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200 FilsSaturday, January 6, 2018 Issue No. 7618 Today’s Weather

Max Min

24°C 14°C

@IvankaTrump

The unemployment rate for African Americans fell to 6.8 percent, the low-est ever recorded. We are working hard to bring this rate down even further. @WhiteHouseCEA

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The UN Security Council has begun an emergency

session called by the United States to the discuss the deadly anti-government protests in Iran. The session began shortly after the Security Council had gone into a closed-door consultation requested by Russia. US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley opened the session with an impassioned plea for the Iranian people, saying they are “rising up” for something their govt “cannot deny them” -- “their human rights.”

UN Council begins session on Iran

P03

More than 40 people died on Bahrain roads in 2017

P19

Trump ‘pictured Xi as a woman’

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Riyadh

Saudi Arabia yesterday intercepted a ballistic missile over the kingdom’s south

near the border with Yemen, state media reported, hours after Yemeni rebels said they had launched an attack.

The Huthi rebels said they had fired a missile at the kingdom’s southwestern province of Najran in a statement tweeted by their Al-Masirah television channel.

Saudi air defences intercepted the ballistic missile over Najran, according to the kingdom’s state-owned Al Ekhbariya news channel.

A spokesman for the Arab Coalition Forces for Supporting the Legitimacy in Yemen Col. Turki Al-Malki said that at 7:56 am, the Air Defence Forces of the Arab Coalition spotted the launch of a ballistic missile from Yemeni territory towards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s lands.

Saudi Press Agency (SPA) quoted Col. Al-Maliki as saying that the missile was deliberately launched towards Najran to target civilian areas and population, but it was intercepted and destroyed by the Brigades “Patriot in the sky of Najran.

The kingdom’s official news agency SPA said that the only destruction was ‘minor damage’ to the private property of a Saudi citizen due to missile parts that dispersed once the missile was intercepted and added that there were no deaths.

A video has since emerged online which claims to show the Houthi rocket being shot down over the Yemeni border by Saudi forces. 

Al-Maliki added that this hostile action by the Iranian-backed Houthi militias proves the continued involvement of the Iranian regime in supporting armed militias. He also renewed calls for the international community to take more serious and effective steps to stop the blatant Iranian violations of the continued smuggling and transfer of ballistic missiles and weapons to terrorist groups. In December, the United States said it has ‘undeniable’ evidence that Tehran is violating international law.UN Ambassador Nikki Haley showed off missile parts to cameras at a military base near W a s h i n g t o n , saying the projectile was supplied by Iran and launched by Yemen’s Houthis at the airport in Riyadh. (Agencies)

Oman Crowned Gulf Cup Champions 8P 24

Najran-bound missileSaudi shoots down

A ballistic missile is seen after it was fired toward the Saudi capital of Riyadh from an undisclosed location in Yemen. (file)

2 Saturday, January 6, 2018

UN experts urge Iran to respect rights, end internetcrackdown

UN human rights experts urged Iranian authorities to

respect the rights of protesters and voiced concern over Tehran’s restriction of social messaging services in a joint statement issued yesterday by the UN agency for human rights.

The statement by four Special Rapporteurs -- expert advisers to the United Nations who work on a voluntary basis -- comes eight days after anti-government protests first broke out in Iran.

At least 21 people were killed and 450 were arrested in the protests, many in clashes with security forces trying to quell the rallies.

The protests, the most powerful challenge to the regime in years, appeared to have fizzled Thursday, after a claim by Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammad Ali Jafari that  the unrest was officially over. Mass pro-government rallies have taken their place in many Iranian cities.

“We are very disturbed by the way the authorities have responded to the protests,” the four Special Rapporteurs said in their statement, released by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“The government’s instruction to the Revolutionary Guards to hit hard against the protesters, and the judiciary’s threats of harsh punishment, are unacceptable.

“We urge the authorities to exercise restraint and respond proportionately in their efforts to control the protests, to limit the

use of force to a strict minimum, and to fully respect the human rights of the protesters, including their rights to life, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”

The UN experts said they shared the concerns of Iranian civil society groups for those arrested.

“We are also very concerned at reports that the Government has blocked the internet on mobile networks, and that social media services like Instagram and messaging services like Telegram have been shut down in an attempt to quell the protests,” they said.

“In some regions, internet access has been blocked altogether. Communication

blackouts constitute a serious violation of fundamental rights.”

The experts added that the lack of measures to address the underlying causes of the unrest through non-violent means was “disturbing.”

The protests began just over a week ago over Iran’s stagnant economy and the rising cost of living, and developed into a broader outcry against the government.

The United Nations Security Council will convene a meeting on the situation in Iran at 3 p.m. ET Friday. It is expected the session, which was requested by the United States, will begin with a briefing by a UN political official. Iran could also speak. (CNN)

More than 1,000 detainedMore than a thousand people

have been rounded up and detained in Iran over the past week, rights groups and the State Department said Thursday, as authorities try to quell the largest street protests in nearly a decade.

Rights groups warned that those being held risk torture and ill-treatment in the country’s prisons, calling for the release of those arrested for demonstrating peacefully. Earlier this week, the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Court warned that arrested demonstrators could face the death penalty.

“The Iranian authorities have an appalling track record of carrying out mass arbitrary arrests of peaceful demonstrators,” said a report. “Given the alarming scale

of the current wave of arrests, it is highly likely that many of those held are peaceful protesters who have been detained arbitrarily and now find themselves in prisons where conditions are dire and torture is a common tool to extract confessions and punish dissidents.”

An unverified video circulating online claimed to show families of detainees waiting outside Tehran’s notorious Evin prison. There, at least 423 detainees were registered in just two days over New Year’s, the report said, citing the Human Rights Activist News Agency. The site, which focuses on Iranian rights abuses, said the number of detentions across the country was likely “much higher” than the 1,000 reported. (Chicago Tribune)

A protest outside the Iranian embassy in west London (File)

An Iranian woman raises her fist amid the smoke of tear gas at the University of Tehran during a protest driven by anger over economic problems, in the capital Tehran

DT News Networknews@dt.bh

The Parliament is expected to discuss and review

a long-pending report on Bahrain’s worsening ‘free visa’ issue in its next session.

Discussion on the report, tabled by a special investigative committee, has been postponed more than once by House in the past two-months citing various reasons.

The report, by the eight-member committee formed 34 months ago, deals with the causes behind the phenomenon of ‘free visa’ and solutions to eradicate it.

At the time of forming the

committee, the Representatives Council viewed that the exacerbating free visa labour issue is negatively impacting the national economy and the social fabric in Bahrain.

The current report includes suggestions from the ministries including Labour and Social Development, Industry, Commerce and Industry, Interior and Works,

Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning as well as Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), municipal councils of the four governorates of the Kingdom, Bahrain Chamber for Commerce and Industry and several labour unions and societies.

As reported earlier by  DT News, some of the suggested solutions include rationalising and lessening the issuance of work permits and commercial registrations, targeting illegal street vendors, enhancing supervision on labour camps, activating community partnership and immediate

deportation of violators.As part of an official

effort to tackle the issue, LMRA launched “Flexible Work Permits” last July, allowing certain categories of illegal workers, who meet conditions, to work and reside in Bahrain without the need of an employer.    The permits basically give foreign employees of certain professions the liberty of working for several employers at the same time.

The method was also formally adopted by the United Nations to form part of a draft Global Compact on Migration due to be adopted following the International Migration Conference in 2018.

3Saturday, January 6, 2018

More than 40 people died on Bahrain roads in 2017

Muhannad Mansour/DTNNmuhannad@dt.bh

More than 40 lives perished in road accidents in the

Kingdom in the first three quarters of 2017, according to a recently-released statistics

from the General Directorate of Traffic.

Most of these accidents, according to the report, were caused by motorists jumping red signals, over speeding as well as speaking on mobile

phones while driving. The Directorate said there

occurred 932 road accidents in the Kingdom between January and October 2017, claiming 42 lives and leaving another 890 people injured. 377 people

sustained serious injuries. In 2016, the Kingdom

recorded a total of 1,408 accidents, leading to the death of 47 people, while 1,300 were injured.

As per law 23 of 2014,

tougher punishments are in force in the Kingdom to prevent traffic violations, besides introducing a points system in February 2016.

Introducing the system, Director-General of Traffic

Shaikh Nasser bin Abdullah Al Khalifa said, “The system was meant to promote the sense of responsibility among drivers, especially those who intentionally violate traffic rules.”

MPs to review long-awaited‘Free Visa’ committee report

DT News Networknews@dt.bh

Parliamentarians have tabled a proposal to

permit Bahraini citizens living across the globe to cast their votes in Municipal Council elections from abroad.

If the proposal receives approval in the Parliament, Bahrainis abroad will be able to exercise their voting rights as they do in the Parliamentary election.

This was unfolded when a bill submitted by MPs Theyab Al Nuaimi, Osama Al Khaja, Mohammed Al Maarifi, Mohsen Al Bakri and Isa Turki, stipulated adding an article to the Decree Law 3 of 2002 with regards to the election system of Municipal Council members.

The amendment allows citizens, who are abroad during the municipal elections

period and registered in the elections lists, to elect their representatives in municipal councils.

According to the presenters of the bill, the move falls in line with the instructions of Law Decree 14 of 2002 with regards to political rights.

The bill was recently discussed and approved by the Public Utilities and Environment Committee in the House.

The committee reviewed it with the related official authorities such as the municipal councils of the four governorates of the Kingdom as well as with the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry.

The rest of the MPs will review the committee’s report on the bill and vote on it.    

Municipal election: Proposal to allowvoting from abroad

4 Saturday, January 6, 2018

Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Essam Khalaf yesterday met with Chairman and members of Shura Council’s Financial and Economic Affairs Committee, where they discussed means of collaboration with the legislative power. The Minister stated that the meeting was part of the communication and integration between the two parties, which serves the public interest and contributes to strengthening collaboration on all levels. The attendees discussed the Ministry’s collaboration with the Traffic General Directorate, regarding plans and projects contributing to alleviating traffic congestions. They also shed light on the pros of the Ministry’s system (Tawasul), which is considered a tool to improve performance and services. The Ministry’s Works Affairs Undersecretary Ahmed Al Khayyat highlighted the Ministry’s preparations for the rainy season and touched upon the most important stormwater drainage networks projects.

Gopio begins todayManama

‘GOPIO International Convention 2018 and Pravasi Samelan’, attended by

over 400 people from nearly 40 countries, opens today in Manama. The convention is being hosted by the world body GOPIO (Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin) and being held for the first time in the Middle East.

The Opening Session of the three-day event begins in the evening at the Gulf Hotel. Chief Guest at the event will be six-term Maharashtra lawmaker Raj Purohit who is also Special Advisor to GOPIO. This shall be followed by a glittering awards ceremony held by NRI Achievers magazine which will honour outstanding Indian women from around the world.

The impressive list includes dancer Geeta Chandran, diaspora activist Sudha Acharya, Rio Paralympic medallist Deepa Malik, scientist Dr. Vibha Dhawan, businesswoman Shradha Agarwaal, crafts activist and Khadi (handspun cloth) fashion champion Parull Mahaajan, non-resident Indian lobbyist Arathi Krishna, Penguin-Random House top Editor-In-Chief Milee Ashwarya, US-based entertainment and radio host Shabnam Modgil, Bahrain CEO Kanika Dewan, Canada-based radio host and formidable charity worker Molly Banerjie, beauty queen and Mrs. United Nations pageant winner Roshini Hassan, entrepreneur Shivani Malik and rural activist Smita Shrivastav.

Bahraini businesswoman and BCCI Board member Ahlam Janahi will join a delegation of Bahraini businesswomen to felicitate their Indian counterparts at the ceremony. The awards ceremony shall be followed by a theatrical programme ‘Ashiyana: My Paradise’ by Swayam Productions.

“GOPIO is a vibrant platform and in the 39 years since it was founded, the body has succeeded in bringing about very valuable changes in the interaction between the Indian government and the diaspora around the world,” said incoming International President Sunny Kulathakal, “We are honoured to organise this prestigious event in Bahrain, which shares a 5,000-year-old historic link of friendship with India.”

Undoubtedly the big news about the Convention in Bahrain is the attendance of Indian National Congress President and Leader of the Indian Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, on January 8, 2017. This is Gandhi’s second official visit abroad after his address at Berkeley University, USA last year and his first to the Middle East. He is expected to address GOPIO delegates on how the Indian diaspora can be an effective part of the contemporary Indian narrative. Other noteworthy speakers will be an orator, diplomat and Member of Parliament, Dr Shashi Tharoor, technology policy-maker Dr Sam Pitroda and former BJP MP and top-ranking journalist Dr Chandan Mitra.

GOPIO Founding Chairman Dr Thomas

Abraham, Dr BR Shetty, Chairman, NMC Healthcare and Lord Diljit Rana, Former President, GOPIO shall address the convention.

Reception Committee Chairman Soman Baby, “We are grateful to the President of the Court of the Crown Prince Shaikh Khalifa bin Duaij Al Khalifa, Minister of Electricity and Water Dr Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza and the CEO of BTEA, Shaikh Khaled bin Humood Al Khalifa who shall be attending and addressing the delegates.”

Dr Varghese Kurian, Chairman of the Organising Committee said, “The Bahrain convention will be a one of a kind of strategic networking platform for Indian businessmen globally. It is also a great opportunity for delegates to explore the unique attractions that make Bahrain a fantastic MICE destination and one of the tourist destinations that is opening up to tourists from all over the world.”

The event will include a series of discussions on topics such as ‘India 2030: An Economic Powerhouse’, opportunities for Business and Investment in India’, ‘India: The Healthcare Destination’ – ‘India Healthcare Challenges & Opportunities’, ‘Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Start-Up India’, Empowering Women Globally’, Rehabilitation of Returning NRIs’ and many more. The convention will also host a wide range of speakers addressing the audience, book launches, cultural programmes and award ceremonies.

Over 400 delegates from 40 countries converge on Bahrain to discuss policies and promote diaspora ties to India

Oman inks $210m Saudi financing for key industrial project: reportDubai

Oman’s government has signed to obtain 81 million Omani rials ($210 million) of financing from

Saudi Arabia for one of its key industrial projects, in a deal that could help to ease concern about the health of the sultanate’s finances.

The money will come from the Saudi Fund for Development, a state agency, to support work at Duqm, where Oman is building a multi-billion-dollar industrial zone on its southern coast, the official Oman News Agency (ONA) said late on Thursday.

Oman, whose debt is rated junk by Standard & Poor‘s, is running a state budget deficit of about $8 billion due to low oil prices. Saudi Arabia and other wealthy Gulf states promised in 2011 to provide $10 billion of aid to Oman, but the money has been slow to come and only a fraction has been disbursed.

This week’s deal for aid to Duqm may reassure investors that Oman can continue to count on Saudi financial support, even though Muscat has taken different positions than Saudi Arabia on some major diplomatic issues.

The 81 million rials of aid for Duqm is part of the $10 billion regional program, ONA said without giving financial details. Twenty million rials will go towards building a road and 61 million rials towards developing Duqm’s fishing harbor.

Oman plans to make Duqm a major center for its fishing and fish processing industries, in addition to building an oil refinery, a petrochemical complex and a wide range of manufacturing facilities in the zone.

ONA quoted Yousef bin Ibrahim al-Bassam, managing director of the Saudi fund, as saying it had also allocated $150 million to finance the growth of smaller companies in Oman, and would extend the aid in cooperation with Oman Development Bank.

5Saturday, January 6, 2018

Tourist killed, several injuredin Egypt hot air balloon crash

Cairo

A South African tourist was killed and 12 other people injured

when a hot air balloon crashed near Egypt’s ancient city of Luxor yesterday, a health ministry official said.

Sharif Wadie, the assistant health minister in charge of emergency services, said there were no other fatalities but did not elaborate on the extent of the passengers’ injuries. The nationalities of the injured were not immediately clear.

Egypt’s civil aviation ministry said 21 hot air balloons had taken off and landed with no incident on Friday but the one that crashed had landed too forcefully.

Twenty people had been onboard, it said, adding that weather conditions had conformed to flight standards.

Tourists often take early morning balloon rides over the city and the ancient Egyptian temples and relics in neighbouring areas.

One of the main attractions is the Karnak temple, which dates back thousands of years.

The hot air balloons also offer views of the Valley of the Kings, where pharaonic nobility were buried.

Hot air balloon companies in

Luxor offer the tours usually starting at sunrise.

The government had previously suspended the rides after two crashes in four years.

In 2009, 13 tourists were injured when their balloon struck a communications mast in Luxor and crashed. In 2013, a hot air balloon caught fire mid-flight over Luxor, killing 19 tourists.

A fact-finding committee later found that the accident was probably caused by a gas leak near the burner, sparking a blaze that spread throughout the balloon.

The tourists, from Britain, France, Hong Kong, Hungary and Japan, died when the balloon plummeted to the ground after catching fire.

The pilot and one tourist survived by jumping from the balloon, officials said at the time.

Friday’s accident comes as the government tries to woo back tourists following years of unrest in the country that drove them away.

A jihadist insurgency led by Islamic State has targeted tourists, including the bombing of a Russian airliner carrying holidaymakers from an Egyptian resort in 2015 that killed all 224 people on board. (Guardian)

UAE to resume flights to Tunisia, says WAM Dubai

The United Arab Emirates said on Thursday it would

resume flights to Tunisia after an exchange of security information, resolving a row over a ban on female Tunisian passengers.

A statement by the foreign ministry on state news agency WAM said the decision was taken in light of extensive cooperation and information received from the Tunisian side that eased the national carriers’ concerns.

Tunisia’s transport ministry said an agreement had been

reached after “contacts with the Emirati side at various levels”.

“In light of

preventing dangers and threats that should be avoided to the largest degree, and in light of an extensive security dialogue and information received from the Tunisian side, the concerned authorities in the UAE have decided to return to normal procedures before the extraordinary circumstance,” the statement said.

Tunisia suspended flights from Dubai carrier Emirates to Tunis on 24 December after the airline refused to carry Tunisian women.

The agreement to resume flights stipulates that the Emirati airline must abide by a bilateral aviation accord signed in 2000, and a desire

to “avoid any future incident that affects or harms the fraternal relations between the two brotherly nations”, the Tunisian transport ministry statement said.

The UAE had not commented publicly on the issue until Thursday, except for a tweet by its minister of state for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, which said both countries had been in contact about “security measure information”, adding that his country valued and respected Tunisian women. (Reuters)

Representative picture(Guardian)

Representative picture

6 Saturday, January 6, 2018

Most of us get rid of old autos when their engines finally give

up, but one man has turned his battered old VW Beetle into what he claims is the world’s smallest hotel.

And Mohammed Al Malaheem, 64, says guests sleeping in his converted jalopy in the Jordanian desert village of Al Jaya will enjoy a five-star experience.

“This village is my homeland, I was born here, I grew up here, I lived here,” says Al Malaheem -- who goes by the name Abu Ali.

“I wanted to start a project that improves its situation and places it

on the tourism map, because it truly overlooks some of the most beautiful scenery in the region.”

Largely deserted by residents who have left in search of a more modern lifestyle, Al Jaya is located near Al Shoubak, home to an imposing 12th century castle called Montreal.

Visitors to the area have been checking into Abu Ali’s VW since he opened the roadside hotel’s rusting doors after retiring in 2011.

Furnished by his daughter, the repurposed car is adorned with handmade embroidered sheets and pillows decorated with traditional

patterns and embellished with colourful beads.

According to Abu Ali, an overnight stay here is so comfortable, it’s equivalent to that of a night in a five-star hotel.

A sign by the side of the VW declares it the “smallest hotel in the world” -- a title that, according to Guinness World Records, is bestowed upon the 2.5 meter wide  Eh’häusl Hotelin Amberg, Germany.

Abu Ali’s passion for the project is such that he took on a bank loan to set up a hotel “lobby” inside a nearby cave, naming it “Baldwin’s Grotto,” after Baldwin I of Jerusalem, who built Montreal castle in 1115.

He uses it to serve visitors coffee, tea and traditional Jordanian snacks.

There’s also a tiny kiosk-style shop selling souvenirs such as antiques, jewellery, gemstones, copper miniatures and historical artefacts, which hotel guests can purchase at the end of their visit.

Although it accommodates no more than two people at a time, Abu Ali says he has welcomed visitors from all over the world -- amongst them VIPs.

Those who don’t find a space to sleep, can enjoy a Jordanian breakfast or lunch, prepared and served the traditional Bedouin way by his wife, Um Ali, and daughters.

A night in the VW with full board costs 40 Jordanian Dinars (around $56).

So is it worth it? One glance

around the cave lobby offers a glimpse into the level of hospitality delivered. Business cards and smiling photographs fill the walls, along with “thank you” notes left behind by previous visitors.

A heavy guest book that can no longer take any more signatures -- probably Abu Ali’s most precious asset -- sits on a stool in the corner. Its pages are filled with kind words reflecting guests’ thoughts on their stay, all promising to visit again at the soonest chance they get.

These satisfied customers may be able to bring some friends along if they stay true to their word -- Abu Ali has plans to add several more VWs to expand his unusual hotel. (CNN)

Abu Ali hopes to one day build a hotel compound made up of old Volkswagens.

I wanted to start a project that improves its [Al Jaya’s] situation and places it on the tourism map, because it truly overlooks some of the most beautiful scenery in the region,” Abu Ali says .

Abu Ali took out a bank loan to fund the construction of a “lobby” inside a nearby cave

The “lobby” is full of business cards and notes from satis-fied former guests

Seoul

North Korea agreed yesterday to hold

official talks with the South next week, the first in more than two years, hours after the United States and South Korea delayed a military exercise amid a standoff over the North’s nuclear and missile programmes.

South Korea said the North had sent its consent for the talks to be held on Tuesday. The last time the two Koreas engaged in official talks was in December 2015.

The meeting will take place at the border truce village of Panmunjom where officials from both sides are expected to discuss the Winter Olympics, to be held in the South next month, and other inter-Korean relations, South Korean Unification Ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun told reporters.

North Korea asked for further negotiations about the meeting to be carried out via documented exchanges, Baik said.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un opened the way for talks with South Korea in a New Year’s Day speech in which he called for reduced

tensions and flagged the North’s possible participation in the Winter Olympics.

But Kim r e m a i n e d

s teadfas t on the

issue o f

n u c l e a r weapons, saying the North would mass produce nuclear missiles for operational deployment and again warned he would launch a nuclear strike if his country was threatened.

U.S. President Donald Trump and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in announced on Thursday that annual large-scale military drills would now take place after the Olympics.

The North sees these drills as preparations for invasion and just cause for its weapons programs that it conducts in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. South Korea and the United States are technically still at war with North Korea after the 1950-53 Korean conflict ended with a truce, not a peace treaty.

Trump had earlier called the proposed inter-Korean talks a “good thing” and that he would send a high-level delegation, including members of his family, to

the Olympics, according to South Korea’s presidential office.

In a tweet, Trump, who hurled fresh insults at the North Korean leader this week, took credit for any dialogue that takes place.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang welcomed North and South Korea “taking positive steps to improve ties”, and said the postponement of the military exercises was “without doubt a good thing”. China’s Commerce Ministry said it would limit exports of crude oil,

refined oil products, steel and other metals to North Korea, in line with tough new sanctions imposed by the United Nations.

Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera sounded a note of caution about the proposed talks.

“I think what is important is to maintain a firm defense posture,” he told reporters in Tokyo.

“North Korea goes through phases of apparent dialogue and provocation but either way, North Korea is continuing its nuclear and missile development. We have no intention of weakening our warning and surveillance.”

Earlier this week, Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Washington had heard reports that Pyongyang might be preparing to fire another missile.

South Korea’s defence ministry has said it had yet to see any evidence of an imminent missile launch. (Agencies)

7Saturday, January 6, 2018

Tuna goes for $323,000 at auctionTokyo

In the final New Year’s auction at Tokyo’s famed Tsukiji fish

market yesterday, the owner of an international sushi restaurant shelled out more than $300,000 for a prime bluefin tuna and said he was “very happy” with the result.

The world’s largest fish market, one of Tokyo’s most popular tourist sites, is set to relocate later this year to clear the way for a road needed for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Hiroshi Onodera, the president of LEOC Co. Ltd which owns the “Ginza Onodera” restaurant chain, paid 36.45 million yen ($323,195) for a 405-kg (890 lb) premium Pacific bluefin tuna - around 90,000 yen per

kg. The price was just over half that of last year’s winning bid of 72 million yen and well below the record 155 million yen paid in 2013.

“I’ve tried to win in the auction since last year, so I’m really happy,” said Onodera, whose company has restaurants in New York and Singapore as well as in Japan. “This is especially true because it’s the last year in Tsukiji.”

Tuna is prized around the world for its use in sushi, but experts warn growing demand has made it an endangered species.

“The high price paid today for a single Pacific bluefin tuna should not distract from the dire status of the species, which has been depleted

by more than 97 percent by years of overfishing,” said Jamie Gibbon, a Pacific bluefin tuna expert for the Pew Charitable Trusts, in a statement.

“If countries continue to exceed their catch limits...the very survival of the species will be threatened.”

The 80-year-old Tsukiji market draws tens of thousands of visitors a year to its warren of stalls with exotic species of fish and fresh sushi, part of a tourism boom that is a key part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s economic revival plan.

“This will truly be the final auction here, so I made sure I came to watch,” said Mitsuko Yamaguchi, the 61-year-old owner of a seafood store. (Reuters)

North agrees to talks

© GRAPHIC NEWSSources: Associated Press, Reuters Pictures: Getty Images

2002: North Korea attends AsianGames in Busan, South Korea.Athletes from two Koreas conductjoint march at opening and closingceremonies. North Korea’s femalecheerleading squad often drawsmore attention than their athletes

2003: North Korea participatesin University Games in Daegu,South Korea. Two Koreas marchtogether at ceremonies

2005: North Korea attends AsianAthletics Championships in Incheon,South Korea. Among cheerleaders isRi Sol-ju, now wife of North Koreanleader Kim Jong-un

2006: Two Koreas again marchtogether at Turin Winter Olympics

2007: Athletes of two Koreasparade together at Asian WinterGames in Changchun, China –spectacle not seen since as relationschill with conservative-ruled South

2014: North Korea attends AsianGames in Incheon

2018: Experts suggest two Koreasmay march under single flag andeven compete as one nation atPyeongChang Winter Olympics

2004: Athletes of two Koreasmarch jointly at Athens Olympics

The reopening of a border hotlinewith Seoul has raised the possibilityof North Korea sending a delegation to thePyeongChang Winter Olympics in South Korea

The reopening of a border hotlinewith Seoul has raised the possibilityof North Korea sending a delegation to thePyeongChang Winter Olympics in South Korea

Two Korean teamsmarch at Sydney 2000 OlympicsTwo Korean teamsmarch at Sydney 2000 Olympics

Key moments in Koreansports diplomacyKey moments in Koreansports diplomacy

Kiyoshi Kimura (2nd from left), president of Kiyomura Co., poses with the bluefin tuna at his Sushi Zanmai restaurant near Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo (Inquirer)

South Korean President Moon Jae-in

BUSINESS8 Saturday, January 6, 2018

Saudi converts Aramco into jointstock co.

Dubai

Saudi Arabia has changed the status of its national

oil giant Aramco to a joint-stock company as of Jan. 1, in a key step for an initial public offering (IPO) planned for later this year.

The sale of up to 5 per cent of Saudi Aramco, expected to go ahead in the second half of 2018, is a centerpiece of Vision 2030, an ambitious reform plan to reduce the dependence of the Saudi economy on oil. The plan is championed by Saudi crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

The change, which was published in a cabinet decree in the kingdom’s official bulletin

on Friday, is a requirement for local companies in Saudi Arabia ahead of listing, a senior Aramco source, who declined to be named, told Reuters.

“As a customary step in the preparation process for a Saudi IPO, Saudi Aramco has converted to a joint stock company,” the source said.

“This establishes the framework to allow future investors to hold shares in the company alongside its shareholder, the government.”

But it is an important step as it shows the IPO process, which could be the biggest in history raising up to $100 billion, is moving ahead

despite market speculation it could be delayed or totally shelved. Prince Mohammad told Reuters in October it was still on track for 2018.

Aramco has a fully paid capital of 60 billion riyals ($16.00 billion) divided into 200 billion ordinary shares, according to the company’s bylaws published in the official bulletin.

The firm’s board will have 11 members and the power to list the company in domestic and international markets, it said. The government will propose 6 members of Aramco’s board, but shareholders with a more than 0.1 percent stake will have the

right to propose a member to the general assembly.

The government will have the right to appoint or change the company’s chairman, a position currently held by Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih.

The government will remain the major shareholder of Aramco and retain the ultimate decision on output levels and production capacity, it said.

“The state will remain the only responsible entity to make the final decisions regarding the maximum levels of hydrocarbons that can be produced at any time,” it said. (Reuters)

© GRAPHIC NEWSSources: AP, Bloomberg, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, NOAA

Trump moves to expand offshore drillingThe Trump administration is proposing to open nearly all U.S. offshorewaters to oil and gas drilling, reversing Obama-era regulations imposedafter the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico

U N I T E D S TAT E S

M E X I C O

C A N A D A

WesternGulf ofMexico

WesternGulf ofMexico

CentralGulf ofMexico

CentralGulf ofMexico

Northern CaliforniaNorthern California

Washington / OregonWashington / Oregon

Central CaliforniaCentral California

SouthernCaliforniaSouthernCalifornia

Washington DCWashington DC

ATLANTIC OCEAN

PACIFICOCEAN

EasternGulf of MexicoCongressionalmoratorium on drillingin place until 2022

NorthAtlanticMid-Atlantic

SouthAtlanticStraits ofFlorida

500km300 miles

NorthAleutianBasinArea wouldremain closedto new oil leasingunder Trump plan

ALASKA(U.S.)

C A N A D A

Cook Inlet

500km300 miles

ARCTIC OCEAN

Closed areas thatcould be leased outfor offshore drillingunder Trump plan

Currently openlease areas

Federally-protectedNational MarineSanctuaries

Trump moves to vastly expand offshore drilling off U.S. coastsThe Trump administration

is proposing to open nearly all U.S. offshore waters to oil and gas drilling, reversing Obama-era regulations imposed after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke claimed Obama administration bans on drilling in the continental shelf had cost the United States billions of dollars in lost revenue. The new proposal would make about 90 percent of those waters available for

leasing.The plan gives energy

companies access to blocks off California for the first time in decades and opens up the Arctic and Eastern Seaboard. Only the North Aleutian Basin — which President George Bush protected in an executive order — is exempted from drilling.

The governors of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, California, Oregon and Washington have all opposed Trump’s offshore drilling plans.

One of the few cars the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, Germany, lacked was an early 901, the precursor to the 911. Finally, that problem has been remedied with the restoration of a 1964 901 that was found in a barn in 2014.

The 901 name was the original plan, but due to a trademark dispute Porsche had to change the name to 911. All vehicles produced in the few weeks after autumn of 1964 were manufactured as 901s but sold as 911s.

Porsche will display the candy apple red 911 coupe as part of the special exhibition dubbed “911 (901 No. 57) – A Legend Takes Off.” As its numerical designation suggests, it’s one of the earliest examples to ever come off the factory floor, and will be shown to the general public for the first time nearly 45 years after it was originally built.

The car was uncovered, alongside another classic Porsche, by a TV crew in 2014 while it was valuing a collection of items in an abandoned German barn. The crew quickly contacted the Porsche museum, which discovered that chassis number 300.057 was one of the original models built before being was renamed. The museum bought both vehicles, and set out restoring them to original spec.

The restoration project for the 901/911 took a total of three years to complete, bringing the rusty sports car back to showroom quality. A number of genuine parts were used in the reconstruction, taken from a few different period-correct vehicles. The engine, transmission, and interior were repaired to original factory spec.

After three years in the shop, customers can finally enjoy this beautiful restoration in person. The handsome 911 will be on display at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart from December 14, 2017, until April 8, 2018. (Porche, agencies)

BUSINESS8 Saturday, January 6, 2018

Saudi converts Aramco into jointstock co.

Dubai

Saudi Arabia has changed the status of its national

oil giant Aramco to a joint-stock company as of Jan. 1, in a key step for an initial public offering (IPO) planned for later this year.

The sale of up to 5 per cent of Saudi Aramco, expected to go ahead in the second half of 2018, is a centerpiece of Vision 2030, an ambitious reform plan to reduce the dependence of the Saudi economy on oil. The plan is championed by Saudi crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

The change, which was published in a cabinet decree in the kingdom’s official bulletin

on Friday, is a requirement for local companies in Saudi Arabia ahead of listing, a senior Aramco source, who declined to be named, told Reuters.

“As a customary step in the preparation process for a Saudi IPO, Saudi Aramco has converted to a joint stock company,” the source said.

“This establishes the framework to allow future investors to hold shares in the company alongside its shareholder, the government.”

But it is an important step as it shows the IPO process, which could be the biggest in history raising up to $100 billion, is moving ahead

despite market speculation it could be delayed or totally shelved. Prince Mohammad told Reuters in October it was still on track for 2018.

Aramco has a fully paid capital of 60 billion riyals ($16.00 billion) divided into 200 billion ordinary shares, according to the company’s bylaws published in the official bulletin.

The firm’s board will have 11 members and the power to list the company in domestic and international markets, it said. The government will propose 6 members of Aramco’s board, but shareholders with a more than 0.1 percent stake will have the

right to propose a member to the general assembly.

The government will have the right to appoint or change the company’s chairman, a position currently held by Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih.

The government will remain the major shareholder of Aramco and retain the ultimate decision on output levels and production capacity, it said.

“The state will remain the only responsible entity to make the final decisions regarding the maximum levels of hydrocarbons that can be produced at any time,” it said. (Reuters)

© GRAPHIC NEWSSources: AP, Bloomberg, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, NOAA

Trump moves to expand offshore drillingThe Trump administration is proposing to open nearly all U.S. offshorewaters to oil and gas drilling, reversing Obama-era regulations imposedafter the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico

U N I T E D S TAT E S

M E X I C O

C A N A D A

WesternGulf ofMexico

WesternGulf ofMexico

CentralGulf ofMexico

CentralGulf ofMexico

Northern CaliforniaNorthern California

Washington / OregonWashington / Oregon

Central CaliforniaCentral California

SouthernCaliforniaSouthernCalifornia

Washington DCWashington DC

ATLANTIC OCEAN

PACIFICOCEAN

EasternGulf of MexicoCongressionalmoratorium on drillingin place until 2022

NorthAtlanticMid-Atlantic

SouthAtlanticStraits ofFlorida

500km300 miles

NorthAleutianBasinArea wouldremain closedto new oil leasingunder Trump plan

ALASKA(U.S.)

C A N A D A

Cook Inlet

500km300 miles

ARCTIC OCEAN

Closed areas thatcould be leased outfor offshore drillingunder Trump plan

Currently openlease areas

Federally-protectedNational MarineSanctuaries

Trump moves to vastly expand offshore drilling off U.S. coastsThe Trump administration

is proposing to open nearly all U.S. offshore waters to oil and gas drilling, reversing Obama-era regulations imposed after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke claimed Obama administration bans on drilling in the continental shelf had cost the United States billions of dollars in lost revenue. The new proposal would make about 90 percent of those waters available for

leasing.The plan gives energy

companies access to blocks off California for the first time in decades and opens up the Arctic and Eastern Seaboard. Only the North Aleutian Basin — which President George Bush protected in an executive order — is exempted from drilling.

The governors of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, California, Oregon and Washington have all opposed Trump’s offshore drilling plans.

One of the few cars the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, Germany, lacked was an early 901, the precursor to the 911. Finally, that problem has been remedied with the restoration of a 1964 901 that was found in a barn in 2014.

The 901 name was the original plan, but due to a trademark dispute Porsche had to change the name to 911. All vehicles produced in the few weeks after autumn of 1964 were manufactured as 901s but sold as 911s.

Porsche will display the candy apple red 911 coupe as part of the special exhibition dubbed “911 (901 No. 57) – A Legend Takes Off.” As its numerical designation suggests, it’s one of the earliest examples to ever come off the factory floor, and will be shown to the general public for the first time nearly 45 years after it was originally built.

The car was uncovered, alongside another classic Porsche, by a TV crew in 2014 while it was valuing a collection of items in an abandoned German barn. The crew quickly contacted the Porsche museum, which discovered that chassis number 300.057 was one of the original models built before being was renamed. The museum bought both vehicles, and set out restoring them to original spec.

The restoration project for the 901/911 took a total of three years to complete, bringing the rusty sports car back to showroom quality. A number of genuine parts were used in the reconstruction, taken from a few different period-correct vehicles. The engine, transmission, and interior were repaired to original factory spec.

After three years in the shop, customers can finally enjoy this beautiful restoration in person. The handsome 911 will be on display at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart from December 14, 2017, until April 8, 2018. (Porche, agencies)

BUSINESSSaturday, January 6, 2018 9

Paris

The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance is pooling $200 million in a new mobility tech fund, three sources said, in

the latest move by major carmakers to adapt to rapid industry change by investing in startups through their own venture capital arms. “It will allow us to move faster on acquisitions ahead of our competition,” one of the alliance sources told Reuters.

Washington

U.S. job growth slowed more than expected in December amid a decline in retail employment. onfarm payrolls

increased by 148,000 jobs last month after surging by 252,000 in November, the Labor Department said on Friday. Retail payrolls decreased by 20,300 in December, the largest drop since March, despite reports of a strong holiday shopping season.

Donald Trump,

Renault-Nissan sets up $200 million fund US job growth cools in December Does anybody really believe that talks and dialogue would be going on between North and South Korea right now if I wasn’t firm, strong and willing to commit our total ‘might’ against the North,”

US President

© GRAPHIC NEWSSource: Tesla Press Information Picture: Tesla

Tesla delivers 100,000-plus cars in 2017 Tesla delivered a record-breaking 29,870 vehicles in the fourth quarter

of 2017, of which 15,200 were Model S and 13,120 were Model X, but just1,550 were mass-market $35,000 (€29,000) Model 3s

Model 3Production

target (December)20,000

Actualproduction

2,425

Vehicle deliveriesby year

22,40032,000

50,000

76,000

2,600

Q4: 29,870

103,082

2013 2014 2015 20162012 2017

Q3: 26,150

Jul: Model 3production

starts

Q2: 21,644

Q1: 25,418

Jun 2012:Tesla beginsshippingits Model Ssedan

Sep 2015:Model X SUVlaunched

Mar 2016:Model 3unveiled

Tesla delivers 100,000 cars in 2017Tesla delivered a record-

breaking 29,870 vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2017, of which 15,200 were Model S, 13,120 Model X, but just 1,550 were the cheaper “mass-market” Model 3s ($35,000 €29,000).

On the production side, Tesla is facing bottlenecks that

have forced CEO Elon Musk to dial back his own mass manufacturing goals. Musk had previously predicted that Model 3 production could be ramped up to 20,000 cars per month by December.

However, Tesla appears to have removed some bottlenecks. The company

produced 793 (almost a third) of the 2,425 fourth quarter Model 3s in the last seven working days of December.

Tesla produced more vehicles than in previous quarters. It also surpassed its 100,000-vehicle goal for 2017. Tesla delivered 103,082 cars in 2017, a 36% increase over 2016.

Uber ex-CEO selling stake for $1.4 billion: sourceUber Technologies Inc

co-founder Travis Kalanick, who was ousted as chief executive in June, is selling nearly a third of his 10 percent stake in the r ide-services company for a b o u t $1.4 billion, a person familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

Kalanick’s sale is part of a deal struck by a consortium led by SoftBank Group Corp which is taking a 17.5 percent stake

in Uber, mostly by buying shares from early investors and employees. SoftBank last week secured agreements from shareholders w h o were willing to sell, and the deal w i l l close early t h i s year, Uber said.

The SoftBank deal values Uber at $48 billion, about a 30 percent discount from its most recent valuation of $68 billion. However, the investor consort ium is also m a k i n g a $ 1 . 2 5 b i l l i o n

investment o f fresh funding

at the older, higher valuation.

Kalanick had offered to sell half of his total shares.

Researchers eye patchesto solve Intel

chip flaws

Frankfurt/Bengaluru

Security issues with Intel Corp microchips are only

slowing computers slightly, technology companies said, as researchers played down the need for mass hardware replacements to protect millions of devices from hackers.

Google and other security researchers this week disclosed two major chip flaws - one called Meltdown affecting only Intel Corp chips and one called Spectre affecting nearly all computer chips made in the last decade.

That raised the prospect of Intel being on the hook for lawsuits claiming that software patches to fix the issue would slow computers and effectively force consumers to buy new hardware, driving the company’s shares down.

But Intel said in a statement after U.S. stock markets closed on Thursday that the performance impact of the recent security updates should not be significant and would be mitigated over time.

It said Apple Inc, Amazon.com Inc, Google and Microsoft Corp had all reported little to no performance impact from security patches. 

“Intel continues to believe that the performance impact of these updates is highly workload-dependent and, for the average computer user, should not be significant,” it said.

The company confirmed that the flaws reported by the researchers could allow hackers to steal information from computers, phones and other devices, but insisted that the issue was not a design

flaw.The chipmaker said it

would require users to download a patch and update their operating system to fix the issue.

Microsoft and Google have said they expect few performance problems for most of their cloud computing customers.

Apple said in a separate statement late on Thursday that its tests showed patches would not significantly affect processing speeds.

“Our testing with public benchmarks has shown that the changes in the December 2017 updates resulted in no measurable reduction in the performance of macOS and iOS ... or in common Web browsing benchmarks,” the California-based firm said. (Reuters)

BUSINESS Saturday, January 6, 201810

COUNTRY/CURRENCIES SELLBUY

Rates are for indication purpose only. For firm rates or for currencies not listed above please call Bahrain Financing Company. Telephone: 17228888, Website: www.bfc.com.bh

COUNTRY 1 US DLR 1 UK STG 1 SFR 100 YEN

BAHRAIN 0.3770 0.5738 0.3799 0.3354

KUWAIT 0.2855 32.0873 0.2877 0.2540

OMAN 0.3849 0.3820 0.3878 0.3425

QATAR 3.6420 3.6143 3.6699 3.2405

UAE 3.6730 3.6451 3.7011 3.2681

SAUDI 3.7500 3.7215 3.7787 3.3366

AUSTRALIA 0.2920 0.2896BANGLADESH 0.00483 0.00458CANADA 0.3018 0.2985DENMARK 0.0627 EGYPT 0.0241 0.0218EURO 0.4501 0.4476HONGKONG 0.04970 0.04930INDIA 0.00582 0.00585INDONESIA 0.00003017 0.00002855IRAN TUMAN 0.00010964 IRAQI DINAR 0.000300 JAPAN 0.00352 0.003450JORDAN 0.5362 0.5354KOREA 0.00039646 KUWAIT 1.254 1.254MALAYSIA 0.0938 0.0936NEW ZEALAND 0.2616 0.2616NORWAY 0.0481 NEPAL 0.00395 0.00365OMAN 0.98220 0.98340PAKISTAN 0.00366 0.00358PHILIPPINES 0.00758 0.00747QATAR 0.10386 0.10381SAUDI ARABIA 0.10065 0.10071SINGAPORE 0.2834 0.2814SOUTH AFRICA 0.02850 0.02840SRI LANKA 0.00283 0.00246SWEDISH 0.0479 SWITZERLAND 0.3891 0.3861SYRIA 0.001740 0.0018TAIWAN 0.013100 THAILAND 0.011730 0.011710TURKEY 0.1024 UNITED KINGDOM 0.5076 0.5047UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 0.102850 0.102870UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 0.37790 0.37800YUAN 0.056800 0.056800

New Delhi

India lowered its forecast for the current year’s economic

growth yesterday before a federal budget is released next month, as businesses were hit by the chaotic launch of new nationwide tax last July.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had earlier estimated the economy would grow around 7.5 per cent in the 2017/18 fiscal year, generating enough tax to keep the fiscal deficit at 3.2pc of GDP after meeting spending targets.

Gross domestic product is now estimated to grow an annual 6.5pc in 2017/18, slower than a provisional

7.1pc growth in 2016/17, Ministry of Statistics said in a statement.

Most private economists have pared the growth forecast to 6.2 to 6.5pc for this fiscal year, citing the teething troubles faced by businesses during the roll out of a goods and services tax (GST).

“The GST transition impact is clearly visible,” said Shubhada Rao, chief economist at Yes Bank. Sectors such as manufacturing and hotels were badly hit, she said.

Complex rules and technical glitches meant the GST, aimed at transforming India’s 29 states into a single customs

union, hit millions of small businesses.

Manufacturing is now forecast to grow at 4.6pc this fiscal year compared with 7.9pc growth in the previous year, the statement said. Farm output may slow to 2.1pc from 4.9pc.

Finance ministry officials earlier said slower economic growth was likely to hit revenue collections this year, forcing them to resort to borrow from the market to meet spending targets.

Analysts said despite the lower economic growth, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was expected to hold policy

rates steady after a recent uptick in retail inflation, which touched 4.88pc in November, its steepest level in 15 months.

“Given the recent uptick in inflation pressure and with inflation likely to remain around 5pc going ahead, we expect the RBI to be on hold with a guarded stance even though growth estimate has disappointed slightly,” Rao said.

The statistics office will release economic growth data for the October-December quarter on Feb. 28, along with revised full-year growth estimates. (Reuters)

India lowers growth

forecast

New Delhi

India’s Tata Group and Singapore Airlines are open

to potentially bidding for the indebted carrier Air India, a top official at a joint venture owned by the firms said yesterday.

Air India, which was founded in the 1930s by the Tata Group and nationalised in 1953, is saddled with a debt of $8.5 billion. The Indian government agreed last June to sell it, after multiple efforts to resurrect the business failed.

Leslie Thng, chief executive of Vistara, a carrier launched jointly by the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines in 2015, said at a news conference on Friday that the companies

were “open to evaluating bids for Air India.”

“They keep an open mind,” Thng said, without elaborating.

It was not immediately clear if the companies might

bid jointly or separately.Tata Group Chairman N.

Chandrasekaran said late last year the company would be interested in bidding for Air India.

Vistara’s Thng, at the

conference, also said the group would lease five more A320neo aircraft by June 2018. Vistara currently has a total of 17 aircrafts on lease including four of the fuel-efficient A320neos. (Reuters)

Tata, Singapore Airlines may bid for Air India: Vistara CEO

A Vistara Airbus A320 passenger aircraft taxis on the tarmac after landing at Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport in Mumbai (Reuters)

A worker uses a welding torch to weld an iron machine at the construction site of a flyover in New Delhi

BUSINESS Saturday, January 6, 201810

COUNTRY/CURRENCIES SELLBUY

Rates are for indication purpose only. For firm rates or for currencies not listed above please call Bahrain Financing Company. Telephone: 17228888, Website: www.bfc.com.bh

COUNTRY 1 US DLR 1 UK STG 1 SFR 100 YEN

BAHRAIN 0.3770 0.5738 0.3799 0.3354

KUWAIT 0.2855 32.0873 0.2877 0.2540

OMAN 0.3849 0.3820 0.3878 0.3425

QATAR 3.6420 3.6143 3.6699 3.2405

UAE 3.6730 3.6451 3.7011 3.2681

SAUDI 3.7500 3.7215 3.7787 3.3366

AUSTRALIA 0.2920 0.2896BANGLADESH 0.00483 0.00458CANADA 0.3018 0.2985DENMARK 0.0627 EGYPT 0.0241 0.0218EURO 0.4501 0.4476HONGKONG 0.04970 0.04930INDIA 0.00582 0.00585INDONESIA 0.00003017 0.00002855IRAN TUMAN 0.00010964 IRAQI DINAR 0.000300 JAPAN 0.00352 0.003450JORDAN 0.5362 0.5354KOREA 0.00039646 KUWAIT 1.254 1.254MALAYSIA 0.0938 0.0936NEW ZEALAND 0.2616 0.2616NORWAY 0.0481 NEPAL 0.00395 0.00365OMAN 0.98220 0.98340PAKISTAN 0.00366 0.00358PHILIPPINES 0.00758 0.00747QATAR 0.10386 0.10381SAUDI ARABIA 0.10065 0.10071SINGAPORE 0.2834 0.2814SOUTH AFRICA 0.02850 0.02840SRI LANKA 0.00283 0.00246SWEDISH 0.0479 SWITZERLAND 0.3891 0.3861SYRIA 0.001740 0.0018TAIWAN 0.013100 THAILAND 0.011730 0.011710TURKEY 0.1024 UNITED KINGDOM 0.5076 0.5047UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 0.102850 0.102870UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 0.37790 0.37800YUAN 0.056800 0.056800

New Delhi

India lowered its forecast for the current year’s economic

growth yesterday before a federal budget is released next month, as businesses were hit by the chaotic launch of new nationwide tax last July.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had earlier estimated the economy would grow around 7.5 per cent in the 2017/18 fiscal year, generating enough tax to keep the fiscal deficit at 3.2pc of GDP after meeting spending targets.

Gross domestic product is now estimated to grow an annual 6.5pc in 2017/18, slower than a provisional

7.1pc growth in 2016/17, Ministry of Statistics said in a statement.

Most private economists have pared the growth forecast to 6.2 to 6.5pc for this fiscal year, citing the teething troubles faced by businesses during the roll out of a goods and services tax (GST).

“The GST transition impact is clearly visible,” said Shubhada Rao, chief economist at Yes Bank. Sectors such as manufacturing and hotels were badly hit, she said.

Complex rules and technical glitches meant the GST, aimed at transforming India’s 29 states into a single customs

union, hit millions of small businesses.

Manufacturing is now forecast to grow at 4.6pc this fiscal year compared with 7.9pc growth in the previous year, the statement said. Farm output may slow to 2.1pc from 4.9pc.

Finance ministry officials earlier said slower economic growth was likely to hit revenue collections this year, forcing them to resort to borrow from the market to meet spending targets.

Analysts said despite the lower economic growth, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was expected to hold policy

rates steady after a recent uptick in retail inflation, which touched 4.88pc in November, its steepest level in 15 months.

“Given the recent uptick in inflation pressure and with inflation likely to remain around 5pc going ahead, we expect the RBI to be on hold with a guarded stance even though growth estimate has disappointed slightly,” Rao said.

The statistics office will release economic growth data for the October-December quarter on Feb. 28, along with revised full-year growth estimates. (Reuters)

India lowers growth

forecast

New Delhi

India’s Tata Group and Singapore Airlines are open

to potentially bidding for the indebted carrier Air India, a top official at a joint venture owned by the firms said yesterday.

Air India, which was founded in the 1930s by the Tata Group and nationalised in 1953, is saddled with a debt of $8.5 billion. The Indian government agreed last June to sell it, after multiple efforts to resurrect the business failed.

Leslie Thng, chief executive of Vistara, a carrier launched jointly by the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines in 2015, said at a news conference on Friday that the companies

were “open to evaluating bids for Air India.”

“They keep an open mind,” Thng said, without elaborating.

It was not immediately clear if the companies might

bid jointly or separately.Tata Group Chairman N.

Chandrasekaran said late last year the company would be interested in bidding for Air India.

Vistara’s Thng, at the

conference, also said the group would lease five more A320neo aircraft by June 2018. Vistara currently has a total of 17 aircrafts on lease including four of the fuel-efficient A320neos. (Reuters)

Tata, Singapore Airlines may bid for Air India: Vistara CEO

A Vistara Airbus A320 passenger aircraft taxis on the tarmac after landing at Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport in Mumbai (Reuters)

A worker uses a welding torch to weld an iron machine at the construction site of a flyover in New Delhi

Ali Jayad al-Salhi, a veteran sniper in an Iraqi militia,

was killed in fighting with Islamic State in September.

He was then vaulted into legend, virtually becoming a new saint for the Shiite community.

Posters of al-Salhi, also known as “Hawk Eye” and Abu Tahsin, adorn storefronts, homes and car windows in his home city of Basra and other Shiite areas. One bakery even sells cakes with his face. Poems praise his valour and piety.

His rifle, with which he is said to have killed nearly 400 IS militants, is now in a museum in the holiest Shiite city, Karbala.

The fervour surrounding him points to the near messianic mystique that has grown up around Iraq’s Shiite militias in tandem with their increasing political and military might after they helped defeat Islamic State.

Known as the “Popular

Mobilisation Forces” or “Hashed” in Arabic, the militias – many of them backed by Iran – have emerged from the war with an image among Iraq’s Shiite majority as virtually a holy force.

The popular aura further buttresses the Hashed as it stands poised to play a major role in post-IS Iraq.

It’s a stark contrast to the Sunni Muslim minority’s view of the fighters.

The Hashed is accused of abuses of the Sunni population in areas it seized from IS, and Sunnis see the militias as a tool for Shiite powerhouse Iran to dominate Iraq.

Some even speak of the Hashed in apocalyptic terms, linking them to Imam Mahdi, a Shiite religious leader said to have vanished 1,100 years ago and expected to return leading an army to defeat evil in the world. The Hashed, supporters say, will be that army.

Supernatural stories circulate among Hashed supporters on social media.

One video purports to show Imam Mahdi himself backing militiamen defending a Shiite shrine in the city of Samarra.

In another story, a Hashed fighter says the imam saved his life by washing his wounds, telling him, “I am by your side”.

The Hashed intensely publicises the deaths of its

commanders, announcing their martyrdom on giant street posters.

Al-Salhi has been held up as the ideal pious Shiite. Poems in his honour have been read to mournful crowds.

Thousands attended his funeral in the holy city of Najaf, where he was laid to rest in the Valley of Peace, a vast Shiite cemetery near the shrine of Imam Ali, the Shiites’ most revered figure.

Al-Salhi’s real life has intertwined with the hagiography, making it difficult to confirm the stories told of him.

In the early 1970s, he graduated from a snipers’ school in Belarus. During his career in the Iraqi army, he fought alongside Syrian forces in the Golan Heights against Israel in the 1973 Middle East war; against Kurdish separatists in Iraq’s north; and against Iran in the 1980-1988 war.

He lost a brother to Saddam Hussein’s executioners in the 1991 Shiite uprising in southern Iraq.

His family and Hashed comrades tell of his intense piety.

They say he took the Shiite tradition of travelling on foot to holy sites for pilgrimage to a punishing extreme: When other pilgrims rested at night, he walked all day and all night, only resting at his final

destination.In 2014, al-Salhi answered

al-Sistani’s call to fight IS and went on to take part in Hashed’s biggest battles.

“We fight to win freedom for the Iraqi people and for humanity,” he said in one of multiple TV interviews he gave as his fame grew.

He took pride in his skill. He told of how a flying bird gave away the location of an IS sniper atop a date palm. He often told of a duel with a female IS sniper.

After trading shots for an hour, “I finally killed her when I tricked her into thinking I was dead and she rose from her hiding place,” he said, adding that he then killed two fighters trying to retrieve her body.

On the day he died, al-Salhi picked off four IS fighters, bringing his kill tally to 384, according to his commander at the Ali al-Akbar Brigade, Haidar Mukhtar.

But then he and two other snipers were surrounded by the militants and killed.

Mukhtar retrieved one final relic of al-Salhi: the casing from the last bullet he fired.

“I have kept it as a souvenir.” (AP)

11Saturday, January 6, 2018

Sniper with 384 IS kills who went from fame to legend

Iraqi mourners carry the coffin Ali Jayad al-Salhi at his funeral.

A poster of Ali Jayad al-Salhi in Basra

A man sits among awards, certificates of appreciation and posters belonging to the sniper Ali Jayad al-Salhi.

Saturday, January 6, 201812

Education Minister Dr. Majid Al Nuaimi attended a workshop at the Hidd Intermedi-ate School for Girls. The Directorate of Education Advisory held the workshop under the theme: “Assessment for Learning”. The minister toured the school’s training centre and was briefed about the courses and workshops which topped 880 by the end of the first term, benefiting even teachers from other educational establishments.

Deputy Chairman of the Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club High Committee HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Governor of the Southern Province HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa attended the tenth horse race for this season 2017-2018 organised by Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club. Shaikhs, representatives of sponsors and the equestrian and horse-racing fans also attended.

Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) held at the Royal Defence Force Training Centre a graduation ceremony for a new recruits session number 119, in the presence of BDF Assistant Chief of Staff for Human Resources Major General Ali bin Rashid Al Khalifa.

The Supreme Council for Women (SCW) has organized a workshop on “Mechanisms for preparing international reports related to women”, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The workshop aimed at highlighting Bahrain’s commitment to international conventions and agreements in the field of women development. As part of the development directives of Interior Minister the General Coordination Body for Governorates launched the institutional excellence initiative on Wednesday. The event also reviewed the development projects of 2018.

Saturday, January 6, 2018 13

Deputy Chairman of the Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club High Committee HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Governor of the Southern Province HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa attended the tenth horse race for this season 2017-2018 organised by Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club. Shaikhs, representatives of sponsors and the equestrian and horse-racing fans also attended.

Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) held at the Royal Defence Force Training Centre a graduation ceremony for a new recruits session number 119, in the presence of BDF Assistant Chief of Staff for Human Resources Major General Ali bin Rashid Al Khalifa.Coast Guard Commander Brigadier Ala’a Siyadi received Swiss Consul-General Humbert Vincent Buemi on Tuesday. They reviewed bilateral ties and issues of common interest.

As part of the development directives of Interior Minister the General Coordination Body for Governorates launched the institutional excellence initiative on Wednesday. The event also reviewed the development projects of 2018.

Los Angeles

Ac t r e s s e s J e n n i f e r

Aniston and Angelina Jolie will both present trophies at the 75th Golden Globe Awards.

Aniston and Jolie -- who were both previously married to actor Brad Pitt -- rarely attend the same events, but this year they will be among the celebrities handing

out statuettes to the winners, along with

other newly-announced presenters Helen Mirren

and Emma Stone, reports dailymail.co.uk.

Other stars who will be presenting trophies at the ceremony, to be hosted by Seth Meyers, include Hugh Grant, Isabelle Huppert, Ricky Martin, Penelope Cruz, Seth Rogen, Kerry Washington, Gal Gadot and Kelly Clarkson.

Amy Poehler, Neil Patrick Harris, Sharon Stone, Alicia Vikander, Sarah Jessica Parker, Chris Hemsworth, “Game of Thrones” stars Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke, Emma Watson and Halle Berry are also among the big names who will give out trophies at the award gala. (IANS)

Ashley Tisdale @ashleytisdale

I have to say @MargotRobbie was absolutely

amazing in @ITonyaMovie. Seeing her do something

different from what she’s done was inspiring

14 Saturday, January 6, 2018

Los Angeles

Actress DeWanda Wise is on board for a supporting role in “Captain Marvel”, which stars Brie Larson, Samuel L.

Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn and Jude Law.“Captain Marvel” will be Wise’s first movie role, reports

deadline.com.She has earlier featured in the series “Shots Fired” and

“Underground” and currently plays the lead role of Nola Darling in Netflix’s series “She’s Gotta Have It”, which was renewed for a second season recently.

“Captain Marvel” is directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck with its script penned by Meg LeFauve and Nicole Perlman.

The project is based on the Marvel character Carol Danvers, an Air Force pilot whose DNA is fused with that of an alien during an accident and becomes Captain Marvel. (IANS)

January 6, 1955

Rowan Atkinson

Comedian, actor, and screenwriter who was listed as one of the fifty funniest actors in British comedy by The Observer. His Mr. Bean character gained him a large following in England and the United States.

Los Angeles

Actor Sterling K. Brown has been tapped for a guest role

in an episode of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”.

Brown will appear as Philip Davidson, a murder suspect who undergoes an all-night

interrogation carried out by Jake Peralta (Andy

Samberg) and Captain Holt (Andre

Braugher), reports variety.com.Brown’s episode will focus entirely on the

one storyline.Internationally, season five of “Brooklyn

Nine-Nine” will return this spring on Fox. The show is aired in India on Comedy Central.

In addition to Samberg and Braugher, it also stars Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, Joe Lo Truglio, Stephanie Beatriz, Chelsea Peretti, Joel McKinnon Miller and Dirk Blocker. (IANS)

Disney is in negotiation with director Ridley Scott to helm ‘The Merlin Saga’. Oscar-winning screenwriter Philippa

Boyens has written the script for the film, which is based on T A Barron’s books.

The series follows the story of a young Merlin who would go on to become the mentor of the classic literary character King Arthur.

Reportedly, Disney is also in talks with Scott’s production company Scott Free to produce the project along with Gil Netter.

Tendo Nagenda and Foster Driver are overseeing the

project for the studio. (TOI)

Saturday, January 6, 2018 15

Christian Bale is an English actor. He has starred both in blockbuster films and smaller projects from independent producers and art houses. Bale first caught the public eye at the age of 13, when he was cast in the starring role of Steven Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun. Based on the original story by J. G. Ballard, Bale played an English boy who is separated from his parents and subsequently finds himself lost in a Japanese internment camp during World War II.

Christian Bale

The film starts with a history lesson on the politics of the region to bring you up to speed

on why Iran still hates the USA. According to them, the USA is the Great Shaitan for first installing the Shah and then offering him asylum after his ouster.

Set in the 1970s, Argo is based on the true story of the extraction of six diplomats from the Canadian ambassador’s house, where they’re hiding. As options are being considered, Mendez (Affleck) comes up with “the best bad option by far” - the one with the least diplomatic fallout. If it succeeds, everyone’s a winner; if it fails, everyone dies.

The plan sounds deceptively simple. Make a fake movie, make Hollywood (and pretty much the rest of the world) believe that an award-winning director (Arkin) and make-up genius (Goodman) are attached to a sci-fi film called Argo, set in the Middle East. Create a media circus announcing the film and let the rest follow. Thereafter, Mendez enters the country on the ruse of location-scouting. He enters alone but has to leave with six other Americans posing as a Canadian crew. Easier said than done?

Affleck’s film is being seen as a serious Oscar contender and with good reason. The film doesn’t favour one side over the other. Also, the dramatisation is not without its light moments. You will sense a fine balance and an acute attention to detailing, something that’s pivotal to a film of this genre. Watch out for certain powerful crowd scenes and set pieces that grab you with their sheer intensity and absolute terror. You will gasp in awe at the pains taken in casting actors who resembled the actual players of this story the closest, as they are featured during the end credits. (TOI)

Argo

Los Angeles

Singer Camila Cabello says she always has a crush on somebody.

The 20-year-old believes she has never had a serious relationship because of her hectic schedule, but she does dream about finding her true love one day, reports rollingstone.com.

“The way that I have worked makes it hard on relationships, on friendships, even health. I always have a crush on somebody. It’s just how I am! It’s boring without that. A girl’s gotta daydream,” Cabello said.

Cabello found fame with the Fifth Harmony band before departing the group in 2016.

Although she’s gearing up to drop her debut solo album later this month, she likes to spend her free time pretending she is not famous. (IANS)

FRIDAY WINTER BRUNCHDate: till February 9thVenue: Bahrain Bay Kitchen

The known lavish culinary offerings, including five unique food stations serv-ing Arabic, Western, Indian, Japanese and Chinese delicacies and winter inspired dishes using seasonal ingredi-ents to live the season spirit including stews, BBQ, roasted chestnuts, fondue, Raclette and more. Guests may enjoy special chestnut giveaway after their meal. Shisha is also available on the res-taurant terrace during brunch hours. The offer is available only on Fridays.

CUT BRUNCHDate: January1-31Venue: Wolfgang Puck Steakhouse

Indulge into Wolfgang Puck’s favorite dishes. CUT Brunch served every Friday from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm.

CUT ON THE HOURDate: January1-31Venue: Wolfgang Puck Steakhouse

Enjoy a two-course meal in 60 minutes with your choice of tea or coffee!

CUT THE LOUNGE TO THE CHASEDate: January1-31Venue: CUT Bar & Lounge

Enjoy Wolfgang Pucks signature bites and drinks with chic music.

THE BLUE HOURDate: re/Asian CuisineVenue: Blue Moon Lounge

Signature cocktails & Bites at Blue Moon Lounge is the perfect offer to try while enjoying the best view from the 50th floor.

ULTIMATE SKIN TREATMENT BY MCCM

Date: January1-31Venue: Four Seasons

Experience an exclusive selection of innovative face and body treatments connected with high technology and complemented with cosmetic prod-ucts penetrating deeply that produces faster and visible results with MCCM. MCCM Portugal holds a long record and experience in the field of aesthet-ic medicine and medical cosmetics. Combining technology, entrepreneur-ship and experience, these 4 exclu-sive ultimate effective skin treatments focuses on using precise and essential active principles and ingredients that can be tailored for each need of dif-ferent body and different skin whilst giving the right care and attention that reflect visible results.

SATURDAY BRUNCHDate: January Venue: Bahrain Bay Kitchen

Four Seasons is offering a wide selec-tion of Arabic favorites such as lamb Ouzi, cold mezzes and much more. It’s just the perfect offer for you and your family. End your Saturday fun with a tasty shisha on the terrace.

RE/IMAGINE YOUR SATURDAYSDate: January1-31Venue: re/Asian Cuisine

Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay invites you to discover the perfect Saturday Brunch at re/Asian Cuisine by Wolfgang Puck. Soak in the immersive views from the 50th floor and feast on mouthwatering Asian selections like Korean Fried Chicken Bao Buns, Wok Fried Shrimp Dumplings and Brisket Wontons.

AN ODE TO LIFE - AN EXHIBI-TION BY THE BOX, A CREATIVE COLLECTIVE

Date: 14 December - 31 January 2018, 8:00am - 8:00pmVenue: Qal’at al Bahrain Site Museum

In their inaugural exhibition, THE BOX, a Bahrain-based collective of creative works representing various concepts, talents and ideas, presents art installations and sculptures at the Bahrain Fort Site to raise awareness about preserving the environment sur-rounding the site.

BAHRAINI FARMER’S MARKET

Date: till 31st March 2018Venue: Budaiya Botanical Gardens Bahrain Farmers Market targets pro-moting Bahrain’s agricultural prod-ucts and highlighting the development taking place in Bahrain’s agricultural sector. It also aims to contribute to improving the Bahraini farmers’ income through a marketing sys-tem prepared by the Agriculture and Marine Resources to assist in meeting the farmers’ aspirations.

6TH BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE SYMPOSIUMDate: 1 - 16 January Venue: Bahrain National Museum

Sculpture, an ancient art form can be considered a bold and noticeable art form. Its importance throughout time has not diminished and we at the Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities (“BACA”) would like to continue in commemorating this art form.The 6th Bahrain International Sculpture Symposium will be held at the Bahrain National Museum from the 1st of January to 15th of January. This year, the Symposium will be led by the honorary head, the renowned sculptor Adam Henein.Since its inception, the symposium has attracted sculptors from around the region and the world in a unique environment of cultural exchange and creative collaboration. In this edition of the symposium, celebrating Muharraq the Capital of Islamic Culture 2018. Upon completion, the final sculptures will be located in the historic old capital of Bahrain, Muharraq.

THE INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL

Date: 4,5,11,12 January 2018, 7:00pmVenue: Bahrain National Museum

Collaboration with The Indian Embassy, The Bahrain National

Museum is hosting the Indian Film Festival. The films have been selected from many categories, and will be fea-tured with English subtitles. The mov-ies include 04 Jan: MARY KOM, 05 Jan: KAHAANI, 11 Jan: DRISHYAM, 12 Jan: QUEEN

AL-FANN: ART FROM THE ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION OF THE AL-SABAH COLLECTION

Date: 19 January - 30 June 2018Venue: Bahrain National Museum

The exhibition invites the public to explore the great and multifaceted nature of Islamic culture through the spectacular al-Sabah collection of Islamic Art. Broadly divided into two parts, the display illustrates a chrono-logical progression broken into four stages (from the very beginning of the Islamic period up to and including the three great empires of the sixteenth century) and tackles themes that run transversely through Islamic art; main-ly, calligraphy, geometric decoration, vegetal, figurative art and jewellery.

THE LAND OF DILMUN, WHERE THE SUN RISES Date: 5 December 2017 - 11 March 2018Venue: The Hermitage State Museum

The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities showcases significant Dilmun artifacts from the permanent collection of the Bahrain National Museum at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, one of world’s larg-est museums, that shed light on life in Dilmun between the 3rd and 1st mil-lennium BCE.

8 IN 1 EXPO 2018

Date: 11th January 2018 to 14th January 2018Venue: Bahrain International Exhibition Centre

8 in 1 Expo is a Biggest international Exhibition specialized in different fields among GCC that contains six exhibi-tions including, Bahrain International Modern House , Bahrain International Technology Expo , Health and Beauty International Expo, Fashion Time Exhibition and Perfume Expo.

THE STAMP SEAL: HALLMARK OF DILMUN AND ITS HIDDEN ART

Date: 12 October 2017 - 20 September 2018Venue: Bahrain National Museum

‘The Stamp Seals: Hallmark of Dilmun and its Hidden Art’, draws on the permanent collection of the Bahrain National Museum and some highlights from the National Museum of Kuwait. The display illustrates an exceptional selection of seals spanning the 3rd and 2nd millennia BCE and examines the use, techniques, diversity and splen-dour of the Dilmun seals.

LITTLE MEN

DATE: 3rd JanuaryVenue: Bahrain cinema club, Juffair

Jake is a quiet, sensitive middle schooler with dreams of being an artist. He meets the affably brash Tony at his grandfather’s funeral, and the unlike-ly pair soon hit it off. The budding friendship is put at risk, however, when a rent dispute between Jake’s father, Brian, and Tony’s mother, Leonor, threatens to become contentious. The film won the Crystal Bear Award in the Generations section at Berlin International Film Festival.

16 Saturday, January 6, 2018

HOW TO REACH US “Out & About’, a

ready reckoner for the events taking place

on the island, is published from Friday to Tuesday. To be

included, pleasesend the matter to the

following email ID: news@dt.bh

Saturday, January 6, 2018 17

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18 Saturday, January 6, 2018

CROSSWORDYESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

Your star today

Across Down

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

How to play: Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

(Mar 21st - Apr 20th)

(Apr 21st - May 21st)

(May 22nd - Jun 21st)

(June 22nd - July 23rd)

(July 24th - Aug 23rd)

(Aug 24th - Sep 23rd)

(Sep 24th - Oct 23rd)

(Oct 24th - Nov 22nd)

(Nov 23rd - Dec 21st)

(Dec 22nd- Jan 20th)

(Jan 21st - Feb 19th)

(Feb 20th - Mar 20th)

You’re apt to be in a very joyous mood today, and it’s going to show on your face. This isn’t going to go unnoticed by the people you meet. You could make some new friends, and, if you aren’t currently romantically involved, you might actually meet an interesting potential love partner.

Today you might host a gathering of people interested in psychic or metaphysical matters. A very special guest could give a talk or lead a discussion group. This could be fascinating for everyone present. You’ll gain a reputation as a wonderful host, even though all you really do is pass out cookies and pour the coffee.

Writing may be one of your main focuses for today. You have a lot of information to impart to anyone who might be interested in what you have to say. You could try your hand at a magazine article or perhaps fiction or poetry. However, even if all you write at this time is a letter to your cousin, what you say will undoubtedly be bright and interesting.Professional interests continue to expand, and you’re managing to keep very busy. Your income is rising, and you could be achieving a certain prominence in your field. You could be looking for new opportunities. The field you’re in now may not be one that you want to continue for the next 20 years. You might be surprised at the opportunities out there.

Travel in the company of a close companion might be looming over the horizon. In fact, you might be leaving pretty soon, and you’re probably growing excited. Some surprising developments could come up, and thus it’s likely to shape up to be more than a simple vacation. Make sure you look your best, don’t hold back on what you want to do.

An unexpected lucky break could come your way today - something you would never have expected in a hundred years. It could seem like a dream come true, yet it could disrupt your life in some way. You might find yourself facing a choice: go for it and change your entire way of life or let it go and take the risk that another great opportunity might never appear. Who said life was easy? Think about it!

If you aren’t currently romantically involved, today you could meet someone who shows a lot of promise. Work might be involved in some way, and it’s also possible that this person has been living in your neighbourhood for a long time. A friend could introduce you to each other. You’ll probably spend at least an hour talking.

Some kind of unexpected shakeup could take place today, and you could find yourself suddenly being offered more money or responsibilities. This might be just the break you’ve been waiting for, but it could take you so much by surprise that you might ask for time to think about it. Don’t think for too long, however, because they might give the break to someone else!

An intense dream or vision could result in a spiritual breakthrough of some kind, and you might spend the day in a bit of a daze, trying to make sense of it. You might see if you can find a few books on the subject, because all signs suggest that reading could bring a lot of information. You might also want to write down an account of your experience.

Today you might attend at least one festive social occasion, and therefore you may meet some very interesting people in unusual professions, such as film or TV. Expect to hear some bizarre stories, some of them true, others that are clearly exaggerated. Out of all this friendly banter and tale telling, however, you could acquire some useful information.

Your level of health and physical well-being is likely to be very high, and thus you’re probably glowing. As a result, you might find that those around you pay more attention to what you’re saying than they usually do. You’ll also find that your mind is sharp, and you’re apt to be exceptionally quick on the uptake. Therefore, you might absorb a lot more from what you hear than you normally do. You might be feeling especially adventurous today. The same old streets and buildings in the same old town might suddenly seem to be closing in on you. Therefore, you might just grab a close friend or significant other, hop in the car, and take off for the mountains or the ocean. You’ve been working very hard and probably could benefit from some time in open country.

1 Glasses, briefly; 6 Atty. to be exams; 11 Alias; 14 Rustic; 15 Arabian republic; 16 Author Deighton; 17 San Antonio landmark; 18 Stiff bristles; 19 Grab a bite; 20 1982 Disney film; 22 Appliance brand; 24 Impassive; 28 Sleepless; 30 Kingdom in N Europe; 31 Harvest goddess; 32 Passion; 33 Perfume; 37 Opposite of post ; 38 “Hooray!”; 39 ___ the fields we go...; 40 Preach; 43 Enamel; 45 Papal garment; 46 Sibelius’s “Valse ___”; 47 Advisory body; 50 Unimpressed; 51 71% is under water; 52 Archer of myth; 53 ___ rule; 54 Mosey; 57 Boundaries; 62 Collector’s goal; 63 Showed again; 64 Requirements; 65 Legal conclusion?; 66 Pulitzer category; 67 Looks after;

1 Mexican Mrs.; 2 Monetary unit of Afghanistan; 3 Significant period; 4 Engine part; 5 Toy racer; 6 Popular disinfectant; 7 Visualized; 8 Qty.; 9 Beverage commonly drunk in England; 10 Athletic shoe; 11 Shake like ___; 12 Reeves of “The Matrix”; 13 Conductor Dorati; 21 Narrow beam oflight; 23 Arizona city; 24 Ginger cookies; 25 Baseball manager Joe; 26 Command; 27 ___ Jima; 28 Interlace; 29 Jason’s ship; 31 Fad; 33 Ruffle; 34 Racket; 35 Pennies; 36 Some Art Deco works; 38 ___ B’rith; 41 ___ Blanc; 42 Group of fruit trees; 43 Gift; 44 Afflict; 46 Tango need; 47 _____ and desist; 48 Desert havens; 49 Liquid waste component; 50 Where the action is; 52 Jack of “Rio Lobo”; 55 Debussy’s “La ___”; 56 Bikini part; 58 Actress Sandra; 59 ___ X; 60 Actor Byrnes; 61 Conscription org.;

BEETLE BAILEY R

a #PollToday

For more, catch us online at: www.newsofbahrain.com

/nobonline/newsofbahrain

Saturday, January 6, 2018 19

London

Fed up with repeated delays to wedding

services because of brides arriving late, an English vicar is imposing £100 fines for a delay of more than 10 minutes, The Times reported yesterday.

Church of England vicar John Corbyn said he had introduced the policy at his two churches, Holy Cross in Bearsted and St Mary the Virgin in Thurnham, after two delayed weddings in a row.

“My team was feeling a bit ill-used... We worried that it

was going to become normal practice,” he said.

Couples are asked to present the vicar with a £100 (110 euros, $135) cheque before the service, which he gets to keep if the bride is late and distribute to the organist, bellringers and choristers kept waiting.

The only exception to the fine is for delays caused by traffic jams or genuine mishaps, the paper said.

Corbyn said the fine was proving a success, pointing out that brides were now arriving 10 minutes early. (AFP)

New York

A giant winter “bomb cyclone” walloped the

US East Coast on Thursday with heavy snow and freezing cold that made for treacherous travel conditions and bone-chilling misery.

Four people were reported killed in the southeastern states of North and South Carolina, where icy roads sent vehicles skittering.

A cold wave gripping a large section of the United States had already been blamed for a dozen earlier

deaths.Thousands of flights

were cancelled and schools closed in many localities as snow piled up and blizzard conditions began taking hold in the northeast.

Temperatures were so low in northern New York that Niagara Falls -- the giant waterfalls straddling the US-Canadian border -- froze.

Snowfall eased by nightfall but temperatures were set to plunge to 8 Fahrenheit (minus 13 Celsius) and remain sub-freezing all weekend. (AFP)

Do you think US President Donald Trump is like a child as Author Michael Wolff say?

Yes No Cant Say

English vicar slaps £100 fine on brides running late

‘Bomb cyclone’ pounds eastern US, 4 reported dead

Kabul attack: IS claims responsibility Islamic State claimed responsibility for a sui-cide attack on Thursday in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul, the militant group’s Amaq news agency said.

South African police launched a manslaughter investigation following a train crash that killed at least 18 people and injured 254 others.

Millions of people in Tokyo received a loud alert that a “strong” earthquake was about to hit -- but it proved to be a false alarm appar-ently triggered by geological chance.

Gale-force winds battered New Zealand’s North Island, tearing off roofs, bringing down trees, cutting power and forcing residents to flee flooded seaside towns.

SA opens probe over train crash

Minor quakes trigger Japan’s alert system

NZ storm sparks evacuations

China’s Harbin ice festival

People visit ice sculptures illuminated by coloured lights at the International Ice and Snow festival in Harbin city, China. The annual winter event runs for three months. (theguardian)

“What we are seeing in America is a chain of serious plots. If this is the US under-standing of justice then the world is doomed. There can be no such understanding of justice.”

Recep Tayyip Erdogan Turkey’s President

Drivers make their way along the flooded Beach Road after the ocean overtopped the seawall during a winter snow-storm in the Boston suburb of Lynn, Massachusetts.

Trump ‘pictured Xi as a woman’

Heat waves put corals at risk

Washington

As Donald Trump pondered ways to

revolutionise perhaps the world’s most crucial and complex diplomatic relationship last year he faced one major hurdle: he couldn’t pronounce the name of China’s leader, Xi Jinping.

The solution? Think of him as a woman.

That, according to Michael Wolff’s explosive insider account of Trump’s White House, is the advice aides gave the US president as he prepared for a crunch two-day summit with the Communist Party leader at his Mar-a-Lago estate in April last year.

Wolff’s book, obtained this week by The Guardian and set for publication yesterday, describes how Trump required “some tutoring” with regard to the family name of his Chinese counterpart, which is roughly pronounced “shee”. Not known for his linguistic talents, Trump was instead prone to call the leader of the world’s No 2 economy “Mr X-i”.

To avoid such gaffes during Xi’s visit, “the president was

told to think of him as a woman and call him ‘she’,” Wolff claims in Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House.

By Wolff’s telling, Trump’s Mandarin lesson – and his bid to impress Xi with his palm-dotted estate – paid off: “[The Chinese] were in an agreeable mood, evidently willing to humour Trump. And they quickly figured out that if you flatter him, he flatters you.”

US-China tensions cooled after the Florida conclave. Trump, who had repeatedly assailed Beijing during his presidential campaign, hailed

the start of “a very, very great relationship”.

Wolff’s revelation recalls a sketch from Spitting Image, the 1980s satirical puppet show, in which aides struggle to teach Ronald Reagan how to pronounce Mikhail Gorbachev’s name using picture boards featuring images of a mouth, a sheep and a chef with a plate of tongues. “Remember Mr President, it’s Gob … Baa … Chef,” Reagan, who fails to catch on, is told. “Mouth … sheep … tongue … Gee, isn’t he that Chinese guy?” he replies. (theguardian)

Wolff: ‘Trump is like a child’Washington

Author Michael Wolff said Friday that ‘100

percent of the people around’ question President Donald Trump’s intelligence and fitness for office, with some calling him a ‘moron’ and an ‘idiot.’

Even Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, the president’s son-in-law and daughter, both of whom are

senior White House advisers, have moved out of the way to let the bus roll over the former Trump Organization executive, Wolff said.

‘They all say he is like a child. And what they mean by that is he has a need for immediate gratification. It’s all about him,’ Wolff told ‘Today’ on Friday. ‘They say he’s a moron, an idiot.’ (MailOnline)

Oslo

High ocean temperatures are harming tropical

corals almost five times more

often than in the 1980s, undermining reefs’ ability to survive marine heat waves caused by man-made climate

change, scientists said on Thursday.

The average time between severe “bleachings”, when heat makes the stony-bodied creatures that make up coral reefs expel colourful algae, shortened to six years in 2016 from 25-30 years in the early 1980s, the Australian-led team wrote.

Corals die if bleachings are long-lasting, wrecking reefs that are nurseries for fish, a source of food to millions of people and a destination for scuba-diving tourists. (Reuters)Representative image

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (file photo)

Saturday, January 6, 2018 SPORTS20

Sydney

Steve Smith racked up another milestone as he

continued to torment England and Usman Khawaja neared a century to put Australia in a strong position after day two of the final Ashes Test in Sydney yesterday.

The Australian skipper became the second fastest batsman to reach 6,000 Test runs in his 111th innings, second only to the legendary Don Bradman.

Smith, with three centuries in this five-match series, has been the bane of the England team and was potentially heading towards another ton.

At the close, Smith was on

44 with Khawaja reaching his highest score of the series on 91 in Australia’s 193 for two in reply to England’s 346 first innings.

So far in the series Smith has scored 648 runs at 162.

The pair shared in a 107-run partnership after the loss of openers Cameron Bancroft and David Warner.

Khawaja raised his third fifty of the series with a six down the ground off Moeen Ali.

Debutant Mason Crane, the youngest specialist spinner at 20 to play for England in 90 years, troubled Smith and Khawaja with his wrist spin, enticing some edges and false

shots to finish with no wicket for 58 off 17 overs.

Warner reached his fourth half-century of the series before James Andersoncoaxed an edge to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow for 56 after Bancroft was bowled by Stuart Broad for a seven-ball duck.

England’s maligned tail earlier piled on runs before the tourists were bowled out at lunch.

Newcomer Tom Curran smacked 39 off 65 balls, Moeen Ali hit 30 and Broad clubbed two sixes in his 31 off 32 balls as England lashed out late in the extended morning session.

Smith pulled off a stunning one-handed catch to dismiss Dawid Malan for 62, but the Australians were guilty of two embarrassing dropped catches to give England a helping hand.

The Australian skipper made an athletic diving catch to end the dangerous batsman’s innings at second slip off Mitchell Starc. (AFP)

Smith, Khawaja

put Aussies

in control

London

Daniel Ricciardo says his Red Bull Formula 1 team-

mate Max Verstappen has “matured a lot” over the past year and now has more respect for his rivals.

Ricciardo finished 32 points clear of Verstappen in the drivers’ standings in 2017, but the latter suffered more reliability problems, particularly early in the season.

The two clashed in Hungary, after Verstappen locked up and ran into the side of Ricciardo into the right Turn 2 left-hander on the opening lap.

Ricciardo described the move as “amateur”, and Verstappen later spoke to his team-mate

one-to-one and apologised for the incident.

“The hot water in Budapest, that was a bit of a test,” Ricciardo said.

“Fortunately he handled it well afterwards and apologised and did what he had to.

“So I feel like there is that respect for each other. Max matured a lot this year, on and off the track.

“On-track, he was more sensible. He was under a lot less scrutiny than he was last year.

“I feel like he also respects the competitors a bit more.”

Ricciardo said he has no problem going wheel-to-wheel against with Verstappen in the future. (autosport)

Newlands

Drama, thy name is Test cricket. At Newlands. On a pitch with a bit of

spice. With a build-up that did not lack for shots across the bow.

Faf du Plessis confessed he had a score to settle, and so he armed himself with four fast bowlers the envy of the world. Virat Kohli saw Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander during warm-ups. His only comment with regard to was “we knew they were going a batsman short and we want to get at them with the new ball”.

But really, how could anyone avoid the temptation of unleashing that attack, in any condition let alone a surface with both pace and lateral movement. Given 11 overs to turn the game, Philander dismissed M Vijay, Steyn claimed Dhawan to move into the top-10 wicket-takers in Test history and Morkel lured Kohli into a familiar trap behind the wicket. India bowled South Africa out for 286 but then they limped to stumps 28 for 3.

Cape Town dealt almost exclusively

in hair-raising action. Bhuvneshwar Kumar began proceedings by spiriting three wickets in his first three overs. To ensure there wasn’t one-way traffic, AB de Villiers produced a half-century that was downright delectable. He had total control of the game and the opposition at his mercy when the debutant Jasprit Bumrah - who played his last first-class game almost a year ago - knocked back the off stump.

India’s hold-one-end-up bowler Hardik Pandya got rid of du Plessis for 62 mere moments after a remarkably tight lbw call went against the visitors. Kohli probably had that running in his head - and the South African captain’s pre-series comments about revenge - when he indulged in a send-off and was soon cautioned by the umpires.

Worried that things had calmed too far down, Quinton de Kock played like he was the action hero who always gets shot at but never gets hit. Anyone who stepped away from their screens during play, please report to the cricket gods for punishment. (espncricinfo)

Max matured a lot, says Daniel Ricciardo

Australia’s Steve Smith reacts (Picture courtesy: cricket.com.au)

Daniel Ricciardo (L) with Max Verstappen (file pic)

BRIEF SCOREAustralia 2 for 193 (Khawaja 91*, Smith 44*) trail England 346 (Root 83, Malan 62, Cummins 4-80) by 153 runs

SA make big strikes after falling for 286 BRIEF SCORE

India 28 for 3 (Pujara 5*, Rohit 0*, Morkel 1-0)South Africa 286 (De Villiers 65, Du Plessis 62, Bhuvneshwar 4-87)

Indian fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar takes the wicket of Dean Elgar (Picture courtesy: AP)

Wembley

Son Heung-min and Pedro Obiang each scored a stunner as Tottenham

were held by West Ham to a 1-1 draw at Wembley.

Spurs had hit 20 shots by the time the Hammers took the lead with their first as Obiang beat Hugo Lloris with a blistering effort from 30 yards.

Son replied with his own spectacular long-range strike six minutes from time, but Tottenham were unable to find a winner on another frustrating night for them at the national stadium.

The draw leaves Mauricio Pochettino’s side three points short of Liverpool in fourth, while West Ham climb to 15th, three points clear of the relegation zone.

Both sides had been afforded only 48 hours rest here, although West Ham enjoyed the smoother turn-around given their crunch win over West Brom came only a short train ride away in east London, while Spurs were still flying back from their own victory in Swansea in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

There also were a noticeable number of empty red seats at Wembley, where the 50,034 attendance suggested that on the sixth consecutive day of Premier League matches, and ninth out of 10, even football fans can have enough of a good thing.

But this contest lacked nothing for excitement, as West Ham showed all their new-found resilience under David Moyes and would have had a shock win were it not for Son’s late intervention.

For Spurs, this was another case of failing to break down a stubborn rear-guard at home. These results could well

cost them dear in May.Harry Kane shook off

illness to return to the starting lineup in place of Fernando Llorente, while Serge Aurier and Moussa Sissoko also came in.

West Ham made three changes too, as the injured trio of Marko Arnautovic, A n d y Carroll a n d

A a r o n C r e s s w e l l

made way for Mark Noble, Javier Hernandez and Declan Rice.

Spurs showed no sign of fatigue in the opening stages as Kane almost steered in Christian Eriksen’s deflected cross before Davinson Sanchez drew a last-ditch block from Rice after Adrian had fumbled a high ball. (espn.in)

Saturday, January 6, 2018 21SPORTS

Son rescues Spurs 1-1

Salah named 2017 African playerLondon

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has been named CAF

African Player of the Year for 2017.

The Egypt forward scored the goal that secured his country a place at this year’s World Cup, while he has been in superb form since signing for the Reds.

Salah has scored 23 goals for Liverpool already this season following his summer move from Roma.

Club team-mate and Senegal

international Sadio Mane came second, with Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang third, the Confederation of African Football announced at its gala dinner on Thursday night.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp allowed his two shortlisted players to attend the ceremony in Ghana despite his side playing Everton in the FA Cup on Friday.

Salah will miss the game through a groin injury, but Mane could well play. (eurosport)

London

Barcelona’s record signing Ousmane Dembele made his long-awaited

return from injury as the Catalan giants drew the first leg of their Copa del Rey round-of-16 tie with Celta Vigo 1-1.

Dembele had been sidelined since September after suffering a hamstring injury in just his third appearance for the club following his move from Borussia Dortmund.

He was given the all-clear to return to action earlier this week, though, and came on for the final 20 minutes against Celta at Balaidos.

The 20-year-old Frenchman was unable to find a winner on the night, but Barca -- looking to win the cup for a fourth successive year -- will nevertheless be optimistic of progressing to the quarterfinals in next Thursday’s second leg at the Camp Nou. Ernesto

Valverde’s men had enough chances to have finished the tie off this evening, but in the end only had Jose Arnaiz’s 15th-minute strike to show for their efforts.

Barca B striker Arnaiz, leading the attack in the absence of star names Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, scored in his third successive cup appearance when he finished off a low cross from Andre Gomes.

That lead lasted just 16 minutes, however, before Celta drew level through Pione Sisto’s thunderous finish.

Iago Aspas was unlucky to see his effort come back off the underside of the bar and bounce away off Jasper Cillessen’s knee, but Sisto latched on to the loose ball and, despite the narrow angle, thrashed a rising shot back past Barca’s Dutch goalkeeper. (espn.in)

Dembele returns but Barca settle for draw

Barcelona’s José Arnaíz celebrates with

teammates

Tottenham’s Son Heung-min celebrates

Mohamed Salah collects the African Footballer of the Year award

(Picture courtesy: theguardian)

Brisbane

Elina Svitolina switched gears after a poor start to knock out

holder Karolina Pliskova and set up a title clash with qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich at

the Brisbane International yesterday.Third seed Svitolina was staring at a potential hammering at the hands of

her big-hitting Czech opponent as she went behind 4-0 in the opening set before finding her feet to seal

a 7-5 7-5 victory in an hour and 39 minutes.

Sasnovich became the first qualifier to reach the final at Brisbane as she

overcame a leg injury to dump out seventh seed Anastasija Sevastova 7-6(3) 6-4 in the

other semi-final.Trailing early in the contest, Svitolina reeled

off seven of the next eight games to take the first set. The Ukranian raced to a 5-2 lead in the

second but Pliskova was not ready to surrender and saved a match point before levelling at 5-5.

A double fault by Pliskova gave Svitolina the opening she needed to serve for the match and the No.6 completed the job in style.

Earlier, world No.88 Sasnovich began her match strongly but allowed Sevastova to push the first set to a tiebreaker before regaining

composure to secure the early advantage.Clearly feeling the effects of playing

her seventh match of the tournament, Sasnovich called for a medical timeout before the second set.

She soldiered on with heavy strapping on her legs and saved two breakpoints to hold for 3-3 and won a decisive break in the ninth game of the second set to set up the victory.

“I really like to start the season like this,” Sasnovich said. “But (making the) final, it’s not enough for me. The title is forever. Maybe some people forget (the losing finalist), but the winner, no one.

“It’s good for me, good for our country, good for all of the people who support me. Without them, it was not possible ... It’s nice to be first (qualifier in the final). It has motivated me.” (Reuters)

Saturday, January 6, 2018 SPORTS22

Svitolina enters Brisbane final

Kyrgios sets up Dimitrov semi-final

Brisbane

Nick Kyrgios turned on the style in time to beat Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov and set up a semi-

final against top seed and holder Grigor Dimitrov at the Brisbane International yesterday.

The mercurial Australian huffed and puffed in a miserable first set but eventually found some rhythm to come through a tricky encounter 1-6 6-3 6-4.

Bulgarian Dimitrov also had to battle hard against Britain’s Kyle Edmund, winning 6-3 6-7(3) 6-4

in two hours and 23 minutes at the Pat Rafter Arena.

Kyrgios, who will be under the home spotlight at this month’s Australian Open, made 36 unforced errors against

Dolgopolov but there were 27 winners too.

“As bad as it is to say, it’s kind of like a tap. I can turn it on when I want to,” the third seed told reporters.

“I’m feeling pretty good. I’m hitting the ball well and I’m serving really well. So the first two matches of the year, I’ve got through two tough three-setters,” added Kyrgios, who

beat compatriot Matthew Ebdon 6-7(3) 7-6(5) 6-2 in the second round.“The only positive I can say about losing

that first set is I’m putting myself in some pressure situations.” (Reuters)

Serena Williams withdraws from Australian Open

London

Serena Williams has announced that she will not be defending her title at the Australian Open.

Serena beat sister Venus in the 2017 final in Melbourne, and later revealed that she was

pregnant while competing in the tournament.The 36-year-old gave birth to daughter

Alexis Olympia in September, and returned to the court in an exhibition match against Jelena Ostapenko in Abu Dhabi at the end

of December.In a statement on Snapchat, she wrote: “After performing in my first

match after giving birth I realised that although I am super close I’m not where I personally want to be.”

She added: “My coach and team always said ‘only go

to tournaments when you are prepared to go all the way’. I can

compete – but I don’t want to just compete, I want to do far better than that and to do so, I

will need a little more time.“With that being said, and even

though I am disappointed about it, I’ve decided not to compete in the Australian Open this year.

“The memory of last year’s Open is one that I will carry with me, and Olympia and I look forward to coming back again. I appreciate the support and understanding of my

fans and everyone at the Australian Open.” (eurosport)

Hopman Cup: Kerber, Zverev hit back to win final spotPerth

Angelique Kerber and Alex Zverev of Germany

came from a set down in the FAST4 mixed doubles to beat Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis and Daria Gavrilova 1-4, 4-1, 4-3(3) to progress to the final of the Hopman Cup.

Kerber defeated Gavrilova in the first match of the day to put Germany in control of the tie but Kokkinakis’ victory over Zverev took the match to a decider. Had Australia won they might have gone through as the group winners depending on the result and they got off to the perfect start when the took the first set.

However Kerber and Zverev rallied and then won a dramatic final set to ensure

they went through to the final as the group winners.

In Saturday’s final Germany will face Switzerland, whose

side compete of reigning Australian Open champion Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic. (eurosport)

Thiem pulls out of Qatar OpenDoha

Top seed Dominic Thiem has pulled out of the Qatar Open with a fever.

The Austrian was due to meet Frenchman Gael Monfils in the semi-final following a straight-sets win over promising youngster Stefanos Tsitsipas.

However, the fever scuppered his final preparations ahead of the Australian Open, as he becomes the latest big name with health concerns ahead of the tournament, with Rafa Nadal (knee) and Novak Djokovic (elbow)

also pulling out of Brisbane with injuries and Kei Nishikori (wrist) and Andy Murray (hip) ruling themselves out of the Melbourne Grand Slam. Guido Pella or Andey Rublev will now meet Monfils in the final in Doha.

Thiem had not dropped a set in Doha but had coughed repeatedly during a press conference on Thursday, raising concerns about his condition.

“I am in bed with fever and there is almost no chance of a recovery until tonight,” Thiem wrote on Facebook. (eurosport)

Elina Svitolina

Nick Kyrgios

Serena Williams (file pic)

Angelique Kerber (L) and Alex Zverev celebrates

Saturday, January 6, 2018 23SPORTS

Manama

KHK Sports in association with Exelon conducted

the official ticket launch of the Bahrain Premier league.

Bahrain Premier League is a franchise based T20 Cricket tournament held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa. The league will comprise of six teams of 13 resident cricketers competing in the T20 format of cricket.

Teams were bought by six

corporates SRam & MRam Lions, Intex Falcons, Awan Warriors, Four Square Challengers, Bahrain Knight Riders and Bahrain Supergiants.

The matches will commence on January 26th and will continue until March 9th.

Mohammed Shahid, CEO of KHK Sports released the first ticket to Guruji Kuraman Swami who represented the platinum sponsor, Intex. Mohammed Shahid later handed over the

key of Chevrolet Aveo which is the grand price powered by sponsor SRAM & MRAM to Saleem Ilyasi, President of Cricket Bahrain Association.

Mohammad Mansoor President of Bahrain Premier League thanked His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa for patronising the first and only International premier league from the Kingdom of Bahrain and for the initiative to make Bahrain an International Cricket destination.

Bahrain Premier league will be associated with Cricket Bahrain Association which is affiliated by International Cricket Council & Asian Cricket Council.

Mansoor also thanked Mohammad Akeel, Managing Director of the title sponsor of Bahrain Premier League - Coca Cola. Punith, Marketing Manager of Coca Cola extended the support in making this as a biggest cricket event in Bahrain.

Sagan arrives in Australia for Tour Down Under 2018Sydney

Peter Sagan has arrived in Australia for the Santos

Tour Down Under, with his Bora-Hansgrohe team confirming he will have the backing of a strong squad that includes new signings Pete Kennaugh and Daniel Oss, plus fellow sprinter Sam Bennett.

Also in the seven-rider squad for the opening WorldTour race of 2018 are Jay McCarthy, Maciej Bodnar and Rüdiger Selig.

Sagan will make his season debut in the rainbow jersey after ending his 2017 season immediately after winning the World Championships in Bergen in order to spend time with his wife Katerina and son Marlon, who was born in late October.

S a g a n made his 2017 debut at the Tour Down Under after getting an early taste of the Australian race back in 2010 when he was a young rider with Liquigas. He has gone on to win 101 races, including three world titles, but he has yet to win a stage in Australia. He finished third and fourth in stages in 2010, and finished second on three occasions last year as Caleb Ewan dominated the sprints.

This year, Sagan will face competition from Ewan once again, with Andre Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) and Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors) already confirmed on the growing start list.

Sagan and Bora-Hansgrohe were part of the first wave of riders to arrive in Adelaide for the Tour Down Under on Friday. Other teams will arrive from Europe in the coming days to acclimatise to the Australian summer, while most Australian riders will be in action at the national championships road race on Sunday. (cyclingnews)

Nishikori set to launch comebackLondon

Japan’s Kei Nishikori plans to launch his comeback

at the inaugural Challenger Tour event in Newport Beach, California, beginning January 22, the organisers said.

The 28-year-old was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open on Wednesday as he continues to recover from a

wrist injury. Nishikori has been on the sidelines since August when he fell to Gael Monfils at the Rogers Cup in Montreal. He finished 2017 with a 30-13 win-loss record.

“I am very excited and looking forward to getting back on the court in January,” Nishikori said in a statement.

“The Oracle Challenger

Series is a perfect event in a great Southern California location to help me get some match play. This will be a great opportunity to face some high-level competition.”

Nishikori, currently ranked 22 in the world, also plans to compete at the Challenger event in Dallas, Texas, which begins on Jan. 29. (Reuters)

KHK Sports, Exelon launch ticket for cricket tournament

Kei Nishikori (file pic)

Peter Sagan (file pic)

(From left to right) Punith , Marketing manager of Coca Cola, Sailesh Hiranandani, chairman of SRAM & MRAM, Saleem Eliyas, President of Cricket Bahrain Association, Mohammad Shahid, President of KHK Sports, Mohammed Mansor, Managing Director of Exelon and President of the BPL, Guruji Kumaran Swamy, Representative of Intex

Gulf Cup: Multiple injuries as barrier collapsesKuwait City

At least 30 football fans were injured yesterday after a

glass barrier collapsed at the Gulf Cup final in Kuwait, according to reports.

The incident occurred after Oman had beaten the UAE 5-4 after a penalty shootout to lift the trophy for the second time in their history.

The jubilant Oman players were showing off the trophy to fans at one end of the stadium. As the fans pushed forward to catch a glimpse of their heroes, a glass barrier at the front of the stand collapsed, according to an Arab News correspondent at the scene.

At least 30 people were injured with multiple ambulances at the scene, Al Arabiya reported. There were no reports of serious injuries or fatalities. (arabnews)

SPORTS

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2424 Saturday, January 6, 2018

KHK Sports, Exelonconducts officialticket launch

P23

Oman crowned champions

Gulf Cup

Kuwait City

Oman were crowned Gulf Cup champions for the

second time in their history after a dramatic 5-4 penalty-shootout win over neighbours UAE in the final at Kuwait’s Jaber International Stadium.

UAE hero Omar Abdulrahman turned villain as he missed a penalty in the dying minutes of normal time before missing the decisive fifth spotkick to gift Oman the trophy.

Both sides started cautiously, with Abdulrahman’s attempt to find Ahmed Khalil with a chipped pass behind the Omani defence the only memorable bit of action of the opening exchanges.

Pim Verbeek’s Oman side posed the greater threat throughout the first period, especially at set pieces.

Mohsen Johar’s deliveries were on point as he first found Fahmy Saeed from a corner kick in the 20th minute and then Ahmed

Mubarak from an angled free-kick two minutes later. But both failed to direct their headers into the net.

There were to be no goals in the first-half as Ali Mabkhout’s effort from the edge of the box flew above Fayez Al-Rashidi’s cross bar.

The second period started at a much higher pace as Jameel Al-Yahmadi came within a whisker of becoming the first player to get past Khaled Eisa in the UAE goal this tournament.

The winger went on a slaloming run, skipping past three Emirati players before trying to finish from a tight angle. His shot grazed the upright and went out for a goal-kick just three minutes after the restart.

The UAE responded instantly with Mohamed Al-Menhali crossing from the left for Abdulrahman whose header came agonizingly close.

There was to be late drama, however, as the UAE were awarded a penalty in the dying minutes after

Mabkhout was pushed from behind inside the box.

With two minutes left, the UAE thought they were about to repeat their opening-match victory over their southern neighbours, but goalkeeper Al-Rashidi produced a fine save, diving low to his right to push away Abdulrahman’s spot kick and take the match into extra time.

As with the previous 90 minutes the extra 20 produced little action of note. (arabnews)

UAE and Oman were tied 0-0 and the match was forced into extra-time and then penalty shootout

The UEA’s player Omar Abdulrahman (L) vies for

the ball against Oman’s player Mohammed Saleh Al Musallami (Picture courtesy:

gulfnews)