ISSUE NO: 17765

28 Pages 150 Fils

www.kuwaittimes.net

Established 1961 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf

JAMADA ALTHANI 16, 1440 AHTHURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2019

Max 21ºMin 07º

FM reiterates stance a major pillar of Kuwait’s foreign policy

Government totally rejects normalizing ties with Israel

KUWAIT: National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem, Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, Deputy Foreign MinisterKhaled Al-Jarallah, head of the Assembly’s foreign relations committee MP Abdulkarim Al-Kandari and other lawmakers and officials attendthe panel’s meeting yesterday. — Photo by Fouad Al-Shaikh

By B Izzak

KUWAIT: Foreign Minister SheikhSabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah told theNational Assembly’s foreign relationscommittee that Kuwait totally rejects anynormalization of relations with Israel, thehead of the panel said. MP AbdulkarimAl-Kandari said after an expandedmeeting of the committee that the for-eign minister also reiterated that reject-ing normalization is one of the major pil-lars of Kuwait’s foreign policy.

The meeting was held following parlia-mentary and popular criticism of DeputyForeign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah fortaking part in a group picture at aWarsaw conference in which the Israeliprime minister was also present. Kuwaithas repeatedly said it will not normalizerelations with Israel and that it will do soonly if all Arab countries normalize tieswith Israel. Jarallah represented Kuwait atthe Warsaw conference held a couple ofweeks ago, which was attended by sever-

al Arab foreign ministers who reportedlymet the Israeli premier.

Following his return, several MPs andactivists strongly lashed out at Jarallahand the government, accusing it of vio-lating its longstanding pledge not tohave any contacts with Israel. Jarallahimmediately issued a statement in whichhe clarified that there was no change inKuwait’s well-established policy towardsthe Palestinian cause.

Besides Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled andJarallah, the meeting was attended byNational Assembly Speaker MarzouqAl-Ghanem and several lawmakers.Kandari said besides discussing theWarsaw conference, the meeting alsodebated regional developments, and thediscussions were very open and trans-parent. The lawmaker said the informa-tion and commerce ministries will besummoned later for meetings to reiter-ate their total rejection of normalizationwith Israel.

Continued on Page 24

29 hurt in Mahboula blaze

By Hanan Al-Saadoun

KUWAIT: At least 29 people werehurt in a fire in a Mahboula buildingyesterday, including 21 who were hos-pitalized with burns. The fire report-edly started in a laundry before theflames spread to an adjacent residen-tial building, trapping 100 occupantsinside. Firefighters rushed to the sceneand evacuated the building before

extinguishing the blaze. The victims,who are of Indian and Filipino nation-alities, were taken to Adan, Mubarakand Farwaniya hospitals with injuriesvarying between burns and smokeinhalation. A firefighter also sufferedfrom smoke inhalation and was hospi-talized. An investigation was openedto determine the cause of the fire,Kuwait Fire Service Directorate(KFSD) said in a statement.

KUWAIT: The charred remains of a room ravaged by fire are seen in Mahboulayesterday.

DUBAI/DOHA: The United ArabEmirates has eased a ban on the shippingof goods between it and Qatar enforcedunder a political and economic boycott ofDoha, according to port circulars and anindustry source. The UAE, Saudi Arabia,Egypt and Bahrain severed diplomatic,trade and transport ties with Qatar in June2017 over allegations it supports terrorism,a charge Doha denies. An Abu Dhabi Portscircular dated Feb 12 cancelled previousdirectives that banned cargoes of Qatarorigin from UAE waters and ports andthose of UAE origin from Qatar.

It maintained a ban on vessels flying the

Qatar flag, owned by Qatari shipping firmsor nationals. UAE-flagged vessels still can-not call at Qatar ports. An industry sourcetold Reuters the circular applied to all UAEports. Government authorities in both GulfArab states did not immediately respondto Reuters’ request for comment. Liberianflagged container ship MSC ELSA 3arrived at Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port on Feb 20from Qatar’s Umm Said, according toRefinitiv data.

It was not clear if the move was linkedto complaints filed to the World TradeOrganization related to the Gulf dispute.Qatar filed in July 2017 a wide-ranginglegal complaint at the WTO to challengethe trade boycott. Last month, the UAEfiled a complaint against Qatar at theWTO saying Doha has imposed a ban onEmirati products.

Continued on Page 24

UAE eases Qatar shipping ban amid continuing dispute

NEW DELHI: Indian President Ram Nath Kovind (center) looks on as Saudi CrownPrince Mohammed bin Salman and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakehands during a ceremonial reception at the presidential palace yesterday. — AFP

NEW DELHI: Saudi Arabia’s Crown PrinceMohammed bin Salman and Indian leader NarendraModi vowed yesterday to increase pressure on coun-tries that fuel terrorism. The promise came as falloutfrom a suicide bomb attack that India has blamed onPakistan overshadowed the latest leg of the crownprince’s tour aiming to boost his country’s image. Modidid not mention Pakistan - a key Saudi ally - as heagain blasted the “barbaric attack” in Kashmir lastweek that left at least 40 paramilitaries dead.

“To tackle this menace effectively, we agreed thatthere is a need to increase all possible pressure oncountries supporting terrorism in any way,” Modi saidafter talks with the crown prince.

Continued on Page 24

Saudis, India to step up ‘pressure’against terrorism

LONDRES, United Kingdom: A Britishteenager who joined the Islamic State groupin Syria said yesterday she was shocked by agovernment decision to revoke her citizenshipand was considering applying to settle in TheNetherlands, the homeland of her husband.Shamima Begum, who travelled to Syria in2015 and now wants to return to Britain aftergiving birth in a refugee camp in Syria lastweek, said the order was “unjust”.

“I am a bit shocked,” she told ITV Newsafter learning of the move, which wasannounced in a letter Tuesday from the Britishgovernment to her mother in London. “It’s abit upsetting and frustrating. I feel like it’s abit unjust on me and my son.” She said an“option” could be to apply for citizenship inThe Netherlands, where her husband and thefather of her newborn child - an IS fighterbelieved to be held by Kurdish forces in Syria- is from and has relatives. “Maybe I can askfor citizenship in Holland,” Begum added. “If

he gets sent back to prison in Holland I canjust wait for him while he is in prison.”

Begum’s fate has stirred controversy sinceshe and two friends fled her east Londonhome to join the terror network four yearsago when she was aged 15. The case high-lights a dilemma facing many European coun-tries, divided over whether to allow militantsand IS sympathizers home to face prosecu-tion or bar them over security concerns as theso-called “caliphate” crumbles.

Britain’s Home Office said it did not discussindividual cases when asked about Begum.Interior minister Sajid Javid told lawmakersyesterday that revoking citizenship was “apowerful tool” not used lightly. “But whensomeone turns their back on (our) fundamen-tal values and supports terror they don’t havean automatic right to return to the UK,” hesaid. However Javid hinted that Begum’s new-born son could be treated differently.“Children should not suffer, so if a parent doeslose their British citizenship it does not affectthe rights of their child,” the minister said.

Begum gave birth to her third child at theweekend, and appealed to British authoritiesto show “compassion” by allowing her toraise the baby in Britain - while expressing noregret over having joined IS. In the ministry’sletter sent to Begum’s mother, it said the teen

had the right to appeal the order. TasnimeAkunjee, a lawyer for her family, said it wasdisappointed with the move and “consideringall legal avenues to challenge this decision”.Begum, who is of Bangladeshi

Continued on Page 24

IS teen ‘shocked’ after UK revokes her citizenship

Shamima Begum

Thursday, February 21, 2019

2L o c a l

Amir meets children from Sheikh SabahAl-Ahmad Charitable Village in Indonesia

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-AhmadAl-Jaber Al-Sabah received at Bayan Palace yesterdayChairman of the Indonesian-Kuwaiti Charity AhmadMohammad Al-Houli, the organization’s officials andorphans of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-AhmadCharitable Village in Indonesia. During the encounter,Sheikh Sabah spoke highly of the charity’s benevolent andhumanitarian efforts, boasting that interest in charitableactivities across the world has been deep-rooted in theKuwaiti society.

A number of children from His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Charitable Village in Indonesia have come to Kuwait,partaking in the national days’ celebrations. Some of those

children, after meeting His Highness, expressed deep pleas-ure for having the chance to see him. Nawfal Ramadhanrecited a poem, praising His Highness, wishing him long lifeand expressing congratulations on the happy occasions. Twogirls, named Zuhaira and Mutiaa, recited a poem in tribute toKuwait hoping the country may witnesses further progressand elevation.

Earlier yesterday, His Highness the Amir received HisHighness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, National Assembly Speaker Marzouq AliAl-Ghanem and His Highness the Prime Minister SheikhJaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. His Highness theAmir’s audiences also included Hawally Governor Sheikh

Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Al-AhmadiGovernor Sheikh Fawaz Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, whopresented him with memorial gifts on the occasion of thecountry’s national festivals.

Meanwhile, His Highness the Crown Prince receivedGhanem, His Highness the Prime Minister, and Deputy PrimeMinister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah. His Highness Sheikh Nawaf also met HawallyGovernor Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, whopresented him with a memorial shield and portray of SheikhNawaf on the occasion of the 58th anniversary of theIndependence Day and 28th anniversary of the LiberationDay as well as the 13th anniversary of assumption of his

post. Sheikh Nawaf then received Al-Ahmadi GovernorSheikh Fawaz Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, who handedhim a memorial souvenir on the occasion of the country’snational festivals. His Highness the Prime Minister alsoreceived Hawally Governor Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmadat Bayan Palace yesterday. Separately, First Deputy PrimeMinister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah has congratulated His Highness the CrownPrince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on 13thanniversary of assuming the post. Minister Sheikh Nasser, ina cable to His Highness, expressed sincere blessing on thisoccasion, praying to give his Highness the Crown Prince ahealthy life to continue serving the homeland. — KUNA

Defense minister congratulates Crown Prince on anniversary

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Chairman of theIndonesian-Kuwaiti Charity Ahmad Mohammad Al-Houli, the organization’s officials and orphans of HisHighness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Charitable Village in Indonesia. — Amiri Diwan photos

Zain’s NationalDay TVC reachesone million viewsKUWAIT: Zain, the leading digital serviceprovider in Kuwait, announced that its latestNational Day televised commercial, ‘Al-ZainYihlalik Helo’, reached over one million views onits official YouTube channel during the first fewdays of its launch on February 16, 2019.

Zain’s National production for the year 2019was launched to mark the company’s celebra-tion of Kuwait’s National and Liberation days.The production’s lyrics, which reflected valuesof national pride, were written by the greatKuwaiti poet Bader Bourisli. The TVC receivedoverwhelming feedback from across theKuwaiti community, and featured three differenteras starting from Kuwait’s rich history to itsbright future.

The production’s idea centered around theimportance of the human element in theprogress of countries in light of the huge tech-nological advancements witnessed by the worldat the present time. Zain’s TVC highlighted thesignificant role played by Kuwait’s national tal-ents, especially that this concept coincides withthe goals of the Kuwait National DevelopmentPlan (New Kuwait 2035) that stems from HisHighness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s conceptualized vision of a newKuwait by 2035, which will contribute to thefurther progress of the nation.

Zain’s message this year is a message of hopeand trust in the creativeness of the people ofKuwait across history and despite of all chal-lenges. With the emergence of many advancedinnovations, such as artificial intelligence (AI),

digital transformation, and other technologiesthat proved to be capable in enhancing life’svarious aspects, some might see that such tech-nologies would replace the human element inmany fields. Zain’s TVC’s idea came to remindeveryone that no matter how advanced technol-ogy gets, human beings will always be the onesthat inspire and innovates, and that the humantouch is what gives life meaning. These conceptswere brought to life by the production’s lyrics,which were beautifully written by the greatKuwaiti poet Bader Bourisli.

Zain’s national production 2019 is the first ofits kind in Kuwait to use the advanced 3DMapping technology, resulting in the wonderfuloutcome the production achieved with the useof the world’s top technology innovations. Zainoffers the production to all customers as a freeringback tone (RBT) by simply sending 2020162to 99000.

Zain takes this opportunity to express itsgratitude to everyone who contributed in mak-ing this national production a success, especiallythe great Kuwaiti poet Bader Bourisli whobeautifully wrote the production’s lyrics. Zain

also thanks the entire team of young Kuwaititalents who worked behind the scenes, includingDirector Khalid Al-Refai, Composer Bashar Al-Shatti, Music Distributor Rabie Al-Saidawi, tal-ented performers Haneen Hamed and Rana Al-Tannak, as well as Joy Production’s team headedby Mai Al-Saleh.

Zain recently changed the name of its net-work in Kuwait to ‘SABAH ALKUWAIT’ for theperiod of celebrations marking the 13th anniver-sary of the ascendency of His Highness the AmirSheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah asthe ruler of Kuwait. The move reflected Zain’senthusiasm in sharing the joys of this occasionwith the people of Kuwait. Zain customers foundthe network name updated to ‘SABAHALKUWAIT’ on their devices during the cele-bratory period, as the company commemoratesthe anniversary of a journey full of giving andbenevolence. His Highness the Amir has oftencalled for Kuwait’s progress, and the adoption ofa kind, loving, and the nurturing of a brotherlyspirit based on equal rights for all. To watchZain’s new TVC, please visithttps://youtu.be/H70CWw8Jgx4.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-JaberAl-Sabah meets with Hawally Governor Sheikh AhmadNawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-JaberAl-Sabah meets with Al-Ahmadi Governor Sheikh FawazAl-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

Al-ShaheedPark witnessesfestival markingNational daysKUWAIT: Al-Shaheed Park, one ofKuwait’s main tourist attractions, has wit-nessed inauguration of the Amir-patron-ized festival, dubbed ‘Thank you 3.’Minister of the Amiri Diwan Affairs andChair of the Board of Trustees at theMartyr’s Bureau, Sheikh Ali Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, attended the ceremony on behalf ofHis Highness the Amir. Sheikh Ali Al-Jarrah

was welcomed upon arrival by DeputyMinister of the Amiri Diwan Affairs andDeputy Chairman of the Board of Trusteesat the Martyr’s Bureau, Sheikh MohammadAbdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, as well asDirector General at the bureau, FatmaAhmad Al-Amir.

The audience was entertained with aseries of activities that kicked off by play-ing the National Anthem, screening a doc-umentary about Kuwait, thenRepresentative of His Highness the Amirtoured the festival exhibition pavilions. Atroupe of young orphans from His Highnessthe Amir Village in Indonesia performed onstage, marking Kuwait’s national days.Sheikh Ali Al-Jarrah, who was presentedwith a memorial gift, lauded the communi-cations and interaction with Indonesia andother nations of the globe. — KUNA

From Zain’s National Production 2019.

His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-MubarakAl-Hamad Al-Sabah meets with Hawally Governor SheikhAhmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets withHawally Governor Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Al-Ahmadi Governor Sheikh Fawaz Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

KUWAIT: Minister of the Amiri Diwan Affairs and Chair of the Board ofTrustees at the Martyr’s Bureau Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah is seen as part ofthe ceremony. — Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh

Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah takes a selfie with a child.

Shagaya solarpower project’s1st phaselaunchedKUWAIT: Under the aegis of His Highnessthe Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-JaberAl-Sabah, the first phase of Al-Shagayarenewable energy park project waslaunched by Minister of Oil, Electricity andWater Dr Khaled Al-Fadhel yesterday. Thelaunching coincides with Kuwait’s ongoingcelebrations marking National Day andIndependence Day as well as the 13thanniversary of His Highness the Amir’sassumption of power. Al-Shagaya solarenergy plant is a joint project developed byKuwait Institute for Scientific Research(KISR) and the Ministry of Electricity andWater. It is a major development projectpurposed to fulfill His Highness the Amir’svision aiming at securing 15 percent oflocal power needs out of renewable energysources in Kuwait by 2030, thus saving$2.5 billion annually on a USD-45-per-bar-rel basis.

The project was initiated in 2011 andthen put up for execution in 2013 for gener-ating renewable energy based on solar andwind energy. Kuwait began to be interested

in renewable energy in the eighties before itwas included as a project in the country’sdevelopment drive in 2010 at the behest ofHis Highness the Amir. Al-Shagaya Park isdesigned into four phases, and Phase Oneincludes a solar energy plant. Once com-plete, it would provide 150,000 houseswith power all over the year, save 12 millionbarrels of oil per annum and create 10,000jobs during execution as well as 1,200 dur-ing operation and maintenance.

The project would also slim carbon diox-ide emissions involving 196,000 tons annu-ally in the first phase and five million tonsonce the final phase is over. The phase oneof Al-Shagaya Park includes the generationof 70MW, involving 50MW solar energy,10MW Solar PV and 10 MW wind. Thesecond phase is meant to produce1,500MW Solar PV, while the third phaseaims at generating 1,500MW of mixedtechnology energy. The fourth one isintended to generate 1,000MW.

Harnessing renewable energy Minister Fadhel has affirmed that Kuwait

is relentlessly taking strides for harnessingrenewable energy. Kuwait is seeking toensure that renewable energy covers 15percent of the used energy by 2030, theminister said, singling out Al-ShagayaRenewable Energy Project. The ministerwas speaking during a ceremony, organizedby Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research(KISR), inaugurating the first phase of Al-Shagaya project, under patronization of His

Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-AhmadAl-Jaber Al-Sabah.

His Highness the Amir, at the 2012 UnitedNations Climate Change Conference, host-ed by Doha, Qatar, affirmed Kuwait’s inter-est in the renewable energy. His statementconstituted guidelines for all state sectorsto move forward in harnessing this emerg-ing energy. In line with His Highness theAmir vision at this level, the Cabinet hadformed a higher commission, headed by theMinister of Electricity and Water, withmembership of Kuwait University, KISR,Kuwait Foundation for Advancement ofSciences (KFAS), Ministry of Public Works,along with other departments, to compelcontractors, in future ventures, to equipinstallations for securing at least 10 percentof needed energy from renewableresources.

There are other projects for securingrenewable energy; namely Al-Dabdabasolar energy venture. Moreover, the state,he continued, specialized 630,000 squaremeters of land for establishing solar energyfacilities. These ventures are also in harmo-ny with Kuwait’s adherence to the UN poli-cy of tackling climatic change according tothe UN Convention on Climatic Change andthe Kyoto protocol, said Minister Fadhel.

KD 1 millionSamira Al-Sayed Omar, KISR’s Director

General, said His Highness the Amir, in 2010,instructed KFAS to grant KISR KD 1 million($3.3 million) to cover costs of feasibility

studies to generate energy from renewablesources - thus these studies constituted thebasis of this complex. KISR has based itsprojects in this sector on His Highness theAmir instructions that the renewable energyshould cover 15 percent of the country’sneeds for power by 2035.

Omar announced that the complex wouldbe operated, today, at a capacity of 70megawatts-linked up with the conventionalpower network. The generated power comesfrom solar, wind, thermal and electro opticresources. This complex is capable of secur-ing power for 1,000 residential unitsthroughout the year. It is highly feasible for it

enables Kuwait to save more than 285,000barrels of oil per year. Moreover, Omar con-tinues, it provides work opportunities, mini-mizes emissions of carbon dioxide at a pro-portion of five million tons per year.

Meanwhile, Badr Al-Rifaee, the assis-tant general secretary at the higher plan-ning council, affirmed that the key projectcontributed to the strategic approach ofminimizing dependence on oil for stateincome. Mohammd Boushehri, the elec-tricity undersecretary, said the project isthe largest at the Gulf level, indicating at aplan to establish a station of a 1,500-Mega solar energy. — KUNA

L o c a l Thursday, February 21, 2019

3Established 1961

KUWAIT: The Sheikh Jaber Causeway is one of the majorinfrastructural projects aimed at creating a bridge leadingKuwaitis toward a bridge future. The Sheikh Jaber Causeway,which is currently in its final stages, will link Kuwait City withAl-Subiya area and the future Madinat Al-Harir (Silk City)project over Kuwait Bay as part of the development planskicked started some nine years ago. Through the ‘NewKuwait’ or Kuwait Vision 2035, anational initiative developmentaimed at transforming the countryto a regional and international hubfor business and commerce. Theplan also focuses on diversifying thecountry’s resources to a non-oilbased economy.

The Jaber Causeway - whichstretches around 37.5 kilometers -will shorten the commuting timebetween Kuwait City and Subiyaarea to under 30 minutes, fromaround 90 minutes which is the time that it currently takesthrough the usual 104 kilometers of highways and roads.Work on Sheikh Jaber Causeway began on November 3,2013. The bridge is divided into the 27-kilometers main-linkat cost of around KD 738 million (around $2.3 billion). Themain-link will connect between Kuwait City and Al-Subiya

area, while the Doha link, a four-lane bridge road, willstretch at 4.7 kilometers towards Doha area, costing aroundKD 165.7 million ($545 million).

The development of the causeway coincided with estab-lishment of an entity tasked with the development of Al-Hariri City in Subiya and Boubiyan Island as part of strate-gy linking Shuwaikh Port in Kuwait City with the northeast-

ern region of the country.Recently, a high-level 35-memberChinese delegation - headed byVice Chairman of the NationalDevelopment and ReformCommission of the People’sRepublic of China Ning Jizhe -visited the country and held dis-cussions focusing on Kuwait’sdevelopment vision.

The visiting Chinese delegationexpressed great desire to partakein the development of the Silk City

project, indicating that China was working on its own Belt andRoad development initiative. In regards to the Silk City proj-ect, the first phase will focus on establishing a commercialregion in Mubarak seaport, a logistic zone, an internationalairport, a railway network carrying cargo and individuals, andcity dedicated to small to medium enterprises. — KUNA

Sheikh Jaber Causeway: A bridgetowards Kuwait’s bright future

KUWAIT: A picture taken from Al-Hamra Tower in Kuwait City yesterday shows part of the Sheikh Jaber Causeway, one of the world’s longest causeways that will link the Kuwaiti capital to the north of the country. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

The ‘Doha Link’ at the Sheikh Jaber Causeway. — KUNA photos

Shortens commuting

time to 30 minutes

Project to link Kuwait City with the future Silk City

An aerial view of the Sheikh Jaber Causeway’s intersections. A night view of the Sheikh Jaber Causeway.

KUWAIT: Minister of Oil, Electricity and Water Dr Khaled Al-Fadhel (right) participates in aceremony held to inaugurate the first phase of Al-Shagaya solar power project. — KUNA

Thursday, February 21, 2019

4L o c a l

By Faten Omar

KUWAIT: The Public Institution for Social Security (PIF-SS) held a press conference yesterday to announce newsocial security amendments. Finance Minister Nayef Al-Hajraf said the amendments to the fifth chapter and sup-plementary insurance by PIFSS aim to encourage citizensto invest in medium and small enterprises (SMEs).

“The amendment of the fifth chapter, which will startearly next month, will positively affect the economic andsocial fields of the country and is in line with its develop-ment plans,” Hajraf said. He pointed out that these changesare the first since 1981, indicating that the amendments aremainly related to linking academic qualification with finan-cial segments through which insured people participate.

Director-General of the General Organization forSocial Insurance and Labor Meshal Al-Othman said theamendments were based on studies conducted by PIFSS.“The study showed that 49 percent of insured people areenrolled in the lowest subscription rate starting at KD 200,resulting in a very low pension for fifth-chapter sub-scribers,” he said.

He added that the total number of participants in theKD 550 or below bracket is 84 percent as a result of notupdating their contributions during their career for manyreasons, such as preoccupation with their work and thedelay in development between the segments to raise thepension. Deputy Director-General for Insurance AffairsKhalid Al-Fadala said the amendments will achieve goalsin the interest of the insured and benefit the economy bymaking the fifth chapter more attractive, adding that theaverage pension of basic insurance in the fifth sectionbefore the amendment amounts to KD 652, compared toKD 1,100 for employees in the government sector and KD1,400 for workers in the private sector.

Social securityamendments toencourage SMEinvestments

BAGHDAD: Iraqi President Barham Salihcalled for bolstering trade ties between hiscountry and Kuwait, and that during ameeting with the visiting Kuwaiti Ministerof Commerce and Industry Khaled Al-Roudhan yesterday. The president notednecessity of broadening the cooperation atthis level for serving the two brotherlypeoples’ interests. Moreover, PresidentSalih called for following up on resolutionsof the Kuwait-hosted international confer-ence on rebuilding Iraq, praising Kuwait’said for the relocated Iraqis and rebuildingwar-damaged regions in the country. Iraqseeks openness with Arab, regional andforeign countries in the economic andindustrial fields, he added. Meanwhile,Minister Roudhan affirmed Kuwait’s deter-mination to promote ties with Iraq andKuwaiti companies’ readiness to invest inthe country and contribute to overhaulingthe infrastructure.

Furthermore, the two sides affirmed thecommon approach for swapping expertise

and coordination on various arenas.Earlier yesterday, Roudhan said that hiscurrent visit to Iraq aims to eliminate anyhurdles that could encumber the progressof bilateral trade ties. The Kuwaiti minis-ter’s remarks came amid talks with his Iraqicounterpart Mohammed Al-Ani, where hepointed out that Baghdad now seeks eco-nomic prosperity after ridding its soil ofterrorism. He said bilateral trade remains unsatisfac-tory, citing a genuine Kuwaiti desire toimprove relations in that field, while time isnow ripe to accomplish that goal. The Iraqiminister welcomed the prospect of estab-lishing a joint free trade zone with Kuwait,describing it as a measure that would reju-venate bilateral trade. He said the Kuwaitiminister’s visit will prove instrumental inpropelling ties to new heights. Kuwait’scommerce minister arrived in Baghdad ear-lier yesterday to kick off a two-day visit, inwhich he is expected to hold talks withsenior Iraqi officials. — KUNA

Iraqi president calls forboosting trade with Kuwait

Kuwaiti minister in Iraq to discuss creation of free trade zone

BAGHDAD: Iraqi President Barham Salih meets with Kuwaiti Minister of Commerce andIndustry Khaled Al-Roudhan. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Directorate General for Civil Aviation and Germany Obermeyer officials sign thedeal yesterday. — KUNA

Kuwait praisesUNSC statementon missing citizensKUWAIT: The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs yester-day welcomed the Presidential Statement issued by theUnited Nations Security Council regarding developmentsrelated to the search for the missing Kuwaitis and proper-ties including the national archive. The search is carriedout by UNAMI, the United Nations Assistance Mission forIraq, in implementation of the UNSC Resolution 2107 ofthe year 2013. The statement was adopted by unanimity atthe UNSC, in affirmation of the council keenness onundertaking its responsibility as to following up on this fileto make tangible progress.

The ministry, in a statement yesterday, expressedappreciation for the efforts that had been exerted by allstakeholders, affirming it would follow up on this sensitivefile, continue to shed further light on this humanitariancause and devote the necessary concern for it for it isamong the national priorities of the State of Kuwait. Itaffirmed determination to urge the UN and the internation-al community to pursue the efforts and follow up on theremaining humanitarian issues for the State of Kuwait, alsolauding the constructive cooperation on part of the Iraqiside in this regard. Moreover, the ministry expressed aspi-ration for more constructive cooperation, on basis of thebrotherly relations between the two countries. — KUNA

Kuwait inks deal with German company to overhaul airportKUWAIT: Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA) inked yesterday a con-tract with the Germany Obermeyer for offering consultancy on managing projectsof the ‘2012 structural scheme,’ which constitutes execution of development planfor Kuwait International Airport. The deal was co-signed by Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, the DGCA Chairman, and his counterpart from the Germancompany, during a session attended by the German ambassador to Kuwait.

Meanwhile, DGCA Director-General Yousef Al-Fozan said that the contract,valid for five years, envisages management of current and planned ventures, such asbuilding the third runway and a new observation post. Moreover, it envisions plansfor executing future projects for the airport, such as overhauling the western run-way, building three others in the future, two observation towers, five passenger ter-minals after finishing the T-2 terminal. Furthermore, it is designed to update workprocedures at the airport management as well as technical guidelines. — KUNA

Interior prepares for celebrations By Hanan Al-Saadoun

KUWAIT: Deputy Prime Minister and Interior MinisterSheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah yesterday presided asecurity meeting attended by Undersecretary Lt GenEssam Al-Nahham, his assistants, governorate securitydirectors and top security officers to discuss preparationsfor the upcoming national celebrations. Sheikh Khaledstressed that all capabilities have been dedicated to pro-vide top security during the festivities.

Sheikh Khaled was also briefed about security plans setfor each of the concerned security sectors, their readiness,means of coordinating their work, immediate response tovarious reports, traffic plans and readiness to providehumanitarian services when needed. The meeting also dis-cussed a media plan designed to boost public awarenessabout the festivities, cover the events day by day andcooperate with various departments.

KUWAIT: Finance Minister Nayef Al-Hajraf speaks dur-ing a press conference at the Public Institution forSocial Security yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

NBK implements collective executivedevelopment programwith INSEADKUWAIT: The National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) partneredwith one of the leading international business schools,INSEAD, in an intensive training program specificallydesigned for the bank’s executive management team.

Since the banking industry worldwide is facing signifi-cant challenges. Digital disruption and FinTechs challengeexisting banking models. Digital has fundamentallychanged our lives. Adapting to the ongoing digitization ofthe economy, and of society in general, is arguably themost challenging transformation every business is current-ly facing. Due to competition from local and regional play-

ers, strategies are reassessed in various parts of the world(GCC, ASEAN, LATAM, EU).

In this turbulent world, there is an imperative need toassess the situation, to identify key-strategic actions, andto further develop senior banking executives in terms oforganizational and personal skills related to digital strate-gy, customer-centric strategies, leadership, strategy exe-cution and management of change.

National Bank of Kuwait - INSEAD program -Creating Value in a Fast Changing Banking World hastwo main objectives. First, a discussion of the fastchanging banking world, including digital disruptionwith identification by NBK senior executives of key-strategic actions to undertake. Second, the furtherdevelopment of senior NBK executives to lead thestrategy execution and changes, both in terms of per-sonal and organizational skills.

During the program, Isam J Al-Sager, Group ChiefExecutive Officer, Shaikha K Al-Bahar, Deputy GroupChief Executive Officer and Salah Y Al-Fulaij, ChiefExecutive Officer - Kuwait visited the participants. EmadAl-Ablani, said, “This program adds new value in the

changing banking industry as it provides essential trainingled by a prestigious educational institution, INSEAD. Theprogram aims to highlight the challenges facing our indus-try in a digital transformation era and comes in line withour strategy at NBK to ensure our human capital is wellequipped to deliver efficient solutions in our digital trans-formation journey.”

Ablani added that NBK is proud to provide the besttraining opportunities for the employees and the executivemanagers in cooperation with the world’s leading institu-tions and universities, enabling them to acquire new skillsand knowledge at par with their global peers. Ablani alsomentioned: “NBK provides a unique environment for train-ing and developing employees to enhance their skills, fos-ter a culture of self-development and recognize theircareer growth in the long term.”

INSEAD is one of the world’s leading and largest grad-uate business schools. It offers participants a truly globaleducational experience with campuses in Europe (France),Asia (Singapore) and Middle East (Abu Dhabi), in addition,more than 11,000 executives participate in INSEAD’sexecutive education programs each year.

KIB participatesin MGRP career fairKUWAIT: As part of its ongoing commit-ment to supporting local talent, KuwaitInternational Bank (KIB) recently partici-pated in and sponsored a career fair enti-tled ‘Because You Deserve,’ which wasorganized by the Manpower andGovernment Restructuring Program(MGRP). Taking place at the MGRP mainoffice building, the career fair aimed atintroducing young Kuwaiti talents to thevarious career opportunities on offerwithin the private sector.

‘Because You Deserve’ featured alarge number of companies and institu-tions from across Kuwait, including someof the biggest names from the bankingsector. KIB was represented by a teamfrom its Human Resources Department(HRD) at the bank’s dedicated booth. Theteam introduced visitors to the nature of

working at a bank and advised them onhow they can start their professionalcareer at KIB. Additionally, the bank pro-vided visitors with a broad range ofcareer advice to help guide them throughthe complicated process of choosingsuitable future careers.

On this occasion, Feras Al-Darmi,Assistant General Manager of the HumanResources Department at KIB, said: “Ourparticipation in this event came as part ofour dedication to supporting and encour-aging young, local talent. We believe thatit is our responsibil ity to help guideenthusiastic youth by providing them withemployment opportunities that matchtheir career goals. For this reason, wecontinue to support various career fairs,which we believe serve as excellentopportunities to introduce students toKIB - thereby attracting the right caliberof candidates.”

KIB remains committed to playing anactive role in nurturing and investing inlocal talent. The bank always strives toprovide young, aspiring local talent withopportunities that allow them to applytheir professional and technical skills,realize their potential, and fully develop

their capabilities. It is worth noting thatKIB participates in career fairs all yeararound, as part of its leading socialresponsibility program’s youth empower-ment pillar. The bank continues to open itsdoors and focus on attracting young, local

talents by providing them with employ-ment opportunities that nurture their skillsand capabilities. KIB has always believedthat youth are the foundation on which abrighter, more successful future for thenation can be built.

L o c a l Thursday, February 21, 2019

5

KUWAIT: Security in Kuwait and the entire Arabian Gulfregion is inextricably linked to the safety of Britain, aBritish minister said yesterday, reminiscing about howBritain stood ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with Kuwait during the1990 Iraqi invasion. British Minister for DefenseProcurement Stuart Andrew’s visit to the Gulf state comesin the midst of the country’s national celebrations, he said inan interview. Kuwait and Britain celebrate this year 120years since the Anglo-Kuwaiti agreement sparked a robustpartnership that stands to this day, the minister pointed out.

On Britain’s role towards preserving security and peacein the Middle East, he said the country is eager to impartsome of its military knowledge on its allies in the region.The British government is a proponent of Kuwait’s 2035development plan, he added, saying high-level bilateraltalks over matters such as security and defense are held ona regular basis. In response to a question over whetherBritain perceives the Middle East region as a platform toflex its military muscle, the British minister said the MiddleEast is an important ally with whom Britain shares aninterdependent relationship. On a related note, he allayed

concerns over a diminished British presence in the regionas a result of its withdrawal from the European Union, say-ing the country will continue to reach out to its allies in theMiddle East.

Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and DefenseMinister Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah andBritish Minister Andrew had discussed issues of commoninterests during a meeting held at Bayan Palace onTuesday. Both sides discussed military cooperation dur-ing the meeting, the Ministry of Defense said in a pressstatement. Sheikh Nasser underlined the depth of thebilateral relations between the two countries and thekeenness of both sides to strengthen and develop them, itadded. Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant GeneralMohammad Al-Khedhr, Undersecretary of the Ministryof Defense Sheikh Ahmad Mansour Al-Ahmad Al-Sabahand UK Ambassador to Kuwait Michael Davenport,attended the meeting. The First Deputy, meanwhile, alsoreceived at Bayan Palace the President of the MunicipalCouncil Osama Al-Otaibi, where they exchanged viewsover several topics, said the ministry. — KUNA

British minister stresses jointsecurity amid Kuwait visit

First Deputy Prime Minister meets British Minister of Defense Procurement

No bird flucases detectedBy A Saleh and Meshaal Al-Enezi

KUWAIT: Commenting on fears concerning rumors aboutpeople infected with bird flu, Ministry of Health (MoH)Undersecretary Dr Majeda Al-Qattan denied any suchcases and stressed that all poultry products and birds inthe local market had been examined and that none of thempose any threat. Qattan also explained that eight cases hadbeen thoroughly examined over suspicions of being infect-ed with bird flu but all diagnosis results came negative.

General assembly meetingKuwait Teachers Society (KTS) Chairman Mutee Al-

Ajmi announced that the administrative court issued anexpedited ruling on the validity and legality of the meas-ures followed by KTS to call for a general assembly meet-ing, according to correspondence with the Ministry ofSocial Affairs. Speaking at a press conference held yester-day, Ajmi said the ruling emphasizes the legality of themeasures KTS followed to hold a general assembly meet-ing on February 19. “However, the ministry’s representa-tives acted strangely and left the meeting for no reason,”

he remarked, explaining that due to a lack of quorum atthe time set to start the meeting (4 pm), a legal measurewas taken to postpone the meeting for half an hour andthen hold it with whoever was present, which had beenused for years. “This raises a huge exclamation about suchan unjustified action by the ministry”, he said.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Social Affairs’ acting undersec-retary Hana Al-Hajeri said the ministry requested postpon-ing the KTS general assembly meeting to finalize themeasures stipulated in article 25 of its law and to protectmembers’ rights. Hajeri added that the ministry’s represen-tatives were present, but found only a few of KTS’ 10,578members had shown up to attend the meeting, and thus themeeting was postponed for two weeks in accordance tothe law for lack of quorum.

Outstanding womenA total of 112 women from 20 countries are nominated

to take part in the Kuwait International Award forOutstanding Women, including 70 Kuwaitis and 42 othersfrom the US, Europe, Asia and Africa, Security General ofthe General Secretariat of the Supreme Council forPlanning and Development Khaled Mahdi announced yes-terday. Mahdi explained that Kuwaiti nominees include 41working in the government sector, 28 working in the pri-vate sector and 43 from various NGOs, noting that thenominees will be interviewed and the winners will be hon-ored in a special ceremony on March 6, 2019.

University professorassaulted by studentBy A Saleh

KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti man yesterday reported that his wife;a professor at Kuwait University’s College of Education inKaifan, was assaulted by one of her female students. Onrushing his wife to hospital, initial medical reports sus-pected that her nose was broken. A case was filed and theassailant was referred to relevant security authorities.

Fatal accidentAn elderly man was killed and his driver injured in an

accident on Abdaly road, Al-Rai reported yesterday. Theywere on their way to help a woman whose car had run outof petrol, but the driver lost control and the vehicle flippedover. Meanwhile, a citizen was killed after his motorcyclecollided with a vehicle in Daiya.

Officers penalizedThe Interior Ministry’s Assistant Undersecretary for

Public Security Affairs Maj Gen Sheikh Faisal Al-Nawafreferred more than 30 uniformed officers and profession-

als to military courts after finding they were registeredwith the public security department at the undersecre-tary’s office, but not complying with official working hours,Al-Rai reported yesterday.

Man assaults wifeAn Egyptian man saw his wife in a cafe with her sister,

and they were laughing loudly, so he got angry because shedid not tell him she was going out, reported Al-Rai. He left thecafe and called her and asked where she was. She told himshe was at home, so he became more enraged and returnedto the cafe and started beating her in front of everyone. Healso broke a chair while beating her. The woman went to thepolice station and lodged a complaint. The man confessed tothe beating, and investigations are ongoing.

Diesel theftJahra police arrested a Syrian man for stealing diesel

from Um Naqa and selling it to an Egyptian man cheaply.Police said a call came from a Kuwaiti, who said he sus-pected two persons were stealing diesel from the Um Naqaoil facility, reported Al-Rai. Jahra police found the twoinside with a pickup truck with diesel drums, and both weresent for questioning. In other news, Abdaly customs offi-cers found one kilogram of shabu in the inspection yard,and it is likely a smuggler got rid of it there. The drugs weresent to the Drugs Control General Department.

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabahmeets with British Minister for Defense Procurement Stuart Andrew. — KUNA

InternationalIndia prisoners stone a Pakistani inmate to death amid tensions

Page 9

Alabama editor under fire after calling for KKK revival Page 8

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2019

JIMETA, Nigeria: Camp dwellers pump water from a well in the early morning at Malkohi refugee camp in Jimeta, Adamawa State. Malkohi is a camp for internal displaced who fled their homes as Boko Haram insurgents advanced across north-eastern Nigeria. —AFP

ABUJA: An attack by gunmen on villages in northwestNigeria last week claimed “over 130” lives, more thandouble the toll initially reported, the governor ofKaduna state said yesterday. “The last report we got isthat over 130 people were killed, not even 66,” gover-nor Nasir El-Rufai said after a meeting of military andsecurity chiefs in Abuja.

El-Rufai, who was invited to speak at the briefingwith President Muhammadu Buhari, was criticized forannouncing the deaths last Friday, on the eve of elec-tions which were subsequently delayed. The bodieswere found in eight villages in the Kajuru area of thestate, which has long been a centre of deadly unrest,fuelled by ethnic and religious tensions. A representa-tive of the ethnic Christian Adara community, which isdominant in the area, told AFP there had been recurringattacks by Fulani Muslims in the last three years.

At the weekend, the governor said the victims wereFulanis. But a prominent Christian body has said theattack did not happen. It is unusual for state governorsto make such announcements in Nigeria and El-Rufaihit out at claims that the attack was fabricated as “irre-

sponsible”. “I know there is a prevailing narrative in theNigerian media that only certain lives are more impor-tant than others,” he told reporters. “We see that clear-ly in the slant of reporting and the denial,” he said.“Fulani leaders are providingthe names of all these people,we have the list and we willrelease it to the press.”

Nigerian media reportedthat Kaduna state police chief,Ahmad Abdulrahman, alsoattended the meeting and said11 people had been arrested.El-Rufai, from the ruling AllProgressives Congress (APC),is known as a close ally ofBuhari. He is seeking re-elec-tion as governor in upcoming polls on March 9. Buhari,who also wants a second term of office in presidentialpolls postponed to this Saturday, is facing a number ofsecurity challenges across the country. They includeBoko Haram’s Islamist insurgency in the northeast and

an upsurge in violence between farmers and herders incentral states. Kaduna is one of several northweststates to have been hit by kidnappings for ransom andcattle rustling by criminal gangs.

Boko Haram kills 14In another development, at

least 14 people were killedwhen Boko Haram jihadistsattacked loggers in northeast-ern Nigeria, members of amilitia force said yesterday.The group came under attackon Monday in Koshebe forest,10 kilometers (six miles) fromMaiduguri, the capital ofBorno state, militia leader

Babakura Kolo said. The assailants were supporters ofa long-time factional leader of Boko Haram, AbubakarShekau, he said.

“We have recovered a total of 14 bodies from thescene of the attack and we are still looking for four

more,” Kolo said. “We recovered nine bodies yesterday(Tuesday) and five more this morning,” said militiamanMohammed Asheik, who was among the search teamcombing the bush for bodies. Four other wood-cuttersare missing and presumed killed, he said. The loggers,who were in the forest to cut firewood, came fromLawanti village in Jere area, which the jihadists havepreviously targeted.

The bodies were scattered over a large areabecause the jihadists pursued the loggers and gunnedthem down as they fled, said Kolo. Boko Haram hasrepeatedly targeted farmers, loggers and herders,accusing them of passing information on the group tosoldiers and the pro-government militia fighting them.Last month, four farmers were killed as they workednear Molai village, five kms outside Maiduguri. BokoHaram’s decade-long uprising to establish a hardlineIslamic state in remote northeastern Nigeria has killedmore than 27,000 people and displaced 1.8 millionfrom their homes. The conflict has spilled into neigh-boring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, sparking a human-itarian crisis in the region. —Agencies

‘Over 130’ killed in northwest NigeriaGovernor rejects claims that ‘attack was fabricated’

Boko Haram kills fourteen

US sanctions a ‘terrorist act’: Iran’s leader LONDON: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said yes-terday relations with the United States had rarely beenso bad and that sanctions imposed by the Trumpadministration targeting Tehran’s oil and banking sec-tors amounted to “a terrorist act”. Animosity betweenWashington and Tehran - bitter foes since Iran’s 1979revolution - has intensified since US President DonaldTrump withdrew from an international nuclear deal withTehran last May and reimposed sanctions lifted underthe accord.

“The struggle between Iran and America is cur-rently at a maximum. America has employed all itspower against us,” Rouhani was quoted as saying in acabinet meeting by the state broadcaster IRIB. “TheUS pressures on firms and banks to halt business withIran is one hundred percent a terrorist act,” he said.Trump has reimposed the sanctions with the aim ofslashing Iranian oil sales and choking its economy inorder to curb its ballistic missile program and itsactivities in the Middle East, especially in the con-flicts in Syria and Yemen.

HypocrisyIranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif

accused the United States of hypocrisy for trying towreck Iran’s nuclear program while seeking to sellnuclear technology to Saudi Arabia, Tehran’s regionalrival. “Neither human rights nor the nuclear programare the real concern of the US. First a dismemberedjournalist; now illicit sale of nuclear technology toSaudi Arabia fully expose #USHypocrisy,” Zarif said ina tweet. He was referring to the killing of Saudi jour-

nalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate inIstanbul, which triggered international revulusion. Hisbody has not been found. The CIA has said SaudiCrown Prince Mohammed bin Salman likely orderedthe killing, which Riyadh denies. Trump has stood bythe prince, saying weapons sales to Saudi Arabia arean important source of US jobs.

US Democratic lawmakers alleged in a reportreleased Tuesday that a proposed transfer of USnuclear technology to Saudi Arabia was being fast-tracked around a mandatory approval process. Unlikethe United States, European powers are working topreserve the 2015 international nuclear deal with Iran.But France has said it is ready to reimpose sanctions onIran if no progress is made in talks over its ballistic mis-sile program. In a clear reaction to French pressure,Rouhani said: “We want a constructive interaction withthe world, but the countries that work with us shouldnot have excessive demands. Iran is firm in its stanceand will act based on its national interests.” Iran hassaid its missile program is purely defensive. —Reuters

App-based delivery men highlight India’s growing gig economyMUMBAI: Suraj Nachre works long hours and regularlymisses meals but he treasures his job as a driver for a fooddelivery startup-working in a booming industry that high-lights India’s expanding apps-based gig-economy. The 26-year-old is one of hundreds of thousands of young Indianswho, armed with their smartphones and motorcycles, courierdinners to offices and homes ordered at the swipe of a finger.

A surge in the popularity of food-ordering apps like UberEats and Swiggy provides a welcome source of income formany as India’s unemployment rate sits at a reported 45-yearhigh. But they also shine a spotlight on the prevalence ofshort-term contracts in the economy, raising questions aboutworkers’ rights and conditions and the long-term viability ofthe jobs. “(These delivery workers) are treated as independ-ent contractors so labor laws governing employees are notapplicable and they lack job security,” Gautam Ghosh, ahuman resources consultant, told AFP.

“While jobs created by food delivery apps are crucial,they may not exist in 10 years so for the majority of young-sters they are a stopgap arrangement,” he added. India’sarmy of food delivery drivers, mostly men but some womentoo, became a talking point on social media late last yearwhen a rider for the Zomato platform was filmed sampling acustomer’s order. The video, apparently shot on a mobilephone, showed the man taking bites from several foodparcels before wrapping them again. It sparked anger onlineand he was promptly sacked.

Rushing aroundMany internet users rallied to his defense, however.

They insisted that the two-minute clip showed he was hun-gry and desperate, and said Zomato had acted harshly in

dismissing him. “It is a challenging job,” said Nachre,expressing sympathy for the unnamed delivery man whowas working in the southern city of Madurai before beingfired. “We work 12 hours straight in soaring heat and heavyrains. Sometimes I don’t even have time to eat,” he added.

Nachre drives for the Scootsy platform. He leaves homeat 9:00 am and does not return until after 1:00 am.Navigating Mumbai’s abysmal traffic makes work stressful,he says. “We’re always in a rush to deliver and customerskeep calling us. We know we have to be on our toes all thetime or customers might complain and we may lose ourjobs,” Nachre told AFP. India’s food delivery apps, backedby major international investment, are offering new avenuesof employment for Indian youngsters who lack higher edu-cation but possess a driving license.

Their importance to the likes of Nachre was highlightedrecently when a leaked government report said India’sunemployment rate was 6.1 percent in 2017-18, the highestsince the 1970s. “This job is lucrative,” said Nachre, who hasno post-school qualifications and earns a minimum of18,000 rupees ($253) a month. In his previous job runningerrands at an office he made only 8,000 rupees. The app-based food delivery industry is worth an estimated $7 billionto Asia’s third-largest economy, according to marketresearch firm Statista, and is expanding rapidly. Swiggyannounced at the end of last year that it had received $1 bil-lion in funding from foreign backers including South Africa’sNaspers and China’s Tencent.

Foreign investment That put the valuation of the five-year-old company,

headquartered in Bangalore, at more than $3 billion.Zomato, Swiggy’s nearest challenger for market dominance,is being aggressively backed by Alibaba’s Ant Financial.The Chinese giant recently pumped in $210 million, valuingthe Delhi-based startup at $2 billion. The food deliveryplatforms are soaring as India’s growing middle classestake advantage of better smartphone connectivity andcheap data plans that are fuelling a gig economy centeredon technology. —AFP

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani

I n t e r n a t i o n a l Thursday, February 21, 2019

7Established 1961

Gay churchprays for historic Kenya rulingNAIROBI: A lesbian church leader lightspink, yellow, and purple candles and passesthem around to worshippers as they pray fora court decision that will mean they nolonger have to live a lie. “The Lord is in con-trol,” she says, as swaying congregants yellout “Victory!” and a musician shuts his eyesin prayer, his fingers dancing across a key-board laid on a table covered with a rainbowflag. The Cosmopolitan Affirming Church(CAC) is a rare space where Kenya’s LGBTcommunity can escape hostility from society,which is often reflected in hatred and vitriolfrom religious pulpits.

Dozens of LGBT churchgoers and theirallies crammed into a tiny room Sunday toworship ahead of Friday’s potentially historicdecision by Kenya’s High Court on whetherlaws that criminalize homosexuality areunconstitutional. “When this law is struckdown it is going to be a huge kind of libera-tion for us, like a burden has been taken offour shoulders,” said David Ochara, whohelped found the church in 2013.

‘Police in our bedrooms’ Kenya’s colonial-era laws echo those in

more than half of Africa’s countries, wherehomosexuality is illegal. Being gay can even

lead to the death penalty in Mauritania,Sudan, northern Nigeria and parts ofSomalia. One section of the penal code saysthat anyone who has “carnal knowledge ...against the order of nature” can be impris-oned for 14 years, while another could seeone land in jail for five years for “indecentpractices between males”. “The law specifies‘in public or private’ which essentially allowspolice to enter our bedrooms to investigatethese crimes,” said Eric Gitari, the co-founder of the National Gay and LesbianHuman Rights Council (NGLHRC), one of thepetitioners.

Imani Kimiri of the NGLHRC’s legal teamsaid her office dealt with 15 prosecutionsunder the laws in 2018, but cannot recall thelast conviction - slamming the process as“just a frustrating endeavor”. In 2014, a gov-ernment report to appease parliament’s anti-gay caucus reported some 600 prosecutionsover three years. However, Gitari said 70percent of these were “conflated” and someturned out to be cases of child rape, bestiali-ty or even traffic offences. The biggest fear isthe persecution that the laws allow. “Becauseof the law you fear blackmail, you fear extor-tion, you fear violence ... because there is nolaw protecting you, and the law is againstyou,” said Arthur Owiti, who plays the key-board in church.

Blackmailed by online dates The NGLHRC in 2017 recorded an

increase in cases where people using onlinedating applications such as Grindr end upbeing blackmailed or extorted, often byorganized gangs who work with the police.“When you get a date online you have to askthem security questions so you don’t fall into

a trap,” said Owiti. And those who are black-mailed, evicted, fired, expelled from school,or assaulted over their sexual orientation, areunable to access justice because it means“confessing to a crime”, said Gitari. WhileGitari points to recent court decisions ascause for optimism, most activists agree thateven if the court rules in their favor it will betied up in appeals for the foreseeable future.In March last year the High Court bannedforced anal testing of men suspected ofbeing gay. And in September a court ruledthat “Rafiki” (friend), a film about a lesbianlove affair, could be screened for seven daysafter its initial banning.

African precedent Kenya’s decision could reverberate

across the continent, where several coun-tries are facing challenges to similar legisla-tion. Mozambique struck down anti-gaylaws in 2015, and Angola decriminalizedhomosexuality in January. Botswana isexpected to hear a case against its laws inMarch. “The law is one of the means ofchanging society,” said Gitari. “Politicallythere is a chance for African states to assertthemselves in their grounding of justicewhich is inclusive of LGBT persons withoutnecessarily having to give in to politicalpressure, which is external.” —AFP

NAIROBI: LGBT members attend an inter-faith service in Nairobi, Kenya. Kenya’s HighCourt will on February 22, 2019 rule on a petition from gay rights groups to declaretwo laws that effectively criminalize homosexuality, unconstitutional. —AFP

Convoy plucks women, children from IS holdout BAGHOUZ: A convoy of trucks evacuateddozens of people including women and chil-dren from the Islamic State group’s lastSyria redoubt yesterday, bringing US-backed forces closer to retaking the last sliv-er of the “caliphate”. The implosion of thejihadist proto-state which once spannedswathes of Syria and neighboring Iraq hasleft Western nations grappling with how tohandle citizens who left to join IS.

Around 15 trucks carrying men, womenand children exited the last patch of IS terri-tory in eastern Syria, according to AFP cor-respondents. Women wearing face veils, sev-eral children-including young veiled girls-aswell as men were seen inside the vehicles.Their exact number and nationalities werenot immediately clear. The convoy passed aposition of the Kurdish-led SDF, which arespearheading the battle against the jihadists,after leaving the last IS holdout in the villageof Baghouz, near the Iraqi border.

SDF spokesman Mustefa Bali said thetrucks were evacuating a first batch of civil-ians, but some remained inside. “After manydays of trying, we were able to evacuate thefirst batch today,” Bali said. The number ofpeople who quit the holdout would becomeclear once the convoy arrived at a nearbySDF screening point, he said. “We don’tknow if IS fighters are among them, we willknow at the screening point,” Bali said.Backed by air strikes by a US-led coalition,the SDF have trapped IS fighters in less thanhalf a square kilometer (0.2 square miles) inBaghouz. The SDF have slowed theiradvance in recent days to protect civiliansahead of a final push to defeat the jihadists.

Deal?Thousands of people-mostly women

and children related to IS members-havestreamed out of Baghouz in the past weeks,but the flow had largely stopped in recentdays. The Syrian Observatory for HumanRights, a Britain-based war monitor, said adeal appeared to have been reached withthe jihadists. “There have been negotiationsfor the surrender of the last IS fighters,”Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahmansaid. “There are reports of a deal, but wedon’t know the details yet,” he said. On

Tuesday, the SDF said several IS fightersand dozens of civilians handed themselvesover to the Kurdish-led force. SpokesmanAdnan Afrin said a convoy of trucks hadentered Baghouz to transfer jihadists and

their relatives out to SDF-held territory.The spokesman said foreigners wereamong those who left the pocket, but didnot say where they were from, or if theywere civilians. —AFP

BAGHOUZ: Islamic State group’s fighters and their families sit in the back of atruck as they leave IS’s last holdout of Baghouz in Syria’s northern Deir Ezzorprovince yesterday. —AFP

Anti-gay laws widespread in Africa despite gainsPARIS: More than half of the countries in sub-Saharan Africahave anti-homosexuality laws, although others have movedtowards legal tolerance, watchdogs say. Twenty-eight out of 49countries have laws penalizing same-sex relationships, accord-ing to Neela Ghoshal, a Human Rights Watch (HRW) specialistin lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights. The deathpenalty is on the books, under sharia, in Mauritania, Sudan andnorthern Nigeria, although there have been no known execu-tions in recent times. In southern Somalia, gay men are believedto have been put to death in territory ruled by the Al Shabaabjihadist group.

However, Angola, Mozambique and Seychelles have scrappedanti-gay laws in recent years, and on Friday a High Court ruling inNairobi will determine whether Kenya follows suit. On the otherhand, Chad and Uganda have introduced or toughened legisla-tion. Rights groups say many anti-gay laws date from the colonialarea. They represent a peril even in countries where they are notimplemented, according to campaigners, as their existence on thestatute books entrenches stigma and encourages harassment,they say. Following is a snapshot of the legal situation in Africa,provided by AFP bureaux:

AngolaLast month scrapped a notorious “vices against nature” pro-

vision in its penal code, and made the refusal to employ or pro-vide services to someone on the grounds of their sexual orienta-tion liable to a jail term of up to two years.

Botswana On March 15, the High Court will hear a case brought by cam-

paign group Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana challeng-ing the constitutionality of a law punishing same-sex conduct.

ChadApproved a law in May 2017 to punish “same-sex sexual rela-

tions” with between three months’ and two years’ jail and a fineranging from 50.000 to 500.000 FCFA (76 to 760 euros, $85 to$850).

GabonThe first gay traditional wedding was conducted in 2013 but

the couple was immediately arrested following an outcry. The pairwas released and the marriage overturned on technical grounds.

Lesotho In 2012, approved a penal code which scrapped a common-

law regime under which sodomy had been criminalized. Initiated aprocess in 2016 to decriminalize same-sex marriage, although thelaw is making little headway in parliament.

Malawi Debating the legal status of homosexuality. In 2012, the gov-

ernment ordered a moratorium on arrests and prosecutions ofconsensual homosexual adults. In 2016, the High Court suspendedthe moratorium pending a judicial review by the ConstitutionalCourt.

MozambiqueIn 2015, swept away Portuguese colonial laws dating back to

1886 that punished anyone “who habitually engages in vicesagainst nature.” No known prosecutions under those lawsoccurred after Mozambique gained independence in 1975.

Mali No anti-homosexuality law, but conservative Islamic groups

last December successfully campaigned against a Dutch-fundedschoolbook on sexual education, maintaining it promoted homo-sexuality.

Nigeria Law introduced in 2014 provides for up to 14 years’ jail for

same-sex cohabitation and any “public show of same-sexamorous relationship”. In the north, sharia makes homosexualitypunishable by death in theory.

South AfricaIn 2006, South Africa became the sole African nation to allow

gay marriage. The country has become a haven for African homo-sexuals who flee persecution at home or travel to the country toget married before returning home.

TanzaniaA conviction for having “carnal knowledge of any person

against the order of nature” can lead to 30 years’ jail or more.Political rhetoric against homosexuality has increased sincePresident John Magufuli was elected in 2015. Foreign gay rightsactivists have been expelled and last October, the governor of Dares Salaam, the country’s economic capital, threatened to arresthomosexuals. —AFP

MOSCOW: Russia will respond to any US deploymentof short or intermediate-range nuclear weapons inEurope by targeting not only the countries where theyare stationed, but the United States itself, PresidentVladimir Putin said yesterday. In his toughest remarksyet on a potential new arms race, Putin said Russia wasnot seeking confrontation and would not take the firststep to deploy missiles in response to Washington’sdecision this month to quit a landmark Cold War-eraarms control treaty.

But he said that Russia’s reaction to any deploymentwould be resolute and thatUS policy-makers, some ofwhom he said were obsessedwith US exceptionalism,should calculate the risksbefore taking any steps. “It’stheir right to think how theywant. But can they count? I’msure they can. Let them countthe speed and the range ofthe weapons systems we aredeveloping,” Putin toldRussia’s political elite tostrong applause. “Russia will be forced to create anddeploy types of weapons which can be used not onlyin respect of those territories from which the directthreat to us originates, but also in respect of those ter-ritories where the centers of decision-making arelocated,” he said.

Missiles in EuropeAlleging Russian violations, Washington said this

month it was suspending its obligations under the 1987Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) andstarting the process of quitting it, untying its hands todevelop new missiles. The pact banned either side fromstationing short and intermediate-range, land-basedmissiles in Europe and its demise raises the prospect ofa new arms race between Washington and Moscow,which denies flouting the treaty.

Russia denies violating the treaty. Putin respondedto the US move by saying Russia would mirror the USmoves by suspending its own obligations and quitting

the pact. But Putin, who hassometimes used bellicoserhetoric to talk up Russia’sstandoff with the West and torally Russians round the flag,did not up the ante. He did notannounce new missile deploy-ments, said money for newsystems must come fromexisting budget funds anddeclared that Moscow wouldnot deploy new land-basedmissiles in Europe or else-

where unless Washington did so first.Yesterday, he made clear however that he was ready,

reluctantly, to escalate if the United States escalatedand that Russia was continuing to actively developweapons and missile systems to ensure it was well pre-pared for such an eventuality. He said any US move toplace new missiles in Europe would leave Moscow withno choice but to respond because it would drasticallycut the time it took US missiles to reach Russia, some-

thing that would pose a direct threat. He said Russiawanted good ties with the United States, but was readywith its defensive response if necessary. “We know how

to do this and we will implement these plans immedi-ately, as soon as the corresponding threats to usbecome a reality.” —Reuters

The response will be ‘asymmetric,’ Russian leader says

We will target US, Europe host if Washington deploys missiles

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual state of the nation address in Moscowyesterday. —AFP

Putin addresses

the politicalelite

Enough! Thousands decry anti-Semitism after spike in attacksSTRASBOURG: Thousands of people rallied across Franceafter a surge of anti-Semitic attacks in recent weeks that culmi-nated on Tuesday with vandals daubing swastikas and anti-

Jewish slogans on dozens of graves in a Jewish cemetery.Political leaders from all parties, including former PresidentsFrancois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy, gathered in Paris fillingthe Place de la Republique, a symbol of the nation, to decryanti-Semitic acts with one common slogan: “Enough!”

People also lined the streets of cities from Lille in the northto Toulouse and Marseille in the south. President EmmanuelMacron paid respects at one of the 96 desecrated graves in thevillage of Quatzenheim, near the eastern city of Strasbourg.“Whoever did this is not worthy of the French republic and willbe punished... We’ll take action, we’ll apply the law and we’llpunish them,” he said, walking through a gate scarred with a

swastika as he entered the graveyard. Macron later visited thenational Holocaust memorial in Paris with the heads of theSenate and National Assembly. France is home to the biggestJewish community in Europe-around 550,000 — a populationthat has grown by about half since World War Two, but anti-Semitic attacks remain common. Government statistics releasedlast week showed there were more than 500 anti-Semiticattacks in the country last year, a 74 percent increase from2017. “Some people are provoking the authority of the state. Itneeds to be dealt with now and extremely firmly,” Sarkozy toldreporters. “It’s a real question of authority. Violence is spreadingand it needs to stop now.” —Reuters

Thursday, February 21, 2019

8I n t e r n a t i o n a l

News in brief

Judges, lawyers detained

VILNIUS: Lithuanian prosecutors yesterday detained sever-al veteran judges and lawyers suspected of receiving bribes,as more than a hundred police investigators conducted raidsat dozens of addresses. “Today 26 individuals were detained,including eight judges and five well-known lawyers,” prose-cutor general Evaldas Pasilis told reporters. He gave nodetails on the other 13 people held. Prosecutors suspect theindividuals-who include one Supreme Court justice-receivedbribes ranging from 1,000 euros ($1,130) to 100,000 eurosin various criminal, civil and administrative cases. “Huge harmwas done to the state,” said Pasilis, the most senior prosecu-tor in this Baltic EU state. “It wasn’t just the sum of thealleged bribes but also that trust in the justice system wasundermined,” he added. Zydrunas Bartkus, head of the anti-corruption agency STT, said that from the early morning itsagents and police officers had carried out searches at morethan 100 addresses. —AFP

Egypt denies NYT journo entry

CAIRO: Egyptian authorities have denied entry to a veteranNew York Times journalist, the US-based newspaper reportedon Tuesday. David Kirkpatrick arrived at Cairo airport onMonday but was barred from entering the country, the news-paper said. Security officials held him “incommunicado forhours before forcing him onto a flight back to London withoutexplanation,” the New York Times reported. Kirkpatrick wasthe newspaper’s Cairo bureau chief from 2011 to 2015 and lastyear authored a book on the Arab Spring uprisings. His writingshave long stirred controversy and pro-government media inEgypt have previously criticized his reporting. In 2018, pro-government newspaper “Youm7” accused Kirkpatrick of“deliberately distorting Egypt’s (image)” after he reported onEgyptian officials’ “tacit acceptance” of the United States’recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. —AFP

6 dead in karaoke fire

KUALA LUMPUR: Six people, including three foreigners, werekilled when a fire broke out yesterday in a Malaysian karaokecentre, with rescuers describing scenes of chaos as the blazeengulfed the building. The fire erupted before dawn on the fourthfloor of an eight-storey building in the city of Ipoh, northern Perakstate. Firefighters rushed to the scene and found the bodies of sixpeople who had died of smoke inhalation, Perak fire departmentacting director Sayani Saidon said. “We came across two locals,two Vietnamese women and a Bangladeshi man. We are stilldetermining the identity of the sixth person,” she said. Firefightersrescued eight people alive, including two in critical condition, sheadded. People inside were unable to find the way out after the fireerupted as exit lights did not come on, she said. Those that sur-vived had run to an upper level to escape the flames. —AFP

Ex-military chief jailed

BEIJING: A former chief of staff of China’s military was sen-tenced to life in prison, state media said yesterday, after hewas swept up in President Xi Jinping’s ongoing anti-graftcrackdown. Appointed to the People’s Liberation Army’s toppost in 2012, Fang Fenghui was convicted of accepting andoffering bribes, and having an unclear source of a hugeamount of assets, official news agency Xinhua reported. Amilitary court sentenced Fang to life in prison, stripped him ofpolitical rights for life, and ordered the confiscation of all hispersonal assets, Xinhua said. Fang was abruptly replaced inAugust 2017 amid a stand-off with India over a territorialdispute, and just days after he had met the US top brass todiscuss North Korea. The general was transferred to the mili-tary prosecution authority on suspicion of bribery in Januaryof last year, state media reported at the time. —AFP

LONDON: Three MPs quit the governing ConservativeParty over Brexit yesterday, joining a mounting rebel-lion in parliament this week against the two major par-ties that is shaking the system in British politics. AnnaSoubry, Heidi Allen and Sarah Wollaston said theyplanned to sit in parliament alongside eight formerLabor MPs who, also citing their opposition to Brexit,have resigned from the main opposition party sinceMonday to form the new Independent Group.

The trio of Conservatives, who support Britainremaining in the European Union, said in a joint resig-nation letter to Prime Minister Theresa May that Brexithad “re-defined” their party and was “undoing all theefforts to modernize it”. “The final straw for us hasbeen this government’s disastrous handling of Brexit,”they added, in stinging criti-cism of May’s leadership,noting they could “no longeract as bystanders” to her EUexit strategy. “Following theEU referendum of 2016, nogenuine effort was made tobuild a cross-party, let alonea national consensus to deliv-er Brexit.”

The resignations posed afresh and embarrassingheadache for the prime minis-ter as she prepared to travel to Brussels for crucial talkswith European Commission President Jean-ClaudeJuncker. It also reinforced the view that Britain wasplunging further into political turmoil as its MPs strug-gle to agree a divorce deal just five weeks before it isdue to leave the bloc on March 29. The politicalimpasse risks the country crashing out without anagreement, with the rising uncertainty blamed for astring of car-makers and other businesses recentlyannouncing job cuts and reduced investment in Britain.

May said she was “saddened” by the resignationsand thanked the MPs for their “dedicated service to our

party over many years”. She noted Britain’s member-ship of the EU has been “a source of disagreement bothin our party and our country for a long time” but theMPs’ move would not stop her delivering on the refer-endum result. “Under my leadership, the ConservativeParty will always offer the decent, moderate and patri-otic politics that the people of this country deserve,”she added.

‘Radical changes now afoot’Earlier yesterday, an eighth MP quit the Labor Party

in protest against its veteran socialist leader JeremyCorbyn, joining its own growing internal rebellionsparked by rows over Brexit and anti-Semitism. JoanRyan told BBC radio that Corbyn had “introduced or

allowed to happen in our par-ty this scourge of anti-Semitism. It has completelyinfected the party”.

The shake-up of seatsmean May’s centre-rightConservatives alone are nowsix votes short of a majority inparliament’s lower House ofCommons. They can commanda working majority of eightthanks to their confidence andsupply arrangement for sup-

port from Northern Ireland’s 10 Democratic Unionist(DUP) lawmakers.

Meanwhile The Independent Group now form thejoint fourth-biggest bloc in the Commons with 11 MPs-the same as the centrist Liberal Democrats, with pre-dictions of further defections to come. The new groupsat squashed together on the opposition backbenchesin the Commons during the prime minister’s weeklygrilling, but did not ask May a question. LiberalDemocrat leader Vince Cable said: “There is clearlysome very radical changes now afoot as both theConservatives and Labor have been taken over by mili-

tant groups, driving out more moderate MPs.”

‘Country’s interests first’ In their resignation statement, the three former

Conservative MPs, who have voted against multipleelements of the government’s Brexit legislation,blamed their decision on May’s “dismal failure” tostand up to the “hard line” European Research Group(ERG) of Brexiteers in her own party. The group“operates openly as a party within a party, with its

own leader, whip and policy” they said. “We no longerfeel we can remain in the party of a governmentwhose policies and priorities are so firmly in the gripof the ERG and DUP,” the lawmakers added. Theynoted that there was a wider dissatisfaction with thestate of British politics, with both the Conservativesand Labor moving “to the fringes, leaving millions ofpeople with no representation”. “We now feel honorbound to put our constituents’ and country’s interestsfirst,” they added. —AFP

Eighth MP jumps ship in crisis for UK Labor

3 MPs abandon PM over Brexit as Britain political sands shift

LONDON: Former Conservative Party and now Independent MPs (left to right) Heidi Allen, SarahWollaston and Anna Soubry pose for a picture after a press conference in central London yesterday fol-lowing their resignation from the Conservative Party in a joint letter. —AFP

Solving backstop issue ‘only way to avoid hard Brexit’BERLIN: Britain can only avoid a hardBrexit on March 29 if it reaches a dealwith the EU to resolve the tricky Irishbackstop issue, Foreign SecretaryJeremy Hunt said yesterday. “This isreally the only way through the currentsituation,” he said in a speech in Berlin,adding that pushing back the Brexitdeadline would leave both the UK andEU in “paralysis”. The infamous “Irishbackstop” clause provides for Britain toremain in the EU customs union until away is found-such as a future free tradedeal-to ensure that Ireland’s border withNorthern Ireland remains open.

Resolving the issue would allow thegovernment to gain parliamentary sup-port for the EU divorce deal and alsoguarantee the 1998 Belfast peace agree-ment, he predicted. “If we can make thatchange, we are confident we can get the

deal through” parliament, he said on theday Prime Minister Theresa May washeaded back to Brussels to renew herquest to reopen the terms of the Brexitdivorce.

Brexiteers in May’s own Conservativeparty see the backstop as a “trap” tokeep Britain in a form of union indefi-nitely, and have demanded a time limit ora unilateral exit clause. This would beseen in Brussels as a betrayal of EUmember Ireland, and it has consistentlygot short shrift from EU officials. Hunt,speaking on the question of a possibleextension on Britain leaving the bloc,questioned whether that “really solvesanything”. “I think the last thing thatpeople in the UK and indeed the rest ofthe EU want is Brexit paralysis with thisissue hanging over Europe like a shad-ow,” he said.

“I think people want to move on andthey want to demonstrate that we canhave a Brexit that respects the referen-dum result but also that we remain bestof friends with our neighbors in Europe.”May and the other 27 EU leadersapproved a Brexit withdrawal agreement

at a summit on November 25 last year,but the British leader’s own parliamentrejected it on January 15. Since then,May and her ministers have repeatedly

met EU leaders and their negotiatorMichel Barnier to urge them to reopenthe text to find a way to appeaseeurosceptic MPs. —AFP

LONDON: Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street in cen-tral London yesterday ahead of Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs). —AFP

‘No place to sell’;Zimbabwe targets street vendorsCHITUNGWIZA: When police backedby armed soldiers arrived at the marketin Chitungwiza in early February, LilianKashamba was reminded of her child-hood during Zimbabwe’s war for inde-pendence. The 48-year-old widow, whohad sold vegetables, maize and chickensfrom the council-owned venue for 15years, pointed to a heap of rubble whereher stall once stood, and told how ven-dors were given 30 minutes to pack upand leave. After that, the market wasdemolished by officials from the council,which has not yet said what it will dowith the space.

“From my sales here I raised threechildren. With no place to sell, I don’tknow how else to care for my one lastchild in primary school,” she said. Thedemolition of the Zengeza 4 market wasone of a number of actions by localauthorities - backed by security forces -against thousands of vendors and infor-mal traders in the capital Harare as wellas in other cities and towns this month.Lovemore Meya, a spokesman forChitungwiza council, said the clamp-down in the town about 30 km south ofHarare was a joint effort by local author-ities, the police and the army to removeillegal structures and businesses.

But Kashamba and other vendors saidthey had paid weekly rentals for theirstalls and shops to an intermediary, whohad not given it to the council. The mar-ket’s destruction followed a spate of vio-lence that rocked the southern Africannation in January when a three-day stay-at-home strike was called after PresidentEmmerson Mnangagwa raised fuel

prices. The protests led to mass arrestsand a security crackdown. Zimbabwehas been on edge ever since, with resi-dents and other witnesses saying policeand soldiers conducted night-time raidson many homes and removed and beatalleged protesters. Meya denied theexercise was politically motivated, say-ing it affected all vendors and did notdiscriminate on party lines.

‘Urban renewal’Some traders likened the destruction

of stalls to the government’s 2005 slum-clearance operation called OperationMurambatsvina, which meant ‘Drive outthe filth’. Joshua Mukungati, 25, who soldfurniture out of Zengeza 4, said he hadbeen paying $10 a week to the counciland did not understand why he had beenevicted and his shop razed. “It was bru-tal. We were given only given 30 minutesto remove our wares ... we lost valuableproperty,” he said.

“I don’t have anywhere to sell, andhave to keep some of the sofas at mylodgings. The sad part is the authoritieshave not given us an alternative place towork from.” Meya, from Chitungwizacouncil, said some people had subletmarket space and were collecting rentwithout giving it to the council but addedthe exercise was also about urban renew-al. “People were just erecting structureseverywhere and conducting their busi-ness anywhere, including along roads,and council was not getting revenue due,”he said. “Harare is doing the same. Theystarted their operation in October follow-ing communication from the ministry oflocal government to spruce (up) ourimage to attract investment.”

He said the council had started toregister some vendors and informaltraders who wanted to operate legally,and would designate trading places forthem at an unspecified future date.Harare mayor Herbert Gomba told the

Thomson Reuters Foundation that thelaw clearly stated where people couldtrade, and citizens should comply inorder to protect public health. He addedthat notice of the evictions in Harare wasgiven ahead of time and traders hadbeen offered new locations. However,traders said that was not the case,according to Samuel Wadzai, the direc-tor of the Vendors Initiative for Socialand Economic Transformation (VISET),a Harare-based group.

‘Defenseless traders’Demolishing vendors’ stalls without

notifying them or offering them a newplace to do business was “barbaric andinhumane”, the Chitungwiza ResidentsTrust (CHITREST) said. CHITRESTdirector Alice Kuvheya said the grouprealized that local authorities wereobliged to maintain cleanliness. “(But)we note with concern the use of thearmed soldiers to deal with defenselesstraders, who were making an honest liv-ing through vending and informal workin a very challenging economic environ-ment,” Kuvheya told the ThomsonReuters Foundation.

Meantime, Wadzai of VISET saidmore than 2,500 informal traders andvendors had been affected in the capital,and up to 800 more in Gweru, a cityabout 200 km southwest. He said the sit-uation in Harare, Chitungwiza and else-where remained tense with many ven-dors traumatized and fearful of beingconfronted by soldiers if they returnedto former sites. Instead of cracking downon innocent citizens, he added, the gov-ernment should recognize the informalsector was key to Zimbabwe’s economyand implement policies to reflect that.“Over 90 percent of the population issurviving through the informal sector, sothere is need to review policies like thecriminalization of street vending,” hesaid. —Reuters

Mountingrebellion in British

parliament

Alabama editor under fire overKKK editorialWASHINGTON: The publisher of asmall Alabama newspaper has comeunder fire after calling in an editorial forthe return of the white supremacist KuKlux Klan. Goodloe Sutton, publisherand editor of The Democrat-Reporter,wrote the editorial that appeared in lastweek’s edition of the weekly newspaperin Linden, Alabama. “Time for the KuKlux Klan to night ride again,” the edi-torial said. “Democrats in the RepublicanParty and Democrats are plotting toraise taxes in Alabama. “Seems like theKlan would be welcome to raid the gat-ed communities up there,” it said. “Trulythey are the ruling class.”

Alabama Senator Doug Jones, aDemocrat, called for Sutton’s resigna-tion. “OMG! What rock did this guycrawl out from under?” Jones tweeted.“This editorial is absolutely disgusting &he should resign-NOW! “I have seenwhat happens when we stand by whilepeople-especially those with influence-publish racist, hateful views,” Jones said.Sutton, 79, defended his views in aninterview with another newspaper, theMontgomery Advertiser.

“If we could get the Klan to go upthere and clean out (Washington) DC,we’d all been better off,” he told theAdvertiser. Asked whether he consid-ered the Klan a violent organization,Sutton said “well, they didn’t kill but afew people. “The Klan wasn’t violentuntil they needed to be.” Linden is atown with a population of around 2,000.According to the Advertiser, TheDemocrat-Reporter had about 3,000subscribers in 2015. —AFP

JAIPUR: Indian prisoners stoned to death a Pakistaniinmate in a jail yesterday amid mounting tensions overa suicide bombing that Delhi has blamed on its arch-rival neighbor, an official said. The Pakistani had beeneight years into a life term at Jaipur Central Jail in thewestern state of Rajasthan when he was attacked. Hewas stoned to death after a quarrel, Rajasthan statedirector general of policeKapil Garg said.

The killing came amid callsfor retribution across Indiaover a car bombing inKashmir last Thursday whichkilled at least 40 Indian para-militaries. Pakistan-basedIslamist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) hasclaimed responsibility for theattack. India has accusedPakistan of backing the mili-tants but Islamabad has denied any role. India andPakistan, which each control sectors of Kashmir, havebeen bitter rivals since their independence from Britainin 1947. A Pakistani prisoner was killed by fellowinmates in a Kashmir jail in May 2013 in retaliation for afatal attack on an Indian prisoner in a Pakistani jail.

Meanwhile, United States threw its support behindIndia on Tuesday and pressed Pakistan to punish thosebehind a suicide attack in Kashmir that killed 40 Indian

security personnel. “We have been in close communi-cation with the government of India to express not onlyour condolences but our strong support for India as itconfronts this terrorism,” deputy State Departmentspokesman Robert Palladino told reporters. “We urgePakistan to fully cooperate with the investigation intothe attack and to punish anyone responsible.”

Palladino said that theUnited States has been incontact with both countriessince the February 14 attack,which was claimed by thePakistan-based Islamist groupJaish-e-Mohammed. “We callon all countries to upholdtheir responsibilities pursuantto the United NationsSecurity Council resolutionsto deny safe haven and sup-port for terrorists,” Palladino

said. India earlier called on Pakistan to take “credibleand visible action” against the perpetrators of theattack, rejecting Prime Minister Imran Khan’s offer toinvestigate any evidence offered by New Delhi.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has facedpressure from his Hindu nationalist base to respondforcefully to the attack, which comes weeks before heis expected to call general elections. The UnitedStates has a fast-growing relationship with India on

areas from defense to trade. After years of seekingsome balance in its ties between the nuclear-armedpowers, the United States under President Donald

Trump has taken a hard line on Pakistan, cutting offaid over Islamabad’s associations with extremistsactive in Afghanistan. — Agencies

I n t e r n a t i o n a l Thursday, February 21, 2019

9Established 1961

KASHMIR: A house in which militants are suspected to have sheltered is in flames after a gunfight happenedbetween rebels and security forces in South Kashmirís Pulwama district. — AFP

India accuses Pakistan of

backing militants

US urges Pakistan to punish those behind Kashmir attack

Indian prisoners stone Pakistani inmate to death amid tensions

India workerstake to airwaves to demand betterconditionsCHENNAI: The caller broke down in tears as shedescribed how she queued three times to use one ofonly two toilets provided for 200 garment employeesat the spinning mill where she works in India’s south-ern state of Tamil Nadu. Her turn never came, forcingthe factory worker to use a corner of the mill wherewaste cotton is discarded.

Humiliated and angry, the worker decided to shareher daily ordeal at the mill with a local radio phone-in show. Listeners included labor unions and factorymanagers and work has now begun to add more toi-lets at the mill. Three radio stations, which are freeand broadcast through mobile phones, have been setup across Tamil Nadu over the last year and nowgive a voice to the thousands of garment workerswhose plight has long been ignored by manufactur-ers and brands.

Operating in the regions of Dindigul, Chennai andTirupur, they attract more than 200 callers per dayand have quickly become a huge hit among the state’sgarment workers. Callers into the shows discussharassment, long working hours, poor wages and oth-er working conditions. Many of the factories and millsin Tamil Nadu - the largest hub in India’s $40 billion-a-year textile and garment industry - operate infor-mally, with poor regulation, and provide few formalgrievance mechanisms for workers, union leaders say.

Existing grievance systems, like anonymous com-plaint boxes and internal committees to deal with

sexual harassment, are rarely used by workers whofear they will lose their jobs or distrust management,they add. “What they cannot openly say for fear oflosing their jobs, they say here,” said ThivyarakhiniSesuraj, president of the all-women Tamilnadu Textileand Common Labour Union (TTCU), which runs theVoice of TTCU station in Dindigul. “These are firsthand reports of what goes on inside the factories.And they reflect everyday abuse and hardship.”

Tune inEvery day on her way to work, Chennai-based

garment worker Padma listens to the Voice of Rightsstation on her mobile phone, pressing it against herear and straining to hear the callers over the trafficsounds during her daily commute. Padma, who goesby one name, describes the show as an “addictionthat empowers” her. Paul Kani, tunes in to the samestation each morning, putting her phone on loud-speaker as she cooks for her family before heading towork at her garment factory in Ambattur, a suburbnear Chennai. Kani says she can no longer cookunless she has the station playing in the backgroundand likes to get involved.

“I love talking about various issues on the show,”she said. “So many people can hear me and I don’tfeel alone in my struggles.” Supported by technologycompany Gram Vaani, the Voice of Tirupur station hitthe airwaves last week - making it the third interac-tive platform available to the more than one millionworkers employed in Tamil Nadu. Run in collabora-tion with garment workers’ unions like TTCU,Garment and Fashion Workers Union, and PennThozhilalargal Sangam, these channels are helping totrack and find solutions to grievances, labor rightscampaigners say.

“We have had more than 80 cases where theproblem has been resolved and impacted hundreds ofworkers in just one year,” said Lamuel Enoch, pro-gram manager at Gram Vaani. As well as spoof shows

that give a light-hearted take on the lives of factoryworkers, Village Talk is a segment that invites listen-ers to share a short clip of them singing or talking ona work-related or everyday issue. “We use comedy,music and drama to talk about issues ... (and) broad-cast updates on union activities, ongoing court casesand policy,” Enoch said. “Our latest edition alsoincludes multiple language options to cater to themigrant worker.”

Call for helpSesuraj at TTCU, who has campaigned for many

years to improve the rights of mill workers, said she isoften surprised by the nature of complaints and con-cerns raised by workers who call the radio shows. “Arecent caller said that she was being ridiculed for notfitting into a uniform shirt provided by the manage-ment,” Sesuraj said. “All the shirts were in mediumsize but she needed a large, which they refused togive her. She could not even negotiate for that. Shewanted help.” The silence around sexual harassmentis also being broken by the three new radio networks.Despite nationwide awareness campaigns and theintroduction of mandatory complaints committees infactories since 2013, no sexual harassment complaintshave been made in the Tamil Nadu garment industry,according to a 2018 government report.

However, on air, garment workers have found theirvoice, often mentioning the abuse they are subjectedto each day, Sesuraj said. Three cases of sexualharassment described by callers on Voice of TTCUshows are now being formally pursued by the unionin Dindigul. “The users are growing, awareness isgrowing, and we have received complaints in largenumbers,” said Sujata Mody, president of Garmentand Fashion Workers’ Union that runs the Voice ofRights broadcast. “But are brands listening to voicesof the women ... and is the industry willing to meettheir basic needs? Everyone needs to tune in and lis-ten carefully for change to come.”— Reuters

European and Arab ministers hold talks on Mideast peaceDUBLIN: European and Arab ministers held closed-door talks in Ireland on Tuesday on “how best to moveforward” in the Middle East peace process, the Irishforeign ministry said. Foreign Minister Simon Coveneyheaded the “retreat-style” meeting with his counter-parts from Bulgaria, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Jordan,Spain, Sweden, as well as Palestinian foreign ministerRiyad Al-Malki.

The ministers were joined by Arab League headAhmed Aboul Gheit. “Ireland’s experience in the pasthas been that confidentiality can allow for a better dis-cussion between different participants”, a foreign min-istry spokesman said in a statement. “The intentionwas not to launch any new process but to considerways to support and shape engagement on this issuein other fora.” The “confidential discussion on thepresent state of the Middle East peace process andhow best to move forward” was held at Farmleigh, amanor house in Dublin used for visiting dignitaries.

The Irish meeting comes just days after JaredKushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law andadviser, outlined plans for a peace deal between Israeland the Palestinians at the Munich SecurityConference. The US plans are to be formally presentedafter Israel’s April 9 elections. But the PalestinianAuthority says it can no longer trust the United Statesas an honest broker after Trump in 2017 recognizedJerusalem-holy to the three major monotheistic reli-gions-as Israel’s capital. — AFP

Thursday, February 21, 2019

10A n a l y s i s

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As Maduro holds on, opposition eyes negotiated transition

Venezuela’s opposition is trying to convince rul-ing Socialist Party officials to join a transitiongovernment, shifting focus as it seeks to unseat

President Nicolas Maduro, who has clung to power inthe face of growing international pressure and USsanctions. Last month, Venezuelan opposition leaderand Congress chief Juan Guaido invoked the constitu-tion to assume the interim presidency after declaringMaduro’s reelection in May 2018 illegitimate. He swift-ly received recognition from the United States andLatin American powers.

In an effort to secure the backing of Venezuela’smilitary, Guaido proposed an amnesty for officers whoturn on Maduro’s government. But defections havebeen minimal and top brass has declared allegiance toMaduro, dimming hopes of a quick end to an econom-ic disaster that has prompted millions of desperateVenezuelans to flee abroad, fueling a regional humani-tarian crisis.

Amid fears the changes have stalled, oppositionleaders have begun to talk in the past week aboutbringing ruling Socialist Party stalwarts into a potentialtransition government. “This transition requires a largenational agreement between the country’s politicalforces,” Edgar Zambrano, vice president of the oppo-sition-run National Assembly, said in an interview.Zambrano said any transition must include“Chavismo”, the leftwing movement founded byVenezuela’s late leader Hugo Chavez, who handpickedMaduro as his successor. “You cannot disappearChavismo and you cannot go from persecuted to per-secutor. This is not political revenge,” he said.

It was not immediately clear how actively theopposition is building bridges. Opposition leaders saythey maintain contact with government officials andmilitary officers but keep such talks confidential toavoid affecting those involved. Maduro says he is thevictim of a US-orchestrated coup attempt and hasrefused to resign. Many rank-and-file opposition sup-porters hope to see Maduro and his allies exiled orbehind bars, and would be frustrated by attempts tobring them into the transition.

Guaido’s decision to assume the interim presidencyrevitalized Venezuela’s fragmented and disillusionedopposition and led to a flurry of street protests. Hopesof quick change were fueled by diplomatic supportfrom numerous countries and tough US sanctions onVenezuela’s vital oil industry, which has bankrolledMaduro’s government.

Some in the opposition quietly predicted a militarypronouncement in favor of Guaido as early as Jan 23,the day he proclaimed himself president at a rally inCaracas. Top military officials were silent for hoursafter Guaido’s pronouncement, leading to speculationthat Maduro was frantically negotiating with officersnot to switch sides.

Yet only a handful of active officers backed Guaido.Expectations of a quick military proclamation havegiven way to concerns over a slow and complicatedpath forward, both in Caracas and Washington. “I don’tthink (Washington) understood the complexities of thetarget, of Venezuela: all the overlapping security thatMaduro has available; the things at his disposal,” saidone former U.S. administration official in touch withcurrent officials.

What about justice?The idea of a unity in Venezuela was in fact includ-

ed in a little-noticed provision of a Transition Lawpassed by the National Assembly last month.Venezuela’s four main opposition parties all back theidea, but in the past week have increasingly discussedthe issue. “People must understand that Chavismo isnot just Maduro,” legislator Stalin Gonzalez said in aninterview with Reuters last week, in comments thatsparked a backlash on social media.

Some opposition supporters say they would beopen to middle-ranking or dissident socialists beingincluded in an interim government, but not the topbrass. “They must pay for what they have done,” saidMaria Elena Fonseca, who at age 78 struggles to makeends meet despite working as a psychologist. Likecountless Venezuelans, Fonseca has seen her incomeeroded by hyperinflation that now tops 2 million per-cent annually. Fonseca receives remittance from herdaughter abroad, who is among the estimated 3 millionVenezuelans who have fled the once-prosperousnation since 2015. “It’s not about revenge: it’s aboutjustice,” she said.

Stalling momentum?Back channels between the two sides are consider-

ably better developed than might be expected from 20years of acrimonious politics and the constant slew ofvitriolic social media commentary. Gonzalez and otheryoung legislators developed relationships withSocialist Party politicians in 2016. The two sides coex-isted in the legislature until Maduro backed the cre-ation in 2017 of an all-powerful, government-con-trolled Constitution Assembly with the aim of sidelin-ing Congress. Guaido’s team is wielding a stick as wellas a carrot. It has held massive protests nationwideover the past month and will face off with authoritieswhen it attempts to bring humanitarian aid into thecountry on Saturday. —Reuters

Mobs of stick-wielding churchgoers in Myanmar’snortheast used to descend on dealers and addictsin a desperate effort to save their communities

from a meth-induced health crisis sweeping the country.But anonymous death threats brought the vigilante opera-tions to a halt. “It simply became too dangerous for us,”says Zau Man, leader of the local Baptist church in Kutkai,a town in Shan State scarred by addiction.

Myanmar is the second-biggest producer of opium inthe world after Afghanistan and is now believed to be thelargest source of methamphetamine. The multibillion-dollarindustry outstrips rivals in Latin America to feed lucrativemarkets as far away as Sydney, Tokyo and Seoul. Shan isthe epicenter of production in Myanmar, with a network oflocal armed groups linking up with transnational traffick-ing gangs.

Kutkai sits between Mandalay and the militia-riddledtown of Muse on the China border, a key entry point forprecursor chemicals heading to Myanmar’s illegal methlabs. Trucks carrying illicit goods roar through the town inboth directions, past a Chinese temple and streetsiderestaurants with signs in Mandarin. Heroin and meth usehere are rampant. Zau Man says nearly every householdhas at least one drug user, dealers work out in the openand often violent meth addicts have turned parts of Kutkaiinto no-go zones. “In some areas, you can only get fooduntil 10pm, but you can get drugs 24/7,” he says.

‘Smart and ruthless’ Myanmar is facing a “public health disaster” because of

meth and few villages in the country are left unscathed,

Jeremy Douglas, regional representative of the UN Officeon Drugs and Crime, tells AFP. But the crisis is at its mostacute in the poppy-covered hills of Shan State, where alandscape overrun with armed rebel groups, militias andsecurity forces is an ideal breeding ground for meth labs.Accurate figures of production of high quality crystalmeth, or “ice”, and low-grade meth, known in SoutheastAsia as “yaba”, are unavailable.

In January 2018, Kutkai police seized 30 million yabapills, 1,750kg of crystal meth and 500kg of heroin with adomestic value of some $54 million in the country’slargest-ever drug bust. But huge raids leave street pricesunaltered, suggesting they are only a small slice of pro-duction, according to the International Crisis Group, whichsays the business now “dwarfs” Shan’s formal economy.

Crystal meth is smuggled via sophisticated traffickingnetworks to more developed markets like Australia, whereit can fetch a wholesale value of more than $180 millionper ton. Yaba is distributed to Myanmar’s neighbours, par-ticularly Thailand and Bangladesh. But the pink pills areincreasingly being dumped at rock-bottom prices on adomestic market in what Douglas called a “smart and ruth-less” strategy to build demand. “It’s a nasty business andthey’re really pushing it out into the population,” he says.

Users and health workers in three different towns inShan state - Lashio, Kutkai and Muse - told AFP pills gofor just 500 kyat for three, or around 10 cents each. As theprice falls, so does the user age, with reports of children asyoung as nine taking yaba. Many miners, long-distancedrivers and shift workers mix narcotics - smoking meth tokeep them awake, and injecting heroin to bring them down.

Ashamed to go home Arr San, a gaunt 27-year-old with matted hair, rummages

round his roadside shack in Muse and pulls out a bongcrafted from a plastic bottle he uses to smoke yaba. He hasbeen hooked since he was 18 and now consumes aroundfive pills a day. For Arr San, like many others in the region,there are few opportunities to avoid the cycle of povertyand violence - two years ago he fled his home in a nearbytown for fear of being forced into an ethnic armed group.

Narcotics can provide an escape from the often grimreality of life in Shan. “I take drugs because I getdepressed and they help stabilise my mind,” he says. ArrSan is one of 300 heading daily to the local hospital formethadone, a powerful opioid used to wean people offheroin. But the problem is not limited to the poor. AmongMyanmar’s urban elite, addiction to high grade crystalmeth is already taking root. Usually in powder or crystalform, “ice” is commonly snorted or smoked. It can also beinjected, which increases the threat of disease transmissionthrough needle-sharing. A UNODC-backed policylaunched in Feb 2018 champions depenalizing users andtreating drugs as a health issue while tackling the trade’skingpins. But the law has yet to catch up - anyone caughtwith even one yaba pill still faces a minimum of five yearsbehind bars. It is estimated that around half of Myanmar’sprison inmates are jailed for minor drug offences andarrests of drug users are rising. A lack of funding for pre-vention work and treatment means Myanmar’s meth prob-lem may only get worse. Arr says: “I want to go back homeand see my mother’s face, but I just can’t.” He added: “Idon’t want to trouble her as I’m so sick.” — AFP

Ruthless meth networks get Myanmar hooked

This photo taken on Feb 3, 2019 shows an illegal poppy field in Hopong, Shan State. — AFP

Sanders has pulled Dems leftward

Once declared too radical byDemocratic leaders, the policiespushed by Bernie Sanders including

universal health care have tilted towardmainstream party acceptance, themes heand several rival progressives will upholdon the US presidential campaign trail.Sanders on Tuesday became the latest fig-ure to seek the Democratic nomination tochallenge Donald Trump for the WhiteHouse in 2020, squaring off against severalother progressives who have embracedmany of the issues he championed duringhis visionary first presidential bid.

Back in 2016, debate swirled aboutpushing for a substantial expansion ofhealth coverage through “Medicare forAll,” raising the US minimum wage to $15per hour, free tuition at public colleges,and aggressively combatting climatechange. “We were told that all of theseconcepts were ideas that the Americanpeople would never accept,” Sanders saidin a video launching his candidacy. “Well,three years have come and gone, and as aresult of millions of Americans standing upand fighting back, all of these policies andmore are now supported by a majority ofAmericans.”

Of the major Democrats already in therace, several espouse progressive policiespopularized by Sanders. Senators KamalaHarris, Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren andKirsten Gillibrand, all 2020 candidates, co-sponsored his Medicare for All legislationin 2017. Julian Castro, another Democratichopeful, joins Gillibrand in supporting uni-versal early childhood education. AndWarren, Booker and Harris have all pro-claimed support for the Green New Deal,an ultra-progressive platform to combatclimate change that was unveiled thismonth by congresswoman AlexandriaOcasio-Cortez, a rising liberal star. “I gotlaughed at three years ago when I said cli-mate change is one of the great crises fac-ing our planet,” Sanders told VermontPublic Radio on Tuesday. “People are notlaughing now.”

Embracing socialism? Trump’s re-election team seized on

Sanders’ announcement as an opportunityto blast his Democratic rivals for support-ing an extremist agenda. “Every candidateis embracing his brand of socialism,” theTrump 2020 campaign said in a statement.Sanders has nevertheless had tremendousinfluence on the party. “It’s a sign ofSanders’ success that he now has so manyimitators,” Dante Scala, a political scienceprofessor at the University of NewHampshire, told AFP.

Following November’s midterm elec-tions, the Congressional ProgressiveCaucus - co-founded by Sanders in 1991 -wields more power than at any time in itshistory. “We’re seeing 2020 candidatesadopting his ideas,” Scala added. “And Ithink his ideas are becoming a marker, or adividing line, among the primary con-tenders.”

Some candidates have already soughtto distance themselves from the 77-year-old liberal, as Harris did last weekend dur-ing her first-ever visit to New Hampshire,the state which votes second in the nomi-nating process, after Iowa. “The people ofNew Hampshire will tell me what’s requiredto compete in New Hampshire,” she said ata campaign event in Concord. “But I willtell you I am not a democratic socialist.”

Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democratknown for forging consensus across partylines, said this week that the Green NewDeal and positions like Medicare for Allwere currently more aspirational than real-istic. As an example she rejected theprospect of tuition-free college. “If I was amagic genie and could give that to every-one and we could afford it, I would,” shesaid at a town hall. But a leftward shift inDemocratic politics is underway. — AFP

Bernie Sanders

Is Zimbabwe nostalgic for Mugabe?

While it’s unlikely that manyZimbabweans yearn for formerruler Robert Mugabe’s return,

the occasion of his 95th birthday onThursday has led some to see him in asofter light. “Comrade Bob” was toppledfrom 37 years in power in November 2017following a brief military takeover that sawhim replaced by his one-time protege,deputy and latterly, political rival PresidentEmmerson Mnangagwa.

Immediately after Mugabe’s resignation,there was an outpouring of joy and manypeople took to the streets to celebrate. ButMnangagwa’s gloss quickly faded and theeconomic catastrophe facing Zimbabwebegan to crystallize as cash shortagesworsened and fuel prices soared. “We missMugabe. If he didn’t care, at least he pre-tended to,” Harare resident AnitaMugombedzi told AFP. “If what we haveseen so far is anything to judge by,Zimbabwe will be worse than it was underMugabe at his worst.”

In the months after Mnangagwa tookpower, it became clear the security serviceswere prepared to use deadly force to putdown dissent - just as they had doneunder Mugabe. Six people werekilled after soldiers openedfire in downtown Hararefollowing presidential elec-tions in July, whichMnangagwa won despiterigging allegations and anappeal by the opposition.

In January, at least 17civilians were killedaccording to communitygroups after a crackdownsparked by thousands ofZimbabweans takingto the streets toprotest anovernight doublingof fuel prices. Therewere also harrowingaccusations by civilians of

torture and sexual assault by the securityservices. “Mugabe made mistakes but hewas not as ruthless as those who took overfrom him. We thought things would be bet-ter under Mnangagwa but now many peo-ple are saying Mugabe was better,” saidEdmond Jera, an unemployed accountant.

Mugabe’s birthday will not be publiclycelebrated this year, and it will simply be anational holiday like any other. Before hisfall, his birthdays were week-long extrava-ganzas and he would receive cakes thatweighed as many kilograms as his agealong with lavish gifts including cattle andtributes from regime loyalists.

‘Divided’ nation “The day is passing this year without

the usual pomp and ceremony,” saidRashweat Mukundu, a researcher at theZimbabwe Democracy Institute think-tank.“Mugabe failed to leave a lasting legacy.He left a divided Zimbabwe. This should bea lesson to those in power today.” Lastyear, Mugabe’s family and friends markedhis first birthday since his defenestrationwith a low-key private birthday party at hisHarare home attended only by members ofhis inner circle. No senior governmentleaders were thought to have been present.

A pro-Mnangagwa march, originallyplanned for Thursday, will be held at theweekend, according to the ruling party’syouth wing. “We are going to march inHarare to show support for our president,”said ZANU-PF’s youth leader Pupurai

Togarepi. But Togarepi diplomati-cally insisted that “we will

remember the revolutionarywork done by the former

president”, calling him a“giant political icon”.Harare resident WrightChirombe said Mugabe’sallies had treated the ex-

ruler unfairly. “They shouldhave kept on honoring himrather than want him toappear like he did badthings throughout his rule,”he said. “That’s betrayal,

and it’s unfair. He made mis-takes like all humans do, butthere are many things he did

which make him better thanthose who are now inpower.” — AFP

US debt hits record $22tnunder TrumpWASHINGTON, DC: More massive thanthe US economy, the national debt hit a newrecord of $22 trillion under PresidentDonald Trump but Republicans who tradi-tionally rail against debt and deficits haveremained mum.

The sum of borrowing to cover chronicdeficits as well as growing interest pay-ments, this mountain of debt already stoodat $19.95 trillion when Trump entered theWhite House, reaching the equivalent of USGDP for the first time since World War II.By comparison, France’s debt, which also isabout the same as its GDP, amounted to alittle more than 2.3 trillion euros (about $2.6trillion) in late September.

The massive corporate tax cuts thatTrump pushed for at the end of 2017, and

the surge in spending, especially in defense,have increased the fiscal deficit for theworld’s largest economy.

“If we don’t have a strong military, youdon’t have to worry about debt, you havebigger problems,” Trump told reporters lastweek. Administration officials continue toargue that the tax cuts, which are expectedto widen the deficit by $1.5 trillion over 10years, will pay for themselves by boostingeconomic growth and thereby increasingtax revenues.

Republican deficit hawks quiet But despite faster growth, the budget

deficit climbed 17 percent to $779 billionlast year, the worst since 2012. And accord-ing to the non-partisan CongressionalBudget Office (CBO), the deficit is expectedto widen further this year to $900 billion.The United States saw a budget surplus forfour years under Democratic president BillClinton, amid a booming economy, but thewar in Iraq under Republican George W.Bush once again plunged federal financesinto the red.

Democratic president Barack Obamahad to deal with the aftermath of the 2008global financial crisis that required a rampup in government spending, causing thefederal books to deteriorate badly.

That helped fuel the birth of the TeaParty, a populist political movement thatcontributed to Trump’s rise to power. Withthe economic recovery and the standoff inthe Republican-controlled Congress forc-ing cuts in public spending, the last fewyears of the Obama administration saw adecline in the deficit.

But when it started to surge again underTrump, the Republican deficit-hawks werestrangely silent.

‘Unsustainable path’ Beyond the politics, however, the aging

US population with the accompanyingincrease in health and pension expendituresis the structural issue that is the primarycause of chronic US deficit. FederalReserve Chairman Jerome Powell frequentlypoints out that while it is not his role to setfiscal policy, “it’s not a secret, it’s a long-

known fact that the US federal governmentbudget is on an unsustainable path and thatneeds to be addressed.”

Of course the Fed’s interest rate increas-es-nine in the past four years-have causedan increase in the debt service costs, and

Trump has frequently lashed out at the cen-tral bank, calling it “crazy” and a greatereconomic threat than China. Interest on thepublic debt cost the US government $13billion more in December compared to ayear earlier. — AFP

GIG reports KD 11.9m in net profit for 2018 with 18.2 % y-o-y growth

France fines Swiss bank UBS 3.7bn euros in tax fraud case

Gulf Bank participates in Harvard Business School’s program 1412 13

BusinessEstablished 1961

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2019

NEW DELHI: India’s top court told billion-aire tycoon Anil Ambani yesterday he mustpay his debts to Sweden’s Ericsson or go tojail, the latest twist in a saga that hasbrought his telecom company to its knees.Ambani’s Reliance Communications is some$4 billion in debt after a brutal telecomprice war with his brother Mukesh-India’srichest man. Judges found Anil Ambani, 59,had refused to pay telecom giant Ericsson5.5 billion rupees ($77 million) as previouslyordered by the Supreme Court.

They ruled the billionaire will be jailedfor three months if 4.5 billion rupees are notstumped up within four weeks.

Ambani’s firm said it will comply with theruling and pay the debt. Some 1.0 billionrupees have already been deposited withthe court, which said the sum will be handedto Ericsson.

But the ruling dealt a new blow toReliance Communications shares which lost

another 3.65 percent Wednesday on theMumbai stock exchange. The shares havenow fallen 86 percent in the past threeyears-including a drop by more than a thirdafter it filed for insolvency.

That move was started after RelianceCommunications failed to sell assets to payback lenders.

The dispute started when Ericssonsought to recoup 16 billion rupees fromReliance Communications. They reached asettlement last May, but the Indian companyfailed to meet payment deadlines.

Ambani had hoped to avoid insolvencyproceedings by offloading his company’stelecom tower and spectrum business to hisbrother’s Reliance Jio for $2.4 billion. Butthe deal has hit regulatory hurdles andopposition from creditors. RelianceCommunications faces liquidation if it isunable to pay back its debts by November.

The Ambani brothers engaged in a bitter

feud for control of Reliance Industries aftertheir rags-to-riches father DhirubhaiAmbani died in 2002 without a will.

The pair ended up splitting the Reliancegroup, which was India’s most valuable list-ed company. RCom shares plunge in latesttwist between battling tycoon brothers

The Anil Ambani-led mobile carrier isreeling under debts of around $4 billionafter a battle with Reliance Jio-led byAmbani’s older brother and India’s richestman Mukesh Ambani.

The fight for supremacy in India’s hugelycompetitive telecoms market is the latesttwist in a long-running saga between thetycoon brothers which has gripped India’sbusiness community.

Reliance Communications said in a state-ment last week that it had decided to startinsolvency proceedings after failing to sellassets to pay back lenders. The companyhad hoped to offload its telecom tower and

spectrum business to Reliance Jio for $2.4billion but the deal has hit regulatory hur-dles and opposition from creditors. It facesliquidation if it is unable to pay back itsdebts, with the help of the national bank-ruptcy court, in 270 days.

Reliance Communications was onceIndia’s second-biggest wireless carrier, butbegan a downward spiral when its rival

shook up the telecoms market in 2016 byoffering free voice calls and vastly cheaperdata plans.

The new 4G Jio network sent competi-tors scurrying to match the costly invest-ment or deciding to get out of India alto-gether. The Ambani brothers engaged in abitter feud for control of Reliance Industriesafter their rags-to-riches father DhirubhaiAmbani died in 2002 without a will. The pairended up splitting the Reliance group thatwas India’s most valuable listed company.

After a protracted court case that sawtheir mother, Kokilaben, act as peacemaker,the brothers agreed to bury the hatchet andtear up a non-competition agreement thatprevented them from entering the same sec-tors. In 2011, Mukesh and Anil came togeth-er to dedicate a memorial to their father, andtheir mother declared the enmity over,telling reporters: “There is love between thebrothers.” — AFP

Anil Ambani ‘refused to pay telecom giant Ericsson $77 million’

Indian tycoon ordered to pay or go to jail

LE MANS, France: Protesters wear paper-made costumes as they take part in a demonstration in support of maintaining jobs at two Arjowiggins paper factories in receivership in the Sarthe department, yesterday in Le Mans, westernFrance. Nine hundred jobs are threatened at the Besse-sur-Braye and Le Bourray Arjowiggins plants, which are looking for a buyer. — AFP

A pedestrian passes the National Debt Clock on West 43rd Street in New York.

Thursday, February 21, 2019

12B u s i n e s s

Established 1961

EXCHANGE RATES

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co.

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIESUS Dollar Transfer 304.300Euro 346.600Sterling Pound 398.630Canadian dollar 231.320Turkish lira 58.630Swiss Franc 305.220US Dollar Buying 297.000

ASIAN COUNTRIESJapanese Yen 2.744Indian Rupees 4.274Pakistani Rupees 2.221Srilankan Rupees 1.700Nepali Rupees 2.665Singapore Dollar 225.990Hongkong Dollar 38.772Bangladesh Taka 3.556Philippine Peso 5.845Thai Baht 9.811Malaysian ringgit 77.826

GCC COUNTRIESSaudi Riyal 81.201Qatari Riyal 83.633Omani Riyal 790.903Bahraini Dinar 808.560UAE Dirham 82.904

ARAB COUNTRIESEgyptian Pound - Cash 19.600Egyptian Pound - Transfer 17.312

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd

BAHRAIN EXCHANGE COMPANY WLL

Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.222Tunisian Dinar 103.150Jordanian Dinar 429.500Lebanese Lira/for 1000 0.203Syrian Lira 0.000Morocco Dirham 32.407

Rate for Transfer Selling RateUS Dollar 304.140Canadian Dollar 230.090Sterling Pound 394.795Euro 346.100Swiss Frank 308.365Bahrain Dinar 808.820UAE Dirhams 83.210Qatari Riyals 84.445Saudi Riyals 82.000Jordanian Dinar 430.255Egyptian Pound 17.298Sri Lankan Rupees 1.697Indian Rupees 4.265Pakistani Rupees 2.189Bangladesh Taka 3.625Philippines Pesso 5.815Cyprus pound 18.095Japanese Yen 3.750Syrian Pound 1.590Nepalese Rupees 2.675Malaysian Ringgit 75.265Chinese Yuan Renminbi 45.370Thai Bhat 10.720

CURRENCY BUY SELLEurope

British Pound 0.390062 0.403662Czech Korune 0.005415 0.014716Danish Krone 0.042157 0.047157Euro 0. 337434 0.351134Georgian Lari 0.114135 0.114135Hungarian 0.000995 0.001185Norwegian Krone 0.031429 0.036629Romanian Leu 0.055713 0.072563Russian ruble 0.004616 0.004616Slovakia 0.009095 0.019095Swedish Krona 0.028649 0.033649Swiss Franc 0.297146 0.0308145

AustralasiaAustralian Dollar 0.209529 0.221529New Zealand Dollar 0.202604 0.212104

AmericaCanadian Dollar 0.225044 0.234044US Dollars 0.300200 0.305500US Dollars Mint 0.300700 0.305500

AsiaBangladesh Taka 0.003051 0.003852

Chinese Yuan 0.043679 0.047179Hong Kong Dollar 0.036681 0.039431Indian Rupee 0.003704 0.004470Indonesian Rupiah 0.000017 0.000023Japanese Yen 0.002660 0.002840Korean Won 0.000261 0.000276Malaysian Ringgit 0.070778 0.076778Nepalese Rupee 0.002609 0.002949Pakistan Rupee 0.001567 0.002337Philippine Peso 0.005804 0.006104Singapore Dollar 0.219581 0.229581Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001363 0.001943Taiwan 0.009755 0.009935Thai Baht 0.009429 0.009979Vietnamese Dong 0.00013 0.00013

ArabBahraini Dinar 0.792591 0.809091Egyptian Pound 0.017111 0.019711Iranian Riyal 0.000084 0.000086Iraqi Dinar 0.000211 0.000211Jordanian Dinar 0.424898 0.433898Kuwaiti Dinar 1.000000 1.000000Lebanese Pound 0.000151 0.000251Moroccan Dirhams 0.022112 0.046112Omani Riyal 0.784071 0.789751Qatar Riyal 0.079294 0.084234audi Riyal 0.080060 0.081360Syrian Pound 0.001290 0.001510Tunisian Dinar 0.095530 0.103530Turkish Lira 0.050939 0.062439UAE Dirhams 0.081425 0.083125Yemeni Riyal 0.000989 0.001069

Turkish Lira 57.705Singapore dollars 223.338

KUWAIT: Farqad Abdullah Al-Sane, Chairman of GulfInsurance Group (GIG), announced yesterday that theGroup achieved a net profit of KD 11.9 million ($39.2 mil-lion), or 66.49fils per share for the financial year endedDecember 31, 2018. This represents an increase of 18.2per cent over the KD 10.1 million ($33.1 million) made in2017. Net Underwriting Income came to KD 11.98 million($39.4 million), an increase of 45.1 percent or KD 3.7 mil-lion ($12.3 million)compared to the same period last year.This increase is due to the improvement of Group’sunderwriting results and Group’s share of results from itssubsidiaries.

The Board of Directors has recommended the distribu-tion of 36 percent cash dividend (36 fils per share) for thefinancial year ended December 31, 2018, subject to theapproval of GIG’s General Assembly and other concerned

regulatory authorities.GIG’s book value per share reached 498 fils as at

December 31, 2018, compared to 456 fils at the end of2017, with an increase of 9.2 per cent. GIG’s shareholderequity increased in 2018 by KD 7.5 million ($24.8 million)to reach KD 89.1 million ($293.5 million), representing a9.2 per cent increase from the KD 81.6 million ($268.7 mil-lion) at 2017-end.

The Group’s gross written premiums grew 10.2 percent compared to 2017, with an increase of KD 31 million($102 million) to reach KD 335.7 million ($1.1 billion).

Net investment and other income for GIG reached KD13.3 million ($ 43.8 million) at the closing of 2018, with anincrease of KD 2.8 ($9.3 million), or 27.1 per cent, com-pared to 2017.

GIG’s net technical reserves came to KD 131.8 million

($433.83 million) as at December 31, 2018, with anincrease of KD 2.9 million ($9.5 million), or 2.2 per cent,compared to the KD 128.9 million ($424.3 million) regis-tered on December 31, 2017. Total assets increased by KD36.4 million ($120 million) to reach KD 529.3 million ($1.74billion) at year-end, a growth of 7.4 percent compared tothe same period in 2017.

Commenting on the results, Al-Sane said: “Our resultsfor the year 2018 reflect the strength of GIG as a group, itsability to take risks through diversifying revenue sourcesand our ability to preserve stakeholders’ benefits and pro-tect their rights. This is also in line with our constantendeavor to provide the best insurance services to our val-ued customers in all markets we operate in, supported byour proven strategy which aims at expanding our distribu-tion networks, and our regional expansion plan to acquire

greater market share locallyand regionally.”

He added: “We thank ourclients for these achieve-ments, as well as the unlimit-ed support from our share-holders, especially KIPCO -Kuwait Projects Company(Holding) - and FairfaxMiddle East Ltd. I wouldalso like to express my sin-cere appreciation to ourdedicated employees fortheir efforts and all the con-cerned regulatory authori-ties in Kuwait.”

GIG reports KD 11.9m in net profit for 2018 with 18.2% y-o-y growth

EPS at 66.49 fils, BOD recommends 36 percent cash dividend

Farqad Abdullah Al-Sane

UK bank Lloyds says annual profit up by quarterLONDON: Britain’s Lloyds Banking Group announcedyesterday surging 2018 profits on lower product mis-selling costs and the “resilient” UK economy-despitelooming uncertainty over Brexit.

Net profit jumped 27 percent to £3.87 billion ($5.02billion, 4.43 billion euros) last year from 2017, LBGsaid in a results statement. Lloyds, which returned tofull private ownership in 2017 following its rescue bythe UK government almost a decade earlier followingthe global financial crisis, added that pre-tax profitrebounded 13 percent to £5.96 billion.

The banking titan also rolled out a bumper pay-outto shareholders, in the form of a dividend hike andbuybacks, totalling up to £4 billion and sending itsshare price racing higher.

“Given our UK focus, our performance is inextrica-bly linked to the health of the UK economy,” said chiefexecutive Antonio Horta-Osorio. “Over 2018, economicperformance has remained resilient with recordemployment and continued GDP growth.”

In a nod to uncertainty over Britain’s loomingdeparture from the European Union, he noted:

“Whilst the near-term outlook remains unclear, par-ticularly given the ongoing EU withdrawal negotiations,our strategy will continue to deliver for our customers.”

Nevertheless, Lloyds added that it was planningahead “on the basis of an orderly EU withdrawal”.

Britain will leave the European Union on March 29— but businesses are still fretting over the possibilityof a chaotic no-deal departure. Lloyds meanwhile tookanother £750 million in costs during 2018 for paymentprotection insurance (PPI) mis-selling claims.

That was lower than £1.65 billion in 2017, but tookthe bank’s total bill for the saga to a staggering £19.43

billion, far higher than other UK banks. In 2011, Britishbanks lost a high court appeal against tighter regula-tion of PPI, which provides insurance for consumersshould they fail to meet repayments on a credit productsuch as consumer loans, mortgages or payment cards.

PPI became widely known after it was revealed thatmany customers had been sold it without understand-ing that the cost was being added to their loan repay-ments. British authorities have since banned simulta-neous sales of PPI and credit products.

‘More upbeat’ on Brexit Yesterday, Lloyds also hiked its shareholder divi-

dend by five percent to 3.21 pence per share and pro-posed a share buyback of up to £1.75 billion.

In midday deals, Lloyds shares jumped 4.15 percenthigher to stand at 60.79 pence on London’s FTSE 100index, which was 0.3 percent higher overall.

“There’s been a nice move higher in shares ofLloyds... after the bank reported what could bedescribed as pleasing and well-rounded results,” saidXTB analyst David Cheetham.

He added that Lloyds had also struck “a moreupbeat tone” than its British rivals. “RBS and HSBChave both warned in their latest communication of thepotential upset from Brexit on their operations, butLloyds was altogether cheerier, acknowledging anuncertain outlook for the UK economy in the nearterm-but not taking any additional impairments inexpectation of a downturn,” he said. —AFP

LONDON: In this file photo a man passes a Lloyds logo outside the entrance to an office of LloydsBanking Group in the City of London. —AFP

South Africa to bailout Eskom withouttaking on debtsCAPE TOWN: South Africa will give power utility Eskom atotal of 69 billion rand ($4.88 billion) but will not take on 100billion rand of debt as requested by the struggling firm,Finance Minister Tito Mboweni said yesterday.

President Cyril Ramaphosa wants to reform Eskom, whichgenerates 95 percent of South Africa’s electricity but isdrowning in 420 billion rand of debt, to lift the economybefore an election expected in May. The rand extended loss-es in response to a budget statement that also forecast widerdeficits, rising debt and slower economic growth.Government bond yields gained. In an effort to make Eskommore efficient, Ramaphosa said earlier this month the utilitywould be split into three separate entities - generation, trans-mission and distribution. In its 2019 budget, the Treasury saidthe first step in splitting Eskom would be to transfer a portionof the utility’s assets to a new transmission subsidiary that willinvite the participation of strategic equity partners to providecapital and strengthen oversight. Further financial support toEskom would depend on economic growth, electricity tariffsand the implementation of the company’s strategy, theTreasury said in its 2019 budget statement.

Eskom Chairman Jabu Mabuza last year urged the gov-ernment to take on 100 billion rand of the utility’s debt, butMboweni ruled this out. “Pouring money directly into Eskomin its current form is like pouring water into a sieve,”Mboweni said in his budget speech. “I want to make it clear:the national government is not taking on Eskom’s debt.”Eskom subjected South Africa to the worst power cuts inseveral years last week due to plant-related problems, dieselshortages and planned maintenance. The outages exposedthe risks to the South African economy from Eskom’s virtualmonopoly and the failure of successive government to takeon labor unions and leftists in the ruling African NationalCongress (ANC) who oppose job cuts. —Reuters

Amazon’s ‘collaborative’ robots offer peek into the futureNEW YORK: Hundreds of orange robots zoom andwhiz back and forth like miniature bumper cars-butinstead of colliding, they’re following a carefully plottedpath to transport thousands of items ordered fromonline giant Amazon. A young woman fitted out in ared safety vest, with pouches full of sensors and radiotransmitters on her belt and a tablet in hand, movesthrough their complicated choreography.

This robot ballet takes place at the new Amazonorder fulfillment center that opened on Staten Island inNew York in September. In an 80,000 square-meter(855,000 square-foot) space filled with the whirringsounds of machinery, the Seattle-based e-commercetitan has deployed some of the most advanced instru-ments in the rapidly growing field of robots capable ofcollaborating with humans.

The high-tech vest, worn at Amazon warehousessince last year, is key to the whole operation-it allows21-year-old Deasahni Bernard to safely enter the robotarea, to pick up an object that has fallen off its auto-mated host, for example, or check if a battery needsreplacing. Bernard only has to press a button and therobots stop or slow or readjust their dance to accom-modate her.

Human-robot ‘symphony’ Amazon now counts more than 25 robotic centers,

which chief technologist for Amazon Robotics TyeBrady says have changed the way the company oper-ates. “What used to take more than a day now takesless than an hour,” he said, explaining they are able tofit about 40 percent more goods inside the same foot-print. For some, these fulfillment centers, which havehelped cement Amazon’s dominant position in globalonline sales, are a perfect illustration of the looming riskof humans being pushed out of certain business equa-tions in favor of artificial intelligence.

But Brady argues that robot-human collaboration atthe Staten Island facility, which employs more than2,000 people, has given them a “beautiful edge” overthe competition.

Bernard, who was a supermarket cashier beforestarting at Amazon, agrees. “I like this a lot better than

my previous jobs,” she told AFP, as Brady looked onapprovingly. What role do Amazon employees play inwhat Brady calls the human-robot “symphony?” InStaten Island, on top of tech-vest wearers like Bernard,there are “stowers,” “pickers” and “packers” whorespectively load up products, match up productsmeant for the same customers and build shipping box-es-all with the help of screens and scanners.

At every stage, the goal is to “extend people’s capa-bilities” so the humans can focus on problem-solvingand intervene if necessary, according to Brady. At theage of 51, he has worked with robotics for 33 years,previously as a spacecraft engineer for MIT and onlunar landing systems of the Draper Laboratory inMassachusetts. He is convinced the use of “collabora-tive robots” is the key to future human productivity-and job growth. Since Amazon went all-in on roboticswith the 2012 acquisition of logistics robot-maker Kiva,gains have been indisputable, Brady says.

They’ve created 300,000 new jobs, bringing thetotal number of worldwide Amazon employees up to645,000, not counting seasonal jobs. “It’s a myth thatrobotics and automation kills jobs, it’s just a myth,”according to Brady. “The data really can’t be denied onthis: the more robots we add to our fulfillment centers,the more jobs we are creating,” he said, without men-tioning the potential for lost jobs at traditional stores.

The ‘R2D2’ model For Brady, the ideal example of human-robot collab-

oration is the relationship between “R2D2” and LukeSkywalker from “Star Wars.” Their partnership, in which“R2D2” is always ready to use his computing powers topull people out of desperate situations “is a greatexample of how humans and robots can work togeth-er,” he said. —AFP

NEW YORK: A woman uses a computer to control robots at the855,000-square-foot Amazon fulfillment center in Staten Island,one of the five boroughs of New York City. —AFP

PARIS: A Paris court yesterday fined Swiss bankinggiant UBS 3.7 billion euros ($4.2 billion) for tax fraud, arecord for such a case in France. Lawyers for the bank,which was convicted of illegally helping French clients tohide billions of euros from French tax authorities, saidthey would lodge an appeal. UBS had tried to negotiate asettlement to avoid the potentially embarrassing courtshowdown, before failing to agree on a fine with prose-cutors. The trial opened last autumn after seven years ofinvestigations, launched when former employees cameforward with claims of unlawful conduct.

This came as authorities across Europe cracked downon tax evasion and dubious banking practices in the wakeof the 2008 global financial crisis. The pressure eventual-ly forced Switzerland to effectively end its tradition ofironclad bank secrecy, by joining more than 90 countrieswhich agreed to automatically share more client accountinformation with each other. In the UBS case, Frenchauthorities determined that more than 10 billion euroshad been kept from the eyes of their tax officials between2004 and 2012.

The National Financial Prosecutor’s office has said thebank and its directors “were perfectly aware that theywere breaking French law” by unlawfully soliciting clientsand helping them evade French taxes. UBS’s French sub-sidiary was also fined 15 million euros for complicity.

The court also awarded the French state, itself a plain-tiff, 800,000 euros in damages. But this fine was farbelow the 1.6 billion sought by prosecutors.

UBS, which was ordered to post 1.1 billion euros inbail, has denied the charges and said its operations com-plied with Swiss law. It also says it was “unaware” thatsome French clients had failed to declare assets inSwitzerland, and that prosecutors have not produced anyproof, such as client names or account numbers, to backup their fraud claims.

The case was being closely watched by industry exec-utives at a time when Paris and other European capitalsare hoping to lure multinational banks from London asBrexit looms.

‘Milk tickets’ UBS is accused of organizing or inviting prospective

clients to prestigious outings such as the French Open orluxury hunting retreats, where bankers would meet their“prospects”-something they were not allowed to dounder French law. UBS France directors then used notes

called “milk tickets” to keep track of how many “milkcans”-amounts of money-were transferred to Swissaccounts. They say the system was merely a way to bal-ance out bonuses due to French bankers who were effec-tively losing a client to their Swiss peers, and the noteswere later destroyed.

But investigators claim the “milk tickets” wereproof that UBS had a parallel accounting system forkeeping the transfers off its books. Only one “milkticket” was found during the inquiry, promptingdefense lawyers to argue there was no proof to justifyclaims of massive fraud.

Yet prosecutors pointed to the roughly 3,700 FrenchUBS clients who later took advantage of an amnesty offerto regularize their tax declarations with the Frenchauthorities.

UBS has been embroiled in a series of similar cases,most notably in the United States, where authorities said

the bank used Switzerland’s banking secrecy laws to helprich clients avoid taxes.

In 2009 it paid $780 million to settle charges it helpedthousands of American citizens hide money from theInternal Revenue Service, and agreed to turn over infor-mation on hundreds of clients, severely dentingSwitzerland’s long tradition of shielding banking clientsand their operations from prying eyes.

Prosecutors in this case were assisted by a formerAmerican UBS employee turned whistleblower, BradleyBirkenfeld, whose book “Lucifer’s Banker: The UntoldStory of How I Destroyed Swiss Bank Secrecy” waspublished in 2016. In November UBS was again sued byUS authorities, who accuse the bank of misleadinginvestors over the sale of mortgage-backed securities in2006 and 2007, just before the financial crisis struck.UBS has denied the charges and said it will defend itself“vigorously”. — AFP

B u s i n e s s Thursday, February 21, 2019

13Established 1961

France fines Swiss bank UBS 3.7bn euros in tax fraud case

Europe cracks down on tax evasion, dubious banking practices

PARIS: In this file photo, US former UBS Group AG banker Bradley Birkenfeld who as a whistleblower helped USauthorities prosecute the Swiss bank for tax fraud is seen, at Paris’ courthouse, prior to the trial of UBS as partof the French part of this case. — AFP

CBK promotionto celebratenational daysKUWAIT: TheCommercial Bankof Kuwait (CBK)announced thelaunch of a pro-motional cam-paign to rewardclients holdingthe bank’s creditand prepaid cardson the occasionof the nationalday celebarions.

In this regard,CBK’s individualbanking servic-es manager, Hameed Ibrahim Salmanexplained that the campaign would goon from February 20 till March 2, 2019and that a raffle would be held to choose28 winners to get valuable rewards andcash prizes.

Salman explained that each KD 10spent locally using CBK credit or prepaidcards would give holders one entry in theraffle while each KD 10 spent abroadusing these cards would give holders threeentries in the raffle. He also noted that theresult would be announced on March 10and that the first winner would get KD1000, the second KD 500, the third KD250 and the remaining 25 winners wouldget KD 100 each.

China will not change prudent monetary policy: LiBEIJING: China has not and will not change its pru-dent monetary policy and will not resort to “flood-like” stimulus, Premier Li Keqiang said yesterday.Market speculation is growing over whether authori-ties will take more aggressive policy steps after recentweak data. “I reiterate that the prudent monetary pol-icy has not changed and will not change. We aredetermined not to engage in ‘flood-like’ stimulus,” Lisaid at a cabinet meeting, according to a statement onthe government’s website.

Later yesterday, a central bank official reiteratedLi’s comments on prudent monetary policy wheninterviewed by the Financial News, which is run by

the central bank. The official added that the centralbank will prevent risks from overly tight monetaryconditions, as well as to promote reasonable growthin credit and social financing.

China, the world’s second largest economy, hasbeen trying to reduce risks of a slowdown, especiallywith its trade dispute with the United States. The gov-ernment has been rolling out measures, such as cut-ting banks’ reserve requirement ratio (RRR) to ensurethat there is ample liquidity in the financial system.

China slashed RRR by 100 basis points in January -its fifth cut in the past year, with further reductionswidely expected by the market. China’s banks doledout a record 3.23 trillion yuan ($480.43 billion) in newloans in January while several other key credit gaugesalso picked up modestly that month in response torecent policy easing steps.

Rising bill financing and short-term loans couldlead to “arbitrage” activities and create potentialrisks, he added. Financial institutions should offermore credit, especially medium- and long-term loansto small firms, he said. Li also said the governmentneeded to deepen reform to resolve long-term prob-lems in the economy. — Reuters

Hameed IbrahimSalman

Carlos Ghosn case a chance to ‘mend’ Japan’s system: LawyerTOKYO: Carlos Ghosn’s lawyer said yesterday hisclient’s high-profile and controversial detention was achance to “mend” Japan’s justice system, as he insist-ed the former Nissan boss was innocent of al lcharges. In his first media appearance since his sur-prise appointment earlier this month, JunichiroHironaka estimated that a trial would likely come“after the summer” but declined to say whetherGhosn would again attempt to win bail.

“Prosecutors have detained him because he didnot confess. I would like people to consider whetherthis is appropriate from the viewpoint of internationalstandards,” Hironaka told reporters.

“Since it’s turning out to be an international issue, Ithink it’s an opportunity to mend the system to globalstandards,” added the lawyer.

Hironaka’s comments chimed with an earlier state-ment by the International Federation for HumanRights and Japan’s Center for Prisoners’ Rights (CPR)which claimed Ghosn’s case highlighted “serious fail-ings” of Japan’s legal system.

Ghosn, a 64-year-old Franco-Lebanese-Brazilianbusinessman and one of the world’s best-knowntycoons, saw his life turned upside down when pros-ecutors stormed his private jet on November 19after it landed at a Tokyo airport. He faces threecharges. Prosecutors believe he under-reported hissalary to the tune of more than $80 million over twoperiods of time.

They also accuse him of a complex scheme todefer personal investment losses to Nissan and of

paying off an associate in Saudi Arabia who helpedhim with collateral.

He has languished ever since in a detention centerin northern Tokyo and has twice seen bail requestsrefused and multiple other attempts to contest hisdetention which has been extended several times.

Apparently frustrated by a lack of progress in hiscase, Ghosn shook up his legal team earlier thismonth, replacing a former top prosecutor withHironaka, a hot-shot defense lawyer known for secur-ing acquittals. This is no mean feat in a country where99 percent of cases that go to trial end in conviction.

‘Story of betrayal’ Ghosn’s previous lawyer, Motonari Otsuru, sur-

prised many during his one and only public appear-ance by seeming to side with his former colleagues inthe prosecution over his client.

Otsuru declined to criticize Ghosn’s detention con-ditions and suggested there was little chance in win-ning bail before a trial, which he said could take asmuch as six months to organize.

Ghosn previously led the three-way alliance ofRenault, Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors that was theworld’s biggest selling car group. He has since beenstripped of the leadership of the two Japanese firmsand resigned from the chairmanship of Renault.

His downfall has exposed rifts in the awkward tie-up between Nissan and Renault, two firms with dif-ferent corporate cultures and headquarters 10,000kilometers (6,000 miles) apart.

Renault has a controlling 43 percent stake inNissan, a fact that rankles with Nissan which nowoutsells its “senior” partner. In an interview with AFPlast month, Ghosn said his arrest was a “story ofbetrayal” sparked by “opposition and anxiety” aboutbringing the companies closer together.

Speaking to reporters, Hironaka said: “I have theimpression that it’s an internal problem at Nissan.”

“People at Nissan brought the case to prosecutorsand they took up the case although they are sup-posed not to intervene in civil cases.” —AFP

Thursday, February 21, 2019

14B u s i n e s s

Established 1961

Blow to US efforts to ban Chinese company from allies’ telecoms networksKUWAIT: The British government has concludedyesterday that it can mitigate the risk from usingHuawei equipment in 5G networks, in a seriousblow to US efforts to persuade allies to ban theChinese supplier from high-speed telecommunica-tions systems.

The UK National Cyber Security Centre hasdetermined that there are ways to limit the risksfrom using Huawei in future 5G ultra-fast net-works, two people familiar with the conclusion,which has not been made public, told theFinancial Times.

The finding comes despite stepped-up USefforts to persuade countries to bar Huaweifrom their networks on the basis that it couldhelp China conduct espionage or cyber sabo-tage. The US National Security Agency hasbeen sharing more information with allies andpartners to underscore the risks, but severalEuropean countries, including the UK andGermany, have not been convinced that a ban iswarranted. One person familiar with the debatesaid the British conclusion would “carry greatweight” with European leaders, since the UKhas access to sensitive US intelligence via itsmembership of the Five Eyes intelligence shar-ing network.

“Other nations can make the argument that ifthe British are confident of mitigation againstnational security threats then they can also reas-sure their publics and the US administration thatthey are acting in a prudent manner in continuingto allow their telecommunications.

Robert Hannigan, former head of GCHQ, theUK signals intelligence agency, recently wrote inthe FT that NCSC had “never found evidence ofmalicious Chinese state cyber activity throughHuawei” and that any “assertions that anyChinese technology in any part of a 5G networkrepresents an unacceptable risk are nonsense”.

KUWAIT: Gulf Bank is proud to announce its participa-tion in Harvard Business School’s ‘Leading StrategyExecution in Financial Services’ program. Held atJumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel, from 26th to 31st January2019, the residential program was attended by Gulf Bankmanagers, Tamer Al-Shawa and Mohammad Al-Beloushi.

The program falls under the partnership betweenHarvard Business School and Kuwait Institute ofBanking Studies. Now in its tenth year, the partnershipinvolves the presentation of an executive education pro-gram, designed to support the development of seniorleaders in the GCC’s banking and finance sector.

Leading Strategy Execution in Financial Services’introduced participants to the latest trends in the digitalarena, senior leadership development, and progressivestrategies including impactful business planning.

Commenting on Gulf Bank’s participation, Salma Al-Hajjaj, General Manager of Human Resources, Gulf Banksaid: “Enrolment into the program comes as part of the

bank’s efforts in developingour executive leadershipwith the skills to makestrategic decisions as partof our continued drive tobuild a high-performinginnovative culture.Congratulations to TamerAl-Shawa and MohammadAl-Beloushi for the success-ful completion of the‘Leading StrategyExecution in FinancialServices’ Program.”

In addition to participa-tion in ExecutiveLeadership Programs, Gulf Bank offers a wide array oflearning and development programs across all levels ofthe organization.

Program held jointly by Kuwait IBS and Harvard Business School

Gulf Bank attends Harvard School’s program on strategic execution in financial services

flydubai to increase flights to Saudi Arabia KUWAIT: Dubai-based airline flydubai hasannounced yesterday that it will boost itsservices to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabiawith 12 new flights per week. An additionaldaily flight to Riyadh Airport (RUH) andfive flights a week to Hofuf Airport (HOF)will start from 16 March 2019.

Commenting on the increase offlights to Saudi Arabia Hamad Obaidalla,Chief Commercial Officer at flydubai,said: “Saudi Arabia remains an impor-tant market for flydubai and we aredelighted to be able to increase ourservices to the Kingdom as trade andtourism between the UAE and SaudiArabia continues to grow.”

Flydubai will now operate to 11 points

in Saudi Arabia from its hub in Dubai. Inaddition, flydubai operates to Abha,Dammam, Hail, Jeddah, Jizan, Medina,Qassim, Riyadh, Tabuk and Taif provid-ing passengers with the opportunity toconnect onwards to Asia, Europe, Indiaand Russia. “We would like to thank theauthorities in Saudi Arabia for theircooperation in supporting flydubai andproviding the necessary facilities andservices needed for the success of ourflights. With these additional flights ourcommitment to serve our passengers inthe Kingdom will enable passengers totravel to numerous destinations,” addedHamad Obaidalla.

Flydubai has recently announced thelaunch of flights to Tashkent inUzbekistan from March 2019 along withflights to Naples in Italy and Budapest,the Hungarian capital, from June 2019. Italso recently launched flights toKozhikode, India. The airline’s networkof destinations has now grown to morethan 90 destinations in 47 countriesaround the world served by a fleet ofmodern Boeing 737 aircraft. As part ofthe partnership announced in 2017,

Emirates will codeshare on this route.For bookings under the codeshare,Emirates passengers will receive compli-mentary meals and the Emirates checkbaggage allowance on flights operatedby flydubai in Economy Class.Benefitting from this codeshare partner-ship, travellers from Saudia Arabia willhave access to travel to hundreds of des-

tinations all over the world via Dubai.Emirates Skywards members can earn

Skywards miles and Skywards Tier Mileson codeshare flights as per the existingSkywards mileage programme.Skywards Silver, Gold and Platinummembers travelling on codeshare flightscan access flydubai’s Business Check-incounters and receive priority tags.

Unlimited roaming Internet with Ooredoo passport during National Day holidaysKUWAIT: Ooredoo Kuwait announced the continua-tion of its latest promotional campaign on the occa-sion of Kuwait’s national celebrations during theNational Day holidays. Customers will be able toenjoy the Ooredoo Passport Unlimited Monthly Packfor KD 20 over a 30-day period when they subscribeduring the month of February that can be used in over

60 countries. It is worth mentioning that the price ofthe Ooredoo Passport Unlimited Monthly Pack will goback to its original price of KD 39 per month after theoffer ends at the end of the month.

The Ooredoo Passport Unlimited package givescustomers exclusive unlimited roaming internet tokeep up with the customers’ mode of usage for mobileinternet, as it is the main tool for sharing videos, pic-tures and audio clips with loved ones on varioussocial media channels such as Instagram andSnapchat.

Commenting on this offer, Ooredoo Kuwait issueda statement saying that the service is aimed to enrichthe experience of the telecom service provider’s cus-tomers and meet their expectations, taking in mind thelifestyle of the company’s global-oriented customerbase. The offer also reiterates Ooredoo’s commitmentto helping customers enjoy the internet, especiallysince mobile internet is an essential part of everydayuse to many customers.

Salma Hajjaj

Burgan Bank announces Airport branch working hours

KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced that its airportbranch will resume normal working hours duringKuwait’s upcoming National and Liberation holidays,starting from Sunday 24th February till Tuesday 26thFebruary 2019, in order to accommodate bankingrequirements for all the customers during the publicholidays. The bank’s branch will operate from 8:00am to 10:30 pm.

For more information on any products or servic-es, customers are required to contact BurganBank’s call center 1804080 during the holiday. Onthis occasion, Burgan Bank extends its best wishesand greetings to the public on Kuwait’s nationwidecelebrations of both the 58th Independence Dayand the 28th Liberation day.

Warba Bank announces Al-Sunbulaweekly drawKUWAIT: Warba Bank, “the Best investment Bank” and“Best Corporate Bank” in Kuwait, will be organizing itsweekly Sunbula draw number 8 on Thursday at 11 am inpresence of a representative from the Ministry of Commerceand Industry and the bank officials.

Al-Sunbula both account and fixed deposits are the per-fect choices for customers who wish to save money andachieve steady returns while at the same time have theopportunity to win cash prizes throughout the year. In linewith the bank’s mission to develop and differentiate itsofferings, Warba Bank has enhanced its Sunbula campaignfor 2019 with more cash and prizes reaching more than KD1 million.

Warba Bank will continue its weekly draws for 5 winnersof KD 1,000 each. What’s new in 2019 are the “Mega Draws”which will be held every quarter to reveal five winners, the 1stwinner will get KD 100,000! The four winners thereafterwill each get the latest Land Cruiser VXR. Furthermore, thefinal Mega draw held in January 2020 will feature 2 moreLand Cruiser VXRs!

As for the chances for winning, each customer is eligibleto enter the draw against each KD 10 in the SunbulaAccount. Nevertheless, Sunbula Fixed Deposit investors alsoget chances in the Sunbula draws along with high expectedreturns that reach up to 3.5% distributed either monthly or atmaturity upon the customer’s preference.

Furthermore, Warba Bank is leveraging on its CustomerOnboarding solution, in line with its ambitious five-yearstrategy that enables non-Warba Bank customers to requestthe opening of Al-Sunbula account in a simple electronicmanner without having to visit the branch, through 5 simplesteps in 5 minutes. New customers will be able to requestopening the account at anytime, anywhere, through the newand unique electronic system used to implement this service.Representatives will then contact the customer to determinethe appropriate time to visit the branch to get required sig-natures, verify the customer’s identity, deliver his/her debitcard, and activate the account.

Glencore vows to cap coal output as profits tumbleZURICH: Mining giant Glencore pledged yesterdayto limit its coal production and instead prioritiseinvestment in other commodities needed as part of atransition towards cleaner energy and transporta-tion. “To meet the growing needs of a lower carboneconomy, Glencore aims to prioritize its capitalinvestment to grow production of commoditiesessential to the energy and mobility transition andto limit its coal production capacity broadly to cur-rent levels,” the firm said in a statement.

Switzerland-based Glencore, which also tradescommodities, noted that it was well-positioned tosupport the transition to a lower-carbon economywith a portfolio that includes copper, cobalt, nickel,vanadium and zinc. The metals are important in theproduction of batteries, the cost and performanceof which will likely be key in determining whetherelectric vehicles displace petrol- and diesel-fuelledvehicles.

Glencore said it believes that energy and mobilitytransformation “is a key part of the global responseto the increasing risks posed by climate change”.Coal, a key fuel for electricity production, is a majorproducer of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, amajor driver of global warming. Globally, coal useaccounts for 40 percent of CO2 emissions and is onthe rise after declining slightly from 2014 to 2016.

Glencore said it agreed with international effortsto limit the rise in global temperatures while alsoensuring universal access to affordable energy.

The firm also said it “must invest in assets thatwill be resilient to regulatory, physical and opera-tional risks related to climate change ... to deliver astrong investment case to our shareholders.”

Trade ties review The pledge to limit its coal output to current lev-

els comes after Glencore recently increased itsfootprint in the sector, buying stakes in a couple of

coal mines sold by Rio Tinto in Australia. The inte-gration of the Hail Creek and Hunter Valley shouldtake Glencore’s coal production to 145 million tonsin 2019 from 129.4 million last year.

Glencore said it would begin in 2020 to publishlong-term projections about reducing the intensityof emissions and mitigation efforts. It added it wason track with its pledge to reduce greenhouse gasemissions intensity by 5 percent by 2020 comparedto 2016 levels.

Glencore also said it would review its member-ship in trade associations in line with its climatechange positions. The coal announcement came asGlencore announced its 2018 net profits tumbled 41percent to $3.4 billion (3 billion euros).

However, the firm said its measure of operatingprofit-adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depre-ciation and amortisation costs-rose by 8 percent toa record $15.8 billion.

The firm’s commodity trading business saw itsoperating earnings fall by 17 percent to $2.4 billion,but mining rose 15 percent to $13.3 billion. Glencoreannounced it would pay a dividend of 20 cents pershare, the same as last year. In addition to the $2.8billion, it will return to shareholders through thedividend, Glencore also announced a new programto buy back at least $2 billion in shares this year.

Shares in Glencore rose by 0.6 percent in morn-ing trading in London, while the blue-chip FTSE100 index was flat overall. —AFP

The logo of mining giant Glencore at the Swiss commodity trad-ing’s headquarters in Baar, central Switzerland. —AFP

W h a t ’ s O n Thursday, February 21, 2019

15Established 1961

Ensuring its valued customersreceive the best deals on popularchoices and trends, Burgan Bank

announced its latest partnership withleading Perfumer and Fragrance House,Atyab Al Marshoud. The latest offerpresents premium quality oil incensesand oudh carefully selected from thefinest areas in Asia. Founded in 1925,the company was recently revolution-ized with a dream of combining atouch of modernity to its authentic and

oriental fragrances, while maintainingits luxuriance of tradition. Burgan Bankcustomers can avail the 10% discount-ed offer by using any of Burgan Bankcards. To find out more about BurganBank’s latest promotions or any of itsproducts and services, customers areurged to vis i t any of the bank’sbranches, or contact the call center.For more information, customers canalso log onto the bank’s website onwww.burgan.com

Burgan Bank customers can enjoy discounts from Atyab Al Marshoud

Indonesianorphans visitWhite Palace

Adelegation from Sheikh SabahAl-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabahvil lage orphans in Indonesia

recent ly paid a vis i t to SheikhAbdullah Mubarak Al-Sabah’s familyat the White Palace where they werereceived by Sheikh Mohammed Al-

Abdul lah, Sheikh Mubarak Al-Abdullah and Sheikhah Shyma’ Al-Abdul lah. The orphans were a lsoescorted by the village supervisor,Ahmed Mohammed Al-Houl i anddeputy chairman of the Kuwait i-Indonesian Charitable Society, KhaledAl-Kandary. The delegation thankedSheikh Abdullah Al-Mubarak charityfor its support to various charitableactivities at the village that houses over450 students. Speaking on the occa-sion, Sheikh Mohammed Al-Abdullahthanked Al-Houli and Al-Kandary fortheir efforts and promised to providefor the village’s various needs.

JumeirahAl Naseem’s Rockfish brandnew menu

Rockfish, the Mediterranean seafoodrestaurant in Jumeirah Al Naseem hasrevealed an entire new menu created by

the hotel’s new Executive chef, Chef MarcoGarfagnini. Born in Carrara, on the foothills ofthe Apuan Alps in Tuscany, Chef Marco is anItalian who was destined to cook. With a pas-sion for ‘cooking from his heart’ these newdishes at Rockfish have been artfully craftedto bring the comfort of traditional Italian cui-sine to life through Crudo, Seafood andGrilled mains, to keep the most discerningdiner satisfied.

Diners can now enjoy Roasted Langoustinewith a lentil puree to start or Tuna Tartarewith Crispy Saffron rice as part of the Crudomenu. For mains, there is a 36 hour SlowCooked baby goat, served with fresh tomatoConcasse and Pomme puree, or a deliciousLobster Risotto or a Line-caught Seabasswith artichoke and lemon emulsion. As well asthese new signature dishes, there is the ever-

classic but wellloved Veal Milanese servedwith Rocket, tomatoes and parmesan.

For dessert, Chef Marco has created a newclassic: Fusing Burrata cheese into ice creamwith citrus couli and candied orange, ahazlenut parfait served with caramelizedhazelnut and gianduja ganache, and a classicmeringue served with mixed berries, key limeand strawberry cream - all finished off withhazelnut crumble.

For those diners who want a classic Italiandish cooked well, Chef Marco’s team are alsoable to create pastas and risottos inspired byMediterranean flavors a la minute, showcasingtheir skill and passion for good food servedsimply and yet perfectly, very well. Not onlyknown for its diverse menu, Rockfish is well

known for its eclectic interior design master-minded by famed designer Bill Bensely, itsamazing beachfront location with balancedviews of the lapping waves of the ArabianGulf and Burj Al Arab and of course its spe-cialty gin trolley that serves 15+ varieties ofsignature and newly discovered gins fromaround the world. The new enhancementscome as part of Chef Marco’s role to enhancethe F&B offering of hotels within JumeirahGroup hotels. In his current role at JumeirahAl Naseem, he leads a team of 150+ chefs andstewards and oversees the hotel’s sevenowned restaurants. Chef Marco also plays akey role in executing the vision of CEO JoseSilva and Chief Culinary Officer Michael Ellisin growing the hotel group’s F&B excellence.

Al-Fahad Exhibition highlights historyof Kuwaiti-Saudirelations

The ‘Al-Fahad ... Spirit of LeadershipExhibition’ held a symposium on histo-ry of Kuwaiti-Saudi relations at Sheikh

Jaber Al-Ahmad Culture Center on Sunday inKuwait city. During the event, SecretaryGeneral of the King Abdulaziz Foundation forResearch and Archives Dr Fahad Al-Samarispoke to the audience about the main aspectsof the relations between the two Arabian Gulfcountries as well as their shared geographiclocation, traditions and destiny.

He also shed light on the life of late KingFahad bin Abdulaziz and his role in strength-ening the Kingdom’s relations with Kuwait.For his part, Professor of History at theKuwait University Dr Saud Al-Asfor reviewed

a number of the important historical manu-scripts and leaders’ statements which showthe strong bonds between Kuwait and theKingdom of Saudi Arabia. The exhibition,patronized by His Highness the Amir ofKuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-

Sabah, commenced February 11 and wouldlast until February 23. It consists of 14 pavil-ions dedicated to the memory, life, andachievements of the late King of Saudi ArabiaFahad bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud as well as theKuwaiti-Saudi relations. — KUNA

The Commercial Bank of Kuwait (CBK) recently received students from Bayan Bilingual School, where the students were escorted by CBK’scorporal communications staff members and employees to a tour through the marketing and the corporal communication sections. Theywere given information about the nature of work in the banking sector in general and in those two sections in particular.

The Japanese Embassy in Kuwait organized an orgami workshop for adults at Yarmouk Cultural Center as a part of the Japanese cultural week. — Photos by Joseph Shagra

H e a l t h & S c i e n c e Thursday, February 21, 2019

16

Fountain of youth? Study finds anti-ageing compound in plant

TOKYO: In Japan, the slightly bitter leaves of the Ashitabaplant have long been considered healthy, and a new studyhas found the traditional belief may have good scientificgrounds. A natural substance in the plant appears toinduce a key process that helps remove the “cellulargarbage” that can build up as cells age and cause a rangeof diseases and disorders. “It is always nice to find a scien-tific rationale for traditional medical folk tales,” said FrankMadeo, a professor at the University of Graz’s Institute ofMolecular Biosciences, in Austria.

Madeo, who helped lead the research, said the sub-stance known as 4,4’-dimethoxychalcone or DMC, whichoccurs naturally in Ashitaba plants, induces a processcalled autophagy. “This is a cleansing and recyclingprocess,” he said. It removes “superfluous material, espe-cially cellular garbage like aggregated proteins.” That

“cleaning” process is key to sustained good health as thebody ages. When cells fail to promptly and efficientlyremove damaged parts, they can build up and that canlead to diseases including cancer.

There are already a handful of compounds known toscientists that work to stimulate the cleaning process.Fasting also appears to naturally encourage cells to under-take spring cleaning. But in a bid to expand the field ofcompounds able to protect cells and turn back the handsof time, the team of researchers turned to a class of sub-stances called flavonoids. Many flavonoids have alreadybeen shown to have a range of beneficial effects, rangingfrom anti-inflammatory properties to protecting againstbrain degeneration and cancer. The team reasoned thatthey might find flavonoids that could also help preventdestructive ageing in cells. They screened 180 compounds

representing various subcategories of flavonoids, lookingfor candidates that might have the natural ability to “coun-teract age-related cell demise.”

Cell-protective capacity After initial screening, they settled on DMC and started

by testing how the substance affected yeast cells. They dis-covered it was indeed helping to protect the yeast cellsfrom the effects of ageing, and that the substance per-formed as well or even better than some existing com-pounds prized for their cell-protective capacity like resver-atrol, which occurs in grape skin, among other places. Theteam then tested DMC’s effect on cells in both worms andfruit flies — common test subjects in medical research.

“Remarkably, chronic DMC treatment... prolongedthe median l i fespan of both model organisms by

approximately 20 percent ,” the study publ ishedWednesday in the Nature Communications journal says.Additional tests showed the compound helped protectcells in mice hearts through the autophagy process, andeven protected against a kind of liver damage caused byethanol intoxication.

The team also tested DMC’s effect on several types ofhuman cells and found that there too the substance workedto slow ageing. “The experiments indicate that the effectsof DMC might be transferable to humans, although we haveto be cautious and wait for real clinical trials,” said Madeo.The research is still in the early stages and Madeo said nextsteps will include testing whether the positive effects ofDMC in mice hearts extend more broadly to protect miceagainst ageing and age-related diseases. “Eventually, clini-cal trials on humans are needed,” he added. — AFP

Climate change an ‘imminent’ securitythreat: Risk expertsTHE HAGUE: Climate change threats - from worseningwater shortages in Iraq and Pakistan to harsher hurricanesin the Caribbean - are a growing security risk and requireconcerted action to ensure they don’t spark new violence,security experts warned Tuesday. “Climate change is notabout something in the far and distant future. We are dis-cussing imminent threats to national security,” said Monika

Sie Dhian Ho, general director of the Clingendael Institute,a Dutch think tank.

The drying of Africa’s Lake Chad basin, for instance, hashelped drive recruitment for Islamist militant group BokoHaram among young people unable to farm or find otherwork, said Haruna Kuje Ayuba of Nigeria’s Nasarawa StateUniversity. “People are already deprived of a basic livelihood,”the geography professor said at a conference on climate andsecurity at The Hague. “If you give them a little money and tellthem to destroy this or kill that, they are ready to do it.”

Iraq, meanwhile, has seen its water supplies plunge asits upstream neighbors build dams and climate changebrings hotter and dryer conditions to Baghdad, saidHisham Al-Alawi, Iraq’s ambassador to the Netherlands.“Overall we are getting less by nearly 40 percent of thewaters we used to get,” he told the conference. Shoring up

the country’s water security, largely by building more stor-age and cutting water losses, will take nearly $80 billionthrough 2035, he said. Faced with more heat and less rain,“we need to be wise and start planning for the future, asthis trend is likely to continue,” he said.

‘Existential crisis’The threat of worsening violence related to climate

change also extends to countries and regions not currentlythought of as insecurity hot spots, climate and securityanalysts at the conference warned. The Caribbean, forinstance, faces more destructive hurricanes, coral bleach-ing, sea-level rise and looming water shortages thatthreaten its main economic pillars, particularly tourism.“We’re facing an existential crisis in the Caribbean,” saidSelwin Hart, the Barbados-born executive director of the

Inter-American Development Bank. Ninety percent of theregion’s economic activity - particularly tourism, fishing andport operations - takes place on the threatened coastline, hesaid. Hurricanes, in recent years, have flattened theeconomies of some Caribbean nations, with HurricaneMaria in 2017 costing Dominica about 225 percent of itsGDP, according to World Bank estimates. But as the globalemissions that drive climate change continue to rise, “there’snot a realistic chance of achieving the goals of the ParisAgreement”, Hart suggested.

The agreement calls for a rapid shift away from fossilfuels to hold the global average temperature rise to wellbelow 2 degrees Celsius. The failure to cut emissionsmeans the Caribbean, while doing what it can to becomemore resilient to the growing risks, also needs “to plan forthe worst-case scenario”, Hart said. — Reuters

Thursday, February 21 , 2019

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CROSSWORD 2142

ACROSS1. An argument opposed to a proposal.4. Elder brother of Krishna.12. A member of the Siouan people living

in the Yazoo river valley in Mississippi.15. A religious belief of African origin

involving witchcraft and sorcery.16. Narrow and long and pointed.17. (British) A waterproof raincoat made of

rubberized fabric.18. A fractional monetary unit of Japan and

Indonesia and Cambodia.19. Turning about an axis.20. Hormone secreted by the posterior

pituitary gland (trade name Pitressin)and also by nerve endings in thehypothalamus.

21. A member of a people native to thePhilippines chiefly inhabiting centralLuzon around and including Manila.

23. (Judaism) Conforming to dietary laws.25. According to the Old Testament he was

a pagan king of Israel and husband ofJezebel (9th century BC).

26. A master's degree in education.28. (of a young animal) Abandoned by its

mother and raised by hand.29. Capital and largest city and economic

center of Peru.33. A state in the Rocky Mountains.35. A person who is deemed to be despi-

cable or contemptible.37. (prefix) Within.41. A family of languages of the Fula peo-

ple of west Africa in the sub-Sahararegions from Senegal to Chad.

43. Growing old.44. A former agency (from 1946 to 1974)

that was responsible for research intoatomic energy and its peacetime usesin the United States.

45. A fixed charge for a privilege or forprofessional services.

46. King of Saudi Arabia since 1982 (bornin 1922).

47. Essential oil or perfume obtained fromflowers.

49. (cosmology) The original matter that(according to the big bang theory)existed before the formation of thechemical elements.

52. One who professes great sensitivity tothe beauty of art and nature.

54. A resident of Utah.57. A river that rises in northeastern

Turkey (near the source of theEuphrates) and flows generally east-ward through Armenia to the CaspianSea.

58. Of or relating to abasia (inability towalk).

61. United States feminist (1860-1935).64. A tricycle (usually propelled by ped-

alling).65. One who attacks the reputation of

another by slander or libel.69. Free from disturbance.72. A loose sleeveless outer garment made

from aba cloth.73. Belonging to or on behalf of a specified

person (especially yourself).74. Of or relating to or belonging to a

nation or country.76. Informal terms for a mother.77. A unit of length of thread or yarn.78. A person who eats all kinds of foods.79. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods.

DOWN1. A riblike part of a plant or animal (such

as a middle rib of a leaf or a thickenedvein of an insect wing).

2. A religious belief of African origininvolving witchcraft and sorcery.

3. (Akkadian) A goddess.4. Shout loudly and without restraint.5. A member of the North American Indian

people of the Pit river valley in north-ern California.

6. Owing or owed feudal allegiance andservice.

7. (informal) Of the highest quality.8. Neat and tidy.9. American prizefighter who won the

world heavyweight championshipthree times (born in 1942).

10. A member of the Manchu speakingpeople of Mongolian race ofManchuria.

11. Formerly a large constellation in thesouthern hemisphere between CanisMajor and the Southern Cross.

12. A member of the Siouan people for-merly living in the Missouri river valleyin NE Nebraska.

13. Having lost freshness or brilliance ofcolor.

14. Of a moderate orange-yellow color.22. A promontory in northern Morocco

opposite the Rock of Gibraltar.24. The act of scanning.27. Alloy of copper and tin and zinc.30. A male religious living in a cloister and

devoting himself to contemplation andprayer and work.

31. Of or relating to or characteristic ofAfghanistan or its people.

32. A prejudiced person who is intolerantof any opinions differing from his own.

34. A prearranged fight with deadlyweapons by two people (accompa-nied by seconds) in order to settle aquarrel over a point of honor.

36. A plant hormone promoting elongationof stems and roots.

38. An edible tuber native to SouthAmerica.

39. A long noosed rope used to catch ani-mals.

40. Extensive landed property (especiallyin the country) retained by the ownerfor his own use.

42. Towards the side away from the wind.48. A feudal lord or baron in Scotland.50. An artistic form of auditory communi-

cation incorporating instrumental orvocal tones in a structured and contin-uous manner.

51. Covered with paving material.53. Any meeting for an exchange of ideas.55. An Italian-speaking region of southern

Switzerland.56. A soft white precious univalent metallic

element having the highest electricaland thermal conductivity of any metal.

59. Be in contradiction with.60. A city in southern Turkey on the

Seyhan River.62. An extensive grassy and nearly treeless

plain (especially in Latin America).63. A poplar that is widely cultivated in the

United States.66. A Tibetan or Mongolian priest of

Lamaism.67. Very dark black.68. Avatar of Vishnu.70. Being one more than two.71. The month following October and pre-

ceding December.75. A state in east central United States.

Yesterday’s SolutionDaily SuDoku

Wordsearch Puzzle Yesterday’s Solution

Thursday, February 21, 2019

18S t a r s

Established 1961

Yesterday’s Solution

You may find yourself with an ear to a co-worker or family member’smouth for the best of gossip right now. Most often you don’t have time for suchthings but this is too good to pass up. Your spouse or significant other is upper-most in your thoughts along with any children you may have. Family means moreto you now than you usually take the time to acknowledge. Anything aroundhouse and home is your agenda for this very important day. Enjoy.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

STAR TRACK

Talking with close friends, neighbors, work mates and family makesyou feel all warm and cozy when you speak about your innermost feelings.Furthermore, there is no anxiety exposed while showing emotion today unless it’ssomeone you really don’t know or for which you don’t care. Then the proverbialpoo can hit the fan and cause a massive irritation. Try to stay closer to family andthose you care for at work. Harmony is your word of the day even if you’re notpracticing it at the time. Stay cool.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Your love and family take on more importance. It’s imperative that youfeel secure and needed. Thankfully, you get that now because you are needed andloved too by many. Work is a place that you need to just keep on keeping on. Perhapswork you’ve done in the past is all that’s needed to allow you to skate today. Otherwisedo the bare minimum to keep your job. It’s because your mind isn’t on work, Cancer.It’s on those you love and you’re needs. Do what you can to make it through your workday and get home quickly to those who make you feel wanted. Enjoy.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Leo (July 23-August 22)

Since you’ve been a little unsettled at work lately, today might be thevery day to apply for a new job. You find yourself more polished and delightfulthan your usual temperament, or so your friends are saying. This could help youland the job you’ve been looking at for the last three months. Romance is a hugefactor in your mind too. You’re sure of yourself and exude all the confidence youneed for both the job and love. Talk to your lover or a new date and perhaps planfor an indoor picnic. You might make it in a beautiful new hotel, just in case.

Virgo (August 23-September 22)

Good news. You’re entering a cycle where all you touch can become goldto you. As long as you use your diplomatic resources but err on the optimistic sideyou can create exactly what you want. At work your superiors and your coworkerslook to you for advice. You seem to make all the right decisions. It’s the same withfriends, family and your lover. The only problem with this good, fortunate aspect inyour life is that you, Libra, are looking to your past and thinking about what you real-ly want in the future. That could cause you to rid some items in your life. Know thatit’s good for you when it happens but you might get emotional because of it.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

Family, your lover and children mean more to you at this time than at mostother times. It’s a need. You require the closeness and you want more togetherness withall of them. This includes close friends as well because friends like that can be familyyou’ve chosen. You need to be admired, Scorpio. So, you’ll probably take chances thatwould normally be ignored today. Guess what? You’ll be right in your decisions becauseyou have the intuition you’re sure of right now. You just know and it works for you.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

You’re fighting with yourself over your thinking processes today.Make up your mind and quit being noncommittal. It’s like brushing your teeth, adecision needs to be made. You’re able to help others make good, intelligentdecisions and they tell you so meaning you can make the same at work and foryourself. Now, the problem may come with children or your lover, Sagittarius.They may not be so easily handled for you at this time. This too shall pass. Take abreath, think about the situation and pretend you’re at work. You have to be niceto the people you work with and that goes for home tonight too.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

Ideas come through clearly now so that you can describe them in detail toyour coworkers. You make part of a good team with you being concise and brilliantin your communication. Your efforts really pay off and run smoothly. You look goodat work, Pisces. More than that you’re looking good at home too. Work may havecreated a house move but you’re able to make that house a home. Perhaps you’re inthe process of redecorating making your older home new now. Others gather aroundyou for inclusion in your friend family. You’re happy and at ease though you workharder now than you ever have. You like it. Enjoy your evening with friends.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Coming to grips with your past is uppermost on your mind now.Somehow you feel that if you can resolve what may have happened before in yourcareer, then you’ll be able to do better at your current job. A little fear has crept intoyour thoughts on your occupation. Put your mind at ease. You’re checking into a partof your life most wouldn’t understand, you think. Others might have the same intuitivehappenings going on in their life as well, Aquarius. Keep your concerns to yourselfand study why you feel the way you do. Talking with friends and loved ones will help.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18)You’re considering making changes in every aspect of your life. Be

careful when making these changes to get all the facts first. You may not appre-ciate tomorrow the changes you made today if you don’t. In other words, don’tjump too quickly. You’re at odds with even your own thoughts, Leo. The moneyyou’re making now may not add up to the same thing if you change today. Yourhome might have issues you’ll find leaves you disheartened if you sell yourhouse today and start to buy another. Your love life might be so much worse ifyou get rid of what you have now. Think and take your time.

You try to show more effusively your feelings for your lover or parents.You’re proud that they’re your port in the storm and you want them to know howmuch they’re appreciated. You have a need for the close emotional support you getfrom those you love. Times haven’t been the best lately and you’re trying to makeamends, Capricorn. Take heart though because you’re able to see the problems that’sbeen plaquing you. You can take the steps to amend some decisions that may haveprecipitated these issues. You’re on the road to solving your life’s mystery. Be thankful.

You have a lot of nervous energy which affects your thinking.Thoughts seem contradictory and you can’t seem to get your views aligned withwhat you have going on. You want to be treated the way you treat others andthat is straight-forward and always above board but you may have an issue withsomeone older who is an authority figure. He or she may have their own irrita-tions today and aren’t in the mood to listen. Relax, the blockage you feel frus-trated with now will end soon, Gemini. Find time to do something alone. Discussyour situation with someone you love.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21 , 2019

Established 1961

Lifestyle

This photo shows people visiting a lantern show to celebrate the Lantern Festival, which marks the end of Lunar New Year celebrations, in Nanjing in China’s eastern Jiangsu province. — AFP

Indonesians gather for prayer at a temple in Jakarta.An Indonesian man (front right) believed to be in a trance leads a prayer at a tem-ple in Jakarta to mark the Cap Go Meh Festival.

A Chinese-Indonesian woman prays at a temple in Jakarta.— AFP photos

An Indonesian man believed to be in a trance cuts his owntongue with a daggar while his cheek is pierced with a nee-dle, at a temple in Jakarta to mark the Cap Go Meh Festival.

An Indonesian man holds burning incense at a temple in Jakarta.

Eyes rolled back in his head, a heavily tattooedIndonesian man sliced his tongue with a dagger ina bid to communicate with other-worldly spirits.The gory spectacle at a Jakarta temple markedthe 15th and last day of Lunar New Year, known

as Cap Go Meh in the Southeast Asian nation. With a sig-nificant ethnic Chinese minority, Muslim-majorityIndonesia on Tuesday celebrated the end of two-weekfestivities welcoming the Year of the Pig with traditionallion dances, colorful parades and temples decked out inred lanterns.

In Indonesia’s section of Borneo island, Chineseshamans shocked onlookers with chains and swordsembedded in their faces. At the Jakarta temple, the man ina trance-like state wrote messages with the blood from hissliced tongue to the spirits in an effort to ward off evil.With a long needle still embedded in his cheeks, he fin-ished off the ceremony with a chug of booze. Just outsidethe capital in Bogor city, residents dressed in white shirtsand turbans sang Arabic songs accompanied by tam-bourine music.

The Muslim take on the Lunar New Year is a show ofsolidarity in a country where nearly 90 percent of its 260million citizens follow Islam. “We’re all different, but it’sclear that our intention here is one: together, we want todefend the unity of our beloved Indonesia,” Bogor’s mayorBima Arya Sugiarto said. — AFP

Indonesia caps Lunar New Yearwith bloody tongues, lion dances

Chinese-Indonesians makeofferings with incense at atemple in Jakarta.

L i f e s t y l e Thursday, February 21, 2019

20 Established 1961

Fa s h i o n

Karl Lagerfeld will be cremated withoutceremony and his ashes are likely to bescattered with those of his mother andlover, his label said yesterday. “His wish-

es will be respected,” a spokeswoman for his KarlLagerfeld brand told AFP a day after the leg-endary designer died at the age of 85. The“Kaiser”-who was known for his rapier wit-hadlong insisted that he would “rather die” than beburied. “I’ve asked to be cremated and for my ash-es to dispersed with those of my mother... andthose of Choupette (his cat), if she dies before me,”he said in one of his last major interviews.

Lagerfeld had previously said that his asheswould be mixed with those of his longtime lover,the French dandy Jacques de Bascher, who died ofAIDS in 1989. He told de Bascher’s biographerMarie Ottavi that he had kept half of his ashes sothey be together again at the end. The German-born creator had put them away “somewheresecret. One day they will be added to mine,” hetold Ottavi. Lagerfeld fell for the dashing deBascher when he was 19 and looked after him untilhis death at 38. This was despite de Bascher, anotoriously philandering party animal, having anaffair with Lagerfeld’s great rival Yves SaintLaurent. The other half of de Bascher’s ashes wasgiven to his family, the French daily Le Mondereported yesterday.

Horror of burials Lagerfeld believed that burial “was horrible. I

just want to disappear like the animals in the virginforest. It is awful to encumber people with yourremains,” he told a French television in 2015. Nordid he want to be mourned at a grandiose funerallike the one France granted its rock legend JohnnyHallyday in 2017.

“What a horror!” Lagerfeld declared. “With allthe in-fighting in the Hallyday family (over thesinger’s will), the funeral felt like a farce.” The del-uge of tributes to the workaholic designer-themost prolific of the last century-continued yester-day as fans left white roses outside Chanel’s main

Paris boutique. US Vogue’s editor-in-chief AnnaWintour called Lagerfeld “a giant among men”.

“Karl was brilliant, he was wicked, he was fun-ny, he was generous beyond measure, and he wasdeeply kind. I will miss him so very much,” sheadded. His absence is likely to dominate Pariswomen’s fashion week, which begins Monday.Chanel, now led by his friend and former studio

chief Virginie Viard, who stepped into his shoes ascreative director on Tuesday, will unveil its autumnwinter ready-to-wear collection on March 5, thelast day of the shows. — AFP

Designer Karl Lagerfeld to be cremated without ceremony

The death of legendary designer KarlLagerfeld leaves a huge hole at thehead of Chanel, but the fashion jug-

gernaut is in such rude health it is likely topower on without him, analysts say. Theworkaholic German turned around the fad-ing fortunes of Coco Chanel’s iconic housein his 36 years in charge, setting the tem-plate for the modern luxury fashion indus-try. When the iconoclastic Lagerfeld tookover in 1983, the brand was dowdy andsomewhat doddery, but by hitching its richheritage to the supermodel sass of LindaEvangelista and Claudia Schiffer he madeits clothes the armor in which womenbegan to break the glass ceiling.

He had previously performed a similarmiracle for the Fendi sisters in Italy, turningwhat the New York Times called a “boringbourgeois (Roman) furrier into a hip fash-ion name”. Such was their gratitude thatthe brand took out a full-page black-trimmed advert in the newspaperWednesday to thank “Karl for the mostbeautiful journey. With all our love, yourFendi family.” With the label now worth$3.8 billion (3.3 billion euros), they had alot to thank him for. At Chanel he did thesame thing but on an even bigger scale,making it one of the three richest luxuryhouses in the world. Ever the showman, hepacked Paris’ enormous Grand Palais withcelebrities for his spectacular shows.

Sales of $9.6 billion Until last year the real scale of his finan-

cial success at Chanel was kept secret. Butin June the Wertheimer family who own thebrand released figures for the first timeshowing sales of $9.62 billion in 2017. Thatput them ahead of Gucci and just behindLouis Vuitton as the biggest luxury fashionlabel, although much of Vuitton’s profitscome from sales of bags and luggage.

Even without Lagerfeld, whose namebecame synonymous with the brand,Chanel is still “a Ferrari of the luxuryworld”, analyst Luca Solca of BernsteinConsulting told AFP. “There is no doubtthat the house is in a very strong position,”he said. Solca said Chanel had the “idealbusiness model”, with its handmade hautecouture collections allowing it to “keep itsprices high”, while its perfumes and cos-metics “also appeal to the middle classes,who can get into the brand through its fra-grances or lipstick”. In fact, Lagerfeld’sdeath could push up sales even furtherwith “very strong interest in his final col-

lections which could almost become col-lectors’ items,” he added.

Within hours of the designer’s death atthe age of 85 on Tuesday, Chanel saidVirginie Viard-who Lagerfeld has calledhis “right and left hand”-would be steppinginto his shoes as creative director. Solcabelieves that “a few new ideas” would doChanel no harm. “There is a big hunger fornovelty right now with brands like Gucciand Balenciaga” breaking records withedgy and irreverent collections.

‘Unsinkable’ brand “Chanel is a myth, the brand has such

power that it is unsinkable,” insisted EricBriones, one of the founders of ParisSchool of Luxury. “In fact, following Karlshould be fairly easy stylistically becausehe did not impose his own look but insteadriffed on the base” of Coco Chanel’s classicthemes. “It’s even a great chance to bringnew life into Chanel,” Briones added. Moredifficult will be finding someone withLagerfeld’s gift for making headlines.

“What will be tough is following Karl interms of image, marketing and communica-tion,” Briones told AFP. Lagerfeld was alsoa phenomenal workhorse, putting out anaverage of 14 collections a year for Chaneland Fendi as well as overseeing his ownlabel well into his eighties-a pace thatwould have burnt out many half his age.“He has become a model for so many othercreators,” Briones said. “He worked sohard, managed to please everyone, andwas totally free in what he said-totallyignoring political correctness,” he added.

Indeed he could often be “staggeringlystraight-talking” without somehow everdamaging the brand, said Arnaud Cadart ofFlornoy management consultants. Cadartsees few problems on the horizon, arguingthat “other great houses have managed tosurvive the loss of great creators like YvesSaint Laurent or Christian Dior.” “Thebrand is a more important than the design-er, and Virginie Viard, who worked along-side Lagerfeld for 30 years, had quite a bitto do with that success,” Cadart added.Fashion, however, is a notoriously ficklebusiness. The British designer PhoebePhilo-formerly of Celine-who has a largefeminist following, is often mooted as apossible longterm replacement forLagerfeld. — AFP

This combination of pictures created on February 19, 2019 shows (From left)German designer Karl Lagerfeld in Tokyo on 03 December 2004, Lagerfeld in Parisduring autumn/winter 2009 ready-to-wear collection and Lagerfeld in Paris on 03October 2007. — AFP photos

Chanel’s style circus to rollon despite loss of Lagerfeld

Flowers are laid in tribute to late German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld outside the Frenchfashion house Chanel, in Paris, on February 19, 2019. — AFP

Benetton took to the catwalk in Milanfor the first time Tuesday with itsdebut collection by French designer

Jean-Charles de Castelbajac in a bid torevive the historic Italian brand. The show,which kicked off Milan fashion week,opened with a homage to Karl Lagerfeld,who died Tuesday aged 85. “Thank you,Karl,” Castelbajac said. Then the modelsunveiled his “Rainbow Machine” collec-tion, sashaying around a fictional work-shop, where tailors wearing the Benettonlogo could be seen cutting and stitchingtogether new creations.

“Benetton had been a little sleepy forthe past ten years, because it had startedcompeting with ‘fast fashion’ houses and itwas losing its DNA,” Castelbajac saidahead of the show. “We went back tobasics with this collection, prioritizing theBenetton look, colors and symbols, butwith another generation in mind: millenni-als,” he said. At 69 years old, the Frenchstylist has a long career behind him,including in advertising, where he wasknown for his colorful, impudent stylewhich mixed punk and pop.

“We share a common DNA withBenetton in terms of color, knitwear,sportswear and most importantly, irony,”he said, stressing that he wanted torestore the brand to pride of place inwardrobes across the land. “Benetton wasa haute couture house for everybody,everyone has a little Benetton ‘Proust’sMadeleine’ at home,” he added, referringto the trip down memory lane taken byauthor Marcel Proust’s narrator when hetastes a madeleine dipped in tea.

‘Archeological approach’ Castelbajac said he adopted an “almost

archaeological” approach: “I searched forthe roots of the Benetton story, whichbegan in 1965 with a visionary man(Luciano Benetton) and a little girl whohad a knitting machine”. Being appointedthe brand’s artistic director in Octoberwas like “finding paradise”. “I was likeCharlie at the chocolate factory. I submit-ted a drawing in the morning and by theevening I could see the first prototype”.

His collection featured colorful, eco-friendly creations that aim to be afford-able without sacrificing quality. Womenwore checkered tights or skyboots-heeledmoonboots-in wide horizontal stripes inthe colors of the rainbow. The Benettonlogo was on prominent display, printed incolour on a white jacket or bordering ayellow tunic in green. Wool is reclaimingcenter stage thanks to a close collabora-tion with Giuliana Benetton. The 81-year-old came out of retirement when herbrother Luciano-”angry” over the brand’sdecline-took back control in 2017. Thefamily business had wilted first at thehands of Luciano’s son Alessandro, thenunder the control of external managers.

‘Only the start’ The brand, which suffered its biggest

loss ever in 2017, has revived its collabo-ration with renowned photographerOliviero Toscani, the man behind theshock advertising campaigns that con-tributed to its global success between1982 and 2000. The catwalk in Milan-itsfirst big show since a 40th birthdaybonanza in Paris in 2006 — aimed tomark its rebirth.

“This show symbolically marks thefamily’s desire to focus once more on theproject launched more than 50 yearsago,” Giuliano Noci, professor of strategyat the Polytechnic Business School inMilan, told AFP. “It also shows their will-ingness to respond to the market’s everydemand,” he said. However, he warnedthat it was “only a starting point, becausethe brand faces many other challenges”.

“The key to the future will lie in itsability to reposition itself in the ratherhigh-end segment of fast fashion, withinnovation and a constant product renew-al,” he said. “Benetton will have to... havestores that offer a real, personalized expe-rience, as well as online sales,” Noci said,pointing out that “Zara, for example, isdoing much better than H&M because it isstronger on the online business”. — AFP

Benetton’s new French flair colors debut in Milan

Models present creations during theBenetton women’sFall/Winter 2019/2020collection fashion show,in Milan. — AFP

Thursday, February 21, 2019L i f e s t y l e M u s i c & M o v i e s

Established 1961 21

Government guidelines aimed at promoting morediversity in South Korea’s K-pop world have beenwithdrawn after critics said they amounted to state

censorship of a booming industry. The guidelines issuedlast week complained that K-pop stars looked too alike,saying “the problem of ... uniformity among singers is seri-ous”, and noting most idols were thin and wore identicalmake-up and skimpy outfits. South Korea’s K-pop world isa multi-billion-dollar business, but so too is the plasticsurgery industry in the image-obsessed country, and tensof thousands of people go under the knife every year inpursuit of the perfect look.

The guidelines from the ministry of gender equalitydrew criticism online-and also from a lawmaker who saidit was reminiscent of censorship during the country’s peri-od of authoritarian government which ended in 1980s.Demanding the state apologizes, Lawmaker Ha Tae-keungsaid the guidelines were a “totalitarian and unconstitution-al idea”. Until the late 1980s, censorship permeated everypart of South Korean society and the state controlledeverything from what could be screened on TV to thelength of a man’s hair.

“It is truly surprising that South Korea is doing whatcommunist dictatorships, like China and North Korea,would consider doing,” one online critic said. In the wake

of criticism, the ministry said Tuesday it would withdrawthe recommendation after it had “caused unnecessaryconfusion”. But it added it had neither the intention norauthority to control TV production and it had simply triedto “prevent media, which has big influence on people’sdaily life, from undermining human rights or fostering dis-crimination unintentionally”.

Critics say the narrow concept of beauty promoted byKorean celebrities was pushing many to go under theknife. In 2017 all four members of K-pop band SixBombwent through extensive plastic surgery, from nose jobs tobreast implants, before releasing a single. A series ofvideos showed the four women visiting a clinic, struttinginto an operating theatre and lying on the operating table.

In a survey of teenagers last year, nearly 70 percentsaid the idea of trying to become a celebrity in the enter-tainment industry had crossed their mind. The ministryalluded to the impact TV celebrities have on young peoplein the guidelines. “Overt concerns for how one shouldlook on TV has a negative impact not only on adults, butalso on teenagers and children,” it said. — AFP

South Korea retracts guidelines on look-alike K-pop stars

K-pop band SixBom

Pink to star atBritish popmusic’s big nightDua Lipa, The 1975 and George Ezra are some of

the big names vying for prizes at British popmusic’s annual celebration on Wednesday, with US

singer Pink also set to be honored. The 39th annual BritAwards at London’s O2 Arena will recognize Britain’s toptalent of 2018, and also feature live performances fromHollywood A-lister Hugh Jackman and Pink. The covetedBest Album of the Year Award will be fought out betweenpop rockers The 1975, rising star Anne-Marie, Florence+ The Machine, indie singer George Ezra and Grammy-nominated diva Jorja Smith.

Electro-stars Clean Bandit are up for two awards fortheir collaboration with US actress/singer Demi Lovatowhile Dua Lipa, the 23-year-old star of last year’s show,is up for four prizes and will perform with hit producerCalvin Harris during the glitzy ceremony. Anne-Marie,who shot to fame as the vocalist on Clean Bandit’s world-wide hit “Rockabye”, is nominated for four awards,including for the Britney Spears inspired video to “2002”,her fourth top 10 UK single.

Baritone singer George Ezra will also perform live, andcould walk away with three awards, including Best BritishMale Solo Artist. He is up against garage pioneer CraigDavid, veteran avant-garde techno producer Aphex Twinand soul singer Sam Smith.

The British Group award pits indie heavyweightsGorillaz and Arctic Monkeys against each other, with thelatter’s May album “Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino”earning plaudits for its experimental direction. Three cat-egories recognize foreign artists, with hip-hop giantsEminem, Drake and The Carters all up for awards, alongwith Ariana Grande and French star Christine and theQueens.

The Brit Awards have recognized the cream of Britishpop music since they were first held in 1977, and haveoften been peppered with scandal and farce.

The 1989 Brits are best remembered for the shambol-ic presenting skills of model Samantha Fox andFleetwood Mac’s Mick Fleetwood and a comical series ofmishaps. Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker stormed the stagein protest while Michael Jackson performed surroundedby children in 1996.

In 1998, Chumbawamba vocalist Danbert Nobacondumped a bucket of iced water over then deputy primeminister John Prescott. And Madonna suffered whiplashinjuries at the 2015 edition when she fell off the stagewearing a giant cape and surrounded by dancers wearingbondage-style costumes and horns on their heads.

The awards have also been criticized for failing to bebold in their choice of performers in recent years. TheBritish music industry contributed £4.5 billion ($5.8 bil-lion, 5.1 billion euros) to the UK economy in 2015, andBritish artists accounted for one of every eight albumspurchased worldwide. — AFP

Ariana Grande firstact since Beatles toclaim US top threePop princess Ariana Grande is the first act in

more than 50 years to claim simultaneouslythe top three spots on the US singles chart,

industry tracker Billboard said Monday. The 25-year-old star is the second act in the BillboardHot 100 chart’s six-decade history to accomplishthe feat, after The Beatles in 1964. Grande’s “7Rings,” “Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’mBored” and “Thank U, Next” monopolized thetop hits chart following her fifth album’s debut onBillboard’s top albums tally.

The Beatles nabbed the same spots in April1964, with “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Twist andShout” and “Do You Want to Know a Secret”reigning atop the chart. The all-genre Hot 100blends US streaming, radio airplay and digitalsales data to rank the top hits. Grande also brokethe record for most simultaneous top 40 hits by afemale artist with 11 tracks, beating rapper CardiB’s previous record of nine.

The pop star has seen runaway success overthe past 12 months, with Billboard naming her its2018 Woman of the Year. This month she scoredher first Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album for“Sweetener,” beating out tough competitionincluding perennial favorite Taylor Swift.

Grande was notably absent from the gala amida spat with the show’s producer-but the socialmedia maven commanded attention throughoutthe evening anyway with relentless posts, includ-ing of a satin Zac Posen ball gown she hadplanned to wear to the show. The superstar’s lat-est album-entitled “Thank U, Next,” like its leadsingle-sees the star sharpen her brand of bub-blegum pop with a biting personal edge. Severalsongs allude to a tumultuous past year that sawGrande break up with rapper Mac Miller-whodied at age 26 in September-and end a brief butheavily publicized engagement with comedianPete Davidson. — AFP

Pink

In this file photo US singer/songwriter Ariana Grandeattends Billboard’s 13th Annual Women In Music eventat Pier 36 in New York City. — AFP

Pink Floyd singerhits out at Branson’sVenezuela aid concert

Pink Floyd singer Roger Waters hit out at RichardBranson on Tuesday over plans to hold a humani-tarian aid concert to benefit Venezuelans suffering

from shortages of food and medicines. Bransonannounced last week he is organizing a fundraisingconcert in Colombia tomorrow featuring stars such asformer Genesis singer Peter Gabriel to raise “$100 mil-lion” for “those millions that need it the most.” ButWaters said Branson had been fooled by a US “shtick.”

“It has nothing to do with the needs of the Venezuelanpeople, it has nothing to do with democracy, it hasnothing to do with freedom, and it has nothing to dowith aid,” said the British singer-songwriter in a Twittervideo that was shown on Venezuelan state television.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido says300,000 Venezuelans could die without the desperate-ly needed aid currently stockpiled in Colombia, close tothe border with Venezuela where Branson plans tostage his concert. The military, under the orders ofPresident Nicolas Maduro has barricaded the border toprevent the aid from entering. Maduro says its a “politi-cal show” and nothing but a pretext for a US invasion.

US President Donald Trump has refused to rule out amilitary intervention. “Do we really want Venezuela tobe turned into another Iraq, Syria or Libya? I dont, andneither do the Venezuelan people,” said Waters. Theopposition considers Maduro’s presidency illegitimateover his controversial reelection in May in polls boy-cotted by his opponents as many of their leaders wereunable to stand having been exiled, jailed or barred.

Civil unrest between April and July 2017 left 125people dead while another 40 were killed during aweek of anti-government protests last month. “I havefriends in Caracas right now, there is so far no civil war,no mayhem, no murder, no apparent dictatorship, nomass imprisonment of opposition, no suppression of thepress,” said Waters in a post liked 12,000 times. “Noneof that is going on even though that is the narrative thatis being sold to the rest of us.”

Guaido has branded Maduro a “dictator” and blamesthe socialist leader for Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis.An estimated 2.3 million Venezuelans have left the coun-try since 2015 as astronomical hyperinflation theInternational Monetary Fund says will reach 10 millionpercent this year has left salaries and savings virtuallyworthless. In response to Branson’s Venezuela Live Aidconcert, Maduro’s government has announced its owntwo-day musical extravaganza starting on Friday on aborder bridge between Colombia and Venezuela. — AFP

Roger Waters

Sci-fi fantasy ‘Alita’ tops N American box office

Fox’s new sci-fi fantasy “Alita: Battle Angel” dominatedthe North American box office charts over the four-day holiday weekend, earning $33.5 million, industry

tracker Exhibitor Relations said on Tuesday. The futuristicfilm, which stars Rosa Salazar voicing “Alita,” a cyborgalmost more human than machine, is a computer-animatedadaptation of a Japanese cyberpunk manga story.

Directed by Robert Rodriguez and produced by JamesCameron, the project for the $170-million film was 20years in the making. The Fox film beat out last weekend’sleader, “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part,” whichearned Warner Bros an estimated $27.8 million over thePresidents Day weekend.

This fourth “Lego” movie again features the voices ofChris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks and Will Arnett-joined thistime by Tiffany Haddish and Maya Rudolph-in a story of

love and chaos in a post-apocalyptic toyland. In third wasanother Warner Bros. film, “Isn’t It Romantic?”, at $16.6million. Rebel Wilson stars as a rom-com hating NewYorker who, after a blow to the head, finds herself in herown romantic comedy. Liam Hemsworth also stars.

Fourth place went to Paramount’s “What Men Want.”The gender-switching remake of 2000’s “What WomenWant” stars Taraji P. Henson. It had four-day ticketsales of $12.2 million. And in fifth was “Happy DeathDay 2U” from Universal, at $11 million — alreadyrecouping the mere $9 million it cost to make. JessicaRothe again plays the role of a young woman living andreliving the day of her murder.

Rounding out the weekend’s top 10 were:“Cold Pursuit” ($6.9 million)“The Upside” ($6.5 million)“Glass” ($4.6 million)“The Prodigy” ($3.7 million)“Green Book” ($3.5 million)—AFP

From Lebanese street children to love behind the IronCurtain and the daily life of a Mexican housekeeper,this year’s Oscar-nominated foreign language films

draw from real life and, in some cases, deeply personalexperiences. While Poland’s “Cold War” and Germany’s“Never Look Away” are set decades ago, Japan’s“Shoplifters” and Lebanon’s “Capernaum” take on con-temporary themes, while “Roma” is the most personalfilm ever made by Alfonso Cuaron.

“Roma,” inspired by Cuaron’s 1970s childhood inMexico City’s Colonia Roma neighborhood, is seen as thefavorite to take not only the foreign language Oscar onSunday but could make history by also winning best pic-ture. The film, shot entirely in black and white, is inspiredby the two women who raised Cuaron: his mother and a

domestic worker. “The source material were my memo-ries, but then the film took on its own life,” Cuaron said.“Now my memories are tainted by the film.”

Love and chaosPolish director Pawel Pawlikowski was inspired by the

love life of his parents for “Cold War,” a dark romancebetween a pianist and a singer set in both Communist-ledPoland and postwar France. The lead characters, Wiktorand Zula, are named after his parents. “It was very per-sonal to start with because that’s where the idea camefrom,” Pawlikowski said. “It’s inspired by the tempestuousand chaotic relationships which involved many divorces,separations, marrying other people, remarrying, movingcountries and so on.”

Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck also looked backto World War Two for “Never Look Away.” The storyabout a struggling artist in Nazi-era Germany and thenCommunist-ruled East Germany spans four decades.Donnersmarck was born in West Germany in 1973 andpartly grew up in the United States.

Donnersmarck said he wanted to “see how within onefamily drama you have the murderers and the victims andthe Nazis and those whom they abused and killed anddestroyed living under one roof.” In Japanese directorHirokazu Kore-eda’s drama “Shoplifters,” an elderly wid-ow, three adults, a boy and a girl create a family unit thatis united by financial and emotional need. They steal tosupplement their working-class wages, all while hidingfrom authorities after kidnapping the girl from her abu-sive parents.

The film employs a “ripped-from-the-headlines”approach based on news reports Kore-eda read aboutfamilies who commit crimes. Lebanese director NadineLabaki cast street children in “Capernaum” to tell thestory of a 12-year-old boy in a Beirut slum who tries tostop his younger sister from being married off.

The plot was largely based on events Labaki wit-nessed or cast members experienced, and took morethan four years to make. The film’s young protagonistis played by a Syrian refugee. Another young castmember was jailed during the shoot, and a third wasdeported to Kenya. “None of it was make-believe,”Labaki said. — Reuters

From street kids to war romance,

Oscar foreign-film slate keeps it real

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Fe a t u r e s

Established 1961 22L i f e s t y l e

Malabar Gold & Diamondslaunches special jewelrycollection on the occasionof 58th Kuwait National Day

Malabar Gold & Diamonds extends bestwishes to HH the Amir Sheikh SabahAl-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on the

occasion of 58th Kuwait National Day for hispersonal health, happiness and well-being aswell as continued peace and prosperity to thepeople. Special necklace and bracelet has beenintroduced by Malabar Gold & Diamonds onthe occasion of 58th Kuwait National day.

The necklace and bracelet unveiled on theoccasion of the Kuwait National day comes inunique and attractive designs. The jewelry isdesigned in 18k gold and is available in allMalabar Gold & Diamonds & MGD - LifestyleJewelry outlets across Kuwait. Malabar Gold &Diamonds has also unveiled the latest collectionof jewelry in gold, diamonds and precious gemsto suit the tastes of their multicultural and multi-national customers.

Malabar Gold & Diamonds has incorporatedthese designs as a part of various brands pre-sented at Malabar Gold & Diamonds’ namelyEthnix - Handcrafted Designer Jewelry, Era -Uncut Diamond Jewelry, Mine - DiamondsUnlimited, Divine- Indian Heritage Jewelry,Precia - Gem Jewellery and Starlet - Kids jew-elry. Malabar Gold & Diamonds is displaying aneye catchy collection of trendy designs in 18 &22K gold, diamonds, platinum and preciousgems from different parts of the world to flauntat any occasion or event.

Shorn on the sides, thick on top for the Kim Jong Unlook; bright and blonde for the Donald Trump-lovingcustomers: a creative Hanoi barber is offering free

cuts ahead of the leaders’ meeting in the Vietnamese capi-tal next week. Barber Le Tuan Duong has been overrunwith customers since word got out about his free dos, agesture he’s offering out of sheer excitement for theFebruary 27-28 meeting in Hanoi. But one style has comeout on top. “Over the past three days, I have made 200Kim style haircuts, but only five for Trump,” he told AFP inhis cramped Tuan Duong beauty academy in Hanoi.

He would normally charge a whopping $43 for theTrump dye-job, a steep fee in a city where most haircuts

cost a few dollars. No matter that Trump’s infamous coifhas come under fire, some Hanoians are delighted with thedo. “I want the Vietnamese to know more about Trump,through my hairstyle. For me, Trump is an excellent manand that’s why I want this hairstyle,” a freshly dyed VuongBao Nam said.

The barber is not the only artist in Hanoi paying tributeto the leaders. Painter Tran Lam Binh has been busychurning out Technicolor peace portraits of the men,including one emblazoned with red hearts and the word“L-O-V-E”. His color palette may not be true to life, butTrump’s blonde locks and Kim’s full cheeks in the 10 or sopaintings he has created so far are unmistakable. “I reallywant the two leaders, or just one of them, to come and seemy works here... I dream of giving one of the portraits tothem,” Binh told AFP from a Hanoi cafe where he has beenworking on the series.

The self-proclaimed Trump obsessive started paintingthe American president after the election, and has about50 portraits of him in his studio-some that he displayed inthe US capital outside the White House in 2016. “When Ipaint him, I feel like I understand his inner feelings throughhis eyes, his face,” the 36-year-old artist said, standingnext to several easels displaying his technicolour works.

He has even sculpted a nearly two-meter (six-foot)statue of the brash US leader, and while Binh’s admirationfor the reclusive Kim who has overseen North Korea’snuclear ambitions has been slower to emerge, he hasgrown fond of him. “I like his humor and his exhibitionistnature,” he said. The meeting between Trump and Kim isaimed at building on their summit in Singapore in June, thefirst ever face-to-face between sitting leaders from the USand North Korea, which have never formally ended the1950-53 Korean War. — AFP

Karl Lagerfeld’s cat Choupette wasalready the most famous cat in fashion.Now the white fluffy Burmese cat thatthe late fashion designer doted on could

be about to become the richest feline on the plan-et. The pampered eight-year-old puss has enjoyeda jetset lifestyle eating off silver platters sinceLagerfeld “kidnapped” her in 2011 from his youngfriend, male model Baptiste Giabiconi. Now shecould be about to inherit a slice of his estimated$200-million (176-million-euro) fortune. Longbefore his death on Tuesday, Lagerfeld said he hadmade sure that Choupette would go on living inthe style that she had become accustomed to, withher own personal bodyguard and two maids.

“Choupette is a rich girl,” he once told Frenchtelevision, hinting that had written her into his will.“She has her own fortune,” he added, thought tobe at least three million euros ($3.4 million) whichshe earned with him doing adverts for a Germancar firm and a Japanese cosmetics brand. “If any-thing happens the person who looks after her willnot go without,” said Lagerfeld, who designed forChanel, Fendi and his own brand right up to hisdeath aged 85.

Choupette-who the designer they called theKaiser compared to the enigmatic star GretaGarbo-is something of a cult figure in the fashionworld, with more than 170,000 followers on socialmedia. She is also the hero of a book, “Choupette:The Private Life of a High-Flying Fashion Cat”,where she was photographed in arms of super-model Linda Evangalista and snuggling with modelturned actress Laetitia Casta.

Caviar and king crab Unlike them, the spoiled feline has never had

has to watch what she eats. The book includesrecipes for her favorite meals prepared by some ofthe best restaurants in Paris. One typically lavishrepast is a mix of king crab, smoked salmon andcaviar. And unlike ordinary cats, Choupette eats ata table. “She is like a human being, only with anextra quality-silence,” Lagerfeld quipped.

Despite her reputation as a gastronome, thedesigner forbade her from doing ads for cat food.“She is too sophisticated for that,” said the leg-endary wit, who lived alone and admitted that“Choupette is the center of my world”. “She has

something unforgettable in the way she moves-I’minspired by her elegance and her attitude,” he said.

Adored godson Lagerfeld-an incorrigible collector of art and

fine furniture-also famously showered his friendswith gifts and money. Choupette’s big rival for theLagerfeld millions is likely to be his godsonHudson Kroenig, who the designer utterly adored,seeing something of himself in the blond 10-year-old son of his muse, US model Brad Kroenig. “I

consider them like my family,” Lagerfeld said ofthe Kroenigs, using Hudson and his brotherJameson in many of his spectacular Chanel showsat the Grand Palais in Paris..

He often appeared at the end to acknowledgethe applause holding Hudson’s hand. Yet Lagerfeldthought so highly of Choupette that if she had diedbefore him, her wanted to have her ashes scatteredwith his own and his mother’s. Under French law,Lagerfeld could not leave his millions to a cat.“That’s OK,” he told reporters who once ques-tioned him on the subject, “because I am notFrench”, hinting that the money could be left intrust. Even so, Choupette-who has not tweetedsince Lagerfeld’s death-was sometimes used todeliver stinging swipes at her master. Frenchactress and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardotwrote her a letter in 2015 asking her to “purr in theear” of her owner so he would “stop using fur inhis collections”. — AFP

Could Lagerfeld’s cat Choupette inherit his millions?

Choupette is a

rich girl, she has

her own fortune

In this file photo German fashion designer, artist, and photographer Karl Lagerfeldposes next to a painting of his cat “Choupette” during the inauguration of theshow “Corsa Karl and Choupette” at the Palazzo Italia in Berlin. — AFP photos

In this file photo taken on February 7, 2014 German fashion designer KarlLagerfeld poses next to a photo of himself and his cat Choupette during a visit tothe workshops that work for Chanel in Pantin, outside of Paris.

In this file photo taken onMay 3, 2017 German fashiondesigner Karl Lagerfeldacknowledges the audiencewith his godson HudsonKroenig at the end of hisChanel Croisiere (Cruise)fashion show at the GrandPalais in Paris.

Hair apparent: Hanoi barber offers free Trump,Kim cuts ahead of summit

Vietnamese artist Tran Lam Binh applies finishing touches to the portraits of US PresidentDonald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a cafe in Hanoi yesterday ahead of thesecond Trump and Kim summit. — AFP photos

Vietnamese artist Tran Lam Binh poses with the portraits of US President Donald Trump andNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a cafe in Hanoi.

Vietnamese artist Tran Lam Binh applies finishing touches tothe portraits of US President Donald Trump and North Koreanleader Kim Jong Un.

Vietnamese artist Tran Lam Binhcarries the portraits of USPresident Donald Trump andNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

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Arrival Flights on Thursday 21/2/2019Airlines Flt Route TimeJZR 254 Amman 00:05JAI 572 Mumbai 00:15THY 766 ISL 00:30KAC 504 Beirut 00:45KAC 102 London 00:50JZ R734 Cairo 00:50THY 772 Istanbul 00:50SAI 441 Lahore 00:50PGT 858 Istanbul 01:00DLH 625 Dammam 01:25RJA 642 Amman 01:35UAE 853 Dubai 01:45THY 764 Istanbul 01:50IGO 1757 Kochi 01:55JZR 722 Alexandria 02:15ETH 620 Addis Ababa 02:15GFA 211 Bahrain 02:30KLM 446 Bahrain 02:30PGT 818 Istanbul 02:40QTR 1086 Doha 02:40OMA 643 Muscat 02:55PGT 860 Istanbul 02:55KKK 1268 Istanbul 03:05ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 03:05MSR 612 Cairo 03:15JZR 724 Alexandria 04:00QTR 1076 Doha 04:00LMU 510 Cairo 04:00IGO 1751 Chennai 04:10KAC 418 Manila 04:25KAC 784 Jeddah 04:30JZR 406 Kochi 04:45UAE 873 Dubai 04:55FDB 069 Dubai 05:00KAC 382 Delhi 05:05JZR 404 Hyderabad 05:10KAC 1544 Cairo 05:10THY 770 Istanbul 05:10DHX 170 Bahrain 05:20JZR 112 Doha 05:25KAC 332 Trivandrum 05:40KAC 344 Chennai 05:50JZR 402 Mumbai 06:05KAC 302 Mumbai 06:10KAC 362 Colombo 06:10KAC 284 Dhaka 06:10KAC 678 Dubai 06:55BAW 157 London 07:05JZR 708 Luxor 07:15KAC 354 Bengaluru 07:35KAC 206 Islamabad 07:35FDB 053 Dubai 07:50KAC 384 Delhi 08:00QTR 8511 Doha 08:00KAC 358 Kochi 08:05KAC 304 Mumbai 08:20UAE 855 Dubai 08:35MSC 411 Asyut 09:00ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:05ABY 125 Sharjah 09:05QTR 1070 Doha 09:30FDB 055 Dubai 09:40IAW 157 Al Najaf 09:55JZR 410 Delhi 10:00SYR 341 Damascus 10:00SVA 512 Riyadh 10:00SAW 703 Damascus 10:30SAW 701 Damascus 10:30GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40IRA 675 Lar 10:50JZR 116 Doha 11:10JZR 122 Dubai 11:10QTR 1074 Doha 11:35ABY 130 Sharjah 11:45JZR 216 Jeddah 11:45IAW 157C Al Najaf 11:55MEA 404 Beirut 11:55KAC 614 Bahrain 12:25JZR 252 Amman 12:30ABY 132 Sharjah 12:30JZR 714 Sohag 12:35KAC 742 Dammam 12:50UAE 871 Dubai 12:50ABY 121 Sharjah 12:55MSR 610 Cairo 13:10AXB 393 Kozhikode 13:15KNE 531 Jeddah 13:20SVA 9401 Jeddah 13:30QTR 1078 Doha 13:35

FDB 8109 Dubai 13:50IAW 157A Al Najaf 13:55KAC 774 Riyadh 14:00KAC 792 Madinah 14:05JZR 602 Baku 14:10IRA 667 Esfahan 14:10KNE 231 Riyadh 14:10SVA 500 Jeddah 14:15FDB 059 Dubai 14:20KAC 672 Dubai 14:25FDB 8065 Dubai 14:40GFA 221 Bahrain 14:40KAC 618 Doha 14:40KAC 412 Bangkok 15:00KNE 529 Jeddah 15:05KAC 788 Jeddah 15:10ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 15:15JZR 222 Riyadh 15:30OMA 645 Muscat 15:35KAC 562 Amman 15:35UAE 857 Dubai 15:45FDB 8745 Dubai 15:50JZR 732 Cairo 15:50SAW 705 Damascus 16:00ABY 127 Sharjah 16:05KAC 118 New York 16:05JZR 212 Jeddah 16:25KAC 542 Cairo 16:30KAC 502 Beirut 16:30QTR 1072 Doha 16:35FDB 051 Dubai 16:40FEG 341 Sohag 16:55UAE 2697 Dubai 17:00JZR 114 Doha 17:10SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30JZR 104 Bahrain 17:45JZR 214 Jeddah 17:45FDB 8191 Dubai 17:50UAE 875 Dubai 18:00JZR 1158 Mashhad 18:05FDB 063 Dubai 18:15JZR 124 Dubai 18:20QTR 1080 Doha 18:30MSR 620 Cairo 18:30RJA 640 Amman 19:00ABY 123 Sharjah 19:25RBG 555 Alexandria 19:25KAC 616 Bahrain 19:30KAC 156 Istanbul 19:30GFA 217 Bahrain 19:30NIA 161 Cairo 19:30KAC 662 Abu Dhabi 19:35FDB 8743 Dubai 19:35JZR 1144 Al Najaf 19:45FDB 057 Dubai 19:50KAC 776 Riyadh 19:50JZR 126 Dubai 19:55KNE 381 Taif 20:00KAC 620 Doha 20:15OMA 647 Muscat 20:20QTR 1088 Doha 20:35KAC 674 Dubai 20:35DLH 624 Frankfurt 20:45KAC 174 Munich 21:15ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:20ALK 229 Colombo 21:20MEA 402 Beirut 21:20KAC 164 MXP 21:25KAC 168 Paris 21:30UAE 859 Dubai 21:35RBG 551 Alexandria 21:40GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45KAC 676 Dubai 21:45KLM 445 Amsterdam 21:50KAC 564 Amman 21:55JAI 574 Mumbai 22:00MSC 405 Sohag 22:00QTR 1082 Doha 22:05ETD 309 Abu Dhabi 22:15AIC 981 Chennai/Ahmedabad 22:25KAC 622 Doha 22:30RBG 213 Sohag 22:30KAC 786 Jeddah 22:45FDB 8739 Dubai 22:50KAC 692 Muscat 22:55BBC 043 Dhaka 23:00MSC 501 Alexandria 23:05GEC 8456 Frankfurt 23:10JZR 128 Dubai 23:15FDB 071 Dubai 23:45

Departure Flights on Thursday 21/2/2019Airlines Flt Route TimeAIC 976 Goa/Chennai 00:05MSC 502 Alexandria 00:05FDB 072 Dubai 00:40JZR 409 Delhi 00:50JZR 707 Luxor 01:00JAI 571 Mumbai 01:15JZR 111 Doha 01:45KAC 677 Dubai 01:50SAI 442 Lahore 01:50KAC 417 Manila 02:20DLH 625 Frankfurt 02:25THY 773 Istanbul 02:30PGT 859 Istanbul 02:30IGO 1758 Kochi 02:55THY 767 ISL 03:05ETH 621 Addis Ababa 03:05PGT 819 Istanbul 03:40UAE 854 Dubai 03:40PGT 861 Istanbul 03:55KLM 446 Amsterdam 03:55OMA 644 Muscat 03:55THY 765 Istanbul 04:00QTR 1087 Doha 04:00KKK 1269 Istanbul 04:00ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:05MSR 613 Cairo 04:15LMU 511 Cairo 05:00IGO 1752 Chennai 05:10QTR 1077 Doha 05:30FDB 070 Dubai 05:50JZR 215 Jeddah 06:00JZR 713 Sohag 06:15JZR 121 Dubai 06:35THY 771 Istanbul 06:40UAE 874 Dubai 06:50JZR 251 Amman 07:05KAC 167 Paris 07:10RJA 643 Amman 07:15GFA 212 Bahrain 07:15KAC 413 Bangkok 07:20JZR 115 Doha 07:30KAC 173 Munich 08:20JZR 601 Baku 08:30KAC 163 MXP 08:40FDB 054 Dubai 08:50KAC 501 Beirut 09:00KAC 613 Bahrain 09:05KAC 787 Jeddah 09:05KAC 791 Madinah 09:10JZR 731 Cairo 09:10BAW 156 London 09:10KAC 541 Cairo 09:30KAC 561 Amman 09:40KAC 671 Dubai 09:45KAC 101 London 09:45KAC 741 Dammam 09:45ABY 126 Sharjah 09:45QTR 8512 Doha 10:00UAE 856 Dubai 10:00MSC 412 Asyut 10:00KAC 773 Riyadh 10:10ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:10KAC 617 Doha 10:35FDB 056 Dubai 10:35JZR 211 Jeddah 10:40KAC 155 Istanbul 10:45QTR 1071 Doha 10:45IAW 158 Al Najaf 10:55SVA 513 Riyadh 11:00SYR 342 Damascus 11:00KAC 117 New York 11:25GFA 214 Bahrain 11:25SAW 702 Damascus 11:30SAW 704 Damascus 11:30IRA 668 Mashhad 11:50JZR 1157 Mashhad 12:00JZR 221 Riyadh 12:00JZR 213 Jeddah 12:00ABY 131 Sharjah 12:25IAW 158C Al Najaf 12:55MEA 405 Beirut 12:55QTR 1075 Doha 13:00ABY 133 Sharjah 13:30JZR 113 Doha 13:30ABY 122 Sharjah 13:35JZR 123 Dubai 13:40MSR 611 Cairo 14:10

UAE 872 Dubai 14:15AXB 394 Kozhikode 14:15KNE 532 Jeddah 14:20JZR 103 Bahrain 14:40FDB 8110 Dubai 14:50IAW 158A Al Najaf 14:55QTR 1079 Doha 15:00KNE 382 Taif 15:00SVA 3501 Jeddah 15:00KAC 661 Abu Dhabi 15:00IRA 666 Esfahan 15:10FDB 060 Dubai 15:10JZR 125 Dubai 15:15GFA 222 Bahrain 15:25FDB 8066 Dubai 15:40KAC 673 Dubai 15:40SVA 501 Jeddah 15:45KAC 775 Riyadh 15:50KNE 530 Jeddah 16:00KAC 615 Bahrain 16:05KAC 563 Amman 16:10KAC 619 Doha 16:10JZR 1143 Al Najaf 16:20ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 16:20OMA 646 Muscat 16:35KAC 785 Jeddah 16:40ABY 128 Sharjah 16:45SAW 706 Damascus 17:00KAC 675 Dubai 17:05KAC 503 Beirut 17:15KAC 691 Muscat 17:15FDB 8746 Dubai 17:15FDB 052 Dubai 17:40KAC 283 Dhaka 17:45UAE 858 Dubai 17:45JZR 405 Kochi 17:45QTR 1073 Doha 17:50FEG 242 Alexandria 17:55KAC 343 Chennai 18:00KAC 331 Trivandrum 18:00JZR 733 Cairo 18:10SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20KAC 621 Doha 18:25UAE 2698 Dubai 18:30JZR 127 Dubai 18:35JZR 253 Amman 18:40JZR 403 Hyderabad 18:40FDB 8192 Dubai 18:50KAC 381 Delhi 18:55FDB 064 Dubai 19:20JZR 721 Alexandria 19:20UAE 876 Dubai 19:30MSR 621 Cairo 19:30QTR 1081 Doha 19:55RJA 641 Amman 20:00RBG 556 Alexandria 20:05ABY 124 Sharjah 20:05GFA 218 Bahrain 20:15NIA 162 Cairo 20:30KAC 301 Mumbai 20:35FDB 058 Dubai 20:35FDB 8744 Dubai 20:35KNE 232 Riyadh 20:50JZR 401 Mumbai 20:55KAC 357 Kochi 21:00OMA 648 Muscat 21:20DLH 624 Dammam 21:30DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50QTR 1089 Doha 22:00ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:10KAC 1543 Cairo 22:15KAC 203 Lahore 22:15MEA 403 Beirut 22:20RBG 552 Alexandria 22:20ALK 230 Colombo 22:25KAC 303 Mumbai 22:30KAC 383 Delhi 22:30GFA 220 Bahrain 22:30KLM 445 Bahrain 22:50KAC 783 Jeddah 22:55UAE 860 Dubai 23:00MSC 406 Sohag 23:00JAI 573 Mumbai 23:00ETD 310 Abu Dhabi 23:05RBG 214 Sohag 23:10QTR 1083 Doha 23:25FDB 8740 Dubai 23:50JZR 1145 Al Najaf 23:55

ClassifiedsThursday, February 21, 2019

Sabah Hospital 24812000

Amiri Hospital 22450005

Maternity Hospital 24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital 25312700

Chest Hospital 24849400

Farwaniya Hospital 24892010

Adan Hospital 23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital 24840300

Al-Razi Hospital 24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital 24874330/9

Kaizen center 25716707

Rawda 22517733

Adaliya 22517144

Khaldiya 24848075

Kaifan 24849807

Shamiya 24848913

Shuwaikh 24814507

Abdullah Salem 22549134

Nuzha 22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh 24814764

Qadsiya 22515088

Dasmah 22532265

Bneid Al-Gar 22531908

Shaab 22518752

Qibla 22459381

Ayoun Al-Qibla 22451082

Mirqab 22456536

Sharq 22465401

Salmiya 25746401

112

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Putturu Lakshmi Devi W/oPuttur Chandra Sekhar, holderof Indian Passport No:5456069 & Civil ID No:279060106203 has changedmy name to Puttur Santhi,hereinafter in all my dealingsand documents. (C 5447)21-2-2019

I, Poshan Singh Thapar holderof Indian Passport No.L1458575 & Civil ID No.272051502843 has changedmy name from Poshan SinghThapa to Poshan Singh Thaparhereinafter in all my dealings

Kuwait Airways 171Jazeera Airways 177Wataniya Airways 22 066 536Turkish Airlines 1884918American Airlines 22087425 22087426Jet Airways 22924455FlyDubai 22414400Qatar Airways 22423888KLM 22425747Royal Jordanian 22418064/5/6British Airways 22425635Air France 22430224Emirates 22921555Air India 22438184Sri Lanka Airlines 22424444Egypt Air 22421578Swiss Air 22421516Saudia 22426306Middle East Airlines` 22423073Lufthansa 22422493PIA 22421044

Airlines

and documents, I will beknown by name of PoshanSingh Thapar. (C 5446)20-2-2019

I, Jackson Krishnankutty Rajuholding Indian Passport No:R5455973 issued at Kuwait on20/04/2017, residing at AshokNivas, Thottappally P.O,Alappuzha, Kerala - 688563,hereby changed my name asJackson Krishnankunju Raju.(C 5445) 19-2-2019

Thursday, February 21, 2019N e w s

Established 1961 24

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He however said that Kuwait does not require new

legislation to ban any normalization because existinglaws are sufficient. Kandari said the committee conveyedto the meeting the strong popular rejection of any nor-malization and warned against any moves that may leadto any form of relations with Israel.

Meanwhile, the constitutional court yesterday decidedto delay until April 10 to issue its verdict regarding if thelaw on conflict of interests is in line with the constitution.

Government totallyrejects normalizing...

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On the political front, there has been no indication of athaw. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have said the dispute isnot a priority and that Qatar must accept a list of condi-tions before ties are restored. Qatar has said that althoughit would like the matter resolved it is moving on and last

year quit oil producer group OPEC, of which Saudi Arabiais de facto leader. Diplomats in the Gulf say the boycotthas raised costs for companies operating in the region,with vessels forced to call at ports in third countries whensailing between Qatar and UAE.

Qatar’s economy has largely weathered the boycottthanks to the tiny country’s vast wealth, which was swiftlydeployed by the government to support the financial sec-tor. The world’s largest natural gas exporter also forgednew trade links to meet domestic demand, including basicgoods such as food, and construction material as it pre-pares to host the 2022 World Cup. — Reuters

UAE eases Qatar shipping ban amid...

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“It is extremely important to eliminate the terrorinfrastructure and stop support to terrorists and theirsupporters.”

Prince Mohammed, who arrived in Delhi fromPakistan where he had offered to help the neighborsease tensions, responded that “terrorism and extremismis a common concern for India and Saudi Arabia”. Theprince, whose country accuses Iran of backing militantstrikes, added: “I want to state that we are ready tocooperate with India in every way, including throughintelligence sharing.” He said India and all “neighboringcountries must work together”.

The crown prince also signed joint accords onindustry and culture, but announced no major deals.

In Pakistan, the Saudi prince announced $20 billionof investment for the Muslim country. Modi has facedincreasing pressure to take action over the Kashmirattack claimed by Pakistan-based Islamist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Islamabad, which banned JeM in2002, has denied any role.

The Saudi delegation had wanted the Delhi leg ofthe crown prince tour to be devoted to bolstering its oilsupplies to India. Saudi Arabia is one of India’s keycrude suppliers, along with Iran and Iraq. Since takingoffice in 2014, Modi has also sought to attract Saudiinvestment in trade, infrastructure and defense. Two-way trade was worth $27.5 billion last year.

After his meeting with the Indian premier, PrinceMohammed said the kingdom saw investment opportu-

nities “in various fields (in India) to exceed $100 billion”.Prime Minister Modi “welcomed the announcement of(the) crown prince to invest $100 billion in India in arange of areas like energy, refining, petrochemicals,infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, etc.,” T SThirumurthy, secretary for economic relations at theIndian foreign ministry, told journalists in New Delhi.

“This is a clear reflection of the confidence of SaudiArabia in the vibrancy of the Indian economy andtremendous opportunities available in India for invest-ment.” Thirumurthy said no time frame had been identi-fied for these investments. “Economic power is shiftingfrom West to East and India will be (the) second-largest economy ahead of the United States, which is abig opportunity for us,” Amin Nasser, chief executive ofSaudi Aramco, the world’s biggest oil company, told aDelhi investment conference yesterday.

Aramco signed an accord in April last year withIndian investors on a $44-billion petrochemical projectin western India. Nasser, a member of the crownprince’s delegation, said his firm was in talks with otherIndian firms as well. “We are not limited to that invest-ment (refinery), which is the mega refinery... we arelooking at other opportunities,” Nasser added, accord-ing to the Press Trust of India.

The crown prince, who was greeted with a traditionalModi bear hug at the airport on Tuesday, said SaudiArabia has invested nearly $44 billion in India since theIndian leader’s visit to the kingdom in 2016. PrinceMohammed was expected to go on to China later yes-terday. India’s opposition Congress party meanwhilecriticized Modi for welcoming the crown prince “withsuch abundance - only hours after he promised billionsto Pakistan” while Indians were in grief over the Kashmirattack. “PM Modi has shown the country, the martyrsand every soldier in India what he thinks of their serviceand sacrifice,” the party said on Twitter. — AFP

Saudis, India to step up ‘pressure’...

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heritage, was born in Britain, has never had aBangladeshi passport and is not a dual citizen, accord-ing to Akunjee.

The Home Office reportedly believes that she is enti-tled to claim citizenship in the south Asian country.Chiranjiv Sarker, head of the consular wing and dualnationality issues at Bangladesh’s foreign ministry, toldAFP it was aware of the case but had not received anycontact from the family. “So far none of her familymembers (has) approached us,” he said. “What I learnfrom newspapers is that Shamima was trying to returnto Britain.” He added that, if approached, the ministrywould need to try to verify Begum’s Bangladeshi her-itage to assess any possible eligibility for citizenship.

Begum is currently in a refugee camp in northeastSyria where she fled to escape fighting in the east ofthe country along with hundreds of other people withlinks to IS. She said she had previously given birth totwo other children after marrying in Syria. Both chil-dren are said to have died, apparently from illness andmalnutrition. Begum fled Britain with Kadiza Sultana,who has since been reported killed, and Amira Abase.Begum said in recent media interviews that Abase hadstayed in a village where IS fighters were making a finalstand against US-backed forces.

European countries have been grappling with whatto do with foreign fighters detained in Syria by theKurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, who havewarned they may not be able to guard their jails onceUS troops leave. The British government on Mondayrebuffed US President Donald Trump’s call forEuropean allies to take back hundreds of allegedjihadists captured in the war-ravaged country. PrimeMinister Theresa May’s spokesman said the fightersshould instead face justice in places where they com-mitted their crimes. — AFP

IS teen ‘shocked’ after UK revokes...

CAIRO: Egyptian authorities executed nine men con-victed over the 2015 killing of the country’s chief prose-cutor yesterday amid a surge in the number of deathsentences carried out this month, lawyers, activists andofficials said. The men were among a group of 28 whowere sentenced to death in the case in 2017. Public pros-ecutor Hisham Barakat was killed in a car bomb attackon his convoy in the capital, Cairo. Egypt blamed theMuslim Brotherhood and Gaza-based Hamas militantsfor the operation. Both groups denied having a role.

Since 2013, the year that then-army chief AbdelFattah Al-Sisi military ousted President Mohamed Mursiof the Muslim Brotherhood, Egyptian criminal courtshave issued hundreds of death sentences. Only a smallproportion have been carried out, though the rate ofexecutions has risen since 2015, rights activists say. Theexecuted men were brought to a morgue where families- who said they had not been informed about the execu-tion date in advance - waited anxiously for several hoursyesterday afternoon to recover their bodies.

Ghada Mohamed El-Abassy, the mother of one ofthose executed, said she had learnt about the executionfrom a TV report. She said she hadn’t seen her son inmore than one year because she was not allowed tovisit him in custody. “We are in a country wherehumans have no value. If we were of value to them theywouldn’t have deprived us from visiting them for years,”

she said. A police official at the morgue said authoritiesdon’t inform relatives before executions “for securityreasons”. “We can’t tell them of the date, no one knows,even the prisoners are not told, they can commit suicideif we tell them,” he said.

Officials at the morgue confirmed the executions hadbeen carried out yesterday morning. They followed sixothers carried out earlier this month, rights groups said.Three of those were convicted over the killing of apolice office in Sept 2013, and three over the killing of ajudge’s son the following year. In both cases the defen-dants or their lawyers had said torture was used toextract confessions, according to Amnesty International.

“These executions are a stark demonstration of thegovernment’s increasing use of the death penalty,” saidAmnesty International, which had appealed on Tuesdayfor authorities not to carry out the executions.“Egyptian authorities must urgently halt this bloodyexecution spree which has seen them repeatedly put-ting people to death after grossly unfair trials in recentweeks.” The rights group cited testimony by the defen-dants that they had been secretly detained and torturedinto confessing.

The latest executions took place two days afterthree policeman were killed in Cairo after cornering thealleged perpetrator of an attempted attack against apolice patrol in the capital last Friday. The executions“suggest a troubling trend on the part of the govern-ment in which executions appear to be tools of revengefollowing terrorist attacks rather than a part of anorderly criminal justice system,” said Timothy Kaldas,non-resident fellow at the Tahrir Institute for MiddleEast Policy. Sisi, who was elected president in 2014 andre-elected last year, says he is working to bring stabili-ty and security to Egypt following the turmoil of the2011 uprising. — Reuters

Egypt hangs 9for 2015 murder of prosecutor

SOHAG, Egypt: Nesma Ghanem is hoping for a fourthchild even though her doctor says her body can’t handle apregnancy at the moment. She has three daughters andwould like them to have a brother. “In the future he couldsupport his father and the girls,” said Ghanem, 27, wholives in a village in Sohag, an area with one of Egypt’shighest fertility rates. The family depends on her hus-band’s income from a local cafe. “If I have a son people,here in the village can say that he will carry on his father’sname,” she said.

As Egypt’s population heads towards 100 million, thegovernment is trying to change the minds of people likeGhanem. “Two Is Enough” is the government’s first family-planning campaign aiming to challenge traditions of largefamilies in rural Egypt. But Ghanem’s wish to have a sonshows how hard that could be. “The main challenge is thatwe’re trying to change a way of thinking,” said RandaFares, coordinator of the campaign at the Social SolidarityMinistry. “To change a way of thinking is difficult.”

Egypt’s population is growing by 2.6 million a year, ahigh rate for a country where water and jobs are scarceand schools and hospitals overcrowded. President AbdelFattah al-Sisi says the two biggest threats to Egypt areterrorism and population growth. “We are faced withscarcity in water resources ... scarcity in jobs, job creation,and we need to really control this population growth sothat people can feel the benefits of development,” Ministerof Social Solidarity Ghada Wali told Reuters.

Decades ago, Egypt had a family-planning program,supported by the United States. The fertility rate fell from5.6 children per woman in 1976 to 3.0 in 2008 while theuse of contraceptives went up from 18.8 percent to 60.3percent. Large amounts of contraceptives were madeavailable and advertisements increased demand for birthcontrol. Support for family planning from the Egyptiangovernment and large sums from donors helped make theprogram successful, said Duff Gillespie, who directedUSAID’s population office from 1986 to 1993.

Donor supportBut Egypt was relying on donor support and when that

assistance went away, family planning was neglected. By2014 the fertility rate had gone up to 3.5. The UnitedStates is supporting family planning in Egypt again, pro-viding more than $19 million for a five-year project endingin 2022 and $4 million for a smaller private sector projectending in 2020. Those amounts are significantly lower thanthe $371 million the United States spent on family planningin Egypt between 1976 and 2008.

“Two Is Enough” is mainly financed by Egyptian mon-ey, with the Social Solidarity Ministry spending 75 millionEgyptian pounds ($4.27 million) and the UN providing 10million pounds, according to the ministry. The two-yearcampaign targets more than 1.1 million poor families withup to three children. The Social Solidarity Ministry, withlocal NGOs, has trained volunteers to make home visitsand encourage people to have fewer children.

Mothers are invited to seminars with preachers whosay that Islam allows family planning, and doctors whoanswer questions. Billboards and TV ads promote small-er families. The government aims to reduce the currentfertility rate of 3.5 to 2.4 by 2030. At a session teachingvolunteers how to speak to mothers and fathers aboutfamily planning in a village in Giza, Asmaa Mohammad, a25-year-old volunteer, told Reuters she would ratherhave three children than two. “Since I was a child I knewI wanted three children,” said Mohammad who is unmar-ried and doesn’t have children yet.

Deeply rooted traditions and lack of education explainwhy many Egyptians have big families. Al-Azhar, Egypt’stop Sunni Muslim authority, endorses family planning, butnot all Egyptians agree. Some view children as a futuresource of support. Others who only have girls keep havingmore until they get a boy who can carry on the familyname. During a visit from a campaign volunteer, Ghanemsaid her wish to have a boy was not the main reason shewasn’t using contraceptives. She stopped using an IUD

after suffering from bleeding.

ContraceptivesAbout one in three Egyptian women stop using contra-

ceptives within a year, often due to misinformation aboutthe side effects or lack of information about alternatives,according to the United Nations Population Fund. Nearly13 percent of married women of reproductive age in Egyptwant to use contraceptives but are unable to, according toofficial data from 2014. Now the government has renovat-ed clinics, added staff and provided more free contracep-tives. Under “Two is Enough” the goal is to have 70 newclinics up and running in March.

But when Reuters visited a clinic in Sohag last month,there were no contraceptives left. Nema Mahmoud, whohad travelled from her village, was told to come back thenext day. Sohag, one of Egypt’s poorest governorates, alsohas one of the highest fertility rates at 4.3. The NationalPopulation Council said contraceptive use in Sohag is thelowest among six governorates surveyed.

For years Mahmoud, 33, didn’t use contraceptives con-sistently even though she wanted a small family. Her moth-er-in-law kept her from travelling to the city to get contra-ceptives when the local clinic was out, she said. It was onlyafter her mother-in-law died that she started using contra-ceptives properly. By then Mahmoud had three childrenand three miscarriages.

Since January, the government has limited cash assis-tance to poor families to two children instead of three inan attempt to push them to have fewer kids. Mahmoudwill receive less cash every month. Her husband worksonly a few days a month, making 45 Egyptian pounds($2.60) a day, she said. Mahmoud and her neighbor SanaaMohammad, a 38-year-old mother of three, said thechange should apply to new families, not women like themwho already benefit from the program and have more thantwo children. “It’s not fair to give someone something andthen take it away,” said Mohammad.

‘Two is enough,’ Egypt tells families as population booms

CAIRO: This picture taken yesterday shows a building reflecting the sunset on its windows in the Egyptian capital. — AFP

The government sees the population boom as a threatto its economic reform plans. Every year, 800,000 youngEgyptians enter the labor market, where unemployment isofficially 10 percent. In Egypt, population growth isaround half the economic growth rate, but it should be nomore than a third - otherwise it will be difficult to invest insocial programmes and improve living standards, saidMagued Osman, chief executive of Baseera, the EgyptianCenter for Public Opinion Research.

Analysts say Egypt should target people before theyhave children and sex education should be available inschools. “Two Is Enough is good, but by itself it will not dothe job,” said Abla Abdel Latif, executive director of theEgyptian Center for Economic Studies. Wafaa MohammadAmin, 36, a mother of four who works on “Two Is Enough”,got married at 17 and had her first child a year later. Twoof her children were malnourished because she didn’tknow how to breastfeed properly. — Reuters

Thursday, February 21, 2019S p o r t s

Southee, Taylor inspire Black Caps whitewash of Bangladesh

25

SCOREBOARD

New ZealandM. Guptill c Iqbal b Saifuddin 29 C. Munro lbw Mortaza 8 H. Nicholls c Iqbal b Hasan 64R. Taylor c Mamdullah b Rubel 69T. Latham c Sarkar b Rahman 59J. Neesham b Rahman 37C. de Grandhomme not out 37M. Santner not out 16Extras: (lb 3, nb 2, w 6) 11Total: (for 6 wickets; 50 overs) 330Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Munro), 2-59 (Guptill), 3-151 (Nicholls), 4-206(Taylor), 5-271 (Neesham), 6-284 (Latham) Bowling: Mashrafe Mortaza 10-1-51-1, Mustafizur Rahman 10-0-93-2 (3w, 1nb), Rubel Hossain 9-0-64-1 (1nb), Mohammad Saifuddin 10-0-48-1, Mehidy Hasan 9-0-43-1 (1w), Mahmudullah 2-0-28-0 (2w).

BangladeshT. Iqbal c Latham b Southee 0L. Das lbw Southee 1S. Sarkar b Southee 0M Rahim c Munro b Boult 17Mahmudullah c Munro b de Grandhomme 16S. Rahman c and b Southee 102M. Saifuddin c Guptill b Boult 44M. Mortaza c Boult b Southee 2M. Hasan c Guptill b Southee 37R. Hossain run out (Santner/Southee) 3M. Rahman not out 0 Extras: (lb 2, w 18) 20Total: (all out; 47.2 overs) 242Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Iqbal), 2-1 (Sarkar), 3-2 (Das), 4-40 (Rahim), 5-61 (Mahmudullah), 6-162 (Saifuddin), 7-170 (Mortaza), 8-237(Hasan), 9-242 (Hossain), 10-242 (S.Rahman)Bowling: Southee 9.2-1-65-6 (11w), Boult 9-1-37-1 (2w), deGrandhomme 5-0-18-1 (2w), Ferguson 10-0-50-0 (3w), Santner10-2-46-0, Neesham 4-0-24-0.Result: New Zealand win by 88 runsMan of the match: Tim SoutheeSeries: New Zealand win 3-0

Final scoreboard in the third and final one-day internationalbetween New Zealand and Bangladesh at Dunedin’s University Ovalyesterday:

Ross, New Zealand’s highest-scoring one-day international batsman

PORT ELIZABETH: Sri Lankan captain DimuthKarunaratne said yesterday he wanted his play-ers to continue playing with a smile on theirfaces as they seek to become the first Asianteam to win a Test series in South Africa.

Sri Lanka go into the second Test at StGeorge’s Park tosday with an unbeatable 1-0lead in the two-match series after their sensa-tional, Kusal Perera-inspired one-wicket win inthe first Test in Port Elizabeth.

“We came here to win matches,” saidKarunaratne, who was handed the captaincyafter Dinesh Chandimal was axed after losinga series in Australia last month. “I just wantto make sure the boys give their maximumeach day.”

Karunaratne said enjoyment was a key fac-tor. “We have to keep our heads clear andplay positively,” he said. “We want to enjoyourselves. You will see with our boys whenthey are playing they are smiling and cheeringeach other. If you are enjoying yourself youwill play well.”

The Sri Lankan captain said conditions inDurban and those expected in Port Elizabethwere “much easier” than those in Australia,where they played on fast, bouncy pitches.Although Sri Lanka were beaten by 206 runson their previous appearance in Port Elizabethtwo seasons ago, Karunaratne said they hadplayed well enough to go into Thursday’s matchwith confidence.

South African captain Faf du Plessis said hisplayers were “highly motivated” to square theseries. “We were in control for most of the(first) Test, then something brilliant took it awayfrom us,” he said of Perera’s match-winninginnings.

“The disappointing thing with a short seriesis that you only play two matches so for us it ismaking sure we square up the series.” Thepitch had a good covering of grass but DuPlessis said he expected a “normal” StGeorge’s Park pitch.

“It looks pretty similar to what we played onagainst Australia and Sri Lanka in our last twoTest matches. Hopefully there will be someassistance for our seamers. We are not expect-ing a lot of pace and bounce so we’re just hop-ing there will be decent carry.”

Du Plessis admitted that Sri Lanka’s inexpe-rienced bowlers, notably Vishwa Fernando andLasith Embuldeniya, had brought “an elementof the unknown and a surprise factor” to thetouring team’s attack.

“There has already been a bit of chat tomake sure we play the new guys better,” hesaid. Du Plessis hinted that all-rounder WiaanMulder, who turned 21 on Tuesday, could makehis Test debut in place of the injured VernonPhilander.

“I see a role for him for the Proteas movingforward as a batting all-rounder, batting atnumber six or seven and bowling those extraten overs that you need.” —AFP

Smiling Sri Lankans seek series win

DUNEDIN: Tim Southee snared a six-wicket haul andRoss Taylor tore up the record books as New Zealanddominated Bangladesh to seal a 3-0 series whitewashwith an 88-run victory in the final one-day internationalin Dunedin yesterday. Sabbir Rahman’s gallant maidenODI century saved Bangladesh from total humilationafter they lost three wickets with just two runs on theboard chasing New Zealand’s imposing target of 331.

The tourists were 242 all out in 47.2 overs after theBlack Caps were sent into bat and made 330 for six atUniversity Oval. It was final New Zealand outing beforethe Cricket World Cup and players were desperate toimpress coach Gary Stead even though the fixture wasa dead rubber.

Paceman Tim Southee, overlooked in New Zealand’spast six ODIs, took six for 65 to guarantee himselfalmost certainly a berth at the tournament.

Henry Nicholls looks to have secured an openingbatting slot with a sparkling 64, but out-of-form rivalColin Munro was dismissed for eight. “Henry’s shownhe’s a versatile player for us... he’s a key component ofour batting line-up,” Black Caps coach Gary Stead said,adding that Munro might make the trip as injury cover.

Ross Taylor became New Zealand’s highest-scoringone-day international batsman as his 69 off 81 ballstook him past 8,000 runs in th 50-over format. His47th ODI half-century saw Taylor reach 8,026 runs,overtaking Stephen Fleming’s previous record of 8,007.

The 34-year-old, who made his ODI debut in 2006,reached his milestone in 203 innings with a superbaverage of 48.34. “I definitely would have taken thatwhen I played my first match donkey’s years ago,” hesaid. “If you play long enough I guess these recordscome along but it’s nice to set the bar for the next guy.“I’m still enjoying myself and hopefully I’ve still got afew years in me.” Tom Latham pressed his claim for aWorld Cup spot with a solid 59 while Colin deGrandhomme and Jimmy Neesham both scored 37 asthey seek all-rounder berths.

Bangladesh made a horror start to the run chasewhen Tim Southee claimed a trio of top-order wicketsin his opening two overs to leave the visitors reeling ontwo for three. The run rate slowed to a crawl afterMushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad departed,each caught by Munro after offering rash shots in pur-suit of quick runs.

Resistance finally came in the form of Rahmanand Mohammad Saifuddin, who made 44 in a 101-run partnership that added respectability to thescoreboard. Captain Mashrafe Mortaza saidRahman’s plucky 102 was one of the highlights of atough series. “It’s disappointing but we have tocome back stronger,” he said. — AFP

DUNEDIN: New Zealand pose for a team photo as they celebrate their series win following the third one-day inter-national cricket match between New Zealand and Bangladesh at University Oval in Dunedin yesterday. —AFP

LONDON: The children playing cricket in the unlikelysetting of London’s Trafalgar Square could have beenforgiven for not knowing the identity of the grey-hairedgentleman loping between the wickets.

Yet even wearing a heavy coat to guard against thechill of an English winter morning, the tall, bespectacledand slightly stooping figure of Clive Lloyd was stillinstantly recognisable to generations of cricket fans.Lloyd was in London on Tuesday at an event marking100 days until the start of the 2019 World Cup inEngland and Wales.

But unlike all the England cricketers past and pres-ent also involved, including Nasser Hussain, GraemeSwann, Alastair Cook and James Anderson, Lloydknows what it is be a World Cup-winner, having ledWest Indies to victories in Lord’s finals in 1975 and1979. The 1975 edition, the inaugural men’s World Cup,saw West Indies captain Lloyd make a superb centuryduring a 17-run win in the final against Australia. “It wasthe first World Cup-they’ll never be another first-andhaving won it in front of a large West Indian contingent,it was quite exciting,” Lloyd told AFP.

‘SPOT OF BOTHER’ Modern batsmen are often expected to score at bet-

ter than a run-a-ball in a one-day game. That wasn’t thecase, however, in 1975 when field restrictions had yet tobecome part of limited-overs cricket.

Lloyd’s innings of 102 off 85 balls, including 12 foursand two sixes, in the final would have been eye-catch-ing enough in scoring-rate terms alone. But that hecame in with West Indies having slumped to 50 forthree after being sent into bat by Australia captain IanChappell and made a hundred against an attack featur-ing outstanding quicks Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson,as well as left-arm swing bowler Gary Gilmour, made itall the more impressive.

Lloyd-dropped early on-received excellent support

from veteran batsman Rohan Kanhai who, in his 40thyear, got off the mark by driving the fearsomely fastThomson off the back foot for four.

The pair shared a stand of 149 that helped WestIndies to a total of 291 for eight in a then 60 overs, withChappell later remarking that Lloyd “battered us fromone side of Lord’s to the other”.

Lloyd’s recollection was, typically, rather moreunderstated. “I got a few runs-I think I got 102 - butthe point is I got in there when we lost three quickwickets, so we were in a spot of bother.

“Rohan Kanhai and myself sort of rallied the situa-tion and then we got to a pretty good score. We had atotal that we can defend and we defended it quite well.Although it was close in the end, we were always in the

ascendancy.”West Indies had to come through a qualifying event

to reach this year’s World Cup. But they recently upsetthe odds to beat England 2-1 in a Test series and their74-year-old former captain believes they could cause afew upsets at the World Cup as well, especially if self-styled “Universe Boss” Chris Gayle-a powerful left-handed batsman in the Lloyd mould-finds his form.

“I think they can be quite a formidable side if theychoose the right team,” said Lloyd ahead of the start ofa five-match one-day series between the West Indiesand World Cup favourites England in Barbados yester-day. “We have some good one-day players and let’shope Mr Gayle fires in more ways than one. I think theycan do very well in this competition.” — AFP

World Cup ‘firsts’ still vivid for West Indies hero Lloyd

BRIDGETOWN: Ben Stokes (L) and Joe Root (R) of England take part in a training session one day ahead of the 1stODI between West Indies and England at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados, yesterday.— AFP

LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt hopesan unexpected call to play in the domestic Twenty20league will help him regain his place on the nationalteam, he said yesterday, years after he was banned forspot-fixing. The 34-year-old said he was delighted tojoin the Lahore Qalandars in the ongoing PakistanSuper League (PSL) as a replacement for MohammadHafeez, who was ruled out after fracturing his thumb.

“After a long time I received one of the best mes-sages of my life when Lahore called me to play in thePSL, and I am very happy to get this opportunity,” hetold AFP. The PSL’s popularity has surged since it wasfirst held in 2016. The bulk of the tournament is playedin the United Arab Emirates, but with security improvingin Pakistan the final eight matches-including the March17 final-will be held at home, in Karachi and Lahore. Theleague’s growing profile means it is the first big chance

for the left-handed batsman to rehabilitate himself sincehis high-profile ban for a spot-fixing scandal whicherupted on Pakistan’s 2010 tour of England.

Butt, captain of Pakistan’s Test team at the time, wascharged for orchestrating deliberate no-balls from hispace bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asifduring the Lord’s Test in return for money.

He was banned for five years in total, as were Asifand Amir. Though they completed their bans inSeptember 2015, only Amir was able to regain his placein the Pakistan team. “It’s been a long time and I havebeen doing all my training and playing domestic cricketand trying my best to play for Pakistan,” said Butt.

Since his return to domestic cricket in Pakistan, hehas been a prolific run scorer, finishing with 536 runs inthe National One-Day Cup in early 2016 — his firsttournament since being cleared to play.

He scored 741 runs in the premier first-class tourna-ment-the Quaid-e-Azam trophy-with twin hundreds inthe final to help his team to the title in December 2016,and continued his strong form in the same tournamentlast year. Butt said he hopes he has done his penance.“It’s been a long and hard path, but thankfully this is thefirst step and if I can carry on doing well things willwork out, Inshallah,” he said.

Before his ban Butt had played 33 Tests, 78 one-dayinternationals and 24 Twenty20 matches for Pakistan.He led Pakistan to a rare series draw against Australia in2010, over two Tests played in England. —AFP

Butt says call to play PSL could be his shot at redemption

Salman Butt

Thursday, February 21, 2019S p o r t s

26

LONDON: Armed with his talent and a racket bag fullof hope, Frenchman Evan Furness is one of thedreamers hoping to climb from tennis’s lowest rungsup onto the biggest stages of all.

The trouble is the vast majority of the thousandsof players who venture, like 20-year-old Furness, intothe jungle of world tennis find the path leads not tofame and fortune, but to a dead end and debt.

Far from emulating the likes of Roger Federer orSerena Williams, most never even reach the lucrativeATP or WTA Tours, and hundreds never earn a beanfor all their hard graft.

In 2017, there were 14,000 so-called tennis pro-fessionals, but fewer than 600 broke even beforecoaching costs.

While the likes of Novak Djokovic and Serenaearn fortunes from the sport and even men’s 100th-ranked Vasek Pospisil has banked $5.2 million in adecade on Tour, around 80 percent of professionalsquit having earned next to nothing.

In truth, for the majority, a career as a tennis prohas been more fantasy than reality.

Which is why the International Tennis Federation(ITF) has acted on its three-year Player Pathwayreview, a comprehensive study into the professionalgame published in 2017, and why players like Furnessnow see light at the end of the tunnel.

The new ITF World Tennis Tour, a transition circuitof 1,600 junior and entry-level tournaments, began inJanuary to provide a streamlined progressionbetween the junior and senior game, enabling moreprofessional players to make a living.

Prize money pools of $15,000 and $25,000 will beavailable for entry-level men’s and women’s eventswhile, crucially, “reserved places” will be available inhigher level tournaments.

Jackie Nesbitt, Executive Director of the ITF ProCircuits, said the initial indications were positive.

“As a sport it was clear we needed to do muchbetter for the players,” she told Reuters by telephone.“The new structure has a clear aim and that is to sup-port the best young male and female players and todeliver them to the ATP and WTA Tours.

“It’s about fast-tracking on merit, allowing the bestplayers in the entry-level tournaments to move upthrough the professional pathway quicker and at lesscost to themselves.”

The new system features an ITF World Tour rank-ing list which will run separately from the ATP andWTA rankings, both of which will be trimmed back to750 players.

Top-100 ranked juniors will be eligible forreserved places in $15k tournaments, while Level 2$25k draws will also have places for players doingwell at a lower level.

Four reserved places will be available for ITF-ranked players in ATP Challenger, one level below thefull ATP Tour.

Frenchman Furness took advantage of a reservedspot to win a $25k event in Hong Kong and then wonanother title in Switzerland - proof, Nesbitt said, thatthe system worked.

“We are really encouraged,” Nesbitt said. “Itshows they are competing at the right level and arecompetitive at that level.” While reducing the quantityof players might seem counter-intuitive, ITF presidentDavid Haggerty said offering better rewards will help“retain the best talent”.—Reuters

ITF’s new pathway to help dreamers reach the top

Pittsburgh Steelers and Antonio Brown decide to part ways

Chiefs likely to apply franchise tag to linebacker Dee FordAfter meeting with team president Art Rooney II onTuesday, Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Brownannounced on Twitter that both sides have decided topart ways. “Had a great meeting with Mr. Rooney todaywe discussed a lot of things and we cleared the air onseveral issues! We both agreed that it is time to moveon but I’ll always have appreciation and gratitudetowards the Rooney family and @steelers organization!#CallGod #Boomin,” Brown tweeted.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Brown’s agent,Drew Rosenhaus, andSteelers general managerKevin Colbert and vice pres-ident Omar Kahn joined themeeting. “Everyone agreedthe trade will be for thebest,” a source told Schefter.

All-Pro tight end RobGronkowski is still mullingover whether to retire orreturn to the New EnglandPatriots for a 10th NFL sea-son, Rosenhaus said. “He’sthinking it through, he’s giving it a lot of thought,” theagent said on ESPN’s “NFL Live,” adding, “I imagine adecision will happen in the next couple of weeks.”

NFL Network’s Mike Giardi tweeted Tuesday after-noon that “Gronkowski told multiple teammates/associ-ates that he wanted to win another ring in the first fewdays following the Super Bowl.”

The Kansas City Chiefs are likely to apply the fran-chise tag to linebacker Dee Ford, according to multiplereports. The franchise tag period opened and will rununtil March 5. The linebacker tag for 2019 is expectedto be $15.78 million, according to ProFootballTalk.

In the 2018 regular season, Ford played in 16 gamesand recorded career highs in sacks (13), tackles (55),tackles for loss (13) and QB hits (29). The 27-year-oldtold WFNZ in Charlotte on Monday that he wouldn’tobject to playing under the franchise tag while a longer

deal is worked out between the sides.The New York Jets are not picking up the options on

three defensive players, the team officially announced.Defensive tackle Mike Pennel, safety Terrence Brooksand linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis will become freeagents.

The Jets had a deadline of Tuesday to pay a $1 mil-lion bonus to Pennel, 27, who signed a three-year con-tract last March. Had the team paid the bonus, the finaltwo years of the contract would have been activated.

New York Giants defen-sive backs coach LouAnarumo will interviewThursday for the CincinnatiBengals’ vacant defensivecoordinator position,according to multiplereports.

New Bengals head coachZac Taylor and Anarumo, 52,worked together on theMiami Dolphins’ coachingstaff from 2012-15. Anarumo

was interim defensive coordinator with the Dolphins in2015 but otherwise he only has coached defensivebacks during his seven seasons in the NFL.

He spent more than 20 years in college coaching pri-or to moving to the NFL. Tight end Scott Simonson re-signed with the Giants, the team announced. The 26-year-old played in 16 games (four starts) in 2018 andcaught nine passes for 86 yards and one touchdown inhis first season with the Giants.

Simonson, who attended Assumption College, signedwith the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in2014. He then spent two seasons with Carolina beforespending the 2017 season on injured reserve with aback injury.

The Arizona Cardinals signed former Buffalo Billstight end Charles Clay to a one-year contract. The Billsreleased Clay last week, with the eight-year veteran

heading into the final year of a five-year $38 millioncontract. His deal with Arizona is worth up to $3.25 mil-lion, including a $350,000 signing bonus, according toESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Atlanta Falcons agreed to a three-year exten-sion with offensive lineman Ty Sambrailo, the teamannounced. Sambrailo, 26, started the last four games ofthe 2018 season for Atlanta, playing both left guard andright tackle. His contract was set to expire next month.Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Jacksonville Jaguars hired 31-year NFL coach-ing veteran Dom Capers as a senior defensive assistant,the team announced. Capers, who was the Jaguars’defensive coordinator from 1999-2000, most recentlyserved as the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinatorfrom 2009-17. Capers, 68, has been the head coach oftwo NFL expansion teams-the Carolina Panthers(1995-98) and Houston Texans (2002-05). He wasnamed the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year in1996. — Reuters

CHARLOTTE: NFL player, Antonio Brown smiles and laughs during the 2019 NBA All-Star Game on February 17,2019 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. — AFP

Had a great meeting with Mr Rooney

BARCELONA: Lewis Hamilton shrugged off Ferrari’stesting pace yesterday while recognising that he andMercedes faced their toughest challenge yet as theyseek to stretch their Formula One domination into asixth successive season.

Ferrari, overall runners-up last year, have led thetimesheets for the first two days of testing atBarcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya and have also doneplenty of laps with their new SF90 car.

Sebastian Vettel, the four times champion who ispartnered by young Monegasque Charles Leclerc this

year, said on Monday his Ferrari had been “close toperfection”. Mercedes, winners of both titles for thepast five years, have also been pounding out themileage without setting any eye-catching times.

“They (Ferrari) have been looking great,” Hamilton,who will be chasing his sixth title, told reporters. “Forus it’s been just digging deep, trying to understand thecar, Pretty much the same as the beginning of everyyear. “The Ferraris always look strong, particularly inthe last few years they look very strong right at thebeginning so it’s to be expected.” Ferrari won the firsttwo races of last year with a car that seemed quickerthan the Mercedes but the champions came backstrongly and Hamilton ended the year with 11 wins toVettel’s tally of five.

NO WORRIESLast year Ferrari-who won six successive construc-

tors’ titles between 1999 and 2004 — were fastest intesting but it was still Hamilton who put his Mercedes

on pole position at the first race in Melbourne with acircuit record time. “At the moment I don’t really holdany worry about anything,” said the 34-year-old Briton,who conceded that Ferrari did appear to have pro-duced a better package than last season.

“I just try to focus on our job. I don’t know whateveryone’s doing, there’s different fuel loads. I’ve beenin this business a long time so I know how it goes overthe first week and into the second.

“It’s not a time where we need to be focusing onothers. We let everyone else do their thing and reallytry to focus on digging deep, making sure our process-es are better than ever before, analysing the data betterthan ever before.” Hamilton said the W10 Mercedes feltsimilar to last year’s W09, despite aerodynamic rulechanges, and he was in the best shape of his life physi-cally. “I’m here for round seven with the team,” he said.“This is going to be the most challenging year, I think,of our partnership. “And I still love racing so nothingreally changes there.” — Reuters

Hamilton shrugs off Ferrari’s early testing pace

MILAN: Former world champion Carolina Kostnerhas ruled out competing in the world figure skatingchampionships in Japan next month, with a slim hopethat she will return from injury for the World TeamTrophy there in April. The 32-year-old Italian has notcompleted this season as she struggles with a left hipproblem and a fractured foot she picked up in adomestic accident in December.

“I never thought this season would turn out likethis and I have to say breaking my foot disheartenedme at the beginning,” said five-time European cham-

pion Kostner, whose career has spanned 17 years.“But then I transformed the time into something

useful by dedicating myself, apart from the initialrest, to activities off the ice. “Now I have also takenup dance and I am happy to be able to resume mywork on the ice.”

Kostner said she was resuming training graduallyand hopes to participate in some Galas and a tour ofJapan at the end May. The only remaining hope ofseeing her in competition would be at The WorldTeam Trophy in Fukuoka, Japan from April 11-14.

The world championships are also in Japan, inSaitama, from March 18-24. In addition to her goldin 2012, Kostner has won two silver and threebronze at worlds. She also won bronze at the 2014Winter Olympics in Sochi, but finished fifth inPyeongchang 2018 and slumped to fourth in worldsat home in Milan. — AFP

NEW DELHI: India could face sanctions after twoPakistani shooters failed to get visas to attend aWorld Cup event in New Delhi, the sport’s worldbody said yesterday, amid tensions over a deadlysuicide bomb attack in Indian Kashmir.

New Delhi has accused Islamabad of supportingthe perpetrators of last week’s attack that left at least40 paramilitaries dead. Pakistan has denied anyinvolvement.

Two Pakistani shooters, G.M. Bashir and KhalilAhmed, and their manager were to take part in theevent but had not arrived for yesterday’s eve-of-contest formalities. The International Shooting SportFederation (ISSF) warned India of consequences.

“The ISSF World Cup in New Delhi faces anurgent situation as Pakistani athletes cannot getentry visas to participate in the competition,” itsaid in a statement. The federation and the Indianorganising committee are making “all efforts tosolve the situation to avoid the discrimination ofthe Pakistani team”.

“Besides that, the ISSF and the organizing com-mittee are discussing the possible consequences forIndia as a host country for future international com-petitions, in all sports.” India, which has expressed astrong interest in hosting the 2032 Olympics and2030 Asian Games, could face International OlympicCommittee (IOC) action if Pakistan is blocked fromtaking part.

The event, with 500 shooters from 58 nations, isa qualifier for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. TheKashmir attack sparked anger and outrage acrossIndia, with thousands of protesters staging anti-Pakistan rallies in several Indian cities demandingaction, and even war.

National Rifle Association of India general secre-tary D.V. Seetharama Rao said it was not certain thePakistanis would cross the border even if they hadvisas. “They have to come and shoot and shooting issuch a technical sport with so much mental strainthat this might cause disturbance in their mind,” Raotold reporters.

“Their families and coaches might not allow themto come.” “Repercussions? we take it as it comes. Ican’t predict the future,” the official added. Rao saidthe Pakistanis would be allowed to compete if theyhave visas and make the trip to India. — AFP

India faces sanctions after Pakistanis fail to get World Cup visas

NEW DELHI: Shimaa Hashad of Egypt takes part in a pratice session with an air rifle at the International ShootingSport Federation (ISSF) World Cup at Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi yesterday. — AFP

Kostner rules out worlds in Japan

S p o r t s Thursday, February 21, 2019

27

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admit-ted an underwhelming 0-0 draw against old foesBayern Munich on Tuesday was not what he “dreamedof”, but remained confident of progressing to the quar-ter-finals of the Champions League.

Sadio Mane wasted the best chance when theSenegalese forward fired wide during an open first 45minutes, but a cagey second half left it all to be decidedwhen the sides meet again in Munich on March 13.

However, without the talismanic presence of Virgilvan Dijk through suspension and the injured Joe Gomezand Dejan Lovren, Liverpool at least did not concedean away goal despite fielding a make-shift centraldefensive pairing of Brazilianmidfielder Fabinho and JoelMatip. “It’s not the result orthe game we dreamed of,”said Klopp. “It is not a gamewe will remember in 30years. It’s the result we haveand we will work with that.“It was a clean sheet withoutthe big man (Van Dijk). A lotof people wouldn’t haveexpected that. The defendingwas good. A lot of thingswere really good, I’m not over the moon but I’m com-pletely OK with the game.”

That unfamiliarity in Liverpool’s defence showed inthe early stages as the hosts started nervously at theback. Matip breathed a sigh of relief when he turnedSerge Gnabry’s driven cross towards his own goal onlyfor the ball to bounce to safety off Alisson Becker’schest. However, the Brazilian goalkeeper played his side

into trouble moments later to put pressure on Matipand when he was dispossessed by RobertLewandowski, Kingsley Coman fired into the side-net-ting. Liverpool were also posing plenty of problems atthe other end, although their final ball often lacked pre-cision. “We made life more difficult with the last passtoday about 10 or 12 times,” added Klopp. “We canplay better and we should play better.”

Mohamed Salah headed wide at the back post fromTrent Alexander-Arnold’s perfectly measured cross.

Mane then passed up the best chance for either sideas he shot wide on the turn after Naby Keita’s initialeffort was blocked by the arm of Niklas Suele. Bayern

may not have hit the heightsof previous years in theBundesliga this season asthey trail Borussia Dortmundby three points in their questto land a seventh straightleague title.

However, the Germanchampions have made thelast eight of the ChampionsLeague for each of the pastseven seasons and had theexperience to hold out for

what they clearly saw as a valuable draw as they woundthe clock down in the final stages.

“I can’t remember that many clubs that have notconceded at Anfield. They way Liverpool play, they area sensationally good team. My team as a whole kepteverything tight at the back,” said Bayern boss NikoKovac. “We didn’t score but we didn’t let one in. Homegames are an advantage, we play in front of 75,000,

but we know if we concede we have to win.”Liverpool had 10 days off to prepare for Bayern’s

visit due to their early exit in the FA Cup and lookedthe fresher side as they pressed for a winner.

Mane forced Manuel Neuer to produce his best saveof the night to turn a low header behind five minutes

from time. Klopp’s men have lost all of their last fiveChampions League games away from Anfield, includinglast season’s final.

The return of Van Dijk will aid their chances, but thatrot will need to stop in Munich in three weeks’ time ifthey are to reach the last eight. — AFP

Klopp ‘not over the moon’ as Bayern frustrate Liverpool

Sadio Mane wasted the best chance

It’s not the result we

dreamed ofLIVERPOOL: Liverpool’s Guinean midfielder Naby Keita (R) misses with this overhead kick during the UEFA ChampionsLeague round of 16, first leg football match between Liverpool and Bayern Munich at Anfield stadium in Liverpool,north-west England on Tuesday. — AFP

Matches on TV (Local Timings)

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUEArsenal FC v FK Bate Borisov 20:55beIN SPORTS HD 1GNK Dinamo Zagreb v FC Viktoria Plzen 20:55beIN SPORTSRed Bull Salzburg v Club Brugge KV 20:55beIN SPORTS HD 6SSC Napoli v FC Zurich 20:55beIN SPORTS HD 4Eintracht Frankfurt v Shakhtar Donetsk 20:55beIN SPORTS HD 5Valencia C.F v Celtic 20:55beIN SPORTS HD 2Zenit St. Petersburg v FenerbahÁe 20:55beIN SPORTSVillarreal CF v Sporting CP 20:55beIN SPORTS HD 3Internazionale Milano v SK Rapid Wien 23:00beIN SPORTS HD 4KRC Genk v SK Slavia Prague 23:00beIN SPORTS HD 6Bayer 04 Leverkusen v FK Krasnodar 23:00beIN SPORTS HD 5Chelsea FC v Malmo FF 23:00beIN SPORTS HD 1Real Betis v Stade Rennais 23:00beIN SPORTS HD 3Dynamo Kyiv v Olympiacos CFP 23:00beIN SPORTS HD 7SL Benfica v Galatasaray SK 23:00beIN SPORTS HD 2

DOHA: Newly-crowned Asian Cup winners Qatarcould play friendlies against Brazil or Uruguay in Juneahead of playing in the Copa America, the team’s coachand officials said yesterday. The South American giantsare among a list of teams Qatar are trying to securematches against-others include Colombia, Panama andthe USA-ahead of their first Copa America appearance.

“We need to finalise the preparations but sure weneed to play a couple of games,” said coach FelixSanchez on the sidelines of an award ceremony for thewinning squad in Doha. “We prepare a list of potentialteams that we would like to play against but also weneed to see their availability.”

Qatar Football Association (QFA) president SheikhHamad Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmed al-Thani said the team’sfirst friendly would be in early June. “It will be [a team]from South America, we will announce it as soon aspossible,” he said.

Qatar have been drawn in a group with Argentina,Colombia and Paraguay in the Copa America, whichstarts on June 15. The 2022 World Cup hosts could alsoset up a training camp in the United States ahead of thetournament.

Qatar’s inclusion in the Copa America-along withthat of Japan-initially raised eyebrows but both teamsreached the Asian Cup final. Qatar’s victory, notablyachieved in the backyard of political rivals United ArabEmirates, would help boost the country’s “football” rep-utation, said Spaniard Sanchez.

Sheikh Hamad added that the QFA was “working” ona new contract for Sanchez following the Asian Cup tri-umph. Sanchez, however, said he did not need one, butwhen asked how long his existing contract was for, hesaid he could not “remember”. — AFP

Qatar eyeing Brazil friendly

LONDON: The tragedy of the plane crash that killedArgentine footballer Emiliano Sala has now entered anugly aftermath as Premier League club Cardiff City andFrench side Nantes threaten to go to court over his £15million ($19 million) transfer fee.

Sala, who was buried at the age of 28 in theArgentine village of Progreso on Saturday, neverplayed a game for Cardiff. The plane carrying the strik-er and pilot David Ibbotson came down in the EnglishChannel en route to the Welsh capital on January 21,two days after he completed his transfer from Nantes.

Cardiff have so far refused to pay the first instalmentof the club record fee, believed to be £5 million, as theyawait the results of an Air Accidents InvestigationsBureau (AAIB) investigation into the causes of thecrash. The Telegraph reported on Sunday that Cardiffbelieve that if the AAIB find Ibbotson did not hold thenecessary licence to carry passengers on a commercialbasis, then a negligence claim could be launchedagainst whoever arranged the flight.

That would point the finger at agents Willie andMark McKay, who were hired by Nantes to secure thetransfer. Willie McKay has accused Cardiff of “trying tothrow me under the bus” in an attempt to avoid payingthe transfer fee. Speaking to The Times, Willie McKaysaid his son Mark arranged the fateful flight carryingSala and Ibbotson, just as he had organised severalflights for brokers of the deal in the weeks previously,including Cardiff manager Neil Warnock.

Willie McKay also rejected a statement from Cardiffchairman Mehmet Dalman that the club were unawareof who made Sala’s flight arrangements. In his pub-lished timeline of events, Willie McKay said: “Emilianowas due to be met by the Cardiff City player liaisonofficer who was waiting for him to arrive at theSignature Flight Support building at Cardiff Airport onMonday evening (January 21). Cardiff City knew of theflight and who organised the flight.”

Cardiff have also reportedly questioned WillieMcKay’s practice of trying to inflate transfer fees byfabricating interest in players from clubs. “It was uswho put in the media about other clubs wanting you -West Ham, Everton etc - to create an interest on youthat’s what we do,” Willie McKay wrote in a letter toSala that has now been made public.

However, that is a common, if dubious, practiceamong football agents and Cardiff’s case to use that asa reason for avoiding any part of the transfer fee isunlikely to be met with favour should the case proceed

to court. Nantes believe the McKays’ work for themended when Sala’s move was transfer was completed,therefore absolving them of any responsibility over thearrangements of the flight. The Guardian reported yes-terday that Nantes will take their case to FIFA thisweek if the £5 million instalment is not paid. “FIFA hasnot been contacted on this matter,” world football’sgoverning body said when contacted by AFP.

A resolution via FIFA’s players’ status committee oreven the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration forSport (CAS) is likely unless Cardiff relent on their cur-rent stance. “There are, in my opinion, two possiblesolutions,” sports lawyer Gianpaolo Monteneri, whowas head of FIFA’s Players’ Status Department from1997-2005, told the Press Association.

“The first one is that the parties have established togo to FIFA and, in such a case, the matter is submittedto the players’ status committee in the first instance,with the possibility of an appeal to CAS.

“But it is also possible that the parties have decidedto skip FIFA and go direct to CAS.” Should Cardiff befound to have failed to comply with their contractualobligations without due cause, a range of sanctions areon offer to FIFA, according to Monteneri.

“If certain deadlines, which are mentioned in thetransfer contract, are not met then these may triggerconsequences for the club in question. “This can befrom an admonishment right up to a withdrawal ofleague points.” — AFP

Sala tragedysparks unsavourylegal wrangle

LYON: Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde shruggedoff his team’s struggles in front of goal after theywere held to a 0-0 draw away at Lyon in the first legof their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday.

The Spanish side had most of the chances at theGroupama Stadium, with Luis Suarez firing just widein the second half, although it was Lyon who camethe closest when Martin Terrier hit the bar early on.

Lionel Messi and co. were once again left frustrat-ed on the road at the business end of the competi-tion, and have now gone six away matches withoutwinning in the Champions League knockout rounds,scoring just a single goal in that time. It is a run thatgoes back three years.

Desperate to end Real Madrid’s recent Europeandominance, Barca must now finish the job when theteams meet again at the Camp Nou on March 13,but Lyon remain in the tie. Barcelona’s form needsto improve between now and then, though-theyhave drawn four of their last five matches in all, andhave scored just once, from a penalty, in their lastthree outings.

“We played good football, but you have to hit thetarget as well, and we didn’t,” Valverde said. “We areon the right road, though, and the tie is still up in theair. We will try to win it in front of our fans.”

He added: “I am not happy with the result, but Iam happy with the performance and with what wecreated. “We didn’t score, but that is how it is. It isnot easy to win away from home in the ChampionsLeague.”

The visitors-who started with Sergi Roberto inmidfield rather than the out-of-form PhilippeCoutinho-had good reason to be wary of their hosts,who have excelled in big games this season.

Bruno Genesio’s team had taken four points froma possible six against Manchester City in the groupstage and recently won at home to Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1. They are still unbeaten inEurope this season, although this was their sixthconsecutive draw.

“It’s a satisfying result because it leaves us with achance for the second leg, and we didn’t concede. Ifwe can score at the Camp Nou we’ll have a chance

of going through,” said Genesio. He admitted that hehad hoped for an even better performance, but Lyonwere missing their World Cup-winning captain NabilFekir due to suspension here.

It was the 21-year-old Terrier who surprisinglystarted in his place, and he delivered the most excit-ing moment of the first half for the crowd of almost58,000 with a thunderous strike from 20 yards outin the ninth minute that was tipped onto the bar byMarc-Andre ter Stegen.

The same player later shot over at the end of afantastic move, while Houssem Aouar had earlierbeen denied by the goalkeeper, but it wasBarcelona who enjoyed the longer spells of posses-sion. Ousmane Dembele-one of two Frenchmen inthe away line-up-came closest for them in the firsthalf, although their best chances came after he had

been replaced by Coutinho midway through thesecond period.

Suarez came within inches of breaking the dead-lock 20 minutes from time, firing narrowly wide fromJordi Alba’s cutback. He has now gone 16 awaymatches without scoring in the competition.

Coutinho had a powerful shot beaten away byAnthony Lopes, with the Lyon goalkeeper also frus-trating Messi and Sergio Busquets as Barcelonadominated but departed without a potentially pre-cious away goal.

“It is a little bit of a disappointment, but there isstill the second leg to come and we hope to do bet-ter,” said defender Clement Lenglet. At least theyextended their unbeaten record against Lyon to sev-en matches, but there remains hope for the Frenchclub ahead of the return. — AFP

Barcelona draw blank in Lyon to leave tie open

DECINES-CHARPIEU : Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (R) plays the ball during the UEFA ChampionsLeague round of 16 first leg football match between Lyon (OL) and FC Barcelona on Tuesday, at the Groupama Stadiumin Decines-Charpieu, central-eastern France. — AFP

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2019

Blues win record 11th straightJosi’s two 3rd-period goals lift Predators past Stars

ST LOUIS: Ryan O’Reilly #90 of the St Louis Blues fights Nikita Zaitsev #22 of the Toronto Maple Leafs for control of the puck at the Enterprise Center on Tuesday in St Louis, Missouri. — AFP

ST LOUIS: Ryan O’Reilly scored 34 seconds into over-time as the St Louis Blues extended their winning streakto a franchise-record 11 games with a 3-2 victory overthe visiting Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night.Jaden Schwartz had a goal and an assist, and ColtonParayko scored a goal for the Blues, who built a 2-0 leadin the first period. Tyler Bozak added two assists. ZachHyman and Auston Matthews scored in the third periodfor the Maple Leafs, who ended the Blues’ shutoutstreak at 233 minutes and 50 seconds, second in fran-chise history to a run of 258:30 from March 16-29, 2016.Jordan Binnington, who made his first career start Jan. 7,recorded 31 saves for St. Louis. He is 13-1-1 with ninestraight wins, a franchise record for a rookie goaltender.Frederik Andersen made 38 saves for Toronto.

LIGHTNING 5, FLYERS 2J.T. Miller and Ryan McDonagh had a goal and an

assist apiece, and Alex Killorn, Mikhail Sergachev andYanni Gourde each scored a goal to lead visiting TampaBay past Phi ladelphia. Backup goaltender LouisDomingue was terrific with 28 saves as the Lightning

won their seventh in a row. Domingue also won his 11thin a row. Oskar Lindblom scored a goal, his third in twogames, and Travis Konecny also scored, but the Flyershad their three-game winning streak snapped. SeanCouturier had two assists for Philadelphia.

PREDATORS 5, STARS 3Roman Josi scored twice in the third period-the

deciding goal and clinching empty-netter-and RyanEllis racked up three assists as visiting Nashvil ledefeated Dallas. Josi netted the game-winner at the7:35 mark of the third period as his shot deflected offthe stick of Dallas’ Andrew Cogliano then floated lazilyover the head of goaltender Anton Khudobin and intothe net. The Predators also got goals from RoccoGrimaldi, Brian Boyle and Filip Forsberg. Esa Lindell,Tyler Seguin and Jason Spezza scored for the Stars.

COYOTES 3, OILERS 2 (SO)Vinnie Hinostroza scored once and then netted the

shootout winner as visiting Arizona claimed a victoryover Edmonton, which was without star forward Connor

McDavid because of illness. Coyotes goaltender DarcyKuemper made 35 saves through overtime-includingseven in the extra frame-and stopped three of fourOilers in the shootout. Edmonton’s Ryan Nugent-Hopkins forced overtime by scoring with 11 secondsremaining in regulation. Mikko Koskinen made 33 savesfor overtime for the Oilers, who had veteran defensemanAndrej Sekera in the lineup for the first time this season.He had been sidelined due to a torn Achilles tendon.

DUCKS 4, WILD 0Ryan Miller made 31 saves, Jakob Silfverberg, Corey

Perry, Ryan Kesler and Hampus Lindholm scored, andvisiting Anaheim won at Saint Paul, Minn. Devan Dubnykmade 20 saves for the Wild, who have lost five straightgames and haven’t scored in the past seven periods andpart of an overtime. Miller posted the 44th shutout of hisNHL career, moving into a tie with Miikka Kiprusoff for34th on the NHL’s all-time list.

CANADIENS 3, BLUE JACKETS 2Tomas Tatar scored the go-ahead goal with 6:52

left in the third period, and Montreal snapped a four-game skid Tuesday night with a win over visitingColumbus, which was minus ill star Artemi Panarin.Carey Price made 31 saves for the Canadiens, who pre-vailed despite blowing a 2-0 lead and earned at least apoint in their seventh consecutive home game. Tatarproved to be hero, taking a nifty feed from Jordie Bennfor the eventual winner. Sergei Bobrovsky made 29saves for the Blue Jackets, whose four-game road win-ning streak ended.

RANGERS 2, HURRICANES 1Vladislav Namestnikov scored with 13:50 remaining,

and the goal held up as New York won at Raleigh, N.C.Namestnikov’s goal came on the second rebound of asequence and just seconds after a Rangers power playhad expired. Connor Brickley scored earlier for theRangers. Jordan Martinook collected Carolina’s goal justbefore the midway mark of the second period. Rangersgoalie Henrik Lundqvist made 43 saves and was underheavy pressure late in the game. Hurricanes goalie CurtisMcElhinney stopped 24 shots.—Reuters

DUBAI: Former titleholders Petra Kvitovaand Simona Halep battled through briskdesert winds to advance into the quarter-finals of the Dubai Championships yesterday.Second seed Kvitova, now the highest rankedplayer remaining in the field after the sur-prise elimination of Australian Open champi-on Naomi Osaka, outlasted American qualifi-er Jennifer Brady 7-5, 1-6, 6-3.

Crowd favourite and third seed Halep,supported even in the middle of a workday

by scores of chanting, enthusiastic localRomanian fans, beat Lesia Tsurenko of theUkraine 6-3, 7-5, breaking seven times from10 chances.

The challenger managed just a singlepoint over the last three games as formernumber one Halep demonstrated her superi-ority by winning her seventh in the serieswithout a loss. Slovak Viktoria Kuzmovareached a 2019 last-eight place for the sec-ond time this season after Auckland througha 1-6, 7-5, 6-2 defeat of American SofiaKenin.

Kvitova, who won the Dubai trophy in2013, admitted that she came into the weeksomewhat unprepared, last playing on theWTA in a St Petersburg quarter-final a fort-night ago. “When I came here, I didn’t reallyhave many days of practice, to be honest,”the two-time Wimbledon winner said.

“I had something different to do in my life.I wasn’t really that prepared for this tourna-ment. “But I’m happy I was able to get two

wins. It’s great when you’re not playing yourbest and you still find a way to win.”

The gusty conditions were testing insidethe stadium at the Aviation Club which 2015Dubai holder Halep managed to control asshe rolled over Tsurenko. “The wind was dif-ficult today. It didn’t feel like last week (inDoha),” Halep said. “I know how she’s play-ing, it’s not my favourite style because shedoesn’t give any power on the ball).

“I’ve had many matches with her and wonthem. I feel confident when I play her.” TheRomanian who is currently without a coach,was more than pleased with her strong sprintfinish to a match which lasted one hour, 20minutes.

Last week’s Doha finalist said: “My mind-set now is just to finish the points as quick aspossible. I’m trying to be more aggressive.“I’m more relaxed. I don’t put pressure onmyself. Also I have no expectations. I feelthat my game is pretty strong. “I feel close tomy highest level.” — AFP

Kvitova, Halep breeze into quarters in windy Dubai

Simona Halep