MPs demand urgent debate

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1 soccer Pages 41 & 44 THE FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY IN FREE KUWAIT Established in 1977 / FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016 / ZUL-HIJJAH 21, 1437 AH emergency number 112 NO PAGES 150 FILS Yahoo set to detail massive data breach MPs demand urgent debate Emergency session on petrol sought Thousands join fight By Ahmed Al-Naqeeb Arab Times Staff and Agencies KUWAIT CITY, Sept 22: Despite the political analysts prediction of its failure, the parliamentary request for an emergency session to discuss the government s decision to lift petrol subsidies reached the required number MP Dashti sentenced to 11-year term for insults KUWAIT CITY, Sept 22, (AFP): A Kuwaiti court on Thursday sentenced Shiite lawmaker Abdulhameed Dashti to 11 years jail in absentia for insults against HH the Amir and its neighbour Saudi Arabia. Any criticism of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah can result in charges of insulting him, and dozens of opposition activists have been jailed for the offence in the past few years. The verdict against Dashti, announced in a court statement, comes two months after he was sentenced to 14 years and six months for a similar offence. Dashti has been living abroad for several months, after leaving Kuwait in March to seek Continued on Page 8 Iranians proclaim role in Syria war DUBAI/BEIRUT, Sept 22, (RTRS): Abandoning a long-standing reticence, Iranians are increasingly candid about their involvement in Syria s war, and informal recruiters are now openly calling for volunteers to defend the Islamic Republic and fellow Shi ites against Sunni militants. With public opinion swinging behind the cause, numbers of would-be fighters have soared far beyond what Tehran is prepared to deploy in Syria, according to former fighters who spoke to Reuters, and commanders quoted by Iranian media. Iran has been sending fighters to Syria since the early stages of the five-year war to support its ally, President Bashar al-assad, in the struggle against Sunni rebels backed by Gulf Arab states and Western powers. Once Tehran described these forces as military advisers but with around 400 killed on the battlefield, this discretion has slipped and several thousand are now believed to be fighting Islamic State and other groups trying to topple Assad. Many Iranians initially opposed involvement in the war, harbouring little sympathy for Assad. But now they are warming to the mission, believing that Islamic State is a threat to the existence of their country best fought outside Iran s borders. Security The first line for the security of Iran is Syria and Iraq, a would-be volunteer named Mojtaba told Reuters by from Tehran. Mojtaba, who asked that he be identified by only his first name, said he had been trying in vain to get out to fight in Syria for the past two years. While Islamic State still holds large areas of Syria and Iraq, it has so far failed to stage attacks in neighbouring Iran like it has in Turkey. Nevertheless, Iranian media have reported the breaking up of cells linked to the jihadist group at home, and the large numbers of people such as Mojtaba willing to join the battle in Syria suggest Tehran has the stamina to pursue its involvement there for years if it wishes. Iran alludes to its fighters in Syria as defenders of the shrine, a reference to the Sayeda Zeinab mosque near Damascus, which is where a granddaughter of the Prophet Mohammad is said to be buried, as well as other shrines revered by Shi ites. It is casting its recruitment net wide. As well as Iranians, it has gathered Shi ites from Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan to battle the Syrian opposition in what has become a sectarian conflict. Brigadier General Mohsen Kazemeini, the Revolutionary Guard Corps commander for greater Tehran, said last month there were so many volunteers that only a small number of them are sent to (Syria), according to the Defa Press site. Fighters killed in Syria are praised as heroes on state television and given lavish funerals. Iranian wrestler Saeed Abdevali dedicated the bronze medal he won at the Rio Olympics to the families of defenders of the shrine who have been killed. Some volunteers, disappointed at the long waiting list, take a shortcut. They fly directly to Damascus and volunteer at the Sayeda Zeinab Continued on Page 8 of signatories and has been officially submitted to Parliament Speaker Marzouq Al- Ghanim. MP Ahmed Al-Qudhaibi, who prepared and pushed for submission of the request, confirmed that a total of 35 MPs signed the petition as of Thursday morning and it was submitted directly to the Speaker later that day. The request will be referred to the government soon in order to set the date for the session. Amongst the last MPs to sign the request was MP Abdullah Al-Edwani who disclosed that he was on holiday with his family and was forced to cut it short in order to sign the request. Like the rest of the MPs who signed the petition, Al- Edwani asserted that he will stand against any governmental decision which negatively affects the people. He pointed out there are many ways of addressing the issue without affecting the income of the public. Meanwhile, the Administrative Court is looking into the lawsuit which has been filed against the government on the background of raising the fuel prices since the decision has not been published in the official gazette, the Kuwait Alyawm, reports Al-Qabas daily. However, the Administrative Court during yesterday s session gave time for the government to prove the decision was published in the official gazette. In the meantime, the attorney from the Fatwa and Legislative Department has asserted that raising the petrol prices is deemed as a recommendation and therefore there was no need for its publication in the official gazette. However, the lawyers for the plaintiff, whose identity has not been disclosed, were quoted as saying it was a decision issued by the government and not a recommendation because it targeted the public. Speaking to the daily, a legal source said if the court regards raising the fuel prices was a decision, it can be declared null and void citing procedural flaws on the part of the government since it was not published in the official gazette. In another development, MP Saleh Ashour asked Minister of Continued on Page 8 US$/KD /40 Euro/KD Yen/KD British /KD KSE pts at closing Sept 22 See Page 35 Dow pts at 21:05 Sept 22 See Page 36 Nasdaq pts at 21:05 Sept 22 FTSE pts at closing Sept 22 Nikkei pts at closing Sept 21 Gold 1, per oz (London) NYMEX crude $46.34 pb Brent crude $47.49 pb 3-month $ LIBOR rate % Families of opposition fi ghters board a bus at a Syrian army checkpoint on the edge of the rebel-held Waer neighbourhood in the central city of Homs during an evacuation operation on Sept 22. Under a deal with the Syrian government, an estimated 150 rebels and their families are being evacuated from Waer to northern parts of Homs province. UN organisations, which had helped oversee previous evacuations from Waer, were not involved in today s operation, according to the Homs governorate. (AFP) See Page 8 Offensive seen in October Key town near Mosul retaken EU urges Obama to stop Hill terror bill WASHINGTON, Sept 22, (Agencies): The European Union on Wednesday called on US President Barack Obama to block a US bill allowing survivors and families of victims of the Sept 11 attacks to sue Saudi Arabia, saying it was in violation of international law. The possible adoption and implementation of the (bill) would be in conflict with fundamental principles of international law and in particular the principle of State sovereign immunity, the European Union delegation to the United States said in a letter to the US Department of State seen by Reuters. The letter said the EU considers that the bill s adoption and its implementation could have unwanted consequences, as other states adopt similar legislation. Congress has overwhelmingly passed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, known as JASTA, in reaction to long-running suspicions, denied by Saudi Arabia, that hijackers of the four US jetliners that attacked the United States in 2001 were backed by the Saudi government. Obama in coming days is expected to veto the bill on grounds that other countries could use the law as an excuse to sue US diplomats, service members or companies. But Congress could have the last word if the Senate and House of Representatives each override that veto by a two-thirds vote. Air strikes in Yemen kill 20 ADEN, Sept 22, (AFP): Saudiled coalition air strikes killed 20 civilians in a rebel-held port city of western Yemen, a government official said Thursday in a rare admission of a possible error by the alliance. The coalition s spokesman, however, said the raid on Wednesday night targeted rebel leaders. The strikes came as Riyadh faces mounting international scrutiny over civilian casualties in its 18-month campaign against Shiite Houthi rebels and their allies in Yemen. The Suq al-hunod district of the Red Sea port of Hodeida was hit, the official in President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi s government told AFP. He said the residential neighbourhood was probably hit in error. General Ahmed Assiri, the coalition spokesman, told AFP the raid targeted Houthi Continued on Page 8 Continued on Page 8 TIKRIT, Iraq, Sept 22, (Agencies): Iraqi forces backed by air strikes from the US-led coalition gained complete control of the northern district of Shirqat on Thursday, bringing the military a step closer to a main push on Mosul later this year. Brigadier-General Yahya Rasool, spokesman for the military s joint operations command, said in a statement broadcast on state television that the district had been liberated from the desecration of terrorism. Shirqat, on the Tigris river 100 kms (60 miles) south of Mosul, has been surrounded for months by Iraqi troops and Iranian-backed Shi ite Muslim militias allied to the government. But the army, backed by local police and Sunni Muslim tribal fighters, conducted the fighting this week and the militias did not appear to take part. Iraqi forces advanced swiftly through the area after Prime Minister Haider al-abadi announced the operation on Tuesday morning. The area s proximity to Iraqi supply lines reaching Qayyara air base further north, which Continued on Page 8 Millions hit NEW YORK, Sept 22, (RTRS): Yahoo Inc this week will disclose a data breach that compromised the details of several hundred million users, technology news site Recode reported on Thursday, citing unnamed sources familiar with the company s plan. Reuters was not able to confirm the report. It was not clear how such a disclosure might affect Yahoo s plan to sell its service and other core internet properties to Verizon Communications Inc for $4.8 billion. Representatives at Yahoo and Verizon could not be reached for comment. Shares of both companies were up 0.5 percent in late morning trading, compared with a 0.6 percent increase in the Nasdaq Composite index. If a breach is confirmed, Yahoo would likely force users to change their passwords, said Linn Freedman, a privacy attorney with Robinson & Cole LLP. But Yahoo would likely not need to notify individuals affected via mail or provide them with credit monitoring services if the scope of the breach is limited to what has been described in press reports. If no financial information or Social Security numbers are involved, then most state laws Continued on Page 8 11 for trial Court upholds Al-Wefaq ban DUBAI, Sept 22, (AFP): A Bahraini appeals court on Thursday upheld an order dissolving the country s main Shiite opposition group despite international criticism of the Sunni-ruled Gulf kingdom s intensified crackdown on dissent. A lower court had ordered the dissolution of the Al-Wefaq association in July over accusations including harbouring terrorism and ordered its funds to be seized by the government. The accusations also included inciting violence and encouraging demonstrations which threatened to spark sectarian strife in the Shiite-majority country. Al-Wefaq was the largest group in parliament before its lawmakers resigned en masse in protest at the crushing of Arab Spring-inspired demonstrations in 2011 calling for an elected government. The court order drew criticism from UN chief Ban Ki- Moon, and the kingdom s allies in Washington and London. The United States, whose Fifth Fleet is based in Bahrain, had labelled the crackdown on Al-Wefaq alarming and repeatedly appealed for reform and reconciliation. Shiite-dominated Iran, which is accused by Gulf foes of meddling in Bahrain s affairs, also condemned the court order. Al-Wefaq s defence team had withdrawn from court proceedings in June in protest at the government s push to accelerate Continued on Page 8 Newswatch NEW YORK: Kuwait s First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on Thursday called on Islamic states to step up joint effort to confront the challenges facing the Islamic world, foremost terrorism. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled made the remarks while chairing an annual coordinating meeting of foreign ministers of member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), to coordinate positions over the agenda items of the UN General Assembly s (UNGA) 71st session. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said the Islamic world was facing huge challenges, foremost terrorism, in addition to the Palestinian cause, the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Continued on Page 8

2 LOCAL 2 Meet yields plans to establish national database in each country GCC civil service meeting reinforces joint work: Kuwaiti minister RIYADH, Sept 22, (KUNA): The meeting of the heads of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Civil Service Commissions will further reinforce collaborative work, Kuwait s Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al- Mubarak Al-Sabah said on Thursday. In a statement to KUNA after the conclusion of the 15th edition of this meeting, Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah said that a myriad of issues pertinent to GCC civil service were discussed. Moreover, the Kuwaiti Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs noted that the meeting yielded plans to establish national databases in each GCC country, in addition to strategies to develop and enhance civil service in the GCC. Meanwhile, Undersecretary of Kuwait s Civil Service Commission Mohammad Al-Roumi told KUNA about plans to form a higher committee to study various methods to ensure parity amongst GCC nations in the civil service sector. Speaking on headway made in the GCC civil service sector, Al-Roumi said that recent accomplishments include a unified database system for the GCC that simplifies exchange of information and interaction amongst member states. Kuwait commends Saudi s international, regional role Saudi Arabia celebrates 86th National Day today Photos by Iehab Qurtal, Mohammad Morsi and Saud Salem Above: Photos of pupils resuming new academic year 2016/17. Kindergarten and elementary grade one 74,201 pupils resume for academic year 2016/17 KUWAIT CITY, Sept 22: Around 74,201 pupils of kindergarten and elementary grade one Wednesday resumed for academic year 2016/2017. The pupils, including 43,841 toddlers and 30,360 others in grade one will be joining 155,368 male and female elementary students on Thursday, indicating all students from kindergarten to secondary levels will resume completely for the new academic year on Sunday. In this context, Undersecretary of Education Dr Haitham Al-Athari went out to inspect some elementary schools in Farwaniya Educational Area to assess the level of preparedness for receiving the new kindergarten and elementary pupils. RIYADH, Sept 22, (KUNA): Saudi Arabia s celebration of its 86th National Day on Friday comes in time where the country is exerting huge efforts to achieve the kingdom s Vision 2030 for development, said Kuwaiti Ambassador to the Kingdom. The wisdom of the Saudi leadership led the country to play a vital role in the international community, as well as in the Arab and Islamic worlds, Sheikh Thamer Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah told KUNA on Thursday. He praised Saudi s role in leading the Arab coalition against Houthi militias in Yemen, to bring peace and security to the country and the region as well. Moreover, the ambassador noted the kingdom s humanitarian role, mainly the efforts of King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aids to provide aid for those in need everywhere, especially in the war-torn Yemen. He also mentioned the country s continuous works to expand and develop services in Makkah and the Madinha, providing Muslims with safe Hajj and Umrah. Sheikh Thamer, meanwhile, congratulated the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Interior Prince Mohammad bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Crown Prince, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud, Saudi ruling family and citizens on the National Day. Speaking of bilateral ties between Saudi and Kuwait, Sheikh Thamer noted the strong cooperation shared between the two on all levels. He added that the two sides are mainly cooperating in the security field through fighting terrorism and drug smuggling. Saudi Arabia will celebrate its 86th National Day on Friday, commemorating the establishment of the Kingdom by King Abdulaziz Al Saud in Saudi is currently seeing many prominent achievements through the efforts of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz to develop education, economy and the judicial system, as Saudis look forward to a bright future. The kingdom has a strong political stance relying on wisdom and neutrality in dealing with different international developments, while keeping strong ties with the international community. Meanwhile, the Saudi government is known for exerting great efforts to defend Muslims everywhere and protect their rights. In this matter, the kingdom spent over 70 billion riyals to expand and develop services in worship areas in Makkah and the Madinah, to ensure a safe Hajj and Umrah. As part of its effort to protect the Arab world and the Gulf region against dangers, Saudi Arabia led the Arab coalition against Houthi militias in Yemen, to bring peace and security to the country and the region as well. Moreover, the country is active in the humanitarian field, establishing the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid, to provide aid for those in need everywhere, mainly Yemeni people affected by war. Saudi is also continuously aiding Syrian refugees living in camps in Syria s neighboring countries. Saudi shares strong ties with Kuwait on all levels, mainly its prominent role in liberating Kuwait from the Iraqi invasion in The two sides also cooperate in resolving different issues in the Arab and Islamic nations. KFAS holds 2nd scientific forum on air quality Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), in collaboration with Enertech Training and Administrative Consultancy Company and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Kuwait branch, organized the second scientific forum on air quality and energy efficiency on Sept About 30 engineers who are specialized in air quality and energy efficiency from the Dr Al-Musawi attends gathering in Jordan Kuwait among 1st Arab nations in organ transplants: KTS chief AMMAN, Sept 22, (KUNA): Kuwait among the first Arab countries in the field of organ transplants, as it comes second in the Middle East, Chairman of Kuwait Transplant Society (KTS) Dr Mustafa Al-Musawi said Wednesday. In a statement to KUNA on the sidelines of the 15th Congress of the Middle East Society for Organ Transplantation, which kicked off in the Jordanian capital Amman. Al-Musawi said that the annual rate of kidney transplant is between 75 to 100 in Kuwait, noting that pancreas transplant operations are also increasing. Al-Musawi pointed out that preparations are underway to start with conducting liver transplant soon, according to the guidelines and directives from Kuwait Today Prayer Timings Fajr... 04:17 Sunrise... 05:37 Zohr... 11:41 Asr... 15:08 Maghrib... 17:44 Isha... 19:01 Weather Expected weather for the next 24 hours: By Night: Fair with light to moderate northwesterly wind, with speed of km/h. By Day: Hot with light to moderate freshening gradually at times northwesterly wind, with speed of km/h with a chance for blowing dust over open areas. Station Max Min Exp Rec KKuwait City Kuwait Airport Abdaly Bubyan Jahra Failaka Island Salmiyah Ahmadi Nuwaisib Wafra Salmy days forecast - Weather Friday, Sept 23 Expected weather...hot Max Temp...42 C Min Temp...27 C Wind Direction...NW-N Wind Speed km/h Saturday, Sept 24 Expected weather...hot Max Temp...41 C Min Temp...25 C Wind Direction...NW Wind Speed km/h Sunday, Sept 25 Expected weather...hot Max Temp...40 C Min Temp...26 C Wind Direction...NW Wind Speed km/h Monday, Sept 26 Expected weather...hot Max Temp...40 C Min Temp...24 C Wind Direction...NW-N Wind Speed km/h Marine Forecast Station Max Min Sea Today s Exp Rec Surf Waves Ht Direction South Dolphin ft SE Top and above: Some photos from the scientific forum. Umm Mudayrah ft SE Beacon M ft SE Beacon N ft SE Qaruh Island ft SE Umm Al-Maradim ft SE Sea Island Buo Salmiyah ft SE 4 days forecast - Marine Friday, Sept 23 Expected weather...hot Sea state... Moderate Wave height ft Max Temp...42 C Min Temp...27 C Wind Direction...NW-N Wind Speed km/h Saturday, Sept 24 Expected weather...hot Sea state... Slight to moderate Wave height ft Max Temp...41 C Min Temp...25 C Wind Direction...NW Wind Speed km/h Sunday, Sept 25 Expected weather...hot Sea state... Slight to moderate Wave height ft Max Temp...40 C Min Temp...26 C Wind Direction...NW Wind Speed km/h Monday, Sept 26 Expected weather...hot Sea state... Moderate Ministry of Electricity and Water, Kuwait Oil Company, Australian College in Kuwait, Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, as well as from several private companies attended the event. Two international renowned specialists Dr Chandra Shekar from the University of Singapore and Dr Joseph Derenger from the US-based Building Sustainable Performance Institute delivered lectures. Kuwaiti Minister of Health Dr Ali Al- Obaidi. Regarding participating in the congress, Al-Musawi stressed importance of such gathering, which brings together specialists and those who work in the field of organ transplant from various Middle Eastern countries, as well as from the United States, Australia and Europe. He also said that the conference, which was hosted in 2006 by Kuwait, was an ideal platform for those working in the field to meet and exchange views on the matter. The three-day conference is participated by 31 countries, including discussion of 240 scientific papers on brain and heart transplants. deaths Husein Ahmad Mahmoud Al Kandari, 80 years old, buried on Thursday. Condolences: (Men) Mangaf, Block 2, St. 17, House 1 Tel (Women) Mangaf, Block 1, St. 121, House 10 Tel Mohammad Saad Ali Abdullah Al Omair, 66 years old, buried on Thursday. Condolence: (Men) Omariya, Block 1, St. 2, House 10 Tel (Women) Zahra, Block 5, St. 514, House 13. Noora Mohammad Rashed, widow of Mohammad Abdullah Al Mutared Al Ajmi, 83 years old, buried on Thursday. Condolence: (Men) Fahaheel, Block 2, police St. House 21 Tel (Women) Sabahiya, Block 3, St. 5, House 735 Tel Saleh Husein Ali Khaja, 83 years old, buried on Thursday. Condolences: (Men) Bneid Al Gar, Huseiniyat Sayed Ali Al Musawi, balance to Istiqlal Motorway Tel (Women) Sharq, Huseiniyat Ali Al Musawi Tel Bodour Mazen Abdul Wahed Al Sanei, 29 years old, buried on Thursday. Condolences: (Men) Kaifan, Diwan Al Sanei, Block 5, Abdul Hameed Al Sanei St. Tel (Women) Yarmouk, Block 3, St. 3, House 24 P, OPP. Gulf Bank Tel Muneera Abdul Aziz Mohammad Al Jsem, 79 years old, buried on Thursday. Condolence: (Men) Nuzha, Block 2, Shamlan Bin Saif St. House 3 Tel (Women) Kaifan, Block 3, St. 33, House 6. Jazei Fahaad Jazei Al Qahtani, 76 years old, buried on Thursday. Condolences: North Ahmadi, St. 15, avenue 14, House 35 Tel Sept 22, 2016 Wave height ft Max Temp...40 C Min Temp...24 C Wind Direction...NW-N Wind Speed km/h Tide times at Shuwaikh Port 1st high tide:...16:15 2nd high tide:...03:15 1st low tide:...09:45 2nd low tide:...10:45 Sunrise:...05:37 Sunset:...17:45 Recorded yesterday at Kuwait Airport Max temp...41 C Min temp...24 C Max Rh... 35% Min Rh... 08% Max Wind...N 50 km/h Total Rainfall in 24 hrs mm Recorded yesterday at South Dolphin Min/Max/ Air Temp...29/37 C Min/Max Rel Hum... 21/50% Wind Direction/Wind Speed...N /48 km/h Prev Wave Dir/Max Wave Ht...N/3 ft Min/Max Sea Surface Temp...30/31 C Sea Current... Downdraft Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Meteorological Department.

3 LOCAL 3 Al-Shall Report Danger of borrowing in future risks Real estate market liquidity up m-o-m Local Real Estate Market August 2016 The latest released data by the Ministry of Justice Real Estate Registration and Authentications Department- indicate rise in the real estate market liquidity during August 2016 vis-a-vis July 2016 liquidity. Total value of contracts and agencies trading scored KD million which is higher in value by 2.6% than its counterpart value in July 2016 which was worth KD 150 million. But it dropped by -23% compared with August 2015 liquidity, says Al-Shall Economic Report prepared by Al-Shall Consulting Co headed by Jassem Al-Saadoun. Trading during this month was distributed between KD million for contracts and about KD 21.5 million for agencies. Number of real estate deals struck in this month was 316 deals distributed between 301 contracts and 15 agencies. The highest share percentage belonged to Ahmadi Governorate with 83 deals representing about 26.3% of the total number of real estate deals. Hawalli Governorate came next by 75 deals representing about 23.7%. The lowest share went to AlJahra Governorate by 32 deals representing about 10.1% of the total. Value of private residential trading scored KD 78 million, up by about 16.3% compared with KD 67 million in July 2016, representing 50.7%, of total real estate trading vis-a-vis 44.7% in July The monthly average value for private residence trading in the last 12 months scored about KD 92.3 million. This means that trading value in this month is lower by -15.5% compared with the average. The number of deals for this activity rose to 229 deals (211 deals in July 2016). Therefore, the average value per deal of private residence activity scored about KD thousand. Investment housing activity dropped to about KD 58.2 million, -7%, vis-à-vis KD 62.5 million in July Its percentage out of total liquidity dropped to about 37.8% (41.7% in July 2016). Trading average value of investment housing during 12 months scored KD 84.1 million. This means that trading value in this month was lower by -30.9% than the 12 months average. Likewise, its deals scored 80 deals (89 deals in July 2016). As such, the average value of the deal for investment housing scored KD thousand. Likewise, commercial activity trading value dropped to about KD 16.5 million, a drop by -18.8% compared with July 2016 when it scored KD 20.4 million. Its percentage out of total real estate trading value dropped to 10.7% compared with 13.6% in July Average value of commercial activity trading in 12 months scored KD 45.1 million. This makes this month s trading value less by -63.3% compared with 12 months average. Its deals scored 6 deals (5 deals in July 2016). As such, the average value per deal for the commercial activity scored about KD 2.76 million. There was only one deal on warehousing trading activity in August 2016 worth KD 1.2 million, while there was none during July When we compare August 2016 trading with its counterpart period in August 2015, we note a considerable drop in the real estate market liquidity from about KD million to KD million, i.e. -23%. The drop involved the private residence activity by -9.5% from KD 86.2 million in August 2015 to KD 78 million in August Likewise, the investment housing activity dropped by -31.7% while the commercial activity liquidity dropped by -36.1%. If we compare total trading value since the beginning of 2016 until August 2016 with its counterpart period in 2015 we notice a drop in the total real estate market s liquidity from KD 2.33 billion to about KD 1.68 billion, -27.7%. Assuming market liquidity would continue in the remaining 4 months of the year at the same level, market trading -contracts and agencies- value would score KD 2.53 billion which is less by KD million than last year s total, i.e % than 2015 amount which scored KD 3.32 billion. Oil Market and Borrowing Trap Since the fall of the oil market in 2014 fall, oil prices did not recover. The dominant portion of price loss is justifiable; the technical advance created a competitor for traditional oil with prices now ranging between US$ per barrel. But the average of oil price is lower by about US$ 15 than their fair price mainly because of oversupply due to political reasons motivated by unintelligent obstinacy that governs decisions of traditional oil producers. The danger of the matter is repeating the sins of the 1980 s when traditional oil producers were struggling for production quotas to the extent of falsifying their bulk of reserves until prices plunged to an intolerable level and they consumed most of the 1970s financial reserves and OPEC disintegrated in 1985 December. There seems to be no great hope in controlling the supply aspect because conventional oil has become a factor in a destruction battle between its producers, which is simultaneously self-destructive. Therefore, has warranted dealing with a scenario for low oil prices regardless of its realization probabilities, focused on controlling the demand to spend its revenues general spending and reducing public expenses, and it should not start with the least beneficial and least popular decisions such as the diesel and gasoline resolutions, but with confronting corruption and waste decisively, and then with taxation and limiting subsidies to goods and services. In other words, you must reduce the parity price of the budget to the limits of current Kuwaiti oil price or by US$ 40. The attached graph displays the Kuwaiti oil price movement between August 2014 and August This is achieved by two means: reduction of corrupted and unnecessary spending and increasing revenues Photo by Mohamad Morse File photo shows trading in progress. KSE ends Thursday s session mixed. See Page 35 from other resources, most important of which is the investments income, taxation, and then reduction of the negative tax, i.e. reduction of subsidy levels. But, it seems that the Government is betting on survival for the longest possible period indifferent of the costs of staying and it s trying to buy some time. It knows, for instance, that more than half of the costs of treatment abroad go to buy the loyalty of deputies and influential personalities according to the Audit Bureau s report. The cost of buying these loyalties equals twice the revenues from lifting the gasoline price; nevertheless, it prefers borrowing to cover it to treatment of its corruption, and prefers to face the rest because it is less dangerous to its survival. The danger of borrowing, both external and internal, is not in its immediate but in its future risks. The Government s internal borrowing reduces liquidity and raises the borrowing cost and the default of the private sector, contrary to claims of supporting its role in development. Borrowing from abroad means deferred withdrawal from financial reserves meaning their erosion and loss of returns. In addition, internal and external borrowings mean adding a subsequent item to the public expenditures to pay for the premiums and interests of those loans at a time when public spending should be increased to fulfill people s basic needs of jobs, services and infrastructure. Two years have passed since the fall of the oil market and the talk about its return to its former prosperity is just a dream. The guarantee for sustained stability of the country in the future lies in making the right decisions starting from 2014 autumn. The public administration did not do what is right from then until now. As the public administration has ignored all warnings about the inevitability of completion of the oil price boom era and led the country to the current expenditure inflation trap and will also lead it to sovereign loans trap unless a fundamental change to its own personalities and path. Financial and Monetary Statistics June 2016 In its monthly statistical bulletin for the month of June 2016, published on its website, the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) stated that the balance of the total public debt instruments rose by KD 150 million to reach KD billion in the end of June 2016, (KD billion since August 2014 until May 2016). Instruments of public debt comprise the treasury bonds, longer-term, with a balance of KD billion; the treasury bills with a zero balance (since July 2012). The average interest rate on treasury bonds for one year term was 1.250%, 1.500% for two years, and 2.000% for more than two years. Local banks capture 99.5% of the total public debt instruments (99.5% in the end of March 2016). Thus, total local public debt scored about KD billion, about 5.1%, of the nominal gross domestic product (GDP) for 2015 of about KD billion. The CBK bulletin stated that total credit facilities to residents offered by local banks in the end of June 2016 scored about KD billion, about 57.1% of total local banks assets, a rise by about KD million, above their value in the end of March 2016, a quarterly growth rate by about 1.9%, and a growth rate of about 8.1% for the period between June 2015 and June Total personal facilities scored about KD billion, or 41.9%, of total credit facilities (about KD billion in the end of March 2016), a quarterly growth rate of about 1.1%, and a growth rate of about 10.8% for the period between June 2015 and June Total value of installed loans there from scored about KD billion, or 67.4% of the total value of personal facilities. An amount of KD billion there from, about 22.3% of the total, went for the purchase of securities. Consumer loans amounted to about KD billion. Credit facilities to the real estate sector amounted to about KD billion, or 23.3% of the total, (about KD billion in the end of March 2016), about two-thirds of the facilities go to personal and real estate facilities. KD billion, 9.3%, went to trade sector (KD billion in the end of March 2016). KD billion, 6.3%, went to the industry sector (KD billion in the end of March 2016). KD billion, 5.8%, went to the contracting sector (KD billion in the end of March 2016). KD billion, 4.1%, went to the financial institutions -excluding banks- (KD billion in the end of March 2016). The bulletin also indicated that total deposits at local banks scored about KD billion, representing about 68.5% of total local banks liabilities, a rise by about KD million above their value in the end of March 2016, a quarterly growth rate by about 0.5% only, and a growth rate of about 4.5% for the period between June 2015 and June About KD billion -84.2% belong to clients of the private sector in the comprehensive definition including major institutions like the Public Institution for Social Securities does not include the government. About KD billion thereof in Kuwaiti dinars, 89.9%, went to private sector clients and the equivalent of KD billion were in foreign currency to private sector clients, too. As for the average interest rates on customers time deposits, both in the Kuwaiti dinar and the US dollar, vis-a-vis the end of March 2016, the bulletin stated that it declined very slightly on the KD deposits, but picked up its very slight rise on the US dollar deposits. The difference in the average interest rates on customers deposits for a term is still in favor of the Kuwaiti dinar in the end of the two periods. It scored about point for 1-month deposits, about point for 3-month deposits, about point for 6-month deposits, and about point for 12-month deposits. The difference in the end of March 2016 was about point for 1-month deposits, about point for 3-month deposits, about point for 6-month deposits, and about point for 12-month deposits. The monthly average exchange rate for the Kuwaiti dinar against the US dollar in June 2016 was about Kuwaiti fils for each one US dollar, a slight decrease by -0.15% compared with the monthly average for March 2016 when it scored about fils per one US dollar. Commercial Bank of Kuwait Financial Results First Half 2016 The Commercial Bank of Kuwait (CBK) announced results of its operations for the first half of the current year which indicate that the bank s net profits, after deducting taxes, scored about KD 11.5 million versus KD 16.7 million in the same period 2015, reflecting a drop by KD 5.2 million, or by 31%. This drop in the net profits is mainly due to the rise in total provisions by 9.3% and a drop in the total operational profit by 4.1%, due to a drop in total operational incomes against the rise in total expenditures. In details, total operational incomes scored about KD 70.7 million versus KD 71.5 million in the same period 2015, i.e. it dropped by KD 867 thousand, or by 1.2%. That as a result of containing the operating income for the first half 2015, gain on disposal of assets pending sale item, amounted to about KD 5.7 million which also a drop in the item of net gain from investment securities by KD 1.1 million to KD 472 thousand versus KD 1.5 million. All other items went up by KD 5.9 million, or by 9.2%. On the other hand, total operational expenses increased by KD 1.3 million and scored KD million versus KD million in the same period /06/ /06/2015 Change (Thousand KD) (Thousand KD) Value % Total Assets 4,137,905 4,275,871 (137,966) -3.2% Total liabilities 3,581,766 3,724,659 (142,893) -3.8% Total Equity attributable to the equity holders of the bank 555, ,149 4, % Total Operating Revenues 70,655 71,522 (867) -1.2% Total Operating Expenses 19,796 18,514 1, % Provision 38,978 35,667 3, % Taxation (300) -44.6% Net income 11,509 16,669 (5,160) -31.0% Ratios **Return on Average Assets (ROA) 0.6% 0.8% **Return on Average Equity Relevant To The Bank Shareholder (ROE) 4.1% 6% **Return on Average Capital (ROC) 15.8% 18.7% Earnings per share (EPS) - (Fils) (3.4) -30.6% Closing price - (Fils) (215) -34.1% *Price to Earnings Per Share Multiplies (P/E) Price to Book Value Multiplies (P/B) * Indicators Ended June 30, 2016 on an annual basis ** Calculated based on the average rate of the financial data at the end of December 2015 and 30 June 2016 Al-Shall Index Thu Thu Diff Close Diff Company Name 22/09/ /09/2016 % 2010 % 1 The National Bank Of Kuwait (1.8) (18.3) 2 The Gulf Bank (10.0) 3 Commercial Bank Of Kuwait (18.4) 4 Al-Ahli Bank Of Kuwait (16.0) 5 Kuwait International Bank (1.1) (16.8) 6 Ahli United Bank (19.0) 7 Burgan Bank (1.6) (15.9) 8 Kuwait Finance House (1.2) (7.2) Banking Sector (0.2) (15.6) 9 Commercial Facilities Co (1.2) 10 International Financial Advisors National Investments Kuwait Investment Projects (1.8) (6.9) 13 Coast Investment & Development Investment Sector (0.9) (2.4) 14 Kuwait Insurance Company (0.7) 67.3 (18.7) 15 Gulf Insurance Company (9.3) 16 Al-Ahleia Insurance Company (12.3) 17 Warba Insurance Company Insurance Sector (0.1) (11.8) 18 Kuwait Real Estate Company (5.5) 19 United Realty Company National Real Estate Company (1.3) (7.2) Items of staff expenses and general and administrative expenses rose by KD 1.5 million to KD million versus KD million. While the item of depreciation and amortization dropped by KD 187 thousand. Total provisions increased by KD 3.3 million, or by 9.3%, as we mentioned, to KD 39 million versus KD 35.7 million. Therefore, the net profit margin decreased to 16.3% versus 23.3% for the same period Total bank assets scored KD billion, a rise by 2.5%, (KD billion in the end of 2015). But they decreased by 3.2% if compared with the total assets of KD billion in the first half of Item of dues from banks and other financial institutions increased by KD million and scored KD million (15% of total assets) versus KD million (6.6% of total assets) in December 2015; they also increased by 16.2% when compared with the same period of 2015, when they scored KD million (12.5% of total assets). Item of cash and short funds decreased by KD 274 million, or by 40.1% and scored KD million (9.9% of total assets) versus KD million (16.9% of total assets) on December The item dropped by KD million, or by 51.9%, if compared with the same period of 2015, when it scored KD million (19.9% of total assets). Loans and advances portfolio dropped by KD 16.8 million, or by 0.7%, and scored KD billion (55.1% of total assets) compared with KD billion (56.9% of total assets) on December It however increased by 3.8% if compared with the same period of 2015, when it scored KD billion (51.4% of total assets). Percentage of the item of loans and advances to the item of deposits and other balances scored 66.8% compared with 60.7%. Figures indicate that the bank s liabilities (without calculating total equity) increased by KD million, or by 3.5%, and scored KD billion (KD billion in the end of 2015). But they dropped by KD million, or by 3.8%, if compared with the total in the end of the first half of last year. Percentage of total liabilities to total assets scored 86.6% versus 87.1%. Analysis of the bank s financial statements calculated on annual basis indicates that all bank s indexes dropped compared with the same period Return on average equities relevant to the bank shareholders (ROE) dropped to 4.1% from 6%. Likewise, the return on average asset (ROA) decreased to 0.6% from 0.8%. And the return on average capital (ROC) decreased to 15.8% from 18.7%. (EPS) dropped to 7.7 fils from 11.1 fils for the same period (P/E) scored 26.9 times -improved- versus 28.4 times, as a result of a drop in the EPS by 30.6% against a bigger drop for the market share price by 34.1%. (P/B) scored 1.1 times compared with 1.6 times. The Weekly Performance of Kuwait Stock Exchange The performance of Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) for last week was more active compared to the previous one, where all indexes showed an increase, the traded value index, the traded volume index, number of transactions index, and general index, AlShall Index (value weighted) closed at points at the closing of last Thursday, showing an increase of about 0.8 points or about 0.2% compared with its level last week, while it decreased by 36.6 points or about 10% compared with the end of The following tables summarize last week s performance of KSE Description Week 37 Week 36 Diff 22/09/ /09/2016 % Working days 5 5 AlShall index (38 Cos) % KSE index 5, , % Value Trade (KD) 26,048,735 25,287,650 Daily average (KD) 5,209,747 5,057, % Volume Trade (Shares) 272,120, ,828,119 Daily average (Shares) 54,424,084 47,965, % Transactions 8,869 8,577 Daily average (Transactions) 1,774 1, % Most Active Sectors & Companies Description Value Traded % of Total Sectors KD Market Mobile Telecomms Co K.S.C (Zain) 2,539, % National Bank Of Kuwait 2,256, % Kuwait Food Company (Americana) 2,215, % Kuwait Finance House 1,632, % Mezzan Holding Co. (K.S.C.C) 1,436, % Total 10,080, % Description Value Traded % Of Total Sectors Kd Market Financial Services Sector 6,027, % Banks Sector 5,895, % Consumer Goods Sector 4,428, % Real Estate Sector 3,731, % Telecommunications Sector 3,184, % Al Shall Index Week 37 Week 36 22/09/ /09/2016 Increased Value (# of Companies) Decreased Value (# of Companies) 13 8 Unchanged Value (# of Companies) Total Companies From Sept 8, 2016 to Sept 22, Salhiah Real Estate Company (1.4) Real Estate Sector (0.1) (2.3) 22 The National Industries (1.7) (8.0) 23 Kuwait Cement Co (1.3) (6.3) 24 Refrigeration Industries Co (4.8) Gulf Cable & Electrical Industries Contracting & Marine Services Co (13.3) Industrial Sector (1.1) (5.0) 27 Kuwait National Cinemas Kuwait Hotels Company The Public Warehousing Co (1.0) 30 Mobile Telecomms Co -ZAIN (8.8) 31 Safat Energy Co Services Sector (2.8) 32 Livestock Transport & Trading Co (0.8) Danah Aalsafat Foodstuff Company (3.3) Kuwait United Poultry Co (10.1) 35 Kuwait Food Co Food Sector Sharjah Cement Co (1.2) (8.1) 37 Gulf Cement Co (1.3) 38 Umm Al-Qaiwain Cement Industries (6.3) Non Kuwaiti Companies (0.2) (2.8) General Index (10.0)

4 LOCAL Kuwait denies reports charities funding terror Ministries jointly battle extremism Kuwaiti and Peruvian reps sign the MoU. Kuwait, Peru ink partnership MoU The embassy of Peru signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Kuwaiti businessmen on Thursday to forge a Kuwaiti-Peruvian Friendship Society that aims to bolster ties between both nations. The purpose of this endeavor is to enhance ties between Kuwait and Peru on all fronts, the Latin American MoI warns parents KUNA photo nation s Ambassador to Kuwait Heli Peleaz Castro said on the sidelines of the signing ceremony. Meanwhile, head of the Kuwaiti- Peruvian Friendship Society businessman Dr Mustafa Bahbahani said the MoU proves that individuals are capable of contributing to the growth of their societies. (KUNA) DAESH targeting young men KUWAIT CITY, Sept 22: The Interior Ministry has warned parents and urged them to keep track of their children because s sent from unknown sources are known to incite young people to join the terrorist organization DAESH, reports Al-Shahed daily. Security sources stressed on the need for the parents to follow-up and monitor the messages sent to their children, particularly teenagers. The sources revealed the organization takes advantage of cyberspace to inject venom and destructive ideas through pictures, publications and videos to incite and encourage the young to carry out the orders of their masters in the name of religion. The source explained following the crack down on the members of the organization they have now turned to the social media outlets to lure the young. Meanwhile, the Kuwaiti security authorities are waiting for a detailed report of interrogations conducted by Saudi Arabia with members of a terrorist organization who were arrested one day ago, reports Al-Anba daily quoting a senior security source. The daily added, these terrorists are linked to DAESH and were planning to carry out acts of violence. The source added this is not an unusual procedure since the security authorities all GCC countries share the related information. KUWAIT CITY, Sept 22, (KUNA): A Kuwaiti diplomat denied Wednesday recent media reports that accused Kuwaiti charities of funding terrorism, pointing out these charities firm commitment to the country s laws and regulations. I m 100 percent sure that not a single fils from Kuwait goes to any terrorist organization or person in any part of the world, Assistant Foreign Minister for Follow-up and Coordination Affairs Ambassador Nasser Al-Sabeeh confirmed, demanding those reports to prove otherwise. Al-Sabeeh made his remarks to reporters on the sidelines of attending Tajikistan s National Day ceremony at the Tajik Embassy earlier today. He also indicated that there is a solid coordination between the foreign ministry and the social affairs and labor ministry in that regard, adding that each ministry perform its duty in accordance with the Kuwaiti laws inside and outside the country. The Indonesian parliament s deputy speaker Fadli Zon appreciated Thursday Kuwait s contributions to the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC). Zon made the remark during a meeting with Kuwaiti Ambassador to Indonesia Abdulwahab Al-Sager, voicing willingness to develop parliament-toparliament cooperation, the Kuwaiti Embassy in Indonesia said in a statement. During the meeting, he delivered the ambassador a message to Kuwaiti National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim, urging Kuwait to continue providing financial support to the GOPAC. He stressed the significance of developing cooperative relations between Indonesia and Kuwait in general and in terms of Indonesian housekeepers and technicians in particular, the embassy added. On his part, the Kuwaiti ambassador hoped that both sides would continue the exchange of official visits in order to reach more mutual understanding, it noted. Arabs struggle to fight chaos And DAESH show goes on THE Islamic State (IS) organization or the so-called DAESH which comprises of young deviants, delinquents, criminals, drug addicts and those who suffer from psychiatric disorders is still a strong organization, whose power should not underestimated because until now this organization has been fighting and confronting all forces that fight it, columnist Salah Al-Sayer wrote for Al-Anba daily Thursday. This organization is currently fighting well-trained troops from the international coalition led by the United States of America in association with many other countries such as Turkey, Japan, Britain, Switzerland, Portugal, Sweden, Poland, Norway, New Zealand, Holland, Italy, Ireland, Hungary, Iceland, Germany, France, Finland, Australia etc in addition to many Arab countries (I am sorry for not mentioning the names of all countries due to lack of space). It is an unknown and Al-Sayer ambiguous organization indeed. It was actually founded by suspicious individuals. Its financial resources seem to have dwindled because this organization depends on the sale of crude oil to fund its activities smuggled out of the occupied countries in water tankers. In other words, DAESH is no more than a gang of bandits who neither have weapons manufacturers among them nor have the required potential to manufacture sophisticated weapons. In spite of the above, it has proved its steadfastness in fighting the international coalition which was formed in This happens although history has taught us that the World War II, for instance, erupted among great powers who were manufacturers of missiles, cannons, tanks and warplanes and the belligerents owned strong armies and soldiers in big numbers. However, millions of people died during World War II, which lasted for six years it eventually ended when one camp came out victorious by defeating the other. Meanwhile, we say that the DAESH organization has been provided with the CCTV and professional photographers and this has enabled it to flex its muscles in a manner that it looks like we are watching a circus and the clowns are using toys to cheat the viewers. Anyway, the Arab countries which are still suffering from a new state of anarchy including Iraq, Syria and Libya have to some extent made us believe that they were ready for the current stage and had prepared the ground for vague dramas. Given the above, the anarchy is promoted by people who are wellknown to all of us and the media and the owners of this media time and again published the news reports from the DAESH organization or by the Command of the International Coalition and keep us involved in following up the developed phase of the Reality TV Show. Also: The Arabs and Muslims at the moment suffer from complicated dogmatic problems which have been forced upon them and understanding the construal of the relevant texts in addition to abusing the same and this means those in charge (senior state officials) must be invited to set up a clear cut strategy to fight sectarianism and terrorism simultaneously instead of waiting for the subverting thought of the terrorists and extremists to gain ground and uproot sedition, particularly during the religious occasions, columnist Abdulaziz Khuraibet wrote for Al-Shahed daily Thursday. As a matter of fact, the contemporary terrorists have gained a lot of professional expertise that qualifies them to recruit the same to convince any human being of their beliefs, particularly those who tilt to keep in line with their whims and ideology based on committing crimes in the name of defeating the terrorist organizations in the name of defending Almighty Allah and the believers. In other words, these organizations are ready to kill anyone who does not tow their line. They don t actually fire shots or plant bombs randomly to target some individuals, rather they kill and instigate others to kill to continue with their terrorist activities while at the same time casting doubts on the reputation, honor and though of any communal component that may threaten their very existence and expansionism. In this context, we say those DIWANIYA a digest of public opinion who promote sectarianism are always involved in agitating terrorism through Satellite TV channels and social media. Not just that, those who get involved in dialogue allege that dialogue among the various doctrines and religions was methodically designed to recruit the terrorists to defend the fatwas (edicts) which called for murder, terrorism and trading in religion by promoting fanaticism and extremism and global terrorism whose job is to strike at the vital installations of the nations. It is needless to say promoting sectarianism in a specific country is actually aimed at serving terrorism and the organizations which embrace the call for sacred violence and brainwashing the youth. In other words, the tools of the terrorist organizations are no longer confined to military weapons and terrorist plans, rather they mostly depending on certain ideas which are easy to convey to others in any community and at any time in order to reach a phase under which the task of fighting this misguided thought will be too difficult. In this connection, we suggest fighting terrorism foremost rests in cutting the throats and muting the voices of those who promote sectarianism and those who exploit the social media in particular to promote their thoughts. Not just that, they also exploit doctrinal and religious differences to instigate murder and terrorism to serve the selfish interests and surmounting humanity at large. I find the three-day conference which was held under the title Reinforcing the Gulf Identity is unrealistic theoretically because most of the proposals do not exceed the ideal levels and do not meet the aspirations and wishes of the citizens of the Gulf to reinforce what is called the Gulf identity, columnist Nasser Khamis Al-Mutairi wrote for Annahar daily. Is there actually a reality and identity of the Gulf which can be used as standard reference for GCC citizens in terms of identity, since they are different at social and political levels, or possibly even have conflicting ideas? The correct term to be used can be the Gulf culture and this expression would be the most appropriate and most accurate concept of the Gulf identity in terms of a legacy of from the linguistic, ideological, racial, cultural, and historic point of view because these aspects bind the peoples of the Gulf region and hold them together which can help establish a common popular culture known as Gulf culture, though disparate historical experiences (cultural, political, and intellectual) between the communities of the Gulf states. If we look at the aspirations of the peoples in the Gulf Cooperation Council, we will find that the reality of conflict and political differences and divergence of interests and alliances for each GCC country do not reflect those popular aspirations. The current economic reality is wide apart between the Gulf states and their peoples and the disparity of government support in the care and social security systems have led to a sharp disparity between citizens of the Arab Gulf states and even within a single country. Then again we must not forget the recent sectarian and factional factors that have erected barriers between citizens of one state in the GCC not to mention the surrounding regional wars that are fought on sectarian lines and has negative effects on the feelings and the unity of nations and peoples of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The sisterly relations between Kuwait and other GCC countries are so distinguished that they are like one body, Abdulaziz Al-Tuwaireji wrote for Al-Qabas daily. Such strong ties were greatly evident during the period when Sadaam invaded Kuwait. The Gulf countries stood by Kuwait and helped in liberating it from the Iraqi control. The Kuwaiti-Qatari relationship is an example of the historical ties that connect the Gulf countries. The remarkable advancement in the Qatari economy including diversification of sources of state revenues as well as preservation of the ancestral heritage represent a model that other states must study in order to achieve development. Qatar also leads in the field of education and higher education. Concerning sports affairs, Qatar has established outstanding sport infrastructure and built the Aspire Zone, which is an integrated sport city that will host the 2022 World Cup. This will of course have a positive impact on its citizens and the tourism sector. These achievements could not have been realized without the wise and sincere leadership of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad and the support of the Qatari people. On this occasion, we cannot forget the support of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah who offered Kuwait s economic and political abilities for the development of Qatar. We also cannot neglect the efforts exerted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al- Hamad Al-Sabah in strengthening Kuwaiti-Qatari relations. We also have to highlight the roles played by the ambassadors of Kuwait and Qatar throughout history in enhancing the ties between the two sisterly countries. One of the most important reasons behind the frequent revisions of curriculums is to prevent the extension of mistakes, columnist Dr Homoud Al-Hattab wrote for Al- Seyassah daily. If we look at the nature of evaluating and revising the curriculums, we will see that one of its significant objectives is to come up with a specific curriculum such as the integrated academic units. It means that if the Ministry of Education takes this example as a basis for creating the curriculums, a certain kind of revision and evaluation is required which is called feedback. According to that system, the ministry specifies a group of schools as a sample where the new curriculums are applied on experimental basis as a way to examine and evaluate them, followed by the rectification of mistakes as per the reports of teachers. This process is similar to the machine softening which is usually done with new cars. Strangely, since the ministry started using the system of separate academic units in the 1960s until now, it never evaluated nor tested the curriculums before applying them. Some might say to me, We in the ministry evaluate the curriculums and you Dr Hattab took part in such evaluations. I then say those evaluations are nothing more than partial tinkering of separate courses and they have nothing to do with the integrated evaluation of the entire curriculums. I will present more explanations on my idea in the next article if it is still not clear for the officials of the ministry. Ministry of Interior, especially the new director of detectives, should act fast in activating the role of wiping out the phenomenon of beggary which is widespread again in the country, Talal Al-Saeed wrote for Al-Seyassah daily. Beggars are prevalent across the nooks and crannies of Kuwait. Even children are now seen begging in café joints, markets and near traffic lights. This is in addition to veiled women who beg near major banks using a new trick which starts with asking about certain addresses before revealing their need for money. This phenomenon has become usual at mosques and in market places. Recently, worshippers discovered that a supposed old female beggar was actually an Asian youth who was caught begging at the entrance of a mosque. He disappeared into thin air immediately when the secret was let open and worshippers were unable to nab him. This scenario was recorded in a video clip. If Kuwaiti, GCC and Arab Shiites fail to play a positive role in settling the current impasse between Saudi Arabia and Iran and the resultant sectarian fiasco, they may find themselves one day paying dearly for its escalation and continuity in Kuwait and other GCC countries in particular, Khalil Ali Haider wrote for Al-Jarida daily. We all should ask whether all Shiites are standing idle and watching the media political dispute openly and secretly. Is it natural for sectarian dispute to continue forever? Are the Shiite leaders waiting for the situation to degenerate until they are involved before saying something or playing a role to fix the situation? If all Shiites maintain complacent position over the issue, is it a reasonable step? Iranians themselves are divided between the official policies and the opposition reformist blocs who are against these policies internally and externally. Some Iranians are urging the government to stop meddling in the internal affairs of GCC and other Arab countries, and reconcile with Saudi Arabia and the entire Sunnis. Compiled by Zaki Taleb 4

5 LOCAL 5 KUNA photos His Highness the Premier Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah hosted a ceremony Wednesday in honor of the Arab and foreign delegations participating in the General Assembly s 71st session. During the ceremony, talks highlighted various topics and current developments in the international arena. (KUNA) Kuwait emphasizes its UN Charter commitment HH Amir s rep speaks at UNGA 71st session Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah participated in a GCC ministerial meeting with the French Foreign Minister Jean-March Ayrault in New York. (KUNA) NEW YORK, Sept 22, (KUNA): Representative of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah, His Highness the Premier Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah emphasized Kuwait s commitment to principles and purposes of UN Charter during its membership in Security Council. Briefs CONDOLENCES: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent Thursday a cable of condolences to Indonesian President Joko Widodo over the victims of floods in the Indonesian island of Java. His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah sent similar cables to President Joko. Meanwhile, National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim sent Thursday a cable to President of the Indonesian People s Representative Council Ade Komaruddin, expressing his condolences over the victims of floods in the Indonesian island of Java. (KUNA) His Highness Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak spoke before the General Assembly s 71st session Wednesday, thanking all Members States of the Asia-Pacific Group in New York, for their endorsement of Kuwait s candidature to the seat in the Security Council for the period KUNA photos Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah participated in the Gulf Cooperation Councils Ministerial meeting with US and UK Foreign Ministers and UN Special Envoy for Yemen. (KUNA) GCC FMs discuss Palestine, Syrian crisis Kuwaiti FM participates in GCC meeting with US, UK & UN envoy NEW YORK, Sept 22, (KUNA): Kuwait s First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah participated late Wednesday in an Arab League Ministerial meeting to discuss Palestine, the Syrian crisis, Iraq, Yemen and Libya. The foreign ministers, meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly s (UNGA) 71st session in New York, also discussed issues listed in the agenda of the UNGA. The meeting was attended from the Kuwaiti side by Assistant Foreign Minister for Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled s office Ambassador Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Mohammad Al-Sabah and Kuwait s permanent representative to the UN Mansour Al-Otaibi. Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah participated Wednesday evening in the Gulf Cooperation Council s Ministerial meeting with US and UK Foreign Ministers and UN Special Envoy for Yemen on the sidelines of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The GCC ministers discussed with US Secretary of State John Kerry, UK Foreign Minister Boris Johnson and UN Yemen Envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed the latest developments in Yemen. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled was accompanied to the meeting by Assistant Foreign Minister for Sheikh Sabah Al- Khaled s office Ambassador Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Mohammad Al-Sabah, Assistant Foreign Minister for GCC Affairs Nasser Al-Muzain, and Kuwait s permanent representative to the UN Mansour AlOtaibi. Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah participated in a GCC ministerial meeting with the French Foreign Minister Jean-March Ayrault in New York late Wednesday. The two sides, meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly s (UNGA) 71st session, discussed ways of further promoting bilateral relations between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and France in different domains. They have also discussed regional and international matters of mutual interest. The meeting was attended from the Kuwaiti side by Assistant Foreign Minister for Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled s office Ambassador Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Mohammad Al-Sabah, Assistant Foreign Minister for GCC Affairs Nasser Al-Muzayyen and the permanent representative to the UN Mansour Al-Otaibi. Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah attended a reception held by Ayad Madani, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly s (UNGA) 71st session late Wednesday. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled was accompanied by his Assistant for the Foreign Ministers Office Ambassador Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Mohammad Al-Sabah. Progress hailed Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah congratulates KSA RIYADH, Sept 22, (KUNA): Kuwait s Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah AlMubarak Al-Sabah congratulated Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) Thursday on its 86th National day. In a statement to KUNA, Al-Abdullah congratulated the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Inte- rior Prince Mohammad bin Nayef AlSaud and Deputy Crown Prince, Second Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al-Saud, along with the Saudi people and government on their country s National Day. Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah lauded progress and prosperity in the kingdom, mainly in political, economic and social fields. Last month, the Asia-Pacific group at the UN showed desire to support Kuwait s bid for the Asian group s non-permanent seat at the UNSC in His Highness the Prime Minister told the General Assembly that Kuwait looks forward to the support of all the Member States of the United Nations, in the upcoming elections that would be held during the month of June of next year. As I emphasize my country s commitment to the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter; being a small peace-loving country; that bases its relations with others on the principles of respecting the sovereignty, independence, good neighborly relations and non-interference in their internal affairs, he said. Solutions His Highness Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak said Kuwait will contribute to finding solutions by consensus to the various global challenges, for the maintenance of international peace and security by peaceful ways and means. Kuwait occupied a UN seat previously in Representative of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah, His Highness the Premier Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad AlSabah heads the Kuwaiti delegation to the UN General Assembly 71st session. Meanwhile, Kuwait said it attained a prestigious position among donors of humanitarian assistance, as a result of its initiatives and continued response to appeals launched by UN for alleviating suffering of affected peoples and countries. Representative of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah, His Highness the Premier Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad AlSabah told the General Assembly on Wednesday that since Kuwait s independence in 1961, it has set for itself a consistent approach, to stand by Developing and Least Developed Countries. This comes from its firm belief in the need to assist countries afflicted by natural disasters, and to lend a helping hand to those suffering from the scourges of war, in a manner that would ensure the enhancement of its relations with the countries and peoples of the world, he said. His Highness Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak affirmed that Kuwait is also eager to reach a world wherein justice and equality would prevail in support of human values, and wherein the haves would give the deserving KUNA photos Top: The agreement being signed, and (above) signed documents being exchanged. Bid to educate Syrian refugees Kuwait finances UNESCO program AMMAN, Sept 22, (KUNA): The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) signed an agreement on Thursday with Jordan s Al-Yarmouk University for an educational program for Syrian refugees, worth $500,000 financed by Kuwait. The agreement was signed in a ceremony held in the university premises, where Kuwait s Ambassador to Jordan Dr Hamad Al-Duaij along with UNESCO officials were in attendance to seal a deal that would provide education for some 200 Syrian pupils. Moreover, the Kuwaiti Ambassador told KUNA that his country is steadfast in its humanitarian support of Syrian refugees, particularly, in the field of education. Meanwhile, representative of UNESCO s office in the Jordanian capital Farina Costanza said that Kuwait has generously financed this program to prop up UNESCO s efforts of giving the Syrian refugees an opportunity to enter the job market. Speaking on Kuwait s contributions to UNESCO s projects, she noted that the country s commitment has been valuable. President of Yarmouk University Refaat Al-Faouri told KUNA that the program provides vocational courses for Syrian refugees, in addition to undergraduate scholarships. The agreement follows a similar one signed earlier this month by Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) and Arab Open University (AOU), part of Kuwait s pledge to allocate $300 million to educate Syrian refugees. According to official Jordanian statistics, half of the 1.4 million Syrian refugees reside in the Hashemite Kingdom. have nots without conditions. In this regard, he reiterated Kuwait s intention to pay up all its pledges of the voluntary contributions it announces at international conferences. According to UN statistics for 2015, Kuwait has held the first place in providing humanitarian assistance as a ratio of its Gross Domestic Income. Kuwait s representative told the General Assembly gathered in the UN Headquarters that while Kuwait takes pride in such recognition, the Kuwait Fund for Economic Development continues its pioneering role of providing soft loans and grants to fund development programs that have benefitted 105 countries in various parts of the world, which amounted to almost USD 20 billion. As the General Assembly convene under the theme, The Sustainable Development Goals: A Universal Push to Transform Our World, and under unprecedented challenges and difficulties facing the world in the security and economic fields, Kuwait called for a greater coordination and the doubling of efforts, in order to overcome such challenges. In this connection, Kuwait welcomed the two historic agreements, on climate change signed by Kuwait last April, and on the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. His Highness the Prime Minister hoped that the agreements would lead to the realization of objectives and purposes, inclusive by their character. We also pledge to exert all efforts in contributing effectively; within the CONGRATULATIONS: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent a cable of congratulations Thursday to the President of the Republic of Mali Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on his country s National Day. His Highness the Amir expressed his best wishes and prosperity to the republic, its leadership and people. His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah sent similar cables. Meanwhile, National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim sent Thursday a congratulatory cable to Speaker of the National Assembly of Mali Issaka Sidibeon on the occasion of his country s National Day. (KUNA) CREDENTIALS: Ambassador Nabil Rashid Al-Dakheel submitted his credentials on Thursday as Kuwait s Ambassador Extraordinaire and negotiator to Iceland. In a statement obtained by KUNA, Kuwait s embassy in Sweden, where Al-Dakheel resides, said that the diplomat conveyed the Kuwaiti leadership s well wishes in a meeting with President of Iceland Gudni Thorlacius Johanesson. Moreover, Johanesson reciprocated the greetings, wishing AlDakheel every success in his post. The meeting tackled bilateral ties between Kuwait and the Nordic island nation, as well as issues of mutual concern. (KUNA) framework of an international partnership, to fully implement the Sustainable Development Goals during the coming fourteen years, he added. His Highness the Premier Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said he looks forward to relations of friendship and cooperation with Iran with mutual respect and understanding. His Highness the Prime Minster emphasized in his speech before the General Assembly s 71st session today, the importance of creating the appropriate conditions for any constructive dialogue to take place, in accordance with the rules and norms of international law, relating to the principle of good neighborly relations, respect of sovereignty of States, and non-interference in their internal affairs.

6 LOCAL 6 DAESH-linked man s hearing adjourned Cassation absolves blogger Bu Yabes in slander lawsuit The boat damaged after the hit. By Jaber Al-Hamoud Al-Seyassah Staff KUWAIT CITY, Sept 22: The Court of Cassation refrained from pronouncing penalty against Kuwaiti blogger Hamid Buyabes in a lawsuit filed by State Security Department over his alleged attack on UAE. According to the case file, a tweet posted by the blogger against the Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashed could endanger cordial ties between the two brotherly countries. He was accused of posting a photo of the Crown Prince while he was eating, and with several citizens taking photos of him. It will be recalled that the Court of Appeals dismissed the verdict of the Court of First Instance that sentenced him to one year in prison with KD500 bond to suspend execution of the verdict. The appellate court fined him KD Hearing adjourned: The Criminal Court adjourned until Oct 18, 2016 the hearing on the case involving a citizen identified as Eng Abu Turab, as well as his fugitive brother and his mother, in order to listen to the defense panel s statement. The court also rejected the bail request of the defense panel. In Tuesday s session, Abu Turab and his mother who was released on Inappropriate touch Lankan driver accused of molesting woman By Meshal Al-Sanousi Al-Seyassah Staff KUWAIT CITY, Sept 22: A Sri Lankan expatriate was arrested for touching a Kuwaiti woman inappropriately even though he claimed that he was just giving her a handshake as a way of greeting her. According to security sources, the Kuwaiti woman lodged a complaint at Saad Al-Abdullah Police Station against her neighbor s Sri Lankan driver, accusing him of touching her inappropriately and running away. After the suspect was arrested and questioned, he said he had only given her a handshake to greet her. Necessary action was taken against bail, appeared before the judge as the court listened to the testimony of the officer in charge of the case in a closed door session. Case files indicate that Abu Turab was charged with joining the terrorist group DAESH along with his mother in 2014 as he was influenced by online fatwas issued by some Kuwaiti clerics who declared jihad in Syria. This prompted him to leave his job in the oil sector to fight in Syria. He revealed that after discovering the crimes committed by the group him and he was detained in the police station and will be referred to the Public Prosecution. Meanwhile, a 33-year Kuwaiti woman lodged a complaint at Salmiya Police Station against an unknown individual who was driving a black-colored car, accusing him of harassing her and using offensive words. Using the information provided by the victim, securitymen have launched investigations to find and arrest the suspect. Meanwhile, a Kuwaiti citizen, who is wanted by law over a State Security case, was arrested in Fintas area. According to security sources, later, he realized he was wrong in joining them. This motivated me to escape and return to Kuwait with my mother through the help of State Security Department officers, he narrated. Meanwhile, the Cassation Court has cancelled the decision that was enforced many years ago and differentiated male and female candidates who apply for admission in the Kuwait University, reports Al-Rai daily. The court stated that the decision taken by Kuwait University to demand securitymen were patrolling Fintas area when they suspected a vehicle and ordered the driver to pull over. They checked his details to discover he is a Kuwaiti citizen who is wanted by the State Security Department. He was arrested and referred to the concerned authorities. And, a Syrian expatriate who is wanted by law for his involvement in two financial fraud cases was arrested and referred to the concerned authorities for necessary legal action. In addition, a Nepali expatriate was arrested for non-payment of a debt worth KD 320 to one of the companies. higher marks from female applicants for Faculty of Medicine and lesser marks from male applicants due to higher number of female applicants is unconstitutional and unfair to the female candidates. Based on the constitutional provisions that guarantee equality between the two genders, the court cancelled the university s decision and obligated the university to accept students in the Faculty of Medicine based on their marks without gender discrimination. Residencies of cooks holding A vehicle used by a drifter. Wedding revellers cars seized By Meshal Al-Sanousi Al-Seyassah Staff Ahmadi securitymen seized four vehicles during a campaign in Sabahiya area in front of a wedding hall. According to security sources, when Ahmadi securitymen received several complaints about a group of people driving recklessly in a dangerous manner in front of a wedding hall, they immediately launched a campaign at the location and seized four vehicles. One of the vehicles 7 caught hunting birds did not have a number plate. They referred the vehicles to the seizedvehicle garage and the owners were detained for necessary legal action. Meanwhile, firemen from Shuaiba Fire Station s Marine Rescue Center rescued three citizens who were on board a boat which crashed into a dock at Ahmadi Port. After receiving a report on the incident, the rescue team rushed to the location, saved the citizens from the boat and prevented the boat from sinking after impact. Jail warden in phone smuggling KUWAIT CITY, Sept 22: A female prison officer was arrested for attempting to smuggle a mobile phone and cigarettes for a female inmate of the women s prison. In a press statement issued by Ministry of Interior, the General Department of Public Relations and Media Security explained that the General Department for Prison Affairs and Sentences Enforcement caught the female prison officer in possession of a mobile phone and cigarettes. She confessed that she was planning to give them to a female inmate. A case was registered against her and she was referred to the concerned authorities for necessary legal action. Meanwhile, seven Kuwaiti citizens were arrested for hunting birds in prohibited locations and in private properties. In a press statement issued by Ministry of News in Brief Lawsuit planned: The interim committees of the Kuwait Olympic Committee (KOC) and the Kuwait Football Association (KFA) are planning to sue former chairman of KOC and the KFA Sheikh Talal Al-Fahd for hosting a dinner party in his diwaniya in his capacity as the chairman of the two associations, reports Al-Rai daily. The invitation was sent via the social media in spite of the decision by the Public Authority for Sports and Youth Affairs to dissolve the KOC and the KFA, the decision which had the blessing of HH the Amir who had called upon the interim committee members to close the old file and reinvigorate the sports activities in the country. Magic tools seized: Customs officers at the Kuwait International Airport have arrested a citizen of an unidentified GCC country arriving from Cairo for attempting to smuggle witchcraft tools into the country, reports Al-Shahed. The contraband was found hidden in a secret compartment in one of his bags. Following his arrest, the man became hysterical and denied they were magic charms. He said they were presents to one of the senior officials in Kuwait. Reliable sources said the suspect is working for one of the ministries in Kuwait. Trucks hazard: Trucks which remain parked for several days in open areas opposite schools make it difficult for parents to drive their children to schools on one hand and endanger their lives while crossing the roads, reports Al-Rai daily. According to reports schools officials have filed several complaints with the Ministry of Interior and the Kuwait Municipality but action has yet to be taken. One of the parents in expressing his dismay lamented the death of a Syrian student Interior, the General Department of Public Relations and Media Security explained that the bird hunters were arrested during a campaign launched on Salmi Road. They were referred to the Environment Police for necessary legal action. The department warned the people of Kuwait against bird hunting in prohibited areas and private properties. And, police are looking for an unidentified person for stealing the car of a Kuwaiti which was parked in front of his house in Fintas, reports Al-Rai daily. The victim has filed a complaint with Fintas Police Station and when he showed the CCTV footage taken by the camera installed in his house, the picture shows the suspect breaking the side glass and driving off with the vehicle. The suspect Dancing in the street Police from Farwaniya Security Command arrested a tow truck driver who was seen dancing in the street, says Al-Seyassh. Security sources said the man appeared to be heavily intoxicated and the officers found on him heroin and drug tools during a search. He was referred to concerned authorities. who died earlier under the wheels of one of these trucks. Meanwhile, two vehicles were damaged after a trailer truck carrying sand overturned, reports Al-Anba daily. A security source said the owners of the cars, both expatriates, have filed complaints against the truck driver with the Farwaniya Police Station. The daily gave no further details. licences will not be renewed Ban on visas for Bangladeshis denied KUWAIT CITY, Sept 22: Assistant Undersecretary for Passports and Citizenship Affairs in the Interior Ministry Major General Sheikh Mazen Al-Jarrah has announced the suspension of the renewal of residency permits of 100,000 domestic workers and cooks who hold driving licenses illegally, reports Al-Qabas daily. In a press statement, Al-Jarrah pointed out these domestic workers and cooks contribute to traffic jams as it has been discovered that many of them are engaged in delivery work and drive their own cars. He explained these workers will not be able to renew their residency permits unless they hand over their driving licenses or change their line of work into one that allows them to hold driving licenses. He added the sponsors of these workers will not be allowed to hire new workers if they do not comply with the directive. Talking about the procedures for obtaining family visa, Al-Jarrah disclosed a family visa application will be rejected if the father is not living in Kuwait. He asserted the decision states that the parents must be living in Kuwait as a condition for getting a family visa, indicating this is part of efforts to fix the lopsided demographic structure in the country. Meanwhile, Director General of the Residency Affairs Department Major General Talal Maarefi has confirmed the online issuance of 1,000 tourist and commercial visas within one day for hotels and major companies. He said this is in compliance with the directives of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Muhammad Al-Khaled and Undersecretary Lieutenant General Sulaiman Al-Fahd to provide online services for citizens, expatriates and visitors. Maarefi added the decision on allowing each Kuwaiti family to have one Bangladeshi worker remains in effect. He also advised all expatriates who got a seal for residency when the stickers were not available to visit the concerned departments in order to replace the seals with residency stickers. No ban on visas : Director-General of General Department of Residence Affairs Major-General Talal Ma arafi has denied rumors circulating in some quarters that the concerned authorities have stopped issuing No 20 visas for Bangladeshis, reports Al-Rai daily. The official asserted this information holds no water saying the department has until now not received any orders in this regard from senior leadership. Speaking to the daily, Major- General Ma arafi said there are certain Scene of fight at the Justice Palace. Fight flares up in courts over murder case By Munaif Nayef Al-Seyassah Staff A quarrel broke out between two Kuwaiti families at Justice Palace over a murder case. According to security sources, the quarrel broke out in the corridor outside the courtroom where a session of the murder case was ongoing. During the quarrel, the two parties started hitting each other. Securitymen rushed to the location and managed to control the two parties. They were referred to Salhiya Police Station for necessary legal action. Meanwhile, after lengthy investigations compounded by confession of guilt in the beginning and conditions that have been laid down for the citizens to bring in Bangladeshi domestic workers. Meanwhile, Ma arafi has called on the residents to visit the concerned department in their respective governorates to complete the formalities if extension of residence permits. He said the first phase of e-visa project will include those persons who are exempted from fees followed by the others in the next phase. Fake millionaire: A Kuwaiti exconvict attempted to swindle the owner of a car company by pretending to be a millionaire with enormous wealth and real estates, reports MoI photo denial in the end, the Hurghada Prosecutor is said to have released the Kuwaiti police officer on bail of 5,000 Egyptian pounds, reports Al-Rai daily. The Kuwaiti police officer was caught in possession of 3 pieces of hashish and narcotic tablets when he arrived at the Hurghada Airport from an unidentified place and was on his way to Turkey. Al-Shahed daily. The citizen had reached an agreement with the owner to buy luxury vehicles and gave him KD 1,000 as down payment. After the owner completed the necessary transactions, he was shocked when the suspect refused to pay the rest of the money. Both parties argued and eventually resorted to a police station where investigations revealed that the owner s version of the story was true. A case was filed against the fake millionaire and securitymen checked his details to discover he is an exconvict. He was arrested and referred to the concerned authorities for necessary legal action. Missing Kuwaiti woman fails to hoodwink police Abduction, doing drugs, forgery cases filed KUWAIT CITY, Sept 22: Police have arrested a Kuwaiti citizen and a female compatriot for consuming drugs. They were picked up from an apartment after they were not seen for six days, reports Al-Rai daily. The arrest came after the woman s Moroccan mother filed a complaint with the Capital Security Directorate accusing the man of kidnapping her Kuwaiti daughter and holding her captive for six days inside his house. After the police got a warrant issued by the Public Prosecution, when went to his house, but did not find him there. The police then went to his workplace and again failed to find him there, but securitymen were told by his colleagues that the man came to mark his attendance and left. The duo was then caught when they visited a dentist and were referred to the General Department for Criminal Investigations. The results of investigations showed the woman was wanted by law and had been sentenced in absentia in a drugs case. Investigations also showed she always accompanied the Kuwaiti and used the civil ID of another woman to escape from police. A case of kidnapping has been filed against the citizen and consuming drugs and forging documents have been filed against both of them. Meanwhile, in another unrelated case, the Farwaniya police have found the missing girl who had reportedly run away from her house because she was tired of studying, reports Al-Rai daily. The daily said the girl is in intermediate stage and the missing persons report was filed by the family with the Rehab Police Station two days ago. The girl was caught by a police patrol in Farwaniya. The patrolmen suspected the girl because she appeared to be cautious in her movements and when she saw the patrolmen she tried to hide behind cars. She has been handed over to her family.

7 LOCAL/MIDEAST 7 Syrian seeks to join his wife in Turkey Ex-Gitmo detainee demands exceed government: Uruguay MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, Sept 22, (AP): President Tabare Vazquez said Wednesday that the demands of a former Guantanamo detainee who is on a hunger strike exceed Uruguay s capacity to deliver. Abu Wa el Dhiab has not been eating for more than a month trying to pressure the government into letting him join his wife and children in Turkey or in another nation. He agreed to start drinking water late Monday to give the government more time to offer him a proposal to leave Uruguay. Vazquez said at a news conference that Uruguay s foreign minister would meet with officials from the US State Department, but he reiterated that the solution is not up to his government. The Uruguayan government is doing everything possible, Vazquez said. But as I ve said in the past: If the countries where the Syrian citizen wants to go don t take him, we can t do anything about it. Christian Mirza, the government s liaison with Dhiab and five other ex-guantanamo detainees resettled in Uruguay, has said that Turkey, Lebanon and Qatar have rejected taking Dhiab. Dhiab has been vocal about his unhappiness in Uruguay. Shortly after his arrival in 2014, he turned up in neighboring Argentina and denounced the US failure to close Guantanamo. He has also protested outside the US Embassy in Montevideo. In July, he set off alarms when he vanished for several weeks, before turning up in Venezuela, which sent him back to Uruguay. Dhiab briefly fell into a coma last week and has been hospitalized twice. UNRWA official lauds Gulf countries contributions to Lebanese refugees Kuwait praised for helping Palestinian refugees A Misrata s sniper shoots toward Islamic State group (IS) positions in Sirte, Libya on Sept 21. The forces of Al-Bonyan Al-Marsous operation, affiliated to the government of Tripoli and supported by the international community, have been fighting months-long battle to oust IS from its coastal bastion of Sirte. (AFP) IS dowries revealed Rival accuses Libya govt s troops over deadly strikes TRIPOLI, Sept 22, (AFP): A rival Libyan administration on Wednesday accused forces allied with the country s unity government of carrying out an air strike that killed seven civilians. Women and children were among those killed in the raid on Tuesday in Sokna, 480 kms (300 miles) southeast of Tripoli, the parallel administration said in a statement on its website. The strike was carried out by aircraft that took off from an air base in Misrata belonging to illegal militias and terrorist groups allied with them, it said, referring to forces loyal to the UN-backed unity government. A spokesman for the base called the accusations wrong and biased, according to a Facebook page run by the unity government. Flights (on Tuesday) did not reach those areas, but were only reconnaissance flights in the coastal area, said Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Qanunu. It was not immediately possible to contact independent witnesses in Sokna. UN envoy Martin Kobler wrote on Twitter that he was shocked by reports of air strikes in the area that killed many civilians, among them women and children. Civilian casualties are unacceptable, he said. Sokna lies in Al-Jufra district, 200 kms (125 miles) south of Sirte, where forces allied with the Government of National Accord (GNA) are battling Islamic State group (IS) jihadists. GNA forces based in nearby Misrata often carry out reconnaissance flights south of Sirte to intercept IS fighters fleeing into the desert. The GNA was formed following a UN-backed deal in December 2015, but it has struggled to impose its power across a country riven by violence since the fall of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in Voting held in largely peaceful atmosphere Jordan s Muslim Brotherhood seen set to return to parliament AMMAN, Sept 22, (Agencies): Jordan s electoral commission on Wednesday began announcing the results of its general election with the influential Muslim Brotherhood set to return to parliament as a significant opposition force. A senior Brotherhood official said preliminary results indicated it was on course to win at least 16 seats in the 130-seat chamber, after the Islamists boycotted two previous polls in protest at the electoral system and alleged voting fraud. Almost 24 hours after polls closed, the kingdom s electoral commission had only announced preliminary results for three out of 23 constituencies. It said other results would be announced as and when they were known. As well as the performance of the Brotherhood s Islamic Action Front, attention surrounding Tuesday s polls was focused on the low turnout, with just 1.5 million voters out of a 4.1-million strong electorate opting to cast ballots. The vote comes as Jordan, a key Western ally, wrestles with the spillover of wars in Syria and Iraq and the burden of hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees. Experts say the low turnout reflects a lack of enthusiasm among voters for a parliament with limited power to affect government policy. King Abdullah II can appoint and sack Jordan s military and intelligence chiefs, senior judges and members of parliament s upper house without government approval. Even after reforms to electoral laws, the vast majority of seats were expected to go to businessmen and tribal elders loyal to the royal court. The presence of other parties will be very weak, Brotherhood second-in-command The GNA, created last year as a UN-brokered power-sharing government, still needs a vote of confidence from the parliament based in the east. The parliament has so far withheld its support, instead backing the rival administration, which is also based in the country s east. Both governments depend on militias for their authority, and the parallel authority is backed by military strongman Khalifa Haftar. Last week Haftar s forces seized four key export terminals in Libya s coastal oil crescent, in a further blow to the GNA s efforts to extend its writ across the whole country. Meanwhile, GNA forces have been fighting for more than four months to oust IS from Sirte, Kadhafi s coastal home town. Suicide bombings and sniper fire from the cornered jihadists have slowed the offensive. More than 450 members of the loyalist forces have been killed and around 2,500 wounded since the operation began in May. Meanwhile, Islamic State group marriage contracts unearthed by pro-government forces battling the group in Libya reveal that the jihadists offered their brides unusual dowries: machineguns and explosive belts. Forces allied with the country s unity government discovered the archives as they searched buildings seized during their months-long battle to oust IS from its coastal bastion of Sirte. The documents belonged to the jihadists Judicial and Complaints Department. Published on pro-government forces Facebook pages, they include marriage contracts and divorce rulings without any real name or personal information. Beni Zaki Rsheid told AFP. The vast majority (of lawmakers) will be made up as usual of deputies already close to power. Rsheid said the IAF was on course to win 16 seats, roughly on a par with what analysts had predicted. With previous elections dogged by allegations of vote rigging, Tuesday s vote passed largely without incident, in spite of what the Islamists said were several irregularities. Voting was monitored by 14,000 local observers and more than 650 from abroad. Speaking at the New York at the UN General Assembly, Abdullah said Jordan had pulled off a real victory by holding successful elections during turbulent times. This is a process we are engaged in despite the unrest in the region and the burden of refugees, the king said. Most voters in Jordan s parliament election were able to cast their ballots without any significant impediment, an international observer team said Wednesday, as partial results were announced. In Tuesday s election, voters in the pro- Western monarchy chose a 130-member parliament, with the veteran opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, competing for the first time since A senior official in the group said he expected a Brotherhood-led coalition to win about 16 seats. Meanwhile, a 45-member team of international observers said that the election was organized efficiently and held in a largely peaceful atmosphere. It said in a statement that there were isolated problems, such as campaigning at polling stations, but that most voters were able to cast votes without significant impediments. BRUSSELS, Sept 22, (KUNA): Director of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East Affairs (UNRWA) in Lebanon, Matthias Schmale, has praised the Arab Gulf countries for helping the refugees in Lebanon as well as the people in Gaza and in Syria. The Gulf countries are very generous in terms of supporting the activities that benefit the refugees. The contributions from the Gulf countries mostly happen in the form of projects support, Schmale told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) during his visit to Brussels. He noted that Saudi Arabia has given $50 million for the reconstruction project for Nahr al-bared Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon. They and the UAE and others have given significant funding for Gaza rebuilding after the war. The Gulf countries, I think really as a group, we have to acknowledge their enormous contributions for meeting in particular humanitarian needs also in Syria, said the UNRWA official. Schmale noted that due to shortage of funds last year they were about to postpone the opening of the school year for the children of the Palestinian refugees but with significant contributions of three Gulf states, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, helped to avoid that. The three Gulf states last year gave $50 million covering half of the deficits to UNRWA s core budget contribution, he noted. During his recent visit to Brussels Schmale held a series of meeting with EU officials to discuss the living conditions of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. The Lebanese authorities are carrying an enormous burden with 1.5 million refugees in the country including Syrians and Palestinians, he said. On his part, Matthias Burchardr, UNRWA s Representative to the EU, told KUNA that we very much look forward especially on Kuwait which has signalled its interest to help Palestinian refugees, as they did last year, UNRWA overcome the crisis. UNRWA Director Matthias Schmale during a press conference. (KUNA) Kuwait s new envoys submit credentials MOSCOW, Sept 22, (KUNA): Kuwait s newly appointed ambassador to Ukraine Rashid Hammad Al-Adwani submitted his credentials on Thursday to Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya. In a statement to KUNA, Al-Adwani conveyed Kuwaiti First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah s greetings to Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin. Al-Adwani also conveyed Kuwaiti Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Khaled Al-Jarallah s greetings to his Ukrainian counterpart Sergiy Kyslytsya. Meanwhile, Kuwait s new Ambassador to Sudan Bassam Al-Qabandi submitted his credentials on Thursday to Khartoum s Foreign Ministry, succeeding Ambassador Talal Al-Hajeri. Turkish delegation meets KCCI Deputy Chairman Abdulwahab Mohammad Al-Wazzan Turkish economic delegation visits Kuwait Deputy Chairman of Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Abdulwahab Mohammad Al-Wazzan and the KCCI board members received a Turkish economic delegation which included the Turkish Premier s Envoy and Turkish Minister Tehran insists blazes not the result of cyberattack Iran oil fires, blasts raise suspicions of hacking of Development Lutfi Elvan. During the meeting, Al-Wazzan and the head of Turkish delegation Mahamet Boyoyakshi discussed means for cementing the economic relations between the two countries and eliminating the obstacles that DUBAI, Sept 22, (AP): A series of fires at Iranian petrochemical plants and facilities have raised suspicions about hacking potentially playing a role, with authorities saying that viruses had contaminated equipment at several of the affected complexes. Iran officially insists the six known blazes over the span of three months weren t the result of a cyberattack. However, the government acknowledgment of supposedly protected facilities being infected points to the possibility of a concerted effort to target Iranian infrastructure in the years after the Stuxnet virus disrupted thousands of centrifuges at a uranium enrichment facility. Among the worst of the fires was a massive, days-long inferno in July at the Bou Ali Sina Petrochemical Complex in Iran s southwestern province of Khuzestan. Insurance officials later estimated the damage at some $67 million. Authorities preliminarily blamed the blaze on a leak of paraxylene, a flammable hydrocarbon, without elaborating. Other recent blazes include: A July 29 fire at a storage tank at the Bistoon Petrochemical Complex in Iran s western province of Kermanshah that authorities blamed on an electrical fault; An Aug. 6 gas pipeline explosion in the port city of Genaveh that killed one person and injured three; An Aug 7 fire at a storage area of the Bandar Imam Khomeini Petrochemical Complex that burned for two days; An Aug 30 inferno that erupted in a sewage unit at Iran s South Pars gas field; and A Sept 14 gas leak and fire at the Mobin Petrochemical Factory that services the South Pars gas field that injured four workers. Initially, Brig Gen Gholam Reza Jalali, who heads an Iranian military unit in charge of combatting cybersabotage, dismissed any notion that the fires could have been caused by hacking. Iran s aging oil pipelines and plants, hit hard by years of Western sanctions, have seen a rapid push to increase production this year to take advantage of the nuclear deal with world powers. Iran also faces occasional separatist attacks on its pipelines. But on Aug 27, Jalali acknowledged Iran s petrochemical industry had been the target of cyberattacks. He put the blame on imported and installed components at the facilities. The viruses had contaminated petrochemical complexes, he said, according to a report by the state-run IRNA news agency. Irregular commands by a virus may cause danger. But despite the infections, Jalali said cyberattacks had no hand in the fires and explosions. He also said defensive measures are underway, without elaborating. Beyond Jalali s vague comments, what actually infected the plants remains unclear. It s unknown if Iran, which has boosted its own cyberwarfare and defense capabilities in recent years, has sought outside assistance in its investigation. The Russian antivirus firm Kaspersky Lab, whose analysts were among the first to investigate Stuxnet, said it wasn t involved in investigating this outbreak and declined to comment. However, Jalali s comments that the viruses spread through imported parts suggests a concerted effort by a foreign power. Iran likely relied on black-market parts while the country faced international sanctions, said Robin Mills, a Dubai-based oil industry analyst and CEO of Qamar Energy. Maybe they couldn t always get the high-quality parts coming from countries who are sanctioning it and had to get second-hand parts or parts not of the right specifications and put these pieces together without a lot of international expertise, Mill said. In that case, of course, accidents can happen. But the number of fires in row has raised suspicions of Iran being targeted. Such an attack requires a lot of resources that individual hackers would not have, said Idan Udi Edry, a former Israeli air force captain who now is the CEO of Nation-E, a cybersecurity firm specializing in protecting industrial systems. Asked if the Iranian blazes were the result of hacking, Edry said he was 100-percent sure, based on his own company s experience and surveillance. Kuwait s private sector are experiencing. They also discussed the need to hold Turkish exhibitions in Kuwait, which will provide opportunity to introduce Turkish products in Kuwaiti market and increase the cooperation between the two countries. No company, organization or nation in the world would like to admit they ve been hacked, he said. This specific attack was exact the same one (like Stuxnet), only on a different critical infrastructure area. However, Ralph Langner, another industry expert who studied the Stuxnet virus, said it seemed unlikely the fires were caused by cyberattacks, though his firm hasn t investigated. Stuxnet, widely believed to be an American and Israeli creation, infected thousands of centrifuges at the Natanz uranium enrichment plant at the height of Western fears over Iran s nuclear program. The virus targeted the machines through the industrial control systems that set their speeds, causing them to spin out of control and destroy themselves. Such control devices, used for years in fields ranging from utility companies to the oil industry, are especially susceptible to hackers. That s because they weren t initially envisioned to be connected to the internet and that most security attention focuses on consumer products such as and laptops. While the Stuxnet virus was the most famous hack to exploit them, there have been others that caused real-world destruction. German authorities say a steel mill sustained massive damage to its blast furnace in 2014 after hackers took control of its industrial control systems, though details on the incident remain few. Iranian hackers also allegedly penetrated the controls of a small dam less than 30 kms (20 miles) away from New York City. That dam s system, however, was connected directly to the internet, while the Iranian oil industry is believed to be air-gapped or not connected directly to the web. Meanwhile, hackers of all kinds appear to be increasingly targeting industrial control systems. In the US alone, a Homeland Security center tasked with handling such attacks reported it responded to 295 incidents in 2015, up from 245 the year before. Cyberattacks are no longer how to steal information, Edry said. These are attacks that are meant to shut down a country. EU, GCC Energy Expert Group discusses policies BRUSSELS, Sept 22, (KUNA): The EU-GCC Energy Expert Group concluded its meeting Wednesday after discussing recent developments in their respective energy policies. Throughout the two-day meeting, the GCC side presented a global energy, oil, and economic outlook, as well as various policies in the area of energy efficiency, a spokesperson for the European Commission, who requested anonymity told KUNA. The EU side presented the initiatives included in the EU s Energy Security Package of February as well as an overview of EU energy efficiency policies, said the spokesperson. Meanwhile, both parties agreed on the importance of a continuous exchange on respective energy policies and agreed to meet again in a GCC country in 2017, he noted. The GCC Delegation was led by Farred Al-Asaly, Chair of the Energy Committee at the Secretariat of the sixmember GCC, while the EU Delegation was led by Hans van Steen, Head of Unit for International Relations in the Directorate General for Energy in the European Commission. The Energy Expert Group was followed by a meeting of the EU-GCC Clean Energy Network and on Wednesday by a workshop on standard and labelling for equipment and appliances which allowed an in-depth discussion and exchange of views on various issues related to a sustainable use of energy.

8 INTERNATIONAL 8 MPs demand Continued from Page 1 Justice, Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Yacoub Al-Sane if he has coordinated with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding the issuance of entry visas for Bedoons and preventing them from performing the pilgrimage in Makkah this year. The MP urged the minister to follow up the issue and grant Bedouns the facility to perform their religious obligations, particularly Hajj. MP Dashti Continued from Page 1 medical treatment in Britain. In the latest ruling, the criminal court in Kuwait City deemed as offensive his remarks about the Amir and neighbouring Saudi Arabia. The outspoken lawmaker was also convicted in July of endangering ties with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and for calling on people to join the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah militia. Dashti confirmed the latest court ruling on Twitter, saying he expects more sentences that could amount to 100 years jail as he is facing about a dozen similar cases. The verdicts are not final but Dashti can only challenge once he returns to Kuwait. He has not said when he will go back. Dashti is a staunch supporter of Iran and Syrian President Bashar al-assad and a critic of the royal families of both Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. He denounced as an invasion the 2011 Saudi military intervention in Bahrain to support the government against Shiite-led protests. The next ruling against him is scheduled for Oct 10. There are nine Shiite lawmakers in the 50-seat parliament of Kuwait, and the minority comprises about 30 percent of the country s native population of 1.3 million. Court upholds Continued from Page 1 the proceedings, which had initially been set for October 6. And a judicial source said the court still refused to grant lawyers access to the group s offices to prepare their defence. The court had ordered the closure of Al- Wefaq s offices earlier in June. Amnesty International condemnd Thursday s ruling as flagrant attack on freedom of expression and association and a brazen attempt to suppress criticism of the government in Bahrain. The Bahraini authorities have not presented any credible evidence that Al- Wefaq is anything but a peaceful opposition movement which has been seeking reform in the country in the face of increasing government repression, said Amnesty s Research and Advocacy Director, Philip Luther. Silencing critical voices encourages further human rights violations and abuse of power, he said. In October 2014, the administrative court banned Al-Wefaq for three months for violating the law on associations. Political parties are banned in Bahrain, as in other Gulf Arab states, so Al-Wefaq operated as an association. Also known as the Islamic National Accord Association, Al-Wefaq is heir to the Bahrain Freedom Movement which played a key role in Shiite-led protests in the 1990s that sought the restoration of the elected parliament scrapped in In recent months, Manama has intensified its crackdown on leading Shiite figures. Al-Wefaq s leader, Shiite cleric Ali Salman, is serving a nine-year jail term on charges of inciting violence after a court in May more than doubled his sentence. His arrest in December 2014 sparked protests in Bahrain. Authorities have also stripped at least 261 people of their citizenship since 2012, according to the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, including the country s Shiite spiritual leader Sheikh Isa Qassem. In other news, Bahrain is to put on trial 11 people accused of attempting to murder a police officer and being part of a terrorist group, prosecutors said on Wednesday. The 11 suspects were arrested after gunmen fired at a police officer in May in Sitra, a mainly Shiite Muslim area near the capital Manama, the prosecution said, cited by state news agency BNA. Another six people who face the same charges are still at large. The 11 confessed to belonging to a terrorist group, receiving military training, attempting to kill an officer and being in possession of weapons and explosives, said the same source. Their trial is to open on Oct 25. Bahrain has been shaken by unrest since security forces crushed Shiite-led protests demanding a constitutional monarchy and an elected prime minister in Despite repeated calls from their Western allies, Bahrain s Sunni rulers have made no concessions to the Shiite opposition and have intensified a crackdown on critics. Scores of Shiites have been jailed on charges of involvement in the unrest and others have been stripped of their citizenship. The crackdown has drawn criticism from the United Nations and the United States. Air strikes Continued from Page 1 leaders but the coalition did not have a count on the number killed because it is not on the ground there. We had information that they were having a meeting, then we hit them. Assiri said any allegations of wrongdoing would have to be verified. We will investigate to know what has happened exactly, he said. US officials whose country supplies Pentagon weighs arming Syrian Kurds ahead of battle in Raqa WASHINGTON, Sept 22, (Agencies): Washington is considering arming Syrian Kurdish forces who will join the offensive to retake the Islamic State group s stronghold of Raqa, the US military s top officer said Thursday. Though the United States has already helped arm Kurdish fighters in Iraq, a similar move in Syria is more contentious as key ally Turkey regards the group as terrorists and allies of PKK separatists fighting within Turkish borders. We re in deliberation about exactly what to do with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) right now, General Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee. The SDF numbers about 30,000 fighters and is made up largely of Kurds, though Syrian Arabs also form a significant component. While the Pentagon has already provided military equipment to the SDF, it insists these shipments have only gone to the Arab part. The United States is helping train and advise the SDF, as they are expected to conduct the eventual push to retake Raqa, the de-facto capital of IS s self-declared caliphate. They are our most effective partner on the ground. It s very difficult as you know, managing a relationship between our support for the Syrian Democratic Forces and our Turkish allies, Dunford said. We re working very closely with our Turkish allies to come up with the right approach... and still allay the Turkish concerns about the Kurds long-term political prospects. When asked by a lawmaker if arming the Syrian Kurds would make the SDF more effective, Dunford said: I would agree. If we would reinforce the Syrian Democratic Forces current capabilities, that will increase the prospects of our success in Raqa, he said. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said no specific decision had been taken on the issue. He did not directly respond when asked if he would support arming the Syrian Kurds. I support whatever is required to help them move in the direction of Raqa, Carter said. Forces loyal to President Bashar al- Assad s regime were pushed out of Raqa, which lies on the Euphrates River, in 2013, making it the first provincial capital in Syria to fall out of government control. IS rapidly infiltrated the city, which is strategically located near the Turkish border, and declared a caliphate in Ousting IS from the city would be a turning point in the conflict and mark a huge blow to the jihadists. Meanwhile, the United Nations appealed to Syrian President Bashar al- Assad and rebel groups on Thursday to bombs dropped by the coalition have regularly urged their Saudi allies to avoid harming non-combatants. The rebel administration in the capital Sanaa also reported the Hodeida strikes, saying there were civilian casualties. The Houthi rebels had been celebrating the second anniversary of their seizure of Yemen s capital city. Khaled Suhail, a doctor at Hodeida s Al-Thawra Hospital, said his facility received 12 dead and 30 wounded from the strikes. Pictures from Suq al-hunod showed residents combing the rubble under arc lights in a search for survivors. The body of one child lay in a morgue, his head bloody above a left eye which remained open in death. Air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition are suspected of causing around half of all civilian deaths in Yemen, a United Nations report said last month. It called for an independent international body to investigate an array of serious violations by all sides in Yemen, where nearly 4,000 civilians have died. In this case a misguided munition hit a neighbourhood by error, which is densely populated, said Andreas Krieg of the Defence Studies Department at King s College London. It is tragic but unfortunately the reality of air power warfare in complex environments where the enemy intentionally mingles with the civilian population, he told AFP. Peter Salisbury, an associate fellow at London s Chatham House think-tank, said British and US arms suppliers were coming under growing pressure to explain their failure to influence the Saudis over civilian casualties. It s difficult to see what strategic advantage the Saudis are gaining from their bombing campaign outside of the front lines, he told AFP before the Hodeida incident. Last month, the US military said it had slashed the number of intelligence advisers directly supporting the Saudi-led coalition s air war in support of Hadi s government. The reassignment of personnel, around June, came because there was not the same sort of requests coming in for assistance, Fifth Fleet spokesman Lieutenant Ian McConnaughey said. US cooperation with Saudi Arabia mostly involves imagery that allows them to better assess the situation on the ground, and then advice and assistance, he said. Targeting is ultimately decided by the UN resumes Syria aid delivery after attack In this photo provided by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, rescue workers work the site of airstrikes in al-mashhad neighborhood in the rebel-held part of eastern Aleppo on Sept 21. Ibrahim Alhaj, a member of the volunteer first responders known as the Syria Civil Defense, said 24 people were killed in a series of bombings in several parts of the besieged city Aleppo on Wednesday. (AP) Nine injured, including children Turkish town hit by rocket fired from Syria DIYARBAKIR/ANKARA, Sept 22, (RTRS): Nine people, including children, were wounded when rockets fired from Islamic State-controlled territory in Syria hit a Turkish border town on Thursday, officials and security sources said. The attacks on Kilis were the first since Ankara-backed rebels swept into northern Syria last month to clear Sunni Islamist fighters from Turkey s southern border. That operation, dubbed Euphrates Shield by Turkey, was launched after months of attacks on Kilis reduced parts of the town to rubble. We entered Syria because these rockets are damaging property and human life. We want to establish security, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told reporters in Ankara. He said six people, most of them children, were injured in the initial barrage. The Turkish military said two rockets Saudis, McConnaughey added. Riyadh formed the Arab coalition which began air raids in March last year, and later sent in ground forces, to support Hadi s internationally recognised government after the Houthis and their allies overran much of Yemen. EU urges Continued from Page 1 The US House of Representatives would override any presidential veto of a bill allowing survivors and families of victims of the Sept 11 attacks to sue Saudi Arabia, Speaker Paul Ryan predicted on Wednesday while also citing concerns with the legislation. I worry about legal matters. I worry about trial lawyers trying to get rich off of this. And I do worry about the precedence. At the same time, these victims do need to have their day in court, Ryan, a Republican, told reporters. Congress has overwhelmingly passed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act in reaction to long-running suspicions, denied by Saudi Arabia, that hijackers of the four US jetliners that attacked the United States in 2001 were backed by the Saudi government. Obama in coming days is expected to veto the bill on grounds that other countries could use the law as an excuse to sue US diplomats, service members or companies. But Congress could have the last word if the Senate and House of Representatives each override that veto by a two-thirds vote. I do think the votes are there for the override, Ryan said. When asked by a reporter if US support for Saudi Arabia was unconditional, Ryan responded that the country is a very important and valuable ally and is helping Washington in the war on terror. He noted, however, Our support for any country is not unconditional. White House officials say Obama will reject the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act by a Friday veto deadline, after a little over a week of deliberation. The administration is worried the bill passed unanimously by Congress would undermine state immunity, setting a dangerous legal precedent. Obama s aides tried and failed to have the legislation substantially revised, and now face the prospect of Republicans and Democrats joining forces to override the presidential veto, a relatively rare rebuke fired from an Islamic State-controlled region of Syria had hit the town in the first incident. The military said it tracked the origin of the rockets using radar and returned fire. Around two hours later, another rocket hit Kilis and the military said it retaliated with air strikes. Many Daesh targets were neutralised, it said in a statement, using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State. Security sources said two more people were lightly injured in the second round of rocket fire. At least six of the injured were Syrian nationals, Mayor Hasan Kara said. Kilis is home to many refugees from the Syrian civil war. Cross-border rocket attacks have killed 21 people and wounded 80 in Kilis since January, security sources said. Rockets have reduced some parts of the town to rubble and provoked outrage allow aid convoys to enter eastern Aleppo as UN relief operations in Syria resumed after a 48-hour suspension due to a deadly attack. UN trucks loaded with food, medical and other supplies for 35,000 people arrived in the rebel-held besieged Damascus suburb of Mouadamiya, UN spokesman Jens Laerke said. The UN hopes to send others to besieged areas in Idlib and near the Lebanese border in coming days. The world body suspended land deliveries after a 31-truck convoy was attacked on Monday night at Urem al-kubra in western Aleppo. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent says a staff member and around 20 civilians were killed and a warehouse destroyed. Forty trucks are sitting at the Turkish- Syrian border, the food will be expiring on Monday. The drivers are sleeping at the border, and they have done that now for a week, UN humanitarian adviser Jan Egeland told reporters. of White House power. Families of 9/11 victims have campaigned for the law convinced that the Saudi government had a hand in the attacks that killed almost 3,000 people. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi citizens, but no link to the government has been proven. The Saudi government denies any links to the plotters. Fifteen years is already far too long to be asked to wait for accountability for the deaths and injuries suffered in the 9/11 attacks, said widow Terry Strada. Strada gave birth days before her husband, Tom, a bond broker at Cantor Fitzgerald, was killed in World Trade Center Tower One. Behind the scenes, Riyadh has been lobbying furiously for the bill to be scrapped. A senior Saudi Prince reportedly threatened to pull billions of dollars out of US assets if it becomes law, but Saudi officials now distance themselves from that claim. The US-Saudi relationship had already been strained by Obama s engagement with Saudi s Shia foe Iran and the July release of a secret report on Saudi s involvement in the attacks. Declassified documents showed US intelligence had multiple suspicions about links between the Saudi government and the attackers. While in the United States, some of the 9/11 hijackers were in contact with, and received support or assistance from, individuals who may be connected to the Saudi government, a finding read. This would be the twelfth veto of Obama s eight-year presidency and one of his most politically fraught. Congressional insiders insist they have the votes needed to override, in what would be a significant blow for the White House in the final months of Obama s presidency. Iranians proclaim Continued from Page 1 shrine, according to postings on Modafeon, a web site dedicated to news and pictures of the defenders. The potent message of protecting the shrines has drawn in Shi ite Afghans, some of whom live in Iran and others in Afghanistan. These Afghans fighting in Syria under the supervision of the Revolutionary Guards are known as the Fatemiyoun. against the Turkish government, which some residents say is failing to protect them. In April police used tear gas to disperse dozens of people protesting after a rocket attack killed one person and wounded 26. Turkish tanks rolled into Syria from Kilis province this month as part of the Euphrates Shield operation, which has helped Turkish-backed rebels sweep Islamic State from a 90-km (55-mile) stretch of Turkey s border. The campaign, launched in August, is also intended to stop the advance of fighters of the Syrian Kurdish YPG, which Turkey sees as an extension of the outlawed Kurdish militant PKK it is fighting in its own largely Kurdish southeast. While the Turkish-backed rebels have made swift gains in Syria, the wedge of land they control is shallow, and beyond it lies Islamic State territory. So please, President Assad, do your bit to enable us get to eastern Aleppo and also the other besieged areas. We also have to get assurances in the east Aleppo case from the armed opposition groups to enter, he said of the divided northern city. A minister in Syria s opposition government was among at least 12 people killed in a car bomb attack in the south of the country on Thursday, the body s spokesman said. A 26-year old Afghan student living in Mashad in northeast Iran described how he was sent with other Fatemiyoun to fight in Damascus and Aleppo for about 45 days after limited training. My motivation is the same as the Iranians, the student, who asked not to be identified because of security concerns, said. We are both fighting in Syria, so it shows our cause is far beyond geographic borders. We are fighting to defend our sacred beliefs and Shi ite ideology. Asked if he thought Iranian society had grown more welcoming to those who fight in Syria, he said One hundred percent. When I was deployed, people were saying that they were doubtful if our fight would change anything. But now they respect the fighters more, as they are more familiar with the threats the rebels in Syria and Iraq can cause to Iran. He said that pay, or the promise of gaining Iranian citizenship upon their return from the battlefield, are also incentives for some Afghans to volunteer. The Afghan fighters get about $450 a month, according to a Fatemiyoun commander interviewed by the Tasnim news site. Senior officials regularly discuss the role of the Revolutionary Guards and Iranian special forces in Syria in terms of confronting the existential threat that mostly Shi ite Iran faces from Sunni militant groups such as Islamic State, which is also known as ISIS. Karim Sadjadpour, an Iran expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, said this appealed more to public opinion than support for Assad. Fighting Shi ite-hating bloodthirsty ISIS jihadists is easier to sell to Iranians than wasting billions on a ruthless dictator who gasses his population, he said. A video regularly featured on Iranian state television shows a group of children wearing fatigues and combat boots singing about a religious duty to fight in Syria. Key town Continued from Page 1 will be used as a logistics hub for the push on Mosul, lends it strategic importance. A rocket attack on Tuesday that came within hundreds of metres of US forces at the base is being tested for chemical agents. Tens of thousands of civilians were thought to be trapped in the town and nearby villages, which have been under Islamic State control since the group seized a third of Iraqi territory in But the operation has not generated the large-scale outflux seen in other recent campaigns. A spokesman for the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR said there had been no displacement on Tuesday and only 32 people dislodged from their homes on Wednesday to a nearby reception centre. Iraqi authorities hope the course of battle will allow most residents to shelter in place to avoid creating a humanitarian crisis as forces move towards Mosul, where more than a million people are still living. The US envoy to the anti-islamic State coalition said on Wednesday the coalition was already taking steps to ensure there would be no repeat in the Mosul offensive of the abuses seen in the wake of the recapture of Falluja in June, when Shi ite militias detained, abused and tortured scores of Sunni civilians. The disposition of forces and the treatment of Shirqat s residents will be closely watched by the Sunni residents of Mosul, who have a historic mistrust of the forces of successive Shi ite-led governments in Baghdad. US and Iraqi officials have said the push on Mosul could begin in October, though there are concerns that not enough planning has been done for how to manage the city, Iraq s second-largest, if and when Islamic State is expelled. Hawija, east of Shirqat, is the other remaining Islamic State bastion south of Mosul. The group also controls the city of Tel Afar, west of Mosul towards the Syrian border. Meanwhile, a rocket fired by Islamic State jihadists at US forces in Iraq may have carried a chemical agent, a US defense official said Wednesday. Yahoo set Continued from Page 1 would not require notification and credit monitoring would not be applicable, Freedman said. Recode s report follows an Aug 1 story on the technology news site, Motherboard, which said a cyber criminal known as Peace was selling the data of about 200 million Yahoo users, but did not confirm its authenticity. The Motherboard report was published a week after Verizon announced its deal with Yahoo. Peace was selling that data for 3 bitcoin, or around $1,860, according to Motherboard. Details that were possibly compromised include user names, birth dates, some backup addresses and scrambled passwords, Motherboard said. Newswatch Continued from Page 1 He called on the importance of the coordination of positions of OIC member countries to confronting these challenges. The meeting, held on sidelines of the UNGA s 71st session, was attended from the Kuwaiti side by Assistant Foreign Minister for Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled s office Ambassador Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Mohammad Al-Sabah, the permanent representative to the UN Mansour Al-Otaibi and Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister for International Organizations Nasser Al-Hayyen. (KUNA) DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates has dropped charges against a British-Australian dual national living in Dubai over his efforts to raise money for Afghans who fled their country s war. Scott Richards supporters say he was arrested July 28 and charged under the UAE s cybercrime laws for urging people to donate to a charity that was not registered in the UAE. (AP) RABAT, Morocco: Moroccan police have arrested four dangerous suspected jihadists linked to the Islamic State group who were planning attacks across the country, the government said on Thursday. Investigators apprehended an individual on Wednesday in the northern city of Meknes who had been planning terrorist attacks in Morocco, according to a statement from the interior ministry. (AFP) UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council unanimously approved a resolution Thursday calling for stepped up screening and security checks at airports worldwide to detect and deter terrorist attacks on civil aviation. The resolution calls on all countries to tighten security at airport buildings, share information about possible threats, and provide advance passenger lists to national authorities to detect... attempted entry into or transit through their territories. (AP) UNITED NATIONS: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani used an address at the United Nations Thursday to accuse the United States of failing to fully implement the nuclear deal and demand that Washington comply immediately. The lack of compliance with the JCPOA on the part of the United States in the past several months represents a flawed approach that should be rectified forthwith, said Rouhani referring to the accord. (AFP) TRIPOLI: Ten jihadists and nine progovernment fighters died in clashes Thursday around the last positions of the Islamic State group in the Libyan coastal city of Sirte, medical and military sources said. Our forces are advancing on the last holdouts of DAESH in the only district of Sirte still held by IS, said the media office of the pro-government fighters, using an Arabic acronym for the jihadist group. Three car bombs driven by jihadists were destroyed before reaching their targets, it said. (AFP)

9 MIDEAST/INTERNATIONAL 9 Interrogations of Gazan travelers increase Israel arrests 35 Palestinians in raids JERUSALEM, Sept 22, (Agencies): Israeli authorities have arrested at least 35 Palestinians over the last few days in raids following a spike in violence ahead of upcoming Jewish holidays, officials said Thursday. The arrests have occurred in annexed east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank for reasons ranging from stolen property to suspicions of terrorism. Israeli police carried out raids in Issawiya and the Shuafat refugee camp in east Jerusalem over the last two days, arresting 23 people, they said. Police operations took place to locate and seize arms and weapons, finding suspects involved in terrorist activity, in riots and criminal activity, a statement said. Weapons and ammunition had been seized, it said. As part of the police operation 23 suspects were arrested on suspicions of terrorism, rioting, possession of illegal weapons, drugs and stolen property, police said. Israel s military confirmed 12 Palestinians had been arrested overnight in various parts of the West Bank, including four accused of being Hamas operatives and others suspected of unspecified illegal activity. A spike in violence since Friday has shattered several weeks of calm, with at least nine attacks or attempted attacks by Palestinians since then, according to Israeli authorities. Nearly all of the incidents have been stabbings or attempted stabbings, carried out by lone-wolf attackers, an Israeli military official said. After a policewoman was left in serious condition from being stabbed in the neck, authorities confirmed officers were wearing a protective collar to block such attacks. Churches urged to stay clearof politics Egypt s Coptic church criticized over el-sisi rallies at UN CAIRO, Sept 22, (AP): Egypt s Coptic Christian church is facing criticism over its role in organizing rallies in support of President Abdel-Fattah el-sissi during his visit to New York for the UN General Assembly. Egypt s Christian minority, which accounts for about 10 percent of the nation s 91 million people, has strongly supported el-sissi since he took office a year after the military, to the relief of most Christians, overthrew an elected Islamist president in But on Wednesday, nearly 800 Christians, including authors, academics, activists and professionals, signed an online statement expressing concern about what they see as the church s deepening involvement in politics. We stress our opposition to Egyptian churches taking the lead in mobilizing demonstrations, regardless of whether Palestinian officials have decried an increased Israeli security presence, saying there have been new checkpoints, with more villages closed off. Israeli authorities have been keen to reduce the amount of guns in east Jerusalem and the West Bank in order to prevent a further escalation in violence. Meanwhile, an Israeli advocacy group is reporting a sharp jump they are for or against the president. It s a departure from the rules of democracy as well as dragging religion into politics, the statement said. We urge Egyptian churches to stay clear of politics and restrict themselves to their spiritual and religious tasks. El-Sissi traveled to New York with a large delegation of loyal parliamentarians and media figures. Two senior Christian clerics traveled there ahead of the president and met with Egyptian Christian expatriates to urge them to take part in rallies outside el-sissi s residence and the UN headquarters. Buses were lined up outside churches in New Jersey, home to a large Egyptian Coptic community, to take them to New York city. Activists on social media described the church s role as disgraceful, while others interpreted the reliance on the Christians for the New York rallies as sectarian. in the number of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip who have been summoned for questioning by Israeli security agents as a condition for leaving the blockaded territory. Gisha, which pushes for freedom of movement for Gaza s 1.8 million people, says more than 1,200 Gazans underwent interrogations during the first half of this year. That is two and a half times the number the previous year. Afghanistan signs peace deal with warlord butcher of Kabul KABUL, Sept 22, (AFP): Afghanistan Thursday signed a peace agreement with notorious warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, paving the way for him to make a political comeback despite a history of war crimes and after years in hiding. Hekmatyar, who heads the now largely dormant Hezb-i-Islami militant group, is the latest in a series of controversial figures that Kabul has sought to reintegrate in the post-taleban era by granting judicial immunity for past crimes. Symbolic victory for President Ghani The deal with Afghanistan s second-biggest militant group marks a symbolic victory for President Ashraf Ghani, who has struggled to revive peace talks with the more powerful Taleban. A Hezb-i-Islami delegation shook hands with members of the High Peace Council (HPC), responsible for reconciliation efforts with militants, and the national security adviser at an official ceremony in Kabul. This is not just a peace deal between Hezb-i-Islami and the government of Afghanistan, Mohammad Amin Karim, head of the insurgent delegation, said at the ceremony, which was not attended by Hekmatyar. It is a beginning of a new era of peace all around the country. The agreement will come into force when it is formally signed by Ghani and Hekmatyar, the government said, though no date has been set. Destruction is the only consequence of war. So I urge all the opposition groups to pursue peace and reconciliation, said HPC chief Sayed Ahmad Gilani. Hekmatyar, derided widely as the butcher of Kabul, was a prominent anti-soviet commander in the 1980s who stands accused of killing thousands of people in the Afghan capital during the civil war. He is widely believed to be in hiding in Pakistan, but his group claims he remains in Afghanistan. The deal paves the way for him to make a comeback in mainstream politics in a pattern well established by other warlords, such as General Abdul Rashid Dostum, currently the country s first vice-president. But it has sparked revulsion from human rights groups and residents of the capital who survived the civil war. A group of activists protested in Kabul holding placards portraying Hekmatyar with blood Afghan National Security Adviser, Hanif Atmar (3rd left) shakes hands with Amin Karim (right), representative of Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar after signing a peace agreement in Kabul on Sept 22. Afghanistan on Sept 22 signed a peace agreement with notorious warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, paving the way for him to make a political comeback despite a history of war crimes and after years in hiding. (AFP) Labour ministry sacks 785 employees US warns of Starbucks attack risk in Turkey Many wounded, one critical Suicide attack kills 3 in Cameroon ISTANBUL, Sept 22, (Agencies): The United States has warned of the risk of a terror attack in the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep close to the Syrian border on businesses frequented by Westerners, including the popular coffee chain Starbucks. The US embassy in Ankara said in a message to citizens that there are reports of a police investigation into a terror cell in Gaziantep, which in August was hit by a deadly suicide bombing on a wedding blamed on Islamic State (IS) jihadists. It said the information suggests the jihadists are possibly targeting shopping centres, Starbucks, the popular upscale Turkish restaurant chain Big Chef or other businesses frequented by Western customers. US citizens in Gaziantep are advised to exercise caution when patronising these sorts of businesses and to avoid them if possible, it said in the notice published late Wednesday. A major city lying just 60 kms (37 miles) north of the Syrian border, Gaziantep has become a hub for Syrians fleeing the civil war in their country. The Turkish authorities have acknowledged that IS jihadists had built up a presence in the city with the aim of staging attacks. But the US embassy did not specify which group was suspected of planning to carry out the attacks. Turkey has suffered a string of attacks in the last 12 months in Ankara, Istanbul and elsewhere blamed on Kurdish militants and IS. In June, 47 people were killed in a triple suicide bombing and gun attack at Istanbul s Ataturk airport, with authorities pointing the finger at IS. YAOUNDE, Sept 22, (AFP): Three civilians were killed in Cameroon s Far North when a vigilante tried to stop a suicide bomber whose explosive device detonated, regional and security sources said on Thursday. The incident took place on Wednesday evening in Djakana, a village near the border with northeastern Nigeria, stronghold of the Islamist group which last year pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. A source close to the regional authorities told AFP that, including the bomber, there were four dead and a number of wounded, one of whom was in critical condition. The toll was confirmed by a security official. The source said the bomber had been planning to detonate his explosives in the nearby town of Mora on Thursday, which is market day, but his plans were thwarted in Djakana where he was planning to spend the night. He was spotted by a member of Djakana s vigilance committee who tried to neutralise him which caused the explosion, she said, indicating that the man who tried to stop him was among the dead. Djakana, which lies just a few kilometres (miles) from the Nigerian border, has been hit by a number of attacks, including one on June 30 in which 11 people were killed. Shebab militants storm police post NAIROBI, Sept 22, (AFP): Islamist gunmen launched an overnight attack on a police camp in Kenya s north-east, close to the Somali border, police and militants said Thursday. Over 50 terrorists attacked the police patrol base in two Land Cruisers but the officers in the camp managed to repulse them amid a fierce exchange of fire, Kenya police spokesman George Kinoti said in a statement. The raid on the police post in the town of Liboi began shortly after midnight. Kinoti said the attackers were initially repulsed but later returned in a bigger number. Fifty four people were killed in the Aug 20 suicide bombing on a Kurdish wedding in Gaziantep that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said was carried out by a child bomber acting on the orders of IS. Embassies are also on a high state of alert after a man wielding a knife tried to attack the Israeli embassy in Ankara on Wednesday, while the British embassy was closed last Friday for security reasons. Meanwhile, Turkey s labour ministry has so far sacked nearly 800 employees over links to a US-based cleric blamed by Ankara for orchestrating a failed coup in July, the minister said on Thursday. Around 100,000 people in the military, civil service, police and judiciary have been sacked or suspended following the July 15 coup attempt, when a group of rogue soldiers attempted to topple the government. spilling from his mouth and a rocket piercing his nose. It read: We cannot forgive the executioner of Kabul. His return will compound the culture of impunity that the Afghan government and its foreign donors have fostered by not pursuing accountability for the many victims of forces commanded by Hekmatyar and other warlords that laid waste to much of the country in the 1990s, Human Rights Watch said last month. According to the agreement, the government will offer Hekmatyar legal immunity in all past political and military proceedings as well as release Hezb-i-Islami prisoners. Hekmatyar is designated a global terrorist by the US and is blacklisted by the UN. The Afghan government will likely work towards lifting those restrictions in order to reintegrate him into local politics. The deal is not likely to have an immediate impact on the security situation in Afghanistan. Hezb-i-Islami has been largely inactive in recent years, with its last big attack in Afghanistan in That killed 15 people including five Americans. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim (left), shakes hands with the Republican People s Party s (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu (right), before their meeting at the AK Party s headquarters in Ankara on Sept 22. (AFP) An elderly Palestinian man walks past a group of ultra Orthodox Jews in a street of Jerusalem s Old City on Sept 22. (AFP) Classes to resume in Chibok Buhari asks UN to help free abducted schoolgirls LAGOS, Nigeria, Sept 22, (Agencies): Nigeria s President Muhammadu Buhari has invited the United Nations to help negotiations to exchange the kidnapped schoolgirls from Chibok for detained leaders of Boko Haram, a government statement said Thursday. Buhari s government has been criticized for failing to free the Chibok girls by parents of the abducted students, community leaders and human rights activists. Boko Haram has kidnapped thousands of people, but the mass abduction of 276 schoolgirls in April 2014 brought international condemnation of Nigeria s home-grown Islamic extremist group. Dozens of the girls escaped, but 217 remain missing. Buhari s request for UN intermediaries is a show of commitment made to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday on the sidelines of the annual UN gathering of world leaders in New York, said a statement from presidential adviser Femi Adesina. Buhari told Ban that his government is willing to bend over backwards to win the girls freedom but finding credible Boko Haram leaders for negotiations has been difficult, especially because of the current leadership struggle among the extremists. Longtime Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau s faction in August posted a video showing about 50 Chibok girls and offering a prisoner swap. An unidentified fighter in the video suggests the government deal with Buhari a journalist trusted by the extremists. That was an apparent reference to Dubai-based Nigerian journalist Ahmad Salkida, who was subsequently detained by Nigerian intelligence agents and released. He was accused of knowing the whereabouts of the girls, which he denied. Week Last week, Information Minister Lai Mohammed said the government had nearly secured the girls release three times but negotiations collapsed. One activist with the Bring Back Our Girls campaign, Washington-based Nigerian Emmanuel Ogebe, said the United Nations is not a suitable intermediary since it has been a victim of Boko Haram attacks. He suggested a better choice would be France, which has helped negotiate the release of Boko Haram kidnap victims in neighboring Cameroon. Boko Haram attacked the UN s Nigeria headquarters in Abuja, the capital, in August 2011 with a car bomb that detonated in the reception area, killing at least 21 people. Last month, the extremists launched a rocket attack on a humanitarian convoy under military escort in northeast Nigeria, wounding three people including a UNI- CEF worker. That caused a halt to UN aid to dangerous-to-reach News in Brief areas outside Maiduguri, the biggest city in northeast Nigeria and birthplace of Boko Haram. Most girls kidnapped by Boko Haram have been forced to marry fighters and are pregnant or have babies, according to some people freed in the past year as the military has recaptured territory. The government has isolated the only one of the Chibok group to escape this year, saying she is receiving medical care and counseling. However, Human Rights Watch has asked whether Amina Ali Nkeki is now a detainee. Meanwhile, Students from a school in northeast Nigeria, from where more than 200 girls were kidnapped by Boko Haram, will resume lessons next month, more than two years after the mass abduction, the state government has announced. Fighters Chibok became synonymous with the Boko Haram conflict when fighters abducted 276 girls from the Government Secondary School (GSS) on the evening of April 14, 2014, sparking global outrage. A total of 218 are still being held. But residents in the town hit out at the plan, calling it unworkable, as it involves sharing an already overstretched building. Borno state commissioner for education Inuwa Kubo announced late on Tuesday that all public secondary schools would re-open on October 3 after being closed for more than two years. All the damages done to the schools infrastructure have been repaired, he told reporters in the state capital, Maiduguri. Some secondary schools in areas still deemed insecure because of militant and military activity will, however, be moved to safe areas, he added. He said the remaining students of the GSS in Chibok would have to share a building with the local primary school, as the secondary school, which was razed during the attack, has not been rebuilt. Yakubu Nkeki, from a support group for families of the kidnapped schoolgirls, said the plan was not feasible. The (primary school) pupils use the classrooms between morning and noon while the (junior secondary school) students use them between noon and late afternoon, he told AFP. So, the structures are already overstretched. Primary school in Nigeria typically caters for children aged six to 11, while junior secondary teaches 11 to 15 year olds. Boko Haram, whose name in the Hausa language widely spoken across northern Nigeria means Western education is sin, has specifically targeted schools teaching a secular curriculum. In March this year, the Borno state government said the Islamists had destroyed or damaged 5,335 classrooms and school buildings in 512 primary, 38 secondary and two tertiary institutions. All schools in Borno were shut after a Boko Haram attack in neighbouring Yobe state on Feb 25, 2014, when at least 43 students were killed at a boarding school in Buni Yadi. Boss confirms being fired: The head of news in Egypt s state television has confirmed he was fired after the network mistakenly aired an old interview with the country s president instead of one he gave this week. Mustafa Shehata, in comments published by Cairo dailies Thursday, described the mix-up as a gross error. The wrong interview was on the air for nearly 10 minutes before the transmission was halted Tuesday. The state television s chief has apologized for the mistake. The erroneously broadcast interview was given last year by President Abdel-Fattah el-sissi to the US network PBS. The one that was meant to be broadcast was given to the same network this week in New York. (AP) Local polls postponed: Palestinian municipal polls scheduled for Oct 8 were postponed on Wednesday after a court delayed a ruling on whether to hold the first vote since 2006 to include both Fatah and Hamas. The Palestinian high court in the Fatah-led West Bank put off its ruling until Oct 3, only five days before the scheduled date for the elections. Two weeks of campaigning are usually allotted for Palestinian elections and had been set to begin on Friday. In response, the electoral commission confirmed that the Oct 8 date is no longer applicable. It set no new date. On Sept 8, the court suspended the elections following disputes between the rival Fatah and Hamas movements over candidate lists. (AFP)

10 INTERNATIONAL 10 World News Roundup Education Wordy setups Redesigned SAT may hurt neediest students NEW YORK, Sept 22, (RTRS): In the days after the redesigned SAT college entrance exam was given for the first time in March, some testtakers headed to the popular website reddit to share a frustration. They had trouble getting through the exam s new mathematics sections. I didn t have nearly enough time to finish, wrote a commenter who goes by MathM. Other people I asked had similar impressions. The math itself wasn t the problem, said Vicki Wood, who develops courses for PowerScore, a South Carolina-based test preparation company. The issue was the wordy setups that precede many of the questions. The math section is text heavy, said Wood, a tutor, who took the SAT in May. And I ran out of time. The College Board, the maker of the exam, had reason to expect just such an outcome for many test-takers. When it decided to redesign the SAT, the New York-based notfor-profit sought to build an exam with what it describes as more real world applications than past incarnations of the test. Students wouldn t simply need to be good at algebra, for instance. The new SAT would require them to solve problems in rich and varied contexts. But in evaluating that approach, the College Board s own research turned up problems that troubled even the exam makers. About half the test-takers were unable to finish the math sections on a prototype exam given in 2014, internal documents reviewed by Reuters show. The problem was especially pronounced among students that the College Board classified as low scorers on the old SAT. A difference in completion rates between low scorers and high scorers is to be expected, but the gap on the math sections was much larger than the disparities in the reading and writing sections. The study Reuters reviewed didn t address the demographics of that performance gap, but poor, black and Latino students have tended to score lower on the SAT than wealthy, white and Asian students. Fewer In light of the results, officials concluded that the math sections should have far fewer long questions, documents show. But the College Board never made that adjustment and instead launched the new SAT with a large proportion of wordy questions, a Reuters analysis of new versions of the test shows. The redesigned SAT is described in the College Board s own test specifications as an appropriate and fair assessment to promote equity and opportunity. But some education and testing specialists say the textheavy new math sections may be creating greater challenges for kids who perform well in math but poorly in reading, reinforcing race and income disparities. Among those especially disadvantaged by the number of long word problems, they say, are recent immigrants and American citizens who aren t native English speakers; international students; and test-takers whose dyslexia or other learning disabilities have gone undiagnosed. It s outrageous. Just outrageous, said Anita Bright, a professor in the Graduate School of Education at Portland State University in Oregon. The students that are in the most academically vulnerable position when it comes to high-stakes testing are being particularly marginalized, she said. College Board CEO David Coleman, the chief architect of the redesign, declined to be interviewed, as did other College Board officials named in this article. But earlier this year, Coleman talked about the importance of creating a test that was fair to students for whom English is not their native language. In a speech in March about ensuring equal access to higher education, Coleman talked about the SAT s past emphasis on obscure vocabulary words and what that meant for English-language learners in this country. It would determine who went to college. Now, the new exam s wordy math questions not the obscure vocabulary have created a similar and unfair barrier for the very group Coleman identified, some academics say. The problem is going to mostly affect English-language learners, said Jamal Abedi, a University of California Davis professor who specializes in educational assessments. He said such students could perform poorly not because of their lack of math content knowledge but by the language burden. Abedi said he was among a group of scholars who recently consulted with the SAT s archrival, the ACT, about whether English-language learners deserve special accommodations on test day. English-language learners account for a substantial share of public school students in the United States 9.3 percent in , or 4.5 million kids, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Putting math questions in context makes sense to some testing specialists. Daniel Koretz, a professor of education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, said some professors would want to know whether students can follow university-level math lectures. Some students will be disadvantaged, yes, but that s not necessarily the wrong thing to do, Koretz said. But Portland State s Bright said the College Board went too far. Vocabulary and reading are tested elsewhere on the exam, she said. The word problems in the math sections, Bright said, ought to be more succinct. Admissions officers at many US colleges and universities, especially elite institutions, use SAT scores as a means of weeding out candidates. A low math score may cripple an applicant s chances of getting into a selective school. College Board spokeswoman Sandra Riley declined to provide statistics indicating how many students have been able to fully answer the math sections on the redesigned test. A College Board analysis of 10 tests given this spring, she said, found that completion rates for English-language learners are similar to what we see for all students. Riley also said the rate of completion of the math section for the SAT given in March met our goals and on average is equal to or higher than the completion rate for the math section of the old SAT. All things being equal, the completion rate across every section of the exam should be higher than it was for the old SAT, testing specialists say. That s because the old exam penalized students for wrong answers, encouraging them to leave questions blank rather than hazard a guess. The new test contains no penalty for guessing wrong, and the College Board encourages students to answer every question. As it says on its website, On the new SAT, you simply earn points for the questions you answer correctly. So go ahead and give your best answer to every question there s no advantage to leaving them blank. To understand how the College Board remade the all-important exam, Reuters reviewed hundreds of pages of internal documents, including s between officials formulating the new SAT; private comments from academics hired to vet potential test questions; items from exams that have already been administered; and hundreds of questions developed for upcoming SATs. Examined The not-for-profit organization has posted a 210-page document online that explains the approach to remaking its signature product. But the vast majority of the documents Reuters examined have never been made public. They offer an unprecedented look at how a standardized college entrance exam comes together. Among the documents examined was the College Board timing study done two years before the release of the new test. That study describes, section by section, the percentage of students who were able to finish a prototype of the redesigned exam. Perhaps most revealing is the confidential feedback of academics who, for a modest stipend, help the College Board review proposed test questions for fairness and accuracy. Some were scathing in their criticism of the new test. They warned early and often that many questions were long and convoluted, and distracted from the skills the math sections should be assessing, documents examined by Reuters show. In a nearly 5,000-word letter from August 2014, one reviewer told College Board officials that he had never encountered so many seriously flawed items in the 20-plus years he had been screening math material for the organization. That reviewer a lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee named Dan Lotesto wrote of the math questions: Why so many items with vocabulary issues, especially for ELL students? ELL stands for English-language learners. Lotesto proved prescient about the situation the College Board now faces. It would be difficult, he wrote, to create questions that fairly assessed students and were mathematically and linguistically tight as well as doable. Contacted by Reuters, Lotesto said he stands behind the 2014 letter but declined to comment further. He said he still reviews potential material for the SAT. Concerns that the College Board has created an SAT with flawed math sections come as the organization struggles on another front: its inability to safeguard the content of the exam. (From left): Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers, Sen Roy Blunt, R-Mo, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky, Sen Charles Schumer, D-NY, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif. drive in the first nails to signifying the start of construction on the 2017 presidential inaugural platform on Sept 21 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP) This video frame grab provided by the FBI shows two unidentified men walking in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York on Sept 17, around the time when a bomb exploded on a nearby street. Investigators said the men are being sought as witnesses in connection with the explosion and another explosive device that was found nearby. (AP) Abbott America Rovinski Texas withdrawing from program: Texas gave notice on Wednesday that it was withdrawing from participating in the US Office of Refugee Resettlement s program, citing security concerns after failing in federal court to halt the inflow of Syrian refugees into the state. The Texas State Refugee Coordinator sent a letter to the agency, giving 120 days notice of its intention to withdraw, charging the program was riddled with problems that present security risks, Republican Governor Greg Abbott said. The Office of Refugee Resettlement said in a statement its services to help integrate newcomers into US society are only provided after they complete stringent US security screenings. Despite multiple requests by the State of Texas, the federal government lacks the capability or the will to distinguish the dangerous from the harmless, and Texas will not be an accomplice to such dereliction of duty to the American people, Abbott said in a statement. Texas, a bellwether state for conservative policies, has seen other Republicanled states follow its lead in challenging the Obama administration s refugee resettlement plans in and out of the courts. The security vetting for this population the most vulnerable of individuals is extraordinarily thorough and comprehensive, US Secretary of State John Kerry and US Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a joint, five-page letter to Abbott in November which outlined the process. Since Jan 1, 2011, there have been 1,104 Syrian refugees resettled in Texas, according to the US State Departmentaffiliated Refugee Processing Center. That is less than the 1,610 people resettled in California and the 1,515 sent to Michigan. A Texas withdraw is not expected to impair the work of private relief groups from resettling refugees in the state. The Obama administration said on Aug 29 it would meet its goal of admitting 10,000 Syrian refugees during the current fiscal year a month ahead of schedule and was working with Congress to increase the target by a few thousand during (RTRS) Man to plead guilty: A Rhode Island man charged with plotting to help the Islamic State group was expected to plead guilty to conspiracy charges, including a plot to kill conservative blogger Pamela Geller. A change-of-plea hearing was scheduled for Nicholas Rovinski on Thursday in US District Court in Boston. The 25-year-old Rovinski is charged with conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist organization and conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries. Prosecutors say Rovinski, of Warwick, Rhode Island, plotted with two Massachusetts men to behead Geller. The plot was They re not in any jeopardy of being arrested 2 men with suitcase sought NEW YORK, Sept 22, (AP): Investigators of last weekend s bombings have released an image of two men who took a suitcase they found on a city street, possibly without realizing a wired pressure cooker they removed from it and left behind could have blown them to bits. Police investigating the bombings in New York and New Jersey have been saying for several days they were looking for the men, who they stressed were being sought as potential witnesses in the case, not as suspects. They re not in any jeopardy of being arrested, Jim Watters, chief of the New York Police Department s counterterrorism unit, said on Wednesday. We have no reason to believe they re connected. Federal prosecutors have charged Ahmad Khan Rahami with detonating a pipe bomb in a New Jersey shore town on Saturday morning and a pressure cooker bomb in New York City s Chelsea neighborhood later that night. Thirty-one people were injured in the New York blast. A second pressure cooker bomb left in Manhattan didn t explode and is the subject of the latest public plea. Prosecutors said surveillance video shows Rahami rolling a suitcase down the street, then abandoning it on the sidewalk where that second device was found. Appear A few minutes later, two men pass by the luggage and appear to admire it, police said. They then remove a pressure cooker from the luggage, leave the pressure cooker on the sidewalk and walk away with the luggage. I think they were more interested in the bag, not what they were taking out, Watters said, adding that they were very, very lucky the bomb didn t explode. In court papers, a public defender sought a court appearance for Rahami, an Afghan-born US citizen, so he can hear the federal terrorism charges against him. On Wednesday night, Manhattan US Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein refused a request by Federal Defenders of New York to schedule an initial appearance for Rahami on federal charges, even if it must be conducted remotely from a hospital bed. Rules The judge noted that court rules require an arrested person be brought before the court without unnecessary delay. He said there is no evidence contrary to government claims that Rahami remains held on state charges in New Jersey and has not yet been arrested on the federal charges. The judge was also unpersuaded by federal defender claims that federal law enforcement is involved in detaining and questioning Rahami. In fact, this question is very much in dispute, Gorenstein wrote. Rahami, 28, was arrested on Monday following a shootout with police in Linden, New Jersey. He is being held on $5.2 million bail, and he faces state charges of attempted murder of police officers. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Rahami will be moved to New York to face federal charges in the near future. In a bloodied journal recovered by investigators, Rahami made references never carried out. Prosecutors also allege that Rovinski, while in jail, tried to recruit people to carry out plans for violent attacks in the United States, including the beheading of nonbelievers. Rovinski s lawyer says his client now renounces violence and any allegiance to the Islamic State group. (AP) Court OKs jail time for min: A Massachusetts landlord convicted of pushing a Muslim tenant down the stairs will have to serve six months in jail and take a class on Islam, the state s highest court ruled Wednesday. US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walk off Marine One at JFK International Airport in New York on Sept 21. (AFP) to Osama bin Laden, American-born Muslim cleric Anwar al-awlaki and former Army officer Nidal Hasan, who went on a shooting rampage in Ford Hood, Texas, according to a federal complaint. In one section, the complaint says, Rahami wrote: Death to your oppression. Two federal law enforcement officials said Rahami s wife, thought to be a Pakistani national, will return soon to the United States. One of the officials said the wife made a statement to authorities after walking into the US Embassy in the United Arab Emirates. The other official said investigators believe she left the US for Pakistan in June. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren t authorized to discuss the ongoing case. Meanwhile, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, touring the site of the Manhattan blast on Wednesday, said he believes insurance companies will cover most of the losses incurred by those whose businesses and homes were damaged. But he said if there are gaps in coverage, the state would pay for anything left outstanding from its emergency funds. Also Wednesday, a homeless man who took a backpack from a garbage can near a train station in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on Sunday night, not knowing it contained pipe bombs prosecutors say were made by Rahami, said he s grateful he didn t prompt an explosion. I don t like to think about what could have happened, but I m just so blessed and glad it didn t, Lee Parker said. I still have my nine lives, I guess, and I m going to keep trying to live them well. The Supreme Judicial Court ruling came in the case of Daisy Obi, a Christian minister from Nigeria who was convicted of assault and battery for pushing her tenant in A judge sentenced Obi to two years in jail, but suspended all but six months of the sentence. As a condition of her probation, the judge ordered Obi to attend an introductory class on Islam. Obi, who is in her 70s, appealed both the sentence and the requirement that she take a class on Islam, arguing that the requirement violated her constitutional right to free exercise of religion. The high court found that Obi had not shown that her sentence was disproportionate to the seriousness of the offense. Obi s former tenant, Gihan Suliman, cut her lip and injured her shoulder in the fall. During the sentencing hearing, Suliman said the assault had a deep physical impact on her and that she does not trust people in the same way she did before. The court did not directly address Obi s constitutional objections to the requirement that she attend a class on Islam, but said she waived that claim in her appeal because she never raised that objection in the lower court. While conditions of probation that touch on religion and risk incursion upon constitutionally protected interests should be imposed only with great circumspection, the defendant raised no such concerns before the trial court judge, and there is no information in the record that would allow us to evaluate her claims, Justice Barbara Lenk wrote for the court in the unanimous ruling. The court s upholding of Obi s sentence means she will have to take the course on Islam. (AP)

11 INTERNATIONAL 11 Shooting Emergency rule Fresh unrest in Charlotte CHARLOTTE, Sept 22, (AFP): A second night of race-related clashes in Charlotte, North Carolina has left one protester on life support, with the renewed violence prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency. Several hundred people taunted riot police late Wednesday amid clashes in the city center, a second night of unrest ignited by the fatal police shooting of a black man. Governor Pat Mc Crory said on Twitter that he was activating Mc Crory the National Guard and Highway Patrol officers to assist local law enforcement. We cannot tolerate violence. We cannot tolerate the destruction of property and will not tolerate the attacks towards our police officers that are occurring right now, and I feel very strongly about that, the governor later told CNN. That is not the American way. The protests were sparked by the death of Keith Lamont Scott, 43, fatally shot in an apartment complex parking lot on Tuesday after an encounter with officers searching for a suspect wanted for arrest. A protester was critically wounded and on life support, the city said, after erroneously reporting that the person had died. Authorities had said the protester was shot by a civilian, adding that police did not open fire. An AFP reporter at the scene of the protests outside the Omni Charlotte hotel saw a man who was apparently shot falling to the ground, bleeding heavily. The evening started out with a peaceful vigil for Scott, but the atmosphere changed dramatically once demonstrators walked to the nearby police headquarters, where one protester pulled the American flag to the bottom of its flagpole. By the time the protesters walked the few blocks to uptown, and encountered riot police standing like statues on Trade Street, the marchers were seething. It s too much. It s too much, winced one woman, wiping tears from her eyes as she stood before riot police. We ve got brothers and sisters and children and fathers who think we re not going to live to see the next day. Nobody should have to live like that, she said. Some demonstrators stood on cars and hurled objects at police, who fired what appeared to be tear gas, sending the protesters scattering. Scott s death is the latest in a string of police-involved killings of black men that have fueled outrage across the United States. Ahead of Wednesday s protest, presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton weighed in on the violence in Charlotte, which came on the heels of another fatal police shooting of a black man, Terence Crutcher, on Friday in Tulsa. Keith Lamont Scott. Terence Crutcher. Too many others. This has got to end. -H, tweeted Democrat Clinton, signing the post herself. After calling to make America safe again in a tweet, Trump suggested later Wednesday that the Tulsa officer who shot Crutcher had choked. I don t know what she was thinking, the Republican said, speaking at an African-American church in Cleveland, Ohio. The Charlotte shooting took place at 4:00 pm (2000 GMT) Tuesday as officers searching for a suspect arrived in the parking lot of an apartment complex. They spotted a man later identified as Scott, who they said was holding a handgun as he exited and then re-entered a vehicle, Charlotte- Mecklenburg police chief Kerr Putney told journalists. Officers approached the man and loudly commanded him to get out and drop the weapon, at which point Scott exited the vehicle armed, according to police. He stepped out, posing a threat to the officers, and officer Brentley Vinson subsequently fired his weapon, striking the subject, the police chief said. However, Putney added that he did not know whether Scott definitively pointed the weapon specifically toward an officer. Carrying a firearm is legal under open carry gun laws in North Carolina. Scott s relatives told local media that he was waiting for his young son at school bus stop when police arrived. He was not carrying a gun but a book when he was shot dead, they said an account police disputed. I can tell you a weapon was seized. A handgun, Putney said. I can also tell you we did not find a book that has been made reference to. US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton waves as she walks to her campaign plane at Westchester County Airport in White Plains, NY, on Sept 21. (AP) Paul America Murphy Senate OKs arms sale to Saudi: The US Senate cleared the way for a $1.15 billion sale of tanks and other military equipment to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, defending a frequent partner in the Middle East recently subject to harsh criticism in Congress. The Senate voted 71 to 27 to kill legislation that would have stopped the sale. The overwhelming vote stopped an effort led by Republican Senator Rand Paul and Democratic Senator Chris Murphy to block the deal over concerns including Saudi Arabia s role in the 18-month-long war in Yemen and worries that it might fuel an ongoing regional arms race. The Pentagon announced on Aug. 9 that the State Department had approved the potential sale of more than 130 Abrams battle tanks, 20 armored recovery vehicles and other equipment to Saudi Arabia. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said General Dynamics Corp would be the principal contractor for the sale. Paul, Murphy and other opponents of the arms deal were sharply critical of the Riyadh government during debate before the vote, citing Yemen, the kingdom s human rights record and its international support for a conservative form of Islam. If you re serious about stopping the flow of extremist recruiting across this globe, then you have to be serious that the... brand of Islam that is spread by Saudi Arabia all over the world, is part of the problem, Murphy said. (RTRS) Man found guilty of murder: A Massachusetts man has been found guilty of gunning down a former Army sniper who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. A Suffolk Superior Court jury convicted 28-year-old Salem resident Peter Castillo on Wednesday of first-degree murder in the 2012 shooting death of Stephen Perez. Castillo now faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Monday. Prosecutors said Castillo shot Perez in the back in the early morning hours of April 28, 2012, following an altercation between two groups of people in Boston s Theater District. Authorities said Castillo fled to the Dominican Republic after the shooting. He was captured in January Family members have said the 22-yearold Perez, of Revere, was in college and hoping to join a federal law enforcement agency. (AP) A protester (center), is taken into custody by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers in Charlotte, NC, on Sept 21. (AP) Politics CLEVELAND, Sept 22, (AP): Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are decrying police-involved shootings in Oklahoma and North Carolina, with the Democrat calling them unbearable and the Republican saying he was very troubled. Trump s effort to court black voters Wednesday in Cleveland took a bizarre turn when he was introduced by boxing promoter Don King, who used a racial slur as he made the case for black voters to support Trump. In an interview later, Trump called for a national expansion of stop-and-frisk, the police tactic that a federal judge ruled can be discriminatory against minorities. Trump s Cleveland event not only sought to connect with a large community of African-American voters key to Clinton s prospects in Ohio, but also with moderate suburban voters, who frequently hear Clinton describe Trump as extreme. King, introducing Trump, raised eyebrows when he said a black man is always framed by his skin color, recalling that he once told pop icon Michael Jackson if you re poor, you re a poor Negro. If you re rich, you re a rich Negro. An educated black man is an intellectual negro. Dancing King, who is black, continued: If you re a dancing and sliding and gliding n- I mean Negro you are a dancing and sliding and gliding Negro. Gasps and laughs could be heard from the audience. The King incident underscored the often clumsy way in which Trump has made his appeal to minority voters. His outreach has also been viewed cynically as an attempt by his campaign to soothe concerns among more moderate, suburban voters. At the end of the Ohio church event, Trump was asked about recent high-profile police shootings in Oklahoma and North Carolina. Trump said 40-year-old Terence Crutcher, who was killed in Friday s Tulsa, Oklahoma, shooting, looked like he did everything you re supposed to do. And he looked like a really good man. This young officer, I don t know what she was thinking. I don t know what she was thinking but I m very, very troubled by that, Trump said, Obama speaks, listeners hear nothing but Donald Trump Clinton, Trump decry police shootings Talk to the devil min: Mexican Economic Minister Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal said on Wednesday calling it a terrible situation. But hours later he called for the expanded use of stop-and-frisk, a police tactic that a federal judge has ruled can be discriminatory against minorities. Trump said during a Fox News town hall taping that the tactic, which gives police the ability to stop and search anyone they deem suspicious, had worked incredibly well in New York, where it was expanded under former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Current New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat who supports Clinton, slammed Trump s call for more stop-and-frisk as appalling. Clinton s speech Wednesday in Orlando, Florida, focused on helping people with disabilities thrive in the US economy. She pointed to the Oklahoma and North Carolina shootings at the start of her remarks, saying they added two more names to a long list of African-Americans killed by police officers. It s unbearable and it needs to become intolerable. Clinton has made curbing gun violence and police brutality a central part of her candidacy. She has campaigned alongside a group of black women called the Mothers of the Movement, who advocated for more accountability and transparency by law enforcement. The group includes the mothers of Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, black victims of high-profile killings. Video of the Oklahoma shooting shows Crutcher s hands up as officers approach. Crutcher then appears to place his hands on a vehicle before the officers surround him. He then drops to the ground. Someone on the police radio says, I think he may have just been tasered. Then almost immediately, someone can be heard yelling, Shots fired! Crutcher is left lying in the street. Unity Lamenting a lack of spirit between whites and blacks, Donald Trump encouraged racial unity on Thursday even as he called for one of the nation s largest cities to adopt stop and frisk policing tactics that have been widely condemned as racial profiling by minority leaders. The Republican presidential contender, eager to improve his standing that Mexico was prepared to talk to the devil should Republican Donald Trump win the US presidential election Boxing promoter Don King holds up the hand of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during a visit to the Pastors Leadership Conference at New Spirit Revival Center on Sept 21, in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP) among minority voters, confronted racial tensions after police-involved shootings in Oklahoma and North Carolina sparked violent protests overnight. But as he has for much of his unorthodox presidential bid, Trump offered a decidedly mixed message. It just seems that there s a lack of spirit between the white and the black, he told Fox News Fox and Friends. It s a terrible thing that we re witnessing. The New York billionaire then suggested violence in Chicago is worse than that of Afghanistan, and endorsed a policing method that has been struck down by a New York judge as a violation of minority residents civil rights. I think Chicago needs stop and frisk, Trump said. When you have 3,000 people shot and so many people dying, I mean it s worse than some of the places we re hearing about like Afghanistan, you know, the war torn nations. The comments come as both presidential candidates work to court minority voters with Election Day fast approaching. Duties It doesn t matter what President Barack Obama says these days, his listeners are bound to hear two words: Donald Trump. With his proclivity for dominating the conversation, the Republican presidential nominee is forcing Obama s final few months to be viewed almost entirely through the prism of campaign politics. As Obama carries out his presidential duties, voters can t help but wonder what the role would look like if it were inhabited by the brash billionaire. At the United Nations this week, Trump trailed the president both metaphorically and physically, as world leaders took stock of what a dramatic shift a Trump presidency would mean for American leadership. The fusion of the campaign with real-world governing was on vivid display Monday when White House and State Department officials mingled in the same Manhattan hotel lobby where Trump s advisers were gathered as their candidate met upstairs with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el- Sissi. Obama was staying in the hotel, in November. Villarreal gave the response during a forum sponsored by the Americas Fentanyl blamed for spate of overdoses HUNTINGTON, West Virginia, Sept 22, (AP): Authorities say the heroin that led 27 people to overdose in a five-hour span in a single West Virginia city had been mixed with the powerful painkiller fentanyl. The Herald-Dispatch of Huntington reports that investigators for the first time detailed the potency of the concoction in a federal indictment Tuesday. Twenty-two-year-old Bruce Lamar Griggs of Akron, Ohio, is charged with drug distribution in connection to the Aug 15 spate of overdoses in Huntington. At least one man died. Griggs was arrested by Tallmadge, Ohio, police officers late last month and is now in federal custody. while Trump was using the meeting to try to show his readiness to go head-tohead with a foreign leader. Democrat Hillary Clinton met with the Egyptian at the same hotel earlier in the day. The next day, Obama s final speech to the UN General Assembly took him on a world tour of global hotspots and areas of progress. Yet social media and news coverage of his address was preoccupied with what he said or was believed to have said about Trump. On three occasions in the speech, Obama urged leaders not to put up walls around their nations. The world is too small for us to simply be able to build a wall and prevent it from affecting our own societies, Obama said near the end of his speech. Referring to the Zika virus, he said later, mosquitoes don t respect walls. Though he never mentioned him by name, Obama and his speechwriters were clearly cognizant that the observations were sure to be perceived as pejorative references to Trump. The Republican has built his unlikely campaign around a steadfast promise mocked by some, hailed by others to build a border wall and force Mexico to pay for it. Yet Obama had a deeper message, too, one unrelated to Trump but uniquely suited for an address to the 193-member global body. Across the globe, nations rich and poor are confronting the rise of nationalist, feardriven sentiment that has led some countries to reflexively seek to retrench behind their own borders. In Britain, anger about the perceived consequences of regional integration led this year to a stunning vote to exit the European Union. Embedded in that movement were concerns about immigration that have also cropped up in other parts of Europe, not to mention the US Though Trump and other Americans have raised concerns about accepting Syrian refugees, the issue in the US pales in severity compared to Europe and the Middle East, where millions of refugees have overwhelmed host countries and led to deep resentment of politicians like German Chancellor Angela Merkel who advocated generous refugee resettlement policies. Society/Council of the Americas in New York that featured the presidents of Peru, Chile and Colombia, with Villarreal standing in for Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. We cannot afford to risk a very important bilateral agreement, Villarreal said in a statement at the event on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly when asked about the possibility of Trump becoming the president of America. If we have to talk to the devil to guarantee the safety and future of the Mexican people in the US, Mexico will talk to the devil. Trump, who is facing off with Democrat Hillary Clinton in the Nov. 8 election, has infuriated Mexicans by vowing if elected to build a border wall with Mexico to keep out illegal immigrants - which he said that country would pay for. He has also threatened to carry out mass deportations, renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement among the United States, Mexico and Canada, and in announcing his candidacy last year, referred to some immigrants from Mexico as rapists and drug runners. (RTRS)

12 INTERNATIONAL 12 World News Roundup Britain Common roots Brexit to ease Trump WH path LONDON, Sept 22, (RTRS): Brexit will inspire support for Donald Trump and smooth his path to victory in the US presidential election in November, according to Nigel Farage, an architect of the political uprising that saw Britons vote to leave the European Union. As Britain and the rest of the EU come to terms with the political and economic shock of the Leave vote, the United States is heading into an election with polls showing Trump, the populist Republican candidate, mounting a strong challenge for leadership of the world s largest economy. Farage helped harness British Trump voters dissatisfaction with EU membership and turn it into a political force capable of defeating the pro-remain government in the June 23 referendum. He has since turned his attention to US politics, speaking on stage with Trump at a rally in Mississippi last month. Tested Having tested the waters in the United States, he believes the same anti-establishment forces behind Brexit will propel Trump to victory in the Nov 8 election. I now strongly think Trump will win, he told Reuters in an interview at his London office. I think Brexit is the first kickback against the establishment. It s not a British event, it s not a European event. It s a global event and I think it has implications for every Western democracy. In the case of America absolutely. Trump, a wealthy property developer, reality TV star and provocative political outsider who stunned even his own party by winning the right to battle veteran Democrat Hillary Clinton for the presidency, has come from a nohoper to within a few percentage points of his mainstream rival. Farage is a member of the European Parliament and has stood for election in Britain several times. But his straight-talking views and love of a cigarette and a beer at the pub have helped him become one of Britain s most distinctive politicians. There are people in America who look at Washington, who look at the lobby and the power of big business, who look at the detachment of a political class from them and their lives in a very similar way to how many of us saw Brussels, Farage said, referring to the EU s seat of power in Belgium. Campaign Farage stood down as leader of the anti-eu UK Independence Party after the Brexit vote, saying he wanted to get his personal life back, but the lure of getting involved in another insurgent political campaign has proved strong. He explained with a grin the series of events that saw an invitation to speak at a private Trump political dinner escalate into the magnate introducing him on stage at a large rally in Mississippi as the man behind Brexit. It seemed to go down quite well. The next day Hillary Clinton was attacking me on a personal basis, so I thought Well, I must ve got somewhere, he said. Critics say both Trump and Farage have massaged fears over immigration for political advantage. Farage appeared in front of a controversial poster during the Brexit campaign showing lines of migrants under the slogan Breaking Point although the photograph was taken in distant southeastern Europe, while Trump has pledged to build an anti-immigrant wall along the US-Mexico border. Farage said he and Trump shared a common touch that allows them to connect with voters alienated from traditional politics. He s not afraid to speak his mind, and yeah, I know that absolutely gets the liberal establishment screaming blue murder, but maybe that s the way politics is going in the west. However, Farage voiced concern about Trump s stated policies on NATO and free trade. The big question is NATO, he said, citing Trump s doubts over whether to protect NATO allies from Russia unless they cover more of US defence costs. I would very much hope that Trump, if he saw everyone else pulling their weight, would get a bit more behind NATO than he s been. Activists wave US flags as they ride on a Stop Trump battle bus as they pass the Houses of Parliament in London on Sept 21 in a campaign run by campaign group Avaaz to mobilise US expatriots in the UK to register to vote in the US presidential election. Voters are set to go to the polls to elect the 45th president of the US on Nov 8. (AFP) This file photo taken on June 30, 2014 shows Europe s Digital Agenda commissioner Neelie Kroes talking on the New lower roaming rates during a press conference at the EU headquarters in Brussels. Former European commissioner Neelie Kroes, once Brussels most feared corporate watchdog, failed to declare her directorship of an offshore firm, leaked files showed on Sept 21. (AFP) Mardini Europe Connagh Steep rise in fraud bill: Britain lost 40 percent more money through fraud in its overseas aid programmes in 2015/16 compared to the previous year, data shows, with the rise attributed to better reporting of its misappropriated funds, according to government officials. The UK government, which has stuck to a pledge to spend 0.7 percent of gross domestic product on foreign aid, has come under increasing scrutiny over how it spends its multi-billion dollar budget, which some lawmakers say would be better spent at home. Data released by Britain s Department for International Development (DfID) revealed that the cost of fraud was 1.04 million pounds ($1.36 million) in 2015/16, compared with 749,000 pounds ($979,000) the previous year, a rise of more than 38 percent. DfID, which operates predominantly through partner organisations, including charities, private companies and UN agencies, said the rise was due to heightened scrutiny by the department. (RTRS) Syrian teen honored: A Syrian teenager who saved fellow refugees from drowning and then swam for the refugee team at the Rio Olympics was among those honoured at the inaugural Global Goals Awards in New York. Yusra Mardini, 18, who fled Syria with her sister in 2015, received the Girl Award at the ceremony on Tuesday night honouring champions for women s and girls rights worldwide. Mardini, who had to swim for her life when her overloaded boat broke down in the Mediterranean on the way to Europe, captured headlines when she competed for Security UK s MI6 to get 40pct more spies Islamist terrorist threat here to stay LONDON, Sept 22, (Agencies): The Islamist terrorist threat to the West will endure for years to come because simply taking back territory from Islamic State will not solve the deeper global fractures which have fostered militants, Britain s foreign intelligence chief has said. In his first public comments outside Britain, the head of the Secret Intelligence Service said globalisation, the information revolution, a deepening sectarian divide in the Middle East and failed states would ensure that terrorism remained a threat. When asked by the Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan at a panel discussion in Washington whether the apex of the Islamist terrorist trajectory had been reached, MI6 chief Alex Younger said: Regrettably this is an enduring issue which will certainly be with us for our professional lifetime. Forecast I would have to forecast that whilst it is wholly desirable to remove territory you will have a persistent threat representing some of the deep fault lines that still exist in our world, he said. Islamic State militants have lost territory in Iraq and Syria though they have claimed responsibility for a range of attacks against the West. His remarks were shown on a recording posted on Wednesday by the Center for Cyber and Homeland Security at the George Washington the 10-strong refugee team at the Games in Brazil. This week Mardini, who now lives in Germany, told world leaders at the United Nations summit on migrants and refugees that she wanted to change perceptions of those displaced from their homes. (RTRS) Oxford ranked top university: The University of Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world and feeder for the British elite, has topped a global education ranking for the first time, but its vice-chancellor warned that Brexit could damage its long-term prospects. Oxford knocked the leader for the last John Scouler, British supermarket giant Tesco s former food commercial head arrives at Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Sept 22. Carl Rogberg, Chris Bush and John Scouler -- Tesco s former UK finance chief, UK managing director and food commercial head respectively are appearing in court charged with fraud and false accounting after the company revealed it had overstated profits by an amount which has since risen to as much as 326 million ($435 million; 386 million euros) in October (AFP) University. Younger, as chief of MI6, is one of the West s most powerful spies and rarely speaks in public. He was appointed in 2014 by then prime minister David Cameron. MI6 operates overseas and is tasked with defending Britain and its interests. Younger said terrorism was fuelled by a host of fractures across the world. Economic It is fuelled by a deepening sectarian divide in the Middle East and there are some deep social, economic and demographic drivers to the phenomenon we know as terrorism, he said. At times joking, Younger praised cooperation with allied spy services and also pitched spies as a good key way to keep communication open even with espionage services from nations less friendly with the West. It is a fact isn t it that a lot of countries are run by people like us. Now that is thankfully not the case in democratically constituted regimes, Younger said after the CIA director raised the subject of communication with Moscow. We need to find ways of messaging these countries and communicating with them, he said, noting that while communication could be beneficial, We must uphold the values that we are constituted to defend. Younger said that what he called the information revolution had fundamentally changed the operating environment for spies. There will be two sorts of intelligence services: those that understand this fact and have prospered and those that don t and haven t. I am determined that MI6 will be in the former category. An economics graduate and former soldier, Younger has worked for MI6 in Europe, the Middle East and Afghanistan since 1991, according to a short biography released by the government at the time of his appointment as MI6 chief. Britain s foreign intelligence service is to get 40 percent more spies in one of the biggest expansions since the Cold War as MI6 seeks to harness new technology, the BBC said. The Secret Intelligence Service, or MI6, will see its numbers increase to a little under 3,500 by 2020 from around 2,500, the BBC said, citing unidentified sources. MI6 does not disclose its staff numbers. MI6, depicted by novelists as the employer of some of the most memorable fictional spies from John le Carré s George Smiley to Ian Fleming s James Bond, operates overseas and is tasked with defending Britain and its interests. Also: DUBLIN: Sinn Fein party leader Gerry Adams has rejected an exmember s accusation that Adams authorized the 2006 Irish Republican Army killing of a high-profile infor- five years, California Institute of Technology, into second place in the Times Higher Education s global league table, which also saw Chinese universities climb rapidly. Oxford, which educated four of the last six British prime ministers, ousted its US rival after its research funding Corbyn set to win but UK Labour could split LONDON, Sept 22, (AFP): Leftist Jeremy Corbyn is set to be re-elected head of Britain s opposition Labour Party on Saturday despite a power struggle with his own MPs that threatens to tear apart the historic movement. Corbyn is expected to win out against challenger Owen Smith, who launched his bid after a parliamentary rebellion in the wake of the shock Brexit vote that critics partly blamed on Corbyn s lacklustre campaign. The prospect has prompted some commentators to warn that Labour s weakness in opposing the government could increase the chances of Prime Minister Theresa May opting for a hard Brexit that would take Britain out of Europe s single market. mant. The BBC s Spotlight investigative program in Belfast broadcast an interview with the man making the allegation on Tuesday night but shielded his identity, citing fears the IRA might try to kill him, too. The man, whom the BBC identified as a former member of the outlawed IRA and legal Sinn Fein who had passed intelligence tipoffs for years to British authorities, said Adams approved the 2006 killing of former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson. The BBC Spotlight documentary said senior IRA figures came under internal pressure to sanction Donaldson s killing by IRA commanders in South Armagh, a border region where suspected turncoats frequently were taken to be interrogated, tortured and slain. The man said Adams had the final say. Donaldson in December 2005 admitted he had secretly briefed police and British intelligence officers on IRA and Sinn Fein activities for two decades, an offense that traditionally merited the death penalty within IRA circles. But his public confession came just months after his dominant IRA faction, the Provisionals, had officially disarmed in support of peacemaking efforts. Donaldson moved from Belfast to live alone in an isolated farmhouse with no running water or electricity in the Republic of Ireland, where police found him shot to death five months later. rose 10 percent and overall funding rose to 1.4 billion pounds ($1.83 billion), while the impact of its research increased, said Phil Baty, editor of the rankings. But Baty said Britain s exit from the European Union is a serious risk to our success by making it harder to attract top academic staff and plug them into research projects. (RTRS) UK quiz show champ arrested: A quiz-show champion who appeared on the long-running BBC show Eggheads has been arrested over an alleged murder, after writing in a memoir that he might have killed a man in Amsterdam almost 30 years ago. Joseph Connagh, whose professional name is C.J. de Mooi, was arrested at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday on a Dutch-issued European Arrest Warrant, London s Metropolitan Police said. He appeared Thursday at Westminster Magistrates Court, where a prosecutor said he was wanted over allegations of murder, manslaughter and assault. (AP) Finish Brexit by 2019 : The president of the European Parliament says it s important to finish negotiations for Britain s exit from the European Union before European elections scheduled for mid Since deciding in a referendum this summer to leave the EU, Britain has not yet invoked the article of the EU treaty to begin negotiations. Once it does, negotiations are foreseen to last two years. (AP)

13 INTERNATIONAL 13 Special Report Casualty of migration crisis Afghan hope of new life ends in suicide SVANGSTA, Sweden, Sept 22, (RTRS): Mustafa Ansari s journey ended one April morning in his bedroom in a quiet Swedish village. At around 7 a.m., staff at the young asylum-seekers centre where Ansari was staying found him dead. The sheets of his metal bunk bed were tied so tightly around the Afghan teenager s neck, an inquiry later learned, the staffer who found him had to cut the noose with a knife. Around the soccer-mad boy s room were brightly coloured Post-It notes scribbled with Swedish words he had been learning. An autopsy found Ansari, who had no papers but was described in the autopsy as 17, had committed suicide. During nine months in Sweden, the authorities had not managed to carry out a single interview for his asylum application. The young Afghan was a new kind of casualty in Europe s migration crisis. While thousands have died on the journey to Europe, Ansari made it, only to become caught up in an overloaded system. His story highlights the limits on capacity even in a country like Sweden, which has one of the most open policies towards migrants and refugees. It also underlines the anxieties and risks faced by the more than 100,000 unaccompanied young asylum-seekers who have reached Europe since Sweden has long been welcoming of refugees and is proud of its humanitarian record. It threw open its doors to all Syrians in September 2013 and has taken in more asylumseekers per head than any other European country. But as more than a million migrants reached Europe illegally last year, mass applications choked systems everywhere. Sweden said it couldn t cope. Processing times for asylum-seekers in the country have nearly tripled over five years to a median of longer than nine months, from just over three months in Care-workers have lost track of more than 1,000 unaccompanied minors, a third of whom are Afghan males, since Last November, the country started to restrict the number of migrants it lets in. The deputy prime minister wept on TV when she announced the curbs. We have taken in too many for too long, said Prime Minister Stefan Lofven at the time. Sweden s migration minister said last week he did not believe any other country had given unaccompanied minors a better reception than Sweden. Problems When authorities struggle with asylum applications, psychiatrists say they incubate multiple problems. Applicants are often isolated. Some are already traumatised by their experiences and prone to mental illness and self-harm. Others fall into crime or - in the worst case - recruitment by militant groups. The longer they wait, the angrier they become, said Edgar Jones, a professor of the history of medicine and psychiatry at King s College, London. Sweden s agency for managing asylum-seekers took on more staff and has simplified decision-making, but wait times have still increased. It says it expects them to peak later this year at 12 months. I have people writing to me every day, saying, I ve been here for 12 months, 14 months, and nothing happens, said Mikael Ribbenvik, director of operations at the Migration Agency. The agency does not comment on individual cases. Migration Agency records show at least 500 occasions when asylum-seekers of all ages threatened or attempted suicide between January 2014 and the end of August, a period when more than a quarter of a million people applied for asylum in Sweden. Three attempts ended in death. What motivated them is not clear - the records show some were directly related to delays in applications. Ribbenvik conceded the records are likely an undercount: Suicidal behaviour is only noted when it affects immigration staffers working conditions in some way. Ansari s case, for example, is not included in the data. Asylum-seekers are generally more likely to attempt suicide than the general population, studies have shown. They suffer high rates of depression, psychosis and other mental health conditions, largely because of the trauma they have fled. In Sweden, government and other groups have estimated that around a quarter of asylum-seekers suffer from mental illnesses like depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. Ansari had travelled alone. His autopsy report says he was suffering from depression and bipolar disorder. Friends say he desperately missed his family. He waited months for a meeting to process his claim, but the agency cancelled one meeting and messed up the venue for the other. He used to speak about his frustration, said his fellow asylumseeker, 18-year-old Afghan Mohsen Naghawi. He saw himself as unlucky. Peter Valverius, chief medical officer for psychiatry in Blekinge, the county where Ansari lived, was involved in the county s inquiry into the young man s death. He said the cancellation of Ansari s second asylum interview seemed crucial: There is a big probability that it was the trigger. Ansari was the eldest child of an Afghan housewife and factory security guard who live in Shiraz province in Iran. The boy had travelled for a month through Turkey, Greece and on to Germany, said his father, Ali Yawar Ansari. He arrived in Sweden on July 24, 2015, one of more than 23,000 unaccompanied Afghan minors to reach the country that year. Like many Afghans, Ansari was actually a double refugee. He was a member of the Hazara, a Shi ite community of possible Mongolian ancestry. His people have long faced persecution in Afghanistan; many fled to Iran in the 1990s after they were targeted by the Sunni Taleban. Discrimination Ansari grew up in Iran, among hundreds of thousands of Hazara refugees. Because of their Asiatic features they stand out and face harsh discrimination including jail or deportation, rights groups say. There are no official figures, but Kasim Husseini, an official at the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, an aid group working in Afghanistan, estimates that more than 70 percent of Afghan asylum-seekers in Sweden are Hazaras. A Hazara himself, he travelled alone when he was 15 and arrived in Rights groups say Hazaras have recently been recruited by Iranian forces to fight in Syria. It was that risk that drove Ansari, who was working in a plastics recycling firm in Shiraz, to try Europe, his father told Reuters. At first, his father said, he tried to stop the boy from leaving. But when Mustafa threatened to go anyway, the family leased land they own in Afghanistan and borrowed money from cousins to raise 4,000 euros ($4,500) to pay smugglers. That s more than double the annual GDP per capita in Afghanistan in 2015, according to World Bank figures. Those who knew Mustafa say he was warm-hearted with an easy smile and a love for Real Madrid soccer club. Among my children, he was the brightest, said Ali. He was interested in electronic gadgets and when he went to Sweden he had a plan to study mobile technology. Like many Afghans, Ansari planned to bring over his family from Iran once he had won asylum. In a cafe in the nearby town of Karlshamn, Ansari s Afghan and Iranian friends said they had raised their own cash on the road for their journeys. One, Amir Hassanzade, made money in Greece by allowing trainee tattooists to practise on his arm for 20 euros a time. Another said Kurdish human traffickers had forced him to work on a construction site in Turkey to pay his way. You have to remember that it is a very big responsibility for these boys, said Ansari s 18-year old friend, Naghawi. Their families have sold everything and this is on their shoulders. That sense of responsibility intensifies the moment the boys touch Swedish soil. When children arrive without passports, officials typically assign them a birth date based on the age they say they are when they land. Ansari said he was 16. So for the Swedish authorities, his birthday became July 24, At the time, it was relatively easy for unaccompanied asylum-seekers who were under 18 to bring family to Sweden to live with them. By giving his age as 16, Ansari had started a two-year countdown to get his family in. Svangsta is a riverside community of 1,700 in southern Sweden best known for making fishing reels. It is also home to a government-run asylum-seekers centre, a two-storey brick building where Ansari lived with 20 other boys from Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia, Eritrea, Morocco and Iran. Ansari had a spacious room to himself near the kitchen with a double wardrobe, refrigerator, table with four chairs, and adjoining bathroom. He had stuck a Post-It note on the table saying bord - the Swedish word for table - and on the walls were pairs of words in Swedish and his native Dari for abstract ideas and feelings. He loved to listen to music, loudly. The boys were given money to buy food. Ansari, who liked to cook, would make chicken with rice for his friends. In an initial health check of Ansari nothing remarkable emerged, said Santi Kullberg, administrative chief at the centre. Morning mist hangs over the river Elbe in Dresden, eastern Germany, on Sept 22. Autumn officially begins on the equinox on Sept 22. (AFP) An Egyptian man sleeps at Rashid Hospital in Rosetta, 65 kilometers (40 miles) northeast of Alexandria, Egypt, after being rescued from a boat which sank in the Mediterranean Sea Sept 21. A boat carrying African migrants headed to Europe capsized off the Mediterranean coast off the coast of Alexandria on Wednesday, killing many people, Egyptian authorities said. Egypt s official news agency MENA said the boat was carrying 600 people when it sank. (AP) Hassan Europe Gul Greece rejects asylum claim: Greece has rejected the asylum claim of a Turkish military officer who fled after the failed coup of July 15, his lawyer said Thursday, vowing to appeal the decision. Lawyer Stavroula Tomara, who represents eight Turkish officers overall, told AFP that an asylum committee on Wednesday had rejected the officer s request and frozen those of two others. A judicial source said this meant the court had ruled the two officers arguments against extradition inadmissible. The move came as Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan the target of the coup in New York early on Thursday. According to state agency ANA, Tsipras told Erdogan that democracy was very important to Greece and coup plotters were not welcome. Tomara said she would appeal against the rejection and request a re-examination for her other two clients, which she said could be done in the next nine months. The lawyer said the rejection was based on the arbitrary assumption that the officer in question had taken part in the foiled coup. (AFP) Drop Hamas, LTTE from list : A top EU lawyer on Thursday said Islamist movement Hamas and Sri Lankan rebel group LTTE should be taken off the bloc s terror list because procedural mistakes invalidated the decision to put them on it. The European Union imposed travel bans and asset freezes against Hamas and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam under 2001 rules. The groups subsequently contested being kept on the bloc s terrorist black list. The General Court, second to the European Court of Justice, found in their favour in 2014 on the grounds the EU had based its decision on publicly available information, not on a finding by a competent authority. The European Council of the 28 member states in turn appealed that finding. Advocate General Eleanor Sharpston of the ECJ said the EU cannot rely on facts and evidence found in press articles and information from the internet, rather than in decisions of competent authorities, to support a decision to maintain a listing. Given that some of the reasons advanced could not justify the decision to maintain the listing of LTTE and Hamas, the General Court was correct to dismiss the EU appeal when it could find no other sufficient reasons for their listing. Accordingly, the ECJ should annul the measures maintaining Hamas and LTTE on the EU list of terrorist organisations on procedural grounds. Advocates general of the ECJ are regularly called on to give their view on a case Egypt arrests 4 crew members Migrant boat death toll 52 CAIRO, Sept 22, (RTRS): Egyptian rescue workers have found nine more bodies in the Mediterranean Sea a day after a boat carrying hundreds of migrants capsized, bringing the death toll so far to 52, two officials said on Thursday. Egyptian authorities have arrested four crew members of the boat, which had been carrying almost 600 migrants, judicial sources said. The boat sank on Wednesday off Burg Rashid, a village in Egypt s northern Beheira province where the Nile meets the Mediterranean. Rescue workers have so far saved 169 people, which means the death toll could hit several hundred. Prosecutors ordered the crew members jailed for four days while an investigation takes place. The rescued migrants have been released. Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail pledged the government s full support for the continuing rescue mission and said those responsible must be brought to justice. The military said in a statement it was conducting the rescue operation. The boat had been carrying Egyptian, Sudanese, Eritrean and Somali migrants, officials said. It was not immediately clear where the boat had been heading, though officials said they believed it was going to Italy. More and more people have been trying to cross to Italy from the African coast over the summer months, particularly from Libya, where people-traffickers operate with relative impunity, but also from Egypt. Migrants who survived a shipwreck off the Greek island of Crete in June said their boat had set sail from Egypt. About 320 migrants and refugees drowned in that incident. Some 206,400 migrants and refugees have crossed the Mediterranean this year, according to the International Organization for Migration. More than 2,800 deaths were recorded between January and June, compared with 1,838 during the same period last year. Some 1.3 million migrants reached Europe s shores last year fleeing war and economic hardship, prompting bitter rows among European countries over how to share responsibility. If they survive the perilous maritime journey, migrants this year face much tougher European Union border controls. Mohamed Mabrouk hoped to sail from Egypt to a better future in Europe. But just before sunrise on Wednesday, the teen called his uncle in a panic as the boat carrying him and hundreds more migrants across the Mediterranean was overwhelmed by water. Saeed Abu Hamed, 37, was asleep at home when his phone rang. He recalls hearing the anguished voice of his nephew repeating: Uncle help me! Uncle help me! People are dying around me, the boat is sinking, water is coming in from all sides. I heard people screaming help us in the background. It was horrifying. I don t know how I will be able to forget this, he told Reuters. Mabrouk was one of about 169 people to survive. About 52 bodies have been recovered so far, but security officials said almost 600 people may have been squeezed aboard the wooden vessel, suggesting hundreds more may have perished in what is just the latest disaster for migrants desperate to reach Europe. More and more people have been trying to cross to Italy from the African coast over the summer months, particularly from Libya, where people-traffickers operate with relative impunity. But Egypt has come under closer scrutiny this year because a growing number of migrants from sub-saharan Africa are using it as an alternative route. Those on the boat that sank included people from Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea, as well as Egyptians. One survivor said the vessel had waited for two days at sea so the smugglers could squeeze more migrants on board before heading north. But as they climbed in, the boat began to capsize. before a final ruling and in most instances their opinions are followed. Officials said they could not comment on Sharpston s opinion and would wait until the final ruling in the case. For the moment, nothing is changed and Hamas and LTTE remain listed. (AFP) White Helmets among winners: A volunteer group that rescues civilians from bombed-out buildings in Syria shares this Egyptian men sit along the shore in the Egyptian port city of Rosetta on Sept 22, as they watch a boat departing for a search operation. A boat carrying up to 450 migrants capsized in the Mediterranean off Egypt s north coast, drowning 42 people and prompting a search operation that rescued 163 passengers, officials said. The vessel overturned off the port city of Rosetta, police and health officials said. (AFP) Panic spread as the boat tilted, casting people overboard. Ahmed Darwish, 27, said he was in the water for seven hours. The captain of the ship couldn t control the boat any more... We told him this boat won t take us there safely... The captain couldn t move the boat; it kept swaying until it fell on its side, Darwish said, as he lay in a blue gown on a bed at the public hospital in the coastal village of Burg Rashed. Darwish described spotting a fishing boat about a kilometre away and desperately trying to attract its attention, afraid it would not see his head bobbing above the waves. Also: LONDON/BUDAPEST: Britain has raised concerns with Hungary over a description of areas of London, Paris and Brussels as no-go areas dominated by illegal immigrants who increase the risk of militant attacks. Ahead of an Oct 2 referendum on whether to reject European Union migrant quotas, Hungary released an official leaflet setting out the government s case for voting No, including its views on the impact of migration on major Western cities. In one section, under the title Forced resettlement poses a threat to our culture and traditions, the leaflet includes a map of Europe detailing in red what it said were no-go areas where the authorities could not keep control. Cities so identified included London, Paris, Brussels and Berlin. Other pages of the leaflet include a section on how Illegal immigration increases the terror threat. Immigrants mostly come from areas where European countries are carrying out military actions. This greatly increases the security risk, the Hungarian leaflet said. Terrorists deliberately and in a well-organised fashion take advantage of the lack of control to melt into the crowds of immigrants. year s Right Livelihood Award, sometimes known as the Alternative Nobel, with activists from Egypt and Russia and a Turkish newspaper. The prize foundation on Thursday announced the four 2016 winners: the Syria Civil Defense group, also known as the White Helmets; Egyptian women s rights activist Mozn Hassan and the Nazra for Feminist Studies; Russia rights campaigner Svetlana Gannushkina; and Turkish independent newspaper Cumhuriyet. They will share a cash award of 3 million kronor ($350,000). Created in 1980, the annual Right Livelihood Award honors efforts that prize founder, Swedish-German philanthropist Jakob von Uexkull, felt were being ignored by the Nobel Prizes. This year s Right Livelihood Award Laureates confront some of the most pressing global issues head-on be it war, freedom of speech, women s rights or the plight of migrants, said the founder s nephew, Ole von Uexkull, the prize foundation s director. The White Helmets, a group of volunteer first responders, were cited for for their outstanding bravery, compassion and humanitarian engagement in rescuing civilians from the destruction of the Syrian civil war. Hassan and her feminist organization were honored for asserting the equality and rights of women in circumstances where they are subject to ongoing violence, abuse and discrimination. The citation said the group has documented human rights violations and coordinated the response to sexual assaults on women participating in public protests during and after the uprising of (AP)

14 INTERNATIONAL 14 World News Roundup China Fraud charges Beijing jails rights lawyer BEIJING, Sept 22, (AP): A Chinese lawyer who defended activists and others involved in politically sensitive cases was sentenced to 12 years in prison Thursday on fraud charges, his lawyers said, in what is believed to be the harshest penalty handed down in years against those few willing to take on the ruling Communist Party. Xia Lin was sentenced Thursday by the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate Court, nearly two years after being detained, lawyer Ding Xikui said. We ve been striving to defend his innocence, Ding said. Even one day in prison is too much. There was no immedi- Xia ate comment from the court. Ding said Xia planned to file an appeal. Xia s sentence appeared to be the heaviest for a government critic since economist and Uighur minority rights advocate Ilham Tohti was sentenced in 2014 to life imprisonment on separatism charges after he made calls for Chinese-Uighur reconciliation and greater economic justice. It came amid a string of recent cases and subversion trials demonstrating the Communist Party s determination to silence independent human rights activists and government critics. But the most those accused received was 7-1/2 years. Threat By comparison, Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, identified by the party as an existential threat to its rule, is serving an 11-year sentence for subversion. The harsh sentence against Xia Lin sends the sternest warning yet to the community of human rights lawyers that they must toe the party line, said Maya Wang, a Hong Kong-based researcher with Human Rights Watch. Wang said president and party leader Xi Jinping has made clear that, despite its calls for strengthened rule of law, the party intends to use the legal system to enforce its uncontested rule. Anyone who challenges this aspiration will not be tolerated. Ding and advocacy group Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders said the charges against Xia, who was born in 1970, related to money he borrowed from friends, who asserted they loaned it freely and had not brought legal complaints against him. He was accused of defaulting on that debt, but no convincing evidence was provided, they said. He had indeed borrowed money from people, but it is just normal borrowing and lending money, Ding said. The Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders said Xia was detained on Nov. 8, 2014, as he began preparing to defend Guo Yushan, the head of a Chinese think tank, the Transition Institute. It said Guo had been detained a month earlier for supporting the Occupy Central pro-democracy movement in the semi-autonomous Chinese region of Hong Kong. Evidence The group said that, lacking evidence of fraud, investigators instead focused on Xia s association with government critics, including artist and human rights activist Ai Weiwei, whose design company, Beijing Fake Cultural Development Ltd., he helped defend from a demand for $1.85 million in back taxes and fines brought in 2011 that was widely seen as a further form of government harassment following Ai s illegal detention earlier that year. Ai ultimately lost the case, despite claims of widespread legal irregularities. The numerous legal violations, not least the length of time it took to bring Xia to trial, demonstrate the flimsiness of the authorities case. Xia Lin should be freed on Thursday and compensated for his time in detention, human rights researcher Frances Eve said in a statement. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang discounted such accusations, saying such groups likely didn t represent mainstream opinion about China in the international community. Xia s case falls within China s internal affairs... and will be handled in accordance with law, Lu said. President Xi s campaign against dissent began gathering steam in the summer of 2015, when about 300 activists and lawyers were initially seized in a roundup and questioned before most were released. But more than a dozen of those detained last year remain in custody, their legal fates still unknown. This picture taken on Sept 10, 2016 shows Chinese tourists on the roof of the Jokhang Temple in the regional capital Lhasa, in China s Tibet Autonomous Region. The sun has yet to rise over Lhasa, but dozens of colourfully dressed pilgrims are already gathered and reciting prayers at the entrance to Jokhang, the most sacred temple in Tibetan Buddhism. Many of those gathered Tibetans and Han Chinese visitors say religion is fl ourishing under Beijing s rule, with adherents enjoying the freedoms they need to follow their faith. But this sense of freedom does not extend to the men who live inside the monasteries, analysts and monks say. (AFP) A US Air Force B-1B Lancer deployed to Andersen Air Base, Guam, is flanked by two F-15K Slam Eagles assigned to Daegu Air Base, Republic of Korea, during flight over ROK skies Sept 21. An American strategic bomber landed in South Korea on Wednesday in a show of force the US said was aimed at reminding Pyongyang of its powerful military assets in the region. The flight was the closest a B-1 has ever flown to the border between the ROK and North Korea. The move comes a day after North Korea claimed it had successfully tested a new, high-powered rocket engine which the South said was designed to demonstrate progress towards attaining a long-range missile. (AFP) Chan Asia Tsai Taiwan museum to remove statues: Taiwan s leading museum said Thursday it will remove statues donated by actor Jackie Chan that were attacked by anti- China protesters late last year, as relations sour between the island and Beijing. The set of 12 zodiac animal sculptures sit in the garden of the National Palace Museum s southern branch and are copies of high-profile ancient relics from China s Qing Dynasty. They are seen on the mainland as emblematic of China s past suffering under foreign invaders. The originals of the statues were looted from Beijing s Old Summer Palace in 1860 by Anglo-French troops. Hong Kong actor Chan is a member of the Chinese People s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) China s mainland s political advisory body and has drawn criticism in the past for his pro- Beijing remarks. The attack came ahead of presidential elections in January, which saw Beijingsceptic Tsai Ing-wen sweep to power, ending eight years of rapprochement with China under the previous Kuomintang government. (AFP) 2K held in triad raids: Hong Kong police have arrested more than 2,000 people in raids on suspected criminal triad gangs, with the city s underworld in the spotlight after a lawmaker received death threats. North Korea Bomber flew close to N.Korean border: US Find new means to halt threat UNITED NATIONS, Sept 21, (Agencies): Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday demanded that the world find a new way to halt the threat from North Korea after the long-sanctioned regime s nuclear and missile tests. Abe, addressing the UN General Assembly, said that calculations about North Korea needed to change after its latest actions including the state s test of what it said was a miniaturized nuclear bomb for a warhead. There is no alternative but to say that the threat has now reached a dimension altogether different from what has transpired until now, Abe said. The threat to the international community has become increasingly grave and all the more realistic. It demands a new means of addressing it, altogether different from what we applied until yesterday, he said. Abe did not spell out specific actions but said Japan would use its non-permanent seat on the Security Council to explore new options. The right-leaning leader first rose to power with tough talk on North Korea and has made revision of Japan s US-imposed pacifist constitution his signature issue. But Japan has never fired a shot in anger since World War II and is constitutionally barred from offensive military operations. Abe highlighted that Japan, the only nation to have suffered nuclear attack, was committed to the elimination of the ultra-destructive weapons. Specter Pointing to US President Barack Obama s landmark visit to Hiroshima in May, Abe raised the specter of a North The raids, which started in late July, have netted 2,120 people believed to be connected with triad, vice and dangerous drugs offences, Hong Kong s organised crime chief told reporters. The operation, named Thunderbolt 16, This undated handout photo received on Sept 22 shows possible debris from missing passenger jet MH370 handed over by a US amateur investigator, which was not exposed to heat or fi re, Australian authorities said, amid speculation it was blackened by flames. (AFP) Korea willing to use nuclear weapons. This is a challenge posed to the conscience of humankind. Were we to overlook it, how would we justify it to our own consciences? Abe said. China and the United States are in talks on drafting a new Security Council resolution to punish North Korea, although such measures have not stopped Pyongyang in the past. North Korea is already one of the most impoverished and sanctioned countries on Earth, with a March resolution after a previous nuclear test ordering searches of all ships heading to the isolated country and restricting shipments of luxury products. Kim Jong-Un s regime says that it needs nuclear weapons to ensure its survival against arch-enemies the United States and Japan and wants recognition as a nuclear state. China has been increasingly critical of North Korea but many analysts believe that a rising Beijing would prefer to put up with the troublesome regime rather than risk a united, USallied Korea on its border. While Obama has supported dialogue with US adversaries, his administration has voiced frustration with North Korea and advocated tough sanctions, with an aid-for-disarmament deal between the countries quickly falling apart in Abe in his address also made a new pitch for a permanent seat on the Security Council, pointing out that Japan has historically been the top funder of the United Nations after the United States. He renewed Japan s commitments to aid, including international development assistance and financing for adaptation to climate change, saying the country had in recent decades given $334.5 billion. If we do not carry out the reform of the Security Council now, it will easily be put off for a decade or two, Abe said. A joint bid a decade ago by Japan alongside Brazil, Germany and India for permanent seats collapsed largely due to opposition from China, the only Asian country with veto power, which accused Tokyo of not sufficiently regretting World War II. Also: SEOUL, South Korea: The US military said at least one of its supersonic bombers that flew over South Korea earlier this week in a display of military power approached the border with North Korea. The flight will likely anger North Korea, which is extremely sensitive to the deployment of high-tech US weapons systems. The United States often sends powerful warplanes to South Korea in times of heightened animosity between the Koreas, but it is still unusual for such aircraft to fly near the rivals border, the world s most heavily fortified. The United States flew two B-1B bombers over South Korea on Wednesday, in the second such flyover in about a week. The US Pacific Command said on its website Wednesday that the flight was the closest a B-1 has ever flown to the border. It didn t say whether both or just one of the bombers approached the border. South Korean media said both bombers flew over a front-line US firing range about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the border. also seized HK$62 million ($8 million) worth of drugs including heroin, cocaine and ketamine. Blur images showing Sea facilities: Taiwan TAIPEI, Sept 22, (RTRS): Taiwan s defence ministry said it is asking Google to blur satellite images showing what experts say appear to be new military installations on Itu Aba, Taipei s sole holding in the hotly disputed South China Sea. The revelation of new militaryrelated construction could raise tensions in the contested waterway, where China s building of airstrips and other facilities has worried other claimants and the United States. The images seen on Google Earth show four three-pronged structures sitting in a semi-circle just off the northwestern shoreline of Itu Aba, across from an upgraded airstrip and recently constructed port that can dock 3,000-ton frigates. Chester The announcement comes a day after police said separately that six men believed to have triad links had been arrested in connection with threats to newly elected city lawmaker Eddie Chu. Chu has taken on pro-establishment rural strongmen accused of having criminal links and colluding with the government and business figures for their own benefit. (AFP) MH370 not exposed to fire : Possible debris from missing passenger jet MH370 handed over by a US amateur investigator was not exposed to heat or fire, Australian authorities said Thursday, following speculation it was blackened by flames. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), which is coordinating the search for the Boeing 777 Malaysia Airlines plane that disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014 carrying 239 passengers and crew, added that it was not yet able to link the pieces to MH370. American Blaine Gibson brought the two recently recovered items from Madagascar to Australia to be forensically investigated by the ATSB on September 12 and told local media then that one piece appeared to show some signs of melting... as you see when something is exposed to fire. But Australian Transport Minister Darren Chester said after an initial examination of the fibreglass-honeycomb composite debris that what is known is that contrary to speculation there is no evidence the item was exposed to heat or fire. (AFP) US jet crashes off Okinawa: A US military jet crashed off the southern Japanese island of Okinawa on Thursday but the pilot was safely rescued, authorities said. The wreckage of the plane was found 150 kilometres (95 miles) off Okinawa s main island in the mid-afternoon, according to the Japan Coast Guard. We received a rescue request from Kadena Air Base, a coast guard spokesman told AFP, adding they sent a patrol ship and plane. But the US Marine Corps said in a press release that the pilot on the AV-8 Harrier jet ejected safely and was rescued by the US Air Force. Officials would not confirm if anyone else was on the plane or if any injuries were reported. The cause of the incident is under investigation, the Marine Corps said. Last year, seven crew members were injured after a US military helicopter crashed into the sea off Okinawa. (AFP) Barefoot Bushman hurt: A crocodile handler known as the Barefoot Bushman was seriously hurt after being mauled by a massive creature while feeding it at an Australian wildlife park Thursday. Rob Bredl, 66, was bitten by the 4.5-metre (14-foot, nine-inch) crocodile at Bredl s Wild Farm in Bloomsbury on Queensland state s central coast, the local ambulance service said. He suffered a severe laceration to his left hand and also some bite marks to his lower right leg, paramedic Heather Shields added. (He was) extremely lucky, Shields said. He said that it was a fully grown adult crocodile about 4.5 metres long so he is very lucky. He said it happened on land. It was attempting to drag him to the water but he s got away before he was submerged at all. (AFP)

15 INTERNATIONAL 15 Thailand Top destination Bangkok beats London, Dubai BANGKOK, Sept 22, (Agencies): The Thai capital of Bangkok has beaten London to be crowned the world s most popular travel destination this year, according to an annual ranking by global payments and technology company Mastercard released on Thursday. Tourism has been one of the rare bright spots for Thailand, Southeast Asia s second-largest economy, which has grappled with weak consumer confidence and exports after a 2014 coup the military said was aimed at ending months of political unrest. L a s t month s wave of bomb blasts in southern Thailand, which police have blamed Prayuth on Muslim separatists, appears to have had a limited impact on tourism. Topped Bangkok, also known as the city of angels, topped the 2016 listing of 132 cities, beating London, Paris and Dubai to become the city most visited by international travellers in the Mastercard Index of Global Destination Cities. It isn t a flash in the pan. Bangkok is in a strong position to be the top destination city for a long time, Yuwa Hedrick-Wong, Mastercard chief economist, told Reuters. There s the value for money, especially for visitors coming from high-income countries. Thailand under its PM Prayuth Chan-o-Cha expects to welcome a record 33 million visitors this year, thanks to a jump in the number of Chinese tourists. Sprawling Bangkok is projected to receive million international visitors in 2016, just ahead of second-ranked London, with million visitors. Ideal The pollution makes it a less than ideal city to stay long term, but the food is second to none, James Donnelly, 31, a tourist from Britain who was visiting the city on his way to Vietnam, told Reuters. Elsewhere in Asia, the Japanese city of Osaka has shown the strongest growth in international visitors over the past seven years, attracting tourists from neighbouring countries, particularly China and South Korea, said Mastercard. The British capital topped the 2015 ranking of global destinations, but Mastercard did not say why some of its shine had rubbed off for travellers this year. The two cities have topped the ranking for most of its history. Facing international pressure over human trafficking in the seafood trade, Thailand promised almost a year ago to compensate victims of slavery and industry leaders vowed to bring all fish processing in-house. That hasn t always happened. Instead, some formerly enslaved shrimp peelers have been deported. Shrimp peeling sheds are being inspected and authorized to keep operating. The Associated Press found that while some Thai companies that export shrimp to the US have given formerly entrapped workers better jobs in-house, others still use middlemen who employ laborers in remote, guarded warehouses. Shed owners frequently break environmental, labor or safety laws. Seventy-five percent of the 109 inspected so far this year were cited for violations, and 24 were ordered to close. Human-rights and media reports documenting abuse in Thailand s $7 billion annual seafood export industry have brought international pressure. Last year, the AP reported on slavery inside the Gig Peeling shed outside Bangkok in Samut Sakhon, where more than 100 people were locked inside and forced to work 16 hours a day, ripping guts, heads and tails off shrimp that entered supply chains of most major US supermarkets and companies including Red Lobster, Whole Foods and Wal-Mart. One of the workers, Tin Nyo Win, ran away and told police, who raided the factory and rescued the other workers, including his wife. This month, the couple were deported to Myanmar after being held almost a year in a Thai government shelter. The government had said victims and witnesses of human trafficking could stay and work in Thailand for up to one year while their cases were investigated. This year the US State Department commended Thailand for reforms and removed it from a global human trafficking blacklist. Those Thai reforms on paper include paying whistleblowers like Win and providing victims compensation, education, employment and other assistance. But Win said he and his wife weren t even given food sometimes. A remote-controlled blimp of a company engaged in telecommunications business bearing a message supporting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte fl ies above a morning traffi c on a seaside boulevard on Sept 22, in Manila, Philippines. Duterte, a tough-talking former city mayor praised and feared for his deadly crime busting style, has caught international attention for his profane language that has targeted some world leaders, including the Pope, President Barack Obama, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and lately the European Union. (AP) In this picture taken on Sept 20, Thazin, a 16-year-old Myanmar child slave carries her niece at her family s village in Baw Lone Kwin, Kawmu township located outside Yangon. (AFP) Huu Vinh Asia Philippines Duterte invites UN chief to probe killings Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday invited the United Nations chief and international human rights experts to investigate allegations of widespread extrajudicial killings, but insisted they also face him in a public debate. The acid-tongued Duterte had earlier used vulgar language to dismiss criticism from the two organisations Minh Thuy Indonesia landslides toll hits 26: The death toll from devastating floods and landslides in Indonesia has risen to 26, an official said Thursday, with hopes fading for 19 others still missing. Aid has begun pouring into Garut in the west of Indonesia s main island of Java, where 23 people died and 18 remain missing after torrential rain and fast-rising floods swept through the region, the national disaster agency said. Receding flood waters revealed scenes of destruction, with houses reduced to rubble and upturned cars and debris strewn throughout muddy streets. Among the dead or missing are more than a dozen children under 12 years of age, though several have yet to be formally identified, the agency said. Relief teams and army personnel have moved into Garut to search for those still missing, while drones are assessing the scale of destruction from the air, disaster agency head Willem Rampangilei said in a statement. There is plenty of food and clean water available. The community is also helping out, Rampangilei said, adding that a disaster report had been sent to President Joko Widodo. (AFP) Indonesia aims to end FGM: Indonesia is embarking on a renewed campaign to end female genital mutilation (FGM), according to its women s minister Yohana Yembise, despite opposition from religious leaders who have stymied past efforts to combat a practice that is common. Home to the world s largest Muslim population, Indonesia tried to ban FGM a decade ago but opposition from influential Islamic clerics has meant it is still widely practised. Almost half of Indonesian girls aged 11 and under have undergone some form of FGM, the United Nations children agency, UNICEF, said in February, citing govern- and the United States of his bloody war on crime, which has claimed over 3,000 lives since he took office on June 30. I have invited the (United Nations human rights) rapporteur, (UN chief) Ban Ki-moon, the EU, their lawyers to come here and investigate me, Duterte said in a speech, adding the formal invitations would be sent Myanmar Nobel laureate makes UN debut Suu Kyi pledges to uphold rights ment statistics from Indonesia for the first time in a global study of FGM. (RTRS) soon. But... after they question me, I will question them, one by one in open forum... then you will all see how I will beat those devils. The 71-year-old former city mayor won elections in a landslide in May after vowing to eradicate the illegal drug trade in six months, and promising that 100,000 criminals would be UNITED NATIONS, Sept 22, (Agencies): Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday pledged to promote human rights in Myanmar s troubled Rakhine state as the Nobel laureate made her UN debut as her country s de facto leader. In a scene unthinkable several years ago, the onetime opposition icon who was put under house arrest for years by a military junta took the rostrum of the United Nations to speak for Myanmar. But some Western supporters who long fought for Suu Kyi s freedom have voiced dismay as, now a politician, she refuses to recognize the Rohingya a persecuted Muslim minority in the overwhelmingly Buddhist nation. Suu Kyi did not mention the Rohingya by name in her address but pledged to back a commission led by former UN chief Kofi Annan that was recently set up to advise on Rakhine state, where thousands of Rohingya have spent four years in dire displacement camps. There has been persistent opposition from some quarters to the establishment of the commission, she said, referring to protests that have met the advisers. However, we are determined to persevere in our endeavor to achieve harmony, peace and prosperity in the Rakhine state, she said. I would like to take the opportunity to ask for the understanding and constructive contribution of the international community, she said. By standing firm against the forces of prejudice and intolerance, we are reaffirming our faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person. Before heading to New York, Suu Kyi met at the White House with President Barack Obama who agreed to scrap remaining sanctions against Myanmar. US policymakers privately say that they recognize Suu Kyi faces intense domestic pressure in Myanmar, where the Rohingya are the target of widespread public derision and are not even considered citizens. Suu Kyi, the daughter of independence leader Aung San, has a delicate relationship with Myanmar s generals. In her UN address, she referred to her country mostly as Myanmar and not as Burma, the usage insisted upon by her opposition party when she was under house arrest. In her first address to the UN General Assembly as national leader, Suu Kyi defended her government s efforts to resolve a crisis over treatment of the country s Muslim minority. Suu Kyi, a former political prisoner and Nobel Peace Prize winner who has been criticized for doing too little to address the plight of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar s Rakhine state, said the government did not fear international scrutiny, but asked for the understanding and the constructive Rescue teams search for missing victims on the Cimanuk river banks in Garut district, West Java province on Sept 22, a day after a series of landslides and fl ash fl oods hit several areas. The death toll from devastating fl oods and landslides in Indonesia has risen to 26, an official said, with hopes fading for 19 others still missing. (AFP) killed in the process. Since getting elected, he has urged police and even civilians to kill drug pushers, and vowed to protect lawmen from prosecution. However he has also insisted that he has not encouraged anything illegal. Last month, a UN human rights investigator asked to be allowed to visit the Philippines to look into the contribution of the international community. We are committed to a sustainable solution that will lead to peace, stability and development for all communities within Myanmar, she said. Approach Our government is taking a holistic approach that makes development central to both short- and long-term programs aimed at promoting understanding and trust. Suu Kyi pointed to the establishment of an advisory commission for Rakhine state chaired by former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, with a mandate covering basic rights and security issues. Suu Kyi said there had been persistent opposition from some quarters to the establishment of the commission, but the government would persevere in its efforts to achieve peace in Rakhine. By standing firm against the forces of prejudice and intolerance, we are reaffirming our faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person. Suu Kyi told a subsequent event at the Asia Society in New York that Myanmar was only at the start of its road to democracy, given that 25 percent of parliamentary seats were still held by the unelected members of the military and peace needed to be affirmed with all armed groups. San Kay Khine stares at her burnt, Cambodia PM declares ceasefire: Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen declared a political ceasefire on Thursday following a wave of prosecutions of opposition members that government critics say is politically motivated in the Philippine militants release Indonesian MANILA, Sept 22, (RTRS): Islamist militants have freed an Indonesian captive on a remote island in the southern Philippines, an army commander said on Thursday, days after six hostages were turned over to a rebel group which signed a peace deal with the government. Herman bin Manggak was released by the al-qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf on Wednesday to the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and was turned over to the army the following day, said army brigade commander Brigadier-General Arnek dela Vega. The release of the victim is the result of relentless focused military operations, combined with efforts of different sectors, particularly the local government unit of Sulu and other stakeholders, dela Vega told reporters. abuses but the Duterte government swiftly rebuffed her. An angry Duterte then threatened to pull the Philippines out of the UN, but later said it was just a joke. Duterte has made a series of controversial pronouncements only to retract them later, with his aides saying his remarks were merely rhetoric or hyperbole. (AFP) scarred hands, her twisted fingers a reminder of her years as a child slave in Myanmar, one of thousands of young domestic workers feared to be at risk of exploitation and abuse. The 17-year-old was rescued from a tailor s shop in Yangon this month where she and another girl from her village spent five years as housemaids. There they were allegedly beaten, cut with knives and deprived of sleep and food by the shop owner and her family all for an occasional few dollars thrown their way. The pair are among tens of thousands of children from poor rural areas sent to work as domestic helpers for the country s growing pool of wealthier, urban middle-class households. Enticed by promises of jobs that can support their families, rights groups say they are at high risk of abuse. But the issue is under researched in a impoverished country where the justice system favours the wealthy. San Kay Khine, whose fingers have set at strange angles after being broken by her captors, remains too traumatised to talk about what happened, only whispering that she wants to stay at home. Instead, it is left to 16-year-old Thazin to give details of the suffering they shared at the tailor s shop. I have a scar from where an iron was stamped on my leg and a scar on my head as well, she told AFP at her home village, a few hours drive from Yangon. run-up to elections that Hun Sen fears losing. Tension between the country s two main political parties has risen in recent months, with the opposition complaining of a crackdown on critics in a bid to intimidate the opposition before a general election in In July, Kem Ley, a political commentator and critic of Hun Sen, was murdered, exacerbating fears that political violence was on the rise. Police say he was killed over a debt. On Monday, Hun Sen said he would eliminate opposition supporters if they went ahead with protests but he was conciliatory on Thursday. (RTRS) Court hears bloggers appeal: A prominent Vietnamese blogger told an appeal hearing on Thursday that his sentencing earlier this year to five years in prison for anti-state writings was not based on any evidence. Nguyen Huu Vinh, better known as Anh Ba Sam, was convicted of abusing democratic freedoms to infringe on the interests of the state at a one-day trial in March. His colleague, Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy, who was given a three-year jail term on the same charge, is also appealing her sentence. At the appeals trial in Hanoi, Vinh maintained his innocence. (AP)

16 INTERNATIONAL 16 World News Roundup Africa A Kashmiri man ducks to cross an iron barricade with coils of razor wire near a military base at Braripora, near the de facto border dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan, in Indian controlled Kashmir on Sept 21. Indian soldiers on Wednesday searched areas near the de facto border where two gunbattles with suspected rebels raged for half a day, the Indian army said. The clashes came three days after suspected rebels killed more than 15 Indian soldiers in an audacious attack on a crucial military base in Uri. The militants also were killed. (AP) Bangladesh rescue workers lift a recovered body onto a boat after an overcrowded ferry sank in southern Barisal district on Sept 21. (AFP) Subcontinent Mom anxious about injustice : The mother of a British schoolgirl found dead on an Indian beach in 2008 fears her daughter will not get justice when a court delivers a long-awaited verdict on two men accused of involvement in her death. Fifteen-year-old Scarlett Keeling s bruised and half-naked body was discovered in shallow water on a beach in the popular Indian resort state of Goa eight years ago, making international headlines. After years of delays and controversy an Indian judge will on Friday finally deliver rulings against two local men accused over the drugging, sexual assault and death of the teenager. I don t know how I m going to feel tomorrow. I m getting more and more nervous about the judgement, Fiona MacKeown, Keeling s mother, told AFP in an interview on Thursday. It s been a long time. I ve been waiting, waiting and waiting and I have no idea which way the verdict will go, she said at her lawyer s office in Goa s state capital Panaji. Keeling s death drew attention to the dark side of a tourist destination that has long been a hangout for Western hippies and later highlighted India s notoriously sluggish justice system. Police initially dismissed the teenager s death as an accident but opened a murder probe after MacKeown pushed for a second autopsy which proved the teen had been drugged and raped. Samson D Souza and Placido Carvalho were arrested and charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, using force with intent to outrage a woman s modesty and of administering drugs with intent to harm. (AFP) 18 bodies recovered: Bangladeshi rescue workers have recovered 18 bodies since an overcrowded ferry capsized on Wednesday under the weight of a collapsing river bank, police said on Thursday. Low-lying Bangladesh, with extensive inland waterways and slack safety standards, has an appalling record of ferry accidents, with casualties sometimes running into the hundreds. Overcrowding is a common factor but little is done to improve safety even though the government continually vows to toughen regulations. The accident happened in the southern India World ignores S. Asia tension at its peril: Sharif Kashmir rights activist re-arrested SRINAGAR, India, Sept 22, (Agencies): Authorities in Indian-controlled Kashmir have charged a leading human rights activist under a controversial security law after immediately taking him back into custody when a local court ordered him freed from police detention. Police on Thursday said Khurram Parvez was formally booked on Wednesday night under the Public Safety Act that allows detention for up to six months without a trial. Parvez and local and international human rights groups have long campaigned for abrogation of the act, saying it violates India s obligations under international law. Police gave no other details. The rights group Amnesty International, which has called the act a lawless law, urged authorities to immediately release Parvez, or charge him with a recognizable criminal offense and prosecute him in a fair trial. Last Thursday, immigration officials at New Delhi s international airport barred Parvez from boarding a plane to Geneva, although he had a valid visa and a letter of invitation to participate in a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. A day later, Parvez was arrested by police at his home in Kashmir s main city of Srinagar to prevent him from causing a breach of peace. A local court ordered his release Tuesday but police immediately rearrested him at the prison gate. He was then charged under the Public Safety Act on Wednesday and sent to a prison 300 kilometers (180 miles) from his home. Detaining a person right after he is released, without any intention to charge him or bring him to trial, amounts to using a revolving door of persecution, said Aakar Patel, who heads the Indian chapter of Amnesty International. This kind of arbitrary use of the law suggests that the... police are determined to lock up Khurram Parvez at any cost. Patel said Parvez must be protected from torture or other ill-treatment, given access to his family and lawyers, and provided adequate medical care. Parvez uses a prosthetic limb because his left leg was amputated due to a land mine injury in His detention comes amid the largest protests against Indian rule in Kashmir in recent years, sparked by the July 8 district of Barisal. (RTRS) Ex-Indian slave dies: Nilambar Dhangdamajhi wanted his trafficker behind bars. But his fight for justice ended abruptly on Tuesday night when he died at home in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, apparently of natural causes, Pakistan we can handle: Luthra India needs more than Rafale to match China NEW DELHI, Sept 22, (AFP): India may have just spent billions of dollars on hi-tech French fighter jets, but experts say it needs to do a lot more if it is going to face up to an increasingly assertive China. The world s top defence importer has signed several big-ticket deals as part of a $100-billion upgrade since Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi took power in But it has been slow to replace its dwindling fleet of Russian MiG- 21s dubbed Flying Coffins because of their poor safety record. An agreement to buy 36 cutting edge Rafale jets from France s Dassault aims to fix that. It will give the air force an arrowhead. Our air force has old aircraft, 1970s and 1980s generation aircraft and for the first time in about years we will have a quantum jump in technology, defence analyst Gulshan Luthra told AFP. Rafale is loaded with (the) best of the technologies and we need it. The air force says it needs at least 42 squadrons to protect its northern and western borders with killing of a popular rebel commander by Indian soldiers. The protests, and a sweeping military crackdown, have all but paralyzed life in Indian-controlled Kashmir. More than 80 civilians have been killed and thousands injured, mostly by government forces firing bullets and shotgun pellets at rock-throwing protesters. Two policemen have also been killed and hundreds of government forces have been injured in the clashes. Parvez, 39, and his organization, the Coalition of Civil Society, were the first to report and draw attention to thousands of unmarked mass graves in remote parts of Kashmir and to demand that the government investigate them to determine who the dead were and how they were killed. His organization also has written scathing reports about brutality involving some of the hundreds of thousands of Indian troops in the region and highlighted widespread powers granted to Mackeown Nilambar Pakistan and China. It currently has around 32, each comprising 18 aircraft. Air force representatives warned India s parliament last year that the number of squadrons could fall to 25 by 2022, putting India on a par with its nuclear-armed neighbour and arch-rival Pakistan. But the real concern is China, an ally of Pakistan whose military capacities are way in excess of India s. Pakistan we can handle. Pakistan we can muscle our way, but China, no way we can handle, said Luthra. And if China comes to the aid of Pakistan, then we re stuck. China and India fought a brief war in 1962, and the border between the neighbours has never been formally demarcated, although they have signed accords to maintain peace. The Rafale deal, due to be signed in New Delhi on Friday, will supply another two squadrons, although it will be three years before delivery of the jets begins. It falls way short of previous proposals for India to buy 126 of the jets, which stalled over costs and three years after traffickers chopped off his right hand for trying to escape debt bondage. Dhangdamajhi s story of abuse made national headlines, raising public awareness of the exploitation of migrant labourers and inspiring many with his determination to seek justice, activists said. In 2014, the Supreme Court intervened in his case, asking the Odisha government assembly guarantees. Currently being used for bombing missions over Syria and Iraq, the Rafale can fly distances of up to 3,800 kilometres (2,360 miles). Experts say it will allow the air force to strike targets in Pakistan and China from within Indian territory. But critics argue the Rafale purchase is a costly solution to the problem, even after India bargained hard to get the price down to a reported 7.9 billion euros ($8.8 billion). Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar reportedly said last year the larger Rafale deal was too expensive. We are not buying the rest. I also feel like having a BMW and Mercedes. But I don t because I can t afford it. Modi has said he wants to end India s status as the world s number one defence importer and to have 70 percent of hardware manufactured domestically by the turn of the decade. His government lifted a cap on foreign investment in defence to 49 percent last year. troops which led to a culture of impunity and widespread rights abuses. He currently also heads a Philippine-based rights group, the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances. The disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan but claimed by both. Most people in the Indian-controlled portion favor independence or a merger with Pakistan. A militant uprising and subsequent Indian military crackdown since 1989 have killed more than 68,000 people. Also: UNITED NATIONS: Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif accused nuclear-armed rival India on Wednesday of putting unacceptable conditions on dialogue and said the world would ignore rising tension in South Asia at its peril. Sharif told the annual United Nations General Assembly Pakistan could not ignore India s unprecedented arms build-up and would take whatever measures are necessary to maintain credible deterrence. India has accused Pakistan of being behind a deadly attack on an army base in the disputed Kashmir region on Sunday in which 18 soldiers were killed and said it had the right to respond when and where it chose. Pakistan has rejected the allegation and accused India of apportioning blame before the incident had been investigated properly. Sharif said Pakistan wanted peace with India and had repeatedly offered dialogue. But India has posed unacceptable preconditions to engage in dialogue, he said. Talks are in the interests of both countries. They are essential to resolve our differences, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and to avert the danger of any escalation. to fast track charges against his traffickers and to provide rehabilitation for Dhangdamajhi and his friend Dayalu, whose hand was also cut off. Confirming his death in his village in Kalahandi district, police inspector Sameer Kumar Rout of the Jaipatna police station said Dhangdamaji had been ill with a fever for a few days before he died. (RTRS) UN rights chief blames DRC: The UN rights chief on Thursday directed blame at DR Congo s government for surging political tensions that sparked deadly clashes in the capital Kinshasa this week. The authorities need to pull back from their extremely confrontational position and build bridges with the opposition, Zeid Ra ad Al Hussein said in a statement. The comments came after the worst unrest in Kinshasa in more than a year, with police confronting opponents of President Joseph Kabila. The government said 32 had people had been killed during two days of clashes, while the opposition said more than three times that number had died. Opposition groups had organised demonstrations on Monday to Kabila demand the resignation of Kabila, who has ruled since 2001 and, under the constitution, should step down on Dec 20. Kabila is yet to call elections, fanning fears he plans to stay in power. Recent events, including civilian deaths and attacks on opposition party headquarters, provide a stark warning that a large-scale crisis could be just around the corner, Zeid added in a statement. The writing is on the wall. A fragile calm appeared to have been restored in Kinshasa on Thursday as security forces brought the wave of violence and looting to an end. (AFP) Police clash with students: South African police fired tear gas in clashes with students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday and arsonists torched a building at another campus overnight, police said on Thursday, as protests over tuition costs spread. The protests erupted at a Johannesburg university three days ago after the government announced a rise of up to 8 percent in 2017 tuition fees - well above the inflation rate. Demonstrations over the cost of university education, prohibitive for many black students, have highlighted frustration at the inequalities more than two decades after the end of whiteminority rule. Television footage showed students hurling stones at police at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in the east of the country. Police retaliated with tear gas to disperse the protesters as the two sides engaged in running battles across campus. (RTRS) Dance to tune of Jackson : Ghana s President John Mahama told global leaders on Wednesday they should learn a thing or two from the King of Pop Michael Jackson and finally turn his song Heal the World into reality. Mahama, who is to seek re-election later this year, touched on some of the more serious issues affecting his continent ranging from the plight of African migrants to growing xenophobia across the world and regional leaders clinging to power. But having been born the same year as the deceased Jackson, in 1957, Mahama could not resist a lyrical appeal to the annual gathering of world leaders who have spent the week shuffling from one crisis to the next. The words of his 1991 hit song Heal the World continue to echo from his grave. It is my wish that history will record our time here in this hall as one that gave reality to Michael Jackson s song, heal the world, make the world a better place for you and me, and the entire human race. (RTRS) Kenya calls for more funding: Kenya has called at the United Nations General Assembly for more funding for its plan to repatriate more than 300,000 Somali refugees living in a vast camp on its border, citing world leaders commitment to burden-sharing. In May, Kenya announced its plans to close the world s largest refugee camp, Dadaab, saying it had been infiltrated by terrorist cells. Since then, many refugees have left the camp, with officials saying their departures are voluntary. However, rights organisations have alleged that Kenya has harassed Somali refugees to return home when it is not safe to do so. Kenya has hosted among the largest number of refugees in the world in the last three decades and the burden our country has continued to endure remains disproportionate to support received, Kenya s foreign minister Amina Mohamed said in a statement. (RTRS) Lawyers to face off: Gabon s postelection crisis was drawing to a head Thursday with lawyers for President Ali Bongo and his rival Jean Ping to appear at the constitutional court s first hearing over the highly-disputed poll. The hearing was to take place at 3:00 pm (1400 GMT), a day before the expiry of a 15-day deadline for the Constitutional Court to resolve electoral disputes. Bongo was declared winner of the Aug 27 election by a wafer-thin margin of less than 6,000 votes, an announcement which sparked several days of violent protests. The opposition challenged the vote as fraudulent and on Sept 8, Ping, an internationally-respected diplomat who himself claimed victory, filed a legal challenge, demanding a recount. A court decision is due by Sept 23. Yesterday evening (Wednesday) we were called for a hearing, Ping s lawyer Jean Remy Bantsantsa told AFP. The observers will present their report. Then the lawyers from both sides will speak for around 10 minutes, he explained. Bongo s lawyer Francis Nkea was not immediately available for comment. It was not immediately clear whether the court would give a definitive ruling on Thursday or would make a separate announcement on Friday. (AFP)

17 INTERNATIONAL 17 Venezuela Bus strike causes traffic chaos Election officials deny opposition a recall vote CARACAS, Venezuela, Sept 22, (Agencies): Election officials on Wednesday quashed the opposition s hope of holding a recall referendum that could wrest Venezuela s presidency from the ruling socialist party. Officials said a national vote on removing President Nicolas Maduro could take place if the opposition gathers enough signatures over the course of three days at the end of October, but add that a referendum would be held in the first quarter of That timing is crucial. A successful vote to oust Maduro this year would trigger a presidential election and give the opposition a shot at winning power. If Maduro were to be voted out in 2017, though, his vice president would finish the presidential term, leaving the socialists in charge. With Venezuela s economy in crisis, with soaring inflation and widespread shortages, polls say a majority of Venezuelans want Maduro gone. Critics of Venezuela s 17-year leftwing administration have made the recall their central political issue. The opposition staged its largest street demonstration in years Sept 1 with a rally in Caracas demanding a referendum against Maduro be held in The spokesman for the opposition coalition, Jesus Torrealba, said at a news conference Wednesday night that the opposition would continue to demand a recall vote this year. The government is scared to face the people in elections, in the street, in any civic arena, he said. Socialist party leaders have been saying all along that any recall vote would not take place this year. Other conditions laid out by elections officials Wednesday were also unfavorable to the opposition. Maduro s opponents will be allowed to gather voter signatures Oct , with 20 percent of Venezuela s registered voters needed to call a referendum. The opposition previously gathered signatures from 1 percent of the electorate, which allowed them to go to the second phase of signature collection. But in a blow to the recall effort, officials said that for the campaign to succeed it must get signatures from 20 percent of the electorate in each of Venezuela s 23 states. Opposition leaders say they should only have to gather signatures from 20 percent of the voter roll nationwide, since some states are very remote and sparsely populated, and it s the popular vote that determines who wins the presidency. The opposition asked the government to provide 20,000 voting machines that are used to register and verify signatures, but officials will provide only 5,400. The campaign also wanted to use the machines all day. Instead, the government will open polling stations for just seven hours daily. Even if the election is delayed until next year, the three-day signature gathering process could be the opposition s best chance at getting supporters into the streets for a show of strength. Opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who has led the recall campaign and is considered to have a strong shot at winning a presidential election, responded to Wednesday s announcement by pointing to opinion polls that suggest 80 percent of Venezuelans would vote against Maduro. They are the 20 percent! We are the great majority, the 80 percent! We are millions and we are going to make them feel it! he wrote on Twitter. The opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) had hoped to hold the referendum before January 10 because it would trigger new elections if Maduro lost by then. But if the vote is held later, his vice president would finish his term, meaning that the socialist government inspired by late leader Hugo Chavez would remain in power until Insisting MUD leader Jesus Torrealba however remained defiant, insisting that a vote in 2016 remained the goal. He said the opposition group was meeting to decide what specific measures it will take to pressure the electoral council. We are working on the strategy for our fight, he said. We are quite sure of this: Millions of Venezuelans are going to mobilize and hand (Maduro) a resounding electoral defeat as well as political and moral defeat, Torrealba said. If enough signatures are not collected, the ballot would be called off. This is nothing but an admission from the government that it has nothing to offer the Venezuelan people at the polls. Far from a sign of strength, it s just the opposite, he said. That would extend the socialist revolution launched in 1999 by late president Hugo Chavez to at least 20 years. Oil-rich Venezuela has skidded into crisis as global crude prices have plunged since mid-2014, pushing Chavez and Maduro s socialist model to the brink. Venezuelans spend long hours lining up outside supermarkets and pharmacies only to find bare shelves and soaring prices inside. Shortages have triggered outbreaks of looting and riots. Meanwhile, Venezuelan bus drivers protesting their country s economic crisis parked their buses in the street on Wednesday, causing traffic chaos in Caracas and embarrassing Maduro, a former colleague. Hundreds of drivers joined the strike, demanding better pay, more security against violent crime and spare parts for their buses. Tires, car batteries and motor oil are on a long list of goods that have disappeared in the shortage-racked country. The protest paralyzed half the bus fleet in the city of three million people, the drivers said. Scores of drivers parked their buses outside the transport ministry, causing havoc on the capital s east side as they shut off one of its main arteries for nine hours. We re not budging. They think they re so important? Well, we are too, spokesman Hugo Ocando shouted from a parked bus. Transport Minister Ricardo Molina had refused to meet union leaders, blaming schedule conflicts, Ocando said. He threatened the drivers would escalate to a nationwide strike if the ministry did not give them answers. Victims of the conflict take part in the play Tejiendo la paz (Weaving the Peace), about the end of the armed conflict in Colombia and supports the peace process, in downtown Bogota on Sept 21. (AFP) Former Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff delivers a speech to supporters in Rio de Janeiro on Sept 21, during a campaign rally for Jandira Feghali, Communist Party candidate for mayor of Rio de Janeiro. (AFP) Lat/Am Paper runs US embassy notice: Granma, the Communist Party newspaper and a source of anti-us tirades since 1965, made history Wednesday by running a US embassy notice for American citizens living in Cuba. The notice gives information on how US residents can request absentee ballots to vote in the November 8 presidential election. A US embassy spokesman was happy about the development, the result of restored diplomatic relations between the two former Cold War foes. Granma frequently publishes other embassies notices, the spokesman told AFP. It s possible for us now that we re an embassy. We re happy Granma published it. As is common practice there was no fee for the ad, the spokesman said. (AFP) Trump hurting peso : Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto partly blamed Donald Trump on Wednesday for the peso s fall and he admitted he may have been too quick to hold an unpopular meeting with him. After the Mexican currency hit the psychological mark of 20 pesos per dollar this week, Pena Nieto said the currency was affected by falling oil prices and the US Federal Reserve, which some feared would raise rates but kept them unchanged on Wednesday. But he told Radio Formula that another factor was the position that the candidate Trump has had about Mexico, and this uncertain scenario about the outcome of the US election causes this uncertainty about Mexico. Colombia leader tells UN: One fewer war on planet Peace deal historic achievement NEW YORK, Sept 22, (Agencies): US President Barack Obama welcomed on Wednesday a peace deal between Colombia s government and leftist FARC rebels to end Latin America s longest war, describing it as an historic achievement. After almost four years of talks, the FARC and government last month reached a final peace accord that will be signed by FARC commander Rodrigo Londono, better known by the nom de guerre Timochenko, and President Juan Manuel Santos on Sept 26. Colombians will have the last word during an Oct 2. plebiscite. Santos applauded the deal to end his country s half-century conflict during an address at the United Nations Wednesday in which he hailed one fewer war on the planet. Today I have come to the United Nations to announce, with my full voice and heart, that the war in Colombia is over, Santos said in an address to the General Assembly of his government s conflict with Marxist rebels. There is one fewer war on the planet, he added, striking a bright note amid the world body s deep divisions over how to end the bloodshed in Syria. Addressing the General Assembly on the International Day of Peace, Santos had earlier presented a copy of the agreement, wrapped in the Colombian flag, to the 15 members of the Security Council, who gave him a standing ovation. Santos launched negotiations Analysts have also blamed Trump for the peso s drop. (AFP) Brazilian lawmakers under fire: President Michel Temer on Wednesday criticized a surprise move by Brazilian lawmakers, including some members of his party and even a cabinet minister, to wipe the slate clean on illegal donations they allegedly received. As prosecutors in the widening with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) after taking office in 2010, with the two sides sealing a deal on August 24 in Havana to end the Americas longest conflict, which has claimed 260,000 lives. The agreement will be ceremonially signed on Monday and put to a referendum on October 2, with Colombian voters tipped to approve it. If approved, the FARC s estimated 7,500 fighters are to disarm under UN supervision. Symbolic Santos promised symbolic monuments to the end of the war after rebels give up their arms and are integrated into society. The weapons will be melted and turned into three monuments to peace in New York and Cuba, which were the seats of dialogue, and another in Colombia, he said. US President Barack Obama said the peace agreement had taken a lot of courage and hard work, in remarks ahead of his bilateral meeting with Santos on Wednesday. I could not be more supportive of these efforts. There are going to be a lot of challenges involved in implementation, he added. But I think this is an achievement of historic proportions. It ultimately will be good for the region as well as the people of Colombia. US Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Colombia for Monday s signing of the peace deal Nieto Temer in Cartagena. Santos said he expected the agreement to turn the FARC into a peaceful, democratic political force and to lead to a better quality of life for people in the countryside who were most affected by the 52-year war. The accord is historic for setting up a mechanism for justice involving an armed group not imposed by outside mediators, he said. Santos on Wednesday warned leftist rebels that their illicit fortune would be seized and used to pay reparations to war victims should voters approve a peace agreement in an Oct 2 plebiscite. Speaking at Reuters Newsmaker forum in New York, Santos noted Colombia s history of seizing assets from drug cartels, recalling how the Medellin and Cali cartels were once considered invincible at their peak strength in 1980s and 90s. They were not invincible. We destroyed them, Santos said. We know how to go after their (the guerrillas ) money and we re not by any means allowing them to launder their money. If we find any property, and we have many of their properties already identified, we will simply take those properties away and use that money to repair the victims. Santos says the guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) accumulated cash, property and bank accounts as a result of their alliance with Colombia s drug traffickers, assets the FARC may seek to shield. Petrobras corruption scandal start to indict some of the 50 politicians investigated for receiving kickbacks, lawmakers anxious to avoid prosecution attempted to pass a bill to specifically criminalize offthe-books donations. But the late-night debate in the lower chamber of Congress on Monday was a ploy: the bill s supporters argued that new laws cannot be retroactive, so past offenders would be off the hook, something legal experts said was absolutely false. (RTRS)

18 INTERNATIONAL 18 World News Roundup Climate Security at risk Accord near after UN pact UNITED NATIONS, United States, Sept 22, (Agencies): The landmark Paris agreement on climate change moved closer to reality Wednesday after 31 countries joined during the United Nations General Assembly. UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon voiced confidence that the accord, through which countries commit to take action to stem the planet s rising temperatures, would come into force by the end of the Ban year. The momentum is remarkable, said the outgoing UN chief, who convened a meeting on the Paris accord during the annual UN gathering of leaders. When the Paris agreement enters into force this year, it will be a major step forward on our journey for a more secure, more equitable and more prosperous future, Ban said. The countries that joined the accord on Wednesday included Latin American powerhouses Argentina, Brazil and Mexico as well as major fossil-fuel powers Brunei and the United Arab Emirates. Also submitting its ratification was Morocco, the host of the next UN climate conference which opens in Marrakesh on November 7. Accord Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar said that Morocco was strongly committed to putting the Paris accord in force in time for the meeting. The Paris agreement needs ratification from 55 countries that account for at least 55 percent of the planet s greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change. With Wednesday s event, in which leaders ceremonially ratified the accord, a total of 60 countries have joined the Paris accord but they account for less than 48 percent of global emissions. The accord requires all countries to devise plans to achieve the goal of keeping the rise of temperatures within two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. But Edgar Gutierrez, the environment and energy minister of Costa Rica, said that the level was not ambitious enough in light of evidence of worse-than-feared climate change, with last month the hottest August on record, extending the global record streak to 16 months. Dangerous Gutierrez called for countries to aim for 1.5 Celsius and warned that even a one-year delay in implementing the Paris accord could be too late for the planet. Climate change is already dangerous, it has already exceeded the capacity of many countries to adapt to it, we have already lost lives, we are losing species and we have lost lands and buildings, said Gutierrez, speaking on behalf of a troika of climate-vulnerable nations including Ethiopia and the Philippines. Mattlan Zackhras, a senior official from the Marshall Islands, warned that despite pledges under the Paris accord the planet still looked on track for a rise of three degrees. This will wipe out my country and many island-states in the Pacific, he told reporters. Ban s office said that 14 other countries accounting for percent of emissions had signaled they would ratify the accord this year, meaning the agreement is virtually certain to come into force, barring a widespread change of heart. The European Union will enter the agreement in the next weeks, Miguel Arias Canete, the 28-member bloc s commissioner for climate action and energy, told reporters. Also: WASHINGTON: A government report released Wednesday said climate change is likely to pose a significant national security challenge for the US over the next two decades by heightening social and political tensions, threatening the stability of some countries and increasing risks to human health. In conjunction with the report, President Barack Obama signed a presidential memorandum that orders federal agencies to account for climate change s impacts when developing national security policy. The White House said there is an increasing need for collaboration among scientists and the intelligence and national security communities. Obama s memorandum establishes a working group to help in that effort and directs federal agencies to develop plans to deal with an array of potential scenarios resulting from climate change. While the memorandum applies to the current administration, officials said they anticipated that future administrations would incorporate some of its requirements. United States Secretary of State John Kerry addresses a high-level event on the entry into force of the Paris Agreement on climate change during the 71st session of the UN headquarters on Sept 21. (AP) In this Feb 20, 1962 file photo, an elder warrior with a stone axe over his shoulder stands over the Baliem Valley in the central mountain range of Papua New Guinea. New research published on Sept 21, 2016 suggests that the genetic ancestry of people living outside Africa can be traced almost completely to a single exodus of human from that continent long ago. But some native islanders of Papua New Guinea may also carry a tiny legacy from an earlier exit. (AP) Discovery Greendland ice loss worse: Greenland is losing about 40 trillion pounds more ice a year than scientists had thought, according to a new study that used GPS to help estimate how much is melting. So instead of losing on average 550 trillion pounds of ice each year between 2003 and 2013, Greenland lost about 590 trillion pounds, said co-author Michael Bevis of Ohio State University in a study published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances. That s about a 7.6 percent difference. The Empire State Building weighs 730 million pounds, so 40 trillion pounds a year is the equivalent to more than 50,000 Empire State Buildings. If you look at the last 15 years since we ve been having these measurements, it s clearly getting worse, the ice loss, Bevis said. It is pretty scary. Overall, though, it is still a small percentage. I don t think it changes the picture of what s going on, cautioned study co-author Beata Csatho at the University at Buffalo. The extra ice loss adds a tiny amount one-sixtieth of an inch (0.4 mm) a decade to global sea level rise, Bevis said. Altogether, Greenland melt adds one fiftieth of an inch 0.54 mm a decade, he said. Not good news certainly as the values are already larger than we d had wished, but not a dramatic change in the overall already very alarming pattern we ve been seeing over the past couple decades, said Duke University climate scientist Drew Shindell, who wasn t part of the study team. Most measurements of ice sheet loss in Greenland and Antarctica use a satellite that measures changes in gravity and uses computer simulations to calculate the weight loss of ice. But the trouble is that as ice sheets melt, ground juts up to take its place, both instantly and slowly over centuries. The rocks that rise to replace the heavier ice are counted in the overall ice mass by the satellite and thus the satellites overstate how much ice there is, Bevis said. The new measurements that use global positioning satellites and other sources compensate for that and are thus more accurate, Bevis said. Erik Ivins, a senior research scientist at NASA s sea level and ice group who wasn t part of the team, called the study a significant breakthrough. (AP) Coral fish better with mates: Coral Science fish become stressed and lose weight if they are separated from each other, hampering their chances of survival, an Australian study revealed Thursday. Scientists from James Cook University in Queensland state monitored blue-green damselfish from the Great Barrier Reef, isolating some, while allowing others to remain in their shoals to better understand why they prefer to socialise. Research provides some missing pieces in human history puzzle Jury out on Out of Africa migration PARIS, Sept 22, (AFP): The longstanding debate about how many waves of African emigration it took for modern humans to populate the planet revived on Wednesday in diverging genetic studies published in the same science journal. Two papers carried by Nature said a single exodus from Africa likely resulted in contemporary human populations in Asia, Europe and elsewhere. But a third said it found surviving human DNA from at least one, earlier, Africa migration. Altogether, the three studies presented data from more than 280 diverse populations around the world, but did not quite agree on what it all means. The research provided some missing pieces in the puzzle of human history, Serena Tucci and Joshua Akey of the University of Washington s Department of Genome Sciences wrote in a comment. But many fascinating questions remain and further research was needed to fully retrace the steps taken by early humans as they explored and colonised the world. Many scientists hold that all present-day non-africans trace their ancestry to a single resettling population which left the continent some 40,000-80,000 years ago. Others maintain there was an earlier migration to southeast Asia and Australasia around 120, ,000 years ago, followed by a later one to Eurasia. Support Two of the new studies seem to support the first theory. Genetic data, they said, point to all non-africans hailing from a single African exodus. But they disagree on what happened later. According to the one group of researchers, it appeared that on leaving Africa around 72,000 years ago, modern humans soon split into two groups -- one heading north to Eurasia while the other swung east to Australasia. This was evidenced by the fact that Aboriginal Australians share the vast majority of their DNA with other non-africans, the team said. Australia and New Guinea have some of the earliest archaeological and fossil evidence of modern hu- Version goes back 2,000 years Software deciphers ancient biblical scroll JERUSALEM, Sept 22, (AP): The charred lump of a 2,000-year-old scroll sat in an Israeli archaeologist s storeroom for decades, too brittle to open. Now, new imaging technology has revealed what was written inside: the earliest evidence of a biblical text in its standardized form. The passages from the Book of Leviticus, scholars say, offer the first physical evidence of what has long been believed: that the version of the Hebrew Bible used today goes back 2,000 years. The discovery, announced in a Science Advances journal article by researchers in Kentucky and Jerusalem on Wednesday, was made using virtual unwrapping, a 3D digital analysis of an X-ray scan. Researchers say it is the first time they have been able to read the text of an ancient scroll without having to physically open it. You can t imagine the joy in the lab, said Pnina Shor of the Israel Antiquities Authority, who participated in the study. The digital technology, funded by Google and the US National Science Foundation, is slated to be released to the public as open source software by the end of next year. Researchers hope to use the technology to peek inside other ancient documents too fragile to unwrap, like some of the Dead Sea Scrolls and papyrus scrolls carbonized in the Mt. Vesuvius volcano eruption in 79 CE. Researchers believe the technology could also be applied to the fields of forensics, intelligence, and antiquities conservation. The biblical scroll examined in the mans outside of Africa, and it had been speculated that Aboriginals may have originated from an earlier, Asia-bound, exit from Africa. A second research team agreed there was a single African exodus, but said the first split happened slightly later -- between west and east Eurasians. Neither team rules out the possibility of multiple Out-of-Africa migrations, but said these would have made very little, if any, contribution to the gene pool of contemporary humans. Bevis Shindell study was first discovered by archaeologists in 1970 at Ein Gedi, the site of an ancient Jewish community near the Dead Sea. Inside the ancient synagogue s ark, archaeologists found lumps of scroll fragments. The synagogue was destroyed in an ancient fire, charring the scrolls. The dry climate of the area kept them preserved, but when archaeologists touched them, the scrolls would begin to disintegrate. So the charred logs were shelved for nearly half a century, with no one knowing what was written inside. Lab Last year, Yosef Porath, the archaeologist who excavated at Ein Gedi in 1970, walked into the Israel Antiquities Authority s Dead Sea Scrolls preservation lab in Jerusalem with boxes of the charcoal chunks. The lab has been creating hi-resolution images of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the earliest copies of biblical texts ever discovered, and he asked researchers to scan the burned scrolls. I looked at him and said, you must be joking, said Shor, who heads the lab. She agreed, and a number of burned scrolls were scanned using X- ray-based micro-computed tomography, a 3D version of the CT scans hospitals use to create images of internal body parts. The images were then sent to William Brent Seales, a researcher in the computer science department of the University of Kentucky. Only one of the scrolls could be deciphered. Using the virtual unwrapping technology, he and his team painstakingly captured the three-dimensional shape The third study took a different tack, more in line with a multiplewave theory. At least two percent of the genome of modern New Guineans, it found, came from an early and largely extinct group that had diverged from Africans earlier than Eurasians -- about 120,000 years ago. The ancient DNA may have been preserved in Papuans because of a channel of deep sea separating Asia and Australasia which didn t freeze during ice ages, isolating the population there as others mingled their Lauren Nadler, lead author of the study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, said the isolated damselfish lost weight and had a higher metabolic rate, which is an indicator of stress. We have suspected that shoaling fish gain a calming effect from living in a group. But up until now we have been unable to measure how widely spread this effect is in individual fish, she said. of the scroll s layers, using a digital triangulated surface mesh to make a virtual rendering of the parts they suspected contained text. They then searched for pixels that could signify ink made with a dense material like iron or lead. The researchers then used computer modeling to virtually flatten the scroll, to be able to read a few columns of text inside. Not only were you seeing writing, but it was readable, said Seales. At that point we were absolutely jubilant. The researchers say it is the first time a biblical scroll has been discovered in an ancient synagogue s holy ark, where it would have been stored for prayers, and not in desert caves like the Dead Sea Scrolls. The discovery holds great significance for scholars understanding of the development of the Hebrew Bible, researchers say. In ancient times, many versions of the Hebrew Bible circulated. The Dead Sea Scrolls, dating to as early as the 3rd century B.C., featured versions of the text that are radically different than today s Hebrew Bible. Scholars have believed the Hebrew Bible in its standard form first came about some 2,000 years ago, but never had physical proof, until now, according to the study. Previously the oldest known fragments of the modern biblical text dated back to the 8th century. The text discovered in the charred Ein Gedi scroll is 100 percent identical to the version of the Book of Leviticus that has been in use for centuries, said Dead Sea Scroll scholar Emmanuel Tov from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who participated in the study. genes more freely. We believe that at least one additional human expansion out of Africa took place before the major one described in our research and others, said study co-author Toomas Kivisild of the University of Cambridge. These people diverged from the rest of Africans about 120,000 years ago, colonising some land outside of Africa. The two percent of the Papuan genome is the only remaining trace of this otherwise extinct lineage. The fish that were isolated lost weight after the first week, which meant they were less healthy than those in groups. Fish were calmer and less stressed when they had their shoal-mates around, with a 26 percent decrease in metabolic rate compared to individuals tested alone. She said the results showed how important group living is for healthy fish populations. (AFP)

19 Wajda focuses on bleak years of Strzeminski Afterimage paints a somber portrait of Polish artist Film LOS ANGELES, Sept 22, (RTRS): While he s exercising filmmaking muscles mighty spry for a 90-yearold, no one will mistake Andrzej Wajda s latest feature for an expression of joie de vivre: Afterimage is a somber portrait of a Polish artist who, unlike his portraitist here, was defeated by the fickle shifts of political ideology imposed on art. This respectable if somewhat monotonous drama won t be an easy sell to offshore audiences for whom avantgarde artist Wladyslaw Strzeminski is hardly a household name, as it references his defining triumphs just in passing, focusing instead on bleak later years when he was persecuted for failing to tow the Party aesthetic line. The result is another significant chapter in Polish history from Wajda, albeit one unlikely to travel as widely as some of his past subjects. When we meet the Soviettrained avant-garde painter (played by Boguslaw Linda) here, he s already in autumn glory of a celebrated career: Admired by colleagues, worshipped by his students at the School of Visual Arts in Lodz. He s rightly regarded as a leader in the Constructivist movement that dominated revolutionary art of the 1920s, as well as a crusading advocate for modern art within Poland. After losing both an arm and a leg in WWI military service, his WWII deprivations were comparatively minor though by 1948, when Afterimage begins, his marriage with ill-fated sculptress Katarzyna Kobro had become another kind of casualty. Yet even he is not too illustrious to be spared the petty-minded, punitive policy changes that rain down from on high in this late Stalinist period. Refusing to renounce abstract imagery despite the new official demand for only Socialist Realist art that enthuses the masses a wellspring for so much propagandic Soviet kitsch, in every medium he finds himself first stripped of position at the school he d cofounded. Then his works (including the famous, futurist Neo-Plastic Room at the Lodz Museum of Art) are withdrawn from public view or destroyed outright. Finally bureaucracy strips him even of the ability to make a living as a sign-painter, buy art supplies, and collect food stamps. He s virtually driven into a starving pauper s grave by the government that had lauded him. It s a bitter tale of injustice, certainly, but Afterimage could have been more powerful, not to mention more engaging, with a less limited scope. Though Strzeminski often discusses his influential theories of art, these are rather dry stuff without illustration of how he put them into practice and we don t see nearly enough of his work here. (When the final credits arrive, their background design of boldly colored abstracts based on his canvases is startling, but toolittle-too-late.) As portrayed by Wajda, veteran scenarist Andrzej Mularczyk and their almost equally historied star Linda, the subject is a stubborn yet passive figure. He s so single-mindedly focused on his craft that he refuses to waste energy protesting the abuses he endures, even when they re quite literally killing him. This may be true to the historical record, but it doesn t make for very compelling drama. Nor is there much interest in the human relationships our protagonist absent-mindedly tolerates from the young daughter (Bronislawa Zamachowska) he neglects, or the adoring student (Zofia Wichlacz) whose puppy love he shrugs off, among others. These characters tend to hit the same note over and over, bouncing off a central figure that only muffles their impact with his own emotional tone-deafness towards everything but art. All too faithfully reproducing the dull grey palette of a repressive era Strzeminski s penchant for vivid color barely factors Afterimage is an accomplished dirge whose downfall chronicle marches with unvarying step toward death. While this grim story is one worth telling, it s a pity that in relating the bum s-rush Strzeminski got in later life, Wadja couldn t have communicated more of what sustains his legacy as a great artist and innovator. Variety Features FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016 US actress Sigourney Weaver, reacts after receiving the Donostia Award for her contribution to the cinema, at 64th San Sebastian Film Festival, in San Sebastian, northern Spain, on Sept 21. The festival is one of the most prestigious and internationally recognized in Spain and Latin America. (AP) LOS ANGELES: Mark Wahlberg will star with NBA superstar LeBron James in the basketball fantasy camp comedy Ballers. Wahlberg revealed that he was in discussions for the role during an appearance Tuesday on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, showing a photo of himself at Walhberg s house. He and I are talking about doing a movie together, he said. It s actually a great idea. It s based around the fantasy league, so these guys get to go to one of these fantasy camps, and me and LeBron have a situation. The movie, set up at Universal and Imagine Entertainment, was first unveiled three years ago with Kevin Hart attached to co-star as the brother of an NBA superstar at a weekend fantasy camp. Hart is no longer attached. Entourage creator Doug Ellin has come on board to write the script. Earlier drafts were written by Hart with Chris Spencer, Harry Ratchford, and Joey Wells. (RTRS) LOS ANGELES: Deadpool villain Ed Skrein is in negotiations to join James Cameron s Alita: Battle Angel with Robert Rodriguez directing the ambitious adaptation of the popular manga series. Skrein will join Jackie Earle Haley, Christoph Waltz and Rosa Salazar in the movie with Salazar portraying a 26th century cyborg who s rescued from a scrapyard and reassembled. Her character, Alita, who only remembers her training in a deadly martial art, becomes a hunter-warrior who tracks down vicious Film Rats a different kind of horror movie Drama, murder mystery in Rage By Dennis Harvey Returning to the aftermath-of-a-crime ensemble terrain of his well-received 2010 Villain, which was also adapted from a novel by Shuichi Yoshida, Sang-il Lee s Rage is an astute mixture of multi-strand drama and murder mystery that engrosses for two solid hours. Unfortunately, at that point it collapses into a last-act puddle of bathos in which virtually every major character must have a hysterical sobbing or just-plain-hysterical scene to unleash all hitherto suppressed emotions. This climactic sentimental overkill may go down well with Japanese audiences, but will only hobble an otherwise worthy film s prospects farther afield. A grisly crime scene at the beginning raises expectations for a serial-killer story that does not, in fact, emerge. Nonetheless, police remain fixated on the shocking slaying of an ordinary suburban married couple in their home, with few clues to go on beyond the killer etching the titular word in blood on a door. They do have a primary suspect, one Yamaguchi, a young man with a history of disturbed behavior. But his whereabouts are unknown, and it eventually emerges that after this double homicide he managed to have some cosmetic surgery, so the media saturation of Wanted photos can only help so much. Some months after this horrific attack, three men surface out of nowhere in very different settings, all apparent drifters and each bearing a close-enough resemblance to the fugitive being sought. Two teens (Suzu Hirose, Takara Sakumoto) living in the Okinawa Islands discover amiable if slightly creepy, shaggy backpacker type Tanaka (Mirai Moriyama) squatting in a former military bunker on one small, otherwise uninhabited isle. criminals. Should Skrein s deal go through, he s expected to portray a villain. Haley will play a monstrous cyborg and Waltz will portray Doctor Dyson Ido, the cybersurgeon who finds the cyborg and becomes her mentor. Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials star Salazar joined the Wahlberg Cameron project in March. Cameron and Jon Landau, who will produce for Fox under their Lightstorm Entertainment banner, are also currently in pre-production on four Avatar sequels. (RTRS) LOS ANGELES: Rooney Mara is attached to star in Unstable Having just rescued his unstable daughter Aiko (Aoi Miyazaki) from an abusive sex-worker situation, widower Yohei (Ken Watanabe) indulges her charitable feelings toward rudderless loner Tashiro (Kenichi Matsuyama). He even gives the quiet young stranger a job working the docks in their Chiba fishing town. But he s uneasy when the very needy Aiko enters into a relationship with this man they know nothing about. Accustomed to treating his life as a shortattention-spanned diversion from semi-closeted salaryman life, jaded Tokyo resident Yuma (Satoshi Tsumabuki) surprises himself by bringing forlorn bathhouse trick Naoto (Go Ayano) home. What s more, he s soon introducing him to his terminally ill mother, and otherwise treating the close-mouthed youth like a real boyfriend. Yet he still knows knows zilch about Naoto s life prior to their meeting. As these three mysterious men grow more intimate with and mutually dependent on the good samaritans who (for variable reasons of their own) have taken them in, Lee does a fine job sustaining the complex tensions of Yoshida s plot. Most notably, Rage juggles the suspense mechanics so nimbly that each of the trio grow equally more suspect (as being the elusive killer) up to the last minute. Despite that compelling plot hook, however, this is not primarily a genre exercise. Rather, it s a drama about the universal thirst for connection and trust, one whose central characters are all nicely dimensionalized. All the more dismaying, then, that such expert storytelling leads toward a climactic flood of tears that goes on so long amongst so many weeping/ranting/primal-screaming characters that it begins to feel like selfparody. Catharsis is one thing; this plays like a never-ending seizure of over-emoting, as Ryuichi Sakamoto s attractive score develops compositional carpal tunnel trying both to complement and contain the onscreen excess. Until that point, Lee s starry cast does very well. And even to the tear-soaked end, there is no doubting the merits of a fine tech and design package, with Norimichi Kasamatsu s excellent widescreen photography making the most of the colorfully diverse locations. If you were among the squeamish who could never quite stomach the premise of Pixar s Ratatouille in which a Parisian sewer rat becomes top chef in a tony French restaurant then perhaps Morgan Spurlock s Rats is more your style. Here is a film that presents rats exactly as millions of humans imagine them: as disgusting, dangerous, disease-carrying vermin, just waiting for their chance to take over the world. Best known for gorging himself on Big Macs in Super Size Me (and, no doubt, a fair amount of rat droppings in the process), Spurlock attempts a different kind of horror movie this time around, daring audiences to see just how far they can go before losing their lunch. Debuting Oct 22 on Discovery Channel, followed by a few quick-sting theatrical screenings, Rats is that rare breed of nature doc, one designed not to foster greater empathy for a misunderstood species, but rather to exploit our preexisting fears of the filthy critters in question. Spurlock and his trademark handlebar moustache are nowhere to be seen in Rats, which instead offers Gotham exterminator Ed Sheehan as its host. Sitting at the center of a basement-cellar set, chomping his cigar and bathed in the harsh glow of a bald overhead bulb, Sheehan shares anecdotal (albeit unscientific) evidence of how diabolical Brady Corbet s pop star drama Vox Lux. The soundtrack will boast all original songs written by Grammy nominated, multiplatinum selling artist Sia. This is the follow-up to Corbet s Venice double award winner, The Childhood of a Leader. Additionally, the film will he considers rats to be, based on nearly half a century spent trying to oust them from New York s fanciest restaurants and hotels. Taking a page from Robert Sullivan s deep-dive Rats: Observations on the History & Habitat of the City s Most Unwanted Inhabitants (literally, more than you would ever want to know about New York s rat population), Spurlock doesn t limit himself to the Big Apple although he delights in revealing just how widespread the infestation has become in a city where rats may well outnumber humans. Selecting a different strain of scary music for each country he visits (from spine-vibrating Inception -style bass to unnervingly exotic, ritualistic-sounding Eastern riffs), Spurlock and his crew go on a global search for the strangest rat-related customs they can find. In Rajasthan, India, he visits the Kami Mata Temple, where rats have the run of the place, believed to be the reincarnated souls of beloved relatives. In Cambodia s Kendal Province, peasants are paid to trap live rats, which are then shipped to nearby restaurateurs, who drown, dice, and cook them up for patrons whom Spurlock films in garish closeup, slurping down the stomach-churning dish. Granted, Rats is super-disgusting, and there are plenty of eyeball-scarring images contained therein that audiences simply can t un-see (as when a New Orleans science crew wearing hazmat suits extracts live worms and a Hershey s Kiss-sized fly larvae from inside the corpse of a dead rat). Even so, rarely has a filmmaker more blatantly manipulated the material he has collected to game his audience. As if the ominous music weren t enough, Spurlock layers in skincrawling sound effects, from loud thumps to the shrill, wheedling cries of rats, whether or not it corresponds to what appears onscreen. (RTRS) be shot on 65mm large format film and exhibit on 70mm large format film. Kodak is helping to back the movie from an equity and marketing perspective. As previously announced, Christine Vachon and David Hinojosa of Killer Films will produce along with Brian Young of Three Six Zero Entertainment. Vox Lux follows the rise of Celeste from the ashes of a major national tragedy to pop superstardom. This 15-year odyssey, set between 1999 and the present day, tracks the important cultural evolutions of the 21st Century via her gaze. (RTRS)

20 NEWS/FEATURES 20 People & Places Brangelina Jolie s demand Marion denies role in divorce LOS ANGELES, Sept 22, (AP): Marion Cotillard is announcing her pregnancy and shooting down rumors of any romantic involvement with Brad Pitt. This is going to be my first and only reaction to the whirlwind news that broke 24 hours ago and that I was swept up into, the Oscar-winning actress wrote in a statement posted Wednesday on Instagram. The star of such films as Inception and Rust and Bone said that she is not used to commenting on things like this nor taking them seriously but as this situation is spiraling and affecting people I love, I have to speak up. Cotillard affirmed her longtime relationship with Cotillard actor Guillaume Canet. The couple are parents to a 5-year-old son. She said in her Instagram post alongside a photo of bird soaring through the sky that he is the only one that I need and they are expecting another child. Romantic The actress, who won an Academy Award in 2008 for her performance as the legendary French singer Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose, stars with Pitt in the upcoming World War II romantic thriller Allied. Several reports this week suggested a relationship between Cotillard and Pitt was the reason Angelina Jolie filed for divorce on Monday. This crafted conversation isn t distressing, Cotillard wrote. And to all the media and the haters who are quick to pass judgment, I sincerely wish you a swift recovery. Cotillard says she hopes Jolie and Pitt will find peace in this very tumultuous moment. A spokeswoman for Cotillard didn t immediately respond to messages seeking comment about the post. In the global hubbub over the Brangelina divorce, Angelina Jolie Pitt s demand for sole physical custody of her six children with Brad Pitt has attracted its share of the attention. Yet experts say Jolie Pitt won t have the final say, and that Pitt and the couple s eldest son, Maddox, may even have a voice in custody arrangements. Convey Stacy Phillips, a veteran divorce attorney, called Jolie Pitt s request for sole physical custody a wish list, one that could change as the divorce progresses. Phillips, like many, saw the request as a message to Pitt, although what the actress is trying to convey won t be known for some time, if ever. Pitt has yet to file his legal response to Jolie Pitt s divorce petition, but each actor released statements Tuesday indicating their children were the priority. The pair has six children, ranging in ages from 8-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne to 15-year-old Maddox. It s not uncommon that a person would seek sole physical custody in their initial filing, said divorce lawyer Lori Howe. That doesn t mean it is what they will end up seeking if they resolve the case through settlement or in a courtroom.... She very well could change her mind as well. And there s nothing to stop her from doing that, despite having checked those boxes on her petition. California law favors joint custody of children, and judges can generally consider the opinion of children who are 14 years or older about which parent they want to live with. Divorce lawyers, however, say the couple can avoid placing their children in the middle of a divorce if they work out an agreement in private. The parents should be parents, as opposed to letting the children be the parents, said Phillips, an attorney in the Los Angeles office of Blank Rome LLP. They didn t ask for this. They need to be kept as children. Attorney Steven Mindel said in some instances, a judge may want to know the opinion of children younger than 14-years-old, but in general, courts encourage parents to work out the custody arrangements without protracted legal fights. You generally don t want a child testifying against a parent, Mindel said. It s emotionally draining on the child. Testimony doesn t have to be in a courtroom. It can be solicited by an attorney appointed to represent the child s interests, or can be done in a judge s chambers, if necessary, Mindel said. US film director, screenwriter and producer, Oliver Stone, arrives at the Hotel Maria Cristina to promote his film Snowden during the 64th San Sebastian Film Festival, in the northern Spanish Basque city of San Sebastian on Sept 21. (AFP) Witherspoon Variety LOS ANGELES: Open Road Pictures has acquired all North American rights to the romantic comedy Home Again, starring Reese Witherspoon. The film will be the directorial debut of Hallie Meyers-Shyer, the daughter of Nancy Meyers who is on board to produce. Meyers-Shyer also wrote the script and Black Bicycle Entertainment s Erika Olde also financed the film. Michael Sheen, Nat Wolff and Lake Bell have also joined the cast. Variety first reported Witherspoon s involvement earlier this year. Home Again is the story of a recently separated mother of two (Witherspoon) whose new life in Los Angeles is overturned when she decides to take in three young, charismatic guys who become part of her unconventional family. The film is scheduled to begin production in fall of 2016 and is expected to be released in the US in fourth quarter MadRiver is selling the international rights to the film. (RTRS) LONDON: London s Madame Tussauds museum said on Wednesday it had separated its wax figure replicas of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt after the Hollywood power couple announced their split. Jolie s attorney said on Tuesday the actress had filed for divorce from Pitt, her romantic partner since 2005 and husband of two years. We reacted quickly to yesterday s news of the separation of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt and their plans to divorce by mirroring the separation in the attraction, a Madame Tussauds spokesperson said. The couple s wax figures, which were launched in 2013, have been split up and are now featured at a respectful In this Sept 12, 2016 photo, actress Lupita Nyong o, a cast member in the film Queen of Katwe, poses for a portrait at The Omni King Edward Hotel in Toronto. (AP) Elba Film distance from each other. Angelina is keeping Nicole Kidman company and Brad Pitt is with his several time co-star Morgan Freeman. (RTRS) LOS ANGELES: Jing Tian has joined the cast of Legendary s Pacific Rim 2 starring John Boyega. Scott Eastwood also toplines with Steven S. DeKnight is directing. Thomas Tull, Mary Parent, Jon Jashni, and Guillermo del Toro will produce the action-adventure along with Boyega and Femi Oguns under their Upper Room Productions shingle. Cale Leonardo DiCaprio speaks onstage at the Friars Club honoring Martin Scorsese with the Entertainment Icon Award at Cipriani Wall Street on Sept 21, in New York City. (AFP) Family-friendly film made in Africa Nyong o back on screen in Katwe TORONTO, Sept 22, (Agencies): The filmmaker Mira Nair was familiar with the regal grace of Lupita Nyong o long before most. The Indian-born, New York-based Nair has been close friends with Nyong o s family for years. One of Nyong o s first jobs in the movies was interning in New York for Nair s production company. She also later worked for Nair s Uganda-centered film school, Maisha Film Labs. What does Nair recall of Nyong o as a younger woman? Like she is: immensely thoughtful and stylish, Nair says with a laugh. She wouldn t speak unless she had something to say. And full of fun, which sometime you guys don t see. But there s a real appetite for life there. In the African chess prodigy tale Queen of Katwe, a now much more established Nyong o has reunited with Nair for a film that reflects much of the actress s past, as well as her future. It is, surprisingly, the first time moviegoers have gotten to see Nyong o s face on screen since her breakout, Oscarwinning performance in 2013 s 12 Years a Slave. In the three years since, she s appeared in Star Wars: The Force Awakens in a motion-capture performance, lent her voice to The Jungle Book and starred on Broadway in Danai Guirira s Liberian drama Eclipsed, earning a Tony nomination. But Queen of Katwe, she says, epitomizes the kind of film she wants to be in. Success The success of 12 Years of Slave has put me in a position where I can choose, Nyong o said in a recent interview. I want to honor the opportunity that I ve been given. So I ve worked very hard to choose things that I m passionate about because I think I m most useful when I feel conviction. I want to continue to do work that moves me and develops cultural conversations. It takes one film at a time, one story at a time, to actually shift the norm, she adds. Queen of Katwe, which opens Friday, is itself an anomaly. It s a family-friendly film made in Africa with an entirely black cast a first for Disney. The film tells of Phiona Mutesi s (newcomer Madina Nalwanga) rise from the Katwe slums in Kampala, Uganda, to elite levels of chess. Nair shot it in South Africa and Uganda. Nyong o plays Phiona s head-strong mother. The local flavor, as well as the real people the story is based on (who appear briefly but movingly at the end), gives Queen of Katwe an infectious spirit. During one celebratory scene in Katwe, extras mixed with nearby onlookers, eager to join in the exultation. Because this doesn t happen very often, we were all filled with such gratitude to be able to tell this story, says Nyong o. Even if Nyong o wasn t sitting in a high-back chair at a Toronto hotel shortly after the film s screening at the Toronto International Film Festival, the 33-year-old would appear queenlike, herself, given her calm poise and precision with words. Although Nyong o now seems remarkably at home on any red carpet, she spent years hesitating to commit to acting. As an undergrad at Hampshire College, she initially explored other roles on film sets. I was just trying to figure out where in this industry, if not in the front of the camera, I would fit in, she says. I had always been discouraged that it was possible. I was from Kenya and I didn t know any Kenyan actors in America. It just didn t seem like a possible career path. Nyong o, born in Mexico and raised in Kenya, had a very different upbringing than the impoverished ones of Queen of Katwe. But, as Nair says, Like Phiona, she s harnessed her potential and thankfully the world has rewarded her for it. I spent a lot of time denying the fact that I wanted to be an actor, and I felt I could bring this to the film, Nyong o says. It s about having the courage to pursue your dream and it takes courage because sometimes your dreams are unconventional and surprising and uncomfortable for those around you to understand. Former child star Linda Blair frightened the wits out of a generation of moviegoers as the possessed pre-teen with a penchant for projectile vomiting in iconic horror movie The Exorcist. But four decades on, you get the feeling she d be happy never to answer another question about her 1973 portrayal of the demonic Regan MacNeil, a role that will always define her. AFP caught up with Blair at the red carpet opening of Universal Studio s Halloween Horror Nights festival in Southern California, where she had been invited ostensibly to promote a Boyter will serve as the film s executive producer. The first Pacific Rim, directed by del Toro, also starred Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi, Idris Elba, Charlie Day, and Robert Kazinsky. Pacific Rim was set in the near future with Earth at war with the UK picks Iranian horror movie as Oscar entry LOS ANGELES, Sept 22, (RTRS): Babak Anvari s Farsilanguage thriller Under the Shadow has been selected by BAFTA as the United Kingdom s Foreign Language Academy Award entry for 2016, Variety has learned exclusively. The film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January, will be released by Vertigo Releasing in the UK on Sept 23 and by XYZ Films and Vertical in the US on Oct 7. Vertical Entertainment and XYZ Films are releasing the film theatrically in North America and globally on digital platforms. new Exorcist -themed haunted house. Bigger But the 57-year-old is a hard woman to keep on topic, and every question about arguably the best-known horror film in history returns her to her much bigger passion her animal welfare work. The verbal backflips she performs to bring the conversation back to her activism are as impressive as her famous character s 360-degree head spin. This is a party for me, for the film, for my animals, because everything as far as merchandise goes to the Linda Blair Worldheart Foundation on my percentage, she tells AFP. So this is a celebration to make their lives better while everybody else can appreciate and enjoy this amazing opportunity. Blair has 68 acting credits to her name, although the only one you could be confident of the average filmgoer knowing is The Exorcist. She grew up in rural Connecticut, where she inherited a deep love of nature and animals from her parents, and had been modeling in New York and appearing in commercials when the audition for The Exorcist came up. She was Oscar-nominated, won a Golden Globe and appeared in a succession of films over the coming years, including disaster movie Airport 1975 and an unloved Exorcist sequel. Arrested for conspiracy to possess cocaine at 18, her promising career hit the skids and she was restricted mainly to appearances in B-movies as the critical acclaim was replaced with Golden Raspberry awards for bad acting. Kaiju, monsters that emerged from an interdimensional portal at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. The movie went on to gross more than $411 million at the worldwide box office. Boyega will play the son of Elba s character, who sacrificed his life in the original film. It s still unclear who Tian will play. (RTRS) LOS ANGELES: Writer-director Joss Whedon unveiled the first of a series of get-out-the-vote videos on Wednesday that not only implores people to get to the polls on Nov 8, but also warns of the consequences of electing a certain candidate. Donald Trump is not named, but one of the stars featured in the spot, Don Cheadle, refers to a racist abusive coward who could permanently damage the fabric of our society. Martin Sheen says, We cannot pretend both sides are equally unfavorable. He s echoing a sentiment expressed by many Hillary Clinton supporters that the media has been engaging in a false equivalence in covering both candidates. Others in the video include Mark Ruffalo, Keegan-Michael Key, James Franco, Julianne Moore, Leslie Odom, and Neil Patrick Harris. (RTRS)

21 NEWS/FEATURES 21 Music Processed beats Ultra extends reach in Asia TOKYO, Sept 22, (AFP): Once a modest beach party in Miami, the uber-hip Ultra Music Festival has bold plans to further expand the global juggernaut after another year of empire building. While techno-heads accuse Ultra of helping to commercialise electronic dance music, or EDM, in recent years, 120,000 rainsoaked revellers appeared to heartily disagree after being whipped into a frenzy in Tokyo this past weekend. There s a place for all genres of electronic music, co-founder Cox Russell Faibisch told AFP. A festival is all about having different genres. In the last few years, EDM has worked on the main stage for the masses but underground music always has and always will have its place. Everything feeds off each other. Mega-rave A glittery haven for hardcore EDM junkies, Ultra s mega-rave has pitched up in 19 far-flung locations: including Argentina, Brazil and Chile in South America, and across the Atlantic in Spain and Croatia. Farther east, Ultra has extended its reach in Asia from Seoul to Tokyo, Taipei, Singapore, Bali, Bangkok and Hong Kong with organisers set to announce major additional expansion plans for next year. We ve always had a masterplan, said Faibisch, who staged the first edition of Ultra in During the mid to late nineties in South Beach the club scene was really thriving. There were a lot of great clubs like Liquid and Shadow Lounge so it was the right timing for everything to come together. It was just like the perfect storm. A powerful typhoon failed to dampen spirits at last weekend s Ultra Japan, where over 70 acts, including chart-topping headliners Hardwell, Tiesto and Deadmau5, rocked enormous crowds with throbbing electronic beats over three days in Tokyo. A less radio-friendly Resistance tent featured top house and techno artists such as Dubfire and Art Department the yin to the cheesier yang on offer on the main stage, where it was often hard to work out where one track ended and the next began. Alternative In society, there s the commercial end of the spectrum, and then there s the alternative, said Dubfire, addressing the issue of processed electronica. The same can be said of the electronic music scene. There are a lot of people who, once they dig below the surface of EDM, they find there is music there that is more interesting. British techno heavyweight Carl Cox has been the driving force behind Ultra s underground stage production, while organisers will launch stand-alone Resistance events in South America next month. When something s happening in the underground, it affects the mainstream and the other way round, Dutch artist Hardwell told AFP. They need each other: like the bright side needs the dark side to keep going. Commercial EDM is a great introduction for young kids to get into dance music, since the underground music styles never play on the radio. Outside in the rain, the heaving mass of fresh-faced Japanese Ultra-nauts blowing whistles and pumping their fists many in outlandish fancy dress just wanted to party. You get a pretty young crowd at a festival, so I ll have a look in the first 15 minutes of my set to see what s what, said Japanese techno king Ken Ishii. They might not know much about techno, but it s a genre with a long history and is one of the core pillars of dance music. It s never going to just fall off a cliff. Dubfire admits he has evolved with the changing dance scene. I m an old-school artist playing a new-school sound, he said, offering an insight into the potential rewards of becoming a DJ. These days if you want to have a career in electronic music, you don t have to battle your parents anymore. They understand what s at stake they understand you can make a very successful career out of it. Jason Isbell performs at the Americana Music Association Honors & Awards Show on Sept 21, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP) Presley Variety Yearwood ATLANTA: Atlanta rapper Carlos Walker, who went by the stage name Shawty Lo, died early on Wednesday in a fiery car crash near his hometown, local media reported. He was 40. Walker, a founding member of the Southern rap group D4L and founder of D4L Records, was best known for his single, Dey Know. A message posted on Shawty Lo s Twitter account, apparently written by the rapper s manager and brother, confirmed the death. My brother has passed, he is no longer here but his spirit, his kind heart and his music will live on, it said. (RTRS) LOS ANGELES: The famously quirky Hollywood Hills compound of the late, great, and widely influential musician Frank Zappa sold for $5.25 million and, though the buyer s identity is shielded behind an inscrutable trust, word on the celebrity real estate street is that the beneficiary is none other than modern-day music industry iconoclast Lady Gaga. Zappa purchased the property in the mid-1970s for around $75,000, and he lived, worked, and raised his family there until his death in The property remained in the hands of his widow, Gail Zappa, until she died in October of 2015, and the following June, the Zappa children Moon Unit, Dweezil, Ahmet, and Diva engaged in some infighting about who controls what in regards to professional usage of the family name and their father s vast and valuable archives, at which point the compound came up for sale in a swarm of publicity with an asking price just short of $5.5 million. (RTRS) COPENHAGEN, Denmark: A court in Denmark has ordered the owner of a museum modeled after Elvis Presley s Graceland Mansion to pay 500,000 kroner ($75,000) in damages to a US company that owns the Graceland trademark. Memphis, Tennessee-based GL SPE LLC sued Henrik Knudsen for using the name Graceland for his museum in Randers, in northwestern Denmark. William Bell (left), performs with Bonnie Raitt at the Americana Music Association Honors & Awards Show on Sept 21, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP) Music Singer-songwriter wins album and song of the year Isbell extends legacy at Americana Honors NASHVILLE, Tenn, Sept 22, (AP): Singer-songwriter Jason Isbell won album of the year and song of the year at the 2016 Americana Honors and Awards show, extending his legacy as the star of Americana music. Since launching his solo career after years with the Drive-By Truckers, Isbell has been racking up both critical acclaim as well as Americana and Grammy awards with his Southern rock albums. He won Wednesday night for his album Something More Than Free, and his song, 24 Frames. This community has given us a place that was a lot bigger than it used to be, Isbell said during the show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. I am not a part of the first generation or the second generation or even the third generation of Americana performers. Country singer and songwriter Chris Stapleton, whose 2015 album Traveller became a breakaway platinum hit, took home artist of the year. Stapleton said that before his successful solo country career took off, he wished he could play the Americana award show. I used to play in a little bluegrass band called the SteelDrivers, he said We were just starting out and we would beg and beg and beg to do something. So to be here tonight means a great deal to me. The emerging artist of the year award went to Margo Price, who sounds like rock version of Loretta Lynn with her hard livin lyrics on her critically acclaimed debut album Midwest Farmer s Daughter. Price spent years trying to shop her music to Music City s major labels and finally found a home at rocker Jack White s label, Third Man Records. She thanked her family, my in-laws, my outlaws, some of the people that passed on my record, who may be here. The Maritime and Commercial High Court in Copenhagen on Wednesday ruled in favor of the US company, and ordered Knudsen to pay damages for trademark infringement. Knudsen has since changed the name of the museum to Memphis Nathaniel Rateliff of Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats performs at the Americana Music Association Honors & Awards Show on Sept 21, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP) Forever Country features 30 singers Country song mashup marks CMA s 50th yr NASHVILLE, Tenn, Sept 22, (AP): Music awards shows love to mashup songs and artists together, but the Country Music Association took the mashup to a new level for their upcoming 50th anniversary. Forever Country features 30 country singers in a blend of three of the genre s most beloved tunes and an innovative music video that highlights the breadth and history of country music. The song was released digitally and to radio and a sneak peek of the music video premiered on ABC s Dancing with the Stars on Tuesday night in advance of the Nov. 2 awards show. That daunting task of combining all those voices together including Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Miranda Lambert was given to two Grammy winners: producer and songwriter Shane McAnally, who has crafted songs with Sam Hunt and Kacey Musgraves, and director Joseph Kahn, who has worked with Taylor Swift, Eminem and Britney Spears. We had a list of about 40 songs, mostly CMA winners, songs that have Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell won for duo/group of the year and fiddler Sara Watkins won the instrumentalist of the year. After British singer Billy Bragg received the spirit of Americana free speech in music award, he thanked Nashville for its generosity to wayward Englishmen. Not only did you let Tom Hiddleston go out with Taylor Swift, you let won song of the year or at least been nominated, and songs that sort of covered a universal theme that could sound like a love song to our genre, McAnally said. The songs chosen were John Denver s Take Me Home, Country Roads, Willie Nelson s On the Road Again, and Dolly Parton s I Will Always Love You. But McAnally was hesitant to change too much of Parton s country-pop crossover classic, which was also famously recorded by Whitney Houston. I will say that I Will Always Love You was one that was really hard for me to imagine in the mix because I didn t want to mess with that song, McAnally said. It feels sacred. Featured singers include Parton and Nelson as well as other CMA winners such as Blake Shelton, Reba, George Strait, Little Big Town, Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw, Ronnie Milsap, Brad Paisley, Charley Pride, Keith Urban and Trisha Yearwood. Even Randy Travis, who is recovering from a stroke, makes an appearance in the video. him stand on this very stage and impersonate Hank Williams, Bragg joked of Hiddleston s role in the Williams biopic I Saw the Light. Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir got a standing ovation after receiving the lifetime achievement award for performance, while soul songwriter William Bell received the lifetime achievement award for songwriting and sang a duet with Bonnie Raitt. Mansion.(AP) LYNN, Mass: A Massachusetts plastic surgeon who s been a guest on several national television programs is facing drug charges. Police say 70-year-old Sheldon Sevinor was arrested Sunday when officers conducting surveillance on a suspected drug dealer witnessed what appeared to be a drug transaction involving Sevinor. Prosecutors say Sevinor s arraignment is scheduled for Oct 11. Police say he s charged with possession of AC/DC s Williams quits; group s 4th since 2014 PHILADELPHIA, Sept 22, (AP): AC/DC is losing another member. Bassist Cliff Williams has announced his departure from the group in a video posted on the band s YouTube channel Tuesday, the same day the group wrapped up its Rock or Bust tour in Philadelphia. Williams says he s just ready to get off the road and needs more time for family and to chill out. Williams is the second AC/DC member to depart the band this year and the fourth since Lead singer Brian Johnson stopped touring in March amid concern about hearing loss. Guitarist Malcolm Young retired due to health reasons in 2014 and drummer Phil Rudd left the band that same year amid drug charges. Kahn then had to figure out how to shoot all the artists, who were only singing a line at a time, and weave it into a visual story. I had to shoot everyone separately because of the way the timing worked out, Kahn said. But at the end of the video they all look like they appear together. Even with all his producing experience, McAnally got a little nervous working with legends like Strait and Parton. He recalled that Parton, who is notoriously early for appointments, was already at the microphone when McAnally arrived at the studio to record her part of the song. I hadn t even met her, and I had to meet her through the glass, McAnally recalled. Well, I have to go ahead and get this out of my body and say, I don t know how I am supposed to direct you singing I Will Always Love You, but I am going to do my best. Kahn, a Texas native, said shooting Parton gave him a what am I doing here? moment on set. I never get nervous around anyone, Kahn said. I have literally worked with everybody and Dolly Parton made me nervous. Grammy-winning folk singer Shawn Colvin received the trailblazer award and the president s award went to the late folk singer-songwriter Woodie Guthrie. Jim Lauderdale, the longtime award show host, choked up after he was given the WagonMaster award by country legend George Strait, who has recorded several of Lauderdale s songs. The two performed a rousing rendition of King of Broken Hearts. crack cocaine. (AP) LOS ANGELES: Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired North American rights to Sasha Gordon s romantic comedy It Had To Be You, starring Cristin Milioti and Dan Soder. It Had To Be You, which had its world premiere at the Austin Film Festival, is slated for an Oct. 21 release. Milioti plays a neurotic jingle writer who has always dreamt of a big and exciting life. She s surprised by a sudden proposal and subsequent ultimatum from her easy-going boyfriend, which leads to a solo trip to Rome to shed her inhibitions. However, reality catches up to her as her journey proves a lot bumpier than the idyllic Eat Pray Love trip she d envisioned. (RTRS) LOS ANGELES: Eagle-eyed real estate yenta Yolanda Yakketyyak was the first to whisper in our eager ear that Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood sold their fairly unassuming beach getaway in Malibu in an off-market deal for $7 million. The buyer, according to property records, is internet entrepreneur Adam Bern-hard, who additionally owns a neighboring property he scooped up early this summer for about $3.3 million. Bernhard previously owned a stunning estate in Bel-Air bought from Meg Ryan in 2012 for $11.12 million and sold in July of this year for $18.5 million to Saw and Aquaman director James Wan. (RTRS)

22 22 Art CAP opens new season with French artist Carnaille s exhibition Attraction explores invisible, intangible force of time By Cinatra Fernandes Arab Times Staff KUWAIT CITY, Sept 22: The Contemporary Art Platform opened its new season, showcasing the work of French artist Quentin Carnaille in an exhibition titled Attraction that considers the invisible and intangible force of time. The exhibition of sixteen abstract sculptures made entirely of dismantled tokens of horology, in which orderly mechanical arrangements are re-organised into a beautiful state of adisorder, to ruminate on the origins of time and related ideas of relativity and infinity. Quentin Carnaille, born in 1984 in Roubaix, Northern France, became interested in art while studying architecture in Belgium and soon began his inquiry into the mysteries of time. I studied architecture and in the beginning of my study, I was free to imagine and do what I want but by the end, you are taught to respect the rules and keep in mind many constraints. So I preferred to be an artist because I wanted to have freedom in the process of creation, he told the Arab Times. He added, It has been seven years since I have focussed on the concepts of time and even though I am exploring different ideas today, it is still a continuity of the initial thought. Movements A year before graduating, he worked on a pair of cufflinks crafted from two mechanical watch movements. He recalls, At the beginning, I started working on the cufflinks with the concept of looking at something which was not built to be beautiful and discover a beauty there. Since then, he has worked on both small intricate pieces and large lavish instalments using devices of magnetism, reflection and levitation. Carnaille s work puts forth the notion that time only has meaning with the evolution of matter and that man remains an extraordinary catalyst of that transformation. In Apesanteur or Zero-gravity, the artist asks us to consider the origins of time, the human discovery of it, and the link between astronomy and art and science of watch-making. It is easy to be taken in by the enchantment of the levitating disc powered by electromagnetism. He shared, This piece speaks of the origin of time. I have always been intrigued by the man s perception of Quentin Carnaille Infinity time that was entirely a mental exercise, unlike the tangible discoveries of fire and inventing of the wheel. I think to come up with the idea of time is more difficult because it is not tangible. Our ancestors found it by looking at the sky and so this piece floats in the air like planets in the universe. Origin Marche du temps Explores In Origin, he explores the act of creation, the initial chaos and the miracle of life emerging out of the void. Another sculpture of three circles deceives the eye by presenting a perfect alignment from afar. A closer inspection reveals that each band is lined with a mesh of watchmaking pieces. Your idea of whether it is in state or order or disorder depends on your perspective, there is beauty in it either way, he commented. In another work titled Infinity, he employs optical illusion to frame floating elements of watchmaking into a seemingly endless configuration, distorting the reality of time by presenting a perceivable infinity. In my mind, infinity was a concept of the future but it is also exists in the past. If infinity exists both ways, then time doesn t exist. However we are human and we are subject to change on account of our physical matter. But we too can create infinities in the stories and legacies we leave behind, he shared. Visitors to the exhibition may feel compelled to contemplate the temporality of our days through the figurative representations of a man marching towards the edge or by the Apparition, a frozen sculpture that melts away from its form with the passing of time. In Emancipation, Carnaille recreates the encounter in Michelangelo s Adam to reflect once more on the space between creator and creation. Attraction is perhaps the most affecting of his work, in which the elements reach out to each other in magnetic attraction without achieving contact. The sculpture relies on the attraction of two magnets and there is nothing in the middle. All the energy, the drama takes place in this area. Carnaille points out that as he started to explore these ideas, he realised that he may never cover its entire breadth. It is a long journey in learning the whole concept. For example, I first started to think of time in respect to its origins but then started exploring the concept of infinity. Capacity The challenge now remains to keep growing not only in his capacity to find new ideas to work on but to also execute them in a way that is comprehensible to all, not just like-minded intellectuals. Carnaille shares that the implications of a time-less existence, would be to enjoy every moment of your life and live in the present. He hopes the exhibition will spark curiosity in its viewers and make them think deeper about the concepts of time and lead to stimulating conversations among friends and family. The exhibition will continue until Oct 21, at CAP located in Life Centre, Shuwaikh. For more information, visit www. capkuwait.com. click Alcoholics Anonymous: If you know someone who can t stop drinking and would like to help them please check us out and we promise to try to help at www. aaarabia.org There are no fees. This is a genuine public service. Drinking problem?: You are no longer alone! AA can help you stop. Totally confidential helpline Narcotics Anonymous: NA can help with addiction problems. Totally confidential: English/Arabic. Cancer online support group: If you are Cancer patient or family member fighting with this deadly disease, come join our online support group. Best way of dealing with this disease is providing support and share our experience with each other. There are lot of things which even doctors can t tell so be member of this website and start sharing your experiences which may help others. October is recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM). The primary purpose is to promote self examination and screening mammography as the most effective way to save lives by detecting breast cancer at early stage. For more information visit: Continued on Page 23

23 23 click Continued from Page 22 Latest Share your story with Amricani: Do you or any of your family members, acquaintances or friends happen to have a story with the American Missionary hospital in Kuwait (Mustashfa Lemraicani) during the years from , the official period of offering medical services in Kuwait? Please share with us your story or your memory during those old days by writing the event and sending it to the following address: Mystory@darmuseum. org.kw Notes: 1. Please send your story only to the above mentioned . Story shared in Instagram, Facebook or Twitter will not be considered. 2. Please write your story or memory and sign it with your full name, and your contact number. 3. It will be great if you send us your personal photos or those of the place related to the story (optional). Your story will be part of a new book to be published by DAI. I am confident that your contributions will be an essential part of the history of Amricani. Share with us! Sept 25 Experience Science for Kids: Experience Science is back! Six Saturdays of fun with physics, chemistry, optics, math and more, created especially for children ages 10 13! The six-week programme will be held on Saturday afternoons from 3:30 5:00 at the Yarmouk Cultural Centre, starting Oct 22. Right now registration for the sixweek programme is open EXCLUSIVELY to members of the Friends of the DAI. If there are any spaces left on Sept 25, we ll open registration to all. Registration is limited to 12 and you may register at either the Amricani Cultural Centre on Sunday Thursday 10 3 or the Yarmouk Cultural Centre, Sunday Thursday For more information, please education@darmuseum.org.kw Sept 26 DAI 22 Cultural Season: Welcome to Cultural Season 22. In the eight months of our cultural season, we will offer lectures that touch your heart and stimulate your brain. There will be films that will make you laugh and films that make you cry; concerts that cause you to erupt with wild abandon and others so beautiful that silence is the only possible reaction. If you visit when children s education programmes are underway, you may see 3-5 year olds joyfully discovering motifs in Islamic art by locating them on objects. Explore the current exhibitions or one of the four temporary exhibitions that will be on display this season and be moved by the way artists aspire to communicate with both their immediate audience and generations that will follow. And do all of this surrounded by a community of individuals sharing the same emotions and experiences. As a member of the DAI, you have been a part of that community and we hope enjoyed your participation. Please know that we appreciate your support. To continue: Receiving reminders about all DAI activities via digital media Being eligible for DAI trips international and local Getting Hadeeth ad-dar and Bareed ad-dar Participating in special events and workshops Enjoying a 10 percent discount on many items in the two shops Having priority booking for children s education programmes (new this season), and, most important Supporting DAI s cultural activities Please renew your membership in the Friends of the DAI. The basic membership fees remain KD 25 for a single, KD 40 for a family, and KD 10 for a student... and more. Cultural Season 22 starts soon on Seppt 26 but you don t have to wait until then to renew. The shops in both the Amricani Cultural Centre (9:00 am-3:00 pm) and the Yarmouk Cultural Centre (9:00 am-9:00 pm) are there to serve you Sunday through Thursday and renewing will take just a few minutes. If you have any questions, please friends@darmuseum.org.kw. We look forward to seeing you this season. Sept 27 Food Quest: Learn and sample traditional Arabic recipes that are not only easy to prepare but also flavorful and nutritious. Free of charge. Dates: Sept 7pm Boost your health with local dates prepared a variety of ways: stuffed, nutri-bars, cake, smoothies, and the special Kuwaiti dessert rangeena. Villa No 67, Street 413, Block 4, Shuhada Area, Kuwait Phone: +(965) info@tiescenter.net KJPS celebrates Onam Eid: Kollam Jilla Pavasi Samjam is celebrating Onam Eid Sangamam 2016 with joy and religious harmony on Tuesday Sept 27, 2016, 6.00 pm at SMCA Hall, Abbassiya. The event will be enriched with cultural procession lead by King Mahabali, Thiruvathira, Pulikali, Oppana. Renowned Orchestra team will enthrall the audience with their outstanding and pleasant numbers sung in multi languages, style and Continued on Page 24

24 24 Only those who spend lots of money and quickly benefit Finding the right credit card for a free vacation Airlines. Having a credit card with one of those airlines earns you one mile for every dollar spent more for purchases with the airline. That means you would have to spend about $25,000 on a credit card to get a free ticket. That same $25,000 spent on a cashback card would earn you $500. The average domestic roundtrip ticket last year cost $ If you charge less than $25,000 a year, cash back makes even more sense. You might only earn $150 or $200 in rewards a year. But you can stash that money away to pay for part of your next flight instead of hoping to eventually have enough miles for that trip. By Scott Mayerowitz any frequent fliers are buzzing M about the latest travel rewards credit card one that comes with a hefty $450 annual fee but offers a juicy 100,000 point bonus at sign-up. Rewards cards lure us in with dreams of a free trip to some warm tropical beach. You re going to spend money why not get a vacation out of it. The truth is, these cards make sense only for those who spend lots of money, and quickly benefit. The better value for most travelers especially those flying domestic coach is a cash back credit card. There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a credit card. First, a major caveat: None of these cards rewards or cash back make sense unless you pay your bill in full each month. If you don t, any rewards earned will be washed away by interest payments. vs Points The beauty of cash is that there are no restrictions. Forget desperately hop- In this Dec 31, 2013 file photo, a paddleboarder looks out over the Pacific Ocean as the sun sets off on Waikiki Beach, in Honolulu. (AP) ing that the airline opens up enough mileage seats on the flight you want. Or worse, locking yourself into one airline just because you have miles that requires a connection when there is a cheap, nonstop flight on another carrier. The Citi Double card and the Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Card both offer 2 percent cash back on all spending. Why is this better than frequent flier miles? A typical domestic roundtrip ticket costs 25,000 miles on American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Annual Fees There are cards with higher cash back rates in certain categories as well as many travel cards but they come with sometimes steep annual fees. For many families, that fee can wipe away any savings. Let s compare a no-fee, 2-percent cash-back card with a card that has a $95 annual fee. It takes $4,750 in charges on that 2-percent cash-back credit card just to earn $95 in rebates. If you are earning miles or some other currency with that annual fee card, your first $5,000 in charges basically cover the fee. For somebody who charges $80,000 a year, that might not be an issue. But for somebody charging $10,000, they are paying a fee and won t even get enough miles for a free trip. But don t necessarily dismiss a card just because it carries an annual fee. Most of the major airline credit cards offer free checked bags for the primary cardholder and some of the people traveling with them as long as everybody is on the same reservation. Since checking a bag typically costs $25 each way that $95 annual fee could pay for itself if three bags are checked roundtrip a year. You don t even have to make other charges on the card, sticking to your cash-back card for everyday spending. Amtrak s credit card, with a $79 fee, comes with a free companion ticket, potentially making it worthwhile for frequent train riders. A roundtrip ticket from Boston to New York could easily top $200. Destinations And the IHG Rewards Club comes with a free night at any InterContinental hotel in the world for its $49 annual fee. That s anything from the fanciest InterContinental down to a Holiday Inn Express next to the highway. Signup Bonuses Finally, there are those eye-popping signup bonuses. The Chase Sapphire Reserve Card made headlines recently for its 100,000 point signup bonus after spending $4,000. Those points can be worth up to $1,500 in travel rewards. It carries a $450 annual fee but $300 of that is refunded for spending on travel. Other cards routinely offer anywhere between 30,000 to 50,000 miles in signup bonuses. So, if you have good credit and can meet the minimum spend within the short time period, you can quickly pad your frequent flier balances. In other words: get the card for the signup bonus and then cancel it before the next annual fee hits. Just be warned, credit card companies are starting to cap the number of cards you can have and are putting lifetime limits on signup bonuses. (AP) Grants Each get $625 K 23 genius grant recipients named NEW YORK, Sept 22, (AP): Gene Luen Yang, a prize-winning author and the national ambassador for young people s literature, and Claudia Rankine, one of poetry s brightest and most innovative stars, are among this year s 23 MacArthur fellows and recipients of the so-called genius grants. The fellows were announced Thursday by the Chicago-based John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, which gives each honoree $625,000 over five years to spend any way he or she pleases, with no strings attached. More than 900 people have received the grants since 1981, with previous fellows including Hamilton playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda, author-journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates and dancerchoreographer Merce Cunningham. Fellows, brought to the foundation s attention by an anonymous pool of nominators, do not apply for the money and are not informed they ve been chosen until shortly before the awards are announced. The idea behind the grants is to give people of exceptional creativity the flexibility to further pursue their ideas and projects. While our communities, our nation, and our world face both historic and emerging challenges, these 23 extraordinary individuals give us ample reason for hope, MacArthur President Julia Stasch said in a statement. They are breaking new ground in areas of public concern, in the arts, and in the sciences, often in unexpected ways. Their creativity, dedication, and impact inspire us all. Yang is an acclaimed graphic novelist whose books include American Born Chinese, which in 2006 became the first novel of its kind to receive a National Book Award nomination. Earlier this year, he was appointed young people s literature ambassador by the Library of Congress. In an to The Associated Press, he said he hoped the grant money would enable him to have a private work space. Practically speaking, I haven t had a studio for a while now. For the past few years, I ve been working at local cafes and from a corner in my bedroom, he told the AP. In this July 7, 2016 photo, a runner strides along the cross country course at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx borough of New York. (AP) Remarkable A portion of the cross country running course is shown at Van Cortlandt Park. (AP) The tortoise and hare sign on the cross country course is shown at Van Cortlandt Park. (AP) The sun peeks through the trees in the main flats area at Van Cortlandt Park. (AP) Trails are green and wild Serene spot in Bronx: Van Cortlandt Park click Latest Continued from Page 23 melody and this will be a perfect blend to the celebration mood. The highlight of this show is the beauty contest for the Kollam Jilla king and queen of the year 2016 in the traditional dress. The professional judges will select them from the audience. Delicious, sumptuous Ona Sadya will be served and controlled by coupons. We promise you that we will send you back with joyous heart and a day to remember in your life. All re cordially invited to make the show a grand success. For event management, Elected Salim Raj as General convenor Alex Mathew and Ansar Kulathupuzha as joint convenors. Various sub-committees were also formed under the leadership of Advt Laji Jacob, Alex Kutty, Shaji Punnals, Achankutty anchal, Thambi Lukose. Achan Kutty Anchal, Varghees Vaidyan, Hari Krishanan, Tijo Thomas. For more information contact , , Kollam Jilla Pravasi Samajam, Kuwait By Jonathan Elderfield C an serenity come from suffering? For that matter, can serenity be found in New York City, specifically, in this case, the Bronx? Those are the questions I pondered as I ran the back hills of Van Cortlandt Park s famed cross-country trails. I was in the middle of a race put on by the Van Cortlandt Park Track Club, a 5K run that began with a sprint across the flats and a dash into the hills of New York City s thirdlargest park, which sprawls for more than 1,000 acres across the northeast corner of the Bronx. Looking out to the edge of the has released the poster for Onam Eid Sangamam 2016 by giving to the General Convenor Salim Raj by the patron Joy John Thuruthikara. Ona Sadya coupon has also released by handing over the same to the Joint convenor Alex Mathew by the General Secretary Joy Karavaloor. park from some spots, you can see tall apartment buildings. But in other places, you re running on trails that seem so green and wild, lined with so many trees, that you might as well be in the woods. The park has been a Makkah for cross-country runners for over 100 years. Its courses opened in Famed athletes who ve competed here include Alberto Salazar, Alan Webb, Edward Cheserek, Marty Liquori and Matt Centrowitz, who won the gold at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in the 1,500-meter race. I first raced here in high school, a skinny lad unaware of the suffering and false rabbit tactics of rival teams. Sept 29 Steci Golden Jubilee: The Golden Jubilee closing ceremony of St Thomas Evangelical Church of India Kuwait Parish (established in 1965), is being held at NECK Church and Parish Hall at 7.00 pm on Thursday, Sept 29, I soon learned to embrace the suck just deal with it! and with time I also learned to fly. There s a trick to cross-country, you see. Of course you have to have the strength to power up and defeat your opponent on the ascent, but the race can be won on the downhill. If you can give in to gravity, to almost fall, you ll fly down. With arms out for balance, you can speed away from even your toughest opponent. The courses are the same as in my heyday, with flats, a cowpath, a bridge and back hill loop, as well as Cemetery Hill (also known as Vault Hill), which is part of a route used for college races. Race distances are 5K, 8K or 10K. For hill training, Van Cortlandt is a must. For runners and racers, it should be on your bucket list. But take your cue from metal signs along the courses depicting the turtle and the hare. While I like to try to race fast here (and re-live my youth), I suppose the hare suggests that you can also take it easy. You can run or jog, but you can also stroll or just meander through a park that is one of New York City s emerald treasures. The Van Cortlandt Park Track Club sometimes gives winners carrot cake muffins from Lloyd s Carrot Cake shop (6087 Broadway in the Bronx), across from the start/finish line. Whatever your pace, you can seek your rewards there as well. (AP) Bishop Rt Rev Dr Thomas Abraham (chairman Prathinidhi Sabha) will inaugurate the public meeting, which will be chaired by Rev Saji Abraham (Vicar, Kuwait Parish). The first resident vicar, Rev P.M. Joseph (chief guest), along with the presbyters, diplomats and other dignitaries, leaders and pastors from vari- ous congregations are expected to grace this blessed function. On this occasion the Golden Jubilee souvenir will be released by Bishop Rt Rev Dr. Thomas Abraham. The year will be written in golden letters in the history of St Thomas Continued on Page 26 Rankine is best known for her book-length tapestry of poems, prose and images about racism, Citizen: An American Lyric, a 2014 release which won the National Book Critics Circle prize and several other honors. More than 100,000 copies are in print, a remarkable total for poetry. During a recent telephone interview, Rankine said she planned to use at least some of the MacArthur money to open a performing-creative-educational space in Manhattan that would challenge the discourse that created this internalized hierarchy in white people. We need a space where we can get together and put pressure on the language, she said. The foundation also selected author Maggie Nelson, New Yorker staff writer Sarah Stillman, composer Julia Wolfe, theater artist and educator Anne Basting and playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. At just 31, the Princeton-educated Jacobs-Jenkins has made a name for himself as an inventive, fresh theater writer. Two of his works tied for Obie Awards for Best American Play and his play An Octoroon was finalist for The Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History. His works include Neighbors, in which a family of minstrels in blackface moves in next to a contemporary mixed-race family, Appropriate, where a white family discovers its racist past and Gloria, about a group of catty editorial assistants at a Manhattan magazine whose lives change completely one random day.

25 25 esco S cogna Fashio Franc n Gucci miglio N 21 MILAN: Italian Premier Matteo Renzi was on hand Wednesday to kick off Milan Fashion Week, putting his political clout behind an industry that sets the standard for the nation, if not the world. This was Renzi s second time opening fashion week a sign of the premier s commitment to helping showcase Italy s fashion prowess. The big brands presenting their womenswear collections for next spring and summer in Milan through Monday are motors of that growth. Credit also goes to the supply chain that provides inspiration to designers around the globe. Gucci, Fausto Puglisi, Roberto Cavalli and Philipp Plein were among the brands showing their wares on the first day of fashion week. Highlights: Gucci Alessandro Michele has cast an eerie, dream-like spell over Gucci. The womenswear collection for next spring and summer was presented through a smoky, reddish light the theatrical equivalent of rose-colored glasses. All the better for viewing the fantasy-filled collection. The Gucci girl for next season the looks require at least a youthful outlook suggests an antique doll waiting to be dressed up. She can be styled as a Victorian lady, a pretty princess, an athletic boxer or even a denim-clad disco-lover. The mood veered through eras, but was almost always pretty with a proliferation of ruffles or fringe. Headgear was central, as it is in any dress-up box, and included floppy hats, babushka bandanas and aviator hats. There also was spectacular, beehiveshaped netting that would be appropriate for tending a queen bee while offering protection from stings. Rober to Cav MILAN Above and below: Models present creations by N 21, Roberto Cavalli, Francesco Scognamiglio, Gucci and Philipp Plein during Milan Fashion Week on Sept 21. (AP/AFP) Franc esco S cogna miglio Puglisi Fausto Puglisi scorned the runway to celebrate the women who come from hell, who are hell. His collection preview was more theater than fashion show, set against the backdrop of an altar set up behind bars, bedecked with stature of the Madonna and ecclesiastical candles. Incense permeated the standing room-only space where the fashion crowd crushed together. The staging, created by the artistic director of a Tuscan prison theater company, had the drama of Gucci a Caravaggio chiaroscuro, with tormented men becoming the background for an unconventional runway show. For the finale, they beat the bars as if to riot. The geographic reference was Puglisi s native Sicily, which he noted had been the victim through history of a series of devastating and astonishing invasions. alli Gucci The looks ranged from counterculture streetwear to pretty day dresses, always with a touch of daring, a dab of risqué. There were print shorts that turned into lein Philipp P leggings for a boot effect and worn with stiletto heels accented with accordion trim ruffles. A floaty floral mini dress, off the performing new works at the New York City Ballet fall gala. As if to underscore the fusion of the two disciplines, the fashion designer takes a bow at the end along with the choreographer. The results are always interesting, if sometimes mixed. Many of the designers are dressing ballet dancers for the first time, and dancers move differently than models on a runway. The learning (and pinning, and sewing) process is captured in entertaining short films shown before each ballet. At Lincoln Center on Tuesday evening, it was the turn of Narciso RodriGucci guez, Jason Wu, Rosie Assoulin and Dries Van Noten to display their wares. Gucci NEW YORK: Ralph Lauren, one of the giants of modern American fashion, is working on his autobiography. Simon & Schuster told The Associated Press on Wednesday that it will release the book in fall 2017, in conjunction with his company s 50th anniversary. The book is currently untitled. N 21 His style is instantly recognizable to even the most casual observer, a triumph of business savvy and shoulder Greek style, had a hint of Roaesthetic sensibility that is unmatched man slave with a thick dark belt and a anywhere, Simon & Schuster CEO thick hammered gold necklace. A pretty Carolyn Reidy said in a statement. shift in pink, green and ivory panels How Ralph Lauren s business challenged convention with a square became the epitome of American style open back. is one of the great cultural stories of Also: our time, added Simon & Schuster NEW YORK: It s become a natural publisher Jonathan Karp. (AP) extension of New York Fashion Week: For the last five years, noted designers have been recruited to costume dancers

26 26 Campaign targets Zain s 14 mn social media fans Zain debuts awareness campaign to support UN s global goals KUWAIT CITY, Sept 22: Zain Group, a leading mobile technology innovator in eight markets across the Middle East and Africa, has unveiled an awareness campaign across all of its social media channels to support key aspects of the United Nations outlook for 2030, and Global Goals for Sustainable Development. The launch of the new campaign mirrors the UN General Assembly Week that is currently taking place in New York. The campaign by Zain, tagged #Bethevoiceofchange across the all the company s social media platforms including its Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ platforms, demonstrates the company s ongoing commitment to supporting an ethical and positive approach to conducting its operations and respecting all people. Today, Zain Group and its eight local operations now boast more than 14 million fans and followers across all social media platforms. click Latest Evangelical Church of India Kuwait Parish, as it celebrates its 50th year with wide range of programs conducted by the Sunday School, Youth Union, Women s Fellowship and Choir. Presiding Bishop Most. Rev Dr C.V. Mathew had inaugurated the year long Golden Jubilee celebrations on Sept 25, 2015 in a solemn yet blessed function organized at NECK Church and Parish Hall which was well attended by hundreds of devoted members of the parish. The Golden Jubilee inauguration reiterated its mission by declaring open many projects to serve the community. The projects not only provided financial and medical aid for the needy, but also extended to construction of churches, parsonage and houses, providing vehicles for missionaries, providing aid to missionary children in terms of educational and marital support along with partaking in church s various projects. Under the leadership of the project convener, George Varughese, most of the projects have reached its conclusion stage and the report of the same will be presented during the closing ceremony. The arrangements of the closing ceremony are progressing with various sub-committees, under the able leadership of Vicar Rev Saji Abraham, Boney K. Abraham (secretary) and George Cherian (program convener). Oct 1 Speechcraft by TMI: Speechcraft is a course from Toastmasters International (TMI), USA. TMI is a non-profit organization since It has more than 345,000 members in 142 countries. TMI, over the Zain Group will collaborate with a wide range of companies based in the Middle East and Africa to develop social networks to tackle issues of the eradication of poverty; propel forward the fight against injustice and inequality; and deal directly with the issue of climate change. These are amongst the list of 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development that were adopted by 193 world leaders at the UN in September Upliftment The upliftment of socio-economic standards in the markets in which Zain Group operates has always been a key strategic priority for the company, with the company utilizing numerous corporate sustainability initiatives to positively impact communities. The Global Goals feed right into Zain Group s own sustainability values and outlook given its pledge in 2012 to reduce emissions from its operations by 2020, as well as its campaigns and engagements to protect and improve the quality of lives in communities in which it operates. Commenting on the latest corporate social responsibility campaign, Zain Seminars to focus on crisis management, smart cities Industry figures to lead Milipol Qatar 2016 A file photo of Milipol 2014 Gift for every iphone 7 subscriber Ooredoo marks iphone 7 launch tonight KUWAIT CITY, Sept 22: Ooredoo, Kuwait s fastest network in 2016, will hold a special midnight celebration tonight to launch the iphone 7 devices, which go officially on sale tomorrow, on the 24th of September. Commenting on this, Corporate Communications Senior Director at Ooredoo Kuwait Mijbil Alayoub said: We re happy to celebrate the launch of the new iphone, which is the biggest event in the telecom world this year, with our customers for the third consecutive year. The program Friday night includes a lot of activities and competitions. We re also giving all iphone 7 subscribers on the launch event a free valuable gift. The new iphone 7 devices boast a number of powerful features, making this Apple s best iphone to date. The iphone 7 has an entirely new 12MP camera system, a brighter and colorful display, a faster processor and better battery life. The iphone 7 devices are Continued from Page 24 period of 90 years, has helped millions of people achieve their goals and become successful. To be successful and good leaders, one must be confident and the best tool for confidence is communication. Speechcraft is a short practical course in public speaking for the novice speaker, with the help of one-to-one mentor, you will learn to communicate effectively. It will also help you learn how to speak off the cuff (this helps in interviews), give positive feedback (this helps in motivating the fellow team members). By doing all this they find their path to leadership and success. Every venture need right mentors. Without mentors it is not possible to achieve the goal. The mentors for this Speechcraft course are senior, qualified and expert speakers, they have immense experience in the field of public speaking. They are working at a senior level in their respective organizations. With the proper guidance from the expert mentors, this course will help you to: Gain confidence in public speaking Develop your communication and language skills Learn to think quickly and clearly Become an effective listener Use body language and visual aids Advance your social skills Improve your job or promotion prospects Limited seats, course commences on Oct 1, For more information on this course, kindly contact Yusuf , Anil or Xavier Oct 6 IOC to conduct Arts Fest: Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) conducts its 10th Arts Festival- IOC-FEST-2016 for the Indian Community in Kuwait on Oct 6 and 7, 2016 at United Indian School, Abbasiya. Various competitions will be held in two days with participation from children from all parts of Kuwait. The competitions will start with the classical dance followed by folk dance, mono act, mimicry, poster Mijbil Alayoub water and splash resistant, and come with built-in immersive stereo speakers Ṫhe iphone 7 comes in two varieties: iphone 7 and iphone 7 Plus. They come in three capacities: 32GB, 128GB, and 256GB. The iphone 7 devices are available in five colors: rose gold, gold, silver, black, and jet black. The new devices ship with the ios 10, Apple s latest operating system, which introduce major performance and interface enhancements. Additionally, the update comes with powerful upgrades to your most-used features Messages, Maps, Photos, and more. The devices will be available with Ooredoo s postpaid Shamel plans. Shamel subscribers can enjoy a number of exclusive privileges such as freezing their contract for up to 3 months a year when they travel, without worrying about paying bills for months that they don t use. Additionally, all Shamel subscribers can enjoy unlimited calls on the Ooredoo network, in addition to other perks such as data rollover, to ensure that they are making full use of their package. To find out more and stay up to date with Ooredoo s latest news, on Twitter and Instagram. poetry and patriotic song on the first day, ie. Thursday, 6th. The day long programmes will be continued on the second day (Friday, Oct 7) also with drawing/ painting, elocution, poetry recitation, solo singing, essay writing and conclude with group dance in the evening. The competions will be conducted for different age groups on two different stages. We welcome all our dear ones to witness the children s programme and request cooperation from everybody as received in the yesteryears. The special memorial Award established in the name of Late Pala K.M. Mathew, Kalasurya and Kalamayukha will given to those who secure top in the individual items complying the requirements set for the award separately for boys and girls sections. Varous IOC committees are working for the successful conducting of the Programme. Participants can use any of the following contacts for registration. Fax No: ; iocfest2016@gmail.com. Filled entry forms will be collected at Sakina Bookshop, Abbassiya. For group items, the group leader only need to send the entry form. Last date for entry: Sept 30, For any further details, please contact Tel Nos , , , Oct 7 BMC Onam Eid celebrations: Bishop Moore College Alumni Association Kuwait is conducting Onam - Eid gettogether and annual general body meeting on Friday, Oct 7, 2016 from 09:00 am onwards at Kabbad. Various programs are planned on this occasion. Ganamela, Thiruvathirakali, Vallamkali, solos, dance, games etc. BMCAAK invites all the ex-students of BMC to attend the meeting. For more details please contact Satheesh C. Pillai (Convener); Mob QATAR, Sept 22: Milipol Qatar 2016, the leading event dedicated to homeland security in the Middle East, has announced a stellar line up of industry figures that will headline this year s seminar agenda when the event takes place at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center from Oct 31 Nov 2, This year s agenda, which covers three key topics during the second and third day of the event, brings together a contingent of the local, regional and international security and defence experts who will discuss current trends, challenges and innovations in the sector. The past 12 months have witnessed a number of serious incidents that have really tested international security provisions. With the Middle East looking to attract a greater number of large-scale events and tournaments, the seminar agenda this year includes experts in the field who can share first-hand their experience and open the discussion for the region to learn from, Muriel Kafantaris, Exhibition Director, Milipol Network said. A half-day Crisis Management & Resilience seminar will open proceedings on Nov 1, with a particular focus on response, resilience, continuity and security issues arising from terrorist attacks and large scale natural disasters. The morning will include a Keynote Address from French High Committee for Civil Defence, Executive Director, Christian Sommade, which will be followed by international experts sharing their analysis of the past events and insights on future trends and challenges facing the field of crisis management. Panelists and speakers include Lina Kolesnikova Crisis Response Journal s analyst, and Dr Marwan Ibrahim Director Corporate Resilience Enterprise Assurance Group Services and Dubai Airport s, UAE. Concluding the day will be a half-day seminar track focused on Safe/Smart Cities & Large Events Security Management. Covering an overview of the key threats cities are facing, international speakers will assess whether world cities are equipped to respond to new and more sophisticated attacks. Colonel Maxence Jouannet, Civil Protection Coordinator for the EURO UEFA 2016 at French Civil Defence, will provide a case study on the event before joining seminar members from ENGIE, THALES and Amsterdam Smart City to discuss ways technology can help enhance security and information flow, and meet citizen expectations for safety. Rounding off the seminar tracks on Nov 2, Anthony Leather, Senior Consultant Aerospace, Defence and Security at Frost & Sullivan, Daniel Kroos, Senior Program Officer, Energy Security at OSCE, George Eapen, Regional Chief Information Security Officer at General Electric Middle East and more will lead a seminar on Critical Infrastructure Protection Cyber Threat Intelligence. The morning session will explore the risks and need for nations to protect their industrial and sensitive sites, be it electricity generation, oil & gas production, water supply, telecommunications, transport, public health, agriculture, financial services, or borders, with a particular focus on cyber threat intelligence. Milipol Qatar 2016 is marking its 11th edition this year and 20 years since the leading bi-annual event was first held in Doha, under the patronage of HH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, organized by the Ministry of Interior of the State of Qatar in partnership with the French-based Comexposium Security. Visitors can register online to attend Milipol Qatar Early online registrants can go through the registration process and receive their electronic badges in advance by simply clicking on the link: com/milipolqatar/default.aspx and then easily avoid queuing. Muriel Kafantaris Group CEO, Scott Gegenheimer said, We have been working with the UN on its Global Goals for Sustainable Development for some time now, and we are deeply encouraged by the program s aim and impact in adding dignity to people s lives around the world. We feel privileged in playing our part in this noble endeavor, and our latest social media campaign is set to add even more value to raising greater awareness to the view that we all gain when people s living standards are elevated. On her part, Jennifer Suleiman, Head of Corporate Sustainability of Zain Group said, Our region is facing many challenges and we at Zain are keen to use our vast resources and play an active role in the dissemination of the Global Goals call for action message. We believe that if governments, companies, and individuals place the Sustainability Development Goals at the core of their business activities and Yusuff Ali MA take responsibility of the circumstances around them, our world will be transformed for the benefit of all. The success of the Global Goals for Sustainable Development is primarily driven by institutional support from governments and corporations, with Zain Group being ideally placed to create active awareness of the UN s worthy objectives. With this renewed commitment, Zain together with its corporate partners will contribute directly to improving the lives of communities across the region. Last year, Zain Group supported a combined effort with 26 mobile operator groups to reach seven billion people in seven days with text messages of the Global Goals for Sustainable Development. The text message campaign saw 125 individual operational mobile companies in over 100 countries around the world raise awareness of the Global Goals campaign. Yusuff Ali MA placed 25th with $4bn Richest Indians list of Forbes includes LuLu Group chairman KUWAIT CITY, Sept 22: Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) chairman Mukesh Ambani has topped Forbes s annual list of India s 100 richest tycoons with a net worth of $22.7 billion. The list for 2016 also showed that the combined net worth of India s 100 wealthiest is $381 billion, a rise of 10 percent from $345 billion in The latest edition of Forbes Rich list also saw Yusuff Ali MA, Chairman of Abu Dhabi based Middle East retail chain Lulu Group who is placed 25th in the list with a net worth of $4 billion. Last year his net worth was $ 3.7 billion. Yusuff Ali presides over $6.3 billion (revenue) LuLu Group, with 129 stores in the Gulf region, India, Egypt, Indonesia and Malaysia, Turkey and Brazil. New projects include a $300 million investment in Trivandrum in South India that will include a mall, hotel and convention center. The group s hospitality arm owns Dubai s first Steinberger hotel, a German luxury hotel brand and a 50 percent stake in the Sheraton hotel in Muscat, which will reopen October this year after renovations and the legendary Old Scotland Yard building in London, slated to be open as a luxury hotel by early next year. Wealth India s richest pharmaceutical magnate, Dilip Shanghvi, remains at No 2 with a net worth of $16.9 billion. His wealth fell by $1.1 billion along with a drop in the shares of his Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, the world s fifth-largest generics maker. Earlier this year, Sun Pharma acquired 14 drugs from Novartis in Japan for $293 million, which will be distributed by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma. Taking the third spot are the Hinduja brothers with a net worth of $15.2 billion, up from $14.8 billion last year. The four siblings Srichand, Gopichand, Prakash, and Ashok control multinational empire Hinduja Group, with businesses ranging from trucks and lubricants to banking and cable television. The group commissioned its muchdelayed 1,040 megawatt thermal power unit in South India in July. Sluggish Tech magnate Azim Premji, who has led Wipro for five decades, slips one spot to No 4 on the list with a net worth of $15 billion. Wipro, India s third largest outsourcer, reported a 6 percent fall in net earnings to $304 million in a recent quarter amid sluggish sales. To boost growth, the company has been on a buying spree and its most recent acquisition was Health Plan Services, an insurancetechnology firm based in Florida. Reclusive tycoon Pallonji Mistry comes in No 5 with a net worth of $13.9 billion. His engineering and construction giant, the 151-year-old Shapoorji Pallonji Group, is reportedly negotiating to acquire a 51 percent stake in Karaikal Port in South India. He was the recipient of this year s Padma Bhushan, one of India s highest civilian awards. Other UAE-based NRIs to feature on the list include Micky Jagtiani of Landmark Group at No 24 with $4.4 billion, Ravi Pillai of RP Group at No 38 with $3.1 billion; B.R. Shetty of NMC Healthcare at No 47 with $2.5 billion; Sunny Varkey of GEMS Education in 60th place; Sobha Group s P.N.C. Menon in 78th; Azad Moopen of Aster DM Healthcare at 97th and Shamseer Vayalil of VPS Healthcare at 98th place. Uthaman (center), Managing Editor Michael is (right) and award host and ex- British MP (left). Long-time commitment honored Uthaman gets Honorary legacy award KUWAIT CITY, Sept 22: Kuppusamy Uthaman, Chief Chemist, Kuwait Oil Company was awarded Honorary legacy award by the famous oil magazine Petroleum Economist in a function in the Banking Hall of London on Sept 15th, attended by senior officials and decision makers/ministers of oil /energy sector. The award aims at encouraging energy personnel for their long time commitment in the improvement, innovation and achieving operational excellence. He was short listed with Saudi ex oil minister Mr Ali Al Naimi who was awarded Legacy award. Mr Abdul Hussain bin ali Mirza, Bahraini Electricity minister was awarded minister of the year award, also published in Bahrain media and GCC.

27 27 h o r o s c o p e By Jacqueline Bigar Happy birthday for Friday, Sept 23, 2016: This year you often feel as if you need to move, whether it is by jogging, dancing or cleaning your house. You work through tension by participating in physical activity. A controlling person s behavior could pose an issue for you, but you will learn to bypass his or her willfulness. If you are single, you attract many admirers, but most of them aren t as grounded as you would like. Be patient, because someone who is appropriate for you is likely to appear. If you are attached, you discover that you often move your significant other to a new perspective. Listen to your dreams for ideas. PISCES could make you forget about everything else! The Stars Show the Kind of Day You ll Have: 5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average; 2-So-so; 1-Difficult Capricorn - (Dec 22 - Jan 19) **** Defer to a partner or a group of friends. Your caring might be more important to an emotional loved one than you realize. Zero in on your priorities. Make time for this person later in the day. A meeting also might need to be scheduled. Tonight: Be spontaneous. Aquarius - (Jan 20 - Feb 18) **** You could be concerned about a project and can t seem to pull yourself away. You might have triggered a lot of strong feelings, not only around you but also within yourself. Take time to think through your decisions. A cohort could be instrumental in the process. Tonight: Out late. Pisces - (Feb 19 - Mar 20) ***** You refuse to be reined in. You ll want to enjoy yourself with several close friends. Take care of what you must, and handle certain key responsibilities. Make it OK to take off for part of the day. You likely will need some downtime. Tonight: Be a little naughty and nice! Aries - (Mar 21 - Apr 19) **** Your efforts need to be directed toward your personal and/or domestic life. Your ability to develop a clear interaction could be confused by the moment and by what is coming down the pike. A partner might make an unusually caring gesture. Tonight: Head down the right path. Taurus - (Apr 20 - May 20) ***** You could be open to having a conversation with a partner, but you ll need to honor your differences instead of arguing about them. The two of you clearly come from different points of view. Touch base with a friend and brainstorm together. Tonight: You do not need to go far. Gemini - (May 21 - June 20) *** Be aware of the cost of proceeding as you have been. Self-discipline and spending might be conflicting words to you at the present moment. What is happening could force you to take more control of your budget and financial life. Tonight: Do not fight the inevitable. Cancer - (June 21 - July 22) **** You have a smile that draws people toward you. Today you exhibit the best of your sign. A discussion with someone who tends to be rigid will allow him or her to open up to a new way of thinking. Do not push so hard to make an impression. Tonight: Be spontaneous! Leo - (July 23 - Aug 22) *** Honor a need to be less available. Examine what is happening between you and a loved one. You might be best off staying out of the social whirl of the moment. A family member could make a gesture that makes you comfortable. Tonight: Invite loved ones over to join you. Virgo - (Aug 23 - Sept 22): **** Listen to news that could have an effect on your plans. You have a way with a child or loved one that encourages him or her to evolve to a new level. You ll express a great deal of encouragement, and this person is likely to respond in kind. Tonight: Where your friends are. Libra - (Sept 23 - Oct 22) *** Don t push too hard to get someone else to respond. Your ability to make this person feel good will be dependent on his or her mood. Understand that others need to feel good about themselves without your help. Indulge yourself a little more. Tonight: Paint the town red. Scorpio - (Oct 23 - Nov 21) **** Take an overview of what is happening with a loved one. Be willing to break a pattern and head in a new direction. Your ability to touch someone you care about on a deep level is likely to emerge. Indulgence seems natural to you. Tonight: Meet friends at an offbeat spot. Sagittarius - (Nov 22 - Dec 21) **** One-on-one relating becomes more important than you originally had thought. You are able to get to the bottom of a problem that has caused some distance between you and a friend. Still, you might choose not to reveal your vulnerable feelings. Tonight: Make it a cozy night. Born today: Singer/songwriter Bobby Brown (1969), baseball player Hank Aaron (1934), singer/songwriter Sara Evans (1971) home decor indoor gardening beauty tips taste buds print block art albuca humilis blue strokes nail art watercress salad Supplies: Canvas; wood; paper; scissors; pencil; ruler; hot glue gun; oil-based varnish; funky foam Instructions: Draw out your design on the paper in pencil. Using the paper as a template, draw around your paper shape onto your foam. Trim out your design on the foam sheet. Put glue onto the foam, right up to the edges. Stick it onto your wooden block and add pressure for a stronger hold. Varnish your block right up to the foam to make the wood water tight. Leave to dry overnight. Your block is now ready for printing. Using the paint and block decorate your canvas frame. Dear Abby Profession of love is too soon for divorcee By Abigail Van Buren Albuca humilis is found in the Eastern Mountain Region of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. It grows from 3 to 25 cm and has white flowers with the outer tepals striped green and the inner tepals tipped yellow. Site: Does best in low to bright indirect sunlight and medium humidity. Temperature: F. Water: Keep the soil evenly moist and reduce watering during the fall or dormant season. Required: Silver nail polish Blue nail polish Instructions: Step 1: Apply 2 coats of silver polish. Let dry. Step 2: Using blue polish, apply 3 feather-y strokes. Step 3: In between or at the sides of the feather-y lines, draw 3 to 4 dots. Step 4: Apply top coat to protect your nail art. Ingredients: 1 bunch watercress, wash and remove most of the stalk, dry well 2 tbsps olive oil Juice of 1 lemon Salt and pepper to taste Method: Place leaves into a bowl. Combine olive oil, lemon and salt and pepper in a jar and shake well. Pour over endive leaves. Dear Abby: I m a recent divorcee who has started dating again. I have been seeing this guy also divorced for a few months, and he recently told me he loves me. There s definitely a mutual attraction, but I m not ready for love again, which we ve discussed in great detail. When I ask him why he loves me, he can t answer specifically. His usual reply is something along the lines of, I just do. I can t help but think maybe he doesn t really love me if he can t explain why. Am I overthinking this? Is our relationship moving too fast? What should I do? New To This in Idaho Dear New To This: Take your time and continue getting to know this man. Do not let yourself be rushed into any commitment for which you are not ready. Divorce can be painful and leave one or both partners Abigail Van Buren feeling a lack of self-esteem. Because he seems unable to put his feelings into words, instead of asking him why he loves you, let him demonstrate the depth of his love for you through his actions. Time will tell if he is sincere. Dear Abby: My husband s 67-year-old sister recently borrowed a large sum of money, but my husband told her not to worry about paying it back. They both receive Social Security benefits, but her payments are substantially larger. She supports only herself. His check supports us both. The problem is that for the past few months she has been borrowing money she promises to pay back, but when the time comes, instead of repaying it she asks for more money. We can t afford it, but he can t seem to tell his big sister no, and it s causing problems in our marriage. I love my husband dearly, but I m beginning to resent his sister for taking more money from us each month, and him for giving it to her. If I step in, I will be the bad guy. What is the best way to handle this situation? Going Broke in the West Dear Going Broke: Step in and be the bad guy. Tell your husband s sister she won t be getting any more money unless she pays back what she has already borrowed. Your sister-in-law probably won t like you for it, so be prepared to stand your ground and don t be surprised. Dear Abby: I noticed a very attractive woman coming out of the library. She was wearing a soft, feminine short skirt. I wanted to compliment her, so I walked over and said, I love your skirt it looks so pretty. She said, Thank you. You made my day! We had a great conversation for several minutes, after which we went our separate ways. Afterward I was kicking myself because I didn t ask for her phone number. It felt good to know that my compliment made her feel pretty. Do most women appreciate compliments about their clothing? I wouldn t want to make a woman feel uncomfortable. But it brightens my day when I can compliment someone. Larry In Los Angeles Dear Larry: It has been my experience that not only do most women appreciate a compliment, so do most men. If it brightens your day to offer one, go ahead and do it. And if someone has a problem with that, do not make it your problem. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA (Source: Universal Uclick) Welfare Kerala Kuwait celebrates Eid-Onam festivals Fostering Fraternity and communal amity Welfare Kerala Kuwait Celebrated Einam-2016 (a synonym for togetherness through the celebration of Eid & Onam) at Ideal Auditorium, Farwaniya with variety of programs. Creating a platform for expats to reconnect with their roots in Kerala, this year s celebration of Eid and Onam came together which deem to be brighter and bigger than ever before. Around 400 family members from Kerala living in Farwaniya Area, came together under one umbrella of Welfare Party Kuwait to celebrate the largest secular festival Onam and the largest Human gathering on earth the Hajj as both are very close to every Malayali s heart and it is very special as it Photos from the event comes together. To bring unity and communities together beyond the boundaries of their cast creed or religion, Welfare Kerala Kuwait is destined to conduct similar programs in other parts of Kuwait as well. Central Committee Secretary RazeenaMohiudeen inaugurated the cultural session, Farwaniya Zonal President AftabAlam what s on today emergency KIFF to host Annual Sports Meet: Kuwait India Fraternity Forum has scheduled to conduct Sports Meet on Sept 23 at 2.00 pm in Shabab Riyada Ground Fahaheel. Tournament will be held in Football, Volleyball, Kabadi and Tug of War in which popular teams are participating. Separate arrangements and fun games are arranged for women and kids. The program convener, Shihabuddin informed that the public will be given opportunities to take part and witness this grand event. St Paul s Church activities: English Worship Services on Fridays at am and on Sundays at 6.30 pm at St Paul s Church in Ahmadi. The Friday English Service has got separate sessions for Children and Youth. Chinese Worship Services on Fridays at am at House No 16, Street 9, Block 11, Salwa. Urdu Worship services on Thursdays at 5.35 pm at St. Paul s Church, Ahmadi and on Fridays at 5.45 pm at Diwaniya of NECK Campus, Kuwait City. Please contact Fr Harrison Chinnakumar for English and Urdu Congregations and his phone numbers are or and address: chaplain@stpaulskuwait. com. For Chinese congregation, please contact Zhu Peijin and her number is and address is: greenolivettc@hotmail.com DAI Garden Work Day: Love the feel of rich soil in your fi ngers, a shovel in your hands? How about helping to create the resources necessary to get children ages 6-9 in touch with their inner farmer? If so, please join us for a couple of hours today, at 4:00 pm at the Yarmouk Cultural Centre for Garden Work Day. We ll be building garden beds, mixing soil, installing an irrigation system, digging a compost pit, and other fun garden-related activities. We really need your help, so if you re willing to pitch in, please education@darmuseum.org.kw Site for checking travel ban UPKAR Annual Day: Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal Kalatmak Rangmanch (UPKAR) Annual Day talent show celebration today at Indian Embassy Auditorium, Kuwait from 5:30pm - 9:30pm. The program will start with national anthem and lamp lighting by chief guest followed by presentations from UPKAR members and guests. Prior confirmation is a must to attend the program. Dinner with refreshments will be served by our caterers and there will be lucky prizes during the event. UPKAR membership is open to all Indian families. For details please contact us at upkarpost@gmail.com. UPKAR members are requested to register for the event at IEI Photography Workshop: The Institution of Engineers India, Kuwait Chapter invites all members and guests for upcoming Photography Workshop on Sept 23, titled, Eyes like a shutter Mind like a lens. Workshop will have following sessions: Session 1: Basics of composition and copyrights laws Session 2: FineArt photography Session 3: Advanced photography Session 4: Live shoot Seminar will be held at Live Theater, Discovery Mall, Soor Street, Kuwait City. Registration starts at 1:30pm. Please register your name through IEI event attendance link sent through your registered or by sending to ieikwt@hotmail.com. For any question, please call at the chapter s office between 5.30pm and 8.30pm at Extn 314 or Contact Engr Mohandas Kamath (Mob: ) / Engr Sudhir Menghani (Mob: ). TRASSK Onam 2016: We are happy to inform you that Thrissur Association of Kuwait (Trassk) is celebrating Onam on Friday, Sept 23 at Pakistan English School Abbasiya. Various colorful and exciting arts and cultural activities are arranged to enrich the celebrations. For more details, please contact on the following Mobile No: Items for the What s On page can be sent directly to the Arab Times, P.O. Box 2270, 13023, Safat or faxed to or to arabtimes@ arabtimesonline.com. All items on this page are published as a courtesy to the public. These announcements can include birthday greetings, weddings, social functions or any other non-commercial events. Photographs of all events are welcome Tapondo-Aikido, Kuwait Chapter: A Filipino art of self defense, non aggressive and defensive way of martial arts wishes to encourage everyone to join our regular Kaifan Karate Club every Wed 8-10 pm (Friday, 2-4 pm). Easy to learn and applicable to teens, men and women in all walks of life. Contact: Herms , John , Elli Tagalog Khutba for Filipinos: The Ministry of Awqaf, Islam Presentation Committee, & Kuwait Philippine Cultural Center (KPC Center) invites all Filipino Muslim & Muslima to hear Khutba (Sermon) in Tagalog every Friday at Marzouq Al-Badr Mosque, Abu Bakr Al-Siddeeq St (at the back of Ambassador Supermarket and SM Supermarket, near Salhiya Police Station & Kuwait Airways Bldg) in Kuwait City. There will be a community started and lunch after Friday prayers at KPC Center in Farwaniya. For further information, please call KPC Center, Tel Redeemed Christian Church: The Redeemed Christian Church of God (HOD Parish) worship in English. Celebration Service: Friday 9 am 11 am; Divine encounter: Sunday, 6:30 pm 8:30 pm; Digging Deep (Bible studies): Tuesday, 6:30 pm 8:30 pm; Night vigil presided over the function, Kuwait Central Committee president KhaleeluRahman delivered the Eid-Onam Message, Mini Venugopal, Sunoj and AniyanKunjhu gave away felicitations, Farwaniya Zonal Secretary Abdul Wahid welcomed the gathering and Treasurer NizarMarjan proposed the vote of thanks. number 112 Civil ID info: every last Friday of the month from 10 pm. Venue: New Mishref. For more information and direction please call , rccghouseofdavidq8@ gmail.com ENK s worship service: Every Nation Kuwait (ENK) invites you to our Worship Service every Friday, 9 am at Royal King Palace Restaurant, Kuwait City. Pls contact: for more details. Father s Love Int l Ministries: Have you had a challenging week? Want to hear something different for a change? Something positive and energizing? At FLIM, you will find all this and much more... Love, laugher, life and liberty. You will find a community of God-loving believers, who come every Friday, Saturday, Monday and Wednesday to praise and worship together. There always a word of blessing and edification for everyone who comes to the Father s House. So, don t be left out! Come join the family! You will be restored, received, renewed and greatly rewarded! Father s Love Encounter Service on Friday at 11:00 am to 2:00 pm African service on Saturday at 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Empowerment Services on Monday at 6:30 pm 8:30 pm. Tamil Service on Wednesday at 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Please call , , Holy Quran classes: Emanway Foundation Musk is offering classes to teach English-speaking ladies (and girls ages 5 and up) to read the Holy Quran in Arabic. The method is al-qaedah Noorania, a traditional program which has been used for many years around the world. (Note: Al-Qaedah simply means base ; this can be likened to a basic phonics program.) No Arabic knowledge is required. Every Friday from 4:00 to 5:15 pm, beginning Oct 4. Al-Salam Area (south Surra), Block 2, Street 201, House 30. Classes are free, but seats are limited, so register now by calling

28 28 Couch slouch Presidential debates in virtual reality Al Jazeera returns in US with digital news channel LOS ANGELES, Sept 22, (RTRS): After shuttering its money-losing Al Jazeera America cable news channel in April, Al Jazeera Media Network is resuming service in English digitally in US homes. The Al Jazeera English news channel is being made available as a live stream for free for American viewers through its website and other platforms. Al Jazeera reaches more than 305 million households in over 160 countries. But since the Al Jazeera America shutdown on April 30, US viewers could not access its English language news coverage. Al Jazeera English which has US bureaus in Washington, New York, Chicago, Miami and Los Angeles is now being carried in the US as a live stream by Amazon Fire TV and Video; Android TV; Apple TV; Google Chrome and Play; itunes; LG; Netflix; Panasonic; Roku, and Samsung. Additional in-depth digital news content is also being featured. The move was expected. When the Qatar-based media company shut down Al Jazeera America, almost three years after its high profile launch, they said they would expand its international digital service in the US, given that consumers increasingly use mobile devices to get their news. In a world seemingly beset by rising bigotry and extremism, Al Jazeera English provides a wider scope of information, insight and understanding. We are delighted to bring this independent and thoughtprovoking content to the US market, Giles Trendle, acting Managing Director of Al Jazeera English, said in a statement on Wednesday. Despite Al Jazeera s well-established credentials as a global news organization its English-language reports have won Peabody and International Emmy Awards the outlet has an image problem in the US, where the brand is associated with Islamist terrorism, a handicap that contributed to the decision to shut down Al Jazeera America. Indeed, after Al Jazeera burnished its reputation during the Arab Spring, the separately run Al Jazeera Arabic has been linked to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. This contributed to it losing some standing in the Arab world, and some of that negative perception rubbed off on Al Jazeera English. But Al Jazeera Acting Director General Mostefa Souag insisted that the English service is perceived around the world as providing an unfiltered perspective. Al Jazeera Media Network news platforms wholeheartedly committed to the digital revolution of media and bringing our pioneering journalism to people wherever they are and whenever they want it, Souag said. Sully Sharqia 1 12:45 (No Fri) 14:45, 01:00 Muhalab 2 12:45 (No Fri) 15:00, 00:30 Fanar 1 11:45 (No Fri) Fanar 5 12:45 (No Fri) 14:45, 16:45 Marina 1 12:30 (No Fri) 00:05 Marina 3 14:15, 20:45 Avenues 5 12:15 (No Fri) 17:00, 23:45 Avenues 9 00:15 Avenues 11 11:45 (No Fri) 16: :45 (No Fri) 14:00, 16:30, 21:45, 00: :30 (No Fri) 15:30, 00:45 Al-Kout 1 11:30 (No Fri) Al-Kout 4 12:45 (No Fri) 14:45, 20:45 Bairaq 2 13:30 (Fri) Bairaq 3 14:30 Pete s Dragon Sharqia 1 16:45 Sharqia 2 11:30 (No Fri) Muhalab 1 18:45 Muhalab 3 13:30 (Fri) Fanar 1 16:30 Fanar 3 17:45 Marina 3 16:15, 18:30 Avenues 2 16:15, 18:30 Avenues 9 12:00 (No Fri) 14:15, 16:30, 18: :30 (No Fri) 13:45, 16:00, 18:15, 20:30, 22: :30, 19:30 Al-Kout 2 17:15 Bairaq 2 13:00 (No Fri) 15:30, 17:45 Laila 17:45 Al Bab Yefawet Amal (Arabic Film) Sharqia 1 19:00, 23:00 Muhalab 1 16:45, 21:00 Fanar 2 11:30 (No Fri) 13:30, 17:30, 21:45 Avenues 5 19:30 Avenues 8 15:15, 17:15, 19:15, 21: :15 (No Fri) 14:15, 16:15, 18:15, 20:15, 22: :30, 17:45 Al-Kout 2 15:30 Al-Kout 4 18:45 Bairaq 3 12:30 (No Fri) Here s another first for this election cycle: The Presidential Debates will be streamed in virtual reality, and you ll be able to join up with other viewers and have virtual viewing parties, complete with customizable avatars. These VR viewing parties are being held by NBC in AltspaceVR, an eventsfocused virtual world that has recreated the broadcaster s election-themed Democracy Plaza just for the occasion. AltSpaceVR can be accessed via apps for Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR and HTC Vive as well as through a desktop viewer for PCs. In addition to the debates, AltspaceVR is also hosting a few other election-related NBC events in virtual reality, starting with an appearance of Al Roker this Wednesday evening at 6pm ET / 3 pm PT. And on September 29, NBC is going to host a Q&A with Steve Kornacki in Altspace. AltspaceVR has previosly hosted live concerts and comedy nights in its virtual world, including an appearance of Reggie Watts. Some of these events have brought multiple thousand viewers to Altspace, said CEO Eric Romo this week. YouTube and social-media star Tyler Oakley has launched a weekly celebrity talk show on Ellen DeGeneres digital network, with singer Celine Dion and actress Kerry Washington as his first featured guests. The Tyler Oakley Show marking his first major video foray off You- Tube is the initial project under the multiplatform partnership Oakley and De- Generes announced earlier this year. The overall development deal will encompass original content across multiple digital platforms. Oakley s show debuts on the Ellen Digital Network on Wednesday, Sept 21. In the first episode, which can be viewed on EllenTube here, he and singer Celine Dion play a bowl of questions and Tyler gets close to having his first kiss with a woman. Oakley also welcomes Scandal star Kerry Washington, who plays a game of word association, and Ellen DeGeneres makes an appearance to help Tyler create a signature sign-off for his first show, which runs just under six minutes. Upcoming guests on The Tyler Oakley Show are scheduled to include Kristen Bell, Seth Rogen, Democratic VP candidate Tim Kaine, Carrie Underwood and Scott Eastwood. Oakley, who is also the best-selling author of Binge, has more than 8 million YouTube subscribers on over 22 million followers across social media. One of the most influential LGBTQ vloggers, Oakley also co-hosts a weekly podcast, Psychobabble, and was featured in Awesomeness Films 2015 documentary Snervous. tv highlights 19:30, 21:15, 23:15 Laila 15:45 Ashan Khargen (Arabic Film) Sharqia 1 20:45 Muhalab 2 20:00, 22:15 Fanar 2 15:15, 19:30, 23:45 Marina 1 19:30, 21:45 Marina 2 13:30 (Fri) Avenues 5 21:30 Avenues 6 13:15 (No Fri) 15:30, 17:45, 20:00, 22:15, 00: : : :15 (No Fri) 14:30, 16:45, 19:00, 21:15, 23:30 Al-Kout 2 19:30, 22:00, 00:15 Bairaq 2 20:00, 22:15, 00:30 The Magnificent Seven Sharqia 2 13:45, 16:30, 19:15, 22:00, 00:45 Muhalab 1 11:30 (No Fri) 14:00 Muhalab 3 13:00 (No Fri) 15:45, 18:30, 21:15, 00:05 Fanar 4 12:30 (No Fri) 15:15, 18:00, 20:45, 23:30 Fanar 5 21:45, 00:30 Marina 2 12:45 (No Fri) 15:30, 18:15, 21:00, 23:45 Marina 3 11:30 (No Fri) 00:45 Avenues 2 13:30, 20:45, 23:30 Avenues 4 11:30 (No Fri) 14:45, 17:30, 20:15, 23:00 Avenues 11 14:00, 19:00, 21:45, 00: : :00 (No Fri) 15:45, 18:30, 21:15, 00: :30 (No Fri) 14:15, 17:00, 19:45, 22: :30 (No Fri) 15:15, 18:00, 20:45, 23: :45 (No Fri) 16:45, 21:45, 00:30 Al-Kout 1 13:30, 16:15, 19:00, 21:45, 00:30 Al-Kout 2 12:45 (No Fri) Bairaq 1 12:30 (No Fri) 15:15, 18:00, 20:45, 23:30 Laila 20:00, 22:45 The Light Between Oceans Sharqia 3 12:15 (No Fri) 17:00, 21:45 Fanar 1 13:45, 18:45, 21:30, 00:15 Avenues 3 13:15 (No Fri) 16:00, 18:45, 21:30, 00:15 Avenues 5 14: :15 (No Fri) 15:00 17:45, 20:30, 23:15 (No Sun) 23:45 (Sun) :30, 19:15 (Sun) :00 Havenhurst Sharqia 3 15:00, 19:45, 00:30 Muhalab 1 22:45, 00:45 Fanar 3 12:00 (No Fri) 13:45, 20:00, 00:05 Marina 3 22:45 Avenues 10 13:00 (No Fri) 15:00, 17:00, 19:15, 21:30, 23: :00 (No Fri) 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:15, 22:30, 00:45 Al-Kout 3 16:30, 20:00, 22:00, 00:05 Pink (Hindi Film) Muhalab 2 17:00 (No Fri) Fanar 5 18:45 Avenues 1 16: :00 (No Fri) A flyer of the event Cinema Cinema programme from Thursday 22/09/2016 to Wednesday 28/09/ :15, 21:15 Bairaq 3 16:45 Plaza 15:30 21:30 (Tue, Wed, Sat, Sun) Ajial 2 16:15, 19:00, 21:45 Majnu (Telugu Film) Muhalab 2 17:00 (Fri) Ajial 3 15:30, 18:30, 21:30 (No Thu) Hellions Fanar 3 15:45, 22:00 Avenues 7 11:45 (No Fri) 18:15, 22:45, 00: : :00 (Sat) 13:45 (Fri, Sat) 15:30 (No Mon) 19:45, 00:15 Al-Kout 4 16:45, 22:45, 00:45 Snowden Marina 1 14:30 Avenues 7 13:30, 20:15 Avenues 8 23: : :45 How to find us Zahra a Area, South Surra, 6th Ring Road, corner of King Faisal Highway 2. Ajial Ajial Complex, Fahaheel 3. Al Bairaq Between Jaber Al Ali East & Al Agalia West 4. Al Fanar Al Fanar Complex, Salem Al Mubarak Street, near Sultan Center, Salmiya 5. Al Kout Al-Kout Complex, at the end of the Coastal Road, Fahaheel 6. Al Muhalab Al Muhalab Complex, Behind Hawalli Clinic, Hawalli 7. Al Sharqiya Arabian Gulf Street, Souq Sharq, near the Amiri Hospital 8. Laila Gallery Salem Al Mubarak Street, near Sultan Center, Salmiya 9. Marina Marina Mall, Between Salem Al Mubarak Street & Arabian Gulf Street, Salmiya 10. Metro Metro Complex, Farwaniya, near Crowne Plaza Hotel & Farwaniya Garden 11. Plaza Salem Al Mubarak Street, near Sultan Center, Salmiya 12. The Avenues The Avenues Mall, Al Reggai near Al Rai, 5th Ring Road & Ghazali Road Intersection NB: Friday no show before 1:30 pm Regular show KD3:000; 3D-Digital KD3.500; VIP show KD On Monday, price is KD1.500 except Digital movies. Cinescape cinema movies inquiries and Fax Back hotline The Scientific Center Opp Holiday Inn, Salmiya, Gulf Road IMAX 14. Grand Al-Hamra Grand Al-Hamra, tel: , cinemas.com 15. Grand Gate Grand Gate, tel: , cinemas.com :15 (No Mon) 21:30 Ben-Hur Marina 1 17:00 Avenues 7 16:00 Avenues 8 12:45 (No Fri) :30 (No Fri) 14:00, 22:15, 00:45 16:30 (No Sun) Al-Kout 3 12:00 (No Fri) 14:15 Lights Out Avenues 1 12:00 (No Fri) 14: :30 (No Fri) 16:45, 23:15, 01:15 Al-Kout 3 18:15 Oozham (Malayalam Film) Avenues 1 19: :45 Plaza 18:30 Ajial 4 16:00, 18:45, 21:45 Boget Fakara (Kuwaiti Film) Avenues 1 22:00, 00: :30, 18:45, 21:00 Thodari (Tamil Film) Avenues 9 21: :00 (No Sun) Plaza 21:30 (Thu, Fri, Mon) Ajial 1 15:30 (No Thu) 18:45, 22:00 Ajial 1 Ajial 3 Iru Mugan (Tamil Film) 15:30 (Thu) Baar Baar Dekho (Hindi Film) 15:30, 18:30, 21:30 (Thu) IMAX Imax film programme at The Scientific Center Sunday Humpback Whales 3D 10:30 am 07:30 pm Flying Monsters 3D 11:30 am 06:30 pm, 09:30 pm Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 12:30 pm Journey to Space 3D 05:30 pm Secret Ocean 3D 08:30 pm Monday Humpback Whales 3D A flyer of the event CNN s Anderson Cooper 360 wins Frontline, 60 minutes dominate Emmy Awards LOS ANGELES, Sept 22, (RTRS): PBS Frontline and CBS 60 Minutes led the pack of winners Wednesday at the 37th annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards. Frontline collected seven wins in total, including two awards apiece for the films ISIS in Afghanistan and My Brother s Bomber. My Brother s Bomber, revolving around the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie Scotland, won the top prize for long-form investigative journalism. 60 Minutes was recognized for investigative journalism in a newsmagazine series for the Confidential Informants segment anchored by Lesley Stahl. CNN s Anderson Cooper 360 won for coverage of a breaking story in a regularly scheduled newscast for reporting on Europe s refugee crisis. The same subject matter earned a win for BBC World News America won for continuing coverage of news story in a regularly scheduled newscast. The ceremony, held at Manhattan s Jazz at Lincoln Center, included a lifetime achievement presentation to documentarian Stanley Nelson, founder of Firelight Media. The kudo was presented by Bill Moyers. Here is a complete list of winners: Outstanding coverage of a breaking news story in a regularly scheduled newscast: Anderson Cooper 360 CNN Europe s Refugee Crisis - Reports by CNN s Arwa Damon Outstanding continuing coverage of a news story in a regularly scheduled newscast: BBC World News America Europe s Migrant Crisis Outstanding feature story in a regularly scheduled newscast Nightline ABC: A Different Kind of Boyhood and Nightline ABC: Brave Face Outstanding hard news report in a regularly scheduled newscast Nightline: The Unwanted Outstanding investigative journalism in a regularly scheduled newscast: CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley and CBS This Morning CBS Compounding Pharmacy Fraud Outstanding business and economic reporting in a regulary scheduled newscast: PBS NewsHour and The Center for Investigative Reporting PBS Deadly Oil Fields. Outstanding coverage of a breaking news story in a news magazine 60 Minutes CBS The Paris Attacks. Outstanding Continuing Coverage Of A News Story In A News Magazine Frontline: ISIS in Afghanistan Outstanding feature story in a news magazine: Full Frame, Jen Bricker: When Can t is a Four-Letter Word. Outstanding Investigative Journalism In A News Magazine: 60 Minutes CBS Confidential Informants. Outstanding business and economic reporting in a news magazine: 60 Minutes CBS The Swiss Leaks. Outstanding News Discussion And Analysis: Anderson Cooper 360 CNN - #BeingThirteen: Inside the Secret World of Teens. Outstanding live coverage of a current news story - long form: NBC News Specials & MSNBC NBC on Same Sex Here is a complete list of winners: Outstanding coverage of a current news story - long form Frontline PBS: Outbreak. Outstanding investigative journalism - long form frontline: My Brother s Bomber. Outstanding informational programming - long form Frontline pbs: Gunned Down: The Power of the NRA. Outstanding historical programming - long form: HBO Documentary Films HBO Night Will Fall. Outstanding business and economic reporting - long form: Independent Lens PBS The Homestretch. Outstanding Interview: Dateline NBC The Cosby Accusers Speak. Outstanding arts & culture programming: HBO Documentary Films HBO Very Semi-Serious: A Partially Thorough Portrait of New 12:30 pm, 06:30 pm Yorker Cartoonists. Outstanding science and technology programming: Twice Born: Stories From The Special Delivery Unit PBS. Outstanding nature programming: David Attenborough s Rise of Animals ProducerAnthony Geffen. Outstanding short documentary: HBO Documentary Films Tashi and the Monk. Best story in a regularly scheduled newscast: CBS Sunday Morning Water, Water. Best report in a news magazin frontline: ISIS in Afghanistan Best documentary: POV PBS Cutie and the Boxer. New approaches: current news coverage: The Dead Unknown. New approaches: Documentaries: Frontline PBS Inheritance. New approaches: arts, lifestyle and culture: POV PBS StoryCorps Shorts: Traffic Stop. Outstanding writing: 60 Minutes A Crime Against Humanity. Outstanding research: Frontline My Brother s Bomber. Outstanding video journalism: News: ABC News Digital ABC Dead Horse Bay: New York s Hidden Treasure Trove of Trash Outstanding Cinematography: Documentary and long form wild yellowstone Frozen Frontier. Flying Monsters 3D 10:30 am 05:30 pm, 08:30 pm Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 09:30 pm Journey to Space 3D 11:30 pm, 07:30 pm Tuesday Humpback Whales 3D 11:30 am 09:30 pm Flying Monsters 3D 12:30 pm, 05:30 pm, 08:30 pm Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 10:30 am Journey to Space 3D 06:30 pm Mysteries of the Unseen World 07:30 pm Wednesday Humpback Whales 3D 05:30 am Flying Monsters 3D 11:30 am 06:30 pm, 09:30 pm Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 08:30 pm Journey to Space 3D 12:30 pm Mysteries of the Unseen World 10:30 am Secret Ocean 3D 07:30 pm Thursday Humpback Whales 3D 11:30 am 06:30 pm, 09:30 pm Flying Monsters 3D 10:30 am 07:30 pm Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 05:30 pm Journey to Space 3D 08:30 pm Secret Ocean 3D 12:30 pm Friday Humpback Whales 3D 08:30 pm Flying Monsters 3D 02:30 pm, 06:30 pm, 09:30 pm Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 03:30 pm Journey to Space 3D 04:30 pm Secret Ocean 3D Mysteries of the Unseen World 07:30 pm 05:30 am Saturday Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am Humpback Whales 3D 10:30 am 07:30 pm Flying Monsters 3D 11:30 am 02:30 pm, 05:30 pm, 08:30 pm Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 04:30 pm, 09:30 pm Journey to Space 3D 01:30 pm, 06:30 pm Secret Ocean 3D 03:30 pm Mysteries of the Unseen World 12:30 pm Notes: All films are in Arabic. For English, headsets are available upon request. Film schedule is subject to changes without notice. For information call or visit www. tsck.org.kw

29 HEALTH 29 Bid to accelerate basic scientific research Zuckerberg, Chan pledge $3 billion to end disease SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 22, (AP): Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has a goal that s even more ambitious than connecting the entire world to the internet: He and his wife want to help eradicate all disease by the end of this century. Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan are committing $3 billion over the next 10 years to accelerate basic scientific research, including the creation of research tools from software to hardware to yet-undiscovered techniques they hope will ultimately lead to scientific breakthroughs, the way the microscope and DNA sequencing have in generations past. The goal, which they are unlikely to live to see accomplished, is to cure, prevent or manage all disease in the next 80 or so years. They acknowledge that this might sound a crazy, but point to how far medicine and science have come in the last century with vaccines, statins for heart disease, chemotherapy, and so on following millennia with little progress. So if you even just assume that we ll be able to continue to make progress on that same trajectory, then that implies that by the end of this century we will have been able to solve most of these types of things, Zuckerberg said in an interview. He and Chan have spent the past two years speaking to scientists and other experts to plan the endeavor. He emphasized that this isn t something where we just read a book and decided we re going to do. Through their philanthropic organization, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the commitment includes $600 million to fund a new research center in San Francisco where scientific and medical researchers will work alongside engineers on long-term projects spanning years or even decades. The goal is not to focus narrowly on specific ailments, such as bone cancer or Parkinson s disease, but rather to do basic research. One exam- In this Sept 20, 2016 photo, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (left), and his wife, Priscilla Chan, smile as they rehearse for a speech in San Francisco. (AP) ple: a cell atlas that maps out all the different neering, so that basic research is no longer types of cells in the body, which could help relegated to the margins. researchers create various types of drugs. We spend 50 times more on health care Chan s work as a pediatrician seems to be treating people who are sick than we spend a big driver in their couple s decision to take on science research (to cure) diseases so up this latest cause. that people don t get sick in the first place, I ve been with families where we ve hit Zuckerberg said. He added that the approach the limit of what s possible through medicine and science, Chan said. I ve had to to suffer from disease so therefore we should reflects a belief that people are always going tell families devastating diagnoses of leukemia, or that we just weren t able to resusci- Eric Lander, a professor of biology at focus on treating people who are sick. tate their child. The couple spoke with The the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Associated Press in their home in Palo Alto, and director of the Broad Institute at MIT California, where their infant daughter, Max, and Harvard, said he s had some 20 conversations with Zuckerberg and Chan over had just woken from a nap. Their dog, Beast, came by to sit briefly during the 25-minute the past year about the initiative and called interview. their goal the right kind of goal for thinking Zuckerberg and Chan hope that their effort will inspire other far-reaching efforts and volved with the project itself, but expressed about that kind of timeframe. He is not in- collaboration in science, medicine and engi- confidence in it. UN health goals Obesity, violence hamper US progress: study Mark has brought new models to industry with Facebook, he said, adding that while organizations like the National Institutes of Health are fantastic, there is no point in replicating what existing models do. It s very hard with today s science funding to build a team to work on scientific problems that are like what you would find at a world-class technology company, that are that scale, Zuckerberg said. So that s something I think we can concretely help out with. Their new center, called Biohub, will run as an independent research center at the University of California, San Francisco in collaboration with UC Berkeley and Stanford University. LONDON, Sept 22, (RTRS): The United States performs poorly in UN rankings on progress towards global health goals due to its high levels of violence, alcohol abuse and childhood obesity, a study has found. The research, published in The Lancet medical journal on Wednesday, offers the fi rst assessment of 188 countries rankings against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to boost health by improving the environment, food and water and by easing poverty. More than 60 percent of the nations assessed have already met targets on reducing maternal and child death rates, the study showed, but none have met nine other targets including the elimination of tuberculosis and HIV or reducing prevalence of childhood obesity and violence. The United States ranked 28th, below many other wealthier nations, due to its relatively high rates of death caused by violence, HIV, alcohol abuse, childhood obesity and suicide. The United States also lagged among high-income countries on maternal and child mortality, reflecting large differences in the accessibility and quality of healthcare. Iceland topped the rankings, followed by Singapore and Sweden, thanks to good sanitation and healthcare provision and to progress on tackling rich-world health problems such as obesity, chronic diseases, violence and road traffic injuries. The Central African Republic, Somalia and South Sudan had the lowest scores. The SDGs are targets set by the The Chan Zuckerberg science initiative will be headed by Cori Bargmann, a neuroscientist who is best known in scientific circles for her research on the behavior of a tiny worm called C. elegans. Bargmann said the idea of bringing engineers and scientists together presents a unique opportunity to take science in a new direction. Zuckerberg said the couple decided to focus on creating better tools because this is where they see need, based on their conversations with scientists. It s not that no one is doing this today, but out of all the money that our society spends on science funding, probably not enough is going toward tool development, United Nations to tackle a range of pressing problems including food and water security, poverty and climate change up to They follow the Millennium Development Goals, which expired at the end of 2015 and were also focused on reducing poverty and improving health. The aim of the SDG assessment is accountability on progress towards the targets, to give policymakers, aid groups and health workers an overview of gaps and priorities in health care. (It is) a starting point for further investigation on how and why countries are under-performing or performing well, said Stephen Lim, a professor of global health at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at Washington University which led the assessment. Zuckerberg said. Tools, he added, are longterm investments. It will likely take years for the first tools to be developed through this initiative, and even longer before they are used to cure diseases. Zuckerberg and Chan, who have committed to donating 99 percent of their wealth, have spent the past two years meeting with scientists and other experts to come up with the endeavor. The two stressed that they believe that their goal can be accomplished, if not in their lifetime, then in their child s lifetime. It was Max s birth last November that inspired the billionaire couple to give away nearly all their money to help solve the world s problems.

30 Pacific Controls $381 mln debt plan due by end-october Binladin says government started to pay dues paper Pacific Controls, a Dubai-based technology company, will submit a proposal to creditor banks on how to restructure its 1.4 billion dirhams ($381 million) of debt by the end of October, sources told Reuters on Thursday. The company began talks with banks during the summer after hitting problems with its repayments, partly due to delays in payment from some clients as the United Arab Emirates economy has stumbled over falling oil prices. Recently appointed chief executive Sanjay Nayak has held talks with the company s clients to get assurances on continuation of payments and contracts, according to two banking sources who spoke on condition of anonymity. The privately-owned company, which launched in 2000, counts a number of state institutions as customers including Dubai Civil Defence and the Roads and Transport Authority, as well as governmentcontrolled companies such as telecoms firm Etisalat, banks, hospitals and schools. Pacific Controls declined to comment, but in a statement in July said it was confident of a turnaround. Negotiations with the banks are being handled through a newly-formed creditor committee made up of seven international and local banks, led by National Bank of Fujairah, two banking sources said (RTRS) The Saudi finance ministry has resumed payments to Saudi Binladin Group (SBG), the kingdom s biggest construction firm, for its work on government projects, Saudi Okaz newspaper reported on Thursday, citing an adviser to the chairman. SBG was hard hit last year as low oil prices forced the government - its chief customer to cancel or suspend projects and delay payments. It was then barred from receiving new state contracts after one of its cranes toppled into Makkah s Grand Mosque during a storm, killing 107 people, though that ban has now been lifted. With the series of payments to follow from the ministry of finance, the entire rights of 10,000 contractors, suppliers, traders that deal with SBG will be met, adviser Abdullah Basodan told the newspaper. He said SBG chairman Bakr Binladin had met employees to reassure them about the future of the company. The firm has been the leading builder in the kingdom for several years, delivering a number of major buildings including the expansion of the Grand Mosque in Makkah. But its lofty status has come under threat from government spending cuts and economic reforms as well as its temporary suspension from new state contracts. (RTRS) Market Movements Change Closing pts INDIA - Sensex , S. KOREA - KRX , HONG KONG - Hang Seng , JAPAN - Nikkei (Sept 21) , PHILIPPINES - All Shares , AUSTRALIA - All Ordinaries , GERMANY - DAX , Change Closing pts Business Experts predict major Western banks will soon renew ties with Tehran US go ahead on Iran planes lifts trade, banking taboo TEHRAN, Sept 22, (AFP): The US green light for Boeing and Airbus sales to Iran has broken a taboo and opens the door to a potential boom in foreign financial dealings with Tehran, experts said. As well as a long overdue modernisation for its aging fleet of passenger planes, Wednesday s announcement of US licences for Airbus and Boeing serves to reassure other foreign firms and major banks over doing business with the Islamic republic. A taboo has been broken. This deal will ease the fears of major foreign banks and companies which want to work with Iran, an official of an Iranian private bank told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. It will allow financial channels to be put into place for big foreign banks to work with Iran. An Iranian financial weekly, Donaye Eghtessad, said experts were now predicting that major Western banks will soon renew ties with Iran s banks. The approvals from the US Treasury Department allow Airbus and Boeing to proceed with sales worth billions of dollars into a country that had been entirely offlimits prior to Iran s landmark 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. We have issued the first two licences for the export of certain commercial passenger aircraft to Iran under this new policy to Boeing and Airbus, a Treasury spokesperson said on Wednesday. The approval allows Boeing to fulfil a June memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Iran Air that covered the sale of 80 planes, consisting of single-aisle 737 and the long-range 777 aircraft. The sales will be the US planemaker s This file photo taken on April 27, 2012 shows the Boeing logo at Boeing s new facilities in North Charlston, South Carolina. Boeing said Sept 21 it obtained a US government license to complete a sale of planes to Iran Air, moving closer to the first such deal since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Boeing said it remained in talks with Iran Air on a final sales agreement after the two sides reached a preliminary deal in June. The deal is valued at as much as $25 billion. (AFP) first to Tehran since Iran s 1979 Islamic revolution which was followed a year later by a break in diplomatic ties with Washington. Iran s deputy foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said other licences would follow in coming weeks, in comments following a meeting between Iran and major powers in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Before the nuclear deal, which came into effect in January and under which Iran has curbed its atomic programme in return for a lifting of international sanctions, an embargo dating from 1995 prevented Western manufacturers from selling equipment and spare parts to Iranian companies. In January, European giant Airbus struck a similar preliminary agreement as its US competitor to sell Iran 118 aircraft, but it also required US approval because some of the planes components are made in the United States. The announcement of the licences comes after repeated complaints by Iranian Airlines to post record $40 bn profit in 2016: IATA SINGAPORE, Sept 22, (AFP): Global airlines are expected to post record profits of almost $40 billion this year, the head of industry body IATA said Thursday, but he warned the sector faced threats from terrorism, a sharp rise in oil prices and protectionism. Alexandre de Juniac, who took the reins at the International Air Transport Association on Sept 1, also called on Southeast Asian nations to invest in infrastructure to cope with surging demand for air travel in the fast-growing region. The former Air France-KLM chief executive told the group s symposium in Singapore that collective net profit for the airline industry worldwide would hit $39.4 billion, up from $35.3 billion in leaders that Washington was dragging its feet on the lifting of sanctions under the nuclear deal and putting up financial obstacles for the non-us companies and banks lining up to do business with Tehran. Washington has in fact stepped up its own set of sanctions against Tehran over alleged human rights abuses and support for Palestinian and Lebanese militant groups which the United States brands terrorist organisations. In New York, Iranian President Hassan Speaking at his first international keynote address since taking over from Tony Tyler, de Juniac said carriers had benefited from a sharp fall in the price of oil fuel costs are their biggest single expense and a resilient travel market despite slow global economic growth. IATA data shows that the fuel bill for airlines worldwide is expected to fall to $127 billion this year, down 44 percent from 2014 when oil prices peaked at more than $100 a barrel. It will be the first time since 2004 that fuel will represent less than 20 percent of airlines total operating cost, IATA said. Oil prices have tumbled for the past two years and hit a near 13-year low below $30 a barrel in February owing to a global supply Rouhani told the UN General Assembly the US Treasury was complicating transactions between Tehran and foreign companies and banks, state news agency IRNA reported. On the political front, the president, a moderate who has come under fire over the nuclear accord from the hardline conservative camp, will now be expected to argue that the deal is allowing the return of oilrich Iran to global markets. The Boeing deal is estimated to be worth glut and overproduction. But he sounded a note of caution for the future. I am not here to predict an end to the good times, but it would be unrealistic to expect them to last forever, de Juniac warned. What if oil prices suddenly rise as fast as they fell? What if terrorist activity spreads further and intensifies? What would happen if a major economy had a hard landing? Could the current protectionist rhetoric dent demand for global connectivity? The IATA chief also urged Southeast Asian governments to invest in airports and air traffic control systems to keep pace with the rapid increase in passenger numbers, driven by low-cost carriers. roughly $25 billion, and the Airbus accord was initially valued at $25 billion, although Iranian officials say it is worth nearer $10 billion. Neither Airbus nor Boeing has announced a schedule for delivering the planes. Iran s current commercial aviation fleet, which has a poor air safety record, numbers around 140 planes with an average age of around 20 years, with many in desperate need of replacement. Govt needs sustainable dollar inflows Egypt reserves expected to exceed $25 bln by year-end CAIRO, Sept 22, (RTRS): Egypt is rebuilding its foreign reserves with the help of loans and aid, easing a shortage of dollars and preparing the way for a loosening of its fixed exchange rate. But economists and bankers say that unless it finds a sustainable inflow of dollars the import-dependent country could soon find itself back at square one. Egypt has struggled to earn dollars since a 2011 revolt drove away tourists and foreign investors. Its efforts to defend the pound against growing downward pressure drained reserves from $36 billion before the uprising to $16.6 billion in August enough for just over three months of imports. Investors and economists have long urged the central bank to devalue the pound to a realistic market rate and ease the dollar shortage, which has badly hurt business activity. An overvalued currency is hurting exports and stoking up the black market. Central Bank Governor Tarek Amer has said he would consider floating the pound once reserves exceed $25 billion. That level could be attained by the end of the year if Egypt receives the first $2.5 billion instalment of an International Monetary Fund (IMF), loan agreed in August, finalises its $3-5 billion eurobond issue and gets $5-6 billion in bilateral financing being negotiated with China and Gulf states. Egypt has already received the first $1 billion tranche of a World Bank loan and expects a second $500 million tranche of an African Development Bank loan this year. Expose But bankers and analysts say debt obligations of $7-8 billion due this fiscal year and a backlog of unmet dollar requests estimated by bankers at $10-15 billion could quickly devour those new funds and expose the pound to renewed pressure. To transition to a flexible exchange rate, they said, Egypt needs a sustainable inflow of dollars that has so far eluded it. This is the make or break for Egypt, said Hany Farahat, economist at Cairo-based CI Capital. We need to have a cash flow cycle of foreign currency, not just temporary windfall gains from financial support. Bankers point to the billions of dollars Egypt received from Gulf allies in The money was spent yet Egypt was still forced to seek IMF assistance as market imbalances grew. The central bank, which has rationed dollars and prioritised essential food, medicine and raw materials, devalued the currency by 13 percent in March. It said at the time it would pursue a more flexible exchange rate regime but held the pound steady anyway as the devaluation failed to restore confidence. The pound weakened to unprecedented levels on the black market in the ensuing months. Egypt reached a preliminary agreement with the IMF last month for a three-year $12 billion loan programme based on reforms aimed at cutting the deficit and directing monetary policy away from managing the exchange rate towards inflation-targetting. The deal, which awaits final IMF approval, raised expectations of a hefty devaluation followed by a return to the managed floating regime in place before the revolt that ended Hosni Mubarak s 30-year rule and ushered in a period of political and economic turbulence. Peaked But Egypt s regular sources of dollars have yet to recover. Tourism receipts halved to $3.77 billion in 2015/16 from the previous fiscal year, hit by last year s attack on a Russian plane carrying holiday-makers from a Red Sea resort. Tourism receipts peaked before 2011 at $12.5 billion. Foreign investors have not returned as the dollar shortage has forced the central bank to introduce capital controls, making it all-but-impossible to repatriate profits. And though Egypt has embarked on a series of drastic trade measures, cutting the trade deficit by $7 billion this year, the country still suffers imbalances in dollar flows. A flotation could lure back billions of dollars in remittances from expatriates who turned to the black market as the spread between the official exchange rate of 8.88 pounds to the dollar and the parallel rate widened to over 30 percent. But that cash is not enough to cover dollar demand. There is rising, pent-up demand that will eat up $10 billion, said Sarah Saada, economist at HC Securities. The central bank should move the exchange rate but floating, if there is not enough liquidity coming in, will bring the central bank back to square zero. Bankers say the central bank will need a steep devaluation coupled with a series of aggressive interest rate increases to avoid dollarisation and lure back foreign investors. The central bank s monetary policy committee will meet on Sept 22 to discuss interest rates. The bank has raised key policy rates by 250 basis points this year. Bankers say much more is needed. Foreign investment in Egyptian treasuries amounted to about $10 billion before the revolt. It is now under $1 billion. The central bank cannot float the pound before devaluing and hiking interest rates first to avoid a run on the banks in the absence of inflow of dollars, one Cairo-based banker said. Gulf emirate targets status as major oil export platform Ruler of Fujairah, Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, cuts the ribbon to inaugurate the launch of the new $650 million oil facility in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates on Sept 21. The United Arab Emirates has opened its first jetty outside the Persian Gulf that is capable of loading oil onto some of the world s biggest Deepest dock in ME FUJAIRAH, UAE, Sept 22, (AFP): At the mouth of the oil-rich Gulf region, the little-known UAE emirate of Fujairah is positioning itself as a major player in oil exports with a new dock for supertankers. Sandwiched between the rocky Hajar mountains and the Gulf of Oman, the city of Fujairah has evolved around its port, whose oil terminal and storage facilities keep expanding. The facility handled 56 million tonnes of petroleum products in Fujairah s location on the Gulf of Oman allows the seven-member United Arab Emirates to ship the bulk of its oil exports bypassing the strategic Hormuz Strait, which giant neighbour Iran threatens to close in times of tension. Libya oil chief fears financial collapse TRIPOLI, Sept 22, (AFP): Conflict-hit Libya could run out of money next year without a swift resumption of oil exports, the head of the country s National Oil Corporation (NOC) warned on Thursday. It is no secret we are on the road to financial collapse, NOC chairman Mustafa Sanalla told AFP in the capital Tripoli. We are running a budget with a huge deficit and we have spent half our reserves in the last few years. Other major oil producers in the Gulf, including world top exporter Saudi Arabia, have to ship most of their exports through the Hormuz. The UAE in 2012 inaugurated a 360-kilometre (225-mile) pipeline connecting Abu Dhabi s rich oil fields with Fujairah s coast. It has a capacity to pump 1.6 million barrels per day. The OPEC member produces around 2.5 million tanker ships. The launch of the new $650 million facility in the eastern city of Fujairah on Wednesday will make it easier for hulking tanker ships known as very large crude carriers to load their cargo rather than have it ferried to them out at sea. (AP) But in a bid to capitalise on its location, Fujairah on Wednesday opened a new dock for supertankers, built at a cost of 650 million dirhams ($177 million). The new terminal facility allows it to handle tankers up to 334 metres (yards) in length and weighing 330,000 tonnes, port director Mussa Murad said at the inauguration ceremony. At 26 metres (86 feet), this dock is the deepest oil dock in the Middle East, he Sanalla was speaking after an oil tanker left the key Libyan port of Ras Lanuf on Wednesday with the first crude shipment from the terminal in two years. The cargo of 776,000 barrels was also the first to leave the country since oil terminals were seized last week by military strongman Khalifa Haftar, who handed control of the ports to the NOC. Libya has Africa s largest oil reserves, estimated at 48 billion barrels, but production and exports have slumped dramatically through years of crisis. Libya pumped around 1.6 million barrels of crude a day before longtime strongman Muammar Gaddafi s overthrow in 2011, but the ensuing chaos slammed production, which fell as low as 290,000 in recent months, according to the NOC. Sanalla said on Wednesday that production had recently rebounded slightly, to 390,000 barrels a day. said. Murad said the jetty could process two million tonnes of petroleum products at loading or unloading in 24 hours. We are determined to put the name of Fujairah... on the map of petroleum exchange on the regional and global levels, said the emirate s industry and economics department head, Sheikh Saleh bin Mohammed al-sharqi. Continued on Page 31

31 BUSINESS 31 Gulf Keystone warns of investment curbs Tunisia says UK s Petrofac halting work at gas plant Gulf Keystone Petroleum, an oil company focused on Iraqi Kurdistan, warned on Thursday that a lack of export payments from the regional government was preventing it from investing there. The oil producer has not been reimbursed for exports of crude in July and August, the first interruptions to steady monthly payments from the Kurdistan Regional Government in a year. This is obviously a concern for us. We don t know why we re not being paid, Gulf Keystone Chief Executive Jon Ferrier told Reuters. We can afford to start spending tomorrow if we wanted to but I ve got to be confident we re getting the money in on a monthly basis. The company, which is going through a debt-for-equity restructuring, said it wants to invest to bring production at its Shaikan oilfield to 55,000 barrels per day (bpd). It produced an average of 33,000 bpd in the first half of the year. Gulf Keystone expects its restructuring deal to conclude around Oct 14, an agreement that will reduce the company s debt to $100 million from $600 million. The debt-for-equity swap will leave some of Gulf Keystone s biggest bondholders with significant shares in the company. (RTRS) British energy firm Petrofac is halting work at a gas plant in Tunisia due to protests by local workers demanding improved conditions, the government in Tunis said Wednesday. Petrofac informed the Tunisian government that it has begun the process of leaving, including stopping worker salaries and halting technical procedures at Chergui, in the country s southeast, government spokesman Iyed Dahmani told reporters. They began procedures today but if we see any chance of a solution being reached we will do all we can to get Petrofac to stay. Contacted by AFP, the head of Petrofac in Tunisia, Imed Derouiche, said he had no immediate comment to make on the report. Protests since the start of the year by workers demanding permanent contracts have halted work at Chergui, which accounts for 12 percent of all Tunisian gas production. Petrofac works at the site in cooperation with Tunisia s national oil company. The crisis has hit a programme, largely financed by Petrofac and created in the wake of Tunisia s 2011 uprising, to get unemployed graduates into work, albeit often without permanent contracts or benefits. (AFP) Govt may trim growth target after failed coup despite new measures: Simsek Turkey cuts rates again while eyeing infl ation, rating ISTANBUL, Sept 22, (RTRS): Turkey s central bank cut its overnight lending rate by 25 basis points on Thursday, setting aside concerns about inflation and possible ratings downgrades after repeated calls from President Tayyip Erdogan for cheaper credit. Erdogan has led a campaign for cheaper credit in the hope of boosting prospects for stronger, consumption-led growth. The economy grew a smallerthan-expected 3.1 percent in the second quarter, data showed this month. The bank left its benchmark oneweek repo rate unchanged at 7.5 percent, but reduced the highest of the multiple interest rates it uses to set policy to 8.25 percent. It is on a push to simplify interest rates and move towards one single rate to set policy, a process that so far has lead it to repeatedly cut rates. Today s rate statement includes no signs hinting that simplification is finalised, which guides us to expect more of the same from CBRT going forward, said Gokce Celik, Chief Economist at Finansbank. Despite the inflation outlook, we think CBRT might test the water for at least another cut in October, in order to curb the deceleration in growth. All 18 economists in a Reuters survey had expected a cut in the overnight lending rate, the seventh in a row, with 17 forecasting a 25 basis point reduction and one predicting a 50 basis point cut. With the help from falling food prices, headline inflation is expected to display a decline in the short term, the central bank said in a statement. Yet, the recent tax adjustment in fuel prices and other cost factors limit the improvement in inflation and thus necessitate the maintenance of a cautious monetary policy stance. An attempted coup on July 15 has fuelled uncertainty on the economic outlook and sparked some concern about looming ratings downgrades. Ratings agency Moody s said on Wednesday the shock had largely dissipated. It expects to conclude its rating review of Turkey within the next month. Moody s put the country s credit rating on review for a possible downgrade to junk status on July 18, days after the coup attempt, but calm returned to financial markets with the lira recovering after falling to record lows. But Turkey s challenges remain longer-term, Moody s managing director of global sovereign risk Alastair Wilson told Reuters, pointing to its policymaking drives and its economic sensitivity to external factors such as global interest rate shifts and capital flows. Turkey has reformed its food committee which monitors price rises and would work to prevent an unfair rise in food inflation, Prime Minister Binali Oman reshuffles state holdings in step towards privatisation MUSCAT, Sept 22, (RTRS): Oman s finance ministry has begun transferring stakes it owns in listed and private companies to other state-owned corporates and sovereign funds, the country s undersecretary of finance said on Thursday, a move that could pave the way for them to be privatised in the future. Oman has already outlined plans to sell off state assets as it seeks to cope with a budget shortfall in the wake of lower oil prices. Yildirim said on Wednesday, announcing a number of measures aimed at easing the strain on consumers. Turkey could cut its official target for 4.5 percent growth this year as the impact of a failed coup in July and a worsening security situation take their toll on the economy, Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek said on Thursday. Adding to the downbeat outlook, Simsek, the minister in charge of both the central bank and the treasury, said a series of new measures announced this week to ease the burden on consumers would provide little boost for growth. Global developments weren t in the direction we expected when we The aim is to move the stakes to new owners that are more of a natural fit. The ministry s stake in Salalah Port Services Co, for example, was transferred earlier this month to Oman Global Logistics Group, which has interests in transport and support services. Nasser al-jashmi said the transfer of stakes from the government level was aimed at making their operations more efficient and also to improve the management of the companies. We are transferring logisticsrelated assets, and the same applies to other sectors, Jashmi said, noting sector-specific owners could manage them in a synchronised way which coordinated with industry strategies. Notifications to the Muscat Securities Market this week showed the Ministry of Finance transferred its stakes in Oman and Emirates Investment Holding Co and Port were preparing the medium-term programme, the conflicts in our surrounding region continue, terrorism in the country has increased, and we faced a coup attempt, Simsek told broadcaster NTV in an interview. We have to take all these developments into consideration. We may cut the growth target, and increase the current account deficit forecast. Economic growth was 4 percent in Simsek also said the failed July 15 coup attempt harmed Turkey s image abroad and this needed to be changed. From October on we will start another campaign of economic reforms, and we will tell foreign investors to focus on the political stability and reforms being carried out, Simsek said. Turkey purged more than 100,000 people suspected of ties to the network of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom it blames for the coup attempt. What began as a purge in the security services and judiciary has spread to commercial firms and financial institutions, hitting economic activity and confidence. Consumer confidence fell slightly to 74.3 in September from 74.4 points in August, but stayed well below 100 indicating a pessimistic outlook, data showed on Thursday. Still, the government is hoping to ease the burden of credit to consumers Services Corporation to the Oman Investment Fund. The bourse filings gave no further details. Jashmi declined to elaborate on what other assets would be sold or the size of the total asset transfer plan. But he said it would be up to the new owners to evaluate the assets and restructure them if needed. Oman has more than 60 stateowned companies, while the government also holds stakes in many listed firms. - and keep them spending. Yildirim on Wednesday announced a set of measures, including raising the maximum number of installment payments on credit cards for purchases of goods and services, except for electronics and cell phones. Consumers will now be able to spread their purchases out over 12 months, rather than the previous maximum of nine months. The minimum limit for credit cards will be raised to 5,200 lira or four times the minimum wage. The maturity of retail loans was also increased and the ceiling for how much people can borrow for mortgages, relative to the value of the home, was also increased. Way open for Zain, others Egypt mulls int l auction after cos spurn 4G offer CAIRO, Sept 22, (RTRS): Egypt said it will consider auctioning its fourth-generation (4G) licences on the international market after all three of the country s existing mobile phone operators turned down an offer to acquire them. Egypt, one of Africa s largest markets, is selling four 4G licences as part of a long-awaited plan to reform the telecoms sector and raise much-needed dollars for depleted government coffers. It gave the four companies already operating in Egypt priority, but the only taker was Telecom Egypt, the state fixed-line monopoly which needs the 4G licence to enter the mobile market directly for the first time. The established mobile operators, Vodafone Egypt, Orange Egypt and Etisalat, rejected the deal, saying the terms on offer were not viable. In light of the rejections, Egypt s telecom regulator said on Thursday it would consider other means of introducing 4G services to the country of 90 million, including an international auction. The options will be presented to the board of directors at its next meeting, in early October, it said in a statement. The rejections could leave the way open for Kuwait s Zain, China Telecom, Saudi Telecom and Lebara KSA, which had all expressed an interest in acquiring Egyptian 4G licences if the established companies bowed out. There was no immediate statement from those companies. Vodafone Egypt said it had rejected the licence because it did not offer enough spectrum to operate 4G services properly. Vodafone Egypt confirms that it would be ready to acquire a 4G licence if the terms and conditions can be revised, it said in a statement. Orange Egypt also said it could not agree to the terms. Etisalat has yet to issue a formal statement. Sources told Reuters last month the three companies had also objected to terms requiring 50 percent of licence payments to be made in US dollars. A senior Telecoms Ministry official told Reuters at the time the terms had been revised to include more spectrum but no change to the licence payment conditions. Egypt needs hard currency after burning through its foreign exchange reserves as political turmoil hit foreign investment and tourism since a 2011 uprising. Telecom Egypt was alone in acquiring its 4G licence for 7.08 billion Egyptian pounds ($797 million) last month. Analysts said while the telecom regulator could go for an international auction, both sides stand to gain more by resuming negotiations. Telecom Egypt will have to share infrastructure with existing operators which, for their part, would be loath to see their market share diluted by the arrival of new players. We expect further negotiations to take place, since it is in favour of all parties involved, Cairo-based Pharos Holding said in a note to clients. Retaliatory duties for Airbus subsidies could be $10 billion WASHINGTON, Sept 22, (AFP): US trade officials and Boeing declared victory Thursday after the World Trade Organization (WTO), ruled the European Union (EU), had failed to end illegal subsidies for Airbus. US Trade Representative Michael Froman said the WTO found that Airbus had won aircraft sales deals over Boeing in Europe, China, India and other countries helped by $22 billion in illegal subsidies from the European Union and member states. This report is a sweeping victory for the United States and its aerospace workers, said US Trade Representative Michael Froman. We have long maintained that EU aircraft subsidies have cost American companies tens of billions of dollars in lost revenue, which this report clearly proves. Boeing claimed that, as a result of the ruling Thursday, the US could levy retaliatory duties against the European Union of up to $10 billion a year. Today s ruling confirms that Airbus both failed to withdraw old subsidies and instead put in place new subsidies for a grand total of almost $22 billion, Boeing said. The next step for the US government is to obtain WTO authorization to impose billions in retaliatory duties. US officials did not say they were preparing to request WTO approval for retaliatory duties yet, as the Airbus can appeal the ruling. The European aerospace giant also has its own case in the WTO claiming the United States illegally subsidizes Boeing sales. We are ready to negotiate if it (the EU) is interested, a US trade official said. OPEC in new push to clinch first deal to curb output since 2008 DUBAI/LONDON, Sept 22, (RTRS): As far as OPEC decision-making is concerned, Algeria, which plays host to oil ministers next week, has always been the land of surprises. The last two meetings of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) held in Algeria in 2004 and 2008 shocked the market with unexpected production cuts to prop up prices. The stars could align for OPEC again next week when its ministers return to Algiers and look ready to curb output for the first time in eight years, according to OPEC officials and sources. Saudi Arabia and Iran, arch-rivals in oil markets and in politics, are sending conciliatory signals that they want to work together, along with Russia which is involved in talks although not a member of OPEC. This comes despite their backing for different sides in conflicts in Yemen and Syria. Behind the scenes, OPEC experts are trying to work out last-minute details for an output-limiting deal that would impress the market but also allow oil ministers to claim victories at home in front of their respective domestic audiences. This time I think (things are) a little bit different because circumstances are a little bit better, helping (producers) to reach a deal, Iraq s OPEC governor Falah Alamri said on Thursday. He said OPEC had to act when it meets Russia on the sidelines of an energy producers and consumers conference in Algeria next week simply because current oil prices at $45-50 per barrel were not acceptable to the group s members. Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Russia have all ramped up output to historic highs over the past year to fight for market share with higher-cost producers such as the United States where production has been declining due to low oil prices. Iraq is seen as one of key stumbling blocks to a global oil production deal given that it wants to increase output further next year, while Russia and Iran have probably both hit peak capacity and Saudis have never tested higher production levels. But Alamri said Iraq would not kill the deal: We are not intending to flood the market, we are intending to support the market... we will not participate in any action that will reduce the price. OPEC last reduced supply in 2008 when the global economic crisis crippled demand. The first attempt at an output freeze deal between OPEC and Russia collapsed Gulf emirate Continued from Page 30 A port official said Fujairah did not spare any effort to move mountains to be able to handle supertankers. Saudi-Iran experts meeting ahead of Algiers This file photo, in Mardyck shows the entrance to the Total refineries. French oil major Total said on Sept 22, it would cut back costs and investment in in the face of continued low oil and gas prices. Total said it would cut France s Total says cutting costs, investment French oil major Total said Thursday it would trim back costs and investment in in the face of continued low oil and gas prices. Total said it would cut annual investment to between $15 and 17 billion from next year instead of previous plans for $17-19 billion, and that it now intends earlier this year after the Saudis said Iran needed to contribute to it as production recovered following the end to Western sanctions in January. Tehran has argued its production needs to reach pre-sanction levels before it agrees to any action. In the past three months, Iranian oil output has stagnated but Tehran is still insisting on certain exemptions from any OPEC deals to curb supplies. Saudi Arabian and Iranian OPEC officials are meeting in Vienna this week, according to sources, to try to figure out the shape of a possible output deal. It seems that they all want to get some sort of consensus in Algiers. You can see that in the amount of meetings and diplomacy taking place. There is a real push, an OPEC source said. to shave $4 billion from operating costs instead of $3 billion by In February, Total said the global collapse in oil prices, which have fallen amid massive over-supply some 70 percent since 2014, made cost-cutting inevitable. In 2015, it had ploughed $23 billion Other sources said the main debate was about baseline production figures from which output could be frozen or cut. OPEC has two sets of figures, estimates by countries themselves and estimates by independent market experts known as secondary sources. The latter estimates have recently been lower and a more accurate reflection of actual production numbers. Gulf producers are insisting on using these in any output deal, according to sources, in order to help better monitor supply levels. One OPEC source familiar with discussions suggested that if output was frozen at levels seen at the start the year or the average of the first six months of 2016, it would effectively represent a cut from current real production levels. Logically speaking, it could be viewed As much as 22 million tonnes of rocks were quarried to reclaim land and build the new jetty, allowing supertankers to dock and load at ease. Supertanker Kelly inaugurated the new jetty blasting its siren as it berthed for loading. The facility can load or unload two million tonnes of oil products in 24 hours, according to Mourad. The port already boasts a large storage capacity with hundreds of giant reservoirs spread across the facility. Storage capacity has jumped from 550,000 tonnes in 1994 to 10 million tonnes today, said Mourad. The number of reservoirs has shot up from eight annual investment to between $15 and 17 billion from next year instead of previous plans for $17-19 billion, and that it now intends to shave $4 billion from operating costs instead of $3 billion. (AFP) into investments before ramping that down this year ahead of Thursday s announcement of further cuts. Chief executive Patrick Pouyanne said earlier this year that the entire industry was facing quite a crisis albeit forecasting prices would increase by year end. (AFP) as a cut if (all) agreed on using secondary sources, the OPEC source said. Several other OPEC sources said that Libya and Nigeria could be granted exemptions as their output is curtailed by unrest. OPEC s last two meetings in Algeria produced surprise, bullish outcomes. In the city of Oran in December 2008, ministers emerged from hours of talks to announce a huge supply cut of 4.2 million barrels per day (bpd), causing prices to jump. The number actually included earlier cutbacks from previous meetings in the year. And in 2004, when growing Chinese demand was straining supply, OPEC met in Algiers and announced a surprise supply cut. Prices jumped and within weeks the decision was reversed. to 338 in the same period. Refuelling services have also expanded from two million tonnes to 24 million annually. Fujairah officials said they are counting on increased demand from India and China, and on diversification of its services, such as bunkering.

32 BUSINESS 32 Mylan CEO Heather Bresch pauses as she prepares to testify on Capitol Hill in Washington on Sept 21, before the House Oversight Committee hearing on EpiPen price increases. Bresch defended the cost for life-saving EpiPens, signaling the company has no plans to lower prices despite a public outcry and question from skeptical lawmakers. (AP) Mylan CEO Heather Bresch infuriated lawmakers as she tried and mostly failed to explain steep cost increases of her company s life-saving EpiPens. Outraged Republican and Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday grilled Bresch about the emergency allergy shot s sky-high price and the profits for a company with sales in excess of $11 billion. The list price of EpiPens has grown to $608 for a twopack, an increase of more than 500 Mylan CEO infuriates lawmakers at hearing on EpiPen costs percent since In almost four hours of questioning, the soft-spoken CEO at times seemed unsure, or declined to answer directly, when asked questions about the company s finances and profits, angering lawmakers. You could make this thing go away by being honest and candid but I don t think you are, House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, told Bresch as he ended the hearing. Afterward, he told reporters he thought she created more problems with her vague testimony. The frustration was bipartisan. Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the oversight panel, compared Bresch s answers to a game of hide the ball. Defending the company s business practices, Bresch said she wishes Mylan had better anticipated the magnitude and acceleration of the rising prices for some families. We never intended this, Bresch said, but maintained that her company doesn t make much profit from each emergency allergy shot and signaled the company has no plans to lower prices. Families who rely on multiple EpiPens to respond when their children have allergic reactions, whether at home, school or sporting events, have lashed out at Mylan in a growing public outcry. Bresch blamed the furor partly on the complexity of drug pricing. (AFP) US jobs claims drop to two-month low Existing home sales drop in Aug WASHINGTON, Sept 22, (RTRS): The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week to a two-month low, pointing to labor market strength that could pave the way for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates by December. The upbeat initial jobless claims data came a day after the US central bank left interest rates unchanged but strongly signaled it could raise borrowing costs by the end of the year, citing a recent pickup in economic growth and continued progress in the labor market. While other data on Thursday showed home resales fell in August for a second straight month, realtors and economists blamed the slump on a chronic shortage of houses available on the market, which is limiting choice for buyers. The housing market remains on solid ground, with home prices rising at a moderate pace. The economy is stronger than we thought with another turn tighter of the screw for the labor market. If Fed officials are waiting for the economy to improve further before raising rates, they are just too late, said Chris Rupkey, chief economist at MUFG Union Bank in New York. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits declined 8,000 to a seasonally adjusted 252,000 for the week ended Sept 17, the Labor Department said, the lowest level since mid-july. It was the 81st consecutive week that claims remained below the 300,000 threshold, which is associated with robust labor market conditions. That is the longest stretch since 1970, when the labor market was much smaller. Economists had forecast first-time applications for jobless benefits rising to 262,000 in the latest week. The Fed on Wednesday offered a solid assessment of the labor market, with Fed Chair Janet Yellen saying policymakers continued to expect that labor market conditions will strengthen somewhat further over time. The US central bank raised its benchmark overnight interest rate last December for the first time in nearly a decade. It has held the rate steady so far this year amid concerns over persistently low inflation. US stocks and government bonds were trading higher on Thursday amid perceptions that the Fed would increase rates In this file photo, a sign advertising job opportunities with Sears, hangs near an entrance to the store, in LaJolla, Calif. On Sept 22, the Labor Department reports on the number of people who applied for unemployment benefits the previous week. (AP) slowly because of benign inflation. The dollar fell against a basket of currencies. The four-week moving average of claims, considered a better measure of labor market trends as it irons out weekto-week volatility, fell 2,250 to 258,500 last week. Last week s claims data covered the survey period for September s nonfarm payrolls. The four-week average of claims fell 6,750 between the August and September survey periods, suggesting a pickup in job growth this month. Payrolls increased by 151,000 jobs in August. While the pace of job growth has slowed from a monthly average of 186,000 in the first seven months of the year, it is well above the roughly 100,000 that Yellen says is needed to absorb new entrants in the job market. Billionaire denies insider trading allegations SEC charges thrust Cooperman into spotlight NEW YORK, Sept 22, (RTRS): The latest insider trading charges by US securities regulators placed an unwelcome spotlight on billionaire Leon Cooperman, the son of a Bronx plumber who rose to become one of the most gifted stock pickers of his generation. Earlier on Wednesday, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Cooperman and his hedge fund firm, Omega Advisors, with illegal trading in Atlas Pipeline Partners six years ago after they found out about the planned sale of a unit. Cooperman, 73, denied the allegations. If proven true, they would be a stain on an otherwise well-regarded career spanning five decades. The child of Polish immigrants, Cooperman worked his way into Columbia Business School, where he learned the art of value investing, or scouting out mispriced stocks through deep research on companies. He honed that skill over 25 years at Goldman Sachs Group Inc, where he focused on stock research and eventually led its asset management unit. In 1991, Cooperman left the bank to launch Omega. The New York-based investment firm has often produced exceptional returns since launching in It grew to nearly $11 billion in mid- With labor market strength starting to boost wages and mortgage rates still near historic lows, the fundamentals for the housing market remain bullish, even though sales have softened in recent months. In a second report on Thursday, the National Association of Realtors said existing home sales slipped 0.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.33 million units in August. The NAR said a 2014, but has faltered since then, with assets shrinking to $5.4 billion as of Aug. 31. Still, Omega Advisors has averaged annual gains of 11.2 percent from its inception through July, according to a report by HSBC s Alternative Investment Group. That compares with a 9.3 percent gain for the S&P 500 Index over the same period, including dividends. Cooperman s investment returns can be volatile. The firm has often posted double-digit gains after big losses. In 2008, for example, Omega s main fund fell 35 percent, only to rebound with a 53 percent gain in dearth of properties for sale, which was keeping prices elevated, was largely to blame for the slump in activity. The stock of homes for sale dropped 3.3 percent to 2.04 million last month, leaving inventory down 10.1 percent from a year ago. At August s sales pace, it would take 4.6 months to clear the supply of houses on the market, down from 4.7 months in July. A six-month supply is viewed as a healthy balance. Lloyd s of London readying EU move plans BoE warns of financial risks in wake of Brexit LONDON, Sept 22, (Agencies): A Bank of England (BoE), panel says Britain faces a challenging period of adjustment following the vote to leave the European Union, as uncertainty about the country s relationship with the bloc reinforces some financial risks. The Financial Policy Committee said Thursday there continues to be a risk that foreigners will reduce investment in the UK. The panel underscores the threat to the commercial real estate market, where the risks of a sharp adjustment are crystallizing. Prices have fallen and transactions are at their lowest level since The warning comes after recent reports suggested that the short-term impact on Britain s economy had been measured, despite warnings of economic mayhem before the vote. The committee says the central bank s intervention helped prevent more dire consequences. Also: LONDON: The Lloyd s of London insurance market is already working on plans to move some business to the European Union, aiming to be ready for the shift as soon as Britain starts divorce proceedings from the bloc, its chairman said on Thursday. Britain is not expected to leave the EU for several years but the remarks from chairman John Nelson show how some financial players are acting rapidly due to the time it will take to set up operations in countries that remain in the bloc. The world s leading specialty insurance market said earlier this month it would have to operate some business from the EU after Brexit if Britain loses so-called passporting rights for financial companies based in the country to sell products across the bloc. Lloyd s, which started life in Edward Lloyd s coffee house in 1688, and houses more than 90 insurance syndicates in a striking building in the City of London, is already preparing for that possibility, Nelson told Reuters. Our aim is to have a contingency plan so we can write business onshore in the EU ready by the time Article 50 is triggered, he said by telephone. We ve had on the shelf quite a few options, we are now refining those options, Nelson said, without giving more details. Prime Minister Theresa May has ruled out giving formal notification this year of Britain s intention to leave the EU under Article 50 of the EU treaty, but has not given any clear guidance of her intentions beyond that. Irish prime minister Enda Kenny said this week that members of the British government have indicated they may be ready to launch the formal negotiations as soon as January or February European Council President Donald Tusk has made similar comments, citing recent talks with May. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington on Sept 22, before the House Financial Services Committee hearing on the Annual Report of the Financial Stability Oversight Council. (AP) Targets were high even in small towns At Wells, focus on sales all-consuming NEW YORK, Sept 22, (AP): It began with the constant and compulsive pressure to sell. Then came stress-induced health problems. Wells Fargo employees, both current and former, say they spent every day frantically trying to persuade customers to open more accounts not for any bonuses, but simply to keep their jobs. Even in an industry known for performance demands, the sales goals were unprecedented. Employees described a near-obsessive focus from managers on a daily or even hourly basis about whether they were meeting the targets. The selling pressure was even put on tellers at the lowest employment levels of the bank, employees said. It s no surprise that Wells executives called each location a store rather than a bank branch. Every single day the first question out of my manager was, how many appointments did I have today? How am I going to meet my goals? said Mikey McGinn, who worked for Wells Fargo as a teller and a banker from 2007 until July of this year. Wells Fargo s operations are under scrutiny since it agreed to pay $185 million to federal and local authorities to settle allegations that bankers striving to meet the targets opened credit card and bank accounts, moved money between them and even created fake addresses to sign people up for online banking all without customer authorization. The news has reignited outrage in an American public and their representatives, still angry over the Wall Street scandals that spurred the recession. And this scandal doesn t involve complicated financial products, but people s regular checking and savings accounts and employees at the local branch. Employees at the bank known for its stagecoach logo say the immense pressure to sell, coming directly from top executives, spurred them to push products customers did not need nor want. Many are angry that Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf, castigated Tuesday by the Senate Banking Committee, has put the blame on retail bank employees and that more than 5,300 employees have been fired since the bank started investigating. Goals We had to meet sales goals every day or I could get written up, said Khalid Taha, who worked at a Wells Fargo branch in San Diego from 2013 until July Taha said he was one of the few in his branch who met his quotas, but called doing so a miracle. Taha says he never did anything unethical or illegal at the bank. While it varied by branch size and day of the week, a typical employee had to sell between 13 and 15 banking products a day a new account, a mortgage, a retirement account, or even online banking. The targets were high even in small towns. Bankers in St Helena, California, were ordered to open 3,000 checking accounts and sell 12,000 other bank products a year, according to a lawsuit filed against the bank in St Helena and the surrounding towns in the picturesque Napa Valley wine country had a total population of roughly 11,500 people. At least three employees described a tactic known as the mid-session review in which Wells Fargo bankers sitting down with customers would excuse themselves in order to meet with managers, who were supposed to review the customers files and figure out what additional products the employees should sell them on top of the business they came to take care of. Another practice called stagecoaching, had Wells Fargo bankers stationed behind tellers while customers came in for routine transactions, looking for opportunities to sell. I dread it every day. They are in the branch for a debit card, but that s not good enough. You have come out of left field and say, Hey, how s your credit? Let s sign you up for a secured credit card, said one Wells Fargo personal banker from a small town in Southern California, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person still works for the company and fears retribution. Faced with the unrealistic sales expectations and close tracking of their sales by managers, employees looked for ways to manipulate Wells sales system. Bankers in Minnesota, Pennsylvania and elsewhere described a sales culture where cheating the system was par the course. Julie Miller was a Wells Fargo branch manager until 2013, and had worked in the banking industry for Wells Fargo and Wachovia for 20 years. She also says she never did anything illegal while at Wells, but said there were ways to game the system. One tactic her employees would use would be closing accounts and then reopening them, a practice known in the banking industry as churning accounts. Under the guise of giving a customer overdraft protection, bankers would open credit card and savings accounts for them, knowing the savings account would never be funded to a level that would actually provide protection, Miller said. Increased scrutiny Freeports boom highlight risks of shady activities GENEVA, Sept 22, (RTRS): Freeports springing up around the world as more investors store and trade physical assets are coming under increased scrutiny as potential black holes for dodging taxes, laundering money or financing extremists as bank secrecy erodes. Looted Turkish and Italian antiquities seized at the biggest Swiss freeport in Geneva raise the possibility that many artefacts illegally excavated from Libya, Syria or Iraq could lurk in these secretive storage sites, or be stowed there in the future. Quite apart from the loss of such treasures from the public eye, there is the fear they could be used to help fund shady practices and the activities of militant groups. Aware of this, some freeports zones usually near ports or airports where goods can be stored and traded without facing customs duties or sales tax are taking a proactive stance to help head off tighter regulation of a business that has become a backbone of the global art world. We know that lootings helped finance terrorism in the past... To avoid this happening again with Islamic State or others, we decided to systematically check incoming antiquities, starting Sept. 19, David Hiler, chairman of the Geneva Freeport, told Reuters in an interview. The company that manages two sites in an industrial area and at the airport is pressing ahead at its own expense to avoid further damage to its reputation that could hurt business. Rents Founded in 1888 and majorityowned by the local government, the Geneva Freeport rents out space to 230 tenants, mainly logistics firms, but also lets many small customers store goods. Freeports were created to facilitate trade by exempting goods in transit from import duties or sales tax, but are now used mainly to store high-value goods discreetly and safely. Some small centres in Switzerland have closed, leaving 10 Swiss freeports including two near Zurich. But the Geneva Freeport has grown briskly. It opened a high-security art facility with over 10,000 square metres in 2014, taking total capacity to 52,000 square metres. Swiss customs, in charge of checking goods in freeports since they became a part of its remit in 2007, does not publish the value of goods declared by customers. A 2014 Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO) report quotes estimates of over $100 billion for the Geneva sites. The 2008 financial crisis and a crackdown on tax havens that diluted banking secrecy in Austria, Luxembourg and Switzerland piqued interest in relatively confidential freeports, suited to store physical assets coveted at times of market volatility. A boom in the art market up until 2014 followed by a slight slowdown to $63.8 billion in 2015, according to the TEFAF art market report led to art freeports opening in Singapore in 2010, Monaco in 2013, and Luxembourg and Beijing in New facilities in US tax haven Delaware mainly cater to the busy New York art market. Not just storage sites, freeports offer art-related services ranging from restoration and framing to display showrooms. Testing and inspection firm SGS launched its own art services last year, with an on-site lab at the Geneva Freeport. The New York Times reported the Geneva site alone stores treasures from ancient Rome, museumquality paintings by old masters and an estimated 1,000 works by Picasso. Risks Experts cite risks of fraud and money laundering if dirty or untaxed funds are used to buy art stashed away at a freeport. If a wealthy German stores his art in a Swiss freeport, it is almost impossible for German tax authorities to gain access to it, said German tax lawyer Thomas Koblenzer. The 2014 SFAO report faulted insufficient checks by customs, triggering somewhat tighter rules for freeports. Since Jan. 1, inventories of sensitive goods such as diamonds, art or weapons need to state the owner s name. But if the owner is an offshore company, the real beneficiary can stay hidden, as in the case of an Amadeo Modigliani painting of disputed ownership seized in Geneva in April after documents leaked in the Panama Papers scandal drew attention to its presence. The freeports... should be considered as a kind of financial intermediary with the obligation to identify and document the beneficial owner for each good that is or was stored there, said Claudio Mascotto, prosecutor in Geneva. They should be compelled, like banks, to announce every suspicious transaction, he said, adding this required a change to federal laws but was the only way to trace and seize looted or stolen art and honour Switzerland s international commitments. The Financial Action Task Force, an inter-governmental body to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism, visited Switzerland and the Geneva Freeport this year and will soon publish its assessment. The fact that freeports exist in many countries with different legal regimes makes Swiss politicians hesitate to tighten rules that may put the Swiss art market at risk. The major Art Basel fair and Geneva auctions rely on the freeport.

33 BUSINESS 33 Samsung Electronics on Thursday was ordered to carry out more safety checks of its Galaxy Note7 smartphones before they go back on sale following an unprecedented global recall after defective batteries caused some of the phones to burst into flames. Under a recall plan agreed to by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards, Samsung s battery supplier will have to X-ray test every single lithium-ion battery intended for the Note7 before the batteries are shipped, and South Korea orders more checks on Galaxy Note7 batteries Samsung Electronics will also carry out a quality test on every battery when it arrives from the supplier. If there are 10 million units, all 10 million will be reviewed, said Nam Taekjoo, the official at the government agency responsible for product safety and recalls. Samsung Electronics also agreed to do more for consumers who wish to ditch their Note7s and get another brand. Consumers who missed a deadline on Monday to get a refund for the Note7 smartphone, now have until the end of the month to get an iphone or any similar device from the same mobile carrier in exchange for the Note7. The Galaxy Note7 phone went on sale in August to glowing reviews but has now become Samsung s biggest crisis in years. With consumers reporting that the high-end phones were overheating and catching fire, Samsung stopped sales on Sept 2, just two weeks its launch, and recalled 2.5 million units citing a battery manufacturing error. But the recall caused confusion as Samsung sent conflicting messages about whether it was safe to continue using the phone. This week, it started shipping new Note7 phones with safe batteries in the United States, South Korea and other countries, while urging consumers to hand in their phones for replacements. The product safety agency said Samsung had also agreed to send text messages to individual Note7 users who still have not exchanged their possible dangerous phones for new ones. (AP) A man walks by an advertisement of the Samsung Electronics Galaxy Note7 smartphone in Seoul, South Korea on Sept 22. South Korea s government asked Samsung Electronics to extend the refund period for its Galaxy Note7 smartphones that have been subject to an unprecedented global recall. (AP) Companies reluctance to invest pressuring country s economic growth Japan move shows limit of central bank powers, analysts say TOKYO, Sept 22, (AFP): Japan s central bank has revealed yet another exotic weapon to generate growth, but sceptics say all it shows is that the armoury is empty and a long battle against deflation is being lost. With the European Central Bank apparently set to embark down a similar path and the Federal Reserve treading very lightly, some analysts are saying the Bank of Japan s move is an admission of defeat and a warning of the limits of central bank power. After a hotly anticipated meeting on Wednesday, the BoJ said it would switch its emphasis from interest rates and concentrate its firepower on 10-year government bonds. Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said the bank would buy as many or as few of these benchmark instruments as necessary to ensure the yield the interest rate paid to holders remained steady at around zero. He also pledged he would cut back on the number of longer dated bonds the bank holds. That should reduce the price of long-term securities, which in turn should increase their yield. This so-called steepening of the yield In this file photo, Bank of Japan Gov Haruhiko Kuroda speaks during a news conference at the central bank headquarters in Tokyo. Struggling to rejuvenate an ailing economy, Japan s central bank has set a more ambitious goal for raising inflation and announced steps meant to raise the profitability of financial firms. World stocks rose Wednesday after the decision by the Bank of Japan, with Japan s benchmark Nikkei 225 index jumping 1.9 percent. The bank said it would seek to overshoot a 2 percent annual inflation target that it s already failing to meet. (AP) curve is the latest effort to convince Japanese consumers that the price of goods and services will rise in the future. The idea is that if people think prices will rise, they ll rush out to spend their money, causing actual price rises. But the problem, say analysts, is that after more than three years of bootlessly insisting that inflation is coming back (it s barely budged) Kuroda is low on credibility. It s hard not to see the BoJ statement as a further sign that it it is running out of ideas, said George Magnus, an adviser to UBS Group AG, Bloomberg reported. Japan has been grappling with stagnant or falling prices for much of the last quarter of a century, since an asset and stock bubble popped after decades of soaraway growth. The prospect of things being cheaper next month discourages consumers from spending their money right now, making companies reluctant to invest and pressuring a country s economic growth. The government through its socalled Abenomics growth plan and the central bank have been tinkering with their monetary and fiscal policy for years in a bid to encourage people to open their pocketbooks. But, says Barry Bosworth of the Washington-based Brookings Institution, they re missing the point. I do not think that the solution to Japan s economic stagnation lies with changes in monetary policy, he said. The larger problem is in the weak level of corporate investment, which, when combined with high retained earnings, has a major depressive effect on the economy. Companies are not going to start spending their cash piles either by investing or boosting wages until they think there are consumers willing to buy the goods and services they are selling. Ultimately, the BoJ does not operate in a vacuum, said a research note from Daiwa Capital Markets. That s where the structural reforms promised but not really delivered by Abenomics should come in. Given the relatively limited support coming from fiscal policy; Japan s woeful demographics and other structural weaknesses; the weakness of global demand... we very much doubt that inflation will return in any meaningful way. The bad news for other developed economies is that Japan is ahead of the curve. It may have been the first place to enter a period of prolonged deflation, but wobbly performances from Europe and the United States in recent years have sent their economies in the same direction. Both the Federal Reserve in the US and the European Central Bank have implemented ultra low interest rates and quantitative easing. Neither has seen impressive results. The Fed s latest salvo after its meeting on Wednesday was to do nothing. In an opinion piece on Bloomberg News, Lisa Abramowicz said this week s moves show the limits on central bank power in the absence of any political leadership. Together the Fed and the BoJ have made clear that they have gone about as far as they are able or willing to go to fill in the gap left by inaction by lawmakers worldwide, she said. In short, these central bankers are essentially throwing in the towel with respect to searching for ever more creative solutions or making waves. Even if these bankers don t explicitly back away from their efforts, they ve reached their limits. It s the politicians turn now. Good news for biz Banks demand for cheap loans jumps FRANKFURT, Sept 22, (AFP): European banks took up almost twice the amount of cheap loans analysts had predicted in a second round of European Central Bank refinancing, data showed Thursday, which could signal good news for businesses and households in need of credit. The ECB said it had agreed to lend 45.3 billion euros ($51 billion) to 249 banks in the eurozone through its so-called TLTRO 2 programme, under which lenders are expected to quickly pass the funds on to customers to provide a much needed boost to economic growth. The amount was lower than the first round in June, which came just before Britain voted to leave the European Union and lenders were hesitant about the economic outlook. However, it was significantly higher than analysts forecasts. ING Diba bank had predicted a figure of 25 billion euros. Discounting Moreover, on a net basis after discounting amounts borrowed to repay old loans from the ECB the amount was 34 billion euros and actually increased slightly from June. As most banks aren t facing any serious lack of liquidity at the moment, increased demand for the zero-interest-rate loans may be a sign they are more willing to lend, Capital Economics analyst Jennifer McKeown told AFP. The ECB designed the loan conditions to make it more attractive to banks lend to ordinary businesses and households in the real economy. But McKeown cautioned against too optimistic a reading of the data. Given political uncertainties and ongoing high unemployment across much of the eurozone, I don t think this is the start of a massive increase in lending, she said. There s a lot of political uncertainty in Europe that s going to limit consumer confidence and keep a lid on demand for loans. Part of the ECB s toolbox of measures to stimulate the eurozone economy and push up growth and interest rates, TLTRO 2 loans are repayable over four years and offer fixed interest rates of zero percent. The amount banks can borrow under TLTRO is linked to the amount they lend to businesses and households, as the programme is designed to get money circulating. Interest rates on the ECB s loans to the banks become more attractive the more they in turn lend out to clients, and can dip as low as the central bank s deposit rate of -0.4 percent meaning that the ECB would be paying them to take its cash. The ECB plans two more quarterly rounds of TLTRO 2 loans up to March Committee tightens conditions on tax breaks German parties clinch deal on inheritance tax German economic growth will slow in H2: ministry BERLIN, Sept 22, (RTRS): The German economy will lose steam in the second half of 2016 as weaker foreign demand causes industrial output to slow, the Finance Ministry said on Thursday, another signal that Europe s biggest economy is set for a slowdown. Strong private consumption, higher state spending and rising construction activity helped the economy to grow by 0.7 percent in the first quarter and by 0.4 percent in the second. German economic growth was robust in the first half of the year, the Finance Ministry said in its monthly report. But the latest economic data indicate a slowdown in economic momentum in the second half of the year. Growth in industrial orders nearly halted in July and factory output and exports unexpectedly fell, suggesting manufacturing started the third quarter on a weak footing. Demand The reason for the low industrial activity is sluggish foreign demand, the ministry said, adding that it expected subdued factory output for the rest of the year. The economy will continue to grow, however, as private consumption is boosted by record-high employment, rising real wages, low inflation and relatively cheap energy, it said. The economic upswing remains intact. Germany s vibrant domestic economic activity is pushing up tax income, with the revenues of the federal government and the 16 states up 4.1 percent on the year in the first eight months of 2016, the ministry said. That is above the projected rise of 3.0 percent for the whole year. The buoyant tax revenue is enabling Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble to increase state spending on migrants, roads and digital infrastructure without taking on new debt, meaning he can stick to his cherished but internationally controversial goal of a balanced budget before federal elections next year. Meanwhile, German real wages rose by 2.3 percent on the year in the second quarter, data showed on Thursday, in another positive sign for private consumption which has become the main driver of growth in Europe s biggest economy. The Federal Statistics Office said nominal wages increased by 2.4 percent on the year between April and June while consumer prices rose by 0.1 percent in the second quarter. The increase was mainly driven by strong wage hikes for workers in the real estate business, transport and logistics sector as well as catering industry. Real wage rises 2.3% y/y in second quarter In this Jan 31, 2014 file photo of A.P. Moller-Maersk containers on a ship in the Panama Canal. Denmark s A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S is splitting its container shipping and energy operations into two independent entities as part of a major shakeup. The Copenhagen-based group said on Sept 22 that the transport and logistics division will include its shipping, terminal and container businesses, while the energy division will handle oil drilling and production as well as the tanker business. (AP) Co to focus on transport and logistics Maersk splits its shipping, energy operations COPENHAGEN, Sept 22, (RTRS): Rocked by low freight and oil prices, Denmark s A.P. Moller-Maersk will split itself up and focus on transport and logistics while seeking a way out of energy in a keenly anticipated revamp aimed at reviving its fortunes. The 112-year-old conglomerate will focus on its core businesses, comprising Maersk Line, APM Terminals, Damco, Svitzer and Maersk Container Industry, while seeking solutions for its smaller energy operations. Investors gave the news a cautious welcome, with Maersk shares trading slightly higher on Thursday. But some said the $30 billion company had not gone far enough. It might be one of the most pain-free solutions relative to other scenarios, but they could have gone even further, Nykredit analyst Ricky Rasmussen said on Thursday. The weak market has hit the big lines which have invested heavily in megaships, largely to operate the main Asia to Europe trade route. Industry sources have questioned whether there is enough work for the biggest container vessels on the high seas at the moment, putting more pressure on profits. Separating our transport and logistics businesses and our oil and oil related businesses...will enable both to focus on their respective markets. Both face very different underlying fundamentals and competitive environments, Chairman Michael Pram Rasmussen said in a statement. Maersk said it would look for solutions for its oil and oil-related businesses, which are to be split from the main company either individually or in combination in the form of joint-ventures, mergers or listing. Details The company gave no details on how far this process had already progressed or whether it was already talking to any possible partners, but said it would be done within 24 months. Maersk Drilling boss Claus V. Hemmingsen will lead Maersk s energy division through the change and serve as vice CEO of the group, beginning on Oct 1. Maersk Oil... is a small player, so there are many players big enough to take (it) in. Drilling is relatively large, but its competitors are under extreme financial pressure, so it s less likely to find an sale opportunity there, Morten Imsgard, an analyst at Denmark s Sydbank, said. Maersk will hope that by splitting up it can shed any conglomerate discount by allowing markets to value its businesses individually. The group, controlled by the Maersk family, was founded in 1904 by A.P. Moller and was turned into a conglomerate operating in 130 countries by his son, Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller, who had an active role in the company until he died in 2012 aged 98. Sydbank estimates the new transport and logistic division could be worth billion Danish crowns ($26-$35 billion), while the energy division could be valued at billion Danish crowns ($11-$23 billion). Meanwhile, Maersk s oil business is struggling with a 60 percent drop in crude prices since mid-2014 and in August, the group posted a second-quarter net profit of $101 million, well below the $196 million expected by analysts. Otto Friedrichsen, equity strategist at Danish asset manager Formuepleje, with around 45 billion Danish crowns allocated in bonds and equities, has shunned the shipping industry including Maersk, and was sceptical about the split. BERLIN, Sept 22, (RTRS): German governing parties have agreed to tighten up tax breaks for people who inherit firms in a reform to a law that also aims to protect jobs, officials said on Thursday, ending a bitter dispute that has lasted nearly two years. The parliamentary mediation committee, representing the lower and upper houses, agreed that heirs should in future still be able to get a 100-percent tax break if they keep the firm going and preserve jobs. But the conditions will be stricter. The reform to Mittelstand firms medium-sized, often family owned businesses that form the backbone of Europe s largest economy was needed after the Constitutional Court ruled the system breached the principle of equal tax treatment. In December 2014, it demanded tighter restrictions for firms to qualify for tax breaks. Ownership A 2009 law allows ownership of firms to be passed from one generation to the next tax-free as long as heirs keep them going for seven years and maintain employment levels. A dispute between Chancellor Angela Merkel s conservative allies in Bavaria, who had pushed for preferential treatment for heirs, and the Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens had delayed an agreement which missed the mid-2016 deadline set by the court. The deal is likely to be passed by the Bundestag lower house, probably on Sept 29 according to party sources. It had originally been expected to go to a vote on Thursday. It may, however, encounter more problems in the Bundesrat upper house if the Greens, many of whom oppose the reform, vote against it in mid-october. The 16 members of the committee agreed on details including a formula to value firms to calculate their tax liability. Exemptions for businesses worth more than 90 million euros will be abolished while preferential treatment for those worth more than 26 million euros will be reduced. In some cases, heirs will be allowed to pay taxes with private assets. In addition, it will not be possible to use tax breaks on private wealth, such as art collections. Germany s DIHK Chambers of Commerce hailed the deal, saying it would give family firms security as they made investment and hiring decisions. The Foundation for Family Companies welcomed the certainty but expressed reservations. The tax burden for many big family firms may rise significantly and the new rules will require a lot more intensive planning and consultation, said foundation chief Rainer Kirchdoerfer. The head of the Ifo economic think tank, Clemens Fuest, condemned the deal, describing it as an employment programme for tax consultants. Around 90 percent of German companies are family run and they employ around half of the country s working population. In 2015, revenues from inheritance tax hit a record high of 6.3 billion euros, up 15.4 percent from the previous year, data from the Federal Statistics Office showed.

34 BUSINESS 34 Fonterra whips up bumper profit New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra posted a 65 percent rise in annual net profit Thursday, despite challenging conditions in the global market. Fonterra, the world s largest dairy exporter, said net profit for the 12 months to July 31 was NZ$834 million ($610 million), up from NZ$506 million the previous year. Chairman John Wilson said there were signs dairy prices were recovering after slumping to a 13- year low in 2015 but the market remained volatile. The 2015/16 season has been incredibly difficult for farmers, their families and rural communities, with global dairy prices at unsustainable levels, he said. (AFP) Name: Kuwait Sharia Compatible Indices Providers: Al Madar Finance & Investment Co. Description: Index of Sharia compatible companies traded on the KSE Website: Bloomberg Today s Today s closing Prev closing % 1-week 3-month YTD 12-month 24-month Index name ticker value as of value value change change change change change change Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Composite AMIC September 22, % 0.58% -0.56% -5.40% -8.17% % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Kuwait Only AMIC September 22, % 0.65% -0.90% -6.15% -8.73% % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Active AMIC September 22, % -0.93% 4.75% -2.55% % % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Banking Sector AMIC September 22, % -0.52% 0.14% % % % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Investment Sector AMIC September 22, % -2.02% -0.34% -2.41% % % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Insurance Sector AMIC September 22, % -4.94% -4.24% % % % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Real Estate Sector AMIC September 22, % -0.48% 0.39% % -8.50% % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Industrial Sector AMIC September 22, % -0.96% -2.39% -9.63% -7.86% % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Services Sector AMIC September 22, % 2.81% -1.88% 1.52% -2.21% % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Food Sector AMIC September 22, % 0.69% -1.06% 21.18% 4.51% % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Islamic Sector AMIC September 22, % -0.55% 0.46% % % % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Non Kuwaiti Sector AMIC September 22, % -1.08% 8.39% 17.76% 12.82% -4.94% Kuwait Stock Exchange Index - Price KWSEIDX September 22, , , % -0.43% -0.04% -3.73% -6.06% % S&P 500 SPX September 21, , , % 1.76% 2.36% 4.83% 9.97% 7.60% DJ Islamic Index. DJIM September 21, , , % 2.41% 4.82% 5.91% 9.32% 2.49% Bid to boost growth Indonesia cbank cuts its key rates JAKARTA, Sept 22, (AFP): Indonesia s central bank cut its benchmark interest rate Thursday in a bid to boost sagging growth, given space to act thanks to the Fed s decision not to raise the cost of borrowing. Bank Indonesia slashed the rate by 25 basis points to five percent, as expected. The bank shifted to using the current, more short-term focused benchmark last month in a bid to more quickly transmit changes in borrowing costs to the real economy. It was the fifth cut to the benchmark rate this year and the first reduction since June, as policymakers scramble to boost Southeast Asia s top economy, which has been losing steam in recent years due to slowing demand for its commodity exports. Strengthen The policy of monetary easing is to strengthen the push for domestic demand, in order to promote momentum of economic growth, said bank governor Agus Martowardojo. Indonesia has a rapidly growing middle class, and domestic consumption has been a key pillar of growth. Policymakers were given room to lower rates after the US Federal Reserve decided against lifting interest rates Wednesday, giving a boost to Asian markets and currencies, including the Indonesian rupiah. A US rate hike could hit Indonesia hard, as it is likely to spark a flood of money out of emerging markets. Slowing inflation also helped consumer prices rose 2.8 percent year-on-year last month, the slowest pace since late President Joko Widodo came to power almost two years ago on a pledge to boost growth in the G20 economy, but has struggled to get key projects off the ground due to the dim global outlook and Indonesia s difficult business environment. The economy expanded at 5.18 percent in the second quarter, faster than expected but still below the annualised growth rates of over six percent seen several years ago. China foreign expenditure surpass inward investment Beijing looks overseas as part of drive to transform economy BEIJING, Sept 22, (AFP): China invested more money abroad last year than foreign firms piled into the country, data showed Thursday, a first for the world s second largest economy as Beijing looks overseas as part of its drive to transform its economic growth model. Overseas direct investment soared more than 18 percent to an all-time high above $145 billion last year, exceeding the $135.6 billion of foreign direct investment. This historic breakthrough was a result of the enhancement of China s comprehensive national power, deepening cooperation, and Beijing s strategy of encouraging Chinese firms to go abroad in search of growth, the government said. Chinese firms have to make use of international resources and markets to transform and upgrade, the commerce ministry s representative Zhang Xiangchen told reporters at a news conference. We feel companies currently are keen to go abroad and actively integrate into global innovation, manufacturing and market networks. The data was revealed in the 2015 Statistical Bulletin of China s Outward Foreign Direct Investment. China s economy grew at its slowest pace in a quarter of a century last year, and continues to decelerated as the country faces multiple development bottlenecks. Among these are manufacturing overcapacity, insufficient domestic demand and increasing energy and resources consumption. Competitiveness To enhance their competitiveness, cash-flush Chinese firms have sought to acquire foreign brands, technologies and resources. Last year Chinese firms conducted $54.4 billion of mergers and acquisitions, including the takeover of Italian tyremaker Pirelli by state-owned ChemChina. And 2016 has seen an even greater flurry of activity. In the first eight months of this year, M&A surged to $61.7 billion, the ministry said, as Chinese companies scored massive investments, from Hollywood studio Legendary to leading German robotics firm Kuka and Swiss seed giant Syngenta. We think Chinese companies overseas takeovers can help them acquire high-end production elements such as design, research and development, marketing and service to upgrade their positions in the global value, industrial, logistics chains, said Zhang, adding that they can also contribute to the economies of host countries. But problems remain for these firms as they pursue overseas expansion, he said. Some companies went with overseas takeovers blindly. We found some firms did not make sufficient research into basics such as the purpose and necessity of overseas M&As. Some... rushed to expand while some were driven by irrational reasons to simply follow the craze or show off. But while China goes on a buying spree, foreign partners in the US and EU have complained of a lack of reciprocal access to Chinese industries, with many sectors off-limits or restricted to outside investment. Among them are telecommunications, media, energy, and legal and financial services. China s stock of investment in the European Union totalled $64.5 billion in 2015 and $40.1 billion in the US, data showed. New Zealand keeps rates at record low WELLINGTON, Sept 22, (AFP): New Zealand s central bank left interest rates at a record low of 2.0 percent Thursday but warned more cuts were likely. The decision was widely expected after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) trimmed its base rate by 0.25 points in August. Monetary policy will continue to be accommodative, governor Graeme Wheeler said in a statement. Our current projections and assumptions indicate that further policy easing will be required to ensure that future inflation settles near the middle of the target range. Annual inflation was 0.4 percent in the second quarter and has stubbornly remained below the central bank s percent target for seven quarters. Meanwhile, the New Zealand dollar has remained high, placing pressure on the export sector, despite repeated attempts by the central bank to talk it down. A decline in the exchange rate is needed, Wheeler reiterated in his statement. However, the bank is reluctant to cut rates too aggressively in case it further fuels a house price boom centred on Auckland, the nation s largest city. House price inflation remains excessive, posing concerns for financial stability, Wheeler said. Data released last week showing strong economic growth of 3.6 percent in the year to June 30 removed pressure on the bank to act immediately. Market watchers expect it to cut the base rate to 1.75 percent at its next meeting in November, with some tipping a further cut to 1.5 percent early next year. Firm seeking bankruptcy protection Hanjin shares bounce back amid fresh loans SEOUL, Sept 22, (AFP): Shares of South Korea s struggling Hanjin Shipping rebounded strongly Thursday on news it will receive fresh funds of almost $100 million, after its collapse caused global turmoil on the high seas. The shares in the world s seventh largest shipping company jumped some 30 percent after Korean Air, its largest stakeholder, late Wednesday approved an emergency loan of 60 billion won ($54 million) to Hanjin Shipping. Its largest creditor, Korea Development Bank (KDB), agreed to lend up to 50 billion won to Hanjin Shipping. The injection of the fund will be completed this week, KDB said in a press statement, adding the bank will take Hanjin Shipping s accounts receivable and some of its real estate as collateral. The firm is seeking bankruptcy protection at home and in the US after creditors refused to further help Hanjin, which is groaning under $5.37 billion of debt. Fund The Korean Air loan is part of a 100 billion won emergency fund pledged earlier by Hanjin Group, the conglomerate that has Hanjin Shipping and Korean Air under its wing. A further 10 billion won was also given by Hanjin Shipping s former chairwoman Choi Eun- Young. Hanjin is seeing its debts mount every day and the new loans will mainly settle overdue payments for cargo handling and other debts that have caused its vessels to be marooned at sea. Analysts said the fresh injection of funds would help in the short run. This will help put out the immediate fire, Cho Byung-Hee, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities Co. in Seoul, told Bloomberg in reference to the Korean Air loan. This will help unload cargo to ease the disruptions. But what would happen after for Hanjin is another issue. The company entered court receivership earlier this month after its creditors rejected the company s 500-billion-won self-rescue plan. Promised To contain growing chaos in global shipping, Hanjin Group had earlier promised to offer 100 billion won to the firm with the other 40 billion won personally offered by group chairman Cho Yang-Ho. Hanjin Shipping s share price plunged 21 percent Wednesday after news that a Seoul court had warned the shipper it must deal with daily accumulating debts or face bankruptcy. But news of the fresh loans sent it soaring 29.6 percent to close at 1,160 won Thursday, while Korean Air was up 5.4 percent to 33,950 won. As many clients cancel shipping contracts and dock operators refuse to handle cargo for the crippled firm, the Seoul court told Hanjin Monday to return its chartered vessels to save charter fees. Under the Seoul court receivership, Hanjin must submit a business revival plan by Nov 25 before it decides whether to put it under a recovery programme or declare it bankrupt. Of its fleet of 141 ships, Hanjin has returned 37 chartered ships to their owners since entering receivership. Hanjin has been hit hard by the global slump in the world s trade, especially over the past three years. It posted a net loss of more than 473 billion won in the first half of this year alone, after racking up total net losses of about 1.2 trillion won over the past three years. investment funds Funds Fund Manager Valuation Valued date Currency Net Asset Prev NAV Prev NAV Dated Value (NAV) National Bank of Kuwait Money Market Funds Watani KD Money Market Fund NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly Sept 6, 2016 KD Aug 30, 2016 Watani KD Money Market Fund II NBK Capital Weekly Sept 6, 2016 KD Aug 30, 2016 Watani KD Money Market Fund (Islamic) NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly Sept 6, 2016 KD Aug 30, 2016 Watani Foreign Currency Money Market Fund NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly Sept 6, 2016 USD Aug 30, 2016 Watani Foreign Currency Money Market Fund (Euro) NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly Sept 6, 2016 Euro Aug 30, 2016 Watani USD Money Market Fund (Acc to Islamic Shariah principles) NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly Sept 6, 2016 USD Aug 30, 2016 Watani USD Money Market Fund (Acc to Islamic Shariah principles) II NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly Sept 6, 2016 USD Aug 30, 2016 Watani USD Money Market Fund NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly Sept 6, 2016 USD Aug 30, 2016 Watani KD Money Market Fund (Acc to Islamic Shariah principles) II NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly Sept 6, 2016 KD Aug 30, 2016 Equity Funds NBK Gulf Equity Fund NBK Capital Weekly Sept 8, 2016 USD Aug 25, 2016 NBK Kuwait Equity Fund NBK Capital Weekly Sept 8, 2016 KD Aug 25, 2016 NBK Qatar Equity Fund NBK Capital Weekly Sept 8, 2016 USD Aug 25, 2016 Gulf Equity Investment Fund NBK Capital Weekly April 7, 2016 USD Ijara Fund Thahabi Ijara Fund VI Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Monthly April 30, 2016 USD Feb 29, 2016 Thahabi Ijara Fund VII Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Monthly April 30, 2016 USD Feb 29, 2016 Islamic KD Ijara Fund II Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Monthly May 31, 2016 KD March 31, 2016 Islamic KD Ijara Fund III Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Monthly May 31, 2016 KD Feb 29, 2016 Islamic KD Ijara Fund IV Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Monthly May 31, 2016 KD March 31, 2016 Islamic KD Ijara Fund V Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Monthly May 31, 2016 USD March 31, 2016 Islamic Equipment Leasing Fund I Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Monthly June 30, 2016 USD April 30, 2016 Islamic Equipment Leasing Fund II Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Monthly June 30, 2016 USD April 30, 2016 Islamic Equipment Leasing Fund III Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Monthly July 31, 2016 USD May 31, 2016 Islamic Equipment Leasing Fund IV Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Monthly June 30, 2016 USD May 31, 2016 Islamic Equipment Leasing Fund V Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Monthly July 31, 2016 USD May 31, 2016 Islamic Equipment Leasing Fund VI Wafra Capital Partners L.P Cayman Islands Monthly July 31, 2016 USD May 31, 2016 Islamic Equipment Leasing Fund I Ltd Wafra Capital Partners L.P. Cayman Islands Monthly June 30, 2016 USD May 31, 2016 Multi Asset Funds Thahabi Multi Asset Fund Con Portfolio Frontier Capital Management (Jersey) Ltd Monthly June 30, 2016 USD April 30, 2016 Thahabi Multi Asset Fund Mo Portfolio Frontier Capital Management (Jersey) Ltd Monthly June 30, 2016 USD April 30, 2016 Gulf Bank Al Basha er GCC Equity Fund Kwt. Fin. & Inv. Co. & Gulf Fin. House Monthly July 31, 2016 USD June 30, 2016 Coast Fund Coast Investment & Dev. Co. Monthly Aug 31, 2016 KD July 31, 2016 Sanaya Dow Jones Kuwait Index Fund Industrial & Financial Investment Co. Weekly Aug 25, 2016 KD July 28, 2016 Markaz Capital Preservation Program 1 Monthly July 31, 2016 KD June 30, 2016 Markaz Capital Preservation Program 2 Monthly July 31, 2016 KD June 30, 2016 Markaz Gulf Real Estate Fund Monthly July 31, 2016 KD June 30, 2016 Al Ahli Bank Al Ahli Gulf Fund Al Ahli Bank Monthly June 30, 2016 KD May 31, 2016 Al Ahli Kuwaiti Fund Al Ahli Bank Monthly June 30, 2016 KD May 31, 2016 Burgan Bank Burgan Equity Fund Burgan Bank Monthly Aug 28, 2016 KD July 24, 2016 Boubyan Bank Boubyan KD Money Market Fund Boubyan Bank Weekly Aug 23, 2016 KD May 31, 2016 Boubyan KD Money Market Fund II Boubyan Bank Weekly Aug 23, 2016 KD Boubyan Capital Investment Co. Boubyan USD Liquidity Fund Boubyan Capital Investment Co Aug 23, 2016 USD May 31, 2016 Boubyan Kuwait Real Estate Fund Boubyan Capital Investment Co Dec 31, 2016 KD Sept 30, 2015 Kuwait Investment Co. Local Fund Al Raed Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly Sept 8, 2016 KD Aug 31, 2016 Kuwait Investment Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly Aug 31, 2016 KD July 31, 2016 Al Hilal Fund Kuwait Investment Co Monthly Sept 5, 2016 KD Aug 31, 2016 Al Atheer Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly July 31, 2016 KD June 30, 2016 International Global Bond Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly Aug 31, 2016 USD Aug 24, 2016 Diversified Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly Aug 31, 2016 USD Aug 24, 2016 European Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly Aug 31, 2016 Euro July 29, 2016 Pacific Equity Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly Aug 31, 2016 USD Aug 24, 2016 North American Equity Fund Kuwait Investment Co Tw. Monthly Aug 31, 2016 USD July 29, 2016 National Investment Co. (NIC) Al-Wataniya Fund NIC Monthly Aug 31, 2016 KD July 31, 2016 Al-Darij Fund NIC Monthly Aug 31, 2016 KD July 31, 2016 Mawarid Fund NIC Monthly Aug 31, 2016 KD July 31, 2016 Zajil Fund NIC Monthly Aug 31, 2016 KD July 31, 2016 Al Mada Investment Fund NIC Weekly Aug 31, 2016 USD July 31, 2016 Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz) Mumtaz Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly Sept 1, 2016 KD Aug 11, 2016 MIDAF Kuwait Financial Center Weekly Sept 1, 2016 KD Aug 11, 2016 Islamic Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly Sept 1, 2016 KD Aug 11, 2016 Markaz Arabian Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly Sept 1, 2016 KD Aug 11, 2016 FORSA Financial Fund Kuwait Financial Center Monthly July 31, 2016 KD July 31, 2016 Real Estate Fund Kuwait Financial Center Monthly July 31, 2016 KD July 31, 2016 Markaz Fixed Income Fund Kuwait Financial Center Monthly July 31, 2016 USD Aug 11, 2016 Funds Fund Manager Valuation Valued date Currency Net Asset Prev NAV Prev NAV Dated Value (NAV) Mawazeen International Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly July 31, 2016 USD Aug 14, 2016 Markaz MENA Islamic Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly July 31, 2016 USD July 31, 2016 Kuwait & Middle East Financial & Inv. Co. Al Rou yah Fund KMEFIC Monthly Aug 31, 2016 KD July 31, 2016 Gulf Gate Fund KMEFIC Monthly Aug 31, 2016 KD July 31, 2016 Global Investment House Index Funds GCC Large Cap Index Fund Global Weekly Aug 4, 2016 KD July 28, 2016 Equity Funds Al-Mamoun Fund A Global Weekly Aug 4, 2016 KD July 28, 2016 Al-Mamoun Fund B Global Weekly Aug 4, 2016 KD July 28, 2016 GCC Large Cap Fund Global Bi-weekly Aug 2, 2016 USD July 26, 2016 Al-Noor Fund Global Bi-weekly Aug 2, 2016 SAR July 26, 2016 Global Saudi Equity Fund Global Bi-weekly Aug 2, 2016 SAR July 26, 2016 Money Market Funds Global KD Money Market Fund Global Weekly March 31, 2016 KD Feb 29, 2016 Sectoral Funds EPADI Fund Global Weekly Aug 2, 2016 USD July 26, 2016 Islamic Funds Global GCC Islamic Fund Global Weekly Aug 2, 2016 USD July 26, 2016 Al-Durra Islamic Fund Global Monthly Aug 4, 2016 KD July 28, 2016 Kuwait Finance & Investment Co (KFIC) Al Wasm Fund KFIC Weekly July 31, 2016 KD June 29, 2016 Al Basha er GCC Equity Fund KFIC Monthly July 31, 2016 USD June 30, 2016 KAMCO KAMCO Investment Fund KAMCO Monthly Feb 29, 2016 KD Dec 31, 2015 KAMCO GCC Opportunities Fund KAMCO Monthly Feb 29, 2016 USD Dec 31, 2015 KAMCO MENA Plus Fixed Income Fund KAMCO Feb 29, 2016 USD Dec 31, 2015 KAMCO Real Estate Yield Fund KAMCO June 30, 2016 USD Dec 31, 2015 Wafra International Investment Co. Wafra Equity Fund Wafra Co. Monthly Aug 31, 2016 KD July 31, 2016 Wafra Bond Fund Wafra Co. Monthly Aug 31, 2016 KD July 31, 2016 Masaref Investment Fund ISKAN Weekly Aug 31, 2016 KD July 31, 2016 Fajir Islamic Fund Wafra Co. Monthly July 31, 2016 KD June 30, 2016 Shuaa Capital Co. Emirates Gateway Fund Shuaa Capital Weekly Sept 15, 2016 AED Sept 6, 2016 The Arab Gateway Fund Shuaa Capital Weekly Sept 15, 2016 USD Sept 6, 2016 Al Aman Investment Al Aman Islamic Fund Al Aman Investment Weekly July 31, 2016 KD June 30, 2016 Tharwa Investment Co. Tharwa Investment Fund Tharwa Investment Co Weekly July 31, 2016 KD July 14, 2016 Tharwa Arab Investment Fund Tharwa Investment Co Bi-weekly July 31, 2016 USD June 30, 2016 Tharwa World Fund Tharwa Investment Co Monthly March 31, 2016 USD March 15, 2016 Tharwa Islamic Fund Tharwa Investment Co Monthly July 31, 2016 KD July 14, 2016 Bank Al-Bilad Al Seef Fund Bank Al-Bilad Daily Sept 6, 2016 KD Sept 1, 2016 Commercial International Bank CIB Money Market Fund (Osoul) CI Asset Management Weekly Sept 22, 2016 EGP Sept 19, 2016 CIB II Equity (Isthethmar) CI Asset Management Weekly Sept 22, 2016 EGP Sept 19, 2016 CIB and Faisal Islamic Al Aman CI Asset Management Weekly Sept 22, 2016 EGP Sept 19, 2016 Hemaya CI Asset Management Weekly Sept 1, 2016 EGP Aug 1, 2016 Thabat CI Asset Management Weekly Sept 22, 2016 EGP Sept 19, 2016 Takamol CI Asset Management Weekly Sept 22, 2016 EGP Sept 19, 2016 Misr El Mostakbei CI Asset Management Weekly Sept 22, 2016 EGP Sept 19, 2016 Noor Financial Investment Co. Noor Islamic Fund Noor Financial Investment Co Monthly Feb 29, 2016 KD Dec 31, 2015 Al Zumorroda Investment Co. Zumorroda GCC Fund Al Zumorroda Investment Co Monthly Jan 31, 2016 KD Dec 31, 2015 Al Safat Investment Co. Al Safat Local Shares Equity Fund Al Safat Investment Co Weekly Nov 30, 2015 KD Oct 31, 2015 Al-Imtiaz Investment Co. Al-Imtiaz Investment Fund Al-Imtiaz Investment Company Quarterly Sept 30, 2015 KD June 30, 2015 Al-Imtiaz Real Estate Fund Al-Imtiaz Investment Company Quarterly June 30, 2015 KD Dec 31, 2014 KFH Capital Investment Co. Muthanna Islamic Index Fund (MUDX) KFH Capital Investment Company Daily Aug 31, 2016 KD July 31, 2016 Muthanna GCC Islamic Banks Fund KFH Capital Investment Company Daily Aug 31, 2016 KD July 31, 2016 Baitak GCC Fund KFH Capital Investment Company Weekly Aug 31, 2016 KD July 31, 2016 CapCorp Investment Co. CapCorp Local Fund CapCorp Investment Company Weekly July 31, 2016 KD April 7, 2016

35 BUSINESS 35 Qatargas delays start-up of condensate splitter Qatargas has delayed the start-up of its new Ras Laffan 2 condensate splitter, a source with knowledge of the matter said on Thursday. The delay at the 146,000 barrelper-day (bpd) condensate splitter was likely due to a technical fault, market sources said. Qatar was supposed to start up the splitter this month but that has been delayed to October, said an oil products trader not related to Qatari state-marketer Tasweeq. Tasweeq may not be willing to say how many naphtha cargoes it plans to sell for fourth-quarter loading because of the delay, the Southeast Asia-based trader said. Tasweeq officials declined to comment, while Qatargas was not immediately available for comment. Qatar, which usually prefers to tie up most of its naphtha through long-term contracts, had previously offered through tenders a total of 200,000 tonnes of spot naphtha for October loading. These spot tenders were to be awarded on Sept 21, but no results have been made clear. Tasweeq is also offering October-loading Deodorized Field Condensate (DFC) cargoes for sale, two traders who received such offers said. The Ras Laffan 2 condensate splitter processes DFC. October-loading DFC cargoes traded at around $2.50-$2.90 a barrel to benchmark Dubai quotes last month. (RTRS) KSE index closes week with pts upswing Americana jumps 40 fils; KIPCO drops By John Mathews Arab Times Staff KUWAIT CITY, Sept 22: Kuwait stocks headed north on Thursday to wind up the week on a firm note. The bourse, after trading listlessly for most part of the day, closed pts higher at 5,405.8 points led by Americana and telecom service providers. The KSX 15 benchmark eased 1.95 points to pts taking the year s losses to 72 points while weighted index inched 0.54 pts higher. The volume turnover meanwhile rebounded to hit the month s highest level on renewed buying in select counters million shares changed hands a 81.8 percent surge from the day before. The sectors closed mostly in the positive turf. Technology outshone the rest with 2.90 percent gain whereas insurance shed 0.49 percent, the worst performer of the day. In terms of volume, financial services mustered the highest market share of 55 pct while real estate and industrials trailed far behind with 15.8 percent and 8.4 pct contributions respectively. Among the standout performers, Kuwait Food Co (Americana) jumped 40 fils to KD after the company said that its stake sale is nearing completion. Commercial Bank of Kuwait rose 10 fils and Mezzan Holding Co was up by same measure to settle at KD Zain gained 5 fils on back of 2.4 million shares and Wataniya Telecom (Ooredoo) vaulted 80 fils to KD after pulling lower in the last session. Kuwait Telecommunications Co (VIVA) rose 10 fils and Agility was up 5 fils at KD off early lows. KIPCO dropped 10 fils to KD and Kuwait Financial Centre stood pat at 85 fils. The company has posted a first half net profit of KD 810,000 and earnings per share of 2 fils down from net profit of KD 3.73 million and earnings per share of 8 fils in H1 of The market opened slightly firm and moved sideways in early trade. It climbed briefly amid buying in select counters and eased back to opening level. It moved listlessly in the second half before revving up in the final minutes to close with modest gains. Top gainer of the day, Ooredoo soared 7.14 pct while Massaleh climbed 6.58 percent to stand next. Kuwait Cable Vision Co slid 8.33 pct, the steepest decliner of the day and Al Mal Investment Co topped the volume with 8.4 million shares. Mirroring the day s upswing the market spread was skewed towards the winners. 52 stocks advanced whereas 25 closed lower. Of the 129 counters active on Thursday, 52 closed flat. 2,283 deals worth KD 8.8 million were transacted a 159 pct surge in value from the day before. National Industries Group dialed up 2 fils to end at 116 fils while Gulf Cable was unchanged at KD Kuwait Foundry Co gained 6 fils with thin trading and ACICO Industries rose 6 fils to 170 fils. Paused Equipment Holding Co paused at 44 fils and Refrigeration Ind. and Storage Co pulled 10 fils lower. The company has registered a net profit of KD 2.99 million and earnings per share of fils in the first half of Jazeera Airways gave up 10 fils before closing at KD and ALAFCO stood pat at 212 fils. Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport Co took in 0.5 fil and KGL Logistics closed 1 fil in green. Zimah Holding Co dialed up 0.5 fil and Combined Group Contracting Co dropped 10 fils. The company has registered a net profit of KD 219,574 and earnings per share of 1.63 fils in the first six months of 2016 as against net profit of KD 2.1 million and earnings per share of fils in H1 of OSOS Holding Co climbed 6 fils and Kuwait National Cinema Company stalled at KD The company has posted a net profit of KD 4.93 million and earnings per share of fils as against a net profit of KD 5,98 million and earning per share of fils in the same period last year. In the banking sector, National Bank of Kuwait slipped 10 fils to KD while Gulf Cable dialed up 2 fils before settling at 234 fils. Al Ahli Bank rose 5 fils with thin trading whereas Ahli United Bank stagnated at KD Kuwait Finance House fell 5 fils to 460 fils after trading 1.23 million shares and Burgan Bank stood ground at 325 fils. Boubyan Bank paused at KD and Warba Bank dialed up 2 fils to close at 168 fils. Kuwait Investment Co eased 1 fil to 86 fils and International Financial Advisors paused at 31 fils. National Investment Co added 2 fils on back of 3.9 million shares whereas Securities Group Co and Bayan Investment Co closed flat at 85 fils and 32.5 fils respectively. Gulf Investment House and Aayan Investment Co gave up 0.5 fil each whereas Sokouk Holding and Noor Investment Co stood pat at 31.5 fils and 40 fils respectively. Ektittab Holding Co closed 0.5 percent in green. Kuwait Real Estate and m National Real Estate Co were flat at 51 fils and 76 fils respectively whereas United Real Estate Co added 2 fils. Mabanee Co and Mazaya Holding Co stood pat at KD and 112 fils respectively. The market was mixed during the week. The price index closed lower in three of the five sessions and shed 24 points week-on-week. It has dipped 14 pts from start of the month and is down 3.73 pct year-to-date. KSE, with 198 listed companies, is the second largest bourse in the region. In the bourse related news, Hilal Cement Company has posted a net profit of KD 20,659 and earnings per share of 0.2 fils in the six-months period ending June 6, 2016 rebounding from a net loss of KD 95,105 and loss per share of 1.1 fil in the same period last year. Metal and Recycling Co. clocked a net profit of KD 118,386 and earnings per share of 1.58 fils in the sixmonth period ending June 31,2016 rebounding from net loss of KD 185,711 and losses per share of 2.48 fils in same period last year. Gulf Glass Manufacturing Company has registered a net profit of KD 941,711 and earnings per share of fils in the six-month period ending June 30 as against a net profit of KD 1.39 million and earnings per share of fils in the same period last year. Asiya Capital Investments Company has clocked a net loss of KD 5.46 million and loss per shareof 7.03 fils in the January-June period sliding from a net profit of KD 1.77 million and earnings per share of 2.29 fils in the same period last year. Salhia Real Estate Company won the approval of Capital Markets Authority to buy back or sell a maximum of 10 percent of its shares for 6 months from date of the approval. Mideast Stocks Dubai top gainer; Egypt slips Gulf shares cheer Fed decision DUBAI, Sept 22, (RTRS): Stocks in the Gulf rallied on Thursday, taking their cue from global shares after the Federal Reserve left US interest rates unchanged and indicated a slower pace of future hikes. Dubai s main index was the top gainer among its regional peers, jumping 2.0 percent in the most active trade of the week as nine-tenths of the traded shares rose. Emaar Properties, the largest listed developer and Dubai Investments each gained 2.9 percent. In neighbouring Abu Dhabi, the index advanced 1.0 percent with gainers outnumbering losers by 12 to five. Abu Dhabi National Energy was the second top gainer, soaring 8.0 percent as Brent futures bounced above $47 a barrel as the dollar the currency in which the commodity trades was knocked down. But Dana Gas fell 1.7 percent after it said on Thursday its board had discussed a proposal to buy back shares in the company. The company also expressed its dissatisfaction with the non-payment of the company s outstanding dues in Egypt without elaborating. Qatar s main index rose 1.6 percent with three-quarters of the shares advancing, trimming its loss for a volatile week to 1.2 percent. Some of the chief gainers were this week s new entrants to the FTSE s secondary emerging market index. Qatar Insurance jumped 3.1 percent and Doha Bank climbed 3.3 percent. In Egypt, the main index fell 0.3 percent, taking its losses for the week to 0.8 percent. Global Telecom Holding dropped 1.4 percent. Cairo s three established mobile phone operators have declined to buy fourth-generation (4G) service licences, two Egyptian telecoms officials told Reuters. The only operator which had acquired the licence last month was Telecom Egypt, which jumped 2.2 percent on Thursday. The country s fixedline monopoly will now enter the mobile phone market directly for the first time, giving it a distinctive edge over other operators in the industry. The main term in the licence creating the deadlock, in our view, is the dollar portion of the licence, presumably which the operators would find difficult to fulfil, while the government would be keen to receive the dollar payments in one go, said a note by Cairo s Naeem Brokerage. Telecom Egypt had on Aug 31 paid 5.2 billion Egyptian pounds ($ million) for the licence, 50 percent of which was paid in dollars. The rest will be paid over four years. Analysts at Naeem Brokerage added that such an impasse between regulators and mobile operators could cause damage to the future prospects of their operations in the country, and open the door wider for other international players to acquire the licence. Saudi Arabia s stock market was closed on Thursday in observance of the kingdom s national day holiday. It will resume trade on Sunday Sept 25. Qatar The index added 1.6 percent to 10,413 points. Dubai The index gained 2.0 percent to 3,514 points. Abu Dhabi The index rose 1.0 percent to 4,515 points. Egypt The index added 0.3 percent to 7,914 points. Bahrain The index was flat at 1,134 points. Oman The index added 0.3 percent to 5,766 points.

36 36 BUSINESS Wal-Mart to face class-action over alleged bribery A federal judge has granted classaction status to Wal-Mart investors suing the world s largest retailer over allegations that it covered up a bribery scheme in Mexico to help its business there. The allegations included that Wal-Mart s Mexican unit paid millions of dollars in bribes to speed building permits and gain other favors. In a ruling this week, US District Judge Susan Hickey in Fayetteville, Arkansas, dismissed Wal-Mart s argument that a Michigan retirement fund could not lead a classaction suit because it suffered no related financial losses. Wal-Mart s stance was based on a certain accounting method. But Hickey ruled that the pension fund, the City of Pontiac General Employees Retirement System, showed losses using another accounting method and that Wal- Mart failed to adequately explain why its accounting method was preferable. Judicial economy and the best interests of the class members favor class certification, Hickey wrote. Randy Hargrove, a spokesman for Bentonville, Arkansas-based Wal-Mart, said the company is considering its options, including an appeal. We continue to believe that the claims here are not appropriate for certifying class, he said. (AP) 3 former Tesco execs to plead not guilty Three former senior executives of Tesco, Britain s biggest retailer, will plead not guilty to fraud and false accounting charges, their lawyers said as the men appeared in court for the first time since being charged earlier this month. Christopher Bush, 50, who was managing director of Tesco UK, Carl Rogberg, 49, who was UK finance director, and John Scouler, 48, who was UK food commercial director, were charged by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) on Sept 9 with one count of fraud by abuse of position and one count of false accounting. During a brief appearance at London s Westminster Magistrates Court on Thursday, they spoke only to confirm their names, addresses and ages. However, lawyers for the men said their clients would plead not guilty. Judge Vanessa Baraitser said the trio would face trial at Southwark Crown Court in London and granted them unconditional bail until their next court appearance on Oct 20. The SFO said the alleged crimes occurred between February 1 and September 23, Tesco issued a statement to the Stock Exchange on Sept. 22, 2014 saying that during its final preparations for a forthcoming interim results announcement it had identified a 250 million pound ($327 million) overstatement of first half profit, mainly due to booking commercial deals with suppliers too early. (RTRS) LOS ANGELES: Viacom, the struggling entertainment conglomerate, is facing still another challenge. Credit-rating agency Moody s has cut the company s status, leaving it hovering just above junk status. Moody s said Thursday it had cut Viacom s rating to Baa3 from Baa2, just a day after the New York owner of MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central said its interim CEO, Tom Dooley, would step down in November. Viacom also cut its dividend in half and indicated it was no longer entertaining the idea of selling a minority stake in its Paramount movie studio. Today s rating action reflects the continued weaker than anticipated rebound in the company s operating performance and cash flow contributions, and our expectation for higher near-term adjusted leverage, which is well beyond levels commensurate with a Baa2 senior unsecured rating, Moody s analyst Neil Begley wrote in the report. (RTRS) DETROIT: Tesla says an update to its Autopilot system will disable automatic steering if a driver doesn t keep their hands on the wheel. Version 8.0 of Tesla s software began moving over the Internet to its electric vehicles Wednesday night. Earlier versions warned the driver and slowed the car to a stop if no hands were detected on the steering wheel. It s unclear if the cars will still do that. Automatic steering won t resume until the car is parked. The new version of Autopilot also relies more on radar than cameras. Tesla says the change should help avoid crashes like the one that killed a driver in Florida last May. (AP) NEW YORK: Lennar will spend $643 million to acquire luxury homebuilder WCI Communities Inc, tying up two of the largest home construction companies in Florida as the US real estate market continues to heat up. Despite the monthly decline reported this week by the Commerce Department, construction activity has accelerated for much this year. Builders are increasingly optimistic about sales growth, a reflection of how steady job gains are leading more Americans to purchase new houses and sign leases for new apartments. On Tuesday, Lennar reported a 5 percent jump in third-quarter profit and its revenue continues to rise as it delivers more homes. (AP) LONDON: Britain s decision to leave the European Union was likely to diminish London s role as a global financial centre, potentially creating opportunities for Pan- European exchange Euronext to win Chinese business, its chief executive told Bloomberg Television. Stephane Boujnah said Chinese investors were weighing their options about the right gateway for the European market. Post-Brexit, there is more uncertainty about the future of relationships between the UK and continental Europe, he told Bloomberg. (RTRS) BERLIN: Energy company Vattenfall AB says it has received approval from the European Commission to sell its lossmaking coal assets in Germany. The Swedish state-owned company said Thursday that it expects the transfer to Czech energy company EPH and private equity group PPF Investments to be completed in the coming weeks. The assets include four active mines and one former open-cast lignite mine in the eastern German states of Brandenburg and Saxony. Vattenfall is also selling three coalfired power plants and a 50 percent share in a fourth to the Czech consortium. (AP) STOCKHOLM: Telecoms equipment maker Ericsson plans to end manufacturing in Sweden with the loss of around 3,000 jobs, Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet reported late Wednesday. The daily said it had obtained confidential documents outlining a three billion kronor (313-million-euro, $350-million) cost-cutting programme. According to Svenska Dagbladet, 60 percent of the savings were to be made in Sweden, and the remainder abroad. Ericsson was not immediately available for comment. (AFP) NASHVILLE: A group billing itself as a competitor to the United Auto Workers union at the Volkswagen plant in Tennessee has failed to meet minimum enrollment standards under the German automaker s internal labor policy. Volkswagen announced to workers on Thursday morning that the UAW has once again been verified as representing at least 45 percent of workers at the plant, qualifying the union for the top tier of the policy, which enables the UAW to interact regularly with management and have a meeting space within the plant. But Volkswagen has declined to engage in collective bargaining with the UAW over wages and working conditions. Meanwhile, the company says the rival American Council of Employees no longer meets its policy s bottom tier, which requires 15 percent representation. (AP) ATHENS: China s biggest shipping company, COSCO Shipping, plans to ramp up container volume at Greece s biggest port in Piraeus by 35 percent by 2018, the port s new managing director, Fu Cheng Qiu, told Reuters on Thursday. COSCO Shipping, which owns the world s fourth-largest container shipping fleet, bought 51 percent of the port s operating company last month for million euros ($315.5 million), one of Greece s biggest and most strategic privatisations since a debt crisis began in COSCO wants to boost the port s container traffic to 5 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent container units) by 2018 under its plan to turn Greece into a transhipment hub for rapidly growing trade between Asia and Eastern Europe, Fu said in his first interview since COSCO took control of the port. (RTRS) SINGAPORE: Users of ride-hailing firm Grab will be able to book driverless cars from Friday as it partners with a start-up testing the technology in Singapore, just days after rival Uber debuted its self-driving vehicles in the United States. The move comes as technology companies and automakers race to build autonomous vehicles and develop new business plans for what is expected to be a long-term makeover of personal transportation.. (RTRS) ADDIS ABABA: South Korea s Kia Motors Corp signed a deal with a local company on Thursday to start assembling cars in Ethiopia and is thinking of similar operations elsewhere in Africa. It is important to penetrate the African market. We are also looking at the prospects of opening similar plants in Algeria and other countries, Soon Nam Lee, President of Kia s Middle East and Africa headquarters, told Reuters. (RTRS) bottomline the Global stocks jump as Fed move soothes nerves; dollar retreats Crude oil prices gain; gold shines NEW YORK, Sept 22, (Agencies): World stock indexes jumped and the Nasdaq hit a record high on Thursday while bonds rallied, a day after the Federal Reserve signaled an increasingly cautious approach to future US rate increases. The dollar fell to its lowest in a week against a basket of major currencies as investors sold the greenback following the Fed s reduction of longer-term interest rate expectations. The Fed did signal it could hike rates by year-end as the labor market improved further, but cut the number of rate increases expected in 2017 and It also reduced its longer-run interest rate forecast to 2.9 percent from 3 percent. That left investors feeling that any tightening would be glacial at best. Market pricing for a December move rose only a fraction to 59.3 percent from 59.2 percent, according to CME Group s FedWatch tool. The Dow Jones industrial average was up points, or 0.65 percent, to 18,412.28, the S&P 500 had gained points, or 0.56 percent, to 2, and the Nasdaq Composite had added points, or 0.63 percent, to 5, MSCI s all-country world stock index was up 1.3 percent, while Europe s STOXX 600 was up 1.8 percent. The dollar index dropped 0.5 percent to Oil climbed after a surprisingly large drop in US crude inventories emboldened investors ahead of next week s meeting between OPEC members and Russia to discuss supply. Brent crude futures rose 1.9 percent to $47.73 a barrel, while US oil futures jumped 2.5 percent to $ US US stocks marched higher on Thursday, with the Nasdaq hitting a record intraday high, as investors cheered the Federal Reserve s decision to not raise interest rates. While the Fed said the risks to economic outlook were roughly balanced, it left rates unchanged for want of further evidence of continued progress. Inflation remains below the central bank s target of 2 percent and members saw room for improvement in the labor market. The Fed also slowed the pace of future hikes and cut its longer run interest rate forecast, but sent a strong signal for a rate hike by the end of this year. The consensus among economists is for a move in December as the Fed s November meeting comes just ahead of the US Presidential elections. Traders have set the probability of a November hike at a modest 12.4 percent, while the odds rise to 58.4 percent for December, according to the CME Group s FedWatch tool. The Bank of Japan and the Bank of New Zealand also kept rates unchanged. The dollar index dropped 0.4 percent on Thursday, and was on track to mark the second straight day of losses after the Fed s decision. Oil prices rose about 2 percent, in response to a weaker dollar and a surprise drop in US crude inventories. Adding some support to the Fed s plans for at least one hike this year was a report that showed the number of Americans applying for unemployment last week fell to a two-month low. At 12:34 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones industrial average was up points, or 0.66 percent, at 18, All but one of its 30 components were higher. The S&P 500 was up points, or 0.61 percent, at 2, The Nasdaq Composite was up points, or 0.7 percent, at 5,332.21, after rising as much as 0.76 percent to a record of The three indexes are on track to mark their third straight day of gains. The technology index rose 0.55 percent and was the strongest influence on the benchmark S&P 500 index. Shares of Amazon.com rose 1.9 percent to $804.86, after hitting a record following a price target raise by BMO. The stock gave the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq their biggest boost.apple rose 0.9 percent to $ after Nomura and RBC raised their price targets. Weyerhaeuser was the top percentage gainer on the S&P, rising 5.1 percent to $31.88 after Goldman Sachs initiated coverage of the real estate investment trust with a buy rating. Advancing issues outnumbered decliners on the NYSE by 2,467 to 516. On the Nasdaq, 1,969 issues rose and 771 fell. The S&P 500 index showed 27 new 52-week highs and no new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 126 new highs and 11 new lows. Europe European shares climbed to a two-week high on Thursday, boosted by a rally in mining stocks, after the US Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged and projected a less aggressive path for hikes next year and in The Fed, however, signalled it could still tighten monetary policy by the end of this year as the labour market improved further. Fed Chair Janet Yellen said US growth was looking stronger and rate increases would be needed to keep the economy from overheating and fuelling high inflation. The pan-european STOXX 600 index rose for a second straight session and ended up 1.6 percent at its highest closing level since Sept. 9. However, the index is still down around 5 percent so far this year. Miners led the European stock market higher as the Fed s decision to keep rates unchanged pushed down the US dollar on currency markets, thereby making commodities cheaper for holders of other currencies. The STOXX Europe 600 Basic Resources index rose 3.9 percent after hitting its highest level since August Shares in ArcelorMittal, Glencore and Fresnillo were all up more than 5 percent. Energy shares were also in demand after oil prices also rose on a weaker dollar, extending gains from the previous session when a surprise third consecutive weekly US crude inventory draw tightened supply. The European oil and gas index rose 2.4 percent, helped by a 2.4 to 5.1 percent rise in BP, Total and Saipem. Asia The dollar came under fresh pressure in Asia on Thursday after the Federal Reserve decided against lifting interest rates but the prospect of cheap cash for longer sparked another rally in regional equity markets. At the end of one of its most anticipated meetings for some time, the central bank s policymakers said the economy continued to improve and the argument for a rise was strengthening but more evidence of sustained progress was needed. However, while they lowered their growth forecast for this year, the policy committee said the rebound would continue through the second half, and suggested borrowing costs could rise before the end of the year. The decision to stick to the easy money policy for the time being came hours after the Bank of Japan overhauled its own stimulus programme to target inflation and held off cutting interest rates further into negative territory. The South Korean won soared 1.6 percent against the greenback while the Indonesian rupiah climbed 0.3 percent and the Australian dollar rallied 0.7 percent. Malaysia s ringgit jumped 0.8 percent while the Singapore dollar put on 0.6 percent. The greenback rose against the yen, having fallen earlier in the day, buying yen. The euro and pound extended gains. Asian equity markets built on the previous day s Japan-fuelled strong performance. Hong Kong added 0.4 percent by close, with traders in the city especially cheered as its monetary policy is linked to that of the United States. Shanghai added 0.5 percent by the close, Sydney rose 0.7 percent and Wellington put on 0.4 percent. Manila, Bangkok and Jakarta also saw strong gains. Tokyo was closed for a public holiday. Seoul surged 0.7 percent, with troubled Hanjin Shipping the stand-out performer, piling on almost 30 percent after its largest shareholder agreed to provide emergency cash to prevent it from going under. The board of Korean Air Lines approved a 60 billion won (US$54 million) loan late Wednesday part of a 100 billion won emergency fund earlier pledged by the Hanjin Group, the parent of Hanjin Shipping and Korean Air. Korean Air end up 5.8 percent. Key figures around 0800 GMT Hong Kong Hang Seng: UP 0.4 percent at 23, (close) Shanghai Composite: UP 0.5 percent at 3, (close) Tokyo Nikkei 225: Closed for a public holiday Dollar/yen: UP at yen from yen Oil Oil rose 2 percent on Thursday, heading for its largest weekly gain in a month, after a surprisingly large drop in US crude inventories emboldened investors ahead of next week s meeting between OPEC members and Russia to discuss supply. A fall in the dollar against a basket of currencies to a two-week low further underpinned the market. Brent crude futures rose 95 cents to $47.78 a barrel by 1345 GMT, up 4.3 percent so far this week and set for the largest one-week rise since mid-august. US oil futures rose $1.09 to $46.43 a barrel. The US Energy Information Administration on Wednesday reported a 6.2-million-barrel drop in crude oil inventories last week, the second-biggest fall in a year. The drawdown, along with a more benign outlook for US monetary policy, overshadowed news that Russian oil output hit a new record above 11 million barrels per day this week and that Libya had exported its first oil cargo since at least 2014 from the port of Ras Lanuf. Oil got an additional lift from a drop in the dollar to its lowest against the yen in four weeks after the US Federal Reserve kept monetary policy unchanged and signalled rates may rise more slowly than it had previously expected. A weaker dollar makes energy imports cheaper for oil-reliant nations, while low US rates mean credit will remain easier to obtain. Next week, the world s largest producers will gather in Algiers to discuss ways to stabilise the oil market, including a potential freeze in output. Analysts are not attaching a high chance to a deal materialising and, even if it did, whether it would help clear the global overhang of crude supplies. Gold Gold hit a two-week high on Thursday after the US Federal Reserve s decision to keep interest rates on hold sent the dollar to its lowest level since the start of last week. Bullion gained on Wednesday after the Fed stayed pat on rates but indications it could still tighten monetary policy in the world s biggest economy by the end of the year weighed on gold prices initially on Thursday. Gold is highly exposed to monetary policy, particularly in the United States, as higher interest rates lift the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets and boost the dollar, in which the precious metal is priced. Spot gold rose 0.2 percent at $1, an ounce by 1400 GMT, close to levels last seen on Sept. 8. The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, slipped to its lowest since Sept. 12. US gold futures rose 0.5 percent to $1, an ounce. This is a follow on from what happened yesterday with the Fed being more dovish, the market is now going through the upside in gold prices, said ABN AMRO commodity strategist Georgette Boele, adding that gains may be capped around $1,350. US dollar BEC Muzaini Dollarco Commercial Bank Gulf Bank NBK Burgan Bank ABK KFH KBE Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy BEC Muzaini Dollarco Commercial Bank Gulf Bank NBK Burgan Bank ABK KFH KBE Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Danish krone Cyprus pound BEC Muzaini Dollarco Gulf Bank ABK KFH KBE BEC Commercial Bank Gulf Bank Al-Ahli Bank BEC Muzaini Exchange Buy Buy Buy Buy US dollar Gold 999 kg 13, Gold tola 1, Gold ounce Gold gm 22k Gold gm 21k Gold gm 18k gm gm Sterling pound Indian rupee Yemeni riyal Euro Pakistani rupee Thai baht Japanese yen Sri Lanka rupee South African rand Swiss franc Bangladesh taka Korean won Canadian dollar Philippine peso Syrian pound Swedish krona Australian dollar Iranian Riyal Saudi riyal Hong Kong dollar Lebanese pound UAE dirham Singapore dollar Malaysian ringgit Bahraini dinar Jordanian dinar Indonesian rupiah Omani riyal Egyptian pound New Zealand dollar All rates in KD per unit of foreign currency travellers cheques local gold Sterling exchange rates Sept 22 Euro

37 LEISURE 37 Scratch pad C 2012 The New York Times, distributed by The New York Times Syndicate odds n ends Conceptis Sudoku The grid must be so completed that every row, column and 3x3 box has every digit from 1 to 9 inclusive Answer to yesterday s puzzle A six-day-old gorilla baby lies in the arms of its mother Shira at the zoo in Frankfurt, Germany on Sept 21. (AP) DIRECTIONS: Fill each square with a number, one through nine. Horizontal squares should add to totals on right. Vertical squares should add to totals on bottom. Diagonal squares through center should add to total in upper and lower right. Challenger THERE MAY BE MORE THAN ONE SOLUTION. Today s Challenge Time 8 Minutes 17 Seconds Your Working Time Minutes Seconds Word by Word Put off Toajel Never put off till tomorrow what can be done today. La toajel ela ghad ma yostatai amalaho al yawm. Numbers 7344 Yesterday s solution Seven thousand three hundred forty-four Sabat alaf wa thalath meah wa arbaah wa arbaoun contract bridge By Steve Becker FRANKFURT: Frankfurt Zoo is celebrating a new addition at its enclosures a baby gorilla. Mother Shira gave birth to the young one, whose sex is still unknown, on Sept 15. The zoo said staff had yet to identify its gender body parts as the baby remains too closely attached to its mother. When a gorilla is born, that s always a very special event. We are all very happy, zoo director Manfred Niekisch said, adding the newborn looks pretty big and quite strong. (RTRS) LOS ANGELES: The US Fish and Wildlife Service on Wednesday proposed listing the rusty patched bumble bee, a prized but vanishing pollinator once widely found in the upper Midwest and Northeastern United States, for federal protection as an endangered species. One of several wild bee species seen declining over the past two decades, the rusty patched bumble bee is the fi rst in the continental United States formally proposed for listing under the US Endangered Species Act. Named for the conspicuous reddish blotch on its abdomen, the rusty patched bumble bee or Bombus affi nis, as it is known to scientists has plunged in abundance and distribution by more than 90 percent since the late 1990s, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. The agency attributes the decline to a number of factors, including disease, pesticides, climate change and habitat loss. Bumble bees, as distinguished from domesticated honey bees, are essential pollinators of wildfl owers and about a third of US crops, from blueberries to tomatoes, said Sarina Jepsen of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, which petitioned the government for protection of the insect. Bumble bees annual economic value to farms is estimated at $3.5 billion, according to experts. The rusty patched species is one of 47 varieties of native bumble bees in the United States and Canada, more than a quarter of which face a risk of extinction, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Population declines among wild bees are much more diffi cult to document than those in honey bees, which are for the most part managed commercially and whose numbers are carefully tracked by beekeepers, Jespen said. Jepsen said protections proposed for the rusty patched bumble bee will intensify the debate over the degree to which socalled neonicotinoid pesticides, routinely used in agriculture and applied to plants and trees in gardens and parks, have contributed to the decline of native bees. Endangered Species Act safeguards are now the only way the bumble bee would have a fighting chance for survival, she added. (RTRS) BUNNELL, Florida: Officials say animal rescue workers have freed a horse that fell into a septic tank hole in central Florida. Local media outlets report that Mercy, a 24-year-old quarter horse, fell through the tank s fi berglass cover Tuesday morning behind a home in Bunnell. Rescuers workers from Flagler and St. Johns counties spent about three-and-half hours working to free her. Jennifer Lockwood, a lead veterinarian at Shelton Veterinary Clinic, told the Daytona Beach News-Journal that Mercy sustained minor cuts and scrapes on her left shoulder and knee. Lockwood said she will prescribe pain medications and antibiotics to help with the wounds, but expects the horse to fully recover. (AP)

38 SPORTS 38 Wei praises spirit of organisers after recent storm OCA ready to welcome 3,000 athletes for 5th Asian Beach Games Srinivas, Rawat snag FILBACK 4th One Day Tournament Cup By Gwenn Peralta Special to the Arab Times KUWAIT CITY, Sept 22: The Filipino Badminton Club in Kuwait (FILBACK) organized their 4th One Day Tournament with a new batch of Champions in their respective category. Vasu Srinivas and Ankit Rawat for the Advance Level, Henry Estrada and Marvin De Luna for the Intermediate Level, Jeanne Tantiangco and James Barry Bautista for Novice 1, Pranav TJ and Glyza Cabides for Novice 2 and Yousef Khallaf and Mishal Al Khaldy for Novice 3. The score is up to 15 points and for the final round the scoring is up to 21. For the elimination round, each team played four sets of game, the top 8 teams advance to the quarter-finals, semifinals then on to the final round. Advance Level Champions Ankit and Vasu bring home the crown in this level by triumphing against team Nanong and Anto in the final round 21-18, 18-21, who were later declared as the 1st Runner-Up. BADMINTON They moved up to the quarter-finals by taming Essam and Mohd Minhaj 15-13, 15-12, overcoming Nanang and Anto 15-13, 12-15, and pummeling Raja and Darshan 15-7, They defeated Anthony and Leu Dex in the quarter-finals 15-7, and hammered Sanjib and Annaikumar in the semifinals 15-10, before facing Nanang and Anto in the finals. Nanang and Anto also take a spot in the quarter-finals by thumping Junel and Pushkaraj 15-11, 15-13, outclassing Raja and Darshan 15-12, and thrashing Essam and Mohd. Minhaj. They edged Mathew and Mohd Minhaj in the quarter-finals 14-17, 15-7, and thrashed Moo and Nasser in the semifinals 15-12, Intermediate Level Henry and Marvin defended the title against team Victor and Roy during their face off in the final round 21-16, During the elimination round Marvin and Henry slammed Baby and George 15-9, 15-13, tamed Randy and Ray 15-13, 13-15, and clobbered Noel and Runnel 15-10, In the quarter-final they trampled Ray and Randy 15-6, and in the semifinal outclassed Jerric and Enzo 15-11, On the other hand Roy and Victor trampled Jamil and Lito 15-0, 15-0 and flattened Jamone and Sivakumar 15-10, 15-6 in the elimination round. In the quarter-finals they won against Medo and Dennis 11-15, 15-10, 15-7 and outclassed Melvin and Jonnie in the semifinals 15-11, Novice 1 Level In this category team Jeanette and James Barry walk away with the Championship award by overcoming Ainur and Neilbert during the finals 16-21, 21-8, During the elimination round they beat Gigi and Eric 13-15, 15-14, 15-14, hammered Erick and Jimmy 15-12, 15-6 and smashed Arnel and Nicolas 15-0, In the quarter-finals they beat Aldrin Advance category winners Novice 2 winners Estrada, De Luna top Intermediate Category NBA, NBPA seeking ideas for social change Lakers give World Peace a chance, again LOS ANGELES, Sept 22, (Agencies): Metta World Peace has signed a oneyear deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, extending his second stint at the club following his return to the franchise last season, the veteran forward said Wednesday. The 36-year-old, who played 35 games for the Lakers in after returning from spells in China and Italy, told ESPN he hoped to help mentor younger team-mates in the upcoming season. I m excited about everything. I m prepared to help the young guys grow. To play, everything, World Peace told the network. World Peace -- formerly known as Ron Artest -- will be reunited with former team-mate Luke Walton this season. Walton, who played alongside World Peace during the Lakers NBA fi nals winning team in 2010, has been hired as head coach after the franchise s season last year. World Peace has enjoyed a nomadic career throughout the NBA, with spells at the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets and New York Knicks as well as the Lakers. He missed a record 86 games through suspension during the season after climbing into the stands to brawl with fans during a Pacers-Detroit Pistons games. Meanwhile, NBA players are being urged to reach out to league and union officials to try and come up with ways to create positive change in communities around the country, a move that comes in response to protests in other sports about racial oppression and other social matters. Players received a memo from the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association on Wednesday, one that announced that the league and and Allen 15-7, and thumped Ryan and Berlin in the semifinals 15-9, On the other hand Ainur and Neilbert slammed Ryan and Berlin 15-11, 15-11, tamed Rhommel and Noel 15-14, 15-8 and pummeled Aravind and George 15-0, 15-0 in the elimination round. They moved up to the quarter-finals and hammered Arnel and Nicolas 15-4, and prevailed over Rhommel and Noel in the semifinals 15-12, 9-15, Novice 2 Level Pranav and Glyza bagged the championship award by beating Chato and Sameh in the final round 15-21, 21-14, Left to right: Intermediate winners the union, working together, have begun developing substantive ways for us to come together and take meaningful action. A copy of the memo was obtained by The Associated Press. It did not remind players of the NBA s rule saying players must stand for the national anthem, something that some athletes in other pro sports have chosen not to do in recent weeks in acts of protest. These ideas are based on the actions many of you have already taken or supported, including convening community conversations in NBA markets to engage young people, parents, community leaders and law enforcement in a candid dialogue, read one excerpt of the memo, signed by both BASKETBALL NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and union head Michele Roberts. They also said the game should continue bringing people together and build bonds of trust in our communities. The memo was sent on the same day that each player on the WNBA s Indiana Fever roster took a knee and linked arms with a teammate during the playing of the national anthem that preceded the team s playoff game with the Phoenix Mercury. Well, we thought it was important to have a voice about something greater than basketball, said Indiana s Tamika Catchings, the longtime WNBA star who played her fi nal game before retirement. It also came on the same day that Golden State coach Steve Kerr said he expected NBA players to take some sort of stand on the issue. The NBA and its players already are Glyza and Pranav faced the elimination round by thumping Bong and Ding 15-11, and smashing Dodong and Rolando 15-7, They also hammered Yna and Gene 15-10, 15-9 and clobbered Chelsea and Bibin 15-8, They also tamed Rico and Ben in the quarter-finals 15-14, and in the semifinals they outclassed Sid and Andy 15-11, On the other hand Chato and Sameh overcame Allysa and Jean 15-7, 12-15, 15-12, beat Eric and Richieland 15-9, and hammered Sheehan and Cheryl 15-7, 15-5 and in the quarter-finals beat Novice 1 winners Novice 3 winners involved with several social programs together, including ones promoting mentoring. In the NBA rule book, the wording of the policy related to the anthem is this: Players, coaches and trainers are to stand and line up in a dignified posture along the sidelines or on the foul line during the playing of the National Anthem. Protests during the playing of the anthem have been rare in the NBA, with perhaps the most famed example of one coming 20 years ago when Denver s Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf refused to stand for the anthem because he felt the fl ag symbolized oppression. He was suspended for a game in March 1996 over his stance. But NBA stars have not been shy about trying to promote social change, and LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony took the stage at their own request to begin the ESPY Awards broadcast this summer and spoke out about the wave of police shootings that created unrest around the nation in recent months. Their speech was referenced in the memo to players on Wednesday, with Silver and Roberts saying the four stars spoke eloquently about the senseless acts of violence impacting our communities. I m all for people speaking out against injustice, said Kerr, who was 18 when his father the president of American University in Beirut was murdered. Whatever form that takes, if it s non-violent and it leads to conversation, then I think that s a good thing. Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti said he would like to see Thunder players and staff continue standing for the anthem. He addressed the issue Wednesday, less than a week after an unarmed black man was fatally shot by a white police officer in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bong and Ding 15-6, 8-15, In the semifinals they won against Joel and Ano 15-8, 9-15, 15-7 before earning a spot in the finals. Novice 3 Level In this category Yousef and Mishal triumphed against Irvin and Ricky in the finals 21-16, Yousef and Khallaf, during the elimination won against Rafiq and Hamid 15-10, 14-15, 15-12, slammed Alleo and Onin 15-12, 15-9 and thrashed Jennifer and Robert 15-13, They move to the quarter-finals by defeating Betchai and Lohan 15-13, and slamming Josie and Tayeeb in the semifinals 15-13, As for Irvin and Ricky they slammed Glen and Jun 15-14, 15-3, outlasted Shirley and Liya 13-15, 15-11, 15-7, outdid Kenneth and Aries 15-12, and hammered Joel and Mark 15-11, In the quarter-finals they thumped Melanie and Jeanette 15-14, in the semifinals they tamed Shajib and Abishek 15-11, FILBACK Chairman Noel Candolesas with tournament Directors Nato Calanog and Alex Hernandez with the help of their officers and members organized another successful event. The Chairman s Cup 2016 opens Sept 23, For more information contact the FILBACK officers or contact FIL- BACK s official Facebook page: DANANG, Vietnam, Sept 22: The Olympic Council of Asia s fifth Asian Beach Games are almost upon us, and the event has proved to be more successful than we could have dreamed of back in the early days. From the inaugural edition in Bali, Indonesia, in 2008, the Asian Beach Games have become one of the most popular Asian multi-sport events on the calendar of the Olympic Movement for athletes, officials and spectators alike. In Danang a beautiful central coastal city of Vietnam we will have around 3,000 Asian beach sports athletes competing in 14 sports, 22 disciplines and 172 events at four venue clusters along a 7-km stretch of the magnificent bay. The Games will open on Sept 24 and close on Oct 3, promising fun in the sun for all concerned and a truly familyoriented beach and sea sports festival. At this point I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to the Central Government of Vietnam, the Danang City Government and the citizens of Danang for all their hard work in organising and promoting our fifth Asian Beach Games. With this team work, enthusiasm and cooperation, the OCA is confident that the fifth Asian Beach Games Danang 2016 will be a memorable event and add another rich chapter to this amazing success story. There are many factors behind the popularity of the Beach Games concept. One of the main reasons is that they are very attractive to potential host cities Ḟirst of all, the host cities are already blessed with an abundance of natural resources namely, sand and sea. Add in the blue skies, sunshine and tourist infrastructure already in place and this creates an exotic sporting cocktail. Second, the venues are temporary, with a lifespan of around one month from the start of test events to the end of official competition. Therefore there is no need for host cities to build expensive new stadiums, as the temporary venues will serve the purpose of the Beach Games and have minimal impact on the natural environment. Third, the Asian Beach Games offer smaller cities within our member National Olympic Committees the opportunity to host an international multi-sport event. The scale of the beach games is small in comparison to our major event, the Asian Games, and does not require the specialised facilities and conditions of the Asian Winter Games. For an island like Bali in 2008, Muscat (Oman) in 2010, followed by the provincial seaside city of Haiyang in Shandong province, China in 2012, and another tourist hot spot, Phuket (Thailand) in 2014, the Asian Beach Games have provided the ideal platform to promote their natural beauty to an international audience. So, as well as staging an enjoyable, modern sports event, the host cities benefit from the tourism aspect at a relatively low cost. There is also a carnival atmosphere at the Asian Beach Games, with upbeat summer sounds in the competition venue background music and activities and sideshows for the spectators in between the action. As well as offering the chance to smaller cities and NOCs to host an OCA event, the Asian Beach Games also provide an opportunity for beach sports athletes to represent their flag in international competition and compete for gold, silver and bronze medals for their country or region. This is one of the main policies of the OCA to be inclusive, not exclusive, to all dedicated athletes around the continent and give them a chance to join our games and to experience, and promote, the Olympic spirit. This is our sport for all philosophy at work. We have seen a rapid rise in the standard of the athletes in our beach and sea sports, from Bali 2008 compared to now, and this experience and high level of competition will help them in their future challenges. It is through the success of the Asian Beach Games that the Association of National Olympic Committees Top & above: The 5th Dancing Asian Beach Games 2016 Logo and Mascot. ANOC & OCA President HE Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah. OCA Honorary Life Vice President Wei Jizhony (ANOC) has decided to start their own World Beach Games. The inaugural edition will take place in San Diego, Southern California, in 2019, and the OCA is delighted to welcome observers from San Diego and from ANOC to Danang to see our beach games unfold. We will also welcome delegates and observers from the International Mediterranean Games and the European Olympic Committees, who are planning to start their own beach games as the concept grows around the world, pioneered by the OCA. The Asian Beach Games also promote a healthy lifestyle, and on this point we thank and congratulate the Vietnamese government for designating the 5th Asian Beach Games as a no smoking event. All forms of tobacco advertising and sponsorship have been banned, as has smoking in the venues. Finally, I would like to congratulate Vietnam for winning their first gold medal in the history of the Olympic Games at Rio 2016 by Hoang Xuan Vinh in the men s 10-metre air pistol. The OCA shares your pride. We are going to Vietnam with the profile of Olympic sport at an all-time high! Meanwhile, the Olympic Council of Asia s Honorary Life Vice-President, Wei Jizhong, has praised the spirit of the local organising committee (LOC) ahead of the OCA s 5th Asian Beach Games in Danang, Vietnam. Addressing the first meeting of the Chefs de Mission at the Royal Lotus Hotel and Convention Centre on Thursday morning, Wei said the teamwork and determination of the LOC pointed towards a successful ABG5. As you know, to organise a games is not an easy task, saidthe veteran Chinese sports official. One week ago in Danang, a strong storm destroyed nearly all the temporary installations. Yesterday I made an inspection and they have reinstalled all the temporary infrastructure. This shows that these games are our games: the OCA, organising committee and all the National Olympic Committees. We have to work together because this is our games and our responsibility. With the team leaders gathering for the first time ahead of ABG5, which will open on Sept 24 and run until Oct 3, Wei said it was natural that there would be issues to address at the beginning of an international multi-sport event, just as there is with the Olympic Games and Asian Games. If any delegation has a question, if you have a problem, if you have difficulty, you can raise all the points here and we will try our best to solve all the problems immediately, he added. We hope that, before the Opening Ceremony on Sept 24, everything is in order. I hope that, with your active participation, good understanding and your cooperation, we can solve together all the difficulties, all the problems and can satisfy all your athletes, your officials, OCA and the organising committee. The agenda included the Team Welcome Ceremony, which will involve multiple teams in four, one-hour time slots on the afternoons of Sept 22-23, the Opening Ceremony on Saturday at Bien Dong Park from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm, transportation, accommodation, meals and the sports programme. The OCA s Asian Games Director, Haider Farman, asked the NOCs to inform their athletes to be patient if there was adverse weather during competition, forcing events to be halted or delayed, as wind and rain had affected Danang in recent days. We are expecting the weather will get better and better from now on, he said. We must work together for a successful games and so that the athletes have the best opportunity to compete.

39 SPORTS 39 Russia s Vandyshev wins both sprint races, USA finish second Team UAE pipped to UIM H2O Nations Cup glory SHANGHAI, China, Sept 22: Rashed Al- Qamzi and Rashed Al-Tayer came up just short in their valiant attempt to secure a record-breaking fourth UIM H2O Nations Cup title for Team UAE on Shanghai s Dishui Lake on Thursday afternoon. Two yellow flag incidents in the first of two 25-lap Sprint races meant that the Emirati duo had insufficient laps to mount a charge for the podium and this gave the initiative to Team Russia, as Team UAE became embroiled in a tussle with Team USA to fight it out for second place in the second Sprint race. Team Russia s Roman Vandyshev led from the start of the yellow flag interrupted opening race to edge out Team Australia s Corey Davoll. But veteran American drivers, Jay Price and Scott Gillman, were the main beneficiaries and third and fourth places moved Team USA into contention to topple Team UAE and snatch second place. Vandyshev controlled the second race and was supported by a fifth-placed finish for Andrey Panyushkin to confirm the UIM H2O Nations Cup title for the Russians. Third and sixth positions for Price and Gillman was enough to pip Team UAE to the runner-up spot by a single point after Al-Qamzi and Al-Tayer finished fourth and seventh in race two. It was another exciting weekend of racing, but we came up just short against strong competition, said Salem Al-Romaithi, assistant general manager of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC). The UIM H2O Nations Cup is a team event and an excellent racing format. Both Rashed Al-Qamzi and Rashed Al-Tayer gave their best and we will come back next year and try to win back the UIM H2O Nations Cup. Sprint Race 1 Fifteen boats lined up for the first of the two Sprint Races over 25 laps, with Al- Tayer and Al-Qamzi lining up in seventh and 10th positions and Team Russia s Vandyshev heading out in front from pole position. The Russian held his line and the lead, as Davoll and Price followed in his wake and the Team UAE duo settled into ninth and 10th. The leaders held station until a yellow flag was raised on lap four when Team Australia s Brock Cohen spun out of contention. His demise lifted Al-Qamzi and Al-Tayer to seventh and eighth, but the Emirati duo knew that they needed to close in on the Russian duo when racing resumed on lap nine. Vandyshev maintained his lead after the restart from Davoll and Price, although Scott Gillman passed Andrey Panyushkin to snatch fourth for Team USA. Al-Qamzi overtook Team Germany s Jorn Lassig on lap 11 and climbed to sixth place. With 10 laps to go, Vandyshev led Davoll by 1.77 seconds from Price and Gillman, but a second yellow was raised on lap 18 when Roberto Do Piano of Team Italy collided with a turn buoy. Both Ni Haojun and do Piano retired their Team China and Team Italy boats, the latter after he hit the turn buoy and was disqualified. Unfortunately, the race finished under the yellow flag with the turn buoy still not in position and Vandyshev held on to claim maximum points for Team Russia, with Davoll in second for Australia and Price and Gillman finishing third and fourth for Team USA. Al-Qamzi and Al- Tayer finished sixth and eighth for Team UAE, as Team China s Ziwei Xiong was given a one-lap penalty for being in the wrong position after a yellow flag. Sprint Race 2 Team Russia headed into the second 25-lap Sprint race with a 12-point lead over Team UAE and a 14-point advantage over Team USA. It was all to play for, but a good start was crucial for both Al-Qamzi and Al-Tayer. Boats left the start pontoon in the order that they had finished the previous race and that gave Team Russia a big advantage with Vandyshev and Panyushkin lining up in first and fifth positions. Brock Cohen was not able to start for Team Australia after his first race incident. The Russian maintained his lead from the start, but Al-Qamzi managed to overtake Gillman to snatch fifth place. The Emirati was now on a charge and he began to pressurise Panyushkin and soon gained fourth place. Vandyshev maintained his lead from Davoll, Price and Al-Qamzi through eight laps and the fact that Panyushkin held fifth kept Team Russia in prime position to clinch the UIM H2O Nations Cup. Gillman began to slow and slipped to ninth place and Jorn Lassig and Alffian Kadri were forced to retire with technical issues. Team UAE celebrates winning the match race at the UIM H2O Nations Cup in Shanghai. Al-Afaq Holidays Pin Breakers K2E2 Thunders Bowling team Rock N Bowl, PhilEm Strikers extend FTBK winning streak D Islanders subdue tournament leader Siete Pares 2 Former South Korean Olympic fi gure skating champion Yuna Kim (right), who is an honorary ambassador for the 2018 Winter Olympics and President of the Pyeong Chang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Lee Hee-beom pose for the media as they hold the commemorative coins for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games during its launching ceremony in Seoul, South Korea. (AP) Gay abandons bobsled bid Figure skater Kim unveils 2018 Winter Games coins OLYMPICS SEOUL, Sept 22, (Agencies): South Korea s 2010 Olympic figure skating champion Kim Yuna helped unveil a set of commemorative coins for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games on Thursday. The coins feature winter sports, such as South Korea s traditional Gorosoi ski on a 30,000 won ($27) gold coin, and short track speed skating, ski jumping, and luge on the 20,000 won silver coins. They will go on sale from Monday. Meanwhile, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach arrived in South Korea on Thursday for a two-day visit to inspect preparations for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Bach opened his visit by attending a dinner reception for a trilateral sports minsters meeting between South Korea, Japan and China at a Pyeongchang convention center, but he s not expected to participate in discussions that will continue into Friday, according to an official from South Korea s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism who didn t want to be named, citing office rules. The ministry said the talks are aimed at exploring cooperation between the We won t give up on Rome 2024, says CONI chief Malago ROME, Sept 22, (AFP): Italian Olympic chief Giovanni Malago insists Rome s dream of hosting the 2024 Olympic Games is still alive despite a crushing blow to their bid by the city s own mayor. Rome, Paris, Los Angeles and Budapest are the cities hoping to stage the Games in eight years time. But the Italian capital now looks to be out of contention after an unequivocal No by the city s new mayor, Virginia Raggi, was delivered on Wednesday. Malago refuted Raggi s argument the Eternal City, rocked by a scandal last year which revealed the extent of mafia involvement in city building projects under former mayor Ignazio Marino, could ill afford to be burdened countries that will host the next three Olympics. Tokyo will host the Summer Olympics in 2020 and Beijing will host the Winter Olympics in Veteran sprinter Tyson Gay abandoned his bid to make the United States bobsled team on Wednesday after pulling out of the National Push Championships in Canada. Gay, 34, a divisive figure in US track and field following his 2013 doping conviction, opted to skip men s event after consulting with bobsled coaches, a statement said. Gay flew to Calgary two days ago after finishing commitments following the 2016 Rio Olympics and has pushed a sled no more than 10 times, a Team USA statement said. A pair of Mongolian wrestling coaches who stripped one down to his underwear in protest during the Rio Olympics were handed three-year bans on Wednesday. United World Wrestling, the sport s governing body, said on Twitter that Tserenbaatar Tsogbayar and Byambarinchen Bayaraa had been banned for three years while the Mongolian Wrestling Federation was fined 50,000 Swiss francs ($51,000; 46,000 euros). with the financial costs of holding an Olympics. Malago, who is now expected to turn to Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi for continued support of Roma2024, says he won t give up hope until the bid is dead and buried. Hearing no hurts. I m very sorry. It was possible to do this, and do it well, he said. We will continue (with the bid) until I hear a formal no. Yet the Italian Malago Olympic Committee By Miguel Carlos Special to the Arab Times KUWAIT CITY, Sept 22: Going to the last few weeks of the elimination round, Rock N Bowl and the Philippine Embassy Strikers once again showed their resiliency as they extend their winning streak and improved their respective positions in the team standings of the ongoing 2016 FTBK-Robinsons Land Tenpin Bowling Team Tournament being held at the Cozmo Entertainment Center bowling lanes in Salmiya. BOWLING D Islanders meanwhile stood out among the week 8 winners by dishing out an impressive win over tournament pace setter Siete Pares 2. And also winning their respective matches in this round were Cozmo Salmiya and World Class. Having to contend with the on and off but surely tough and front running team of Siete Pares 2, the D Islanders started their stint on the wrong foot and was unable to match the tenacity of their top ranked rival who went on to grab an decision in game one. In the next game, Siete Pares 2 gave another strong performance to eke out its second win via a count. With Siete pares 2 somewhat easing up on their pin sniping, D Islanders featuring the quartet of Aga Cuadrazal, Bobby Carambas, Danny Doctor and Rolly David took advantage of the situation and booked an victory in game three. With Siete Pares 2 still ahead after three games , D Islanders mustered just enough fire power to clinch the match by closing out with an win in game four for a final winning tally of This victory handed D Islanders the weekly team high series award aside from remaining well inside the Top 6. (CONI) chief now faces a huge task if he is to turn momentum around. Raggi is the first female mayor of Rome and, after years of mismanagement of the Eternal City, hosting an Olympics is not top of her list of priorities. OLYMPICS She highlighted the spiralling deficits of former host cities and, in a reference to the building work that would be required, said she opposed another concrete Olympics. The debts related to the Torino winter Games in 2006 are still ongoing. I say no After clobbering Al Afaq Holidays in their scheduled 8th week encounter, Rock n Bowl moved into serious contention as they barged their way to sixth place in the team standing. Spearheaded by its usual 6-man wrecking crew of Liza Catapia, Norie Sairat, Romy Daus, Romy Fermil and Tariq Sairat, Rock N Bowl did not give the travel magnates much of a chance to book a victory as they romped away with three straight wins via , and scores. Despite without the possibility of reversing the outcome of the match, Al Afaq Holidays nevertheless avoided a clean sweep by taking the fourth game of the match courtesy of Sarel Pascual, Nelson De Leon, Ric marimla and Chris Bulacja. Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy to another concrete Olympics, she said. We are effectively asking the people of Rome and of Italy to shoulder the debts (accrued by hosting the Games). We just don t support it. Sport was an integral part of our electoral campaign, but we don t want it to be used as a pretext to a building spree around the city. The Sochi winter Games in 2014 spiralled to over $51 billion (45.6bn euros). Malago has maintained a Rome Olympics would cost a fraction of that, claiming the estimated 5.3bn euro budget would come exclusively from the Olympic Committee, sponsors and state coffers. The estimate of our costs were a tenth of what Sochi cost, said Malago. Philippine Embassy Strikers Strikers X Lane Masters Strikers kept their final round hopes alive as they brushed aside the strong late rally of the K2E2 Thunders in an exciting down the wire finish en-route to an impressive total pin falls win. In booking the victory, the diplomats bannered by Jheng Liwayway, Bert Pantanilla, Dexter Nebres and Arnold Mendoza outclass the Thunders in the first two games and to build a commanding advantage. Down by 274 pin falls, K2E2 with Butch Alinea, Danny San Juan, Newell Sioxch and Joan Latoja set out on an almost impossible mission and managed to chipped away a bit of the big deficit with a win in game 3 that was followed by another victory in the last game which unfortunately proved not enough to deny the diplomats the total pin falls win. In the other completed matches of the 8th week, Cozmo Salmiya led by Cris Batucan, Abdul Khadeer Faroq, Maricar Ruben and Cris Tirona upset Siete Pares 1one of the leading contenders while World Class headed by the returning team prexy Ted Ashley, Bill Stiles, Gina Ashley, Carol Awadi and Anastasius Menezes stopped Strikers X The DMDA Bowleros on the other hand who drew the by slot, submitted a total score of 3047 pin falls. For the Individual and Team High scores the current record holders are as follows: Individual High Game Men Class O/A-Edwin Latoja 266, Men Class B-Anastasius Menezes 242, Ladies- Vicky Navarro 223; High Average Men Class O/A- Mousa Abdullah 190, Men Class B-Butch Alinea 163, Ladies-Jheng Liwayway 171; Team High Game-797 K2E2 and Team High Series-3167 Siete Efficient system Hacked WADA to focus on reform LAUSANNE, Sept 22, (AFP): The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has this month been the target of hacking, but also finds itself in the crosshairs of an Olympic family demanding widespread reform in the battle against banned drugs in sport. The leaking of confidential medical records of 66 athletes including tennis Williams sisters and three-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome by the Fancy Bears hacking collective, believed to be operating from Russia, is however most likely not the thing that most threatens WADA. Established in 1999 following the Festina affair over doping during and after the 1998 Tour de France as an International Olympic Committee initiative to promote, coordinate and monitor the fight against drugs in sport, Montrealbased WADA seems to have no choice but to instigate internal reform. Widespread Russian doping revealed before the Rio Olympics had shown up deficiencies in WADA, according to IOC president Thomas Bach. Recent developments have shown that we need a full review of the WADA anti-doping system, Bach said before the Olympics started in Brazil in a surprise broadside. While the investigation into systemic Russian state-sponsored doping was revealed by Canadian Richard McLaren for WADA and led to the exclusion of hundreds of Russian athletes, Bach called for a more robust and efficient anti-doping system. This requires clear responsibilities, more transparency, more independence and better worldwide harmonisation. Bach reinforced his view that reform was crucial in a letter to IOC members on September 16. The Olympic movement, as 50 percent shareholder of WADA, is ready to contribute to this discussion, the German said. This review can be a turning point for the better in the fight against doping. We need to work together to come to a joint solution that ensures the integrity of sport, the protection of the clean athletes and is accepted by all the stakeholders of the Olympic movement. With an Olympic summit on anti-doping scheduled for October 8 in Lausanne, Bach asked for suggestions for improvement from IOC members and international sports federations. IOC member Gerardo Werthein, president of Argentina s national Olympic committee, was quick to accuse WADA officials of being more interested in selfjustification and blaming major problems in the system on others Pares 1. The team standings after eight weeks are as follows (read as rank, team name and total score); 1. Siete Pares , 2. Siete Pares , 3. World Class-24127, 4. K2E2 Thunders-24089, 5. D Islanders-24027, 6. Rock N Bowl , 7. Strikers X-23967, 8. DMDA Bowleros-23915, 9. Philippine Embassy , 10. Al Afaq Holidays-23796, 11. Cozmo Salmiya

40 SPORTS 40 Man Utd, Man City set up Cup showdown Spurs cruise through LONDON, Sept 22, (AFP): Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho and his Manchester City rival Pep Guardiola were dealt an English Football League Cup rendezvous after both teams came through their third-round ties. Northampton Town s Sam Hoskins (right), and Manchester United s Marcos Rojo battle for the ball during the English League Cup third round soccer match at Sixfields Stadium, Northampton, England, on Sept 21. (AP) League Cup Draw West Ham vs Chelsea Man Utd vs Man City Arsenal vs Reading Liverpool vs Spurs Bristol vs Hull Leeds vs Norwich Newcastle United vs Preston Southampton vs Sunderland (Ties to be played Oct 25-26) Chiefs notch 1st victory of season JOHANNESBURG, Sept 22, (AFP): Kaizer Chiefs won for the first time this season on Wednesday and Orlando Pirates surrendered a perfect record on matchday 3 of the South African Premiership. A harshly awarded second-half penalty was driven into the corner of the net on 65 minutes by George Lebese to give Chiefs a 1-0 win at promoted Highlands Park. Victory in north-east Johannesburg was a huge relief for under-fire coach and former South Africa captain Steve Komphela after his second season in charge began badly. Chiefs lost their opening league game and drew the second having conceded a goal that big-screen replays showed had not crossed the goal-line. Adding to the frustrations of supporters used to success was an early exit from the lucrative Top 8 Cup competition. Chiefs changed a tradition of employing foreign coaches by hiring Komphela from unfashionable Maritzburg United, but his first season ended without any silverware. The Soweto outfit also failed to qualify for either of the 2017 CAF competitions, leaving officials open to ridicule after they claimed Chiefs were among the top teams in Africa. After launching their league campaign with two victories, former African champions Pirates had to settle for one point from a 0-0 draw with newcomers Cape Town City in Soweto. An early injury to Gift Motupa, who was replaced by Ghanaian speedster Bernard Morrison, disrupted the rhythm of the Buccaneers. City bought the franchise of Mpumalanga Black Aces and hired coach Eric Tinkler, who was freed by Pirates in mid-year after a trophy-less season. Pirates lead league runners-up Wits on goals scored with both clubs having seven points, one more than Durbanbased Golden Arrows. Six clubs share third spot with four points, including Chiefs. Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns are in the bottom half of the standings, but have played only one game because of African commitments. United won 3-1 at third-tier Northampton Town to ease some of the pressure building on Mourinho following three consecutive defeats, while holders City prevailed 2-1 at Swansea City. Tottenham Hotspur were rewarded with a trip to Liverpool after crushing Gillingham 5-0 and West Ham United will face Chelsea after scraping past fourth-tier Accrington Stanley. We deserved to win, Mourinho told Sky Sports after goals from Michael Carrick, Ander Herrera and substitute Marcus Rashford took his side into the fourth round. Mourinho, speaking before the draw had been made, added: It was difficult, as I was expecting, but we were totally in control for the 35 minutes and then for the last 45 minutes. It was a difficult match, but overall a positive performance. Mourinho, who felt that Northampton s Jak McCourt should have been sent off for a rash challenge on Memphis Depay, did not attend his post-match press conference. United s victory was a welcome tonic for Mourinho and his team following consecutive losses to Manchester City, Feyenoord and Watford. He made nine changes to the side beaten 3-1 at Watford on Sunday, with Chris Smalling and captain Wayne Rooney the only players to keep their places. Rooney started up front, for the first time since last season, and squandered an early opportunity by miscuing from Ashley Young s cross. United went ahead in the 17th minute after Northampton goalkeeper Adam Smith was penalised for picking up a back-pass. Rooney s shot from the ensuing freekick hit the wall, but Carrick swept the rebound into the top-left corner from the edge of the box. Rooney then saw a goal ruled out for offside, but Northampton gave United a scare when Kenji Gorre clipped the bar in the 38th minute and within four minutes the home side were level. After Marcos Rojo, Timothy Fosu- Mensah and Morgan Schneiderlin all spurned chances to clear, Daley Blind tripped Sam Hoskins and Alex Revell stroked the resulting penalty past Sergio Romero. Mourinho waited only 10 minutes in the second half before turning to the bench, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Rashford replacing Fosu-Mensah and Depay. Herrera gave Northampton a warning with a left-foot shot that struck the post and in the 68th minute he restored United s lead, slamming home right-footed from Rashford s lay-off. Another Smith error allowed United to seal victory, the goalkeeper hesitating as a long ball bounced towards him, which allowed Rashford to steal in and lash the ball into the vacant goal. Premier League pace-setters Manchester City made it nine wins from nine games under Guardiola with victory at Swansea. City enjoyed the best of the first half, but it took until four minutes into the second half for Gael Clichy to put them ahead with a deflected shot. Aleix Garcia made the most of a rare start by netting the second from Jesus Navas s cut-back in the 67th minute before Gylfi Sigurdsson stabbed in a stoppage-time consolation for Swansea. Guardiola gave a first start of the season to captain Vincent Kompany, who underwent thigh surgery in May, but the Belgium centre-back had to go off late on after appearing to injure himself. The doctors are speaking with him and seeing what s up, Guardiola said. Hopefully, it will not be a big problem. We re going to wait for the results from the doctors. Tottenham cruised through after crushing League One Gillingham, with Christian Eriksen scoring twice and Vincent Janssen and Josh Onomah scoring their first goals for the club. Erik Lamela was also on target. West Ham, struggling for form in the Premier League, needed a 96th-minute Dimitri Payet free-kick to edge fourthtier Accrington Stanley 1-0 at London Stadium. Southampton, Sunderland and Hull City also secured places in the last 16. Moneybags China could learn from South Korea SEOUL, Sept 22, (AFP): Chinese clubs have splashed out hundreds of millions of dollars in the quest for football glory but they could learn a few lessons from South Korea, which remains an Asian powerhouse at club and international level. Recent evid ence suggests that despite China s headline-grabbing outlay on players and coaches, often for exorbitant sums, South Korean football is on top. The message was hammered home when Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and FC Seoul easily dispatched Chinese opposition in this month s two-legged AFC Champions League quarter-finals, scoring a total of nine goals to two. SOCCER And in World Cup qualifying on Sept 1, South Korea beat China 3-2, cruising to 3-0 up before being pegged back by two late goals. The defeat extended China s dismal record against South Korea, whom they have beaten just once downing an under-strength side in 2010 in 31 meetings. Korean captain Ki Sung-Yueng said it best after the game when he welcomed China s sudden investment in football, but said it didn t mean international success was assured. Signing good foreign players is no guarantee that the country will develop, said Ki, pointing to the example of England. West Ham United s Alvaro Arbeloa (left), and Accrington Stanley s Matthew Pearson battle for the ball during their English League Cup third round soccer match at London Stadium, in London, on Sept 21. (AP) Big ask for England to land Euro 2024: Clarke Raggi embraces Euros, day after Oly snub ROME, Sept 22, (Agencies): Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi says the Italian capital will embrace holding 2020 European Championship matches, a day after she slammed the brakes on a bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games. Hosting such an important international sports event in Rome is an honour, Raggi said at a presentation of the official Euro 2020 logo in Rome on Thursday. The tournament is being staged in 13 cities across Europe to mark the 60th anniversary of the competition, with the semi-finals and final to take place at London s Wembley Stadium. Rome will stage four Euro matches three from the group stages and a quarterfinal. These matches will have a significant economic impact on the city and its inhabitants, added Raggi. Sitting close to the mayor was Italian SOCCER Olympic Committee (CONI) president Giovanni Malago, who on Wednesday lambasted her after she delivered an unequivocal no to his efforts to bid for the 2024 Olympic Games. Rome did not need more white elephants, Raggi had said, and highlighted the spiralling deficits of former Olympic host cities. After years of mismanagement of the Eternal City, putting on an Olympics is not top of Raggi s list of priorities. With Rome s Olympic dream now effectively over, Malago on Thursday gave CONI s full support for Euro The Italian Olympic Committee is at the service of all the (sports) federations and all sporting events, he said. The CONI president had kissed Raggi s hand as they met on Thursday, but with a sombre look on his face, he added: We are honoured to show that Rome is capable of hosting and organising major international sporting events. Aleksander Ceferin, the newly elected chief of European football s governing body UEFA, hailed the Italian capital as having a rich tradition and history and holds an important place in football. England is unlikely to bid for the 2024 European Championship as it comes four years after the country hosts the closing stages of the preceding tournament, English Football Association (FA) chairman Greg Clarke has said. The semi-finals and final of the next tournament will be played at Wembley, one of 13 venues across Europe to cohost the 60th anniversary edition of the continental championship. Germany sought English backing for its own bid to host Euro 2024 and in return offered support for an English bid for the tournament four years later. It would be a big ask to get Euro 2024 There are many good players from all over the world in the English Premier League but the results of the England national team are not good. Chinese clubs have forked out just over 400 million euros ($446 million) on players this year, luring stars like Liverpool target Alex Teixeira and Southampton s Graziano Pelle, who reportedly became one of the world s best paid players. Yet none of the four Chinese contenders could mount a serious attempt on the AFC Champions League, Asia s top club tournament, including holders Guangzhou Evergrande who exited at the group stage. In the quarter-finals, Shanghai SIPG, coached by former England boss Sven Gorran Eriksson, lost 5-0 to Jeonbuk, while FC Seoul beat Shandong, led by ex-bayern Munich manager Felix Magath, 4-2 over the two legs. Seoul are a strong team, said Magath, who took over Shandong in June. Korean teams are difficult to play against, are technically very good and are usually fast. Eriksson s SIPG fielded Brazilian striker Hulk, their record signing in July who cost a reported 55 million euros ($61 million) way more than the K-League s Monaco suffer first loss of season Red-hot Balotelli propels Nice to the top PARIS, Sept 22, (RTRS): Nice s brilliant start to the season continued when Mario Balotelli struck another double as they sank Monaco 4-0 in the Azurean derby to go top of Ligue 1. The Italian striker, who scored twice on his debut earlier this month, found the back of the net either side of the interval after Paul Baysse s opener. Alassane Plea rounded off the scoring to put Nice on 14 points from six games. Monaco suffered their first league defeat of the season and now lie third on 13 points, behind Paris St Germain on goal difference. Earlier, Champions PSG beat Dijon 3-0. Girondins de Bordeaux are fourth on 12 points after a 3-0 win at Metz on Wednesday while Olympique Lyonnais moved up to seventh on 10 points courtesy of a 5-1 hammering of 10-man Montpellier with Nabil Fekir and Corentin Tolisso scoring twice each. Nice s Italian forward Mario Balotelli (left), vies with Monaco s Polish defender Kamil Glik during the French L1 football match between Nice (OGCN) and Monaco (ASM) on Sept 21, at Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice, southeastern France. (AFP) four years after hosting the final in 2020, Clarke told reporters at the unveiling of the Euro 2020 logo at London s City Hall. Certainly later on in the decade, we are reaching out to our friends in UEFA, building relationships and an ability to SOCCER bid if we consider it appropriate. Clarke also sounded a note of caution, citing England s failed bid for the 2018 World Cup, which did not progress past the first round of voting. We have reviewed this a number of times and the board have decided we will entire transfer spend in this or any other season. I am satisfied with our progress in the tournament... even if I am not satisfied with the way we lost against Jeonbuk, who are a strong and experienced team, Eriksson said. Such strong form is no flash in the pan. Korean clubs have won the Champions League and its precursor, the Asian Club Championship, 10 times, twice the number of any other country. South Korea also has the best World Cup record of any Asian team. Apart from their feat in reaching the semi-finals as co-hosts in 2002, they have played the tournament nine times, including eight in a row since At the Allianz Riviera, Nice took matters into their own hands and went ahead in the 18th minute when Baysse headed home from a free kick. Toulouse vs PSG bein SPORTS 6HD 21:45 Local Lorient vs Lyon bein SPORTS 6HD 18:00 Local (Saturday) Bastia vs Guingamp bein SPORTS 7HD 21:00 Local (Saturday) Dijon vs Rennes bein SPORTS 8HD 21:00 Local (Saturday) Montpellier vs Metz bein SPORTS 9HD 21:00 Local (Saturday) Balotelli, in only his second league appearance, doubled the lead from just inside the box just after half an hour with a low shot after being perfectly set up by Younes Belhanda. The former Liverpool and AC Milan striker, who scored only one goal in Serie A last season, scored his fourth in two league games by tapping in from Ricardo Pereira s cross in the 69th minute. It got even worse for Monaco as Tiemoue Bakayoko was shown a straight red card for a foul in the box, but Plea s penalty kick was parried away by Danijel Subasic. Plea, however, quickly made amends by heading Nice s fourth from Wylan Cyprien s cross. The result left Nice as the only undefeated team in Ligue 1 this season. Standings P W D L GA GA Pts Nice PSG Monaco Bordeaux Toulouse Guingamp Lyon Metz Etienne Angers Rennes Bastia Montpellier Caen Marseille Nantes Nancy Lille Dijon Lorient Note: Standings read as played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against and points. look at bids on a case-by-case basis, he added. The last (World Cup bid) cost us 18 million pounds ($23.51 million) and we had no chance of winning. The impact of Britain s decision to leave the European Union also came up for discussion, with FA chief executive Martin Glenn saying Brexit would not adversely impact crowd numbers for the 2020 final. Government would not want to be seen to be the football prevention department. They are going to want foreigners to come over and feel happy, tourists to feel happy, they want to see a great tournament, he added. Whatever Brexit involves, it s not going to prevent tourists coming to Britain. I believe that common sense will have to break out in a massive proportion on that whole thing. England last hosted the European Championship in Michel Platini is yet to discover whether he will receive a payoff from European soccer s governing body despite his UEFA presidential term being cut short by a FIFA ban. The former France captain s third fouryear term was due to run until 2019, but he was first suspended from UEFA duties last October and his presidential replacement was elected last week.

41 SPORTS 41 Schalke slump to fourth straight defeat Perfect Bayern carve out two-point lead at top BERLIN, Sept 22, (Agencies): Leaders Bayern Munich are now the only team in Germany s top flight still with a perfect 100 percent record following Wednesday s 3-0 Bundesliga win at home to Hertha Berlin. Midfield stars Franck Ribery, Thiago Alcantara and Arjen Robben netted at the Allianz Arena in a workmanlike display from Carlo Ancelotti s side to make it four wins from four league games. Hertha are fifth after dropping their first points of the season in Munich following three previous straight wins. Today we played against a complete Bayern Munich team, said Hertha coach Pal Dardai. They played exceptionally well and deserved to win. We were compact in our defending, but we conceded goals unnecessarily. Bayern went ahead with just 16 minutes gone when Ribery turned the Hertha defence inside out and then tapped his shot over the line. Hertha refused to panic as most sides do when falling behind in Munich and defended well, despite enjoying barely 20 percent possession. Berlin gifted Bayern their second goal when Brazilian defender Allan took too SOCCER long on the ball in his own area, Thiago robbed him of possession and drilled his shot home unopposed on 68 minutes. Bayern then hit top gear. Striker Robert Lewandowski and Thiago pulled the Berlin defence apart to set up Robben, who came on for his first appearance of the season and crashed his shot home, with no defenders in sight, on 72 minutes. It was the Dutchman s first goal for six months after a groin injury. That was a huge feeling. I had goosebumps, admitted Robben after his goal. The victory saw Bayern regain top spot from Borussia Dortmund, who temporarily claimed first place after their 5-1 drubbing of Wolfsburg on Tuesday, but dropped to third. Cologne are a surprise second after their 3-1 win at Schalke 04, who remain second from bottom after four straight defeats to increase the pressure on new coach Markus Weinzierl. Second-half goals by Anthony Modeste and Simon Zoller for the visitors sealed Cologne s victory after Japan s Yuya Osaka s first half strike had cancelled out Klaas-Jan Huntelaar s early goal for Schalke. Werder Bremen, who sacked coach Viktor Skripnik on Monday after three defeats, remain bottom after a heart-breaking 2-1 loss at Mainz, who scored both of their goals in the final five minutes. Bayern Munich s Austrian defender David Alaba (right), and Berlin s midfielder Alexander Esswein vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin in Munich, southern Germany, on Sept 21. (AFP) Bayer Leverkusen were held to a goalless draw at home to Augsburg. Promoted RB Leipzig protected their unbeaten record in a 1-1 draw at Borussia Moenchengladbach, who host Barcelona in a plum Champions League clash next Wednesday. Leipzig were gifted the lead at their Red Bull Arena when a dreadful mix up in the Gladbach defence allowed Timo Werner to net his third goal in two games having also scored twice in Saturday s 4-0 rout away to Hamburg. But USA international Fabian Johnson scored a late equaliser to spare Gladbach s blushes. Standings P W D L GF GA Pts Bayern Cologne Dortmund Frankfurt Hertha Leipzig Mainz M hengladbach Freiburg Wolfsburg Hoffenheim Leverkusen Augsburg Darmstadt Ingolstadt Hamburg Schalke Werder Note: Standings read as played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against and points. Grealish must grow up: RDM LONDON, Sept 22, (RTRS): Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish has been told to grow up by manager Roberto Di Matteo after media reports that police were called to a Birmingham hotel where he was partying with friends on Sunday. Villa have launched an internal investigation regarding the 21-year-old, with local media reports saying fellow party-goers were inhaling nitrous oxide, which provides a legal high. In April last year, Grealish was cautioned about his conduct by Villa s former manager Tim Sherwood after photographs emerged of him allegedly inhaling the laughing gas in a hotel room. We instantly started an internal investigation about it, which is still ongoing. When it is finished we will see what disciplinary action to take, Di Matteo told British media. We expect our players to behave in a professional manner at all times. In general for the sake of any player they need to learn about what it takes to be an athlete. Messi out for 3 weeks as Atletico hold Barca BARCELONA, Sept 22, (Agencies): Lionel Messi will miss the next three weeks after suffering the recurrence of a groin injury as Atletico Madrid came from behind to hold Barcelona 1-1 at the Camp Nou on Wednesday. Ivan Rakitic headed Barca into the lead just before half-time, but Angel Correa slotted home on the hour mark just seconds after Messi limped off to hand Atletico a deserved point. Earlier, Real Madrid s record-equalling 16-game La Liga win streak came to an end as Villarreal drew 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu. Madrid continue to lead Barca by three points at the top of the table with Atletico a further point back in fourth. Sevilla, who beat Real Betis on Tuesday, remain in second place. Messi is set to miss Barca s next three games at Sporting Gijon and Celta Vigo in La Liga and Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Champions League, as well as Argentina s World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Paraguay. The five-time World Player of the Year missed Argentina s last qualifier in Venezuela earlier this month due to a similar injury. Barca s stellar front three of Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar had struck 10 times in their last two games, but were kept largely quiet by Atletico s typically rock-solid defence. Messi had the first effort on goal, but his fierce effort was comfortably handled by Jan Oblak in the Atletico goal. The hosts had to wait until four minutes before the break to seriously threaten again when they took the lead. Atletico momentarily switched off as a corner from the left was played short to Andres Iniesta and his cross was powered home by the late arriving Rakitic. However, Barca s joy was short-lived, first by a double injury blow and then Correa s leveller. Sergio Busquets was first forced off due Real win streak comes to end Barcelona s Brazilian forward Neymar (left), vies with Atletico Madrid s defender Juanfran during the Spanish League football match FC Barcelona vs Atletico de Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on Sept 21. (AFP) to illness before Messi went down to the consternation of the Camp Nou. The Argentine s replacement Arda Turan had barely taken up his position when Atletico levelled as Correa coolly slotted home after Javier Mascherano s slip offered him a clear path to goal. Barca came closest to finding a winner in the final half hour as a fierce drive from Neymar was repelled by Oblak, whilst Jordi Alba and Rakitic fired off target. However, in the end both settled for a point which keeps them within touch of Real. At the Bernabeu, the European champions were looking to surpass the Liga mark of 16 wins first set by Pep Guardiola s Barcelona in 2010/11, but were made to pay for a sluggish first-half display. Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale returned to the Madrid side that won 2-0 at Espanyol on Sunday. Captain Bruno Soriano stepped up and coolly chipped the ball down the middle of Genoa frustrate Napoli the goal past Casilla. Ramos made amends right at the start of the second-half when he rose highest to head home James Rodriguez s corner. Ronaldo was then inches away from turning home Dani Carvajal s low cross and Bale curled just wide as the pressure increased from Madrid. The off-colour Bale was then replaced by Lucas Vazquez, whilst Karim Benzema SOCCER made way for Alvaro Morata in the search for a winner. Morata s header from Vazquez s cross was brilliantly turned over by Asenjo and when Ronaldo fired straight at the Villarreal stopper in the final minute, Real s shot at history was gone. Standings P W D L GF GA Pts Real Sevilla Barcelona Atletico Palmas Villarreal Bilbao Sociedad Eibar Gijon Alaves Deportivo Malaga Betis Leganes Celta Vigo Espanyol Osasuna Granada Valencia Note: Standings read as played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against and points. Juventus go top ROME, Sept 22, (RTRS): Champions Juventus returned to the top of Serie A with a 4-0 home rout of Cagliari on Wednesday, while former leaders Napoli dropped to second after being held to a goalless draw at Genoa. First-half efforts from Daniele Rugani, Gonzalo Higuain and Dani Alves and a late own goal from Luca Ceppitelli helped Juve ease to their fourth win of the season and up to 12 points, one ahead of Napoli on 11. Inter Milan beat Empoli 2-0 away after a first-half double from Mauro Icardi to go fifth on 10 points, while Roma jumped to third, also on 10, SOCCER Villarreal s French midfielder Alfred N Diaye (left), vies with Real Madrid s defender Sergio Ramos during the Spanish League football match Real Madrid CF vs Villarreal CF at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on Sept 21. (AFP) Everton dreaming again after fast start under Koeman MANCHESTER, England, Sept 22, (AP): With his headteacher aura and astute offseason recruitment, Ronald Koeman is making an immediate impact at Everton and getting the best out of the club s strongest squad in a generation. It might be time for the blue half of Merseyside to start dreaming again, three decades after its trophy-laden heyday. Koeman, a highly respected ex-netherlands and Barcelona defender, was lured from Southampton in June and has guided Everton to its best five-game start to a league campaign in 38 years. With a draw and four consecutive wins, Everton is in second place, behind Manchester City, in the English Premier League standings going into a game at 17th-place Bournemouth on Saturday. English football is already looking for the next team to do a Leicester and rise from nowhere to win the Premier League. Maybe it s Everton s turn, although Koeman has warned against any comparisons with the current champions. Normally, we can t win the title. I think what Leicester did last season was an exception, Koeman said. I am realistic. If I tell you we will fight for the title, I think most people will say, That man is crazy. That winning the title is even in the conversation around Goodison Park is testament to work being done by Koeman, who appears to be at a club going places after its disappointing 11th-place finish last season. Ambition has soared at Everton since Iranian-British businessman Farhad Moshiri became its majority shareholder in February. With greater financial power under Moshiri, Everton spent around $50 SOCCER million on explosive winger Yannick Bolasie and Wales captain Ashley Williams in August, and almost broke its club record to sign Moussa Sissoko on deadline day before the France midfielder had a late change of heart and joined Tottenham. To top it all off, Koeman looks to be the real deal after replacing Roberto Martinez, fired in May after running out of ideas and patience among fans after three years in charge. Standards have suddenly risen at Everton. While the relaxed Martinez used overstatements and cringeworthy hyperbole to laud underperforming players, Koeman has no issue in calling out players whose level drops. Rising star Ross Barkley was substituted at halftime in one match this season, for example. Yes, there is a fear, definitely, Everton captain Phil Jagielka said. It is like being back at school with a new headteacher who is trying to be a little bit stricter. Gareth Barry, Koeman Everton s 35-yearold midfielder, has opened up about the difference between the Martinez and Koeman regimes. The standards of the players were, for me, slightly slipping last season, on and off the pitch, Barry said. It was things like time-keeping, dress codes, training, everything really. The confidence and everything had gone. Now it s back. Everton has beaten West Bromwich Albion, Stoke, Sunderland and Middlesbrough after opening with a draw against Tottenham, and the team looks stronger in every department. A leaky defense seems tighter with the presence of Williams at center back and energetic midfielder Idrissa Gueye another summer signing just in front, while Romelu Lukaku has returned to form with four goals in his last two games and, when at his best, is among the Premier League s most dangerous and prolific strikers. The heavyweight teams lie in wait for Koeman s side first-place Manchester City hosts Everton on Oct 15, the first weekend after the upcoming break for internationals but suddenly there s a buzz around one of England s most established top-flight clubs. Before Alex Ferguson arrived at Old Trafford in 1986, Everton had been English champions more often than Manchester United, winning eight titles to United s seven, and was the country s major power alongside Merseyside rival Liverpool. There s been no silverware since the fifth of Everton s FA Cup titles in 1995, but that may be about to change under Koeman. after thrashing Crotone 4-0. Juve were criticised after their loss to Inter on Sunday and boss Massimiliano Allegri made six changes to his team, with record signing Gonzalo Higuain restored to the starting lineup. However, it was defender Rugani who opened the scoring with a poacher s finish, reacting first to tap past Marco Storari after the keeper saved from Higuain s volley. Higuain did get on the scoresheet in the 34th minute when he fired home the rebound after Storari had blocked Miralem Pjanic s effort. Dani Alves added a third six minutes later with his first for Juve, lashing the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box after being picked out by a Pjanic corner. Juve replaced goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon at halftime due to injury, but added to their tally in the 83rd minute when Ceppitelli deflected the ball past Storari. Napoli, Serie A s top scorers heading into Wednesday, were held at Genoa despite enjoying the lion s share of possession and were left ruing two penalty appeals that were turned down. Marek Hamsik struck the woodwork as Maurizio Sarri s side were forced to settle for a point, with a foul on Arkadiusz Milik in the box and Lucas Ocampos s handball going unpunished. Inter took the lead against Empoli after 10 minutes when Icardi met Antonio Candreva s delightful chipped cross with a diving header. They doubled their advantage seven minutes later when Icardi was picked out by Mario and slotted calmly past Lukasz Skorupski for his sixth goal of the season. Cagliari s defender Luca Ceppitelli (up), vies with Juventus forward Gonzalo Higuain from Argentina during the Italian Serie A football match Juventus vs Cagliari on Sept 21, at the Juventus Stadium in Turin. (AFP) At the Stadio Olimpico, Roma eased past promoted Crotone in a 4-0 triumph that hinted that Luciano Spalletti s side could be title contenders again. Stephan El Shaarawy struck in the 26th minute after a sustained period of pressure from the home side, while Mohamed Salah added a second with a thunderous left-footed finish from close range 11 minutes later. Edin Dzeko bagged two in the second half, the first after a remarkable assist from Francesco Totti, while Wojciech Szczesny saved Raffaele Palladino s penalty. Standings P W D L GF GA Pts Juventus Napoli Roma Chievo Inter Milan Bologna Genoa Fiorentina Lazio Udinese Sampdoria Sassuolo Torino Pescara Palermo Cagliari Empoli Atalanta Crotone Note: Standings read as played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against and points.

42 SPORTS 42 Fast bowler Amir joins squads spearhead spin-cum-pace attack Troubled champs West Indies face in-form Pakistan Garbine Muguruza of Spain hits a return against Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia during their women s singles second round match at the WTA Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo on Sept 22. (AFP) Spain s Muguruza romps into Pan Pacific quarters TOKYO, Sept 22, (Agencies): French Open champion Garbine Muguruza exacted revenge for a shock early exit at the US Open by thrashing Anastasija Sevastova to reach the Pan Pacific Open quarterfinals on Thursday. The Spanish world number three, beaten in the second round by Sevastova in New York earlier this month, spanked the Latvian 6-3, 6-3 to storm into the last eight in Tokyo. Belarusian qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich upset US Open finalist Karolina Pliskova, the world number six, 6-4, 6-2 to set up a quarter-final with Japanese teenage sensation Naomi Osaka. Elsewhere, Poland s Magda Linette battled to a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Kazakhstan s Yulia Putintseva and will next face former world number one Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark. In St Petersburg, Russia, Tomas Berdych had to dig deep to reach the quarterfinals of the St Petersburg Open on Thursday as he beat Andrey Kuznetsov in a deciding-set tiebreak. The world No. 9, seeded third, struggled to return serves as he battled to a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (4) win over Kuznetsov, the top-ranked Russian at 46th. Berdych next plays Italian Paolo Lorenzi, who saw off French qualifier Alexandre Sidorenko 7-6 (6), 6-4 in their Berdych survives scare in St Petersburg second-round encounter. Earlier, seventh-seeded Viktor Troicki beat fellow Serbian Dusan Lajovic 6-4, 6-4 to set up a quarterfinal meeting with U.S. Open champion Stan Wawrinka. Portugal s eighth-seeded Joao Sousa also reached the quarterfinals, beating 18-year-old Russian wild card Andrey Rublev 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-3. In Metz, France, second seed David Goffin eased into the ATP Metz Open quarter-finals but fourth seed Gilles Simon was made to struggle on Thursday. Belgian Goffin, the world number 14, beat Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany 6-4, TENNIS 6-2 in his second-round clash but Simon was pushed to a decider by Spain s Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. World number 28 Simon eventually prevailed 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 and will next face Tunisia s Malek Jaziri, who ousted Frenchman Vincent Millot 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Goffin will play the winner of Thursday s late clash between France s Nicolas Mahut and Illya Marchenko of Ukraine. In Beijing, Defending champion Jelena Jankovic of Serbia beat Germany s Sabine Lisicki in the quarter-finals of the WTA Guangzhou International Women s Open Thursday, getting her a step closer to the $226,750 top prize. Second seed and former world number one Jankovic beat 2013 Wimbledon finalist Lisicki 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 to advance to Friday s semi-finals, where she will face third seeded Croatian Ana Konjuh. The tournament s two US players took a beating, with Konjuh knocking out American Jennifer Brady 6-4, 7-5 and Ukranian Lesia Tsurenko securing a win over fifth seed Alison Riske 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 in a match that lasted nearly two hours. Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland, fresh off a surprise win 6-7 (7/9), 6-3, 6-4 against top seed Sara Errani that had shot her into the quarter-finals the night before, couldn t recreate the magic, losing 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to Anett Kontaveit of Estonia, listed as 129th in the WTA singles rankings. In Seoul, Jana Cepelova of Slovakia on Thursday advanced to the Korea Open quarterfinals after beating the top seed and defending champion Irina- Camelia Begu. Cepelova, currently the world number 102, defeated the world 23 Begu, who had won two titles at the Korea Open, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in 125 minutes. Cepelova previously made it into the semi-finals at the WTA Tokyo last week before being ousted by Christina McHale in the final. The 23-year-old Slovak also beat Begu in the two ladies first and previous match at the qualifiers to the 2013 US Open. Begu was seeking redemption after suffering four consecutive first-round exits, including at the Rio Olympics and the US Open, since winning the title at the WTA Florianopolis in July. Cepelova will next play Monica Niculescu from Romania. DUBAI, Sept 22, (AFP): The West Indies will hope to forget their off-field turmoil and underline their status as World Twenty20 champions when they face buoyant Pakistan in a three-match series starting on Friday. The supremely talented but troubled side have arrived in the United Arab Emirates after sacking coach Phil Simmons and without all-rounder Andre Russell, who is facing a doping hearing. The Windies are also missing flamboyant big-hitter Chris Gayle, who complains of injury problems and makes only sporadic appearances for his country. Gayle also missed the West Indies one-run Twenty20 win over India in Florida last month, while Russell will front a hearing into claims he missed three drugs tests in a 12-month period, an offence which could trigger a two-year ban. Carlos Brathwaite stunned England when he smashed Ben Stokes for four CRICKET consecutive sixes to clinch the West Indies second World T20 title in April. Brathwaite will now captain the side in UAE while towering former fast bowler Joel Big Bird Garner replaces Simmons, who repeatedly clashed with the West Indies board. Brathwaite hopes his team will show their huge talent in the humid conditions in the United Arab Emirates, where they also trained ahead of the World Twenty20 in India. Brathwaite s uncapped players including wicketkeeper-batsman Nicholas Pooran, all-rounder Rovman Powell and fast bowler Kesrick Williams will also want to fire against a dangerous Pakistan side. The West Indies will rely heavily on their T20 specialist spinners Samuel Badree and Sunil Narine, who shared five wickets to spark a 22-run win in a warmup game on Tuesday. Pakistan are also in good form, smashing hosts England by nine wickets in the only Twenty20 game of their tour in what was Sarfraz Ahmed s first match as skipper. Ahmed, who replaced Shahid Afridi following Pakistan s first-round exit in the World Twenty20, hopes his team won t be overawed by the champions. Fast bowler Mohammad Amir joined the squad after his wedding on Tuesday and will spearhead a spin-cum-pace attack. Opener Mohammad Hafeez and lanky paceman Mohammad Irfan are out through injury. Middle-order batsman Umar Akmal will be in focus after being recalled following his axing on the England tour over disciplinary issues. Umar smashed a fiery century in a national Twenty20 event to force his comeback. Squads Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (capt), Khalid Latif, Sharjeel Khan, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Sohail Tanvir, Rumman Raees, Umar Akmal, Saad Nasim West Indies: Carlos Brathwaite (capt), Samuel Badree, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Jason Holder, Evin Lewis, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Chadwick Walton, Kesrick Williams Too much grit? Team USA scrambling for answers after WC ouster TORONTO, Sept 22, (AP): Members of Team USA gathered for a few drinks after they were eliminated from the World Cup of Hockey. There was a lot to discuss. The United States was surprised by Team Europe and wasn t good enough against Canada, leading to two losses and a cascade of questions. John Tortorella as coach? Too much grit? Not enough skill? What might change after another all-toofamiliar early exit from an international tournament? The pipeline of young talent for next time around? A few days isn t enough time to answer all those questions, especially for players whose job was to play a certain style of hockey not put together a roster or pick the coaching staff. I liked our team, winger Zach Parise said Wednesday. I thought we played hard. It s not a player s job to speculate who should or shouldn t be on the team before or after the tournament. Phil Kessel took his shot. Left off the team along with scoring forwards Kyle Okposo and Tyler Johnson and defensemen Justin Faulk, Kevin Shattenkirk and Cam Fowler, the Stanley Cup-winning Pittsburgh Penguins winger tweeted after the US loss: Just sitting around the house tonight (with) my dog. Felt like I should be doing something important, but couldn t put my finger on it. US management went with a sandpaper style of play that resulted in a silver medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics but hasn t worked since. Center David Backes said he believes that style of hockey can still win if executed correctly. To come here and flop like we did is extremely disappointing, defenseman Ryan Suter said. Obviously we have to examine ourselves and what more could we have done and how can we get better for future tournaments. The 0-2 start revealed the Americans brought too much physicality to a skill game. Canada, Russia, Team North America and others have thrived with fast-paced, entertaining hockey. Speed has been king at this international tournament, but Backes noted that the Americans weren t going to out-skill Canada. With the aim of beating Canada, US general manager Dean Lombardi instead built a big team with an edge in hopes of neutralizing the talent of the top hockey power in the world. Instead, the World Cup showed that depth of talent is everything. Leaving more skilled players at home was too much to overcome. Kessel was the Americans leading scorer and best player at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, but he was left off the roster. Hand surgery after the playoffs may have put his availability in doubt, but USA Hockey s management team clearly overlooked him and others. The US opted for old-guard players like forward Brandon Dubinsky, defensemen Jack Johnson and Erik Johnson and grinder Justin Abdelkader. Tortorella, as old-school a coach as there is, wanted to ICE HOCKEY play his brand of hockey and stood by the roster construction and style. Canada outclassed the US in a 4-2 whacking Tuesday night that wasn t as close as the score. Not only could the Americans not beat the tournament favorite but they weren t able to knock them around, either. As a team we have some bigger guys who are physical, Canada captain Sidney Crosby said. It doesn t mean they have to chase hits. In the aftermath of the loss, players talked about hitting the post and being close. They also defended their teammates against criticism, even while conceding the results weren t good enough. There s perhaps a gut check for everybody that s on this team to know or to evaluate really what they were able to give or what they gave for the red white and the blue, Backes said. Team USA head coach John Tortorella (back left), and assistant coach Phil Housley (back right), along with Team USA players Blake Wheeler (26), Ryan Kesler (17) and David Backers (42), watch the game against Canada during third period World Cup of Hockey action in Toronto on Sept 20. (AP)

43 SPORTS 43 Inciarte robs Cespedes, Braves foil Mets again The throw to New York Mets catcher Rene Rivera (left), is off the plate as Atlanta Braves Ender Inciarte scores on Matt Kemp s game-tying, eighth-inning sacrifice fly in a baseball game, Sept 21, in New York. (AP) Dodgers down Giants to extend NL West lead NEW YORK, Sept 22, (AP): Center fielder Ender Inciarte robbed Yoenis Cespedes of a winning homer for the final out, and the New York Mets were handed another costly loss by last-place Atlanta when the Braves rallied for a 4-3 victory Wednesday night. With two runners on in the ninth, Cespedes launched a drive to deep right-center. Inciarte raced to the wall and timed his jump perfectly, catching the ball just above the orange line atop the fence. He held up his glove in excitement as Cespedes turned and walked slowly off the field. Some fans in the stunned crowd still had their hands on their heads as they filed up the aisles toward the exits. New York remained tied with St. Louis and San Francisco in the NL wild-card race after all three teams lost Wednesday. Bartolo Colon and Jeurys Familia failed to protect a three-run lead for the Mets. An error by normally sure-handed first baseman James Loney helped Atlanta tie it with an unearned run in the eighth. Inciarte had an RBI groundout against Familia (3-4) in the top of the ninth, sending the Braves to their fifth straight victory. Ian Krol (2-0) struck out pinch-hitter Kevin Plawecki with the bases loaded to end the eighth, and Jim Johnson got three outs for his 17th save. Atlanta s Freddie Freeman extended his hitting streak to a career-best 25 games and has reached base safely in 41 straight. Asdrubal Cabrera and Rene Rivera homered for the Mets. Dodgers 9, Giants 3 In Los Angeles, Yasiel Puig s three-run homer highlighted a five-run first inning and the Dodgers routed the Giants, extending their NL West lead to six games with 10 remaining. The Dodgers pounded out 12 hits in taking two of three from the rival Giants, who remained tied in the NL wild-card race after both the Mets and Cardinals lost earlier. The Dodgers conclude the regular season with three games at San Francisco next week. Kenta Maeda (16-9) allowed two runs and three hits in five innings while improving to 4-0 against the Giants this season. The right-hander struck out six and walked one in making his 30th start of the season for just the second time in his career. Maeda is one win from tying Rick Sutcliffe s record by a rookie set in Matt Moore (11-12) gave up six runs and seven hits in one inning, walked one and struck out none in a messy outing for the left-hander who had pitched exceptionally well at Dodger Stadium. Cubs 9, Reds 2 In Chicago, John Lackey pitched seven solid innings for his first win in six weeks, Miguel Montero drove in three runs, and Chicago swept Cincinnati. Kris Bryant hit his 38th homer and Dexter Fowler also connected to help major league-leading Chicago move a season-high 42 games over.500. The Cubs (97-55) also matched their win total from a year ago and lowered their magic number for clinching home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs to two over Washington. Lackey (10-8) allowed two runs and five hits in his first win since he beat the Angels on Aug. 9. The right-hander, who retired his last 14 batters, went 0-1 with a 2.55 ERA in his previous four starts. The last-place Reds lost for the seventh time in eight games. They managed just five runs and 19 hits in the three-game series against the NL Central champions. Red Sox 5, Orioles 1 In Baltimore, Boston scored five unearned runs in the sixth inning after first baseman Chris Davis throwing error and beat Baltimore to pad its AL East lead. Andrew Benintendi hit a three-run homer for the Red Sox, who will try to complete a four-game sweep Thursday night. Boston pulled five games ahead of Toronto and six in front of Baltimore. Clay Buchholz (8-10) allowed one run and three hits over seven innings for the Red Sox. Boston s seven-game winning streak, which began with a sweep of the Yankees, is its longest since an identical run early in the 2014 season. Yankees 11, Rays 5 In St Petersburg, Fla, Rookie Gary San- New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, of Japan, delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Sept 21, in St Petersburg, Fla. (AP) chez hit two more homers and drove in five runs, Masahiro Tanaka won despite allowing four home runs in the third inning and New York beat Tampa Bay. The Yankees moved within 2-1/2 games of Baltimore for the second AL wild-card spot. New York also would have to jump over Seattle, Houston and Detroit to earn a postseason berth. Sanchez hit a three-run shot in a four-run second off Alex Cobb (1-1) and added his 19th homer in 43 games this season on a solo drive in the sixth against Justin Marks. Tanaka (14-4) won his seventh straight decision. Mariners 2, Blue Jays 1, 12 Innings In Seattle, Robinson Cano drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the 12th inning and the Seattle beat Toronto to avoid a series sweep. Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (10-15), who pitched five scoreless innings in his last start Friday, came in on the 12th for his first relief appearance after 29 starts. Guillermo Heredia reached on a twobase throwing error by third baseman Josh Donaldson to open the 12th. Ben Gamel BASEBALL followed with an attempted sacrifice bunt, and first baseman Ryan Goins appeared to have Heredia at third, but the ball popped out of Donaldson s glove on the tag. Cano then followed with a run-scoring fly to left, quieting the decidedly pro-blue Jays crowd, bolstered for the third straight game by thousands of fans from western Canada. Nationals 8, Marlins 3 In Miami, Max Scherzer pitched innings to tie for the National League victory lead with 18, helping Washington beat Miami. Scherzer (18-7) allowed three runs and struck out eight to push his major leagueleading total to 267. He s tied for with Chicago s Jon Lester for the most wins in the NL. Ryan Zimmerman hit a three-run homer and Trea Turner also homered for the Nationals. They ended a four-game losing streak and lowered their magic number to three to win the NL East over the New York Mets. Tom Koehler (9-12) allowed four runs three earned in four innings for the Marlins. Christian Yelich hit a solo home run and Derek Dietrich hit a two-run homer to chase Scherzer in the seventh and cut it to 6-3. Indians 4, Royals 3 In Cleveland, Corey Kluber allowed two runs and struck out nine in 6-1/3 innings, and the Cleveland beat Kansas City to eliminate the reigning World Series champions from the AL Central race. The Indians reduced their magic number for clinching the Central to five. Carlos Santana was 4 for 5 with an RBI single in the eighth. Jose Ramirez drove in the go-ahead run in the fifth with his third double of the game. Kluber (18-9) matched his career high in wins and is 10-1 in his last 14 starts, strengthening his case to win his second AL Cy Young Award in three years. Angels 5, Rangers 4 In Arlington, Texas, Mike Trout hit his 28th homer and Jered Weaver went six innings for his 150th victory in an Angels uniform, helping Los Angeles beat the AL West-leading Texas. The magic number for Texas (90-63) to win its second consecutive AL West title remained at two after the loss and secondplace Houston s victory at Oakland. Trout s three-run drive off Derek Holland (7-9) in the fifth put the Angels up 5-1. Weaver (12-12) struck out six and allowed four runs. He joined Chuck Finley (165) as the only pitchers to win 150 games for the Angels. A California native who has spent all 11 of his MLB seasons with the Angels, Weaver is in 321 career starts. Rockies 11, Cardinals 1 In Denver, Nolan Arenado hit a grand slam, German Marquez pitched five solid innings for his first major league win and Colorado slowed St. Louis playoff chase. Arenado made it 6-1 in the second with his NL-leading 39th homer. Marquez (1-0) made his first big league start after three appearances out of the bullpen. He allowed one run and struck out three. At 21 years, 212 days, Marquez was the second-youngest pitcher in Rockies history to earn his first win. The youngest was Jamey Wright at 21 years, 206 days. Astros 6, Athletics 5 In Oakland, California, Evan Gattis homered twice, catcher Jason Castro threw out a runner to end the game and Houston beat Oakland to complete a series sweep. Oakland scored on second baseman Jose Altuve s fielding error with two outs in the ninth inning to pull to 6-5. Castro then threw out pinch-runner Arismendy Alcantara trying to steal second. Collin McHugh (12-10) won his fifth straight decision, allowing two runs and six hits over innings. Five relievers combined to record the final 10 outs, with former A s setup man Luke Gregerson retiring three batters for his 15th save. Pirates 4, Brewers 1 In Milwaukee, Sean Rodriguez hit a home run and a two-run single, Andrew McCutchen went deep, rookie Chad Kuhl pitched six strong innings and Pittsburgh beat Milwaukee. The Pirates won their sixth straight at Miller Park, and sixth of seven overall. McCutchen helped the Pirates jump out to an early lead for the second consecutive game. He hit a 2-2 pitch that just slipped by the left-field foul pole for his 24th home run. Rodriguez s two-run single finished the scoring in the first off starter Jimmy Nelson (8-15) and extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Rodriguez hit his 18th home run of the season in the fourth. He has homered in four of his last five games. Phillies 8, White Sox 3 In Philadelphia, Tommy Joseph homered, doubled and drove in three runs and Jerad Eickhoff outpitched Chris Sale in Philadelphia s victory over Chicago. Joseph has 21 home runs, third most among rookies in the majors. The Phillies teed off on Sale (16-9), tagging the ace for six runs and seven hits in four innings. Eickhoff (11-13) pitched seven innings and gave up six hits, including solo home runs by Adam Eaton, Todd Frazier and Alex Avila homered, and struck out six. Phillies outfielder Tyler Goeddel left in the sixth after being hit in the head by a pitch from Chris Beck. Goeddel was the fourth Philadelphia player to be hit in the Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a sacrifice fly to score off- Howie Kendrick #47 on the second inning against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on Sept 21, in Los Angeles, California. (AFP) game, tying a franchise record. Diamondbacks 3, Padres 2 In San Diego, Paul Goldschmidt homered twice, including a go-ahead, two-run shot in the sixth inning, and Zack Greinke pitched six strong innings to lead Arizona past San Diego. The Diamondbacks pulled into a tie with the Padres for fourth place in the NL West at Goldschmidt s 22nd and 23rd homers provided all of Arizona s runs and came off rookie Luis Perdomo (8-10). Goldschmidt hit a solo shot into the seats in left field with two outs in the first for a 1-0 lead, and a go-ahead, two-run homer into the Padres bullpen in left-center with two outs in the sixth. MLB Scoreboard WASHINGTON, Sept 22, (Agencies): Results and standings from MLB games on Wednesday. Colorado 11 St Louis 1 Houston 6 Oakland 5 Seattle 2 Toronto (12 innings) 1 Boston 5 Baltimore 1 Philadelphia 8 Chicago White Sox 3 Atlanta 4 NY Mets 3 Cleveland 4 Kansas City 3 NY Yankees 11 Tampa Bay 5 Washington 8 Miami 3 Chicago Cubs 9 Cincinnati 2 LA Angels 5 Texas 4 Pittsburgh 4 Milwaukee 1 Arizona 3 San Diego 2 LA Dodgers 9 San Francisco 3 American League Eastern Division W L PCT GB Boston Toronto Baltimore NY Yankees /2 Tampa Bay /2 Central Division W L PCT GB Cleveland Detroit /2 Kansas City /2 Chicago W. Sox /2 Minnesota Western Division W L PCT GB Texas Houston /2 Seattle /2 LA Angels /2 Oakland /2 National League Eastern Division W L PCT GB Washington NY Mets Miami Philadelphia Atlanta Central Division W L PCT GB Chicago Cubs St Louis Pittsburgh /2 Milwaukee Cincinnati Western Division W L PCT GB LA Dodgers San Francisco Colorado Arizona San Diego MLB Linescores American League Houston Oakland McHugh, Hoyt (6), Sipp (7), Neshek (7), Harris (8), Gregerson (9) and Castro; Mengden, Coulombe (6), Neal (7), C.Smith (8) and Maxwell. W_McHugh L_Mengden 2-8. Sv_ Gregerson (15). HRs_Houston, Gattis 2 (30). Toronto Seattle (12 innings) A.Sanchez, Benoit (7), Cecil (8), Grilli (8), Biagini (9), Osuna (9), D.Barnes (11), Loup (11), Tepera (11), Dickey (12) and R.Martin, Thole; F.Hernandez, Cishek (8), E.Diaz (8), Scribner (10), Wilhelmsen (11), Vincent (11) and Sucre, Zunino. W_Vincent 4-4. L_Dickey HRs_Toronto, Bautista (19). Boston Baltimore Buchholz, Ziegler (8), Scott (9), Kimbrel (9) and Leon; Jimenez, Brach (6), Drake (7), Duensing (8), Wright (9) and Wieters. W_Buchholz L_Jimenez HRs_Boston, Benintendi (2). New York Tampa Bay Tanaka, Warren (7), Layne (8), Clippard (8), Holder (9) and G.Sanchez; Cobb, Geltz (2), Marks (4), Eveland (7), Romero (8), E.Ramirez (9) and Wilson. W_Tanaka L_Cobb 1-1. HRs_New York, Sanchez 2 (19), Solano (1). Tampa Bay, Dickerson (22), Wilson (4), Longoria (36), Miller 2 (30). Kansas City Cleveland x Kennedy, Strahm (6), McCarthy (7), Alexander (8) and S.Perez; Kluber, A.Miller (7), B.Shaw (8), Allen (9) and R.Perez. W_Kluber L_Kennedy Sv_Allen (28). HRs_Kansas City, Perez (21). Los Angeles Texas J.Weaver, Achter (7), J..Ramirez (8), Bailey (9) and C.Perez; Holland, Leclerc (6), Scheppers (6), Claudio (8), Bush (9) and Lucroy. W_J.Weaver L_Holland 7-9. Sv_Bailey (4). HRs_Los Angeles, Trout (28). Lions placed RB Abdullah on IR Bucs running back Martin likely to miss three weeks FOOTBALL NEW YORK, Sept 22, (RTRS): Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin is expected to miss three weeks with a hamstring injury, according to reports. Martin exited Sunday s 40-7 loss against the Arizona Cardinals in the second quarter and did not return. He had seven carries for 23 yards. The 27-year-old two-time Pro Bowler suffered the injury when he made a cut and planted his foot. He had an MRI on Tuesday. Starting quarterback Jay Cutler is likely to miss at least two games with a thumb injury, but the Chicago Bears plan to list him as day-to-day entering Sunday s game at Dallas. With a Sunday night game against the Cowboys (8:30 pm ET), the Bears claim not to be sure when their starting quarterback will return following Monday s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. All signs point to veteran Brian Hoyer making the start for the 0-2 Bears. Cutler s thumb injury caused him to come out of the game in the third quarter after losing a fumble and throwing an interception. An arrest warrant has been issued for suspended Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon in a child paternity case. The case stems from a complaint made in Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Juvenile Court from Christina Lockhart of Maple Heights, outside Cleveland. She claims Gordon is the father of her now 1-year-old daughter, according to Cleveland.com. The complaint against Gordon was first filed in July The warrant was issued by a judge on Aug 31 after Gordon did not respond to subpoenas sent to several different addresses in Los Angeles and Cleveland, demanding that he take a DNA test. The Detroit Lions placed running back Texas, Beltran (6). Interleague Chicago Philadelphia x Sale, Beck (5), B.Smith (6), Kahnle (7), Ranaudo (8) and Avila; Eickhoff, J.Rodriguez (8), D.Hernandez (9) and Rupp. W_Eickhoff L_Sale HRs_Chicago, Eaton (14), Avila (7), Frazier (38). Philadelphia, Joseph (21). National League St Louis Colorado x L.Weaver, J.Garcia (3), Kiekhefer (7), Broxton (7), Socolovich (8) and C.Kelly; Marquez, Rusin (6), Lyles (8), Carasiti (9) and Murphy. W_Marquez 1-0. L_L.Weaver 1-4. HRs_Colorado, Arenado (39), Murphy (5). Washington Miami Scherzer, Treinen (7), Rzepczynski (8), Kelley (8), Melancon (9) and Ramos; Koehler, McGowan (5), Ellington (6), Brice (7), Rodney (8), Despaigne (9) and Realmuto. W_Scherzer L_Koehler HRs_Washington, Turner (12), Zimmerman (15). Miami, Dietrich (6), Yelich (20). Atlanta New York Weber, Gant (6), Cunniff (7), Roe (8), Krol (8), J.Johnson (9) and Recker; Colon, A.Reed (7), Smoker (8), Familia (8) and R.Rivera. W_Krol 2-0. L_Familia 3-4. Sv_J. Johnson (17). HRs_Atlanta, Recker (2). New York, Rivera (6), Cabrera (21). Pittsburgh Milwaukee Kuhl, Nicasio (7), Rivero (8), Watson (9) and Cervelli; Nelson, Boyer (6), J.Barnes (7), Suter (9) and Pina. W_Kuhl 5-3. L_Nelson Sv_Watson (15). HRs_Pittsburgh, Mc- Cutchen (24), Rodriguez (18). Cincinnati Chicago x Stephenson, Magill (4), Lorenzen (5), B.Wood (6), Ohlendorf (7), Cingrani (8) and Barnhart, R.Cabrera; Lackey, Rondon (8), Montgomery (8), J.Smith (9) and Montero. W_Lackey L_Stephenson 2-2. HRs_ Chicago, Fowler (13), Bryant (38). Arizona San Diego Greinke, Delgado (7), E.Escobar (7), Barrett (8), Hudson (8) and Castillo; Perdomo, Morrow (8), Quackenbush (9) and Norris. W_ Greinke L_Perdomo Sv_Hudson (4). HRs_Arizona, Goldschmidt 2 (23). San Diego, Myers (27). San Francisco Los Angeles x Moore, Cain (2), Osich (4), Peavy (5), Blach (6) and Posey, Brown; Maeda, Urias (6), A.Wood (8), Howell (9) and Ruiz. W_Maeda L_Moore HRs_San Francisco, Adrianza (2). Los Angeles, Puig (11). MLB Leaders American League BATTING: Altuve, Houston,.336; Pedroia, Boston,.322; Trout, Los Angeles,.318; Ortiz, Boston,.318; Betts, Boston,.318; Martinez, Detroit,.317; Ramirez, Cleveland,.315; Escobar, Los Angeles,.311; Cabrera, Detroit,.310; Lindor, Cleveland,.306.A RUNS: Donaldson, Toronto, 116; Betts, Boston, 116; Trout, Los Angeles, 114; Springer, Houston, 111; Bogaerts, Boston, 111; Kinsler, Detroit, 106; Desmond, Texas, 104; Altuve, Houston, 102; Machado, Baltimore, 102; Pedroia, Boston, 99; Dozier, Minnesota, 99. RBI: Encarnacion, Toronto, 123; Ortiz, Boston, 121; Pujols, Los Angeles, 114; Betts, Boston, 108; Ramirez, Boston, 107; Trumbo, Baltimore, 102; Davis, Oakland, 99; Dozier, Minnesota, 98; Napoli, Cleveland, 98; Beltre, Texas, 98. HITS: Betts, Boston, 203; Altuve, Houston, 202; Pedroia, Boston, 191; Bogaerts, Boston, 182; Machado, Baltimore, 179; Cano, Seattle, 179; Lindor, Cleveland, 179; Abreu, Chicago, 176; Desmond, Texas, 172; Cabrera, Detroit, 171. DOUBLES: Ortiz, Boston, 47; Ramirez, Cleveland, 42; Betts, Boston, 40; Altuve, Houston, 40; Machado, Baltimore, 39; Kipnis, Cleveland, 37; Cabrera, Chicago, 37; Schoop, Baltimore, 36; Longoria, Tampa Bay, 36; Dozier, Minnesota, 35. TRIPLES: Eaton, Chicago, 9; Andrus, Texas, 7; Gardner, New York, 6; Bourn, Baltimore, 6; Dyson, Kansas City, 6; Escobar, Kansas City, 6; Miller, Tampa Bay, 6; Bradley Jr., Boston, 6; Cabrera, Chicago, 5; Donaldson, Toronto, 5; Beckham, Tampa Bay, 5; Naquin, Cleveland, 5; Trout, Los Angeles, 5; Ellsbury, New York, 5; Buxton, Minnesota, 5; Dozier, Minnesota, 5; Betts, Boston, 5; Altuve, Houston, 5. HOME RUNS: Trumbo, Baltimore, 43; Encarnacion, Toronto, 42; Dozier, Minnesota, 41; Davis, Oakland, 40; Frazier, Chicago, 38; Ameer Abdullah on injured reserve after he injured his left foot in Sunday s loss to the Tennessee Titans. Abdullah, the Lions leading rusher with 101 yards on 18 carries this season, hobbled off the field after a 24- yard run late in the second quarter. He has caught five passes for 57 yards and a touchdown. Initial X-rays on the foot showed no broken bones but Abdullah went to Charlotte, North Carolina, on Tuesday for a second opinion with specialist Dr Robert Anderson, according to ESPN. The Indianapolis Colts signed wide receiver Devin Street off of the New England Patriots practice squad. Martin Street s signing comes on the same day Colts head coach Chuck Pagano announced that Donte Moncrief will be out for 4-6 weeks with a fractured scapula. Moncrief exited in the first quarter in Sunday loss against the Denver Broncos. Moncrief had seven receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown in the first two games. Only No. 1 wide receiver T.Y. Hilton has more receptions for the Colts this season. Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Ivory, who missed the first two games after taking an emergency trip to the hospital before the season opener, returned to practice as a limited participant. Ivory has not practiced since Sept 9 and missed the games against the Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers with what the team called a medical issue. Ivory was limited in practice leading into the season opener because of a calf problem. He was hospitalized just hours before the season opener against the Packers. He underwent tests and treatment and was released two days later. Davis, Baltimore, 38; Cruz, Seattle, 37; Ortiz, Boston, 36; Machado, Baltimore, 36; Longoria, Tampa Bay, 36. STOLEN BASES: Davis, Cleveland, 40; Dyson, Kansas City, 28; Altuve, Houston, 27; Trout, Los Angeles, 26; Upton Jr., Toronto, 26; Betts, Boston, 25; Andrus, Texas, 24; Ramirez, Cleveland, 22; Martin, Seattle, 21; Desmond, Texas, 20; Kiermaier, Tampa Bay, 20. PITCHING: Porcello, Boston, 21-4; Happ, Toronto, 20-4; Kluber, Cleveland, 18-9; Price, Boston, 16-8; Sale, Chicago, 16-9; Tillman, Baltimore, 16-6; Iwakuma, Seattle, 16-12; Hamels, Texas, 14-5; Tanaka, New York, 14-4; Verlander, Detroit, ERA: Tanaka, New York, 3.07; Porcello, Boston, 3.08; Kluber, Cleveland, 3.11; Sanchez, Toronto, 3.12; Duffy, Kansas City, 3.18; Verlander, Detroit, 3.22; Sale, Chicago, 3.23; Quintana, Chicago, 3.26; Happ, Toronto, 3.28; Wright, Boston, STRIKEOUTS: Kluber, Cleveland, 224; Verlander, Detroit, 223; Archer, Tampa Bay, 221; Sale, Chicago, 220; Price, Boston, 217; Pineda, New York, 195; Hamels, Texas, 187; Duffy, Kansas City, 181; Pomeranz, Boston, 180; Kennedy, Kansas City, 176. SAVES: Britton, Baltimore, 45; Rodriguez, Detroit, 43; Dyson, Texas, 35; Robertson, Chicago, 35; Colome, Tampa Bay, 34; Osuna, Toronto, 34; Madson, Oakland, 30; Kimbrel, Boston, 28; Allen, Cleveland, 28; Jeffress, Texas, 27. National League BATTING: LeMahieu, Colorado,.351; Murphy, Washington,.347; Blackmon, Colorado,.322; Votto, Cincinnati,.320; Seager, Los Angeles,.317; Segura, Arizona,.317; Marte, Pittsburgh,.310; Prado, Miami,.309; Braun, Milwaukee,.308; Realmuto, Miami,.308. RUNS: Bryant, Chicago, 117; Arenado, Colorado, 111; Blackmon, Colorado, 109; LeMahieu, Colorado, 102; Goldschmidt, Arizona, 100; Seager, Los Angeles, 100; Freeman, Atlanta, 93; Votto, Cincinnati, 93; Myers, San Diego, 92; Segura, Arizona, 91. RBI: Arenado, Colorado, 128; Murphy, Washington, 104; Rizzo, Chicago, 104; Kemp, Atlanta, 101; Gonzalez, Colorado, 99; Bryant, Chicago, 99; Yelich, Miami, 95; Russell, Chicago, 93; Duvall, Cincinnati, 92; Bruce, New York, 91. HITS: Segura, Arizona, 191; Seager, Los Angeles, 187; LeMahieu, Colorado, 187; Murphy, Washington, 184; Prado, Miami, 177; Blackmon, Colorado, 173; Arenado, Colorado, 171; Bryant, Chicago, 170; Freeman, Atlanta, 170; Votto, Cincinnati, 165. DOUBLES: Murphy, Washington, 47; Freeman, Atlanta, 42; Rizzo, Chicago, 40; Seager, Los Angeles, 40; Gonzalez, Colorado, 39; Markakis, Atlanta, 38; Segura, Arizona, 38; Belt, San Francisco, 37; Yelich, Miami, 37; Rendon, Washington, 37; Kemp, Atlanta, 37. TRIPLES: Owings, Arizona, 11; Hernandez, Philadelphia, 10; Crawford, San Francisco, 9; Lamb, Arizona, 9; LeMahieu, Colorado, 8; Bourjos, Philadelphia, 7; Harrison, Pittsburgh, 7; Turner, Washington, 7; Revere, Washington, 7; Belt, San Francisco, 7. HOME RUNS: Arenado, Colorado, 39; Bryant, Chicago, 38; Carter, Milwaukee, 36; Duvall, Cincinnati, 31; Freeman, Atlanta, 31; Kemp, Atlanta, 31; Rizzo, Chicago, 31; Braun, Milwaukee, 30; Cespedes, New York, 30; Tomas, Arizona, 29; Bruce, New York, 29. STOLEN BASES: Hamilton, Cincinnati, 58; Villar, Milwaukee, 57; Marte, Pittsburgh, 47; Nunez, San Francisco, 38; Perez, Milwaukee, 31; Jankowski, San Diego, 30; Segura, Arizona, 30; Turner, Washington, 27; Goldschmidt, Arizona, 27; Myers, San Diego, 26. PITCHING: Scherzer, Washington, 18-7; Lester, Chicago, 18-4; Arrieta, Chicago, 17-7; Cueto, San Francisco, 17-5; Maeda, Los Angeles, 16-9; Fernandez, Miami, 16-8; Roark, Washington, 15-9; Hendricks, Chicago, 15-8; Hammel, Chicago, 15-9; Martinez, St Louis, ERA: Hendricks, Chicago, 2.06; Lester, Chicago, 2.36; Bumgarner, San Francisco, 2.57; Syndergaard, New York, 2.63; Roark, Washington, 2.70; Cueto, San Francisco, 2.79; Scherzer, Washington, 2.82; Fernandez, Miami, 2.86; Arrieta, Chicago, 2.96; Teheran, Atlanta, STRIKEOUTS: Scherzer, Washington, 267; Fernandez, Miami, 253; Bumgarner, San Francisco, 241; Syndergaard, New York, 210; Ray, Arizona, 210; Cueto, San Francisco, 187; Lester, Chicago, 184; Strasburg, Washington, 183; Lackey, Chicago, 177; Arrieta, Chicago, 176. SAVES: Familia, New York, 49; Jansen, Los Angeles, 45; Melancon, Washington, 42; Ramos, Miami, 38; Gomez, Philadelphia, 37; Chapman, Chicago, 35; Casilla, San Francisco, 31; Rodney, Miami, 25; Papelbon, Washington, 19; Rondon, Chicago, 18; Oh, St Louis, 18.

44 44 Sports Hosts finish opening day on 291 for nine Latest sports scores at Santner, Boult share six wickets as NZ restrict India KANPUR, India, Sept 22, (RTRS): New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner and paceman Trent Boult combined to lead a fightback and restrict India to 291 for nine on the opening day of the first Test on Thursday. At 154 for one, India were set for a big first innings total but, after Santner grabbed three top and middle-order wickets, Boult (3-57) claimed three in nine deliveries with the second new ball to peg back the hosts at Kanpur s Green Park Stadium. Unsurprisingly, New Zealand s three spinners bowled the bulk of the overs to share five wickets on a typical sub-continental track which had little to offer the pacemen. Ravindra Jadeja (16) and Umesh Yadav (eight) will return on Friday looking to take India, who went into the match with four bowlers to accommodate an extra batsman, past the 300-run mark. After losing the toss, I think we are reasonably positioned, Santner told reporters. We didn t try anything different. We tried bowling in the good areas to build pressure and tried getting wickets. It didn t spin early on but 291-9, not too bad. CRICKET Lokesh Rahul and Murali Vijay gave the hosts a decent start after skipper Virat Kohli opted to bat in India s 500th Test. Rahul s last four innings in all formats had yielded two centuries and a fifty and the right-hander, chosen ahead of Shikhar Dhawan, dominated his 42-run stand with fellow opener Vijay. The 24-year-old hit four boundaries, and a six off Mitchell Santner, before getting a faint edge to wicketkeeper BJ Watling in the left-arm spinner s second over. Cheteshwar Pujara (62) then joined forces with Vijay (65) to prop up the innings, the duo adding 112 runs for the second wicket and rarely looking in any discomfort. They brought up their individual fifties in successive overs before Santner had Pujara popping a simple return catch. Scoreboard INDIA 1st innings L. Rahul c Watling b Santner M. Vijay c Watling b Sodhi C. Pujara c & b Santner V.Kohli c Sodhi b Wagner... 9 A. Rahane c Latham b Craig R. Sharma c Sodhi b Santner R. Ashwin c Taylor b Boult W. Saha b Boult... 0 R. Jadeja not out Mohammed Shami b Boult... 0 U. Yadav not out... 8 Extras (b5, lb1)... 6 Total (9 wickets; 90 overs) Fall of wickets: 1-42 (Rahul), (Pujara), (Kohli), (Vijay), (Rahane), (Sharma), (Saha), (Ashwin), (Shami) Bowling: Boult , Wagner , Santner , Craig , Sodhi Toss: India New Zealand: K. Williamson (captain), M. Guptill, T. Latham, R. Taylor, L. Ronchi, BJ. Watling (wicketkeeper), M. Santner, M. Craig, I. Sodhi, N. Wagner, T. Boult Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (ENG) and Rod Tucker (AUS) TV umpire: Anil Chaudhary (IND) Match referee: David Boon (AUS) Reserve umpire: CK Nandan (IND) After 11 overs of toiling on an unresponsive pitch, Neil Wagner struck a body blow when he banged it short and enticed Kohli (nine) to attempt a pull shot early in his innings, only for the right-hander to top edge a catch to Ish Sodhi. India-born Sodhi dismissed Vijay just before tea with Watling holding on to another faint edge as New Zealand claimed three important wickets for 80 runs in the second session to halt India s progress. Batting at six, Rohit Sharma made a fluent 35 but has not fully shown that he can replicate his limited-overs success in the longest format. Ravichandran Ashwin made 40 but will be expected to make a greater impact with his off-spin bowling in conditions that should suit him. Vijay was confident a score in the region of 300 would be enough for his team. I think we are in a good position, the right-hander said. We have put the runs on the board. So all we ve got to do now is go out there and put pressure on them while bowling. It s a good total to play around with. New Zealand s wicketkeeper BJ Watling (left), and Martin Guptill appeal for the wicket of India s batsman Rohit Sharma during their first cricket Test in Kanpur, India on Sept 22. (AP) Kuwaiti body building champion Ahmad Ashkanani with PAYS officials. Kuwaiti champ Ashkanani praised for winning Mr Olympia silver Deputy Director General of Sports Affairs at Public Authority for Youth and Sports (PAYS) Dr Humoud Flaiteh praised the achievement of Kuwaiti body building Champion Ahmad Ashkanani for winning the silver medal of Mr Olympia Championship for body building that was held in Las Vegas, United States. A statement issued on Thursday said PAYS is keen on supporting talented athletes in various individual and group games. KUNA photo Deputy Chief of Asian Union and Head of Kuwaiti Committee for Body building Bader Bodai expressed happiness and pride over the achievement Ashkanani fulfilled. Bodai announced donating $50,000 for the champion in recognition and as a step to encourage athletes. Mr Olympia is the biggest professional body building championship affiliated to the International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness (IFBB). (KUNA) Unbeaten Canada through to semis, N. America stay alive TORONTO, Sept 22, (RTRS): Canada clinched the top spot in Group A by beating Team Europe, while North America stayed in the hunt for a semifinals berth with a thrilling 4-3 overtime win over Sweden on Wednesday at the World Cup of Hockey. Canada improved to a perfect 3-0 with a dominant 4-1 win boosted by two goals and an assist by Jonathan Toews and will meet either Russia or North America in Saturday s semifinals. Team Europe will play Sweden in the other semifinal. Big win for our team, Canada coach Mike Babcock told reporters. We re set up good. Sidney Crosby opened the scoring for Canada four minutes into the first period on a wrapround goal past goalie Jaroslav Halak, whose 42 saves including several sensational stops. Toews, however, capitalised on a Halak Qadsiya, Kuwait clash in Sup Cup KUWAIT CITY, Sept 22, (KUNA): Al-Qadsiya and Kuwait soccer clubs play on Friday Kuwait Super Cup match, the tournament s ninth edition, at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium. Kuwait Club, winners of His Highness the Amir Cup, will seek to win the title for the third time to contend their rivals, Al-Qadsiya, winners of the Super Cup four times. Adel Oqlah, Kuwait Club manager, told KUNA that his team was well prepared for the encounter with Al-Qadsiya. For his part, Mohammad Bnayyan, the assistant manager of Al-Qadsiya, said results of the Super Cup match would have profound impact on the players morale, indicating keenness to win the match to lift the team s spirit in preparation for the forthcoming national soccer season. Beaten Sweden advance Mourinho slams football Einsteins LONDON, Sept 22, (AFP): Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has hit back at the football Einsteins who have criticised him during the club s recent run of three straight defeats. United stopped the rot with a 3-1 win over third-tier Northampton Town in the third round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday after losing to Manchester City, Feyenoord and Watford in the past week. I know that some football Einsteins football is full of Einsteins I know that they tried to delete 16 years of my career, Mourinho told MUTV, United s in-house television station. They tried to delete an unbelievable history of Man United football club and to focus on a bad week with three bad results. But that s the new football it s full of Einsteins, the Portuguese added. I can understand clearly the disappointment if the fans turnover to double the lead late in the first period, when Matt Duchene intercepted the goalie s attempt to clear the puck from behind the net and threw it in front to Toews for an easy goal. Marian Hossa made it 2-1 less than five minutes into the second period, beating Canada goalie Corey Crawford from a tight angle on the left side but Toews restored the two-goal lead with five minutes to go in the period wristing one in on a 2-1 break. Logan Couture added the final goal with 2:27 left. While Canada controlled the Group A showdown, the earlier contest climaxed in a wide open, three-on-three overtime. Sweden, who got the point they needed to secure a berth in the semis, began the Thomas Vanek #26 of Team Europe skates out with the puck as he is pursued by Joe Thornton #97 of Team Canada during the World Cup of Hockey tournament at the Air Canada Centre on Sept 21 in Toronto, Canada. (AFP) are disappointed with the last week, said Mourinho, who previously coached European football giants Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid. I understand completely but I m sure that with the team going back home (against Premier League champions Leicester City on Saturday) they will be behind the team like they always are. United s win over Northampton, built on goals by Michael Carrick, Ander Herrera and Marcus Rashford, set up a fourth round tie against local rivals Manchester City. I think it s good for us, Herrera told MUTV. We can show again what we want to do. We were very disappointed (to lose to City) because it was in front of our fans and now we have another chance to play against them. I m sure it will be different. tournament as favourites to reach the finals but a speedy Team North America wasted little time showing they were not intimidated. Team North America, a mix of US and Canadian players 23 and younger, scored two goals in the opening 95 seconds but Sweden twice erased two-goal deficits to force overtime. Canadian Nathan MacKinnon scored the winning goal with 49 seconds to play in overtime when he was alone deep in the Swedish zone and used a series of dekes to avoid a pokecheck from Henrik Lundqvist before backhanding the puck into the net. Johnny (Gaudreau) made a great pass to me and I just thought I d put it away because I wouldn t have been able to backcheck, I would ve been too tired, said MacKinnon. I was just kind of juggling the puck and ICE HOCKEY I saw him trying to pokecheck me so I knew I had to toe drag him. I was just thankful it got up. MacKinnon s goal came moments after Sweden s Daniel Sedin had a chance to end the game but was denied on a breakaway. Despite the win by Team North America (2-1), Russia (1-1) hold the tiebreaker over the youngsters and will earn the other semifinal berth if they beat Finland (0-2) on Thursday to close out Group B play. Team North America, a talent-laden squad dismissed by many as gimmicky when the tournament format was announced, got off to a dream start when American Auston Matthews cashed in a rebound 30 seconds into the game. THE FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY IN FREE KUWAIT Published by: Arab Times Publishing House Editor-in-Chief AHMED AL JARALLAH Editorial Office: Airport Road, Shuwaikh P.O. Box 2270, Safat, Kuwait Telephone: & Fax: arabtimes@arabtimesonline.com Advertising: Tel: /7 Fax: advt@arabtimesonline.com Annual Subscriptions: Individuals KD 45/- Companies and Official Departments KD 75 Airmail charges extra for overseas Tel: Fax:

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