Saturday, December 20, 2014 Issue No. 6505 вЂ�Designer needs to be upfront’ Deputy Premier to patronise Al Ayam Cultural Fair Lipsticks were once made using fish scalesВ 8P 6 8P 2 8P 20 TURKEY, QATAR TO FORGE TIES Bieber loses 3.5 million followers 8P 18 BITTERSWEET BALL GAME DT News Network I t’s not yet time for the family of Irfan Ahmed Baksh Mohammed to sit and relax, as the woes are piling up each day. Fortunately, the High Court had ordered to deposit the compensation in the bank account of Mr. Irfan, who had been brutally assaulted by anti-government thugs during the 2011 unrest. But now, Ghulam Nabi, the muezzin’s brother, alleged that their lawyer, who fought the case on behalf of Mr. Irfan, had started threatening him, demanding the payment of her fees. However, the payment has been stuck at Punjab Bank in Pakistan as the amount has been credited to the victim’s account. Read the full story on Page 3 Mr. Nabi with Mr. Irfan (File picture) 8P 7 No need for instructors to change cars DT News Network T raffic Culture Acting Director in the General Directorate of Traffic Major Osama Bahar said, soon citizens as well as residents could take the driving tests on cars having automatic transmission. Speaking to DT News, he said, taking the test on automatic cars would be an option. “Instructors do not need to buy new cars, they can train the students in the manual cars. The change will be there only for the test. There will be the option to choose manual or automatic cars,” he said. Under the current traffic rules, all driving students need to pass the test on a manual car to obtain driving licence.В Major Bahar also urged the instructors to wait until the officials announce all the details before making decisions about buying a car.В Read the full story on Page 2 Israeli air planes strike in Gaza Strip Gaza City sraeli air planes struck targets in the southern Gaza Strip, witnesses said yesterday, hours after a rocket from the Palestinian enclave hit the Jewish state. A spokesman for Gaza’s health ministry said there I were no casualties in the attack, the first air strike by Israel on the Palestinian enclave since the August truce that ended the deadly 50-day war between the sides. Meanwhile, Israel’s Foreign Minister on Thursday described as a gimmick a Palestinianproposed U.N. Security Council draft resolution that calls for a peace deal within a year and an end to the occupation of Palestinian territories by the end of 2017. Related story on Page 7 Heavy smoke billows following an Israeli military strike in Gaza City in this July 29, 2014 file picture. 2 Saturday, December 20, 2014 Auto cArs optionAl Driving test Blast hurts three cops Manama Three policemen sustained minor injuries in an explosion at Bani Jamrah yesterday. Interior Ministry stated in its Twitter that the policemen were patrolling the area when the incident happened. “Necessary steps are being taken,” the ministry tweeted. Obama warns N. Korea Washington US President Barack Obama yesterday warned North Korea it would face retaliation for a crippling cyber attack on Sony Pictures over an irreverent film comedy that infuriated Pyongyang. Obama said the movie giant had “made a mistake” in canceling the Christmas Day release of “The Interview,” a madcap romp about a CIA plot to kill North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. Sony defended its decision, made after anonymous hackers invoked the 9/11 attacks in threatening cinemas screening the film, prompting theater chains to say they would not risk showing it. Controversial bill made law Nairobi Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday signed into law a controversial anti-terrorism bill that sparked brawls in parliament and provoked charges that it violates basic freedoms. Kenyatta said he was satisfied that the text adopted by the National Assembly on Thursday did not breach the country’s bill of rights. “All concerns raised by the different stakeholders were addressed by the relevant parliamentary committees,” he told journalists, calling on all Kenyans to read the new law and decide for themselves. “Its intent is one - just one - to protect the lives and property of all the citizens of this republic,” he said. The new law gives authorities sweeping powers to crack down on terror suspects and curtail press freedoms in a country that has suffered a string of attacks by Somalia’s Al Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents. MohammedВ Zafran/ DTNN news@dt.bh T hose vying for the driving licence will have, for the first time, the option to choose taking the driving test on automatic cars, the traffic directorate confirmed. Driving tests on automatic cars will be introduced next year, Traffic Culture Acting Director in the General Directorate of Traffic Major Osama Bahar revealed to DT News. Under the current traffic rules, all students need to pass the test on a manual car to obtain driving licence.В Speaking to DT News he said, “Taking the test on an automatic car will become optional soon. It has not been decided when it will be implemented.” However, he said, instructors would not be forced to buy new automatic cars. “Instructors do not need to buy new cars, they Instructors do not have to buy new cars. They can train the students in the manual cars. The change will be there only for the test. There will be the option to choose manual or automatic cars. can train the students in the manual cars. The change will be there only for the test. There will be the option to choose manual or automatic cars. “ Major Bahar urged the instructors to wait until the officials announce all the details before making decisions about buying a car.В Meanwhile, driving instructors expressed mixed opinions towards the announcement. Ahmed (last name withheld upon request) claims that this would improve the students’ chances of passing the driving test. “Many of my students have complained the uneasiness of driving the manual car during the driving test. Some of my trainees who have fared well during training failed in the test because of nervousness. In the automatic car they will be much calmer because they do not have to focus their attention on the clutch at all, which is a major change. “ Instructor Ali said, when the decision is implemented all the students would prefer instructor with automatic cars. “I think most students would prefer to learn in automatic cars. We instructors would have to eventually buy new automatic cars to meet the demand. For me it’s very sad, since I bought my car just two years back.” Learning it young PIc by SaNThoSh RajeNDRaN As the mercury level has gone down, it’s the perfect time for sporting activities. This child seems to be learning the tricks of the game of volleyball as the grown-ups are busy vying for the ball at Andalus Garden in Guaibiya. Shaikh Mohammed Deputy Premier to patronise Al Ayam Cultural Fair Manama eputy Premier Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa will patronise the 21st Al-Ayam Cultural Fair, which will kick-start on December 25. More than 150 Arab and foreign publishing houses will take part in the fair, which will run until January 3, 2015. The ten-day cultural book festival, organised by Al Ayam Publishing at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Conventions Centre, will include a string of cultural events, and programmes. In a statement marking the occasion, Al Ayam Board Chairman Najeeb Alhamer affirmed Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak’s constant support to Al Ayam Cultural Festival, organised with the aim of promoting culture and books. D The tenday cultural book festival, organised by al ayam Publishing at the bahrain International exhibition and conventions centre, will include a string of cultural events, and programmes. Woes go on 3 Saturday, December 20, 2014 Elayath Pragit Parameswaran/ DTNN Pragit@dt.bh E ven after getting the compensation amount from the Bahrain Government, the plight of Irfan Ahmed Baksh Mohammed, the muezzin, who had been brutally attacked during the 2011 unrest, and his brother Ghulam Nabi fails to fade away. The lawyer, who fought the case on behalf of Mr. Irfan, has now allegedly started threatening Mr. Nabi, demanding the payment of her fees. “We are really thankful to our lawyer, who fought for us and got us a favourable verdict from the court. But currently, she is threatening us saying, we will not be able to leave the nation without paying her the fees,” said Mr. Nabi. Earlier this month, the High Civil Court had ordered to deposit the amount – Screenshot of a video made on Irfan. (In the picture) The destroyed house of Irfan. BD60,000 – in Mr. Irfan’s bank account in Pakistan. However, the payment has been stuck at Punjab Bank in Pakistan as the amount has been credited to the victim’s account. “As he cannot sign and get the money from the bank, the amount is stuck. We have filed a case in Pakistan Session Court to make me or our mother as the guardian to use the money. It will take at least three months,” said Mr. Nabi to DT News. According to Mr. Nabi, the lawyer is demanding as much as 8 per cent of the compensation amount (BD4800) as her fees. He also added that they were ready to pay the amount once they get the money in hand. Meanwhile, talking to DT News, the lawyer said, she had signed a contract with Mr. Irfan’s family and the demand was as per the contract. “I cannot disclose the fee amount now,” she said. The victim’s brother said that he had signed few documents, which were in Arabic. “The case was filed in 2011 but recently, she gave me some documents and asked me to sign on it. As I don’t know Arabic, I blindly did as per her instructions,” said Mr. Nabi. В В Twenty-seven-year-old Irfan had been badly assaulted by anti-government thugs during the series of violence that broke out in 2011. The anti-social elements The lawyer, who fought the case on behalf of Irfan Ahmed Baksh Mohammed, has now allegedly started threatening Ghulam Nabi, Mr, Irfan’s brother, demanding the payment of her fees. had also ripped off Mr. Irfan’s tongue after the Isha prayer (Adhan in Arabic) at Ali bin Salman Al Khalifa mosque in Manama. Meanwhile, the Gulf Air is demanding BD3000 for taking Mr. Irfan back to Pakistan. The flight will comprise of a stretcher, medical facilities, a doctor and a nurse. “We don’t have money even to take him back to Pakistan. How can we pay the money for the lawyer now?,” asks Mr. Nabi.В Al Basta Market on DT News Network T he third edition of Al Basta Market, organised by the Southern Governorate, kick-started yesterday. The market is being held under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth and Sport Chairman, Bahrain Olympic Committee President and Royal Charity Organisation Chairman HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa. It is the biggest annual shopping festival in Bahrain and the market will be open to public at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) on Fridays and Saturdays from 2pm to 9pm. Over 75,000 visitors and 700 participants are expected to take part in the market, which will be on till March 28. The market features new sections including an aquarium, an additional children’s corner, a green industrial oasis and handicrafts. Great rates on worldwide money transfers and 0% commission on over 40 foreign currencies! Visit your nearest branch today /BFCBahrain /BFCBahrain Care. Trust. Efficiency. BFC_379_BH_DT_AD_160mmX128mm.indd 1 05/06/2014 14:11 4 Saturday, December 20, 2014 Sexual abuse of minor girls Defence lawyer’s appeal rejecteD DT News Network news@dt.bh T he High Criminal Court has rejected the request of defence lawyer to hear the testimony of two minor girls reportedly suffered sexual abuses in the hands of a private teacher. The latter was referred to trial after the mothers of two victims, both aged below 14, filed a complaint against him in the police station, alleging that he had sexually assaulted their children. His lawyer during the court The defendant was referred to trial after the mothers of two victims, both aged below 14, filed a complaint against him in the police station, alleging that he had sexually assaulted their children hearing requested to have the testimony of the victims before the High Criminal Court, but judges declined it owing to their ages. As per the criminal record, the children were receiving privateВ tuition from the defendant’s wife, who is also a private teacher. The lessons were conducted at the couple’s house,В and due to the wife occasional absence, the husband reportedly conducted the lessons. “My child suddenly became reluctant to receive private lessons. I thought she was developing laziness,” the mother of the first victim told prosecutors. “I was mounting pressure on her to go, but then I beganВ observingВ her phoneВ asВ I was curious about her refusal,” she added. “I found several voice messages on her WhatsApp she received from a friend who was discussing the sexual abuses they suffered at the hands of their private teacher’s husband. When I asked her, she told me that sometimes their female teacher would not be at home, and husband comes to teach them. But he also indulged in immoral activities,” the mother added. The mother of the second victim also levelled same accusations against the defendant.В Judges have adjourned the case until January 20 to hear prosecution witnesses.В As per the criminal record, the children were receiving privateВ tuition from the defendant’s wife, who is also a private teacher. couple’s sentence upheld by court DT News Network news@dt.bh A n Asian couple convicted in an embezzlement case saw their one-year-sentence upheld by the High Criminal Appeals Court. The wife, aged 44, was implicated of embezzling BD36,000 from a local real estate company over the period of three years, while her husband was found guilty of spending part of the embezzled money despite knowing that the money was amassed illegally. It was alleged that the first defendant was in charge of collecting leasingВ feesВ from The first defendant was in charge of collecting leasingВ feesВ from the company’s clients. She was caught following an auditВ report, which showed misappropriation of revenues. the company’s clients. She was caught following an auditВ report, which showed misappropriation of revenues. “I sent part of the money for family abroad, and another part of it to my husband who owns a printing company, which causedВ financialВ problems to him,” the woman told prosecutors. Her husband, 50, confirmed spending the money as he was in dire need of cash. Judges also ordered for their deportation once they complete their jail terms. Convict loses appeal DT News Network news@dt.bh A man serving six months in jail for beating his mother and sister has lost his appeal before the High Criminal Appeals Court. The defendant was nabbed after his mother reported his crime to the police station. The 24-year-old Bahraini had initially attacked his sister, alleging that she was having an affair with a boy. “I received a phone call from a stranger who claimed that he was talking over the phone with my sister. I lost my temper and I headed home and assaulted her (the sister),” he said in his statement to the public prosecution. His mother alleged that her son had physically attacked her when she came to the rescue of her daughter and threatened them with a knife. But the defendant refuted mother’s claims. “I stabbed myself with the knife and I didn’t point it at anybody,” he added. According to court files, the man was previously convicted in connection with drug crimes. В The 24-yearold Bahraini had initially attacked his sister, alleging that she was having an affair with a boy. Saturday, December 20, 2014 5 BSPCA StePS in Torturing monkeys Elayath Pragit Parameswaran/ DTNN pragit@dt.bh B ahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA) has filed two complaints at two different police stations with regard to the cruelty meted out to monkeys in the Kingdom during the last two days. Earlier DT News reported that a long-tailed macaque was spotted on the roof of a Mercedes car, which was speeding at more than 100 Kilometres per hour in Salmabad. According to a witness, the animal was tied to a rope and BSPCA has taken the torture of monkeys in the Kingdom seriously. was thrown from one part to other on the roof, while the car was moving. The very next day, another person posted a similar picture on aВ FacebookВ page, showing the animal tied to another car inВ Burhama. According to a statement from BSPCA, the organisation has filed complaints with regard to both the incidents. В Meanwhile, the members of BSPCA group on the Facebook are also planning to submit a signature petition to the authorities concerned to curb such inhumane practices. “Such instances are increasing in alarming rates in According to a statement from BSPCA, the organisation has filed complaints with regard to both the incidents. В the Kingdom. The authorities should take immediate steps to curb the sale of exotic animals in Bahrain,” said an animal lover. Attack on schools continues in Bahrain Manama ducation Ministry stated yesterday that five schools were attacked in different parts of the country during the past few days. The ministry’s Public Relations and Media Directorate stated that vandals broke into Al Qadisiya Elementary Girls’ School, damaging the school’s sports warehouse. The directorate also said that Sakeena bint Al Hussain Elementary Girls’ School, Al Dair Elementary Boys’ School and Al Safa Elementary Girls’ School were targeted by the vandals who threw stones and petrol bombs at them, damaging several properties. “A group of outlaws set a fire near Al Mutanabi Elementary Boys’ School,” said the ministry, adding that all incidents were reported to the security authorities. E Schools have been the regular targets of vandals in the Kingdom. CPiSP was the brainchild of Crown Prince I was embarrassed by the article titled вЂ�CPISP: Brainchild of Ronald Koller’ published in Daily Tribune yesterday. The Crown Prince International Scholarship Programme (CPISP) had been initiated by Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and the credit should entirely go to the Crown Prince. “I was just employed by the Crown Prince to develop the programme in line with his idea to educate future leaders of Bahrain.” - Dr Ronald Koller Former Director, CPISP DT News Network news@dt.bh T he High Appeals Court has upheld the six-month-jail sentence awarded to a Bahraini convicted of theft. The 28-year-old Bahraini was arrested in connection with a theft of an iPhone from a local cell phones shop. Court upholds jail sentence He allegedly entered the shop and stole an iPhone, which was given to him for checking. He reportedly disappeared from the shop, using a car he had borrowed from a friend. However, hisВ identity came to light after the manager of the shop noted the registration number of the vehicle. Later the car owner confirmed that it was the defendant who was using it at the time of theft, court files stated. The claims were also supported by a video footage taken fromВ surveillance cameras installed on the spot. Codes that proteCt kids 6 DT News Network A stranger approached an eight-year-old girl and asked her join him. He tried to lure her by telling that her mom had sent him to pick her. But the girl asked the stranger for the secret word. The man was puzzled after hearing her question. The girl ran away immediately. The girl and her mom had already agreed on a secret word to use for such cases. The secret word came to the rescue of the girl this time. Many parents are using such code words to save their kids from strangers. Rawia Saturday, December 20, 2014 Isehaq, the grandmother said that she used to teach her only daughter Maria not to walk with a stranger without verifying his/her identity. “My idea was to let Maria ask the strangers whether they knew her mother’s full name. 30 years ago, the situation was not so secured. Even now also the situation is equally challenging. Every morningВ I call my daughter to make sure that Leena, my granddaughter remembers the safe word,” she said. Seven-year-old daughter Leena added that her mother and she made an agreement to change the password every day and pick a word or phrase from her daily dictation. Maria, the homemaker said that she got the idea of secret question from her mother. Her seven-year-old daughter Leena added that her mother and she made an agreement to change the password every day and pick a word or phrase from her daily dictation. “It was hard for me to memorise things other than songs and dictations learnt from school. Therefore, we picked this idea,” she said. Teenager, Farah Murad said that she always forgot the code word. “When I was a little girl my parents told me about the code word. But it never worked for me. I used Mother Maria with her daughter leena to forget it every time, but I still learnt that it was not safe to walk with a stranger,” she added. Though code words are highly useful, not everyone is fond of them. Huda Ahmed stated that she never recommended passwords since there are вЂ�professional hackers’ around us. “I think a cunning person could easily persuade to walk with him. I can only advise the children not to walk alone, they should always be supervised by the security personnel in their schools,” she added. вЂ�Designer needs to be upfront’ According to Mr. Zammit, the designed pieces are usually special and expensive when they are rare “A designer needs to apply research, history and experience in order to bring about a change. Design is not a political tool; it is a functional tool for the economic society” Fatima Bastaki/DTNN news@dt.bh F ollowing the success of last year’s Bahrain International Design Week, Fair Director at Design Days Dubai, Cyril Zammit has visited the art venue, вЂ�Market 338’ at Al Riwaq Gallery. Mr. Zammit is also representing the Design Stories movement, which is a regional road show supported by Dubai Design District to raise awareness on the field of design. Speaking to DT News, he said that being part of the active market in design, one needs to be more upfront in the scene. “It is about looking at material, prototype and technique of the design in order to translate it into value,” he said. Meanwhile, he added that before becoming integral part of the art world, a design piece has to be essentially functional. “Pragmatism of design has nothing to do with the artist and his blank canvas,” he added. According to him, today’s world has the benefit of internet platforms, which allow amateur and underrated designers to promote themselves. “It has become more democratised in its procedures compared to the past. But it also faces the problem of duplication of your work,” he opined. “In the past, you needed to go through an agent and gallery to promote your work, but now you can be supported through an actor of the Pics by MuhaMed ThasleeM market easily. In order to avoid the consequences of duplication, proper documentation of your work is essential,” Mr. Zammit suggested. He explained that the designed pieces are usually special and expensive when they are rare and not produced by the industry in a large scale. “A designer needs to apply research, history and experience in order to bring about a change. Design is not a political tool; it is a functional tool for the economic society,” he concluded. Mr. Zammit MIDDLE EAST 7 Saturday, December 20, 2014 Experience has taught us this, and everyone should assume their responsibilities to get the market back in balance – UAE Minister of Energy Suhail bin Mohammad Faraj Faris Al Mazroui The draft that will be presented to the Security Council is the French draft based on Palestinian observations and decisions - Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki Today we witnessed a series of examples of European naivety, and may I add, hypocrisy (on the Palestinian issue) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu TURKEY, QATAR TO FORGE TIES The two countries signed a series of agreements in a step to deepen their relations Rocket fired Ankara atar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived in Turkey’s capital Ankara to hold talks with President Recep Tayyip ErdoДџan. Qatar and Turkey, whose bilateral and regional cooperation has become remarkably more visible in recent years, have taken yet another assertive step to deepen their relations, signing a series of agreements in Ankara, including a joint memorandum to found a “Supreme Strategic Committee.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoДџan, speaking at a joint press conference on December 19 following Q “Turkey and Qatar have never drifted apart. We’ve always been together” Qatari Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa alThani (R) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, walk past a guard of honour during an official welcoming ceremony prior to their meeting at the presidential palace in Ankara, Turkey, on Friday. (AFP) IS threatens to execute soldiers held hostage Beirut French-speaking jihadist threatened on Friday to execute Lebanese soldiers held hostage by the Islamic State group, saying three prominent anti-IS Lebanese politicians would be responsible for their deaths. The threat was made in a video obtained from a Salafist cleric, Wissam al-Masri, who is mediating the release of 25 police and soldiers held by IS and the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda, the Al-Nusra Front. Four hostages have already been executed. The video, filmed in a field with hills in the background, shows three men in blue uniforms, each kneeling in front of a fighter holding a knife to his throat. The unidentified speaker, was wearing a hood and his companions’ faces were A uncovered. From his speech, it was not possible to determine if he was from Lebanon, where French is widely spoken. The speaker attacked the politicians for what he said is their support for Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, whose fighters are aiding Syrian President Bashar Assad in the civil war against largely Sunni Muslim rebels that include IS. “To the allies of France in Lebanon, Hariri, Geagea and Jumblatt, the Islamic State is at war with Hezbollah, which is meddling in the affairs of Muslims in Shams (Syria) and has killed our women and our children,” he said referring to Sunni former prime minister Saad Hariri, right-wing Christian leader Samir Geagea and Walid Jumblatt, chief of the Druze community in Lebanon. talks with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, who was paying a working visit to Ankara, underlined the “positive steps” taken between the two during his term in office as prime minister and as president. “Turkey and Qatar have never drifted apart. We have always been together, we have always been in solidarity and we have always designated standing by the oppressed people of the world as our common denominator,” said ErdoДџan. The host president said the two discussed affairs surrounding Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Libya, Tunisia and Cyprus, vowing that their bilateral endeavors regarding these affairs would “continue with determination.” Ahead of the press conference, in the presence of the emir and the president, Turkish Defense Minister Д°smet YД±lmaz and Qatari Defense Minister Maj.-Gen. Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah signed an agreement on military cooperation. from Gaza hit south Israel: Police Jerusalem rocket fired from Gaza hit southern Israel on Friday, the Israeli police said, adding that it fell on open ground without causing casualties or damage. It was the third rocket attack since the end of 50-day Gaza War in August. The last incident was on October 31. Hamas and Israel agreed a ceasefire on August 26, brokered by Egypt, ending 50 days of war which resulted in the deaths of 2,140 Palestinians and 73 Israelis, most of them from the army. The Islamist movement Hamas, which de facto rules the Gaza Strip and is fighting Israel, had on Sunday held a military parade, during which it displayed rocket and mortar launchers. Sporadic rocket fire from the Gaza Strip is usually claimed by smaller militant factions rather than Hamas. Cairo talks between Israel and Hamas to cement the fragile truce, due to be held last month, were called off by Egypt. A Malnutrition hits Yemeni children Milah emen — A doctor in a bare, rural clinic here decided to extend his working week to five days from two, to cope with the rush of hollow-eyed children who kept showing up in the mornings. Already this year, two severely malnourished local boys had been so withered that they were beyond saving. The doctor, Abdu Ali Saad, kept pictures of the boys, ages 2 and 4, on his phone: a reminder of Huda bin Nasser with her daughter, Hadiya, at their home in the the dangers facing children village of Sheikhain, Yemen. All four of Ms. bin Nasser’s children in Yemen’s long-neglected were malnourished; Hadiya improved after treatment. (AFP) countryside, more forsaken these days than ever. day, some who had walked their children. “This is every day,” Dr. hours on dusty roads to Yemen is the most Saad said, motioning to the reach the clinic, and who impoverished country in the parents waiting on a recent looked hardly better off than Middle East, and among its Y grim distinctions is having one of the highest rates of child malnutrition in the world. Political turmoil since the 2011 uprising against former President Ali Abdullah Saleh has left an already feeble government even less able to care for its indigent citizens. Chronic challenges have become emergencies as the state’s presence in much of Yemen has started to dissolve. One million children younger than 5, roughly a third of the age group in Yemen, are suffering from lifethreatening malnourishment, according to Daniela D’urso, the head of the European Commission’s humanitarian aid office in Yemen (NYT). 8 Saturday, December 20, 2014 Speak a “ SCW takes part in conference on women’s role in charity work “ @bna_en FBI formally accuses North Korea of hacking of Sony Pictures, says it is вЂ�deeply concerned’ “ @AP Pakistan to challenge bail for Mumbai attacks вЂ�mastermind’ “ @AFP George Clooney created a petition in support of Sony, but he couldn’t get anyone to sign it “ @CNN Pakistan kills 59 alleged militants in wake of school massacre “ @NBCNews Today is the 5th anniversary of the theatrical release of James Cameron’s “Avatar” “ @Forbes “ @TelegraphNews Apple goes to war with the BBC over Panorama report Instagram could be worth $35 billion “ @TIME This is the computer game maker who outbid Jay Z and Beyonce to buy a $70million “ @SkyNews IS siege that trapped thousands of civilians on a mountain for four months smashed by troops TheSunNewspaper “ Devon Smith waited threeand-a-half years for a Test comeback. @ESPNcricinfo Thinking Readers’ VIEW green Health effects of UV radiation Rehan Ahmed Small amounts of UV are beneficial for people and essential in the production of vitamin D. UV radiation is also used to treat several diseases, including rickets, psoriasis, eczema and jaundice. This takes place under medical supervision and the benefits of treatment versus the risks of UV radiation exposure are a matter of clinical judgement. Prolonged human exposure to solar UV radiation may result in acute and chronic health effects on the skin, eye and immune system.В Sunburn (erythema)В is the best-known acute effect of excessive UV radiation exposure. Over the longer term, UV radiation induces degenerative changes in cells of the skin, fibrous tissue and blood vessels leading to premature skin aging, photodermatoses and actinic keratoses. Another long-term effect is anВ inflammatory reaction of the eye. In the most serious cases, skin cancer and cataracts can occur. Between two and three millionВ non-melanoma skin cancers, e.g. basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas, are diagnosed each year, but are rarely fatal and can be surgically removed. Approximately 130,000 malignant melanomasВ occur globally each year, substantially contributing to mortality rates in fair-skinned populations. An estimated 66,000 deaths occur annually from melanoma and other skin cancers. Worldwide some 12 to 15 million people become blind from cataracts annually, of which up to 20 per cent may be caused or enhanced by sun exposure according to WHO estimates. Furthermore, a growing body Do you feel strongly about commenting on any issue of social relevance or on any report we carried? Be it bouquets or bricks, you can explore this space by airing your views, opinions or comments. The best letter, selected once in a week, will receive five tickets for watching a blockbuster at Dana Cinema. Letters can be sent at letters @dt.bh of evidence suggests that environmental levels of UV radiation may suppressВ cellmediated immunityВ and thereby enhance the risk of infectious diseases and limit the efficacy of vaccinations. Both of these act against the health of poor and vulnerable groups, especially children of the developing world. Many developing countries are located close to the equator and hence, people are exposed to the very high levels of UV radiation that occur in these regions. It is a popular misconception that only fairskinned people need to be concerned about overexposure to the sun. Darker skin has more protective melanin pigment, and the incidence of skin cancer is lower in dark-skinned people. Nevertheless, skin cancers do occur with this group and unfortunately they are often detected at a later, more dangerous stage. The risk of UV radiation-related health effects on the eye and immune system is independent of skin type. Global burden of disease assessment WHO has now published the report entitled “Global burden of disease from solar ultraviolet radiation” that provides detailed estimates of UV-associated disease burden worldwide. Using established methodology and best available estimates on UV-related mortality and morbidity, this report estimates that annually around 1.5 mill DALYs (Disability-adjusted life years) are lost through excessive UV exposure. The report gives region, age and sex-specific estimates and includes detailed methodological considerations. A counterfactual zero population exposure to UV would generate a substantial burden of disease through diseases of vitamin D deficiency. This, however, is only a theoretical possibility since the large majority of people is casually exposed to UV radiation such that extremely low Vitamin D levels are rarely found. Abdullah Natural ventilation N atural ventilation is a method of allowing fresh outdoor air into indoor living spaces by natural means without the use of air conditioning units and other types of mechanically driven devices. It is the process of changing or replacing stale or noxious air with fresh air in any space to provide high indoor air quality to control temperature, replenish oxygen, remove moisture, odors, smoke, heat, dust, airborne bacteria and carbon dioxide. Ventilation is important as it reduces unhealthy air pollutants, such as formaldehyde and radon. It reduces excessive moisture and humidity levels, which can lead to mold growth and can cause structural damage. Ventilation reduces naturally occurring odors in the house from pets, cooking, smoking, and other everyday living activities. While buying or moving to a dwelling, we often consider factors like exterior and interior of building, paint, space, location, building finishes, tiles, ceramics, bath room and electrical fittings etc., but we never ponder on the ventilation aspect. Perhaps this is due to having air conditioners in almost all buildings of the country. Ventilation is provided through openings such as windows, ventilators and doors. Because of central cooling systems, most people don’t open windows and doors as often. Therefore, air conditioning has become the only principal mode of ventilation in urban surroundings. A home’s natural ventilation rate is unpredictable and uncontrollable due to the openings, depending on dwelling location, size and number of openings in wind direction. Thus, one cannot rely on natural wind only to ventilate a house uniformly. Ventilation is needed for removing water vapor produced by respiration, burning, and cooking, and for removing odors. If water vapor is permitted to accumulate, it may damage the structure, insulation, or finishes. In the absence of adequate ventilation, irritating or harmful contaminants can build up, causing occupant discomfort, health problems and reduced performance levels. Harmful pollutants from a variety of sources can contribute to building-related illnesses. Ventilation systems that are improperly operated or maintained can contribute to sick building syndrome (SBS) which may cause symptoms like dry mucous membranes, eyes, nose and throat irritation. These disorders lead to increased occupant sickness and reduced work efficiency. The advantages of natural ventilation are many and can have a tremendous positive impact on its occupants, building and the environment. It is suggested that natural ventilation is to be used on optimum basis keeping following aspects in mind: i. Use fans at appropriate locations to blow air from the cool side of the dwelling to the hotter side. ii. Don’t keep your windows closed. Do occasional air wash of your dwelling. Open windows for durations, depending on the sunlight and its intensity. Cross ventilation in a dwelling will enhance air quality and will avoid it to become a sick building. iii. Provide fountains, pools or swimming pools outside the dwelling which can act as transition spaces where air is naturally cooled before passing through interiors. A proper design, operation and maintenance of the ventilation system is essential in providing indoor air that is free of harmful concentrations of pollutants. Improvements in indoor ventilation may substantially increase an individual’s health, moral and productivity. * Head, Waste Disposal Unit, Supreme Council for Environment, Bahrain (Email: rahmed@sce.gov.bh) (The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of this newspaper.) MIDDLE EAST 9 Saturday, December 20, 2014 Camels head for Al Dhafra fest Abu Dhabi he Western Region highway has been busy with trucks arriving from the Arabian Gulf, bringing in some of the most beautiful and valuable camels to compete at this year’s Al Dhafra Camel Festival. Taking place in Madinat Zayed from December 20 T Turkish court acquits dissident sociologist Ankara A Turkish court on Friday acquitted Turkish dissident sociologist Pinar Selek, who has taken refuge in France, over a 1998 explosion that killed seven people, the official Anatolia news agency reported. The ruling, delivered by a high criminal court in Istanbul -came at a hearing on Selek’s retrial, after a life sentence for her alleged involvement in the deadly explosion was overturned this year, according to Anatolia. The 43-year-old Selek, known for her critical studies of the Kurdish conflict in Turkey and her work with street children, was accused of bombing a spice market popular among tourists in Istanbul. Selek, then 27, was arrested and jailed on charges of involvement in the explosion after she refused to give police the names of rebels she had met during her research. “After 16 years of judicial obstinacy, today’s trial allowed Pinar Selek’s lawyers to emphasise all day the absurdity and arbitrariness of the procedure,” her supporters said in a statement from France. Selek was freed in 2000 after the publication of a report blaming the explosion on a gas leak. The latest verdict marked her fourth acquittal by Turkish courts. вЂ�Legalise cannabis cultivation’ Beirut griculture Minister Akram Chehayeb called for the legalisation of cannabis farming to allow the state to benefit from the revenue of its export on Friday. “We are conducting studies on [how to] organise this type of agriculture so that it becomes monitored A to January 1, the annual festival of Bedouin traditions is expected to be bigger and more eventful than ever. Saudi cleric gets death threats Riyadh Saudi cleric has received death threats and is facing a lawsuit following an appearance on national television with his wife, who had her face uncovered and was wearing make-up. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Ghamedi told a popular chat show that Islam does not require women A by the state, and thus the state can buy the harvest and export it to the countries that need it,” said Chehayeb. MASS TRIALS CONCERN US Obama emphasized need of cooperation between the 2 countries Washington S President Barack Obama spoke to his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on Thursday and expressed concern over mass trials and the continued detention of journalists and peaceful activists. During a telephone call, the White House said, Obama encouraged Sisi to “invest in the political, economic, and social aspirations of the Egyptian people.” “President Obama also expressed concern about mass trials, the status of NGOs, and the continued imprisonment of journalists and peaceful activists in Egypt,” the statement said. In early December, an Egyptian court sentenced 188 people to death for the murder of 13 police officers, the latest in a series of mass trials launched by U During a telephone call, the White House said, Obama encouraged Sisi to “invest in the political, economic, and social aspirations of the Egyptian people” authorities amid a crackdown on supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi. Hundreds of Morsi supporters have been sentenced to die in swift trials the United Nations has called “unprecedented in recent history.” Egypt has also cracked down on the press, sentencing several journalists including three from international news network Al-Jazeera to lengthy prison terms. In June, Australian Peter Greste, Egyptian-Canadian Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and Egyptian Mohamed Baher were convicted of supporting the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood. Since the fall of Hosni Mubarak in 2011, the United States has faced a dilemma in Egypt. Washington regularly expresses dissatisfaction over the country’s poor human rights record, but also relies on its military alliance as a centerpiece of American diplomacy in the Arab world. During Thursday’s telephone call, Obama emphasized the importance of cooperation between Washington and Cairo “to promote shared interests in counterterrorism and regional security.” (AFP) to hide their faces behind a niqab in public. The cleric said wearing make-up is also allowed to Muslim women. Qaeda in Syria seizes tanks, APCs from army Beirut Al-Qaeda fighters in Syria seized dozens of tanks and armoured personnel carriers from the army when they took two regime bases this week, a monitor said on Friday. Al-Nusra Front, Al-Qaeda’s Syria branch, captured the Wadi Al-Deif and Hamidiyeh military posts in the northwestern province of Idlib on Monday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Britain-based group, which relies on a network of sources on the ground, had said in an earlier report that nearly 200 combatants on both sides were killed in a 24-hour battle for the bases. UAE pledges US$1 million to UN Abu Dhabi The UAE pledged US$1 million (Dh3.67m) on Wednesday night for the United Nations’ Central Emergency Response Fund (Cerf). Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, the UAE’s permanent representative to the UN, announced the contribution at a conference at the UN headquarters in New York, the state news agency Wam reported. The pledge is a significant increase from last year’s contribution of $100,000, according to statistics on Cerf’s website. Iran unveils memorial for slain Jewish heroes Tehran T ehran has unveiled a monument to slain Iranian Jewish soldiers who died during the country’s long and bitter war with Iraq between 1980 and 1988. Death tolls for the hideous conflict differ, but casualty counts usually reach more than 1 million for both countries. A public ceremony marked the memorial’s opening, with speeches that took place at a dais flanked by the Iranian flag and a menorah. Banners showed the images of fallen soldiers, hailed as “martyrs” in Farsi and Hebrew inscriptions. The commemoration may surprise those who think of the Islamic Republic’s routine, angry rhetoric directed toward Israel, a “Zionist regime” the mullahs in Tehran refuse to recognize. But after Israel, Iran has the Middle East’s second-largest community of Jews -- with its current population estimated between 20,000 and 30,000. (Many more live in other countries such as the United States and Israel, where a former president, Moshe Katsav, was born in Iran.) The Iranian government points to the continued population of Iranian Jews in the country as a sign of Iran’s diverse traditions and the government’s own respect for the country’s rich history. The Old Testament Book of Esther is based in ancient Persia and is the foundation for the Jewish festival of Purim. At the ceremony on Monday, Mohammad Hassan Aboutorabi-Fard, the vice-speaker of the Iranian parliament, made these somewhat underwhelming remarks: “The explicit stances of the Jewish community in supporting the Islamic Republic’s establishment and their obedience to the Supreme Leader of the Revolution demonstrate the bonds originating from the teachings of the divine religions.” He went on to denounce the “violent and inhumane” behaviour of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Washington Post) SAVED BY LAND MINES 10 Saturday, December 20, 2014 For Leopards in Iran, Iraq, land mines are a surprising refuge Peter Schwartzstein Tehran F ew parts of the world look more hostile to big cats than the rugged wilderness that flanks the northern Iran-Iraq frontier. Laced with land mines and roamed by packs of dedicated poachers, it’s an environment seemingly calculated to imperil even the most fleet-footed animal. Yet this is the place the world’s largest leopard calls home. Once spread across the Caucasus region, Persian leopards now are relegated to this former war zone, along with a few isolated pockets of rural Iran. Here, hundreds of thousands of Iranian and Iraqi soldiers bludgeoned one another to death in some of the late 20th century’s most brutal battles. Even today, border guards patrol the once fiercely contested high ground. But through it all the leopard has endured, and oddly enough, the region’s violent past has contributed to its survival. As part of the decadelong conflict, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and his Iranian counterparts planted an estimated 20 million to 30 million land mines in the 1980s. Two decades after the last of the big minefields were laid, the explosives continue to maim and kill local residents. But the mines also have become accidental protection for the leopards, discouraging poachers from entering certain areas. And now interest in clearing the land mines throws into sharp relief the conflict between human and wildlife interests. Iraq’s semiautonomous Kurdistan region is developing swiftly, and along with that comes hot pursuit of oil and gas deposits— many of which lie in leopardheavy highlands—to fuel its likely bid for independence. Conservation efforts have struggled to gain traction in large swaths of the Middle East. As in many developing regions, the welfare of the environment is a distant consideration amid economic peril and political flux. But the emergence of the Islamic State jihadist group, which now controls swathes of Syria and Iraq and which was recently camped on Iran’s doorstep, has pushed the plight of the Persian leopard even further from local decisionmakers’ thoughts. That’s why the region’s conservationists now find themselves in the not-socomfortable position of opposing some land-mine clearance efforts. Clearing the way for people to return to those areas could put the leopards back at humans’ mercy, they say. “Environmentally speaking, mines are great, because they keep people out,” said Azzam Alwash, head of the conservation group Nature Iraq. Ahmed Kurdi holds court in his brother’s roadside restaurant outside t h e the dominant local political party, and then fenced off and zoned for construction. Some Iraqis don’t even wait for the “all clear” before traipsing through mineridden terrain. “Every day we have to stop operations because people are driving animals through the minefields,” said Chris Bull, a project manager at Sterling Global Operations, which, like most mine clearance organizations in Iraqi Kurdistan, is funded by international energy companies pursuing new oil and gas reserves. In the late 1980s, the Iraqi government accelerated i t s Iraqi Kurdish city of Sulaymaniyah. His squat build and soft hands seem illsuited to making stiff climbs in the Zagros Mountains, but Kurdi is an experienced marksman who is keen to tell stories of hunting leopards. “My cousin and I were hunting goats near his village in Iran when we saw this big animal moving slowly high up on the rocks,” Kurdi said, mimicking his shooting motion. “It was a long way away, but it was a challenge that I couldn’t resist.” The market for leopard pelts has mostly dried up, but there’s still a certain cachet associated with ensnaring such an exotic creature. As a result, the harsh penalties attached to killing leopards haven’t done much to dissuade determined trophy hunters. The land mines, though, do a good job of keeping people off certain peaks, and these have become the leopards’ favorite haunts. “A lot of the animals now stay up in the high mountains where all the land mines are. We can’t really go there, so we can’t really hunt,” Kurdi said in explaining his reluctant decision to hang up his rifle. Not that leopards are entirely immune themselves to the hazards of land mines. They’re nimble, spend much of their time in trees or on rocks, and are light enough when their weight is spread over four legs not to trigger anti-tank mines, which typically are activated by payloads of more than 176 pounds (80 kilograms). But at least two are thought to have been killed by triggering the prongs and tripwires of the region’s ubiquitous Italian-made V69 antipersonnel mines. A video has also surfaced in which a leopard appears to have bled to death after losing a leg while navigating an explosive-laden mountain pass. It might seem extraordinary that deadly devices have contributed to the Persian leopard’s continued presence in the Zagros Mountains, but the prospects of the region’s animal life have always been intimately wrapped up with the fortunes of the local people. Hunters aside, Alwash fears the swift degradation of the leopards’ habitats if mine removal frees up land for development around Sulaymaniyah and other small cities—which continue to expand, suggesting his worries are well-founded. A mountain that was de-mined near Iraq’s Lake Dukan a few years ago was promptly appropriated by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, eventual destruction of over 4,000 Kurdish villages in northern Iraq. In doing so, Saddam Hussein inadvertently boosted the animal population by reducing the number of people living in the mountains and warding off resident hunters. (National Geographic) Saturday, December 20, 2014 BUSINESS 11 CURRENCIES CurrenCies sell Cash Dollar 2.6483 euro 2.1268 Pound 1.6689 saudi riyal 9.9384 Yen 299.4012 indian rupee 161.8123 EF TI sell Draft GOlD 2.6455 2.1381 1.6793 9.9354 305.8104 164.2036 Bahrain london us PROTEST AGAINST AUSTERITY MOVES Anti-austerity, free trade protest snarls Brussels EU quarter Brussels everal thousand people demonstrated against austerity and a massive EUUS free trade deal in central Brussels yesterday, burning an effigy of German Chancellor Angela Merkel near the European Commission headquarters. The protest, bringing together farmers on their tractors, trade unionists and environmentalists, was meant to coincide with the second day of a European Union leaders summit but that wrapped up late Thursday instead. On a normally busy road junction next to the European Commission’s imposing headquarters building, the demonstrators burned an effigy of Merkel watched over by a heavy police contingent, AFP reported. Merkel is seen as the main driver behind austerity policies in EU countries that cut social welfare programmes in a bid to reduce government debt. Police cordoned off the whole EU quarter in the Schuman district of Brussels, causing early morning chaos in one of the city’s busiest areas.”Merry Christmas and Happy Auster- S ity” read one banner the protestors put up outside the new European Council building. Police put the number of demonstrators at around 2,500 but the protesters themselves said they numbered around 3,500, including farmers bringing in about 30 tractors before they set off across the city. “We’re against austerity, we’re against TTIP,” Rudy Janssens, a senior official with the Belgian socialist union CGSP, told AFP. Oil london us $59.27 $54.11 Falling gasoline prices curb inflation Ottawa lummeting gasoline prices helped keep inflation in check for November, Canada’s statistical agency said yesterday. Canadians paid 2.0 percent more for goods and services in November than a year earlier, according to Statistics Canada.But the inflation figure is down from 2.4 percent in October -- attributable almost entirely to gasoline prices falling 5.9 percent to their lowest level since February 2011, the agency said. Prices of electricity, meat, natural gas, passenger vehicles and restaurant meals, meanwhile, increased. P Atos shares soar after Xerox acquisition ttiP is presented as a major economic boost. Washington and Brussels aim to seal their Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership by end-2015, creating what would be the world’s largest free trade deal. EU leaders reaffirmed that target at the summit. TTIP is presented as a major economic boost but many in Europe fear it will undermine standards on food and consumer safeguards, while BD153.00 $1,197.24 $1,197.72 Paris hares in French tech firm Atos soared nearly five percent yesterday as traders cheered the news it had bought the IT wing of Xerox for more than $1 billion. Atos stock was trading 4.9 percent higher on the main French CAC-40 index at the midpoint of the session. Chief executive -- and former French finance minister -- Thierry Breton said the $1.05-billion deal, equivalent to 855 million euros, would give Atos access to the huge US market. Nathalie de Medina, analyst at Oddo Securities, said that Atos had got a “good price” for the deal, “better than for similar deals in the past.” “It also makes a lot of sense from a strategic point of view by growing their market in the United States which is becoming their biggest market,” she added. Analysts at Aurel BGC said in a note to clients that Atos had “tripled its size in the United States” with the deal. The deal is expected to be finalised in the first half of 2015 and follows a similar move for French group Bull, the long troubled computer company that was once the pride of France’s technology sector. S Belgian police stand next to an effigy of German Chancellor Angela Merkel as demonstrators burn bales of hay in Brussels yesterday. giving US businesses too much leeway to challenge EU governments to the disadvantage of their citizens. Janssens said his union is fighting a trade deal that “will harm the social system in Belgium and Europe,” one that has taken generations to build and includes government-funded medical care. “When we receive medical care, we’re a patient, not a customer,” he said, charging that TTIP will turn people into “merchandise.”(AFP) Fosun ups offer in Club Med bidding war ther dragging out the process which has already lasted more than 18 months, the longest takeover battle ever on the Paris stock market. Fosun had made its latest offer just ahead of a deadline at Friday’s market close. Bonomi now has until January 7 to respond. Club Med first became a top name in the European tourism industry for its all-inclusive budget family villages. It has since moved up-market, weathering financial storms in the process, and is now looking for further expansion, including in China where it has been a partner with Fosun. Accord- Paris C hinese conglomerate Fosun raised its offer to buy French holiday group Club Med yesterday, as it strives to win the longest bidding war in Paris market history against an Italian tycoon. Fosun bid 24.60 euros ($30.20) per share for Club Med, which values the iconic holiday brand at 939 million euros and trumps a previous bid from Italian businessman Andrea Bonomi’s Global Resorts. Bonomi’s offer valued the group at 915 million euros. The Italian will now have an opportunity to raise his offer, fur- MANAGEMENT THOUGHTS ing to company figures released earlier this month, 80 percent of the 25,000 new clients Club Med attracted in 2013 were Chinese, and the rest were Brazilians. Fosun’s new offer aims at expanding in China and Brazil but also stressed that “the group would continue to invest in France, Club Med’s leading market, to continue to win new parts of the market and outperform its competitors.” The group is struggling, reporting a net loss of 12 million euros this year, with a turnover of 1.38 billion euros. It owns 70 holiday villages in 26 countries and employs some 13,000 staff.(AFP) Rejection is an opportunity for your selection. EUROPE MIXED BUSINESS 12 Saturday, December 20, 2014 percent to 4,205.59 points. Global stock markets surged in a “Santa Claus rally” on Thursday as dealers welcomed the outcome of the US Federal Reserve meeting which signalled an interest rate increase was not imminent. Asian markets continued the trend yesterday, with Tokyo jumping 2.39 percent by the close and Hong Kong up 1.25 percent. The Bank of Japan on Friday struck a more upbeat view of the world’s number three economy, saying exports were showing signs of picking up while factory output has started to “bottom out”. The comments came as CURRENCIES policymakEXCHANGE RATE ers wrapped up a twoday meetSELL CASH SELL DRAFT ing where they held off fresh easing measures, after announcing London uropean stocks traded mixed yesterday following sharp gains the previous day, while oil futures rose after sharp falls amid huge volatility across global markets ahead of the festive shutdown. London’s FTSE 100 index of leading shares climbed 0.45 percent to stand at 6,495.39 points in afternoon trade. Frankfurt’s DAX 30 shed 0.91 percent compared with Thursday’s close to 9,721.95 points and in Paris the CAC 40 fell 1.03 E COUNTRY in late October a huge expansion of the BoJ’s asset-buying programme. “He left it late this year, but Santa finally provided a Christmas rally yesterday, after stability entered the previously volatile rouble and Brent Crude oil, and positivity from US and Japan led to worldwide rallies,” Connor Campbell, analyst at Spreadex trading group, said yesterday. US stocks opened flat as the market sought to keep alive a winning streak since Wednes- European stocks mixed, oil markets rise US stocks opened flat as the market sought to keep alive a winning streak. day that has recovered most of December’s losses. After five minutes of trading the Dow Jones Industrial Average had crept up 0.01 percent to 17,779.62 points. The broadbased S&P 500 added 0.13 percent to 2,063.83, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 0.09 percent to 4,744.09. In foreign exchange, the euro edged down to $1.2285 from $1.2287 late in New York on Thursday. Gold dipped to $1,197.50 an ounce from $1,199 Thursday on the London Bullion Market. Brent North Sea crude for delivery in February climbed $1.14 to $60.41 a barrel and New York’s WTI contract for January jumped $1.31 to $55.42 at the opening of trade there. Oil prices skidded sharply lower in volatile trade Thursday, pushing the US benchmark futures contract to a new five-year low amid concerns about ample global supplies. “We see a lot of volatility and this volatility seems bound to last until the end of the year, with not much happening, fundamentally,” said Carl Larry of Frost & Sullivan. “It’s a lot of holiday trade now,” he said, with traders looking in the rearview mirror at important US macroeconomic events: the November jobs report last Friday and the Federal Reserve policy decision Wednesday. (AFP) Alstom shareholders approve Nigeria toughens sale energy assets to GE currency trading curbs S N Paris hareholders approved yesterday the 12.4-billion-euro ($15.2-billion) sale of Alstom’s energy assets to US group General Electric by which the French company will refocus on high speed trains. “It is the best solution GULF INTERBANK RATES 1US$ BAHRAIN KUWAIT OMAN QATAR UAE SAUDI 1UK Stg 1SFR 100 Yen for the future of Alstom,” chief executive Patrick Kron said at the meeting marked by sharp exchanges, saying the company had lost sufficient scale to compete in the energy sector. Nevertheless, the sale that sees Alstom sell off about 70 percent of the company, was approved by 99.187 percent of the votes. GE won a two-month deeply political battle to buy the energy arm of Alstom in late June, in the face of initial French government opposition and a rival joint offer from Germany’s Siemens and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan. GE snapped up the prize of Alstom’s gas turbine unit -- a large, lucrative business with long-term contracts and income stream that complements GE which is already the world leader in the sector. But it had to agree to a number of other deals in order to win over the French government, which has a veto over sales in strategic sectors of the economy, and which was worried about job losses amid a recession and high unemployment. GE also agreed to take on Alstom’s nuclear, steam turbine, offshore wind and hydro power businesses, which it will run as 50-50 joint ventures with French shareholders including, most importantly, the government. And it will fold its electricity grid business into Alstom’s, also to be run as a 50-50 joint venture. Meanwhile GE will hand its own train signalling business to the firm’s high-speed rail operation -- which makes France’s famed TGV trains -- and which will become the core business of Alstom. (AFP) Lagos igeria’s central bank yesterday announced new measures to curb currency speculation as part of an effort to defend the naira which has been hit hard by the collapse in global oil prices. The move comes after a currency devaluation and a cut in the 2015 growth forecast and less than two months before general elections, with President Goodluck Jonathan trying to assure voters that Nigeria’s financial future remains healthy. Customers who purchase foreign currency through the interbank market or an authorised trader must use the funds within 48-hours, said a statement issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). “Failing (this), such funds must be returned to the CBN for re-purchase at the Bank’s buying rate,” it said, warning that sanctions would be imposed on those who fail to comply. (AFP) Ex-Bank of Cyprus executives face trial over meltdown Nicosia wo former chairmen and three other one-time top executives of the Bank of Cyprus are being charged in connection with the economic meltdown that forced Nicosia to seek a painful international bailout. Attorney General Costas Clerides told the Cyprus News Agency a case was filed yesterday before the Nicosia district court in what could T lead to the first prosecution since the March 2013 banking crisis that almost bankrupted the country. Former BoC chairmen Theodoros Aristodemou and Andreas Artemis, ex-CEOs Andreas Eliades and Yiannis Kypri and former executive Yiannis Pehlivanidis are set for a hearing on January 30, when the case is expected to be referred to the criminal court.(AFP) REELING FROM FALLING PRICE Saturday, December 20, 2014 Gulf braces for tough times over oil price plunge Omar Hasan Kuwait City G ulf countries are bracing for tough times as vital oil revenues fall and after they missed a golden opportunity to diversify their economies in a decade of unprecedented windfalls, analysts say. The six nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) -- Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates -- could soon start reeling from falling oil prices, which have dropped by half from their 2014 highs to around $60 a barrel. Pumping about 17.5 million barrels per day, GCC countries are forecast to lose at least half their oil revenues, or around $350 billion a year, at current price levels. Oil revenues make up around 90 percent of income for most GCC states and with prices now below budget forecasts, their governments are looking at certain deficits next year. Spending cuts are sure to follow -- and possibly even the region’s first taxes -- raising fears of public discontent and eventually an economic slowdown. The oil price drop has also sent Gulf stock prices plummeting, wiping out billions of dollars of market value across the region and hurting major private firms like developer Emaar Properties and builder Arabtec Holding. The heart of the problem, leading Kuwaiti economist Jassem al-Saadun said, is that Gulf states failed to seize on surging energy revenues to build up their economies outside the oil sector. “Gulf states have missed an important opportunity to reform and build a real diversified economy,” Saadun said. “Public spending has soared to new record highs and it was not for vital infrastructure projects to diversify the economy,” Saadun said. “It was mostly for wages, salaries and subsidies... and handouts for buying political loyalty especially after the Arab Spring.” Economists are warning that even with the huge reserves many have built up, a prolonged drop in oil prices will Economists are warning that a prolonged drop in oil prices will hit Gulf states hard. hit Gulf states hard. “The prevailing growth model for most oil-exporting countries has left them vulnerable to a sustained decline in oil prices,” the International Monetary Fund said in a research bulletin last week headlined: “It is high time to diversify”. Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is warning that an extended decline in oil prices will likely slow the Gulf economies, reducing spending on their massive infrastructure projects and hitting the private sector. S&P has lowered its outlooks for Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain, though it has maintained their ratings because of their impressive reserves. The IMF has said that -- barring Oman and Bahrain, which are already in deficit -- GCC states will not be greatly affected in the short-term as they can tap into reserves estimated at $2.5 trillion. But these funds, the IMF warned, will “only provide a temporary cushion”. In some parts of the region, the belt-tightening has already begun. Regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia has insisted it will maintain its high spending levels by tapping into reserves. But Kuwait has ordered major spending cuts and is considering lifting petrol and electricity BUSINESS subsidies. In the UAE, Dubai has announced plans to raise electricity and water charges. Similar measures are expected by other countries. Moody’s Ratings said Gulf countries are likely to start with cuts in spending on “nonstrategic investment projects” but will eventually face tough choices. “Slowing or even reversing the growth in current government spending, including subsidy reforms, will be more difficult as governments seek to meet social welfare demands,” the agency said. As oil revenues in Gulf states surged from about $100 billion in 2000 to $729 billion last year, public spending grew from about $150 billion to $547 billion, according to IMF figures. But the spending focused mostly on items like wages and subsidies -- not crucial capital investment. “Current expenditure has surpassed capital spending by miles,” said M.R. Raghu, head 13 of research at Kuwait Financial Center (MARKAZ). Cutting that spending now is difficult as it means taking courageous decisions on wage and subsidy reforms, experts say. The Gulf states have adopted a generous cradle-to-grave welfare system with highly subsidised services and fuel and no taxation. The World Bank has urged GCC states to start immediate cuts to energy subsidies, which cost them more than $160 billion annually, and Saadun said it was “inevitable” they would have to start introducing taxes. Such moves would prove deeply unpopular. But Saadun said putting them off would eventually make more drastic efforts necessary, which could spark the kind of social unrest that has hit other countries in the region. “Yes, these measures are politically sensitive, but the alternative is an Arab Spring in the Gulf. Options are no longer easy.” (AFP) EU VERSUS US 14 BUSINESS Saturday, December 20, 2014 EU launches new trade dispute with US over Boeing subsidies Geneva he EU yesterday launched a fresh trade dispute at the World Trade Organisation, charging that the United States was providing “billions of dollars” in unfair subsidies to help Boeing build its new 777X jet. The European Union said the United States was breaking WTO rules by offering “vastly T EU’s request yesterday for consultations is the first step in a dispute within the WTO’s Dispute Settlement System. expanded” tax incentives to the airplane maker, among other things ensuring the new model would be built in the state of Washington. Brussels insisted that the broadened subsidies were contrary to the WTO Subsidies and Countervailing Measures Agreement, “because they require the beneficiary to use domestic goods rather than imported ones”. “The subsidies scheme extension is estimated to be worth $8.7 billion (7.1 billion euros) and will be the largest subsidy for the civil aerospace industry in US history,” the European Commission said in a statement. Brussels and Washington have been at odds for the past decade over the issue of government subsidies to Boeing and its European rival Airbus, with both having won and lost complaints filed against the other at the WTO. The EU’s request yesterday for consultations is the first step in a dispute within the WTO’s Dispute Settlement System. The parties usually have 30 days to discuss the matter and reach a solution. If they fail to do so, the complainant can request that a panel of experts be established to study the dispute and reach a verdict.(AFP) S&P lower Ukraine rating to CCC Paris tandard & Poors lowered its credit rating for Ukraine yesterday to CCC- with a negative outlook, warning that dangerously low foreign currency reserves could prompt a default within months. “The negative outlook reflects our view of the increasing risk that, without additional financial support, Ukraine may default on its obligations,” the credit rating agency said. Ukraine is embroiled in a war with Russian-backed separatists in its main industrial region and earlier lost control to Russia of the strategic Crimea province. The government in Kiev has pleaded for international aid to rescue it from economic crisis, but Western creditors are insisting tough reforms, especially in tackling corruption -- measures that have become even harder to achieve in wartime. S&P said a delay this year in IMF aid, couple with “significantly reduced foreign currency official reserves, increases the risk that the Ukrainian government might not be able to meet its obligations. (AFP) S Lanka opposition vows to withdraw casino tax breaks Colombo ri Lanka’s main opposition said yesterday that it would withdraw generous tax concessions for controversial foreign-funded resorts aiming to make Colombo a gambling hotspot in South Asia if it wins next month’s elections. President Mahinda Rajapakse’s government is facing an unexpectedly tough challenge in the national elections from Maithripala Sirisena, who has united opposition forces. In his manifesto unveiled Friday, Sirisena said the special tax status granted to three planned casino resorts would be withdrawn -- a promise that targets the Buddhist vote bank in an attempt to erode Rajapakse’s rural support base. “I will withdraw the concessions S given to the casino projects,” he said in his manifesto which also vowed to launch a major offensive against narcotics. Sri Lanka’s influential Buddhist clergy had opposed allowing three casino resorts, including one with investments from Australia’s gambling mogul James Packer. But Colombo gave them tax holidays in December 2013. Then in April, the government said they will not issue casino licences to the three mega resorts, yet made it clear that existing local gambling operations could move into them. The palm-fringed island nation legalised casinos in December 2010, but the legislation has never been implemented. Tourism suffered during the decades-long combat with separatist Tamil Tiger rebels. But with the end of fighting in 2009, the hospitality trade has grown steadily and the authorities had banked on casinos to lift the industry. None of the proposed gambling resorts have opened in Colombo yet, but several local casinos have been in operation for decades, exploiting legal loopholes. Packer’s proposed 450room Crown Sri Lanka resort -- which once promised on its website to offer “world-class gaming facilities” -- is yet to begin construction. The other two resorts are a $650-million development from local conglomerate John Keells Holdings and a $300-million project by local businessman Dhammika Perera.(AFP) India tables вЂ�biggest tax reform’ since independence New Delhi ndia’s government introduced legislation yesterday billed as the biggest tax reform since independence, with analysts hailing it as a “game changer” that would cut the cost of doing business and boost economic growth. The long-awaited goods-andservices tax (GST) would eliminate a slew of levies currently in place to create a single internal market. One of various reforms undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, the GST would swell public coffers I by broadening the tax base, economists say. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley called the GST the “single biggest tax reform since independence” of the country from Britain more than six decades ago. “We will formally take it (the GST) up in the next session” which begins in February, Jaitley told parliament’s upper house as the bill was introduced in the lower house. “It is like creating internal trade liberalisation,” Jaitley said. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which won a crushing election mandate in May under leader Narendra Modi, aims to have the reform take effect from April 1, 2016. Jaitley said his party had succeeded in getting India’s 29 states to agree to the GST where the previous leftleaning Congress government failed. He described the indirect tax as a “win-win situation” for both levels of government. Jaitley reassured India’s states the government would give “a constitutional assurance” in terms of compensating them for any loss of revenue from the tax change. (AFP) Staff at the French daily newspaper Le Monde headquarters work yesterday in Paris with the day’s edition on the eve of the publication’s 70th anniversary. Japan carrier promoted trainee pilot despite worries Tokyo apanese transport authorities yesterday ordered a budget airline to boost safety standards after it promoted a trainee to a full-blown pilot despite worries over ability. Air Do, which links Tokyo to cities in Japan’s northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido in a tie-up with major carrier All Nippon Airways, was also found lax on aircraft maintenance check-ups. The government said a co-pilot on training at Air Do bungled a landing at Chitose airport in Hokkaido on September 11 by coming in too quickly. The instructor gave a good mark, paving the way for promotion, but when the company examined flight data, the error became apparent. They nevertheless let the trainee’s promotion stand. “The company’s training systems for flight crews is not functioning J 15 BUSINESS Austria sues German state bank for 3.5 bn euros TOKYO UPBEAT Saturday, December 20, 2014 BoJ strikes more upbeat view on economy, holds off fresh measures Haruhiko Kuroda properly,” the transport ministry said in its order to Air Do. The ministry also noted Air Do was found to have put off necessary regular check-ups on aircraft. The company was ordered to submit measures for improvement by January 30. No immediate comment or details were available from Air Do. (AFP) IMF holds backs Cyprus rescue cash Nicosia he International Monetary Fund held back 86 million euros ($106 million) in bailout funds for Cyprus yesterday after the island’s parliament delayed a vote on foreclosure legislation demanded by lenders. The money is part of a 10-billion euro package of emergency loans that eurozone member Cyprus was forced to negotiate to avoid bankruptcy early last year. The troika of lenders -- the European Central Bank, European Commission and IMF -- have already disbursed several tranches of the package as the island has kept to the harsh austerity programme it had agreed to. But conservative President Nicos Anastasiades, who has led a minority government since centre-right coalition partner DIKO quit in February, failed to get the foreclosures legislation put to a vote on Thursday. Lawmakers postponed debate on the controversial bill until January 30 in a move that prompted the IMF to withhold the 86 million euros.(AFP) T Tokyo he Bank of Japan yesterday struck a more upbeat view of the world’s number three economy, saying exports were showing signs of picking up while factory output has started to “bottom out”. The comments came as policymakers wrapped up a twoday meeting where they held off fresh easing measures, after announcing in late October a huge expansion of the BoJ’s asset-buying programme. At a post-meeting press briefing, bank governor Haruhiko Kuroda repeated a pledge to do whatever is necessary to achieve the bank’s 2.0 percent inflation target in 2015, part of a wider bid to end the deflation that has plagued the economy T for years. A plunge in crude oil prices is threatening the bank’s target, but cheaper energy should give the wider economy a shot in the arm and generate higher prices, he said. The oil price drop has also narrowed Japan’s gaping trade deficit while a sharply weaker yen has been a plus for exporters. “The fall in oil prices has positive effects on the overall economy,” Kuroda told reporters. The central bank kept up its view that Japan was seeing a moderate recovery, in line with other advanced economies including the United States. “In this situation, exports have shown signs of picking up,” the BoJ said earlier in the day. Private consumption remains “resilient” while realestate investment has “started to bottom out”, the bank said, echoing its view of factory output, which edged up 0.2 percent on-month in October, Oil price drop has narrowed Japan’s gaping trade deficit. beating market expectations. “Business sentiment has generally stayed at a favourable level, although some cautiousness has been observed,” it added. Highlighting that caution, the BoJ’s quarterly Tankan survey this week showed confidence among major Japanese manufacturers edged down in the three months to December. A separate bank report Thursday showed firms were holding a record amount of cash equivalent to almost half the country’s gross domestic product, despite calls for more wage hikes and capital spending. However, Tokyo’s efforts to stoke the economy, which initially bore fruit, took a hit after an April sales tax rise slammed the brakes on growth as Japan sank into recession during the third quarter. The decline prompted Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to delay a second sales tax rise initially planned for next year and call snap elections that he easily won on Sunday.(AFP) US bank Ally Financial exits TARP bailout Washington S bank Ally Financial, rescued during the 2008 financial crisis, has exited the TARP bailout programme, the Treasury Department said yesterday. The Treasury said it had sold its remaining stake of 54.9 million shares in Ally for $23.25 per share, gaining $1.3 billion for taxpayers. The sale marked the Treasury’s last major investment in the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), it said in a statement. According to the Treasury, taxpayers recovered $19.6 billion on the investment in Ally, the former GMAC, the auto-financing arm of General Motors that was sold off and became a bank holding company during the financial crisis. Taxpayers have U netted a profit of roughly $2.4 billion on the original $17.2 billion investment in the automotive financial services provider, the Treasury said. “We are appreciative of the investment the US Treasury made in Ally and their understanding of how important available financing was to the US auto recovery,” said Michael Carpenter, chief executive of Ally, in a separate statement. Ally shares jumped 3.4 percent to $23.53 in morning trade on the New York Stock Exchange. The Treasury said it had now recovered $441.7 billion on TARP investments, including the sale of its shares in insurance giant American International Group, compared with $426.4 billion paid out. (AFP) Vienna long-running legal tussle between Austria and Bavaria took a new twist yesterday as Vienna sued the southern German region’s state bank for 3.5 billion euros ($4.3 billion). “Today is no day for jokes,” Austrian Foreign Minister Hans Joerg Schelling told reporters in Vienna. “We have studied all the alternatives for months. We owe it to the taxpayers.” The case centres on bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria (HGAA), which had to be nationalised by Austria during the 2009 financial crisis, costing taxpayers in Austria and Bavaria billions of euros in the subsequent winding-down. At the time HGAA was majorityowned by Bavaria’s Bayerische Landesbank (BayernLB), which Austria says failed to provide a complete picture of HGAA’s dire financial position. BayernLB, which also claims it was misled when it bought into HGAA in 2007, this week filed a lawsuit in Vienna claiming back 2.4 billion euros in loans made to HGAA. Austrian finance minister Schelling said Friday that he remains open to an out-of-court settlement, saying he was “still ready to talk”. HGAA’s collapse has also led to numerous other legal cases, including former top executives of BayernLB going on trial in the state capital Munich over the disastrous 2007 purchase. A Indonesia closes island airport Jakarta ndonesia temporarily closed a domestic airport yesterday after a volcano in the country’s east erupted, spewing plumes of ash hundreds of metres into the air, officials said. The volcano, Mount Gamalama -- which forms the entire island of Ternate in North Maluku province -- erupted late Thursday and was still coughing up ash the following day. While no one in the area has yet been told to evacuate, an airport in Ternate town at the mountain’s foot was forced to close, the transport ministry said. “We closed the Sultan Baabulah airport this morning as the volcanic ash may pose a risk to planes,” said ministry spokesman J.A. Barata. The airport could reopen Saturday if there are no further eruptions, Barata said. Darno Lamane, an official at the volcano monitoring post, said the 1,715-metre (5,630 feet) volcano continued to spew ash in plumes of up to 600 metres yesterday. A local disaster management agency official said that 11 hikers who had been at the volcano when it erupted managed to escape, but some were injured as they clambered down. (AFP) I 16 Saturday, December 20, 2014 Minister of Education, Dr. Majid Al Nuaimi attended the Seventh Islamic Conference of Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Rabat, Morocco. The conference was organised by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO), under the theme вЂ�Higher Education: Governance, Innovation and Employability.’ More than 2000 people from different nationalities attendedВ an event organised by the Pakistan Club, under the patronage of Capital Governorate. Governor of Capital Governorate, Shaikh Hisham bin Abdul Rehman Al Khalifa was the chief guest. Head of Chancery of Pakistan Embassy, Muhammad Ahad was also present. Various cultural programmes were held on the occasion. Renowned Malayalam playback singer, Franco Simon inaugurated the first edition of UAE Exchange KCA Talent Scan 2014. Various cultural programmes including musical concert and drama were staged during the inaugural ceremony. As many as 350 children of Indian Community, under the age group of 5-18 years, will participate in the event. The Arab Open University-Bahrain Branch (AOU) has held a celebration on th Razzaq Al Roumi, the administrative and educational staff and students. Dr. K era of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Jalal Iconics Company- Aqua Cool has organised a staff party at The Diplomat Raddison Blu Hotel to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Aqua Cool.В Bahrain National Commission carried out a workshop for five days in the UNESCO Doha Office to discuss the Data Quality Assessment Framework (DQAF). The workshop, presented by Statistical Advisor, Yousif Falah, was attended by specialists, representatives of the Education Ministry and Bahrain Secretariat General of Higher Education Council. Thattai Hindu community yesterday organised a blood donation camp at the Thattai Hindu community premises in Manama. The camp was held to mark the National Day celebration. About 170 people donated blood on the occasion. Secretary General of the Bahrain Red Crescent Society, Dr. Fawzi Ameen has said that the strategic objective of the society is to focus on building internal partnerships with other relevant agencies and humanitarian relief work in the Kingdom. Her statements came during a seminar organised by the Red Crescent Society. The seminar was attended by representatives of Interior, Health and Islamic ministries and charity societies. The seminar revolved around the protection of millions of refugees, displaced persons, emergency response and assistance to the needy. Saturday, December 20, 2014 17 Students of New Millennium School – DPS celebrated National Day of the Kingdom with great enthusiasm and fervour at its campus with a series of special assemblies. Students dressed in brightly coloured traditional Bahraini costumes filled the air with feelings of celebration and excitement.В School Chairman, Dr. Ravi Pillai, Managing Director, Geetha Pillai and Principal, Arun Kuumar Sharma extended their best wishes on the occasion of National Day. he occasion of National Day celebrations. The event was attended by the branch’s Director, Dr. Khaldoun Abdul Khaldoun congratulated Bahrain leadership on the occasion, lauding the achievements made in the prosperous The Department of Cultural and Student Activities of the Ministry of Education has organised a workshop on leadership. The workshop, conducted by Professor Sayed Salah Alawi, was attended by a total of 80 students from the Kingdom’s 16 schools. On behalf of Supreme Council for Youth and Sport Chairman, Bahrain Olympic Committee President and Royal Charity Organisation (RCO) Chairman, HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, President of the General Organisation of Youth and Sport (GOYS), Hisham Al Jowder honoured the winners for the car decoration contest held on the occasion of National Day celebrations. Supreme Head of the Indian Orthodox Church and Catholicos of the East, His Holiness Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II arrived in Bahrain last night. He was received at the airport by St. Mary’s Indian Orthodox Cathedral Vicar, Fr. Varghese Yohannan, Assistant Vicar, Fr. M B George, committee members and parishioners. The Catholicos will celebrate holy mass at the cathedral tonight before returning to Kerala. Pics by muhamed thasleem On the occasion of Bahrain National Day, Pakistan Embassy in association with Al Saqafa organised a Qawwali performance by Amjad Sabri at InterContinental Regency, Manama. Many dignitaries attended the function. 18 Saturday, December 20, 2014 Rihanna Debuts (Another) Weird Hairstyle Paris P erhaps there’s a reason her creative talents are being used on shoes instead of hair... Never one to stick with a hairstyle for long, Rihanna changed up her tresses yet again with a вЂ�du jour do’ consisting of blunt, extra straight forehead bangs with sleek face-framing pieces and long wavy black hair (extensions, clearly). She showed off her hair makeover at the Trocadero gardens in Paris. The pop star’s tousled mane is a drastic hairstyle-180 from her look earlier this week in Herzogenaurach, Germany, where she sported dramatic side-swept bangs and a classic femme fatale loose updo. Clooney n Downton Abbey’s Selfie! England L ights, camera, selfie! George Clooney’s guest appearance on “Downtown Abbey” is likely one of the most-anticipated TV events of the year and to mark the occasion, the Oscar-winner took an epic selfie o f himself with the entire cast of the British television show. The stars of the period drama are normally pretty stuffy, but Clooney’s charms makes all of them flash megawatt smiles for the phone camera. The 53-year old heartthrob filmed the special skit for ITV’s Text Santa telethon, which will raise money for U.K. charities, and it will air on British this weekend. happy AK with PK Dressed to the nines in a smart grey suit to match his pepper grey hair, the “Gravity” actor flanks Carson (Jim Carter), Tom Branson (Allen Leech), Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) and Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael). Bieber loses 3.5 million followers as Instagram deletes bogus accounts Toronto A crackdown on fake Instagram accounts has cost Justin Bieber, Canadian pop star about 15 per cent of his followers. He lost 3.5 million Instagram followers virtually overnight after the social media company purged phony accounts. The Facebook-owned company said it is removing spam accounts and those that violate its community guidelines. “We want to maintain the best possible experience on Instagram, so we do our best to remove spam, fake accounts and other people and posts that don’t follow our Community Guidelines,” read a message posted online by Instagram last week. Portman: вЂ�Star Wars nearly ruined my career’ France he Oscar-winning Black Swan actress recalled her struggles with George Lucas’s sci-fi series, Star Wars, in a tribute to her Closer director Mike Nichols, who passed away last month at the age of 83. T “Star Wars had come out around the time of Seagull, and everyone thought I was a horrible actress,” she said. Portman was nominated for an Academy Award in 2005 for Nichols’s Closer and won six years later for Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan in 2011. Nicki Minaj named the face of Roberto Cavalli London repared to witness Nicki Minaj like you’ve never seen her before? Here she’s, the famed rapper, just had been named as the face of Roberto Cavalli’s new Spring/Summer 2015 advertising. Throughout the images taken by photographer Francesco Carrozzini, the 32-year-old is doing a tribal dance while rocking such colours as fire orange, blue, saffron yellow and green. Even without showing off her notorious derriere, the hitmaker still manages to ooze sensuality like never before. P Mumbai M r Perfectionist of Bollywood Aamir Khan, said he went to some lengths to develop the physical aspects of his character in the film and that there were many challenges to playing the character of PK. “The challenge for me was getting into the head of the character. That was the biggest challenge for me. In terms of physicality, he never blinks and he runs with his hands straight by his side. So these were physical things that ultimately go into creating the visual aspect of the character. He also revealed his вЂ�sleepless nights’ before movie releases. Saturday, December 20, 2014 Ce leb s 1 Hollywood’s Highest Paid Actresses Y ou must have been wondering who gets paid the most among the Hollywood actresses. We are here to tell you exactly that. But, we warn you not swoon after looking at the whopping figures below. We are only projecting the salaries of the top ten category. Remember down the line, there are also others who get paid a fortune!!! 2 3 4 Angelina Jolie, $30 million Sarah Jessica Parker $30 million 5 8 Julia Roberts $20 million Cameron Diaz $18 million Jennifer Aniston $28 million 6 9 Kristen Stewart $20 million Sandra Bullock $15 million Reese Witherspoon $28 million 7 10 Katherine Heigl $19 million Meryl Streep $10 million 19 Saturday, December 20, 2014 20 Ripley’s by John Graziano Lipsticks were once made using fish scales I t was around four to five thousand years ago manmade lipsticks appeared in ancient Mesopotamia. Women used to grind precious gems and decorate lips with their dust. Powerful and wealthy ancient Egyptians used lipsticks regularly. It is said that Cleopatra liked red lipstick. Lipsticks made out of colourful fruits and juices were initially used by women since the prehistoric times. For a long time in European Middle Ages, red and dark lipsticks were associated with Satan worshipping, also they were often viewed as a fashion accessory of sex workers and lower class women. Shortly after the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, women in high circles began using red lipsticks. The most famous actresses that popularized lipsticks were Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. Main ingredients of lipsticks are waxes (even natural beeswax), oils, pigments and emollients. They also have vitamin E, collagen, amino acids, aloe vera, sunscreen and moisturizers . Earlier, certain brands of lipstick contained the synthetic version of fish scales called pearl essence, a silvery substance that makes fish scales flash and one’s lips shiny and sparkling. The pearl essence was primarily sourced from herring and was found in many lipsticks, nail polishes and other cosmetic products due to the shimmer effect it created. В Herring are one of the most abundant and most important fish groups in the world. Herring are not only important to the food web in the ocean but also to the health of many coastal communities. The pearl essence was heavily processed, so people allergic to fish protein had no problem with it at all.В However, if it wasn’t for the pearl essence , a world full of nonshimmering lips would have been the outcome. Your StarS todaY Aries: 20th March 20th April Aries, you may have been a little difficult to be around lately. You like to treat yourself to a little moodiness from time to time, but the people around you might appreciate a little cooperation. There are days when you don’t want to grow up, when it’s time to play. Leo: 20th July - 20th Aug Leo, you have a tendency to run away from confrontation, but today you might not be able to avoid it. Your partner or a family member may be putting pressure on you. It’s possible you’ve already worked out a solution to this problem. Tell your partner what he or she wants to hear so you can do what you want later. TAurus : 20th April - 20th May One thing is for sure, Taurus, you’d rather be in bed with a good book than out in the stressful world. But you may be feeling like you’re missing out on some of the good things in life. How much time do you spend with other people? Why not try to find someone who shares your taste for good books and bed? Think about it! Virgo: 20th Aug - 20th sept You may feel a little weary today, Virgo. It’s a good time to take stock of your life. You may have gotten some news about someone that has caused you some pain. This is a good time to rely on the support of your relationship in order to reenergize yourself. sAgiTTArius: 20th nov - 20th Dec You don’t live your life by society’s rules, Sagittarius. Your freedom is what is most important to you. But despite your independence, there are days when you have the sudden, sinking feeling that you could wind up alone in this world. geMini : 20th May - 20th June Your greatest quality is generosity, Gemini. Your nature isn’t to give to others in order to get something back but for the pleasure of giving. This is how you get power and light. Think of all the people in the world who give of themselves without expecting anything in return. LibrA: 20th sep - 20th oct You have the gift of being able to get your great ideas across to others. In your family, you may be the one who teaches your children about life and its responsibilities. Today someone might teach you something you didn’t know. You should never forget that education means communication, and communication is the exchange of ideas. CApriCorn: 20th Dec - 20th Jan Capricorn, life around you today almost seems like a (bad) dream. It’s almost as if people are talking, but nothing intelligible is coming out of their mouths. Perhaps two people close to you are having problems getting along. CanCer: 20th June - 20th July It’s important to take a hard look at yourself and know where you’re going, Cancer. A little self-analysis never hurt anyone, especially when you feel like you aren’t getting anywhere. But you have a tendency to go a little overboard with selfsCorpio: criticism. 20th oct - 20th nov There may be tension in the air as you go about your day, Scorpio. The leftover fatigue from the past few days is starting to wear on you. You may have managed to pisCes: get into an argument with 20th Feb someone close to you, but 20th Mar there might be a reaToday’s planetary son for this. configuration has you wondering about an aspect of your life that causes you a AquArius: good deal of hardship, Pisces. 20th Jan - 20th Maybe your partner is often Feb away and this is particuYou can’t spend all your larly hard on you. You’d like time running from one activity to your sweetie to be there the next, Aquarius. You need to take through thick and thin. a break from time to time. You have This may be causing all the energy you need, but you some tension in should think about relaxing your relationyourself as a whole. ship. 21 Saturday, December 20, 2014 CrossworD Across 1- Iowa city; 5- Think nothing ___; 9- Yoga posture; 14Dynamic start; 15- Appraise, charge per unit; 16- Provide food; 17- Small brook; 18- Silent; 19- Newbies; 20- Chronic lung disease; 23- Ad word; 24- Miracle-___; 25- Form of poem, often used to praise something; 28- Power problems; 31- Orch. section; 34- Engine; 36- Lush; 37- Potpourri; 38In spite of; 42- Ayatollah’s land; 43- Extra-wide shoe size; 44- First name in cosmetics; 45- Horse-like animal, term of insult; 46- Whenever; 49- Was in session; 50- Grads-tobe; 51- Extinct bird; 53- County in central England; 60Traditional portion of Muslim law; 61- Dutch name of The Hague; 62- Remove water from a boat; 63- For all to hear; 64- Legal rights org.; 65- Conductor Klemperer; 66- Edible red seaweed; 67- Flexible tube; 68- Bring forth young; Yesterday’s solution Down 1- Over-50 org.; 2- Chow ___; 3- Author ___ Stanley Gardner; 4- Alone, on stage; 5- Alloy of copper and zinc; 6- Tap; 7- Sock ___ me!; 8- Adolescent; 9- Thespians; 10Authority; 11- Longfellow’s bell town; 12- Revivalists; 13___ longa, vita brevis; 21- New Zealand native; 22- ___ Kick Out of You; 25- ___ vincit amor; 26- Portals; 27- Kett and James; 29- It’s a plus; 30- Obtained; 31- Narrow openings; 32- Fungal infection; 33- Man of many words?; 35- Have; 37- Takes too much; 39- Keyed up; 40- Yo!; 41- Food and water; 46- Area with coin-operated games; 47- Standards of perfection; 48- Storage place for dead bodies; 50Nasal cavity; 52- Yippee!; 53- Humdinger; 54- Hydroxyl compound; 55- Ayatollah’s predecessor; 56- Snack in a shell; 57- Must’ve been something ___; 58- Comic Rudner; 59North Carolina university; 60- Downcast; beetle bAiley iN History S U D O KU R lAugH @ life Cute twins parody W Hoy en la Historia December 20, 1951 The first electricity generated by nuclear power illuminated light bulbs at the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission’s National Reactor Testing Station in Idaho 1998: The first set of octuplets to be born alive in the U.S. were delivered 2007: Queen Elizabeth II, aged 81 years and 241 days, surpassed Queen Victoria to become Britain’s oldest ever reigning monarch 2009: A U.S. Army general in Iraq added pregnancy to the list of reasons a soldier could face court martial 2013: Bolivia’s Chinese-built TГєpac Katari 1 telecommunications satellite was successfully launched in China Picture: Associated Press В© GRAPHIC NEWS hen adorable twins Carli and Calli do an impression of their parents they crack themselves up, even though their folks may not be amused. Filmed by the aunty Carolyn Jones, this video shows the toddlers apparently mimicking what their parents say when they’re getting up to mischief which from what we see here may be quite a bit. When Carli and Calli, who can only be told apart by those who don’t know them by their different coloured clothing, are in trouble their parents points and say вЂ�march’. The girls do the same in their own cute way, but we can only assume their mum and dad don’t laugh hysterically when their issuing y do their version. The вЂ�march’ and point command is interspersed with the dynamic duo play fighting and occa- How to play: Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine. Yesterday’s solution sionally giving each other a hug. The girls do the same in their own cute way, but we can only assume their mum and dad don’t laugh hysterically when their is- suing y do their version. The вЂ�march’ and point command is interspersed with the dynamic duo play fighting and occasionally giving each other a hug. 22 Saturday, December 20, 2014 Working..? Then stand up! T he year 2014 was when workers everywhere started standing up for their rights. OK, apologies for the puns, but the standing desk really has been one of the rising furniture trends this year with mainstream brands like Ikea getting on board and designers working on foldable, cardboard versions. Standing desks have been Kidney broker out of prison, evades deportation TRENTON, N.J. -- The first person convicted in federal court of profiting from illegal sale of human organs is out of prison. Levy Izhak Rosenbaum was released from federal correctional facility in New Jersey and is now back home Officials decided the 63-year-old’s crimes were not deportable offences. The Israeli citizen, who had been living in the U.S. legally, was sentenced in 2012 to 2 1/2 years after he pleaded guilty to brokering three illegal kidney transplants for customers in exchange for payments of $120,000 or more. getting increasing attention over the past few years, thanks to research supporting the theory that sitting for long periods of time during the day could be detrimental to our health. Five standing desks hit the headlines this year confirming their mass appeal. “StandDesk,” features handsfree technology with press button to elevate or lower. The portable “Zest Desk” can transform any standard work surface into a standing desk. It can be assembled in 30 seconds and features. Proof that the standing desk had really gone mainstream came in the form of Swedish furniture giant Ikea’s “Bekant - Ergonomi” model. Maintain routines Eat a healthy breakfast and kickstart the day on a positive note Avoid skipping meals as this could slow down your metabolism. Keep a modified fitness routine with quick fitness options В Get a partner to workout! This will help you socialise, do away with boredom You will pick up the good habits of your partners You will remain motivated to continue Above all, it could be real fun. Age-aging effect of exercise Do you know it has an anti-aging effect? New research confirms right combination of exercise prevents the shortening of telomeres which keep our cells alive. It is, in fact, the lifestyle which hastens or slows down telomere-shortening process. Studies demonstrate right combination of exercise helps turn the clock back by almost a decade! Fitness Tips I t is everyone’s dream to remain fit. But, how many of you are able to achieve it? If your answer is in the negative, then it is time you learnt one or two tricks of the trade. The mantra is clear: whatever you do, do it with intelligence. The tips below should help you cut that extra flab, keep your skin glowing and achieve bouncy cheeks. Now, it is time you started…! Be selective Identify your favourites and stick to those to avoid mindless nibbling at parties. Be an educated consumer and be conscious of the calories involved in your intake. EAT EXERCISE STAY WELL Age No Bar 103-year-old wants to take on Bolt KYOTO losing in on his 104th birthday, a twinkle-toed Japanese sprinter has thrown down the challenge to the world’s fastest man Usain Bolt, telling him: “let’s rumble!” Hidekichi Miyazaki -- who holds the 100 metres world record for centenarians at 29.83 seconds and is dubbed вЂ�Golden Bolt’ after the Jamaican flyer -- plans to wait another five years for his dream race and was happy to reveal his secret weapon: his daughter’s C tangerine jam. “I’d love to race Bolt,” the wispyhaired Miyazaki said after tottering over the line with a joyful whoop at a recent Japan Masters Athletics competition in Kyoto. “I’m keeping the dream alive. I try to stay in top shape and stay disciplined and healthy. That’s important for everyone -- even Usain Bolt.” Born in 1910 -- the year Japan annexed Korea and when the Titanic was still under construction -- the pintsized Miyazaki offered some dietary tips to Bolt, whose world record is 9.58 seconds. “My body is small so I take care of what I eat,” said Miyazaki, who stands just 1.53 metres (five feet) tall and weighs in at 42 kilograms (92 pounds). “When I eat, I chew each mouthful 30 times before swallowing,” he added, loosening his Usain Bolt running shoes. “That makes my tummy happy and helps my running. And I eat my tangerine jam every day.” (AFP) Women more empathetic to partners than men I t might not seem like news, but women exhibit considerably more empathy towards their partners than men do, according to a large-scale study at Griffith University and the University of Queensland in Australia. When their partners succumbed to illness or experienced a traumatizing life event, women were noticeably affected compared to men, the study revealed. Is it time for men to change? 23 Saturday, December 20, 2014 Forty-eight hours after the Peshawar massacre, which left 149 dead, the world saw Pakistan taking a slew of measures to rein in the militants on a rampage. DT News compiles Friday’s developments for a quick roundup. NO HANG-UPS, POLICY CLEAR Islamabad bout 24 hours after the chief of Pakistan army asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to hang all the terrorists, the officials started executions on Friday. In the first executions since 2008, Pakistan on Friday hung two convicted militants, officials said. “Yes, two militants Aqil alias Doctor Usman and Arshad Mehmood have been hanged in Faisalabad jail,” Shuja Khanzada, Home Minister of central Punjab province, where executions took place, said. Six of the seven who will face the gallows in Faislabad and two jails in Lahore have been convicted for attempting to assassinate then president Legislators and media union representatives place flowers for and army chief Pervez the victims of Peshawar school attack, in front of the parliament Musharraf, Geo TV reported in Islamabad on Friday. (AFP) A Tough anti-terror policy agreed Islamabad akistan’s top political and military leaders on Friday agreed to pursue a tough policy against the militant groups. The prime minister visited the military headquarters in Rawalpindi and chaired a high-level meeting on national security and strategy against the armed groups. The meeting, attended by Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif and senior military officials also focused on the ongoing major military operation in North Waziristan tribal region and the future course of action following the school attack, an official statement said. Official sources said the leaders discussed an amendment in the Army Act to put on trial in military courts civilians who are involved in attacks on the Pakistan Army or its installations. At the three-hour meeting, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his key cabinet members were briefed on national security matters. Director General of ISI Lt. Gen. Rizwan Akhtar gave a detailed briefing on the security situation, the sources said. P School massacre вЂ�Pak’s 9/11’ and national security advisor to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, said the assault, the deadliest terror attack in Pakistan’s history, was a “game changer”. “This has shaken the entire Pakistani society to the core, and in many ways it’s a threshold in our strategy for countering terrorism,” he said. “Just like 9/11 changed the US and the world forever, this 16/12 is kind of our mini 9/11.” Islamabad Taliban massacre at a school is “Pakistan’s 9/11”, the country’s top foreign policy official said on Friday. Sartaj Aziz, foreign affairs A Two militants Aqil alias Doctor Usman and Arshad Mehmood have been hanged in Faisalabad jail FIR against cleric for pro-Taliban remarks citing jail sources earlier. The seventh to hang Saturday is also in Faisalabad. Arshad Mehmood was convicted for the assassination attempt on Musharraf. Two jails in Lahore will execute five other terrorists -- Kamran Khan, Ahsaan Nadeem, Zahid, Zubair Ahmad and Ghulam Sarwar -- who were also convicted for the assassination attempt on the former President. (AFP) army offensive against the Taliban “un-Islamic” and said the militants’ massacre of 133 children was in retaliation for air strikes against them. Maulana Abdul Aziz told worshippers at the Red Mosque he “shared the grief” of the victims’ families but said the TTP’s response was understandable. Islamabad First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against Lal Masjid’s chief cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz at Aabpara Police Station upon unremitting pressure exerted from protesting civil society on Friday night. The head of a hardline Islamabad mosque on Friday called an A Mumbai terror attack вЂ�mastermind’ Pak to challenge bail for Lakhvi Islamabad Sajjad Tarakzai A Pakistani government prosecutor said on Friday that he will challenge a court order granting bail to the alleged mastermind of the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, which sparked strong condemnation from India. Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi is accused of planning the 60-hour siege on India’s commercial capital that left 166 people dead and was blamed on the banned Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). A judge in an Islamabad antiterror court granted Lakhvi bail on Thursday, prompting anger in neighbouring India which urged the Pakistani government to appeal. “I am completing all the legal formalities and then I will challenge this order in Islamabad on Monday,” government prosecutor Mohammad Azhar Chaudhry said. “Today I am trying to get a copy of the written (bail) order and then I will file an appeal in Islamabad high court.” Lakhvi remained in the high security Adyala prison in garrison city of Rawalpindi even after Thursday’s court ruling. India’s foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said the court ruling made “a mockery of Pakistan’s commitment to fight terror groups without hesitation and without making distinctions”. China Prez visit Ban on umbrellas in Macau Macau resident Xi Jinping visited a drizzly Macau on Friday for the 15th anniversary of the gambling hub’s return to Chinese rule, with onlookers barred from using umbrellas -the emblem of democracy protests in nearby Hong Kong. The two-day trip to the former Portuguese enclave P Protesters holding yellow umbrellas are stopped by police in Macau on Friday. (AFP) comes just days after Hong last of three camps where Kong police cleared the protesters had spent nearly three months demanding free leadership elections for the city. Reporters on the airport tarmac waiting for Xi not allowed to hold umbrellas, and handed raincoats instead. Xi’s visit is an opportunity to drive home the message that the semi-autonomous territory needs to diversify away from casinos. (AFP) “I am completing all the legal formalities and then I will challenge this order in Islamabad on Monday” Army keeps the heat on militants Peshawar akistani security forces killed more than 50 suspected militants on Friday. An ambush by security forces in the northwest on Friday left at least 32 militants dead, the military said, to add to 27 killed in air strikes and ground operations on Thursday. In a separate operation on Friday, 18 more militants were killed in Khyber, the military said. Army chief General Raheel Sharif said the attack had renewed the forces’ determination. P 24 Saturday, December 20, 2014 Moscow invites Kim Jong-un Nepal urged to protect children Kathmandu ndian Nobel peace laureate Kailash Satyarthi on Friday called on Nepalese lawmakers to do more to protect children in Nepal, home to more than 1.6 million child labourers. Satyarthi, who is on a three-day visit to Nepal, said in an address to parliament, “It is your responsibility to constitutionally ensure the I Moscow oscow has sent an invitation to the supreme leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un, to the forthcoming 70th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany. “It is true that such an invitation has been sent,” Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov M protection, freedom, dignity, education and health of the children.” Satyarthi won the Nobel for a 35-year battle to free thousands of children from slave labour. Rhino horn smuggling racket held Cape Town ixteen members of a Czechoslovakia-based syndicate have been arrested by South African authorities in an international rhino horn smuggling bust, a feat commended by Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa. “The arrests are to be welcomed and confirm that S confirmed. Russia will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War May 9, 2015. By tradition, the leaders of many countries are invited. Lawmaker’s comment “Too вЂ�ugly’ to rape” creates a flutter in Brazil POLITICO IN SOUP BrasГlia HГ©ctor Velasco A debate about sexual violence in Brazil sparked by a lawmaker’s comments on the floor of Congress has spread beyond government chambers, triggering a national debate about rape and sexism in the South American nation. Opposition congressman Jair Bolsonaro told Maria do Rosario Nunes in Congress he would not rape her “because she was not worth it.” Then, Nigerian Ebola patient cured in the Netherlands The Hague The Nigerian UN peacekeeper infected with Ebola has been cured after treatment in the Netherlands. “The Nigerian patient has been cured of Ebola. He will stay at a military hospital of Dutch defence ministry until he can return home,” a statement from the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment said. The health of all those who have taken care of the patient will be closely checked in the coming three weeks, it said. he said it again. “Stay here Maria do Rosario!” he yelled during a parliamentary session on December 9, the eve of International Human Rights Day. “It’s been several days since you called me a rapist, and I said that I did not rape you because you weren’t worth it,” the 59-year-old retired soldier yelled at Rosario Nunes. It was not clear under what circumstances Nunes called him a rapist, as alleged. The rival lawmakers have Maria do Rosario Nunes been at loggerheads for years, and Bolsonaro was reacting after an angry debate about the 1964-1985 military dictatorship, under which he served and still supports. His comments have sparked national fury in Brazil, a traditionally male-dominated society where 137 sexual assaults are reported daily. Angry Brazilians also took to social media to voice their disgust at his comments, while the United Nations called his comments “unacceptable.” Rosario Nunes, a close ally of leftist President Dilma Rousseff, filed a complaint, accusing him of libel and slander, and charged him with public incitement to rape. “I am not doing it for me, but for all Brazilian women, because no one deserves to be raped. I do not accept in Parliament or anywhere, the incitement to rape,” said Rosario Nunes, former minister for Human Rights. Unrepentant, Bolsonaro said he would not ask for her forgiveness and pressed on with his comments. (AFP) the killing of South Africa’s rhino for their precious horns is linked to international crime syndicates,” the local media quoted Minister Edna Molewa. British cop killed in assault London police officer died following an early morning assault near a nightclub in Liverpool city centre on Friday, media reported. Two of his colleagues were injured in the attack. Merseyside Police confirmed that an off-duty police officer, Neil Doyle, 36, died as a result of his injuries following the incident. A police spokesman said both the injured officers had been discharged from hospital, where one had been treated for a fractured cheekbone and the other “a less serious facial injury”. A Cuba will change, but not overnight: Obama Washington S President Barack Obama said on Friday that Cuba would change as a result of the communistruled island’s rapprochement with Washington, but the improvements will not happen “overnight.” “I don’t anticipate overnight changes,” Obama told reporters. “It could happen fast. It could happen slower than U I would like,” he added. But “it’s going to happen, and this change in policy is going to advance that.” But the US president, who coordinated with his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro on the detence strategy that puts the former foes on track to normalize relations for the first time in more than half a century, dismissed the possibility of any immediate exchange of presidential visits. “We’re not at a stage here where me visiting Cuba or President Castro coming to the US is in the cards,” Obama said in his final press conference of the year. “There’s nothing specific where we’re trying to target some sort of visit on my part.” As part of the policy shift, Obama has ordered his administration to initiate steps to re-open its embassy and normalize ties. (AFP) View of an Alebrije --brightly coloured papier-mache sculpture of fantastical creatures- during an exhibition at a street in Mexico Ciy on Friday. (AFP) Global Action Scientists make headway in tsunami warning Miami Kerry Sheridan T he 2004 tsunami led to greater global cooperation and improved techniques for detecting waves that could reach faraway shores, even though scientists still cannot predict when an earthquake will strike. The world’s main This file photo shows an Indonesian man carries some belongmonitoring body, the Pacific ings from his damaged shop in Banda Aceh, after the tsunami Tsunami Warning Centre hit the area. (AFP) headquartered at Hawaii’s Ewa Beach, was focused on volatile areas prone to earthquakes along the Pacific Ring of Fire, including Japan and South America. “We weren’t on the proper footing to be able to quickly respond to an event of the size that it was,” Mike Angove, tsunami programme branch director at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. Australia, Indonesia and India have now taken charge of a monitoring body known as the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System. The US nearly doubled its staff at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, and its tsunami warning centres in Hawaii and Alaska continue to be staffed 24/7. International efforts are also ramping up to establish a tsunami warning centre in the Mediterranean. Scientists can measure the waves that spread to faraway shores with the help of buoys known as DART. Each unit has a pressure gauge on the seafloor that detects tsunami activity and sends information by acoustic modem to the buoy. Then, the buoy sends the data by satellite to the US tsunami warning centres in Hawaii and Alaska, where it is sent out over the Internet. (AFP) 25 Saturday, December 20, 2014 Dear friends, best wishes for Rome’s bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games. I will not be there. May the Lord bless all of you and your families - Pope Francis We will send a message of solidarity and confirm the EU readiness to deepen the relationship with Iraq - Federica Mogherini Head of EU foreign affairs And beyond halting Ebola, we need to build up health systems and other infrastructure that will forestall something similar occurring in the future - Ban Ki-moon UN chief 8 CHILDREN KILLED IN OZ Mother arrested A Santa Claus waves at a girl at the InterContinental Hotel in Beijing, on Friday. (AFP) Cairns Three babies among nine migrants drowned off Morocco Rabat Three babies were among nine illegal migrants who died on Friday after their inflatable vessel capsized off the coast of Morocco, the police said. A police operation “rescued 21 people and recovered nine bodies, three of whom were babies,” according to Islamist kidnap вЂ�unverified’: Nigeria Lagos Nigeria’s military on Friday confirmed a deadly attack by Boko Haram in the northeast village of Gumsuri but said reports of a mass kidnapping needed to be verified. “Troops are patrolling the general area of Gumsuri in search of terrorists,” a statement from defence ministry spokesman Chris Olukolade said. “Although it has been confirmed that some people were killed by the terrorists during the attack, the reported abductions as claimed by unidentified sources being quoted in some foreign media is yet to be verified from any credible sources in the community,” he added. At least 32 people were killed in the attack that began late Sunday and at least 185 others, mostly women and children, were kidnapped. a statement from authorities in the northern province of Tangiers-Tetouan. Tangiers and Tetouan are some of the closest African cities to Europe, where southern Spain is visible to the naked eye across the Straits of Gibraltar. Hundreds of migrants attempt the voyage each year. O ne of Australia’s worst mass murders, leaving eight children from the same family dead, has left the city of Cairns in shock. The grim discovery of the bodies of children aged 18 months to 15 years was reportedly made by their adult brother at their home in Manoora, in the north Queensland city’s west. The mother of seven of the children, 34, is being treated for stab wounds to the chest. Later reports confirmed her Emergency crews go to work at the home where eight children were found dead in Cairns suburb of Manoora, Australia. (AFP) arrest by the police. reassure the public that there Detective Inspector Bruno were no concerns for anyone Asnicar – who moved early to else’s safety – said it was “very, very early days but she’s in a stable condition”. Lisa Thaiday, who said she was the woman’s cousin, said it was a 20-year-old sibling who raised the alarm after finding his brothers and sister dead. It was the second high profile tragedy to strike the national psyche in days, with the country still reeling from a dramatic siege in Sydney which left three dead. Prime minister Tony Abbott said the incident in Cairns was “heartbreaking” and an “unspeakable crime”. (AFP) Obama warns N. Korea over Sony hack Washington Susan Stumme U S President Barack Obama on Friday warned North Korea it would face retaliation over a cyber attack on Sony Pictures and pledged not to bow to dictators, as an envoy for Pyongyang denied involvement. Threats issued after the November attack prompted the movie giant to cancel the Christmas Day release of “The Interview,” a madcap satire about a CIA plot to kill North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. The anonymous hackers invoked the memory of September 11, 2001 in threatening attacks on cinemas screening the film, prompting major theater chains to say they would not screen it. In addition to the threats, Sony has seen the release of a trove of embarrassing emails, scripts and other internal communications, including information about salaries and employee health records. Obama, addressing reporters after the FBI said Pyongyang was to blame, said Washington would never bow to “some dictator”. Bacteria in caramel apples kills 4 in US Miami listeria outbreak believed to originate from commercially packaged caramel apples has killed at least four people in the United States and sickened 28 people since November, officials said on Friday. Listeria monocytogenes is caused by a bacteria and can cause lifethreatening illness. It is particularly dangerous for children, the elderly and pregnant women, in whom it can cause miscarriage. A total of 83 per cent of those interviewed so far (15 of 18 people) said they had recently eaten caramel- A coated apples. The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention urged consumers in the United States not to eat commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples until further notice. “Out of an abundance of caution, CDC recommends that US consumers do not eat any commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples, including plain caramel apples as well as those containing nuts, sprinkles, chocolate, or other toppings, until more specific guidance can be provided,” the CDC said in a statement. Of the 28 infected, 26 were hospitalized and five people died. “Listeriosis contributed to at least four of these deaths,” said the CDC. Nine of the cases were pregnancyrelated and involved either mothers- to-be or their newborn infants. Three cases of meningitis -- a dangerous complication of listeriosis -- among otherwise healthy children aged five to 15 were also reported. The illnesses have spread across 10 states. Listeria can cause fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea, and symptoms typically begin within a few days to a couple of months after eating a contaminated product. The bacteria is found in soil, water and animal feces. Listeria can infect raw vegetables, animal meat, unpasteurized milk and processed foods such as cheese dips and deli meats. (AFP) 26 Saturday, December 20, 2014 P.O. Box : 85, Kingdom of Bahrain, Tel : 17 736773, Fax : 17 735650 e.mail : roonlasc@batelco.com.bh REQUIRES QUALIFIED TEACHERS FOR Г¶ Г¶ Г¶ ENGLISH KG CHEMISTRY Situation Vacant A reputed British curriculum school in Adliya requires an ASSiStAnt teAcheR urgently in primary section. Qualified candidate, must speak fluent English and Tagalog. To apply, please send your resume to: info@dilmunschool.com Interior Design Company looking for professional inteRioR deSiGneR with advanced 3D skills & AutoCAD drafting. Attractive salary package and benefits. 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Call : 39970707 .................................................. BudAiyA hiGhwAy semi furnished villa for rent, 3 bedroom 3 bath room, car parking store house, maid’s room, pool, washing machine, air conditioning, garden, exclusive of municipality, electricity and water. For viewing call: 33887055 Saturday, December 20, 2014 27 Outdoor Catering Team Offers Choice of high quality. Tailor made menus for Non-Veg & Veg. Professional Party Set-up & Supervision. Catering for any number of guests. Attractive rates. Reservations: + 973 17728699 Turkey crown wiTh orange IngredIents: For the turkey • 2.2kg/4lb14ozturkeycrown • 2tspchoppedthymeleaves • 50g/1Вѕozbutter,softened • 2smalloranges,onethinlysliced,onecutinhalf • 1-2tbspvegetableoil For the gravy • 3tbspplainflour • 6tbspport • 450ml/Вѕpinthotturkeyorchickenstock • splashWorcestershiresauce • 2tbspsoysauce • saltandfreshlygroundblackpepper Classifieds@dt.bh Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6. Loosen the skin on the turkey crown by pushing your fingers (or rubber spatula) between the skin and the meat, moving it around to get to the tricky places and taking care not to tear the skin. 3. Mix the thyme leaves with the softened butter until well combined, then smear the mixture underneath the skin of the bird. Arrange the orange slices in two neat rows under the skin, on top of the herb butter. 4. Place one of the orange halves under the skin at the neck end of the bird, and any orange trimmings in the neck cavity. 5. Transfer the turkey crown to a small roasting tray. Rub all over with the oil and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Roast in the oven for about 1ВЅ-2 hours, or until the juices run clear when the turkey is pierced in the thickest part with a skewer and no traces of pink remain. During cooking, check the turkey every 30 minutes, baste occasionally and cover with aluminium foil if it is browning too quickly. 6. About 15 minutes before the end of cooking, squeeze the juice from the remaining half-orange over the turkey. Return the turkey to the oven, uncovered, to allow the skin to crisp up. 7. Transfer the turkey crown to a serving platter and set aside to rest, covered in foil, for 30 minutes. Reserve the meat juices left in the roasting tray. 8. For the gravy, pour the juices from the roasting tray into a jug and allow to settle. Skim all but 4 tablespoons of the fat from the top, then tip the remaining gravy into a saucepan and heat over a medium heat until the gravy is just simmering. 9. Whisk in the flour until the mixture is smooth and well combined, then pour in the port and stock and whisk again until smooth. Continue to simmer the gravy until it starts to thicken, then add a few drops of Worcestershire sauce and the soy sauce. 10. Bring the gravy to the boil, adding any remaining turkey juices released while the meat was resting. 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Coming in second place was the favourite Azizi owned by Mohammed Juma Mohammed Hassan, trained by Sami Saloom and ridden by Kieren Fox by two and a half lengths ahead of third placed Maali owned by Jenna Ebrahim Al Afoo, trained by Mohammed Hassan and ridden by Hassan Al Saffar. The second favourite Unex El Greco owned by H and R Stables, trained by Allan O An action from the race Smith and ridden by Tristan Normand was a further three and a half lengths behind in fourth. In the sixth race for the Al Hawaj Cup for all classes of imported four years and upwards over 1,200 metres and worth BD2,000, the winner was the favourite World Congress focuses on building new system Abdulrahman Askar, second from right, Dr Adel El Nashar, right, and other speakers. DT News Network he second and penultimate day of the 56th ICHPER.SD Anniversary World Congress and Exposition, being held in the Kingdom of Bahrain, focused on the conference all-new theme “Towards Building a New Sport System”. It is being organised by the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) in partnership with the International Council for Health, PhysicalEducation, Recreation, Sports and Dance (ICHPER.SD) and the University of Bahrain (UoB). Speaking at yesterday’s opening session at the Crown Plaza Hotel, honorary president of T ICHPER.SD Dr Dong Ja Yang said the theme encapsulates the great purpose of the conference. “This represents a true challenge to bring it all together - ICHPER professionals, institutions and organisations throughout the world, for reexamining and sharing our current dimensions of beliefs, knowledge and wisdom to build new direction for the future through the process of this world congress,” said Dr Yang. “It is my very special pleasure to deliver this keynote with the topic вЂ�a sustainable Olympic movement for all nations – a celebration not only for the countries of the haves but also for countries of the have-nots”. Dr Yang started his keynote by thanking Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa for patronising this event. He extended his appreciation and gratitude to BOC general secretary and chairman of the Executive Committee of the conference Abdulrahman Askar and to all the organising committee members on their efforts in preparing for this international forum. Pitkin owned by Al Nasseriyeh, trained by Allan Smith and ridden by Brett Doyle by a neck ahead of Lui Rei owned by Fawzi Abdulla Nass, trained by Fawzi Nass and ridden by Hussain Makki. Half a length behind in third place was Ex owned by H and R Stables, trained by Allan Smith and ridden by Tristan Normand and a further two and a half lengths behind in fourth was Target Acquired owned by Hadi Ebrahim Al Afoo, trained by Mohammed Hassan and ridden by Ali Al Saffar. Other results (horse/jockey): Race 1: Al Hawaj Cup for all classes of locally bred 4 years and Upwards over 1,200m straight BD1,500. 1 No Doubt/Brett Doyle, 2 Mr Tango/Tristan Normand, 3 Barraqah/Ali Al Saffar, 4 Yaqouta/Hussain Makki. Race 2: Bahrain Olympic Committee Cup for all classes of Arabian horses 4 years and upwards over 1,200m BD3,000. 1. Rabdan 1556/Hussain Makki, 2. Al Saqlawy 1517/Ali Hassan, 3. Kuheilan Al Adiyat 1587/Ahmed Akbar, 4. Al Saqlawy 1564/Hassan Al Saffar. Race 3: For all classes of locally bred maidens 4 years and upwards over 1,600m BD1,500. 1. Gangnam Style/ Kieren Fox, 2. Satellite/Adrian Nicholls, 3. Unum Et Unicum/Brett Doyle, 4. Hashaara/Ali Al Saffar.. Race 4: Al Hawaj Cup for all classes of imported 4 years and upwards over 1,600m BD1,500. 1. Potentate/Adrian Nicholls, 2. Android/Kieren Fox, 3. Muraweg/Hussain Makki, 4. Sahaal/Hassan Al Saffar. Race 5: For locally bred 3rd, 4th and maiden class 4 years and upwards over 2,000m BD1,500. 1. Riyaah/Hassan Al Saffar, 2. Jock The Scott/ Adrian Nicholls, 3. Tayyar/ Mohammed Saeed, 4. Fiyadh/ Ali Al Saffar. Raed Mahmood, Salman Isa placed 19 and 21 DT News Network ahrain Royal Endurance team members Raed Mahmood and Salman Isa proved themselves in the Saeed bin Hamdan Endurance Challenge, when they were placed 19th and 21st respectively in the event, held yesterday at Dubai International Endurance City with more than 300 riders taking part. The race was held under the patronage of Dubai Deputy Ruler Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Chairman, Bahrain Olympic Committee President and Royal Endurance Team leader HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa was keen to follow up on his team B participating in the challenge, which is considered as one of the most grueling and competitive races of the UAE season. Shaikh Nasser met team members before the race and discussed with them the four stages and was keen to follow up on the riders progress in all four legs of the event. The Bahrain Royal Team also included Mohammed Al Thawadi and Abdulrahman Al Sa’ad. This race was for horses aged six years and over, with all participants competing across four stages of distances 40km, 30km, 30km and 20km, respectively. Said Al Mazroui from MRM Stable team clinched first place, followed by Abdulla Ghanim Al Marri from F3 Stables in second, while Mansoor Al Faresi from MRM Stable came third. During the race, Shaikh Nasser met UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, as well as Deputy Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Shaikh Nasser expressed his appreciation to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid for following up the race to assure all its regulatory procedures, stressing that this superb organisation is not strange to the UAE who are always accustomed to excellence in hosting all races. Timmermans win title DT News Network utchman Jesse T i m m e r m a n s comfortably clinched the men’s super singles title when he defeated Frenchman Ossel Hered 6-1, 6-1 in the final late on Thursday evening in the Indian Club Centenary Tennis Tournament played at its premises in Gudaibiya. Timmermans had reached the final after successfully defeating Bahrain’s Yousif Qaed in the semi-finals and Hered had overcome the challenge of Fahad from Saudi Arabia. The super singles featured players from France, Holland, D Second from left, Jesse Timmermans, third left Jic Jic Bohol with organising officials Philippines, GCC countries and local players including Bahrain national team players. In the men’s singles final, Jic Jic Bohol of the Philippines also comfortably won in straight sets 6-2, 6-2 against Bahrain’s Rashid Obaidly. The tournament run during the month of December also comprised men’s doubles, veteran’s singles/doubles, mixed doubles, under-18 boys singles and ladies singles. 29 DAVID IN FINALS Saturday, December 20, 2014 World Squash Championships Cairo W orld number one Nicol David reached her eighth world final after a rare ordeal yesterday, coming back from two games to one down to defeat Egypt’s Omneya Kawy 11-9, 9-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-5. It was a mental triumph for David with the cool court perfect for Kawy’s shot-making brilliance, the atmosphere becoming more frenzied with every winner the home heroine struck, and at 3-3 in the fourth game the top seed was in plenty of difficulty. It was then that David constructed a run of six points which changed the character of the match. Her patient rallying, clever containment, and unflagging court coverage increasingly taxed Kawy’s physical resources and elicited more errors, and once David had her opponent on the hook she Origi set to leave Lille for Liverpool Lille elgian forward Divock Origi will cut short a season-long loan at Lille in January to return to parent club Liverpool, who will pay six million euros for the privilege, according to a source close to the deal. The 19-year-old, who was bought by Liverpool from Lille in the summer for a reported ВЈ10m after impressing for Belgium at the World Cup, was immediately loaned back to the Ligue 1 side for the duration of this season. However, the loan agreement included a clause allowing Liverpool to take B Origi back in the January transfer window for six million euros if they needed attacking reinforcements. And with Mario Balotelli struggling to make an impact at the Anfield club and Brendan Rodgers’s side enduring a difficult campaign, it now appears that they will move to boost their attack in January. Lille coach Rene Girard had on several occasions denied reports that Origi was on his way out of the club despite rumours to the contrary, but the French side could not refuse such an offer as they are currently struggling financially. (AFP) Nicol David never let her off. “I’m really pleased to come through 3-2 (in games) against a really sharp, in-form Omneya who was composed throughout the match,” said David. “I have played her many times, and sometimes it goes after a while,” she added, referring to Kawy’s stamina in lengthy matches. “But she didn’t let it go. “She thrives on confidence and so for me to come back from 2-1 down was pleasing. I didn’t want to let her get in there in the fourth game,” David emphasised. In the final David may have to endure another trial by an excited home crowd and a talented Egyptian. This time it will be an even more dangerous opponent, the third-seeded Raneem el Weleily, who also showed a wide range of shot-making brilliance while beating the surprise semi-finalist, Alison Waters, 11-6, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5. National Day endurance race begins today Veterinary examination of horses progressing. DT News Network he National Day Endurance Race gets underway today starting at 7am at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir. The race, being held under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee T Divock Origi President HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, is being over a distance of 120km with an 80km qualification race also taking place. The veterinary examination of horses was conducted yesterday, supervised by the veterinary committee chaired by Dr. Abbas Al Haiki who stressed that all administrative procedures in the veterinary examination went smoothly and in accordance to the adopted laws in this regard. Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (BREEF) General Secretary Ghalib Al Alawi stressed that BREEF has prepared the village to embrace the race, and finished all administrative procedures in this regard. He praised the support of Shaikh Nasser and the follow-up of BREEF President Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa, and for all actions taken by the federation for the start of the season, which forms a strong motivation for all the working committees in order to finish all tasks entrusted to them. Spurs shine brightest powered by young talents Los Angeles he NBA’s defining moment in 2014 was supposed to be the San Antonio Spurs return to championship glory, but that was before the Donald Sterling saga took on a life of its T own. With the perfect blend of youth and experience, the Spurs dismantled the Miami Heat in one of the most lop-sided finals in league history, showing the two-time defending champions that the secret to long-term success is strong leadership and developing young talent. Future hall of famers Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili teamed up to lead the Spurs past the Heat in five games. For France’s Parker and Argentina’s Ginobili it was their fourth ring with the Spurs. For the Virgin Islands-born Duncan and coach Gregg Popovich it marked five rings together. Duncan said number five means the most. The Spurs dismantling of the Heat in the finals exposed the strengths of one team and the glaring weakness of another. San Antonio’s future is in good hands with 23-yearold Kawhi Leonard who was named finals MVP in June. The Spurs had better teamwork and more depth, while the Heat put their faith in superstar James. 30 Saturday, December 20, 2014 KIWIS THUMP PAK New Zealand beat Pakistan to take series 3-2 Abu Dhabi kipper Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor hit halfcenturies while paceman Matt Henry recorded career best bowling figures as New Zealand thumped Pakistan by 68 runs in the fifth and final onedayer in Abu Dhabi yesterday. Williamson’s 97 and Taylor’s 88 were the cornerstone of New Zealand’s 275-4 before Henry’s 5-30 helped dismiss Pakistan for 207 in 43.3 overs for a 3-2 series win at Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Pakistan won the first match in Dubai by three wickets and the third in Sharjah by 147 runs while New Zealand took the second by four wickets and the fourth game by seven runs. Henry took the first three of the four wickets as Pakistan were struggling at SCOREBOARD S Pakistan v New Zealand fifth ODI New Zealand M. Guptill c Shafiq b Irfan D. Brownlie lbw b Babar K. Williamson c Ahmed b Afridi R. Taylor not out L. Ronchi c Afridi b Irfan T. Latham not out 8 34 97 88 16 22 Total: (for four wkts; 50 overs) New Zealand’s cricketers pose with the winning trophy 38-3 before Haris Sohail (65) and Ahmed Shehzad (54) put on 69 for the fourth wicket. Henry then returned for his second spell to dismiss Shehzad followed by Sarfraz Ahmed (26) and Shahid Afridi (13) to improve on his previous best of 4-38 on debut against India at Wellington in January this year. This becomes Pakistan’s 12th defeat in the final games of a series after they were tied at 1-1 or 2-2. Their only win came against Zimbabwe in 2012. Defeat left Pakistan without a one- Hart inks new City contract Pakistan Nasir Jamshed lbw b Henry day series win in 2014 after losing in Sri Lanka 2-1 and to Australia 3-0. Pakistan were off to a disastrous start when opener Nasir Jamshed was leg-before wicket in the first over to Henry for nought. Henry then had Younis Khan (12) Cook set to be axed London Alastair Cook is set to be dismissed as captain of England’s one-day team ahead of the World Cup after the opener’s miserable run of form, according to reports yesterday. Cook has scored just one fifty in his last 22 one-day innings for England. Selectors are reported to have decided to axe Cook as skipper at a meeting yesterday, with the Daily Telegraph saying Eoin Morgan is now set to lead the side for the triseries in Australia. 275 0 Ahmed Shehzad c Williamson b Henry Younis Khan c Ronchi b Henry Asad Shafiq lbw b Devcich Haris Sohail b McClenaghan Umar Akmal c Guptill b McClenaghan Sarfraz Ahmed c Ronchi b Henry Shahid Afridi c Taylor b Henry Anwar Ali st Ronchi b McCullum Zulfiqar Babar b Milne Mohammad Irfan not out Total: (all out; 43.3 overs) and Shehzad (54) to leave Pakistan struggling at 107-4. In between, Anton Devcich had Asad Shafiq (seven) and Nathan McCullum dismissed Umar Akmal for six. Sohail hit five fours and a six off 74 balls while Shehzad’s knock of 81 balls had only two boundaries. Pearson given one-match ban London Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson was given a one-match touchline ban and a ВЈ10, fine following his foul-mouthed rant at a fan last month. Pearson had a personal hearing in front of an Independent Regulatory Commission yesterday after accepting the Football Association’s charge of using “abusive and/or insulting words towards a spectator” during Leicester’s 3-1 defeat by Liverpool. 54 12 7 65 6 26 13 18 2 0 207 Shehzad was caught while Sohail was bowled by Mitchell McClenaghan, ending Pakistan’s hopes of a win. Afridi found enough positives despite the loss with the World Cup in February and March fast approaching. (AFP) Michael Phelps gets suspended sentence Baltimore Olympic swimming legend Michael Phelps was given a one-year suspended sentence and 18 months probation yesterday after pleading guilty to drunk driving and speeding. Phelps -- the most decorated Olympian of all time -- was also ordered by Maryland district court judge Nathan Braverman to continue receiving treatment for alcoholism after the September incident. Ecclestone returns to F1 board Joe Hart London anchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart signed a new contract yesterday which will keep him with the Premier League champions until 2019. City manager Manuel Pellegrini had revealed earlier this month that talks with Hart were approaching a successful conclusion and the England international has now been rewarded with an M improved deal. The 27-yearold has reestablished himself as City’s number one over the past year after being dropped by Pellegrini for a short spell following a series of errors in the first half of last season. “I’m really happy, I’ve been here a long time now and I want to keep that going,” Hart told City’s official website. Hart, who joined City in a ВЈ600,000 move from Shrewsbury Town in 2006, made his breakthrough during a loan spell at Birmingham City in 2009-10 and returned to City to supplant Shay Given as first choice the following season. He has since helped City win two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and League Cup in his 276 appearances for the club. Hart is the latest City star to extend his stay at Eastlands following Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko, Aleksandar Kolarov, Samir Nasri and David Silva. (AFP) Paris ormula One’s commercial ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone has rejoined the board of the Formula One group which runs the sport after stepping down to fight his bribery case in Germany. The 84-year-old F1 supremo’s reappointment was confirmed by F1’s official Twitter account yesterday. Ecclestone, who has run Formula One since 1978, was joined on the board - as non-executive directors - by former Ferrari chairman Luca F Bernie Ecclestone di Montezemolo and Paul Walsh, former CEO of drinks giant Diageo. In August, Ecclestone settled his bribery case after arranging a controversial $100 million payment. Ecclestone went on trial in April on charges of paying a $44m bribe to a Bavarian state bank executive for help in maintaining his four-decade grip on F1. A settlement is allowed in German criminal cases if the prosecution, the aggrieved parties and the court agree. 31 Saturday, December 20, 2014 West Indies 76-2, trail South Africa PHILANDER THE DESTROYER Centurion ernon Philander was the main destroyer as the West Indian batting crumbled on the third day of the first Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park yesterday. Philander took four for 29 as the West Indies were bowled out for 201 and forced to follow on, 351 runs behind South Africa’s first innings total of 552 for five declared. Philander struck again early in the second innings when he dismissed Devon Smith for the second time in the day. West Indies were 76 for two at the close, still needing 275 runs to avoid an innings defeat. There was a setback for South Africa, however, as strike bowler Dale Steyn SCOREBOARD V South Africa, first innings, 552-5 declared West Indies, first innings K. Brathwaite c Amla b Philander 34 D. Smith c De Villiers b Philander 35 L. Johnson c sub (Peterson) b Abbott 31 M. Samuels b Morkel 33 S. Chanderpaul c Petersen b Philander 21 J. Blackwood c Petersen b Philander 12 D. Ramdin c Van Zyl b Elgar 14 J. Taylor c and b Morkel 4 S. Benn not out 6 S. Cottrell b Morkel 2 Vernon Philander (centre) celebrates after taking the wicket of West Indies batsman Jermaine Blackwodd (right). limped off the field after bowling only five balls in the follow on innings. Steyn returned after the second afternoon drinks break, however, and was on the field long enough to be eligible to bowl at the start of Saturday’s play. Philander, who had taken only four wickets at high cost in his previous four Test matches, did not take a Van Gaal waiting for вЂ�perfect’ United Louis Van Gaal Manchester ouis van Gaal has told his predecessor Alex Ferguson he is still far from happy with Manchester United’s performances despite an impressive run that has catapulted them into the Premier League top three. At least the United manager looks set to have record signing Angel di Maria available for the busy holiday schedule of games after his recovery from a hamstring tear. But, despite visiting Aston Villa at the weekend with six consecutive victories behind him, van Gaal insists he is still waiting for his team to put together the “perfect” performance. “I’m not only focused on results although of course that is the main, important thing,” he said L South Africa v West Indies yesterday. “When I speak with Sir Alex, he says, вЂ�No problem, you have won!’ “But for me, it is also the performance that is very important because when you perform well, you shall win more. Di Maria, who suffered a slight hamstring tear in the 3-0 victory against Hull three games ago, has made a speedy recovery from the injury although van Gaal wants him to regain match fitness before throwing the ВЈ59.7 million forward back into first team action. “He trained with us this week so it now depends on how he compares with other players,” said van Gaal. “He is not match fit after one week so he has to follow a procedure. It was the same with (Robin) van Persie or (Radamel) Falcao, it’s a procedure.” Falcao is still far from convincing his manager that he has found his full match fitness. The Colombian forward, who is on a seasonlong loan at Old Trafford, has not started a game since the first week in October and has scored just one goal in three starts all season. His lack of fitness has led to speculation that his stay at United will not be permanent and van Gaal admits that it has been impossible to make a decision so far. “He didn’t play so much then you cannot see too much of a player and he didn’t train so much because he was a lot of time he has been injured, so first you have to be fit,” said van Gaal.В (AFP) wicket in his opening spell yesterday but transformed the match when he came back for a second spell. After a good start by opening batsmen Kraigg Brathwaite and Smith, the West Indian batting disintegrated in dispiriting fashion. Nyman wins Val Gardena downhill Val Gardena Steven Nyman won yesterday’s men’s downhill, the American’s third World Cup win, all on Val Gardena’s Saslong slope. Nyman clocked a time of 1min 55.89sec to beat Norway’s Kjetil Jansrud by 31 hundredths of a second, and Italy’s Dominik Paris (1:15). The 32-year-old United States skier was adding to his wins in Val Gardena in 2006 and, after six injuryblighted years, in 2012. “I’ve always felt comfortable here from the first day I arrived,” Nyman told. “In 2005, I said I like this hill. I could see what I needed to do and I was ready to do it. And I crashed and the next year, I won. And then the next year, I crashed. It treats me well and sometimes it slaps me.” “It was different this year because the snow is so thin, you’re basically feeling the fields underneath the snow.” “It’s rattly the whole way down the hill. And you have to keep driving over that and show it who’s boss, or it will show you who’s boss.” K. Roach absent injured Total (60.2 overs) 201 West Indies, second innings (following on) K. Brathwaite c Petersen b Morkel 20 D. Smith c sub (Bavuma) b Philander 5 L. Johnson not out 33 M. Samuels not out 13 Extras (lb2, w2) 4 Total (2 wkts, 27 overs) Brathwaite and Smith saw off South Africa’s new ball attack, putting on 72 for the first wicket before Philander dismissed both openers in successive overs. The righthanded Brathwaite looked solid and well organised from the start but the left-handed Kalou threatens to quit Hertha Berlin Ivory Coast forward Salomon Kalou believes the Hertha Berlin team should be built around him and has threatened to leave the Bundesliga side unless he plays more. Having made more than 70 international appearances in a career which included six years at Chelsea, where he won the 2012 Champions League title, the Premier League in 2010 and the FA Cup four times, Kalou feels he should be better used at Hertha. “I think you should treat a player like me a little better,” the 29-year-old, who joined Hertha from Lille in August for a reported 1.8 million euros, told. Ex-Borussia Dortmund striker Julian Schieber has risen above him in the Berlin pecking order by scoring in each of his last three games. Kalou scored the last of his five league goals in 12 appearances this season, but has started only seven of Hertha’s 16 Bundesliga matches and singled out Berlin’s Dutch coach Jos Luhukay for complaint. 76 Smith survived a confident appeal -- and an unsuccessful review -- for leg before wicket by Philander with his score on five in the second over. Smith went on to make 35 before being caught behind off Philander’s fourth ball of his second spell. (AFP) FIFA to ban 3rd-party player ownership Marrakech FIFA will ban third-party ownership of players from May 1 next year, ending a system which critics claim breeds corruption but whose advocates insist is a crucial financial lifeline for poorer clubs. “The ban will come into force on May 1, 2015,” said a FIFA statement following a decision taken by the world body’s executive committee yesterday. “Existing agreements shall continue to be in place until their contractual expiry. New agreements made between 1 January and 30 April 2015 will be subject to a time limit (one year maximum).” Critics have long argued that such arrangements, which players including Brazilian Neymar and Argentina’s Carlos Tevez have been subject to, can lead to conflicts of interest and possible corruption. Supporters, however, have argued that it often enables poorer clubs to hang on to their best players. SPORTS P31 Philander the destroyer 32 32 Saturday, December 20, 2014 ADVANTAGE AUSSIES India 71 for 1 at close, trail Australia by 26 runs Brisbane ndia were fighting back after Australia gained a 97-run innings lead on the back of another century from new skipper Steve Smith and a wagging tail in the second Gabba Test yesterday. The tourists had cut the deficit back to 26 runs by the close on the third day at 71В for one with Shikhar Dhawan on 26В and Cheteshwar Pujara not out at 15. The day belonged to the Australians, trailing by 187 runs at the start but piling on 258 runs for the last four wickets with Smith leading the way. Smith posted his second ton of the series and Johnson a swashbuckling 88 off 93 balls to give Australia the edge to win the Test over the closing two days and take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series. Smith and Johnson shared in a ground record 148-run stand for the seventh wicket to take the steam out of the Indians. “It was six for 240-odd and India were bowling well and Mitchell John- I SCOREBOARD India vs Australia India 1st innings 408 (M. Vijay 144, A. Rahane 81; J. Hazlewood 5-68) Australia 1st innings (overnight 221-4) C. Rogers В c Dhoni b Yadav В В В В В В В В 55 D. Warner В c Ashwin b Yadav В В В В В В В 29 S. Watson В c Dhawan b Ashwin В В В В В В 25 S. Smith В В b I. Sharma В В В В В В В В В В В 133 S. Marsh В В c Ashwin b Yadav В В В В В В В 32 M. MarshВ В b I. Sharma В В В В В В В В В В В В 11 B. Haddin В c Pujara b Aaron В В В В В В В В 6 M. Johnson В c Dhoni b I.Sharma В В В В 88 son came out and really took it to the Indian bowlers,” Smith said. “Our whole tail batted beautifully and to get us above 500 was remarkable, we had a good day of cricket and hopefully we start well in the morning and pick up a few wickets.” Mitchell Starc chipped in with 52 off 59 balls, Nathan Lyon hit 23 and Test debutant Josh Hazlewood cracked an unbeaten 32 to frustrate India’s attempts to wrap up the innings. Starc M. Starc В В В b Ashwin N. Lyon В c R. Sharma b Aaron J. Hazlewood В В not out Total (all out; 109.4 overs) India 2nd innings M. Vijay В В b Starc S. Dhawan В В not out C. Pujara В В not out Total (1 wicket; 23 overs) bounced back from his indifferent bowling in the first innings and struck a major blow with the wicket of Murali Vijay for 27 in the 11th over of India’s second i n nings. Vij a y, who had s core d three consecut ive halfcenturies including 144 in the Cheteshwar Pujara (right) and Shikhar Dhawan smile as they walk back to the pavilion at the end of play В В В В В В В В В В В В В В В 52 В В В В В В 23 В В В В В В В В В В В В 32 В В В В 505В В В В В В В В В В В В В В В В В 27 В В В В В В В В В В В В В В В 26 В В В В В В В В В В В В В В В 15 В В В В В В В В 71 first innings in Brisbane, was in two minds whether to play only for the ball to strike his bat and hit the stumps. The day’s highlight was Johnson’s gamechanging innings, which finished tantalisingly short of his second Test century when he was caught behind off Ishant Sharma for 88 off 93 balls with 13 fours and a six. Smith followed five balls later when he was finally dismissed in the series for 133. He insideedged Sharma onto his stumps to end a 303-minute vigil. It had taken India 704 minutes to finally get Smith’s wicket over three innings. 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