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minister - Arab Times
THE FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY IN FREE KUWAIT Established in 1977 / www.arabtimesonline.com
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017 / SAFAR 27, 1439 AH
Pages 34 to 36 NO. 16622
150 FILS
NBK celebrates 65 glorious years of service — Details Page 26 —
SURGE IN IMPOUNDS RAISES IRE AMONG LEGISLATORS
MPs query concerns on cars, colons 'Traffic' urged to review decision
Other Voices By Abubakar Ibrahim
No to dualism ... yes to 'respect' for laws By Ali Ahmed Al-Baghli
Arab Times Staff
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: MP Waleed Al-Tabtabaei has presented questions to acting Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid Al-Jarrah about the law on impounding vehicles. He said the Ministry of Interior had earlier decided to amend some provisions of Decree No. 81/1976 on the executive regulations of the Traffic Law by
Former Minister of Oil
LAWS were not enacted vainly. They were sanctioned, either unilaterally in some cases by the Executive Authority or in partnership with the Legislative Authority when considering national representation; hence, the operative law should be enforced, otherwise, it should be abolished. This is due to the fact that if a valid law is not enforced, disorder will thrive in society and every violator will be certain about the slackness of the authority in enforcing the law. This will lead to disorder in society where survival is for the fittest and it entails going back to the Stone Age. Therefore, we are oblivious to the reason of our Executive Authority in terms of intentional slackness in enforcing the Kuwaiti Citizenship Law which prohibits dual citizenship. On the other hand, those with dual citizenship are given the option to choose between the two nationalities — of KuAl-Baghli wait which showers them with benefits or the other country which is usually their motherland and keeping its nationality is either for allegiance purposes or to benefit from what it offers. The worst of what we are suffering now is the fact that our latest Parliament turned a blind eye on the shameful flaw — slackness of the Executive Authority in enforcing an operative law. Actually, some members of the Parliament openly threaten and manipulate the Executive Authority with interpellation and hold the latter accountable if there is an attempt to touch the dualism file. It is not a secret that once such topic is tackled, it might affect some of them; yes, some of them and thousands of their voters whom we see with our bare eyes during election, filling buses and cars with non-Kuwaiti plate numbers in front of electoral stations and committees.
An earthquake survivor speaks at her destroyed house in Sarpol-e-Zahab in western Iran on Nov 15. Survivors in Iran are awaiting badly needed aid, three days after a powerful earthquake along the Iraq border killed hundreds and left thousands injured. (AP)
Quake survivors plead for help
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Newswatch KUWAIT CITY: Director Kuwait National Earthquake Monitoring Network at Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) Abdullah Al-Enezi has denied rumor circulating on social media, which says a massive earthquake will hit Iran, Iraq and the Arabian Gulf within the next few days and cause major damage to infrastructure and major human losses, reports Al-Jarida daily. Al-Enezi discarded the information as baseless, adding it's impossible to forecast an earthquake before it occurs and his statement has been corroborated by the United States Geological Survey. ❑ ❑ ❑ RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Foundation (Misk), Continued on Page 8
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He wants to know if the ministry studied the mechanism for implementing the decision to identify the positive and negative aspects. If yes, he demanded for a copy of the study. He asked if the ministry utilized the experience of other countries which impound cars for the abovementioned violations or if Kuwait is the first country to implement this decision. He requested for details such as the total number of wenches and surfaces being used on the streets of Kuwait in order to implement the decision; owners of these items – whether the ministry, companies or individuals; names of companies which own these items if any, the mechanism for contracting with them; and places allocated for impounded vehicles. In a related development, MP Mohammed Al-Dalal is of the view that the impounding of cars in the last few days was an excessive and inappropriate action. On his Twitter account, AlDalal said Kuwaitis support application of the law and strictness in dealing with traffic violations; but everyone thinks the recent impounding of cars was exaggerated up to the extent that it negatively affected Kuwaiti families, not just the persons who committed the violation. He then called on the ministry to review the decision quickly.
Russian planes hit DAESH
adding three items – 27, 28 and 29 – to Article 207. He disclosed the amendment stipulates impounding of a vehicle in case the driver uses a mobile phone by hand or if the driver and the front seat passenger are not wearing seat belts.
Aid slow to reach Iranians
MOSCOW, Nov 15, (RTRS): Six Russian long-range bombers struck Islamic State targets near the town of Albu Kamal in Syria's Deir Ezzor Province on Wednesday, the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement. The TU-22M3 bombers took off from bases in Russia and overflew Iran and Iraq before launching the strike, it said. The ministry said the planes had bombed Islamic State supply depots, militants, and armoured vehicles and that satellite and drone surveillance had confirmed that all of the designated targets had been destroyed. It said Sukhoi-30SM fighter jets, based at the Hmeymim air base in Syria used by Russian forces, had escorted the bombers while they were in Syrian air space and that all the bombers had safely returned to their bases. Russia on Tuesday accused the United States of providing de-facto cover for Islamic State units in Syria and of only pretending to fight terrorism in the Middle East.
KOUIK, Iran, Nov 15, (Agencies): Iranian survivors of a powerful earthquake that killed more than 400 people pleaded Wednesday for water, tents and other emergency supplies as aid trickled into remote villages near the Iraqi border. The government ordered rescuers to keep searching for people trapped under the rubble following the 7.3-magnitude quake which struck the mountainous region late Sunday, toppling buildings and leaving thousands homeless. At least 530 people were killed in Iran, all in the western province of Kermanshah, and eight in Iraq, according to authorities in the two countries. In total, nearly 8,200 people were reported to have been injured. In villages north of the badly hit city of Sar-e Pol-e Zahab, a convoy of about 20 ambulances arrived with medicine while Red Crescent teams brought tents, water, food, and blankets. But much of the assistance came from ordinary Iranians, some of whom travelled more than 100 kms (62 miles) from a neighbouring province. "God bless them!" resident Abdol Gaderi, 45, said of the volunteers, but "we need running water, electricity, and mobile toilets". Villagers voiced fears of disease breaking out because of the corpses of animals under the rubble.
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Hariri to meet FM of France PARIS, Nov 15, (AFP): French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will meet with Lebanon's resigned Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Thursday during a visit to Saudi Arabia, an aide said. Le Drian will arrive in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and meet with powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the capital Riyadh before holding talks with Hariri on Thursday, the aide told a foreign ministry briefing. As it was unclear when Hariri will leave Saudi Arabia to return home, the timing of the meeting "may be adjusted", the aide said. Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Wednesday accused Saudi Arabia of having "detained" Hariri, who announced his resignation in a surprise statement from the kingdom on Nov 4. "Nothing justifies the failure of Prime Minister Saad Hariri to return for 12 days, therefore we consider him to be held and detained, contrary to the Vienna Convention," Aoun said in a tweet on the official Lebanese presidency account. "We will not accept that he remain a hostage and that we do not know the reasons for his detention," he added. Hariri, who has long been
Paris talks tough line over Tehran PARIS, Nov 15, (RTRS): France said on Wednesday it wanted an "uncompromising" dialogue with Iran about its ballistic missile programme and a possible negotiation over the issue separate from Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Paris has already suggested that new European sanctions against Iran could be discussed over its missile tests, something EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini seemed to dismiss on Tuesday, keen not to raise risks to the hard-won deal that curbed Iran's disputed nuclear activity. On Sunday, Iran rejected a call by French President Emmanuel Macron for talks on its missiles, saying they were defensive in nature and had nothing to do with its nuclear energy work. "France is concerned about the continued pace of the Iranian missile programme, which does not conform with (UN) Security Council Resolution 2231 and which is a source of destabilisation and insecurity for the region," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Agnes Romatet-Espagne told reporters in a daily briefing. Resolution 2231, which enshrined the nuclear deal, calls on Iran not to undertake activities related to missiles capable of delivering nuclear bombs, including launches using such technology. It stops short of explicitly barring such activity. "France wishes to examine all the diplomatic options: a frank and uncompromising political dialogue with Iran; investigations by the UN General Secretariat; if necessary, new European sanctions against Iranian entities or individuals involved in the ballistic programme; and finally opening a negotiation on the subject," she said. President Donald Trump, who has resumed a confrontational US approach to Iran in contrast with predecessor Barack Obama's policy of detente, has said Iranian missile activity should be curbed and
US officials earlier this year blamed the group for a series of cyberattacks dating back to 2009, saying it was linked to the Pyongyang government. In Tuesday's warning, the DHS Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) said the hacker could still maintain a presence on victims' networks with the aim of "further network exploitation." Continued on Page 8
North Korean malware lurks
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WASHINGTON, Nov 15, (Agencies): US authorities said Tuesday malware developed in North Korea is still lurking in many computer networks, giving hackers backdoor access to government, financial, automotive and media organizations. An alert issued by the Department of Homeland Security warned of surreptitious activity by the so-called "Hidden Cobra" hacker group, also known by the name "Lazarus."
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Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left centre), walks with the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani (left), as they review an honour guard during the welcome ceremony prior to the meeting in Doha, Qatar on Nov 15. Erdogan is on a two-day tour of the Middle East, that also took him to Kuwait. (AP)
Hike in onion prices tied to low supplies KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: Inadequate supply of onions in the market is causing the recent hike in prices of the commodity, reports Al-Anba daily quoting a source from Fruits and Vegetable market. He noted the issue is partly to do with import of large quantities of onions that were declared unfit by the Public Authority for Nutrition after test result showed the commodity was not safe for consumption. He noted large quantities of onions seized by the sector were returned to their places of origin and the traders are afraid the same scenario could be repeated; thus refraining from the importation of new consignments until the issue has been settled by the Public Authority for Nutrition and Kuwait Municipality. He noted the traders seek to mount pressure on Kuwait Municipality and other official bodies to limit testing of onions to 'plain view' rather than 'laboratory analysis', especially as
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Meanwhile, MP Hamdan AlAzmi has submitted questions to acting Minister of Health Dr Jamal Al Harbi on the National Health Survey Program for early detection of colon cancer. He disclosed that former undersecretary of the ministry Dr Khalid Al-Sahlawi adopted a decision to establish the national program for early detection of colorectal cancer under the Office of the Undersecretary. He asked if the objectives of the program have been achieved or not. He also demanded a statistical report about the program, number of meetings held by the committee in charge of the program, minutes of these meetings, number of colon cancer cases before and after establishing the program, qualifications of the chairman and members of the program, their work experience, budget allocated for the program, and financial benefits granted to the chairman and members. He inquired as well if the program carried out public awareness campaigns, and if yes, he requested the number of campaigns conducted, companies in charge of these campaigns and copies of their contracts with the ministry if any.
ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017
L'Oréal-UNESCO organizes event for 4th year running at 'For Women in Science ME Fellowship 2017'
Kuwait's Dr Fatema among top GCC women scientists feted DUBAI, Nov 15: Six women can lead the cause of science in the Middle East while also encouraging other young people to follow their footsteps. This is the message that was conveyed at the ceremony of L'OréalUNESCO For Women in Science Middle East Fellowship 2017, Nov 13 at Dubai, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, held in partnership with Zayed University, where innovative female researchers were each awarded EUR 20,000 for the Postdoc Researchers category and EUR 8,000 for the PhD Students category, in recognition of their contribution to science and their outstanding research work. Among the six winners, Kuwait was represented by Dr Fatema Alrashed, for her research on the effect of lipid metabolites in monocytic lipotoxicity and inflammatory responses. Now in its 4th year, the L'OréalUNESCO For Women in Science Middle East Fellowship is based on the belief that the world needs science, and science needs women, because women in science have the power to change the world. The awards laud the contribution of eminent female scientists, researchers and contributors in the Middle East to the scientific development in the region. L'Oréal's and Zayed University's core values are founded on the idea of empowering women, of nurturing their inner strength and encouraging their full potential. The L'Oréal Foundation's For Women In Science Program, which was launched in cooperation with Zayed University, is designed to shatter the stereotypes that hinder the aspirations of a younger generation of females. It champions the role of female scientists and shines a spotlight on their discoveries to bridge the gender gap and plough an equal playing field. At the awards event, Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, President of Zayed University
Dr Fatema Alrashed in a group photo.
congratulated the winners. She said: "I commend, support, and believe in the work being done by the L'Oréal Foundation and UNESCO through the 'For Women In Science' Program. It ensures that great scientific ideas don't fall prey to gender barriers. It also involves women in the Middle East — who are over 50 percent of the population — in meaningful scientific work to benefit the whole society. And as an added benefit, these women then go on to inspire a brand-new generation of minds while simultaneously carving out rewarding careers," she said. Speaking at the awards event, Dr
Mouin Hamzé, President of the Jury & Secretary General of the National Council for Scientific Research — Lebanon (CNRS-L), said: "It has been an honor for me to chair the Jury Committee for the fourth year running I'm delighted to say that the competition gets more intense, the submissions more thought out, and the quality of research presented more robust with every passing year. This year, not only have the number of applicants been very high but the significance of their accomplishments has been exceptional. The winners — who range from across the GCC
— have brought spectacular contributions to the table, and have generated ideas and research with the potential to benefit human life worldwide." Balanced male-female research teams have demonstrably made a high impact on the quality of insight and application generated. Diversity enables a multitude of viewpoints to be considered, and introduces varying perspectives that enrich and strengthen findings. Thierry Houssin, Managing Director at L'Oréal Middle East said: "L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women In Science Middle East Fellowship program continues to build on our firm
KOC set to host third Kuwait Flow Measurement Technology confab Number of regional, int'l oil & gas cos to participate KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15, (KUNA): Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) announced Wednesday hosting of the third edition of Kuwait Flow Measurement Technology for Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition. The three-day event will kick off on Nov 19 at the Hilton Kuwait Resort in Mangaf area with participation of a number of regional and international oil and gas companies, Ismail Abdullah, Deputy CEO of West Kuwait Directorate at KOC, said in a press statement. Assistant Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Director for Evaluation and Measurement at Kuwait University Dr Khalid Al-Fadhel disclosed that Kuwait University launched orientation video on aptitude tests specified for secondary students who wish to register for the test.
NCCAL keen to support young theater artists AMMAN, Nov 15, (KUNA): The National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) reiterated commitment to support young and help harness the talents of Kuwaiti theater artists. In statements to KUNA on the sidelines of 24th Jordanian Theater Festival, NCCAL Assistant Secretary General and Head of the Kuwaiti delegation Dr Bader Al-Dowaish said that the NCCAL has a comprehensive strategy to enrich the experience and upgrade the performance of young theater artists. This strategy includes helping them take part in local and overseas festivals and contents as well as allocating prizes for the distinguished works, he said.
He cited as example, the play which was nominated to represent Kuwait in the Jordanian Theater Festival. The played, titled Atsah, is work of a group of young Kuwaiti artists, he said, noting that it has grabbed three prizes in a local festival. The 24th annual Jordanian Theatre Festival kicked on Monday at the Royal Cultural Centre. The festival, which is held in cooperation with the Jordan Artists Association, showcases musical and theatrical performances, a short movie and several workshops. Performances from the UAE, Kuwait, Sudan, Egypt, Palestine and Iraq are taking part in the festival, which will conclude on Nov 21.
Meanwhile, the Kuwaiti formative artist Mashael Faisal has taken part in a joint exhibition with her Qatari colleague Nasser Al-Attiah, themed "another dream." Her paintings depict issues preoccupying male and female Kuwaitis and the yearning for breaking some social taboos. Bulging human eyes and trimmed limbs are symbols reflecting social chains, she said in remarks to KUNA. She has put 12 works on display at Al-Markhiya Gallery. The exhibition which opened on Tuesday with attendance of the Kuwaiti Third Secretary, Mohammad Al-Omar, would proceed till Jan 11.
'Remain calm, delay grillings' KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: The government welcomes the MPs' call for everyone to remain calm and to postpone interpellations, while affirming the new government formation has the ability to face challenges, reports Al-Anba daily quoting sources. Sources told the daily that the next government will consist of five new ministers and at least two former ministers will be assigned to a different post. Sources said the new government will work with the National Assembly in line with Article 98 of the Constitution. Sources added the government will submit the State's financial statement (revenues and expenses) to the National Assembly in accordance with Article 150 of the Constitution in a bid to prevent clashes and disagreements between members of the two authorities.
The conference focuses on the practical application of measurement technology, highlighting latest research results on all aspects of flow measurement, Abdullah, also head of the conference's steering committee, noted. The event represents a unique opportunity to followup on latest state of the art flow measurement technologies, he said. It is also a chance to explore cooperation prospects through such an ideal platform for dialogue and communication with prominent specialists and professionals, Abdullah added. Meanwhile, the accompanying exhibition will display some of the state-of-the-art innovative technologies, in addition to new products and services related to the oil and gas flow measurement, he noted. For his part, Rashed Al-Marri, chairman of the conference's technical committee, indicated that Kuwait will host the annual event for the third time in row on behalf of the Middle East region. Some of the notable companies and state institutions taking part in the event are General Electric, Emerson, Krohne, Aramco, KOC, KNPC, Equate, and Kuwait University, added Al-Marri.
commitment to women everywhere. We believe in gender diversity, and want to ensure that great ideas are heard. Women are one half of humanity, and to not have their input in global discourse weakens human progress as a species. In fact, we actively work towards ensuring that all women's voices are heard and acknowledged. We genuinely believe that women in science — and indeed anywhere else — have the power to change the world. Our initiative provides them the amplification to have their valued voices listened to and lauded." The L'Oréal Foundation helps wom-
en fight prejudice, tear down gender barriers, and conquer new areas in science. It celebrates outstanding women in science as they change the world through their discoveries. Nearly 2,700 women in over 115 countries have been the recipients of Fellowship. With UNESCO, the Foundation has honored almost 100 award laureates for their research achievements — two of whom have gone on to win a Nobel Prize. The 2017 Fellows Are: Postdoc Researchers Category: ■ Dr Fatema Alrashed, (Kuwait), Dasman Diabetes Institute, Kuwait: For her research on the effect of lipid metabolites in monocytic lipotoxicity and inflammatory responses. ■ Dr Amal Qattan, (KSA), King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center and George Washington University, US: For her research in the development of non-invasive liquid biopsy clinical assays for monitoring breast cancer, and the role that circulating microRNAs play as early detection biomarkers for breast cancer. ■ Dr Fatma Taher, (UAE), Zayed University: For her research into a non-invasive CAD system for early detection of lung cancer. ■ Dr Saba Alheialy, (UAE), Mohammed Bin Rashid Univ of Medicine & Health Sc: For her insights on steroid hyporesponsiveness in obese asthmatics, and in particular the role of Th17 cells and GR-beta. PhD Students Category: ■ Ms Fedah Emaed Mohamed, (UAE), United Arab Emirates University: For her insight into establishing the cellular mechanisms of missense mutations underlying GM1-gangliosidosis, and evaluating several pharmaceutical chaperones and proteostasis regulators as novel therapeutics. ■ Ms Maram Mansoor Abadi, (KSA), King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST), Super resolution visualization of polymer motion at molecular level.
Al-Duwaisan's support to dialogue hailed
Sternberg foundation gold medal awarded to Kuwaiti ambassador LONDON, Nov 15, (KUNA): The British charity Sternberg Foundation Interfaith awarded on Wednesday Kuwaiti Ambassador to United Kingdom Khaled Al-Duwaisan a special golden medallion, in appreciation for his efforts and support to dialogue and building communication between cultures. In a ceremony marking the occasion at the Kuwaiti Embassy in London, AlDuwaisan expressed his admiration and honor for the award, noting that he was a close friend to the late Sir Sigmund Sternberg, the founder who established the charity in 1969, noting that he was proud to work with him for so many years. The Kuwaiti ambassador said that he
shared with Sternberg his passion for enhancing dialogue between various religions due to his belief in humanity and goodwill, which was created by one God. Al-Duwaisan added that Sternberg had deep belief in the charity and its noble goals, a man who dedicated his life to show the similarities among the three major religions, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. This high distinction was granted following the unanimous decision of the award judges. The medal was granted in recognition of Al-Duwaisan's many years of endeavor and exceptional contribution to the improvement of understanding between the faiths in the United Kingdom and across the world.
Kuwait Today Prayer Timings Fajr Sunrise Zohr Asr Maghrib Isha
Weather Expected weather for the next 24 hours: By Night: Cool with light variable wind to light to moderate north westerly wind, with speed of 0826 km/h. By Day: Mostly sunny with light to moderate north westerly wind to light variable wind, with speed of 06-26 km/h. Station Max Min Exp Rec Kuwait City 29 20 Kuwait Airport 28 10 Abdaly 27 09 Bubyan 28 07 Jahra 28 12 Failaka Island 27 14 Salmiyah 26 20 Ahmadi 27 21 Nuwaisib 29 13 Wafra 28 11 Salmy 26 13 4 days forecast - Weather Thursday, Nov 16 Expected weather ........................................ Sunny Max Temp........................................................28C Min Temp.........................................................10C Wind Direction .........................................NW-VRB Wind Speed ..........................................08-28 km/h Friday, Nov 17 Expected weather ........................................ Sunny Max Temp........................................................27C Min Temp.........................................................11C Wind Direction ..................................................NW Wind Speed ..........................................08-28 km/h Saturday, Nov 18 Expected weather .............Mostly sunny and some scattered clouds will appear Max Temp........................................................26C Min Temp.........................................................10C Wind Direction .......................................... VRB-SE Wind Speed ..........................................06-28 km/h Sunday, Nov 19 Expected weather .... Partly cloudy to cloudy with a chance for scattered rain Max Temp........................................................27C Min Temp.........................................................11C Wind Direction .......................................... VRB-SE Wind Speed ..........................................06-28 km/h Marine Forecast Station Max Min Sea Today's Exp Rec Surf Waves Ht Dirn South Dolphin 26 18 - 3ft SE Umm Mudayrah 27 22 - 3ft SE
Beacon M28 - 3ft SE Beacon N6 26 16 - 3ft SE Qaruh Island 26 23 - 3ft SE Umm Al-Maradem 26 22 - 3ft SE Sea Island Buoy Salmiyah 26 20 - 3ft SE 4 days forecast - Marine Thursday, Nov 16 Expected weather ........................................ Sunny Sea state .................................. Slight to moderate Wave height................................................... 1-3 ft Max Temp........................................................28C Min Temp.........................................................10C Wind Direction .........................................NW-VRB Wind Speed ..........................................08-28 km/h Friday, Nov 17 Expected weather ........................................ Sunny Sea state .................................. Slight to moderate Wave height................................................... 1-4 ft Max Temp........................................................27C Min Temp.........................................................11C Wind Direction ..................................................NW Wind Speed ..........................................08-28 km/h Saturday, Nov 18 Expected weather .............Mostly sunny and some scattered clouds will appear Sea state .................................. Slight to moderate Wave height................................................... 1-3 ft Max Temp........................................................26C Min Temp.........................................................10C Wind Direction .......................................... VRB-SE Wind Speed ..........................................06-28 km/h Sunday, Nov 19 Expected weather .... Partly cloudy to cloudy with a chance for rain Sea state .................................. Slight to moderate Wave height................................................... 1-4 ft Max Temp........................................................27C Min Temp.........................................................11C Wind Direction .......................................... VRB-SE Wind Speed ..........................................06-28 km/h Tide times at Shuwaikh Port 1st high tide: ..................................................09:55 2nd high tide: .................................................22:21 1st low tide:....................................................16:08 2nd low tide: ..................................................04:43 Sunrise: .........................................................06:11 Sunset: ..........................................................16:53 Recorded yesterday at Kuwait Airport Max temp .........................................................27C Min temp ..........................................................09C Max Rh ........................................................... 51% Min Rh ............................................................ 13% Max Wind............................................NW 36 km/h Total Rainfall in 24 hrs ...................................0 mm Recorded yesterday at South Dolphin Min/Max/ Air Temp .....................................18/26C Min/Max Rel Hum ...................................... 23/58% Wind Direction/Wind Speed................... N/40 km/h Prev Wave Dir/Max Wave Ht ...........................N/-ft Min/Max Sea Surface Temp ............................-/- C Sea Current ........................................... Downdraft — Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Meteorological Dept.
deaths Abdullah Mohammad Ibrahim Al Beaijani, 80 years old, to be buried on Thursday at 9:00 am. Condolences: (Men) Kaifan, Block 5, Street 52, branch of Alexandariya Street, House 8, Tel: 99700970-99652996 (Women) Kaifan, Block 5, Street 52, House 6, Tel: 99859618- 24848539; Shoaa Tami Salem Al Hajri, 51 years old, wife of Mohammad Hamad Salem Al Hajri, buried on Wednesday. Condolences: Umm Al Haiman, Block 2, Street 2, House 10, Tel: 67722266-99848088; Abdul Aziz Fahad Abdul Aziz Al Felaij, 92 years old, to be buried on Thursday at 9:00 am; Condolences: (Men) Dahiyat Abdullah Al Salem, Diwan Al Felaij, Block 2, Sanah Street House 10, (women ) Shamiya, Block 5, Street 53, House 7; Khamees Abbas Abdul Kareem Al Jemaz, 53 years old, to be buried on Thursday at 9:00 am. Condolences: (Men) Salwa, Motaz Street House 517, Tel: 95559756 (Women) Saad Al Abdullah, Block 8, Street 843, House 34, Tel: 66124059; Sabah Mubarak Saleh Al Khana, 51 years old, to be buried on Thursday at 9:00 am. Condolences: (Men) Faiha, Block 2, Opp 2nd Ring Road, Diwan Al Khani, Tel: 60009250 (Women) Faiha, Block 3, Street 35, House 1, Opp Damascus Street.
Rashed Al-Marri
Kuwait official calls for boosting Arab-Chinese sea transport ties Bid to increase Arab exports to vast Chinese market
KUNA photo
Director of the External Education Department Ibrahim Al-Bader with Syrian students in Turkey.
Society has schools in Turkey, several countries
Kuwait Al-Najat Charity Society sponsors 1,500 Syrian students ANKARA, Nov 15, (KUNA): Kuwait's Al-Najat Charity Society announced on Wednesday sponsoring more than 1,500 Syrian refugee students in the cities of Hatay and Sanliurfa in southern Turkey. The society has schools in several countries, including Turkey, for development and progress of societies and peoples are achieved through education, Director of the External Education Department Ibrahim Al-Bader, who is visiting the "Saed" school in Sanliurfa, told KUNA. Al-Bader pointed out that the Syrian students are receiving the best education and educational services that
combine authenticity, modernity and Islamic values, adding that the Shanli Orfa School achieved first place among schools in the southern regions of Turkey. He also revealed Turkish Ministry of Education approved establishing the Al-Najat charity school to host more than 1,000 students. Al-Bader also said Al-Najat Charity also sponsored more than 50 students in a number of universities abroad, stressing the association's keenness to support these students to complete their educational journey to be active in progress and renaissance of their countries.
News in Brief Bahraini PM calls Crown Prince:
Panel holds meet: As part of prepa-
His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received a phone call Wednesday from Bahraini Prime Minister Khalifa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa. During the call, the Bahraini Premier expressed sentiments and wishes of utmost wellbeing to His Highness Sheikh Nawaf over the latest medical checkups he had in the United States, which results were good and successful. His Highness the Crown Prince, in turn, expressed appreciation to the Bahraini Premier for the kind gesture, hoping that Allah Almighty continue to protect the Kingdom of Bahrain and its people under the wise leadership of King Hamad Bin Issa Al-Khalifa. (KUNA)
rations for the third edition of 'Kuwait is the Center of Arab Theater' of the late artiste Ghanim Al-Saleh slated for March 27, 2018 on Abdulaziz Hussain, the supreme committee chaired by artiste Mohammad Al-Khedr met recently, reports Al- Rai daily. Present at the meeting were the late artiste's brother Mesaed Al-Ghowainm and members of the supreme committee. They discussed the preparation of a documentary film about the life of the late artiste, his artistic works and photos, among other matters. The event will be under the patronage of the assistant secretary general for Arts Sector in the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL).
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ALEXANDRIA, Nov 15, (KUNA): President of the Arab Sea Ports Federation (ASPF) Sheikh Sheikh Yousef Abdullah Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah has stressed necessity of enhancing the Arab-Chinese cooperation in maritime transport. Sheikh Yousef, who is also Director General of the Kuwait Ports Authority (KPA) and the Arab transport sector, made the call in a statement to KUNA Tuesday after attending the 52nd meeting of ASPF's board and the second of the Arab Federation of Transport in Alexandria, Egypt. He added that they had discussed a host of topics focusing on how the Arab transport sector and ports could benefit from China's "One Belt, One Road" (OBOR) initiative that combines the land-based "Silk Road Economic Belt" and the maritime "21st Century Maritime Silk Road." He added that participants decided to organize a workshop in Kuwait in January to prepare for a scheduled visit by the ASPF and the Arab transport sector to China to hold discussions on the initiative. Sheikh Yousef voiced hope for enhancing cooperation with China, and increasing the Arab exports to the vast Chinese market. Today's meeting also addressed a study on forming an emergency integrated team for the federation to intervene in case a catastrophe hits any Arab port, he said. For his part, ASPF Secretary General Admiral Essam Al-Din Badawi emphasized the need of sharing information and expertise among the Arab countries on sea ports. In a statement to KUNA, Badawi reiterated ASPF's keenness on developing the human element. He also said work is proceeding by leaps and bounds to complete the federation's website by the end of the year.
Corporate members of ABCK including Yousef Dashti with KGL Holding, Angela Carrigan with Honeywell.
ABCK hosts Thanksgiving for Kuwaiti graduates KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: On Tuesday, Nov 14 at 7 pm, the American Business Council Kuwait (ABCK) hosted a Thanksgiving dinner bringing together several large American corporations with presences in Kuwait and a group of Kuwaiti graduates and young professionals at the Elements Restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya. The purpose of this event was to launch a new initiative in which ABCK serves as the bridge between the many US companies looking for top talent to fill local positions, and the motivated and well-educated students coming back to Kuwait looking for employment opportunities in the private sector. The evening marked the continuation of ABCK's drive to recruit more Kuwaiti professionals as members and reflects ABCK's intention to serve as a forum for networking and dia-
logue around the business issues facing American companies in Kuwait and the impact of Kuwaitization policies. Several key representatives from Berkeley Research Group, Boeing, General Motors, Honeywell, Al-Tamimi & Company and KGL were present to provide attendees with prime opportunities for networking as well as provide insight into their activities in Kuwait and potential job openings within their firms. Event "We are thrilled to host this event and kick off ABCK's new initiative by sharing a Thanksgiving meal that represents our joint affinity and mutual interest in maximizing the business opportunity between the United States and Kuwait. We hope that ABCK will begin to raise its profile and serve as a bridge between Kuwait and US business communities in a mutually beneficial manner," said Jared Willis, ABCK Board
Member. Since 1985, the American Business Council Kuwait Ltd. (ABCK) has acted as an advocate for American companies in the State of Kuwait. ABCK is a non-profit organization comprised of American corporations, small- and medium-sized companies, and prominent business leaders and entrepreneurs both American and Kuwaiti. Through the support of its members, ABCK has become the recognized voice of US business in Kuwait. ABCK provides a platform through which executives pursue and discuss issues impacting business operations between the US and Kuwait. As a founding member of the Middle East Council of American Chambers of Commerce (MECACC), ABCK recognizes the importance of proactively encouraging an exchange of ideas between our members and Kuwaiti businesses.
Cars seized if not wearing belt, using phone on road 136 students caught driving without licence KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: Acting Undersecretary for Traffic Affairs at the Ministry of Interior, MajorGeneral Fahd Al-Shuwea said Article 207 of the Traffic Law has been activated as of Wednesday, Nov 15, 2017, reports AlAnba daily.
Cars found parked on pavements are impounded and taken away by the Traffic Dept.
News in Brief Envoy threatened: The Public Prosecution Department ordered the detention of an Asian expatriate recently who threatened the British Ambassador to Kuwait for denying him visa to Britain, reports Al-Jarida daily. A security source said the suspect will be charged to the Criminal Court after concluding investigation in that regard. The suspect denied taking such an action against the ambassador or the embassy. He will be remanded in the Central Prison pending his appearance in court. ❑ ❑ ❑ Drugs seized: Jahra securitymen apprehended a citizen in front of a restaurant at Nahda area in possession of illicit drug, reports Al-Anba daily. A security source said the suspect seemed disoriented when the officers saw him standing in front of the restaurant. They approached him for checking and found on him a piece of cigarette stuffed with hashish. Meanwhile, officers from Ahmadi Security Command upon directives from the Director General of Ahmadi Security Command Brigadier Abdullah Safah launched a campaign, and arrested two citizens in Mahboula and Fahd Al-Ahmad areas respectively for
possessing a cocktail of illicit drugs and paraphernalia. They were referred to relevant authorities. ❑ ❑ ❑
Knives, drugs: Director General of Ahmadi Security Command Brigadier Abdullah Sefah ordered the transfer of two Kuwaitis to the General Criminal Investigation Department for questioning over two large knives found on them alongside two transparent sachets containing heroin by a team of patrol officers in Fahaheel area, reports Al-Anba daily. ❑ ❑ ❑
Fireman hurt: Fire broke out in a building in Fahaheel, causing injuries to a fireman who fell down during the fire out operation, says Al-Seyassah. Firefighters, securitymen and paramedics rushed to the location after the Operations Unit in the Interior Ministry received information on the fire incident. Firemen doused the fire but while doing so, one of them fell down and was injured so he was taken to Adan Hospital. A case was registered and investigations are underway to determine the cause of fire.
According to the article vehicles will be impounded for not more two months in addition to a fine if the motorist speaks on the phone while driving without the use of earphones and the same fine will be applicable if the passenger on the front seat and the driver does not use the seat belts. The same penalty will be applied for motor bikers if they do not wear the crash helmets while riding. The official explained there is no room for negligence in activating the provisions of the traffic law for the safety of all segments of society to protect the road users. He pointed out the Public Relations and Security Media Department has launched an awareness campaign side by side announcing the activation of the traffic law. The Department also used the print, audio and video media and social networking sites in addition to posting messages on the electronic billboards as it launched the awareness campaign. This is in addition to printing brochures in different languages to be distributed among citizens and expatriates with the start of the activation of the law. He praised the civilized interaction of the drivers with the activation of Article 169 of the Traffic Law, which states that it is not permissible to park their vehicles or stop at pedestrian crossings or on sidewalks. He stressed this interaction has reflected in the low rate of violations which have dropped significantly from 4,000 to just 150 per day. Meanwhile, the Al-Anba daily reported upon instructions of Shuwea the General Traffic Department organized a surprise campaign in the vicinity of secondary schools in different governorates of Kuwait and arrested 136 juveniles, most of them Kuwaitis. They were caught driving cars without licences. All of them have been referred to the Juvenile Prosecution and their cars have been impounded.
DIWANIYA A DIGEST OF PUBLIC OPINION 'Co-existence crucial for peace'
'Allow Palestinians to return' "FAR from talking about the Zionist entity which is currently usurping the Arab lands and striving to occupy more to achieve its dream of founding its state from Euphrates River (of Iraq) to River Nile (of Egypt) — its flag shows the emblem of two red lines — Euphrates River and River Nile with David's Star in between. This actually represents the symbol of the Zionist entity," columnist Mustafa Al-Sarraf wrote for Al-Qabas daily. "I say away from the talk about the Zionist entity, but I would like hereby to add a phrase saying, in order to avert the wrath of those who are still calling for normalizing ties with the said entity to initially begin with holding a dialogue with the Zionists and eventually establishing economic relations with them. "But actually I know nothing about our need as Gulf countries for founding such type of relations with a renegade entity where both history and the events have proved that it has never been committed to any covenant rather they are still going ahead in terms of implementing their policy of expansionism to achieving their targeted dream. "In this context, we say during the earlier years of dialogue with the Zionists have proved that this dialogue has not benefited the Arabs, rather they (the Zionists) were wasting time through dialogue and using this dialogue to take the opportunity to build more settlements on the occupied Arab lands and preparing themselves to wage wars on the Arabs. "Economically, the Zionists are not better than even the poorest European country. Moreover, they are depending on American aid which is made available for them by the Zionist businessmen to keep the Zionist entity as a military base for the US and a source of threat for the Arab Al-Sarraf countries and all the countries in the region at large and create a justification for these countries to purchase weapons. "But it is needless to say nobody can imagine that these weapons will be directed against Israel by buying countries. Given the above, we infer that the role of this entity is confined of promoting unrests and conflicts in the region and as such it will never constitute a beneficial factor for all countries of the region in general and for the Arab countries in particular. "In the meantime, we say the Gulf countries are capable of investing their wealth in all countries of the world where these investments will enjoy adequate economic feasibility exceeding that of a parasitic entity of less importance. In other words, the requirements of the Gulf countries can be obtained from major industrial countries. "But the Zionist entity still depends on the US economy and as such it shall also depend on the economies of the region. Moreover, it shall constitute a threat to the countries in this part of the world with support from international Zionism, given the fact the latter still looks forward to tear apart the region and divide it into small conflicting and backward countries in an attempt to impose its domination and loot the wealth and manage its affairs. "Therefore, those who still believe in the feasibility of normalization of ties with Israel are called upon at the moment to read more about the schemes of the Zionists against the region and familiarize themselves with the disdain which they are harboring against the peoples of this region. "However, if these Zionists claim they were persecuted by all countries of the world, then, we have to ask ourselves and hasten to read their history to know why they were persecuted. Don't they claim that they are the chosen people of God Almighty and all other peoples are less important than them in terms of the rank? "As a matter of fact, the existence of this usurping entity and unless its structure is destroyed to allow the Palestinians to return to their homeland, its aggressive practices will continue to increase due to a default that is likely to be shown in dealing with it in the absence of the necessary resistance against it. "In this connection, we say if this entity is true in its intention and desire to live in dignity, then it should work to allow the Palestinians to return to their lands and coexist (the Palestinians and the Jews) in a secular democratic state under a single elected government without hoisting the flag of racism." Also: "The land of the Arab 'Tayyips' (kind people) — (The State of Kuwait ) is currently hosting the Turk 'Tayyip', His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who has in his hands a lot of issues for consultation with his brother — the Amir of Humanity His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad," columnist Kholoud Abdullah Al-Khamees wrote for Al-Anba daily. "This visit comes at a time when all those who are looking forward to see the Arabian Gulf ship berthing in the port of political stability, social easiness and economic luxury, particularly since we know that both the Arab and Turk nations are unified under the umbrella of religion brotherhood and the latter will sort out the ethnic and nationalistic discrimination and as such it is always committed to the strong bond of Islam. "First of all, we would like to point out here that the persisting 'Qatari issue' in case of keeping the latter without a clear cut solution, shall make Kuwait a State that is committed to the policy of non-alignment and its Amir the leader of mediation among various parties in the framework of permanent consultations to achieve the necessary outcomes that shall meet the satisfaction of the conflicting parties. "But unfortunately, the difference is currently being branded as a 'conflict', but as long as, we are passing through a phase where the terms should be used such as it is and without any change, because we are fed up of laughing at ourselves before laughing at the others and forging facts in the name of beautification. "Secondly, we hope the discussions will handle the file of the current struggle between Iran and most Gulf countries in general and the recent Riyadh/Tehran escalation and the entry of Lebanon into the line of difference, because Turkey is an ally of Iran and at the moment enjoys good relations based on interests managed by a paramount diplomacy. "Hence, propounding the dossier of the Iranian expansion on one hand and its gross intervention in Iraq and Syria on the other looks necessary, given the fact this intervention has been consecrated, because we had earlier closed our eyes to Iran's intervention in Lebanon through Hezbollah although the latter is currently classified as terrorist, because this party is an armed political party and insisting to survive through force. "As a matter of fact, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was founded so that the Arabian Peninsula basks in political security away from the avarices of neighboring countries in addition to the economy based on the strength of the oil states although the latter are non-industrial nations, but it is needless to say the industrialized world mostly depends on this output of
energy, because the Gulf territories hold the biggest oil reserves in the world and as such we hope this military might which is represented by 'The Peninsula Shield' will play the role of a protector of the Arabian Gulf region from any apparent or non-apparent aggression. "As a matter of fact, both Kuwait and Turkey are currently adopting a similar distinguished diplomacy. Moreover, they have the skill for negotiations and taking the necessary initiatives to play the role of mediator and put forward all satisfactory solutions before the conflicting parties and this is what the suspended issues are currently in need of. The above is addressed to us from the Erdogan/Sabah Summit." ❑ ❑ ❑ "I am optimistic about what is happening today in our region. People talk about the escalation that is taking place today at more than one level, and people are worried about the developments of the events and the scenarios that have started beating the drums of war around them but do not know where the strike will next come from," columnist, Dean of Technological Studies College at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) and the Deputy Chairman of the Islamic Heritage Revival Society (IHRS)," Dr Wael Al-Hassawi wrote for Al-Rai daily. "I do not argue about that, but we have reached a stage where it is necessary to resolve things and put an end to the aggression. "Since the Khomeini revolution in 1979, the Islamic world has lived in continuous state of horror under the name of exporting the revolution, and Iran made mistakes by using violence to overthrow regimes and change them, thinking that this is the way to spread their faith and export their revolution. "The bad guys in the world helped Iran and facilitated its aggression against others. Iran boasted that it had occupied the capitals of four Arab countries and had established agents in some countries, such as the Lebanese Hezbollah, which caused hatred of the entire world for Lebanon because of excessive violence, the Iranian Revolution Guard and the Popular Forces and the Houthi forces that played in our Arab countries and boasted that it was a soft instrument in the hands of Iran. "There have been many changes in the world since then, albeit slowly. The first is the uprising of the Muslim countries against the Iranian aggression and their insistence to confront the Houthi aggression and expelling Houthis from Yemen, which was initiated by Saudi Arabia with the blessed 'Operation Decisive Storm' that amazed the world in honor of that determination to impose respect for our countries and their right to self-determination! "Western reports talk about the failure of the 'Storm' after more than two years of its kickoff and the inability to resolve the battle. This is a strategic error, as this war was imposed on us and we had no choice. The alliance is not only fighting the Houthis but Iran, which has stronger weapons arsenal in the Middle East after Israel. "It is the most important factor. It alerts Western countries, especially the United States, to the danger of Iranian intervention in the world. This intervention has become embarrassing. In my view, the US President Donald Trump has inherited a heavy legacy from Obama. It is clear that Trump has begun to shrug off those restrictions and is determined to confront the Iranian aggression and its ally, Hezbollah, and I believe that it is only a short time before the United States slams Iran. "In the Gulf we exercised a lot of self-restraint and tolerance, so many of us were considered weak. The time has come to take the initiative and respond to those who attack us. "Now, we see how Saad Hariri's resignation has turned the tables on Hezbollah and on Iran after Hariri gave Hezbollah and his allies a lot of concessions at the expense of the dignity of the Lebanese and sacrificed a great deal in order to unite the ranks. "The true dawn is coming, God willing, and I can almost see behind the darkness of the features of that dawn." ❑ ❑ ❑ "Switzerland is one of the countries which do not have an army to protect it. However, no one dares attack it because of its privileged economic position, and the armies of the world protects its interests everywhere," columnist Tarek Al-Derbass wrote for AlAnba daily. "From this point of view we ask a question: 'Why not Kuwait like the Swiss occupies such a position given its oil-based economy? Kuwait is a small country in size and lives in the midst of festering regional dangers. "Eng Ahmad Al-Arbeed, former CEO of the Kuwait Oil Company has launched a remarkable development initiative called 'Kuwait, the world's oil capital'. We all know that the Kuwaiti economy brightened in the 1960s when the country took care of oil and its products, which flourished and improved living conditions of citizens. "Oil is an excellent and a very strategic natural resource, and in light of global developments, we have to think about how to invest this natural resource properly. Instead of producing oil and exporting it as crude oil, why do not we have real oil industries? There are a lot of materials that we can extract from this natural wealth and increase its value. "We are also able to establish the largest research center for oil industries in the world, and we have contributed to strengthening the state budget and attracting foreign capital that would like to invest in oil industries and research. We have also been able to strengthen our strategic position. "Most importantly, our attraction to foreign investment enhances defense protection and the security dimension of this small land that will contain global investment, which is exactly what His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad has referred to in his speech during the opening of the current session of the National Assembly." ❑ ❑ ❑ "Kuwaiti women got their political rights after years of suffering when all hope was nearly lost. Their suffering was due to the nature of a beautifully conservative society," Ali Al-Busairi wrote for Al-Shahed daily. "The society is committed to preserving the ethics of women interaction with people, while women should remain the most important element in no less means than their male counterparts. Granting their full political rights has completed the trend upon which the founding fathers of the Constitution treaded. It entails the principle of justice and equality between men and women wherein the strength of women comes into view. "In spite of laws that brought about fairness among Kuwaiti women and their male counterparts, many others have yet to be amended, among them housing welfare for women that recognizes some of their rights and ignores certain aspects, thus creating problems due to lack of thorough review."
— Compiled by Zaki Taleb
Docs need legal protection against trumped-up cases By Atyab Alshatti, Esq
ow will doctors feel secure while doing their work if they are afraid that arbitrary proceedings might be taken against them through the Criminal Law? Due to a legislative shortfall in laws regulating the medical profession, these laws cannot make doctors feel secure nor provide a suitable working atmosphere for them to perform their jobs without fear of being thrown into jail, abused by patients or patients' relatives, facing sudden travel ban or having to leave work in order to attend an investigation session in a falsified case filed against them. Doctors struggle every day in their jobs because there is no le-
gal immunity to save them from falsified cases filed by the furious relatives of patients or from those who beat and slander them just because some patients do not like how they work or because they prescribed a certain medicine. Alshatti Law No. 25 for the year 1981 on the medical profession in Kuwait has no stipulation on any solution or action that must be taken in case a doctor is disturbed or harassed due to his work. Despite the fact that doctors face these is-
sues frequently, a lot of newspapers has told stories about doctors being beaten in their offices or insulted by patients because the patients do not like the results. Although doctors try their best to help patients, some patients cannot tell the difference between what is God given and what is given by the doctor. Health is given by God, while doctors can only prescribe medicines. This is why doctors are obligated by law to provide the best care to their patients, but they are never obligated to provide health because this is how the medical profession works worldwide. If doctors are obligated to provide health, then no doctor will be working in the entire world. At the end, health is a God-given matter. Moreover, the Criminal Law
guarantees the highest level of security to keep the accused in custody until the trial ends to ensure he does not dodge the penalty. This means imposing a travel ban is the first step against him, but what if the complaint was filed with malicious intent in order to harm the doctor? False claims happen frequently and it is unfair especially if the travel ban leads to blocking the renewal of residency, so the accused will keep on violating the Residency Law for months or even years against his will until the end of the trial on the false claim and he is declared innocent. It is even worse if investigators decide to put him in jail while the investigation is ongoing, so he loses his freedom over a false claim. Even investigation takes the most important
hours of a doctor's day and those are his working hours. This keeps him away from work and he could be fired because he is not working or reporting for work on time. Abuse of doctors continues. A video clip went viral a couple of months ago, showing a muscled man beating a doctor in a wellknown hospital while one of his female relatives was standing behind him. It turned out that the female relative went to see the doctor who asked her to wait in line as she wanted to be the first to see him. She did not accept being treated equally with other patients so she called the muscled relative to beat the doctor badly. What an absurd reason to beat the doctor! This happened because there is no immunity that pro-
tects him while he is doing his job. How will a doctor do his job properly if he is under pressure and afraid of going to jail if the patient does not like the result? It seems there is no safe place for him to practice his profession. A travel ban takes away the promotion opportunity from doctors, because they will not be able to attend international medical conferences which are very important and are linked to their job. The Parliament must issue new laws immediately in order to fix loopholes in the Medical Profession Law and help doctors practice their profession safely. ❑
Need for a comprehensive emergency plan: Dr Awad Health, Interior said raised level of readiness
Al-Youha and Dr Fleming exchange the signed documents.
NCCAL signs MoU with Denmark museum The National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Moesgaard Museum of Denmark for archeological exploration in Kuwait.
Secretary General of NCCAL Ali Hussein Al-Youha represented Kuwait, while Head of Danish Mission Dr Fleming Hogland represented Denmark at the signing ceremony.
No Kuwaiti women into terrorism: Amadi
Awqaf Ministry denounces criminal and heinous activities of Kuwaiti extremists KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs denounces the criminal and heinous activities of Kuwaiti extremists who fought alongside terrorist groups outside the country, says Al-Qabas daily quoting sector Undersecretary Fareed Amadi. He reaffirmed concerted efforts of the ministry to rehabilitate returnees among them in the prisons and follow up their ideological belief to Amadi protect society, so that they don't become timed bombs anytime later. Amadi stated the ministry took steps recently to fulfill the objective of forming the Supreme Committee for Consolidation of Moderation. He noted some terrorist elements had been engaged on-
line, which made it possible to correct some of their wrong concepts. He indicated the ministry is serious about activating the role played by Imams and preachers to improve their performances through a moderately tolerant approach, civilized methodologies and counseling toward rejuvenating religious speeches and advanced trend. He assured the ministry has since been keeping record of complaints and intelligence received about some Imams that led to legal and administrative measures against personalities involved. As regards the possible participation of Kuwaiti women in terrorism, he explained there's no difference between male and female as far as extremist ideology is concerned, because many women have been caught in the act in many countries. "However, I'm sure that none of our Kuwaiti women are into terrorism, and in case there is any, it'll be considered rare due to peaceful nature of the country".
News in Brief Poetry festival set for Friday: Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center will hold a poetry festival on Friday evening with performances by the great poet – Karam Al-Iraqi and Kuwaiti poet Abdullah Alosh, reports Al-Anba daily. Al-Iraqi confirmed his participation in the event and he expressed happiness over the opportunity to meet the Kuwaiti and Arab audience after the success of a similar event held in the Kuwaiti Writers League last March. He said he is preparing for the event, during which he will recite a number of poems for the audience. ❑ ❑ ❑ 'Hotel a landmark in history': With over 30 years of experience in hotel and resorts around the world, Director General of Four Seasons Kuwait Daidaih Jardan recently stated the hotel is a landmark in the history of regional architecture, reports Al-Rai daily.
In an interview, Jardan noted Kuwaitis are among the first five nationalities employed by Four Season Hotels globally. ❑ ❑ ❑
Brunei's top lawmaker ends visit: Kuwait's National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim held talks with Brunei's Legislative Council Speaker Abdul Rahman Taib in Kuwait on Monday. The Lawmakers discussed boosting cooperation between both countries on parliamentary affairs, in particular. They also discussed fastpaced developments on the regional and international fronts and coordinating efforts to address these matters along with issues of mutual significance. Following the talks, Al-Ghanim hosted a lunch banquet in honour of the guest at the Sabah Al-Ahmad parliament building. The Brunei parliamentary delegation arrived in Kuwait on Sunday on a four-day visit. (KUNA)
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: Dr Salem Awad, Professor of Economics and Political Science at the Kuwait University said, "There is a need for a comprehensive emergency plan to deal with the bloody situation in the region. We do not want to preempt events," reports Al-Anba daily. He called for the establishment of the government emergency team, stressing the government has all the material and moral potential to spare the country any risks that may occur. He indicated there is a need for everyone to implement the government emergency plans in the country from food, health and security point of view. He added, Kuwait ranks first in the Arab region and 26 globally in the Food Security Index for 2017, according to the Global Food Security Index of the Economist Intelligence Unit. He went on to say Kuwait was also ranked first in the same index in 2014.
Face Meanwhile, a number of parliamentarians have called for preparing a contingency plan for all sectors of the country to face any emergency and confront the crisis should there be any, reports Al-Anba daily. The sources added the Ministry of Commerce has prepared a plan to secure food security since the beginning of the Gulf crisis, while the ministries of Health and Interior, has raised the level of readiness to face any crises in the coming days. The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Khalid Al-Roudhan, assured the citizens of the readiness of all government agencies to deal with any emergencies, especially in the circumstances surrounding the region and the rapid developments. "A comprehensive government plan has been put in place not only for trade, but for all government agencies linked to food and health security," he said. The government sources explained the aim of the government emergency plan is to provide the food, health and security to all citizens and residents to control and minimize the consequences of any disaster, as well as to regulate the procedures followed in such difficult events in all sectors of the state to prevent any confusion and to raise the efficiency of employees on the management crises in a timely manner to respond quickly and appropriately to the magnitude and type of disaster as an initial reaction and to determine the responsibility of each governmental body. The sources said that the government plan is threepronged. The first deals with daily emergencies, and does not require alerting the services of the State sectors or informing the Central Emergency Committee.
The ASEAN Ambassadors link arms with Mutlaq Al-Qahtan, Public Relations chief of KOC.
300 officers, staff & family members of 9 embassies attend
ASEAN Committee in Kuwait organizes annual 'Family Day' By Michelle Fe Santiago Arab Times Staff KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Committee in Kuwait (ACK) organised on weekend the annual "ASEAN Family Day" at the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) Tent at the KOC Complex in Ahmadi. The Family Day is one of the several events organised by the ACK to celebrate the 50th founding anniversary of the ASEAN in 1967. KOC head of Public Relations and Information Department Mutlaq AlQahtan welcomed all the ASEAN Ambassadors, diplomatic staff and their family to the event. Some 300 officers, staff and family members of the nine embassies attended the joyous occasion. "One of the programs of KOC is to promote KOC and its facilities to members of the diplomatic Corps. The ASEAN Committee may again request
the use of these facilities in the future," stated Al-Qahtan. On his part and on behalf of the ASEAN diplomats, current ACK Chair Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Villa thanked the KOC management for welcoming them to the KOC tent and supporting their event. "The ASEAN Family Day although informal is a landmark occasion for ASEAN in Kuwait as it serves to bind the group as one big happy family. Let us continue with the ASEAN way of promoting the ASEAN spirit of One Vision, One Identity, One ASEAN Community as the occasion highlights not our differences but our shared hopes and dreams," he stated. Joining Villa in the family day were Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam Pengiran Mustapa Aliuddin; Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia Tan Bunpa; Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia Tatang Budie Razak; Ambassador of the Lao People's Democratic Republic
Phouangkeo Langsy; Ambassador of Malaysia Dato Rozian Abdl Gani; Ambassador of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Aye Khaing; Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand Dusit Manapan; and Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Hong Thao. Except for Singapore, all ASEAN member countries have a diplomatic mission in Kuwait, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The ASEAN Committee in Kuwait (ACK) was established in May 2011 and out of the 10 ASEAN member countries; there are nine-member countries in Kuwait namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The primary objective of the ACK is to maintain and strengthen relations between ASEAN and Kuwait and it also serves to promote awareness on the roles and functions of ASEAN.
Seasonal flu normal, within permissible level: Al-Shatti EPA prepared to play role during camping season KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: Dr Ahmad Al-Shatti, spokesman for the Ministry of Health, said seasonal influenza in the country is normal and within the permissible world rate, reports Al-Qabas daily. In the meantime, in response to what has been published in the social media about isolated cases of people infected with the swine flu, Al-Shatti said that the Health Ministry has taken all precautionary measures in addition to educational and awareness programs against the disease which runs throughout the year.
KUNA Chairman Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij Al-Sabah receives Jordanian envoy to Kuwait Sager Abu Shital.
KUNA chairman receives Jordan's ambassador The President of the Federation of Arab News Agencies (FANA), and Chairman and Director General of Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij Al-Sabah received Wednesday ambassador of Jordan to Kuwait Sager Abu Shital. They discussed during their meeting preparations for holding the upcoming 45th conference of FANA General Assembly to be held by Jordan News Agency Petra in Amman, Jordan, under the auspices of the Jordanian Prime Minister Hani Al-Mulki, on Nov 23.
They tackled the importance of holding such a conference during the critical circumstances the Arab region is witnessing, which requires further cooperation between various Arab media institutions. KUNA Chairman expressed his appreciation to Petra Chairman Faisal Al-Shabbol and all the agency's workers for the offered facilities to the expected FANA conference. He praised the distinguished and deep-rooted Kuwaiti-Jordanian ties and called for supporting them, as well as boosting cooperation in all
fields to better serve the interest of both nations' people. KUNA is exerting efforts in encountering radicalism, as well as supporting international quest towards achieving global peace and stability, he added. The diplomat endorsed the role of Kuwaiti media in boosting the historic ties between Kuwait and Jordan. KUNA's Deputy Director General for Administrative and Financial Affairs and Communications Abdulhameed Malak attended the meeting.
Photo by Mohmed Morsi
Secretary General of Kuwait Environment Protection Society (KEPS) Jenan Bahzad stated the society embarked on a beach cleaning campaign in cooperation with the Japanese community in Kuwait and several other volunteer and official institutes. Bahzad affirmed the campaign observed an impressive turnout of individuals and groups keen on protecting the environment. She noted 30 percent of the marine turtles and 90 percent of sea birds are affected by indiscriminate waste disposal, including plastic bags.
He explained there is nothing called swine flu after the World Health Organization renamed it as 'seasonal flu' in 2010. He pointed out some cases require intensive care and others need to be quarantined and called on the citizens to take doses of vaccines especially during these days. Meanwhile, Director-General of the Environment Public Authority (EPA) Sheikh Abdullah Al-Ahmad said the EPA is fully prepared to play its role during the camping season which starts today (Wednesday) to ensure the application of environmental law related to camping and the environment, reports Al-Anba daily. Saying the EPA will not tolerate any violations, the official said the authority in cooperation with the Kuwaiti Municipality has formed teams which will be headed by the Municipality to organize frequent inspection campaigns at camping areas to apply the environmental law in full. He added the plan for the current camping season is better than that of last year in terms of positioning members of the teams in different areas to monitor environmental abuses. He pointed out the EPA has assigned more than 60 officers in the municipality teams. ❑ ❑ ❑ The security authorities have denied reports which say the government has stopped issuing business and family visit visas to the Lebanese, reports Al-Rai daily. The daily quoting security sources said the General Department of Residence Affairs continues to issue various types of visas to the Lebanese in line with the law. The sources indicated, the Lebanese are treated just like others in terms of completing the procedures and given the required approvals by the competent security authorities. However, the daily said, the visas is subject to the approval of the State Security as is the case with the rest of the nationalities as part of the strict procedures followed by the regulating bodies to protect the internal security.
His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received on Monday at Bayan Palace, in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister for Judicial Reform and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria Ekaterina Zaharieva and the accompanying delegation. The meeting was attended by Head of His Highness the Prime Minister's Diwan Sheikha Etmad Khaled Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Assistant Foreign Minister for European Affairs, Waleed Al-Khubaizi, and Kuwait's Ambassador to Bulgaria Yaqoub Al-Ateeqi. (KUNA)
KCCI Chairman Muhammad Thunayan Al-Ghanem with head of the Legislative Council of Brunei Abdulrahman Bin Tayyeb.
Al-Ghanem receives Brunei's Bin Tayyeb Chairman of Kuwait Chamber for Commerce and Industry Ali Muhammad Thunayan Al-Ghanem received on Nov 14, the Head of the Legislative Council of Brunei Abdulrahman Bin Tayyeb and his accompanying delegation. Kuwaiti Ambassador to Brunei Dr Fahd Al-Zefairi and the DirectorGeneral of Kuwait Chamber for Commerce and Industry Rabah Abdulrahman Al-Rabah also attended
the meeting. The visit comes as part of enhancing economic relations between Kuwait and Brunei. The meeting discussed the ways of strengthening commercial exchanges between the two friendly countries and establishing joint investment projects. Bin Tayyeb said he was happy to visit Kuwait the aim of which was to enlighten the Kuwaiti investors about opportunities in Brunei.
'Disparities in monitoring book fair'
'Info' has different mechanisms for censorship every year: Safar KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: Kuwaiti fine artist and author Abdullah Safar categorized people who visit Kuwait International Book Fair into three groups; those who go in search of certain authors and playwrights with large followers on social media, those who are there to represent authors whose works are prohibited in Kuwait, and people who are looking for books to read, reports Al-Jarida daily. Speaking about the mechanism by which the Ministry of Information is censoring publications in Kuwait, Safar stated the ministry stipulates different mechanisms each year and he doesn't have any stance concerning the censorship in general, because his books are always approved and bought, indicating he's widely accepted by the readers.
He is of the view that censorship is cowardice if legal procedure is taken against an author due to campaign organized against his publication by some people who are not pleased with the work. He pointed to disparities in monitoring the book fair "but in the end, rigidity is observed", he said. Concerning the number of copies an author should publish, he explained that issuing about 1,000 copies for the first edition is a tradition and he's surprised that some publishing companies agree to print 200 copies, noting it's a wrong marketing strategy. He stressed, "It is unfortunate we cannot blame some authors at this point in time, because some publishing companies impose their marketing policies on them."
News in Brief Investors pump KD 100m into real estate: Kuwaiti investors have pumped about KD 100 million into the real estate market in the United Arab Emirates since the beginning of 2017, reports Al-Anba daily Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Azizi Developments Company Ferhad Azizi. In his interview with the daily, Azizi disclosed that Kuwaiti real estate investments ranked second in the Gulf after Saudi Arabia with 743 deals. He affirmed the real estate properties in Dubai remain attractive to investors despite the recession in some regional economies and serious challenges that other countries in the world are facing. He attributed this to the supervisory role practiced in Dubai, which is the strongest in the region. On the size of real estate investments in Dubai, Azizi revealed the value of such investments exceeded KD 7 billion in the first nine months of the year. He added the investments of foreigners — 127 nationalities — reached 28 billion dirhams with more than 14,000 deals.
Many students registered under failure file: Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Installation and Planning in the Ministry of Education Dr AbdulMohsen Al-Huwailah revealed that 29,729 students were registered under the failure file in the last academic year — 2016/2017 — without any data, reports Al-Rai daily. Al-Huwailah said 12,195 of these students were registered in public and Arab private schools while 4,972 students were in foreign private schools. He added 12,562 students — whose ages range from four to 18 years old — have no data in all of the ministry's schools.
'Adopt solar energy projects': Undersecretary at the Ministry of Electricity and Water Engineer Mohammad Bu Shehri disclosed that the Ministry of Interior has initiated a solar energy project in its section at the borders, reports Al-Jarida daily. He disclosed this at the sidelines of inaugurating construction materials expo at the Fair Grounds in Mishref, and encouraged other ministries and official bodies to adopt similar projects to help protect the environment while conserving energy. He called on citizens to use standard isolation boards and energy friendly building materials, including A/C, windows and lighting bulbs to rationalize consumption.
Court Cases Ex-MP acquitted
Case against expat rejected By Jaber Al-Hamoud Al-Seyassah Staff KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: The Court of Appeals chaired by Judge Dherar AlWaqyan upheld the verdict of the Court of First Instance and dismissed lawsuit a Kuwaiti businesswoman filed against a Canadian investor to appoint a judicial liquidator to shut down a general contracting company. The plaintiff sued her Canadian partner imploring the court to liquidate the general contracting company set up by the two of them. She also pleaded with the court to calculate her share of the company's profits and capital. Defense Lawyer Ghanim Al-Sahli urged the court to consider the formal agreeAl-Sahli ment through which the company was established, and prayed the court to dismiss the request for liquidation of the company since there's no legal backing for that purpose. He noted his client has the right to complete the capital of investment, while the plaintiff has no right to a share of the capital or profits. ❑ ❑ ❑ Ex-MP acquitted: The Criminal Court has acquitted a former MP of tricking a female citizen into having sexual relations with him. According to the prosecution files, the female citizen accused the former MP of tricking her by promising to marry her several times. She refused persistently until they settled on customary marriage. The plaintiff said she approached the former MP in 2015, in his capacity as a public personality, to seek assistance concerning her job transfer. At the time, he asked for her phone number and then he started texting her love messages. However, after they engaged in physical relations, the plaintiff insisted on authenticating the customary marriage document and she realized that the marriage was a sham. The former MP denied it although the document contained his signature and that of two
witnesses and her guardian. ❑ ❑ ❑ Blogger sued: Attorney Abrar AlSaleh filed a lawsuit against a female blogger on Instagram, accusing her of posting indecent and shameful contents on a public platform which is against the law and customs of the Kuwaiti society. In her complaint, the lawyer mentioned that the blogger appears in video clips posted on her public Instagram account and viewed by anyone. She said the contents of the video clips promote vice, indicating that her actions being viewed on her public platform is the core of moral turpitude in a conservative and religious society. The lawyer stressed the need to punish the blogger as per Law No. 63/2015 on combating cyber crimes. ❑ ❑ ❑ Appeal dismissed: The committee in charge of judging appeals submitted to the Constitutional Court, headed by Judge Yusuf Al-Mutawa'a, dismissed the appeal on the unconstitutional article in the Penal Code about the confiscation of the seals of official bodies. It also rejected the appeal on granting social allowance to private sector employees who are 25 years old and depriving the younger ones of such allowance if they are studying while working. It decided not to judge on the appeal concerning the State purchase of debts and then collecting them as unconstitutional. It dismissed the appeal on the bonus granted to those who hold certificates in Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Geology as unconstitutional. The committee adjourned until Nov 29, 2017 the session on two appeals filed by Attorney Dr Ubaid Al-Anzi against the Expropriation Law and temporary suspension for public benefit, as well as the appeal against the Cabinet's decision regarding the system of the objection committee which states that its decisions are final and cannot be appealed. Al-Anzi filed the two appeals on behalf of the owners of houses in Jleeb AlShuyoukh after the Objection Committee reduced by more than KD100,000 the amount specified by the Evaluation Committee as compensation for the expropriation of their houses.
KFSD photos
KFSD personnel, US experts pose for a picture at the conclusion of the workshop. (Inset): Lt Gen Khalid Al-Mekrad.
KFSD, NFPA hold workshop The Fire Prevention Sector of the Kuwait Fire Services Department organized a workshop on Nov 14, 2017, under the patronage of Director-General for Kuwait Fire Services General Department Lt General Khalid Rakan Al-Mekrad
under the title 'Safety in hot areas and the criteria of the ecosystem'. The workshop was held in cooperation with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The Deputy Director-General
of Kuwait Fire Services General Department Major General Khalid Abdullah Fahd said the workshop is held in participation of the US specialist experts and representatives of different government and private sector institutions.
He pointed out that the workshop comes on the sidelines of a meeting of the consultative committee for the National Fire Protection for Middle East and North Africa (MENA) which is being held in Kuwait for the first time.
Public outrage as hundreds of cars seized in new traffic law Police crack down on parking lot 'immorality' By Raid Yusuf, Abdul-Rahman Al-Shammari, Abdul-Nasser Al-Aslami & Munaif Nayef
Al-Seyassah Staff
'It's not what it seems' By Ahmad Al-Sarraf t the beginning of my business dealings A with China more than thirty years ago, I put my trust in every word of a factory manager since honesty is the norm in any business. Although the Chinese products were cheap and perhaps of less value in terms of quality than others, you always get what you pay for without being cheated or manipulated. After years, we have seen fraud activity in the market has to a large extent been growing. During my last visit to China, I mentioned that to the chairman and owner of a large company. He pointed to me and said: 'You're the reason'. When I expressed my displeasure, the owner of the factory said he did not mean it to be me but to the people of my country who insist on bargaining the price while at the same time asking for the best quality. So in order to keep the business going bowing to the requests of customers the factory has no option other than manipulation in the standard of the goods. Over time, manipulation in the quality of Chinese goods, especially canned products and clothing, have become a semi-public phenomenon, especially since it is difficult to believe the instructions written on cans and clothes related to the contents or materials used in making them, mainly some clothes. The factory, for example, says the clothes are 100% cotton made, but the product looks like a piece of plastic once soaked in water. To make the clothes look starched, shiny or white they are often sprayed with chemicals. These substances usually cause skin allergies, especially for children. It is important, as more than one dermatologist warns, to wash the clothes before use. This phenomenon has recently become a global trademark, not limited to Chinese products. We live in a crazy world which seeks to make profit in the shortest time
possible by hook or by crook irrespective whether the products will cause harm to others or not. There are also several types of honey in the market and the promoters of this product claim 'this' honey can cure diseases. This is true in the short term. Some are injected with corticosteroids that cure certain diseases, but the side effects of cortisone are serious. The same applies to saffron, which is difficult to distinguish between the good from the spoiled, which fills the market. We also have to change the bed pillows every two years ago, at the most, and change the slippers every 6 months, especially if they are used every day. Leaves and towels are suitable environments for the formation of bacteria, even Al-Sarraf if they are constantly washed, and should be replaced every 6 months or a year maximum. It is preferable to change tooth brushes every two or three months, and change hair brushes constantly and also not use perfumes two years after opening a bottle. Running shoes must not be used for more than one year. So are the other substances that should not deceive us by their appearance, they may be contaminated and expired. We hope the new Food Control Department will play a role to monitor what we put in our belly. A decree was issued to end the work of the Committee that was formed for the Islamization of laws after spending a quarter of a century without doing anything, and the State has allocated tens of millions of dinars for it. ❑ ❑ ❑ e-mail: [email protected]
News in Brief Maid attempts suicide: An Asian
Lankan mugged: Two unknown per-
housemaid tried to commit suicide by drinking pesticide in the house of her sponsor in Qurain, says Al-Seyassah. Securitymen and paramedics rushed to the location after the Operations Unit in the Interior Ministry received information from a Kuwaiti woman who said she found her housemaid lying unconscious in the kitchen. The housemaid was admitted to Adan Hospital and she is now confined at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). During interrogation, the sponsor told officers that she hired the housemaid through a domestic labor agency two months ago and she does not know anything about the housemaid's circumstances which might have prompted her to try to end her own life. A case was registered and investigations are ongoing to shed light on the circumstances leading to the suicide attempt. ❑ ❑ ❑
sons beat a Sri Lankan in Farwaniya, after which they stole his mobile phone and KD 60 cash from him, says Al-Seyassah. The victim filed a report at Farwaniya Police Station, saying the suspects were clad in sportswear and he does not know them. He disclosed he was walking in the area when the suspects stopped him only to beat him, grabbing his mobile phone and wallet which contained important documents and KD 60. He provided police with detailed description of the suspects and investigations are underway to arrest them. Meanwhile, an Egyptian lodged a complaint at Maidan Hawally Police Station against an expatriate co-worker who allegedly stole his mobile phone. The suspect was summoned for questioning and he told the investigators that he took the mobile phone of his colleague because the latter did not pay his debt.
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: Implementation of the decision taken by the Ministry of Interior to include three traffic violations in the list of regulations that sanction impounding of vehicles has started. The three violations include: using mobile phone while driving, parking on pavements and pedestrian crossings, and driving without seat belt. On the first day of its implementation, the decision has sparked widespread public and political anger — especially on social media, due to its randomness, indiscretion and improper implementation strategy. Meanwhile, on the field yesterday, the General Traffic Department impounded 490 vehicles but the actual number is believed to be 880, indicating 149 vehicles impounded in Ahmadi Governorate, 216 in the Capital, 178 in Hawalli, 115 in Farwaniya, 158 in Jahra, and 64 in Mubarak Al-Kabeer governorate. Implementation of the decision has caused a case of divorce as indicated by Attorney Hawra Al-Habeeb in a statement on her Twitter account saying her client called to file for divorce, because his vehicle was impounded while arguing with his wife on the phone.
Agencies add: Crackdown launched: The public security officers responded positively to the appeals of the residents of Qadsiya to maintain law and order and public morals which happened inside cars in the parking lots of the cooperative societies, reports Al-Anba daily. A security source said the residents of Qadsiya directly appealed to the Assistant Undersecretary for Public Security, Major-General
Photo by Rizk Taufiq
The Traffic Dept impounds vehicles parked on the pavements.
Ibrahim Al-Tarrah, expressing their displeasure at the negative and immoral manifestations that have spread in public places, particularly in parking lots of cooperative societies. Al-Tarrah ordered the presence of police patrols around the clock and not to be lenient with anybody who commits immoral acts. ❑ ❑ ❑ Campsite theft: Security operatives are looking for three people who raided a citizen's camp along the Seventh Ring Road and made away with valuables, reports AlAnba daily. The citizen lodged a complaint with Ahmadi policemen and said the guard of the camp notified him that three people in a jeep threatened him at knife and stole wallet containing KD 9 cash plus civil ID before driving off with the powerbike and five gas cylinders. In an unrelated incident, a Bangladeshi man filed a complaint with Ahmadi policemen against
an unidentified person who broke into his house and stole KD 300 cash and passport. And, a Nepali man lodged a complaint at the Fintas police station saying a person yet-to-be identified stole KD 90 from the cash machine. ❑ ❑ ❑ 'Drifters' tackled: Officers from the Public Security Sector arrested 30 residency violators across the six governorates within the last 24 hours based on instructions from the Assistant Undersecretary for Public Security Affairs Major General Ibrahim Al-Tarrah, says Al-Seyassah. Meanwhile, a citizen expressed appreciation to Major General AlTarrah for strict measures he took to deal with drifters endangering life and property in Qadisiya area, as well as loiterers and eveteasers. ❑ ❑ ❑ Hawkers, absconders: Twenty-
two expatriates have been arrested by the police from the Capital Security Directorate during security campaigns, reports Al-Rai daily. The daily added, some of those arrested are hawkers and others reported absconding by their employers. They have been referred to the deportation center. A security source said legal actions shall be taken against the sponsors. ❑ ❑ ❑ Record time behind bars: An unidentified Indian was reportedly held at the Qairawan Police Station for almost a year because he was caught for staying in the country illegally, reports Al-Shahed daily. The daily added, this is a record for a person to be held at a police station for so long. However, it has been reported the deportation process could not be completed because he carries a travel ban and the Deportation Center refused to receive him.
53 'iqamas' on forged docus discovered
Citizen arrested for trying to kill his wife KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: Police have taken into custody an unidentified Kuwaiti, born in 1972 for allegedly attempting to kill his 43-year-old wife with a cleaver, reports Al-Rai daily. The daily added, when police received information about the incident police and paramedics rushed to the house in West Sulaibikhat administered first aid for the victim to stop the bleeding and took her to the Al-Sabah Hospital and she was admitted to the ICU. Initial investigations show the
woman was hit on the head over a family dispute. The man has been detained at a local police station for further interrogations until after the wife recovers. The case has been referred to the Public Prosecution. ❑ ❑ ❑ 53 forged 'iqamas': Director of Checking at the Public Authority for Manpower Mohammad AlAnsari disclosed that 16 workers were arrested off Wafra Motorway
and referred to the General Immigration Department for violating labor law, says Al-Seyassah. He stated a team from the Public Authority for Manpower in cooperation with Kuwait Municipality and the Interior Ministry represented by General Immigration Department and Public Security Sector embarked on an inspection tour and arrested the workers for violating labor law by working illegally for another employer. Meanwhile, officers from the
Residency Affairs Department arrested a Kuwaiti citizen on the allegation of falsifying official documents to issue 53 residencies on a cancelled government contract. A security source said the citizen knew the contract had been cancelled and still went ahead to carry on the activity. He confessed submitting applications to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor for the issuance of 53 residencies. He has since been referred to concerned authorities.
LOCAL No to dualism … Continued from Page 1 We dedicate this story to the members of the two authorities — Executive and Legislative — who are slacking in the enforcement of a valid law. We let them see what transpires in an advanced country which preceded us by several decades. It was and continues to be established by immigrants ... I mean Australia which is supposedly under Britain. Australian law prohibits the holders of dual citizenship from assuming public office, such as Parliament member, minister or other similar posts. In the Australian Parliament, the party of the prime minister will lose majority votes as he will be left to command 74 out of 150 seats. This is because of the resignation of Liberal Parliament member John Alexander, a former professional tennis player, over his status as holder of dual citizenship. He also holds the British citizenship as his father was born in the United Kingdom. This law, which bars those with dual citizenship from occupying even a political office, is being implemented although half of the Australian population consists of the foreign born or children of immigrants who still hold their original nationalities. The resignation of Alexander is the result of the High Court's ruling on other legislators, among them Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce who was disqualified from sitting in the Parliament due to his dual citizenship. The deputy premier in question had New Zealand nationality at the time of his nomination for election, and this is despite the fact that he was not aware of the nationality which he inherited from his father. All we are hoping for is to see our well-guided government and noble members of our Parliament emulating advanced countries which respect their laws.
Paris talks Continued from Page 1 wants to punish Tehran over its role in Yemen and Syria. Trump has also dealt a blow to Iran's nuclear deal — agreed with Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States under Obama — by decertifying Iranian compliance with its terms, contradicting the findings of UN nuclear inspectors. The US Congress now has until mid-December to decide whether to reimpose economic sanctions on Iran that had been lifted in exchange for limiting its nuclear programme in ways meant to prevent it developing an atomic bomb. But the EU, which normally coordinates closely with Washington on international sanctions, has been lobbying hard to keep the nuclear pact alive, saying it should be kept separate from missile and regional security matters. France's tougher line on the missile issue appears to reflect a concern that Iran might eventually try to arm a missile cone with a nuclear bomb, should it ever build one. Tehran has repeatedly denied any intent to do so. Romatet-Espagne reiterated the view that the nuclear deal should be kept separate, but said the ballistic missile issue was being discussed with fellow EU governments and Mogherini's foreign service. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian had been due to visit Tehran before the end of the month, although that has now been pushed back to later in the year due to a busy schedule, a diplomatic source said. Any EU-wide sanctions action requires the unanimity of all 28 member states but there is no consensus on new punitive steps against Iran, a fact made clear by Mogherini on Monday.
'Give Kuwaiti nationality to 'deserving' Bedouns' 'State must be serious in punishing the corrupt' KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: Former Minister of Education and Higher Education Ahmed Al-Melaifi has stressed the importance of granting Kuwaiti citizenship to deserving Bedouns and closing this file, reports Al-Shahed daily. He called for announcement of deserving citizenship applicants in order to remove doubts surrounding the naturalization issue. He said some corrupt individuals do not want the issue to be resolved because they are benefiting from it. The former minister made the statement during his interview on 'Wasse'e Sadruk' program broadcast on Shahed TV recently. He pointed out that in spite of lawsuits concerning corruption, the State is not serious enough in punishing the corrupt and this disrupted development and production. He also praised the MPs' response to the speech of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah during the opening of the second legislative session as he urged them to avoid issuing sectarian or tribal statements due to the dangers surrounding Kuwait. He went on to say that Sheikh Salman Al-Homoud was made politically irrelevant. He alleged this is the political tactic of Sheikh Muhammad Al-Abdullah and wondered why the latter occupies the acting information minister post, indicating half of the grilling motions will fall through if he resigns. ❑ ❑ ❑ Jordanian Minister of Commerce and Industry Eng Ya'arub Al-Qadat said his country is keen on developing its relationship with Kuwait especially in the economic field, reports Al-Qabas daily. Al-Qadat praised Kuwait for supporting Jordan, citing as an example its participation in the Gulf Fund that granted $1.25 billion to Jordan. He confirmed the grant had a positive impact on financing vital projects and developing infrastructure, in addition to generating job opportunities and improving the contracting sector.
Hariri to Continued from Page 1 close to Saudi authorities, insisted in an interview with his party's television channel over the weekend that he had freedom of movement and would return to Lebanon in the coming days. There have been rumours that Hariri, who is a Saudi citizen and grew up in the kingdom, had been detained along with dozens of Saudis in what Riyadh says is an anti-corruption campaign. Shortly after Aoun's statement, Hariri also took to Twitter in an apparent bid to quell rumours of his detention. "I want to repeat and confirm: I am totally, totally fine and I'll come back, God willing, to beloved Lebanon like I promised you all. You'll see," he wrote. But he would be in Riyadh for at least one more day to meet with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. French President Emmanuel Ma-
Kuwait's First Deputy and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah meets Bulgaria's FM Ekaterina Zakharieva and her accompanying delegation.
FM meets Bulgarian counterpart Kuwait's First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah met Wednesday with Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zakharieva. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed aspects of cooperation between Kuwait and Bulgaria, and discussed ways to boost and enhance their cooperation in all fields and on various levels. They also exchanged views on recent regional and international situation developments, in addition to addressing subjects of mutual interest. Later, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled held a luncheon in honor of the
visiting guest and her accompanying delegation. The luncheon was held in presence of Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah, Assistant Foreign Minister on European Affairs Waleed Al-Khubaizi, Assistant Foreign Minister for the First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister's Office Ambassador Dr Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad AlSabah. It was also attended by Kuwait's Ambassador to Bulgaria Yaqoub Al-Ateeqi, Assistant Foreign Minister for the Affairs of the Assistant Foreign Minister's Office, Ayham Al-Omar, and a number of foreign ministry's senior officials. (KUNA)
He affirmed Kuwait and Jordan are keen on ensuring that joint committees meet regularly. He disclosed his country is looking forward to holding an economic forum between Jordan and Kuwait to attract Kuwaiti investments into available opportunities in Jordan. He added Kuwait has the second largest investment in Jordan — estimated at $13 billion; distributed to different sectors including tourism, industry, real estate, banking and com-
munications. He pointed out the trade exchange between Kuwait and Jordan increased from 139.1 million Jordanian dinars in 2011 to 264.6 million Jordanian dinars in 2016. He went on to say the total exports from Jordan to Kuwait reached 231 million Jordanian dinars in 2016, while the imports from Kuwait to Jordan reached 33.6 million Jordanian dinars in the same year.
cron, in a fresh statement via a spokesman Wednesday, stressed that Hariri should be able to return to Lebanon to confirm, or not, his resignation. In his sharply-worded resignation from Saudi Arabia, Hariri, 47, accused Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah of destabilising his country and the broader region. The statement sparked concern that tiny Lebanon would be caught in the crosshairs of rising tensions between Riyadh and Tehran. Lebanon's president on Wednesday sought to allay those fears, telling citizens, "do not be afraid, whether economically, financially or in terms of security". While he was guarded in his first reactions to Hariri's absence, Aoun has since stepped up the rhetoric. "What happened wasn't a resignation — it was an attack on Lebanon's independence and dignity," he said Wednesday, adding that Hariri's absence represented "a violation of the international declaration of human rights".
Hike in Continued from Page 1 goods coming to Kuwait are second or third class — unlike those to Dubai and other countries rated first-class. Concerning the prices of onion, the source said a sack of 16 kilogram goes for 8 dinars. He noted the groceries used to sell this sack for half dinar per a kilo but it's not available now. He pointed out that many products have been found to contain harmful materials to the extent that they are not safe for human consumption, and traders who want to bring those products to the local market can't do so without monitoring. He also said the laboratory test is pushing traders to a tight corner, as it appears that health certificates attached to shipments are not accurate and or include many errors. Meanwhile, sources said a committee of representatives from several official authorities intends to lift the ban on import of onion from Egypt, which might help bring the prices of onion down.
Russian planes Continued from Page 1 Specifically, the Russian Defence Ministry said the US air force had tried to hinder Russian strikes on Islamic State militants around Albu Kamal. Asked about the Russian allegations, Colonel Ryan Dillon, a spokesman for the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State, said: "The Russian ministry of defence statements are about as accurate as their air campaign and I think that is a reason for them to start, you know, coming out with their latest barrage of lies." Syrian Kurdish leaders voiced support on Wednesday for a longer-term role for US forces in Syria once Islamic State is defeated, after the United States signalled it would not pull out before there was progress towards a political solution. Comments by US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Monday have drawn heavy criticism from the Iran-backed Syrian government, which says Washington is making up a new excuse for keeping its "illegal occupation" forces in Syria. Limiting Iranian influence in Syria and Iraq is a key US aim. Syrian Kurdish groups have emerged as the main partner on the ground for the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State in northern and eastern Syria, areas which the Syrian state and Iran have vowed to take back. Kurdish fighters, with Arab allies, US advisers and coalition jets, have driven Islamic State from swathes of territory including their former headquarters in Raqqa city. The Kurdish YPG militia and its political allies have carved out autonomous cantons in the north, and now control nearly a quarter of Syria. Their influence angers neighbour Turkey, which considers the YPG an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party that has fought a decades-long insurgency on Turkish soil.
Aid slow to Continued from Page 1 In Ghaleh Bahadori, where around 30 Red Crescent tents had been provided, residents pleaded for more help. "This is not enough," said Tooraj Mohammadi, adding that most families in the village had been left homeless. "Thirty people died here. We buried them ourselves in coordination with the police," he said. In Iran alone, the quake is estimated to have caused damage of 26,000 billion Iranian rials (about $6.3 billion), Kermanshah provincial deputy governor Mojtaba Nikkerdar said, quoted by the ISNA news agency. That is equivalent to about 1.5 percent of the Iranian gross domestic product (GDP) which the International Monetary Fund has forecast for 2017. In total, about 30,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, according to the Iranian authorities. Severe damage to social housing blocks in Sar-e Pol-e Zahab built under a scheme championed by former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sparked indignation on social media. President Hassan Rouhani said those responsible would be held to account. "The fact that houses built by individuals ... are intact while buildings erected by the state are seriously damaged shows that there has been corruption," he said, according to his official website. Speaking a day earlier on the same subject, Rouhani had said that it was necessary to "look for the guilty parties and present them to the population". Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli told lawmakers that the authorities had sent 36,000 tents and another 10,000 would follow for families too fearful of aftershocks to sleep in their own homes, ISNA reported. While residents, particularly in
Kouik, complained emergency aid was being stolen by people from outside the region, the minister said there was "no particular problem of public security" in the quake-hit regions. The cabinet approved a series of measures including interest-free loans and donations to affected households to replace their destroyed furniture or other belongings. On Tuesday, Iran marked a day of mourning, with a black banner adorning the corner of images of the disaster broadcast by state television.
North Korean Continued from Page 1 The report said some networks could be infected with the Volgmer "backdoor Trojan" or a remote administration tool known as Fallchill, which can give hackers complete control of a system. It said FBI investigators suspect the Fallchill tool has been used since 2016 and Volgmer since 2013. Private security analysts refer to Hidden Cobra as the "Lazarus" group of hackers linked to North Korea and likely behind a series of multimilliondollar cyber thefts from banks around the world. Some analysts say the Lazarus group may also have been behind the WannaCry ransomware outbreak earlier this year. Hackers in the Hidden Cobra or Lazarus group have been active since 2009 and "have leveraged their capabilities to target and compromise a range of victims," according to a DHS report in June. "Some intrusions have resulted in the exfiltration of data while others have been disruptive in nature." DHS and FBI officials say the group "will continue to use cyber operations to advance their government's military and strategic objectives," according to the DHS report. North Korea has denied orchestrating any cyber attacks, but the latest report comes amid rising tensions with the United States over the communist regime's nuclear testing program. About 15 percent of US government agencies have detected some trace of Russian company Kaspersky Lab's software on their systems in a review prompted by concerns the antivirus firm is vulnerable to Kremlin influence, a security official told Congress on Tuesday. Jeanette Manfra, assistant secretary for cyber security at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), said that 94 percent of agencies had responded to an order to survey their networks to identify any use of Kaspersky Lab products and to remove them. Manfra told a US House of Representatives panel the DHS did "not currently have conclusive evidence" that any networks had been breached because of their use of Kaspersky software.
Also: WASHINGTON: The Trump administration is expected to publicly release on Wednesday its rules for deciding whether to disclose cyber security flaws or keep them secret, a national security official told Reuters. The move is an attempt by the US government to address criticism that it too often jeopardizes internet security by stockpiling the cyber vulnerabilities it detects in order to preserve its ability to launch its own attacks on computer systems. The revised rules, expected to be published on whitehouse.gov, are intended to make the process for how various federal agencies weigh the costs of keeping a flaw secret more transparent, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the rules were not yet public. Under former president Barack Obama, the US government created an inter-agency review, known as the Vulnerability Equities Process, to determine what to do with flaws unearthed primarily by the National Security Agency.
Newswatch and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation launched Tuesday a joint initiative aimed at enabling youth to come up with solutions to education and citizenship. The $10-million initiative, called Global Grand Challenges and launched during the Misk Global Forum, will allocate $100,000 for each of the 100 young people to finance their ideas. (KUNA) ❑ ❑ ❑
CAIRO: The leader of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood movement, Mohamed Badie, lost his appeal on Wednesday against a life sentence for his role in violent clashes during political turmoil in 2013, judicial sources said. The judgement by the court of cassation against the sentence, handed out in 2016, cannot be appealed. (RTRS) ❑ ❑ ❑
SANAA: The Saudi-led military coalition fighting Yemen's Shiite rebels bombed the airport in the rebelheld capital, Sanaa, on Tuesday, Yemeni officials said, though there were conflicting reports as to the extent of the damage. The United Nations said most of the airport remained intact and that it would be able to receive aid shipments once the coalition follows through on its announced loosening of the blockade of the war-torn country. (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑ BEIRUT: Lebanon's military says it has arrested a fugitive radical Islamist cleric who was implicated in the abduction of soldiers by militants three years ago. The military says Mustafa al-Hujairi, known as Abu Taqiyya, was taken into custody on Wednesday in the border town of Arsal. The town was overran briefly in 2014 by militants linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group. (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑ WASHINGTON: The House Foreign Affairs Committee has approved bipartisan legislation that would sanction foreign governments and individuals providing financial and material support to the Islamic militant group Hamas. The measure passed by voice vote Wednesday, setting the stage for the full House to consider the measure. The legislation, backed by Rep Ed Royce of California, the committee's chairman, specifically criticizes Qatar for supplying Hamas with "significant financial and military support." (AP)
World News Roundup Idea endorsed by scores of GOP lawmakers
America Trump choice approved: A key
'Scrap health mandate in tax bill'
Senate committee on Tuesday approved President Donald Trump's choice to lead the Department of Homeland Security. The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee approved Kirstjen Nielsen's nomination, 11-4. The panel's chairman, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said the full Senate could vote on Nielsen's nomination by the end of November. Nielsen, 45, is a former staffer at DHS who now serves as deputy White House chief of staff. Democrats complained that she lacked the experience needed to run a major agency with 240,000 employees. They also cited concerns about possible White House interference in a recent DHS decision to send home thousands of Nicaraguans long granted U.S. protection. Johnson dismissed those concerns and said Nielsen's boss, White House chief of staff John Kelly, has called her a "superstar." The Homeland Security post "is a very big job. Probably no one is fully qualified for it. I think she has some good qualifications," Johnson said, adding that it was important to fill the post as soon as possible. (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑
WASHINGTON, Nov 15, (AP): The Obama health care law's requirement that Americans get insurance coverage is now pinned as a target of Republican lawmakers, as they look to end the individual mandate to help pay for deep cuts in their tax legislation. Senate Republicans showed Tuesday they're intent on scrapping the Affordable Care Act's insurance mandate, and the idea was endorsed by scores of GOP lawmakers in the House. Sen. Orrin Hatch, chairman of the Finance Committee, confirmed late Tuesday he was revising the bill to include repeal of the insurance mandate "to help provide additional relief to low- and middle-income families." The surprise renewal of the failed effort to eliminate the health care law's mandate came a day after President Donald Trump renewed pressure on Republican lawmakers to include the repeal in their sweeping legislation to revamp the tax system. It carries high political stakes for Trump, who lacks a major legislative achievement after nearly 10 months in office. The move by Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee upended the debate over the tax measure just as it was inching closer to passage following months of finetuning and compromise. It turned the debate into an angry partisan referendum on health care and President Barack Obama's signature law, the Affordable Care Act. The Finance panel digs into a third day of work on the Senate tax bill on Wednesday. The completed House tax bill, pointed toward a vote in that chamber Thursday, does not currently include repeal of the health insurance mandate. Trump plans an in-person appeal to House Republi-
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) arrives for a press conference following a weekly meeting of the House Republican caucus Nov 14 in Washington, DC. Republicans plan to bring their version of a tax reform bill to the House floor for a vote on Thursday of this week. (AFP)
California mass shooting kills 4: Four people were killed and nearly a dozen wounded, including two children, when a gunman went on a rampage Tuesday, randomly picking his targets at a school and other locations in rural northern California. Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston told reporters that the assailant was killed by police following the mass shooting, which began around 8:00 am (1600 GMT) at a home in Rancho Tehama Reserve and continued at several
locations in the community, including the elementary school. He said no children were among the dead and the motive for the assault was unclear, although it may be linked to a domestic dispute and a history of disagreements with neighbors. "It was very clear at the onset that we had an individual that was randomly picking targets," Johnston said at a news conference. "This man was very, very intent on completing what he set out to do today." (AP)
cans before the vote. Promoted as needed relief for the middle class, the House and Senate tax overhaul bills would deeply cut corporate rates, double the standard deduction used by most Americans and limit or repeal completely the federal deduction for state and local property, income and sales taxes. Republican leaders deem passage of the first major tax overhaul in 30 years as imperative for the GOP to preserve its majorities in next year's elections. Republican efforts to dismantle the health care law collapsed this past summer as moderate Republicans joined with Democrats in rejecting the repeal — a bitter disappointment for Trump, who lashed out at the Senate GOP for failing. Adding the repeal of the mandate to the tax measure would combine two of Trump's legislative priorities. Beyond Trump's prodding, the repeal move was dictated by the Republicans' need to find revenue sources for the massive tax-cut bill, which calls for steep reductions in the corporate tax rate and elimination of some popular tax breaks. The "Obamacare" mandate requires most people to buy health insurance coverage or face a fine. Without being forced to get coverage, fewer people would sign up for Medicaid or buy federally subsidized private insurance. Eliminating the mandate in the tax legislation would save an estimated $338 billion over a decade, which could be used to help pay for the deep cuts. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that repealing the requirement that people buy health coverage would mean 4 million additional uninsured people by 2019 and 13 million more by 2027.
World News Roundup Defense Funding uncertain
House backs $700b 'defense policy' bill WASHINGTON, Nov 15, (RTRS): The US House of Representatives passed a $700 billion defense policy bill on Tuesday, backing President Donald Trump's call for a bigger, stronger military, but failing to decide how to fund the massive spending increase. The Republican-controlled House voted 356-70 for the annual National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, which authorizes the level of defense spending and sets policies controlling how the money is spent. But the legislation defies spending caps set in the 2011 Budget Control Act and there is no clear plan from Congress on how to provide the money for the Pentagon. The 2018 NDAA authorizes $634 billion in base defense spending, for such things as buying weapons and paying Smith the troops, well above the $549 billion allowed under the previous legislation. The NDAA also includes provisions such as an increase in active troop levels by more than 16,000, and states that climate change is a national security threat. The defense policy bill will become law if it passes the Republican-controlled Senate and is signed into law by the president, as expected. But spending will nonetheless be cut automatically if Congress cannot come up with a deal to resolve the gap in funding. Representative Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said Congress' failure to address the issue makes life more difficult for military leaders because they cannot plan in advance. "This defense bill is $72 billion over the budget caps, so if we don't eliminate or raise the budget caps, that additional money will go away and leave us once again in the land of uncertainty for the Department of Defense," he said. Representative Mac Thornberry, the House Armed Service Committee's Republican chairman, said Congress needed to pass an appropriations bill to allow for the $700 billion. "Securing those appropriations must be Congress' top priority before the year ends," Thornberry said in a statement. The NDAA also includes about $66 billion in special war funding, which is exempt from the so-called sequestration cap. The measure passed by the House on Tuesday is a compromise reached by House and Senate negotiators between separate versions of the bill approved in the chambers earlier this year.
This file photo shows US Forces Korea Commander Gen Vincent Brooks (right), speaking to the media during a news conference as US Pacific Command Commander Adm Harry Harris Jr (rear right), Commander of the US 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command Brigadier Gen Sean Gainey, (left), Lt Gen Samuel A. Greaves, director of the United States Missile Defense Agency (second from
America Sessions denies lying on Russia: A defiant Attorney General Jeff Sessions told Congress on Tuesday he never lied under oath about Russian interference in the 2016 election and said sleep deprivation and the "chaos" of the Trump campaign clouded his recollections of campaign contacts with Russians. Sessions sought to explain away apparent contradictions in his public statements by portraying President Donald Trump's campaign as an exhausting operation and said he could not be expected to remember specific encounters from more than a year ago. "In all of my testimony, I can only do my best to answer all of your questions as I understand them and to the best of my
memory," Sessions told the House Judiciary Committee. "But I will not accept, and reject, accusations that I have ever lied under oath. That is a lie." Sessions, then a senator from Alabama, led a foreign policy advisory council for the Trump campaign. He has been dogged since January by his evolving explanations about his own foreign
left), Gen John Hyten, commander of the United States Strategic Command (third from left), listen in front of PAC-3 launching station at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. House Republicans and Democrats have joined forces to overwhelmingly approve an annual defense policy bill that authorizes $700 billion for the Pentagon and orders a rapid buildup of the nation's missile defenses. (AP) contacts during the campaign and about how much he knew of communication between Trump associates and Russian government intermediaries. Those questions have only deepened since the guilty plea last month of George Papadopoulos, a former Trump adviser who served on the council Sessions chaired and who proposed arranging a meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. As well, another aide, Carter Page, told Congress in private statements that he had alerted Sessions about a meeting he planned in Russia during the campaign. (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑
Senate probes nuke authority: US
senators probed the limits of a president's unilateral power to launch a nuclear attack Tuesday, an increasingly weighty debate as tensions rise between an unpredictable Donald Trump and North Korean dictator
Kim Jong-Un. The closely watched debate, organized and chaired by a prominent Republican Trump critic, addressed a hypothetical presidential decision to launch a nuclear first strike against an adversary. "Let's just recognize the exceptional nature of this moment," Senate Democrat Chris Murphy said during the hearing of the chamber's Foreign Relations Committee. "We are concerned that the president of the United States is so unstable, is so volatile, has a decision-making process that is so quixotic, that he might order a nuclear weapon strike that is wildly out of step with US national security interests," he added. In the event of an ongoing or imminent nuclear attack, senators and expert witnesses agreed that the president had full authority to defend the nation in accordance with the US Constitution. (AFP)
Migrants Slovenia scraps deportation
Libya seeks more EU aid to beef up 'fleet' TRIPOLI, Nov 15, (Agencies): The Libyan coastguard on Tuesday called for more European aid for its "obsolete" fleet, warning it would not otherwise be able to rescue migrants in the Mediterranean in 2018. The appeal came as the UN slammed as "inhuman" the EU's policy of helping Libyan authorities intercept migrants at sea and return them to "horrific" prisons in the North African country. Colonel Abu Ajila Abdelbarri of the Libyan coastguard said that by the start of next year's migration season in spring, "we will not be able to carry out search and rescue missions" in Libya's coastal waters. Summer saw a 75 percent drop in the numbers of migrants leaving Libya for Europe compared with the same period in 2016, with 60 percent fewer dying at sea, the European naval force charged with stopping people trafficking in the Mediterranean said in October. But UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein on Tuesday blasted "the European Union's policy of assisting the Libyan Coast Guard to intercept and return migrants in the Mediterranean (as) inhuman." Al Hussein "The suffering of migrants detained in Libya is an outrage to the conscience of humanity," he said. An EU spokesperson said Brussels was funding United Nations agencies in Libya working to beef up the coastguard and to protect migrants. "We believe that the detention centres in Libya must be closed. The situation in these camps is unacceptable", the spokesperson said in a statement sent to AFP. Abdelbarri said the coastguard needed European backers "to provide us with ships and especially to repair the ones we have".
Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge chats with mothers and children during her visit to the Hornsey Road Children's Centre in north London on Nov 14. (AFP)
Britain Tensions rise over Brexit bill
Royals mark platinum 'versary
Greater Navy spokesman General Ayoub Qassem also called for greater European cooperation with Libyan authorities, and reiterated criticism of NGOs rescuing migrants near the Libyan coast. "We are extending our hands to countries, and not to NGOs whose agendas we do not know," he said. "We call on Europe to cooperate with the Navy and support it." There are frequent tensions between NGOs running search and rescue operations off Libya and the coastguard, which has an agreement with Italy to stem the flow of departures. Meanwhile, police say one person has died in a fire at a home for asylum-seekers in southern Germany. Officers were alerted at about 3 am Wednesday to the blaze at the building in Bamberg, which currently houses 163 people. Police said that firefighters quickly brought under control the fire that had broken out in one apartment, sending smoke through the twostory building. Fourteen people were slightly injured as a result of inhaling smoke. Police said a body was found in the apartment where the fire broke out, but they had no immediate details on the person's identity. There was no immediate information on the cause of the fire. In another report, an African woman has been reunited with her 4-year-old son in Spain after they reached the country in separate boats and were kept apart without contact for months while authorities established they were related. A lawyer who took their case to the European Court of Human Rights said 33-year-old Bahoumou Totopa and her son, Abdramane Aziz Cisse, met on Monday in Melilla. The boy had been under the care of social services in the Spanish enclave in northern African. The reunion came after the European court questioned the Spanish government last month for not allowing contact between the mother and the child while confirming their relationship. Women's Link Worldwide Lawyer Teresa Fernandez said the reunion went smoothly even though Totopa, who is from Ivory Coast and speaks French, had difficulty communicating with her son. Abdramane is much more fluent now in Spanish than in French.
Nervous "She was very nervous at first, but she's extremely positive now," Fernandez said about Totopa, who declined to be interviewed so soon after the reunion with her son. "She says she wants to learn Spanish now as soon as possible." Before Monday, Totopa last saw her child more than seven months ago, when he and her younger sister set off from Morocco's coast in a rubber dinghy to cross the Mediterranean Sea. The boy's aunt nearly drowned during the March trip and was taken to a hospital in Melilla after Spanish authorities found their boat. Abdramane was sheltered in a center for migrant children in Melilla while authorities conducted genetic tests. Totopa had followed them in another boat in April and ended up in peninsular Spain after a rescue operation on the Mediterranean. Unable to travel back across the strait to Melilla, she filed documents and DNA samples to prove she was that she was Abdramane's mother. Authorities in Melilla allowed them to communicate via videoconference for the first time in late October, after the European court questioned the Spanish government's handling of the case, according to lawyer Fernandez. The need for the European court to be involved "is a sign that in Spain, there is prevalent discrimination against those who are women, migrant, of African origin and in an irregular administrative situation," Fernandez said. Meanwhile, Slovenia has canceled the planned deportation of a Syrian asylum-seeker following a public outcry. Prime Minister Miro Cerar said Tuesday the government will consider granting a residence permit to Ahmad Shamieh in one of its upcoming sessions. Shamieh applied for asylum in Slovenia 20 months ago after he was refused entry into neighboring Austria. Slovenian authorities rejected the application, insisting that his case should be handled by Croatia, where he had been before Slovenia. Slovenia's official STA news agency says Shamieh has done community work and become an example of successful refugee integration. He has won support from human rights groups and liberal politicians. Two liberal politicians earlier Tuesday temporarily took Shamieh to the parliament building to shield him from potential forced deportation.
Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni (right), welcomes Bulgaria's counterpart Boyko Borisov, before their meeting at Palazzo Chigi in Rome on Nov 14. (AFP)
Mladic
Europe Macron to boost youth: President Emmanuel Macron says the French government itself fueled homegrown Islamic extremism by abandoning its poorest neighborhoods — and he's promising tough and "sometimes authoritarian" new measures to combat radicalization. Macron unveiled a multibillion-euro plan Tuesday to help France's troubled banlieues — suburban regions where crime flourishes and job opportunities are scant, especially for minorities with origins in former French colonies. More than 5 million people live in France's poorest neighborhoods, where unemployment is 25 percent — well above the nearly 10 percent national average. For those under 30, the prospects are even worse — more than a third are officially unemployed. Macron's answer is to provide grants for poor youths to launch startups, double the funding for public housing, expand child care, improve public transport in isolated or poor neighborhoods, offer subsidies for companies that hire disadvantaged youth and hire more local police officers. Macron's predecessors also spent billions to try to fix the banlieues, and failed. But he's undeterred, and says the stakes are increasingly high. (AP) ❑
LONDON, Nov 15, (Agencies): Britain's Queen Elizabeth will add another landmark to her record-breaking reign on Monday when she and Prince Philip celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary. Princess Elizabeth, as she was at the time, married dashing naval officer Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten at London's Westminster Abbey on Nov 20, 1947, just two years after the end of World War Two, in a lavish ceremony attended by statesmen and royalty from around the world. Seventy years on, Elizabeth, 91, and her 96-year-old husband will mark their platinum anniversary with a small family party at Windsor Castle, the monarch's home to the west of London. A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said there would be no public event to mark the occasion. Greek-born Philip, a descendant of Elizabeth's great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria in his own right, has been at his wife's side throughout her 65-year reign, the longest in British history. He was the person who broke the news to her in 1952 that her father, George VI, had died and that she was now queen.
"One of the secrets of this very, very long marriage, and it's an incredibly impressive anniversary, is the fact Prince Philip has always seen it as his main duty to support the queen, to help her in whatever way he can," royal historian Hugo Vickers told Reuters. "He is the only person who can actually tell the queen absolutely straight what he thinks, and if he thinks some idea is ridiculous he will say so in whatever language he chooses to use." The couple first met when they attended the wedding of Prince Philip's cousin, Princess Marina of Greece, to Elizabeth's uncle, the Duke of Kent, in 1934. Philip then gained the attention of his future wife when the then-13-yearold princess made a visit with her parents to Britain's Royal Naval College at Dartmouth in southern England where he was a cadet.
Lawmakers from British Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative party reacted angrily Wednesday after a newspaper labelled them "mutineers" for challenging the government's Brexit legislation, saying they would only fight harder. After a heated start to the House of
Commons debate Tuesday of a landmark bill ending Britain's membership of the European Union, the Conservative-backing Daily Telegraph ran a provocative front page with large photos of 15 rebels. "The Brexit mutineers — Remainsupporting Conservatives rebel against May's move to enshrine in law the date Britain leaves EU," Wednesday's headline read, referring to those who voted to stay in the EU in last year's referendum.
Targets The targets of the piece accused the paper of "bullying", while a government minister distanced himself from what he said was an attempt to "divide" the party. "If fighting for the best possible future for our country and our government is considered mutiny — then bring it on," tweeted one MP, Heidi Allen. Another, Anna Soubry, said it was a "blatant piece of bullying" and insisted none of those named wanted to delay or thwart Brexit. "We just want a good Brexit that works for everybody in our country," she said. However, she added that she took being named as a "badge of honour", adding on Twitter that "a number of Tory MPs (are) outraged they've been left off!" "The role of MPs is not to be lobby fodder but to scrutinise legislation," tweeted Antoinette Sandbach, referring to the lobby areas in which lawmakers vote.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Tuesday the UK government had to make changes to its European Union withdrawal bill before her devolved government in Edinburgh would agree to back it, but said she was hopeful progress could be made. The devolved governments in Scotland and Wales are worried that the withdrawal bill will sap their powers. They cannot veto the EU bill, but failure to win their consent would be an embarrassing setback for British Prime Minister Theresa May's government and could reignite Scottish demands for independence. "There's a long way still to go and I'm very clear that bill has to change," Sturgeon told reporters after talks with May in London that she described as "constructive and cordial". "Hopefully having had the opportunity to air the concerns we have in more details we will be able to make
progress in weeks to come," Sturgeon said. The EU withdrawal bill seeks to convert all existing EU laws into British law to provide legal clarity after Britain leaves the bloc and lawmakers started to debate it on Tuesday in Britain's parliament. Scotland and Wales, which currently control policy areas such as health, education, transport and agriculture, say the legislation does not guarantee the status of their devolved powers after Brexit. A spokeswoman for May said that devolved powers would be enhanced after Brexit. "The prime minister reiterated that as powers are repatriated from Brussels back to Britain there will be a significant increase in the decision-making powers for the Scottish Government and other devolved administrations." Brexit is a source of tension for the four constituent nations of the United Kingdom because Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to stay in the EU, while Wales and England — by far the most populous of the four — voted to leave.
Russia has launched cyber attacks on the UK media, telecoms and energy sectors in the past year, Britain's cyber security chief will say Wednesday amid reports of Russian interference in the Brexit referendum.
System "Russia is seeking to undermine the international system. That much is clear," Ciaran Martin, head of Britain's National Cyber Security Centre will say at a London tech conference, according to extracts released by his office in advance of the speech. "Russian interference, seen by the National Cyber Security Centre over the past year, has included attacks on the UK media, telecommunications and energy sectors," Martin was expected to say. "The PM (Prime Minister Theresa May) made the point on Monday night — international order as we know it is in danger of being eroded." The centre has responded to more than 590 significant incidents since its launch in 2016, although the government agency has not detailed which were linked to Russia. Martin's comments come after scathing criticism of Russia from May, who accused Moscow of "seeking to weaponise information" and "sow discord in the West and undermine our institutions".
Pope auctions Lamborghini: Pope Francis got the keys to a fancy new Lamborghini on Wednesday — but he won't be tooling around the Vatican gardens in it. Instead, the special edition Huracan will be auctioned off by Sotheby's, with the proceeds going to charities including one aimed at helping rebuild Christian communities in Iraq that were devastated by the Islamic State group. Officials from the luxury sports car maker presented Francis with the sleek white car with papal yellow-gold detailing on Wednesday, outside the Vatican hotel where he lives. The pope promptly blessed it. Base prices for the Huracan, which was first introduced in 2014, usually start at around 183,000 euros ($217,000.) A special edition built for a papal charity would be expected to fetch far more at auction. Francis got around his native Buenos Aires on public transport and has long railed against people who buy the latest model cars or cellphones. As pope, he uses a blue Ford Focus inside the Vatican walls, and he has made a statement on all his foreign trips by shunning fancy, bullet-proof SUVs and opting instead for modest Fiats or KIAs. (AP)
officials said. The flooding struck the towns of Mandra, Nea Peramos and Megara, a semirural area west of Athens where many factories and warehouses are based.
TV images showed tanker trucks, buses and lorries nearly completely submerged in the muddy torrent. "We have confirmation of seven deaths," deputy regional governor Yiannis
Greece flash flood kills 7: At least seven people died on Wednesday and more were missing after a strong overnight downpour flooded three towns in Greece,
Vassileiou told state TV ERT as rain continued to fall. Five men and two women aged 45 and above have died so far. "The weather forecast is poor, so we are on alert," he said, adding that "torrents of water" had flooded a highway all the way to the sea many kms (miles) away. (AFP)
Secretary General of the Muslim World League Mohammed Al-Issa (left), and Rector of the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral Patrick Chauvet (right), look on during a visit to the cathedral in Paris on Nov 14. (AFP)
Waiting for Mldic verdict: Almir Salihovic sits in his office in Srebrenica, waiting for a UN tribunal to give its judgement on the man accused of massacring his cousins and uncles there in 1995. He is hoping for a measure of justice, but little else. The businessman was 10 when he fled through the woods with his father and brother as Bosnian Serb soldiers opened fire behind them. The troops killed more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys in the days that followed. Next week the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia will give its verdict on Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb general accused of overseeing the murders and other war crimes, including the siege of Sarajevo. A guilty verdict on Nov 22 would give some "personal satisfaction to victims," Salihovic told Reuters at his transportation company in the eastern town, where his family returned in 2004. (RTRS)
World News Roundup Subcontinent 15 bodies found
India's police 'arrest' suspected vigilantes NEW DELHI, Nov 15, (Agencies): Indian police have arrested two Hindu farmers in connection with the killing of a Muslim man suspected of smuggling cows to a slaughter house, the investigating officer said on Wednesday. Hardline Hindu groups have gained prominence since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in 2014, and the protection of cows, considered holy by many in the Hindu-majority country, is a priority for them. Police found the body of Ummar Khan, 35 on Friday on railway tracks in Alwar district, in the northwestern state of Rajasthan. The two suspects were detained on Monday and arrested the next day, said Rahul Prakash, the top poModi lice officer in Alwar. "It is a clear case of murder over the issue of cow protection and we have also found that the victim was running a cow-smuggling racket," Prakash said. Khan and two accomplices were using a stolen vehicle to transport five cows when they were attacked by six members of a self-styled cow protection force, he said.
Shooting "Both sides were carrying guns and were shooting at each other." Khan was shot dead and his body was thrown onto the railway track, Prakash said. Cow slaughter is illegal in most of India. "Gau rakshaks", or cow vigilantes, run a loosely organised movement that they say is meant to prevent cattle smuggling, with tactics that include highway ambushes. Modi has called for more to be done to prevent such attacks on people accused of eating beef or slaughtering cows. This year, a Muslim farmer died from injuries sustained during an assault by a mob in Alwar, about 180 km (100 miles) southwest of New Delhi, when he was taking cows to his home. Khan's wife, Khurdisan, denied that her husband and been leading any cows to slaughter. She accused members of a right-wing Hindu group affiliated to Modi's party of the murder. "He was bringing the cows home for their milk, not for their meat. I want the government to protect me and my children," she was quoted as saying by Hindi-language Rajasthan Patrika newspaper. ❑ ❑ ❑ New Delhi students march: Hundreds of students marched Wednesday in India's capital to demand action to improve the city's toxic air. New Delhi has been wrapped in a choking haze for much of the past week. The smog did lift a little in time for the march at Nehru Park by students from 15 private schools. The march was organized by representatives from the United Nations, private schools and the Sonalika company, a tractor maker. Charvi Thakkar, 13, said she felt the pollution had risen to an extreme level and that her grandmother, uncle and brother were no longer able to comfortably breathe. "We need to stop this," she said. "Because this is what we are providing for our children, for the next generation. If we are not able to breathe properly, then there is no future." Teacher Neeraj Chhiber said that when she moved to Delhi 25 years ago, it felt a little dusty at this time of year but nowhere near as bad as it is now. Environmentalist Vasu Primlani said she believes a series of low-cost initiatives could halve the city's pollution problem within two years. The measures, she said, would include teaching people to drive more efficiently and stopping farmers from burning their fields. Meanwhile, authorities opened themselves to ridicule after India's health minister favorably compared the capital's air to a massive 1984 gas leak in the city of Bhopal that killed as many as 15,000 people. "We call that an emergency situation where you have to panic," Harsh Vardhan told a television channel on Tuesday. And New Delhi was forced to abandon a plan to use water-spraying helicopters to cleanse the air, due to poor visibility caused by the smog. ❑ ❑ ❑ Pakistan kidnap victims found: Pakistani police on Wednesday found 15 bullet-ridden bodies of kidnap victims near the border with Iran, a favoured route for human traffickers taking workers illegally to Europe. The bodies were found abandoned in a mountainous region of Buleda, in Baluchistan province, 600 km (370 miles) south of the provincial capital of Quetta, district commissioner Bashir Ahmad Bangalzai told Reuters. He said documents and other belongings found on the bodies suggested that they were en route to Iran illegally. Human smuggling is big business in Pakistan and other poor South Asian countries. There have been instances of workers being killed in border areas, or sometimes dying during road or sea travel.
Claimed No one has claimed responsibility. Violence-plagued Baluchistan, which also borders Afghanistan, has long been home to separatist groups seeking a greater share of regional resources and Islamist militants linked to al-Qaeda, the Taleban and Islamic State. The violence has raised concerns about security for projects in the $57 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a planned transport and energy link from western China to Pakistan's southern deep-water port of Gwadar. ❑ ❑ ❑ British woman wins $5,200: A British woman won 800,000 rupees ($5,200) in compensation from a Sri Lankan court on Wednesday after being wrongly deported for having a Buddha tattoo on her arm. Buddhism is accorded the "foremost place" in Sri Lanka's constitution and about 70 percent of the island's 21 million people are Buddhist. But there is no law banning Buddha tattoos.
Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte (left), and China's Premier Li Keqiang inspect the honour guard during his official visit at the Malacanang Palace in Manila on Nov 15. (AFP)
Diplomacy Beijing sending envoy to N. Korea following Trump visit
'Philippines owes China debt of gratitude'
Debris from a collapsed building is scattered in front of a shopping center after an earthquake in Pohang, South Korea on Nov 15. The earthquake shook South Korea's southeastern coastal region on Wednesday afternoon, but no casualties were immediately reported. (AP)
MANILA, Nov 15, (Agencies): The Philippines owes China a "debt of gratitude" over a donation of arms to fight pro-Islamic State militants, President Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday, in another sign of warming ties. China in June gave thousands of guns to poorly equipped Philippine security forces as they battled insurgents who had besieged the southern city of Marawi in a bid to create an IS province there. Duterte made the remarks to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who was visiting the Philippines a day after attending a regional summit in Manila along with US President Donald Trump and other world leaders. "It was China who responded immediately (to) our cry for help," Duterte said of the Marawi crisis. "Maybe in the future, the Philippines would also show its debt of gratitude to China for all of the fundings, public works, bridges and all," he added, referring to other forms of aid from Beijing.
Tillerson
Suu Kyi
Asia 'Probe Rohingya crisis': Washington's top diplomat on Wednesday said he would not yet push for sanctions against Myanmar over the Rohingya refugee crisis, but he called for an independent investigation into "credible" reports that soldiers committed atrocities against the Muslim minority. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was speaking after a one-day stop in Naypyidaw, as global outrage builds over impunity for a military accused of waging an ethnic cleansing campaign against the Rohingya. Speaking by his side, Myanmar's de facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi hit back at global criticism that she has been silent over the refugee crisis, saying she has instead focused on speech that avoids inflaming sectarian tensions. More than 600,000 Rohingya have fled the mainly Buddhist country since the military launched a counter-insurgency operation in northern Rakhine state in late August. While the army insists it has only targeted Rohingya rebels, refugees massing in grim Bangladeshi camps have described chilling and consistent accounts of widespread murder, rape and arson at the hands of security forces and Buddhist mobs. Speaking after meetings with the army chief and Suu Kyi, Tillerson said that broad economic sanctions are "not something that I'd think would be advisable at this time". "We want to see Myanmar succeed," he told reporters. "You can't just impose sanctions and say therefore the crisis is over." But he said Washington was "deeply concerned by credible reports of widespread atrocities committed by Myanmar's security forces and vigilantes" and urged Myanmar to accept an independent investigation into those allegations, after which individual sanctions could be appropriate. "The scenes of what occurred out there are just horrific," he added. (AFP)
'Party to be dissolved': A
The United States and Australia provided direct military assistance in the battle for Marawi, including reconnaissance flights above the city as Philippine troops took on the militants, and have also pledged aid for its reconstruction. Li said China would provide 150 million yuan ($22.6 million) for the rehabilitation of Marawi, which has been largely reduced to rubble after the five-month conflict ended last month. "We have full confidence that under your leadership, Mr. President, and the leadership of your government, the rebuilding of Marawi will be completed at a very early date," said Li in a news conference with Duterte at the presidential palace. Sino-Philippine relations have improved since Duterte's election last year as he sought to downplay his nation's maritime row with China over the South China Sea in favour of billions of dollars in trade and investment. Last year a UN-backed tribunal rejected Beijing's claims to most of the waters. But Duterte has refused to use the decision as leverage as he sought warmer relations with China and Russia while loosening his nation's 71-year alliance with the United States.
Cambodian opposition leader said Wednesday that he expects his political party to be dissolved in a Supreme Court ruling this week, a move that would further descend the nation into authoritarianism ahead of next year's general election. Since Cambodia's court system is not seen as independent of Prime Minister Hun Sen's govern-
However, Duterte has said ties with the US have improved under Trump, whom he met at this week's summit. Li and Duterte on Wednesday witnessed the signing of economic agreements including loans for infrastructure projects and said their nations would work to further improve ties. Li is the first Chinese premier to visit the Philippines in a decade. Meanwhile, following President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing, China said Wednesday that it would send a high-level special envoy to North Korea amid an extended chill in relations between the neighbors over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and missile programs. Song Tao, the head of China's ruling Communist Party's International Department, will travel to Pyongyang on Friday to report on outcomes of the party's national congress held last month, the official Xinhua News Agency said. Xinhua said Song, as president and party leader Xi Jinping's special envoy, would carry out a "visit" in addition to delivering his report, but gave no details about his itinerary or meetings. It also made no mention of Trump's trip to Beijing or the North's weapons programs, although Trump has repeatedly called on Beijing to do more to use its influence to pressure Pyongyang into altering its behavior.
Downplayed Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang downplayed any connection between Song's trip and Trump's visit, saying it was "common practice" for the Communist Party and North Korea's ruling Workers' Party to exchange views. "The purpose of this visit is to brief about the party congress and exchange views on issues of common interest and bilateral interest," Geng said at a regularly scheduled briefing. Song would be the first ministerial-level Chinese official to visit North Korea since October 2015, when Politburo Standing Committee member Liu Yunshan met with leader Kim Jong Un. Liu delivered a letter to Kim from Xi expressing hopes for a strong relationship, although the respite in frosty ties proved short-lived. Vice-Foreign Minister
ment, dissolution of the Cambodia National Rescue Party is assured when the court makes its ruling on Thursday, said Son Chhay, whip of the party, the only opposition group to hold seats in parliament. "We have no hope that the Supreme Court's verdict will be different to what Prime Minister Hun Sen wants," he said. "Therefore, my party is likely to be dissolved."
Liu Zhenmin visited Pyongyang in October of last year. The two ruling parties have long-standing ties that often supersede formal diplomacy, even while Beijing has long been frustrated with Pyongyang's provocations and unwillingness to reform its economy. However, Song is not directly connected to China's efforts to convince Pyongyang to cease its nuclear weapons program and return to talks, downplaying the chances for a breakthrough in that highly contentious area. China is also North Korea's largest trading partner and chief source of food and fuel aid, although it says its influence with Kim's regime is often exaggerated by the US and others. While it is enforcing harsh new UN sanctions targeting the North's sources of foreign currency, Beijing has called for steps to renew dialogue. Beijing is also opposed to measures that could bring down Kim's regime, possibly depriving it of a buffer with South Korea and the almost 30,000 US troops stationed there, and leading to a refugee crisis and chaos along its border with the North. In Beijing last week, Trump urged Xi to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program. China can fix the problem "easily and quickly," Trump said in remarks to journalists alongside Xi. He urged Xi to "hopefully work on it very hard." "If he works on it hard, it will happen. There's no doubt about it," Trump said. While calling the visit significant, a top Chinese expert on North Korea relations downplayed any connection with Trump's statements in Beijing, saying it fit a pattern of traditional exchanges between the two parties following significant events such as national congresses. "Representatives are dispatched to brief the other side at a chosen time and chosen level. It is a tradition and it is unnecessary to connect it with Trump's visit to China," said Guo Rui, researcher at the Institute for North Korean and South Korean Studies at Jilin University in northeastern China. However, he said the visit "shows China's willingness to see a continuous development of the friendly relations between the two sides."
The government in late October formally accused the CNRP of involvement in a plot to topple the government and asked the court to dissolve it. The government has claimed it has more than "20 pieces of concrete evidence" that prove the party was seeking to topple the government through a popular uprising. CNRP officials have denied the
China highway pile-up kills 18
Pakistani cleric Mufti Abdul Qavi (center), chats on his mobile phone after his release from the central jail in Multan on late Nov 14. A defense lawyer says a Pakistani court has granted bail to Mufti Abdul Qavi who was arrested over his alleged role in the murder of a social media star Qandeel Baloch last year, which reignited calls for action against so-called 'honour killings'. (AFP)
SHANGHAI, Nov 15, (AFP): A highway pile-up involving at least 30 cars killed 18 people in eastern China on Wednesday, local authorities said, leaving dramatic scenes of twisted and burntout wreckage and a towering column of black smoke. Grisly footage from the aftermath in the city of Fuyang in Anhui province showed sedans violently crushed to around half their original size under large cargo trucks and blood stains on vehicle doors as the sound of people crying could be heard.
charges, saying they are politically motivated. The move is seen as the latest attempt by Hun Sen to remove threats to his power ahead of next July's general election, the first national polls since 2013, when he narrowly retained office after the opposition made unexpectedly strong gains. In his 32 years in power, Hun Sen has mastered how to sideline political opponents. In 1997, he ousted a co-prime minister in a bloody coup. In recent years, he's used Cambodia's pliant judicial system. (AP)
5.4 quake hits S. Korea: A 5.4 magnitude earthquake shook South Korea's southeastern coastal region Wednesday afternoon, breaking some windows and crumbling walls near the epicenter. No casualties were reported. The quake was centered off the coast about 9.3 kms (5.8 miles) northwest of the port city of Pohang, according to the US Geological Survey. South Korea's state-run Korea Meteorological Administration measured the quake at the same strength but said the epicenter was inside Pohang. Residents in the capital, more than 300 kms (186 miles) away, felt tremors and said their buildings shook. (AP)
Lat/Am
Politics 'No takeover of govt'
Mugabe power slips as military 'steps in' HARARE, Nov 15, (AFP): Zimbabwe's military appeared to be in control of the country Wednesday as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target "criminals" allied to President Robert Mugabe. Mugabe's decades-long grip on power was dramatically weakened as military vehicles blocked roads outside the parliament in Harare and senior soldiers delivered a late-night television address to the nation. "The president... and his family are safe and sound and their security is guaranteed," Major General Sibusiso Moyo said, slowly reading out a statement. "We are only targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes... As Mugabe soon as we have accomplished our mission we expect that the situation will return to normalcy." Moyo said: "This is not a military takeover of government". But the generals' actions posed a major challenge to the 93-year-old Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980. Tensions between the veteran leader and the military, which has long helped prop up his authoritarian rule, erupted in public ahead of the latest events. The ruling ZANU-PF party on Tuesday accused army chief General Constantino Chiwenga of "treasonable conduct" after he criticised Mugabe for sacking vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa.
An armoured personnel carrier stations by an intersection as Zimbabwean soldiers regulate traffic in Harare on Nov 15. Zimbabwe's military appeared to be in control of the country Nov 15 as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target 'criminals' close to President Mugabe. (AFP)
Africa France eyes Africa security: France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Tuesday encouraged African nations calling for greater autonomy over their security to "go for it", following the launch of a regional anti-jihad force in the Sahel. France currently has its own a 4,000-strong counter-terror force named Barkhane tackling jihadists and banditry in West and Central African nations targeted by al-Qaeda and increasingly Islamic State. Speaking at the annual Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Senegal, Le Drian declared he was "tempted to say let's go for it and ensure that Africa's mobilisation leads to better performing peacekeeping missions with better results". (AFP) ❑ ❑ ❑
involving suspects in both the public and private sector, a parliamentary staffer said on Tuesday. The house passed the act by a large majority, Ebenezer Djietror told Reuters, after agreeing proposals to establish the independence of the head of the special prosecuting agency. Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo, who assumed office in January pledging to protect public funds, had proposed to establish a special prosecutor to try corrup-
Ghana eyes anti-graft agency: Ghana's parliament passed a bill on Tuesday to set up an agency to investigate corruption
Le Drian
Addo
tion cases and other criminal wrongdoing, including violations of public procurement. The government of Akufo-Addo, a former opposition leader, has accused its predecessors of malfeasance in award of cocoa sector contracts amounting to millions of dollars. Ghana is the world's second largest cocoa producer after Ivory Coast. (RTRS) ❑ ❑ ❑
Swiss aid worker freed: Sudanese security forces have freed a Swiss aid worker who was kidnapped in Darfur last month in an overnight operation in the war-torn region, a Sudanese official said Wednesday. Her abduction was the first such reported incident in Darfur since the United Nations began scaling back its peacekeeping force in the region earlier this year. The release of the aid worker, whose identity has not been revealed by Sudan or Swiss authorities, comes as the UN Security Council meets on Wednesday to assess the downsizing of the peacekeeping mission in Darfur. (AFP)
Mexico arrests Zetas leader: Mexican police and military personnel on Tuesday arrested an "old school" Zetas cartel leader who allegedly coordinated a 2010 killing spree that included the massacre of 72 Central American migrants in the border state of Tamaulipas, authorities said. The 56-year-old suspect was identified as Martiniano Jaramillo. Prosecutors said he was arrested at a hospital near the Tamaulipas state capital. He faces charges of organized crime and kidnapping, including the abduction of a US citizen. Authorities said Jaramillo was linked to the May 10 killing of activist Miriam Rodriguez, who spent Jaramillo years searching for her missing daughter and discovered her body. (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑ Varela visits China: Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela is making his first official visit to China after establishing diplomatic ties with the country five months ago. Varela left for Asia on Tuesday and planned to inaugurate a new Panamanian embassy in Beijing and a consulate in Shanghai. The Central American country switched diplomatic relations from Taiwan to China in June. As part of the change, Panama and China released a joint statement saying that Taiwan was an inalienable part of Chinese territory. China is the second-most frequent user of the Panama Canal after the United States, and a Chinese consortium operates the ports at both ends of the passagewayVarela hopes the new relationship will be an economic boon to Panama. (AP)
World News Roundup Climate Diplomatic push at talks
Dimming Sun's rays to affect storms too BONN, Nov 15, (AFP): The leaders of France and Germany will lead a diplomatic charge Wednesday to reinvigorate UN climate talks clouded by Washington's rejection of a planet rescue plan backed by the rest of the world. Despite announcing it will withdraw from the Paris Agreement, the United States has a delegation at the Bonn huddle, tasked with drawing up rules for executing the hard-fought pact on winding down Earthwarming greenhouse gas emissions from burning coal, oil and gas. Washington's presence is not universally appreciated, especially after White House officials hosted a sideline event Monday defending the continued use of fossil fuels. "A lot of negotiators are not happy with the way the US has been behaving in some of these negotiations," Alden Meyer of the Union of Concerned Scientists, a veteran observer of the climate process, told AFP. "Things like this fossil fuel initiative... are not making things easier." The United States, which championed the Paris Agreement under former president Macron Barack Obama, ratified it just two months before Donald Trump — who has described climate change as a "hoax" — was voted into office. In June, the new president announced America would pull out of the historic pact. This week, Syria became the 196th country to adopt the agreement, leaving the United States as the only nation in the UN climate convention to reject it. Bureaucrats have been haggling over the Paris Agreement rulebook for the past nine days. Now it is the turn of energy and environment ministers to unlock issues above the pay grade of rank-and-file negotiators. The goal is to draft a set of decisions to be adopted before the meeting ends on Friday. Along with UN chief Antonio Guterres, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will kick off Wednesday a dayand-a-half of back-to-back "high-level" speeches.
Brian Madeux, 44, sitting with his girlfriend Marcie Humphrey, waits to receive the first human gene editing therapy for NPS at the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in Oakland, Calif on Nov 6. (AFP)
Progress "Ministers speaking at the UN summit in Bonn on Wednesday have a big job to do. This meeting is not making progress on some key issues," said Mohamed Adow of Christian Aid, which represents the interests of poor countries at the talks. "It almost feels like negotiators have taken this Fijiled summit and treated it as if they are on holiday in the Pacific." The Paris Agreement commits countries to limiting average global warming to under two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over Industrial Revolution levels, and 1.5 C if possible, to avert calamitous climate change-induced storms, drought and sea-level rises. To bolster the agreement, nations submitted voluntary commitments to curb greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel burning. But the 1 C mark has already been passed, and scientists say that on current country pledges, the world is headed for a 3 C warmer future, or more. Armelle le Comte of Oxfam said Merkel and Macron must signal that they will lead by example. "It is the moment to show that the French-German couple is dynamic and ambitious on these questions," she told AFP. But Merkel is in a tough spot. Coal provides about 40 percent of Germany's electricity needs, and the country is set to miss its own goal to cut emissions by 40 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels. "Chancellor Merkel over the years has been a great climate champion and has driven the global debate forward," said Jennifer Morgan, executive director of Greenpeace. "But that credibility is hanging in the balance." Outstanding issues for ministers to solve include a demand from poorer countries for firm financing commitments to help them prepare for, and deal with, the fallout from climate change. Meanwhile, researchers say injecting billions of reflective particles into the stratosphere could help cool an overheating planet, but would also alter the intensity of tropical storms, researchers said Tuesday. Depending on the hemisphere in which such aerosols are released, hurricanes in the North Atlantic would become weaker or stronger, they reported in Nature Communications.
Efforts Moreover, efforts to engineer lower global temperatures could induce severe drought in northern Africa's Sahel, a region already challenged by climate change, they warned. With only one degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) of warming so far compared to pre-industrial times, the world has already seen an upsurge of deadly heatwaves, droughts, and storms engorged by rising seas. The 196-nation Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, enjoins the world to cap global warming at "well under" 2 C, and even 1.5 if possible. But efforts to achieve these goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions have stalled, leading some scientists to consider "quick fix" engineering solutions that will brake the rise in temperatures. "In the last decade, solar geoengineering has rapidly garnered attention as a plausible method to counteract global warming," the authors note. So-called solar radiation management works by preventing some of the Sun's rays from hitting the planet's surface, forcing them instead back up into space. Nature sometimes does the same: debris from the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, for example, lowered the planet's average surface temperature for a year or two afterwards. Small-scale experiments to test the behaviour of particles in the upper atmosphere are set for next fall, in the state of Arizona. But the potential for a single country to deploy the technology unilaterally "could have potentially devastating impacts in other regions," they warned. Earlier research pointed to changes in regional rainfall patterns, and the disruption of monsoons, as potential side-effects of dimming the Sun's radiative force. Scientists also warn about "termination shock" — the sudden warming that would likely occur if the system were to fail.
'Invisible mending'
US tries first gene editing in body This handout picture released by the University Lumiere Lyon II on Nov 14, 2017 shows a ring found wrapped in leather on Sept 21, in Cluny, central France. Scientists from the University of Lyon II and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) found a medieval treasure of over 2,000 coins from the 12th century as they were probing an angle of the former Cluny Abbey. (AFP)
Discovery Call to halt Arctic oil quest: British primatologist Jane Goodall sent a letter to every US senator on Tuesday urging them to oppose a push in the US Congress to allow oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, region environmentalists say is one of the world's last paradises. The Republican-led Senate is trying to open up the 1002 region on the coastal plain of the ANWR, a region inhabited by Gwich'in natives, caribou herds, polar bears and millions of birds that migrate to six of the world's seven continents. "If we violate the Arctic Refuge by extracting the oil beneath the land, this will have devastating impact for the Gwich'in people for they depend on the caribou herds to sustain their traditional way of life," Goodall said in the letter, a copy of which was seen by Reuters. (RTRS) ❑ ❑ ❑ UN warns on mine waste disasters: A string of mining waste disasters — some deadly — over the past decade show better protections are needed for communities downstream of massive polluted material storage sites, according to a United Nations report. The UN Environment Program report tallied 40 significant mine waste accidents in the past decade. Most involved dams or other storage areas that failed, releasing torrents of polluted water. Among the accidents highlighted by the agency were a 2015 dam collapse at a Brazilian iron-ore mine that killed 19 people and the Gold King Mine disaster in the US that spilled pollution into rivers in three Western states. Although the rate of such accidents has been falling, the report warned that the consequences have grown more serious as waste impoundments get larger. (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑
Cygnus cargo ship arrives at ISS: Orbital ATK's unmanned Cygnus cargo ship arrived Tuesday at the International Space Station carrying more than 7,400 pounds (3,400 kilograms) of food, supplies and experiments, the US space agency said. Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli and his US colleague Randy Bresnik maneuvered the station's robotic arm to capture the barrel-shaped capsule, which was bolted onto the space lab at 7:15 am (1215 GMT), NASA said. The cargo ship launched Sunday atop an Antares rocket from Wallops Island, Virginia, marking the eighth supply trip for Orbital ATK under its $1.9 billion contract with NASA. On board are science experiments to help astronauts study antimicrobial resistance in
OAKLAND, Calif, Nov 15, (AP): Scientists for the first time have tried editing a gene inside the body in a bold attempt to permanently change a person's DNA to try to cure a disease. The experiment was done Monday in California on 44-year-old Brian Madeux. Through an IV, he received billions of copies of a corrective gene and a genetic tool to cut his DNA in a precise spot. "It's kind of humbling" to be the first to test this, said Madeux, who has a metabolic disease called Hunter syndrome. "I'm willing to take that risk. Hopefully it will help me and other people." Signs of whether it's working may come in a month; tests will show for sure in three months. If it's successful, it could give a major boost to the fledgling field of gene therapy. Scientists have edited people's genes before, altering cells in the lab that are then returned to patients. There also are gene therapies that don't involve editing DNA. But these methods can only be used for a few types of diseases. Some give results that may not last. Some others supply a new gene like a spare part, but can't control where it inserts in the DNA, possibly causing a new problem like cancer. This time, the gene tinkering is happening in a precise way inside the body. It's like sending a mini surgeon along to place the new gene in exactly the right location. "We cut your DNA, open it up, insert a gene, stitch it back up. Invisible mending," said Dr. Sandy Macrae, president of Sangamo Therapeutics, the California company testing this for two metabolic diseases and hemophilia. "It becomes part of your DNA and is there for the rest of your life." That also means there's no going back, no way to erase any mistakes the editing might cause. "You're really toying with Mother Nature" and the risks can't be fully known, but the studies should move forward because these are incurable diseases, said one independent expert, Dr. Eric Topol of the Scripps Translational Science Institute in San Diego. Protections are in place to help ensure safety, and animal tests were very encouraging, said Dr. Howard Kaufman, a Boston scientist on the National Institutes of Health panel that approved the studies. He said gene editing's promise is too great to ignore. "So far there's been no evidence that this is going to be dangerous," he said. "Now is not the time to get scared." Fewer than 10,000 people worldwide have these metabolic diseases, partly because many die very young.
Those with Madeux's condition, Hunter syndrome , lack a gene that makes an enzyme that breaks down certain carbohydrates. These build up in cells and cause havoc throughout the body. Patients may have frequent colds and ear infections, distorted facial features, hearing loss, heart problems, breathing trouble, skin and eye problems, bone and joint flaws, bowel issues and brain and thinking problems. "Many are in wheelchairs ... dependent on their parents until they die," said Dr. Chester Whitley, a University of Minnesota genetics expert who plans to enroll patients in the studies. Weekly IV doses of the missing enzyme can ease some symptoms, but cost $100,000 to $400,000 a year and don't prevent brain damage. Madeux, who now lives near Phoenix, is engaged to a nurse, Marcie Humphrey, who he met 15 years ago in a study that tested this enzyme therapy at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, where the gene editing experiment took place. He has had 26 operations for hernias, bunions, bones pinching his spinal column, and ear, eye and gall bladder problems.
Surgery "It seems like I had a surgery every other year of my life" and many procedures in between, he said. Last year he nearly died from a bronchitis and pneumonia attack. The disease had warped his airway, and "I was drowning in my secretions, I couldn't cough it out." Madeux has a chef's degree and was part owner of two restaurants in Utah, cooking for US ski teams and celebrities, but now can't work in a kitchen or ride horses as he used to. Gene editing won't fix damage he's already suffered, but he hopes it will stop the need for weekly enzyme treatments. Initial studies will involve up to 30 adults to test safety, but the ultimate goal is to treat children very young, before much damage occurs. A gene-editing tool called CRISPR has gotten a lot of recent attention, but this study used a different one called zinc finger nucleases. They're like molecular scissors that seek and cut a specific piece of DNA. The therapy has three parts: The new gene and two zinc finger proteins. DNA instructions for each part are placed in a virus that's been altered to not cause infection but to ferry them into cells. Billions of copies of these are given through a vein. They travel to the liver, where cells use the instructions to make the zinc
space, how plants grow in microgravity, and new satellite technologies. The cargo ship will stay attached to the orbiting outpost until early December, when astronauts will pack it with trash and send it away. The capsule is designed to burn up upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. (AFP) ❑ ❑ ❑
Greco-Roman mummy found: A Russian archaeological team has discovered a
Bresnik
fingers and prepare the corrective gene. The fingers cut the DNA, allowing the new gene to slip in. The new gene then directs the cell to make the enzyme the patient lacked. Only 1 percent of liver cells would have to be corrected to successfully treat the disease, said Madeux's physician and study leader, Dr. Paul Harmatz at the Oakland hospital. "How bulletproof is the technology? We're just learning," but safety tests have been very good, said Dr. Carl June, a University of Pennsylvania scientist who has done other gene therapy work but was not involved in this study. Safety issues plagued some earlier gene therapies. One worry is that the virus might provoke an immune system attack. In 1999, 18-year-old Jesse Gelsinger died in a gene therapy study from that problem, but the new studies use a different virus that's proved much safer in other experiments. Another worry is that inserting a new gene might have unforeseen effects on other genes. That happened years ago, when researchers used gene therapy to cure some cases of the immune system disorder called "bubble boy" disease. Several patients later developed leukemia because the new gene inserted into a place in the native DNA where it unintentionally activated a cancer gene. "When you stick a chunk of DNA in randomly, sometimes it works well, sometimes it does nothing and sometimes it causes harm," said Hank Greely, a Stanford University bioethicist. "The advantage with gene editing is you can put the gene in where you want it." Finally, some fear that the virus could get into other places like the heart, or eggs and sperm where it could affect future generations. Doctors say built-in genetic safeguards prevent the therapy from working anywhere but the liver, like a seed that only germinates in certain conditions. This experiment is not connected to other, more controversial work being debated to try to edit genes in human embryos to prevent diseases before birth — changes that would be passed down from generation to generation. Madeux's treatment was to have happened a week earlier, but a small glitch prevented it. He and his fiancee returned to Arizona, but nearly didn't make it back to Oakland in time for the second attempt because their Sunday flight was canceled and no others were available until Monday, after the treatment was to take place. See Also Page 23
well-preserved mummy from the GrecoRoman period in a wooden coffin south of Cairo, Egypt's antiquities ministry said Tuesday. The discovery was made near New Fayoum city, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of the Egyptian capital, the ministry said in a statement. The team "found inside the coffin a well-preserved mummy, wrapped in linen, with its face covered by a human mask with drawings in blue and gold," it said. (AFP)
Hathaway-Wilson comedy to hit theaters in August
Franco wows with love letter to an awful movie LOS ANGELES, Nov 15, (Agencies): In 2003, "The Room" opened in California and quickly became known as the "Citizen Kane of bad movies" — a melodrama so poor that it went on to gain cult status. Writer-director Tommy Wiseau's production is still shown to delighted audiences around the world, fans reveling in the unmitigated awfulness of its acting and its bewildering, convoluted script. To this day, Wiseau remains an enigma but Hollywood star James Franco is attempting to shine a light on the filmmaker with "The Disaster Artist," a comedy about the making of a movie many regard as the worst ever made. "This was unlike any Hollywood story I'd ever heard or read about," said Franco, who was compelled to make "The Disaster Artist" after reading about its nightmarish production in a behind-the-scenes memoir of the same name. "I read the book and just thought this will be so unusual and weird, but at its core it will be this great story about dreamers trying to make it, and about friendship." Franco, 39, takes on the role of Wiseau but "The Disaster Artist" plays out mostly through the eyes of Wiseau's friend and co-producer Greg Sestero — played by Franco's brother Dave. The pair meet at acting school in San Francisco and then move into Wiseau's apartment in Hollywood, where they spend a year unsuccessfully trying to break into the business before deciding to make their own movie. Quite where Wiseau got the cash even to keep two apartments, let alone fund a motion picture entirely on his own, remains one of the many puzzles surrounding the production of "The Room." Another mystery to this day is his age and nationality; he claims when he meets Sestero to be 19 and from New Orleans but looks comfortably
two decades older and has a distinctly eastern European accent. With no idea what he is doing, he is seen lavishing a reported $6 million on his cast, crew and soundstage, as well as equipment he doesn't need. He turns up late for work, slows production by forgetting his lines and petulantly mistreats his actors when it all starts to go haywire. Franco, an erratic Hollywood actor and director whose up-and-down career could easily have gone the way of Wiseau's but for his considerable talent, has received almost universal acclaim for his impeccable comedic timing. As well as casting his brother, he calls on longtime friends and collaborators Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, his sister-in-law Alison Brie as well as a conveyor belt of cameos from huge names such as Sharon Stone, Melanie Griffith and Bryan Cranston. Franco — who stayed in character as Wiseau, complete with prosthetics, when he was behind the camera — has directed himself before, most recently on HBO drama series "The Deuce." "I actually prefer directing other actors. I would prefer not to act in my own movies," he told AFP at a gala screening of "The Disaster Artist" for the American Film Institute's AFI Fest on Sunday. "I love the collaborative process and I love working with actors who bring more to the table than I could think of." It is not always clear whether the audience meant to be laughing with Wiseau or at him, but both he and Sestero have been supportive of Franco's project, and were at Sunday's screening. "If you analyze James... he did a real story, not just a parody, which I like. That seems to me like a respectful way to do it," Wiseau said. "The Room" played in Santa Monica for two weeks — so as to qualify for the Oscars — making just a few hundred dollars, but it has
since acquired a new life as a cult movie, easily recouping its budget at midnight screenings. "It lives in a space of its own because it is a piece of art at the end of the day,'" said Ari Graynor, who plays one of the stars of "The Room." "It may not be a great piece of art but it is a real piece of art." "The Disaster Artist" hits US theaters on December 8.
Also: LOS ANGELES: MGM has set an Aug 10 release date for the untitled Anne Hathaway-Rebel Wilson scam artist comedy. The project, which has been known as "Nasty Women," is a remake of the 1988 comedy "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels." Directed by Chris Addison from a Jac Schaeffer script, the movie centers on a pair of scammers — one low-rent and the other high-class — competing to swindle a naive tech prodigy out of his fortune. The original "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" starred Michael Caine and Steve Martin and was directed by Frank Oz. That film was released through Orion Pictures. Producers on the new film are Roger Birnbaum and Wilson. Production companies are Cave 76 Productions and Camp Sugar Productions. Birnbaum is the former co-CEO of MGM. MGM announced on Oct 31 that it was returning to domestic distribution in partnership with Megan Ellison's Annapurna Pictures, which launched a distribution operation earlier this year. The MGM films are released under MGM's banner without Annapurna credits or logos. Other titles that have already been set for the Aug. 10 date are Warner Bros mega-shark thriller "The Meg" and Universal's remake of "Scarface."
This image released by Fox Searchlight shows Woody Harrelson (left), and Frances McDormand in a scene from 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri.' (AP)
Film Performance has made McDormand early front-runner for Oscar LOS ANGELES: Brad Pitt's Plan B has acquired movie rights to M.T. Anderson's alien invasion novel "Landscape With Invisible Hand." Plan B will produce the project as part of its overall deal production deal with Megan Ellison's Annapurna Pictures. The novel, published in September, depicts a near-future in which an alien species known as the "Vuvv" has taken over Earth. After the Vuvv's labor-saving technology causes the Earth's job market and global economy to collapse, a teen and his girlfriend cook up a way to make muchneeded money by broadcasting their dating life to the fascinated aliens. But the two teens come to hate each other and can't break up without bankrupting their families. Anderson's satirical book "Feed" was a finalist for the National Book Award and was the winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. The first volume of his "Octavian Nothing" saga won the National Book Award and the Boston Globe Horn Book Prize and both the first and second volumes of that two-part series were Printz Honor Books. (RTRS) ❑ ❑ ❑
LOS ANGELES: The European Film Academy has announced award winners in seven categories, covering a range of work from continental nations in cinematography, editing, production design, costume design, hair and make-up, music composition and sound design. Mikhail Krichman won the Carlo di Palma prize for cinematography for the "dark universe" and "intense feeling of discomfort" created in "Loveless," the portrait of an unhappy Russian couple confronted with the terrible consequences of their selfishness for their child. Robin Campillo won the editor prize for "BPM (Beats per Minute)," a French 1990sset chronicle of the ACT Up movement, which Campillo also wrote and directed, whose film cutting work shows "the desperate personal urgency" of activists and their protests and "contributes to the urgency of the film in perfect harmony with framing and story." (RTRS) ❑ ❑ ❑
'Billboards' timely portrait of outrage NEW YORK, Nov 15, (Agencies): In "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" or anywhere else, Frances McDormand means business. In Martin McDonaugh's new film, McDormand plays a woman, Mildred Hayes, consumed with rage because the rape and murder of her teenage daughter has gone unsolved after a year. She embarks on a blazing, relentless campaign to hold the town's sheriff (Woody Harrelson) accountable, erecting billboards that taunt him and an uncompromising, foul-mouthed fury on the sleepy Southern town. In a way, it's impossible to separate Mildred from the equally uncompromising McDormand. Mildred is a matter-of-fact, non-nonsense force because McDormand is one, too. Take, for example, how McDormand imagines Mildred might react to the Harvey Weinstein revelations. "She would have absolutely no time for it," said McDormand in a recent interview. "She wouldn't waste her breath." But would McDormand? Seconds of silence follow. "Was that a good long pause?" she finally responds. As a woman out for justice, Mildred has blazed onto movie screens like the heroine we, at this moment especially, need. The darkly comic and violent spirit of outrage that animates "Three Billboards" has — perhaps more than any other film this fall — tapped a raw nerve with audiences. The film, which expands in theaters this week after opening in New York and Los Angeles last weekend, won a screenplay award in Venice and took the audience award in Toronto. "It's great to be putting out a film with such a strong woman lead character in such a bravura performance at this time, not just politically but Hollywood-wise," says McDonaugh, referencing the unfolding sexual harassment scandals. "Even just two months ago before anyone had seen it, I wasn't sure how it was going to be taken. We thought it was a good film with great performances but we worried that the darkness in the story might not allow people to laugh, or let people in. "It's mostly because of Frances, to be honest. They just latch on to her for dear life and follow every crazy thing she does." The performance has made McDormand the early front-runner for the best-actress Oscar, and marks a
LOS ANGELES: Three Hollywood studios are engaging in a heated courtship of Quentin Tarantino as they work to out-charm each other for the rights to the "Pulp Fiction" director's upcoming movie set against the backdrop of the Charles Manson murders. Paramount, Sony, and Warner Bros. have emerged as the three finalists for the project, Variety has
clear career high point for the uncommonly self-assured veteran of "Fargo," "Wonder Boys," "Burn After Reading" and "Olive Kitteridge." Wrote the New Yorker: "She seems to state Mildred, presenting her as a given fact, like someone unrolling a map." McDonaugh, the Irish playwright and filmmaker ("In Bruges), wrote the part specifically for McDormand after the two met several years ago at a party following McDonaugh's play "The Pillowman." "There was no plan B," he says. Yet McDonaugh is still taken by how much McDormand's own strength of character imbues Mildred's. "It's both the on-screen attitude and the off-screen attitude," says McDonaugh. "There's a sense of her as a woman not taking any s---, not towing the Hollywood line, and not doing what's expected of her." Sam Rockwell, who co-stars as the dimwitted and racist but also tragic police officer Dixon agrees. "There's a relentless kind of integrity," says Rockwell. "She has to do it a certain way. It's part of who she is and it's part of who Mildred is. There's something burning in her, just like those billboards. There's something burning in Frances." What's motivating McDormand right now is a new eagerness for work, now that her 22-year-old son with director Joel Coen has reached adulthood. For the 60-year-old McDormand, the opportunity to play a protagonist at her age was a gift "at a time I was ready for it." "After 'Olive Kitteridge,' I wasn't really interested in going back and playing supporting roles anymore," says McDormand. "They are women that we often don't see portrayed in film — women who don't have to be compromised for the storytelling of a male protagonist but who stand on their own in the dramatic arc of the storytelling. That was really important to me. I'm really interested in that now." Her Mildred is an immediately iconic character, complete with a defining shape. As if dressed for battle, she sports a bandanna ("It was a little Rambo," McDormand explains) and a workmanlike blue jumpsuit. Why the jumpsuit? "Well, I happen know I look really good in a jumpsuit," replies McDormand, an actress famed for her lack of vanity. McDormand likes to imagine that Mildred, before
learned. It's possible, of course, that a dark horse candidate could still emerge. Each of the three studios heard Tarantino's pitch, with Warners engaging in some splashy wooing in hopes of landing the film. When Tarantino arrived at the studio's Burbank lot, he found the circular entrance in front of the administration building adorned with cars from the late 1960s. The
her spree, spent months wallowing in grief, watching old movies on TV. The movie, unsentimental and profanely un-PC, boasts more than a powerhouse performance from McDormand. Rockwell, also a veteran New York character actor, is among the ensemble's many standouts. In his story and others, Mildred's crusade jostles loose the community's demons. "It's timely," Rockwell says of the film. "It's speaking to a lot of things that are going on in this country. It's talking about racism and misogyny. Ultimately I think it's about love and redemption, but I think it has a lot of anger in it — a healthy amount of anger."
Also: LOS ANGELES: After making history as the first black female stand-up comedian to host "Saturday Night Live," Tiffany Haddish is looking to continue to stay busy by landing lead roles in New Line's "The Kitchen" and Universal's "The Temp." Haddish is in talks to join the ensemble of "The Kitchen," which is the directorial debut for "Straight Outta Compton" screenwriter Andrea Berloff, who is also writing the script. The film is based on the comic book series by Ollie Masters and Ming Doyle for Vertigo from DC Entertainment. The series has gained a cult following since debuting in 2014 to critical acclaim. The Irish mafia story is set in Hell's Kitchen, NY, in the 1970s. When the FBI comes in and does a sweep of the mob, several men are arrested. Their wives end up taking over and running the business much more viciously than the men ever did. Michael De Luca is producing. She is also attached to star in "The Temp," which is set to be produced by Will Packer, who also produced the hit comedy "Girls Trip" featuring Haddish's breakout performance. Universal acquired the original pitch for "The Temp" from Dana Fox, who will also write the female-driven comedy. Fox will produce alongside Packer who will produce through his Universal-based Will Packer Productions. Will Packer Productions' James Lopez will also produce and Haddish will serve as executive producer.
Warner Bros. logo circa 1969 was on the marquee outside the studio, and the executive conference room was outfitted with vintage furniture from the era and mock posters for the movie. Much of Tarantino's film unfolds in August of 1969, a time when Manson's commune of followers murdered actress Sharon Tate and four of her friends. Not to be outdone, Sony cooked
up a multimedia presentation discussing how it would handle the release of the film, as well as highlighting what it saw as its competitive advantages. Studio chief Tom Rothman used his time in front of Tarantino to talk up Sony's marketing team and to take the director through the efforts that the company has made in recent years to bolster its international distribution. (RTRS)
People & Places Film Flash 'hyper'
Wonder Woman can't save 'Justice League' By Lindsey Bahr not to feel a little bad for the DC ComIt'sicsTheyhard films at this point. have the unenviable task having to form an identity in the shadows of the films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which are usually good and rarely unwatchable, and the continued glow of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, which are seeming more and more like transcendent anomalies as we get deeper into this never-ending cycle of super humans crowding our multiplexes. DC got off to a rocky start and then Patty Jenkins went and made a very good "Wonder Woman." And yet somehow it is no surprise that "Justice League "tips the balances back in the wrong direction. Although marginally better than "Batman v Superman" and "Suicide Squad," director Zack Snyder's latest is still a profound mess of maudlin muscles, incoherent action and jaw-droppingly awful CGI. It is big, loud, awful to look at and oh-so-dumb. With Superman (Henry Gadot Cavill) dead, and the world facing yet another devastating threat (yawn) this time at the hands of some ancient creature named Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds) and his army of giant alien mosquitoes, which look like Saturday morning Power Rangers villains, Batman/Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) and Wonder Woman/Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) go in search of some new recruits: Barry Allen/The Flash (Ezra Miller), a quippy "kid" who's excited to join the team; Arthur Curry/Aquaman (Jason Momoa) who talks like a surfer bro and looks like a Nordic bodybuilder with ombre locks and fishermen's knits; And Victor Stone/Cyborg (Ray Fisher), who is still in the sulky "why me" phase of his superhero career. There are some good moments, thanks in large part to the addition of Miller, whose quick, selfdeprecating humor (likely the result of Joss Whedon's script and reshoot work) and general liveliness steals scenes away from his brawnier and moodier counterparts.
This image released by Warner Bros Pictures shows Ray Fisher in a scene from 'Justice League.' (AP)
Film From 'Mudbound' to 'Last Flag Flying' films reflect tenor of the times
Camaraderie But everything else about "Justice League" feels labored, from a preposterous underwater battle that comes out of nowhere and the camaraderie between the superheroes that never clicks into place, to Batman's lumbering gait (does the batsuit weigh 300 pounds?) and Superman's mouth which looks a little...off. It's likely because the production had to digitally remove Cavill's "Mission: Impossible 6" mustache for re-shoots. After experiencing this unnaturally altered face on the big screen, it seems like the worst possible compromise. And never has it been so obvious that the character of Wonder Woman is now being presented through a man's eyes. Snyder chooses on multiple occasions to let the shot linger on Gadot's figure, whether panning up her legs unnecessarily to get to a normal scene of dialogue or making sure that the camera is there to capture the moment when her skirt flies up in an action sequence. It is, quite frankly, gross and a wildly disappointing departure from what Patty Jenkins was able to accomplish with the character earlier this year. There's even an attempt to humanize the potential destruction with a random impoverished Eastern European family struggling to defend their homestead. The story focuses in on the family's young daughter, who, in braided pigtails picks up a can of bug spray as a defense. You'd think that this might come back and provide an opportunity for her to a) see and be inspired by Wonder Woman in action or b) at least get saved by her. It would be so obvious. But they don't even meet. ❑ ❑ ❑ Ezra Miller brings an electric energy to the superhero team-up film "Justice League," pinballing off the more imposing presences of Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot and Ben Affleck. They are mighty. He is fast. Miller was first cast as Barry Allen, a.k.a. The Flash, several years ago, but "Justice League" is his most front-and-center performance yet as the fastest man alive. He's also the best thing in the film, adding a hyper, insecure liveliness that has often been lacking from many recent, more grandiose DC Comics films. As played by the 25-year-old, Barry is a motor-mouthed loner who, when asked by Bruce Wayne to join the League, is mostly happy to just have some friends. Miller, who has been credited as the first out LGBT person to play a lead role in a major superhero film, has distinguished himself by playing hyper-verbal outcasts in movies big ("Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them") and small ("We Need to Talk About Kevin," "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"). Speaking by phone from London, Miller spoke with verbal gymnastics that even the Flash might struggle to keep up with. AP: From "City Island" to "Fantastic Beasts" you seem to be drawn to playing outsiders. Miller: I'm definitely interested in what I would call Barbara McClintock's discovery of the rebellious gene. Things advance by mutating away from their point of origin. I do think that happens on not just a cellular or genetic level but within civil society. A lot of the people who have shaped ideas and science on planet Earth have been outsiders. I feel often like an outside. It's a fascinating type of person to portray. And I think ultimately everyone has an element of that in their experience even if their life doesn't fully present that on first look. I think everyone can feel alienated and can both benefit by that and know the harm of that. AP: You seem a quick-witted person. Do you identify with the Flash? Miller: A cool idea about the Flash is that he, as he starts to move quicker and quicker with his body, he must also speed up mentally. When we shoot something in slow-motion, like we might on a Flash-inclusive movie, the way that's done is by rolling the camera faster. You shoot more frames per second when you want to slow down the image. In the same way, the Flash, as he moves faster, has to speed up to his brain in order to slow down his perception. That's all well and good when he's in superhero-mode, but one of the questions of our film asks is how does that play out in social circumstances? I think there are qualities that have been detrimental to his social capacity.
Directors engage with living history By Scott Tobias hen Dee Rees' "Mudbound" premiered at Sundance in JanuW ary, and Jordan Peele's "Get Out" stormed theaters late the following month, they seemed to have little in common. Rees had Kate Winslet attends the 'Wonder Wheel' screening at Museum of Modern Art on Nov 14, in New York. (AFP)
Variety WASHINGTON: American actress Rose McGowan turned herself in Tuesday near Washington before being released on bond after her personal belongings left on a flight tested positive for narcotics. McGowan, who has made headlines recently after becoming one of the first actresses to accuse fallen movie mogul Harvey Weinstein of rape, was released on a $5,000 unsecured bond, Loudoun County Sheriff's Office spokesman Kraig Troxell told AFP. Troxell could not confirm when McGowan was due in court. "She turned herself in early afternoon at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center," Troxell said. "A warrant for her arrest had been issued earlier this year by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department." (AFP) ❑ ❑ ❑
NEW YORK: David Beckham, Millie Bobby Brown and Hugh Jackman are among celebrities and world leaders announced Tuesday as participants and official supporters of the UNICEF initiative World Children's Day. The organization said events around the globe will focus on child takeovers to mark the day Monday, including a gathering at the United Nations in New York. That's where UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will welcome children and singersongwriters Chloe x Halle will perform a new track written for the occasion. Young people in Geneva, meanwhile, will take over the Palais des Nations to perform a special cover of Pink's hit "What About Us." In Spain, children will join Leo Messi and others on the powerhouse soccer team FC Barcelona for a practice session, while in India, cricket will be the game for 22 child athletes who will play with legendary cricketer and UNICEF goodwill ambassador Sachin Tendulkar. (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑
made a searing historical drama about the relationship between a white family and a black family in post-World War II Mississippi, and Peele had made a satirical horror film about a black man meeting his white girlfriend's family in upstate New York. There's a distance of 70 years between when their stories take place and a difference in milieu, too, between the rural Deep South, where Klansmen hold sway, and the suburban idyll of liberal Northerners in the present day. And yet the two directors have made films that are in conversation with each other. Rees calls it "white currency" and Peele calls it "the post-racial lie," but they're each talking about racism and white supremacy as intractable problems in America, unsolved by seven decades of progress and the election of Barack Obama. They were not made in anticipation of each other or how the culture has changed in 2017, but they prove how much the past and present exist on the same continuum and comment meaningfully on the events of the day. Many of the year's director candidates have made films that reflect the tenor of the times, yet approach social commentary from different angles, from the historical bent of "Mudbound," to Kathryn Bigelow's "Detroit," and the complementary visions of Joe Wright's "Darkest Hour" and Christopher Nolan's "Dunkirk" to the modern provocation of "Get Out" and Martin McDonagh's "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri." Then there's Richard Linklater's "Last Flag Flying," which brings the Vietnam and Iraq wars together, each haunting the veterans who fought in them. None of these directors could have anticipated the tumult of Trump's America, but they've hit it in stride. In "Mudbound," the relationship between the McAllens, a white family that's moved to rural Mississippi, and the Jacksons, a black family that's often commissioned to help them adjust, serves as an allegory for the entrenched racism that bogs them both down in the muck. When Rees talks about "white currency" in the film, she's referring to the leverage the McAllens hold over the Jacksons and how each of them chooses to spend it, from the vile bigotry of their oldest member to the subtler expectation that the Jacksons will put the McAllens' needs over their own. "Mudbound" asks audiences to consider how racism still lingers, but between its Sundance premiere and its debut on Netflix in November, as hundreds of white supremacists descended on Charlottesville, Va., with Tiki torches, the Klan violence of its most shocking scene suddenly seemed like a not-so-distant possibility. "Back in January, I think could be read as hyperbole," Rees says. "With Charlottesville, people are able to admit, 'OK, things haven't changed as much as we thought.' This didn't just spring up. This isn't new. This has always been here. This is fully formed and growing and festering." For its part, "Get Out" marked the end of the Obama era with
LOS ANGELES: Illumination Entertainment is near an agreement with Nintendo to make an animated "Super Mario Bros." movie based on the iconic video game franchise about plumbers Mario and Luigi, Variety has confirmed.
The companies denied comment on the report Tuesday by the Wall Street Journal. Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. games and spinoffs have sold more than 330 million units. Illumination, which is owned by Chris Meledandri and Universal
a reminder that his election didn't move the country past race. It takes satirical aim at white liberals who may have voted for Obama, but weren't interested in dismantling a system that benefits them. Taking a cue from the Ira Levin adaptations "The Stepford Wives" and "Rosemary's Baby," Peele introduces his black protagonist to his white girlfriend's family, who pride themselves on being progressive, but cover a nefarious agenda with an unnerving battery of micro-aggressions. A student of the genre, Peele started thinking about making a horror film about race back in 2009, when Obama took office and the phrase "post-racial" was being used to describe the country. "We had a black president, but there was this sentiment going around that if you even talked about racism, you were part of the problem," Peele says. "I knew that we weren't cured of racism and I knew that if I pulled off a horror movie that dealt with that problem, the experience would be cathartic." As "Last Flag Flying" was premiering at the New York Film Festival in October, President Trump was stirring up controversy over the national anthem protests at National Football League games. They had started last season when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee to send a message about police brutality and racial injustice. But the issue had since been muddied by an argument over the flag itself and what it represents, and whether those who kneel are taking advantage of their freedom to protest or disrespecting a flag many veterans have sacrificed themselves to defend.
Recruits "Last Flag Flying" opens in 2003, as the film follows Larry "Doc" Shepherd (Steve Carell), a Vietnam vet who recruits his former Marine buddies (Bryan Cranston and Laurence Fishburne) to help bury his son, who just died in the Iraq War. As accounts of how he died start to deviate from the official story, "Last Flag Flying" becomes a poignant reflection on patriotism and how the country can do a disservice to those who give their lives to it. "We all love our country, but that's not the question," Linklater says. "A football player taking a knee on the sideline loves his country and appreciates the opportunities they've been given. But they're there to represent people who aren't as fortunate as they are. People who have it worse, which is brave in itself to care beyond your own selfish interests. That's the American way, in my opinion — to represent all of us, to demand we live up to these higher aspirational ideas that our country is founded on." The current spread of right-wing nationalism across America and Europe, including his native U.K., which approved the Brexit referendum to depart from the European Union, was an inspiration for Joe Wright to make "Darkest Hour," a biopic about Winston Churchill standing up against the fascists. Set largely in May 1940, shortly after Churchill (played by Gary Oldman) succeeded Neville Chamberlain as British prime minister, the film is about the difficult decision not to pursue a peace agreement with Germany and the private doubt behind Churchill's public strength. (RTRS)
Studios, has produced the "Despicable Me," "Minions," and "The Secret Life of Pets" movies. Nintendo agreed in 2015 with Universal Parks and Resorts to build attractions based on Nintendo characters including Mario and Luigi. Nintendo made a deal for
Blake Shelton is sexiest man alive
This June 7, 2016 file photo shows Blake Shelton performing at the 12th Annual Stars for Second Harvest benefit at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. (AP)
LOS ANGELES, Nov 15, (AFP): Country crooner Blake Shelton — also known for his role as a judge on TV's "The Voice" — is this year's "sexiest man alive," People Magazine announced Tuesday. Shelton, 41, is the boyfriend of rocker Gwen Stefani, who may have already come to this conclusion. "She goes, 'Listen to me, you're going to regret this for the rest of your life if you don't take this gift and just live in the moment,'" Shelton told the magazine.
1993's live-action "Super Mario Bros." starring Bob Hoskins, John Leguizamo, and Dennis Hopper, but the movie performed poorly at the box office. (RTRS) ❑ ❑ ❑
LOS ANGELES: IFC Films has nabbed US and Canadian distribution rights to Whitney Cummings's "The Female Brain." The ensemble comedy is based on a book of the same name by neuropsychiatrist Louann Brizendine — it's a bestseller that made the controversial argument that women's behavior differed from that of men because of hormonal differences. "The Female Brain" is directed by Cummings, who also stars as Dr. Brizendine. The cast includes Toby Kebbell, Beanie Feldstein, Cecily Strong, Sofia Vergara, Deon Cole, Blake Griffin, Lucy Punch, and James Marsden. The project was financed by Black Bicycle Entertainment and produced by Erika Olde and Night and Day Pictures' Michael Roiff. IFC will release the picture on Feb 9, 2018. Along with directing and appearing in the movie, Cummings co-wrote it with Neal Brennan. (RTRS)
This image released by the Metropolitan Opera shows a performance of 'The Exterminating Angel' which will be shown in selected US theaters on Sunday. (AP)
Taboo tells all
Cranston excels in 'Network'
Arab musicians bring their 'songs' to Berlin
Coloratura hits new high in Ades opera
BERLIN, Nov 15, (Agencies): Arab musicians in Berlin are bringing their musical roots to Germans — with a little help from American jazz. At the monthly Arab Song Jam in the German capital, musicians use famous Arab songs as a starting point before inviting other musicians onto the stage for a jam session in a style pioneered by American jazz musicians before World War II. "All musicians know these jazz sessions. So we use that technique on Arab songs," said Moroccan musician Alaa Zouiten, who plays the oud, a kind of lute, and who led a recent session. "It is a great idea because it brings popular Arab songs to life here in Berlin." Berlin's already large Arab community has grown since Zouiten 2015 with the arrival of tens of thousands of refugees from Syria. That has led to an increased interest in Arab culture and music in the city, said Philippa Ebene, CEO and artistic director of "Werkstatt der Kulturen" — the "Cultural Workshop" — where the jam sessions are held. "We have all these new Berliners from the Arab world and they brought their music with them," she said. "At the same time, Berlin is a city that is always hungry for new culture." The Arab Song Jam is part of a yearlong celebration of Arab culture at the venue, also including poetry readings and Arab film nights. The first jam session was held in March and it has become so popular that the basement venue often has to close its doors because it has reached its capacity. The audience is mixed — elderly Arab couples mingle with young European hipsters and groups of curious, middle-aged Germans. "Is there a singer in the house?" Zouiten asks the crowd after the first song, and several people raise their hands. Milo Kanefaty from Syria joins the musicians on the stage and as he sings the first words of a song by famous Lebanese singer Fairuz, the crowd cheers wildly and sings along. Soon people start dancing, hugging and applauding. At other sessions, Germans from the audience also join in. While Zouiten said he does not want to turn the Arab Song Jam into a political event, he does hope the music will help break down barriers between migrants and Germans who remain concerned about the large influx of newcomers. ❑ ❑ ❑ Jaime Gomez, better known as the rapper Taboo from The Black Eyed Peas, had money, fame and a multi-platinum career when a strange back pain brought his world crashing down. The six-time Grammy winner went to the doctor and got a gut-wrenching diagnosis: he had testicular cancer. He had more than 100 million record sales to his name and a string of worldwide dance hits like "I Gotta Feeling" and "Where Is the Love?", but it meant nothing in the face of cancer's cruel reality, he told AFP in an interview. At first, he was only able to piece the details together slowly. "They didn't tell me what type of cancer I had. They didn't tell me what stage I was in. They just told me, Mr Gomez, you have cancer," said Taboo, 42. "My life flashed before my eyes. I thought about my kids, I thought about my wife. Nothing prepares you for the shock of someone telling you you have that horrible disease." That was in 2014. It was only last year that Taboo went public about his struggle with cancer — now in remission after a gruelling series of chemotherapy treatments. Today, the Los Angeles native is an ambassador for the American Cancer Society and a vocal ally and fundraiser for cancer survivors everywhere.
Items from Colombian musician Carlos Vives, an 11-time Latin Grammy and two time Grammy Award winner, on exhibit at the opening of the exhibition 'Deep Heart: Roots, Rick & The Music of Carlos Vives' at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, California on Nov 13. (AFP)
Aldean
Variety LOS ANGELES: Taylor Swift's new album "Reputation" has sold more than one million copies in its first four days, Nielsen Music said on Tuesday, but the US pop star failed to beat the record set by Britain's Adele two years ago. Swift's 1.05 million US sales of "Reputation" came despite the singer keeping the album from streaming services and gave her the best-selling album of 2017. But the figure was less than half the monster sales for the debut of Adele's "25" album, which surpassed 2.43 million copies in the first four days of release in November 2015 and smashed a 15-year-old US record set by boy band NSync in 2000. (RTRS) ❑ ❑ ❑ LOS ANGELES: Stone Temple Pilots have a new singer. The band featuring brothers Rob and Dean DeLeo, which was once fronted by the late Scott Weiland, brought former "X Factor" US contestant Jeff Gutt to the stage at Los Angeles' Troubadour on Tuesday night (Nov 14). Gutt, a Detroit native, competed on the show in 2012, singing a moving rendition of Leonard Cohen's classic "Hallelujah." That he was a relative unknown to the crowd of rock fans was not lost on the 41-year-old: he wore a name tag that read, "Hello, my name is Jeff." (RTRS) ❑ ❑ ❑
NEW YORK, Nov 15, (Agencies): Yes, that really is a stratospheric A above high C that Audrey Luna sings the first time we hear her in "The Exterminating Angel." The American coloratura soprano, one of many stars in the cast of Thomas Ades' new opera, recalled her reaction when the composer first broke the news of her daunting assignment. "He shows me the score, and I say, 'Does it really have to be the very first thing I sing?'" Luna said. "And he goes, 'Oh, it's just a laugh, you can do it!'" Do it she does, along with many other notes nearly as dizzyingly high. (For comparison's sake, the highest note for the Queen of the Night in Mozart's "Magic Flute" is an F, two tones below A.) Luna's performance can be seen and heard when the Metropolitan Opera's production is broadcast live in HD to movie theaters worldwide on Saturday. Luna is making a tiny bit of history with her A. According to The New York Times, it's the first time in the Met's 134 years that anyone has sung a note that high. Her character in the opera, adapted from Luis Bunuel's surrealistic 1962 film of the same name, is opera singer Leticia, a guest at a dinner party given by a wealthy couple who invites her back after a performance. Ades wrote the role with Luna in mind after hearing her perform the role of Ariel in his adaptation of Shakespeare's "The Tempest" at the Met in 2012. Leticia and the other guests spend most of the opera's three acts mysteriously trapped in the drawing room until she comes up with a plan for breaking the spell. She realizes all the guests have moved to the same spots they occupied in the first act when they asked her to sing and she refused. This time she agrees, launching into a mystical, dreamlike aria that, in the libretto by Tom Cairns, includes lines like: "We, your scattered sheep, prisoners of desire/ From the four ends of
NASHVILLE, Tenn: Country star Jason Aldean says he hopes that healing can start for those affected by a mass shooting at a Las Vegas music festival in his first inter-
the earth/ Our dreaming spirits yearn." Once she's done, the guests are able to leave the drawing room. "The aria is crazy!" she said with a laugh. "There are no rests, no breath marks indicated. There are just periods at the ends of sentences. So when I got it I was like, 'Help! I can't do this.'" Ades assured her she could take a breath whenever she needed to. Luna has her own theory as to why Leticia turns out to be the key to the guests' escape. "I walk into this party as almost the help," she said. "They have just seen me in a show. And now I'm there, like every opera singer, who maybe goes to a party afterward, you're still on, still giving a performance in a way, and I feel like I'm almost on the same level as those servants. And so perhaps that's why I see things coming. I'm not really one of the elites." Luna sang in the world premiere of the opera in Salzburg, Austria, in 2016 and again in London earlier this year. Nine of the 14 principals have been with the show since the beginning, and Luna said they spent so much time in rehearsal rooms that it sometimes felt as if they were living the story of the opera.
Rehearsal "We were together six days a week for six weeks in Salzburg, six weeks in London, about four or five here, in a room, for six hours a day," she said. "The director's off with a couple of people working out some staging, and we're all sitting around, and sometimes you wonder, wait a minute, am I in rehearsal or am I in the movie, because you're waiting until it's your turn. ... We were trapped, 100 percent." Before the opera opens, audiences may be surprised to see three sheep wander onstage. These are not the first sheep to appear at the Met — a previous production of Verdi's "Falstaff" used them as well. Many different animals have figview since the October shooting. Speaking on NBC's "Today" show, Aldean, who was on stage when a gunman opened fire on the crowd at the Route
91 Harvest Festival, said that he initially thought a speaker had blown when he heard a sound like a crackling over his inear monitors. After the shooting continued, he looked over to the side of the stage to figure out what was going on. (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑
NEW YORK: Tracee Ellis Ross will be close by when her mom, Diana Ross, is honored at Sunday's American Music Awards because she'll be hosting the show. The "black-ish" actress says she's excited to be named the host but is "especially thrilled" to do it the year that her mother is getting the Lifetime Achievement award. Diana Ross will not only be honored but will also take the stage to perform. Tracee Ellis Ross is following in the footsteps of her mom, who hosted the American Music Awards years ago. (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑
NEW YORK: Shakira is postponing her European tour until next year after suffering a vocal cord hemorrhage. The 40-year-old Colombian sensation took to Twitter on Tuesday to apologize to her fans, saying she has a "heavy heart" but must stop singing to recover. "All the years I've been signing, I've never been faced with a situation like this," she wrote in statements in both English and Spanish. She says she can't wait to be back onstage and "hear your voices singing along with mine." (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑
ured in Met productions over the years: a horse and donkey in Puccini's "La Boheme," dogs in Strauss' "Der Rosenkavalier" and a goat and chickens in Prokofiev's "War and Peace." There was a camel in Samuel Barber's "Antony and Cleopatra" and a flock of geese in Humperdinck's "Koenigskinder." "The Exterminating Angel," also starring sopranos Amanda Echalaz and Sally Matthews, mezzos Alice Coote and Christine Rice, tenor Joseph Kaiser, countertenor Iestyn Davies and bass John Tomlinson, will be shown starting at 12:55 pm Eastern on Saturday with the composer conducting. A list of theaters can be found at the Met's website: www.metopera.org/ hd. In the US it will be repeated on Wednesday, Nov 29, at 1 pm and 6:30 pm local time. ❑ ❑ ❑ The medium is the message — or so they say. If Paddy Chayefsky's classic TV news satire isn't just prescient, but positively prophetic in our age of fake news, the point is pressed home by an intricate multimedia staging that makes it almost impossible to tell fact from fiction. Majestically played by "Breaking Bad's" Bryan Cranston, anchorman Howard Beale carves up the day's news with increasing apoplexy in a bid for record ratings, and it's impossible not to see our own era of rolling fury reflected. After an impromptu onair outburst bumps his failing nightly news show ahead of its rivals, the network's bosses push him to keep ranting on repeat. That makes Beale a lightning rod for a nation's rage, inciting viewers to declare themselves "mad as hell" en masse, and he cuts through a corrosive and corrupted system simply by calling attention to its corruption — Trumpian tactics, as plain as day. It's uncanny, a warning fresh from 1976, but it's so on-the-money it can seem on-the-nose.
NEW YORK: Whatever happens Thursday
Copies of the new book by former US vice-president Joe Biden called 'Promise Me, Dad' are displayed on a shelf at Book Passage on Nov 14, in Corte Madera, California. The new book by former US vice-president Joe Biden hit store shelves Tuesday. (AFP)
at the Latin Grammys, Residente can relax. The Puerto Rican rapper, who leads nominations with nine nods for his first solo album post-Calle 13 — including album, record and song of the year — admits that he felt pressured to do "something huge and great" after spending a decade with the most decorated act in the history of the Latin Grammys. (AP)
Photos from the event.
Dr Sambasivan honored with award
Kala (Art) Kuwait holds 'Keraleeyam 2017' KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: Kala (Art) Kuwait conducted its variety entertainment program titled "Keraleeyam 2017" on Friday, Nov 10 at Indian Community School, Khaithan. The function was officially inaugurated by P. P. Narayanan, Indian Embassy Second Secretary (Welfare) and in his inaugural speech P. P. Narayanan appreciated the efforts behind conducting such an event of unity. The program was scheduled with an event of presenting "Kala (Art) Kuwait-Sambasivan Award 2016" to the legend of Kadhaprasanga Art, Dr Vasanthakumar Sambasivan. The prestigious award and memento was presented to Dr Vasanthakumar Sambasivan by P. P. Narayanan in the presence of a cheerful audience. "Sambasivan Award" was instituted in memory of eminent 'Katha Prasangam' artist late V. Sambasivan. The award comprises Rs 25,000 and citation. Dr Vasanthakumar Sambasivan had been selected unanimously for his outstanding contribution to the "Kadhaprasanga" realm. Dr Vasanthakumar Sambasivan then addressed the audience followed by the most anticipated performance of Kadhaprasangam "Aneesya" with his team in the presence of eminent personalities from various organizations and enthusiastic audience of Kuwait. In addition to this, there were music concert (Ganamela) led by Kumari Namitha Sivakumar and Kumari Sneha Rathidas. Mimics Parade by Vibin Kalabhavan and Group dance and a fusion cinematic dance coordinated by Mrs Ambili Rakesh. Samkutty Thomas, President of Kala (Art) Kuwait chaired the meeting. Sunil Kumar, General Secretary did the welcome speech and Siva Kumar, General Convener presented the detailed reports about Keraleeyam. Kala (Art) Kuwait Media Secretary Mukesh V. P. delivered the felicitation speech. A multi-color souvenir was released by Vinayan, Kuwait National Exchange (KNE) and Muneer Koya, Manager — Faber Castell by handing over the first copy to Rathidas. Hassan Koya expressed the vote of thanks. Kala (Art) Kuwait leaders C. Bhaskaran, Mrs Renuka Bhaskaran, Johny Kalamachal, Jaison Joseph, Sameer P. P. Mrs Aneecha Shyjith, Rakesh P.D. and Vibin were also present on the dais. Kala (Art) Kuwait President Samkutty Thomas, General Secretary Sunil Kumar, Program General Convener Siva Kumar, thanked the wholehearted cooperation and support from the public and media to make the unique event a great success.
contract bridge By Steve Becker
A flyer of the event
Tomorrow: The pursuit of excellence
Cancer online support group: If you are Cancer patient or family member fighting with this deadly disease, come join our online support group. Best way of dealing with this disease is providing support and share our experience with each other. There are lot of things which even doctors can't tell so be member of this website and start sharing your experiences which may help others. October is recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM). The primary purpose is to promote self examination and screening mammography as the most effective way to save lives by detecting breast cancer at early stage. For more information visit: http:// fightingwithcancer.webs.com/
Drinking problem?: Friends of Bill W. are
Q8BBall Season 13: Q8BBall is beginning
available to help. Totally confidential. Email: [email protected] ❑ ❑ ❑
our 13th season with Boys U13 (ages 10-13) and U17 (ages 14-17). We train three times a week and play regular games throughout the year with schools and clubs. In June 2018, we plan to travel for camp and tournaments in the US. Contact Coach T 97128884 for information.
Narcotics Anonymous: NA can help with addiction problems. Totally confidential: 94087800 English/Arabic. ❑ ❑ ❑
Y O R K
T I M E S
Continued on Page 19
Conceptis Sudoku
The grid must be so completed that every row, column and 3x3 box has every digit from 1 to 9 inclusive
DIRECTIONS: Fill each square with a number, one through nine. ■ Horizontal squares should add to totals on right. ■ Vertical squares should add to totals on bottom. ■ Diagonal squares through center should add to total in upper and lower right.
Yesterday's solution
THERE MAY BE MORE THAN ONE SOLUTION.
Answer to yesterday's puzzle
Today's Challenge Time 9 Minutes 8 Seconds Your Working Time __ Minutes __ Seconds
Misfortunes
Massaeb
Misfortunes seldom come singly. Al massaeb naderan ma tati feradi.
7711 Scratch pad
Seven thousand seven hundred eleven Sabat alaf wa sabou maah wa ahada ashra
Overheard in the Souk
the grapevine ● Fly now, baggage later? Apparently, this is what happened to a friend who flew back home recently on this airline and guess what? He arrived on time but his luggage was not loaded on the plane? Did they forget it? Not really. Because all the luggage of the passengers on that flight were not loaded at all. What made it worst, he had a connecting flight to his home province and the airline staff informed them that their luggage will arrive the next day or two. How about those with no money to buy new tickets or pay the rebooking penalty? Most of the passengers wiled and ranted at the airline staff.
Why were all the luggage left behind? One of the staff said, there was a short runway in Kuwait and it's getting repaired. So, what's the connection with all the luggage being offloaded? Passengers can't understand this technical reason as all they wanted were their pieces of luggage. My friend learned that this wasn't the first time as this also happened the past weeks to passengers on the same airline. Finally, his luggage arrived two days after all the hassles of waiting not to mention the time and money wasted. On his return trip to Kuwait, he got an envelope from the airline with some local currency amounting to around KD30. Pay-
ment or consolation for all the inconvenience? Next time, why can't the airline fly the luggage first and the passenger later? This suggestion might be handy. At least when the passengers arrive, their luggage will be there waiting for them. Talk about flexibility? Think about it! ❑ ❑ ❑
construction, and parks today are colonised by stray cats. As a cause of this neglect, children have been relegated to the scant space of the ground floor of their buildings and those looking for an evening walk circle nearby parking grounds ad nauseam. ❑ ❑ ❑
● Expat suburbia filled with families and children faces the dire situation of there not being enough open spaces in the neighbourhoods today. The empty grounds that children once spent their childhood on, playing football and cricket, have been overtaken by new
● The delay in forming a new Cabinet is frustrating lawmakers especially those that cannot perform their duties well without the presence of ministers. The prime minister may have reasons for his delay in electing his new team of ministers due to warnings he is receiving from some law-
makers who insist that the new Cabinet team must be of technocrats, competent and fit for his or her post and so forth. As being reported, another reason for the delay in forming a new Cabinet relates to the tension in the region and the caretaker government needs to focus on this situation and find solution to it with its old experienced team than going for forming a new team. In all cases, the prime minister needs to be very cautious and careful in choosing his new members because any slight mistake in this process will not only be rejected by the lawmaker, it will also create continuing tension between the two authorities.
Tongues Wag Events
Indian Embassy notice: Indian nationals are issued Emergency Certificates (EC) to facilitate their one-way travel to India due to urgency or deportation, under the circumstances of loss of passport or non-retrieval of passport
Continued from Page 18
from their sponsors in Kuwait. Since it is illegal to hold two travel documents in India at the same time, the concerned passport has to be cancelled before an Emergency Certificate (EC) is issued to an Indian national. At times, Indian nationals who are either detained or due for deportation may not have their passports with them. They apply for travel documents (Emergency Certificate) either directly or through Kuwait Police. In such cases, ECs are issued to them after cancelling their passports. However, in certain cases, they recover their passports later and travel on those passports which already stand cancelled
A flyer of the event in data available with immigration authorities in India. These passports are immediately seized by Immigration authorities in India. This results in much harassment and inconvenience to these Indian travelers, whose passports are seized. They are also liable to pay penalties as per the law. Indian Embassy advises all Indian nationals that if an EC is issued to anyone of them, that implies that his/her passport has been cancelled and that he/ she should travel only on the EC issued to him/her. ❑ ❑ ❑
Chess coaching, round robin: Registrations are open for chess coaching and the summer round robin Challenger Series. Send your name Civil ID no., mobile number, age, rating to [email protected] with CCR in the e-mail subject. No entry fee. ❑ ❑ ❑ Invitation to Grand Mosque: The Visits Department is pleased to invite you to visit the Grand Mosque, which is one of Kuwait's most treasured religious and cultural landmarks to discover the beauty of Islamic arts and architecture. Free guided tours are available all year
A flyer of the event round on official working days between (9-11 am) and (5-7 pm), within a special tour program designed to cater to the needs of different age groups. The program is as follows: Reception; Auditorium show; (according to age group); Touring the Mosque; Q & A; Art workshops; (according to age group – between 5 and 18 years old); Snack break; Distribution of the Grand Mosque publications and souvenirs; End of tour. According to these age groups: Age group: 5 to 9 years old: Morning: 60 visitors max; Evening: 20; 10 to 15 years: Morning: 100 visitors max; Evening: 45; 16 and above: Morning: 140
visitors max, Evening: 105: Tour language: Arabic- English- French; Arabic (English upon prior request); Arabic- English- French; Arabic (English upon prior request); Arabic- English- French: Arabic (English upon prior request) Rules and Regulations: ■ Please arrive in time for your visit. ■ All visitors are kindly required to abide by the mosque's dress code. Male visitors should wear long pants. Shorts and sleeveless shirts are not allowed. Female visitors: should wear head cover and long loose clothing (available at the mosque).
Photos from the event
Al Mulla Exchange conducts cybercrime & protection seminar for their corporate clients The leading Exchange company in Kuwait, Al Mulla International Exchange organized a seminar on 'Cybercrime and Protection' at the Holiday Hotel for the benefit of their corporate customers. According to statistics available worldwide, the global cost of cybercrime will reach $2 trillion by 2019,
a threefold increase from the 2015 estimate of $500 billion. It is therefore critical that CEOs, business owners, and decision makers are highly vigilant in such turbulent times when it comes to cybercrime. The speaker of the evening, Souabh Sharma, Direc-
tor at Ernst & Young Kuwait, took the audience through a highly engaging and thought-provoking seminar highlighting the necessity of being alert and aware of the tactics being used by fraudsters. He brought to the forefront live examples and case studies to the audience making it quite simple for them
to grasp the details of the presentation. He also provided tips on how an early detection of cybercrime will be possible to the spectators. The seminar was followed by a question and answer session where all the audience questions were answered to satisfaction.
Male infertility expert
Dar Al Shifa announces joining Dr Al Hajeri to Urology Dept
A photo from the event
Malabar Gold celebrates Children's Day with young talents from SIMS Malabar Gold & Diamonds, one of the leading jewellery retailers in the region made this Children's Day fun and memorable by celebrating with above 2,000 talented & dynamic kids under the age of 12 and their families. The celebration was held at Salmiya Indian Model School (SIMS), Kuwait on Nov 14, in the presence of invited guests, teachers and parents. "Design your Dream Jewellery" drawing competition conducted by Malabar Gold & Diamonds unlocked the hidden talents of the kids and was full of fun with lots of special moments. The Children's Day event offered the families a fun filled day where the kids enjoyed painting and a wide range of exciting activities were or-
ganized by the jewellery chain. The children also took part in the competitions organized by the group in true spirit. The event was honoured by the presence of Afsal Khan — Zonal Head, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Anis Ahmed — Director, SIMS along with the other dignitaries from SIMS & Malabar Gold & Diamonds. The winners were awarded with the gold coins and certificate of appreciation as well. "As the tagline indicates, Malabar Gold & Diamonds is always at the forefront when it comes to celebrations. Today's children are our future. We would always admire to bring the hidden talents of the kids and we are thankful to SIMS for
associating with us by providing this venue to help us achieve the same," stated Afsal Khan — Zonal Head, Malabar Gold & Diamonds. Malabar Gold & Diamonds, the jewellery chain with 195 retail outlets spread across in GCC, India, Singapore and Malaysia is one of the first jewellers to introduce designer kid's jewellery crafted with 100 percent child-safe and nonhazardous metals. 'Starlet — Kids Jewellery', their brand made especially for Malabar Gold & Diamonds young customers is available in a variety of designs that are attractive to children. Each piece is carefully crafted with no sharp edges and the designs are playful and unique. It is surely an ideal gift for kids of all ages.
'Quality Fables'
Vigor to host SQM seminar KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: This year Vigor Events will organize and coorganize by Global Lead Consultants a seminar titled Sustainable Quality Management Seminar (SQM). The seminar is designed to provide leaders & organizations to take a holistic approach towards building capabilities and developing sustainable long-term Quality Management. It will provide valuable insights on Business Excellence, Quality Problem Solving, Six Sigma and ISO 9001 for Quality Management System standards. The 1-day seminar will comprise of the topic Quality Fables Problem Solving Rx by the international quality guru Suresh Lulla and the topic The Cardinal Quality Rules and Skills by Prof Tariq A. Al-Dowaisan. Quality Fables by Suresh Lulla will help shed light on effective problem solving which requires two sub-skills structured thinking of a proven methodology; as well as appropriate application of quality improvement and creativity tools. Tangible and intangible results follow with diligent application of both these sub-skills. Suresh Lulla is the founder and Managing Director, Qimpro Consultants Pvt Ltd — a focused quality management consultancy. His company — Qimpro has saved Indian corporates over $2,000 billion in terms of cost of poor quality, using the Juran methodologies. He is also the author of the book Quality Fables. The session titled Cardinal Quality Rules and Skills by Prof Tariq A. AlDowaisan will help attendees identify their organsation's quality standards. Prof Tariq A. Al-Dowaisan's has over 25 years of quality practice and has been an educator and consultant. This session will allow attendees to respond to the fundamental question of standards in quality clearly, quickly, and easily. They will understand that the answer lies in answering simple questions of the like of: What is your coefficient of variation? What is your process sigma level? Prof Tariq A. Al-Dowaisan is the founder and acting general manager of Global Lead Consultants (GLC) and has 25 years of professional consulting and training in Quality, Organizational Excellence, and Safety in the GCC region.
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: As a new step towards enhancing the efficiency of medical services provided to a larger segment of patients, Dar Al Shifa Hospital announced the joining of Dulaim Al Hajeri the Consultant of Urology and Male Infertility to the team of Urology Department. Dr Dulaim Al Hajeri has a unique & rare specialization at the level of health sector in Kuwait in male infertility. In this regards, Dr Magdi Al Nawawi — the Medical Director at Dar Al Shifa Hospital said: "With every new joining to the professional medical team at Dar Al Shifa Hospital, we always looking to exploit this expertise to serve the patients and achieve the hospital goal which is helping patients to achieve the desired results in the treatment". "With the outstanding management in the hospital, spirited atmosphere, the latest technology & available services, success is the final result for everyone cooperates with us" he added. It's worth to mention that Dr Dulaim Al Hajeri owns sub-specialty in androlog & male infertility from the University Medical City in Riyadh, sub-specialty in sexual medicine from Saint Simon Hospital, Saudi board of urology surgery, and he is the first recognized degree surgeon in andrology and male infertility. In addition to a certificate in microsurgery in male infertility field. Dr Dulaim Al Hajeri specializes in the cases of male infertility and related semen problems, sexual dysfunction, penile prosthesis in-
Dr Dulaim Al Hajeri
sertion for erection dysfunction, chronic pelvic & testicular pain, microsurgery for varicocele and azoospermia cases, penile curvature diseases, endoscopic surgery for stone disease, prostate & urology disease, men health in addition to azoospermia. About his Joining, Dr Dulaim Al Hajeri said: "It gives me great pleasure to be able to contribute with my skills to help patients in Kuwait achieve their desired results in the field of urology and male infertility. With the outstanding administration and the hospital's overall ambition to provide the latest technologies and services available, it is always a promising success to partner with Dar Al Shifa Hospital by all means."
'Customers deserve the best'
TSC makes rewards program more generous and attractive
Abeer wins Guinness Word Record KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: Abeer Medical Group, a leading healthcare provider in the Middle East owning and operating a chain of medical centers and hospitals wins Guinness World Record. The human mosaic formed by Abeer on the ground of International Indian School Jeddah (IISJ), Boys Section on Nov 14, World Diabetes Day has emerged as a record-breaking achievement following the authorized verification by the GWR official adjudicator. The record-winning mosaic formed by the assembly of the largest number of people in the world consists of the logos of World Diabetes Day, Saudi Vision 2030 and Abeer Medical Group. 4,500 students of IISJ lined up forming rows and columns for the design. The picture mosaic of Iraq's national flag formed by the 4,200 community police officers of Bagdad in April 2015 is the record broken by Abeer under the leadership of Dr Jemshith Ahmed, Vice-President — Strategic Planning. His Excellency Noor Rahman Sheikh was the chief patron of the event. This mass gathering on World Diabetes Day sets another example for Abeer's committed endeavors for pervading community health awareness. Over and above the achievement of Guinness World Record, Abeer's ultimate intent is to invite public attention to the grievous health hazards and terminal illness due to diabetes. Being the country with the largest diabetes incidence in the world, Abeer believes that Saudi Arabia should be the provenance of this mass health awareness battle. Through this initiative, Abeer aims
The winner receives his prize from Haneen Al Rumaihi and Khalid Al Hulaibi.
Burgan Bank 'announces' new winner of Al Thuraya Salary account monthly draw KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: Burgan Bank, announced today Mohammed Ashfaq Malik Nawaz as the lucky winner of the Al Thuraya Salary Account monthly draw. The winner was presented with a Nissan Patrol SUV by Burgan Bank's Head of marketing management — AGM, Ms Haneen Al Rumaihi. The draw rewards new and existing customers who transfer their salary to Burgan Bank by offering them a chance to win a Nissan Patrol SUV every month. With every KD 10 available in the account, the customer receives one chance to enter the draw. The Al
Thuraya account holders have the option to hold money in Kuwaiti Dinar and other major currencies and can access account-related services such as standing orders, loans and credit cards, and benefit from the discounts and offers throughout the year. Customers wishing to open the Al Thuraya account can do so by simply visiting the nearest Burgan Bank branch and obtain all the necessary details, or simply call the bank's call center on 1804080. For further information, customers can also visit the bank's website on www.burgan.com.
at joining hands with the ethos of the celebrated Saudi Vision 2030 for the national growth and transformation. The health challenges currently faced by the Kingdom appertain to the increasing prevalence of diabetes, smoking etc. The anti-smoking campaign steered by Abeer a few months
ago seized massive public attention and created a ripple effect through similar social committed initiatives. The imposition of sin tax on cigarettes by the Government of Saudi Arabia was followed by the official launch and follow up activities of Abeer Antismoking Campaign 2017.
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: As Customers Deserve the Best, The Sultan Center (TSC) has recently relaunched its Rewards Cards Program with greater benefits and rewards with customer's interest in mind. The relaunched program; the first of its the kind in the region; is very generous and enables customers to earn more points, avail exclusive discounts and partner services and redeem their points into cash vouchers or many attractive gifts appealing to all family members; ranging from TV's and mobile phones to household appliances, toys and so much more. Commenting on TSC's upgraded card program, Abdel-Salam Bdeir, CEO of The Sultan Center said: "we have relaunched TSC Rewards Program to reward our valuable customers with a variety of attractive benefits and services. The upgraded card program is exceptionally unique. We now offer four types of cards based upon customers spend; Silver-GoldPlatinum and Black with each card having its own range of exclusively designed benefits and rewards, and more importantly 50 percent more points for Platinum members and 100 percent more points for Black members. On top of this, customers can gain additional benefit out of their loyalty
card membership, by doubling their points if they spend KD 250 for 6 consecutive months at any TSC store from Nov 1 through April 30, 2018 as the return can be over 4 percent so why shop any anywhere else? It would be so difficult for our customers to shop somewhere else for few items as they would be losing points for no reason. We also expect that customers who do not shop at TSC to make a change with this new Rewards Program as it's now very lucrative and very hard to resist, or shop somewhere else and lose these great and guaranteed returns and benefits. "At TSC, we are committed to constantly indulging customers with a unique shopping experience specifically tailored to meet their needs and to guarantee exceptional level of services and satisfaction", stated Bdeir. As a Rewards Card member you enjoy a range of personalized benefits and services that reflect your lifestyle, as well as, the points redemption program for different types of gifts that meet all customers' needs. If not a TSC Rewards Card member sign up today at any TSC Sultan Center or TSC Wholesale Center and start enjoying the benefits, the more you shop the more you are rewarded!!!!
Photos show general view of the Ketchaoua Mosque in the famed UNESCO-listed Casbah district of Algiers as workers complete the final stages of its renovation on Oct 15, 2017. (AFP)
Ornate towers and arches set for new chapter
Scored by history, overhauled Algiers mosque to reopen ALGIERS, Nov 15, (AFP): At the foot of the famed UNESCO-listed Casbah district in Algiers, the Ketchaoua Mosque has had a tumultuous past that, at one point, saw it turned into a cathedral under French rule. Now the ornate towers and arches are set for a new chapter as the majestic place of worship gets ready to open its doors for the first time in nearly a decade following a lengthy renovation. Once a symbol of Ottoman influence, it was known for more than a century as the Roman Catholic Saint Philippe Cathedral after France's conquest of Algeria, only to revert to a mosque when the country claimed independence in 1962 following a bloody struggle. In 2008 it was shut down as the ravages of time — and a powerful earthquake — took their toll. But much to the delight of local residents it will soon be up and running again after more than three years of restoration work, funded by the Turkish government. "I can't wait to return there to pray," said Salim, a trader working nearby, who declined to give his second name. "My father brought me here to pray for the first time in 1978 when I was just nine years old." The date of the first mosque built on the site remains under debate but the earliest references to it can be found in 1612. In the late 18th century, the Ottoman ruler of the region Hassan Pasha completely transformed the location and turned it into one of the grandest mosques in the city. That lasted only for around 40 years until the French seized Algeria and requisitioned the building by force. "Its conversion into a church in 1832 took place after an assault by the colonial army" that claimed the lives of some of "the several hundred faithful who had dug in to oppose the takeover," said Aicha Hanafi, professor of archeology at the University of Algiers. "That same year, on December 24, they celebrated the first Christmas Mass," she said. The Christian capture of the mosque brought both a physical and spiritual change to the building. A large part was knocked down as the site was enlarged to become the city's principal cathedral. Two bell towers, designed in an Eastern style, were erected, framing a new entrance at the top of a grand staircase. After returning to its original function following independence some 55 years ago, the mosque underwent cosmetic changes to make it conform to the demands of the Muslim faith. Now the latest renovations have seen a greater overhaul, restoring more original features and making space for some 1,200 faithful, including, for the first time, women. "We did all that we could to maintain the historical monument," said Abdelouahab Zekkagh, director of the national agency that oversees the use of historical buildings. He said that the minarets were taken apart stone by stone and those blocks that were too badly worn were swapped for new ones bought in from the west of the country. The original minbar (pulpit) built by the Ottomans in 1794 has been restored and the niche indicating the direction of prayer has been repainted in gold leaf by a Turkish craftsman. Architect Akli Amrouche is slightly disappointed that the new verses of the Qur'an inscribed on the walls do not match the originals. But, overall, after the long road that the mosque has travelled he is happy with the facelift. "It is an excellent job, the minarets have been saved and the prayer room renovated," he said.
click Latest Continued from Page 19 ■ Foods and drinks are not allowed inside the prayer halls. ■ For school visits, teachers are responsible for their students and are required to cooperate with the staff members of the Grand Mosque. ■ Photography is allowed inside the Grand Mosque (please note that disrespectful poses are strictly prohibited). If you would like to book a tour, please contact us: Tel: 22980813/ 22980815/ 22980812 Email: [email protected] Fax: 22473708
Duo Artus performs at Yarmouk Cultural Centre Duo Artus, the pairing of flautist Krzysztof Kaczka and guitarist Perry Schack, performed at the Yarmouk Cultural Centre on Tuesday evening, in cooperation with the German Embassy in Kuwait. Duo Artus was founded by Kaczka and Schack in 2003. The musicians met as young students at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria and premiered the duo in February 2004 during the concert series "Stars of Tomorrow" at the Polish Cultural Centre in Munich.
In 2006, Duo Artus won the second place at the NFA Chamber Music Competition in Pittsburgh. The following year they were awarded three gold medals at the Chamber Music Competition "Citta di Barletta" in Italy. The Duo is also winner of the IBLA Grand Prize World Music Competition in Sicily and of the Piazzolla Prize. As IBLA winner, Duo Artus has given their debut in New York's Carnegie Hall in 2008. Since then Krzysztof and Perry performed in five continents including recitals at Dublin
City Hall, Herkulessaal Munich, Wellington Town Hall, National Theatre in Brasilia, Athens Concert Hall, Raffles Club Singapore and took part in prestigious music festivals including the Festival of Contemporary Music in Lima, Peru and Szeged Music Festival in Hungary. In 2017 they were invited by New York Artist Management to perform again at Carnegie Hall and Weill Recital Hall. In 2015 and 2016 they performed with AOC Orchestra in Myanmar and were broadcast on Myanmar National Radio to more than ten million lis-
teners. The Duo was invited to perform by Polish and German Embassies and Consulates in New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Boston, Ottawa, Sydney, Canberra, Wellington, Tokyo, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, Munich, Paris, Rom, Dublin, Budapest, Gdansk, Lima, Brasilia, Curitiba and Kuwait. Their repertoire spans virtuoso music literature for flute and concert guitar and ranges from Bach's flute sonatas to Bizet's Carmen Fantasy to Piazzola's "Histoire du Tango".
They can make great holiday gifts if chosen carefully
Feed a passion, gift just the right coffee-table book NEW YORK, Nov 15, (AP): Know a book lover with a coffee table and a passion? Then you're good to go on a gift. Coffee-table books aren't usually high on the self-purchase priority list but they can make great holiday gifts if chosen carefully. Some suggestions: Fashion & Style ■ Russell Westbrook, because why not? That's the catchphrase of the NBA superstar who is one stylish guy and has put together a great book offering a glimpse into his world, celebrating trendsetters he admires along the way. Peep the baby photo of Westbrook in the back, gold chain on point, in "Russell Westbrook: Style Drivers," Rizzoli New York, $55. Westbrook inspires in images, chunky quotes from the style drivers he has chosen and some product placement tracing his fashion collaborations.
One of the most adorable moments: then-first lady Michelle Obama hugging Westbrook after he and his fellow Team USA members took gold at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. ■ The House of Dior is marking 70 years in fashion and there's one special book for your Dior lover that covers a lot of ground: "Dior: The House of Dior, Seventy Years of Haute Couture," National Gallery of Victoria, $65. The companion to an exhibition at the gallery in Melbourne, Australia, includes Christian Dior in his own words, including his passion for flowers carried over from his childhood. The book starts at the beginning, in 1947, and includes an inside look at the atelier. Eras are broken down by creative directors, including Yves Saint Laurent from 1957 to 1960 and John Galliano, from 1996 to 2011, straight on through to the first woman to head the house, today's Maria Grazia
Chiuri, named last year. ■ Speaking of anniversaries, Harper's Bazaar is marking 150 years and the book, "Harper's Bazaar 150 Years: The Greatest Moments," captures some of the stars in modeling, fashion design and photography who helped shape the magazine over the decades. From Abrams, retailing at $65, the book offers some much-needed cultural context, such as editor Glenda Bailey's letter that ran soon after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. What, she mused, are we to feel for fashion right now? Her answer is the notion that the "exuberance that is fashion has its own role to play — even in (especially in) the worst of times." There are first ladies, supermodels and a William Wegman dog wearing a Piaget diamond necklace and looking mighty haute couture. Photography & Art ■ Rihanna bathed in red, Havana
light. A pregnant Melania Trump in a golden bikini. Neil Patrick Harris with a large snake's tail down his pants. Welcome to "Annie Leibovitz: Portraits 2005-2016," the third volume in a series by the famed photographer. The book, from Phaidon, includes 150 photographs of artists, performers, writers, athletes, politicians and scientists, including LeBron James and his "chosen" tattoo and a stunning, stripped-down profile of Lupita Nyong'o close up. It's a heavy lift, weight-wise and at $110, but it pretty much defines gifty coffee-table books for culture vultures. ■ David LaChappelle. Is he the Magritte of his surreal, celebrity fueled world? As Richard Avedon, another famous photographer, muses in The New York Times, the potential is there. Taschen has the honor of publishing the long-awaited last two installments in LaChappelle's five-book
anthology, "Lost + Found, Part I" and "Good News, Part II," sold separately at $69.99 each. These are visual recordings, tableaux featuring famous figures mostly in stunning color, including some memorable foldouts. The first volume includes a decade of unseen work. The second book has LaChappelle contemplating mortality and paradise. Tupac Shakur, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, the entire Kardashian-Jenner clan and Isabella Blow included. ■ Based on an exhibition at the Tate Modern in London, "Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power," D.A.P./Distributed Art Publishers, $27.46, explores the years between 1963 and 1983 through the eyes of mostly black artists. The meaning of black identity, debates over "black art" in pamphlets and magazines, work by Faith Ringgold and Romare Bearden, and essays detailing the lives and roles of numerous others included.
By Jacqueline Bigar Happy birthday for Thursday, November 16, 2017: This year you are beginning a new life and luck cycle. Traditionally, the first year is one of the luckiest. You will make many new friends, and your inner circle will expand. If you are single, and you decide that you want to get involved with someone, it will be so. Take your time choosing a potential suitor. If you are attached, a tendency to go overboard while enjoying life could create some tension between you and your sweetie. A little selfdiscipline will go a long way in helping your relationship. A fellow SCORPIO connects with you deeply. The Stars Show the Kind of Day You'll Have: 5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average; 2-So-so; 1-Difficult.
Capricorn - (Dec 22 - Jan 19) ***** You smile as your day ends, and you might think that more days should fall
into place like parts of today did. You might be blurring the line between your professional and personal lives. Think carefully, and keep the ramifications in mind. Tonight: Accept a friend's suggestion.
Aquarius - (Jan
20 - Feb 18)
**** Pressure seems to build to the extent that the issue at hand becomes your main focus. Recognize that what is happening seems to be for the better. Be aware that you are accepting more responsibility as you take charge. Tonight: Others observe what is happening with you.
Pisces - (Feb 19 - Mar 20) ***** Your mind keeps drifting to other people and situations. To stay present in the moment will take self-discipline. In pondering your options, your imagination opens up. Start jotting down ideas; some gems of wisdom might be forthcoming. Tonight: Listen
to some great music.
Aries - (Mar 21 - Apr 19) ***** Deal with joint finances. Others seem to acknowledge your know-how and general wisdom. Getting a "yes" response is much easier right now. Acting with the support of friends and loved ones makes you feel secure in your choices. Tonight: Let the other party choose!
Taurus - (Apr 20 - May 20) **** Knowing when to defer to others has become an art for you. You understand that allowing someone else to act as he or she wants to will bring positive results. As you give others a nod, they feel empowered. Watch what happens. Tonight: Go along with a friend's suggestion.
**** Know what you must do as opposed to what you would like to do. A fun call or invitation could be quite distracting. Try to postpone this interaction until later, when you can enjoy what is happening. Good luck follows you. Remain patient. Tonight: Squeeze in some exercise.
Cancer - (June 21 - July 22) ***** Once more, your imagination proves to be an unusual source of resilience and adaptability. Though you are unlikely to encounter any obstacles, you still will be pondering how to make a dream a reality. Don't allow anyone to interfere. Tonight: Go with the flow.
Leo - (July 23 - Aug 22) **** You could be more concerned about a personal problem than you are letting on. However, those who know you might be seeing some cracks in your facade. As a result,
they might start to express concern. What you choose to share is up to you. Tonight: Make your weekend plans.
Virgo - (Aug 23 - Sept 22) ***** You'll enjoy the company of a contemporary. This person's spontaneous style might be contagious. Your critical ways could start falling to the wayside. People will appreciate this change in you, and you'll want to be more upbeat moving forward. Tonight: Say "yes."
Libra - (Sept 23 - Oct 22) **** As opportunities present themselves, regardless of whether they involve finances and/or romance, you won't be able to say "no." Enjoy a little fun and overindulgence. Others will wish to be as carefree as you are. Tonight: Use good sense when making an important decision.
Scorpio - (Oct 23 - Nov 21) ***** The Moon in your sign puts you in the spotlight through Saturday. Your magnetism and charisma start to peak. Note how compliant those around you are becoming. If you have a problem that needs to be handled, the time is now. Take a risk. Tonight: Be with the one you love.
Sagittarius - (Nov 22 - Dec 21) *** You might have a secret or some kind of exciting possibility that is brewing. Until this situation manifests, you should remain quiet about it. However, your mind is working overtime. Try to pay more attention to the here and now, for your own sake. Tonight: In your thoughts. ❑ ❑ ❑ Born today: Composer W.C. Handy (1873), actor Burgess Meredith (1907), tennis player Zina Garrison (1963)
newspaper holder
oily hair remedies
ice-cream puffs
Suppliers: 35 craft sticks; glue; white satin ribbon; silk flower Instructions: Glue 11 craft sticks, long sides together so that they lie flat across. Glue six craft sticks, long sides together so that they lie flat across. Glue two craft sticks, long sides together so that they lie flat across, and you now have three separate sections of craft sticks for the back, bottom and front of the holder. Stack and glue eight craft sticks on top of each other. Create another stack of eight craft sticks. Take one stack of eight craft sticks and glue to the 11-stick-long section you made in step two, along the longest side. Repeat with other stack of eight craft sticks. Glue the two-stick-long section at one end of the recipe holder to create the bottom. Glue the six-sticklong section on top of the stacks of 8 craft sticks, and adhering to the bottom edge of the recipe holder. Turn recipe holder over. Glue two craft sticks together to create a V shape and attach to the top of the recipe holder to create a hanger. Let dry completely. Add a silk flower if desired.
Fatsia or castor oil plant is an evergreen shrub or small tree from E. Asia. They have large, leathery, palmate 7-to 11–lobed leaves, produced mainly at the branch tips, and compound umbels, to 12 in (30 cm) across, of small, creamy white flowers borne in autumn, followed by clusters of usually spherical black fruits. Fatsia can reach a height of 4 ft. or more. Site: Bright light – avoid direct sunshine. It prefers a cool, well-ventilated and bright condition. Temperature: Average or above average warmth in summer. Keep fairy cool in winter – minimum temperature 55 F° or 16 C°. Water: Water freely from spring to autumn – sparingly in winter. Use tepid water. Mist leaves frequently, especially in hot weather.
Select a shampoo that has natural apple cider in them, along with a rosemary tea. Both of these ingredients are excellent for your dilemma. They also have citric acid, which is a natural astringent. While shampooing do not scrub your scalp. Vigorous scrubbing will activate the sebaceous glands. Massage it gently until it reaches a rich lather, and leave it on the scalp for 5 minutes and rinse well. Blot excess water from the hair when drying, always keeping in mind that any vigorous action on the scalp will send a signal to the sebaceous glands to work. This goes for combing and brushing as well. Shampoo every second day to start, moving up to every third day after the first two weeks. You really shouldn't have to wash your hair more than twice a week to maintain clean, healthy hair. If your scalp feels oily while you are adapting to this routine, dab some Witch Hazel to the roots with cotton pad.
Ingredients: For the ice-cream puffs: 1 cup water; 1/2 cup unsalted butter, diced; 1 tsp sugar; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 cup flour; 4 eggs; 1 lightly beaten egg for coating; vanilla ice cream for the chocolate sauce: 1/2 cup heavy cream; 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped; 1 1/2 tsp unsalted butter. Method: Heat the oven to 375°. In a medium saucepan, bring the water, butter, sugar, and salt to a boil. Remove the pan from the stove and stir in the flour until well blended. Return to the stove and cook until the mixture pulls away from the sides. Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl. Stir in the 4 eggs, until each is fully incorporated. Scoop the dough to place 1 1/2-inch-wide mounds on greased baking sheets. Gently brush the top of each with the beaten egg. Bake the puffs until golden brown. For the chocolate sauce, bring the heavy cream to a boil in a small saucepan add chocolate and butter whisk until it's smooth. To assemble, cut each puff in half, place a scoop of ice cream on the bottom, replace the top, and drizzle with the warm chocolate sauce. Garnish with chopped nuts (optional) Serve immediately.
what's on today
Man who hates job 'drags' girlfriend down with griping By Abigail Van Buren Dear Abby: I have been dating my boyfriend for three years. We have lived together for the last two. We have a great life together, but there is a problem I don't know how to solve. "Jeremy" hates his job. We met in the education department of our college, and after graduation, we both took jobs in the public school system. I enjoy my career, but he loathes his. He complains constantly without seeming to take action on the issue. I know he's miserable, but he hasn't looked for other jobs or enrolled in a new school program. I have bad days, too, but I've reached the end of listening to the constant griping. I am usually a positive person, but he is dragging my mood down because of this. He says I need to guide him and give him some direction, but I don't know what to say. I don't think it's my responsibility to tell another adult what he should or shouldn't do with his life. I don't mind helping him Abigail talk through his choices, but he wants more from me. This is the man I want to marry. Is there a way to get past this issue and make it work? — Uncertain and lost Dear uncertain: Until your boyfriend has settled this uncertainty about his work life, any discussion about marriage should be put on hold. I agree you are not qualified to give him career advice. However, you might ask him to tell you what exactly it is that he hates about his job, and what he would rather be doing. His answers may give both of you insight into what he may be better suited for emotionally, and stimulate him to do something positive about his future. Once he has more clarity, there may be places he can go for career counseling that can help him decide what his next steps should be. ❑ ❑ ❑ Dear Abby: We bought our first home seven months ago. We love it, except for one major issue. Our neighbor, who's the same age as I am, is the biggest hypochondriac and laziest person I've ever seen. She was training to be a police officer, but she had a headache every day, so she got let go last year. Ever since then we have been supporting her (food, Wi-Fi, OTC meds, feminine products). I finally cut her off for about a week until she Facebook-messaged me saying she was starving and hadn't eaten for two days, so I gave in. I gave her a job last week, and she didn't show up the first day. What should I do? It's causing arguments between my husband and me. I hate to think she's hungry. — Troubled in the South Dear troubled: You are a kindhearted person, but you are being taken advantage of. If your neighbor has family that can be located, they should be notified that she's unable to care for herself. If no relative is willing to take responsibility for her, contact social services or direct the woman to the nearest food bank or soup kitchen. I suspect her problems are more extensive than headaches and procrastination. ❑ ❑ ❑ Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069. (Source: Universal Uclick)
Civil ID info: 1889988
Site for checking travel ban www.kuwaitcourts.gov.kw/mojweb/NGeneral/Main.jsp THURSDAY Items for the What's On page can be sent directly to the Arab Times, P.O. Box 2270, 13023, Safat or faxed to 24818267 or e-mail to [email protected] arabtimesonline.com. All items on this page are published as a courtesy to the public. These announcements can include birthday greetings, weddings, social functions or any other non-commercial events. Photographs of all events are welcome.
■ IEI Chapter-Engineers' Day: The Institution of Engineers (India), Kuwait Chapter 50th Engineers, Day Celebration in Kuwait today at the Multi Purpose Hall, Arab Fund Building, Shuwaikh, from 6:30 pm onwards. Apart from HE The Ambassador of India to State of Kuwait, many dignitaries and distinguished guests from Ministries, Universities, KSE, KISR, Engineers, technocrats, consultants, decision makers and business leaders shall be attending the function. The theme for this year Engineers' Day is 'Role of Engineers for Development' The Registration will start at 6:30 pm followed by function starting at 7:00 pm. For any question, please call at the Chapter's office between 5:30 pm and 8:30 pm at 22445588 Extn 314 or Contact Engr Thomas John (Mob: 99723829)/ Engr Sudhir Menghani (Mob: 97987455). We look forward your participation in large numbers. ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ IOC Arts Festival 2017: Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) conducts its 11th Arts Festival IOC-FEST-2017 for the Indian Community in Kuwait on Nov 16 and 17, 2017 at United Indian School, Abbasiya. Various competitions will be held in two days with participation from children as well as from elders from all parts of Kuwait. The special memorial Award established in the name of late Pala K.M. Mathew, "Kalasurya" and "Kalamayukham" will be given separately for boys and girls sections to those who secure top in the individual items. The entry forms available at Indian Schools & at the following place: Sakina Book Stall, Abbassiya & Salmiya. Online registration facility is also available through the following Link. Fax No.: 24331461 Email: [email protected] www.justkuwait.net/iocfest/ For further details contact: 97296167, 97133930, 99827113, 69950131, and
Adnan Abdullah Kayakkal of Class X won the Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam 'Pearl of The School Award 2017' award instituted by Thanima Kuwait for the academic year 2017-2018. The selection was based on his academic performance, excellence in arts and sports activities as well as their involvement in school programmes. Adnan has won many awards in sports, quiz, elocution, extempore, etc and has won 'Ikon Scientifica Award' in the year 2013.
Al-Salam Area (south Surra), Block 2, Street 201, House 30. Classes are free, but seats are limited, so register now by calling 66274724. ❑ ❑ ❑
A flyer of the event 66853100. ❑
■ Art Expo at Sultan Gallery: The Sultan Gallery announces art exhibition titled 'Mohammed Ahmed Ibrahim: A Selection of Artworks', in collaboration with Cuadro Fine Art Gallery, Dubai. Mohammed Ahmed Ibrahim one of the "five" pioneer conceptual artists from the United Arab Emirates including Hassan Sharif, Abdullah Al Saadi, Hussain Sharif and Mohammed Kazem, was born in Khorfakkan, UAE in 1962. He carries a degree in Psychology from Al Ain University and has also completed a residency at Le Consortium Art Centre in Dijon, France. Mohammed Ibrahim received the First Prize for Sculpture at the Sharjah Biennial in 2001 and 1999. His work is in significant collections, including Qatar's Arab Museum of Modern Art, the Sharjah Art Museum and Holland's Sittard Art Center. Exhibition dates: Opening: Tuesday, Nov 7, 2017: 7-9pm; Nov 7 - Dec 12; 10am - 4pm; (closed on Fridays, Saturdays and Public Holidays) For press enquiries, please contact: +965 24714325 Ext. 110 [email protected] ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ The Box expo at CAP: The Contemporary Art Platform announces an exhibition titled 'The Box' by Melanie Francesca. Opening reception: Nov 6 from 7-9 pm. Location: Contemporary Art Platform. Exhibition open until Nov 28.
FRIDAY ■ FBC tournament: Filipino Badminton Committee (FBC) is inviting all badminton enthusiast in Kuwait to join their regular badminton tournament being held every Friday from 8 am to 7 pm at Kuwait Disabled Sports Club, Bin Khaldoun
Hawalli. Over 10 badminton courts are now available for badminton practices and tournament and it is open for all nationalities and from different badminton organizations. Exclusive-private court are also available on per hour rental. For more information, please contact Dr Chie Umandap – 97197268 ❑ ❑ ❑
■ Tagalog Khutba for Filipinos: The Ministry of Awqaf, Islam Presentation Committee, & Kuwait Philippine Cultural Center (KPC Center) invites all Filipino Muslim & Muslima to hear Khutba (Sermon) in Tagalog every Friday at Marzouq Al-Badr Mosque, Abu Bakr Al-Siddeeq St (at the back of Ambassador Supermarket and SM Supermarket, near Salhiya Police Station & Kuwait Airways Bldg) in Kuwait City. There will be a community started and lunch after Friday prayers at KPC Center in Farwaniya. For further information, please call KPC Center, Tel 4712574. ❑ ❑ ❑
■ Free IFRA coaching classes: Indian Football Referees Association (IFRA) will be starting free refresher/coaching classes for existing referees, new recruits, those aspiring to be referees and even those who would like to learn about the laws of the game at IEAS – Salmiya (Don Bosco). Classes will be from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm every Friday. Those interested may call 99519439 or get in touch with any IFRA member for registration. ❑ ❑ ❑
■ St Paul's Church weekly activities: English worship services on Fridays at 10.30 am and on Sundays at 6.30 pm. The Friday English service has separate sessions for children and youth. A Mandarin language speaking congregations meets separately on Fridays at 10.30 am in the Youth Centre at St Paul's. A combined service with the English and Mandarin language congregations is held on the first Friday of every month. A family service is held on the second Friday of every month with presentations from different organs of the church. The Church of Pakistan has services in English every Thursday at St Paul's at 5.35 pm and for Urdu language speaking members every Friday at Diwaniya of the NECK Centre, Kuwait City at 5.45 pm. Please contact Fr Michael Mbona on mobile 65960781 or call at Church house on 23985929 or email to [email protected] or [email protected] For Mandarin speaking congregation contact Revd Zhu Peijin on 99551783 and her email address is [email protected] Contact person: Fr Michael Mbona Mobile: 65960781 Email: [email protected] gmail.com ❑ ❑ ❑
■ Holy Quran classes: Emanway Foundation – Musk is offering classes to teach English-speaking ladies (and girls ages 5 and up) to read the Holy Quran in Arabic. The method is al-Qaedah Noorania, a traditional program which has been used for many years around the world. (Note: 'Al-Qaedah' simply means 'base'; this can be likened to a basic phonics program.) No Arabic knowledge is required. Every Friday from 4:00 to 5:15 pm, beginning Oct 4.
■ Redeemed Christian Church: The Redeemed Christian Church of God (HOD Parish) worship in English. Celebration Service: Friday 9 am – 11 am; Divine encounter: Sunday, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm; Digging Deep (Bible studies): Tuesday, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm; Night vigil every last Friday of the month from 10 pm. Venue: New Mishref. For more information and direction please call 99276603, 6557-7482. Email: [email protected]
■ Arnis/Eskrima training: EskrimadorKuwait a member of Cacoy Doce Pares World Federation now opens a new batch of training. Learn the Philippine national sports, which is Arnis/Eskrima with the authentic style and techniques. Training schedule will be every Friday from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm @ Kaifan Sports Complex-Karate Gym. Text or call #50292148-Herms. ❑ ❑ ❑
Experimental peanut allergy patch shows promise
Eating variety of nuts linked to lower heart disease risk WASHINGTON, Nov 15, (AFP): People who regularly snack on a variety of nuts may face a lower risk of heart disease than people who don't, said the largest study of its kind, which was released this week. Eating five weekly servings of walnuts, peanuts or other kinds of tree nuts was linked to a 14 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease, and a 20 percent lower risk of fatal complications due to hardened arteries, said the report Monday in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Walnuts appeared to be the healthiest option, according to the findings, based on more than 210,000 people who answered regular surveys as part
of a nurses' study that spanned 32 years. "After looking at individual nut consumption, eating walnuts one or more times per week was associated with a 19 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease and 21 percent lower risk of coronary heart disease," said the report. People who ate peanuts two or more times per week had a 13 percent lower risk of heart disease than people who ate none. Those who ate tree nuts, such as almonds, cashews, chestnuts and pistachios, had a 15 percent lower risk of heart disease. "Our findings support recommenda-
tions of increasing the intake of a variety of nuts, as part of healthy dietary patterns, to reduce the risk of chronic disease in the general populations," said lead author Marta Guasch-Ferre, a research fellow at the department of nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Many past studies have examined the role of eating nuts on people's health. Researchers said this one stands out due to its size and the way it looked at the association between specific types of nuts and major cardiovascular events. However, because it was an observational study based on self-reported
questionnaire responses, it was unable to prove cause-and-effect. "Ideally, further investigations should test the effects of long-term consumption of nuts supplemented into the usual diet on hard cardiometabolic events," said an accompanying editorial by Emilio Ros, a doctor at the Hospital Clinic in Barcelona. "In the meantime, raw nuts, if possible unpeeled and otherwise unprocessed, may be considered as natural health capsules that can be easily incorporated into any heart-protective diet to further cardiovascular well-being and promote healthy aging." ❑ ❑ ❑
An experimental patch that delivers a high dose of peanut protein has shown promise in reducing allergic reactions in children and adults, researchers said on Tuesday. About two percent of US children are allergic to peanuts and must avoid them altogether. Peanut allergies are on the rise, and are the most common cause of severe and fatal food reactions in the United States, according to researchers. The study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) enrolled 221 children and adults who are allergic to peanuts. Participants were randomly as-
signed to three groups, each of which wore a Viaskin Peanut skin patch in different doses. A fourth group received a placebo. The trial, known as phase two, was designed to test which dose was best, and how well it would work over a year. The highest dose tested, 250 micrograms, was most effective, and appeared to help half the patients who wore it. The placebo patch helped onequarter of wearers. Patients were considered "responders" if they took without incident either 1,000 mg or more of peanut protein, or 10 times the pretreatment amount of peanuts.
Couch slouch Comedians not laughing in 'Simpsons'
Kai, Ally's story comes to a close in AHS's Great Again By Alex Stedman to imagine that Ryan Murphy could Irage"t'shavehard predicted how relevant the "female would be currently when plotting out the arc for "Cult." Of course, there were the Women's March after the election, the fury over the but … "Great Again," the finale of "Cult," debuts at a time when Hollywood is at a reckoning for all sexual abusers. And though she has her flaws, in this context, it's satisfying to see a reborn Ally (Sarah Paulson) take victory from the hands of the misogynistic Kai (Evan Peters). But give Kai this: he's nothing if not resourceful. We find him in prison in 2018, having a scene with a guard, Gloria (Liz Jenkins). A couple of inmates pull him aside, and one of them beats the crap out of him for upsetting the simple order of the penitentiary Lo and behold, this isn't where Kai dies. The other guard kills Kai's adversary, but has nothing to show for it. Goaded on by a hallucinatory Charles Manson, he kills another one of his loyal followers, telling him, like he told Gary (Chaz Bono), that he would be a "martyr for the cause." Devotion to Kai gets you nowhere, folks. If only someone could have told Trevor, the young, cowardly inmate in for killing a child while drunk-driving in his daddy's Tesla. He makes a deal with the devil in joining Kai's prison cult — an army of men while women "ruin the world outside" — in exchange for protection. Little does he know Kai has no interest in protecting him. First, though, we need to learn how Kai got himself thrown in the joint. Back in 2017, Kai panics over Speedwagon (the real mole, if you remember last week's episode)'s absence. He pulls it together to describe "The Night of 100 Tates" — it turns out he bit off more than he could chew when he proposed "The Night of 1,000 Tates," logistically speaking. There's an element of humor, but it's still disturbing to see the men practice killing pregnant women by stabbing watermelons with glee. Meanwhile, Beverly (Adina Porter) is on edge and doesn't see how she can go on, but Ally encourages her to keep going. The Night of 100 Tates will indeed be glorious, but not for the reasons that Kai thinks. Kai still has to worry about Speedwagon, though. Ally reveals to him that she found his recorder, and that he killed Winter (Billie Lourd) for no reason. He's heartbroken, but Ally encourages him to go forward with the big night, and so he does. The next night, the men are all set with their meticulously planned "kill kits" to murder the pregnant women, their babies, and their husbands, when Ally leaves... to let in the FBI. After an intense shootout, Kai is finally apprehended, Ally's triumphant face the last thing he sees before the FBI truck's doors slam. Months later, Ally is seen as a hero. In the Butchery, where business is booming, she politely turns down a photo op, and is surprised to be visited by Beverly, who wonders when the other shoe will drop, paranoid about her own reckoning. Ally reveals that, while she was receiving psychiatric treatment, the FBI offered her immunity if she helped bring down the cult. And why turn Beverly in? She never saw her commit a crime. Ally still denies killing Ivy (Alison Pill) — though it's the only murder Kai didn't take credit for — and puts on a good show, tearing up as she talks about
honoring her late wife's memory. It's clearly practiced. But Ally's got a new life now: she has a girlfriend, and the two of them invite Beverly to Oz's birthday party. At that birthday party, we get another glimpse into Ally's new life. She's turned down interview requests from Rachel Maddow and, in a fun "AHS" crossover, even Lana Winters: Paulson's character from "Asylum" who gained fame as a Barbara Walters-esque journalist. But she also gets a call from Kai, where she boasts that she's a "legit feminist icon" and rubs it in his face that he's not Oz's father as Kai foams at the mouth, threatening her. ❑ ❑ ❑ Growing up in New York in the 1980s, comedian Hari Kondabolu was like many young people. He watched "The Simpsons" and he adored "The Simpsons." There was just one thing that bothered him about it. Amid the fictional Springfield barflies, incompetent doctors, clowns and crazy eggheads was a truly cartoonish character — Apu, the Kwik-E-Mart clerk who sold expired food, ripped off customers and delivered the singsongy slogan "Thank you, come again." To Kondabolu and plenty of other people of South Asian heritage, the pot-bellied, heavily accented Apu led to real world bullying, self-loathing and embarrassment. Apu was one of the only Indian immigrants portrayed in popular culture and yet he was a buffoon. "This character — the only representation that we have — led a lot of kids who were born and raised here to feel non-American," said Kondabolu. "If you don't nip racism in the bud from the beginning, it mutates and finds other ways of surviving." Kondabolu, whose stand-up and podcasts have a socially conscious focus, is now fighting back with the documentary "The Problem With Apu," airing on truTV on Sunday at 10 p.m. EST. He hopes the film is as funny as it is illuminating — an important thing if you're going to war with one of TVs most beloved animated institutions. "As a comedian, if you're going to kill joy, you better kill it with joy," he said. The documentary features interviews with other performers of South Asian heritage, including Kal Penn, Aziz Ansari, Aasif Mandvi and Hasan Minhaj, who share their own distaste for Apu. Vivek Murthy, who became surgeon general of the United States, recalls being bullied in seventh grade by a kid using Apu's accent. "It's not about him being funny. That's not the issue. He's a fundamentally flawed character, based through the lens of a stereotype. I think sometimes people confuse sometimes funny and wrong," Kondabolu said. Kondabolu grew up in the diverse New York borough of Queens and was shocked to not see on film or TV what he saw on the streets every day. The message he got was that non-whites didn't exist. He became so desperate to connect with anyone on TV that he found solace in the immigrant Balki from the sitcom "Perfect Strangers." Penn, the "Designated Survivor" star who has mocked racial stereotypes in his "Harold & Kumar" films, suspects Hollywood can get away with a lot more mocking of AsianAmericans than it can with another ethnic group. (Agencies)
In this Sept 27, 2017 file photo, Kratom capsules are displaced in Albany, New York. (AP)
This Nov 2, 2017 photo shows tablets of ibuprofren in New York. (AP)
Most millennials seen worse off than parents despite aptitude
Opioid addiction treatments face off in US trial CHICAGO, Nov 15, (Agencies): The first US study to compare two treatments for opioid addiction finds a monthly shot works as well as a daily drug to prevent relapse. The shot requires days of detox first and that proved to be a stumbling block for many. For those who made it past that hurdle, the shot Vivitrol worked about the same as an older treatment, Suboxone. Both drugs had high relapse rates and there were overdoses, including fatal ones, in the experiment in 570 adults. The study, published Tuesday in the journal Lancet, is the first to compare the two drugs in the United States, where an opioid addiction epidemic has doctors and policymakers deeply divided over treatment strategies. Many addiction treatment programs don't offer either medication, or only one of them. "Let's not keep arguing about the exact batting averages of these two things," and make them more available, said study co-author Dr. Joshua Lee of New York University School of
Medicine. President Donald Trump recently declared the crisis a national public health emergency. Overdoses, most involving prescription painkillers and other opioids, killed 64,000 people in the United States last year. "Addiction medicine physicians are hungry to get data, especially from head-to-head comparisons like this one," said Dr. Joseph Garbely of Pennsylvania-based Caron Treatment Centers, who wasn't involved in the research. A smaller Norwegian study, published last month, also found the two medications work equally well. The new study recruited users of heroin and pain pills from eight detox centers across the United States. Half were assigned to get monthly shots of Vivitrol, which contains extended-release naltrexone. The others got daily Suboxone, a buprenorphine-naloxone combo in a film that dissolves under the tongue. After six months of outpatient treatment, including voluntary counseling, 65 percent of
the Vivitrol group had relapsed compared to 57 percent of the Suboxone group. Anyone who dropped out of the study was scored as having relapsed. The difference in the groups stemmed almost entirely from patients who left during detox for Vivitrol. Twenty-eight percent dropped out before getting Vivitrol, compared to 6 percent who dropped out before a first dose of Suboxone. Of those who actually started treatment, about half of both groups relapsed. Vivitrol requires a patient to fully detox first because, if taken too soon, it can cause severe and sudden withdrawal symptoms. Suboxone can be started sooner, while patients still have mild withdrawal symptoms. The researchers found no real difference in overdoses. There were five fatal overdoses, two in the Vivitrol group and three in the Suboxone group. There were 23 nonfatal overdoses, 16 in the Vivitrol group — half of those in the dropouts who never received Vivitrol — and seven in the Suboxone group. The two medicines work differently, but both block the powerful high of addictive opioids. Treatment programs tend to favor one over another. Those preferring Suboxone compare it to insulin for diabetes, but others see it as a crutch because it contains an opioid that has a mild effect on pain and mood. Suboxone costs about $100 a month. Vivitrol costs about $1,000 a month. Methadone, a third treatment drug, was not part of the study. In the US, methadone must be given at special clinics. Any doctor can prescribe Vivitrol. Prescribers need special training and a waiver to prescribe Suboxone. Vivitrol offers "a tremendous advantage" to rural patients who live far from the nearest methadone clinic or trained prescriber, said Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which sponsored the study.
Also: ZURICH: Most millennials will struggle to earn more money and find better jobs than their parents despite being more highly trained, according to a study by Credit Suisse. Defined by the US Census Bureau as being those born between 1982 and 2000 — so between 35 and 17, now — millennials face tougher borrowing rules, rising home prices, and lower income mobility, the study said. "With the baby boomers occupying most of the top jobs and much of the housing, millennials are doing less well than their parents at the same age, especially in relation to income, home ownership and other dimensions of wellbeing," the Swiss bank wrote in its annual Global Wealth report, published on Tuesday. As a result only high achievers and those in lucrative areas like technology and finance have better prospects than their parents.
A flyer of the event.
tv highlights Cinema Cinema programme from Thursday 09/11/2017 to Wednesday 15/11/2017
Aman Ya Sahabi (Arabic Film) 360°
Bairaq Fanar
Muhalab Sharqia Avenues Marina
16:55, 18:55, 20:55, 22:45, 00:35 (Daily Exc Mon, Sat) 18:55, 20:55, 22:45, 00:35 (Mon) 12:55, 16:55, 18:55, 20:55, 22:45, 00:35 (Sat) 20:05 (Daily Exc Fri) 13:45, 20:05 (Fri) 13:30, 19:15, 21:00, 2:45 (Daily Exc Thu, Sat) 19:15, 21:00, 22:45 (Thu, Sat) 19:15, 21:00 (Daily Exc Fri) 13:30, 19:15, 21:00 (Fri) 17:30, 22:30 20:15, 22:10, 00:05 20:15
An Ordinary Man 360°
Fanar Muhalab Sharqia Avenues
12:10, 14:10, 16:10, 18:10, 20:10, 22:10, 00:10 (Daily Exc Fri) 14:10, 16:10, 18:10, 20:10, 22:10, 00:10 (Fri) 11:50, 16:00, 20:15, 00:30 (Daily Exc Fri) 16:00, 20:15, 00:30 (Fri) 13:15, 22:45, 00:45 (Daily Exc Thu, Fri, Sat) 22:45, 00:45 (Thu, Fri, Sat) 12:15, 20:15, 00:15 (Daily Exc Thu, Fri, Sat) 20:15, 00:15 (Thu, Fri, Sat) 13:10, 15:10, 19:10, 21:05, 23:10, 01:10 (Daily Exc Fri) 15:10, 19:10, 21:05, 23:10, 01:10 (Fri) 22:00, 00:05 (Daily Exc Tue, Thu, Sun) 14:05, 22:00, 00:05 (Tue, Wed, Sun)
Aramm (Tamil Film) 360° Ajial Avenues Plaza
21:10 17:00, 19:30, 22:00 (Daily Exc Thu) 19:45, 22:15 (Thu) 19:15 16:00, 21:30 (Daily Exc Thu, Fri) 21:30 (Thu, Fri)
Geostorm 360° Fanar Avenues Marina
11:35 (Daily Exc Fri) 11:30, 00:45 (Daily Exc Fri) 00:45 (Fri) 14:00, 20:30 13:30 (Fri) 13:35 (Fri)
Jigsaw 360°
15:50, 23:00, 01:05 (Daily Exc Thu, Fri, Sat) 11:50, 13:50, 15:50, 23:00, 01:05 (Thu, Sat) 13:50, 15:50, 23:00, 01:05 (Fri) Bairaq 00:35 Avenues 16:45, 21:15 Marina 13:30 (Fri) Grand Hamra 8 15:00, 17:00, 19:00, 21:00 23:00 (Thu, Fri) Grand Gate 6 19:45, 21:30 23:30 (Thu, Fri)
23:45 (Fri) 14:25, 19:30 11:30, 12:10, 14:40, 16:25, 17:00, 21:30, 22:20, 23:55, 00:45 (Daily Exc Fri) 14:40, 16:25, 17:00, 21:30, 22:20, 23:55, 00:45 (Fri) Laila 18:05, 22:55 Marina 13:15, 15:30, 17:45, 20:00, 22:15, 00:30 (Daily Exc Fri) 15:30, 17:45, 20:00, 22:15, 00:30 (Fri) Grand Hamra 2 14:45, 17:15, 19:45, 22:15 00:45 (Thu, Fri) Grand Gate 3 14:30, 17:00, 19:15, 21:30 00:00 (Thu, Fri) Avenues
On Wings Of Eagles 360°
Khair W Baraka (Arabic Film) 360°
Murder On The Orient Express 360°
Bairaq
Muhalab
Sharqia
12:45, 12:50, 15:10, 15:20, 17:35, 20:00, 20:40, 22:25, 23:05, 00:50 (Daily Exc Fri) 13:30 15:10, 15:20, 17:35, 20:00, 20:40, 22:25, 23:05, 00:50 (Fri) 11:45, 13:15, 15:30, 17:45, 21:45, 00:05 (Daily Exc Thu, Fri, Sat) 13:15, 15:30, 17:45, 21:45, 00:05 (Thu, Sat) 15:30, 17:45, 21:45, 00:05 (Fri) 12:30, 14:50, 17:05, 19:30, 21:45, 00:05 (Daily Exc Fri) 14:50, 17:05, 19:30, 21:45, 00:05 (Fri) 11:35, 15:30, 17:45, 20:00, 22:15, 00:30 (Daily Exc Fri) 15:30, 17:45, 20:00, 22:15, 00:30 (Fri) 12:45, 15:00, 19:15, 21:30, 23:45 (Daily Exc Fri) 15:00, 19:15, 21:30,
12:50, 14:55, 19:10, 21:20, 23:25 (Daily Exc Fri) 14:55, 19:10, 21:20, 23:25 (Fri) 11:35, 13:35, 15:40, 17:55, 20:05, 22:15, 00:25 (Daily Exc Fri) 13:35, 15:40, 17:55, 20:05, 22:15, 00:25 (Fri)
Qarib Qarib Singlle (Hindi Film) 360° Ajial Fanar
17:50, 20:30 15:45, 21:00 19:00
(Korean/Japanese) 360° Fanar Avenues
The Foreigner 360°
01:05 (Daily Exc Thu, Fri, Sat) 14:45, 01:05 (Thu, Fri, Sat) Avenues 12:15, 14:30, 19:00 (Daily Exc Fri) 14:30, 19:00 (Fri) Grand Hamra 7 20:00, 22:30 Grand Gate 8 14:30, 17:00, 19:30, 21:45 00:30 (Thu, Fri)
The Giant King 360°
Secret Superstar (Hindi Film) 360° Avenues
Thank You For Your Service 360°
Fanar Avenues
12:50, 15:00, 17:10, 21:40, 23:55 (Daily Exc Fri) 15:00, 17:10, 21:40, 23:55 (Fri) 13:45, 18:00, 22:15 11:50, 16:10, 18:20, 22:45, 00:55 (Daily Exc Fri) 16:10, 18:20, 22:45, 00:55 (Fri)
The Battleship Island
11:30, 19:55, 22:35 (Daily Exc Fri) 19:55, 22:35 (Fri) 13:40, 16:20, 21:30, 00:15 16:30, 21:45, 00:30
12:30, 14:40, 16:50, 19:00 (Daily Exc Fri) 13:35, 14:40, 16:50, 19:00 (Fri) 14:00, 17:55, 19:55 (Daily Exc Thu, Sat) 11:45, 14:00, 17:55, 19:55 (Thu, Sat) 15:15, 17:15 (Daily Exc Thu, Sat) 13:15, 15:15, 17:15 (Thu, Sat) 15:15, 17:15 (Daily Exc Thu, Sat) 13:00, 15:15, 17:15 (Thu, Sat) 14:15, 16:15, 18:15 (Daily Exc Thu, Sat) 12:15, 14:15, 16:15, 18:15 (Thu, Sat) 11:40, 13:50, 16:00, 18:10 (Daily Exc Fri) 13:50, 16:00, 18:10 (Fri) 14:05, 16:05, 18:05 (Daily Exc Tue, Thu, Sun) 16:05, 18:05 (Tue, Wed, Sun)
The Little Vampire 360° Bairaq Muhalab Avenues
14:10, 16:00, 18:00 16:00 (Daily Exc Fri) 13:30, 16:00 (Fri) 13:45 (Fri) 17:10
Thor: Ragnarok 360°
13:00, 13:20, 15:40,
15:55, 18:20, 18:35, 21:00, 21:25, 23:40, 00:05, 11:30, 14:05, 16:40, 19:20, 22:00, 00:40 (Daily Exc Fri) 13:45, 16:25, 19:05, 21:45, 00:25 14:05, 16:40, 19:20, 22:00, 00:40, 15:40, 15:55, 18:20, 18:35, 21:00, 21:25, 23:40, 00:05 (Fri) Ajial 16:00, 21:45 Bairaq 12:45, 15:25, 18:15, 21:00, 22:00, 23:45 (Daily Exc Fri) 15:25, 18:15, 21:00, 22:00, 23:45 (Fri) Fanar 11:40, 14:15, 16:50, 19:25, 22:00, 00:35 (Daily Exc Fri) 14:15, 16:50, 19:25, 22:00, 00:35 (Fri) Muhalab 12:30, 13:55, 16:30, 19:05, 21:40, 00:15 (Daily Exc Fri) 13:55, 16:30, 19:05, 21:40, 00:15 (Fri) Sharqia 11:45, 14:20, 16:55, 19:30, 22:05, 00:40 (Daily Exc Fri) 14:20, 16:55, 19:30, 22:05, 00:40 (Fri) Avenues 13:05, 15:50, 18:30, 21:10, 23:50, 11:45, 16:50, 22:00, 00:40, 12:20, 13:45, 15:00, 17:40, 18:50, 20:20, 23:00, 23:30 (Daily Exc Fri) 13:45, 15:00, 17:40, 18:50, 20:20, 23:00, 23:30, 15:50, 18:30, 21:10, 23:50, 16:50, 22:00, 00:40 (Fri) Laila 15:30, 20:20 Marina 11:30, 13:00, 15:45, 18:20, 20:55, 23:30 (Daily Exc Fri) 15:45, 18:20, 20:55, 23:30 (Fri) Grand Hamra 3 14:00, 16:45, 19:45, 22:30 01:00 (Thu, Fri) Grand Gate 7 14:00, 16:45, 19:30, 22:15 00:45 (Thu, Fri)
Victoria And Abdul 360°
Ippadai Vellum (Tamil Film) Ajial
Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana (Hindi Film) Ajial
Sherlock Toms (Malayalam Film) Ajial Plaza
15:30, 18:30 18:30 (Daily Exc Thu, Fri) 15:30, 18:30 (Thu, Fri)
Villain (Malayalam Film) Ajial
21:30 (Daily Exc Thu) 16:45, 21:30 (Thu)
24 Hours To Live Avenues
12:30, 14:20 (Daily Exc Fri) 14:20 (Fri)
Wonder Grand Hamra 1 14:15, 16:45, 19:15, 21:45 Grand Gate 5 14:45, 17:15, 19:45, 22:00
Earth: One Amazing Day (Exclusive) Grand Hamra 4 14:30, 16:30, 18:30 Grand Gate 4 14:15, 16:30, 18:30, 20:30, 22:30
Suburbicon Grand Hamra 4 20:15, 22:15
Justice League Grand Hamra 5 14:00, 16:30, 19:00, 21:30 00:00 (Thu, Fri) Grand Hamra 6 14:30, 17:00, 19:30, 22:00 00:30 (Thu, Fri) Grand Hamra GC 15:00, 17:30, 20:00, 22:30 01:00 (Thu, Fri) Grand Gate 1 15:15, 17:45, 20:15, 22:45 01:15 (Thu, Fri) Grand Gate 2 14:00, 16:15, 18:45, 21:15 23:45 (Thu, Fri) Grand Gate GC 15:00, 17:30, 20:00, 22:30 01:00 (Thu, Fri)
Monster Island Grand Hamra 7 14:15, 16:15, 18:15 Grand Gate 6 14:15, 16:00, 18:00
Turkish unemployment dips to 10.6 % Turkey's unemployment rate edged down to 10.6 percent in the July-September period from 10.7 percent a month earlier and compared with 11.3 percent a year earlier, data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) showed on Wednesday. The non-agricultural unemployment rate stood at 12.8 percent on average during the July-September period, data from TUIK showed, down from 13.0 percent a month earlier and 13.7 percent
Qatar's empty shelves pose upside risk for Asian gas prices
a year earlier. Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek said the government was working to bring unemployment down to single digits, after it hit a seven-year peak of 13 percent at the start of the year. "Since 2007, Turkey has employed 940,000 citizens annually and yet unemployment stands at 10.6 percent. We need to carry out reforms in order to bring unemployment down to single digits," Simsek said a conference in Istanbul. (RTRS)
Market Movements
Gas exporting giant Qatar has all but sold out of winter supply after committing its spare output to China and South Korea, a development that could tighten Asia's gas markets as the peak demand season bites. Doha's bumper sales will also ring alarm bells for other regions reliant on Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) such as Europe and may further boost Asian spot prices, which have already surged 55 percent since September, traders said.
Change Closing pts INDIA HONG KONG AUSTRALIA PHILIPPINES JAPAN S. KOREA EUROPE GERMANY FRANCE
Sensex Hang Seng All Ordinaries All Shares Nikkei KRX 100 Euro Stoxx 50 DAX CAC 40
Change Closing pts -181.43 32,760.44 -300.43 28,851.69 -34.90 6,013.80 -49.76 4,864.15 -112.35 22,028.32 -10.02 5,228.78 -10.65 3,545.72 -57.11 12,976.37 -14.13 5,301.25
Despite widespread forecasts of an LNG glut, China's shift to gas this year as it moved millions of households away from coal to combat smog has lifted its LNG imports by 43 percent and squeezed global gas markets. But some traders are split on the sustainability of the rally, citing weather, crude oil price movements and the degree of residual demand left in China as big unknowns that could potentially dampen prices. Normally Qatar plays the role of
swing supplier to global LNG markets, churning out cargoes to cover demand spikes. This time, Asian markets face a knife-edge balancing act as staterun Qatargas — catering to China, Japan and Europe — is booked out until April while peer Rasgas — covering South Korea, Taiwan and India — holds just a handful of free cargoes in February and March, trade sources and analysts said. "If the winter is harsh then Asia will have to pay up to secure sup-
plies and with new projects in Russia and the US too delayed to provide much relief, prices will rise again," a senior LNG analyst at a major provider said. Qatargas, in the process of absorbing Rasgas to create a single Qatari LNG player, did not reply to requests for comment. A large part of China's surplus demand was filled by Qatar through fresh sales and even tweaks to existing long-contracts, according to trade sources and customs data. (RTRS)
Boeing in 175-plane deal with budget carrier flydubai
Airbus lands biggest-ever contract for 430 A320s PARIS, Nov 15, (Agencies): Airbus announced its biggest-ever order on Wednesday, signing a deal to supply 430 of its medium-range A320 family of aircraft to US investment firm Indigo Partners, at a list price of $49.5 billion (42 billion euros). "An order for 430 aircraft is remarkable," said Airbus chief operating officer, John Leahy. "But it's particularly gratifying to all of us at Airbus when it comes from a group of airline professionals who know our products as well as the folks at Indigo Partners do." The announcement sent Airbus' share price soaring, rising by more than 3.0 percent to 86.09 euros in a generally softer market. It gave up some of its gains, showing a gain of 1.7 percent in afternoon trading in Paris. Airbus's Fabrice Bergier told AFP at the Dubai Air Show, where the announcement was made, that the contract was a "new sign of confidence" in the European planemaker's jets. "It's an overwhelming success for Airbus and its A320 aircraft," he said. The order is for 273 A320neos and 157 A321neos, the revamped and more fuel efficient version of Airbus's most popular single aisle passenger jet, the A320. Indigo Partners' found and chief Bill Franke said the deal "underscores our optimistic view of the growth potential of our family of low-cost airlines," Frontier Airlines of the US, JetSMART of Chile, Volaris of Mexico, and Wizz Air of Hungary. The final amount of the contract was not revealed, since it is customary for aircraft manufacturers to grant rebates on the list price, depending on the volume of the order. But the contract will more than double Airbus's current order book for this year, which had stood at 288 planes at the end of October. It will also place Airbus, with a total 718 orders this year, ahead of its archrival Boeing which has 605 orders. It will bring the total number of orders for the A320 to more than 13,700 since the aircraft went into service in 1988, making it one of the best-selling planes in aviation history. Airbus's total order book should now increase to more than 7,000, giving it enough work for around nine years at the current rate of production. The A320neo and A321neo jets feature new generation engines that use 15 percent less fuel compared to their peers. The total number of orders for A320neos since the aircraft was launched in 2010 now stands at more than 5,500. Boeing Co reached a preliminary deal for 175 of its 737 MAX jets with flydubai on Wednesday, potentially committing the budget airline's fleet to the US planemaker for another decade. The Dubai-based carrier wants more than 50 of Boeing's largest narrowbody jet, the 737-10, as well as to-be-determined numbers of its 737-9s and 7378s, Boeing said in a statement at the Dubai Airshow. Reuters had reported that Boeing was close to reaching a deal with flydubai for 175 737 MAX jets. Flydubai Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum told a news conference the provisional deal was struck Tuesday night. It is flydubai's third aircraft deal. It agreed to buy 75 737-8 MAX aircraft at the Dubai Airshow four years ago. "We try to grow as fast as we want," Chief Executive Ghaith al-Ghaith told reporters. Delivery of flydubai's 175 planes will begin in 2019 and be spread across 10 years with some overlap with the delivery of its 2013 order, al-Ghaith said. The current fleet of flydubai, which started flights in 2009, is all Boeing. It currently only operates 737-8s. The provisional deal is worth $27 billion, including purchasing options for an additional 50 planes. Al-Ghaith told Reuters the airline was interested in the new mid-sized jet that Boeing is studying whether to develop, but that it had not been discussed during the 737 negotiations. Boeing is looking at potentially filling a market gap between narrow and widebody jets with a new aircraft that could seat 220 to 270 passengers. Boeing Commercial Airplanes Chief Executive Kevin McAllister told the news conference that flydubai's 737 commitment would be good for jobs in the United States and in the Middle East. Gulf customers are keen to stress the importance of their orders for US jobs as they are locked in a trade dispute with three major American carriers. Sheikh Ahmed said the airline had picked the 737s after also looking at Airbus' similar-sized A320s, echoing comments he made this week in his role as Emirates chairman when he said the 787 had been chosen over the Airbus A350.
Investors re-price political risk in ME bond market; GCC yields up 15 to 50 bps Bonds no longer supported by supply-demand imbalance DUBAI/LONDON, Nov 15, (RTRS): A rise in Middle East bond yields following Saudi Arabia's anti-corruption purge and turmoil in Lebanon signals a longterm re-pricing of regional debt caused by heightened political risk, investors believe. Funds started selling Middle East bonds early this month after Saudi Arabia detained dozens of senior officials and top businessmen in an unprecedented crackdown on graft.
People visit an airshow in Dubai, UAE on Nov 15. Airbus signed a $49.5 billion deal on Wednesday to sell 430 airplanes to a Phoenix-based private equity firm that owns Frontier Airlines, striking the European aerospace company's biggest deal ever at the Dubai Air Show. (AP)
'It is something we will all face in our lives'
The arrests coincided with the resignation of Lebanon's prime minister, which put that country at the centre of regional tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, pushing Lebanese bond prices to multi-year lows. In past years, political events — such as Islamic State's taking of the Iraqi city of Mosul in 2014, or the start of Saudi Arabia's military intervention in Yemen in 2015 — had only a brief effect on bonds, which was confined to a few countries. This time, credit spreads and the cost of insuring debt against default have increased not only for Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, but across the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Qatar, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi. "Now everybody feels confirmed that it is justified to have an additional spread for GCC and also Middle Eastern risk, because of potential geopolitical risks," said Trieu Pham, regional credit strategist at MUFG Securities. "Geopolitical risk will remain high in the region ... and I think the geopolitical additional spread is there to stay for now."
Retirement planning should include long-term care costs NEW YORK, Nov 15, (AP): Many Americans have a blind spot when it comes to retirement planning: long-term care costs. Even though the majority of Americans will at some point need longterm care, few are planning for it. Many underestimate the costs and mistakenly believe health insurance can help cover it. "This is not like being struck by lightning. It is something we will all face in our lives," said Bruce Chernof, president and CEO of the SCAN Foundation, which researches care for older adults. "If we don't need it ourselves, it is likely that our spouses, our significant other or our parents will. One way or another, it will touch the lives of every single American." The US government estimates that 70 percent of people aged 65 today will require some form of longterm care during their lives. Most of the time, that type of assistance is non-medical, including help with daily tasks such as bathing. The need can arise unexpectedly after a major illness or even suffering an injury from a fall. The costs of such care can easily outstrip retirement savings: A 65-yearold today can expect to incur $138,000 in long-term care costs over their lifetime, according to a 2017 Bipartisan Policy Center report. Two-thirds of Americans age 40 and up say they've done little or no planning for their longterm care needs, according to a poll conducted this year by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, with funding from the SCAN Foundation. Here is some guidance on how you can get a jump-start on planning. Get a realistic picture of the costs This is something people can do easily and early. AARP has a long-term care calculator that lets people find the average costs for different types of services by state and metropolitan region, based on research by Genworth Financial. The most expensive option — a nursing home— now costs an average $97,000 a year, according to Genworth's 2017 survey of long-term care costs. Assisted living facilities — for those who can't live independently but don't require skilled nursing care — cost about $45,000. For those seeking
SEC not pursuing as many big fish: study
Fines by Wall St cop down in Trump's 1st year WASHINGTON, Nov 15, (AFP): Wall Street's top regulator is punishing fewer companies and imposing smaller fines, bringing penalties and cases in the latest fiscal year to the lowest since 2013, according to new research. Total penalties imposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission in the fiscal year ended Sept 30 fell 15.5 percent over the previous year to about $3.4 billion, the lowest level in four years, according to research conducted by Georgetown University law professor Urska Velikonja, to be published next year. Within that total, the size of fines alone — which does not do include the return of ill-gotten gains — is down 40 percent, according to Velikonja's research, to be published next year. And the number of cases the agency has pursued has fallen nearly 18 percent, also the lowest level in four years. Penalties are down because the SEC is not pursuing as many big fish, she
told AFP on Tuesday. "Big firms are targeted less frequently and when they are, they pay smaller fines," she said. "If you narrow it down to enforcement against financial firms, there's virtually no enforcement." And 53 percent of the fines imposed in the latest fiscal year came in the final four months of the Obama administration. The SEC did not respond to an AFP request for comment. SEC officials have said this year they have no intention of reducing penalties, and they have cautioned against reading too much into a single year's numbers. The situation is not helped by the fact the SEC for months was without a full slate of commissioners, causing a stalemate between its Republican and Democrat commissioners, since there was no tiebreaking vote. That left the agency unable to act in some cases. President Donald Trump's adminis-
tration has moved to slash regulation across the federal government which he has said will unleash economic growth. SEC Chairman Jay Clayton, a Trump appointee and long-time Wall Street lawyer who took office in May, has signaled a shift away from the agency's aggressive approach to law enforcement in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, saying large corporate penalties very often harm innocent investors. "Shareholders do bear those costs and we have to keep that in mind," Clayton said during Senate testimony earlier this year. Velikonja told AFP the change in SEC leadership may have caused a slowdown in cases, but does not explain falling penalties. The agency also has curtailed investigators' ability to issue subpoenas quickly, and a hiring freeze has led to a sharp drop in staff levels at the agency's Enforcement Division, she said.
to remain at home, hiring a home health aide or homemaker services will cost more than $20 an hour. Other options include adult day health center, which charge an average of $70 a day. Younger adults should remember that costs are rising. Genworth has a cost calculator that gives estimates on what prices will be in 30 years. Learn the truth about financing Many mistakenly believe Medicare or private health insurance will help pay for long-term care. Fifty-seven percent of Americans say they plan to rely on Medicare should they ever need ongoing living assistance, according to the AP-NORC poll. But Medicare does not cover extended nursing home stays or non-skilled living assistance, which make up the majority of ongoing care needs for the elderly. More than 50 percent of Americans
end up paying for long-term care outof-pocket, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center report. That figure rises to nearly 70 percent for those receiving long-term care at home. Many Americans with severe long-term care needs quickly burn through their savings and end up turning to Medicaid, which is projected to account for 40 percent of national spending on long-term care services by 2030. So it's a good idea to take the time to research Medicaid rules, particularly what sorts of assets you might have to spend down to qualify. Research how other long-term care financing plans can affect your Medicaid eligibility. For instance, annuity payments may count as income but reverse mortgage payments do not. The government website LongTermCare.gov provides a good overview of Medicaid long-term care coverage and eligibility.
Keep in mind that Medicaid regulations vary widely by state — and could change over time. What to know about long-term care insurance What to know about lomg-term care insurance Only 11 percent of older Americans have private long-term care insurance, according to the Bipartisan Policy Council, and with good reason. Simply put, premiums are too expensive for most people. Some estimates put average rates at up to $2,400 annually. Rates have increased significantly since long-term care insurance plans first came on the market about 30 years ago, largely because insurance companies saw fewer voluntary lapses than expected and made other mistaken price assumptions. For the same reasons, the number of insurance companies offering the policies has fallen dramatically.
Yields have risen by around 25 basis points this month on some of the most actively traded sovereign bonds in the region, in particular at the long end of the curve, where most international investors concentrate their holdings. Saudi Arabia's $6.5 billion bond maturing in 2046 , for instance, now yields 4.67 percent, up from 4.43 percent just before the Saudi arrests. The yield on the 2047 bond of Abu Dhabi, a stronger credit, has risen 15 bps. The yield on Bahrain's 2047 bond, a much weaker credit, is up 50 bps. "This is a repricing of systemic political risk. Just as we saw with Qatar, this will not be a short-term bounce in yields, but a long-term step up to a slightly higher risk bracket," said Marcus Chenevix, regional analyst at TS Lombard. Several factors make the current bout of geopolitical instability seem particularly serious to investors. One is that it follows the decision by four Arab states in June to impose sanctions on Qatar — an act which threatens the long-term integrity of the GCC. In past years, GCC bonds were in short supply, so they were supported by an imbalance in demand. Now supply is plentiful as governments and companies raise money in response to low oil prices; dollar-denominated bond issuance from the Gulf totals about $80 billion so far this year, against a record $63.5 billion in the whole of 2016, Thomson Reuters data shows. Thirdly, investors believe Saudi Arabia's 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may be changing a political system that endured for decades. "Investors have long looked to the rule of the royal family as a source of stability. But this stability was only present so long as decisions were reached by consensus. Now consensus is no longer king. Absolute rule has been brought back," Chenevix said. Anita Yadav, head of fixed income research at Emirates NBD, said the jittery market was ignoring the fact that oil prices — the single most important factor for regional credit quality — had risen above $60 a barrel from $50 a few months ago. But even if political uncertainty eases in coming weeks, this may be offset by an expected increase of US Treasury yields, she said.
AUB announces 26 new winners in Al Hassad Islamic account weekly draw Ahli United Bank recently conducted its Al Hassad Islamic account weekly draw, Kuwait's leading Shari'ah compliant rewards program that offers a broad range of prizes to the largest number of winners, on Nov 15, 2017. The account provides 26 weekly prizes that are comprised of KD 25,000 as a grand prize and 25 other prizes valued at KD 1,000 each. AUB also offers four quarterly prizes that are valued at KD 250,000 to each winner allowing them to achieve their dreams of travelling, studying abroad, or owning their dream home or car. On this occasion Ahli United Bank announced, "With this draw, we are adding 26 new winners and prizes to the Al Hassad Islamic account whereby, the
total number of winners annually will include more than 1,300. The weekly grand prize winner of KD 25,000 Hus-
sain Mahmoud Abdulla. 25 other winners won prizes of KD 1,000 and are as follows: Farah Fuad Makkawi, Nasser Hlail Alanizi, Khaled Saleh Bokhamseen, Nouf Talal Alghaniem,
Salah Khaled Al Alazmi, Khaled Ali Alotaibi, Shaikhah Abdulaziz Almuzaini, Hamad Musaed Al Saleh, Faisal Meadhed Alhuwailah, Suha Ahmad Alsahoo, Hameedah Obaid Al Dhafeeri, Sulaiman Fahad Sulaiman, Hossein Daryoush Assl, Yacoub Yousuf Al Asad, Huda Mohammad Omar, Maleeha Fadhel Arti, Aliaa Mishary Alhouli, Helal Slubi Fraih, Jehad Bader Naser Bin Salamah, Yaser Mahdi Almuhri, Fatemah Jawad Yaseen, Adel Abdulredha Safar, Mohammed Saeed, Wael Lutfi Basioniand Yosra Jaffar Abdulla. Al Hassad Islamic account's customers in Kuwait and Bahrain are eligible to participate in the draw in line with the program's terms and conditions
Ahli United Bank added, "There are increased opportunities that await our current customers and those who are interested in opening an Al Hassad Islamic account to benefit from the wide range of prizes and opportunities offered this year." Individual customers can open their accounts with a minimum deposit of KD 100, qualifying them to enter the draw. For every KD 50 deposited in the account, customers are given one chance to enter the quarterly draw. They must have held the minimum deposit requirement for at least two weeks prior to the draw date. The more deposits made, the higher the chances of winning on a weekly basis.
Qatar macroeconomic outlook National Bank of Kuwait
Trade, travel take biggest hit from diplomatic row he economic impact of the disT pute with other GCC countries that began in early June has generally been moderate so far, and more visible in some sectors than others. The initial shock to the system via disrupted trade and financial flows has eased, and the non-oil economy looks set to comfortably avoid a recession. But the cost to the Qatari economy of regional isolation could grow over time, especially if, as now seems plausible, the dispute lasts for a number of years. We summarize below the impact of the crisis to date on some key high frequency data.
Trade and travel take the largest hit Amongst the key economic sanctions imposed by countries participating in the dispute — Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain in the Gulf — were the cutting of transportation links and restrictions on travel to Qatar. Unsurprisingly therefore, tourism and trade flows have been the most notable casualties. Visitor arrivals to Qatar plunged 55% between May and June, and were still down 55% y/y in September. Visitors from the Gulf typically account for around half of all arrivals to Qatar, and were down a massive 84% y/y in September. Visitors from elsewhere were down a more modest 10% y/y, but had been up earlier in the year. Monthly data on merchandise trade also show a large impact. The value of imports plunged 38% between May and June; the dispute countries accounted for more than 15% of all Qatari imports pre-crisis, while other goods destined for Qatar may have been disrupted in transit. However, by September import levels had recovered close to pre-crisis levels, helped by the sourcing of goods from markets such as Turkey and Pakistan, as well as by increasing use of the newly-opened Hamad Port — the second largest port in the
Gulf region behind Jebel Ali. Crucially, however, Qatari oil and gas exports have been unaffected by the dispute, including the 2 billion cubic feet per day of gas Qatar exports (16% of total gas exports) to the UAE via the Dolphin pipeline. This has avoided pressure on the fiscal position and the balance of payments.
Food prices rise Fears of a major inflation-busting spike in food prices due to restricted imports from neighboring Saudi Arabia have so far not materialized — likely helped by the recovery in imports. Food price inflation did jump from 0% y/y in June to 4.5% in July, but this was less than had been feared and it has since eased back to 3.6% in September. In fact, inflation overall slipped into negative territory in August at -0.4% y/y driven by renewed weakness in housing costs and weak 'core' pressures. Both of these are likely linked to crisis-related pressures.
Property prices show signs of renewed weakness Residential property prices had been undergoing a correction since early 2016, and though still down in year-on-year terms had more or less levelled off in 1H 2017. Since then, however, prices have taken another
leg down, falling 9% between June and September — possibly attributable to a drop in confidence and a weaker economic climate. Other asset markets have suffered too, with the local stock market falling 17% since the crisis began, making it easily the region's worst performer. Other GCC markets are -7% to +8%, against a backdrop of greater optimism over the outlook for oil prices. There have been visible changes in the banking sector, too. Foreigners have withdrawn some $12 billion (23%) of their deposits from Qatari banks since June, though the rate of withdrawal has slowed in recent months. By itself, this could have left a large hole in banks' balance sheets, and a potential funding crisis. But these non-resident outflows have been more than offset by $28 billion (+51%) in inflows from the public sector, pushing the latter's share of total deposits to 37%. The net result of these flows has been to see overall deposit growth surge to 18% y/y in September from 12% in May. Credit growth, meanwhile, remains encouragingly solid at 13% y/y.
Interest rates pushed higher Interest rates have risen across the complex — but not by much and not all of it is related to the crisis. Official policy rates were hiked by
0.25% in mid-June following a move by the US Fed, and this triggered rises in commercial rates. Interbank rates have risen around 50bps since early June, with half of the increase occuring before the rise in the policy rate. Meanwhile, yields on the government's 2026 sovereign bond are up slightly, but at 3.6% they remain low and the recent rise reflects comparable movements in other GCC countries. There was little material impact on yields from a one-notch post-crisis credit rating downgrade from both S&P and Fitch. Finally, conditions on the foreign exchange market have been slightly
more volatile. In the days following the start of the dispute, speculation on the currency peg spiked, with the 1-year forward rate rising to QAR3.77/US$1, or 4% weaker than the 37-year old pegged rate of 3.64. It has sinced entirely receded. The offshore spot market has also seen volatility due to low levels of liquidity. International reserves at the central bank fell 44% to $20 billion between May and August, but by only 15% to $39 billion based upon a reclassification of assets in October.
Non-oil growth slowing Finally, the 2Q 2017 GDP data incorporate nearly one full month of crisis-affected data, and show that
non-oil growth slipped to just 3.9% y/y — the weakest quarterly figure since records began in 2011 — pushing overall GDP growth down to 0.6%. If all of the slowdown in Q1 was attributed to the diplomatic dispute, then this would equate (hypothetically) to non-oil growth slowing to just 1.3% y/y over a full quarter. But it is also possible that the hit to growth will be smaller in subsequent months, as the initial disruption to activity wanes. Although there are downside risks from an intensification of the crisis, we are for now maintaining our view that non-oil growth will slow to 4% this year and next, from 5.6% in 2016.
Mohammed Alshaya is a true game changer, says Akawi
Arabian Business celebrates Alshaya's contribution to Mideast retail DUBAI, Nov 15: Mohammed Alshaya, executive chairman of M.H. Alshaya Co, has been recognised as the individual who has made the biggest contribution to the retail industry in the Middle East over the past 30 years by the prestigious Arabian Business Magazine. Alshaya received the award from Ali Akawi, CEO of ITP Media Group, at a gala event in Dubai to celebrate the magazine's 30th anniversary. The award recognises Alshaya's role in developing a modern retail culture in the Middle East. His vision has seen Alshaya grow from one retail franchise store in 1983 to becoming one of the world's leading retail franchise businesses, with 80 brands and more than 3,500 stores across the Middle East and North Africa, Russia, Turkey and Europe. The event honoured some of the Middle East's most highprofile business people for their contributions to a range of industries. Other award recipients included Colm McLoughlin, chief executive officer of Dubai Duty Free; Mohamed Alabbar, founder and chairman of Emaar; Yusuf Ali, chairman of Lulu Group; Sheikha Lubna Khalid Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of State for Tolerance; Sunny Varkey, founder of GEMS Education; and Munib Masri, chairman of Edgo and PADICO. "Mohammed Alshaya is a true game changer. Not only has he created a vast retail empire, but his impact on society has been phenomenal. His ability to spot the right trends in the right markets, at the right time — and execute his vision — is second to none," said Akawi. Receiving the award, Alshaya said: "This award is a great honour for me, for our family business and for the 50,000 people who work at Alshaya. I have always said that retail is the most exciting industry in the world, and I have been privileged to work with some of the world's greatest retail brands to help develop a modern retailing culture in the Middle East. This has delivered exciting new choices to local customers and created many thousands of job opportunities." Since opening its first Mothercare store in Kuwait in 1983, Alshaya has been a pioneer in the retail industry — driving innovation, shaping standards in customer care, and introducing over 80 of the world's best known and best
Deputy CEO of NBK Shaikha Al-Bahar will be chief guest
NBK Capital announces sponsorship of CFA Charter Award ceremony in Kuwait
Mohammed Alshaya and Al Akawi.
loved brands to customers in the region. The company today operates brands that include Starbucks, H&M, Debenhams, American Eagle Outfitters, P.F. Chang's, The Cheesecake Factory, Victoria's Secret, Boots, Pottery Barn and KidZania, and employs more than 50,000 people from over 120 nationalities across a range of sectors covering Fashion & Footwear, Health & Beauty, Food, Optics, Pharmacy, Home Furnishings and Leisure & Entertainment.
Egypt-Kuwait Co earns KD 21.33m in 9 months KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15, (KUNA): Egypt-Kuwait Holding Company reaped KD 21.33 million ($69.7 million) worth of net earnings in the past nine months, against KD 12.48 million ($40.80 million) same period in 2016 — rising by 71 percent. The company said in a statement posted on Boursa Kuwait website on Wednesday that the earnings per share stood at 21.4 fils compared to 12.80 fils, climbing by 67 percent. The company was established in 1997. It was enlisted at the bourse in 2001, with a capital amounting to $500 million (KD 153 million). Its operations outside Egypt include participation in establishing companies, contributing to projects and financial portfolios. For its part, Alargan International Real-Estate Company said it posted KD 5.07 million ($16.5 million) worth of profits in the past nine
months, in contrast to KD 1.1 million ($3.5 million) in the 2016 corresponding period. Earnings per share stood at 19.90 fils against 4.54 fils, rising by 338.33 percent. Alargan company was established in 2002, It was enlisted at the bourse in 2007, with a capital amounting to KD 26.5 million ($86.6 million). It deals in property trades, manages properties, provides studies and consultations. Sanad Holding Company declared on Wednesday it earned KD 2.19 million ($7.16 million) worth of net profits in the past nine months compared to KD 172,4 thousand ($563,7 thousand) in the 2016 corresponding period. The company disclosed on Boursa Kuwait website that the earnings per share amounted to 18.29 fils against 1.4 fils same period in the past year.
It attributed the profits to selling an affiliate company, profits' distribution and proceeds from selling available enterprises. The company was established in 1998. It was enlisted in the bourse in 2007, with a capital of KD 12 million ($39.24 million). Earlier, Alargan International RealEstate Company said it posted KD 5.07 million ($16.5 million) worth of profits in the past nine months, in contrast to KD 1.1 million ($3.5 million) in the 2016 corresponding period. Earnings per share stood at 19.90 fils against 4.54 fils, rising by 338.33 percent. Alargan company was established in 2002, It was enlisted at the bourse in 2007, with a capital amounting to KD 26.5 million ($86.6 million). It deals in property trades, manages properties, provides studies and consultations.
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: NBK Capital has announced the sponsorship of the 10th Annual Charter Award Ceremony, organized by the local Chartered Financial Analyst Society (CFA Society Kuwait) on Monday, Nov 20, 2017, at Salwa Al Sabah Hall — Marina Hotel Kuwait. Ms Shaikha Khalid Al-Bahar, Deputy Group CEO of NBK and Chairperson of NBK Capital will be chief guest at the event. Ms Shaikha will address the Charter Awardees and the audience as well as distribute certificates to this year's new Charter Holders. The event will be attended by Paul Smith, CFA, President and CEO of the CFA Institute, prominent members of the financial and investment society in Kuwait, members of CFA Kuwait, and representatives of NBK Capital. Dr Amlan Roy, the Global Demographics expert will be the guest speaker at the event. CFA Society Kuwait, an organization that promotes the highest ethical standards and professional excellence within the local investment community, organizes this event annually to recognize professionals who have successfully completed the rigorous CFA program to earn the designation.
Faisal Al-Hamad
On this occasion, Faisal Al-Hamad, CEO of NBK Capital, said, "The CFA Institute is a strategic partner for NBK Capital. We both share the important responsibility of supporting these individuals who have demonstrated their high level of excellence and professionalism. Our goal is to help them reach new heights in their financial careers." He added, "Our sponsorship falls under NBK Capital's Corporate and Social Responsibility "CSR" strategy, and as evidence of the extent of our commitment to invest in the development of our people, and open new opportunities for them to build a prosperous future. Today, we welcome a new
group of these ambitious professionals into the exciting world of finance, and we want to congratulate them on their great achievements". Mijbel AlQattan, CFA, President of CFA Society Kuwait, said: "We would like to thank NBK Capital for their continued support and partnership in the development of Kuwait's investment management industry, as this underpins our common goal for investment professionals to contribute towards economic growth. With the changing market dynamics, professionals need to be qualified in order to adapt to changes whilst delivering value to clients through greater levels of transparency and ethical practices which puts the interest of investors first." This is the seventh year that NBK Capital will sponsor the CFA Graduation, which is reflective of the robust relationship the company has with CFA institute's member society in Kuwait. CFA Society Kuwait is an association of local investment professionals, consisting of portfolio managers, security analysts, investment advisors and other financial practitioners, that has served CFA charter holders and CFA Program candidates locally since 2008.
DoJ approaches states to block AT&T-Time Warner deal WASHINGTON, Nov 15, (RTRS): The US Justice Department has approached state attorneys general in a bid to block telecommunications powerhouse AT&T Inc's $85.4 billion deal to buy media and entertainment company Time Warner Inc , a person briefed on the matter told Reuters on Wednesday. The Justice Department already has convinced a few state attorneys general to sign on to a complaint seeking to block the deal, CNBC reported, citing sources. The deal, announced in October
2016, has faced an antitrust review that has stretched more than a year and has become a political flashpoint because of Republican President Donald Trump's vow as a candidate to block the deal and his repeated criticism of the CNN, owned by Time Warner. Trump, just back from a trip to Asia, attacked the news network again on Wednesday morning, writing on Twitter: "While in the Philippines I was forced to watch @CNN, which I have not done in months, and again realized how bad, and
FAKE, it is. Loser!" AT&T's share price was up slightly on Wednesday at $33.88 while Time Warner slipped about half a percent to trade at $87.00 in midmorning trading. AT&T, the No. 2 US wireless carrier and a major pay-TV provider, and Time Warner, which also owns the premium channel HBO and film studio Warner Bros, have struggled to keep viewers who have been flocking to online services like Netflix Inc and Amazon.com Inc's Prime Video.
BP begins share buybacks
Name: Kuwait Sharia Compatible Indices
BP Plc said on Wednesday it would begin a share buyback programme, making it the first major European energy company to resume buybacks since the 2014 price slump in a sign years of austerity have paid off. The British oil company, which recently reported a doubling in third-quarter profit, said the buyback programme had been authorised for between Nov. 15 and the date of its 2018 annual general meeting, with the maximum number of shares not exceeding 1.96 billion. (RTRS)
Providers: Al Madar Finance & Investment Co.
Description: Index of Sharia compatible companies traded on the KSE
Website: www.almadar-fi.com
Index name Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Composite Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Kuwait Only Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Active Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Banking Sector Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Investment Sector Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Insurance Sector Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Real Estate Sector Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Industrial Sector Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Services Sector Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Food Sector Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Islamic Sector Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Non Kuwaiti Sector Kuwait Stock Exchange Index - Price S&P 500 DJ Islamic Index.
Bloomberg ticker AMIC AMIC AMIC AMIC AMIC AMIC AMIC AMIC AMIC AMIC AMIC AMIC KWSEIDX SPX DJIM
Today's value as of November 15, 2017 November 15, 2017 November 15, 2017 November 15, 2017 November 15, 2017 November 15, 2017 November 15, 2017 November 15, 2017 November 15, 2017 November 15, 2017 November 15, 2017 November 15, 2017 November 15, 2017 November 14, 2017 November 14, 2017
Today's closing value 167.19 161.86 77.08 269.15 48.84 19.28 47.55 142.33 214.89 248.40 131.00 374.11 6,285.56 2,578.87 3,535.73
Prev closing value 166.05 160.86 76.03 267.10 48.09 19.68 47.10 142.65 213.33 248.35 130.22 366.96 6,250.06 2,584.84 3,545.37
% change 0.68% 0.62% 1.38% 0.77% 1.55% -2.02% 0.95% -0.22% 0.73% 0.02% 0.60% 1.95% 0.57% -0.23% -0.27%
1-week change 3.41% 3.28% 3.70% 3.47% 1.84% -4.77% 3.00% 1.55% 1.20% 17.56% 3.36% 6.14% 1.71% -0.45% -0.74%
3-month change -6.83% -6.40% -12.51% -5.17% -7.07% -12.88% -6.29% 0.30% -9.04% -14.77% -7.21% -14.33% -8.72% 4.49% 5.57%
YTD change 0.19% 1.29% -2.89% 1.13% 3.97% 22.27% -2.46% 17.43% 8.85% -34.66% 1.54% -15.62% 9.35% 15.19% 21.65%
12-month change 3.43% 4.06% 5.07% 1.92% 14.69% 26.54% 1.09% 24.28% 13.31% -35.03% 5.23% -3.49% 15.11% 19.16% 24.05%
24-month change 3.09% 2.26% -4.22% -8.94% -8.55% -6.78% -5.89% 10.37% 25.42% -26.50% -2.47% 38.84% 10.27% 27.47% 27.39%
US consumer prices barely up in October Campaign themed: 'Enjoy your Italian tour with Ferrari'
Retail sales rise
China's Oct auto sales stall
KFH and Mastercard launch new campaign Japan's economy continues KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: Kuwait Finance House (KFH), in collaboration with Mastercard, a leading technology company in the global payments industry, has launched a new card-usage campaign, under the theme: "Enjoy your Italian tour with Ferrari", encouraging customers to use KFH Mastercard Credit and Prepaid cards while making purchases in Kuwait and overseas. The campaign, which kicked off Nov 1, 2017, will run for three months — allowing KFH Mastercard cardholders chances every month to win an exciting 5-day tour in Italy in a Ferrari sports car along with a companion. In addition to driving a Ferrari car in Italy, the three winners (one for each month) and their companions will also enjoy round-trip business class tickets from Kuwait to Italy, hotel stay in Italy as well as a visit to the Ferrari Factory Museum. All customers need to do is spend a minimum of KD 100 on purchases each month using their KFH Mastercard Credit or Prepaid card, which will automatically enter them in the monthly draws. Every KD 1 spent locally will result in 1 chance and every KD 1 spent internationally will earn customers 3 chances in the monthly draw. Group General Manager Retail
Fadi Chalouhi
Banking at KFH, Fadi Chalouhi, said: "This campaign is part of KFH's continuous effort to offer the most rewarding and attractive promotions to its customers by presenting additional value and providing customers with enriching experiences. KFH is the first bank in Kuwait to launch this unique and exciting campaign that offers enormous value to KFH customers and have an extraordinary experience of travelling to Italy and driving a top sports car like Ferrari through the stunning landscape of Italy. With such delightful privileges added to card usage, the KFH card becomes much more rewardingly exciting and gives the customer an excellent shopping experience." He also added "KFH is commit-
ted to constantly launching new campaigns and offers that meet the aspirations of its customers. KFH is keen on rewarding its customers with unprecedented promotions and innovative products and services. This reflects the pioneering position of KFH, the world's leading Islamic financial institution that aims at enhancing the bank's presence in the field of banking cards." Pankaj Kathuria, Area Business Head, Northern Gulf, Mastercard said: "At Mastercard, the experiences we create for our cardholders go beyond the payment journey. We understand the aspirations of cardholders and are always looking for opportunities that will drive the adoption of payment cards while adding value to their lifestyles — whether it is for travel, shopping or dining. Our collaboration with KFH allows our cardholders in Kuwait the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to discover and explore Italy and its rich cultural offerings in true Italian style." It is worth noting that KFH has won several awards in the field of banking cards, which reiterates its success and efficiency in banking cards market. KFH enjoys high confidence and leadership position in the market in addition to high quality products which have enabled the bank to increase its cards market share and to grow the customer base.
growth spurt but pace slows TOKYO, Nov 15, (Agencies): Japan notched up its seventh straight quarter of economic growth, official data showed on Wednesday, although the rate of expansion in the world's thirdbiggest economy is slowing. Japanese gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.3 percent in the third quarter of the year, marking the longest string of gains for more than 16 years. However, the figure represented a slowdown from the second quarter, when the economy grew by 0.6 percent, as a recovery in private consumption appeared to lose steam. The economy grew by an annualised 1.4 percent, driven mainly by robust exports, the Cabinet Office in Tokyo announced. "On average, the Japanese economy is on track for a gradual recovery," Yoshiki Shinke, chief economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute, told AFP. He said the decline in private consumption growth was due to a "backlash" from the second quarter, where demand was "too strong." Domestic demand — which accounts for roughly 60 percent of Japan's GDP, contracted 0.2 percent, after a 0.9 percent rise in the second quarter. Shinke noted that the weather in Japan was especially poor in the third quarter, which put a dampener on demand in the service sector. Japan's economy has been picking up steam, mainly on the back of surging exports including smartphone parts
and memory chips, with investments linked to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics also giving growth a boost. Wage rises have been tepid, however, and Tokyo has struggled to overcome years of deflation.
Also: BEIJING: China's auto sales growth fell below 1 percent in October as demand for sedans contracted, an industry group said Wednesday. Sales rose 0.4 percent over a year ago to 2.3 million units, down from September's 4.1 percent growth, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Total vehicle sales, including trucks and buses, rose 2 percent to 2.7 million vehicles. Chinese auto sales have struggled this year after a temporary tax cut boosted last year's growth to 15 percent. Sales contracted in April and May before growing feebly in recent months. That weakness is a setback for global automakers that look to China to drive future revenue, though some have grown faster than the market, taking share from Chinese and other rivals. "From January to October, production and sales of automobiles achieved a slight increase but year-on-year growth dropped slightly," said CAAM in a statement. Demand has weakened following double-digit annual gains as Chinese economic growth slowed and Beijing and other major cities tightened restrictions on ownership to curb smog and congestion.
Wages growth remains far below overall inflation rate
UK jobless rate stays at 42-year low: data LONDON, Nov 15, (AFP): British unemployment remains at a 42-year low, official data showed Wednesday — but wages growth remains far below the overall UK inflation rate, hurting workers' purchasing power. The unemployment rate stood at 4.3 percent in the quarter to the end of September, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a statement. That was unchanged from the three months to August, while the rate remained at the lowest rate since 1975. Average weekly earnings meanwhile rose by 2.2 percent year-on-year in the three-month period to September, lagging behind Britain's annual inflation rate of 3.0 percent. And the ONS also revealed that average weekly earnings in real terms — or adjusted for inflation — fell 0.4
A flyer of KFH and Mastercard new card-usage campaign
percent from a year ago. "The squeeze on real incomes continues," noted Hargreaves Lansdown economist Ben Brettell. "Ultimately the pay squeeze could be ended by falling inflation, rather than an acceleration in wage growth. "Yesterday's (inflation) numbers undershot expectations ... This could be a sign the inflationary spike is close to an end." The Consumer Prices Index 12-month inflation rate held at a fiveyear high of 3.0 percent last month as rising food prices offset falling petrol costs, the ONS said Tuesday. Analysts' forecast had been for a slight rise to 3.1 percent. Inflation has nevertheless jumped this year as a Brexit-hit pound ramped up import costs, which led the Bank of Eng-
land to raise its key interest rate for the first time in a decade earlier this month. "Consumers continue to face a serious squeeze on purchasing power," added Howard Archer, chief economic advisor at the EY ITEM Club research group. The ONS added Wednesday that the number of unemployed sank to 1.4 million at the end of September — down 182,000 on a year earlier. At the same time however, the number of people in work has fallen by the largest amount in more than two years. Employment slid 14,000 in the quarter to September compared with the previous three months, in the largest drop since mid-2015. Wednesday's jobless data was published one week before British finance minister Philip Hammond is due to unveil his annual budget.
WASHINGTON, Nov 15, (AP): US consumer prices edged up a slight 0.1 percent in October, the smallest gain in three months as energy prices retreated. The tiny October gain in consumer prices followed increases of 0.5 percent in September and 0.4 percent in August, the Labor Department reported Wednesday. After two months of big gains in the cost of energy, those prices fell 1 percent in October. Gasoline prices were down 2.3 percent. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, rose a modest 0.2 percent in October after a 0.1 percent rise in September. Over the past 12 months, inflation is up 2 percent, while core prices have risen 1.8 percent. Even though the current economic expansion is in its ninth year, inflation pressures have remained modest. Inflation by a measure preferred by the Federal Reserve has been stuck well below the Fed's target of 2 percent annual price gains. But private economists still believe the central bank will boost its benchmark interest rate for a third time when it meets again next month. Despite this year's slowdown in inflation, Fed Chair Janet Yellen and other Fed officials have expressed the belief that tight labor markets will soon start to push up wage gains, which would then boost inflation. Unemployment in October fell to 4.1 percent, the lowest level in nearly 17 years. The Fed has raised its benchmark lending rate twice this year in quarterpoint moves in March and June. The rate remains at a still-low 1 percent to 1.25 percent, and Fed officials have continued to project that rate increases will be gradual. US retail sales rose at a solid pace last month, as bullish consumers bought more cars, furniture and clothes. Retail sales increased 0.2 percent in October, the Commerce Department said Wednesday, after a healthy 1.9 percent gain in the previous month. September's gain was the largest in 2 ó years and was driven by big increases in auto and gas sales in the wake of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Americans are spending more freely as confidence in the economy has jumped in the past year and the unemployment rate is at a 17-year low. Excluding gas station sales, which fell sharply as prices dropped, retail sales rose 0.4 percent last month. Sales gains were widespread. Consumers spent more at electronics, grocery, clothing and sporting goods stores. Restaurants and bars reported a healthy 0.8 percent increase, the biggest gain since January.
investment funds Funds Fund Manager Valuation Valued date Currency Net Asset Prev NAV Prev NAV Dated Value (NAV) ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Funds Fund Manager Valuation Valued date Currency Net Asset Prev NAV Prev NAV Dated Value (NAV) ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
National Bank of Kuwait
Mawazeen International Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly March 26, 2017 USD 9.050 9.140 March 19, 2017 Markaz MENA Islamic Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly Oct 31, 2017 USD 10.740 10.840 Oct 26, 2017 —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Watani KD Money Market Fund II NBK Capital Weekly Nov 7, 2017 KD 1.033 1.032 Oct 31, 2017 Watani USD Money Market Fund NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly Nov 7, 2017 USD 10.260 10.260 Oct 31, 2017 Watani KD Money Market Fund (Acc to Islamic Shariah principles) II NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly Nov 7, 2017 KD 1.032 1.031 Oct 31, 2017 Watani USD Money Market Fund (Acc to Islamic Shariah principles) II NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly Nov 7, 2017 USD 10.110 10.110 Oct 31, 2017 NBK Kuwait Equity Fund Watani Investment Co. Weekly Nov 9, 2017 KD 0.637 0.695 Oct 26, 2017 Gulf Equity Investment Fund Watani Investment Co. Weekly Nov 9, 2017 USD 11.030 11.158 Oct 26, 2017 Regional Bond and Sukuk Investment Fund NBK Capital Weekly Nov 9, 2017 USD 9.991 9.996 Oct 26, 2017 —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Gulf Bank Al Basha'er GCC Equity Fund Kwt. Fin. & Inv. Co. & Gulf Fin. House Monthly Sept 30, 2017 USD 7.268 7.290 Aug 30, 2017 Coast Fund Coast Investment & Dev. Co. Monthly Oct 31, 2017 KD 0.667 0.692 Sept 30, 2017 Sanaya Dow Jones Kuwait Index Fund Industrial & Financial Investment Co. Weekly Jan 26, 2017 KD 0.561 0.561 Dec 30, 2016 Markaz Capital Preservation Program 1 Monthly Feb 28, 2017 KD 0.917 0.917 Dec 31, 2016 Markaz Capital Preservation Program 2 Monthly Feb 28, 2017 KD 0.942 0.945 Dec 31, 2016 Markaz Real Estate Fund Bi-annual Sept 30, 2017 KD 1.391 1.393 Aug 31, 2017 —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Al Ahli Bank Al Ahli Gulf Fund Al Ahli Bank Monthly Oct 31, 2017 KD 0.885 0.909 Sept 30, 2017 Al Ahli Kuwaiti Fund Al Ahli Bank Monthly Oct 31, 2017 KD 0.856 0.876 Sept 30, 2017 —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Burgan Bank Burgan Equity Fund Burgan Bank Monthly Oct 22, 2017 KD 1.094 1.950 Sept 30, 2017 —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Kuwait & Middle East Financial & Inv. Co. Al Rou'yah Fund KMEFIC Monthly Sept 30, 2017 KD 1.487 1.477 Aug 31, 2017 Gulf Gate Fund KMEFIC Monthly Oct 31, 2016 KD 0.944 0.918 Sept 30, 2016 —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Global Investment House Index Funds Equity Funds
GCC Large Cap Index Fund Global Weekly Nov 2, 2017 KD 1.261 1.300 Oct 26, 2017 Al-Mamoun Fund A Global Weekly Nov 2, 2017 KD 0.681 0.698 Oct 26, 2017 Al-Mamoun Fund B Global Weekly Nov 2, 2017 KD 0.681 0.698 Oct 24, 2017 GCC Large Cap Fund Global Bi-weekly Oct 31, 2017 USD 149.630 149.220 Oct 24, 2017 Global Saudi Equity Fund Global Bi-weekly Oct 31, 2017 SAR 214.170 211.890 Oct 24, 2017 Sectoral Funds EPADI Fund Global Weekly Oct 31, 2017 USD 94.740 94.340 Oct 24, 2017 Islamic Funds Global GCC Islamic Fund Global Weekly Oct 31, 2017 USD 102.340 102.070 Oct 24, 2017 Al-Durra Islamic Fund Global Monthly Nov 2, 2017 KD 1.288 1.331 Oct 26, 2017 —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Kuwait Finance & Investment Co (KFIC) Al Wasm Fund KFIC Weekly Oct 18, 2017 KD 0.442 0.441 Oct 11, 2017 Al Basha'er GCC Equity Fund KFIC Monthly Sept 30, 2017 USD 7.268 7.290 Aug 31, 2017 —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
KAMCO KAMCO Investment Fund KAMCO Monthly Sept 28, 2017 KD 1.210 1.186 Aug 30, 2017 KAMCO Real Estate Yield Fund KAMCO Sept 30, 2017 USD 10.120 10.110 Aug 31, 2017 —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Wafra International Investment Co.
Boubyan KD Money Market Fund Boubyan Bank Weekly Oct 14, 2017 KD 1.089 1.069 Oct 31, 2017 Boubyan KD Money Market Fund II Boubyan Bank Weekly Oct 14, 2017 KD 1.016 1.015 Oct 31, 2017 —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Wafra Equity Fund Wafra Co. Monthly Sept 30, 2017 KD 0.985 0.976 Aug 31, 2017 Wafra Bond Fund Wafra Co. Monthly Sept 30, 2017 KD 1.057 1.053 Aug 31, 2017 Masaref Investment Fund ISKAN Weekly Sept 30, 2017 KD 0.876 0.883 Aug 31, 2017 Fajir Islamic Fund Wafra Co. Monthly Sept 30, 2017 KD 0.736 0.734 Aug 31, 2017 —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Boubyan Capital Investment Co.
Al Aman Investment
Boubyan USD Liquidity Fund Boubyan Capital Investment Co Oct 14, 2017 USD 10.262 10.262 Oct 31, 2017 Boubyan Multi-Asset Holding Fund Boubyan Bank Sept 30, 2017 USD 10.980 10.860 Aug 31, 2017 —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Al Aman Islamic Fund Al Aman Investment Weekly Sept 30, 2017 KD 0.334 0.333 Aug 31, 2017 —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Kuwait Investment Co.
Tharwa Investment Fund Tharwa Investment Co Weekly Oct 5, 2017 KD 1.516 1.510 Sept 30, 2017 Tharwa Islamic Fund Tharwa Investment Co Monthly Oct 5, 2017 KD 0.644 0.640 Sept 30, 2017 —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Boubyan Bank
Local Fund
Al Raed Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly Nov 9, 2017 KD 1.004 1.053 Nov 2, 2017 Kuwait Investment Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly Oct 31, 2017 KD 0.743 0.769 Sept 28, 2017 Al Hilal Fund Kuwait Investment Co Monthly Nov 6, 2017 KD 0.704 0.704 Nov 6, 2017 Al Atheer Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly Oct 31, 2017 KD 1.014 1.046 Sept 30, 2017 International Global Bond Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly Nov 8, 2017 USD 26.010 26.060 Nov 1, 2017 Diversified Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly Nov 8, 2017 USD 20.570 20.610 Nov 1, 2017 European Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly Oct 31, 2017 Euro 21.970 21.740 Sept 29, 2017 Pacific Equity Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly Nov 8, 2017 USD 34.470 34.080 Nov 1, 2017 North American Equity Fund Kuwait Investment Co Tw. Monthly Oct 31, 2017 USD 19.920 19.250 Sept 29, 2017 —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
National Investment Co. (NIC) Al-Wataniya Fund NIC Monthly Oct 31, 2017 KD 0.634 0.652 Sept 30, 2017 Al-Darij Fund NIC Monthly Oct 31, 2017 KD 0.362 0.374 Sept 30, 2017 Mawarid Fund NIC Monthly Oct 31, 2017 KD 0.489 0.504 Sept 30, 2017 Zajil Fund NIC Monthly Oct 31, 2017 KD 0.750 0.769 Sept 30, 2017 Al Mada Investment Fund NIC Weekly Oct 31, 2017 USD 0.780 0.802 Sept 30, 2017 —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz) Mumtaz Fund MIDAF Islamic Fund Markaz Arabian Fund FORSA Financial Fund Real Estate Fund Markaz Fixed Income Fund
Kuwait Financial Center Kuwait Financial Center Kuwait Financial Center Kuwait Financial Center Kuwait Financial Center Kuwait Financial Center Kuwait Financial Center
Weekly Weekly Weekly Weekly Monthly Monthly Monthly
Nov 2, 2017 Nov 2, 2017 Nov 2, 2017 Nov 10, 2016 Aug 31, 2017 Aug 31, 2017 Nov 2, 2017
KD KD KD KD KD KD USD
4.227 3.207 1.606 2.990 1.042 1.394 11.630
Oct 26, 2017 Oct 26, 2017 Oct 26, 2017 Nov 3, 2016 June 30, 2017 June 30, 2017 Oct 26, 2017
Tharwa Investment Co.
Bank Al-Bilad Al Seef Fund Bank Al-Bilad Daily Nov 11, 2017 KD 0.395 0.437 Oct 18, 2017 —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Commercial International Bank CIB Money Market Fund (Osoul) CI Asset Management Weekly Nov 12, 2017 EGP 306.860 305.660 Nov 2, 2017 CIB II Equity (Isthethmar) CI Asset Management Weekly Nov 9, 2017 EGP 165.430 165.490 Nov 2, 2017 CIB and Faisal Islamic Al Aman CI Asset Management Weekly Nov 9, 2017 EGP 0.644 91.720 Nov 2, 2017 Hemaya CI Asset Management Weekly Nov 1, 2017 EGP 188.200 184.870 Sept 5, 2017 Thabat CI Asset Management Weekly Nov 12, 2017 EGP 183.130 182.080 Nov 2, 2017 Takamol CI Asset Management Weekly Nov 12, 2017 EGP 154.380 154.340 Nov 2, 2017 Misr El Mostakbel CI Asset Management Weekly Nov 12, 2017 EGP 24.420 24.050 Oct 29, 2017 —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
KFH Capital Investment Co. Muthanna Islamic Index Fund (MUDX) KFH Capital Investment Co Daily Sept 30, 2017 KD 0.405 0.404 Aug 31, 2017 Muthanna GCC Islamic banks Fund KFH Capital Investment Co Daily Sept 30, 2017 KD 0.710 0.710 Aug 31, 2017 Baitak GCC Fund KFH Capital Investment Co Weekly June 29, 2017 KD 0.930 0.916 Feb 28, 2017 —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Noor Financial Investment Co. Noor Islamic Fund Noor Financial Investment Co Monthly Feb 29, 2016 KD 0.613 0.645 Dec 31, 2015 —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
CapCorp Investment Co. CapCorp Local Fund
CapCorp Investment Company
Abraaj eyes at least one Turkey buy in H1 Dubai-based Abraaj Group will complete at least one acquistion in Turkey in the first half of next year, a senior executive said on Wednesday, as it looks to deploy the remainder of its $500 million Turkey fund. Abraaj, which has had a presence in Turkey since 2007, took a minority stake in Turkish logistics firm Netlog Lojistik for an undisclosed amount in July.
"We will complete at least one acquisition in the first half of next year," Selcuk Yorgancioglu told Reuters on the sidelines of an event in Istanbul. "We are operating in some 20 emerging countries, Turkey is the fastest growing one of them, it has potential. It is important to us, we believe it will continue to offer interesting opportunities." He declined to say how big of
an investment it was looking to make, or in what sectors. Abraaj told Reuters in July it was looking to invest in midsize companies in Turkey and could spend $30 million-$100 million on individual deals, citing interests in health care. Thanks to its young population and fast-growing economy, Turkey was long seen as a prime target for private equity firms. (RTRS)
Kuwait stock index pulls higher; volume rebounds Agility rallies 38 fils; Humansoft Holding dives By John Mathews Arab Times Staff
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: Kuwait stocks pulled higher on Wednesday tracking the firmness in regional market and oil prices. The bourse rallied 35.5 pts in volatile trade to 6,285.56 points led by renewed buying in banks and other blue chips even as profit booking weighed on some of the mid-caps. The KSX 15 benchmark rose 5.7 pts to 824.89 points and weighted index dialed up 2.38 pts. The volume turnover meanwhile surged past the 100 million mark from Tuesday's three-week low. 103.48 million shares changed hands — a 72 pct jump from the day before. The sectors closed mostly in green turf. Oil and gas outperformed the rest with 2.67 pct gain whereas consumer goods shed 1 pct, the biggest loser of the day. Volume wise, financial services mustered the highest market share of 40.17 pct while banks trailed with 24.9 pct contribution. In the individual performers, National Bank of Kuwait rallied 4 fils on back of 4.7 million shares and Boubyan Bank climbed 11 fils to 425 fils. Independent Petroleum Group vaulted 40 fils to 405 fils and Gulf Insurance Co soared 70 fils. Zain eased 1 fil to 457 fils after trading 4.4 million shares and Ooredoo fell 5 fils to KD 1.084 extending last sessions losses. Kuwait Telecommunications Co ( VIVA) dialed down 2 fils and Agility rallied 38 fils on back of 2.7 million shares. Kuwait Finance House took in 2 fils with brisk trading and Kuwait International Bank inched 1 fil up. The bank has registered a net profit of KD 13.5 million for the third quarter of 2017. The market opened firm and rose briefly in early trade. The price index drifted sideways before heading south as selling weighed on select counters. It bottomed at 6,216 pts half way into the session and rebounded thereafter to close with moderate gains. Top gainer of the day Aqar spiked 25 pct to 75 fils and Ras Al Khaimah White Cement Co climbed 17 percent to stand next. Muntazahat
dipped 10 percent, the steepest decliner of the day and Al Imtiaz topped the volume with over 13 million shares. Mirroring the day's upswing , the market spread was skewed towards the winners. 64 stocks advanced whereas 40 closed lower. Of the 118 counters active on Wednesday, 14 closed flat. 4,600 deals worth over 23 million were transacted — a 106 pct surge in value from the day before. National Industries Group took in 1 fil on back of 6.4 million shares while Kuwait Cement Co and Educational Holding Co stood pat at 456 fils and 308 fils respectively. Gulf Cable dived 26 fils to 423 fils and Heavy Industries Engineering and Shipbuilding C edged 1 fil up. Jazeera Airways gained 6 fils to wind up at 654 fils and ALAFCO was unchanged at 368 fils. Boubyan Petrochemical Co rose 6 fils to 638 fils and Al Qurain Petrochemical Co gave up 2 fils. Equipment Holding Co was down 2.1 fils at 34.1 fils. Dived Humansoft Holding dived 37 fils to KD 3.763 extending last session's losses while NAPESCO was up 7 fils at 808 fils. KPPC dialed up 0.7 fil and Combined Group Contracting Co gained 20 fils to end at 475 fils. Kuwait Foundry Co slipped 8 fils to 257 fils and NICBM jumped 9 fils. Kuwait Cable Vision Co paused at 22.8 fils while Metal and Recycling Co closed 4 fils in red. Mezzan Holding Co slid 30 fils to 750 fils and Alrai Media Group trimmed 1 fil. The company has incurred loss of KD 143,000 in the third quarter of 2017. Mashaer Holding dropped 6.7 fils to 63.2 fils. In the banking sector, Gulf Bank fell 3 fils to 243 fils while Al Ahli Bank was down 10 fils at 302 fils. Commercial Bank held ground at 400 fils off early lows. Burgan Bank rose 4 fils to 312 fils and Al Murtahed trimmed 1 fil before settling at 363 fils. Warba Bank dialed up 2 fils to close at 213 fils on back of over 1 million shares. Kuwait Investment Co fell 3 fils to 112 fils whereas KIPCO and Coast Investment Co added 2 fils each. International Financial Advisors took in 1.5 fils with a volume of 1.5 million and Securities House Co closed 1.6 fils in green. Bayan Investment Co rose 1.8 fils and KAMCO paused at 69.9 fils. The company has recorded a profit of KD 621,320 in the period between June and September, a 273.3 pct surge
from Q3 of 2016. For the first nine months of the year, earnings rose 11.93 percent to KD 996,680. Osoul Investment Co trimmed 0.5 fil and Al Deera Holding gave up 1.5 fils. Unicap nudged 0.6 fil into green and Al Salam added 2.8 fils. Noor Financial Investment Co rose 1.9 fils and Sokouk Holding inched 0.1 fil up. Kuwait Insurance Co dialed up 1 fil and Warba Insurance Co clipped 2 fils. United Real Estate Co slipped 4.4 fils to 74.5 fils whereas National Real Estate Co and Mabanee Co gained 5 fils each Aqar Real Estate Co jumped 15 fils to 75 fils and Mazaya Holding took in 1 fil. Tamdeen Real Estate Co climbed 16 fils to 400 fils. The bourse has been mixed so far during the week and has added 27 points in last four sessions. It has tumbled 268 points from start of the month and is trading over 9.35 pct higher year-to-date. KSE, with 188 listed companies, is the second largest bourse in the region. In the bourse related news, Zain's third quarter earnings dropped 7 percent to nearly KD 40 million, compared to KD 43 million for the same period last year. Revenues amounted to KD 259 million and EBITDA stood at KD 104 million. In the 9M period, profits slipped by 1.6 pct to KD 122 million. Kuwait Finance and Investment has posted a 35 percent year-on-year surge in profits to KD 299,483 for the first nine months of 2017 while earnings per share surged 35 percent to 1.0 fil. Total operating revenue rose 10% percent to KD 4.015 million during the period. Gulf Bank of Kuwait's total shareholders' equity stood at KD 591.2 million by the end of September 2017. The net revenue from interest totaled KD 97.2 mln in January — September period while operating profits stood at KD 89.7 million. Aqar Real Estate Investments Co's earnings was down 6.42 pct year-onyear during the third quarter of 2017 to KD 345,140 .In the JanuarySeptember period, profits rose 11.5 percent to KD 1.03 million. The operating revenues rose 14.6 pct to KD 1.48 million in nine-month period. Credit Rating and Collection Co's (Tahssilat) losses widened to KD 269,840 in the third quarter of 2017 from KD 61,020 in the same period last year. During the nine-month period, it logged a profit of KD 830,200 against a loss of KD 291,200 in the same period in 2016.
Mideast stocks Dubai's DSI surges after loss
Major Gulf stock markets sag DUBAI, Nov 15, (RTRS): Major Gulf stock markets fell on Wednesday, partly because of retreating global equities and oil prices, though builder Drake & Scull surged in Dubai despite a heavy quarterly loss. The Saudi Arabian Capital Market Authority (CMA) issued a statement before the market opened saying that listed companies would be exempt from publishing fourth-quarter financial statements because they are transitioning to the International Financial Reporting Standards style of accounting. This surprised many fund managers, but the Arabic version of the statement said the exemption applied to "preliminary" financial statements, which seemed to imply that companies would still have to release final statements at a later date. The CMA did not respond to a request for comment. Under CMA rules, interim financial statements must be released within 30 days of the end of each period and annual statements within three months of the end of the financial year. The Saudi index spent most of the day only slightly lower but its losses snowballed towards the close and it finished 1 percent down. Real Estate developer Dar Al Arkan, which had risen in recent days after strong quarterly earnings, plunged by nearly 10 percent. Petrochemicals company Chemanol fell by 4.8 percent after jumping by its 10 percent daily limit on Tuesday. Saudi Industrial Export, which this week proposed a capital reduction to
write off accumulated losses, slid 5.7 percent. The Dubai index fell 0.6 percent. But Drake & Scull, the most heavily traded stock, gained 4.1 percent after reporting a third-quarter net loss attributable to shareholders of 317.6 million dirhams ($86.5 million) versus a loss of 46.3 million dirhams a year ago. The company said lack of liquidity before its recapitalisation, which has now been completed, hurt its thirdquarter performance and that it would be able to secure funding requirements after restructuring debt in key markets this quarter. Marie Salem, director of Capital Markets at FFA Dubai, said investors had been expecting poor third-quarter results and were looking ahead to the fourth quarter. "They believe that DSI has decided to report all losses related to its restructuring in the third quarter, so that it can have a clean fourth quarter and end the year on the positive side." Qatar's index, still feeling the effects of sanctions imposed on Doha by other Arab states since June, sank 1.4 percent to its lowest since March 2011. Real estate company Ezdan Holding which had dropped 2.3 percent on Tuesday after Standard & Poor's cut its credit rating by two notches into junk territory, plunged a further 6.5 percent. The stock has lost 52 percent this year. Inflation data released late on Tuesday showed the downturn in Qatar's real estate market deepened in October because of the sanctions.
Housing and utility prices sank 5.4 percent last month from a year earlier – the biggest drop for several years. Egypt's index dropped 0.8 percent as Global Telecom lost 1.6 percent to 7.40 Egyptian pounds. It had jumped last week after VEON Holdings, its parent, said it planned a mandatory tender offer for Global shares at 7.90 pounds.
Saudi Arabia ■ The index slipped 1.0 percent to 6,912 points.
Dubai ■ The index fell 0.6 percent to 3,468 points.
Abu Dhabi ■ The index dropped 0.7 percent to 4,337 points.
Qatar ■ The index lost 1.4 percent to 7,761 points.
Egypt ■ The index dropped 0.8 percent to 14,025 points.
Kuwait ■ The index rose 0.6 percent to 6,286 points.
Bahrain ■ The index added 0.4 percent to 1,265 points.
Oman ■ The index edged down 0.1 percent to 5,111 points.
30 Venezuela in 'selective default', signs debt deal with Russia Venezuela signed a debt restructuring deal with major creditor Russia on Wednesday, as ratings agencies declared Caracas in partial default. The country is seeking to restructure its foreign debts, estimated at around $150 billion, after it was hit hard by tumbling oil prices and American sanctions. A Venezuelan delegation led by finance minister Simon Zerpa signed the deal restructuring $3.15 billion of debt taken out in 2011 to finance the purchase of Russian arms.
A woman reads as she queues to withdraw money from an ATM in Caracas on Nov 14. Venezuela has been declared in 'selective default' by Standard and Poor's after failing to make interest payments on bond issues as it tries to refinance its $150 billion foreign debt. (AFP)
ISTANBUL: Turkish conglomerate Sabanci Holding said on Wednesday it plans to list its Enerjisa joint venture in an initial public offering (IPO) early next year, sending its shares sharply higher. Enerjisa, which is jointly owned by Sabanci — one of Turkey's largest firms — and German energy company E.ON distributes energy to some 20 million users in Turkey. Enerjisa will float 18 percent of its capital, or 212.6 million shares, with an option to sell an additional 2 percent through an over-allotment in February, it said in a filing to the Istanbul Stock Exchange. Shares of Sabanci rose as much as 6 percent on the news. They were up 2.7 percent at 10.96 lira at 07:50 GMT. (RTRS) ❑
MINNEAPOLIS: Target is reporting third-quarter profit of $480 million. The profit per share is 88 cents, or adjusted for one-time costs and benefits, 91 cents per share. That easily beat Wall Street expectations on Wednesday of 86 cents per share, according to a survey by Zacks Investment Research. The Minneapolis retailer posted revenue of $16.67 billion, also topping forecasts for $16.61 billion. For the current quarter ending in January, Target expects its per-share earnings to range from $1.05 to $1.25. Analysts surveyed by Zacks had forecast adjusted earnings per share of $1.27. (AP) ❑
LONDON: TalkTalk spooked investors with a profit warning and slashed dividend on Wednesday, saying it had added 26,000 customers to its fixed price broadband plans in the second quarter but that winning back market share would hit earnings. Shares in the British telecoms provider fell as much as 18 percent to a six-month low of 156 pence before paring losses to stand down 9 percent at 172p at 10:48 GMT. Founder Charles Dunstone, who became executive chairman in May, is resetting the business by focusing on customer growth after it lost subscribers last year. (RTRS) ❑
Google reclaimed on Tuesday its spot as the default search engine on Mozilla Corp's Firefox Internet browser in the United States and other regions as the browser maker stunned Verizon Communication Inc's Yahoo by canceling their deal. Google confirmed the move but declined, along with Mozilla, to disclose revenue-sharing terms of the multiyear agreement. Google's growing spending to be the primary search provider on apps and devices such as Apple Inc's iPhone has been a major investor concern. (RTRS)
LONDON: Profits at Experian Plc rose 6 percent in the first half as the world's biggest credit checker reported some initial gains from a data breach at US rival Equifax and broader growth across its operations. The FTSE 100 company, which is best known for running consumer credit checks for banks, landlords and retailers, said operating profit rose to $518 million for the six months to Sept 30 from $490 million a year earlier. (RTRS) ❑
LONDON: Carlyle Group, the world's largest private equity firm, is raising $1 billion for a new fund to invest in oil and gas outside the United States as a stronger outlook for oil prices rekindles investor appetite, banking sources told Reuters. The new vehicle comes after Carlyle International Energy Partners (CIEP), the group's overseas energy investment fund set up in 2013, nearly exhausted its $2.5 billion warchest following a number of high-profile deals. CIEP Managing Directors Bob Maguire and Marcel van Poecke met investors during a roadshow in the United States in recent weeks to raise interest in the new fund, several banking sources said. (RTRS)
SAN FRANCISCO: Alphabet Inc's
pany Deliveroo said on Tuesday that labour law panel the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) ruled that its riders are self-employed. The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) had brought the case against Deliveroo, which has been criticised for not providing riders with benefits such as holidays and Britain's minimum wage. "We welcome the decision of the Committee. As we have consistently argued, our riders value the flexibility that self-employment provides," Dan Warne, Deliveroo Managing Director for the UK and Ireland, said. "Riders enjoy being their own boss — having the freedom to choose when and where they work, and riding with other delivery companies at the same time." (RTRS)
OMAHA: Warren Buffett's company sold almost a third of its remaining IBM shares in the third quarter and made several tweaks to its stock investments. Berkshire Hathaway Inc filed a quarterly snapshot of its portfolio with the Securities and Exchange Commission Tuesday. Investors watch Berkshire's filings closely because of Buffett's successful record. The company sold off nearly 32 percent of its remaining IBM shares to leave it with 37 million shares at the end of the quarter. Before this spring, Berkshire held more than 80 million IBM shares. Berkshire officials don't generally comment on the quarterly filings or the reasons for their portfolio moves. (AP)
LONDON: Online food delivery com-
BARCELONA: Telecoms and cable group Altice tried to appease investors on Wednesday by saying it was shifting its focus from acquisitions to reducing its 50 billion-euro ($59 billion) net debt. The shares of Altice's Amsterdambased holding company have slumped since Altice reported disappointing third-quarter results on Nov 2, prompting founder and majority owner Patrick Drahi to oust chief executive Michel Combes last week. (RTRS)
LONDON: Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC worries border checks after Britain leaves the European Union will disrupt its global supply chain and is looking at measures to offset the rise in national protectionism that it represents, a member of its executive leadership said on Wednesday. Speaking at the launch of a new partnership with Indian software firm Tata Consultancy Services, the enginemaker's head of strategy and marketing Ben Story laid out a range of concerns over the Brexit process for one of Britain's highest profile industrial exporters. (RTRS)
Under the agreement, Caracas will pay back its debts over ten years, with "minimal" reimbursements for the first six years, Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement. "The reduction of the burden of debt ... will allow the utilisation of funds to develop the country's economy, improve the debtor's solvency and increase the chances of all creditors recovering loans already made," according to the statement on the ministry's website.
"These are very favourable terms that Venezuela can honour. This deal strengthens the relations between our two countries," Venezuelan vice president for the economy Wilmar Castro Soteldo said at a press conference in Moscow. But the goal of solvency seemed a distant one Wednesday after S&P Global Ratings said it had placed Venezuela's state-owned oil company PDVSA in "selective default" for failing to make its interest payments on some of its debt. (AFP)
Equities extend losing streak; dollar gains on strong US data Oil prices slide; gold up for third day NEW YORK, Nov 15, (Agencies): Stocks around the world were set for their longest losing streak in eight months on Wednesday as weaker commodities weighed and the dollar gained after US data provided some surprises. The euro turned slightly lower after the dollar strengthened against a basket of major currencies following US data showing a rise in retail sales data last month and an uptick in underlying inflation which cemented expectations for further US interest rate hikes. The MSCI world equity index, which tracks shares in 47 countries, was set for its fifth straight day of declines, its longest run in the red since March. With a slide in crude oil prices, worries about the demand outlook and weaker metals prices weighing on stocks around the world, some investors took profits ahead of year end. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 80.34 points, or 0.34 percent, to 23,329.13, the S&P 500 lost 7.84 points, or 0.30 percent, to 2,571.03 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 16.52 points, or 0.25 percent, to 6,721.35. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index lost 0.35 percent and MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe shed 0.39 percent. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan had earlier fallen 0.7 percent. Japan's Nikkei lost 1.6 percent. Oil prices were down for a fourth consecutive session but trimmed some losses after US inventory figures showed an increase in refining runs and a dropoff in distillate stocks. US crude fell 0.61 percent to $55.36 per barrel and Brent was last at $61.84, down 0.59 percent on the day. Gold reversed earlier gains after the US data. Spot gold dropped 0.2 percent to $1,278.18 an ounce.
US Wall Street's main indexes were lower on Wednesday as energy stocks remained under pressure after oil prices fell for a fourth straight day. An unexpected rise in US crude oil and gasoline stocks added to a gloomy global demand outlook from the International Energy Agency, sending oil prices down more than 1 percent. Exxon fell 0.7 percent, Schlumberger 1.7 percent and Halliburton 2.7 percent, dragging down the S&P energy index. Metal prices also slid as data from China stoked fears of a slowdown in the world's top commodities consumer.
At 10:53 am ET (1453 GMT), the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 105.32 points, or 0.45 percent, at 23,304.15, the S&P 500 was down 11.55 points, or 0.45 percent, at 2,567.32 and the Nasdaq Composite was down 29.85 points, or 0.44 percent, at 6,708.02. All three indexes were on track to post their biggest intra-day percentage losses since Nov. 9. The CBOE Volatility index, a widely followed measure of market anxiety, hit a more than 2 month high at 14.51. Target shares tumbled 12 percent after the retailer issued a disappointing profit forecast for the key holiday quarter. Amazon-owned Whole Foods Market announced price cuts on best-selling grocery items and holiday staples. Shares of other retailers fell. Kroger slipped 1.82 percent, Costco 1 percent and Kellogg 2.19 percent. Declining issues outnumbered advancers on the NYSE by 1,983 to 806. On the Nasdaq, 1,740 issues fell and 967 advanced.
Europe British stocks suffered their fifth straight day of losses on Wednesday, dragged to five-week lows by big falls in mining and energy shares. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index fell 0.6 percent — similar to the move on Europe's STOXX benchmark — while mid-cap UK shares lost 0.8 percent. The main source of pressure was a slide in crude and base metals prices, with the former down for the fourth day in a row after the International Energy Agency cut its outlook for 2018 oil demand growth. Metals prices meanwhile have taken a hit from signs China's economy — the world's top commodities consumer — is slowing. The FTSE 350 Mining index fell one percent to the lowest level in more than a month. Shares in mining companies Glencore, Anglo American and Rio Tinto fell around 1.5 percent, recovering slightly from earlier deeper losses. Among oil firms, shares in Royal Dutch Shell fell 1.3 percent and BP declined 1.5 percent. However, precious metals miners benefited from gold's safe-haven status. Fresnillo led gains, rising 3.3 percent, and Randgold advanced almost one percent. Fresnillo shares also received a lift from HSBC raising its rating on the stock to "buy" from "hold". Some telecoms performed strongly too, with BT gaining 1.4 percent and Vodafone building on the previous session's gains after it lifted its full-year earnings forecast for the first time in recent history. Vodafone shares added 0.6 percent to near four-month highs — adding to Tuesday's 5 percent jump — as the stock received more price-target upgrades from brokers. Outside the blue chips, company
updates were very much in focus, with some large declines among British mid-caps. Talktalk plummeted as much as 10 percent after a profit warning but closed some 6 percent down on the day, having hit its weakest level since May. Crest Nicholson dropped 4.4 percent after flagging weakness in central London property prices. Average houseprice growth across the property company's UK business fell to a quarter of that in 2016, it said. Smaller more UK-focused companies are seen bearing the brunt of the economy's Brexit-related weakness and rising inflation. Latest data showed the number of people in work in Britain fell by the most in more than two years in the three months to September.
Asia Asian energy firms extended a global sell-off Wednesday, dragging regional equity markets, as oil prices continued to tumble on the back of warnings of slowing demand and rising stockpiles. The losses in oil prices — which follow Tuesday's 1.9 percent fall in WTI and 1.5 percent drop in Brent — battered Asian energy firms. Among the biggest losers Tokyolisted Inpex dived 3.7 percent and Japan Petroleum Exploration tumbled 4.2 percent, while PetroChina and CNOOC in Hong Kong each plunged around three percent. Woodside Petroleum sank 1.4 percent in Sydney, while Rio Tinto was 2.7 percent lower. Tokyo plunged 1.6 percent, with a stronger yen and a slight slowdown in Japanese economic growth adding to the waning optimism. The Nikkei had ended at a quarter-century high last Thursday. Hong Kong lost one percent, Shanghai shed 0.8 percent, Sydney was 0.6 percent off and Singapore gave up 0.8 percent. Seoul eased 0.3 percent, Manila dropped 1.4 percent and Taipei was 0.5 percent lower. ■ Key figures around 0820 GMT Oil — West Texas Intermediate: Down 61 cents at $55.09 per barrel Oil — Brent North Sea: Down 69 cents at $61.59 Tokyo — Nikkei 225: Down 1.6 percent at 22,028.32 (close) Hong Kong — Hang Seng: Down 1.0 percent at 28,851.69 (close) Shanghai — Composite: Down 0.8 percent at 3,402.52 (close) Dollar/yen: Down at 113.18 yen from 113.43 yen
Oil Oil prices fell for a fourth session on Wednesday, weighed down by worries that data would show US crude inventories rising after this week's gloomy global demand outlook from the International Energy Agency (IEA). Brent crude futures were down 68 cents at $61.53 a barrel at 1335 GMT, having fallen by 1.5 percent on Tuesday, its largest one-day drop in a month. US West Texas Intermediate
(WTI) crude was at $55.08 per barrel, down 62 cents. The Brent price has shed nearly 5 percent since hitting its highest since mid 2015 last week. Losses were compounded by the IEA's unexpectedly gloomy demand outlook on Tuesday. The IEA cut its oil demand growth forecast by 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) for both 2017 and 2018 to an estimated 1.5 million bpd and 1.3 million bpd respectively. The demand slowdown could mean world oil consumption may not, as many expect, breach 100 million bpd next year, while supplies are likely to exceed that level. Data from the US Energy Information Administration due at 1530 GMT could also weigh if they confirm Tuesday's report by the American Petroleum Institute, which said US crude inventories rose by 6.5 million barrels in the week to Nov. 10 to 461.8 million. Rising US output has also been putting pressure on prices. US oil production has increased by more than 14 percent since mid-2016 to 9.62 million bpd and is expected to grow further.
Gold Gold prices rose for a third day on Wednesday as the dollar weakened and US bond yields fell despite solid US economic data that reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will press ahead with increases to US interest rates. The data showed an unexpected rise in US retail sales in October and a pick-up in underlying inflation. However, the outlook for US tax cuts that could stimulate economic growth was clouded after US Senate Republicans created new political obstacles by linking the repeal of a key component of Obamacare to the tax reform plans. "The biggest factor right now shoring up gold is the weaker dollar," said Robin Bhar, head of metals research at Societe Generale. "Also, there's speculation that tax cuts could be a long time coming, meaning the Fed will not have to be as aggressive as it might have been." A weaker dollar makes gold cheaper for holders of other currencies, which can stimulate demand, while lower bond yields make gold more attractive by reducing the opportunity cost of owning non-yielding bullion. Higher interest rates tend to push bond yields higher and boost the dollar. Spot gold was up 0.4 percent at $1,286.18 an ounce at 1415 GMT after touching $1,289.09, the highest since Oct 20. The metal has gained 0.8 percent this week. US gold futures for December delivery were up 0.3 percent at $1,286.60. ANZ analyst Daniel Hynes said Wednesday's inflation data could be a trigger to break gold from the $1,265 to $1,290 range in which it has traded since mid-October.
exchange rates – Nov 15 US dollar Buy Sell Sell Muzaini Sell Dollarco Commercial Bank Buy Sell Buy Gulf Bank Sell Buy NBK Sell Buy Burgan Bank Sell Buy ABK Sell Buy KFH Sell Sell KBE
Cash .298900 .303320 .302150 .302800 .299000 .304300 .301600 .303700 — — — — .298950 .305050 .299890 .305420 —
Buy Sell Sell Muzaini Sell Dollarco Commercial Bank Buy Sell Buy Gulf Bank Sell Buy NBK Sell Buy Burgan Bank Sell Buy ABK Sell Buy KFH Sell Sell KBE
Cash .043959 .048959 — — — — .047680 .048290 — — — — — — — — —
Draft .300650 .303000 .303350 .302500 .301950 .304050 .301600 .303700 .301600 .303700 .301600 .303700 .301450 .303550 .301600 .303700 .304300
Transfer .300650 .303000 .303350 .302500 .301950 .304050 .301600 .303700 .301600 .303700 .301600 .303700 .301450 .303550 .301600 .303700 .304300
Danish krone BEC
Draft .043959 .048959 — — .047550 .047881 .047680 .048290 .047730 .048250 .048000 .048357 .045090 .047290 .047834 .048482 —
Transfer .043959 .048959 — — .047550 .047881 .047680 .048290 .047730 .048250 .048000 .048357 .045090 .047290 .047834 .048482 —
Cyprus pound BEC Muzaini Dollarco Gulf Bank ABK KFH KBE
Buy Sell Sell Sell Buy Sell Buy Sell Buy Sell Sell
Cash Draft Transfer — — — — — — — — — .695000 .168730 .168730 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
travellers cheques BEC Commercial Bank Gulf Bank Al-Ahli Bank
Sterling pound Cash .392222 .399722 — .404000 .395000 .405000 .394190 .402150 — — — — .394760 .406170 .393786 .405445 —
Euro Cash .351381 .358881 — .361000 .351000 .358000 .353640 .360840 — — — — .350670 .361180 .353120 .363938 —
Indian rupee Cash .004104 .004745 — .004760 .004000 .006500 — .004700 — — — — — — — — —
Draft .004566 .004642 .004625 .004737 — .004655 — .004700 .004590 .004670 .004613 .004673 .045090 .047290 .004583 .004687 .004694 Draft .009748 .001074 .001218 — — — — — .001195 .001225 .001550
US dollar .3030000 .3040500 .3037000 .3035500
Japanese yen Transfer .351381 .358481 .356130 .357870 .353493 .355951 .353640 .360840 .355500 .359640 .357139 .359778 .353830 .359100 .355586 .361130 .332100
Transfer .004566 .004642 .004625 .004737 — .004655 — .004700 .004590 .004670 .004613 .004673 .045090 .047290 .004583 .004687 .004694
Cash .002649 .002939 — .003050 — — — .002920 — — — — — — — — —
Yemeni riyal Cash .000985 .001065 — — — — — — — — —
Draft .002841 .002873 .002875 .002916 — .002895 — .002920 — .002900 .002851 .002890 — .004668 .002847 .002896 .004694
Transfer .002841 .002873 .002875 .002916 — .002895 — .002920 — .002900 .002851 .002890 — .004668 .002847 .002896 .004694
Transfer .009748 .001074 .001218 — — — — — .001195 .001225 .001550
Cash .008820 .009370 — .009000 — — — — — — —
Sterling .3998222 .3976970 .4021500 .4038400
Draft .008788 .009203 .009195 .009820 — — – — .009057 .009268 —
Transfer .008788 .009203 .009195 .009820 — — — – .009057 .009268 —
Euro .3584815 .3559510 .3608400 .3591000
Cash .002595 .002775 — .002745 — — .000265 .000269 — — — — — — — — —
Draft .002594 .002774 .266920 .002745 .002656 .002675 .000265 .000269 .002660 .002690 .002674 .002694 .027446 .027784 .002661 .002704 —
Transfer .002594 .002774 .266920 .002745 .002656 .002675 .000265 .000269 .002660 .002690 .002674 .002694 .027446 .027784 .002661 .002704 —
Sri Lanka rupee Cash .001644 .002224 — .002270 .002000 .003500 — .002000 — — — — — — — — —
Draft .001930 .001972 .001973 .002014 — .001983 — .002000 .001950 .001990 .001958 .001978 — .002119 .001954 .001982 .001984
Transfer .001930 .001972 .001973 .002014 — .001983 — .002000 .001950 .001990 .001958 .001978 — .002119 .001954 .001982 .001984
Swiss franc Cash .299539 .310539 — .313810 .302000 .315000 .303220 .309440 — — — — — — — — —
Bangladesh taka Cash .003301 .003885 — .004000 — — — .003690 — — — — — — — — —
Draft .003654 .003711 .003662 .003819 — .003663 — .003690 — — .003603 .003654 — — .003683 .003778 .003778
Transfer .003654 .003711 .003662 .003819 — .003663 — .003690 — — .003603 .003654 — — .003683 .003778 .003778
South African rand Cash Draft Transfer — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — .021390 .021390 .021390 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Cash .000262 .000277 — — — — — — — — —
local gold BEC Muzaini Exchange
Draft — — — — — — — — — — —
Transfer — — — — — — — — — — —
Gold 999 kg — 12,062.730
Canadian dollar Cash .232321 .241321 — .226990 .236000 .248000 .235440 .240190 — — — — — — — — —
Philippine peso Cash .005770 .006070 — .006350 .005000 .007900 — .006010 — — — — — — — — —
Transfer .005471 .005938 .005935 .006158 — .005965 — .006010 .005760 .005960 .005924 .006000 .006648 .005859 .006019 .006060
Swedish krona Cash .032038 .037038 — — — — .035800 .036210 — — — — — — — — —
Gold 999 10 tola — 1,426.660
Australian dollar Cash .221385 .233385 — — .230000 .243000 .228100 .231130 — — — — — — — — —
Syrian pound Cash Draft Transfer .001284 .001284 .001284 .001504 .001504 .001504 — — — .000750 .002425 .002425 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Iranian Riyal Cash .000084 .000085 — — — — — — — — —
Gold ounce — 385.640
Gold gm 22k — 11.070
Saudi riyal Cash .079713 .081013 — .081227 .079000 .083000 .080280 .081390 — — — — .079290 .082010 .079817 .081580 —
Draft .080213 .080853 .080947 .081227 .080539 .081099 .080280 .081390 .080350 .081120 .080312 .081087 .080000 .081530 .080311 .081088
Transfer .080213 .080853 .080947 .081227 .080539 .081099 .080280 .081390 .080350 .081120 .080312 .081087 .080000 .081530 .080311 .081088
Hong Kong dollar Cash .036856 .039606 — — — — .038440 .039210 — — — — — — — — —
Draft .036356 .039456 .038886 — .038704 .038973 .038440 .039210 — — — — .038760 .039210 — — —
Transfer .036356 .039456 .038886 — .038704 .038973 .038440 .039210 — — — — .038760 .039210 — — —
Lebanese pound Cash .000156 .000256 — — — — — — — — —
Draft .000190 .000210 .002022 — — — — — .000195 .000204 —
Transfer .000190 .000210 .002022 — — — — — .000195 .000204 —
UAE dirham Cash .081071 .082771 — .082931 .081960 .082783 .081930 .082930 — — — — .082203 .083029 .081505 .083291 —
Singapore dollar Cash .217607 .227607 — — — — .221470 .223990 — — — — — — — — —
Draft .218606 .224606 .223630 — .221802 .223344 .221470 .223990 .221180 .224200 .222410 .224091 .219040 .221570 .221358 .224614 —
Transfer .218606 .224606 .223630 — .221802 .223344 .221470 .223990 .221180 .224200 .222410 .224091 .219040 .221570 .221358 .224614 —
Malaysian ringgit Cash .068321 .074321 — .069800 — — — — — — —
Gold gm 18k — 9.060
100 gm 999 — —
Bahraini dinar Cash .796719 .805219 — .808820 .798507 .806532 .796060 .807580 — — — — — — .789288 .812611 —
Jordanian dinar Cash .422755 .431755 — .433500 .420000 .436000 — .432170 — — — — — — — — —
Draft .421581 .429081 .428040 .431140 — .429965 — .432170 .423000 .431390 .424788 .428954 .426230 .433470 .424311 .429440 —
Transfer .421581 .429081 .428040 .431140 — .429965 — .432170 .423000 .431390 .424788 .428954 .426230 .433470 .424311 .429440 —
Indonesian rupiah Cash .000018 .000024 — — — .000020 — — — — —
Draft .000017 .000024 — — — .000020 — — — — .002395
10 gm 999 — 127.450
Transfer .000017 .000024 — — — .000020 — — — — .002395
Omani riyal Cash .780695 .786375 — — .782804 .790671 .782070 .792980 — — — — — — .774950 .796921 —
Egyptian pound Cash .014525 .020243 .019700 .020000 .012000 .020000 — .017460 — — — — — — — — —
New Zealand dollar Cash .201741 .211241 — — .206100 .210270 — — — — —
Draft .199740 .210740 — — .206100 .210270 .218390 .222010 — — —
Transfer .199740 .210740 — — .206100 .210270 .218390 .222010 — — —
All rates in KD per unit of foreign currency
Celebration of Life for two-time Cy Young Award winner remembered
Family, friends, teammates say final goodbye to Roy Halladay CLEARWATER, Florida, Nov 15, (AP): Two-time Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay was remembered Tuesday as an amazing husband, father, friend and teammate who was one of the best pitchers of his generation but an even better man. A 91-minute "Celebration of Life for Roy Halladay" attracted more than 1,000 people to Spectrum Field, the spring training home of the Philadelphia Phillies, one of two franchises Halladay played for during a stellar 16-year career. "The man made the ballplayer," Phillies owner John Middleton said, "not the other way around," Halladay died Nov 7 at age 40 when the private plane he was piloting crashed into the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida. The eight-time All-Star who pitched a Brandy Halladay, widow of Roy Halladay, talks about her husband during a memorial tribute at the Philadelphia Phillies' spring training stadium on Nov 14 in Clearwater, Florida. (AP)
NFL Roundup Jones pushing to delay Goodell extension
Eagles remain No. 1 in the latest AP Pro32 poll NEW YORK, Nov 15, (Agencies): Despite a week off, the Philadelphia Eagles are still on a roll. The Eagles, one of two teams on a seven-game winning streak, maintained their top spot in the latest AP Pro32 poll. Philadelphia received all 12 first-place votes for 384 points Tuesday in balloting by media members who regularly cover the NFL. The Eagles (8-1) are coming off their bye and face NFC East rival the D a l l a s Cowboys on Sunday night. The New England Patriots, who Jones have won five in a row and are coming off a 41-16 rout of the reeling Denver Broncos, moved up a spot to No. 2. The Pittsburgh Steelers slipped a spot to No. 3. They open the Week 11 schedule, hosting the Tennessee Titans on Thursday night. Both the Titans and Steelers enter the matchup on four-game winning streaks. And it's the first of four consecutive prime-time games for the Steelers before their pivotal game against the Patriots on Dec 17. The surging New Orleans Saints, who have won seven in a row since starting the season 0-2, moved up two spots to No. 4. The Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings, both on fourgame winning streaks, are next at Nos. 5 and 6. Those teams will meet this weekend in Minneapolis. The Kansas City Chiefs, who are coming off a bye, remained at No. 7 and return to face the struggling New York Giants. For the Chiefs, it's the first of two trips to the Meadowlands in a three-week span. The Carolina Panthers, coming off a 45-21 rout of the Miami Dolphins on Monday night, inched up a spot to No. 8 and now enter
their bye week. ❑
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones pressed his threat to sue the NFL and some other club owners on Tuesday should a contract extension for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell be approved. Jones, speaking with Dallas radio station 105.3 The Fan, said he has no plans to retract his lawsuit threat and preached patience in finalizing any new deal with Goodell, whose contract expires next year. "He has 18 months left on there. We've got all the time in the world to evaluate what we're doing," Jones said. "We've got all the time in the world to extend him. ❑
C.J. Prosise's season is over after the Seattle Seahawks placed the running back on injured reserve. Prosise had been hampered by ankle injuries all season. To fill Prosise's roster spot, the Seahawks signed back Mike Davis from its practice squad. The 23-year-old Prosise finished the season with just 23 yards on 11 carries. He missed five straight games before returning in last Thursday's game against the Arizona Cardinals, only to leave with an ankle sprain. ❑
The Washington Redskins will be without running back Rob Kelley and linebacker Will Compton for the remainder of the season. Kelley (ankle), and Compton (Lisfranc sprain) were both placed on season-ending injured reserve, the team announced. ❑
Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Curtis Samuel will undergo season-ending surgery on his left ankle, the team announced. Samuel was injured during Monday's 45-21 victory over the Miami Dolphins when his foot was rolled on by Miami safety Reshad Jones in the third quarter.
Molitor needed a clubhouse talk to calm down the Minnesota Twins, his players angered by moves the front office made at the July 31 trade deadline. No such distractions in the desert. In his first full season as a skipper, Lovullo built a culture of com-
munication with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He often referred to the "love" teammates had for each other — and Lovullo certainly loved the midseason deal that brought big-hitting J. D. Martinez to the D-backs.
perfect game and a playoff no-hitter, Halladay played 12 seasons for the Toronto Blue Jays from 1998-2009 and four for the Phillies from 2009-13, going 203-105 with a 3.38 career ERA. The public memorial began with a video tribute and ended with Halladay's wife, Brandy, standing on
the mound and releasing butterflies from a container in final "goodbye". Other speakers included Halladay's dad, Roy, Jr, former team-mates Cole Hamels, Chase Utley and Chris Carpenter, long-time baseball executive and former Blue Jays GM JP Ricciardi, ex-Phillies manager Charlie
Manuel and Blue Jays trainer George Poulis. Hall of Famer Frank Thomas, former Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston and one-time team-mates Cliff Lee and Jimmy Rollins were among other special guests, who accompanied the family onto the field for the service.
Baertschi, Canucks send Kings to 3rd straight loss PITTSBURGH, Nov 15, (AP): Sidney Crosby ended a long goal drought and assisted on Conor Sheary's winner 16 seconds into overtime as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-4 on Tuesday night. Crosby scored his sixth of the season, Sheary had a pair of goals and Patric Hornqvist added one for Pittsburgh. Phil Kessel got his eighth of the season and has goals in four straight games. Kessel, the team's leading scorer, has at least one point in five straight games — and 16 of 20 this season. Matt Murray made 28 saves for the Penguins, who won their sixth in a row at home. Pittsburgh is 12-0-1 in its last
ICE HOCKEY 13 games against the Sabres, including seven consecutive wins at home. Crosby scored for the first time in 11 games, and Buffalo's Jack Eichel ended an eight-game drought, both in the second period. Wild 3, Flyers 0 In St Paul, Minnesota, Devan Dubnyk posted his third straight shutout with 30 saves and Nino Niederreiter scored 12 seconds into the game for Minnesota in a win against Philadelphia. Dubnyk's third shutout of the season stretched his scoreless streak to 195:05, breaking his mark of 183:16 set last season for the longest in team history. Dubnyk has stopped the last 103 shots he's faced. Eric Staal and Jason Zucker each scored an empty-net goal for Minnesota, which has won a seasonbest three straight. Brian Elliott made 17 saves for Philadelphia, shut out for an NHLhigh fifth time this season. Oilers 8, Golden Knights 2 In Edmonton, Alberta, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Connor McDavid
Seahawks begin life without Sherman expected starters at cornerback with Sherman out. For Lane, it's another chapter in a strange few weeks that saw him initially traded to Houston as part of the Duane Brown deal. Lane failed his physical with the Texans and was returned to the Seahawks. Lane said he was gone from the Seahawks for barely a day and that returning to the team was not awkward. "It was crazy. A very emotional roller coaster. I had to stay mentally strong for it, but other than that it worked out," he said. While Lane and Griffin will get the bulk of the work, picking up Sherman Maxwell is a big benefit at this point of the season. Rather than trying to teach someone Seattle's defensive system or bring up an inexperienced player from the practice squad, the Seahawks landed a veteran who knows their system and should be able to help sooner than later. Maxwell, cut by the Dolphins on Oct 24, said the only other team that reached out to him after his release was the Falcons. "Definitely I was thinking I would get a call before this, in a week or two, but for whatever reason I didn't," he said. Meanwhile, Kyle Shanahan would have understood if Marquise Goodwin
NEW YORK, Nov 15, (AP): Paul Molitor and Torey Lovullo both presided over turnaround seasons, guided their teams into the playoffs and won Manager of the Year awards by wide margins. The paths they took, those were totally different.
Crosby ends goal drought as Penguins edge Sabres in OT
Goodwin insisted on playing after tragedy
RENTON, Washington, Nov 15, (AP): Back from a long weekend of needed rest, the Seattle Seahawks began life without Richard Sherman on Tuesday. It was noticeably different for those who have become accustomed to hearing the cornerback's voice on a daily basis. "Just his energy, his passion, his trash talking is definitely going to be missed," Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner said. "But I'm positive he's going to find a way to talk trash on the sideline." For the first time since before he was drafted, the Seahawks started a week of preparations knowing Sherman would not play after he tore the Achilles tendon in his right foot during last Thursday's win over Arizona. For as much as his mouth and some of his antics have drawn attention, Sherman has been an extremely reliable cog in Seattle's secondary since his first game during the 2011 season. His streak of 109 consecutive starts — playoffs included — will end next Monday when he's a spectator as his teammates host Atlanta. Seattle's adjustment to not having Sherman started Tuesday, but will really get going Thursday when preparations for facing the Falcons get started. The team signed Byron Maxwell, who was released by Miami last month after losing his starting job but knows Seattle's system after starting his career with the Seahawks. Maxwell will provide depth behind Jeremy Lane and Shaquill Griffin, the
Molitor, Lovullo win Manager of Year awards
didn't want to play against the Giants. Shanahan, who's been coaching in the NFL for 14 seasons, has seen players lose loved ones in days leading up to games and knows the mental weight it can carry. The 49ers coach was ready to let his speedy receiver take time with his wife after she prematurely gave birth Sunday to their son, whom Goodwin said died of complications. But Goodwin decided to play, helping San Francisco get its first win of the season. He had an 83-yard touchdown reception and threw a key block on another big scoring play, when he laid out a defensive back and allowed Garrett Celek to scamper into the end zone. Goodwin later announced his family's loss on social media. "By the time I was able to talk to Marquise, he was hurting but he was adamant he wanted to play," Shanahan said Monday. "For a guy to go through that, to have those emotions, to go the whole night before and really not sleeping very much and come out there and have some very pivotal plays in that game, and make a huge difference, it says a lot about the guy. Regardless of whether he played good or bad, the fact that he was out there and trying his hardest and trying to help was the most important." Shanahan said he first knew about the situation Saturday morning, when Goodwin told him that his wife, Morgan, was experiencing complications with the pregnancy. Shanahan allowed Goodwin to be with her Saturday night and then heard about the news Sunday morning.
Alexander Edler #23 of the Vancouver Canucks falls as he attempts to stop a puck in front of Brooks Laich #25 of the Los Angeles Kings during the third period in a 3-2 Canucks win at Staples Center on Nov 14 in Los Angeles, California. (AFP)
NHL Results/Standings WASHINGTON, Nov 15, (RTRS): Results and standings from the NHL games on Tuesday. Edmonton Nashville Minnesota Winnipeg
8 Las Vegas 2 Columbus 2 Montreal (OT) 6 Washington 3 Florida 4 Dallas (SO) 3 Philadelphia 0 Pittsburgh 5 Buffalo (OT) 4 Arizona 1 Eastern Conference Western Conference Atlantic Division Central Division W L OTL GF W L OTL GF GA Pts Tampa Bay 14 2 2 71 St Louis 13 5 1 62 51 27 Toronto 12 7 0 72 Winnipeg 10 4 3 56 47 23 Ottawa 8 3 5 59 Nashville 10 5 2 51 49 22 Detroit 8 8 2 49 Dallas 9 8 1 51 52 19 Montreal 8 9 2 47 Minnesota 8 7 2 49 44 18 Boston 6 6 4 44 Chicago 8 8 2 53 49 18 Florida 6 9 2 57 Colorado 8 7 1 54 55 17 Buffalo 5 9 4 44 Pacific Division Metropolitan Division W L OTL GF W L OTL GF GA Pts New Jersey 11 4 2 61 Los Angeles 11 5 2 57 44 24 Columbus 11 7 1 57 Las Vegas 10 6 1 59 54 21 Pittsburgh 10 7 3 55 San Jose 10 6 0 44 36 20 Washington 10 8 1 56 Calgary 10 7 0 51 50 20 NY Islanders 9 6 2 60 Vancouver 9 7 2 46 48 20 NY Rangers 9 7 2 60 Anaheim 7 7 3 48 50 17 Carolina 7 5 4 46 Edmonton 7 9 2 46 54 16 Philadelphia 8 8 2 50 Arizona 2 15 3 46 79 7 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L).
each had two goals for Edmonton in a victory over Vegas. Oscar Klefbom, Patrick Maroon, Matt Benning and Mark Letestu also scored for the Oilers, who snapped a two-game skid. Cam Talbot stopped 22 shots. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and James Neal had the goals for the expansion Golden Knights, who have lost three of four. Maxime Lagace gave up seven goals on 29 shots before being replaced by Dylan Ferguson, the fifth goalie to play for Vegas this year. Predators 6, Capitals 3 In Nashville, Tennessee, Mattias Ekholm and Kevin Fiala each had a goal and an assist to lead Nashville past Washington for its fifth straight victory. Craig Smith, Nick Bonino, Filip Forsberg and Miikka Salomaki also scored for Nashville. Pekka Rinne made 26 saves, and 12 players had at least one point for the Predators. T. J. Oshie scored twice and Alex Chiasson also had a goal for Washington, which had won two consecutive games. Blue Jackets 2, Canadiens 1, OT In Montreal, Zach Werenski scored 1:09 into overtime, lifting Columbus over Montreal. Josh Anderson had a goal 2:29 into the game for Columbus, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 28 saves, allowing only a goal to Paul Byron early in the third period. Panthers 4, Stars 3, OT In Sunrise, Florida, Jonathan Huberdeau had two power-play goals and Vincent Trocheck scored the winner in a shootout to lift Florida over Dallas. Aleksander Barkov scored in regulation and the shootout for the
GA 46 63 53 51 63 51 65 65
Pts 30 24 21 18 18 16 14 14
Grand champion facing police 'probe' in Japan TOKYO, Nov 15, (AFP): A sumo grand champion may face a police probe into the alleged assault of a junior wrestler, authorities said
Mongolian sumo wrestler yokozuna, or grand champion, Harumafuji speaks with journalists after his morning training in Daizaifu city, Fukuoka prefecture on Nov 14. (AFP)
Wednesday, as more details emerged of a scandal that has rocked Japan's national sport. Mongolian "yokozuna" (or grand champion) Harumafuji is alleged to have smashed a beer bottle over a fellow wrestler's head and hit him repeatedly after the younger man pulled out his smartphone while he was speaking to him. Headlines screaming "arrest" and "retirement" were splashed over the front pages in the sumo-obsessed country, as the 33-year-old is likely to have to step down from his lofty position if charged. A spokesman for the sumo association told AFP that a police report had been filed on behalf of the 27-year-old assaulted wrestler — Takanoiwa, also from Mongolia — by the fighter's team. The sumo association has set up a committee to investigate the issue but declined to comment further "until we find out the truth about the incident", he said. Police could not confirm they have received the report, but said: "It would be true if the victim's side said so."
Panthers. Roberto Luongo stopped 40 shots, plus two more in the tiebreaker. Jamie Benn had two goals for Dallas, and Remi Elie also scored. Tyler Seguin had a goal in the shootout. Jets 4, Coyotes 1 In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Connor Hellebuyck made 32 saves and
Winnipeg defeated Arizona for its second victory over the struggling Coyotes in four days. On a night when the Jets inducted Dale Hawerchuk into their Hall of Fame and lifted his No. 10 banner to the rafters, the home team easily handled the franchise that moved from Winnipeg to Arizona 21 years ago.
The country has done 'everything possible' to have RUSADA reinstated: minister
Anti-doping body mulls Russia reinstatement as Olympics loom SEOUL, Nov 15, (Agencies): The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will decide whether to reinstate scandal-hit Russia on Thursday after explosive doping revelations put a question mark over its participation in next year's Winter Olympics. Less than three months before the Games in Pyeongchang, a green light from WADA would be a huge plus for Russia as it fights to avoid a possible ban from the event by the International Olympic Committee. Russia was declared "non-compliant" by WADA after the McLaren report alleged state-sponsored doping from 2011 to 2015, culminating at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi — where the hosts topped the medals table. Russia's secret service and sports ministry were accused of orchestrating an elaborate plot that included using a "mousehole" to switch dirty
samples at the doping laboratory in the Black Sea resort. Last week, WADA said it had obtained an "enormous" internal database of Russian drug test results from 2012-2015, findings from which are expected to be reported to Thursday's foundation board meeting in Seoul. Ripples from the controversy have spread wide after President Vladimir Putin accused the United States of inventing drugs allegations to influence next year's presidential election. "In response to our alleged interference in their election, they want to create problems for the election of the president of Russia," Putin said last week. "Russia never had and, I hope, will never have a system of state doping of which we are being accused," he said. Sports minister Pavel Kolobkov has admitted he's pessimistic about
Ease safety, security concerns
'N. Korea decision on joining Games seen as last minute'
This file photo taken on Feb 9, 2013 shows France's David Poisson posing after finishing third in the men's downhill event of the 2013 Ski World Championship in Schladming, Austria. (AFP)
Skier Poisson hits tree in fatal crash PARIS, Nov 15, (AFP): French skier David Poisson, a downhill bronze medallist at the 2013 world championships, died after he lost a ski and hit a tree when falling heavily in training, the French ski federation said Tuesday. "According to information currently available to the French ski federation, David Poisson fell heavily after losing a ski during a shared training session with other countries, which took place yesterday (Monday) in Nakiska, Canada," the federation said. "David Poisson reportedly hit a tree after passing through the safety nets." The Nakiska resort in Canada is used by many teams for preparation ahead of the World Cup events at Lake Louise on Nov 25-26. "The French ski federation has since last night been in contact with David's family to support and accompany it in this terrible moment," the federation added. The local coroner, aided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), are investigating the exact cause of death. RCMP spokesman Curtis Peters told AFP officers went to the site and took measurements and snapped photographs, but added it will be up to the coroner to "determine what took place and if there is any corrective actions required". Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, which owns the Nakiska resort, declined to provide details about the site's safety. Spokesman Matt Mosteller said the slope meets the "highest safety standards".
NEW YORK, Nov 15, (RTRS): Organizers of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, expect long-time adversary North Korea to hold off for as long as possible on deciding whether to participate in the Games, South Korea's top sports official said on Tuesday. "We are very hopeful and expect them (North Korean athletes) to be able to participate in the Games. At the same time, we do know that this may be a very last-minute decision by North Korea," said South Korean Sports Minister Do Jong-hwan at an Olympics preview event in New York. The Winter Games kick off on Feb 9 and run through Feb 25. The International Olympic Committee is urging North Korea to participate, which could help ease safety and security concerns about the Games arising from Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile tests. Organizers have said the Games will be safe. The mountainous resort town of Pyeongchang is located just 50 miles (80 km) from the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea, the world's most heavily armed border. The two countries remain technically at war after their 1950-53 conflict ended with a truce and not a peace treaty. "The IOC has expressed their willingness to support North Korea in terms of training costs and other costs related to participating at the Games," Do said. North Korea did not have any athletes at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. In late September, North Korea secured qualification for its first athletes at the Pyeongchang Olympics when figure skaters Ryom Tae-Ok and Kim Ju-Sik finished in the top six in a qualifying event in Germany. "It's very positive news. It means that they do have athletes who are eligible which is a positive sign for us. In terms of other sports, we are aware that there are North Korean athletes training for cross country (skiing) as well as other ice skating categories," Do said. Another reason for Olympic officials' optimism over possible North Korea attendance in Pyeongchang is that leader Kim Jong Un is a wellknown sports fan, and he has spent heavily on sport in connection with his bid to lift living standards in the North. Still, the previous time South Korea hosted the Olympics, which was the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul, Kim's grandfather Kim Il Sung, the founder of the North Korean state, boycotted them after a plan to co-host the event fell apart. As of Tuesday, 43 heads of state and approximately 6,500 athletes from 95 nations and six continents were registered to attend the Games, according to Pyeongchang's organizing committee.
In this Feb 23, 2014 file photo taken with slow shutter speed, athletes pass the Olympic rings during the men's 50K cross-country race at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia. (AP)
Russia's readmission by WADA, which is demanding that it "publicly
accept" the McLaren report's findings.
"It is difficult as they have demanded the unconditional recognition of the McLaren report that we cannot accept as it contains too many discrepancies," he told the Rsport agency. Russia partially accepts the findings of the report, compiled by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren, but Putin and others have strenuously denied the existence of a state-sponsored doping programme. Progress has been made, and WADA has already partially lifted its ban on the Russian anti-doping agency, giving it the right to collect samples. It also audited the body in September. But WADA also wants access to urine samples stored in Russia's Moscow anti-doping laboratory as one of the key demands of its "road map" to return to compliance. However, even if WADA stops short of declaring Russia compliant in Seoul, it may not be fatal to the
World Rugby denies humiliation as '23 World Cup goes to France WC bidding process becomes 'opaque', S. Africa complains LONDON, Nov 15, (AFP): World Rugby chiefs denied they had been "humiliated" after France won the right to stage the 2023 World Cup on Wednesday despite finishing behind rival bidders South Africa in an evaluation report. The report, widely criticised by both France and Ireland, the third bidding country, was not binding on the remaining members of the World Rugby Council, who voted in London. Wednesday's decision, announced by World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont, means France will be staging a World Cup for the sec-
RUGBY ond time, having previously hosted the 2007 edition. The tournament also comes a year before Paris hosts the 2024 Olympic Games. In order to be chosen, the successful bidder needed a simple majority of 20 out of the 39 remaining votes — France, Ireland and South Africa were barred from participating in the ballot. The first round finished with France on 18 votes, 1995 hosts South Africa on 13 and Ireland, who've yet to be the main hosts of a World Cup, eight. With Ireland dropping out, France beat South Africa by 24 votes to 15 in the second round. "We've been fortunate to have three great bids," said Beaumont after announcing Wednesday's decision. "Certainly delighted for France. It will be a really exciting tournament," the former England captain added. Last month, World Rugby published an evaluation report which said South Africa should be chosen given it had an overall rating of 78.97, compared with 75.88 for France and 72.25 for Ireland, across a range of criteria. The report aimed to provide objective standards for a process previously dogged by allegations of backroom 'horse-trading' between countries. But it immediately came under
The winning French bid team celebrate around the Rugby World Cup trophy after they won the right to hold the Rugby World Cup in 2023, in London on Nov 15. (AP)
Lin Dan stunned in China Open 1st round SHANGHAI, Nov 15, (AFP): Badminton legend Lin Dan saved seven match points before being dumped out of the first round of his home China Open on Wednesday, stunned by Indonesia's world number 17 Jonatan Christie. The 21-19, 21-16 defeat will ramp up speculation that the 34-year-old Lin, widely regarded as the best badminton player of all time, may soon call it quits as he approaches the end of his brilliant career. Seeded third, Lin, a five-time China Open champion, was guilty of a catalogue of errors in going down to Christie in 42 minutes in a shock upset in the Chinese city of Fuzhou.
The 20-year-old Christie plays Hong Kong's Angus Ng in the second round. "When we shook hands before the match I felt his hand was cold and I sensed he was nervous," Christie, who lost to Lin in straight games at their last meeting in June, told the ofLin ficial BWF World Superseries website. "I realised that even though he was a past World and Olympic
champion, he could get nervous too, so that made me confident." Christie added: "One of the best days of my life, I beat Lin Dan at his home crowd." But for a late rally by Lin, the result might have been even more embarrassing. Christie had an astounding 11 match points, and even though Lin clawed back seven of them, the Chinese played a weak shot wide of the sideline to go tumbling out of the tournament. Lin's great rival, the Malaysian Lee Chong Wei, had no such trouble in a 21-5, 21-7 demolition of Taiwan's Hsu Jen-hao.
attack from both France and Ireland, who were rebuked by World Rugby chiefs, including Beaumont, as they reaffirmed their support for its findings. Bernard Laporte, the president of the French Rugby Federation, was especially damning, telling AFP in an interview last month: "On security, we have the same number of points even though there are 52 murders a day in South Africa. It's crazy." But Laporte, a former coach of
the France national side and a former French government minister, was in more conciliatory mood on Wednesday, saying: "I'm proud France was chosen. We had a solid dossier like our two rivals. We will do our best." South Africa Rugby chief executive Jurie Roux had warned that going against the report's outcome would "laugh in the face of transparency and process". That led to accusations of arrogance but South Africa officials
made no attempt to hide their "bitter disappointment" and "desolation" with Wednesday's vote. SA Rugby president Mark Alexander added in a statement: "We did everything in our power to bring the tournament to South Africa and we expected to have that right confirmed today." Taking a swipe at the vote, he said the "view of the experts" had been overturned by World Rugby Council members "who may have had other factors to take into account". Roux complained that the process gone "opaque" over the last two weeks. Beaumont denied World Rugby had been "humiliated" as a result of having the report's recommendation rejected. "Just because it went to France doesn't mean there is humiliation," he said. "I was involved in a bid (for 2007) with England that got three votes many years ago — two of them were from England — so I can understand the disappointment." Beaumont, the captain of the 1980 British and Irish Lions beaten in a Test series in South Africa, added: "Like a game of rugby, some you win, some you lose." The 2023 tournament, the 10th Rugby World Cup, will coincide with what has long been regarded as the 200th anniversary of the sport when William Webb Ellis picked up a ball and ran with it at Rugby School in England. It will follow the 2019 edition in Japan and, for the second time in a row, means a Rugby World Cup will take place a year before the same country stages the Olympics, with Tokyo hosting the 2020 Games. England staged the most recent World Cup in 2015 which saw New Zealand win a second straight title after they triumphed on home soil in 2011.
Mixed doubles to be contested for the first time in Pyeongchang
It's all about family as curling Hamiltons vie for Olympics OMAHA, Nebraska, Nov 15, (AP): When one of his games at the US Olympic curling trials was in a lull, Matt Hamilton couldn't help but take a peek at the proceedings on the adjacent ice sheet. That's where his sister Becca was playing. The Hamiltons of McFarland, Wisconsin, are here together to chase their Olympic dreams. "It's kind of a surreal feeling," Matt said. "I've watched her come up and learn how to curl. I started two years before her and I kind of coached her a little bit all the way through. Now to see her playing at the top level in the US and be a contender along with myself in the same event is just awesome." Matt, 28, is a member of the team skipped by three-time Olympian and 2006 bronze medalist John Shuster, one of five competing to become the US men's team in the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Becca, 27, is the 2017 USA Curling Female Athlete of the Year and on the team skipped by Nina Roth, one of three in the women's division vying for an Olympic berth. "Really a special opportunity for my brother and I to be here," Becca said. "We've been working our butts off for the last four years for this op-
portunity. I'm glad he's by my side." Matt and Becca could be more than just US teammates. Next month, they will compete together as one of eight two-player teams in the mixed doubles trials in Blaine, Minnesota. Mixed doubles will be contested for the first time in Pyeongchang. The Hamiltons are the 2017 national champions. "Matt and I are a force to be reck-
country's chances of competing in Pyeongchang. The IOC ignored WADA's calls to ban Russia from last year's Rio Olympics over the McLaren report, instead leaving the decision to individual sports bodies. The Olympic body is expected to announce Russia's fate at an executive board meeting in December in Lausanne, where it will hear the results of two investigations into Russian doping. Meanwhile, Russian sports minister Pavel Kolobkov said on Wednesday the country has done everything in its power to have its anti-doping agency (RUSADA) reinstated after it was suspended over allegations of state-sponsored doping. RUSADA has been suspended since a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report in 2015 found evidence of state-sponsored doping and accused it of enabling rather than catching drug cheats.
oned with," Becca said. "We work well together on the ice and off the ice." In men's and women's play, each team is made up of four players. Players alternate delivering 42-pound stones down a narrow, 150-foot sheet into a 12-foot target area known as the "house." The skip stands in the house when not delivering and calls out where he or she wants the player
In this March 3, 2017 file photo, United States' Becca Hamilton releases the stone during a match against Switzerland in the Women's World Curling Championship in Beijing. (AP)
to place the stone. Two teammates follow the stone as it's moving and, as commanded by the skip, vigorously sweep the ice in front of the stone to cause it to slide farther or alter its direction. Teams are awarded points for their stones winding up closest to the center of the house. The game lasts 10 ends, akin to innings in baseball. The Hamiltons are among a host of family members who have competed together at the highest levels of curling over the years. Twin sisters Sarah and Taylor Anderson are at the trials with the Cory Christensen-skipped team, and sisters Cassie and Jamie Johnson were on the 2006 Olympic team. Matt and Becca both played soccer, among other sports, before they were introduced to curling. Their father, Scott, curled in a league for about a year, but Matt didn't get into the sport until a friend invited him to try it in 2004. Two years later, Becca began playing. Scott and Cathy Hamilton both are in Omaha to cheer on their kids. "My mom and dad are super proud," Becca said. "They're with us every step of the way in every tournament we're in, and that's all we
can ask for." Brother and sister spend hours in the gym working on strength and conditioning. "When you go out there and sweep 30 seconds as hard as you can, you have a minute and a half to be ready to go and do it again," Matt said. "Doing it on short bursts with 100 percent effort is the main thing." Matt's day job is as a research and development technician for Spectrum Brands near Madison, Wisconsin. He said he adjusts his work schedule so he can train and travel across the nation, and world, for competitions. Becca is in the Dick's Sporting Goods Contenders Program, which allows her to concentrate on her curling while squeezing in hours at a Dick's store whenever she can. "I'm my sister's biggest fan and I know she's mine," Matt said. "We love to compete against each other. We love to chirp in each other's ears. She's really witty. I might say something, but she'll get me back for sure. It's a fun relationship, and she's a good little sister and I wouldn't trade her for anybody." It was apparent Sunday, when both were playing at the same time, that big brother keeps an eye on her.
'Lack of contemporaneous evidence'
No charges against British Cycling or Sky after doping probe LONDON, Nov 15, (AFP): A 14-month investigation by United Kingdom Anti-Doping into allegations of wrongdoing at British Cycling and Team Sky has ended with no charges being brought against either organisation due to a "lack of contemporaneous evidence". An inquiry was launched in September 2016 after British newspaper the Daily Mail reported a mystery package had been delivered to Richard Freeman, the doctor of now retired Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins, then a Sky rider. The package, reportedly delivered at the end of the 2011 Wiggins Criterium du Dauphine race in France, was alleged to have contained a banned corticosteroid, but Freeman insisted it was the decongestant fluimucil, a legal substance. United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) said that despite conducting
CYCLING interviews with 37 current and former staff at both British Cycling and Team Sky, it had been unable to prove or disprove Freeman's claims. UKAD said the investigation would now be closed unless new evidence came to light. "Due to the lack of contemporaneous evidence, UKAD has been unable to definitively confirm the contents of the package," the body said on Wednesday. "The significant likelihood is that it is now impossible to do so." An internet hack believed to have been carried out by the Russian Fancy Bears group revealed Wiggins had medical exemptions to use the banned drug triamcinoline at the 2011 Tour de France, and again at the 2012 Tour de
Winners celebrate after winning at the Women's Speedball Sports Tournament with organisers in group photo.
PAAET holds Women's Speedball Tournament Women's Speedball Sport Tournament, which the Women's College at Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) organized recently under the auspices of PAAET Director and chairman of the speedball sport committee Yaqoub Al-Dashti, has dropped the
France and 2013 Giro d'Italia. He became the first Briton to win the Tour de France in 2012. The multiple Olympic gold medallist, together with Sky, has always denied any wrongdoing but the Fancy Bears revelations led to a wider debate about whether the medical exemption process in cycling was being abused.
curtain. Dana Khaled and Fatima Shamwa took the first position, while Hadeel Al-Nouri and Farah Abdul-Reza shared the second place, and the third position went to Noura Al-Azmi and Budour Al-Shammar respectively.
During the investigation it emerged that there was no written record of what the package contained, with Freeman saying his lone set of notes had disappeared when a laptop was stolen while he was on holiday and that no back-up copy existed. The UKAD inquiry also raised questions about the cross-over of person-
Head of sports activity section and dean of student affairs at PAAET Dr Hana Al-Ammar praised the level of performance of the participants, affirming that sports activity section will continue to organize women's activities, especially speedball, in the coming period.
nel between British Cycling and Team Sky. UKAD cannot punish British Cycling for a lack of medical records as this does not count as an anti-doping violation, but it said it would co-operate with any future inquiry by the General Medical Council, which regulates the conduct of doctors in Britain.
"Our investigation was hampered by a lack of accurate medical records being available at British Cycling," UKAD chief executive Nicole Sapstead said Wednesday. "This is a serious concern ... In this case the matter was further complicated by the cross over between personnel at British Cycling and Team Sky."
Team Sky, whose rider Chris Froome win a fourth Tour de France title this year, responded to UKAD's announcement Wednesday by saying: "We are pleased that UK Anti-Doping have concluded their investigation and that they will not be taking any further action. "We have always maintained that there was no wrongdoing and we have co-operated fully with UK Anti-Doping over the last year." British Cycling chief executive Julie Harrington accepted the UKAD findings revealed "an organisation and culture that, despite delivering on the world stage, did not meet the high standards that British Cycling today holds itself to". Harrington added that while the partnership between British Cycling and Team Sky had been "a positive force for cycling in this country", there had been some "blurring of the boundaries between the two" which "led to some failings in the way that processes and people were managed". She said that no-one was now simultaneously employed by both organisations and they each had their own procedures for managing medical records. British cycling great Bradley Wiggins said he and his family had been subjected to "living hell" after United Kingdom Anti-doping said on Wednesday it would not be charging him over a mystery package he received in 2011. A 14-month inquiry was launched in September 2016 after British newspaper the Daily Mail reported a mystery package meant for now retired Tour de France winner Wiggins had been delivered to Team Sky during a 2011 race in France. Wiggins, Sky and British Cycling were all told they would not face any charges for wrongdoing after UKAD said they had been hampered by a lack of "contemporaneous evidence". "This period of time has been a living hell for me and my family," Wiggins told his Twitter followers. "At times it has felt like nothing less than a
Dimitrov routs Goffin, races into last four at ATP Finals Federer downs Zverev in 'generation game'
Sri Lanka's Niroshan Dickwella plays a shot during the first day of the twoday warm up cricket match between Indian Board President's XI and Sri Lanka in Kolkata, India on Nov 11. (AP)
Risk of overkill taken into consideration
India want Sri Lanka to make them 'uncomfortable': Kohli KOLKATA, Nov 15, (AFP): India want underdogs Sri Lanka to force them into an "uncomfortable" zone in their latest Test series starting Thursday, captain Virat Kohli said. Kohli said his world number one Test side have to use the series to toughen up ahead of their visit to South Africa in January and England later in 2018. "If you can embrace playing in difficult conditions that will be the difference," Kohli told reporters. "We want to be uncomfortable, we want to embrace being uncomfortable and that's the most important thing. "We want to build our games in such a way that we want to look forward to playing anywhere in the world." India are unbeaten in a home series in any format since being defeated by South Africa in a one-day challenge in 2015. Sri Lanka are yet to win a Test on Indian soil, but they head for the opener in Kolkata with renewed hopes after
CRICKET winning two Tests against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates last month. Sri Lanka do not have happy memories from their last encounter against the Indians. They lost all three Tests, five oneday internationals and a Twenty20 international at home in July-September. The humiliating show prompted Sri Lanka's selection panel, led by batting great Sanath Jayasuriya, to resign. Kohli said India and Sri Lanka had to put on an exciting show to ward off suggestions that some of the sheen has been stripped from the series because the neighbours have played so many times in recent years. The two played Tests in Sri Lanka in 2015 then a limited overs series in India in 2016, ahead of the two tours this year. India will travel to Sri Lanka in 2018 to play the Independence Cup T20 tournament. Kohli acknowledged the risk of overkill. "It definitely has to be taken into consideration because you don't want fans going away from the game," he said. "We have to maintain a balance of how to engage fans and keep players fresh at the same time and keep cricket exciting and keep it competitive through out the year. That point will be discussed in future definitely."
Ponting hopes Ashes 'stroll' for Australia TOWNSVILLE, Australia, Nov 15, (RTRS): Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting says England's only hope of winning a Test in the upcoming Ashes series is the day/ night match in Adelaide and has predicted a 4-0 victory for the hosts. Ponting savaged England's batting order and said the absence of all-rounder Ben Stokes, along with injuries to their fast bowling stocks, would play into Australia's hands. His comments come after fierce criticism of the Australia batting line-up from former England greats Ian Botham and Graeme Swann. "I've been a bit more outward than normal about this one because I honestly think that Australia will win really easily," Ponting, who captained Australia in 77 Tests, told Cricket Australia's website (cricket. com.au). "If you look through the current England team, they're searching for an opener, they're searching for a number three, Stokes might not be there, a couple of their quicks have gone down. "I just think right now England have got more gaps and more cause for concern in not only in their 11 but in their entire squad, than what Australia have." England seamer Jake Ball is likely to miss the tourists' final warmup ahead of the first Ashes Test, beginning on Nov 23 in Brisbane, after suffering an ankle ligament strain in the tour match at Adelaide Oval. Their pace bowling stocks took a hit earlier this week when Steven Finn was ruled out of the tour with a knee injury and replaced by Tom Curran.
Kohli said India "have to be at our absolute top intensity all the time". Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal confirmed meanwhile that veteran Angelo Mathews will bat at the key number four position, but will not bowl as he recovers from injury. "He gives us confidence as a batting unit," said Chandimal. "He will bat at number four. He has all the experience, and at the top of the order, and we will get maximum out of it." Mathews has not scored a Test hundred since August 2015, typifying Sri Lanka's slump in the past three years.
LONDON, Nov 15, (Agencies): Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov raced into the semifinals of the ATP Finals with a 6-0, 6-2 demolition of David Goffin on Wednesday. Dimitrov has never quite lived up to his billing as the heir to Roger Federer's throne, but the world number six's eye-catching rout of Goffin was a reminder he is still young and gifted enough to finally make the breakthrough. The 26-year-old unloaded 18 winners to dismiss the Belgian world number eight at London's O2 Arena
TENNIS and seal his spot in the last four with one match to play. Dimitrov, who defeated Dominic Thiem in three sets in his Pete Sampras group opener, has already made history as the first Bulgarian to qualify for the season-ending Tour finals. And, while Federer remains the title favourite following Rafael Nadal's injury withdrawal, Dimitrov will fancy his chances of becoming the first debutant winner since Alex Corretja in 1998. Goffin, another first time Tour Finals qualifier, had made a flying start with his dramatic three-set victory over Nadal on Monday. But that victory was slightly devalued as the world number one was struggling with a knee injury and pulled out of the tournament after the match. Now Goffin will have to win his last group match against Thiem to have a chance of joining Dimitrov in the semifinals. World number two Federer, aiming for his seventh Tour Finals title, has already qualified for the last four from Boris Becker group after winning his first two matches. Alexander Zverev or Jack Sock will advance with Federer as the second
Bulgaria's Grigor Dmitrov returns to Belgium's David Goffin during their men's singles round-robin match on day four of the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London on Nov 15. (AFP)
qualifier from the Becker group. Dimitrov had won three of his four previous meetings with Goffin and he was quick to establish control once again. Goffin had a strapping around his left knee and Dimitrov immediately tested his mobility. Moving Goffin around the court with some deft groundstrokes, Dimitrov landed an early blow with a break in the second game of the first set. Dimitrov was dominating from the baseline and, with Goffin unable to find any rhythm, the Bulgarian broke twice more to take the set in just 27 minutes. Goffin fared little better in the second set as Dimitrov made it nine game in a row to take a 3-0 lead. The Belgian finally held serve in the 10th game, sparking mocking cheers
Roger Federer celebrates defeating Alexander Zverev on day three of the ATP Finals at the O2 Arena in London on Nov 14. (AP)
from the crowd as he avoided the embarrassment of a total whitewash. Dimitrov was warned for a coaching violation when the umpire said his coach Daniel Vallverdu told him to "use your forehand". The Bulgarian claimed he didn't hear it, but he regained his composure to close out the victory. Earlier, Roger Federer marched into the semifinals at the ATP Finals once again on Tuesday but he made hard work of the task before finally prevailing 7-6(6), 5-7, 6-1 in a high-quality battle of the generations with Germany's Alexander Zverev. The 36-year-old six-times champion may have been giving away 16 years to the youngster fancied to be the game's next major force but Federer proved in a dominant third set that, for the moment, he still remains a cut above his young pursuers. The triumph in two hours and 11 minutes ensured the 19-times grand slam champion booked a place in the last four for the 14th time in 15 appearances and with the tournament still only three days old. It also meant that Zverev and Jack Sock will now meet on Thursday to decide the other qualifier from the Boris Becker group. Sock earlier lived up to his childhood nickname of "Showtime" by producing a dramatic comeback triumph 5-7 6-2 7-6(4) over the erratic Marin Cilic, who is now eliminated after two straight defeats. World number two Federer looks even more of an overwhelming favourite for a seventh crown in the absence of Rafael Nadal, who has pulled out injured from the tournament. "It sounds great," Federer told the O2 Arena crowd after being told of his record of 14 semifinal appearances.
He had high praise for 20-year-old Zverev, too, after being tested for two fierce sets before finally dismantling the increasingly weary-looking world number three. "I'm very excited for his future. He's a wonderful guy and a great, great player." With no classic Nadal clash on the horizon, the duel between Federer and Zverev, who had shared the spoils in their previous four meetings, was the most eagerly anticipated of the week. It did not disappoint, with Federer immediately forced to save three break points to rescue the opening game and Zverev also digging deep to save one in the next. Zverev's immaculate serving kept Federer at bay despite the master testing the apprentice with the variety and mixed pace of his shotmaking. At 6-5 down, the German saved the second of two set points in the flukiest fashion, his backhand limping off the top of the net for an outright winner. In a tight tiebreak, Federer came back from a shaky start at 4-0 down and rescued a set point of his own before cashing in on Zverev errors and testing the youngster's patience until it cracked in a long rally. When Federer cruised to a 2-0 lead in the second set for the loss of just a point, it seemed a quick kill was on the cards but two double faults in a poor service game saw Zverev back in the contest. Looking increasingly irritated as his first serve percentage dipped to an alarming 43 percent, the misfiring Federer was broken again at 5-6 as Zverev levelled the match. Yet the German's own serve, hitherto a huge weapon, also began to malfunction in the final set as Federer found a new gear.
Sublime Eriksen propels Denmark to WC Ventura 'axed' as Italy coach ROME, Nov 15, (AFP): Gian Piero Ventura was sacked as Italy coach on Wednesday after the four-time champions failed to reach the World Cup finals. The veteran coach's fate was sealed after a crisis meeting of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in Rome. The 69-year-old had refused to resign despite a 1-0 aggregate play-off defeat to Sweden on Monday saw Italy miss the World Cup for the first time in 60 years. "As of today Gian Piero Ventura is no longer the coach of the national team," the FIGC said in a statement. Ventura had defended his leadership as "one of the best records in 40 years" despite failing to lead the 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006 winners to their 19th World Cup. "I lost only two games in two years," he had told Italian television show Le Iene in a brief interview. Since the former Torino coach took over in July 2016, Italy have lost three matches — against France in Bari (31), Spain in Madrid (3-0) and against Sweden in the World Cup first-leg playoff in Solna (1-0) — winning nine and drawing four. Former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has been touted by the Italian press as the favourite to replace Ventura, as the 58-year-old Italian is free since being sacked by Bayern Munich at the end of September. Argentine legend Diego Maradona lamented Italy's failure to qualify for next year's World Cup, regretting the absence of "one of the greats" of international football. Four-time world champions Italy missed out on a place in the finals after Monday's 0-0 draw in Milan in the second leg of their European play-off sent Sweden through 1-0 on aggregate. "I am very sorry that Italy didn't make it to the World Cup. The Italians always offer a certain flair to the tournament," Maradona wrote on his Facebook page Tuesday. "I watched the match and it seems to me that Italy played as Sweden wanted, crossing the ball. And they had two huge centre backs," added the former Napoli star, a World Cup winner in 1986.
Danes demolish Ireland in second leg DUBLIN, Nov 15, (AFP): Christian Eriksen's magnificent hat-trick inspired Denmark to a 5-1 demolition of the Republic of Ireland in Tuesday's second leg of their play-off in Dublin to clinch a spot at next year's World Cup. Following Saturday's stalemate in Copenhagen, Ireland got their home leg off to the perfect start when Shane Duffy headed them into the lead after only six minutes, but Denmark struck twice before the break and three more in the second half to seal their place in Russia. "It is an incredible feeling. We have been fighting for so long to get to the World Cup. We are very much looking forward to it," said Eriksen. "It is not often I score any hat-trick so of course it is incredible."
The equaliser arrived in fortuitous circumstances on 19 minutes when Cyrus Christie helped bundle in Andreas Christensen's effort, but there was nothing lucky about Eriksen's thunderbolt for the second or his second-half brace. Nicklas Bendtner, on as a late substitute, completed the rout in the final minute with a penalty after a clumsy trip on him by James McClean, extending Ireland's wait for a first World Cup appearance since 2002. "We're really disappointed. We were well beaten in the end," said Ireland coach Martin O'Neill. "The two goals we conceded within a couple of minutes knocked us. We had to chase the game and Denmark took advantage. They deserved to go through." O'Neill, who had already agreed a new contact to lead Ireland into the qualifiers for the 2020 European Championship, will ship criticism for again selecting his team without the craft of Wes Hoolahan. The 35-year-old, one of four Ireland players likely to retire from international football, was only introduced at the interval with Ireland needing three goals to redeem their cause. Duffy will certainly be around for the next campaign and his role as a central figure was solidified by his second crucial goal of the campaign. After Daryl Murphy earned a free-kick on the halfway line, Robbie Brady's Eriksen delivery was telegraphed perfectly for the giant centreback to arrive on cue to nod past the onrushing Kasper Schmeichel. That early breakthrough ensured the game opened up and Murphy nearly added a second only to ripple the sidenetting with a volley. Denmark began to take encouragement from the space they were finding behind the home side's rigid defence and a piece of magic from Pione Sisto conjured the equaliser. His raid from the wing left Stephen
Denmark teammates celebrate after winning the World Cup qualifying playoff second leg soccer match between Ireland and Denmark at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland on Nov 14. (AP)
Ward for dead and the left-wing cross found Christensen, whose close-range effort clipped the inside of the post and deflected in off the luckless Christie. Three minutes later and the task deepened for Ireland. Ward was again exposed by losing the ball and Nicolai Jorgensen picked up Eriksen and he found the top corner past Darren Randolph with a first-time shot from 25 yards. O'Neill's decision to ring the changes at the break did little to ease the pressure as Sisto forced a reflex save from Randolph with a shot from distance.
Germany remain unbeaten
England hold Brazil
'Young' Three Lions are Stindl denies France, Spain held by Russia Belgium-Japan friendly nearly cancelled over terror threat building bridges: coach LONDON, Nov 15, (AFP): England manager Gareth Southgate hopes his young team have started to win back supporters following successive 0-0 draws against heavyweights Germany
SOCCER and Brazil. England endured a torrid 2016, humiliated by Iceland at the European
England goalkeeper Joe Hart makes a save besides Brazil's Gabriel Jesus during the international friendly soccer match between England and Brazil at Wembley Stadium in London, Britain on Nov 14. (AP)
Championship before new manager Sam Allardyce was brought down by a newspaper sting, hastening Southgate's appointment. But having qualified for next year's World Cup, they made light of a glut of absentees to hold Brazil and Germany — the world's two top-ranked teams — to goalless draws in their last two games of 2017. "We're building and Brazil are pretty close to the finished article. They're a settled team, an outstanding team," Southgate told reporters after Tuesday's stalemate with Brazil at Wembley. "We're at a different point on our journey, but we will take huge belief from what we've done. "I think and hope the English public have seen that these boys have given absolutely everything and have played with pride and passion. "I hope there's a little bit more of a connection between the supporters and the team." While Brazil's attack bristled with star quality, England's defence was striking in its relative callowness. But Liverpool's Joe Gomez shone on his full debut, earning the manof-the-match award for successfully shackling Neymar, and Leicester City's Harry Maguire, making only his third appearance, grew into the game impressively. Southgate praised Gomez, 20, for his "calmness" and hailed John Stones for a "really mature" performance at the heart of such an inexperienced three-man back line.
PARIS, Nov 15, (AFP): Lars Stindl scored a last-gasp equaliser as world champions Germany played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with France in Cologne, while Spain were held by Russia in a 3-3 friendly thriller. France and Germany are among the favourites for next year's World Cup in Russia, and Stindl's injury-time effort extended Joachim Loew's side's unbeaten run to 21 matches. "We conceded the goal from nothing to make it 2-1, but we also showed the morale to come back from behind," said stand-in Germany captain Sami Khedira. In the two teams' first clash since the French won 2-0 in the Euro 2016 semi-finals, Didier Deschamps' men scored a brilliantly-worked opening goal in the 33rd minute, as Anthony Martial danced between two defenders and squared for Alexandre Lacazette to tap into an empty net. Loew's hosts equalised before the hour mark, though, as Mesut Ozil led a rapid counter-attack and played in RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner to slide a finish through the legs of the onrushing Steve Mandanda. But the visitors still looked threatening going forward and retook the lead with 19 minutes to play. This time it was teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe who was the creator, playing a pin-point through ball that Arsenal striker Lacazette latched onto before confidently finishing past Paris Saint-Germain second-choice goalkeeper Kevin Trapp
BRUSSELS, Nov 15, (AFP): Belgium's friendly international against Japan was almost cancelled on Tuesday due to what Belgian authorities claimed was a credible terrorist threat, local media reported on Wednesday. "We didn't know if we were going to play an hour before the match," Belgian Football Association spokesperson Stefaan Van Loock said. Belgian media reported that during wiretapping operations Brussels police heard talk of a planned attack at the Jan Breydel
Stadium in Bruges. Belgium has been rocked by a number of attacks in the last three years that have killed 36 people. In March 2016, three coordinated suicide attacks ripped through Brussels Airport and a metro station in the centre of the Belgian capital, killing 32 and injured hundreds more. After picking up the information on Tuesday Brussels police notified their Bruges counterparts and the Belgian anti-terrorism body Coordination Unit for Threat
Analysis (CUTA). The authorities considered cancelling the match while security outside the stadium was strengthened. As a result of the checks, several hundred spectators didn't enter the ground until half an hour after kick-off. However Police found no evidence of a planned attack, and at the end of the match fans left the stadium without any problems. Belgium won the match 1-0 with a goal from Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku.
for his first international brace. The 26-year-old had only scored once in his previous 15 France appearances, but sent out a message that he could take Olivier Giroud's place up front at international level, as he already has done for his club. But Germany kept probing and snatched a draw as substitutes Stindl and Mario Goetze combined for the former's fourth international goal.
thrilling 3-3 draw in Saint Petersburg, despite a rare international brace for Sergio Ramos. Julen Lopetegui's visitors took control through a Jordi Alba header and Ramos' first spot-kick, but Smolov and Alexei Miranchuk brought Russia level with goals either side of half-time. Real Madrid centre-back Ramos completed his first double for Spain since scoring two against San Marino in 2005, but Smolov grabbed Russia a draw after an encouraging performance. It was still a satisfactory international break for 2010 World Cup winners Spain, after a 5-0 thrashing of Costa Rica in Malaga on Saturday. "Russia showed a high level of play tonight as their players all looked extremely motivated," coach
Lopetegui said. "Russia haven't played any competitive games and their players worked flat out in every single friendly match. But we also played well tonight." Portugal struggled to a 1-1 draw against the United States in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo as Vitorino Antunes cancelled out Weston McKennie's early opener in Leiria. Uruguay fell to a 2-1 defeat by Austria, who failed to qualify for Russia, in Vienna despite a goal for Edinson Cavani, while World Cup debutants Iceland were held 1-1 by 2022 hosts Qatar in Doha. The Netherlands made it two wins from two since their qualifying catastrophe by brushing aside Romania 3-0 in Bucharest as Ryan Babel scored his first international goal since May 2008.
SOCCER The game was played under tight security after a friendly between the two teams at the Stade de France was hit by the Paris terror attacks on Nov 13, 2015. Spain were denied a seventh consecutive victory as Fedor Smolov grabbed World Cup hosts Russia a
'It's a good decision'
ISL seeking Indian magic, sheds foreign stars NEW DELHI, Nov 15, (AFP): The Indian Super League has slashed the number of high-earning foreign stars for its new season starting Friday but foreign coaches, including ex-England heroes Teddy Sheringham and Steve Coppell, will be in charge of every team. Indian fans have been used to seeing the likes of Italy's Alessandro Del Piero, French striker Nicolas Anelka, and Argentine Diego Forlan during the ISL's first three seasons. But as the cash-rich league comes under pressure to nurture home-grown players, teams are now required to have at least six Indians on the field. The veterans are nearly all gone, with Atletico de Kolkata's Robbie Keane and Kerala Blasters' ex-Manchester United stars Dimitar Berbatov and Wes Brown among the few who have tasted football's big-time. It means the spotlight will now fall on the Indian players, as well as the foreign coaches in the new championship which has been expanded to 10 teams, increasing the season to almost five months. Among the managers are Sheringham, 51, who joined reigning champions Kolkata in July, and Coppell at new team Jamshedpur, which is backed by the Tata business empire.
Former Real Madrid player Miguel Angel Portugal is at Delhi Dynamos, while Ranko Popovic at FC Pune City has coached in his native Serbia, Austria, Japan, Spain and Thailand. Sheringham welcomed the new player restrictions, which follow a period of unaccustomed success for 105th-ranked India after they qualified for the Asian Cup for only the fourth time. "I think it's a good decision to have six Indians on the pitch at all times and it means Indians getting more chances
SOCCER to play and show their skills," said Sheringham, whose side start against Kerala Blasters in Friday's opener in Kochi. Sheringham, who made 51 England appearances between 1993 and 2002, is one of three English coaches in the ISL, along with fellow ex-Manchester United player Coppell and John Gregory at Chennaiyin. Sheringham moved to India from unglamorous English fourth-tier side Stevenage. Packed stadiums in India, considered one of football's new frontiers, drew him to the ISL. "I was initially sceptical and asked myself whether I needed to come all the way to India to manage," he said.
"But then I spoke with people — Steve Coppell of course and even (former Kerala player-manager) David James and they all had good things to say. "Then when I was told we'll be playing in front of 60,000 supporters, I thought that's the sort of atmosphere I want to manage in," said Sheringham. Six Indian venues saw big attendances, especially for India's matches, when the country hosted the Under-17 World Cup in October. Northeast United's head coach Joao Carlos Pires de Deus was among many who have been surprised by the quality of Indian footballers. "You ask me if the Brazilians in my team will produce magic... but what is magic? It's not limited to Brazilians," said the Portuguese former left-back. "Even the Indian players in our team are very skillful and can produce a lot of magic. You see the kid with blonde hair in the U17 World Cup team (Komal Thatal) and he was producing magic. So it's not limited to a nationality," he added. The ISL, whose city-based franchise format apes cricket's successful Indian Premier League, has grown in popularity since it was launched in 2014, outstripping the 10-year-old I-League in broadcast ratings.
Germany's Toni Kroos (right), and France's Kylian Mbappe vie for the ball during the soccer friendly match between Germany and France in Cologne, Germany on Nov 14. (AP)
Ex-Argentine official commits suicide
Fox, Televisa and Globo paid bribes: prosecution witness NEW YORK, Nov 15, (Agencies): A prosecution witness in the US corruption trial of three former soccer officials testified on Tuesday that Fox Sports, Mexico's Grupo Televisa and Brazil's Globo paid bribes to secure television rights for soccer matches. The testimony came during the first trial to emerge from the US investigation of bribery surrounding FIFA, soccer's world governing body. Alejandro Burzaco, forBurzaco mer head of sports marketing company Torneos y Competencias, named the companies while being questioned by a prosecutor in Brooklyn federal court. Torneos and Fox Sports, a unit of Twenty-First Century Fox Inc, jointly owned a sports marketing venture, T&T Sports Marketing Ltd, according to Burzaco. Fox, Televisa and Globo were not
3 arrive home
Players of UCLA face punishment LOS ANGELES, Nov 15, (AP): Three UCLA basketball players detained in China on suspicion of shoplifting returned home, where they may be disciplined by the school as a result of the international scandal. Freshmen LiAngelo Ball, Jalen Hill and Cody Riley arrived at Los Angeles International Airport late Tuesday afternoon after a 12-hour flight from Shanghai. They ignored reporters' shouted questions while making their way through a horde of media outside and getting into a van that took off from the departure level. Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said the matter "has been resolved to the satisfaction of the Chinese authorities." The players were detained in Hangzhou for questioning following allegations of shoplifting last week before the 23rdranked Bruins beat Georgia Tech in their season-opening game in Shanghai as part of the Pac-12 China game. The rest of the UCLA team returned home last Saturday. A person with knowledge of the Pac-12's decision said any discipline involving the trio would be up to UCLA. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the conference doesn't plan any sanctions. UCLA Chancellor Gene Block said the school is weighing its options. "I want to be clear that we take seriously any violations of the law," he said in a statement. "In this particular case, both Athletics and the Office of Student Conduct will review this incident and guide any action with respect to the involved students. Such proceedings are confidential, which limits the specific information that can be shared." There was no immediate word on the trio's status for the team's home opener Wednesday night against Central Arkansas. The school said the three players, along with coach Steve Alford and athletic director Dan Guerrero, will make their first public comments about the matter at a campus news conference Wednesday, but won't take questions. Scott thanked President Donald Trump, the White House and the State Department for their efforts in resolving what he called "the incident with authorities in Hangzhou, China." He indicated that UCLA made "significant efforts" on behalf of its athletes. It wasn't clear under what terms the players were freed to return to the U.S. "We are all very pleased that these young men have been allowed to return home to their families and university," Scott said. Trump said Tuesday he had a long conversation about the three players' status with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. Ball, Hill and Riley were expected to have an immediate impact as part of UCLA's highly touted recruiting class. Instead, they are being talked about solely for their actions off the court.
US explores 2018 event with World Cup absentees: reports NEW YORK, Nov 15, (AFP): US Soccer Federation officials are looking into hosting pre-World Cup matches next year involving teams such as Italy, Chile, Ghana, Netherlands and the USA that failed to qualify for Russia, according to reports. Sports Illustrated, ESPN and The Washington Post reported Tuesday that US Soccer was exploring the
charged by US prosecutors in the case. Televisa spokesman Olmos Cruz Alejandro said the company could not comment without knowing more about the trial testimony. Fox Sports spokeswoman Terri Hines said the company had no immediate comment. Globo denied the allegations and said its internal checks did not find any illegal payments. Prosecutors also showed jurors a contract dated 2008 between T&T
and a Turks and Caicos-based entity called Somerton Corp, providing for a $3.7 million payment to Somerton. Burzaco said the contract was signed by James Ganley, former chief operating officer of Fox affiliate Fox Pan American Sports, and was a cover for bribes to people including former Argentine Football Association president and FIFA executive Julio Humberto Grondona, who died in 2014. Ganley is named as a defendant in a 2016 civil lawsuit in a Florida fed-
wait before the 2022 World Cup and provide some extra excitement for football fans in those countries, especially Italy, which missed the World Cup for the first time since 1958. The Americans failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986. The Dutch and Ghana had not missed out since 2002. In addition to each other, the na-
eral court by Florida-based soccer network GolTV, which claims that Ganley and others paid bribes for broadcast rights. Lawyers representing Ganley in that lawsuit could not be reached for comment. The three soccer officials on trial in Brooklyn are Juan ngel Napout, former president of the South American soccer governing body CONMEBOL and Paraguay's soccer federation; Manuel Burga, former president of Peru's soccer federation; and José Maria Marin, former presi-
tions could be popular pre-World Cup tuneup opponents and gathering them in America could secure visits from World Cup qualifiers from South America and Central America ahead of their Russia visits. Other nations that could be pulled into an event for World Cup absentees include Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Ireland.
dent of Brazil's soccer federation. Prosecutors claim the three accepted bribes in exchange for the award of rights to soccer tournaments. Burzaco told jurors that he helped arrange bribes paid to all three defendants, though his testimony went far beyond that, describing corruption throughout international soccer. He said Grondona and two other South American soccer officials on FIFA's executive committee, Nicolas Leoz and Ricardo Teixeira, were bribed to vote for Qatar to host the
SOCCER Leoz, who once led the South American soccer association CONMEBOL, and Teixeira, who led Brazil's soccer federation, are among the 42 people and entities charged by the United States, but are not in US custody. A former Argentine football official has reportedly committed suicide after he was accused of bribetaking in testimony to a trial of top former FIFA figures in New York. Jorge Delhon threw himself under a train in a Buenos Aires suburb on Tuesday, Argentine newspapers Clarin and La Nacion reported on their websites.
Celtics continue good run
Brooklyn Nets' Spencer Dinwiddie (8) drives past Boston Celtics' Al Horford (42) during the second half of an NBA basketball game on Nov 14 in New York. The Celtics won 109-102. (AP)
Raptors stop Rockets NEW YORK, Nov 15, (AP): Kyrie Irving returned to the lineup and scored 25 points while wearing a mask, and the Boston Celtics beat the Brooklyn Nets 109-102 on Tuesday night for their 13th straight victory.
NBA Results/Standings WASHINGTON, Nov 15, (RTRS): Results and standings from the NBA games on Tuesday. San Antonio Toronto
Boston Toronto NY Knicks Philadelphia Brooklyn
The Celtics remained unbeaten since an 0-2 start heading into their showdown Thursday in Boston against the NBA champion Golden State Warriors.
Detroit Milwaukee Cleveland Indiana Chicago
Washington Orlando Miami Charlotte Atlanta
Marcus Morris added 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Jayson Tatum scored 19 points for the Celtics. Irving missed one game with a minor facial fracture after he was hit by teammate Aron Baynes on Friday. He fiddled with the mask frequently, but it didn't seem to affect his play much. He made a jumper with 3:40 left after the Nets had closed within four points and drove for another basket about 35 seconds later. Boston then finally put it away with Jaylen Brown's alley-oop feed to Tatum before Irving hit two free throws to make it 106-96. Joe Harris scored 19 points and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 16 points and nine rebounds for the Nets.
Raptors 129, Rockets 113
UCLA basketball player LiAngelo Ball is surrounded by the media as he leaves Los Angeles International Airport on Nov 14 in Los Angeles. (AP)
idea of gathering top football nations from several continents that failed to reach the global showdown for friendlies or a tournament of some sort. Working with the US governing body for football is Soccer United Marketing, the marketing arm of Major League Soccer. For every nation involved, such an event could ease the five-year
2022 World Cup. After Qatar came up short in the first rounds of voting, Grondona and Teixeira cornered Leoz in a restroom, Burzaco said. "They shake him out and say, 'What the hell are you doing? Are you the one not voting?'" he said, adding that Qatar was voted host of the 2022 World Cup after the encounter.
In Houston, DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points and Toronto built a big lead in the first half and held on for a win over Houston. James Harden had 38 points and made 19 of 19 foul shots for the Rockets, who ended a six-game winning streak. Houston scored six straight points, including three free throws from Harden, to make it 108-103 with about 7 1/2 minutes left. Delon Wright made a free throw for the Raptors soon after that, and OG Anunoby connected for Toronto's first
San Antonio Spurs forward Kyle Anderson (1) slam dunks as Dallas Mavericks center Salah Mejri (50) and forward Harrison Barnes (40) look on during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas on Nov 14. (AP)
field goal in more than three minutes on a 3-pointer with 6:25 remaining. After Wright's layup, Kyle Lowry stole the ball from Harden, and DeRozan finished on the other end with a dunk to make it 116-103. Harden got Houston going again with a four-point play. The free throw was his 19th, setting a franchise record for most foul shots without a miss in a game. DeRozan and Serge Ibaka had backto-back dunks after Harden's big play to make it 120-107 with about three minutes left and send many of the home fans toward the exits.
Spurs 97, Mavericks 91 In Dallas, LaMarcus Aldridge scored a season-high 32 points in his hometown and San Antonio beat Dallas. Gregg Popovich became the fastest NBA coach to 500 road wins. He got there in 835 away games, 41 fewer than Pat Riley. Aldridge, a product of Dallas' Seagoville High School, scored eight points during a decisive stretch of the fourth quarter. Patty Mills added a season-high 19 points for the Spurs.
Dallas Houston
Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L 13 2 8 5 7 6 7 6 5 9 Central Division W L 10 3 7 6 7 7 6 8 2 9 Southeast Division W L 8 5 8 6 6 7 5 7 2 12
PCT .867 .615 .538 .538 .357
GB 4 5 5 7-1/2
Minnesota Denver Portland Oklahoma City Utah
GB 3 3-1/2 4-1/2 7
Golden State LA Lakers LA Clippers Phoenix Sacramento
GB 0-1/2 2 2-1/2 6-1/2
Houston San Antonio New Orleans Memphis Dallas
Western Conference Northwest Division W L 8 5 8 6 7 6 6 7 6 8 Pacific Division W L 11 3 6 8 5 8 5 10 3 10 Southwest Division W L 11 4 9 5 8 6 7 6 2 13
GB 0-1/2 1 2 2-1/2
GB 5 5-1/2 6-1/2 7-1/2
GB 1-1/2 2-1/2 3 9
Mykhailiuk leads Kansas past Kentucky CHICAGO, Nov 15, (AP): A chance to build some Selfawareness was too much for Kansas to pass up. Beating a marquee program was a nice little bonus. Svi Mykhailiuk scored 17 points, and Devonte Graham hit the clinching free throws to give No. 4 Kansas a 65-61 victory over No. 7 Kentucky on Tuesday night that put Self in a tie for second with Roy Williams on the Jayhawks' alltime wins list. "It's an all win and no lose game cause nobody is going to look at it and say well, you lost to Kentucky or you lost to Duke or Michigan State and have it be a negative," Self said after his team scrapped for the win in a seesaw game. "I think what this game does early in the season — if you can stand to watch it, because I know that wasn't very pretty — I think what this game is it obviously gives you confidence, but it makes you more aware of who you are and I think that's always good." In a game that matched the two winningest Division I programs, the Jayhawks (2-0) prevailed after the two teams spent most of the second half trading baskets and leads. Malik Newman had a key rebound in the closing seconds and hit two foul shots to help Kansas knock off the Wildcats (2-1). The down-to-wire game capped a powerhouse Champions Classic doubleheader that started with No. 1 Duke beating No. 2 Michigan State 88-81. Mykhailiuk hit three 3-pointers. Udoka Azubuike scored 13 points. Newman scored 12 and Graham had 11, helping Self pick up his 418th win at Kansas to tie Williams for second behind Phog Allen (519). "We had already discussed in the huddle, we needed three
stops," Newman said. "I think that was like the second or third one, so I mean it was just all about getting stops like coach said and I mean we knew we couldn't give up (any) second shots, so it was all out for all the rebounds and just went after it." Kevin Knox scored 20 and nailed three 3s for Kentucky (2-1). Hamidou Diallo added 14 points. But the Wildcats came up short after rallying to beat Utah Valley and hanging on for a four-point win against Vermont. "We really fought tonight. A lot of people had us losing this game at least by 20, 30 points," Knox said. "But we said before the game it wasn't (going to) happen. They're a veteran team. We're a really young team. A lot of people thought they had the advantage. But tonight we really fought our butts off." Tight finish Kentucky was leading 57-55 after Nick Richards scored on a tip-in. Mykhailiuk hit a short jumper for Kansas and Graham hit a free throw. Newman then hit a 3 to bump the Jayhawks' lead to 61-57 with just over two minutes left. It was 61-59 when Kentucky's PJ Washington blocked a 3 by Mykhailiuk as the shot clock went off with 33 seconds left, giving the Wildcats a chance to tie or take the lead. But Knox missed a jumper along the baseline. Newman grabbed the rebound for Kansas and hit two free throws with 17 seconds left to make it 63-59. Kentucky's Sacha Killeya-Jones scored on a put-back with eight seconds left. But Graham made two foul shots with seven seconds remaining to close things out.
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Jedinak fires Australia into World Cup Honduras bid ends SYDNEY, Nov 15, (AFP): Captain Mile Jedinak's second-half hat-trick fired Australia into next year's World Cup in Russia on Wednesday as they swept past Honduras 3-1 in the second leg of their playoff in Sydney. The Aston Villa midfielder's free kick went in off Henry Figueroa on 54 minutes, and he then buried two penalties in the space of 13 minutes before Honduras scrambled a late
SOCCER consolation through Alberth Elis. The final whistle heralded a massive roar from the 77,000 home crowd at the Sydney Olympic stadium as the Socceroos went through 3-1 on aggregate following last week's 0-0 first leg in San Pedro Sula. It will be Australia's fourth consecutive World Cup and fifth overall, and follows a mammoth 22-game, 29-month qualifying campaign crisscrossing Asia, the Middle East and Central America. "It's overwhelming to be honest. When you are coaching your own nation to burden of responsibility is even greater, you know what it means to the nation and the game," said Australia coach Ange Postecoglou. He added: "They got what they deserved. It wasn't by luck or chance, they believed in something that we started and right to the end they displayed the resilience and belief that has made me proud all the way along." After a cagey first half, the game unravelled for Honduras when Jedinak, who has been struggling with injury for several months, struck three times in the last 36 minutes. Scoring chances were scarce in a cat-and-mouse opening period, with the best falling in the 37th minute to Celt-
Australia's Mile Jedinak (center), fights for the ball with Honduras' players during their 2018 World Cup qualification playoff football match at Stadium Australia in Sydney on Nov 15. (AFP)
Honduras' Alberth Elis (left), fights for the ball with Australia's Aziz Behich during their World Cup 2018 qualifying football match in Sydney on Nov 15. (AFP)
Qualifiers for 2018 World Cup PARIS, Nov 15, (AFP): The 30 nations that have already booked their place for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, after Australia qualified on Wednesday: Europe: Belgium, England, Germany, Iceland, Poland, Russia (as hosts), Serbia, Spain, France, Portugal, Switzerland, Croatia, Sweden, Denmark Africa: Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia Asia: Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Australia North, Central America and Caribbean: Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama South America: Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Colombia The one remaining place goes to the winner of the intercontinental playoff between Peru vs New Zealand.
ic's Tom Rogic, whose shot was well saved by Donis Escober. Argentine referee Nestor Pitana issued a total of three yellow cards, two to Australia's Matt Jurman and Aaron Mooy and the other to Maynor Figueroa for a foul on Tim Cahill. Australia were fielding four across the back, with deep-lying midfielder Jedinak adding to the rearguard, but Honduras posed little threat in the first half. Jedinak broke the deadlock in the 54th minute with free kick which took
a wicked deflection off Figueroa, but was eventually credited to the skipper after initially being marked as an own goal. The goal revved up the Socceroos and the capacity home crowd, and Cahill came close with a looping header but Escober scrambled it away off the woodwork. Cahill's night was over after 66 minutes, replaced by striker Tomi Juric and met with a standing ovation from the home crowd in salute to his courageous fightback from a recent ankle injury.
No pay row at WC: Nigeria LAGOS, Nov 15, (RTRS): Nigeria's football federation (NFF) has signed an agreement with its players which it says will avoid the bonus and pay rows that have blighted the team's past World Cup campaigns. In a statement, the NFF described it as an "historic and binding agreement that will eliminate all manner of rancour and distractions around Nigeria's preparation and participation" at the World Cup in Russia next year. Nigeria, who have qualified for their sixth World Cup, have reached the round of sixteen three times and been eliminated in the group stage twice. The Super Eagles were involved in a protracted dispute ahead of the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil and a bonus row also disrupted their World Cup campaign the following year, prompting the players to boycott a training session. Similar problems have affected other African teams. Ghana's players refused to train over a pay dispute at one point during the last World Cup and around $3 million in cash eventually arrived in Brasilia with a convoy of cars bringing the money to the team's headquarters.
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