustrous metallic element that is highly corrosion-resistant.

49. South American wood sorrel cultivated for its edible tubers.

50. Annual or perennial herbs.

53. Wild and menacing.

55. A green or yellow or brown mineral consisting of a hydrated silicate.

57. Any of several Orthodox Jewish sects who reject modern secular culture and many of whom do not recognize the spiritual authority of the modern state of Israel.

58. (of champagne) Moderately dry.

59. Measuring instrument for indicating speed of rotation.

62. Relating to or characteristic of or occurring on the sea or ships.

63. Primitive chlorophyll-containing mainly aquatic eukaryotic organisms lacking true stems and roots and leaves.

66. An associate degree in applied science.

69. Of or at or pertaining to a cathode.

72. On a ship, train, plane or other vehicle.

77. Type genus of the Amiidae.

78. Genus of beetles whose grubs feed mainly on roots of plants.

81. The cry made by sheep.

82. A transparent optical device used to converge or diverge transmitted light and to form images.

83. A tricycle (usually propelled by pedalling).

84. A container.

85. Any tree or shrub of the genus Inga having pinnate leaves and showy usually white flowers.

86. Extreme mental retardation.

87. The compass point midway between northeast and east.

DOWN 1. Greek mythology.

2. Conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection or excellence.

3. Call upon in supplication.

4. Righteousness by virtue of being pious.

5. A Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria and closely related to Hausa.

6. A yellow trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group.

7. An island in the Aegean Sea in the Saronic Gulf.

8. The month following February and preceding April.

9. (Islam) The man who leads prayers in a mosque.

10. Large family of important mostly marine food fishes.

11. Administer an oil or ointment to.

12. A condition (mostly in boys) characterized by behavioral and learning disorders.

13. Type genus of the Ranidae.

14. According to the Old Testament he was a pagan king of Israel and husband of Jezebel (9th century BC).

24. A software system that facilitates the creation and maintenance and use of an electronic database.

27. The waging of armed conflict against an enemy.

28. (chemistry) Being or containing an acid.

30. Having winglike extensions.

33. (Scotland) A small loaf or roll of soft bread.

34. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike.

36. Islands in the Atlantic Ocean belonging to Portugal.

37. The face or front of a building.

38. A port city in southwestern Turkey on the Gulf of Antalya.

40. A tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area.

41. Chronic inflammatory disease of the skin characterized by blister capped papules and intense itching.

42. A member of the North American Indian people living in southern Arizona and northern Mexico.

48. The second largest city in Tunisia.

51. The act of putting something in a certain place or location.

52. Large brownish-green New Zealand parrot.

54. A trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group.

56. United States feminist (born in 1934).

60. A white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light.

61. (astronomy) The angular distance of a celestial point measured westward along the celestial equator from the zenith crossing.

64. The sacred city of Lamaism.

65. (Babylonian) A demigod or first man.

67. East Indian tree yielding a resin used medicinally and burned as incense.

68. A heavy odorless colorless gas formed during respiration and by the decomposition of organic substances.

70. A primeval personification of air and breath.

71. A set of rules or principles or laws especially written ones.

73. A small cake leavened with yeast.

74. A French abbot.

75. Water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere.

76. A native or inhabitant of Denmark.

79. A unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour.

80. A legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

Some of the things that take on emotional significance for you are being able to obtain and exchange information clearly. It seems at times you leave information out of your conversation—you are sure the other person knows what you mean. Record vocally what you would say for your next meeting and then listen to your talk. You may notice that there are places you have assumed others know what you are saying—think again. If you want to have someone understand you properly you must include the important details. Being more closely involved with another person may well become your highest priority this evening. Marriage, contracts and partnerships are seen as keys to success and happiness, and they have plenty of lessons to teach you.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Come to terms with career demands. There could be opportunities to invest if you look closely. You gain some good business ideas from co-workers. Remember, however, the information is not professional and the suggestions are just ideas. Close relationships take on more emotional depth, power and importance. You may find appreciation in your unique situation and enjoy assistance or interaction from those around you.

Wonderful feelings and a sense of support and rapport make this a very pleasant time.

Tonight is a great time for surrounding yourself with friends and young people, and for having a good time. It may be the night for the business social. If so, you should outshine everyone with your fantastic smile.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Some happy medium needs to be found today—you may be a bit restless. This may all be caused from the season of the year, or it could be some tight schedule through which you have been trying to dance. Make a list and guide yourself by this list for the day. You can complete the work that you have set out for yourself just now—whether it is in the workplace or at home. Patience is your key word for now. You may find yourself counting to ten several times during the day, just to remain focused. Surprisingly enough, you may be the one that completes your work while others in your office cannot seem to get projects started. A loved one steals your heart today with a kind favor, perhaps an effort or service for someone less fortunate.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Be clear in your communications and pay close attention to someone that you admire when it comes to getting work done in prompt order. You will learn new ways to handle everyday matters. Co-workers touch a soft spot in your heart—everyone works together to finally complete a slow moving project you have been working on. You are lucky to have them around. Plan a special celebration of your unified accomplishments.

Enjoyment comes from feeling a certain sense of support from those around you; you will be able to return the favor. This afternoon you may find yourself shopping for last-minute holiday gifts. Keep notes on the holiday requests and the purchases you have already made and you will be organized. Whistle or hum a happy tune.

Word Search

Libra (September 23-October 22) Someone in authority recognizes your talent. Don’t be so quick to celebrate your success, however. Take the time to fine-tune your craft. Listening is one of the ways you have of being a good helper today. At the noon break you might decide to have your lunch with a co-worker that just needs to talk. Your wit and your originality may help others accept their problems in a better light. After all, if you were to ask people to trade problems with you, nine times out of ten they would say no, just because their own problems are known. You handle some of your own problems this way, quick and to the point and with a bit of levity. This afternoon someone pays you back on a long overdue loan. This evening it is time to encourage a loved one.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) There is plenty of support from others today. It is a time when you could hear some encouraging words or gain some extra support or recognition from those around you. You should feel very much in touch and in harmony with others and the lines of communication should be wide open. It is a super time to work as a team. Because of your reputation for managing and directing others, someone could be looking to have you take the reins of a very special project. Good news—a bank or credit union is willing to help you out of a financial jam. Put in a double effort to pay back this loan within a year and you will do well. A friend takes you to a music concert this evening. Having a special time with someone you enjoy being around creates a fun evening.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) There is no time to relax today—too many projects as well as last-minute personal chores. One thing at a time and everything will be complete. Your career is more in focus now and you may be able to determine in which direction you want to take your interests in the future. A firm foundation is forming in front of you as your management and directional abilities are in high focus. Stay away from speculative situations—you really don’t have time for this activity. Take every precaution necessary when handling other people’s money—play it safe. Include your partner in social activities.

It is a great time to be in a relationship. Rediscover romance. Be generous and openhearted. The ballet may be the social event this evening.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) If you could do anything your heart desired today, you would probably opt for ignoring your more mundane responsibilities and doing some socializing. Unfortunately, reality has a way of demanding that you get down to business and forget your fantasies. Your buddies will probably understand your predicament, but may give you a hard time over your ideas. Needs of a sensual nature are probably going to be but one of the life issues that you find are emphasized for you at this time. You long to be powerful and in control; being in charge could result in a greater experience or interest in healing and investing, as well as the great mysteries of life. Education will play a big part in helping you to reach your goals.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Interruptions are steady this morning and it could be difficult for you to keep a steady train of thought. This could finally result in a lack of interest in what you are doing. You may want to take some breaks and stretch a little. Big changes affecting your career, status and reputation are possible just now. Daring to be different and having a good sense of humor get you noticed and could get you ahead in ways you never expected. It could even land you in hot water if you are not discreet. A high-tech or idealistic approach sets you apart from others. This is a highly active day for you, mentally.

Associates make heavy demands on your time. Steer clear of philosophical discussions. Let your brain have a much-needed rest this evening.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) You want very much to be admired and appreciated for what you do and who you are. You may find yourself enjoying some form of financial gain—perhaps a raise.

Some of the issues that you feel instinctively at this time are a need for emotional security, a feeling of belonging and nurturing. You crave a sense of intimate connection and you want roots. If you are living in an apartment, you may soon decide that it is your turn to be a homeowner. Success is being able to live your dream. Acknowledge your progress—you are almost there. A lover or child becomes a focal point in your life. Romance and such creative pursuits as hobbies are outlets for much of your energy. Later today, you may decide to bathe an animal before company arrives.

Yesterday’s Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

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Yesterday’s Solution

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

i n f o r m at i o n For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 GOVERNORATE 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

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

PHONE

Al-Madeena

22418714

Al-Shuhada

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Sabhan

24742838

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Al-Helaly

22434853

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Al-Faiha

22545051

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554 25721264 25380581 25628241

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

Hawally

Kaizen center

25716707

Rawda

22517733

Adaliya

22517144

Al-Jahra

25610011

Khaldiya

24848075

Al-Salmiya

25616368

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

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

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

Endocrinologist

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535

Dentists

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

22618787

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

General Surgeons Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

22666300 25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

Neurologists

22639939

Dr. Mousa Khadada

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

3729596/3729581

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

Kaizen center 25716707

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

Dr Anil Thomas

Dr. Salem soso

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

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 Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

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 Iraq 00964 Ireland 00353 Italy 0039 Ivory Coast 00225 Jamaica 001876 Japan 0081 Jordan 00962 Kazakhstan 007 Kenya 00254 Kiribati 00686 Kuwait 00965 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Laos 00856 Latvia 00371 Lebanon 00961 Liberia 00231 Libya 00218 Lithuania 00370 Luxembourg 00352 Macau 00853 Macedonia 00389 Madagascar 00261 Majorca 0034 Malawi 00265 Malaysia 0060 Maldives 00960 Mali 00223 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 (Holland) 0031 Netherlands Antilles 00599 New Caledonia 00687 New Zealand 0064 Nicaragua 00505 Nigar 00227 Nigeria 00234 Niue 00683 Norfolk Island 00672 Northern 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 Saint Kitts 001869 Saint Lucia 001758 Saint Pierre 00508 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

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

lifestyle G o s s i p

Rihanna

to release

two albums in 2014?

R

ihanna is planning to release two albums in 2014.

The ‘Stay’ hitmaker has put out a new record every year since 2009 and although this year she hasn’t released another she is hoping to have “big hits” in the future. A source told The Sun newspaper: “The plan is to put two records out. Rihanna wants big hits on both the albums.” The Barbadian beauty’s last album ‘Unapologetic’ hit shelves in November 2012 and she’s since been busy on her ‘Diamonds World Tour’, which kicked off in March this year, in support of her seventh studio album. Rihanna has had a successful year and was recently named the new face of Balmain where she will front the

Spring/Summer 2014 collection advertising campaign for the French fashion label and is expected to feature in magazines from January. The label’s creative director, Olivier Rousteing, previously said: “In front of the camera, she makes you feel like she is the only girl in the world. “When the woman that inspires you wears your creations, your vision feels complete.”

Scherzinger shares festive style tips

N

Lewis’ new album

icole Scherzinger loves sequins. The former Pussycat Dolls singer thinks a bit of sparkle can make any outfit look festive, and she is also a big fan of accessorizing. She said: “You can’t go wrong with sequins. I love sequins - they make everything more festive. I love a good scarf, a good shoe. “Right now I’m all about leather cut-out gloves.

I got a good pair from All Saints with jewels all over.

You can dress them down or put them with anything - a dress or jeans.” The 35-year-old beauty believes looking after her skin is the key to her good looks.

She said: “When you’re on the go, throw on some good old shades and a hat. I didn’t realize how valuable sleep was until I got older. “I love really fresh, dewy skin. Even when you’re tired, add some moisturizer or illuminator to your foundation and it makes your skin feel glowy.” Nicole also believes a person’s attitude reflects in their outer self. She said: “A lot of it honestly is your attitude, your outlook on life, your perspective and your spirit.”-Bang Showbiz

inspired by Motown

L

Jackman watches Elf every Christmas

eona Lewis’ Christmas album was inspired by Motown. The ‘One More Sleep’ singer says she wanted to have a heavy old school influence on the songs on ‘Christmas, with Love’ as she grew up listening to soulful, R&B records. She exclusively told BANG Showbiz: “The inspiration for this is very much Motown. When I was first going to record the Christmas album, immediately that’s what came to my mind because those are the kinds of Christmas records that I listened to. We wanted to go Motown, and we did ... we went there. It was really fun.”

While the festive-themed album is sure to provide the perfect Christmas soundtrack, Leona, 28, has revealed she recorded the album under less than festive conditions over the summer. She said: “We recorded in summertime. It was so weird because I recorded it in Brighton and I thought, ‘OK, Brighton, it’s summer but you don’t really get a summer in Brighton.’ “It’s usually really grim, but it was the sunniest summer Brighton has ever seen! It was a bit bizarre recording at that point.” Leona’s album ‘Christmas, with Love’ is out now.

H

ugh Jackman watches ‘Elf’ with his family every year at Christmas. The ‘Wolverine’ star looks forward to sitting down his wife, Deborra Lee-Furness and their adopted children Oscar, 13, and Ava, nine, to watch festive movies and although they try new ones, they can’t help but return to the classic comedy starring Will Ferrell. He said: “My kids are getting older but we genuinely look forward to watching the same movies. There have been great animated movies, but now they’re getting into live action stuff. But ‘Elf’, for years, has been the one that my wife and the kids have all liked.” Meanwhile, the 45year-old actor always knew he was destined to be on the big screen after seeing Harrison Ford star as intrepid archaeologist Indiana Jones when he was a youngster. He explained: “‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ blew my mind. I had no idea movies could be that great and awesome. I was 12 years old, and that’s when I remember thinking, ‘Oh, I’d love to do that one day.’”

Scorsese heckled at Wolf of Wall Street screening

M

Wretch 32 dons Santa Claus costume for kids

W

retch 32 dresses up as Father Christmas every year. The ‘Traktor’ hitmaker - whose new album ‘Growing Over Life’ is set to be released next year - has admitted he always puts on a Santa Claus costume on Christmas Eve to surprise his young children, Skye-Laurell and Kyrayn. The 28-year-old rapper told BANG Showbiz: “I’m Father Christmas in my family so I have to do the deliveries. I actually deliver! It’s unbelievable.” However, the modest star added: “When my family ask me, ‘What should we get you?’ I’m like, ‘Do you know what, I’m cool man. I just want to see you lot happy.’ “Apart from his Santa duties, Wretch 32 said he’s going to be

wearing “pyjamas all day, all night” and relaxing on the sofa. He quipped: “I’m having Christmas off. I’m looking forward to chilling and eating as much as I can.” The star also has big plans for his turkey dinner and joked: “I’m trying to eat the whole turkey - I’ve been trying it for years.”

artin Scorsese’s new film The Wolf of Wall Street was reportedly met with disdain at an Academy screening.

Martin Scorsese was reportedly booed at ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ screening. The filmmaker’s new black comedy was branded “disgusting” by senior Oscar voters at an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences screening held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Los Angeles, with one screenwriter allegedly confronting Scorsese after the event. The risquÈ movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill is based on Jordan Belfort’s reallife memoir of his rise to riches on Wall Street and contains explicit sex and drug-use scenes. Veteran actress Hope Holiday scathingly wrote on Facebook: “Last night was torture at the Academy - ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ - three hours of torture. Same disgusting crap over and over again - after the film they had a discussion which a lot of us did not stay for. “The elevator doors opened and Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese and a few others got out.

Then a screenwriter ran over to them and started screaming, ‘Shame on you’. Disgusting.” A Paramount Pictures representative has since dismissed Holiday’s version of events, calling them “extreme” and insisting there was no “screaming” and only a “negative comment” was made. Nevertheless, the ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ has already received two Golden Globes nods and is expected to be nominated at the Oscars in 2014. ‘The Departed’ helmer Scorsese recently admitted his new movie wouldn’t be to everyone’s taste. He said: “It’s brutal. I’ve seen it with audiences, and I think it plays. I don’t know if it will be to everyone’s taste - I don’t think it will. It’s not made for 14 year olds.”

Stiller’s pride at sharing success with son

B

en Stiller felt immense pride when his son watched him get his hand and footprints cemented into Hollywood history. ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’ star cast his prints outside the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX earlier this month, making him a member of an exclusive club populated by cinematic legends including Marilyn Monroe, Clint Eastwood and Rita Hayworth. Stiller took his wife, Christine Taylor, 42, and their children, Ella, 11, and Quin, eight, to the ceremony and admits he was overcome with joy to be able to share such a special moment with his family. The actor - who was introduced at the event by his friend Tom Cruise - said: “My last moment of bliss was at my hand and footprint ceremony. It was the first time my son had come to an event.

And I looked at him running around and talking to these women reporters. He was batting his eyelashes, and they were fawning all over him. It just made me happy.” Stiller, 48, also revealed his best source of advice is always his wife Christine and he values her opinion over almost everybody else. He told People magazine: “My wife is usually very good at giving me advice. I’ve been working a lot lately and she said to just take a breath. Breathe and take it one day at a time.”

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

lifestyle M u s i c

&

M o v i e s

Christmas documentary reveals Sex Pistols’ cuddly side

N

otorious punk rocker Sid Vicious dances to Christmas hits with a gaggle of children, while fellow Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten hands out presents. It sounds implausible, but this is how the British punk band spent Christmas Day 1977. Unseen footage of Sex Pistols in this unlikely scenario will be broadcast for the first time in a new documentary to be aired on BBC television on December 26. The band spent Christmas that year playing a charity gig for the children of striking firefighters at a nightclub in Huddersfield, a market town in northern England.

“To most people they were monsters in the news,” director Julien Temple, who filmed the punks performing that day, told the Guardian newspaper yesterday. “But seeing them playing to seven- and eight-year-olds is beautiful.

They were a radical band, but there was a lot more heart to that group than people know.” The charity gig was to be the Sex Pistols’ last British performance. Bassist Sid Vicious died of a heroin overdose in 1979, four months after he was charged with murdering his girlfriend Nancy Spungen, who was found stabbed in their New York hotel room.

Temple’s documentary, “Never Mind the Baubles: Xmas ‘77 With the Sex Pistols” shows frontman Rotten leaping into a giant Christmas cake before the band and audience hurl chunks of it at each other. “It’s probably the best footage of the Pistols on film but it’s never been seen,” he told the Guardian. The band had been banned from performing at most British venues by December 1977, Temple recalled, including the Holiday Inn hotel chain. Snippets of the footage appeared in Temple’s 2000 documentary “The Filth and the Fury”, but this is the first time it will be shown in what the director called its “full, unbelievably energetic glory”.— AFP

Sex Pistols

Review: Fine detail, little spark in Fiennes film

T

This image released by Universal Pictures shows, from left, Shu Nakajima, Hiroyuki Sanada and Takato Yonemoto in a scene from “47 Ronin.”— AP

Review: Reeves comes off bogus in ‘Ronin’

I

n Japan, the story of the 47 ronin is so central to the country’s national identity that a special word exists for the act of retelling it: Chushingura. But despite this long tradition of flexible reinterpretation, the Hollywood-backed “47 Ronin” takes such liberties with the underlying legend that a different term comes to mind, one better suited to American actor Keanu Reeves’ involvement: “bogus.” So far, Japanese audiences have been slow to embrace a CG-heavy version of the story that offers Keanu as a previously unsung “half-breed” accomplice. Meanwhile, domestic crowds are being deliberately misled to think he’s the star - a high-stakes bait-and-switch sure to backfire on this narratively stiff but compositionally dazzling production.

In theory, director Carl Rinsch’s considerable visual talents should have been the draw, with the expectation that the first-time director would deliver on the promise of his dazzling short film “The Gift.” Sure enough, in his hands, “47 Ronin” rivals the epic martial-arts films of Tsui Hark or Zhang Yimou in terms of sheer spectacle. But as the budget crept ever skyward, reportedly reaching as high as $225 million, Universal’s marketing department shifted into panic mode, opting to disguise the fact that the true heroes of this epic Japanese legend were themselves Japanese, and positioning Reeves’ character - described as the shameful “love of one night” between an English sailor and a local peasant girl - as a superficial ploy to attract international crowds.

Like all Chushingura, “47 Ronin” recounts the tragic Ako incident (spoilers ahead), during which Lord Asano (Min Tanaka) was forced to commit seppuku after illegally striking an unarmed royal guest, leaving the 47 samurai who had been under his command without a master. After more than a year adrift, these ronin (as disgraced samurai are known) returned, staging a daring night raid in which they took their revenge, vindicated their master and were ultimately forced to sacrifice their own lives in punishment.

Sanada plays Oishi, leader of the desperate group of ronin, who turns to mysterious stranger Kai (Reeves) for help when planning his coup. With three writers credited (Chris Morgan and Walter Hamada for story, “Drive” scribe Hossein Amini and Morgan for the script itself ), the project resists easy

reverse-engineering, though given Reeves’ international profile, it’s no surprise that he was given the film’s romantic subplot. Kai’s love is star-crossed for multiple reasons - not least of which that nearly all the male leads end up dead, either in battle or by ritual suicide - though it doesn’t help matters that the object of his affection is Asano’s daughter, Mika (an unremarkable Kou Shibasaki), already promised to Oishi.

Perhaps it is this connection that inspires Kai, whose lowly class separates him from the esteemed samurai, to repeatedly risk his life for Asano’s honor. Though Rinsch shows no great strength in working with actors, he can build a setpiece on par with those of directors decades more experienced, and long before Asano has been given the chance to publicly disembowel himself (an act that, like so much of the bloodletting, is “tastefully” left offscreen), Kai has already slain a rampaging CG monstrosity and faced off against a 10-foot silver-armored samurai.

The key difference between most Chushingura comes in the speculated motives behind Asano’s initial attack upon his rival in the palace - the act that sets the entire tragedy in motion. To this fantasy-infused telling, Rinsch introduces the notion of witchcraft, casting Rinko Kikuchi as a deliciously evil witch with ambiguous powers. Basically, anything that might look cool when rendered by the industr y ’s finest effects houses is fair game, whether that means the witch conjuring iridescent spiders out of thin air or transforming herself into a three-dimensional dragon. As impressive as these visual elements prove to be, the film struggles to grab and maintain audiences’ interest, whether or not they know the underlying legend by heart. “47 Ronin,” a Universal release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for “intense sequences of violence and action, some disturbing images, and thematic elements.” Running time: 119 minutes.— AP

wo years after he made his directorial debut with “Coriolanus,” the terrific actor Ralph Fiennes arrives with his second effort, an exploration of an illicit liaison that Charles Dickens had with a young actress. And “The Invisible Woman” is so different in every way from that first film - in content, texture, look, and pace - that, well, it’s tempting to call this “A Tale of Two Movies.” Of course, both films are skillfully made, as one would expect from a talent like Fiennes (who also stars in both). But where “Coriolanus” was visceral, violent, and virtually crackling with energy, “The Invisible Woman” is quiet, reflective, richly detailed, and slow-moving.

Nothing wrong with any of that. But it also lacks something crucial: Passion. This will be particularly disappointing to those who see the names Ralph Fiennes and Kristin Scott Thomas together here, and remember the heat these two generated together, oh, 17 years ago in “The English Patient.” Alas, Thomas plays not the love interest here that goes to the much younger Felicity Jones - but the love interest’s mother. (So, stop thinking about that scene where he carries her lifeless body, still lovely, out of the cave. You know who you are.)

It is, though, a fascinating story - and a true one, first told in a 1990 biography by Claire Tomalin, on which the screenplay is based. When Dickens was 45, and at the height of his considerable celebrity, he met 18-year-old Nelly Ternan, a budding actress with a role in one of his theatrical productions. The year was 1857, in the midst of the Victorian Era. The idea of an 18-year-old having an affair with an older, married father of 10, let alone a beloved public figure, was of course scandalous. But the unlikely liaison lasted for over a decade.

The film begins after Dickens’ death. It’s 1885 and a school headmaster’s wife is directing schoolboys in a play by Dickens and fellow dramatist Wilkie Collins. It’s clear from the way she acts that she is distracted, in a deep, disturbing sort of way. Her thoughts travel back almost three decades, and the affair plays out in flashback. We watch as young Nelly meets Dickens, portrayed by Fiennes as a man in constant creative motion, self-involved but also seductive, by force of his

intellect. Nelly comes from a family of actors, including her mother, but alas, she’s not the talented one, though she doesn’t know it at first. Yet Dickens is clearly drawn to her; “She has something,” he says.

Jones, who has a lovely face and a sweet demeanor, succeeds in portraying this soft-spoken woman as someone who is always thinking more deeply than she’s letting on. Hastening the affair is Dickens’ obvious dissatisfaction with his marriage. Joanna Scanlan is touching and, quite suddenly, heartbreaking - as Catherine Dickens, who was in fact discarded, humiliatingly. In one important scene, we learn there’s a lot more wisdom in her than jealousy. There’s plenty of fun here for anyone partial to expertly done period dramas. The costumes are wonderful, and it’s particularly enjoyable to watch rehearsal scenes in a 19th-century theater.

But as the action progresses, you might find yourself feeling as though you’ve missed something: The spark that ignites this whole dangerous enterprise. We see evidence that rumors are flying of this illicit coupling way before we see any, er, actual coupling - and what we see isn’t enough. At one point, the older Nelly, reflecting back, comments that there were “days of such joy.” Of course, there was pain, too. But it would have been nice, in this otherwise solid effort by Fiennes, to see more of that joy. “The Invisible Woman,” a Sony Pictures Classics release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for “some sexual content.” Running time: 111 minutes. Three stars out of four. — AP

This image released by Sony Pictures Classics shows Ralph Fiennes, left, as Charles Dickens and Felicity Jones, as Nelly Ternan, in a scene from “The Invisible Woman.”— AP

‘Hobbit’ keeps ‘Anchorman’ from top of N America box office

T

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Evangeline Lilly, left, and Orlando Bloom in a scene from “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.”— AP

he latest Tolkien blockbuster, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” held on atop North America’s weekend box office, keeping TV “Anchorman” Ron Burgundy from making number one news, figures showed Monday. The second part of “The Hobbit” film trilogy, starring Ian McKellen and Martin Freeman, earned $31.5 million on its second weekend, according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations. The series, directed by Peter Jackson, follows his other mega-hit trilogy adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings.” In second place, debuting with $26.8 million in ticket sales, was “Anchorman 2,” the heavily-marketed sequel to the popular Will Ferrell comedy about screwball newsman Burgundy.

While respectable, the figure is relatively disappointing for the sequel. “‘Anchorman 2’ box office: What happened?” headlined the Los Angeles Times, noting it earned less than the 2004 original’s opening weekend. Possible reasons included over-marketing-Burgundy has been so ubiquitous in recent

weeks that people already “feel like they had gotten their fill of the character,” it said-as well as stronger competition, and the possibility that “older fans had moved on.” Slipping to third place was Disney animated musical “Frozen,” with a $19.6 million take.

The 53rd movie in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, which began with “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” in 1937, “Frozen” is loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairytale “The Snow Queen.” Comedy “American Hustle”-starring Christian Bale and Amy Adams as a hustler couple, and Bradley Cooper as the FBI agent they team up with to bring down other con artists-rose to fourth place on the film’s first week in national release.

The movie, which has been nominated for seven Golden Globes, raked in $19.1 million. In fifth place with $9.3 million was “Saving Mr Banks,” about Walt Disney’s quest to make a film adaptation of “Mary Poppins.” Its stars-Tom Hanks as Disney and Emma Thompson as Poppins’ anti-Hollywood author-have both been nominated for Golden Globes. Falling to

sixth spot, the latest installment of the blockbuster “Hunger Games” franchise earned $8.8 million, taking its overall earnings since its record opening five weeks ago to $371 million in North America alone.

In seventh, with $8.4 million, was “A Madea Christmas,” directed by and starring Tyler Perry in his recurring role as Madea, chronicling yet another adventure in the life of the tough, old woman.

“Walking with Dinosaurs,” an animated tale that brings viewers into the Paleozoic era, opened in eighth place, with $7.1 million, while another new release, Bollywood blockbuster “Dhoom 3”, took ninth with $3.4 million, despite being shown in only 236 theaters. Rounding out the top 10 was superhero flick “Thor: The Dark World,” the latest movie based on Marvel’s iconic comic book character, which took in $1.3 million. — AFP

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

lifestyle F E A T U R E S

How to make Christmas cheese cake Ingredients * 1 kg of cottage cheese, grounded * 1 cup of sugar * 8 eggs * 1 package of vanilla pudding * 1/2 cup of raisins * 150 grams of dark chocolate * 1/2 cup of almonds 1. Grind egg yolks with sugar for fluffy mixture.

2. Combine cottage cheese with yolks & sugar mixture, add vanilla pudding (powder to add extra light texture to cheese cake).

3. Whip egg whites and add to cheese mixture, mix gently add raisins.

4. Pour into baking tray.

5. Bake about 1 hour in preheated oven, Iranian women shop for Christmas decoration at a gift shop in Tehran yesterday, as Christians around the world prepare for Christmas celebrations.

How to make Bûche de Noël Ingredients 1 sponge cake (see vanilla swiss roll recipe) Coffee Cream * 400 ml milk * 4 egg yolks * 80 gm sugar * 40 gm cornstarch * 2 tsp expresso * 125 gm butter Ganache * 200 gm chocolate * 200 gm whipping cream * 80 gm butter For Coffee cream: 1. Boil milk.

2. Beat sugar and egg yolks in a bowl.

3. Add in cornstarch and mix well.

4. Pour half of the boiling milk whilst stirring.

5. Pour mixture back in the remaining hot milk, mix well and cook on low heat till it boils. Add in the expresso.

6. Let the cream cool (don’t forget to whisk from time to time).

7. In another bowl, soften the butter using a spatula.

8. Add the butter to the coffee cream one spoonful at a time.

A chimpanzee holds a package filled with treats and wrapped as a Christmas gift at the zoo in La Fleche, western France.—AFP

180 C degrees.

6. Cool cheese cake.

7. Melt chocolate, smear over the cheese cake and garish with almonds

9. Spread the cream on sponge cake. Roll the cake and let it rest in the fridge for 1 hour.

For ganache 1. Bring whipping cream and butter to boil.

2. Turn off the heat, add in chopped chocolate and beat well until combined.

3. Let it cool down and put it in the fridge.

4. Whisk it from time to time.

5. Take it off the fridge before it is completely set.

6. Cut a diagonal slice at one end of the cake and stick it with a bit of cream to form the branch.

7. Spread the ganache over the b˚che and add some Christmas figures to complete the festive look.

8. Put the cake in the fridge to set before serving.

Christmas Roast Stuffed Turkey Ingredients 1 large turkey [6-7 kgs]

An Afghan florist decorates a Christmas tree for sale in Kabul yesterday. Florists along Kabul’s well-known Flower Street keep stock of live and plastic Christmas trees for the large foreign community based in the Afghan capital for the holiday season.

Vendors sell Christmas dolls and balloons on a street in Hanoi yesterday. Vietnam’s economy grew 5.42 percent in 2013, picking up speed slightly after its worst performance in more than a decade the previous year, according to an official estimate released on December 23. —AP/AFPphotos

Palestinian children dressed up as Santa Claus pose at Manger Square outside the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, during Christmas celebrations in the West Bank biblical town of Bethlehem yesterday.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas urged Christian pilgrims from around the world to visit the Holy Land to mark the visit of Pope Francis, set for 2014, in a Christmas message.

Ingredients A: 1/2 tsp savory 1/2 tsp thyme 1/2 tsp sage 1 tsp salt and pepper 1/4 cup butter For the stuffings: 1/2 loaf wheat bread- cut into small cubes 1/2 tsp savory 1/2 tsp thyme 1/2 tsp sage salt and pepper 4 eggs.

Brown gravy: 3 tbsp flour salt and pepper 1 tbsp browning sauce 2 cups stocks juice from baking turkey 1. For the turkey; rub it with ingredients A. Put in a large deep baking dish.

2. For the stuffings: Mix bread cubes with beaten eggs and season with salt and pep-

per and savoury. Stuff the bread mixture in the bird’s cavity. Sew the skin up between the legs so the stuffing will not fall out.

3. Cover with foil and roast it in slow oven 160 C for 3 3/4 - 4 hours , basting the melted butter over the turkey every 1/2 hour.

4. Leave the bird in the oven for half hour before serving.

5. Serve with brown gravy and side dish.

Note: to make gravy: pour juice from turkey to a pan and add flour, whisk briskly for a min.

Add stock and browning. Season, stir till thicken.

This December 24, 2013 NASA TV still image shows astronaut Mike Hopkins (top) on the robotic arm and Rick Mastracchio during a spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS). — AFP photos

Astronauts make rare Christmas Eve spacewalk

T A street vendor sells clay figures of Jesus, Mary and others at her makeshift stall outside a church on Christmas eve in Bangalore, India, yesterday. Though Hindus and Muslims comprise the majority of the population in India, Christmas is celebrated with much fanfare.

wo space station astronauts have floated outside on Christmas Eve in hopes of finishing urgent cooling system repairs. It’s only the second Christmas Eve spacewalk in NASA history. The first was 14 years ago. And it’s the second spacewalk in four days for US astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Michael Hopkins. “It’s like Christmas morning, opening up a little present here,” Mastracchio said as he checked his toolkit. Mastracchio and Hopkins removed a faulty ammonia pump at the International Space Station during Saturday’s outing. Yesterday they worked to install a new pump 260 miles (418 kilometers) above the planet.

The external cooling line - one of two shut down Dec 11. The six-man crew had to turn off all nonessential equipment, including experiments. NASA’s only previous Christmas Eve spacewalk occurred in 1999 during a Hubble Space Telescope repair mission. But NASA’s most memorable Christmas Eve was on Dec 24, 1968.

NASA TV still image shows astronaut Mike Hopkins on the robotic arm during a spacewalk outside the International Space Station(ISS).

Apollo 8 astronauts read from Genesis, the first book of the Bible, as they orbited the moon on mankind’s first lunar flight.

A Moscow-led spacewalk, meanwhile, is set for Friday. Two Russian crew members will install new cameras and fresh experiments outside. — AP

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

lifestyle F E A T U R E S Indian children dressed as Santa Claus dance in front of a sculpture titled World Peace by sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik ahead of Christmas at a beach in Puri, in the eastern Indian city of Bhubaneswar, India, yesterday. Though Hindus and Muslims comprise the majority of the population in India, Christmas is celebrated with much fanfare. — AP

Vegas casinos draw tourists

with holiday exhibits L

as Vegas has mostly shelved its attempt to rebrand itself as a family-friendly wonderland. But there’s one exception: the dreaded holiday season, when visitor numbers crater and room vacancies soar. In an attempt to lure tourists, Las Vegas casinos are staging increasingly elaborate holiday events. The Bellagio has again transformed its conservatory into a faux winter wonderland featuring a 42-foot (12.8meter)-tall Christmas tree, a life-sized candy house, a walk-through snow globe and topiary polar bears, all a few paces from the gambling floor.

The casino’s famous dancing water fountains are leaping to Christmas classics, and tourists are taking photos with a 250-pound (114-kilogram) chocolate Grinch. The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace is showing its Christmas cheer with “Elf Aquarists,” divers in elf-style wet suits who feed the aquarium’s tropical fish during daily shows. Perhaps the most elaborate of all the exhibits is “Winter in Venice” at the Venetian, which the casino advertises as a public gift in banners strung outside its ersatz Italian facade.

December is traditionally the slowest

to seriously consider a holiday vacation to Sin City.

“Every photo that is shared during the holidays, for instance, helps to change the perception of the destination for the Christmas traveler. Suddenly, spending Christmas in Vegas is on the radar of travelers,” he said. Beautifully

Workers prepare a Christmas exhibit at the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip. month in Las Vegas. Last year, tourist vol- November and January didn’t look much ume fell from a high of 3.53 million visi- better. Keith Salwoski, spokesman for tors in March to a low of 3 million visitors the Venetian and Palazzo hotel-casinos, in December, according to the Las Vegas said the winter extravaganza, now in its Convention and Visitors Authority. third year, has helped convince families

An accordion player, left, serenades a stilt walker during the third-annual ‘Winter in Venice’ event at the Venetian hotel-casino. costumed actors stroll around the casino halls, greeting children and posing for silly photos with adults. Outside, a 65foot (20-meter) Christmas tree made of lights shines like a beacon, tempting pedestrians to come inside.

The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, a few blocks over, has doubled the size of its rooftop skating rink this year. Chief marketing officer Lisa Marchese said the casino is going for a “ski lodge perched over the Las Vegas Strip” aesthetic.

Skaters can huddle around fire pits and buy s’mores kits for $14 (It’s still the Strip, after all).

The rink at the Cosmopolitan is just one of several designed to entice desert visitors to casino properties. Caesars Palace, the Venetian and the Gold Spike Brothers Sebastian, center and Joaquin, left, visit with the Red Queen dur- are among those offering skaters an ing the third-annual ‘Winter in Venice’ event at the Venetian hotel-casino opportunity to lace up their boots for on the Las Vegas Strip. ice, real or artificial. —AP

For quick and easy

holiday decorating, think washi W

ashi tape - adhesive but easily removed and available in hundreds of colors and patterns - is putting a new spin on holiday decorating. The original thin, sheer tape derived from rice paper was imported from Japan and pounced on about eight years ago by

scrapbooking fans and other paper crafters. Its popularity has grown as a creative and simple way to add a personal touch to holiday gifts, wrapping or party decorations.

Washi tapes “tear like butter and they adhere

In this undated photo washi tape puts a new spin on holiday decorating as Sneed adorns a paper mache ornament with two coordinating washi patterns and a craft-store monogram. to everything lightly,” says Hannah Milman, executive editorial director of crafts and holiday for Martha Stewart Living. “It’s so inviting to work with them.” Washi tape has become so popular that it’s now made by US companies such as Scotch Brand from 3M and sold at large stores such as Target. Martha Stewart Living boasts its own line, as do many paper-supply companies such as Paper Source. Two well-stocked online sources are cutetape and Happy Tape.

Quality varies and not all tapes are washi, which is made from transparent washi paper that easily tears. Other tapes may be labeled “decorative” or “craft.”Quick and easy gifts

include covering an uninspiring notebook or phone cover with patterned washi tape, or decorating an inexpensive white photo frame with it.”You can spend thousands of dollars on white frames,” says Eddie Ross, Better Homes & Gardens’ East Coast editor. “But you can really do a lot with a colorful washi tape and a (simple) white frame.”

Gift-wrapping ideas from Martha Stewart Living’s crafts editors include adding a strip of washi to envelopes; or wrapping cookies in wax paper, or gifts in butcher or craft paper, newspaper or paper lunch bags, then decorating with washi tape instead of ribbon.

You can update old ornaments with washi tape, or try this fast craft from Kimberly Sneed of Phoenix, who blogs at A Night Owl and The Washi Blog: Adorn a papier mache ornament with two coordinating washi patterns, topped with a craft-store monogram.

“Washi tape is simple to use, has almost zero learning curve, has room for error, and has the ability to take simple items from drab to fab,” says Sneed, a mom who works full-time and looks for easy crafts to do after her two young sons are in bed. I find that most washi tape projects can be done in minutes and can really add something special.”

Edge a counter or bookcase with holidaythemed washi tape; temporarily spell out holiday greetings on a wall; mark off some wall space with washi and insert holiday greeting cards or family pictures into the temporary “frames” ; wrap glass votives or glass hurricane containers in coordinating patterns; decorate the inside front door with washi colors; or add it to lamp shades. —AP

Woman has ears reshaped like elf A

Canadian woman has had her ears cut and reshaped to look like an elf. ‘Lord of the Rings’ fan Meynda Moon, 23, splashed out £250 to get her ears changed to look more like one of the creatures from the fantasy film franchise. She said: “I have always been very close to nature. Pointed ears are the most

adorable thing, and I find the elven attire is so elegant.

“My inspiration comes from ‘The Lord of the Rings’, the long hair, dresses and the closeness to nature. “When I found out I could have my ears pointed I have never been so sure of something in my entire life.” — Bang Showbiz

Astronauts make rare Christmas Eve spacewalk

38

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

More than 1,000 volunteers clad in Santa Claus costumes throw their hats in the air as they gather to deliver gifts for the poor in downtown Seoul, South Korea yesterday. — AP

Mideast crossroads gets the Xmas spirit J

ust days before Christmas, Ben Elliott-Scott was busy touching up the paint on a foam snowman and blasting trees with manmade flurries to turn them a wintery white. Santa was due to arrive soon, along with dozens of party guests at the exclusive villa nestled alongside a Dubai golf course. His company, Desert Snow, specializes in artificial snow like that used on movie sets. He has several more jobs to finish before the holiday rolls around at wealthy homes across the city, many owned by members of its large and diverse expatriate population. “It is very much our busiest time of year,” the Briton said. “Christmas is taken almost more seriously in Dubai than it is at home. There are as many local families taking the pictures in front of the trees as expats.”

The Middle East’s brashest city is increasingly embracing the trappings of Christmas in a way that would be unthinkable in more conservative parts of the Muslim world. Christmas trees adorn shopping centers and residential neighborhoods, and high-end hotels try to outdo one another with extravagant and boozy holiday dinners. An outdoor Christmas festival now in its second year broke its own attendance record by wooing more than 27,000 visitors over three days with caroling children’s choirs, gingerbread houses and a snow fight zone. Santa Claus is on hand to hear wishes in at least three Dubai malls, naturally including the one housing an indoor ski slope and its contingent of snow penguins. The dearth of chimneys in the sheikdom does not seem to be a problem.

Dubai a visibly global city It is in many ways a reflection of Dubai’s emergence as a cosmopolitan, commercially minded crossroads in a region often associated with intolerance and upheaval. The city last month became the first in the Middle East to win the right to host the World Expo with a bid that emphasized its connections to the wider world. “Dubai has taken itself one step forward to being a visibly global city. As a global city, you expect these things to happen here,” said Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, professor of political science at Emirates University. “We’ve chosen this role. We have to get used to it.”

While celebrations of Christmas have been growing in the United Arab Emirates city for several years, Dubai nonetheless retains its Islamic identity. The call to prayer reverberates five times a day from the city’s numerous mosques, and modest dress and behavior is expected from locals and foreigners alike. The local population, outnumbered more than four to one by foreign residents, prizes its traditional values. That includes prohibitions on immodest behavior and public intoxication that have gotten several foreigners in legal trouble in recent years. Still, the emirate’s embrace of at least the more commercial aspects of Christmas stands out in the conservative Gulf. Neighboring Saudi Arabia’s strict interpretation of Islam bans celebrations of the holiday. Kuwaiti lawmakers have criticized modest Christmas celebrations in that oil-rich country. David Mitchell, an English engineer working in the Omani capital Muscat, traveled with his family to Dubai just to visit the Christmas festival earlier this month. “There’s nothing like this in Oman,” he said while waiting in line to take his 2 1/2-year old son, Isaac, to meet Santa.

“They appreciate the Christmas spirit” in Dubai, he added.

There has been little public outcry over the increasing promi-

Jesus’ birthplace marks

Christmas in restive Mideast

A man dressed as Santa Claus waits for guests to join him for a photograph during a Christmas party in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. kinds of religions. So it is up to them to make it possible for the various religions to have their holidays,” he said.

Photo shows Ben Elliott-Scott of Desert Snow company, a company which specializes in artificial snow, works on a snowman, a few hours ahead of a Christmas party at a private villa, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. — AP photos nence of the holiday in the Emirates, where authorities are quick to stamp out displays of public dissent and citizens rarely air their grievances in public. Ismail Al-Issawi, a professor of Islam at the University of Sharjah, just outside Dubai, said politics and economics play a role. “Dubai now has become an international center with all

‘12 Days of Christmas’ The British Embassy in Dubai is using the festive season as a chance to remind its citizens of the UAE’s tough drinking and public decency laws. Its “12 Days of Christmas” awareness campaign on social media includes tweets such as “On the 5th day of #Christmas my friend said to me; If I have overdone it, please send me home.”

“Part of enjoying Christmas and New Year is to stay away from trouble,” said Edward Hobart, the British consul general.

Non-Muslims in Dubai are expected to respect the city’s Islamic roots, meaning organizers of Christmas celebrations walk a fine line in how they present the holiday. Nativity scenes and overtly religious carols celebrating the birth of Christ are rare. But Christmas trees, including one set up in a traffic circle fountain filled with sudsy soap to suggest snow, are in. So are Santa hats, jingle bells and palm trees swaddled in gift wrap-style red bows. One supermarket, apparently trying to appeal to all customers, is advertising: “This Christmas: Fresh halal turkey” - a bird slaughtered according to Islamic dietary law. There are other crossed cultural wires too. ElliottScott, the artificial snow entrepreneur, said he has received requests for different colored snow, like pink and blue. “Someone asked once if they could have gold snow, but it looked more like yellow,” he said.

“We suggested: ‘possibly it doesn’t look the best.’ Yellow snow should be avoided at all costs.” — AP

Churches offer ‘Blue Christmas’ for those in need

T

he crowd was small for a Christmastime church service, the atmosphere quiet and solemn. There were no joyous carols, no children dressed as nativity characters, no festive decorations. About two dozen people gathered Monday night for a “Blue Christmas” service at Christ Church Cathedral in downtown St Louis. It’s among many nationwide providing a special service aimed directly at those in need of spiritual healing - whether due to divorce, tough economic times, the loss of a loved one or whatever has them feeling down at the holidays. Charles Brown, 35, is still grieving the loss of his mother, who died in June of congestive heart failure.

After Monday’s service, Brown stuck around to be anointed with oil and for private words of healing from one of the pastors. “He told me God is with me, God will bless me,” Brown said. “I feel like this was a chance to lay my burden down. It gave me comfort.”

The holiday services are often called “Blue Christmas” or “Longest Night,” and typically held on or around the winter solstice, right before Christmas. The first Blue Christmas

service was believed to have been performed in British Columbia in 1987.

Taylor Burton-Edwards, director of worship resources for

Dozens of candles adorn the altar during a Blue Christmas service at the Christ Church Cathedral, Monday in St Louis. —AP

the General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, said the movement has picked up steam in recent years - perhaps due in part to the economic downturn. “Part of it is a recognition that both the culture and even the church, at this time of year, can tend to completely overlook suffering,” Burton-Edwards said. “Everybody is supposed to be cheery and happy and all of that, and yet that isn’t the case for some people.”

Christ Church Cathedral has offered Blue Christmas services for the past four holiday seasons. The church was lit mostly by candles. There was no sermon, instead it was a mix of scripture with healing words, quiet songs, prayers and the lighting of eight candles, each on behalf of particular struggles: Pain and illness, financial problems, broken families, addiction.

“I think it’s definitely a time people think about family members and loved ones who have died, or they think of divisions or broken relationships,” the Rev. Amy Chambers Cortright said. “Some people don’t really feel like they have a place anywhere.”

Palestinian Christian nun Rosaria, prepares a Nativity scene at the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Church of Visitation, also known as St Mary’s Visitation Church, in preparation for Christmas in the northern West Bank village of Zababdeh near Jenin yesterday. — AP

T

housands of worshippers and tourists from around the world flocked yesterday to Jesus’s birthplace in Bethlehem, as the Middle East reels from conflicts and Pope Francis celebrates his first Christmas mass. Jerusalem’s Latin patriarch lead a procession to Bethlehem and celebrate midnight mass in the holy city attended by Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and other dignitaries. Christmas this year comes as conflicts and natural disasters have stricken Christians worldwide, from the historic Syrian town of Maalula where residents still speak Jesus’s ancient Aramaic, to typhoon-hit Tacloban in the Philippines.

Filipinos who survived the deadly typhoon Haiyan defiantly prepared to celebrate Christmas in their ruined communities where hogs were being roasted, festive trees adorned streets and churches were filled to overflowing.

“Nothing can stop us from welcoming Christmas even though we have lost our home,” 63-year-old butcher’s wife Ellen Miano told AFP in Tacloban. In a Christmas message last week, Fuad Twal, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, spoke of the sufferings of the Palestinian people and the vicious conflict that has rocked Syria for 33 months.

Twal, the top Catholic cleric in the Holy Land, said IsraeliPalestinian peace talks that resumed in July after a threeyear hiatus were being hampered by Israeli settlement construction. “As long as this problem is not resolved, the people of our region will suffer,” said Twal, adding the IsraelPalestinian conflict was “a major obstacle” to Middle East stability. The patriarch also called for a ceasefire in Syria, where bloody fighting between regime forces and rebels trying to overthrow President Bashar Al-Assad has killed an estimated 126,000 people since March 2011.

“As the Syrian problem cannot be resolved by the force of arms,” he said. “We call on all political leaders to assume the responsibility for finding a mutually acceptable political solution that will end the senseless violence and uphold respect for the dignity of people.” For Maalula residents it will be a grim Christmas as hundreds of Christians have fled a rebel assault on their ancient hamlet and have taken shelter in the Syrian capital Damascus.

Pope Francis, who has repeatedly prayed for an end to the Syrian conflict and spoken against international armed intervention since his election in March, plans to make his first visit to the Holy Land in May next year. The Argentine pope will first visit Jordan, then Israel and the Palestinian territories and is expected to celebrate high mass in Bethlehem. The Vatican is expected to officially announce the visit after Christmas. Francis has voiced growing concern about the plight of Christian minorities in Syria and across majority Muslim Arab nations, where democracy protests have toppled autocratic leaders and seen the emergence of radical Islam since 2011. —AFP