10Trump to block

refugees, restrict

Muslim visitors

6Indian culture

and nostalgia on

Kuwait’s streets

47Celta Vigo kick

Real Madrid out

of Copa del Rey

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L o c a lFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

PHOTO OF THE DAY

By Muna Al-Fuzai

muna@kuwaittimes.net

Local Spotlight

Ilike to believe that most of us are kind to defenselessanimals, that our humanity dominates and that weall recognize the great responsibility of being kind

and humane to all living things. Yet, what I want tobelieve and the reality are, sadly, seldom in agreement.Across the globe, there are those who abuse and harmanimals, especially domesticated pets like dogs andcats, without remorse.

Recently a short video popping up all over socialmedia showed a western woman furious at the neglectof a small dog that was abandoned in a garbage bin.The pup had been left to die. The woman found thedog thrown in with the trash suffering from extremecold and diarrhea. In the video she is clearly incensed atthe vendors who threw the pet when it became sick,rather than pay for the cost of a vet.

It was a ghastly incident that surely reflects the lackof humanity , awareness and ignorance in dealingwith pets. I already know the ready-made answersome people here will give. They argue that harmingan animal is nothing, compared with the harm beingdone to humans and no one cares.... But this is theugliest of excuses.

I believe that anyone who is considering owning apet for himself or his family should first consider thework and consequences. Are they are capable of takingcare of a pet with the same love and care as a human? Ifthe answer is no, then better to let go of the idea.Because a living organism needs full care the same as ahuman being. It can easily get sick and tired and willcertainly grow older and stop being the adorable pup-py or kitten it once was. Anyone who adopts a pet has aresponsibility to treat it with care and kindness. Not tomention we all have a moral responsibility in front ofAllah for the humane treatment of every living thing.

Another issue is when people buy pets for the sakeof image. It is very sad to see some people exploitinganimals, buying them just to show off on social mediaand then dumping them when they realize pets actuallyrequire love and work.

There is a law that prohibits the import of exotic ani-mals for private ownership but when an animal is simi-lar to another animal which is legally permitted, somepeople take the opportunity to sneak banned animalsinto the country! An animal expert is needed at customswho can examine the animals before accepting whatthe paperwork says.

In Kuwait we have a Law No. 112 of 2015 regard-ing animals. The law was approved by the NationalAssembly and established technical requirementsand regulations to protect animals from abuse ormistreatment.

Even so the abuse and mistreatment of animals inKuwait continues. Why doesn’t the environmentalpolice - the authority charged with protecting animalwelfare in Kuwait - check the places where animals aresold and where animals are kept like the pet souq at theFriday markets?

Come summer time, we always see a surge in aban-doned animals as people leave Kuwait - either for holi-day or for good - and dump their responsibilities.

We should support animal rights groups in Kuwaitand also report any social media where animals arebeing abused or sold. Protecting animal welfare startswith each of us in our community.

Save animals!

KUWAIT: Youth from Kuwait take part in an annual pearl diving expedition aimed at re-enacting Kuwait’s pearling her-itage and preserving the tradition. — File photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

By Sara Al-Mukhayzim

KUWAIT: In old Kuwait, the traditional ‘Tawash’ (pearltraders) used to play a key role in the economic activitywhich relied heavily on pearl diving.

The Kuwaiti pearl traders gained success and fameacross south Asia, particularly in the Indian subcontinent,due to their sincerity and professionalism. They wereknown for their expertise in assessing the pearl gradingand pricing in the main commercial centers whether inBahrain - the hub of pearl trade in the Arabian Gulf, andMumbai, India.

This craft entails a lot of travel and movement betweenthe key pearl diving centers and the main markets, said SaifMarzouq Al-Shamlan, a Kuwaiti historian.

Kuwaiti pearl traders used to tour aboard their privateships the main pearl diving areas in the territorial waters ofKuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and sometimes Oman to buy pearlsbefore setting sail to the commercial markets in Bahrainand India.

Darin, a town in Al-Ahsaa served as a main hub for thepearl trade where traders used to gather to strike deals anddiscuss the affairs of the market, he said.

In Bahrain and Mumbai, they, as wholesalers, stuck dealson selling their precious products to retailers from the Gulfregion, India and Europe, Al-Shamlan pointed out.

Dealing with Tawashes’ tools, he said they used to have

scales for measuring the exact weight of a pearl, and mag-nifiers for determining the quality and grade.

These tools were carried in a ‘Dasta’ - a toolkit which isusually red and one meter long, he said.

A Tawash could become very wealthy if he was able toget ‘dana’ a big pearl such as the well-known Bin Yaqout’sdana which was sold for 110,000 rupees in Bahrain andSayed Al-Refai’s dana which was bought by the Kuwaititrader Hilal Al-Mutairi for 45,000 rupees. When comparedwith divers, Tawashes used to lead a more comfortable life,eat better, have larger boats and get higher, sometimesastronomical, wealth, Al-Shamlan went on.

Tawashes used to take sheep on their boats and slaugh-ter them upon arrival at the pearl diving sites to offer theirmeat to divers as gifts which helped cement the cordialbusiness relationship with them. Tawashes usually had con-tracts with a number of divers; they visited the diving sitesone month after the divers go there in order give the diversenough time to pick the pearls. They also took some oftheir children along in order to train them on this business.

In Al-Qafal (the return trip) the Tawashes and theirdivers come back to Kuwait with the pearls in one flotilla;they take some time to rest before started a farther journeyto sell the pearls on the regional markets. This shows thatmany families depended for livelihood on this businesswhich played an essential role in the economy of oldKuwait.— Kuna

Pearl tradersOnce a pillar of Kuwait’s economy

Tawashes' tools box. — KUNA photos Scales for measuring the exact weight of a pearl.

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By Sajeev K Peter

KUWAIT: The Indian Embassy in Kuwait yesterday celebratedIndia's 68th Republic Day, one of the most significant days onIndia's national calendar. Hundreds of Indian nationals includingchildren and women joined Indian Ambassador Sunil Jain andembassy officials to celebrate the occasion in an atmosphere of joyand patriotic passion. The embassy put on a festive look with itspremises adorning tri-color balloons.

At a colorful open-air ceremony held on the embassy premises,Ambassador Jain hoisted the national flag at 9 am commemorat-ing the date and moment when the constitution of India cameinto effect in 1950. Top diplomats, embassy officials, Indian com-munity members and media attended the flag-hoisting ceremony.

This was followed by the singing of national anthem. Followingthe flag-hoisting ceremony, Ambassador Jain read out IndianPresident Pranab Mukherjee's address to the nation.

"It is time to take a stock of the achievements of the Indian

community over the last one year," noted the ambassador in hisbrief address. He said the strength of the community is steadilygrowing in Kuwait with the number touching 950,000-mark today.Referring to the government's proposal to reduce the number ofexpatriate population in the country as part of the demographicbalancing, he said, "I have received assurances from the higherauthorities that our community will not be harmed in any circum-stances." He expressed his gratitude to His Highness the Amir, HisHighness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Premier and thepeople of Kuwait for the continuous support and encouragementto the community.

"However, this comes with a responsibility. As a law-abidingcommunity, we have to always respect the law of the land andobey the rules," he reminded.

Regarding the rising incidents of crimes in Abbassiya and Jleebareas, the ambassador cautioned the people to take precautions."The officials in the ministry of interior and Farwaniya governoratehave given assurances to us that they will take necessary measures

to curb such incidents in the area," he said. "According to official estimates, approximately 29,000 Indians

are in Kuwait without valid documents or residency papers. Theembassy is in discussion with the authorities in facilitating therepatriation of these people to India," he said.

The ambassador said his tenure as the ambassador of India toKuwait has been extended for one more year. The consular servic-es in the embassy have improved over the last three years.However, he admitted that there is still room for improvement. Hesaid the embassy has issued up to 6,000 emergency certificateslast year. The non-resident Indians can change their old banknotesof Rs 500 and Rs 1000 in India until June 30, 2017 in the aftermathof demonetization of the Indian banknotes by the government, heinformed. Students from Indian schools -- Indian CommunitySchool (Amman, Junior and Khaitan branches), Indian CentralSchool and FAIPS — sang patriotic songs on the occasion. Manynewspapers in Kuwait, including Kuwait Times, published specialsupplements to mark the day.

Indian embassy celebrates

Republic Day

Ambassador Jain reads out Indian President Pranab Mukherjee's address. Indian Ambassador Sunil Jain and embassy officials during the flag-hoisting ceremony at theIndian embassy yesterday. — Photos by Sajeev K Peter

Children from local Indian schools sang patriotic songs as part of the ceremony.

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By Nawara Fattahova

Some children play with toy gunsgrowing up. The euphoria wears offas we grow up, but trying shooting

again as a hobby and sport brings back theexcitement and the adrenalin rush. So Iheaded to Mayadeen Shooting Range,located on the Sixth Ring Road near theHunting and Equestrian Club, to get a tasteof the real thing. It's a great feeling to hitthe target, especially when competing withother shooters.

The pistol feels much heavier than itappears. Even after holding the pistol firmlywith both hands, according to the instruc-tions given by the trainer, when the triggeris pressed, the recoil makes the whole bodymove. It needs strong concentration on thetarget to score well.

The gun is not only heavy, but also verynoisy. Before entering the shooting range,headsets have to be worn to muffle thesound. But even with this headset, youcan still hear the sound of the shots, butit's not hurtful. When I finished shooting

Shots in the desertLocal shooting range open

to the public for practice, fun

Omar Al-Ansari, Assistant Director of Mayadeen Shooting Range

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and was sti l l at the shooting range, Iremoved the headsets and was immedi-ately startled by the loud report of gunsfrom nearby shooters.

Possession of hand guns is tightly con-trolled in Kuwait. But one can practice thisas a hobby at a local shooting range. It isalso a dangerous activity if not supervised.For this reason, no one can enter the shoot-ing range without a trainer supervising himor her.

"Even if a group comes together, everyperson will have a trainer, as this is a verydangerous activity. Sometimes, amateurspoint pistols at each other for fun or to takephotos, and this may cause serious injuriesif the guns go off by accident," a trainertold Kuwait Times.

Women and gunsChildren from the age of seven can prac-

tice shooting at Mayadeen. "Although itsounds strange, the majority of our clientsare females. All those who come here areamateurs, and it's rare to have a profession-al come here for shooting. Kids betweenages 7 to 15 years can only shoot with airpistols. Also, there are different sizes ofguns and bullets depending on the size ofthe person. For instance, we advise givingsome women lighter pistols so they don'tget frightened," Omar Al-Ansari, AssistantDirector of Mayadeen Shooting Range, toldKuwait Times.

Currently, Mayadeen is the only shoot-ing range open to the public in Kuwait. Itincludes four shooting ranges - air rifle andpistol 10 meters, pistol 25 meters, riflerange 50 meters and tactical range 25meters. All the ranges are open for ama-teurs, except the tactical one, which is forprofessionals only. At each range, five peo-ple can shoot simultaneously. The rangeopens daily from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm allweek long. It opened in 2003 and is run byretired general Ahmad Al-Saleem.

Mayadeen also hosts championships."The Police Sports Championship is always

held here, in addition to other individualchampionships. We also welcome field tripsfrom schools, while some companies bookthe place to hold open days for theiremployees. Fortunately we haven't suf-fered any accidents or injuries atMayadeen, as we follow strict safety andsecurity measures. We also have facilitiesfor the disabled - in fact we have customerson wheelchairs coming to shoot," stressedAnsari. "This month we just launched a newactivity to add more fun and variety for visi-tors - archery - where five people can par-ticipate at the same time. And of course,there is a cafeteria and a waiting hall," heconcluded.

Men, women and even children can practice shooting a variety of guns at the local shootingrange and strict safety precautions must be adhered to at all times.

— Photos by Yasser Al Zayyat

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The art ofthe minibus

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Story and photos by Athoob Al-Shuaibi

When I look at some minibuses in Kuwait, I recall mylast trip to South Asia, where drivers traditionallydecorate their transport vehicles. The connection

between South Asian heritage and the colorful paintingsand ornaments has a nostalgic feeling and evokes a longingfor home.

The ornamental decor mostly consists of brightly-coloredfake flowers, animals, stickers, calligraphy and symbols of faith.

A driver of a school minibus told Kuwait Times that the deco-rations are cheery and make passengers happy. Another driversaid truck art is part of his culture.

Some drivers add religious symbols representing theirbeliefs. Maani, a Hindu driver, has placed an idol of Ganesha,the Hindu elephant god, in his bus. At the same time, he has asmall image of the Virgin Mary in the mirror flap. He explainedthat the sole reason why it’s there is because he’s married to aChristian woman and doesn’t want to upset her!

It’s a habit of all people to carry a piece of their homeland

when they migrate. No matter how much we mingle with oth-er societies and get influenced by them, our roots remainwhere we were born. The bus art reflects deep love not onlyfor their motherland, but also for their vehicles. Every minibuswas also neat and tidy, which personally made me ashamed ofmyself when I compared them with my car. You can guesswhat I did after completing this story!

Indian culture and nostalgia on Kuwait’s streets

L o c a lFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

Newsi n b r i e f

KPIC inks contract for key projects’ designs

KUWAIT: Kuwait Petrochemical Industries Company (KPIC) yes-terday signed a contract for studying architectural designs of thethird olefins project and the second aromatics venture, integrat-ed with Al-Zor refinery-valued at $34 million. The KPIC ChiefExecutive Officer, Mohammad Al-Farhoud, said in a statementthat the contract had been signed with Amec Foster Wheeler -forecasting that the venture would be finalized by second quar-ter of 2022. The statement quoted Hasniah Hashem, the deputyCEO for the olefins and aromatics department in the company, assaying that the venture is one of the important strategic initia-tives ever undertaken by the KPIC. The projects aim at enhancingKuwait’s status in the petrochemical industries and implement-ing the company’s expansion strategy. They are also designed toestablish a petrochemical complex for producing 940,000 tons ofpolyethylene per year, 1,400 tons of paraxylene (py), 420,000 tonsof benzene (py) and 2,089 tons of fuel (py).

Kuwait parliamentary delegation to examine GCC countries sports laws

KUWAIT: The parliamentary youth and sports committeedecided, at a meeting yesterday, to dispatch a delegation toSaudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Bahrain to examine their“adopted sports laws that do not contradict with those of theInternational Olympic Committee,” said the commission rap-porteur, Ahmad Al-Fadhl, in a statement to journalists follow-ing the committee meeting. The members have entrustedthe chairman, Saadoun Hammad, to select members of thedelegation that would visit the other GCC countries and meetofficials of their Olympic committees, Al-Fadhl added. Thecommittee has decided to meet with officials of the GCCOlympic committees after the IOC refused to meet its mem-bers, he said. Al-Fadhl disclosed plans to add some articles,essentially stipulating draft regulations that ensure no con-tradiction with the laws and rules of the international sportscommittees and authorities, to the relevant bill that had beenpresented previously by the Government.

Authorities launch effort to achieve ‘green dream’

KUWAIT: Kuwaiti authorities and associations have been pressingahead with schemes to beautify the country and green as muchas possible of the desert land. Latest move in this respect wasannounced yesterday by Dr Ahmad Al-Athari, the general directorof the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training(PAAET), who declared that 100,00 saplings had been distributedfor planting in various areas of the country, as part of a project toplant hundreds of thousands of green plants in the country.PAAET’s services department is cooperating with the “greendream” team, which comprises volunteers who have been leadingthe greenery campaign, which had concluded the first phase thatlasted for four months. The authority has granted 20,000 saplingsto Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Popular Heritage Village.

By Ben Garcia

KUWAIT: ‘Needlab’ - a global education-al traveling workshop initiative, organ-ized a lecture on Wednesday at the Al-Shaheed Park Center Hall. The workshoplecturers include Dr Hussein Dashti,Director of Architectural Research at

Kuwait University; Ricardo Camacho,Lead Architect; Rafael Portillo, HeadDesigner; Sulaiman Othman, RodrigoRubio and the co-founder of BasicArchitect at IAAC among others. Needlabfocuses on unveiling new ways and dis-cussing issues about the local materials,social practices, environmental forcesand the latest technologies. Needlab lec-ture series follows the motto ‘Act Local,Think Global.’ This is its first ever work-shop in Kuwait.

In the lecture, Ricardo Camachotalked about his experiences and theprojects that help enhanced people’s liv-

ing conditions - using available materialsat hand. The panelists discussed theimportance of Kuwait’s local architectureand some of the architectural languages.The architectural design was the center-piece of the lecture as they explored thebest way to cope with the effect of glob-al climate change.

Ameena Al-Qabandi, one of theorganizer said that the aim is to transferthe knowledge to the people so that thehidden treasures of modern and architec-tural designs can help transform lives. “Inthis workshop, we were able to learnmany structural issues from the weatherto the analysis of particular designs orstructure. In Kuwait we studied the bricksas we have abundant of that here. Welearn how to use them, how to fabricatethem in the lab and how long the brickscan last. We also learned the art of layingthe bricks so that even in the absence ofelectricity, the structure can still be fullyutilized, Al-Qabandi said. “We assembled

our first design here in this place(Shaheed Park) and it is now being show-cased in the garden. We use technology,modern art and designs to come up withthe firm and valuable structure in everycountry depending on the materials andthe weather,” she added.

Needlab will also conduct series ofworkshops in various countries aroundthe world. “Needlab wants to share theexpertise so that it can help and savepeople’s lives, especially in countriesmost vulnerable to natural disaster. Wewill come up with the designs that canstand disasters and weather conditionsof that particular country. The goodthing is that, we are committed to usingmaterials available at hand,” she said.

The workshop organizes includeKuwait University, National IndustriesCompany and Tarsheed. KuwaitFoundation for the Advancement ofSciences (KFAS) and Zain Telecom wereamong the workshop sponsors.

Rare robbery case KUWAIT: Hawally detectives are investigating a rare robbery casewhere the suspect stormed into a woman’s house and madeaway with only her smart phone. Security sources said that policeare thoroughly looking into the case.

‘An act of revenge’ Social media users were stormed by some indecent photos

going viral online. Police launched an investigation and trackedthe suspect (a Kuwaiti) who used the picture of a bedoon man topost the indecent photos in order to put him in trouble. The sus-pect claimed that the bedoon man was having an affair with wife,so he wanted a way to get back at him.

Mosque threat State operatives have launched an investigation over a threat

to blow up a mosque at Sabah Al-Nasser area after a Saudi manreceived a Whatsapp message threatening to attack the mosque.Interior Ministry received a call about a fight in Sulaibiya, andfound out that the dispute was between the caller (a Saudi man)and his son over the threatening messages he saw on his son’sphone. — Al Rai, Al Anbaa

‘Needlab’ organizes workshop, seminar

Cross section of the attendees — Photos by Joseph Shagra

KUWAIT: Ricardo Camacho is picturedduring a lecture at Al-Shaheed Park.

By Hanan Al-Saadoun

KUWAIT: Kuwait police yesterday launched a security cam-paign at Bneid Al-Qar area. The campaign was led by InteriorMinistry Undersecretary Lt General Suleiman Al-Fahad alongside with Assistant Undersecretary for Operations Maj GenJamal Al-Sayegh, Assistant Undersecretary for General SecurityMaj Gen Ibrahim Al-Tarrah and Director General of ResidencyDetectives Maj Gen Saud Al-Khader. 171 suspects were arrest-ed for various offenses.

Exercise at Oil ComplexThe Fire Department carried out an exercise at the Oil

Sector Complex and KPC building. The exercise was aboutevacuating nearly 700 employees. Instructions were givenover loud speakers on how to evacuate the building. Fireteams and paramedics were then called in to assist. ManagingDirector for Planning and Finance Wafaa Al-Zaabi said KPC car-ried out the exercise in cooperation with civil defense andKFSD to gauge the readiness of the concerned authorities indealing with emergencies.

Security campaign at Bneid Al-Qar

L o c a lFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

Newsi n b r i e f

Kuwait customs vowsto foil any hostile act

KUWAIT: The Customs General Directorate affirmed yesterday itskeenness on foiling a hostile act intended to undermine Kuwait’ssecurity and social stability. Turki Al-Otaibi, the director of supervi-sion and inspection, made the assertion during a ceremony mark-ing graduation of personnel trained on handling explosives,weapons of mass destruction and chemical ordnance. The CustomsDepartment employs state-of-art equipment for foiling traffickingvia the country’s naval, land and air exits, he said. He expresseddeep satisfaction at constructive cooperation with the NationalGuards for expertise swap and coordination for training youngnational cadres “and qualify them to be the solid shield in face ofany external hazard.” Al-Otaibi underlined key role played by thecustoms and the guards for “confronting any aggressive act intend-ed to jeopardize the national security and the society’s stability.”

Kuwait ‘outstanding student’ delegation visit Cuban resort

VARADERO: The “outstanding” Kuwaiti student’s delegation,taking part in a trip organized by Kuwait Fund for ArabEconomic development (KFAED) in cooperation with theMinistry of Education, visited on Wednesday Varadero Resortin Cuba. This resort is a distinguished tourist destinationlocated in the province of Matanzas, east of the capitalHavana. It lies in a marvelous spot overlooking the CaribbeanSea and has beautiful shores and moderate weather through-out the whole year. A number of students, including AhmadBorezg, Abdulaziz Al-Enizi and Abdullah Al-Safar, said inremarks to KUNA that they were enjoying a quality time inthis trip which promoted the spirit of group work andincreased patriotic values. “Be among the outstanding ones”program, is an initiative launched by KFAED in 2010.

Kuwait’s Al-Otaibi, Costa Rican leader discuss ties

NEW YORK: Means of developing and promoting bilateralrelations in several fields were a focus of the meetingbetween Kuwait’s Permanent Delegate to the UNAmbassador Mansour Al-Otaibi and Costa Rican PresidentLuis Guillermo Solis on Wednesday. During the meeting, Al-Otaibi conveyed the greetings of His Highness the AmirSheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to the Costa Ricanleader. In a statement to KUNA, Al-Otaibi, who is a non-resi-dent ambassador to Costa Rica, said that meetings heldamongst senior officials of the two governments and visits byKuwaiti parliamentary delegations to the capital, San Jose,have contributed to enhancing relations with Costa Rica.

GCC states, Britain discuss Gulf-UK summit outcomes

RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states andBritain yesterday concluded their meeting on outcomes of thefirst Gulf-British summit held last December in Bahrain. The GCCStates’ leaders and British Prime Minister Theresa May took partin the Bahrain’s summit. During the meeting, the confereesreviewed joint cooperation relations and means of promotingthem, GCC Secretariat said in a press statement. The meet is heldas part of keenness of the two sides on rapidly implementingthese outcomes to develop joint cooperation in all fields in a waythat reflects the depth of historic ties between both sides, GCCAssistant Secretary General for political affairs and negotiationsDr Abdulaziz Al-Uwaishiq noted in the statement.

KUWAIT: Human Rights Watch criticizedKuwait yesterday for ending a moratori-um on executions by hanging sevenpeople, saying the action was part of aworrying regional rise in use of thedeath penalty. “Kuwait’s killing of sevenpeople on January 25 highlights thealarming trend in the region for coun-tries to return to or increasingly use thedeath penalty,” said Sarah Leah Whitson,HRW’s Middle East director. The execu-tions on Wednesday were the first inKuwait since mid-2013 when five peoplewere hanged in two months followingan earlier moratorium of six years.

Those executed this week were two

Kuwaitis and five foreigners-twoEgyptian men, a Bangladeshi man, awoman from the Philippines and awoman from Ethiopia. Six of thosehanged on Wednesday were convictedof murder, including a member of theruling family and a woman who burneddozens of people to death at a weddingparty. “Executing seven people in oneday shows Kuwait is moving in exactlythe wrong direction on the death penal-ty,” Whitson said. “The Kuwait govern-ment should be reinstating the morato-rium on the death penalty instead ofhanging seven people,” she said.

HRW said use of the death penalty

was on the rise across the Middle East.Earlier this month, Bahrain ended a six-year de facto moratorium on the deathpenalty, executing three people. Jordanin December 2014 executed 11 peoplefor the first time in eight years. SaudiArabia and Iran consistently have someof the world’s highest execution rates,HRW said. Since the beginning of 2014,Saudi Arabia has executed more than400 people, and human rights groups inIran report the country may have exe-cuted as many as 437 last year alone.Amnesty International also condemnedthe Kuwaiti executions as “shocking anddeeply regrettable.”— AFP

Kuwait executions ‘part of alarming trend’ in Mideast

Human Rights Watch blasts Kuwait

KUWAIT: National Assembly SpeakerMarzouq Ali Al-Ghanim said yesterdaythat he received a proposal by 10 mem-bers of the parliament to hold a specialsession for discussing the expatriateworkers’ status and the question ofemployment. The National AssemblySpeaker Al-Ghanim added in a state-ment to journalists that the extraordi-nary parliamentary session would beheld on Feb 2.

On another topic, the Speakerrevealed that he had received replies byMPs Al-Humaidi Al-Subaiee,Abdulwahab Al-Babtain and Dr Walid Al-

Tabtabaei on clarifications that had beenforwarded by Minister of Information,Minister of State for Youth Affairs SheikhSalman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah with respect of the three lawmak-ers’ interpellation motion.

He affirmed that the interpellationissue would be in agenda of Tuesday’sparliamentary session. The Cabinet at itslatest regular session expressed hope thatMPs’ interpellation of the Minister ofInformation would be in line with theNational Constitution and relevant lawsand demonstrated strong confidence inthe minister’s ability “in facing” the MPs’

queries The ministers were briefed byMinister Sheikh Salman about “legal andconstitutional irregularities included in themotion, clarifying various facts related tothe questioning the (forecast) response.

The lawmakers are seeking to grillhim about “suspension of sports activi-ties in the State of Kuwait,” purported“mishandling of public funds, along withexistence of suspicious (illegal) benefitsin breach of the National Constitutionand relevant laws that regulate publicfunds’ expenditure at the Ministry ofyouth and affiliate authorities”-amongother issues. — KUNA

10 MPs seek special session on expats

KUWAIT: Birds fighting for survival. — KUNA

Photo shows the graduation ceremony of personneltrained on handling explosives, weapons of mass destruc-tion and chemical ordnance. — KUNA

14Socialist utopia a difficult sell as France swings right12 17

Democrats,Republicans switch sides on states’ rights

Camels and stuntmen wowcrowds at IndiaRepublic Day

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump is report-edly poised to suspend the US refugee programfor four months and halt visas for travelers fromseven Muslim countries. A draft executive orderpublished in the Washington Post and New YorkTimes said refugees from war-torn Syria will beindefinitely banned, while the broader US refugeeadmissions program will be suspended for 120days as officials draw up a list of low risk countries.

Meanwhile, all visa applications from countriesdeemed a terrorist threat Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan,Libya, Somalia and Yemen-will be halted for 30days. Alongside this, the Pentagon will be given 90days to draw up a plan to set up “safe zones” in ornear Syria where refugees from its civil war canshelter. It is unclear whether the published draft isthe final version, or when Trump will sign it, but itwould make good on his campaign promises.

Trump told ABC News late Wednesday that hisplan to limit the entry of people from Muslimcountries was necessary because the world is “atotal mess.” “No it’s not the Muslim ban, but it’scountries that have tremendous terror,” Trumpsaid. “And it’s countries that people are going tocome in and cause us tremendous problems.”

Trump refused to say which countries were on thelist, but he did say he believed that Europe “madea tremendous mistake by allowing these millionsof people to go into Germany and various othercountries,” describing it as “a disaster.”

Trump was asked if he worried that the limitswould anger Muslims around the world. “Anger?There’s plenty of anger right now. How can youhave more?” he said. “The world is a mess. Theworld is as angry as it gets. What, you think this isgoing to cause a little more anger? The world is anangry place. ... We went into Iraq. We shouldn’thave gone into Iraq. We shouldn’t have gotten outthe way we got out. The world is a total mess.”Trump vowed to impose “extreme vetting” for peo-ple who seek to enter the United States from cer-tain countries. “And I mean extreme. And we’re notletting people in if we think there is even somechance of some problem,” he said, without defin-ing how that process would differ from currentstrict entry requirements.

Playing into IS hands? Trump’s hardline attitude towards what he calls

“radical Islamic terrorism” was one of the most

controversial themes of his election campaign.Rights groups have accused him of stigmatizing aglobal faith, and some experts warn that offendingAmerica’s Muslim allies will hurt the fight againstextremism.

“Turning our back on vulnerable refugeesdoesn’t protect the United States,” said MichaelOlsen, former director of the US NationalCounterterrorism Center. “In fact, it plays into ISIS’sfalse narrative that we are at war with all Muslimsinstead of terrorist organizations,” he told watchdogHuman Rights First. Trump also vowed to “eradicateISIS from the face of the earth”, which proved popu-lar with US voters. Ryan Crocker, former US ambas-sador to Afghanistan and Iraq, told the group thatthe executive order would threaten refugees whorisked their lives to help US troops. “Banning theadmission of Syrian refugees contradicts Americanvalues, undermines American leadership andthreatens American security by making the ISIS casethat we are at war with Islam,” he argued.

No ‘major negative’ in refugee planOther former officials, however, were not wor-

ried by the pending order-suggesting that while it

has little use as a security measure, anger wouldblow over. James Jeffrey, who was deputy nationalsecurity adviser under former president George W.Bush, said: “I don’t think there’ll be much of achange in anything.” Jeffrey argued that evenunder former president Barack Obama, the UnitedStates had allowed in very few Syrian refugees-only 18,000 since the war began in 2011.Meanwhile, allies in the Sunni Muslim world are farmore concerned by the immediate threats posedby Iran and the Islamic State group than by US visalaw. “So I don’t see a major negative in foreignaffairs from this,” said Jeffrey, now a fellow of theWashington Institute for Near East Policy.

“We had a bad reputation no matter what wedid even when we were being at our very very tip-py-toe best with Barack Obama. It doesn’t matter,”he told AFP. “In populations there is a great deal ofskepticism about the United States. It’s hard-wired,regardless of the president, no matter what wedo.” The possible draft signing would be the latestin a daily series of executive orders rolled out byTrump’s administration since he took office onFriday-touching on national security, immigration,and health care. — AFP

Trump expected to restrict Muslim visitorsNEW YORK: Council on American Islamic Relations - New York Executive Director Afaf Nasher prays before a rally and protest against US President Donald Trump in Washington Square Park. — AFP

It’s not the Muslim ban, it’s countries that have terror

11I n t e r n a t i o n a lFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

TIJUANA: View of the border fence between Mexico and US taken from Mexico’s side. — AFP

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trumphas ordered work to begin on building awall along the Mexican border, angeringhis southern neighbor with his hardlinestance on immigration. The US leaderinstructed officials on Wednesday tobegin to “plan, design and construct aphysical wall along the southern border”and see how it could be funded.

“A nation without borders is not anation,” Trump said, echoing formerpresident Ronald Reagan, as he visitedthe Department of Homeland Security tosign two executive orders. “Beginningtoday, the United States of America getsback control of its borders,” theRepublican president said. Hours later,Mexican President Enrique Pena Nietodemanded “respect” for his country in anationally televised address.

“I regret and condemn the decision ofthe United States to continue construc-tion of a wall that, for years, has dividedus instead of uniting us,” Pena Nietosaid. “I have said it time and again:Mexico will not pay for any wall.” PenaNieto said he would wait for a reportfrom a high-level Mexican delegation inWashington and consult with governorsand lawmakers before deciding on “thenext steps to take.”

Country divided Lawmakers are pressuring the

Mexican leader to cancel a meeting withTrump in Washington scheduled for nextweek. Stemming immigration was a cen-tral plank of Trump’s election campaign.His signature prescription was to build awall along the 2,000-mile US-Mexicoborder. Some of the border is alreadyfenced, but Trump says a wall is neededto stop illegal immigrants from LatinAmerica.

A Morning Consult/Politico pollreleased Wednesday said 47 percent ofvoters support building a wall, with 45percent against. Experts have voiceddoubts about whether a wall would actu-ally slow illegal immigration, or if it isworth the billions it is expected to cost. “Isuspect that a lot of Trump supporterswould be just as happy with a big statueof a middle finger pointed south,” saidCongressman Luis Gutierrez. “Both areabout equally effective as national securi-ty strategies.”

Despite the high-octane rhetoric,Trump’s action was piecemeal, lookingto identify existing funds that could bediverted toward the project. TheRepublican-controlled Congress, whichhas long preached fiscal prudence,would need to approve billions of dollarsmore if the wall is to be anywhere nearcompleted. Trump also ordered a surveyof the border to be completed within180 days.

Much of the land needed to build thewall would have to be seized from pri-vate citizens in Texas, the state of Texasor tribal authorities. That could result inlong court battles and hefty expropria-tion payments. “The only real solution toreform our immigration system is to passcomprehensive immigration reform thatprovides a path to citizenship for the 11million” undocumented people in theUnited States, top Senate DemocratChuck Schumer said.

Make Mexico pay? Trump has promised to make Mexico

pay for the wall, something the Mexicangovernment has said will not happen.“Ultimately it will come out of what’shappening with Mexico, we’re going tobe starting those negotiations relatively

soon. And we will be, in a form, reim-bursed by Mexico,” Trump said in aninterview with ABC News.

Trump aides have considered raisingborder tariffs or border transit costs asone way to “make Mexico pay.” Anotherthreat is to finance the wall by tappinginto remittances that Mexican migrantssend home, which last year amounted to$25 billion. “There are a lot of differentways of getting Mexico to contribute todoing this, and there are different waysof defining how exactly they pay for it,”House leader Paul Ryan said in an inter-view on MSNBC, while also concedingthat the United States is “going to payfor it and front the money up.”

‘I do have a heart’ Left unresolved is the fate of the

“dreamers,” the foreign-born, US-raisedchildren of undocumented migrants.The children-many of whom are nowadults-were brought to the United Statesillegally as minors. Some 750,000 ofthem were granted work permits andtemporary residency under a 2009 pro-gram known as DACA under formerpresident Barack Obama.

Trump blasted DACA on the cam-paign trail, but in the ABC News inter-view he seemed to soften his position.“They shouldn’t be very worried,” Trumptold ABC. “I do have a big heart. We’regoing to take care of everybody. We’regoing to have a very strong border.We’re gonna have a very solid border.Where you have great people that arehere that have done a good job theyshould be far less worried.” Trump prom-ised that his administration will “be com-ing out with policy on that over the nextthree to four weeks,” but gave no furtherdetails. —AFP

Trump orders start to wall erection, angering MexicoMexico leaders repeats - ‘I will not pay for wall’

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump speaks to thestaff at the Department of Homeland Security. — AFP

Voter ID lawsuits live on despite policy shift

AUSTIN: Federal lawsuits challenging voter ID requirements inTexas and North Carolina won’t just disappear even if JusticeDepartment lawyers who once argued against the laws underthe Obama administration effectively switch sides to beginadvocating for them under Trump’s administration, civil rightslawyers say.

What President Donald Trump’s Justice Department will doisn’t yet know, but his comments on the campaign trail andsince taking office suggest the agency will re-examine its strat-egy and may support the two states’ toughest-in-the-nationrequirements that voters show picture identification at thepolls. The Barack Obama-led Justice Department launchedhigh-profile legal challenges against those laws, arguing thatthe requirements were unnecessary and unconstitutional.

“The time and resources the federal government has spenton this case have truly been substantial,” said Kristen Clarke,president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee forCivil Rights Under Law, which is representing plaintiffs in theTexas voter ID case. “But if the federal government reversescourse, we are fully prepared to move forward.”

‘Great concern’ A court forced Texas to water down its law for the

November election, but the case is continuing in US DistrictCourt in Corpus Christi, Texas. North Carolina’s 2013 voter IDlaw as struck down in July, but the state has asked the USSupreme Court to review the appeals court’s decision. “There isa great concern over what DOJ is going to do and if they aregoing to retreat in these cases,” said Gerry Hebert, a formerJustice Department lawyer who represents plaintiffs in theTexas voter ID case. “I suspect a great deal of shenanigans froma Trump Justice Department, but we will bear the burden onour own if we have to.”

Supporters say the laws help prevent voter fraud by makingsure people who aren’t eligible to vote, including people livingin the country illegally, don’t cast a ballot. Opponents say thereis no evidence of massive voter fraud and that such laws dis-proportionally affect minorities and the poor who may faceschallenges obtaining a government-issued photo ID.

Trump tweeted Wednesday that he plans to open an inves-tigation into voter fraud that would focus on dead people whoremained on the voter rolls, people registered in two or morestates and “those who are illegal.” Depending on its results,Trump tweeted, “We will strengthen up voting procedures!”That could mean efforts to expand strict voter ID requirements.On the campaign trail, Trump had praised laws requiring ballotbox photo identification.

New position Another signal that the new administration could abandon

the voter ID cases came late last week. Just hours after Trumpwas sworn in as president, the Justice Department asked for ahearing in Texas set for this week to be delayed until nextmonth. Department attorneys said in court filings that theyneeded more time to brief new leadership, but lawyers in thecase say it could be a precursor to a new position from the fed-eral government. If the Justice Department were to align withTexas and North Carolina and defend their voter

ID laws, it would be a setback for the legal challenges but“certainly not fatal,” said Rick Hasen, an election law expert andprofessor at the University of California, Irvine School of Law.“Certainly, it is advantageous for these lawyers to have not onlythe resources of the federal government, but the opinion of thefederal government on their side,” he said. — AP

I n t e r n a t i o n a lFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

LONDON: The seven-year-old Syrian girlwho gained a global following last yearwith her Twitter updates from Aleppo haswritten an open letter to US PresidentDonald Trump asking him to help otherchildren her war-torn country.

Bana Alabed drew some 363,000 fol-lowers after she joined the micro-blog-ging site in September where sheuploaded messages and pictures of dailylife in Aleppo on the @AlabedBana han-dle, an account managed by her motherFatemah. Last month, the young girl and

her family were evacuated from the rebel-held eastern part of the city following agovernment offensive. They arrived inTurkey, where they met President TayyipErdogan.

Turkey has supported rebels fightingSyrian President Bashar Al-Assad. On herown @FatemahAlabed Twitter account,Fatemah posted a picture of the hand-written letter where the young girl intro-duces herself to Trump as “part of theSyrian children who suffered from theSyrian war”.

“...Can you please save the children andpeople of Syria? You must do somethingfor the children of Syria because they arelike your children and deserve peace likeyou,” the letter reads. “If you promise meyou will do something for the children ofSyria, I am already your new friend.”

Britain’s BBC quoted Fatemah as sayingBana penned the letter before Trump’sinauguration last Friday. In the letter, Banaalso talks about losing friends in the nearly-six-year conflict and her new life outsideSyria. “Right now in Turkey, I can go out

and enjoy. I can go to school although Ididn’t yet. That is why peace is importantfor everyone including you,” she said.

“However, millions of Syrian children arenot like me right now and suffering in dif-ferent parts of Syria. They are sufferingbecause of adult people.” On Wednesday,Trump said he “will absolutely do safezones in Syria” for refugees fleeing violence,without giving further details. His com-ments came after Russia, Turkey and Iran onTuesday backed a shaky truce betweenSyria’s warring parties. — Reuters

Syria’s twitter girl asks Trump to help children

SAN FRANCISCO: Five years ago,Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt,now President Donald Trump’s nomineefor administrator of the EnvironmentalProtection Agency, sat in the front row asthe US Supreme Court debated the con-tentious Affordable Care Act.

He was part of a coalition of Republicanattorneys general fighting PresidentBarack Obama’s health law - better knownas Obamacare - based on a core partyprinciple: that states’ rights trump federalpowers, and that programs likeObamacare represent a radical overreachby the federal government. Now, asTrump looks to undo Obama’s legacy andbegin constructing his own, Pruitt andother administration Republicans areshowing little interest in protecting states’rights. Instead, they are embracing sweep-ing new environmental, healthcare andimmigration policies that are to beimposed on all states.

At the same time Democrats, who overthe last half-century have zealouslydefended sacrosanct federal laws - such asthe Civil Rights Act of 1964 that tackledsegregation - against arguments thatstates should be allowed to chart their ownway, are now making plans to employsome of those very states’ rights positions

to fend off Trump administration policiesthey disagree with. “If (EPA nominee Pruitt)is going to argue states can go their ownway, then certainly we should be allowedto make the exact same argument,” HawaiiAttorney General Douglas Chin, aDemocrat who opposes Pruitt’s nomina-tion, told Reuters. Pruitt’s office did notreturn repeated requests for comment.

Sprawling flip-flopThe two parties’ switching of sides is evi-

dent across a range of issues, including so-called sanctuary cities, the environment andhealthcare. Sanctuary cities - an unofficialdescription of places where local lawenforcement refuses to report undocument-ed immigrants to federal authorities - couldbe an early test, as Trump moves to beef upfederal immigration policies. Trump threat-ened to cut federal funds for such cities onWednesday, as part of an executive orderclamping down on immigration..

Lawyers planning to challenge thataction told Reuters they will base part oftheir legal argument on one successfulapproach Pruitt and his fellow attorneysgeneral took against Obamacare in theSupreme Court in 2012. In that case, thecourt held that federal authorities couldnot take away a state’s Medicaid funding

for refusing to expand the program.Although they won that part of the case,Pruitt and his group failed to stop thenational rollout of Obamacare.Immigration advocates hope the logicemployed by the Supreme Court in thatcase will protect sanctuary cities againstthreatened funding cuts.

However, Ken Cuccinelli, the formerRepublican attorney general of Virginia wholaunched the legal challenge to Obamacare,told Reuters he doubts courts will apply thatruling to protect sanctuary cities. Still,Cuccinelli said the new political dynamicwill expose Republican politicians who ranfor office on a states’ rights platformbecause it fit their policy agenda, ratherthan because they were true believers.

“We may find out (which) folks weredoing it for legal reasons and purely politicalreasons,” he said. Another early battle high-lighting the reversal of positions on states’versus federal rights is likely to be the envi-ronment. California, as its governor madeclear in a speech on Tuesday, will fight anyattempts to rein in the state’s sweepingenvironmental laws, which go far beyondfederal mandates. During his confirmationhearings, Pruitt, on the other hand, refusedto commit to keeping a decades-old federalwaiver that allows California to set stricter

Democrats and Republicans switch sides on states’ rights

Evident across a range of issues

LONDON: This Jan 21, 2017, file photo, demonstrators take part in the Women’s March in London the day after the inau-guration of US President Donald Trump. — AP

Saudi writer jailed for seven years

DUBAI: A Saudi writer has been sentenced to seven years inprison for offences including having contact with foreignjournalists, a rights group said yesterday, part of whatactivists call “an intensified crackdown”. The Gulf Centre forHuman Rights said Nadhir Al-Majid, 40, received the sentencelast week from the Specialized Criminal Court in Riyadh.

Rights monitors have criticized the practice of tryingactivists in such courts, which handle “terrorism” cases.“Reports have confirmed that the writer was alone duringthe hearing and not accompanied by his family or hislawyer,” said the Gulf Centre, which has offices inCopenhagen and Beirut. It said the prosecution filed manycharges against Majid, including participating in demonstra-tions and “having contact with correspondents” of foreignmedia organizations.

Another watchdog, Human Rights Watch, in 2011 identi-fied Majid as one of more than 160 dissidents arrested, most-ly in Eastern Province where the Shiite minority had protest-ed for political reforms and the release of prisoners. He wasfreed in 2012, the Gulf Centre said. In early January London-based Amnesty International said “a string of activists” hadbeen detained or appeared in court over previous weeks inconnection with peaceful human rights work.

“Saudi Arabia’s authorities have begun the year with anintensified crackdown against human rights activists”, it said.On a visit to the kingdom last week, a United Nations inde-pendent expert called on Saudi Arabia to “liberalize” itsapproach to social media, where activists communicate.Philip Alston, the UN special reporter on extreme povertyand human rights, said he received reports of “instances inwhich it has cracked down on certain people” communicat-ing over the internet.

Saudi vulnerable to ‘Shamoon 2’ virus In other news, Saudi computer security systems are vul-

nerable to the “Shamoon 2” virus, a senior communicationsofficial warned Thursday, confirming reports of a fresh cyber-attack on the kingdom.

The virus “has devised a new method that was unexpect-ed by government systems”, Abdulaziz Al-Ruwais, governorof the Commission for Communications and InformationTechnology, told Makkah newspaper.

He said that “some bodies had been affected” by the pro-gram, and detailed measures which companies could take totry to protect their computer networks. Local media report-ed early this week that Shamoon 2 hit the private sector andvarious government agencies including a division of thelabor ministry. Global security firm Symantec on Monday didnot mention Saudi Arabia but said it was “currently investi-gating reports of yet another new attack in the Middle Eastinvolving the destructive disk-wiping malware used by theShamoon group”.

The company in December said Shamoon had been usedin attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia. Arab News report-ed at the time that the National Cyber Security Centre“detected destructive electronic strikes against several gov-ernment agencies and vital establishments”.

In August, state media reported cyberattacks against gov-ernment institutions and vital installations they did not iden-tify. Shamoon was employed in strikes against the Saudienergy sector in 2012. At that time, US intelligence officialssaid they suspected a link to the kingdom’s regional rivalIran. Ties between Riyadh and Tehran have worsened overthe past year. — Agencies

I n t e r n a t i o n a lFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

BEIRUT: The Trump administration’s expressedinterest in setting up safe zones for civilians inSyria was greeted yesterday with caution byRussia and Turkey, who have taken the lead inthe latest peace efforts to end the Mideast coun-try’s devastating six-year war. Turkey said it hadalways supported the idea, but both Ankara and

Moscow said such plans would require carefulconsideration while a senior European Unionofficial said the bloc would consider such plans“when they come.”

The idea of safe zones, proposed by bothRepublican candidate Donald Trump andDemocrat Hillary Clinton during the US election

campaign, was ruled out by the Obama adminis-tration for fear it would bring the United Statesinto direct conflict with Syrian President BasharAssad and Russia, which has been waging an aircampaign to aid Assad’s forces since September2015. In October, the Russian military specificallywarned the US against striking Syrian govern-

ment forces, saying its air defense weapons inSyria would fend off any attack.

The recent rapprochement between Russiaand Turkey, a key backer of Syrian rebels whichnow has thousands of troops in northern Syria,in theory makes the creation of safe zones moreachievable. — AP

Syria safe zone plan scrutinized

14I n t e r n a t i o n a lFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

LYON: People walk past a homeless man sitting on the sidewalk as temperatures plunged under 0 degrees Celsius. — AFP

Socialist utopia a difficult sell as France swings rightCampaign run on risk-taking spirit of get-up-and-go

TRAPPES: At the “Friz-Lys” stylingsalon, Jocelyne Gisquet is luxuriating inthe freedom of answering emails with alaptop balanced on her knees whilehaving her hair curled. Working whereshe wants, when she wants, are amongthe pay-offs of the 45-year-old’s boldstep last year to quit a stable job as amarketing director at one of France’slargest multinationals to set up in busi-ness for herself.

That risk-taking spirit of get-up-and-go is what French presidential hopefulBenoit Hamon hopes to unleash on anational scale with his radical proposalthat all French adults - rich and poor,working or unemployed - be paid amodest but regular monthly no-strings-attached salary to give them the free-dom to try new things without the fearof unpaid bills.

Hamon’s campaign for “universalincome” has catapulted him fromobscurity on the left wing of the rulingSocialist Party to within touching dis-tance of its presidential ticket. With 35percent of the vote in the Socialist pri-mary’s first round, the 49-year-old is inpole position to beat ex-Prime MinisterManuel Valls, who got 31 percent, in thedecisive second-round ballot onSunday.

Another state handout But in Trappes, the blue-collar town

west of Paris where he is the electedlawmaker, Hamon hasn’t won overGisquet or her stylist, Francoise Larcher,weaving bright plastic rollers into theentrepreneur’s dark head of hair. WhereHamon sees 750 euros ($800) per month

for all liberating the French and theircreative forces, and cushioning themfrom an automated future of fewer jobsfor humans, Gisquet and Larcher see justanother state handout that France nei-ther needs nor can afford.

“That’s the problem with the left.They are far too utopian,” said Gisquet.“They make promises they can’t keep.That’s intolerable.” That opponents ofhis signature proposal are so vocal andeasy to find even in Hamon’s district,where he vacuumed up 55 percent ofvotes in the primary first round lastSunday and where people warmlydescribe him as a salt-of-the-earth typewho is generous with his time, gives aforetaste of the steep uphill battle theexpected Socialist Party candidate willface in France’s presidential election inApril and May.

In his favor: Quitt ing FrancoisHollande’s government (he was educa-tion minister) in 2014 put distancebetween Hamon and the Socialist pres-ident whose catastrophic unpopularitykilled his own hopes for a second five-year term. Rebelling against the gov-ernment’s pro-business shift sparedHamon the taint that has underminedthe candidacy of Valls, who infuriatedmany as Hollande’s prime minister byforcing reforms through parliamentwithout a vote.

But in a country that has shifted tothe right since Hollande’s victory in2012, Hamon’s firm anchorage on theSocialist left could prove an impossiblesell. So, too, could the huge expense ofproviding a universal income to morethan 50 million adults. Hamon himself

has estimated the cost to be at least 300bill ion euros ($320 bill ion), to befinanced by taxing robots and othermeasures.

Hardening tone Valls, hardening his tone to try to

make up ground on his rival, this weekcalled Hamon “a merchant of illusions.”Even in his own campaign team, someworried that Hamon’s proposals, whichalso include the legalization of cannabis,amounted to political suicide, says AliRabeh, one of his aides. “The audacity ofit scared quite a few people,” he said inan interview in Hamon’s parliamentaryoffice in Trappes, as campaignersdropped by to restock on thick piles ofleaflets and posters.

But even if Hamon doesn’t win theprimary or the presidency, Rabeh arguesthat they’ve already scored a victory byplanting the argument that universalincome isn’t utopian, but rather a neces-sity that would lift France from the dol-drums of diminishing work. “We are oneof the most pessimistic countries in theworld,” he said. “This is a way of boost-ing our state of mind, our collective spir-it.” “The debate is no longer whetherthere will be a universal basic incomebut when,” he said.

Nursing a morning glass of rose wineat the bar of a nearby cafe, 72-year-oldretiree Gerard Sierra said the Socialistsare on course for “a whipping” at thepolls, with fiery far-left presidential can-didate Jean-Luc Melenchon andEmmanuel Macron, Hollande’s center-left former economy minister, bothsiphoning off support.—AP

LONDON: Britain’s government yesterday published a draftlaw that would authorise Prime Minister Theresa May to beginthe procedure for leaving the European Union in an importantmilestone towards Brexit. “The British people have made thedecision to leave the EU... so today we have introduced a billin parliament which will allow us to formally trigger Article 50by the end of March,” said Brexit minister David Davis.

The two clause “European Union Notification ofWithdrawal Bill” asks parliament to give May authority to startthe formal mechanism by which Britain will leave the bloc.The government said MPs would get their first chance todebate and vote on it on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.May’s government was forced to go to parliament following alandmark Supreme Court ruling this week that rejected itsargument that executive powers allowed it to proceed.

The ruling Conservatives have a small majority in theHouse of Commons and the bill is expected to get the go-ahead from MPs, although opposition parties have said theyplan put forward amendments that could slow it down. Davissaid he hoped that parliament would “respect the decisiontaken by the British people and pass the legislation quickly,”arguing that MPs had supported holding the referendum inthe first place.

House of Commons leader David Lidington told parliamentthat the bill ’s third and final reading in the House ofCommons-followed by a final vote by MPs-would be onFebruary 8. The bill will then pass to the upper House of Lords,where progress is less certain as the government has nomajority there and no control over the timing.

“The Lords will not block or wreck the bill but they willwant to give it proper scrutiny, especially if they think thescrutiny in the Commons has been inadequate,” Robert Hazeland Alan Renwick from University College London’sConstitution Unit said. If approved by the House of Lords, thebill would then have to be signed off by Queen Elizabeth IIbefore May can trigger Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty-theformal process for leaving the bloc.

‘Disgraceful!’ May has said she is confident she will be able to stick to her

timetable of triggering Article 50 by the end of March at thelatest and the government has said it hopes to start Brexittalks before the summer. Britain voted to leave the EuropeanUnion in a referendum on June 23 last year following a bittercampaign and divisions have persisted since then.

A majority of Britain’s 11 Supreme Court judges onTuesday ruled that withdrawing from the EU meant therewould have to be changes in Britain’s domestic laws andtherefore parliament had to be involved. There were shouts of“disgraceful” from MPs as the government outlined its rapidtimetable for the bill. The main opposition Labour Party hassaid it is planning amendments including a clause calling forthe protection of workers’ rights, while the Scottish NationalParty wants to put forward dozens of changes.

May’s Conservative government currently has a workingmajority of 16 in the 650-member parliament. The bill came asofficial data showed Britain’s economy grew solidly in the finalmonths of last year, even as it prepares for a difficult depar-ture from the EU. —AFP

UK publishes draft billon triggering Brexit

LONDON: In a still image taken from video footage broad-cast by the UK Parliamentary Recording Unit on Januaryyesterday British Secretary of State for Exiting theEuropean Union (Brexit Minister) David Davis takes aquestion from MPs on the publication of a White Paper tooutline the legislation on exiting the EU in the House ofCommons.—AFP

15I n t e r n a t i o n a lFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

BANJUL: Gambia’s President Adama Barrowis finally returning home yesterday, solidify-ing his position as the country’s first newcommander in chief in two decades after apolitical crisis that sent the previous rulerinto exile. Barrow was scheduled to arrive inGambia at 4 pm (16:00 GMT), coalitionspokesman Halifa Sallah said. A larger cere-mony will take place at a later date, he said.

Gambians eagerly await Barrow, who haspromised to reverse many of the authoritari-an policies of former leader Yahya Jammeh,who was accused of imprisoning, torturingand killing his political opponents. Barrowdefeated Jammeh in December elections,but the veteran leader did not want to cedepower. Barrow was sworn into office on Jan19 at the Gambian Embassy in neighboringSenegal because of security threats asJammeh clung to power.

Jammeh finally left Gambia last weekend,bowing to international pressure that includ-ed a regional military force, ending a morethan 22-year rule. The West African troopswere poised to oust Jammeh if diplomatictalks failed. There are currently 2,500 of theECOWAS troops still in Gambia - in the capital,Banjul, as well as at key crossing points

between Gambia and Senegal and at the portand airport, according to Sweden’s UNAmbassador Olof Skoog, the current UNSecurity Council president. Gambia’s newpresident has asked the troops to stay for sixmonths to provide security, said MohamedIbn Chambas, special representative of theUN secretary-general and head of the UNOffice for West Africa and the Sahel. “Manyfactors will be taken into account in determin-ing the length of a mission,” Chambas toldreporters yesterday in Senegal, where Barrowhas been staying while awaiting his return.

Striving for stability Gambia, with a population of nearly 1.9

million people, has become a shining exam-ple in West Africa, a region striving to estab-lish stable democratic changes of power.The world watched as Gambians showedthey wanted change, supporting a coalitionof opposition parties whose aim was to oustJammeh and put the country on a pathtoward greater democracy.

Jammeh’s supporters wept as he board-ed a plane for exile. He went to EquatorialGuinea, taking luxury cars and other richesamassed during his presidency and accom-

panied by trusted family and securityguards. When Jammeh left, the streets inBanjul exploded in celebration, with musicblaring from speakers, people dancing infront of restaurants, cheering and honkingcar horns. Barrow’s months ahead will becrucial to building a country that can put aclimate of fear behind it and work towardreconciliation. He has vowed to work towardgreater freedoms and reforms to the securityforces and the constitution. Barrow hasnamed a female vice president, FatoumataTambajang, who has called for Jammeh’sprosecution for human rights abuses. But itemerged that she might be above the con-stitutional age limit for the position, bringingBarrow to say he will put together a vettingcommittee for further appointments.

Sallah, the spokesman, said a humanrights commission will be set up and the newgovernment will create a freedom of infor-mation act. “We expect a lot of things fromBarrow,” said 26-year-old Modou Fall, who,like many others, wore a #GambiahasdecidedT-shirt to show support for the new presi-dent. “We want the forces to stay so that wecan reform our army ... and we need develop-ment in this country.” — AP

Gambia’s new president returns, new era begins

DAKAR: In this file photo dated Thursday, Jan 19, 2017, Adama Barrow, left, is sworn in as President of Gambia atGambia’s embassy. — AFP

Troops to stay for six months to provide security

Who are Germany’s ‘Citizens of the Reich’?

BERLIN: German security services are increasingly cracking downon “Reichsbuerger” or “Citizens of the Reich”, a far-right move-ment long dismissed as malcontents and crackpots but now seenas a growing threat. A mixed bag of conspiracy theorists, neo-Nazis and gun enthusiasts who reject the modern democraticstate, the fragmented movement is growing more radical at atime when right-wing extremism in general is on the rise. Several“Reichsbuerger” have opened fire on police or hoarded weaponsand explosives.

On Wednesday, 200 police raided 12 locations nationwideand detained two suspects, accusing them of plotting “armedattacks against police officers as representatives of the state, asy-lum seekers and members of the Jewish community”. What dowe know about the Reichsbuerger?

What do they believe? The Reichsbuerger refuse to recognize the legitimacy of the

modern German republic and generally believe in the continuedexistence of the pre-war German Reich, while some idolize NaziGermany. Some see modern Germany as a US colony and arguethat the Reich’s 1919 Weimar Constitution and its formers bor-ders which extend far into present-day Poland remain valid.

Several groups have declared their own mini-states, such asthe “Exile Government of the German Reich” or the “Free State ofPrussia”, made flags and issued their own identity papers, curren-cies and postage stamps. They typically deny the legitimacy ofpolice and other state institutions and refuse to pay taxes, socialservice contributions and fines, which brings them into conflictwith authorities. Their members have often been dismissed aseccentrics, oddballs and trolls known for swamping local munici-palities and courts with letters, formal complaints, motions andobjections.

Are they neo-Nazis? The movement is characterized by an extreme right-wing, his-

torically revisionist and often ethno-nationalist ideology. Severalgroups are known to have direct links to illegal neo-Nazi organi-zations and are under surveillance by German state and federalintelligence agencies. Berlin’s security service describesReichsbuerger as following an “ideological mix of conspiracy the-ories, anti-Semitic and anti-democratic views”. The anti-fascistAmadeu Antonio Foundation warns that although it may betempting to dismiss Reichsbuerger as cranks, “behind the mas-querade of conspiracy theories, esotericism and governmentgame-playing lies a hardcore right-wing extremism and anti-humanist ideology”.

How many are they? Around since the 1980s, with links to like-minded groups in

the United States, the movement was long estimated to numberin the hundreds-but it has grown exponentially in the internetage, especially in the past few years. This week domestic intelli-gence service chief Hans-Georg Maassen said the “Reichsbuergerscene” of activists and sympathizers was now thought to numberabout 10,000. Of these, 500 to 600 were known right-wingextremists, Maassen told the DPA news agency. Most known fol-lowers are middle-aged white males. They exist nationwide, butmost high-profile cases have been reported in Germany’s former-ly communist east and the southern state of Bavaria.

Maassen said his service worried about the movement’s “con-siderable propensity for violence and increased aggressiveness”.In an attack last August, a 41-year-old Reichsbuerger and one-time “Mister Germany” pageant winner opened fire on police car-rying out an eviction order at his house in the eastern state ofSaxony-Anhalt. The gunman was seriously wounded and threepolice officers suffered light injuries. — AFP

VIENNA: Eleven men were arrested in Austriayesterday as some 800 police investigatingpossible members of the jihadist groupIslamic State carried out raids in Vienna andGraz, authorities said. The raids however werenot related to the arrest in Vienna last week ofa 17-year-old suspected Islamist extremist,and investigators did not believe a terrorattack was imminent, reports said.

“As part of an ongoing investigation intosuspected membership of a terrorist organi-sation (‘IS’) a coordinated operation

planned for some time took place involving800 officers,” Graz prosecutors said. Eightmen were initially detained, including threeAustrians “with a migration background”,two Bosnians, a Syrian, a Bulgarian and aMacedonian, all aged between 21 and 49, aspokesman said. Four of the arrests were inVienna and four in Graz.

A further three suspects from theBalkans were later also arrested in Graz.Media reports said that as well as apart-ments, police also raided unofficial

mosques, mostly in Graz. They also said theoperation targeted individuals from the for-mer Yugoslavia suspected of establishing ajihadist network in Austria. The KronenZeitung tabloid reported that the raidsfocused on the network of a Muslim preach-er from Bosnia jailed for 20 years last July inGraz for recruiting young IS fighters.

The accused, known as Ebu Tejma,“brainwashed” dozens of people agedbetween 14 and 30 and enlisted a numberof them to fight for IS in Syria, his trial heard.

Tejma fled from Bosnia to Vienna followingthe break-up of Yugoslavia and preached invarious Austrian and southern Germancities, becoming a “key figure” in pushing ISpropaganda, according to the prosecution.

He was arrested during a far-reachingcrackdown on Austrian jihadist networks in2014 and denied the charges against him.Austria has so far been spared getting hitby the string of attacks by Islamist extrem-ists in other European countries in the pastfew years. — AFP

11 held in Austrian anti-terror raids

16I n t e r n a t i o n a lFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

SEOUL: A lawyer for the jailed woman at thecenter of the biggest South Korean politicalscandal in decades said yesterday that prose-cutors threatened to “annihilate” her familyand used other abusive language duringquestioning. Prosecutors denied the accusa-tions and expressed strong regret over them.The woman, Choi Soon-sil, a longtime friendof President Park Geun-hye, has been arrestedfor allegedly interfering in state affairs andextorting money from businesses. Park wasimpeached last month over the scandal andthe Constitutional Court is reviewing whetherto formally end her rule.

Choi created a stir Wednesday by shouting

out accusations about prosecutors when shewas brought to the office of prosecutors. Choiscreamed out to reporters that the investiga-tion was unfair and said she had been forcedto confess untrue things about her relation-ship with Park. There is huge pressure onprosecutors amid widespread fury in SouthKorea over the charges against Choi and Park.Millions of South Koreans have taken to thestreets to protest what prosecutors havedescribed as collusion with Park that allowedChoi to pull government strings from theshadows. But yesterday, her lawyer accusedprosecutors of questioning Choi withoutinforming him late on Christmas Eve in what

he called a violation of a law that guaranteesthe right to counsel.

During questioning that he said lasteduntil 1 a.m. on Christmas Day, the lawyer, LeeGyeong-jae, said prosecutors used “veryshocking” language that abused Choi’shuman rights. He said they threatened to“annihilate” Choi’s family and make “Choi andeven her grandson live (in shame) so that theycannot hold their faces up.” Lee said thethreats to destroy a person’s family was simi-lar to the feudal language used during theJoseon Dynasty, which ruled the KoreanPeninsula for 518 years before it was colo-nized by Japan in 1910.

Lee accused prosecutors of trying toinduce Choi to confess to things she had notdone. His conference was disrupted at the lastminute with a middle-aged woman shoutingand urging him not to speak in defense ofChoi. “Do you think she should be treatedwell while being investigated?” the womanshouted. The office of special prosecutorsinvestigating the scandal said later Thursdaythat one of their senior prosecutors met Choion Christmas Eve for an informal interviewbut did not use any of the abusive languagecited by Choi’s lawyer. Spokesman Lee Kyu-chul said prosecutors have not tried to induceChoi into making any false confessions.—AP

Park’s confidant threatened during probe says lawyer

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s media watch-dog yesterday accused a prominent tel-evision preacher of hate speech andbanned his hugely popular show, silenc-ing the high-profile host after years ofcontroversy. Aamir Liaquat Hussain, acharismatic star criticised in 2013 for giv-ing out babies to childless couples liveon prime-time television, had beenaccused of inciting hate against sup-porters of five progressive activists whodisappeared earlier this month.

He was told his program on Bol Newshad been ended “with immediateeffect” and prohibited from appearingon the channel “in any manner” even inold footage, with Bol warned it wouldlose its license if it did not comply.Hussain was also prohibited from deliv-ering “any hate speech” or brandinganyone an infidel or a traitor on any oth-er channel, according to the statementfrom the Pakistan Electronic MediaRegulatory Authority (PEMRA).

It said the decision came afterHussain had been monitored for severalweeks, and that it had received “hun-

dreds” of complaints about his repeatedviolations. Rights activist Jibran Nasir,who has spearheaded some of thedemonstrations over the missing blog-gers and is among those maligned byHussain, tweeted that a police com-plaint had also been made.

Fears of crackdown “Pemra did its job & we should be

glad about it but our real job is still left.We can rejoice when the missing comeback home. Back to work!” he wrote. Thefive bloggers were reported missingfrom various cities in Pakistan early thismonth, raising fears of a crackdown.Human Rights Watch said their nearsimultaneous disappearances raisedconcerns of government involvement,which officials and intelligence sourceshave denied.

A virulent social media campaignpainting the missing as blasphemers hastriggered a flood of threats despitedenials from their worried families. Thecharge, which carries the death penalty,is hugely sensitive in deeply conserva-

tive Muslim Pakistan, where evenunproven allegations have stirred moblynchings and murder. Hussain, a formerlawmaker, is no stranger to controversy.Under military ruler Pervez Musharraf,he was forced to resign as junior reli-gious affairs minister because of hisviews on the controversial blasphemylaws. He was also unable to authenticatean alleged degree in Islamic Studiesfrom a college in Spain. Known as doc-tor, he claims to have a diploma from amedical college in Pakistan. In 2008,guests invited onto one of his showssaid members of the Ahmadi minorityshould be killed. Two well-knownAhmadis were subsequently murdered,although there was no evidence linkingtheir killings to the TV show.

In 2013 he was unrepentant aboutthe storm over his Ramadan show,which saw him give babies away tochildless couples, denying the move wasa ratings stunt. “People love me, that iswhy they watch me. Through televisionwe spread the message of tolerance,” hetold AFP at the time. — AFP

KARACHI: In this photograph taken on July 31, 2013, Pakistani television show host Aamir Liaquat Hussain presents anIslamic quiz show Aman Ramadan. — AFP

Pakistan bans prominent TV preacher over hate speech

High-profile host silenced after years of controversy

SRINAGAR: Avalanches killed 10 Indian soldiers inKashmir after cascading onto an army post and a patrolalong the de facto border that divides the disputed terri-tory with Pakistan, the military said yesterday. The sepa-rate avalanches buried the soldiers under tons of snow onthe Line of Control (LoC) in the remote Gurez area onWednesday, an army spokesman told AFP.

A total of seven soldiers in the patrol, that wasapproaching a border post when it was hit, were killed.The avalanche that slammed into the army post left threesoldiers dead, but seven have been rescued. A search forthe other missing soldiers was continuing, Colonel RajeshKalia said. “With the recovery of bodies of four more sol-diers from the patrol the toll in the avalanches is now 10,”he said after three bodies were recovered on Wednesday.Dozens of Indian and Pakistani soldiers are killed by ava-lanches almost every winter along the LoC.

Indian-administered Kashmir has been witnessing oneof the most severe winters in recent decades, with heavysnow across the territory and temperatures dropping tominus seven degrees Celsius (19 degrees Fahrenheit). Fourmembers of a single family died Wednesday in the samearea when the house they were sleeping in was hit by anavalanche. A lone survivor was rescued.

One soldier also died Wednesday in the north of the terri-tory when a camp was hit by an avalanche. Meteorologistshave forecast more heavy snow across the region over thenext two days. Authorities had already issued avalanche warn-ings, advising residents in mountainous areas not to ventureout. Police last week evacuated 80 villagers from WaltengooNar-where dozens were killed after a series of avalanches hitthe area in 2005 — in the south of the territory. —AFP

MAZAR-I-SHARIF: Heavy snowfall and freezing weather haskilled 27 children, all under the age of five, in a remote districtin northern Afghanistan, officials said yesterday, with fears thetoll could rise. Roads in Darzaab in northern Jawzjan provincewere blocked by 50 centimeters of snow, cutting off access forvillagers in the area to medical care as temperatures plungedto -10 degrees Celsius (14 Fahrenheit).

“Unfortunately we have 27 children killed due to heavysnowfall and freezing weather,” district governor RahmatullahHashar told AFP, saying the deaths had occurred over the lasttwo or three days. All the children were under the age of five,he said, adding the blocked roads mean the toll could stillincrease. The deaths were confirmed by the Jawzjan provin-cial governor’s spokesman, Reza Ghafoori, who said aid wouldbe delivered via emergency committees. Heavy snowfall andavalanches kill scores of people in Afghanistan each winter.

In 2015, avalanches killed some 300 people across thecountry, the bulk of them in the mountainous province ofPanjshir, north of Kabul. Rescue efforts after disasters such asavalanches and flash floods, which often hit as snows melt inthe spring, are frequently hampered by lack of equipment.Poor infrastructure makes it difficult for rescue teams to reachisolated areas. — AFP

Winter kills 27 Afghan children

Avalanches kill ten soldiers in Kashmir

17I n t e r n a t i o n a lFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

NEW DELHI: Motorbike stunt riders and herds of camelswowed the crowds gathered in New Delhi yesterday to cele-brate Republic Day, an annual showcase of India’s militaryhardware and cultural diversity. After the US and French presi-dents attended the last two events, the Crown Prince of AbuDhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was this year’s chiefguest as everyone from bagpipe-playing troops to school-children paraded along the landmark Rajpath boulevard.

The day marks the adoption of the country’s constitutionon January 26, 1950 following independence from Britain in1947. The nearly 100-minute parade displayed India’s latestweaponry, including missiles and Indian-manufactured radarsystems, along with elaborate floats representing the coun-try’s different states and union territories.

A contingent of border guards rode into town on camels,wearing colourful caparisons fitted with round mirror pieces,and were greeted with loud cheers from spectators. The arrivalof the camels followed a show by stuntmen from militaryunits, some of whom balanced themselves precariously onladders on the back of moving motorbikes. A military contin-gent from the UAE led the march down Janpath and theparade concluded with a fly-past by Indian fighter jets.

Eying future Prime Minister Narendra Modi wore a pink turban and was

seen chatting with guests inside a bullet-proof enclosure.Nahyan is the second Arab leader to attend the function afterSaudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud in 2006, as Indiaeyes financial investments and energy security from theregion. More than 50,000 security personnel were deployedin the capital to prevent any possible attack.

Suspected separatist militants triggered at least eightbombs in the remote northeastern Assam and Manipurstates, but without causing any major damage or casualties.In his televised Republic Day speech on Wednesday night,President Pranab Mukherjee said India’s strength lay in itsreligious and cultural diversity. Critics say India is witnessingan increasingly strident brand of Hindu nationalism sinceModi came to power in 2014.

“More than the unison of ideas, a healthy democracy callsfor conformity to the values of tolerance, patience andrespect for others,” said Mukherjee, a member of the mainopposition Congress party and whose position is largely cer-emonial. “Our tradition has always celebrated the argumen-tative Indian not the intolerant Indian.” — AFP

Camels and stuntmen wow crowds at India Republic DayShowcase of India’s military hardware and cultural diversity

NEW DELHI: An Indian Army contingent marches during the 68th Republic Dayparade. — AFP photos

NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (l) waves as he leaves with the CrownPrince of Abu Dhabi General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (c) and IndiaPresident Pranab Mukherjee after the Republic Day Parade at Rajpath.

NEW DELHI: The Indian Military Police’s Dare Devil stuntteam takes part in a display during the Republic Day Parade.

CHENNAI: Indian school students perform the ‘mayillattam’Peacock Dance during a parade to mark Republic Day. — AFP

NEW DELHI: Indian Army soldiers march during RepublicDay parade. — AP

NEW DELHI: Indian artists from the state of Tamil Nadu surround their state float as they take part in the Republic Day Parade.

18I n t e r n a t i o n a lFRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2017

HONG KONG: Hong Kong leadership hopefulCarrie Lam testified in a high-profile corrup-tion trial yesterday where she described theaccused-a former city leader-as her “role mod-el”. Donald Tsang is charged with misconductand bribery while he was Hong Kong’s chiefexecutive and is the highest-ranking official tobe taken to court for graft. The trial comes at atime when residents are losing faith in HongKong’s elites, as a string of corruption casesfuel public suspicions over cosy links betweenauthorities and business leaders.

Lam was made secretary for developmentin 2007 during Tsang’s administration and said

he “had been my role model in my career as apublic servant”, when she was called as a pros-ecution witness at the city’s High Court. Lamanswered “yes” when the defense counselasked whether Tsang did his “honest best toserve the public”. Tsang, 72, was leader from2005 to 2012 and has pleaded not guilty tothree charges of misconduct and bribery, eachwith a maximum jail sentence of seven years.

He is accused of failing to disclose his plansto lease a luxury penthouse in the neighbor-ing city of Shenzhen from a major investor in abroadcaster-which at the time was seeking alicense from the Hong Kong government.

Tsang allegedly approved the company’sapplication for the license, and also failed todeclare that an architect he proposed for agovernment award had been employed as aninterior designer for the flat. Lam deniedknowledge of the Shenzhen property. Shealso said she had not come under pressurewhen she nominated the architect for theaward after he was suggested to her depart-ment by the chief executive’s office. “Of courseI made my own judgment,” she said.

The prosecution has called Tsang’s behav-ior a betrayal of public trust. In 2012 Tsangapologized for separate allegations that he

accepted inappropriate gifts from businessfriends in the form of trips on luxury yachtsand private jets. Lam was most recently toughdeputy to unpopular current chief executiveLeung Chun-ying.

She stepped down earlier this month to runfor election in March and is widely seen asBeijing’s favorite candidate to lead the semi-autonomous city. But since announcing herbid Lam has been accused of being out oftouch with ordinary people. She was this weekridiculed for revealing she did not know whereto buy toilet paper late at night and appearinghesitant using a subway turnstile. —AFP

HK leadership favorite testifies in graft trial

MANILA: Choi Kyung-Jin (l), wife of late South Korean businessman Jee Ick-Joo who was murdered allegedly by suspect-ed policemen, talks to Marissa Morquicho (r), the househelp of her husband, during a Senate hearing into her husband’sdeath. —AFP

Duterte’s drug crackdown faces new court challengeMore than 7,000 drug suspects have been killed

MANILA: A survivor of a Philippinepolice raid that killed four other drugsuspects asked the Supreme Court yes-terday to stop such operations and helphim obtain police records to prove hisinnocence in a test case against thepresident’s bloody crackdown. LawyerRomel Bagares said his client EfrenMorillo and other petitioners also askedthe court to order police to stop threat-ening witnesses.

More than 7,000 drug suspects havebeen killed since President RodrigoDuterte took office in June and orderedthe crackdown, alarming human rightsgroup and Western governments. Fourpolicemen shot Morillo and four othermen in impoverished Payatas village inmetropolitan Manila in August. Morillosurvived and denied police allegationsthat he and his friends were drug deal-ers or that they fought back, accordingto Bagares and the court petition.

Morillo, a 28-year-old vegetable ven-

dor and the four slain men, weregarbage collectors who were shot withtheir hands bound and could not havepossibly threatened police, the petitionsaid. Three of the victims were orderedto kneel on the ground at the back ofthe shanty before they were shot todeath. The last to be killed “begged tobe spared, hugging the legs of one ofthe armed men and sobbing. As hewould not let go of his hold, the manshot him on the nape,” the petition said.

Legal action If the court grants Morillo’s petition

to indefinitely stop such drug raids inthe Payatas community and help himobtain police surveillance records andother documents, it will encourage rela-tives of drug raid victims and humanrights groups to take legal actionagainst the anti-narcotics police.According to Bagares, police kill drugsuspects then make it appear the vic-

tims died while fighting back.“Because he survived the attack of

the perpetrators and identified each andevery one of them, his life is in gravedanger,” Bagares said in his petition,which asked the court to prohibit thepolice officers from entering an area 5kilometers (3 miles) from the homes andworkplaces of Morillo and other peti-tioners, who include the other men’s rel-atives. Police officials did not immedi-ately comment on the court petition.National police chief Ronald Dela Rosatold a Senate inquiry yesterday that heopposes suggestions to temporarilystop Duterte’s crackdown against illegaldrugs due to allegations of extrajudicialkillings and other abuses.

While acknowledging that somerogue police may have illegally killedinnocent people, Dela Rosa stressed that33 officers had been killed and morethan 100 others wounded in clasheswith drug suspects. —AP

Chinese send fakeTrump tweets

BEIJING: In China, Twitter is blocked but fake tweets by@realdonaldtrump look set to become the latest internetsensation. Users are flocking to websites that let them gen-erate images of fake tweets that look just like those sentfrom US President Donald Trump’s distinctive personalTwitter account - replete with his avatar and a real-timetimestamp.

@realdonaldtrump would like to wish you a HappyChinese New Year, says one, referencing the holiday thatfalls this year on Saturday. @realdonaldtrump thinksShanghai Jiaotong University is better than its crosstownrival. @realdonaldtrump wants to buy a jianbing (typicalChinese street food) and wants Mexico to pay for it. @real-donaldtrump’s “favorite boy band” is the South Koreangroup GOT7: “They are so cute!”

Jike, a Shanghai-based startup running one such web-site, said yesterday that in just four days, users have createdmore than a million fake @realdonaldtrump tweets inChinese and English, often mimicking Trump’s tone andfondness for exclamation marks. They are being shared onChinese social networking sites to crack jokes, tout onlinegoods and send Lunar New Year greetings.

The fake Trump tweets circulating on Chinese socialmedia reflect how Trump’s use of Twitter is even seepinginto the popular consciousness of a country where Twitterhas been blocked by censors for years. Although Trump’scomments on trade, Taiwan and the South China Sea haveraised concerns in Beijing, there is a certain fascinationabout Trump among some young Chinese who see him as asymbol of American showmanship but overlook his anti-China rhetoric, at least for now.

‘Iconic image’“For young Chinese people, Trump has an extremely

iconic image,” said Lin Hang, a co-founder of Jike. “HisTwitter content can easily spark conversations in China. Hislanguage style is very recognizable. So when netizens puttheir everyday life musings or roasts in his voice, it provokesa certain reaction, a certain resonance.” Jike, founded byChinese who studied at the University of Michigan businessschool and worked at Google, rolled out the website onSunday, Lin said. Employees at the startup, which mainlyproduces a personalized news app, started sharing it withtheir friends that night as a joke. It spread quickly fromChina’s highly educated, English-speaking internet circles toother social groups and smaller cities, Lin said.

Despite tight government controls over online discourse,particularly surrounding sensitive domestic news, China’s700 million internet users have a freewheeling web culturethat churns out a running stream of commentary, memesand wisecracks about international news. Along withTwitter, other foreign social media sites such as Facebookand YouTube are also inaccessible within China.

Vincent Zhang, a 37-year old employee at Jiayuan, aChinese online dating site, said many young Chinese had arelatively neutral view of Trump and saw him as a showman.“Now it’s a lot of jokes because the trade issues don’t feellike they affect our ordinary lives,” Zhang said. “If he made itmuch more difficult to get US visas, then you will see a lot ofpeople insult him.”— AP

www.kuwaittimes.net

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

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A model presents acreation for MaisonMargiela during the2017 spring/summerHaute Couture collec-tion in Paris. —AFP

L i f e s t y l eFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

When a bomb tore through a restaurantor business in Baghdad, Karim Wasfiand his cello would often appear with

the urgency of a medic to promote his messageof healing through music. The former conductorof the Baghdad Symphony often drew a crowdof curious onlookers as he played - others des-perate for peace and unity. On Wednesday,Wasfi brought that message to the White House,and drew a similar crowd of onlookers facingtheir own challenges.

The half-Iraqi, half-Egyptian cellist andfounder of the organization Peace Through Artsplayed serene classical tunes in Lafayette Park inWashington, across the street from the newhome of President Donald Trump.

Alongside him, protests swelled, condemn-ing an effort by Trump to suspend the issuanceof US visas in countries where adequate screen-ing cannot occur. The president is expected tosuspend immigrant and non-immigrant entryfor citizens of countries of particular concern for30 days. That could include Iran, Iraq, Libya,Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Federal law givesTrump broad authority to suspend immigrationfor groups of people whose entry is deemed

"detrimental to US interests." He is expected tospecifically suspend any immigration, includingfor refugees, from Syria.

Wasfi said that he came to the White Housein part to commemorate the sixth anniversary of

the start of the Egyptian Revolution that over-threw President Hosni Mubarak - the "ArabSpring" that sparked a wave of self-determina-tion across the region. "It created lots of change,not only in Egypt but in the Middle East," herecalled, acknowledging that the struggle con-tinues today. "The experience I also have fromIraq is creating calmness, creating tranquilityand creating better ways to prevent tension orradicalization, to help people to find better waysto convey and to interact," he said

Wasfi himself immigrated to the US in 1995and as a dual citizen divides his time betweenthe US and Iraq. He acknowledged the impor-tance of addressing the global refugee crisisand radicalism that has afflicted Iraq and neigh-boring Syria, but he urged everyone to "calmdown and approach the facts" instead of deal-ing with tensions through rash policies or vio-lence. "There is lots of tension everyplace," hesaid. "If we disagree on political views and ide-ologies, we can utilize our energy toward build-ing and improving. So I hope to help createcalmness and better ways to interact throughmusic." — AP

Carnegie Hall plans

season of Glass

for anniversary

Leading contemporary composer PhilipGlass is celebrating his 80th birthdaywith a season that will bring a range of

his music to Carnegie Hall, the venueannounced Wednesday. Unveiling its 2017-18 season, the venerated New York concerthall named Glass to a year-long composer'sresidency and announced concerts of someof his well-known as well as some moreobscure works.

Glass, who turns 80 on Jan 31, will takepart personally in a performance of "Musicwith Changing Parts," one of his most influ-ential pieces. "Music with Changing Parts"premiered in 1970 but has rarely been per-formed in recent years. It is a key work ofmusical minimalism that inspired the ambi-ent sound of Brian Eno, the producer andcollaborator of David Bowie. Among morerecent Glass works, Carnegie Hall will stage2006's "The Passion of Ramakrishna." Theorchestra piece, accompanied by a massivechoir, focuses on the 19th-century Indianmystic as he faced death from debilitatingthroat cancer.

The work will be performed byCalifornia's Pacific Symphony, which willalso present a piece from "Passages," analbum Glass wrote with sitarist Ravi Shankar.The late maestro's daughter AnoushkaShankar, herself a sitarist and composer, willplay it at Carnegie Hall. As it increasinglylooks to expand beyond traditional classicalperformances, Carnegie Hall will also markthe season with a series exploring the legacyof the 1960s in the United States.

The series will feature veteran folk/rocksinger David Crosby and will include eventsacross New York. The program was devisedwith Robert A. Caro, the Pulitzer Prize-win-ning biographer of President LyndonJohnson. Other highlights will include a sev-en-concert "Perspectives" series of selectedworks by a rising star from Russia, 25-year-old pianist Daniil Trifonov. Janine Jansenwas chosen to do a separate five-part seriesfor violin. The season will begin on October4 as the Philadelphia Orchestra-led byYannick Nezet-Seguin, incoming musicdirector of the Metropolitan Opera-marksthe 100th anniversary of Leonard Bernstein'sbirth. The concert will include the symphon-ic dances of "West Side Story" and will alsofeature pianist Lang Lang, who will performa separate world-famous work, Gershwin's"Rhapsody in Blue." — AFP

This file photo shows Co-founderand President of Tibet House NewYork, Philip Glass. — AFP

Former Baghdad conductor's music is his message for unity

USpop superstar Madonna onWednesday denied applying to adopttwo more Malawian children while vis-

iting the country where she runs a charity, andwhere she has previously been embroiled in con-troversy. An official at the High Court in the capitalLilongwe had earlier told local and internationalreporters that the court was assessing her applica-tion to adopt two local children. Madonna, who setup children's charity Raising Malawi in the poverty-stricken southern African nation in 2006, adoptedMalawian children David Banda in 2006 and MercyJames in 2009.

Local media reports said the singer hadappeared at the court on Wednesday, accompa-nied by two unidentified children, before beingdriven away in an SUV vehicle. "I am in Malawi tocheck on the children's hospital in Blantyre and myother work with Raising Malawi and then headinghome," Madonna told US magazine People in astatement. "The rumors of an adoption process areuntrue." Lilongwe High Court spokesman MlengaMvula, who had said that Madonna had applied to

adopt two children, was not immediately availableto comment after her denial. Madonna's charity isfunding a surgical unit for children at the QueenElizabeth hospital in Blantyre, the commercial hubof Malawi. The 58-year-old singer last visited thehospital in July, taking her two adopted Malawianchildren with her.

Adoption controversy The star was stripped of VIP status by former

president Joyce Banda's government in 2013 andaccused of being "uncouth" and wanting eternalgratitude from the country for her adoptions. ButBanda was ousted in 2014 elections and the newpresident, Peter Mutharika, moved to repair rela-tions, saying "my government has always beengrateful for the passion Madonna has for this coun-try". Last July, Madonna said she would not reviveplans for a $15 million (14 million euro) academyfor girls in Malawi, which was cancelled amid alle-gations of mismanagement-leading to her tiff withBanda.—AFP

Actor Shia LaBeoufarrested outside New

York City museumActor Shia LaBeouf was arrested early yester-

day after he allegedly got into an altercationwith another man outside a New York City

museum where he has been chanting "He will notdivide us" in front of a live camera since DonaldTrump's inauguration. Police said LaBeouf pulledthe scarf of an unidentified 25-year-old man out-side the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens,scratching his face in the process. They said he alsopushed the man, who refused medical attention.LaBeouf has spent the first few days of Trump'spresidency swaying, dancing and repeating thephrase "He will not divide us" in front of a live cam-era outside the museum. The livestream is for aparticipatory public art project LaBeouf and twocollaborators intend to have running 24 hours aday for the next four years.

The camera went live the morning of the inau-guration, along with a website inviting the publicto show up and participate. LeBeouf has been afrequent, though not constant presence.Technically, the project from LaBeouf and his per-formance art partners isn't about opposition toTrump, LaBeouf told The Associated Press in aninterview conducted on Monday in front of thelivestream camera.—AP

Madonna deniesMalawi adoption bid

This file photo taken on April 2, 2013 shows US Pop Star Madonna (second left) sitting withher biological and adopted children (left to right) David Banda, Lourdes, Mercy James andRocco at Mkoko Primary School, one of the schools Madonna's Raising Malawi organizationhas built jointly with US organization BuildOn, during the visit of Madonna in the region ofKasungu, central Malawi. — AFP

In this file photo, Shia LaBeouf arrives at theLos Angeles premiere of "Man Down" atArcLight Cinemas Hollywood. — AP

Karim Wasfi, the former conductor of theBaghdad Symphony, plays his cello isLafayette Park near a protest about PresidentDonald Trump's immigration policies inWashington. — AP

L i f e s t y l eFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

The Iranian star of Oscar-nominated film"The Salesman" said yesterday shewould boycott the awards in protest at

President Donald Trump's "racist" ban onMuslim immigrants. "Trump's visa ban forIranians is racist. Whether this will include acultural event or not, I won't attend the#AcademyAwards 2017 in protest," tweetedTaraneh Alidoosti, the film's 33-year-old leadactress. Trump is reportedly poised to stopvisas for travellers from seven Muslim coun-tries, including Iran, for 30 days.

He told ABC News on Wednesday that hisplan was not a "Muslim ban", but targetedcountries that "have tremendous terror." "TheSalesman", directed by acclaimed Iranian film-maker Asghar Farhadi is nominated for best

foreign language film at the AcademyAwards, which take place next month.Farhadi won an Oscar in 2012 for his film "ASeparation". Visa applications from Iraq, Syria,Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen are allexpected to be stopped for a month under adraft executive order published in theWashington Post and New York Times. Thedraft order also seeks to suspend the USrefugee program for four months as officialsdraw up a list of low risk countries. —AFP

Iran actress to boycott Oscarsover 'racist' Trump visa ban

This image released by Cohen Mediagroup shows Shahab Hosseini, left,

and Taraneh Alidoosti in a scenefrom "The Salesman." — AP

Legendary actress Mary Tyler Moore, who delighted a genera-tion of Americans with her energetic comic performances andbroke barriers with her iconic portrayal of a single career

woman, died Wednesday after years of ill health. She was 80. Moore's epony-

mous sitcom-set in Minneapolis-ran for seven seasons in the 1970sand was named by Time Magazine as one of 17 shows that"changed television." She died in hospital in Connecticut, accordingto media reports, after battling diabetes for years and undergoingbrain surgery in 2011.

"Today, beloved icon Mary Tyler Moore passed away at theage of 80 in the company of friends and her loving husband ofover 33 years, Dr S Robert Levine," her longtime representativeMara Buxbaum told AFP in a statement. "A groundbreakingactress, producer, and passionate advocate for the JuvenileDiabetes Research Foundation, Mary will be remembered as afearless visionary who turned the world on with her smile." "TheMary Tyler Moore Show" was radical in its time-featuring a singlewoman, living on her own, and chasing her dream as a televisionreporter.

It also spawned numerous spin-offs for its popular supportingcast of quirky, slightly neurotic characters, launching Moore'sbehind-the-scenes career. As top executives of MTM Enterprises,Moore and then-husband Grant Tinker created and produced "TheMary Tyler Moore Show" and its spinoffs, and were also responsiblefor hit shows including "Hill Street Blues," "St. Elsewhere" and"Remington Steele."

'Effortless piece of cake' "A minute's silence as we remembered one of the true greats of

TV comedy," tweeted actor Stephen Fry, who was rehearsing on theHollywood stage made famous by Moore's show. Michael Keatondescribed her as "iconic, my boss, castmate and a friend" while film-maker Kevin Smith said she was a "tireless defender of animals, andscourge of diabetes." "Truly she turned the world on with her smile,"he added, referring to the lyrics of her show's theme song. Talk showhost and actress Ellen DeGeneres said Moore "changed the world forall women" while Congresswoman Betty McCollum of Minnesotadescribed the actress as one of the state's "favorite honorary daugh-ters."

Moore's first big break came in 1961, when she played spunkystay-at-home wife Laura Petrie on "The Dick Van Dyke Show." In thepopular sitcom, the TV couple famously slept in separate twin-sizebeds, and Moore was limited to wearing capri pants in just onescene per episode. Van Dyke said working with the "beautiful, brightand talented," Moore was "an effortless piece of cake." Speaking atthe 2012 Screen Actors Guild awards, where he presented Moorewith a lifetime achievement award, Van Dyke said he initially had hisdoubts about the unknown 20-something, wondering, "Can she docomedy?"

Emmy winner, Oscar nominee It turns out, he said, she could do "everything." She danced, sang,

did slapstick, and was such a perfect onscreen match for him, VanDyke said, that many viewers wondered whether the couple were

also married in real life. On the big screen, Moore starred oppositeElvis Presley in "Change of Habit," and with Julie Andrews in"Thoroughly Modern Millie." She earned an Oscar nomination forher role in Robert Redford's searing family drama "Ordinary People."

She also took home numerous Emmy awards for her televisionwork and a Tony Award for a Broadway performance in "Whose LifeIs It Anyway." Behind the scenes, Moore faced a number of personaldifficulties, including an addiction to alcohol. Her only child, Richie,born during her first marriage to Richard Meeker, struggled withemotional issues and drug abuse. He shot and killed himself in1980, at age 24, in an incident that was officially deemed an acci-dent.

Moore, who was born in New York and moved to California as achild, married her third husband, Robert Levine, in 1983. She was anactive spokeswoman for animal rights and for diabetes, which shewas diagnosed with in her 30s. "(Diabetes) has taken a toll on her.She's not well at all," Van Dyke told the "Larry King Now" show inOctober 2015. Gabrielle Carteris, president of the SAG-AFTRA actors'union, described Moore as a "television legend" who was an agentof change at a time when independence for women was not thesocietal norm. — AFP

US television icon Mary Tyler Moore dead at 80

This May 25, 1964 file photo shows Dick Van Dyke, left, andMary Tyler Moore, co-stars of "The Dick Van Dyke Show"backstage at the Palladium with their Emmys for best actorand actress in a series at the Television Academy's 16th annu-al awards show, in Los Angeles. — AP photos

A single rose sits by the life-size bronzestatue of Mary Tyler Moore at theMinneapolis Visitor Center,Wednesday.

In this file photo, Shia LaBeouf arrivesat the Los Angeles premiere of "ManDown" at ArcLight Cinemas Hollywood.

This March 31, 1981 file photo showsMary Tyler Moore at the 53rd AcademyAwards in Los Angeles.

L i f e s t y l eFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

All eyes in Paris were on the debut solo couture display fromValentino designer Pierpaolo Piccioli following the move ofhis design partner to Dior. And if the rousing applause was

any indication, his sublime styles of ethereal goddesses were a hit forthe guests that included Kristin Scott Thomas, "La Vie en Rose"actress Clotilde Courau and fashion maestro Valentino Garavani him-self. Here are the highlights Wednesday of the spring-summer 2017collections.

Valentino's Grecian goddessesAn unstructured, almost ethereal air entered the room as Piccioli's

highly-anticipated couture show began. As the first look floated by inbillowing floor-length ivory crepe entitled "Euridice" - after the Greeknymph - it was clear this show would be a study in divine proportions.It was the simplicity, and almost the fragility, of the gowns that madethis collection sing. Overly long lengths of chiffon, crepe and silk jer-sey used in the skirts elongated and narrowed the models' bodies.

But the classical styles - in muted tones with provocative flashes of

bright red - were deceptively simple. Subtle, complex twists includedPiccioli's use of sections of penumbra tulle, or slashed shoulders. Itwas sensual, as opposed to sexual - and all the more powerful for it.The soundtrack by Hollywood movie composer Alexandre Desplatadded to the dramatic aura of the 59 looks and left the audience visi-bly moved.

Art meets couture in ParisAs if the couture designs and the sparkling chandeliers at the

Hotel Salomon de Rothschild weren't quite enough, Valentino alsotreated its guests to a contemporary art show Wednesday. Hangingon the walls of the lavish 19th century Paris manor house were hugecanvasses of figurative and abstract art. The private Tiroche DeLeonCollection featured international works by Chinese artists Liu Wei andZhang Huan. It also had a huge mixed media work called"Unstoppable" that resembled disintegrating fabric by Indonesianartist Gatot Pujiarto. Fashion insiders were snapping their cameras atthe walls as well as the clothes.

Models present creations for Valentino during the 2017 spring/summer Haute Couture collection in Paris . — AP/AFP photos

Valentino designer in solo couture debut; Gaultier goes acid

Models present creations by Jean Paul Gaultier.

Gaultier's acid colorIt was all about 1980s' excess for Jean Paul Gaultier - who

paid homage to that decade in which he creatively came ofage. Bright acid colors, daring contrasts and vivid floral printsspiced up the 57 couture looks modeled on a runway floodlitwith colored lighting.

The big hair, oversize scruffy plaits, satin headscarves, strongshoulders, pinstripes, lashings of denim and stockings in acid yellow,blue and red - were all staples of the 80s. They were given a furtherinjection of boldness when the decor faded from light to bright blueand then to warm brown. "I wanted to make it graphic - to use colorto make an effect ... the city is gray," Gaultier told The Associated Press.The exuberant designer is never one to be restricted by just one era orstyle. Brigitte Bardot-like exposed midriffs and gypsy sleeves from the1960s mixed with the signature Breton striped blouse and corsetedbustier. His biggest statement was in the dazzling, dizzy mix of stripesand bright prints that screamed "more is more."

Sorbier says it with flowersThe sublime artistry of couture merged with 19th-century organ-

za-laid prints of flowers for French couturier Franck Sorbier'sdiaphanous spring-summer collection in Paris. Dancer-modelsemerged in large brown paper wraps for the presentation in an oldtheater, then dramatically tore them into pieces and threw them tothe floor. Beneath, sprightly nymph-like gowns in sepia colors frothedweightlessly as the models performed fairy-like pirouettes andprowled around the space.

Multiple layers - gathered and draped - bounced with movementalongside A-line bodice dresses with square floral print sections inwarm, saturated hues. The original display was fitting celebration thatmarked 30 years since the founding of the independent couturehouse. It's a rarity in a celebrity-driven industry dominated by corpo-rate groups such as LVMH and Kering.

L i f e s t y l eFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

French fashion designer Franck Sorbier (center) acknowledges the audience at the end of the 2017 spring/summer Haute Couture collection.

Models present creations for Maison Margiela.

L i f e s t y l eFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

Saab's regal touchElie Saab's accomplished couture display towed the line per-

fectly between the decorative and subtle, and never wanderedinto excess. In feminine pastel shades, peach gently contrastedwith mid-blue, while plays on sheer sections in see-through fullskirts created a feeling of hidden depth in many of the styles.Glamour, of course, was the order of the day for Saab, one of cou-ture week's red-carpet favorites.

Chic silk headbands evoked fashion's golden age of the1950s. But gold belts - that clasped the Lebanese designer'ssignature cinched-waist looks - alongside exuberant sparklingearrings and golden crowns gave this spring-summer show aregal quality. — AP

Lebanese fashion designer Zuhair Murad acknowledges theaudience at the end of the 2017 spring/summer HauteCouture collection in Paris. — AFP

L i f e s t y l eFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

Models present creations for Zuhair Murad dur-ing the 2017 spring/summer Haute Couture col-lection in Paris.

27 FRIDAY

JANUARY 2017

Ingredients Serves 4Start to finish: 25 minutes2 garlic cloves1/2 cup fresh basil leaves1/3 cup plus 3 tablespoons extra virgin oliveoil, dividedSalt and freshly ground pepper to taste4 5-ounce filet mignon steaks, about 1-inchthick1 tablespoon white wine vinegar5 ounces mixed baby lettuces

Preparation Make the pistou: Place the garlic cloves in asmall food processor and mince. Add the basiland process again to chop, then add 1/3 cupof the olive oil, some salt and pepper, andblend until it becomes a bright green sauce.

Season the steak generously with salt andpepper. Heat a large heavy skillet, such as castiron, over medium-high heat. Add 1 table-

spoon olive oil, and when the oil is hot, searthe steak for 3 to 4 minutes on each side formedium rare. Remove the steaks to a cuttingboard and let them rest for 5 minutes beforeserving.

While the meat is resting, in a large bowlcombine the remaining 2 tablespoons oliveoil, the vinegar, and salt and pepper. Stir tocombine, add the lettuce and toss. Serve thefilets with a drizzle of the pistou on top, and acouple of handfuls of the dressed mixedgreens. Pass the rest of the pistou on the sidefor extra drizzling. — AP

COOKING ON DEADLINE:

Filet Mignon withPistou, Green Salad

By Katie Workman

Wow, does this dish look classy, right? But look at the ingredient list - not too long. Andlook at the steps - pretty darn simple. My boys love all kinds of steaks, though a per-fect, tender filet distinctively communicates "special occasion." They are no harder to

cook than any other steaks; just make sure to have the temperature high enough in the panthat the outside gets nicely seared while the middle remains pink, and be careful not overcookit. A medium rare filet will have an internal temperature of 130 F.

Pistou is similar to pesto, though often made with a looser consistency, and sometimes thepine nuts and/or Parmesan cheese are omitted, resulting in a simpler basil, garlic and olive oilsauce. That's the drizzle you're going for here, just a pop of herb-infused green olive oil tobrighten up that perfect little filet. Then all you need is a handful of lightly dressed baby greenson the side and you are in business. There are so many appealing combinations of greens avail-able either by the pound or in 5-ounce plastic containers in the produce aisle, some with herbsor other add-ins, and it's an awfully easy way to keep changing up your green salad. Of course,you are welcome to round out the meal with the starch of your choice, anything from mashedpotatoes to buttered noodles. But there's no question that the star of the plate is the steak.

FILET MIGNON WITH PISTOU

AND GREEN SALAD

Nutrition information per serving542 calories; 356 calories from fat; 40 gfat (8 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 116 mgcholesterol; 231 mg sodium; 2 g carbo-hydrate; 1 g fiber; 0 g sugar; 42 g pro-tein.

27 FRIDAY

JANUARY 2017

Ingredients Start to finish: 40 minutesServings: 4 small pizza crusts, 1 per serving4-5 cups "riced" cauliflower (buy it riced, or pulse in food proces-sor until rice-sized)1 egg1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese1/2 cup grated part-skim mozzarella cheese1 1/2 teaspoons granulated garlic2 teaspoons Italian seasoning2 tablespoons of coconut flour Fine cornmeal for sprinkling, optionalSalt and pepper

Preparation Heat oven to 400 F. Place the riced cauliflower in a microwave-

safe dish with 2 tablespoons of water, cover and cook inmicrowave for 4-5 minutes, or until tender but not mushy.Remove from microwave, drain off water, gently pressing outexcess moisture with a spoon, and cool.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk the egg with the cheeses,garlic and Italian seasoning. Place the cooled cauliflower in sever-al paper towels, or in a thin clean dish towel, and gently but firmlysqueeze out excess moisture. (You may be surprised by howmuch liquid you can squeeze out.) Add the squeeze cauliflower tothe egg and cheese mixture. Sprinkle in the coconut flour, saltand pepper and mix well. Mixture will not stick together like regu-

lar dough. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spraywith nonstick spray. Divide the dough into 3 or 4 mounds, andgently shape them into pizza crusts, doing your best to push thedough together to make clean edges. Bake until dark goldenbrown, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for5-10 minutes. Flip with a spatula. If using, sprinkle the bottom ofthe sheet with a little cornmeal when you flip the crusts. Top thecrusts with any sauce, cheese, toppings and bake until melted,about 10 more minutes.

Tip: You can bake extra crusts without toppings and freezethem for future use.

By Melissa D'arabian

Cauliflower is a wonder-veggie. No longer relegated to boiling and cover-ing with a bright orange cheese sauce (sorry, Mom), cauliflower is step-ping out in the place of starch like rice in stir-fries or instead of wheat

flour in pizza dough.Cauliflower is mild, so it takes on whatever flavors you throw at it, which

helps it be the convincing chameleon that it is. Cauliflower is as healthy as ourmoms told us, providing a hefty dose of vitamins, including C, K, B6 and folate,as well as smaller doses of other vitamins and minerals, plus filling protein andfiber. All in about 25 calories per cup.

So, it's a worthy vegetable, and now that it is available in "riced" form inmainstream grocery stores across the country, it's time to take a look if youhaven't already. Let's start with pizza crust. Steamed, riced cauliflower is mixedwith a binder (usually egg and cheese), and then shaped into a pizza crustshape, baked and then topped with traditional pizza toppings. Bake up a fewof these crusts and keep in the freezer for last minute pizza night that is health-ier than takeout.

Since my daughter is gluten-intolerant, I've been making pizza crust foryears with cauliflower, resulting in a few key pieces of advice from the trench-es. The biggest challenge with cauliflower crust is keeping it together, sincethere is no stretchy gluten working for you. But, no problem, if you follow mytips: First, once you cook the cauliflower, make sure to squeeze out as muchmoisture as possible. Excess water will keep the crust from staying together. Infact, I like to go a tiny step further and add just a little bit of absorbent flour -just a tablespoon or two of coconut or oat flour make a big difference.

Next tip: bake the crust and flip it over before adding any toppings. If youaren't flipping it, you can't get the firm crusty texture to form, and that reallyhelps the crust taste and feel pizza-like.

Final tip: make smaller pizza crusts instead of one big huge one. Theyare just easier to manage and keep intact. Top your pizza crust with whatev-er toppings you like - lots of cheese and meat if you simply eating low-carb,or load up with roasted veggies and a light sprinkling of part-skim mozzarel-la if you want to stay low-cal. But for the crust, follow my recipe for the no-fail step-by-step.

For pizza crust with a big doseof vitamins, try cauliflower

FOOLPROOF CAULIFLOWER PIZZA CRUST

27 FRIDAY

JANUARY 2017

t’s hard to believe the boy wizard is no longer young,but it’s 20 years since the publication of the first in JKRowling’s beloved series, Harry Potter and the

Philosopher’s Stone. Over 500 million book sales and a record-breaking film franchise later, and Pottermania is a world-widephenomenon, driven by fans eager to connect with the wiz-ard’s wonderful world. In 2017 the UK is celebrating in style,with recreations, readings, exhibitions and homages galore.That’s on top of permanent attractions including Oxford col-leges, Victorian shopping arcades and a Highland viaduct.

See artworks, props and plays in the West EndA free exhibition at the House of MinaLima in London’s

Soho is showcasing the fantastical designs of the creative duoresponsible for the artwork in the Potter films: Miraphora Minaand Eduardo Lima. Get to this free exhibition before it closes(4 February 2017) to see original artworks and props includingissues of the Daily Prophet, a Hogwarts Express ticket, wantedposters and Harry’s original acceptance letter from Hogwarts.

The nearby Palace Theatre is the venue for the wildly-pop-ular Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts I & II, which

takes up the wizard’s later life as an ‘overworked employee ofthe Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children’. Tickets aren’t easy to come by but it’s worthchecking the website (harrypottertheplay.com) for futurereleases, and returned and cancelled tickets also frequentlycome back up for sale.

Exploring the Potterverse with BloomsburyRowling’s publishers Bloomsbury is celebrating with several

epic events. First up is the ‘Harry Potter Book Night’ (2 February

I

From Hogwarts to Christ Church: Britain’s best Harry Potter experiences

2017), in which fan-run quizzes, treasure hunts, recreations andevents kick off across the length and breadth of the UK. Fanscan visit harrypotter.bloomsbury.com to register their events,download kits and quizzes and see a map of the hundreds ofactivities planned across the nation and beyond.

Not to be missed is a special exhibition at London’s BritishLibrary, running from 20 October 2017 to 28 February 2018.Exploring the Potterverse from many angles - from medievalmanuscripts on griffins and manticores to rare treatises onwizardry and treasures straight from JK Rowling’s own archive- this is sure to be huge. Tickets go on sale in spring 2017.

Hunting out Hogwarts in LondonNot only is London home to the biggest events of Harry’s

20th, it’s base camp when it comes to Potter film locations.The King’s Cross area alone boasts two mandatory stops onany Potter pilgrimage. King’s Cross Station, an atmosphericwrought-iron grand dame of Victorian architecture, is the siteof platform 93/4, mythical departure point of the Hogwart’sExpress. A luggage trolley ‘disappearing’ into the brick wallbeneath the platform sign makes for perfect photo opportu-nities. Be warned, the queue to take this shot can be long:things are quieter later in the evening. And there’s no need tobring your own wand or Gryffindor house scarf, the adjacentHarry Potter Shop - a wood-paneled cornucopia of wizardingnecessities modeled on Ollivander’s Wand Emporium - hasyou covered.

Step out from King’s Cross onto Euston Rd, walk a fewsteps west, look up and you’ll find yourself gawping at thelooming Neo-Gothic façade of St Pancras InternationalStation, another Victorian masterpiece, and the immediately-recognizable exterior of ‘King’s Cross’ in the film versions ofThe Philosopher’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets. A hotel(the St Pancras Renaissance) now occupies the front of thestation, but you’ll probably spot some Potterheads trying toget selfies against the ornate red-brick backdrop, or find theexact spot Harry and Ron parked their Ford Anglia in TheChamber of Secrets.

Where the magic comes to lifeEvery Harry Potter film was shot at Warner Bros’ vast

Leavesden studio complex, which sits on a former airfield near

Watford - accessible by train from Euston, a short walk from StPancras. In 2012, part of the complex was turned into TheMaking of Harry Potter, five warehouses packed with sets andprops used in the making of the films, and one of the UK’sbiggest attractions. You’ll find everything from the Great Hallto Dumbledore’s office here, alongside Dobby, sickly-sweet

butterbeer and a gasp-inducing scale model of Hogwarts thatwas used for exterior shots. Unsurprisingly, it’s regularlybooked out for weeks in advance so plan your dates early.

A wizarding bank and a secret wellThe grand Edwardian interior of Australia House on the

27 FRIDAY

JANUARY 2017

The Palace Theatre, in the West End, is the stage for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross is a popular stop for pics.

Strand is equally recognizable as the interior of the goblin-runGringotts Wizarding Bank. Adding real interest to the site wasthe discovery of a 900-year old sacred well in the basement,still drawing potable water from an underground river. As it’sthe office of the Australian High Commission in the UK, you’remore likely to find no-nonsense security guards than goblinsattending to your needs, but you can duck your head in dur-ing business hours if you have identification on you.

Diagon Alley and Leadenhall MarketLike most London Potter locations, Diagon Alley is a com-

posite: while its fictional location is off Charing Cross Rd, thefilmic equivalent is set in the elaborate wrought-iron interiorof Leadenhall Market, a covered Victorian market towards theeastern end of the City, London’s historic heart and now itsfinancial district. Once inside, hunt for the blue door in Bull’sHead Passage, used in the films as the entrance to wizards’watering hole The Leaky Cauldron.

Books, ferrets and 13 prime ministers in OxfordPerhaps the one most appreciated by Potterheads is vener-

able Christ Church college, founded in the time of Henry VIIIand alma mater to no fewer than 13 British Prime Ministers.The college’s grand staircase features in both ThePhilosopher’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets, while its

cloisters also pop up in The Philosopher’s Stone, and the mag-nificent Great Hall directly inspired the Great Hall of Hogwarts.

More rich associations can be found in the 17th-centuryBodleian Library, home to the second-largest book collectionin the country (after the British Library). The delicately-vaultedinterior of its Divinity School, the oldest extant teaching roomin the world, crops up as the Hogwarts infirmary in four sepa-rate films, while Duke Humfrey’s Library proved the ideal dou-ble for the School of Wizardry’s own library in ThePhilosopher’s Stone. Lastly, there are the Cloisters of NewCollege, where Harry turns Malfoy into a ferret in The Gobletof Fire. Its name is misleading - it was founded in 1379.

Visiting the real HogwartsBut no single place can so proudly claim to ‘be’ Hogwarts

as Alnwick Castle, in the Northumbrian town of the samename. This splendid and much-filmed pile first dates from thelate 11th century and has been repeatedly extended over theyears. The ancestral home of the dukes of Northumberland, itplays a starring role in both The Philosopher’s Stone and TheChamber of Secrets. Knowledgeable Potterheads can pointout the place where Harry took his first Quidditch lesson, orwhere he and Ron crash-landed their flying Ford Anglia.Alnwick makes much of its credentials, with behind-the-scenes tours, Potter-inspired characters in full costume andbroom-flying lessons, as well as occasional special events thatyou can plan your visit around. (www.lonelyplanet.com)

27 FRIDAY

JANUARY 2017

Alnwick Castle reflected in the River Aln.

The 1:25 scale model of Hogwarts at Leavesden features in every Harry Potter film.

Christ Church’s Great Hall, the centre of college life and the inspiration for Hogwarts’ own Great Hall.

S t a r sFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

Afghanistan 0093Albania 00355Algeria 00213Andorra 00376Angola 00244Anguilla 001264Antiga 001268Argentina 0054Armenia 00374Australia 0061Austria 0043Bahamas 001242Bahrain 00973Bangladesh 00880Barbados 001246Belarus 00375Belgium 0032Belize 00501Benin 00229Bermuda 001441Bhutan 00975Bolivia 00591Bosnia 00387Botswana 00267Brazil 0055Brunei 00673Bulgaria 00359Burkina 00226Burundi 00257Cambodia 00855Cameroon 00237Canada 001Cape Verde 00238Cayman Islands 001345Central African Republic 00236Chad 00235Chile 0056China 0086Colombia 0057Comoros 00269Congo 00242Cook Islands 00682Costa Rica 00506Croatia 00385Cuba 0053Cyprus 00357Cyprus (Northern) 0090392Czech Republic 00420Denmark 0045Diego Garcia 00246Djibouti 00253Dominica 001767Dominican Republic 001809Ecuador 00593Egypt 0020El Salvador 00503England (UK) 0044Equatorial Guinea 00240Eritrea 00291Estonia 00372Ethiopia 00251Falkland Islands 00500Faroe Islands 00298Fiji 00679Finland 00358France 0033French Guiana 00594French Polynesia 00689Gabon 00241Gambia 00220Georgia 00995Germany 0049Ghana 00233Gibraltar 00350Greece 0030Greenland 00299Grenada 001473Guadeloupe 00590Guam 001671Guatemala 00502Guinea 00224Guyana 00592Haiti 00509Holland (Netherlands)0031Honduras 00504Hong Kong 00852Hungary 0036Ibiza (Spain) 0034Iceland 00354India 0091Indian Ocean 00873Indonesia 0062Iran 0098Iraq 00964Ireland 00353Italy 0039Ivory Coast 00225Jamaica 001876Japan 0081Jordan 00962Kazakhstan 007Kenya 00254Kiribati 00686

Kuwait 00965Kyrgyzstan 00996Laos 00856Latvia 00371Lebanon 00961Liberia 00231Libya 00218Lithuania 00370Luxembourg 00352Macau 00853Macedonia 00389Madagascar 00261Majorca 0034Malawi 00265Malaysia 0060Maldives 00960Mali 00223Malta 00356Marshall Islands 00692Martinique 00596Mauritania 00222Mauritius 00230Mayotte 00269Mexico 0052Micronesia 00691Moldova 00373Monaco 00377Mongolia 00976Montserrat 001664Morocco 00212Mozambique 00258Myanmar (Burma) 0095Namibia 00264Nepal 00977Netherlands (Holland)0031Netherlands Antilles 00599New Caledonia 00687New Zealand 0064Nicaragua 00505Nigar 00227Nigeria 00234Niue 00683Norfolk Island 00672Northern Ireland (UK)0044North Korea 00850Norway 0047Oman 00968Pakistan 0092Palau 00680Panama 00507Papua New Guinea 00675Paraguay 00595Peru 0051Philippines 0063Poland 0048Portugal 00351Puerto Rico 001787Qatar 00974Romania 0040Russian Federation 007Rwanda 00250Saint Helena 00290Saint Kitts 001869Saint Lucia 001758Saint Pierre 00508Saint Vincent 001784Samoa US 00684Samoa West 00685San Marino 00378Sao Tone 00239Saudi Arabia 00966Scotland (UK) 0044Senegal 00221Seychelles 00284Sierra Leone 00232Singapore 0065Slovakia 00421Slovenia 00386Solomon Islands 00677Somalia 00252South Africa 0027South Korea 0082Spain 0034Sri Lanka 0094Sudan 00249Suriname 00597Swaziland 00268Sweden 0046Switzerland 0041Syria 00963Taiwan 00886Tanzania 00255Thailand 0066Toga 00228Tonga 00676Tokelau 00690Trinidad 001868Tunisia 00216Turkey 0090Tuvalu 00688Uganda 00256Ukraine 00380United Arab Emirates00976

It’s a busy day at work and your optimism brings aboutsuccessful endings before they are even started. You may be workingwithin a regular routine today but you will make a discovery or becomeenamored with a fantastic idea. Whatever the case, this idea can be quitebeneficial for a multitude of people. It may be your job to bring out thebest in others and to spot what works best. You should see results fromyour own work quickly. Someone else will gain notice if you hold back, sokeep your momentum. Fun company at dinner this evening spurs youinto doing something different from your usual evening meal, perhaps aspecial wine. There is never a dull moment at your work or at home-youenjoy expressing yourself at this time of your life.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

You have a great deal of compassion for others and you areappreciated or valued for your feelings or your ability to act and getthings done. If you are not in the healing business, you will often be thehealer without even realizing it. Gentle and honest, people know justwhere you stand with most any issue. Although your comments are notusually made until you are asked, you can be frank in a matter-of-fact sortof way. This is a time when you can expect a little boost-some extra sup-port or recognition from those around you. You may feel your wishescome true when a loved one or friends reach agreements. Harmony iseasy to find. Leave work early, if possible, and enjoy the time in a petstore, flower shop or nearby park.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

You may receive some recognition or special attention regarding yourparticular skills and abilities. You might be so elated that you forget someof the responsibilities; however, in time, reality demands that you tend tobusiness. The type of work you do may change-or at the very least, yourattitude toward it could change. The internet, computers, communica-tions and related sciences may figure more notably into your careerfuture. Your resourceful capabilities gain the attention of many, and mostcompanies would be happy to have you on their team! This evening youare motivated by happy, harmonious times with friends or family-perhapsboth. A card game or other fun sort of group entertainment brings muchlaughter to the ears.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

You will not want to waste a minute of this superchargedday. New solutions and inventions are easy for you now. You have co-workers or friends that you trust to help or support you with your ideas.Your abilities in guiding groups may find you interested in helping ayouth group. If this does not fit your definition of a fun volunteer pro-gram-find one. It is important to share your knowledge in a volunteerprogram-now is a good time to begin. Start slowly and add more volun-teer days when you can. You will find that whatever seems difficult now,may take on little importance in the future. Albert Schweitzer once said,“the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who willhave sought and found how to serve.”

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

You are looking great. Perhaps you have acquired a newhairstyle or dropped a few pounds because you will find yourself feelingmuch improved physically today. At any rate, people notice and compli-ment your changes. The desire for you to achieve success is what sets youapart from others and you will work to be most presentable to yourpotential clients. Your vitality is strong-you will see results from anyhealth program you may have. Domestic matters gain your attention thisafternoon. What you need, your freedom and independence, shatteringold molds: these are the things that energize you and take priority in yourlife. Uniqueness and originality set you apart. You may experiment with anew recipe this evening.

Leo (July 23-August 22)

You may find a co-worker is supportive of your effortstoday. There is optimism and faith and a tendency to take chances andagree to new work opportunities as they become available. If you arerelying on others for support, this can be a difficult time. However, if youare actively working by your own instincts, you will see some positiveresults in many different areas of your life. Keep in mind that you may notbe able to stay with an old routine. Invest in yourself and review yourskills from time to time. You may want to take a class or two each yearthat will keep you as the most popular employee, employer, teacher oradvisor in town. Preparations you have been making for your future areabout to pay off with much power. Observe people tonight.

Virgo (August 23-September 22)

This is not a time to force issues. There could be undercur-rents of negative activity in business today-you may have noticed thisearlier-patience. The afternoon is much more pleasant and although thenegative undercurrents have nothing to do with you, the ripple effect isfar reaching. Do not become involved in any negative conversations orgossip. Surprise information regarding a business venture may have youthinking along the lines of change. This is a better time for planning thanfor actually taking the plunge into a change. Overall timing could be a bitoff just now. You will enjoy a sense of support and harmony later thisevening. Phone conversations, letters and e-mail communications

increase. Good news from a distance encourages travel.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

Nothing much happens at work until the noon hour. Thenyou may need to deal with a few proud individuals. An instinctive impera-tive to be needed in the workplace will get you where you need to go.Because you think you can-you will succeed. Keep those positivethoughts flowing. Going home is a relief. There are mechanical problemsat home but you have time to give them the attention that is needed forrepairing. Someone will probably pitch in and help you. Some of the left-over parts are perfect to add to an ongoing hobby of yours. Throughartistic work, there is insight. There is good news about a family mem-ber’s health this evening. A timely chat with your sweetheart this eveninghas you in a terrific mood.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

Intuition hits again today and you can log your thoughtsinto that notebook of yours. Your talents or the way in which you performyour work will pay off soon. You will have authority figures watching asyou successfully deal with problems in the workplace. An urge for socialinteractions with your friends may have to be placed on hold. You aremuch more intensely focused on accomplishing your job quickly, whichmay mean you cancel a noon lunch date. You may find yourself workinginto the evening hours. You certainly will not be bored with any part ofthe day; the evening is full of opportunities to use your mind, your cre-ativity, your emotions and your desires. A nice change of pace of musicbecomes a big part of your evening.

It is time to review and rework some story or hobby that hastaken up your spare time lately. Advice in the area of your hobby wouldbe helpful-if that is what you need. Probably, you would most enjoyshowing others what you have done. Have some fun with the unveiling ofyour masterpiece and encourage others to be creative. There could besome plans toward lessening some of the income responsibilities today.You may need to let go of a relationship at this time. There is never agood time to let go of someone that is, perhaps-leaving the nest. You canalways see this as an expansion of the family. Romance and creative ideasare a focus for this evening. There is optimism, faith and a tendency totake chances.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

You are the one to catch any mistakes at work; there maybe a few. You could be most convincing with others at this time. You mayfind yourself in a teaching position with regard to co-workers, especiallythe new ones. Later today, you decide to involve yourself in some neigh-borhood meeting. Your ideas prove successful and you may decide tohead up a committee to help improve your community relations with theyoung people in your area. You are good at allocating duties to get thisproject started. Good for you! An emphasis on close relationships and apreoccupation with ideas of fairness and harmony are part of the periodyou have just begun. You take a special interest in those close to you.Listening is the secret to closeness.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

You will feel support when it counts but advice in theworkplace may be hard to find just now. You are able to handle your ownadvice. If you are in advertising, there could be some huge demand forpackaging improvement with some special product. Product packagingwill give you some indication of what is going on inside the package-thatis your hint. You will be extremely diligent today. No stranger to hardwork-you are successful in your profession. A practical and conscientiousattitude takes on a special importance. Taking care of the necessaryunderpinnings of life, health, work and such, becomes a greater preoccu-pation. Sorting things out and getting them organized keeps you busy. Aniece or nephew gains your attention this evening.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18)

COUNTRY CODES

T V l i s t i n g sFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN ON OSN MOVIES HD

00:30 Nextworld01:20 Space Voyages02:10 NASAʼs Unexplained Files03:00 What Happened Next?03:25 What Happened Next?03:50 Ultimate Survival04:40 How Itʼs Made05:05 How Itʼs Made05:30 Storm Chasers06:20 Mythbusters07:00 Do You Know?07:15 Doki07:35 Dick ʻnʼ Dom Go Wild08:00 Too Cute! Pint-Sized08:45 How Itʼs Made09:05 How Itʼs Made09:30 Nextworld10:20 Mythbusters11:10 Storm Chasers12:00 Too Cute! Pint-Sized12:50 Ultimate Survival13:40 How Itʼs Made14:05 How Itʼs Made14:30 Storm Chasers15:15 Mythbusters16:00 Doki16:20 Dick ʻnʼ Dom Go Wild16:45 Do You Know?17:00 Man v Expert17:50 The Carbonaro Effect18:15 The Carbonaro Effect18:40 Nextworld19:30 How Itʼs Made19:55 How Itʼs Made20:20 Mythbusters21:10 Man v Expert22:00 The Carbonaro Effect22:25 The Carbonaro Effect22:50 Destroyed In Seconds23:15 Destroyed In Seconds23:40 Ultimate Survival

06:00 Danger Mouse06:25 Gravity Falls06:50 The 7D07:00 Star vs The Forces Of Evil07:15 Counterfeit Cat07:40 Supa Strikas08:10 K.C. Undercover08:35 Star Wars FreemakerAdventures09:00 Lab Rats09:25 Lab Rats: Bionic Island09:50 Danger Mouse10:20 Supa Strikas11:10 Counterfeit Cat11:35 Pair Of Kings12:30 Future-Worm!12:55 Lab Rats13:20 Lab Rats13:45 Atomic Puppet14:10 Disney Mickey Mouse14:15 Marvelʼs Avengers: UltronRevolution14:40 Gamerʼs Guide To Pretty MuchEverything15:05 Lab Rats15:30 Disney Cookabout15:55 Danger Mouse16:25 K.C. Undercover16:50 Future-Worm!17:15 Gravity Falls17:40 Lab Rats: Bionic Island18:05 Disney Mickey Mouse18:10 Supa Strikas19:00 Atomic Puppet19:25 Gamerʼs Guide To Pretty MuchEverything19:55 K.C. Undercover20:20 Counterfeit Cat20:45 Mighty Med21:10 Pickle And Peanut21:40 Disney Mickey Mouse21:45 Marvelʼs Avengers: UltronRevolution22:10 Ultimate Spider-Man: WebWarriors22:35 Boyster23:00 Programmes Start At 6:00amKSA

00:20 Wheeler Dealers01:10 So You Think Youʼd Survive?02:00 Legend Of Croc Gold02:50 Treasure Quest: Snake Island03:40 Fast Nʼ Loud04:30 The Liquidator05:00 How Do They Do It?05:30 How Do They Do It?06:00 Blowing Up History06:50 Mega Shippers07:40 Impossible Engineering08:30 Deadliest Catch10:10 Bear Grylls: Mission Survive11:00 Venom Hunters11:50 Mega Trains12:40 Curiosity: X-Ray: Yellowstone13:30 Fast Nʼ Loud14:20 Misfit Garage15:10 Street Outlaws16:00 Street Outlaws (Season 3BSpecial)16:50 Street Outlaws17:40 Street Outlaws18:30 Street Outlaws19:20 Street Outlaws20:10 Street Outlaws21:00 Fast Nʼ Loud21:50 Misfit Garage22:40 Street Outlaws23:30 Curiosity: X-Ray: Yellowstone

00:10 Hank Zipzer00:35 Binny And The Ghost01:00 Violetta01:45 The Hive01:50 Sabrina Secrets Of A TeenageWitch02:40 Hank Zipzer03:05 Binny And The Ghost03:30 Violetta04:15 The Hive04:20 Sabrina Secrets Of A TeenageWitch05:10 Hank Zipzer05:35 Binny And The Ghost06:00 Violetta06:45 The Hive06:50 Mouk07:00 Jessie07:25 Jessie07:50 Miraculous Tales Of LadybugAnd Cat Noir08:15 Tsum Tsum Shorts08:20 Elena Of Avalor08:45 Bunkʼd09:10 Gravity Falls09:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place10:25 A.N.T. Farm11:15 Good Luck Charlie12:05 Shake It Up12:55 Disney Mickey Mouse13:00 Welcome To The Ronks13:15 Gravity Falls13:40 Hank Zipzer14:05 Star Darlings14:10 Austin & Ally14:35 Austin & Ally15:00 Jessie15:25 Jessie15:50 Rolling To The Ronks

16:15 Sunny Bunnies16:20 Miraculous Tales Of LadybugAnd Cat Noir16:45 Elena Of Avalor17:10 Bunkʼd17:35 Zapped19:20 Disney Mickey Mouse19:25 The Next Step19:50 Austin & Ally20:15 Star Darlings20:20 Shake It Up20:45 Backstage21:10 Liv And Maddie21:35 Cracke21:40 The Next Step22:05 Best Friends Whenever22:30 Mako Mermaids22:55 Tsum Tsum Shorts23:00 Binny And The Ghost23:25 Sabrina Secrets Of A TeenageWitch

00:20 Henry Hugglemonster00:35 The Hive00:45 Loopdidoo01:00 Henry Hugglemonster01:15 Calimero01:30 Art Attack01:50 Zou02:05 Loopdidoo02:20 Henry Hugglemonster02:35 Calimero02:50 Zou03:05 Art Attack03:30 The Hive03:40 Loopdidoo03:55 Henry Hugglemonster04:10 Art Attack04:35 Loopdidoo04:50 Calimero05:05 Art Attack05:30 Henry Hugglemonster

05:45 Zou06:00 Art Attack06:30 Henry Hugglemonster06:45 Loopdidoo07:00 Zou07:15 Calimero07:30 Loopdidoo07:45 Henry Hugglemonster08:00 Minnieʼs Bow-Toons08:05 PJ Masks08:15 Goldie & Bear08:30 Jake And The NeverlandPirates08:45 Miles From Tomorrow08:55 The Lion Guard09:20 Doc McStuffins09:35 Goldie & Bear09:50 Sheriff Callieʼs Wild West10:00 PJ Masks10:15 Jake And The NeverlandPirates10:30 Minnieʼs Bow-Toons10:35 Sofia The First11:30 Doc McStuffins12:20 Sheriff Callieʼs Wild West13:15 Gummi Bears13:40 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse14:35 Jake And The Never LandPirates15:30 Little Mermaid15:55 Unbungalievable16:00 Miles From Tomorrow16:30 Jake And The Never LandPirates16:55 The Lion Guard17:20 Goldie & Bear17:50 PJ Masks18:15 Sofia The First18:40 Doc McStuffins19:05 Jake And The Never LandPirates19:30 Little Mermaid20:00 Jake And The Never LandPirates21:00 Unbungalievable21:05 Goldie & Bear

00:05 Keeping Up With TheKardashians00:55 Keeping Up With TheKardashians01:50 E! News02:50 Just Jillian05:30 Celebrity Style Story06:00 Keeping Up With TheKardashians06:55 E! News07:10 Keeping Up With TheKardashians08:10 E! News09:10 Keeping Up With TheKardashians14:05 Keeping Up With TheKardashians15:00 E! News15:15 Hollywood & Football17:10 Keeping Up With TheKardashians19:00 E! News20:00 Keeping Up With TheKardashians22:00 Revenge Body With KhloeKardashian23:00 E! News23:15 Famously Single

00:10 The Chase01:00 Emmerdale01:30 Coronation Street02:00 Coronation Street02:30 Come Dine With Me Couples03:25 The Jonathan Ross Show04:20 The Jonathan Ross Show05:15 Arthur & George06:10 Donʼt Tell The Bride07:10 Come Dine With Me Couples08:00 The Jonathan Ross Show09:00 The Jonathan Ross Show10:00 Arthur & George10:55 Donʼt Tell The Bride11:55 Come Dine With Me Couples12:45 Emmerdale13:15 Emmerdale13:45 Coronation Street14:10 Donʼt Tell The Bride15:10 Come Dine With Me Couples16:00 The Royal Variety Performance

201618:00 Arthur & George18:50 Emmerdale19:15 Emmerdale19:45 Coronation Street20:10 Come Dine With Me Couples21:00 The Royal Variety Performance201623:15 Emmerdale23:40 Emmerdale

00:10 Food School00:35 Whatʼs For Sale?01:00 Tomʼs Istanbul Delight01:25 A Is For Apple01:50 The Peninsula: The Making OfA Gala02:40 The Food Files03:05 Eat Street03:30 Saraʼs Australia Unveiled04:20 Places We Go05:10 Street Food Around The World06:00 The Wine Show06:50 Tomʼs Istanbul Delight07:15 A Is For Apple07:40 The Wine Show08:30 The Food Files08:55 Eat Street09:20 Saraʼs Australia Unveiled10:10 Places We Go11:00 Street Food Around The World11:25 Street Food Around The World11:50 The Peninsula: The Making OfA Gala12:40 Tomʼs Istanbul Delight13:05 A Is For Apple13:35 George Clarkeʼs AmazingSpaces14:30 Confucius Was A Foodie15:25 Saraʼs Australia Unveiled16:20 Places We Go17:15 Street Food Around The World17:40 Street Food Around The World18:10 The Wine Show19:05 Valentine Warner EatsScandinavia19:30 Saraʼs Australia Unveiled20:00 Saraʼs Australia Unveiled20:25 Places We Go20:50 Places We Go21:15 Street Food Around The World21:40 Street Food Around The World22:05 The Wine Show22:55 Tomʼs Istanbul Delight23:20 A Is For Apple23:45 George Clarkeʼs Amazing

00:10 Final Days Of Anne Frank02:00 Locked Up Abroad02:55 Air Crash Investigation03:50 Beyond Magic With DMC04:45 The Numbers Game05:10 The Numbers Game05:40 Car SOS06:35 Inside Cocaine Wars07:30 WW2 Hell Under The Sea08:25 Lords Of War08:50 Lords Of War09:20 The Numbers Game09:45 The Numbers Game

00:00 The Killing Season01:00 Britainʼs Darkest Taboos02:00 Gangsters: Americaʼs Most Evil03:00 Homicide Hunter04:00 The Killing Season05:00 Britainʼs Darkest Taboos06:00 Gangsters: Americaʼs Most Evil07:00 Gangs Of Britain...08:00 Evil Up Close09:00 Gangs Of Britain...10:00 Homicide Hunter11:00 Crimes That Shook Britain12:00 Crimes That Shook Britain13:00 Crimes That Shook Britain15:00 Evil Up Close16:00 The First 4817:00 Homicide Hunter18:00 Gangs Of Britain...19:00 Gangs Of Britain...20:00 Nightmare In Suburbia21:00 The First 4822:00 Evil Up Close23:00 The First 48

00:20 Turf War- Lions And Hippos01:10 Planet Carnivore02:00 Snow Leopard Of Afghanistan02:50 Worldʼs Deadliest03:45 Swamp Men04:40 Natural Born Monsters05:35 Snow Leopard Of Afghanistan06:30 Worldʼs Deadliest07:25 Swamp Men08:20 Natural Born Monsters09:15 Urban Jungle10:10 Borneoʼs Secret Kingdom11:05 Lion Ranger12:00 Kingdom Of The Oceans12:55 Valley Of The Wolves13:50 Urban Jungle14:45 Swamp Men15:40 Natural Born Monsters16:35 Wild Galapagos17:30 Borneoʼs Secret Kingdom18:25 Badass Animals19:20 Swamp Men20:10 Natural Born Monsters21:00 Wild Galapagos21:50 Borneoʼs Secret Kingdom22:40 Badass Animals23:30 Kingdom Of The Oceans

T V l i s t i n g sFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

I AM NUMBER FOUR ON OSN MOVIES ACTION HD

00:00 Dance Flick02:00 Ghostbusters II04:00 Bill & Tedʼs Bogus Journey06:00 Easy A08:00 Kicking And Screaming10:00 Bill & Tedʼs Bogus Journey12:00 Ghostbusters II14:00 National Security

01:15 Victor Frankenstein03:15 Mission: Impossible - RogueNation05:30 Love, Rosie07:15 Alex Of Venice09:00 Bridge Of Spies11:30 Mission: Impossible - RogueNation13:45 Barbershop: The Next Cut15:45 The 5th Wave18:45 Creed21:00 Hail, Caesar!23:00 Vacation

00:00 Let The Bullets Fly02:15 13 Sins04:00 Navy Seals: The Battle ForNew Orleans06:00 Taken 308:00 I Am Number Four10:00 Blackhat12:15 Surrogates14:00 Taken 316:00 I Am Number Four18:00 Blackhat20:15 War Of The Worlds22:15 Death Race

00:00 The Gambler02:00 Wuthering Heights04:00 Erin Brockovich06:30 Escobar: Paradise Lost09:00 I Believe In Miracles11:00 Love & Mercy13:30 War Horse16:00 The Rainmaker18:30 Big Fish21:00 The Imitation Game23:00 Hustle And Flow

01:15 Miffy The Movie02:45 Mamma Moo And Crow04:30 Moomins And The CometChase06:00 Baby Geniuses And TheTreasures Of Egypt07:45 When Marnie Was There09:30 Yellowbird11:15 Dixie And The ZombieRebellion13:00 Mamma Moo And Crow14:30 Ploddy Police Car On TheCase16:00 True Story Of Pussʼn Boots18:00 Yellowbird20:00 Rugrats Go Wild22:00 Ploddy Police Car On TheCase23:30 True Story Of Pussʼn Boots

00:00 The Universe01:00 Patton 36002:00 Mud Men03:00 Americaʼs Book Of Secrets03:50 Ancient Aliens04:40 How 2 Win05:30 The Universe06:20 Patton 36007:10 The Universe08:00 Mud Men09:00 Americaʼs Book Of Secrets10:00 Ancient Aliens11:00 How 2 Win12:00 The Universe13:00 Patton 36014:00 Mud Men15:00 Americaʼs Book Of Secrets16:00 Ancient Aliens17:00 How 2 Win18:00 The Universe19:00 Patton 360

ERIN BROCKOVICH ON OSN MOVIES FESTIVAL HD

00:15 Team Umizoomi00:38 Louie00:45 Louie00:53 Olive The Ostrich00:58 Olive The Ostrich01:03 Max & Ruby01:26 Wanda And The Alien01:37 Ben & Hollyʼs Little Kingdom01:48 Ben & Hollyʼs Little Kingdom02:00 Blaze And The MonsterMachines02:22 Blaze And The MonsterMachines02:45 Zack & Quack03:05 Team Umizoomi03:28 Louie03:35 Louie03:40 Olive The Ostrich03:44 Olive The Ostrich03:49 Paw Patrol04:01 Paw Patrol04:24 Ben & Hollyʼs Little Kingdom04:35 Dora The Explorer04:59 Max & Ruby05:07 Bubble Guppies05:29 Little Charmers05:41 Shimmer And Shine06:05 Dora And Friends06:27 Zack & Quack06:38 Blaze And The MonsterMachines07:00 Paw Patrol07:13 Paw Patrol07:36 Dora The Explorer08:00 Wanda And The Alien08:11 Zack & Quack08:22 Dora And Friends08:46 Blaze And The MonsterMachines09:10 Paw Patrol09:35 Shimmer And Shine09:58 Dora The Explorer10:21 Paw Patrol10:45 Little Charmers10:57 Bubble Guppies11:20 Fresh Beat Band Of Spies11:40 Zack & Quack11:52 Team Umizoomi12:15 Team Umizoomi12:38 Louie12:45 Louie12:53 Olive The Ostrich12:58 Olive The Ostrich13:03 Max & Ruby13:26 Wanda And The Alien13:37 Ben & Hollyʼs Little Kingdom13:48 Ben & Hollyʼs Little Kingdom14:00 Blaze And The MonsterMachines14:22 Blaze And The MonsterMachines14:45 Zack & Quack15:05 Team Umizoomi15:28 Louie15:35 Louie15:40 Olive The Ostrich15:44 Olive The Ostrich15:49 Paw Patrol16:01 Paw Patrol16:24 Ben & Hollyʼs Little Kingdom16:35 Dora The Explorer16:59 Max & Ruby17:07 Bubble Guppies17:29 Little Charmers17:41 Shimmer And Shine18:05 Dora And Friends18:27 Zack & Quack18:38 Blaze And The MonsterMachines19:00 Paw Patrol19:13 Paw Patrol19:36 Dora The Explorer20:00 Wanda And The Alien20:11 Zack & Quack20:22 Dora And Friends20:46 Blaze And The MonsterMachines21:10 Paw Patrol21:35 Shimmer And Shine21:58 Dora The Explorer22:21 Paw Patrol22:45 Little Charmers22:57 Bubble Guppies

01:00 American Girl: Grace Stirs UpSuccess03:00 Alone For Christmas05:00 Frozen07:00 The Boxtrolls09:00 The Last Song11:00 Frozen13:00 The Good Dinosaur15:00 Hotel For Dogs17:00 Ghost Squad19:00 American Girl: Isabelle DancesInto The Spotlight21:00 Snow Day23:00 Hotel For Dogs

00:20 Belief01:10 Single Dad Seeking...02:00 My Big Fat Fabulous Life02:25 Say Yes To The Dress02:50 Love At First Swipe03:15 Cake Boss03:35 Belief04:20 Little People, Big World04:45 Little People, Big World05:10 Toddlers & Tiaras06:00 Little People, Big World08:30 My Kidʼs Obsession09:20 Sister Wives10:10 Obsessive CompulsiveCleaners11:00 Obsessive CompulsiveCleaners11:50 Love At First Swipe12:15 Love At First Swipe13:55 Oprah: Where Are They Now?14:45 Belief15:35 Cake Boss16:00 Cake Boss16:25 Cake Boss16:50 Cake Boss17:15 Cake Boss17:40 Ugly House To Lovely House18:30 Suddenly Rich19:20 My Kidʼs Obsession20:10 Sister Wives21:00 Kid Tycoons21:50 Sister Wives22:40 Weighing Up The Enemy23:30 Breaking Amish

20:00 Mud Men21:00 Americaʼs Book Of Secrets22:00 Ancient Aliens23:00 Engineering Disasters

10:15 Locked Up Abroad11:10 The Border12:05 Ancient Secrets: Chinaʼs LostPyramids13:00 Lords Of War13:30 Lords Of War14:00 Breakout15:00 Inside16:00 Locked Up Abroad17:00 The Border18:00 Taboo USA19:00 Inside20:00 Locked Up Abroad20:50 The Border21:40 Taboo USA22:30 Inside

00:40 Mythbusters01:30 How Do They Do It?01:55 Food Factory02:20 The Quick And The Curious02:45 Sci-Fi Science: Physics Of TheImpossible03:10 Weird Or What?04:00 The Gamechangers: InventingThe World04:48 Mythbusters05:36 The Quick And The Curious06:00 Sci-Fi Science: Physics Of TheImpossible06:24 Weird Or What?07:12 How Do They Do It?07:36 Food Factory08:00 How Do They Do It?

00:20 Time Team01:10 Alcatraz: The Search For TheTruth02:50 Storage Wars03:15 American Pickers04:05 Pawn Stars05:00 Mountain Men06:00 Mankind The Story Of All Of Us06:50 Gold Hunters: Legend Of TheSuperstition...07:40 Billion Dollar Wreck08:30 Shark Wranglers09:20 Mountain Men10:10 Mountain Men - Closest Calls11:00 American Pickers11:50 Counting Cars12:15 Car Hunters12:40 Pawn Stars13:05 Storage Wars: Best Of13:30 Ice Road Truckers18:30 Shipping Wars18:55 Shipping Wars19:20 Alaska Off-Road Warriors20:10 Ice Road Truckers21:00 American Pickers21:50 Pirate Treasure Of The KnightsTemplar22:40 Forged In Fire23:30 The Curse Of Oak Island

08:26 Weird Or What?09:14 Mythbusters10:02 The Gamechangers: InventingThe World10:50 How Do They Do It?11:14 Food Factory11:38 The Quick And The Curious12:02 Sci-Fi Science: Physics Of TheImpossible12:26 Mythbusters13:14 Weird Or What?14:02 How Do They Do It?14:26 Food Factory14:50 The Gamechangers: InventingThe World15:38 The Quick And The Curious16:02 Sci-Fi Science: Physics Of TheImpossible16:26 Weird Or What?17:14 Mythbusters18:02 The Gamechangers: InventingThe World18:50 Weird Or What?19:40 Mythbusters20:30 Mythbusters21:20 How Do They Do It?21:45 Food Factory22:10 Powering The Future23:00 Mythbusters23:50 Weird Or What?

16:00 Kicking And Screaming18:00 Pixels20:00 Absolutely Anything22:00 Cyrus

00:00 Patricia Heaton Parties01:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives02:00 Man Fire Food03:00 Chopped04:00 Guyʼs Grocery Games05:00 Barefoot Contessa06:00 The Kitchen07:00 The Pioneer Woman08:00 Sibaʼs Table09:00 Valerieʼs Home Cooking10:00 The Kitchen11:00 The Pioneer Woman12:00 Sibaʼs Table13:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives14:00 Chopped15:00 The Kitchen16:00 Valerieʼs Home Cooking17:00 Chopped18:00 Iron Chef America19:00 Man Finds Food20:00 Follow Donal... To Europe21:00 Bite This With Nadia G21:30 Bite This With Nadia G22:00 Iron Chef America23:00 Man Finds Food

L e i s u r eFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

ACROSS1. East Indian tree bearing a profusion of intense vermilion velvet-textured bloomsand yielding a yellow dye.4. A powerful light with reflector.12. Large brownish-green New Zealand parrot.15. An overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration.16. A unit of atmospheric pressure equal to one thousandth of a bar.17. The month following March and preceding May.18. A military officer appointed from enlisted personnel.20. A disorder in the sense of smell.22. The inner and longer of the two bones of the human forearm.24. The elementary stages of any subject (usually plural).25. A city in northwestern Turkey.28. A particular environment or walk of life.30. Freetail bats.32. A benevolent aspect of Devi.35. Bristlelike process near the tip of the antenna of certain flies.36. A master's degree in business.39. Usually paved outdoor area adjoining a residence.41. Omnivorous mammal of Central and South America.43. Lie adjacent to another.45. The compass point that is one point north of due east.46. A radioactive transuranic element which has been synthesized.47. A radioactive transuranic element produced by bombarding plutonium withneutrons.48. Type genus of the Dasyatidae.50. A chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin orjoints).51. A blood group antigen possessed by Rh-positive people.53. The chief solid component of mammalian urine.54. The 7th letter of the Greek alphabet.58. An Iranian language spoken in Afghanistan.59. Relating to or caused by a virus.62. An associate degree in nursing.64. Any plant of the genus Phacelia.71. Read anew.72. A small Asian country high in the Himalayas between India and Tibet.75. An agency of the United Nations affiliated with the World Bank.76. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.77. Red breed of domestic rabbits.79. (informal) `johnny' was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by theFederal soldiers in the American Civil War.80. A crystalline rock that can be cut and polished for jewelry.81. A great raja.82. (Babylonian) The sky god.

DOWN1. (Irish) Mother of the Tuatha De Danann.2. Absent without permission.

CROSSWORD 15033. Genus of Australian woody vines having showy red or purplish flowers.4. Group insurance that entitles members to services of participating hospitals andclinics and physicians.5. Parasitic on the digestive epithelium of vertebrates and higher invertebrates.6. A silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite.7. A metric unit of volume equal to one tenth of a liter.8. (British) A recreational facility including a swimming pool for water sports.9. A promontory in northern Morocco opposite the Rock of Gibraltar.10. The capital of Lesotho.11. In favor of (an action or proposal etc.).12. A Bantu language spoken by the Kamba people in Kenya.13. Surpassing the ordinary especially in size or scale.14. A river that rises in northeastern Turkey (near the source of the Euphrates) andflows generally eastward through Armenia to the Caspian Sea.19. A public register showing the details of ownership and value of land.21. The capital and largest city of Yemen.23. A signal transmitted along a narrow path.26. An Asian river.27. A yellow trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group.29. Holding or containing nothing.31. French writer who was the embodiment of 18th century Enlightenment (1694-1778).33. Dark reddish-purple table grape of California.34. A dwarfed ornamental tree or shrub grown in a tray or shallow pot.37. A member of an agricultural people of southern India.38. A port city in southwestern Iran.40. Brightly colored tropical freshwater fishes.42. Date used in reckoning dates before the supposed year Christ was born.44. A person who makes use of a thing.49. Wild sheep of northern Africa.52. A hard brittle gray polyvalent metallic element that resembles iron but is notmagnetic.55. Evergreen Indian shrub with vivid yellow flowers whose bark is used in tanning.56. Ground snakes.57. American prizefighter who won the world heavyweight championship threetimes (born in 1942).60. Water frozen in the solid state.61. A domain in which something is dominant.63. Indigo bush.65. (Greek mythology) The goddess of youth and spring.66. Small buffalo of the Celebes having small straight horns.67. A pilgrimage to Mecca.68. A genus of Mustelidae.69. Chief port of Yemen.70. (Babylonian) God of wisdom and agriculture and patron of scribes and schools.73. To make a mistake or be incorrect.74. Perennial herb of East India to Polynesia and Australia cultivated for its largeedible root yielding Otaheite arrowroot starch.78. (chemistry) P(otential of) H(ydrogen).

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H E A L T HFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

NAIROBI: Kenya’s doctors union said onyesterday a seven-week strike would con-tinue as long as needed to securedemands for better pay and conditions,ignoring a court ruling ordering a returnto work in five days or jail for union lead-ers. The strike, which began on Dec 5, hasemptied hospital beds as relatives takepatients to care for them at home andposes a challenge for the government inan election year, as it seeks to preventother state workers taking action forhigher pay. Justice Hellen Wasilwa hadinitially handed union leaders a suspend-ed one-month sentence on Jan 12 afterthey defied a December ruling declaringthe strike illegal. But she gave them atwo-week period for negotiations toavoid jail.

Yesterday, she extended the period fordoctors to call off the strike by five days.“The role of this court is to bring a solu-tion, and an amicable solution,” she saidwhen announcing the extension. Severalthousand doctors and their supportersmarched from the court to the center ofNairobi where leaders of the KenyaMedical Practitioners Pharmacists andDentists’ Union (KMPDU) refused the timelimit imposed by the court.

“The doctors are on strike and the

strike will continue until that day theirdemands placed before the governmentare met,” Ouma Oluga, KMPDU secretarygeneral, told reporters. Local newspapershave reported critically ill patients leftunattended and published images ofabandoned hospital beds after 5,000members of the KMPDU-the only unionrepresenting doctors in government hos-pitals-began their walkout. The union isdemanding the fulfillment of a 2013agreement which it says awarded doctorsa 150-180 percent pay rise on basicsalaries, a review of working conditionsand promotions criteria, as well as hiringof more staff in state hospitals.

The East African state’s governmentsays it can only afford a 40 percent payrise but would work to meet other condi-tions. “We are not refusing to pay doctors.But if they ask ridiculous amounts, youhave to (explain) why we cannot affordthat,” Finance Minister Henry Rotich toldCitizen TV on Wednesday, saying conced-ing would encourage more worker strikes.Lecturers at public universities launched astrike last week, a further headache to thegovernment in the approach to presiden-tial and parliamentary elections in Augustwhen President Uhuru Kenyatta will seeka second and final term.—Reuters

Kenyan doctors say willstrike until pay demands

met, ignore court

SHANGHAI: China is set to add more than300 new and traditional drugs to its list ofmedicines the state will help patients payfor, the first change in more than sevenyears that will boost treatments for cancer,kidney disease, hepatitis and haemophilia.Blockbuster drugs such asGlaxoSmithKline’s hepatitis drug Viread,AstraZeneca’s heart drug Brilinta andSanofi’s chronic kidney disease drugRenvela were up for inclusion over thecoming weeks, industry executives said, vir-tually guaranteeing an uplift in sales.

Industry insiders and analysts said oncol-ogy drugs were also likely to be added tonational and regional lists. Poor access totargeted cancer drugs is a hot-button issuein China, where patients often take on crip-pling debts or turn to grey markets to gettreatment. Changes to the NationalReimbursement Drug List (NRDL), whichdetermines which drugs are part-sponsoredby the government, will be a welcome shotin the arm for global drug companies, mostof whom saw sales growth slow or contractlast year in the world’s number two phar-maceutical market.

“It’s pretty much the most important listto get on. Being added can really meansales of a drug skyrocket,” said a Shanghai-based executive at a large British drugmak-er. Inclusion on the NRDL means a drug isaccessible through state insuranceschemes, making it affordable to mass mar-ketconsumers. Any new drug approved forsale since the last updateof the list in 2009was until now largely paid for out-of-pock-etby patients. Most additions to the list,currently just over 2,000 strong, will be tra-ditional Chinese medicines, but roughly

130 are expected to be modern drugs.“Inclusion on the list reduces the bur-

den of self-pay, as drugs on the list can bereimbursed up to 80 percent dependingon local implementation,” said Jordan Liu,Shanghai-based associate principal athealthcare research and services companyQuintilesIMS. An executive at anotherglobal drugmaker said the list was expect-ed to be published in the “first few monthsof 2017”, though some analysts said itcould be as early as the Lunar New Yearholiday that starts later this week. Therecould be a further negotiation period forhigh-priced drugs.

Drug companies have spent monthslobbying government advisory committeesto get their drugs on the NRDL, executivessaid. The experts on these committees votefor which drugs to include. The Ministry ofHuman Resources and Social Security(MOHRSS) and the finance ministry arethen involved in a final decision, based onfactors including clinical need and cost -though several industry insiders said theprocess was opaque and the measuresused to judge criteria such as clinical effec-tiveness were unclear.

Even once on the NRDL, drug makersnegotiate pricing and access for their drugon separate provincial lists. Access to thecountry’s main lists - which includes theNRDL along with the Essential Drug List(EDL) for the most critical drugs - alsocomes with strings attached. Drugmakersoften have to cut prices steeply to beincluded, helping China’s drive to lowerdrug prices and rein in a healthcare billMcKinsey estimates hitting $1 trillion by2020.—Reuters

Cancer, hepatitis treatments set for boost as China overhauls drugs listChina’s drug reimbursement list last updated in 2009

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TOWEDNESDAY (26/01/2017 TO 01/02/2017)

SHARQIA-1xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 11:45 AMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 1:45 PMAL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 3:45 PMKAABIL- HINDI 5:45 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 8:30 PMWEAPONiZED 10:30 PMWEAPONiZED 12:30 AM

SHARQIA-2MONSTER TRUCKS 1:00 PMMONSTER TRUCKS 1:30 PMFRIMONSTER TRUCKS 3:30 PMMONSTER TRUCKS 5:45 PMMONSTER TRUCKS 8:00 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 10:15 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 12:15 AM

SHARQIA-3RESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 11:30 AMRAEES- HINDI 1:45 PMRESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 4:30 PMRAEES- HINDI 6:45 PMRESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 9:45 PMRESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 12:05 AM

MUHALAB-1RAEES- HINDI 12:45 PMBALLERINA 1:45 PMFRIBALLERINA 3:45 PMRAEES- HINDI 5:45 PMRAEES- HINDI 8:45 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 11:45 PM

MUHALAB-2RESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 12:15 PMKAABIL- HINDI 2:30 PMRESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 5:15 PMKAABIL- HINDI 7:30 PMRESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 10:15 PMRESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 12:30 AM

MUHALAB-3MONSTER TRUCKS 11:45 AMMONSTER TRUCKS 2:00 PMMONSTER TRUCKS 4:15 PMMONSTER TRUCKS 6:30 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 8:45 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 10:45 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 12:45 AM

FANAR-1MONSTER TRUCKS 12:45 PMMONSTER TRUCKS 3:00 PMMONSTER TRUCKS 5:15 PMMONSTER TRUCKS 7:30 PMMONSTER TRUCKS 9:45 PMMONSTER TRUCKS 12:05 AM

FANAR-2RESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 11:45 AMRESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 2:00 PMAL ATR - Kwaiti Film 4:45 PMRESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 6:45 PMRESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 9:00 PMRESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 11:15 PM

FANAR-3DANGAL -Hindi 12:00 PMKAABIL- HINDI 3:15 PMDANGAL -Hindi 6:15 PMKAABIL- HINDI 9:30 PMRESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 12:30 AM

FANAR-4xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 12:00 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 2:00 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 4:00 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 6:00 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 8:15 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 10:15 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 12:15 AM

FANAR-5RAEES- HINDI 11:30 AMRAEES- HINDI 2:30 PMRAEES- HINDI 5:30 PMRAEES- HINDI 8:30 PMRAEES- HINDI 11:30 PM

MARINA-1RAEES- HINDI 12:00 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 2:45 PMRAEES- HINDI 4:45 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 7:30 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 9:30 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 11:30 PM

MARINA-2xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 11:30 AMMONSTER TRUCKS 1:30 PMMONSTER TRUCKS 3:45 PMAL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 6:00 PMMONSTER TRUCKS 8:00 PMMONSTER TRUCKS 10:15 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 12:30 AM

MARINA-3RESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 12:45 PMRESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 3:00 PMRESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 5:15 PMRESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 7:30 PMRESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 9:45 PMRESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 12:05 AM

AVENUES-1KAABIL- HINDI 12:00 PMDANGAL -Hindi 3:00 PMKAABIL- HINDI 6:15 PMDANGAL -Hindi 9:15 PMKAABIL- HINDI 12:30 AM

AVENUES-2MONSTER TRUCKS -3D -4DX 12:45 PMMONSTER TRUCKS -3D -4DX 3:00 PMMONSTER TRUCKS -3D -4DX 5:15 PMMONSTER TRUCKS -3D -4DX 7:30 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE -3D -4DX 10:00 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE -3D -4DX 12:15 AM

AVENUES-3RAEES- HINDI 11:30 AMRAEES- HINDI 2:30 PMRAEES- HINDI 5:30 PMRAEES- HINDI 8:30 PMRAEES- HINDI 11:30 PM

360º- 1RESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 11:30 AMRESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 1:45 PMRESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter -3D 4:00 PMRESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 6:15 PMRESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 8:30 PMRESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 10:45 PMRESIDENT EVIL: The Final Chapter 1:00 AM

360º- 2DANGAL -Hindi 1:15 PMMOANA 1:45 PMFRIDANGAL -Hindi 4:30 PMDANGAL -Hindi 7:45 PMDANGAL -Hindi 11:00 PM

360º- 3AL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 1:30 PMSING 3:30 PMSING 5:45 PMAL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 8:00 PMAL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 10:00 PMAL ATR -Kuwaiti Film 12:05 AM

AL-KOUT.1xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 12:30 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 2:30 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 4:30 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 6:30 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 8:30 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 10:30 PMxXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 12:45 AM

AL-KOUT.2RESIDENT EVIL: he Final Chapter 12:45 PMRESIDENT EVIL: he Final Chapter 3:00 PMRESIDENT EVIL: he Final Chapter 5:15 PMRESIDENT EVIL: he Final Chapter 7:30 PMRESIDENT EVIL: he Final Chapter 9:45 PMRESIDENT EVIL: he Final Chapter 12:05 AM

AL-KOUT.3MONSTER TRUCKS 12:15 PMMONSTER TRUCKS 2:45 PMMONSTER TRUCKS 5:00 PM

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BusinessFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

Philippine economy surging despite uncertaintiesIndia plans an expansive budget despite worries

SHANGHAI: China’s campaign to cut high debt levels in itseconomy is aiming this year to shrink the $3 trillion shadowbanking sector, which could drain a critical source of incomefor the country’s banks and of funding for its fragile bond mar-ket. Shadow banking, a term for financial agents that performbank-like activity but are not regulated as banks, has boomedin China, the world’s second-largest economy, as a way of cir-cumventing government’s tight controls on lending.

It has been a key driver of the breakneck growth in debt inthe economy, which UBS says rose to 277 percent of GDP from254 percent in 2016, and is now a target as Beijing tries toreduce that figure before it destabilizes the economy. But withbanks’ shadow banking business accounting for about a fifthof total outstanding loans, analysts fear that the unintendedconsequences of government efforts could trigger the fate itseeks to avoid.

“We see a policy-induced drastic deleveraging in shadowbanking as a policy miscalculation that could trigger unex-pected tail risks for the banking sector,” said Liao Qiang, cred-it analyst at S&P Global Ratings. Investors’ concerns stemfrom new rules this month that put lenders’ wealth manage-ment products (WMPs), the biggest component of shadowbanking, under the scrutiny of the People’s Bank of China(PBOC) for the first time and into its calculations on prudence,capital adequacy and loan growth guidelines. According tothe latest official data, WMPs jumped 42 percent year-on-year

to 26 trillion yuan ($3.8 trillion) at the end of June, doubling injust two years.

WMPs are typically kept off banks’ balance sheets, makingit difficult for regulators to assess the stability of a bankingsector reliant upon them for growth. And just as in the globalfinancial crisis of 2008, banks’ interconnectedness amplifiesthe risks. Banks are increasingly buying into each other’sWMPs, such that interbank WMPs hit 4 trillion yuan in June, adoubling from two years ago. Banking regulators are alsoseeking new rules that will require lenders to set aside ade-quate capital to absorb potential losses from WMPs. The PBOCand China Banking Regulatory Commission have yet torespond to requests for comment.

Vicious cycleBanks lure investors to WMPs with the promise of much

higher returns than on bank deposits, then channel the cashinto high-yielding bonds or other forms of disguised lending tosectors such as property on which there are official lending lim-its. The spectre of tighter monetary policy has already halted athree-year long rally in China bonds, and investors worry thatthe new WMP regulations could tip the bond market into crisis.

“Financial institutions, via WMPs, have invested a lot ofmoney into credit products,” said Gu Weiyong, chief invest-ment officer at Ucom Investment Co, a bond-focused fundhouse in Shanghai, and he said they don’t necessarily have suf-

ficient capital to support those investments. “It’s very possiblethat another scandal could erupt, maybe in the first half,” hesaid. It is barely a month since Beijing tightened the rules onWMPs as part of a broader policy thrust at preventing pricebubbles and reducing industrial overcapacity.

Bond prices have since fallen, sales of WMPs have slowedand money market mutual funds, also used by WMPs, are los-ing cash. At the end of June, 41 percent of China’s 26 trillionyuan of WMPs was in bonds, with 16 percent in money marketinstruments. Data from consultancy CNBenefit showed thatChinese banks sold 24,460 WMPs last quarter, compared with25,980 the previous quarter, while money market funds shrankto 3.9 trillion yuan at end-November, the lowest in a year, from4.2 trillion yuan in October, according to data from the AssetManagement Association of China.

In addition, a year-end bond market rout wiped out all thegains this year in bond mutual funds, resulting in a combinedloss of 21.6 billion yuan, according to the official Xinhuaagency, raising the spectre of losses in bond-linked WMPs. “Thebig issue for financial stability in China is a combination of veryhigh asset prices and also extremely high leverage,” said DavidCui, analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. “The problem ofthis combination is that any drop in asset prices can quicklydevelop into a vicious selling circle,” Cui said, with falling bondprices leading to WMP losses, then to lower WMP sales, andback to more pressure on bonds. — Reuters

Page 38 Page 40

BEIJING: People enjoy riding on the ice of the Houhai frozen lake ahead of the Lunar New Year in Beijing. — AFP

China banking crusade risks bond crashDanger of vicious cycle of asset price declines

38B u s i n e s sFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

BEIJING: China will lower its 2017 economicgrowth target to around 6.5 percent from lastyear’s 6.5-7 percent, policy sources said, reinforcinga policy shift from supporting growth to pushingreforms to contain debt and housing risks. Theproposed target was endorsed by top leaders atthe closed-door Central Economic WorkConference in mid-December, according to foursources with knowledge of the meeting outcome.“The target will be around 6.5 percent, which indi-cates that slightly slower growth is acceptable,”said one of the sources, a policy adviser. The StateCouncil Information Office, the public relationsarm of the government, declined to comment.

The world’s second-largest economy likelygrew around 6.7 percent last year - roughly in themiddle of the government’s target range - but itfaces increasing uncertainties in 2017, the head ofChina’s state planning agency said on Jan 10.

Policy stimulus measures - evident in record lend-ing from mostly state-owned banks and increasedgovernment spending - have fuelled worriesamong top leaders about high debt levels and anoverheating housing market that could threatenfinancial stability if not addressed, the sources said.

Under the central bank’s recently announced“prudent and neutral” stance, it is expected toguide market interest rates higher to help put thebrakes on flush credit conditions, which shouldalso support the weakening yuan, the sources said.“They’ve put more emphasis on controlling risks,and monetary policy could be a bit tighter,” said asecond policy source, though he characterized thechange as ‘fine-tuning’ ahead of a key party meet-ing in the autumn at which there will be a changein the top leadership.

“They are keen to keep economic growth sta-ble before the 19th party congress,” the source

said. Top leaders have pledged to stem the growthof asset bubbles in 2017 and place greater impor-tance on the prevention of financial risk, whilekeeping the economy on a path of stable andhealthy growth. China’s banks doled out a record12.65 trillion yuan ($1.84 trillion) of loans in 2016 asthe government encouraged more credit-fuelledstimulus to meet its economic growth target,despite worries about the risks of an explosivejump in debt.

Reform vs growthThe economy needs to grow at least 6.5 per-

cent between 2016 and 2020 to meet Beijing’sgoals of doubling GDP and per capita income by2020 from 2010 levels. But they have also pledged“decisive results” by 2020 on a wide range ofreforms to let market forces play a bigger role indriving the economy away from inefficient state-

owned enterprises, which in the short term couldslow output. Last year’s expected growth of 6.7percent, though the slowest in 26 years, will havegiven the government a little more room tomaneuver, but Beijing will not tolerate a sharpslowdown ahead of the leadership transition, thepolicy sources said.

The 2017 growth target will be announced atthe annual meeting of the National People’sCongress, the country’s parliament, in early March.The sources said government was set to maintain a3 percent inflation target this year, suggesting poli-cymakers are less worried about a sharp surge inconsumer prices, despite surging factory-gatecosts in recent months. December consumerprices rose 2.1 percent from a year earlier, easingfrom a 2.3 percent rise in November, while produc-er prices jumped 5.5 percent in December year-on-year, the most since September 2011.—Reuters

China to target around 6.5% growth

KASHMIR: Kashmiri men sell their produce at the floating vegetable market on the Dal Lake in Srinagar, Indian controlledKashmir. — AP

India plans an expansive budget despite worriesJaitley eyes tax giveaways, state investment

NEW DELHI: India’s finance minister islikely to borrow more than originallyplanned when he presents the budget onFeb 1, senior aides and officials said,despite counting on revenues from anational sales tax whose launch date isstill unknown. Arun Jaitley is looking athow to fund giveaways to taxpayers andhigher public investment to help nurseAsia’s third-largest economy back tohealth after the government’s shock deci-sion in November to abolish high-valuebanknotes.

That is raising concern among someeconomists and investors that the gov-ernment will take too many fiscal risks.Yet officials say that, given the choice,they would choose growth sustained bystate investment over a fiscal straitjack-et. “Some degree of flexibility on fiscaldiscipline should not be seen as irre-sponsible fiscal management,” one sen-ior government official told Reuters,requesting anonymity due to the sensi-tivity of the matter.

A fiscal advisory panel, which includescentral bank head Urjit Patel, has advocat-ed widening the budget deficit to “slightlyover” 3 percent of gross domestic productto free up funds for road, railway and irri-gation projects. “It is not possible to keepup the pace of capital expenditure with-out increasing the fiscal deficit beyond 3percent of GDP,” another official, briefedon the committee’s findings, added.

New Delhi earlier aimed to cut thefederal deficit to 3 percent of GDP overthe next two fiscal years, comparedwith 3.5 percent in the year now draw-ing to a close. Independent economistsare also penciling in a higher federaldeficit in the coming fiscal year, at 3.3-3.4 percent of GDP, creating room forthe government to invest an extra $6billion. That has drawn a warning fromratings agency Standard & Poor’s, whichsays that slowing the pace of fiscal con-solidation could delay India’s chancesof an upgrade due to its high and risingdebt levels.

Heroic assumptionsJaitley’s team forecasts a recovery in

nominal GDP growth, the key driver of taxrevenues, to around 12 percent in2017/18. Yet that assumes oil prices of$55-60 per barrel and a long-delayedGoods and Services Tax being implement-ed in July. And the economy is still gettingover the shock of Prime Minister NarendraModi’s decision in November to scrap 86percent of cash in circulation in a bid topurge the economy of illicit “black mon-ey”. The International Monetary Fund haschopped a percentage point off India’sforecast of real economic growth to 6.6percent in the current fiscal year to March,meaning China regains the crown as theworld’s fastest-growing large economy.

The Washington-based lender has alsoshaved 0.4 of a percentage point off itsforecast for the coming fiscal year. Financeministry officials remain tight-lippedabout how quickly they expect growth tobounce back after it slowed following so-called demonetization.—Reuters

LONDON: Britain’s state-rescued Royal Bankof Scotland yesterday set aside another £3.1billion ($3.9 billion, 3.6 billion euros) for USfines over alleged mis-selling of mortgagesecurities before the 2008 financial crisis. Thelender added in a statement that this tookthe total provis ion to £6.7 bi l l ion, but i tremains in talks with the US Department ofJustice (DOJ) over a settlement.

E d i n b u r g h - b a s e d R B S a d d e d t h a t t h echarges were “in relation to various investi-gations and litigation matters relating toRBS’s issuance and underwriting of US resi-dential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS)”.The enormous provis ions , which wi l l beincluded in the bank’s fourth-quarter results,will push RBS deeper into the red when itp o s t s a n n u a l n u m b e r s n e x t m o n t h . T h elender, which is 73-percent owned by theBritish government after a vast bailout duringthe financial crisis, warned that “further sub-stantial additional provisions and costs maybe recognized”, depending on the outcomeof DOJ talks.

“ P u t t i n g o u r l e g a c y l i t i g a t i o n i s s u e sbehind us, including those relating to RMBS,remains a key part of our strategy,” addedChief Executive Ross McEwan in the state-ment. “It is our priority to seek the best out-come for our shareholders, customers andemployees.” RBS will publish its annual earn-ings statement on February 24. Germanbanking titan Deutsche Bank and Swiss peerCredit Suisse had already agreed to settlesimilar claims for their role in the sale of thekind of toxic securities that led to the globalfinancial crisis of 2008. Deutsche and CreditSuisse agreed with US authorities to pay acombined $12.5 billion (11.6 billion euros)earlier this month.

The system-wide failure in 2008 of com-plex securities derived from residential mort-gages caused a cascading wave of bankrupt-cies and crises that sparked a global reces-s ion, which cost tens of mi l l ions of jobsaround the world. News of the settlementscontrasted sharply with the DOJ’s decision totake legal action against Barclays, accusingthe British bank of massive fraud in the saleof mortgage-backed securities. Barclays hasrejected the claim and has said it will vigor-ously defend itself.— AFP

RBS almost doublescharges for the USmis-selling claims

39B u s i n e s sFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

MIAMI: A restaurant posts a sign indicating they are hiring, in Miami. Yesterday, the Labor Department released its weekly report onapplications for unemployment benefits.— AP

LONDON: World stock markets climbedstrongly yesterday, with investors basking inthe afterglow of a break past 20,000 points forWall Street’s record high Dow Jones index.MSCI’s 46-country All World index was withintouching distance of its lifetime high asEuropean stocks rose 0.5 percent to theirhighest since Dec 2015, completing a globalloop after Asia’s main bourses also saw abumper session. The ‘Trump trade’, based onhopes of US stimulus reflating growth, wouldappear to be back on - egged on by someimpressive corporate earnings, higher com-modity prices and signals that global growthis finally finding some traction.

A curious outlier was the dollar which waswallowing near a seven-week low after losingits momentum this year and taking a dislike toTrump’s more controversial plans such asbuilding a wall on the border with Mexico.There were no such concerns in bond mar-kets. Ten-year US Treasury yields were backabove 2.5 percent to their highest of 2017 sofar and the equivalent German and Frenchyields jumped to their highest levels in over ayear. “The reflation trades are being driven bytwo main things,” said Neil Williams, chiefeconomist at fund manager Hermes.

“Countries more willing to open the fiscalbox and we are awaiting Mr Trump’s long-awaited tax cuts in mid-year. And second isthe prospect of ultra-loose monetary policy.”In commodities, crude oil prices also bouncedas global sentiment lifted and the dollarweakened, which helps non-US buyers of dol-lar-denominated raw materials. US crude wasup 0.8 percent at $53.18 a barrel after losingthe same amount the previous day. Brentadded 0.8 percent to $55.53 a barrel, whilecooper hit a two month high as a strikeloomed at the world’s biggest mine in Chile.

Don’t stop me DowThe Dow had been flirting with 20,000

points for weeks so it brought widespreadcheer when it broke through. It only topped19,000 in November and this was the second-shortest time on record for the index to jump1,000 points. Europe’s cross-countryEuropean STOXX 600 index was trading 0.6percent higher by 0945 GMT at its highestsince Dec 2015. Germany’s DAX hit its highestsince May 2015 and London’s FTSE was nearan all-time record.

Milan also showed little sign of nervesafter Italy’s constitutional court onWednesday opened the way for fresh elec-tions in the country this year, potentially inthe summer. Asian shares had a good daytoo. Japan’s Nikkei brushed aside a strongeryen to rise 1.7 percent, Hong Kong’s HangSeng climbed 1.3 percent and Shanghaiedged up ahead of a week-long Lunar NewYear holiday. “Today’s excitement mainlycomes from strong US stocks overnight, butpeople are also positive about Japanese com-panies’ earnings, especially machinery manu-facturers,” said Takuya Takahashi, a strategistat Daiwa Securities in Tokyo.

Back in the currency markets, sterling hit asix-week high after solid GDP data but thenturned jumpy. The dollar index, which tracksthe greenback against six other top curren-cies, clawed back from its overnight lows tostand flat on the day. “The problem that thegreenback is having right now is two-fold -first Trump has been talking down the curren-cy and second, his policies make foreigninvestors nervous,” wrote Kathy Lien, manag-ing director of FX strategy for BK AssetManagement.— Reuters

World stocks index near record highStocks bask in afterglow of Dow break past 20,000

LONDON: Emerging stocks hit three-monthhighs yesterday, boosted by US shares roaringhigher, but currencies weakened led by a fall inthe rouble after Russian authorities announcedsteps to increase central bank reserves. MSCI’semerging market index rose 0.7 percent in itsfourth day of gains, after solid US earnings andexpectations of a large fiscal spending packagehoisted the Dow Jones Industrial Average overthe 20,000 level for the first time and gave afresh impetus to global equity markets.

Bourses in Hong Kong, India and Moscowjumped more than 1 percent while stocks inTurkey and much of emerging Europe alsoposted strong gains. Emerging currencies,however, failed to advance as the dollar inchedoff six-week lows. The rouble weakened 0.7percent against the greenback, extending loss-es from Wednesday, when Moscowannounced it would start buying foreign cur-rency in February in line with a budget ruledesigned to shield the economy from swingsin oil prices.

Analysts said the decision reflected concernover the rouble’s appreciation after it rosealmost 20 percent last year. “(The rouble) doesreflect these various announcements about FXintervention,” said Paul Fage, senior emergingmarkets strategist at TD Securities. “It will makethe rouble less sensitive to oil price moves.”Turkey’s lira fell 0.75 percent for its third day in

the red, lurching closer towards a record lowhit earlier in January.

The falls reflect investor fear that the centralbank will not adequately tighten policy todefend the currency after a rate hike earlier inthe week seen as insufficient. Separately,Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli urgedbanks to lend to firms showing the “slightestsign of life” and said the economic recoveryhad begun. South Africa’s rand weakened 0.5percent while Ukraine’s hryvnia slipped 0.2percent ahead of a central bank meetingwhere policymakers are expected to sit tight.

Meanwhile, the Mexican peso held steadyagainst the dollar after recording its biggestdaily gains in more than two months onWednesday, when Trump said the country’seconomic future was important to the UnitedStates even as he forged ahead with plans for anew border wall. “(The Mexican peso) has beensurprisingly resilient but there is no questionthat the country will be facing the biggest chal-lenges from the shift in US policy,” SimonQuijano-Evans, a strategist at Legal & GeneralInvestment Management, wrote in a note toclients.— Reuters

Emerging stocks at 3-month high

Rouble in second day of losses

HARARE: Zimbabwe authorities offered resi-dential land to government employees inlieu of annual bonuses, unions said yester-day, rejecting a proposal that suggests thecash squeeze gripping the country is unlikelyto ease this year. The southern Africannation’s economy stagnated last year, fan-ning anti-government protests and com-pounding President Robert Mugabe’s prob-lems ahead of national elections due in 2018.

Public sector workers are paid an annualbonus equivalent to a month’s salary every

November and December, but the govern-ment - which spends more than $250 millionmonthly on salaries - has not said when it willmake the 2016 payment. Owning residentialland is sees as unattractive as most plots lackbasic amenities such as roads, electricity andsewerage, making them difficult to settle onor sell. Raymond Majongwe, secretary gener-al of the Progressive Teachers Union ofZimbabwe, described the government’s offeras “madness” and said unions rejected it at ameeting on Wednesday.—Reuters

Cash-strapped Zimbabwe offering workers land instead of bonuses

40B u s i n e s sFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

MANILA: The Philippine economy expandedat one of the fastest rates in Asia last year,data showed yesterday, with an accelerationexpected despite many uncertainties sur-rounding President Rodrigo Duterte’s leader-ship. Billions of dollars in Chinese investmentsand the dawn of a “golden age” of infrastruc-ture spending will be among the key driversof the Philippine economy, the governmentsaid as it unveiled 6.8 percent growth in 2016.

That compares with 5.9 percent in 2015.“This is clear proof that no amount of counter-productive political chatter from certain quar-ters could undermine the upward trajectoryof a domestic economy that is in pretty goodshape under a Duterte presidency,” FinanceSecretary Carlos Dominguez said. Duterte hasbecome one of the world’s more controversialleaders since taking office in the middle of lastyear, launching a war on drugs that hasclaimed more than 6,000 lives and repeatedlythreatening to impose martial law.

He has also loosened the Philippines’decades-long alliance with the United States-using foul language against former presidentBarack Obama for criticizing the drug war-while seeking closer ties with China andRussia. Still, the Philippine economy grew by6.6 percent year-on-year in the final quarter of2016, a slight slowdown from the previousthree months but still one of the fastest ratesin Asia. This reflected many of the strong fun-damentals put in place by Duterte’s predeces-sors, as well as the continued importance ofremittances sent home by the roughly 10 mil-lion Filipinos working overseas.

“Actually the strategies have been therebefore. We just now need to accelerate,”Socioeconomic Planning UndersecretaryRosemarie Edillon told reporters. The govern-ment said it planned to more than doubleinfrastructure spending from $17 billion thisyear to $36.8 bill ion in 2022 - with the

Philippines looking to China and Japan ratherthan the United States to finance the plans.“In terms of funding, we are not going todepend much on the US, we are going to getit from the (Asian) neighborhood,”Socioeconomic Planning Secretary ErnestoPernia said.

The Philippines also expects to open up

important new export markets in China andRussia, and see a huge influx of tourists fromthose countries, according to Pernia. Heexpressed confidence the economy wouldgrow this year at the upper end of the gov-ernment’s target of 6.5-7.5 percent, thenbetween seven and eight percent for the restof Duterte’s six-year term. UK-based research

firm Capital Economics cited the “uncertainpolitical situation” in the Philippines as adownside risk to its economy, along with apotential loss of trade from the United Statesdue to President Donald Trump’s protection-ist policies. But it maintained its forecast thatthe Philippine economy would grow 6.5 per-cent this year.— AFP

Philippine economy surging despite uncertainties

LONDON: Britain’s free-spending con-sumers again wrong-footed broadprognostications of a slowdown afterJune’s Brexit vote, driving a robust paceof economic growth in the final threemonths of 2016, data showed yester-day. Gross domestic product rose at aquarterly rate of 0.6 percent betweenOctober and December, keeping theabove-average pace seen in the firstthree months after June’s referendumdecision to leave the European Union.Services, most susceptible to con-sumers, were the biggest gainers, whileindustry and construction lagged.

Economists polled by Reuters hadforecast a slight slowdown to growth of0.5 percent. Some predictions ranged aslow as 0.3 percent. “Clearly, life goes on,despite the Brexit vote,” Scotiabankeconomist Alan Clarke said. Sterling hita three-week high against the euro afterthe data and British 10-year govern-ment bond yields rose to their highestsince mid-December. Many economistshad expected Britain to flirt with reces-sion after it voted to leave the EU.

But the Office for National Statisticssaid that growth in 2016 as a wholeslowed only slightly to 2.0 percent from2.2 percent in 2015, and this was mostly

due to weak growth in the first quarter,before the referendum. The outlook for2017 is murkier, however, in partbecause of the reliance on consumers.Sterling’s near 20 percent fall againstthe dollar is already pushing up costsfor businesses, and consumers are likelyto share the pain soon. The Bank ofEngland forecast in November thatgrowth would slow to 1.4 percent in2017, but it may well raise forecasts forgrowth and inflation in a quarterlyupdate next week.

Leading the pack, for nowBritain was probably one of 2016’s

fastest-growing major advancedeconomies, and there are some signsthis will continue into early 2017. Year-on-year growth, for example, exceededthat of Germany, where the economygrew 1.9 percent last year. TheConfederation of British Industry onWednesday also reported strong ordersfor manufacturers in January. However,the central bank is uneasy about thecomposition of British growth, withGovernor Mark Carney warning that itrelies heavily on consumers who will bevulnerable to higher prices.

British carmakers cut investment by

a third last year due to Brexit worries,their lobby group said yesterday. “Thenear-term momentum in GDP likely willnot compel the Monetary PolicyCommittee to abandon its view that theeconomy will slow this year as a resultof the Brexit vote,” PantheonMacroeconomics’s Samuel Tombswrote in a note to clients. Services out-put - which is most sensitive to con-sumer spending - grew by 0.8 percent.By contrast, industrial output was flat -partly reflecting a slump in oil produc-tion due to maintenance work inOctober - while construction inched upby 0.1 percent.

British companies are also facing ahighly uncertain outlook in the yearsahead. Prime Minister Theresa May hassaid she plans to launch formal divorcetalks between Britain and the EU beforethe end of March. Her finance ministerPhilip Hammond has said the resilienceof the economy means Britain will enterthe Brexit negotiations from a positionof strength. “There may be uncertaintyahead as we adjust to a new relation-ship with Europe, but we are ready toseize the opportunities to create a com-petitive economy that works for all,” hesaid yesterday.— Reuters

Consumers drive Britain economy, repulsing expected Brexit vote hit

Economists still expect Brexit slowdown

MANILA: Construction workers stand on the scaffolding around metal rods of a new pillar as they build more floors at a reclamation sitein suburban Paranaque city, south of Manila, Philippines yesterday. — AP

TOKYO: Just when the Bank of Japan might have beenexpected to crow that price rises are finally headingtowards its elusive target, insiders are fretting that it’s notthe kind of inflation they ordered. With oil prices slowlyrecovering from a crash in 2015 and the yen weak afterplunging from mid-November, a growing number of ana-lysts agree that inflation will reach around 1 percent ormore later this year.

That should be good news for the BOJ, which in aneffort to end decades of deflation has spent four yearsprinting trillions of yen in new money and a year ago setnegative interest rates, only to see inflation stick stubborn-ly around zero. Far from it, say sources familiar with thecentral bank’s thinking. “The key is whether price rises willaccelerate backed by strength in the economy. That’s notclear,” said one of the sources. The central bank wouldmuch prefer that inflation was a product of improvingeconomic activity or consumer sentiment, rather thanexternal factors like oil and currency moves.

“Prices will rise, but not for the right reasons,” saidYoshiki Shinke, chief economist at Dai-ichi Life ResearchInstitute. And if inflation is to encourage consumers tospend sooner rather than later, it would help if theircapacity to spend grows, too, but employers are showingno inclination to raise wages. “There’s uncertainty on theoutlook, particularly for wages,” said another of thesources. BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda, in concert withPrime Minister Shinzo Abe, has been urging firms to boostwages for years, with little success.

In a Reuters poll of 531 companies this month, nearlytwo-thirds said they had no plans to raise workers’ wagesthis year. —Reuters

Japan inflationgives BOJ

buyer’s remorse

41B u s i n e s sFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

TOKYO: The dollar slumped to seven-week lows yesterday, pressured byinvestors’ concerns about US protec-tionism after President Donald Trumpgave the go-ahead to construction of aUS-Mexican border wall and preparedto impose some immigration curbs. Thedollar index, which tracks the green-back against a basket of major curren-cies, was last down 0.1 percent at99.886. It dipped to 99.793 earlier in theday, its lowest level since Dec. 8.

The dollar was generally weakerdespite a rally on Wall Street, where theDow Jones Industrial Average closedatop the 20,000 mark for the first time.Trump has made several business-friendly decisions since taking office onFriday, including signing executiveorders to reduce regulatory burdens ondomestic manufacturers and clearingthe way for the construction of two oilpipelines. However, the president’sbroad but divisive plans to reshape USimmigration and national security poli-cy rattled some investors, partlybecause the US needs foreign capital tofinance its large current account deficit.

Trump on Wednesday ordered con-struction of a US-Mexican border walland punishment for cities shielding ille-gal immigrants, and he also mulledrestoring a CIA secret detention pro-gram. “Amid concerns over Trump’sprotectionism, the correlation between

US Treasury yields and the dollar hasgotten weaker,” said Junya Tanase,chief currency strategist at JPMorganChase Bank. The dollar last stood at113.38 yen against the yen, nearly flaton the day and not far from a two-month low of 112.52 yen touched onTuesday, even as US Treasuries yieldsstayed near four-week highs.

The US benchmark 10-year Treasuryyield last stood at 2.523 percent, closeto a 4-week high of 2.538 percent hit onWednesday. “It’s similar to the US-Japantrade conflicts in 1990s. Back then, thedollar was weak despite the high USinterest rates. The dollar would remainweak if Trump pushes his protectionistrhetoric,” said JPMorgan Chase’sTanase. On immigration policy, Trumpis expected to sign an executive orderin the coming days to block the entry ofrefugees from war-torn Syria and sus-pend the entry of any immigrants fromMuslim-majority Middle Eastern andAfrican countries while permanent rulesare studied.

However, some analysts are scepticalas to what extent Trump would back uphis protectionist remarks with action. “Itis highly doubtful whether Trumpwould go ahead with a large-scaleimmigration ban to an extent thatwould affect the markets in a longterm,” said Masashi Murata, senior cur-rency strategist at Brown Brothers

Harriman. “Trump would keep hisstrong rhetoric from his candidate daysto assure his followers, but he has notdetailed the actual action plans. His pol-icy won’t be a straight-forward protec-tionism, considering his positive com-ments on the strong Mexican econo-my,” added Murata.

Mexico’s peso strengthened to athree-week high of 20.9300 peso onWednesday as Trump said the country’seconomic future was important to theUnited States. The currency last stood at21.0835 pesos per dollar. Sterling waslast up 0.1 percent at $1.2648, its high-est peak in six weeks. The pound washelped by expectations for a rapid tradedeal between Britain and the UnitedStates, which Prime Minister TheresaMay said on Wednesday would “put UKinterests and UK values first.”

May will be the first foreign leader tomeet the new US president, and trade isexpected to dominate their first talks onFriday. Hopes for a clarity over theBrexit plan also pushed the pound.Britain said it would publish draft legis-lation yesterday seeking parliament’sapproval to begin formal divorce talkswith the European Union as May agreedto lawmakers’ demands to publish herBrexit plan. The euro was last up 0.1percent at $1.0762 against the dollar,slightly below Tuesday’s seven-weekhigh of $1.0775.—Reuters

Dollar touches 7-week low on worry over US protectionism

Sterling hits 6-week high on hopes for US trade deal

FRANKFURT AM MAIN: Confidenceamong consumers in Germany swelled inJanuary, a monthly survey showed yester-day, with expectations for the futureuntroubled by political uncertainty inEurope and across the Atlantic. Marketresearch firm GfK’s forward-looking indexedged up to 9.9 points in January, from 9.8the month before. But sub-indexes cover-ing feelings about the future economic sit-uation, income expectations and readinessto spend money all jumped, the survey ofaround 2,000 people showed, and thecompany predicted a level of 10.2 pointsfor February.

“Consumers’ mood made a sparklingstart to the year,” the pollsters commented,continuing an upwards trend visible sincethe autumn. Germans’ expectations for theeconomy reached their highest level sinceJune 2015, hitting 21.6 points after a 16.4-point reading in December. The public was“countering the headwinds unleashed byuncertainty over the future course of thenew US President and Brexit,” GfK said.

Growing wages, the lowest level ofunemployment since German reunificationin 1990 and low interest rates all favor asunny outlook among consumers. GfK’sresults “suggest that this year too privateconsumption will remain the main pillar ofthe economic upturn in Germany,” analystStefan Kipar of BayernLB bank comment-ed. “That will make the economy moreresilient against the disruption comingfrom outside.” Positive hopes for the

months ahead put the public at odds withbusiness, which saw confidence eroded toits lowest level since September in amonthly Ifo institute survey released earli-er this week.

With the US Germany’s largest exportcustomer, businesses are concerned about

the impact newly-installed PresidentDonald Trump’s policies could have ontrade. At home, consumers may have moreto fear from European problems in theshort term, GfK suggested. “Growing infla-tion” could trouble the mood of the manon the street alongside upcoming elec-

tions in France, Germany, the Netherlands,and possibly Italy, as well as the imminentstart of Brexit talks between London andBrussels. Inflation in the 19-nation euro-zone hit 1.1 percent in December, butGermany-its largest economy-saw pricesincrease 1.7 percent.—Reuters

MADRID: Spain’s unemployment rate hit its lowestlevel in seven years at the end of 2016, official datashowed yesterday, as a booming tourism sectorfuelled job creation. The jobless rate fell to 18.6 per-cent in the final quarter of 2016, its lowest level sincethe last three months of 2009, according to figuresreleased by national statistics institute INE. WhileSpain’s jobless rate remains the second highest in theeuro-zone after Greece’s, the figures are further evi-dence that the Spanish economy is enjoying a steadyrecovery.

Tourism has played a big part in the improvingunemployment figures. Spain hosted a record 75.3million foreign visitors last year with the rise attrib-uted to holidaymakers shying away from resorts innorth Africa and Turkey over terrorism fears. Spainemerged from five years of on-and-off recession atthe end of 2013, which was caused by the burst of aproperty bubble in 2008. During those years, millionsof Spaniards lost their jobs, with unemploymentreaching close to 27 percent in 2013. “There is stillmuch to do,” Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said dur-ing an interview with radio Onda Cero.

“But I insist we had five years of negative economicgrowth, which destroyed 10 percent of Spain’s grossdomestic product. You can’t fix that in 15 minutes,”he added. Rajoy’s conservative government credits alabor law reform that reduced severance pay andintroduced a new permanent contract with a one-year trial period for the drop in joblessness. The totalnumber of Spaniards out of work stood at 4.24 millionpeople for the final quarter of last year comparedwith a record high of six million at the height of theeconomic crisis in 2013.—AFP

Spain jobless rate lowest in 7 years

German consumers’ mood unclouded by uncertainty

BERLIN: (From left) German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Minister for Economy, Sigmar Gabriel, and German chancellorAngela Merkel, attend a session of the German parliament, Bundestag, in Berlin yesterday.—AP

42S p o r t sFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

LONDON: Formula One has a huge opportunity togrow under new owners Liberty Media but it must alsotread carefully in making changes to the rules, accord-ing to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.

Responding to the departure of the sport’s 86-year-old supremo Bernie Ecclestone after 40 years in chargeand his replacement by American Chase Carey, Wolffsaid the future looked bright.

“The Ecclestone era ending is a pretty big thing,” hetold the team website (www.mercedesamgf1.com).

“We need to embrace the future and we shouldn’tbe too nostalgic about the past. This sport has a hugeopportunity for growing bigger and bigger and wecould all benefit from this. We need to push in thatdirection.”

Former Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn hasbeen drafted in as a managing director to oversee thesporting side under Carey.

While there has been talk of radical changes to therace weekend, and appealing to new audiences, Brawnhas said he wants a full analysis of the sport’s strengthsand weaknesses without the knee-jerk reactions thathave been evident in past seasons.

The rules are undergoing a major change this sea-son, with bigger tyres and revised aerodynamicsdesigned to make the cars faster and more aggressivebut there are already fears overtaking could suffer.

Wolff said Brawn would give the “right guidance,together with the teams and the FIA (governing body),to develop the sport in the right direction”.

The Austrian, whose dominant team have won bothtitles for the past three years and are again the pre-sea-son favourites, warned, however, that changes neededto be properly evaluated.

“We shouldn’t mess with our loyal fans and ouraudiences by implementing rules and regulations thatwe haven’t assessed properly.

“We should use data in a scientific approach andsee what works in other sports and other entertain-ment platforms, then combine that with the greatstrengths and assets of Formula One,” he added.

Last season started with a new “instant elimination”qualifying system, rushed through after a unanimousvote by teams, that proved a flop and was derided byfans. — Reuters

F1 must tread carefully on rule changes: Wolff

LONDON: Two-time rugby union worldchampions South Africa are at their low-est ebb but former coach Nick Malletttold AFP they can return to being a pow-er in the sport.

The 60-year-old, who guided theSpringboks to a record 17-matchunbeaten streak in 1997-98 includingsweeping the then Tri-Nations title,advocated a new set of assistant coach-es were required to instil belief in thebattered squad.

The Springbok tour of the northernhemisphere last year saw them lose toEngland, Wales and humiliatingly toItaly-a far cry from Mallett’s tour in 1998when they racked up huge wins againstWales (96-13), France (52-10), Scotland(68-10) and Ireland (33-0).

“Yeah it is heartbreaking but I thinkthis is probably as low as it can go, win-ning just 33% of your games interna-tionally,” Mallett told AFP on the side-lines of the launch of this year’s SixNations.

“I would never have thought they’dlose to Ireland at home or lose toArgentina ever. “I didn’t think they’dever lose to Italy, against Wales it wasan unusual event (only the Principality’sthird win in 110 years), so those are fourlosses right there that shouldn’t havebeen.”The record defeat to NewZealand (57-15 in Durban) and capitu-

lating at home is very very disappoint-ing. Starting at this base it can’t getworse.” Mallett, who took South Africato the 1999 World Cup semi-finals butleft the post a year later after falling outwith the South African Rugby FootballUnion, said Eddie Jones had shown theway by taking over a group of dejectedplayers following England’s humblingfirst round exit at the 2015 World Cupand turning them into Six NationsGrand Slam winners months later. “Justget the enthusiasm and energy backand for that maybe you need a differentset of assistant coaches as replacing thehead coach (Allister Coetzee) would beexpensive,” said Mallett, who wasspeaking as part of the AccentureAnalysis Unit.

“Eddie Jones has the same playersbut instead of coming second they’recoming first.

WEAK RAND “That’s what a coach does. He goes

there and makes them believe they’renot a second placed guy but a firstplaced bloke. “South Africa needscoaches to get in there and make theplayers believe they can competeagainst anyone in the world.

“At the end of the tour they didn’tlook like they could compete againstanyone.” Mallett added that the

Sprinbgoks could not fall back on thetactics used by their predecessors whowon the 2007 World Cup. “World Rugbylaws reward attacking rugby,” saidMallett. “We won the 2007 World Cupplaying without the ball. We kicked itaway and relied on driving mauls andkicking penalties to win but you can’twin the World Cup like that any more.”

England-born Mallett, whose familyemigrated to what was then Rhodesiawhen he was a few weeks old, places hisfaith in a return to the good old daysbecause of one crucial resource. ”SouthAfrica is in a really low spot at themoment but I think they will get back,though, it will be gradual,” he said.

“We have too many good rugby play-ers to stay down there.” However, eventhat resource is under threat because hesays of the weak state of national cur-rency, the rand. “The real worry is theyare attracted by the euro, pound andyen,” he said. “After all it is the future forthese guys and if they haven’t got aSpringbok contract they’d rather playfor Toulon or Montpellier and earn fivetimes more than in South Africa.

“The rand really struggled over thepast two years. I was told by JacquesFourie he was being paid the equivalentof 11 million rand (773,000 euros;$832,000) for playing 12 games a year inJapan. — AFP

Springboks at their lowest but will rise again: Mallett

Flagging crowds dampen Wellington sevens party

WELLINGTON: The Wellington leg of the World Sevens Serieskicks off tomorrow with poor crowds again dominating thebuild-up to the two-day event.

The sevens was once the hottest ticket in the New Zealandcapital and tickets for both days at the 35,000-capacityWestpac Stadium sold out within minutes.

But the party atmosphere that used to attract tens of thou-sands of fans in fancy dress has dissipated and organizersexpect only 15,000 a day this year. Martin Snedden, the sportsadministrator in charge when New Zealand hosted the 2011Rugby World Cup, said it was time for a change of venue after18 years in Wellington.

“History will judge the Wellington Sevens down the trackas being an amazing success story, but what’s really apparentnow is that it’s probably run its course,” Snedden told FairfaxNew Zealand this week. “That’s not a negative comment.That’s really a reflection of the fact that an event has a lifecycle... and this one seems to have reached the end.” The tour-nament gained a reputation for drunken revelry during itsheyday, with police and the local council demanding an endto the booze-fuelled antics. But it has struggled to reinventitself as a family-friendly event, despite lowering ticket pricesand offering more off-field entertainment. There has alsobeen competition in recent years from the Auckland Ninesrugby league competition and critics say there is a perceptionthe Wellington Sevens feels tired.

What is undeniable is that fans are staying away in droves.The once packed-out stadium attracted only 18,000 a day in2015, falling to 12,000 a day last year.

FLOGGING A DEAD HORSE?Organizers may struggle to reach their 15,000-a-day goal

this year as gale-force winds and heavy rains have lashedWellington for most of the week, killing any summertime buzzin the city. While the sevens is contracted to remain in thecapital until 2019, Snedden said World Rugby and NewZealand Rugby had some tough decisions to consider. “Is itbest to keep trying to re-energise it? Or is it ‘maybe we’re flog-ging a dead horse?’ That’s a judgment call they’ve got tomake.” On the field, reigning Olympics and World SevensSeries champions Fiji (32) will seek to close the gap on SouthAfrica (41) and England (39), who have a win apiece in the twoopening rounds.

But local interest will be focused on the Pool C grudgematch between New Zealand and Gordon Tietjens’ Samoa.

Tietjens coached New Zealand for 22 years beforeannouncing his departure in the wake of last year’s failure atthe Rio Olympics, and then accepted a role with the Pacificislanders. However, he was still officially contracted to NZR,which made him sit out the opening rounds, makingWellington his first tournament in charge of Samoa. Tietjens,who has described his treatment as “hurtful”, said his formercharges would be fired up.

“(They) won it the last three years in a row in Wellingtonand they’ll be motivated to do it again,” he said. “They wouldhave been disappointed in their first two tournaments andthey’ll look to redeem themselves.”

The Wellington event is also likely to mark the debut ofEnglish cricket legend Ian Botham’s grandson James, who hasbeen named in the Wales squad. James, or Jimbo to hisgrandad, was born in Cardiff and has represented

Wales at under-18 level, playing as a flanker. — AFP

File photo shows two-time rugby union world champions South Africa in action against New Zealand.

SAN DIEGO: Tiger Woods was walking up the middle of the18th fairway when he noticed someone walking briskly towardhim, causing Woods to stop suddenly. And then he smiled.

It was Billy Horschel, arms outstretched to embrace Woods.“It’s good to have you back,” Horschel said. Oddly enough, theywere together at the Farmers Insurance Open the last timeWoods was at Torrey Pines, under much different circum-stances. Woods’ game was a mess in early 2015, and on thepractice range before the first round, Horschel appeared to beshowing Woods different positions in the swing. Woods with-drew later that morning with tightness in his back and walkedaway from competition for 10 weeks to work on his game untilreturning at the Masters.

His game never really improved until a tie for 10th in theWyndham Championship. And then he had two more backsurgeries and was gone again. Now he’s returned, no instruc-tion necessary. Woods makes his latest PGA Tour comebackon Thursday when he tees it up at Torrey Pines alongsideJason Day and Dustin Johnson, who bring the kind of creden-tials that for so long only belonged to Woods.

Day is No. 1 in the world (Woods occupied the top spot for arecord 683 weeks). Johnson is the PGA Tour player of the year(Woods won the award a record 11 times). And now the ques-tion is whether Woods can keep up with them.

“You always want to play against and with the best play-ers,” Woods said. “I’m trying to remind myself: ‘Hey, I haven’tplayed in a while. Hey, it’s just the first two days and get your-self in contention, build your way up.’ It’s not Sunday. I’ve gota long way to go to get to that point where I have a chance towin this event.”

SURGERIESWinning might be a surprise, even given his track record at

Torrey Pines. Woods has eight victories at Torrey Pines, includ-

ing a major when he won the US Open in 2008 on a shatteredleft leg. Think about that. What he has done at Torrey Pinesalone is more than all but four players in the 156-man field atTorrey Pines have done in their entire PGA Tour careers.

But that was then, before his three back surgeries. The now isa bit more clouded, and even Woods can’t provide much clarity.He was asked Wednesday if he thought he could return to hislevel of play from 2013, when his five victories included a four-shot victory at Torrey Pines.

“I don’t know,” he said. “We all know I haven’t played a fullschedule in a very long time, so this is an unknown. I’ve beenaway from it for so long. I’ve played one tournament in that 15-month span and I haven’t played a full-field event. I haven’t gotinto the rhythm of playing weeks on end in a season.” Woodshas returned nine times from a long layoff over the last 14 years.The first time was in 2003 at Torrey Pines, when he was comingoff arthroscopic knee surgery. Back then, the attention wasn’ton his knee. It was on Phil Mickelson’s magazine interview inwhich Lefty said Woods was using “inferior equipment.”

PLAY HIS BEST AGAINWoods got in the final word. He won by four shots.

Equipment was an issue again in this return, for different rea-sons. Woods announced Wednesday morning that he hassigned a deal with TaylorMade to use its driver, fairway metals,irons and wedges. He already has a Bridgestone Golf deal toplay its ball. He still has a Nike contract to wear the apparel. He’snot getting paid to use his old Scotty Cameron putter, the onehe used to win 13 of his majors.

There’s nothing inferior about that putter. Starting today,Woods finds out how his game stacks up against the best in theworld. His swing looks just as good as it did in the Bahamas thefirst week of December when he played for the first time in 15months against an 18-man field with no cut and no stress. — AP

43S p o r t sFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

KATHMANDU: Pratima Sherpa grew up in a small hutbehind the third hole of the Royal Nepal Golf Course -now she is tipped to be the country’s first female golfprofessional.

The petite 18-year-old is the daughter of labourerswho work on the nine-hole golf course, which lies atthe end of the runway of Kathmandu’s internationalairport. Golf is a sport usually associated with privi-lege, while Nepal is a country better known for itsjagged Himalayan peaks than smooth golf greens.But those who have watched Sherpa play say she haswhat it takes to compete and win internationally, andmake it to the hallowed US-based Ladies ProfessionalGolf Association (LPGA) Tour.

“In two to three years if she can go out of the coun-

try she has the opportunity to reach the Europe Tour,America,” said Tashi Ghale, general secretary of theNepal Golf Association. “Hopefully she will be the firstNepalese lady to compete with the LGPA.” Sherpawas raised in a hut shared with lawn mowers, mainte-nance equipment and a few goats, and first startedplaying with a stick, copying the golfers she sawaround her on the course.

“I would play with kids of other workers. We usedto watch people play golf and mimic them withwooden sticks. We would ask for balls and hit them,”Sherpa told AFP. At the age of 11, coach SachinPrasad Bhattarai spotted her during a juniors pro-gramme run by the club. Recognising what hedescribes as a natural talent, Bhattarai offered to start

coaching her for free and persuaded a club memberto give Sherpa an old set of clubs.

‘SHE HAS THAT ART’“She strikes with her feel. She can do it. Not many

people have that in golf,” said Bhattarai. “People havetechnique, and we guarantee that a person with agood golf swing will hit well... but not everyone hasthe art. She has that art.” Her parents were initiallyreluctant to let her play, thinking she’d be out of placeas a girl and from a humble background. “Only richpeople’s kids would come to play so I didn’t want tosend her. Her studies would suffer,” said her fatherPasang Tsering Sherpa, who met Pratima’s motherworking at the golf course. — AFP

Raised at third hole, Nepal’s first female star

Tiger Woods at Torrey, no longer the favorite

LA JOLLA: Tiger Woods tees off the 11th hole during the Zurich Pro-Am, Farmers Insurance Open Preview Day 3 atTorrey Pines Golf Course on Wednesday in La Jolla, California. — AFP

Argentina’s teenage jockeys dream of riding to riches

BUENOS AIRES: With its tree-lined lawns and palatial build-ings, Buenos Aires Jockey Club is one of the world’s poshestriding venues: a world away from the homes of its future starjockeys.

Penniless, skinny teenagers from poor country familiessign up as apprentices at the club’s jockey training school. Itregime has turned riders like Lucas Berticelli, 23, into com-petitors. He has already won dozes of races.

“This is how I have earned money to live,” he says. “Before,I didn’t have a penny. My mum hardly gave me enough formy bus fare.”

HUMILITY The young jockeys can receive prize money of up to $300

for winning a race, plus a share of winnings from bets. Butthey dream of winning millions by finishing first in the GranPremio Carlos Pelligrini, one of the world’s most prestigiousraces. But first they face up to 18 months of tough trainingdesigned to tame their egos-and keep their weight under 50kilos (110 pounds).

They are paid the equivalent of about $2 a day to tend andexercise the racehorses at the club’s whitewashed stables. Asign hanging in the training center puts the lads in theirplace. “Horses win races,” it reads-not jockeys. “The boy wholoses his humility is condemned to failure,” says the school’sdirector, 67-year-old former jockey Hector Libre. He says jock-eys he has trained have won 8,600 races in the past 12 years.

JOCKEY SINCE AGE 10 Though some of them are as young as 15 when they enter

the school, the trainee jockeys are no strangers to the saddle.Despite the dangers of high-speed horseracing, adults

have been making money from betting on these riders sincethey were young boys. “At the age of 10 I was already ridingin ‘cuadreras’,” says Kevin Banegas, now 16.

Cuadreras are an Argentine rural tradition: fast, short racesthrough the dirt roads of villages. Now an apprentice at theJockey Club, Kevin gets up at dawn, puts on his riding jacketand helmet and jumps on a chestnut steed to exercise it.

Elsewhere, trainees practice indoors, riding on a woodenmechanical horse while Libre calls out instructions. —AFP

BUENOS AIRES: Jockey students Lucas Berticelli (l) andKevin Benegas ride racehorses on the training track at theSan Isidro Jockey Club on the outskirts of Buenos Aires,on December 5, 2016. —AFP

44S p o r t sFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

CLEVELAND: Arron Afflalo dropped a 3-pointer with 17.3 seconds left in overtime, lift-ing the Sacramento Kings to a 116-112 winWednesday night over the slumpingCleveland Cavaliers, who lost for the sixthtime in eight games amid criticism by LeBronJames. DeMarcus Cousins had 28 points and10 rebounds for the Kings, who trailed by fivein overtime before battling back. DarrenCollison added 23 points for Sacramento.

After Afflalo’s 3, James missed a deep 3-point attempt for the Cavs, who were thenforced to foul Cousins. Sacramento’s bigman dropped one of two to put away thereeling NBA champions. James finished with24 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, andKevin Love had 21 points and 16 rebounds,but it wasn’t enough. This was the Cavs’ firstgame since James called the team’s roster“top heavy” and questioned whether theorganization was fully committed to winninga second title.

WARRIORS 113, HORNETS 103Kevin Durant scored 16 of his 33 points in

the fourth quarter, Stephen Curry added 28points on six 3-pointers in his annual home-coming game and the Golden State Warriorsrallied to beat the Charlotte Hornets. KlayThompson had 19 points for the Warriors,who avenged a 105-102 loss to the MiamiHeat on Monday. Curry capped a memorabletrip home to Charlotte in which he had hishigh school jersey retired and was honored atDavidson College with the naming of“Section 30” at Belk Arena where the Wildcatsplay their home games. Curry’s return follow-ing his second MVP award drew a crowd of19,639, the largest crowd to see a game atthe Spectrum Center. Kemba Walker ledCharlotte with 26 points while battlingthrough an illness.

THUNDER 114, PELICANS 105Russell Westbrook had 27 points, 12

rebounds and 10 assists, passing Larry Birdwith his 60th career triple-double, and theOklahoma City Thunder beat the New OrleansPelicans. Pelicans All-Star Anthony Davis leftlate in the second quarter after re-aggravat-ing a right thigh injury that kept him out ofNew Orleans’ upset of Cleveland on Mondaynight. The Pelicans trailed by 12 when Davisleft and went down by as many as 22 early inthe third before rallying to as close as fivepoints. Steven Adams had 20 points and 11rebounds, and Enes Kanter 17 points and 11boards for the Thunder, who outscored NewOrleans 62-54 inside.

GRIZZLIES 101, RAPTORS 99Marc Gasol scored a career-high 42 points,

including the deciding two free throws with36 seconds left, as the Memphis Grizzlies sentToronto to its fifth straight loss. Gasol’s finalfree throws ended a 12-0 run by the Raptorsthat tied the game at 99. Kyle Lowry’s fade-away 28-footer from the left wing bouncedoff the rim as time expired, saving Memphisfrom wasting Gasol’s career effort. ZachRandolph finished with 16 points forMemphis, while Tony Allen had 15 points and11 rebounds. Mike Conley had 11 points.Gasol converted 14 of 25 shots, includinggoing 5 of 10 from 3-point range. Lowry ledthe Raptors with 29 points, including 14points in the fourth quarter, to lead Toronto’sfinal charge. Norman Powell had 21 pointsand Cory Joseph finished with 15 points.

76ERS 114, BUCKS 109Despite playing without leading scorer

Joel Embiid for the second consecutive game,the Philadelphia 76ers held off the Milwaukee

Bucks to win for the fifth time in six games.Gerald Henderson led the 76ers with 20points, Ersan Ilyasova and Dario Saric added17 apiece, and the 76ers scored a season-high72 points in the first half. Greg Monroe’s sea-son-high 28 points led the Bucks, JabariParker added 20 and Giannis Antetokounmpohad 17 points and 12 rebounds. Milwaukeeled by three when Parker stole a cross-courtpass, but was called for a foul after inadver-tently hitting Robert Covington in the face.Covington made both free throws to cutMilwaukee’s lead to one with 45 seconds left.After a backcourt violation, Nerlens Noeldrew a foul and converted two free throwsto give Philadelphia the lead. Noel hit ajumper and Ilyasova made two free throwsto seal the win.

CELTICS 120, ROCKETS 109Isaiah Thomas had 38 points and nine

assists, Jae Crowder scored 23 and the BostonCeltics beat the Houston Rockets. It wasThomas’ 15th game this season with at least30 points and his 29th consecutive outingwith 20 or more. Crowder grabbed 10rebounds and Al Horford totaled 20 pointsand nine assists for Boston (27-18), which hadlost three straight games. James Harden fin-ished with 30 points and 12 assists, RyanAnderson scored 19 and Sam Dekker had 15off the bench as the Rockets (34-15) lost forthe sixth time in nine games.

HEAT 109, NETS 106Dion Waiters scored 14 of his 24 points in

the fourth quarter, including the clinching 3with 6.8 seconds left, and the Miami Heatovercame an 18-point deficit in the final peri-od to beat the beleaguered Brooklyn Nets.

Wayne Ellington had 22 points and GoranDragic added 17 for the streaking Heat, whohave won a season-best five straight games.Brook Lopez scored 33 for the Nets, includinga career-high seven 3-pointers. Brooklyn (9-36) has lost 14 of 15 and owns the worstrecord in the NBA. The Heat trailed 89-71entering the fourth, but outscored the Nets38-17 the rest of the way.

HAWKS 119, BULLS 114Dennis Schroder scored 24 points, Paul

Millsap added 21 and the Atlanta Hawksended the game on a 19-4 run to beat theChicago Bulls. Thabo Sefolosha scored 18and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 17, hitting fourof his team’s 17 3-pointers as the Hawkspulled out their seventh straight win againstChicago. Jimmy Butler led the Bulls with 40points. Dwyane Wade scored 33, butChicago let a 10-point lead slip away downthe stretch.

It was 110-100 with less than three min-utes remaining when Millsap, Schroder andHardaway nailed 3s on consecutive posses-sions to start the game-ending run.

MAVERICKS 103, KNICKS 95Harrison Barnes scored 23 points and Seth

Curry had 20 as the Dallas Mavericks beatthe New York Knicks. Dirk Nowitzki added 19points for Dallas, which was coming off a 49-point blowout of the Los Angeles Lakers.The last-place Mavericks (16-29) have wonfive of seven. Carmelo Anthony, the subject

of trade talk, scored 30 points to lead theKnicks. Courtney Lee had 23 for New York,which has lost 14 of 18. Dallas led by asmany as 10 points in the third quarter, butthe Knicks rallied to get within one twice inthe fourth quarter.

TRAIL BLAZERS 105, LAKERS 98Damian Lillard scored 24 points and the

Trail Blazers beat the Los Angeles Lakers,capping Portland’s celebration of the 40thanniversary of the team’s 1977 NBA champi-onship. CJ McCollum added 24 points for theBlazers, who have won 11 straight regular-season games against the Lakers. LosAngeles was led by Lou Williams with 31points, including six 3-pointers. The Lakerswere coming off a 122-73 loss at Dallas onSunday, the most lopsided loss in franchisehistory. Portland was without Ed Davis forthe second straight game because of a leftwrist injury, and Maurice Harkless, who has acalf injury. The Lakers didn’t have D’AngeloRussell for the second straight game becauseof a sprained right knee and calf. —AP

Kings down LeBron, slumping Cavaliers 116-112 in OT

Eastern ConferenceAtlantic Division

W L PCT GB Toronto 28 18 .609 - Boston 27 18 .600 0.5 NY Knicks 20 27 .426 8.5 Philadelphia 17 27 .386 10 Brooklyn 9 36 .200 18.5

Central DivisionCleveland 30 14 .682 - Indiana 22 22 .500 8 Chicago 23 24 .489 8.5 Milwaukee 21 24 .467 9.5 Detroit 21 25 .457 10

Southeast DivisionAtlanta 27 19 .587 - Washington 25 20 .556 1.5 Charlotte 23 23 .500 4 Orlando 18 29 .383 9.5 Miami 16 30 .348 11

Western ConferenceNorthwest Division

Utah 29 18 .617 - Oklahoma City 27 19 .587 1.5 Denver 19 25 .432 8.5 Portland 20 27 .426 9 Minnesota 17 28 .378 11

Pacific DivisionGolden State 39 7 .848 - LA Clippers 30 17 .638 9.5 Sacramento 18 27 .400 20.5 Phoenix 15 30 .333 23.5 LA Lakers 16 33 .327 24.5

Southwest DivisionSan Antonio 36 9 .800 - Houston 34 15 .694 4 Memphis 27 20 .574 10 New Orleans 18 28 .391 18.5 Dallas 16 29 .356 20

NBA results/standingsPortland 105, LA Lakers 98; Dallas 103, NY Knicks 95; Atlanta 119, Chicago 114; Philadelphia 114, Milwaukee109; Memphis 101, Toronto 99; Oklahoma City 114, New Orleans 105; Golden State 113, Charlotte 103; Boston120, Houston 109; Miami 109, Brooklyn 106; Sacramento 116, Cleveland 112 (OT).

CLEVELAND: Sacramento Kings’ DeMarcus Cousins, left, and Kosta Koufos, right, put pressure on Cleveland Cavaliers’ TristanThompson during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, in Cleveland. The Kings won 116-112 in overtime. —AP

45S p o r t sFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

KANPUR: England batsman Eoin Morgan (r) plays a shot during the first T20 match between India and England at GreenPark Stadium in Kanpur yesterday. — AFP

Morgan’s fifty gives England win in 1st T20

KANPUR: Skipper Eoin Morgan’s sub-lime half-century and a disciplinedbowling effort powered England to aseven-wicket win against India in thefirst Twenty20 international in Kanpuryesterday. Chasing a modest 148 forvictory, England rode on the third-wick-et 83-run stand between Morgan (51)and Joe Root (46 not out) to romp homewith 11 balls to spare.

But it was Moeen Ali’s career best 2-21 that set up the opening win in thethree match series as the visitorsrestricted the Virat Kohli-led side to 147-7. In reply, Billings, who hit a 10-ball 22,showed his intent in the second over ofthe innings as he smashed pacemanJasprit Bumrah for 3 fours and a six toset the pace. Billings shared a 42-runopening stand with Jason Roy (19)before leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahalremoved the openers in the space offour deliveries to leave England at 43 fortwo. But Morgan and Root, whoreturned to the side after missing thethird ODI in Kolkata with a niggle, keptthe chase on track with their attackingbrand of cricket. Morgan, who recordedhis eight T20 fifty, struck a four and 4 six-es during his 38-ball knock as he cartedthe Indian bowlers to all parts of theground. Debutant Kashmiri off-spinnerParvez Rasool removed Morgan to claimhis first T20 wicket but not after the left-handed batsman had taken the gameaway from the hosts.

Root, whose run-a-ball knock wasstudded with 4 boundaries, survived a

scare after Bumrah got the batsmanbowled in the 17th over but it was a noball. Earlier put into bat India sufferedfrom lack of partnerships with formercaptain Mahendra Singh Dhoni top-scoring with an unbeaten 36 to givesome respectability to the score.

Kohli, who led the T20 side for thefirst time since taking over from Dhonias India’s permanent limited overs cap-tain, opened the innings along withLokesh Rahul (8).

The star batsman attacked from theword go with a few boundaries against

the England pacers but ran out steamafter falling to off-spinner Ali for 29. Thehosts continued to lose wickets as bats-men Suresh Raina (34) and Yuvraj Singh(12) let go of their respective starts tohand the visitors an early advantage atKanpur’s Green Park Stadium.

Dhoni piloted the innings with hiscalculated 27-ball knock with threeboundaries, two of which came in thefinal over but his effort was not enoughto give India a competitive total.

The second match is slated forSunday in Nagpur. — AFP

India

V. Kohli c Morgan b Ali 29L. Rahul c Rashid b Jordan 8S. Raina b Stokes 34Y. Singh c Rashid b Plunkett 12M.S. Dhoni not out 36M. Pandey lbw b Ali 3H. Pandya c Billings b Mills 9P. Rasool run out (Morgan) 5J. Bumrah not out 0Extras (lb3, w7, nb1) 11Total (7 wickets; 20 overs) 147Fall of wickets: 1-34 (Rahul), 2-55 (Kohli), 3-75(Yuvraj), 4-95 (Raina), 5-98 (Pandey), 6-118(Pandya), 7-145 (Rasool)Bowling: Mills 4-0-27-1 (1w), Jordan 4-0-27-1(1nb, 1w), Plunkett 4-0-32-1, Stokes 4-0-37-1(5w), Ali 4-0-21-2

Did not bat: A. Nehra, Y. Chahal

England

J. Roy b Chahal 19S. Billings b Chahal 22J. Root not out 46E. Morgan c Raina b Rasool 51B. Stokes not out 2Estras (b1, lb2, w4, nb1) 8Total (3 wickets: 18.1 overs) 148Fall of wickets: 1-42 (Roy), 2-43 (Billings), 3-126 (Morgan)Bowling: Nehra 3-0-31-0 (2w), Bumrah 3.1-0-26-0 (1nb), Chahal 4-0-27-2, Rasool 4-0-32-1,Raina 2-0-17-0, Pandya 2-0-12-0 (1w)Did not bat: J. Buttler, M. Ali, L. Plunkett, A.ashid, C. Jordan, T. MillsResult: England won by 7 wickets.

SCOREBOARD

KANPUR, India: Final scoreboard of the first Twenty20 international between India and Englandin Kanpur yesterday:

AustraliaD. Warner c Babar b Junaid 179T. Head c Azhar b Hasan 128S. Smith c Wahab b Junaid 4G. Maxwell c Hafeez b Amir 13M. Wade c Malik b Hasan 8P. Handscomb c Hafeez b Wahab 1J. Faulkner not out 18M. Starc run out 6P. Cummins not out 1Extras (b1, lb 4, w6) 11Total (for 7 wickets, 50 overs) 369Fall of wickets: 1-284 (Warner), 2-288 (Smith), 3-323 (Maxwell), 4-336(Wade), 5-342 (Head), 6-351 (Handscomb), 7-367 (Starc)Did not bat: A. Zampa, J. HazlewoodBowling: Amir 10-0-71-1 (1w), Junaid 10-0-61-2 (2w), Hasan 9-0-100-2(1w), Hafeez 7-0-43-0, Wahab 10-0-62-1 (2w), Malik 4-0-27-0 PakistanAzhar Ali lbw Starc 6Sharjeel Khan c Wade b Starc 79Babar Azam c Head b Hazlewood 100Mohammad Hafeez c Smith b Starc 3Shoaib Malik retired hurt 10Umar Akmal c Wade b Cummins 46Mohammad Rizwan c Starc b Cummins 6Mohammad Amir c Maxwell b Faulkner 17Wahab Riaz b Starc 17Hasan Ali st Wade b Zampa 13Junaid Khan not out 0Extras (lb2, w13) 15Total (for 9 wickets, 49.1 overs) 312Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Azhar), 2-140 (Sharjeel), 3-145 (Hafeez), 3-181* (Malik, retired hurt), 4-220 (Babar), 5-246 (Rizwan), 6-276 (Akmal), 7-282 (Amir), 8-312 (Hasan), 9-312 (Wahab)Bowling: Starc 9.1-1-42-4 (3w), Hazlewood 10-0-74-1 (5w), Cummins10-0-60-2 (2w), Faulkner 9-0-60-1 (1w), Zampa 9-0-61-1 (1w), Head 2-0-13-0. Australia win series 4-1.

SCOREBOARD

ADELAIDE: Scoreboard from the fifth one-day international betweenAustralia and Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval yesterday:

Australia winODI series 4-1

against PakistanADELAIDE: Australia cruised to a 57-run victory over Pakistan inthe fifth and final one-day international at the Adelaide Oval yes-terday. After setting an imposing total of 369-7, thanks to arecord opening partnership of 284 between David Warner andTravis Head, the Australians bowled Pakistan out for 312.Pakistan’s Babar Azam scored 100 and Sharjeel Khan a quickfire79, but the home side were always in control and celebratedAustralia Day in style with a convincing win.

Warner and Head earlier got Australia away to a superb start,with Warner particularly damaging as he smashed the Pakistanattack to all parts of the ground.

Warner blasted 179 and Head 128 on their way to an openingstand of 284, a new Australian record for any wicket in ODIs. Bothbatsmen made their highest scores in one-day internationals,with Head also recording his maiden international century. Afterlosing the toss and being asked to bowl first, the Pakistanisalmost got the perfect start when Mohammad Amir enticed anedge from Warner with his first ball. But a diving Azhar Ali at firstslip couldn’t hold onto a difficult chance and Warner was soon infull flight. He brought up his 50 from 34 balls and his 100 from 78including 11 fours and two massive sixes. His 150 came from only107 deliveries with 17 boundaries and three sixes.

Head was far more circumspect but once the ball stoppedswinging after just four overs, he began to look more and morecomfortable. On a flat pitch that offered nothing to the bowlers,the Australians were untroubled until Warner began to cramp,restricting his movements. Warner eventually fell when he swat-ted a short ball from Junaid Khan to Babar at point with the scoreon 284. Australia were headed for a score well over 400 whenWarner and Head were in full flight but Pakistan fought back withsome late wickets to restrict them to 369. Pakistan’s chase startedbadly when Azhar fell leg before to Mitchell Starc for 10, butSharjeel and Babar took up the attack and moved the score to140 before the big hitting Sharjeel mistimed a pull shot and skieda catch to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade. Babar began to pick upthe pace and reached 100 from 107 balls, however, soon afterbringing up his fourth ODI century he holed out to Head at mid-on. Shoaib Malik retired hurt when he was hit on the arm by a PatCummins short ball and despite a defiant 46 from Umar Akmalwhich took the visitors past 300 runs, Pakistan ultimately fellshort. — AFP

MELBOURNE: It was one, two and three for the ages asVenus and Serena Williams set up another all-sisters final andRoger Federer ensured he’ll contend for another AustralianOpen title.

They’re calling it Throwback Thursday at Melbourne Park:three players with a combined 46 Grand Slam titles and acombined age of 106 advanced to the finals.

Six-time Australian Open winner Serena Williams over-whelmed Mirjana Lucic-Baroni 6-2, 6-1 in just 50 minutes inthe second of women’s semifinals, after Venus Williams beatfellow American CoCo Vandeweghe 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-3.

The only person standing between 35-year-old SerenaWilliams and an Open-era record 23rd Grand Slam title is 36-year-old Venus Williams, the oldest player to reach anAustralian Open women’s final in the modern era. She is theoldest player since Martina Navratilova at Wimbledon in 1994to reach a women’s major final anywhere. “It felt really goodbecause I felt like it was in my hands to force this Williamsfinal,” Serena Williams said. “Believe it or not, I was feeling a lit-tle pressure about that, but it felt really good to get that win.”

At 35, Federer is the oldest man to reach a Grand Slam finalsince Ken Rosewall made the 1974 US Open final at the age of39. He had a 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6, 6-3 win in an all-Swiss semifinalagainst Stan Wawrinka, who has won three majors - theAustralian in 2014, the French in 2015 and the US Open lastyear - in the time since Federer captured the last of his record17, at Wimbledon in 2012.

Wawrinka broke his racket over his knee in the second set.He needed a medical timeout before the third, came out withhis right knee taped, and rallied to force Federer to five for the

first time before double-faulting to give up the vital break inthe sixth game. Federer, coming back from six months on thesidelines to rest his injured left knee, made no mistake in clos-ing out. He will next play Sunday against the winner of Friday’ssemifinal between 14-time major winner Rafael Nadal andGrigor Dimitrov.

“I felt like everything happened so quickly,” Federer said. “Itfeels amazing. I never, ever in my wildest dreams thought Iwas going to be coming this far here in Australia. It’s beauti-ful.” The women’s final tomorrow night will be the first all-Williams final here since 2003, when Serena won what Venushas described as a “battle royale.”

Returning to her first final since then in Melbourne was amomentous occasion for Venus Williams, given her strugglesto overcome an energy-sapping illness since being diagnosedwith Sjogren’s syndrome in 2011. She hasn’t been in a GrandSlam final since losing 2009 Wimbledon to Serena.

“Everyone has their moment in the sun,” she said. “Maybemine has gone on a while. I’d like to keep that going. I’ve gotnothing else to do so let’s keep it going.” She was exuberantafter clinching her win Vandeweghe on her fourth matchpoint, putting hands up to her face, almost in disbelief, beforecrossing her arms over her heart. She then did a stylish pirou-ette on the court, smiling broadly, as the crowd gave her astanding ovation.

Serena Williams’ celebration was more subdued after herlopsided win over 34-year-old Lucic-Baroni, who was playingher first semifinal at a major since Wimbledon in 1999. Therewas a warm embrace for the woman she’d played only twicebefore - both times in 1998. — AP

S p o r t sFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

PORT-GENTIL: Seven years of soccer gloom might beslowly lifting for Egypt.

The African Cup of Nations’ most successful teammade it back to the quarterfinals on Wednesday,beating one of the title contenders along the way. A1-0 win over Ghana ensured its long -awaited returnto the championship will continue for at least a littlewhile longer. Mohamed Salah blasted home an 11th-minute free kick on the final day of the group stage inGabon, and Egypt clinched the last quarterfinal placewith the victory. Salah’s goal, a thunderous left-footfree-kick that gave Ghana’s goalkeeper no chance,

sparked celebrations back home in Egypt, and for asmall group of Egyptian fans who made it all the wayto the Gabonese city of Port-Gentil on the other sideof Africa. Those fans, for years used to success at theAfrican championship, have been starved of any joylately with Egypt, the record seven -time champion,failing to even qualify for the last three tournaments.

Egyptian soccer has been held back by the majorpolitical upheavals back home. “Our ambition is veryhigh,” Egypt’s Argentinian coach Hector Cuper saidafter Wednesday’s win. “We’re so enthusiastic andwe’re so motivated. My message to the Egyptian peo-

ple is: We are going to fight in the coming games, weare going to play our best.”

Egypt needed to win to make sure it progressed,while Ghana had already qualified. But the victoryalso gave Egypt renewed hope that it can competewith the best again at the Cup of Nations, a tourna-ment it won for the third straight time in 2010, break-ing all records, before the collapse came.

Salah’s strike at Stade de Port-Gentil was one ofthe goals of the tournament, too, as he stepped upand smashed his free kick into the top left cornerwith eye-opening power and accuracy. — AP

Egypt back in African Cup quarterfinals

Williams sisters, Federer in Australian Open finals

MELBOURNE: Switzerland’s Roger Federer hits a return against Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka during their men’ssingles semi-final match on day 11 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne yesterday. — AFP

Oilers’ rout DucksANAHEIM: Leon Draisaitl scored two goals and Cam Talbotmade 26 saves in his 15th career shutout, leading the EdmontonOilers to a 4-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesdaynight. Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zack Kassian scoredduring the second period for the Oilers in a meeting of PacificDivision contenders. Draisaitl scored early in the second andthird periods, giving the German four goals in three gamesagainst Anaheim this season. NHL scoring leader ConnorMcDavid had an assist for his 57th point, and Talbot was rarelytested in his fourth shutout of the season. John Gibson stopped19 shots for the Ducks, who stumbled into the All-Star breakwith their first shutout loss in 35 games since Nov 12.

MAPLE LEAFS 4, RED WINGS 0Auston Matthews scored early in the first period and Frederik

Andersen made 22 saves for his third shutout of the season,leading Toronto over Detroit. Roman Polak scored late in thesecond period and James van Riemsdyk and Nikita Soshnikovhad goals in the third to give Toronto a comfortable cushion.The Maple Leafs moved a point ahead of Boston in the Atlanticstandings and into third place for the division’s third guaranteedspot in the playoffs. Toronto has played five fewer games thanthe Bruins, putting it in a relatively favorable position to makethe playoffs for the first time since 2013 and just the second timein 12 seasons. Petr Mrazek stopped 24 shots for the Red Wings.

FLYERS 2, RANGERS 0Steve Mason stopped 34 shots for his 31st career shutout and

Philadelphia beat New York. Wayne Simmonds and JakubVoracek scored 2:36 apart in the third period for the Flyers, whohad lost five straight to the Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist finishedwith 24 saves for the Rangers, who ended a three-game winningstreak. The Flyers took the lead at 6:09 of the third, just 34 sec-onds after the Rangers’ Matt Puempel was sent off for tripping.Voracek fired a shot from the right slot that was stopped byLundqvist, but Brayden Schenn jabbed at the puck, it went toSimmonds and he backhanded it in for his 20th.

CANUCKS 3, AVALANCHE 2Sven Baertschi got his second goal of the game with 8:14 left,

Markus Granlund also had a goal and the Vancouver Canucksbeat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Wednesday night. JacobMarkstrom stopped 30 shots for the Canucks. Vancouver has 52points and sits in the second wild card in the WesternConference, one point ahead of Calgary. The Canucks haveplayed two fewer games than the Flames. — AP

ANAHEIM: Cam Talbot #33 of the Edmonton Oilers makesthe second period save on Nick Ritchie #37 of theAnaheim Ducks at the Honda Center on Wednesday inAnaheim, California. — AFP

MADRID: Celta Vigo pulled off anothermajor upset in the Copa del Rey, elimi-nating Real Madrid with a 2-2 homedraw on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals for the second straight season. Ayear after ousting Atletico Madrid inthe quarterfinals, Celta knocked RealMadrid out at the same stage with a 4-3aggregate victory. It had stunned theSpanish powerhouse with 2-1 win inthe f irst leg at Santiago BernabeuStadium last week.

The result dashed Madrid’s hopes ofwinning five titles this season. It hadalready won the European Super Cupand the Club World Cup, and remainsin contention in the Champions Leagueand the Spanish league.

“We played a good match but in theend it wasn’t possible to advance,”Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said.“We are disappointed, but we have tokeep working and focus on the compe-titions we can still win.”

Celta broke the deadlock just beforehalftime at a packed Balaidos Stadiumin Vigo with an own goal by Madriddefender Danilo, who had already beenloudly criticized by fans because of astring of poor performances. The ballricocheted off the legs of the Brazilianright back after a save by goalkeeperKiko Casilla.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who twice hit thewoodwork when the game was score-less in the first half, equalized with afree kick from about 30 meters (yards)out in the 62nd minute. But Danishmidfielder Daniel Wass restored Celta’slead with a low shot from the edge ofthe area in the 85th.

Lucas Vazquez equal ized againamid heavy rain with a header in the90th, but Madrid failed to find a thirdgoal to advance. Madrid, seeking itsfirst Copa title since 2014, had beendisqualified in the opening round oflast season’s competition after fieldingan ineligible player.

Zidane’s team was without defenderMarcelo and midfielder Luka Modricbecause of injuries sustained in aSpanish league match tomorrow.

Celta has never won the Copa del

Rey and hasn’t made it to the final since2001, when it lost to Real Zaragoza.Two-time defending championBarcelona will try to reach the semifi-nals for the seventh straight season onThursday when it hosts Real Sociedad.The Catalan club won the first leg 1-0.

EIBAR 2, ATLETICO MADRID 2Atletico Madrid is back in the semi-

finals after being eliminated in thequarterfinals for the last two seasons,holding on for a draw at E ibar toadvance 5-2 on aggregate. Atleticotook the lead with a header byUruguay defender Jose Gimenez in the49th minute, but the hosts rallied withgoals by Sergi Enrich in the 73rd andPedro Leon in the 80th. Enrich’s neat

volley from inside the area was set upby Leon only a few seconds after bothplayers had entered the match as sec-ond-half substitutes.

Juanfran Torres scoring Atletico’ssecond goal in the Basque Countrywith a lob over the goalkeeper in the85th. Atletico, which is trying to winthe Copa del Rey for the first timesince 2013, was eliminated by CeltaVigo in the quarterfinals last season,and by Barcelona at the same stage inthe previous year.

Eibar was playing in the Copa quar-terfinals for the first time. On Tuesday,Alaves advanced 2-0 on aggregate bydrawing second-division club Alcorconat home, reaching the semifinals for thefirst time in 13 years. — AP

S p o r t sFRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

TURIN: In a rematch of last year’s final, Italian Cupholder Juventus beat 10-man AC Milan 2-1 in thequarterfinals on Wednesday to avenge its morerecent defeats to Vincenzo Montella’s side.

Paulo Dybala and Miralem Pjanic scored forJuventus in the first half to leave MassimilianoAllegri’s side on course for a third successive leagueand cup double.

Juventus used the same 4-2-3-1 formation whichhad beaten Lazio 2-0 on Sunday, with all its stellarattackers. “It’s not a given that we’ll always play likethis,” Allegri said. ‘We could change. What’s impor-tant is our attitude. The team had a good match for65 minutes, then we had a bit of difficulty and gaveMilan a good chance.”

Carlos Bacca reduced the deficit shortly after half-time but Manuel Locatelli was sent off moments laterfollowing a second booking. Despite its numerical

disadvantage, Milan - as it has often done this season- played better in the second half but couldn’t findthe equalizer.

“Credit to Juventus who scored with two greatmoves, they were very good in the first half and weweren’t very fast because we couldn’t find the space,”Montella said. “But great credit to the lads for alwaysbelieving in the comeback. We were very close, evenwith 10 men.”

Juventus, which leads Serie A by four points, willface Napoli in the semifinals over two legs after thesouthern side beat Fiorentina 1-0 on Tuesday.

Milan had beaten Juventus 1-0 in the league thisseason and also defeated it on penalties to win theItalian Super Cup last month. “All the three matcheswere very equal, that is already a source of pride,”Montella added.

“That should give us extra conviction to believe in

ourselves and go forward like this.” There is an Italianproverb “non c’e due senza tre” - things happen inthrees - and Milan were hoping to prove it right.

However, Juventus, which beat Milan 1-0 in thefinal last year, was aggressive from the outset andtook the lead in the 10th minute, with its first attempton goal. Kwadwo Asamoah’s cross was flicked on byJuan Cuadrado for an unmarked Dybala to volley infrom 10 yards (meters).

Juventus was dominating and doubled its lead 11minutes later when Asamoah was tripped by JurajKucka just outside the area and Pjanic curled theresulting free kick into the top left corner.

Juventus had the ball in the back of the net a thirdtime shortly before the half hour, but Sami Khedirawas offside when he tapped in the rebound afterMilan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma had parriedGonzalo Higuain’s effort. — AP

Holder Juventus beat Milan to reach Italian Cup semis

VIGO: Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos, left, and RC Celta’s Jonny Castro inaction during a Copa del Rey, quarter final, 2nd leg soccer matchbetween Celta and Real Madrid at the Balaidos stadium in Vigo, Spain,Wednesday. — AP

Celta ousts Real fromCopa quarterfinals

Southampton stun Liverpool to reach League Cup final

LONDON: Shane Long struck a stoppage-time winner asSouthampton upset Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield on Wednesday tobecome the first side to reach the League Cup final withoutconceding after expertly manning the barricades in their last-four second leg clash.

Liverpool laid siege to Southampton’s goal in the secondhalf having been outplayed in the opening 45 minutes, but thevisitors were doggedly determined to keep the hosts at bay andpoached a winner at the death to seal a 2-0 aggregate victory.Southampton had chances to put the tie to bed in the first half,with Dusan Tadic and Steven Davis guilty of poor finishing, butafter the break it was all Liverpool and Daniel Sturridge wastedtwo superb chances.

With the seconds ticking away, Liverpool felt they shouldhave had a penalty when Divock Origi appeared to be trippedin the area, but Southampton broke swiftly and substitute Longblasted a shot past Loris Karius.

Southampton, who have sold millions of pounds worth ofplayers to Liverpool in recent seasons, will face eitherManchester United or Hull City in the final. United will take a 2-0lead into the semi-final second leg at Hull later.

Southampton’s victory continued a remarkable run that hasseen them shut out Crystal Palace, Sunderland, Arsenal andnow Liverpool, the Premier League’s top scorers.

The Saints, who have not won a major trophy since liftingthe FA Cup in 1976, arrived at Anfield with a gameplan thatworked to perfection as the visitors sat back and let Liverpoolhave the ball, while looking to spring fast, incisive counterattacks at every opportunity. Nathan Redmond, who scored theonly goal of the first leg when he also missed a bagful ofchances, was a persistent nuisance for Liverpool’s defenders,who were frequently exposed by the winger’s pace and trick-ery. Redmond’s slalom runs from deep created the first half’sbest two chances as he first teed up Tadic, who could not beatKarius from close range, and then laid on a superb opportunityfor Davis, who blasted over from 10 metres. — Reuters

ANFIELD: Liverpool’s Belgian striker Divock Origi (C) istackled by Southampton’s English defender JackStephens during the EFL (English Football League) Cupsemi-final second-leg football match between Liverpooland Southampton at Anfield in Liverpool, north westEngland on Wednesday. — AFP

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OSTRAVA: Laurence Fournier Beaudryand Nikolaj Sorensen of Denmarkcompete compete during the IceDance / Short Dance program of theEuropean Figure SkatingChampionships in Ostrava, CzechRepublic yesterday. — AFP