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200 FilsWednesday, January 31, 2018 Issue No. 7643

x

Amman

At least 15 people were killed yesterday when

suspected Russian warplanes struck a crowded market in the rebel-held city of Ariha in the second such strike on a shopping area in opposition-held Idlib within 24 hours, residents and rescuers said.They said the aircraft were flying at high altitude, which differentiates it from ageing Syrian airforce. The opposition-run Civil Defence service said a further 20 people were wounded in the strike. Video released by local activists showed extensive damage, with produce mixed up with human parts.

Suspected Russian jets hit busy market

P07

P24

SR 400 billion seized in Saudi anti-graft drive

Alonso to race at Le Mans with Toyota

P03

MPs: Prosecutepersons involved in corruption

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Indian Govt shelves orange passport planDT News NetworkManama

Indian government yesterday shelved a plan to change the

colour of the passport for citizens based on their socioeconomic background. The plan to drop the last page that served as address proof was also shelved.

Indian expatriates in Bahrain had opposed the plan to change the colour from navy blue to orange for people with Emigration Clearance Required (ECR) status. The decision to cancel its plan to introduce orange colour passports for underprivileged Indians came as a huge relief to Indians living in Bahrain.

“I am glad the government has made the right decision. Different colour passports would create discrimination

towards certain sections. I am glad that the decision was reverted,” said Ram Mohan Kutty, Managing Director of Kudos Travel and Tourism.

The ECR status was issued for applicants who have not passed matriculation (grade 10) and not paying income tax.

The shelving of the plan comes after a Dubai-based lawyer filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Kerala High Court that issued a notice to the Government of India seeking clarification on the issue. The petitioners challenged plan arguing that changing the passport colours on the basis of socioeconomic background and education would be a violation of the right to privacy and equality. (See page 2)

Quartet

DT News NetworkManama

The Arab Quartet - Bahrain, Saudi Arabia,

United Arab Emirates and Egypt - yesterday rejected a report by the UN Technical Mission of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Qatar crisis.

The Quartet denounced the report submitted by the UN body for baseless allegations and accusations and taking sides with the Qatari narrative.

The Quartet said that the report is built on frail claims that the Qatari government

intends to market regionally and internationally.

The Quartet pointed out the methodological defect and misleading description of the political crisis, leading to conclusions and remarks built on a limited understanding of the general context of the political crisis and its historical background.

The Quartet noted that the crisis was the result of Qatar’s support for individuals and entities internationally involved in financing terrorism, supporting its activities and promoting its extremist ideology that incites to violence and spreads the

discourse of hatred in the Arab region using media stands that are either directly or indirectly belonging to Qatar or financed by the Qatari figures. The OHCHR submitted the report after its visit to Doha between November 17 and 24. The Quartet affirmed that their boycott of Qatar falls under the practice of their sovereign rights to protection and defence of national security and comes as a normal response that is incomparable in size or effect to what Qatar has perpetrated through its support of terrorism.

(Continued on page 5)

DT News Network news@dt.bh

Manama

A reckless Bahraini driver responsible for killing

three citizens in a horrific traffic accident last September got his BD500 fine verdict upheld by the Supreme Court of Appeals, recently.

DT News reported earlier that Sadiq Al Sabba’a, Hassan Al Sayyad and Adel Faraj were instantly killed on the dawn of September 24, 2017, after the unheeding driver rammed into them on Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Highway near Aali.

The accident occurred while the victims were standing on the side of the highway to discuss a minor traffic accident the three of them were involved in.

The three victims were announced dead on the spot. The driver responsible for the accident was immediately arrested and interrogated, as confirmed by Traffic Prosecution.

The driver was accused of unintentional murder,

c a u s i n g d a m a g e s to public and private p r o p e r t i e s and other related traffic offences.

T h e incident also resulted in diverting the traffic on the busy highway to the nearby Shaikh Isa bin Salman Highway for a couple of hours.

H e a d of Traffic A c c i d e n t s a n d Violations at the General Directorate of Traffic, Major Ahmed Saad Al Saadi attributed the accident to “wrong traffic practices”, stating back then that the practice of inspecting accident sites by staying in the middle of the road or slowing down to see an accident may lead to death and serious injuries.

Al Sabba’a

Al Sayyad

Faraj

rejects

report OHCHR

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Driver who killed 3 goes scot-free with BD500 fine

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Life is better in blueIndian community in Bahrain speaks to DT News on Government of India’s decision to drop Plan Orange

DT News Networknews@dt.bh

Finally, the Government of India changed its mind.

They scrapped plans to issue Orange coloured passport to those who haven’t passed their class 10 examination. Besides, it has also decided not to discontinue the last page, with address and personal details, which is used a valid proof of

address. The government has said

the new Orange passport were meant to protect vulnerable labourers from exploitation, but critics argued it would lead to discrimination against poor and illiterate workers.

In a statement yesterday, the foreign ministry said it had been decided to continue with the current practice of printing

the last page of the passport and not to issue a separate passport with an orange jacket to ECR (Emigration Clearance Required) passport holders.

The announcement reversed the  January 12 decision  in which the MEA had done away with the printing of the last page of the passport that contains names of the parents of the passport applicant. 

ECR or “Emigration Check Required” is for applicants who haven’t finished school and are travelling abroad for work. They have to get an ‘Emigration clearance’ certificate from the office of Protector of Emigrants before leaving India.

In light of new decision DT News spoke to members of the Indian community here to find out their views on the issue:

Dr Ram Vatwani, Neurologist Basheer Ambalayi, Social Worker Sudheer Thirunilath, Social Worker

Ram Mohan Kutty, Managing Director

of Kudos Travel and Tourism:

I personally feel there is no need to be different now. It’s not going to be useful as people are very well used to the current one. Too many changes in too short a time are only going to cause confusion and chaos. Moreover, we have many pressing issues and prior-itising them is important. To me, this issue is low on priority.

Coming up with such an idea was terrible in the first place. If implemented, it would have been a total disaster. No such system exists anywhere in the world. Why should India bring it then? Such a system would have led to serious discrimination. I am glad that they have realised this. Still, there is no justification for what happened.

I am glad that they have listened to our concerns and made the right decision. The concept of dif-ferent colour passports would cre-ate discrimination towards certain sections. Nobody deserves to be seen differently or treated differ-ently. I am glad that the decision was reversed.

I think it’s a wise decision, I do not approve of dis-crimination of any kind.

Bahrain Airport Company welcomes first Atlas Global

Manama

Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the operator and

managing body of Bahrain International Airport (BIA), welcomed the first scheduled flight of Atlas Global Airlines, arriving from Trabzon Airport to the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Held at BIA, the inauguration ceremony was attended by representatives from BAC and the main travel agent of Atlas

Global in Bahrain, Al Yaqoub Travels.

Turkey’s low-cost carrier will start its services in the Kingdom of Bahrain with flights occurring twice a week with expectations of increasing it up to five flights in the summer. Providing BIA with an exciting new route to add to its list of destinations, Atlas Global’s Airbus 321 includes 12 Business seats and 192

Economy seats and takes off at 4:25 am every Sunday and Wednesday.

Atlas Global, formerly known as Atlasjet International Airlines was established on 14th March 2001 in Turkey, licensed to carry out Passenger and Cargo Transportation on Unscheduled Flights with the aim of offering passengers international standards of quality and comfort on board.

HM King’s directives hailed by ParliamentManama

Parliamentarians yesterday extended profound thanks and gratitude to His Majesty King Hamad

bin Isa Al Khalifa for cancelling fee hikes in private schools. HM the King set aside the decision to hike fees until the joint executive-legislative committee completes its work, and until the National Audit Office makes sure that the process is in line with the laws and criteria in force in the Kingdom.

The Directive also cancelled an Education Ministry’s edict to ensure that remuneration in high performing schools are defrayed from other resources and not borne by parents.

Injaz CEO, Shaikha Hessa gets top honourManama

Her Highness Shaikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, CEO of INJAZ

Bahrain Foundation, was conferred the Award of Social Responsibility Personality for the Year 2017 by the Regional Social Responsibility Network. Shaikha Hessa has been honoured in recognition of her key contributions locally and globally. Her Highness has been a remarkably active member of the Supreme Council of Women led by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa.

DT News Networknews@dt.bh

Manama

MPs insisted in their weekly sess ion

yesterday to prosecute those involved in corruption and treat them as criminals.

The proposal came as the majority of lawmakers voted for a bill to compel the National Audit Office, which inspects the operation of official authorities, to refer any violations of criminal suspicion to the Public Prosecution.

The bill comes to amend Article 11 of Law 16 of 2002

concerning the National Audit Office. The amendment compels the office to refer administrative and financial violations that termed to be criminal and are detected in official establishments to the judiciary authorities, as the existing text gives the office the choice to do so or not.

The MPs’ approval comes despite the rejection of Shura Council, the second chamber of the Legislative Authority in the Kingdom, to the bill. They insisted that it’s important to combat corruption in government authorities.

In the session, a report

issued by the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee in the council supporting the bill was discussed.

Committee Head Abdulrahman Bual i explained how the bill was passed by the House of Representatives last year and that Shura Council rejected. He asked his fellow MPs to pass the bill, serving the efforts to combat corruptions and hold those involved in such cases responsible for their actions.

On his part, the Government’s representative in the session, Shura Council and Representative Council

Affairs Minister Ghanim Al Buainain, clarified, “The existing text allows the National Audit Office to refer the criminal cases to the Public Prosecution in case solid evidence is available. The amendment compels the office with the same procedure in cases

of any criminal suspicion. It’s not a simple process to accuse individuals based on only suspicions. This may harm the accused and their reputation to refer them to the Public Prosecution in the lack of solid evidence against them. This text should be reconsidered and this is why

the Shura Council rejected the bill.”

After long discussions among the MPs on one side and the minister on the other, the majority of MPs insisted on passing the bill and returning it to the Shura Council for more discussion and approval.

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Muhannad Mansour/DTNNmuhannad@dt.bh

Manama

A Bahraini man who remained in a coma

for nine months after being attacked by a group of men in Manama last year succumbed to his injuries on Sunday.

Abdulredha Ghuloom, 41, was laid to rest in Hoora Graveyard on Sunday after he was pronounced dead at the hospital where he remained for almost nine months with serious injuries.

Ghuloom and his brother were reportedly attacked by a group of 20 Asian men in one of the alleys of the old capital on March 22, 2017.

As a result of the brutal attack, he sustained serious injuries and fractures in the head and total permanent disability.

Since then, the man remained at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) and was later moved to Ibrahim Khalil Kanoo Health and Social Centre for Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, and again

admitted at SMC where he was declared dead on Sunday.

The deceased’s daughter told DT News yesterday that three of the defendants, Bangladeshi nationals, were sentenced on January 6 this year to one-year imprisonment and deportation.

She confirmed that they, the deceased’s family, have hired an attorney and are planning

to file an appeal against the verdict, as the attack led to Ghuloom’s demise.

“My father underwent a surgery that required opening his skull. He suffered for nine months,” the daughter said while affirming that the case is a murder and not an assault. Ghuloom is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.

Man injured in group attack passes away

MPs: Prosecutepersons involved in corruption

Yesterday’s ession in progress

Abdulredha Ghuloom

4 Wednesday, January 31, 2018

BCCI election

Mohammed Zafran/DTNNzafran@dt.bh

A Bahraini businessman has accused BCCI of

failing to provide its members with adequate financial or legal support despite charging hefty fees in the form of membership, which is mandatory now.

Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, according to businessman Yousef Mashal, has failed to support SMEs after making membership mandatory for hundreds of Small and medium-sized enterprises

(SME) and micro enterprises in the Kingdom.

The members, Mashal accused, are yet to find any value for the fee they have paid.

“SMEs should be getting much more support from BCCI,” Yousef Mashal, who is running for the upcoming BCCI elections, told DT News.

“The current scenario occurs despite the chamber enjoying strong liquidity in the form of bank deposits exceeding 20 million dinars and an annual income of at least 500 thousand dinars.”

Mashal said: “These are money from government assistance and from the members, which also makes

it mandatory for the chamber to stand with its members, especially the micro and small institutions, in times of adversities.”

“SMEs need support, both material and practical, to overcome the issues that limit their growth. It is also important for the Chamber to justify the fees and taxes they are collecting by offering proper service.”

The Chamber, he said, has several committees, whose sole objective is serving the micro and small enterprises, which unfortunately is

not happening properly, “especially for defaulted members.”

Speaking about the upcoming election and his candidacy, Mashal confirmed that he would form committees, which would work effectively to help SMEs financially and non-financially.

“The committees, I intend to form will focus on providing SMEs financial, legal and training programmes.”

The legal committees, according to him, will employ volunteer lawyers to help

SMEs with legal advice and to represent them in courts.

The assistance of finance and banking specialists will be utilised to form a committee to conduct feasibility studies as well as analysis for SMEs. Training to deal with tax system will also be provided.

“I will also work on establishing a committee with marketing and commercial information specialists to provide advice on export methodologies, external marketing and financial support for micro and small enterprises,” he told DT News.

BCCI doing injustice to SMEs, says a candidate

Yousef Mashal

“SMEs should be getting much

more support from BCCI,”

Yousef Mashal, a Bahraini

businessman told DT News

Bahrain Business Quiz Show from April 22-26

DT News Networkreporter@dt.bh

Manama

The 6th edition of the annual Bahrain Business

Quiz Show is all set to take place at the Seef Mall New Extension from April 22-26, its organisers announced at a press conference yesterday.

Tamkeen is the strategic partner of the show to be held as part of the “Shop Bahrain” festival. This is the sixth year in running Tamkeen is supporting the event, which allows the business community to engage and connect with peers and the public and showcases the vast expertise and skill that continues to see Bahrain rank as a leading regional business and financial hub.

The Business Quiz series, which will take place in front of a live audience, will run for four nights where four teams from the same industry will compete with each other to test their knowledge of their industry and Bahrain’s economy. Industry nights will include Banking & Finance, Insurance, Industrial and General Business over the course of a week. Winners of each industry night will move forward to the show’s grand finale. Winners of the previous edition are also participating in the 6th edition - Thomson

Reuters, BBK, Benefit and Al Salam Bank.

“We are delighted, once again, to show our support for the Annual Bahrain Business Quiz Show. Initiatives such as these fall in line with Tamkeen’s own mission and ongoing efforts to foster creativity and intellects of the human resources in the Kingdom and promote the robust role of the country’s private sector,” said Dr Ebrahim M. Janahi, Tamkeen Chief Executive.

“We are grateful for Tamkeen’s ongoing support of the Show which each year since inception. Working with Tamkeen and other partners and sponsors, we look forward to hosting another series that showcases some of the industries, companies and people that serve as the foundation of Bahrain’s

economy and its ongoing advancement,” Zahraa Taher, Managing Director at FinMark Communications, the organiser of the Show, added.

“Winning twice is special but we are looking forward and aiming to win for the third time as well. Every year the competition gets harder but we are looking forward to this event as it also serves as a perfect platform for team building and bringing together different sectors competing against each other yet enjoying under one roof,” said Redha Al Ansari from Thomson Reuters, who were the winners of the quiz for two consecutive years.

The Show each year also aims to feature and provide a platform to local entertainers and artists who will perform live at the events.

Ebrahim Janahi Redha Al Ansari

5Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Mohammed Zafran/DTNNzafran@dt.bh

Manama

Bahrain and GCC nations are of special importance

to the US, said American ambassador Justin Siberell.

President Donald Trump’s first official visit outside the United States to meet GCC leaders in Riyadh was not a coincidence and it shows the level of importance placed on the Gulf nations, he said. He was speaking during a luncheon organized by American Chamber of Commerce in Bahrain yesterday at Four Seasons Hotel yesterday.

“President Trump has placed particular emphasis on developing our commercial ties with the Gulf region. Last May, he chose Riyadh and meetings with the leaders of

the Gulf states as the focus of his first visit outside the United States. That was an important and not-accidental demonstration of the centrality of this region to the vision of the Administration,” he said.

“In their May 23rd meeting in Riyadh, the President and the leaders of the GCC states agreed to strengthen economic relations in a variety of fields, including in trade and investment, energy, industry, technology, agriculture, transportation and infrastructure development, in line with the development visions adopted by the Gulf states themselves,” he said.

“This commitment was on clear display this past November when His Royal Highness, Crown Prince visited the United States and celebrated over $10 billion

in new commercial projects awarded to U.S. firms. These projects are to be found in Bahrain’s most vital and

strategic economic sectors, including the BAPCO refinery modernization; the ALBA aluminium smelter expansion;

Gulf Air’s acquisition of new commercial aircraft; and of course the purchase for the Royal Bahrain Air Force of advance F-16 fighter aircraft, “ he added.

“The United States enjoys an extremely strong and robust relationship with the government and people of this country. That relationship has been built over many decades through cooperation in developing Bahrain’s energy resources and its heavy industry; through the U.S. Naval presence and the tremendous hospitality shown to America’s sailors and marines across the decades who have resided here; through the selfless commitment of the founders, doctors and nurses of the American Mission; and through the thousands of Bahraini graduates of American colleges and

Universities, to name just a few examples.” he said.

“And it is also built upon the commitment of our two nations’ political leadership, who have maintained the relationship through crises and triumphs in this vital, but periodically volatile region. America is open for business, as the President said to the Davos attendees. The growth we are seeing in the American economy, and the very positive signs for inward investment and the repatriation of capital driven by changes to the corporate tax rate and the reduction of the regulatory burden upon companies operating in the United States, are going to create new opportunities and new alignments that will have positive impact globally, including in Bahrain, and we’ll want to exploit that,” he said.

GCC nations are of special importance to US: Envoy

‘Report violation of UN Charter’From Page 1

The Quartet further said that the report is in clear

breach of the UN Charter, international law and relevant decisions by the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly which admit the negative repercussions of terrorism on human rights.

Furthermore, the Quartet affirmed that their measures do not target the Qatari people who share with them bonds of fraternity, blood kinship and affinity and even hail from the same tribes as the people in some of the boycotting countries.

The Quartet noted its reservation on the timing and the way the report content was leaked by the Qatari National Human Rights Committee during the press conference it held on January 8, 2018 in Doha and that the office of the High Commissioner has not sent them the report until after it was published on Monday January 8, 2018.

The four countries affirmed that the technical reports prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner on the

request of the member-states aim to transfer expertise to develop the human rights system and treat human rights violations that occur in the same state.

The Quartet noted that it was clear that the main target from the Government of Qatar’s invitation of the OHCHR Technical Mission was to exploit it and its report in its political and media propaganda and was not for the noble goal of the Qatari side getting the Mission’s technical expertise transferred to it.

Furthermore, the four countries denounced Qatar’s continuation of its policies that lack credibility and involve ill-intention in dealing with United Nations and its international specialized technical agencies and the reports they issue.

The four countries called on the Office of the High Commissioner to repair the methodological and procedural errors in the report which have failed to meet international criteria and OHCHR competencies so that its reports would no more mismatch the nature of

the Technical Mission’s job or extend their negative impact beyond the geographical scope of the state which asked for technical support.

The four countries maintained that Qatar’s underestimation of any serious initiatives to solve the political crisis and continued attempts to mislead the international community with regard to the real causes of the crisis by approaching the international organizations to throw the blame on the boycotting countries despite the laudable efforts of His Highness Emir of Kuwait, Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah, indicate that it does not have - in the foreseeable future - any intention to get its ties restored with the four countries.

The report is in clear breach of

international law and decisions by the Human Rights Council

Justin Siberell

6 Wednesday, January 31, 2018

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of this newspaper.)

In 2018, the World Economic Forum (WEF) sets the agenda for creating a shared future in a fractured world. WEF represents a global collective voice to articulate a

compelling discourse to improve the state of the planet. India, represented by its prime minister, showcased how economies in transition are developing innovative models to enhance competitiveness and productivity. However, during the last three decades, the promise of capitalism is being challenged by Oxfam report 2018 which highlights that poverty gap is widening and the few rich had made over 700 billion in 2017 which can contribute to end global poverty.

Historically, the agenda of the WEF was diverse which includes technological innovations like AI and nanotechnology, and other global trends and risks related to finance, conflict, cybersecurity, gender equity and climate change. Moreover, the notion of 4th Industrial revolution coupled with social media were viewed as possible convergence that are likely to disrupt the social fabric of our societies and cause unintended consequences. Paradoxically, new technologies inform new models of sharing economy by harnessing web-based platform like Uber and Airbnb. However, human capital and organizational learning need to cope with the macro-shifts in technology. In this new digital and robotics era, empathy and social capital are of high value.

The gap between business productivity and technological progress merits attention. New modes of managing human capital are needed to bridge the gap between technology and public policy and to align human resources to marketplace. Although organizations are mindful of the fact that the pace of technological change is faster than human adaptability, there is a limited capacity to address systemic problems in to cope with talent management in a digital era. Managers have to embrace new rules to manage organizations in the 21st century. Some of the key trends include a shift to an agile and networked organization, coping with dynamic and adaptive careers, and utilizing social networking and analytics for talent management.

The key question is how to re-construct a shared future to fix the fractured world. De-coupling resource use and growth, adopting models that enhances sharing economy and de-growth is key for a sustainable future. At the societal level, instilling core ethical family values and protecting human rights, refugees, and end of all forms of occupation and discrimination is the bedrock for human dignity. At the ecological arena, it is imperative to make a transition to renewable energy and clean production. The GCC is a key player in this re-construction of the world. For example, initiatives like the new Silk Road and eco-cities like UAE model of MASDAR city are examples of translating vision to action. In sum, the WEF is challenged to reconcile binary worldviews and zero-sum solutions as manifested in debates about public versus private sector and globalization versus protectionism. A shift in mid-set and discourse is to be developed to promote solutions that are based on unity within diversity.

Prof. Odeh Al-Jayyousi, Head of Innovation and Technology Management, Arabian Gulf University, Bahrain,

E-mail: odehaj@agu.edu

Prof. Odeh Al-Jayyousi

By Invitation

World Economic Forum: Global and local innovative strategies

Manama

Al Areen Palace & Spa announced receiving four accolades from prestigious awarding bodies in

recognition of its food, accommodation and spa. The hotel received the favourite Gulf Restaurant

Award for Saffron restaurant at the Citi FACT Dining Awards 2017, Country Winner award for Luxury Spa Hotel & Luxury Villa Resort at World Luxury Hotel Awards as well as Global Winner award for Luxury Private Pool Villa.

“We are thrilled to see Al Areen Palace & Spa receive so much recognition in the last quarter of 2017,” said Dr. Essa Faqeeh, CEO Al Areen Investment Company.

Uniquely nestled on a desert Arabian oasis, Al Areen Palace & Spa is the first luxury resort in-villa styled hotel in Bahrain and spans over 131,000 square meters. It features 78 luxurious villas, a large spa & wellness area, three signature restaurants, a health and fitness center, tennis and squash courts, meeting and banqueting facilities. It caters for on-site weddings, corporate retreats, conferences, outside catering as well as independent hotel guests and day visitors to the resort.

Al Areen Palace & Spa bags local & international awards

Al Areen Palace & Spa  officials with the awards 

Manama

Kuwait Finance House - Bahrain (KFH Bahrain) handed over

a cheque for BD200,000 to the Crown Prince’s International Scholarship Programme (CPISP) affirming continuous support to education and training programmes aimed at youth and human capital development.

The donation forms part of KFH Bahrain’s overall BHD1 million contribution to the programme as a platinum category sponsor.

Managing Director and CEO of Kuwait Finance House - Bahrain (KFH Bahrain), Abdulhakeem Al Khayyat presented the cheque to the Advisor for Political and Economic Affairs at the Court of

the Crown Prince, Board Member and Head of the Financial and Administrative Committee of the Crown Prince’s International Scholarship Programme (CPISP), Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa.

Al Khayyat affirmed KFH Bahrain’s continued support to CPISP and praised His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for his enduring commitment to education and training programmes aimed at youth and human capital development

Shaikh Mohammed thanked Al Khayyat for the generous donation, highlighting that the contributions from KFH Bahrain and other programme

sponsors are essential to enabling CPISP to continue meeting its objectives

CPISP, Shaikh Mohammed said, will continue to offer the best educational opportunities to outstanding Bahraini students, preparing them for the job market and providing them with the skills to contribute to Bahrain’s long-term development

Other attendees at the meeting included Yousif Al Hammadi, Executive Manager, Financial Control, Administration and HR at KFH Bahrain, Dr Cynthia Gessling, Director at CPISP, and Ms Shatha Ahmed Ali, Head of Administrative, Financial, and Student Affairs at CPISP.

KFH presents

BD200,000 to CPISP

In pictures, officials during a photocall after presenting the cheque

7Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Mumtalakat wins CIO 100 award

SR 400 billion seized in Saudi anti-graft drive Manama

Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company

(Mumtalakat), the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain, yesterday, won the Computer News Middle East’s (CNME) CIO 100 Award.

The award recognises organisations whose application of forward-thinking technology strategies has advanced their digital transformation.

The Mumtalakat Information Technology department was selected by the CNME editorial team for their innovative Edamah Oracle Programme, which was executed on behalf of Mumtalakat’s real estate arm, Edamah. The programme implemented a full-fledged ERP solution which integrated 10 years of data from various independent silo systems onto a single functioning system.

The winners were judged on excellence in Technology Innovation, the organisation’s creativity in applying IT to business, and Business Value Delivery, the impact that the initiative has had on the business of the organisation.

Receiving the award in a ceremony at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai, Head of Information Technology at Mumtalakat, Mohamed Sater said, “The work that the team has executed throughout 2017 both internally and in support of some of our subsidiaries was substantial and innovative, and it is greatly rewarding for the team’s efforts to be recognised at such a prestigious event.”

Mahmood H. Alkooheji, CEO of Mumtalakat, added, “This award serves as a testament to our commitment to raising the bar when it comes to excelling in business, and to the full support that Mumtalakat provides for our portfolio companies.”

CNME is part of Tawahul Tech, a branch of CPI Media Group in Dubai. They cover stories on the region’s IT channel industry, cybersecurity and enterprise technology. Their annual CIO 100 Awards celebrates organisations in the GCC region and includes guest speakers: Mubarik Hussain, Director of IT at Petroserv, Ashith Piriyattiath, Group Head of IT at Al Masah Capital and Dr Kumar Prasoon, CIO at Al Safeer Group.

Manama

The Bab Al Bahrain Mall will host a traditional gaming

tournament, along with a range of fun-filled activities for the whole family to enjoy. The event comes as part of the fourth edition of the Bahrain Shopping Festival, which will run until February 10th, 2018.

The tournament will be held on the 2nd and 3rd of February 2018, showcasing the Kingdom’s long-standing heritage. This event will host two traditional musical shows, along with an exhibition showcasing the history of traditional handicrafts.

Games will include the domino and checkers game, which will be refereed by a group of BFA judges including Khalid Isa Al Hiddi. All visitors of the mall can participate in

the games; tournament winners will receive cash prizes.

Director of the Shop Bahrain Festival, Yousef Mohamed Al Khan commented: “Such events show our commitment to educating residents and visitors of Bahrain’s long-standing heritage. We are also pleased to host this event at the old Manama Souq, which is considered as one of Bahrain’s most prominent touristic sites.”

Shoppers and visitors can learn more about ‘Shop Bahrain’ through the official website: www.shopbahrain.com or through the account @shopbahrain on the social networking channels Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. The Festival organisers have also launched a dedicated WhatsApp channel on +973 33480480.

Traditional gaming tournament on way

Ramada celebrates 40yrs in BahrainManama

Ramada Bahrain is celebrating 40 years of

operations in the Kingdom. With its tradition of personalized services to the corporate guests and excellence in service, they have continued to perform in a profitable manner year after year. Andreas Runge who has recently joined as General Manager is keen to better the property

and its services to their guests both leisure and corporate.

A four-star hotel comprising of 123 luxurious rooms and suites with a contemporary design, located in Adliya district opposite Gudaibiya Palace. The hotel also provides a relaxing experience at the outdoor Oasis Pool & Bar and offers a selection of dining options at Le Jardin &

The Exchange – An English Pub.

The Hotel has announced a special 40th-year celebration package for the whole month of February 2018.

The special rates are from BD 40.000 Net which includes breakfast and their signature 3-course meal at Le Jardin. For further information contact +973 1774 2000 or visit them on ramadabahrain.com

Riyadh

Saudi Arabian Attorney General Sheikh Saud

Al-Mojeb said yesterday that 56 corruption suspects were still in custody out of 381 people detained on graft charges.

Al-Mojeb also said that total settlements with the suspects had topped SR400 billion ($107 billion) in various forms of assets, which include real estate, commercial entities, securities and cash.

The Attorney General, as a member of the Supreme Anti-Corruption Committee, said in a statement that the subpoenaed individuals were called to testify or provide evidence.

“The review of the case files relating to those who were accused of corruption has been completed. Negotiations and settlement with those individuals who were charged with corruption were concluded, and cases were transferred to the Public Prosecution office to complete the relevant procedures. As a result, the Public Prosecution office decided to release all individuals against whom there was not sufficient evidence and also release

all individuals with whom the government accepted to make settlements after they admitted to corruption allegations against them,” the statement said.

The attorney general refused to make settlements with 56 people due to other pending criminal cases against them and in order to complete the investigation process as required by the law.

In an earlier announcement the attorney general said that after the settlement phase was over, the work of the anti-corruption committee would enter a new phase, referring the detainees to the public prosecution.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office will examine the cases of those referred to it by the Committee and complete the legal procedures against them, including continuing the investigation.

The last step at this stage is either that the Public Prosecutor’s Office releases the accused once the investigation has been completed, because there is not sufficient evidence against him and that there is no basis for prosecution, or that the case is brought against

him in accordance with the established procedures.

100 releasedDozens of top officials and businessmen were detained in the crackdown, many of them confined and interrogated at Riyadh’s opulent Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Well over 100 detainees are believed to have been released.

Billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, owner of global investor Kingdom Holding, and Waleed al-Ibrahim, who controls influential regional broadcaster MBC, were freed last weekend.

The SR400 billion ($106 billion), if it is successfully recovered, would be a big financial boost for the government, which has seen its finances strained by low oil prices.

In total, the investigation

subpoenaed 381 people, some of whom testified or provided evidence, Mojeb said, adding that 56 people had not reached settlements and were still in custody, down from 95 early last week.

The only settlement disclosed so far was a deal by senior prince Miteb bin Abdullah to pay more than $1 billion.

Although officials said both Prince Alwaleed and Ibrahim reached financial settlements after admitting unspecified “violations”, Prince Alwaleed continued to insist publicly he was innocent, while MBC said Ibrahim had been fully exonerated. Economy minister Mohammed al-Tuwaijri told CNN this month that most assets seized in the purge were illiquid, such as real estate and structured financial instruments. (Agencies)

56 still in detention, says Saudi Arabian Attorney General

Head of Information Technology at Mumtalakat, Mohamed Sater receiving the award

BUSINESS8 Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Emission tests on monkeys:VW suspends chief lobbyistBerlin

Germany’s scandal-hit auto giant Volkswagen

yesterday suspended its chief lobbyist Thomas Steg as outrage mounted over monkey and human experiments to study the effects of diesel exhaust fumes.

CEO Matthias Mueller said VW had “taken first consequences” from the tests on monkeys and put on leave Steg, the general representative for external relations and government

affairs, who had “taken full responsibility”.

The New York Times reported last week that US researchers in 2014 locked 10 monkeys into airtight chambers and made them breathe in diesel exhaust from a VW Beetle while the animals were watching TV cartoons.

Separately, it emerged that a research group funded by VW, Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler and BMW had ordered a study in Germany measuring the effects of

inhaling nitrogen dioxide on 25 human volunteers.

The scandal follows VW’s admission in 2015 that it had manipulated 11 million diesel cars worldwide, equipping them with cheating software to make them seem less polluting than they were.

Mueller on Monday labelled the animal testing “wrong ... unethical and repulsive”, reported Spiegel Online.

And Steg had vowed in the top-selling Bild daily that “what happened should

never have happened, I regret it very much”.

He admitted that he had been informed in advance of the US monkey experiment but insisted he prevented a plan to carry these tests out on humans.

The German g o v e r n m e n t has called a special meeting with the affected car companies to ask them to explain themselves.

In Brussels, European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said

the EU was “shocked” and took note of Berlin’s vow to investigate the matter, adding that “we hope that they will”.

The EU Commission has

summoned Germany and eight other EU countries to explain how they plan to lower toxic emissions to meet the bloc’s air quality standards if they want to avoid action before the European Court of Justice.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has strongly condemned the latest controversy to engulf the nation’s powerful auto industry.

“These tests on monkeys or even humans are in no way ethically justified,” said Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert on Monday.

“The indignation felt by many people is completely understandable.”

VW had taken first consequences from

the tests on monkeys and put on leave Steg, the general representative for

external relations and govt affairs”

10 monkeys were made to breathe in exhaust from a VW Beetle

CEO Matthias Mueller labelled the testing “wrong ... unethical and repulsive”

A Valentine’s Romance Unveils at The Ritz-CarltonManama

Love and romance fill the air as Cupid comes to town

at the eminent 5-star luxury Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain resort, inviting couples, families and spa-goers on a romantic

journey of culinary and spa experiences this February.

Mexican affairOn February 14, a true night of romance beckons as the award-winning restaurants

dim the lights for a romantic setting for two. Greeted with a rose and warm Ritz-Carlton smile, guests can choose from a 5-course menu at Cantina Kahlo by Chef Cesar De Leon Torres for a signature Mexican

affair of braised lamb, shrimp ceviche, butternut squash soup, and signature main course of braised veal served with red mole sauce, ending with a blushing finale of a strawberry and vanilla mouse postre.

Candlelit dinnersFor candlelit dinners

overlooking the sea, La Plage sets the scene for romantic diners on the Seabreeze veranda or the option of the Private Island where 5-courses excite the pallet with starters of pan seared scallops and main courses of prime tenderloin and Omani lobster ravioli. Primavera and Plums also arouse the senses with 4-courses of savory dishes and signature service for a perfect night of tasteful indulgence. For afternoon tea lovers, Lobby Lounge celebrates love with a special “You are my cup of tea” menu including a mini-Valentine’s cake for two.

“Romeo & Juliet” Valentine’s cakeExclusive this Valentine’s Day, guests can enchant their special loved one with a limited-edition “Romeo & Juliet” Valentine’s cake, available on pre-order from February 1-7 at the Ritz Gourmet Lounge. Sealed with a kiss, the red glazed, diamond-cut heart-shaped cake comes in its own perfectly crafted luxury box and features four heavenly layers starting with a rich chocolate sponge cake base, followed by a crispy layer of praline and pâte feuilletée, liquid layer of raspberry and ginger purée and French premium Valrhona dark chocolate mousse. Priced at BHD 50, 14 boxes of this indulgent cake will also available on Valentine’s Day (February 14) on a first come, first served basis, and comes with a personalized note to your Romeo or Juliet.

“Sweet Love Affair” Spa-goers can also celebrate love the whole month long with the “Sweet Love Affair” package. 90-minutes of heavenly pleasures abound with a revitalizing chocolate scrub, Relaxation massage and gift of a Ritz Gourmet Lounge cheesecake to end the session in pure decadence.

Overnight packages With romantic experiences just a click away, overnight packages like Half Board Deluxe are a perfect pairing to enjoy a pleasurable weekend away in the Island Kingdom of Bahrain—from an energizing swim in the resort’s new outdoor heated pools, wellness activities at the Roya Beach Club, to rise and shine morning breakfast at La Med and per night BHD 35 dining credit. Or for a more exclusive stay, guests can reserve one of the luxury seafront Villas, each with three-bedrooms, its own infinity pool, beach access and 24-hour butler service.

General Manager Jean-Paul Dantil, EAM- Sales & Marketing Soufiane ElAllam and other officials

Representative picture

Washington

The Trump administration said yesterday it would not immediately

impose additional sanctions on Russia, despite a new law designed to punish Moscow’s alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, insisting the measure was already hitting Russian companies.

“Today, we have informed Congress that this legislation and its implementation are deterring Russian defence sales,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.  “Since the enactment of the ... legislation, we estimate that foreign governments have abandoned planned or announced purchases of several billion dollars in Russian defence acquisitions.”

Seeking to press President Donald Trump to clamp down on Russia, the U.S. Congress voted nearly unanimously last year to pass a law setting sweeping new sanctions on Moscow.

Trump, who wanted warmer ties with Moscow and had opposed the legislation as it worked its way through Congress, signed it reluctantly in August, just six months into his presidency.

Under the measure, the administration faced a deadline on Monday to impose sanctions on anyone determined to conduct significant business with Russian defense and intelligence sectors, already sanctioned for their alleged role in the election.

“From that perspective, if the law is working, sanctions on specific entities

or individuals will not need to be imposed because the legislation is, in fact, serving as a deterrent,” she said in a statement. The measure, known as the “Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act,” or CAATSA,

required the administration to list “oligarchs” close to President Vladimir Putin’s government and issue a report detailing possible consequences of penalizing Russia’s sovereign debt. (Reuters)

BUSINESSWednesday, January 31, 2018 9

Saudi Aramco considering expansion to IndiaSaudi Aramco, the state oil

company of Saudi Arabia, is considering entering India as part of its Asian expansion, Nikkei said yesterday, citing Aramco’s CEO who said that plans for an Indian refinery are crystallising.

“Saudi Aramco is looking at

additional investments in China, and India is also a very important destination which we are giving great consideration, and (where we are) currently in discussion with some companies,” Aramco CEO Amin Nasser told the Nikkei Asian Review in an interview.

The Saudi government has said it plans to sell about 5 percent of Aramco, hoping to raise some $100 billion or more in what would likely be the world’s biggest initial public offer (IPO).

“At the moment, we are prepared for a listing in the second half of

2018,” Nasser confirmed to Nikkei.Saudi officials have said they may

list Aramco on one or more foreign markets such as New York, London and Hong Kong in addition to Riyadh, which would boost the company’s global profile and reduce the strain on the Saudi market. (Reuters)

© GRAPHIC NEWSSources: Rocket Lab, California Polytechnic State University

CubeSats drive commercial space raceCubeSats are ultra-small spacecraft weighing 1.3kg or less. Most

CubeSats piggyback to orbit on big, expensive rockets – but affordablerocket technology is launching a new generation of space start-ups

Dipole antenna system.Each antenna unfoldsup to 55cm in length

Payload

UHF/VHF radio

Basic unit (1U)Can be joined toform larger units(2U, 6U, 24U etc.)1U weight: 1.33kg

Flight controlcomputer

Electricalpowersystem

NLAS (Nanosatellite LaunchAdapter System)

P-Pod (Poly PicosatOrbital deployer)

CubeSat

Standardformatstructure

Solarpanel

P-PodtypicallycontainsthreeCubeSatunits

10cm

10cm

10cm

CubeSats drive commercial space race

CubeSats are ultra-small spacecraft weighing 1.3kg or

less. Most CubeSats piggyback to orbit on big, expensive rockets – but affordable rocket technology is launching a new generation of space start-ups.

In the past satellites have been built and launched by multibillion-dollar companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Orbital Sciences Corporation.

That began to change in January 2014 when Orbital’s Cygnus spacecraft carried 33 nanosatellites to the International Space Station, ISS. These tiny satellites, built to the CubeSat standard format -- a 10cm cube weighing 1.3kg or less -- were launched from the ISS a month later.

Since 2014 more than 650 CubeSats, including 295 last year, have been launched into low-Earth orbit, performing services including tracking shipping and monitoring weather, crops, cattle and pollution.

CubeSats usually hitch a ride into space as secondary payloads aboard large rockets, which are expensive — an Atlas 5 rocket launch costs around $109 million, while SpaceX’s reusable Falcon 9 costs $62 million a time.

Now, U.S. company Rocket Lab has launched three CubeSats into orbit from a private launch pad in New Zealand. Peter Beck, Rocket Lab’s founder, says his two-stage Electron rocket brings the cost of reaching orbit down to $5 million a launch.

“Our rocket is one of the tools that is enabling much more access to space,” says Beck. “Space is tipping from a government dominated domain to a commercial domain.”

Bank of America Merrill Lynch estimates the space market is worth around $340 billion, calling it “one of the final frontiers of investing.” BofAML sees the space industry ballooning over the next three decades, to at least $2.7 trillion.

Trump holds off on new Russia sanctionsRepresentative picture show-ing Trump and Puting

Putin defines US move as ‘hostile’Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday the Trump

administration made a “hostile step” when it published a list of Russian businessmen and politicians as part of a sanctions law against Moscow.

The long-awaited U.S. publication appears to be mainly a list of people in Russian government, along with 96 “oligarchs” from a Forbes magazine ranking of Russian billionaires.

The list, ordered by Congress in response to Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign, had induced fear among rich Russians that it could lead to U.S. sanctions or being informally blacklisted in the global financial system.

Putin on Tuesday referred to the list as a “hostile step” — but said Moscow does not want to make the situation even worse.

“We were waiting for this list to come out, and I’m not going to hide it: we were going to take steps in response, and, mind you, serious steps, that could push our relations to the nadir. But we’re going to refrain from taking these steps for

now,” Putin said.The Russian president said he

does not expect the publication to have any impact but expressed dismay at the scope of the officials and business people listed.

“Ordinary Russian citizens, employees and entire industries are behind each of those people and companies, so all 146 million people have essentially been put on this list,” Putin said at a campaign event in Moscow. “What is the point of this? I don’t understand.”

Russia hawks in Congress had pushed the administration to include certain names, while Russian businessmen hired lobbyists to keep them off.

In the end, the list of 114 Russian politicians released just before a Monday evening deadline included the whole of Putin’s administration, as listed by the Kremlin on its website, plus the Russian cabinet, all top law enforcement officials and chief executives of the main state-controlled companies.

President Putin even joked on Tuesday that he felt “slighted” that his name wasn’t there.

Amin Nasser

BUSINESS Wednesday, January 31, 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 0.4026 0.3475

KUWAIT 0.2855 30.9768 0.3049 0.2631

OMAN 0.3849 0.3604 0.4110 0.3547

QATAR 3.6420 3.4104 3.8894 3.3567

UAE 3.6730 3.4394 3.9225 3.3853

SAUDI 3.7500 3.5115 4.0047 3.4562

AUSTRALIA 0.3123 0.3098BANGLADESH 0.00479 0.00454CANADA 0.3123 0.3090DENMARK 0.0660 EGYPT 0.0237 0.0219EURO 0.4752 0.4727HONGKONG 0.04967 0.04927INDIA 0.00603 0.00597INDONESIA 0.00003016 0.00002878IRAN TUMAN 0.00010959 IRAQI DINAR 0.000317 JAPAN 0.00362 0.003550JORDAN 0.5359 0.5351KOREA 0.00040309 KUWAIT 1.263 1.263MALAYSIA 0.1002 0.0994NEW ZEALAND 0.2807 0.2808NORWAY 0.0510 NEPAL 0.00395 0.00372OMAN 0.98168 0.98301PAKISTAN 0.00354 0.00341PHILIPPINES 0.00773 0.00735QATAR 0.10381 0.10397SAUDI ARABIA 0.1006 0.10066SINGAPORE 0.2921 0.2901SOUTH AFRICA 0.03300 0.03290SRI LANKA 0.00283 0.00246SWEDISH 0.0509 SWITZERLAND 0.4123 0.4093SYRIA 0.001740 0.0017TAIWAN 0.013600 THAILAND 0.012200 0.012200TURKEY 0.1054 UNITED KINGDOM 0.5397 0.5368UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 0.102850 0.102870UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 0.37790 0.37800YUAN 0.056800 0.056800

Geneva

The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, hit by U.S. funding cuts, is seeking $800

million for emergency operations in Syria, the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The U.N. Relief and Works Agency, which serves some 5 million Palestinian refugees and their descendants, had a budget of over $1 billion last year. This covered long-running programs, including education, as well as emergency funds for crises such as the war in Syria.

The U.S. has been the largest donor, giving one-third of the total budget. The Trump administration withheld half of the first installment of payments this year, demanding reforms as a condition for future aid.

On Tuesday, UNRWA sought $400 million each for Syria and the Palestinian territories. In an appeal last week, the agency sought an additional $500 million.

Facing US cuts, UN seeks $800 million for Palestinians

Representative picture (Courtesy Counter Current News)

Dubai

Saudi Arabian stocks rose yesterday as the

government indicated it was winding down its crackdown on corruption, while most other major Middle Eastern bourses were weak.

The Saudi stock index closed 0.8 per cent higher on active volumes after the government’s announcement in late trade. The statement said 56 people were now detained in the purge, down from well over 100 at one stage, and that authorities had reached their target of securing $100 billion of financial settlements from suspects.

It is not clear that the government will get any quick infusion of cash: most of the settlements involve real estate or other illiquid assets.

Nevertheless, the

settlements may give Riyadh more resources to spend on economic growth this year, and investors welcomed news that the purge, which unsettled the business community, appeared close to being concluded.

Al Rajhi Bank, a top lender, rose 2.2pc. National Medical Care jumped 5.7pc after reporting fourth-quarter net profit of 30.7 million riyals ($8.2 million), swinging from a year-earlier loss of 69.7 million riyals.

Investment firm Kingdom Holding, which had risen sharply in the previous two days after owner Prince Alwaleed bin Talal was released in the purge, fell back 1.9pc.

The Dubai index slipped 0.4pc as Dubai Islamic Bank tumbled 4.6pc. Its board called an annual general

meeting for Feb. 21 to approve a proposed capital increase via issuance of up to 1.65 billion new shares; the bank currently has 4.9 billion outstanding shares.

Bahrain’s Ithmaar Holding, which listed in Dubai on

Monday, shot up by its 15pc daily limit to 0.87 dirham in heavy trade. Its Bahrain-listed shares surged 10.3pc to 21.5 U.S. cents, equivalent to 0.77 dirham.

Qatar’s index fell 1.3pc. (Reuters)

Saudi rises as govt winds down graft purge, region mostly weak

Closing BellSAUDI rose 0.8pc to 7,631 points.

DUBAI fell 0.4pc to 3,440 points.

ABU DHABI rose 0.3pc to 4,639 points.

QATAR fell 1.3pc to 9,328 points.

EGYPT fell 0.4pc to 15,316 points.

KUWAIT edged down 0.1pc to 6,664 points.

BAHRAIN rose 0.6pc to 1,352 points.

OMAN edged up 0.1pc to 5,008 points. 

Representative picture (Courtesy Forbes)

Gout is the abnormal deposition of uric acid in the joints or tissue surface in birds. Uric acid is the major end

product of protein breakdown in birds. It is produced and secreted primarily in the kidneys and liver, removed from

the blood by the kidneys and excreted in the urine. In many cases, gout is secondary to kidney disease, but it can also be associated with medications, certain chronic diseases, overeating, improper diet like high protein and possibly high Vitamin D or low Vitamin A, poor blood circulation, inactivity, decreased water intake or chronic dehydration, some infections, and other environmental factors which affect the kidneys’ ability to eliminate uric acid.

Urate deposits are semisolid to solid white masses that can swell the areas where they accumulate, resulting in pain and mobility issues. Articular gout occurs in the joints of birds commonly in legs and wing joints, and visceral gout occurs on the serosa of various organs and is commonly found on the pericardium, liver, and spleen. Male birds are more susceptible to articular gout. Depending on where the

accumulation occurs, it can cause rigid toes, swollen joints, and difficulties perching, or elimination and neurological problems. Clinical signs of articular gout are pain, lameness, swelling in the joints, depression, anorexia, and dehydration. Diagnosis of articular gout is by identifying gout tophi—whitish yellow, subcutaneous, and intra-articular deposits that demonstrate uric acid crystals on staining.

Birds with gout will be placed on a low protein diet. Vitamin A may be given to birds who had received an improper diet. Proper hydration is necessary and fluids may need to be administered. Some times meedications will needed for life long or the condition will quickly reappear if therapy is discontinued. If arthritis from gout is severe, it is possible to surgically remove the uric acid crystals from the joint.

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Scientists have assembled the most complete human

genome to be mapped with a single technology using a new pocket-size portable DNA sequencer, which they say could one day make genome mapping quick and simple enough to do at home. Using a device about the size of a mobile phone and called a MinION, researchers were able to sequence much longer strands of DNA than previously. (Reuters)

Breastfeeding mothers, take note! New research

suggests that women who breastfeed more children and for a longer duration were less likely to suffer from hypertension after they reach menopause.

According to the researchers, elevated blood pressure is the greatest single risk factor for disease and mortality. (IANS)

11 Pocket-size device to map genetic code

Breastfeeding reduce hypertension risk

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of this newspaper.)

Dr. Rajani Rajesh

PET VET

GOUT IN BIRDS

Selfless behaviour could boost confidence in teenagers, new

research has found.In a longitudinal study

conducted at Brigham Young University, Utah, scientists noted that adolescents who exhibited prosocial behaviour towards strangers had higher self-esteem a year later.

The same effect was not reported in those who showed similar behaviours - such as helping, sharing and comforting - towards their family and friends.

“This study helps us to understand that young people who help those with whom they do not have a relationship report feeling better about themselves over time,” explained the study’s co-author, professor Laura Padilla-Walker.

“Given the importance of self-esteem during the teen years, this is an important finding,” she added.

“It suggests there might be

something about helping strangers that impacts one’s moral identity or perceptions of self in a more significant way than helping friends or family members, although these are beneficial behaviours as well.”

Padilla-Walker and her team of researchers examined the behaviour of 681 adolescents between the ages of 11 and 14.

They tracked their measures of self-esteem over a three-year-long period and had participants repeatedly respond to a series of 10 statements such as “I am satisfied with myself” in order to establish how their levels of self-esteem changed during this time.

They concluded that participants showed higher levels of self-esteem after just one year of prosocial behaviour.

The teens’ levels of prosocial behaviour were monitored via self-reports, where participants were asked to respond to statements such as “I help people I don’t know, even if it’s not easy for me.”

“Not all helping is created equal, and we’re finding that prosocial behaviour towards strangers is protective in a variety of ways that is unique from other types of helping,” Padilla-Walker explained.

She added that prosocial behaviour could be particularly beneficial for teens who tend to focus on themselves and that helping those who are less fortunate than they are may benefit them as much as those they are helping.

“It is best if teens can directly see the benefit of their help on others. This can increase gratitude in young people and help them to focus less on their own problems.”

Such behaviour will also encourage them to meet new people, which will also boost confidence levels, she concluded. (independent.co.uk)

Vaping may raise the risk of cancer because it leads to DNA damage, even though it

contains fewer carcinogens than tobacco smoke, a US study has found.

The report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences did not compare the cancer-causing potential of traditional cigarettes to e-cigarettes.

However, in studies on lab mice, those exposed to e-cigarette smoke “had higher levels of DNA damage in the heart, lungs, and bladder, compared with control mice exposed to filtered air,” it said.

Similar effects were seen when human lung and bladder cells were exposed to nicotine and nicotine-derived nitrosamine ketone (NNK), a carcinogenic nicotine derivative.

These exposed cells ere more likely to mutate and become cancerous than control cells.

“Thus, although e-cigarette smoke has fewer carcinogens than tobacco smoke, E-cigarette smokers might have a higher risk than nonsmokers of developing lung and bladder cancers and heart diseases,” said the study, led by Moon-shong Tang of the Institute of Environmental Medicine at New York University.

According to outside experts, much more work is needed to uncover the true risk of vaping, which is widely seen as a safer alternative than traditional cigarettes. (AFP)

Wednesday, January 31, 201812

Director-General of Muharraq Governorate Police Brigadier Fawaz Al Hassan received a delegation from Diyar Al Muharraq. During their meeting they agreed to develop the operations of the police office in the Dragon City to receive complaints and cases for all visitors of Diyar Al Muharraq

Electricity and Water Affairs Minister Dr. Abdulhussain Mirza received a high-level delegation from Korea’s Energy General Trading Company. Executive Vice President of Distribution and Customer Services at the Electricity and Water Authority Adnan Fakhro and specialists from the Sustainable Energy Unit were present. The minister briefed them on the company’s activities and projects in various technological fields.

Education Minister Dr. Majid Al Nuaimi received Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) Dr. Abdulaziz bin Othman Al Tewijri who pre-sented him with a shield marking celebrating “Muharraq Capital of Islamic Culture 2018”. The Education Minister lauded cooperation between the Education Ministry and ISESCO during the meeting. Education Ministry Undersecretary for Resources and Services Dr. Mohammed Mubarak Juma’a and Undersecretary for Education and Curricula Affairs Dr. Fawzi Abdulrah-man Al Jowder were present.

Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa received Royal Family members and senior state officials. The Prime Minister reviewed with the audience local issues, as well as the efforts being exerted by the government to en-hance the citizens’ living standards.

Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa received ambassadors of the GCC countries to Bahrain, headed by Kuwaiti Am-bassador and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Shaikh Azam Al Mubarak Al Sabah. The Prime Minister stressed the one-family spirit binding the GCC countries.

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa received the credentials of four new ambassadors accredited to the Kingdom of Bahrain. The new ambassadors are Kemal Demirciler (Turkey), Oyvind Stokke (Norway), James Munro (New Zealand) and Maya Jahouari Tissafi (Swiss Federation). HM the King exchanged words of welcome with the new ambassadors and hailed strong relations binding the Kingdom of Bahrain with their countries.

Wednesday, January 31, 2018 13

Deputy Premier Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa received Huawei Bahrain CEO Paul Fengnan and his successor Lu Yuedong. The deputy PM affirmed government keenness on overseas investment in the IT sector.

Dr. Jassim Haji was a keynote speaker on first day of the largest satellite and broadcasting confer-ence and exhibition in the middle east which was held at Dubai World Trade Center and was formal-ly opened by Director General of Dubai’s Depart-ment of Information Sheikh Hasher bin Maktoum AlMaktoum. Dr Haji has been the only speaker from the Kingdom of Bahrain who delivered a speech on future of satellite and space research in the world and technological security concerns.

Advisor of HM the King for Media Affairs Nabeel Alhamer received columnist and researcher Hassan Ali Al Binflah who dedicated to him a copy of his book “A Citizen’s Contemplations.” The Advisor praised the author’s efforts in compilation of his book as well as his series of articles and publications.

Director-General of Muharraq Governorate Police Brigadier Fawaz Al Hassan received a delegation from Diyar Al Muharraq. During their meeting they agreed to develop the operations of the police office in the Dragon City to receive complaints and cases for all visitors of Diyar Al Muharraq

Electricity and Water Affairs Minister Dr. Abdulhussain Mirza received a high-level delegation from Korea’s Energy General Trading Company. Executive Vice President of Distribution and Customer Services at the Electricity and Water Authority Adnan Fakhro and specialists from the Sustainable Energy Unit were present. The minister briefed them on the company’s activities and projects in various technological fields.

Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa received Royal Family members and senior state officials. The Prime Minister reviewed with the audience local issues, as well as the efforts being exerted by the government to en-hance the citizens’ living standards.

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa received the credentials of four new ambassadors accredited to the Kingdom of Bahrain. The new ambassadors are Kemal Demirciler (Turkey), Oyvind Stokke (Norway), James Munro (New Zealand) and Maya Jahouari Tissafi (Swiss Federation). HM the King exchanged words of welcome with the new ambassadors and hailed strong relations binding the Kingdom of Bahrain with their countries.

Los Angeles

Actress Dakota Fanning, who was

first romantically linked to Henry Frye in October, says

she is happily not single and prefers dating a non-celebrity.Fanning opened up on her new

romance in an interview with the February issue of Vogue Australia,

reports dailymail.co.uk.“I’ve always sort of

dated somebody a little bit removed... I see the whirlwind of (famous) people dating (famous) people and it just looks so intense,” she said.

Little is known about Frye aside from the

fact he lives in New York and studied at the University of Vermont, according to his Facebook page.

She went on to discuss her journey from a child actor to a Hollywood star. (IANS)

Paris

Actress Penelope Cruz will receive an honorary prize from Frances Academy of Arts and Techniques

of Cinema during the 43rd Cesar Awards ceremony, Frances equivalent of the Oscars, on March 2.

“Penelope Cruz has the talent to shine in international productions as much as in (smaller) films, whether (she is working) for Ridley Scott, Rob Marshall, Kenneth Branagh, Sergio Castellitto, Fernando Trueba or Asghar Farhadi, with whom she has just wrapped ‘Everybody Knows’, which will come out in May,” Alain Terzian, the president of the Academy of Arts and Techniques of Cinema, said in a statement to variety.com. (IANS)

London

Singer Justin Timberlake will next month headline the BRIT Awards, 15 years after the moment he

performed a duet with Kylie Minogue on the stage.Timberlake, a former *NSYNC singer, had famously

felt Minogue’s derriere on stage as they sang the latter’s “Rapture”.

The ceremony, on February 21, will be one of his two high-profile gigs this year, along with the Super Bowl half-time performance in the US, ahead of the release of his album Man Of The Woods, reports The Sun.

“Justin went down in Brits folklore after his duet with Kylie in 2003 so he will always be synonymous with the Brits. He will be performing

alone this time,” a source said.

The BRIT Awards will be aired in India on Vh1 on F e b r u a r y 26. (IANS)

14 Wednesday, January 31, 2018

January 31, 1977

Kerry Washington

Actress who starred on the popular ABC show Scandal and played Nikki in I Think I Love My Wife with Chris Rock. She also appeared in the 2004 film Ray and the 2010 film Night Catches Us.

Wiz Khalifa @wizkhalifaIts much more important to be a good person than it is to be rich and famous. When you work hard, you’ll get everything you deserve. Treatin people cool actually

helps you get there.

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

15

M A N I AFall Out Boy

Kidz Bop 37Kidz Bop Kids

DivideEd Sheeran

Hallelujah NightsLANCO

VertigoEDEN

The Greatest ShowmanSoundtrack

Grimmest HitsBlack Label Society

2018 Grammy NomineesVarious Artists

The Thrill Of It AllSam Smith

RuinsFirst Aid Kit

(billboard.com)

Los Angeles

Oscar winning-actor Tom Hanks is set to play late TV personality Fred Rogers in the

biopic “You Are My Friend”.The film has been acquired by TriStar

Pictures, reports hollywoodreporter.com.Director Marielle Heller will helm from a

screenplay by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster.

The feature, set to begin production in September, is inspired by a real-life friendship between Rogers and award-winning journalist Tom Junod. The cynical journalist begrudgingly accepts an assignment to write a profile piece on the beloved TV icon Mr. Rogers and finds his perspective on life transformed.

Marc Turtletaub and Peter Saraf will produce via their Big Beach Films, along with Youree Henley. (IANS)

Tom Hardy has wrapped the shoot for his upcoming film,

‘Venom’. The ‘Dunkirk’ actor is starring as the popular Marvel Comics antihero in the Spider-Man offshoot movie.

Hardy shared some pictures with the film’s crew on Instagram and wrote, “Wrapped SAN Fran Jam DuN. Sound Team Venom MVP crew shout-out to all the crew on Antidote legends all.”

“Outstanding work team. Thank you all. Am humbled and absolute Honour and a privilege. You killed it. Smashed that Thank you for letting me run with you (sic).”

In another photo, Hardy is sitting in front of a mirror and the photo’s caption confirmed that filming had wrapped. “Wrapped life back Bye (sic)” he wrote.

The film, directed by Ruben Fleischer, also features Riz Ahmed, Michelle Williams and Jenny Slate. (PTI)

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Wednesday, January 31, 2018 17Classifieds

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START THE NEW YEAR WITH A FAMILY GETAWAY Date: January 14-25Venue: The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Make the most of family #RCMemories together and enjoy signature experienc-es, Ritz-Kids activities, exquisite din-ing options or simply soaking up the Bahrain sun. Families can enjoy our Reconnect pack-age this upcoming holiday weekend starting from SAR 1200++. The package offers a daily per night resort credit of SAR 250 to use on dining and resort experiences, a morning breakfast buffet at La Med, as well as a 20% savings on treatments at the signature Ritz-Carlton Spa.With new outdoor heated pools, moms and dads can truly relax and enjoy the cool-breezy Bahrain winter, while the little ones partake in Ritz Kids activi-ties all weekend long, like feeding our famous pink flamingos.Prefer not to drive? KSA residents resid-ing in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia (Dammam, Al Khobar and Dhahran) can opt for an exclusive expe-rience with a chauffeured Rolls-Royce Ghost to transport them from the com-fort of their own home to our luxury beachfront resort. Arriving in style, the unique journey across the border con-tinues with overnight Club Level or Villa accommodations, including unlimited access to food and beverage offerings at the resort’s elite Club Level Lounge. Package begins at SAR 2350++. The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain is located in the Al Seef district in Manama, Bahrain.

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AN ODE TO LIFE - AN EXHIBITION BY THE BOX, A CREATIVE COL-LECTIVEDate: 14 December - 31 January 2018, 8:00am - 8:00pmVenue: Qal’at al Bahrain Site MuseumIn their inaugural exhibition, THE BOX, a Bahrain-based collective of creative works representing various concepts, talents and ideas, presents art installa-tions and sculptures at the Bahrain Fort Site to raise awareness about preserving the environment surrounding the site.

BAHRAINI FARMER’S MARKETDate: till 31st March 2018Venue: Budaiya Botanical Gardens Bahrain Farmers Market targets pro-moting Bahrain’s agricultural products and highlighting the development taking place in Bahrain’s agricultur-al sector. It also aims to contribute to improving the Bahraini farmers’ income through a marketing system prepared by the Agriculture and Marine Resources to assist in meeting the farmers’ aspirations.

THE 44TH BAHRAIN ANNUAL FINE ARTS EXHIBITIONDate: 17 January - 7 March 2017, 8:00am - 8:00pmVenue: Tent at Arad Fort In its 44th edition, the Bahrain Annual Fine Arts Exhibition celebrates the cre-ativity and ingenuity of the artists in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Every year, the art community gathers to present their finest work, uninhibited by a sub-ject or theme. The result is a colourful display of styles, techniques, through different mediums of expression. Under the patronage of HRH Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister of Bahrain, the exhibition this year presents a collection of local and International artists residing in Bahrain.

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 multifacet-ed nature of Islamic culture through the spectacular al-Sabah collection of Islamic Art. Broadly divided into two parts, the display illustrates a chronolog-ical 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; mainly, calligraphy, geometric decoration, vegetal, figurative art and jewellery.

FOOD IS CULTURE IIIDate: 21 January - 25 February 2018, 7:00-9:00pmVenue: Bahrain National Museum Food is Culture is a creative experimen-tal project that aims to bridge together the mediums of art and food. Running in parallel with the Bahrain Annual Fine Arts Exhibition, this experiment sheds light on creative processes that take place when two individuals (from dif-ferent creative disciplines) collaborate. Every year five artists and five chefs get together and work to produce a crea-tive product; be it a painting, installa-tion, video, cake, drink, all or something completely different. The result of their two months’ work, which is document-ed in a short film and a publication, will be presented during the course of the week, where they share and display their collective creations.

THE ROAD TO PALESTINE .. NOT SO CLOSE, NOT SO FARDate:7 - 31 March 2018, 9:00am - 8:00pm

Venue: Art Centre The exhibition sheds light on Jerusalem - the permanent Capital of Islamic Culture - and features works of iconic cartoonist Naji AlAli. The works of the late Palestinian artist will be on display for the first time in Bahrain presenting topics of the occupation of Palestine and Jerusalem in a series of cartoons that AlAli produced since his early career and until his assassination in 1987.

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 millen-nium BCE.

RE/IMAGINE YOUR SATURDAYSDate: January1-31Venue: re/Asian CuisineFour 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 mouthwa-tering Asian selections like Korean Fried Chicken Bao Buns, Wok Fried Shrimp Dumplings and Brisket Wontons.

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18 Wednesday, January 31, 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)

A social event or group rally could put you in touch with some new and exciting people in interesting fields. You might even run into an old friend you haven’t seen for a long time. If you aren’t currently romantically involved, an attractive new person could come on the scene.

Today you could be hit with some exciting news. It could involve new people and new equipment coming onto the scene. It could involve an entirely new project or course of action that you never would have imagined. This is likely to shape up to be a lucky break for you, as the new situation probably suits your skills and talents nearly perfectly.

Information that you receive from others and from within your own heart could compel you to participate in some ambitious projects. They may be work related, connected with a group, or your own. Whatever they are, you’re likely to find them interesting and personally gratifying. New opportunities for advancement and self-expression could be opening up for you.

Some visitors could come to your door today, perhaps bringing Earthshaking information that could impact your life in a great way. You might start considering new lifestyle options. A group, possibly associated with spirituality or metaphysics, could suddenly seem attractive and you might consider joining it.

Group activities in your neighbourhood could put you in touch with new and exciting people who eventually become friends. Shared goals and interests could give rise to plans for ambitious projects. Whatever enterprises you start today are likely to prove successful if everyone involved pitches in. In the evening, arrange for a quiet tête-à-tête with your romantic partner.

Have you been looking to branch out in a new direction? If so, this could be the day you get the lead of a lifetime. Or you might receive some unexpected information indicating possible new sources of income that you could pursue on your own. Whatever they are, new doors of opportunity are going to open for you that could make a big difference in your lifestyle and catapult you into a higher socioeconomic bracket.

Unusual circumstances could arise that change the course of your creative orientation. This could involve modern technology in some way, and it’s highly likely that it concerns the gathering, sharing, and use of information. You could find yourself considering some unusual options, which could involve changing jobs, your residence, or other factors important to your lifestyle.

Today you could decide to attend a class, workshop, or social event involving people in a spiritual, metaphysical, or intellectual field. Fascinating discussions could lead to insights and revelations of your own. You could explore ways to harness your natural healing ability, perhaps through Reiki, massage, or other hands-on disciplines.

Dreams and meditation could lead to insights regarding how best to handle your finances and make your money grow. You could receive some surprising ideas from newspapers, TV, or the Internet. Your level of intuition is very high. No matter how outrageous an idea may seem, consider it carefully before making a decision. A written plan of action for anything you do would be helpful.

New information could be coming at you from all sides today. Books, magazines, TV, the Internet, and conversations with friends are likely to bring exciting knowledge your way that reinforces some of your own convictions. Your intuitive abilities aren’t lying fallow either. Insights and revelations could come to you that blend well with what you’re learning from outside sources.

Surprising news about your own finances and the world economy in general could cause you to feel confident and secure about your financial future. An unexpected raise in salary could come your way soon, possibly because of sudden changes at your workplace. Some of the information that you receive could seem vague and uncertain at first, but whatever news follows should clear it up.

Some fascinating new information, possibly about spiritual or metaphysical matters, could come your way today via books, magazines, TV, or the Internet. This could set you off on a new course of study. Your own insights and revelations could prove invaluable in increasing your understanding of what you read.

1 Univ. recruiting group; 5 Tickle pink; 10 Engrave with acid; 14 Monetary unit of Finland; 15 Smidgens; 16 Strong wind; 17 Like some vaccines; 18 Viscounts’ superiors; 19 Port of Algeria; 20 List of particulars; 23 Sneaker or loafer; 24 Decade divs.; 25 Actress Palmer; 28 Slugger’s stat; 31 Pisa place; 35 Standards of perfection; 37 PIN requester; 39 Never, in Nuremberg; 40 In spite of; 44 Half of MCII; 45 Where It.’s at; 46 Curvature of the legs; 47 Moore’s TV boss; 50 Noise made by a sheep; 52 Ages between 13 and 19; 53 Dorm overseers, for short; 55 Environmental sci.; 57 Wife of one’s son; 63 Genie’s home; 64 Really bother; 65 Spillane’s “___ Jury”; 67 Edinburgh native; 68 Having wings; 69 Modernists; 70 Mrs. Dick Tracy; 71 Ascends; 72 Precious stones;

1 Stutz contemporary; 2 Belonging to us; 3 Snare; 4 Cabbage salad; 5 Refrain in a children’s song; 6 Lazy person; 7 Longfellow’s bell town; 8 Apply powder to oneself; 9 Blue book filler; 10 Self centered per-son; 11 Poi source; 12 Scottish social unit; 13 Coop denizen; 21 Hot stuff; 22 Part of TNT; 25 Blair of “The Exorcist”; 26 Graven images; 27 Admit; 29 Iraqi port; 30 Addams family cousin; 32 Old womanish; 33 Fabric woven from flax yarns; 34 Safecrackers; 36 ___ Foy, Quebec; 38 Fairy queen; 41 Center of activity; 42 ___ your life!; 43 Abode; 48 Blows one’s top; 49 Piece of cloth, tabloid newspaper; 51 Add fizz; 54 Clip wool; 56 Quotes; 57 Fresh water fish; 58 Old Testament book; 59 Anklebones; 60 JFK postings; 61 To ___ (exactly); 62 To ___ it may concern; 63 D Day craft; 66 Slalom curve;

BEETLE BAILEY R

a #PollToday

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

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Wednesday, January 31, 2018 19

Manila

The Phi l ippine government is

investigating the sale of passport application endorsements from government agencies, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday, as criticism floods the DFA over passport application problems.

“Some people are selling endorsements from government agencies. That’s the sad reality,” Foreign Undersecretary Jose Luis Montales said in a hearing at the House of Representatives.

Montales said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)

of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have started investigating a number of agencies behind this scheme.

Endorsements allow applicants to apply for passports without having to wait for passport application appointments. This is because endorsed applicants can use the DFA’s passport courtesy lane, where an appointment is not needed.

Thousands of other Filipinos wait for months to get a passport application appointment.

In an interview with reporters after yesterday’s hearing, Montales said endorsements sometimes come from officials in “high positions.” (Rappler)

Islamabad

A day after a video of a Pakistani girl allegedly

naming her killer surfaced, one suspect was arrested in the country’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday, police said.

The footage that emerged on Monday evening purportedly shows Asma Rani in hospital shortly before her death, naming one Mujahid Afridi as her killer.

Rani, a third-year medical student, was shot on Saturday afternoon in Kohat, and died in hospital on Sunday.

Her family alleges that Afridi killed Rani after she refused to marry him, having also made previous threats against her.

The country’s Supreme Court also took suo motu notice of the murder on Tuesday.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar ordered that a report on the case be submitted in the court by Wednesday.

“We heard tales that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police has become a lot better; what

is the force doing after this girl was murdered in Kohat?” the Chief Justice asked, adding that there seems to be no mechanism set for the investigation.

When first reporting the attack, Rani’s brother Muhammad Irfan named two brothers - Afridi and Sadiq Ullah - as the attackers. (IANS)

Liberia has a black-only citizenship rule. The new President George Weah says it is racist and needs to be removed. Do you agree?

Philippines probes sale of passport endorsements

Pakistani medico ‘names her killer’ before death

Outcry in India after baby rapedThe rape of an eight-month-old baby girl, allegedly by her cousin, has renewed wide-spread outrage in India over sexual assault.

Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga, who boy-cotted last year’s disputed presidential elections and accused his rival of electoral fraud, proclaimed himself the “people’s President” at a non-sanctioned swearing-in ceremony.

The Taliban threatened the US with more violence and bloodshed after Washington ruled out peace talks with the rebels for unleashing a wave of carnage on Afghanistan.

Russia will set a polling station at its Embassy in Pyongyang to enable one citizen, based in North Korea, vote in the Russian presidential election.

Kenya’s Odinga declares himself ‘President’

Taliban threatens more violence

Russia to set polling station in Pyongyang

“Please give me some time to lay the foundation for the coun-try, that’s all. The length of this time depends on the law.”

-Prayuth Chan-ochaThai Prime Minister

Yes No Cant Say

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano hands out new passports with a 10-year validity during a launch at DFA ASEANA in Parañaque City on January 12

Sadiq Ullah, brother of Mujahid Afridi and co-accused in murder case of a medical student Asma Rani

Madrid

Spain’s King Felipe VI celebrated his 50th birthday

Tuesday by shining the spotlight on his 12-year-old daughter Leonor, honouring her with the country’s most prestigious award as he seeks to drum up support for the monarchy.

The ceremony in Madrid’s royal palace came as uncertainty persists in Catalonia, where an attempt to break away and form an independent republic has threatened the unity of Spain and the monarchy itself.

A spokesman for the royals, who refused to be named, described the event as “an act of historical importance for the

king and the princess, heir to the throne.”

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy added on Facebook that the public ceremony was a way to underscore the “will to persist with Spain’s parliamentary monarchy.”

During the ceremony, the angelic-looking princess, smiling and shy, stood between her tall father and her grandfather Juan Carlos I, who reigned 38 years until his abdication in 2014 following several scandals. (AFP)

On his birthday, Spain’s king honours young daughter

Spain’s King Felipe smiles after present-ing his daughter Princess Leonor with the insignia of the ‘Toison de Oro’ (Order of the Golden Fleece) during a cer-emony at the Royal Palace in Madrid

Mayon volcano spews lava ash from its crater

Legazpi, Philippines

The threat of catastrophic mudflows is building

on the slopes of an erupting Philippine volcano where nearly 90,000 residents have been moved out of harm’s way, authorities said yesterday.

Mount Mayon has spewed millions of tonnes of ash, rocks, lava and debris in less than three weeks, much of it loosely lodged on its burnt slopes and which experts warn could be dislodged by heavy rain.

Activity continued overnight with “energetic lava effusion”, while previously extruded lava was also collapsing on the crater, only to be pushed out again as debris, the state volcanology office said in its latest bulletin.

Loud booming sounds, like that of thunder, accompanied the eruptions, an AFP photographer near the mountain said.

“The public is strongly advised to be vigilant and desist from entering the eight-kilometre (five-mile) -radius danger zone, and to be additionally vigilant against pyroclastic density currents, lahars, and sediment-laden stream flows,” the bulletin said.

Pyroclastic currents are the superheated clouds of gas, ash and other volcanic debris that burn everything in their path as they speed down the slopes of the 2,460-metre (8,070-foot) mountain, located 330 kilometres southeast of Manila.

The institute said these

materials are building blocks for “lahar” -- mammoth debris flows that could find their way into streams and rivers and mow down surrounding communities.

An earlier Mayon eruption passed without any casualties in 2006, but four months later a typhoon unleashed an avalanche of volcanic mud from its slopes, killing about 1,000 people.

On Saturday the volcanology institute issued its first “lahar” warning on Mayon this year due to incessant rain that is usual in the region at this time of year.

A day later the institute made a video recording of lahar flowing down a river near Daraga town south of the volcano, though it did not cause any damage or casualties. (AFP)

Mudflow threat at Philippine volcano

Cairo

Introducing Mansourasaurus shahinae, a newly discovered

dinosaur from Egypt.It’s a big discovery in more

ways than one.This dinosaur is a

titanosaur, so it belongs to the same group as some of the largest creatures that ever walked the Earth.

It’s also Africa’s most complete dinosaur specimen from the late Cretaceous epoch, researchers say. Thanks to its age and location, the researchers are optimistic that it will help them understand the geological and biological links between Africa and the other continents.

A team led by vertebrate palaeontologist Hesham Sallam of Egypt’s Mansoura University reported the find Monday in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution.

This dinosaur was a creature to be reckoned with.

The study authors estimate that Mansourasaurus was about as long as a school bus and as heavy as an African elephant. It measured up to 10 metres long from the front of its small head to the end of its long, tapering tail.

That huge body was fuelled

by a plant-based diet.Some of the bones in the

dinosaur’s front legs had not fully fused. That led the study authors to believe that this particular animal had not yet reached its adult size.

Everything they know about Mansourasaurus is based on an assortment of bones found in the Dakhla Oasis in Egypt’s Western Desert. About 80 million years ago, when this dinosaur was alive, the area was lush and coastal.

The bulk of the bones are vertebrae from the dinosaur’s neck and back, some of its ribs and portions of its shoulders and front legs.

Paleontologists also recovered pieces of its skull and jaws, a few bones from one of its hind feet and what they think were bony scales known as osteoderms.

Its features prompted

the paleontologists to classify Mansourasaurus as a titanosaur, a group that includes Dreadnoughtus, the 65-tonne behemoth that weighed more than a Boeing 737, and the slightly larger Patagotitan, which was 12 times heavier than an elephant. However, for a titanosaur,

Mansourasaurus was not particularly big.

The researchers are hopeful that the discovery will help them understand some of the major changes that were happening during and after the late Cretaceous. The continents were pulling away from each

other at that time, and scientists don’t know how isolated the animals of Africa were.

M. shahinae’s bones suggest that the animals

weren’t as cut off as some researchers had come to believe. This creature appears to have been a closer relative of dinosaurs from Europe and Asia than it was to dinosaurs from the southern part of Africa or from present-day South America.

The dinosaur was named for Mansoura University and for Mona Shahin, who helped found the school’s Vertebrate Paleontology Centre. (AP)

20 Wednesday, January 31, 2018

The lower jaw bone of Mansourasaurus shahinae as it was

found in rock at the Dakhla

An artist’s reconstruction of the newly discovered

dinosaur Mansourasaurus shahinae on a coastline in

what is now the Western Desert of Egypt.

A skeletal recon-struction of

Mansourasaurus shahinae. Bones

shown in color are those that are preserved

Liberia’s Weah pledges to alter ‘racist’ constitutionMonrovia

Liberian President George Weah said Monday he would

seek to remove a “racist” clause in the country’s constitution that restricts citizenship to black people, and pledged to take a pay cut in a dire economy.

Liberia was founded by freed slaves from the United States in 1847, who inserted the requirement into the constitution to create “a refuge and a haven for freed men of colour”.

Weah said in his first state

of the nation address that he believed this restriction was “unnecessary, racist, and inappropriate for the place that Liberia occupies today in the comity of nations,” as well as holding back business.

Calling for that provision to be removed, Weah also called for the ban on foreign ownership on property to also be struck from the constitution via referendum.

“No foreign investor … will be willing to make significant direct investments in our country if they cannot own

property,” he said.Weah’s wife, Clar, has

faced intense criticism for her Jamaican roots in Liberia. She was denied a passport on the grounds she was not a Liberian citizen, and the president called for restrictions on dual citizenship to also be lifted.

The new president, a former football star who joked he had only had a week to get his head around the job, also announced he would take a 25 per cent pay cut in view of the state of the economy and the suffering of

his people, who are some the world’s poorest.

“I am informing you today, with immediate effect, that I will reduce my salary and benefits by 25 per cent,” he said to a huge cheer from the audience.

He urged lawmakers to follow his lead in a nation where deputies and senators make six-figure salaries despite a straightened budget, following an announcement of a US$3,000 (2,425 euros) spending cap on government agencies’ expenses. (AFP)

Wednesday, January 31, 2018 21SPORTS

London

Manchester City have confirmed the signature

of defender Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao for a club-record fee.

The 23-year-old centre-back has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract at the Etihad, and will wear the

number 14 shirt.The Frenchman had a

release clause worth 65 million euros (£57.1m), which means City have broken their transfer record – previously £55m for Kevin De Bruyne from Wolfsburg in 2015.

Laporte, who comes in

to bolster Pep Guardiola’s defensive options as City chase an unprecedented quadruple, told mancity.com he is delighted to have joined one of Europe’s best teams.

“I am very happy to be here,” Laporte said. “City are a club with a lot of ambition

and they are one of the best teams in Europe.

“I am looking forward to working under Pep Guardiola and trying to help the Club to achieve success.

“It means a lot that the club have shown faith in me and I am excited to get started.” (Eurosport)

Man City confirmLaporte signing

Saint Petersburg

Big-hitting German Julia Goerges tamed Greece’s

Maria Sakkari 6-2 7-6(5) to reach the second round of St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy yesterday.

Fifth seed Goerges fired 37 winners, including 10 aces, and faced only two break points in a convincing victory in her first meeting with Sakkari in the main draw of an event.

“I just wanted to focus on my game and be aggressive on my shots,” Goerges, who recorded her 16th victory in her last 17 matches, said.

“I know she’s a very good mover and she’ll make you see a lot of balls and I just tried to make sure that I was aggressive and taking charge of the game.”

There had been no hint of a break in the early exchanges, yet from a comfortable position in the sixth game Sakkari dropped her serve after Goerges hit a couple of ferocious forehand winners.

The world number 12 sealed the first set on the back of two precise cross court backhands that her 22-year-old opponent was unable to answer.

Goerges appeared to have lost her ruthless edge in the second set but had enough firepower to beat Sakkari in the tiebreak and secure victory in an hour and 33 minutes.

She will next face Italian Roberta Vinci, who outplayed Czech Tereza Martincova 6-2 6-2 in the other opening round match. (Eurosport)

Goerges storms past Sakkari

Sofia

Chung Hyeon will miss next week’s Sofia Open

after failing to recover from the foot injury that forced him to retire from his Australian Open semi-final against Roger Federer, organisers said yesterday.

The 21-year-old South Korean, who beat six-times champion Novak Djokovic in

the fourth round at Melbourne Park, has climbed from 58th to 29th in the world, the highest ranking achieved by a Korean player.

Bulgarian world number four Grigor Dimitrov faces a race against time to get fit to defend his title in Sofia after shoulder pain and exhaustion prevented him from practising. (Reuters)

Chung pulls out of Sofia Open

De Villiers ruled out of first three ODIs

Cape Town

Free-scoring batsman AB de Villiers has been ruled out of the first three one-day internationals against

India through injury, Cricket South Africa announced yesterday.

De Villiers bruised an index finger attempting to take a catch in the 63-run defeat in the third test against the tourists in Johannesburg. He will need at least two weeks for a full recovery, ruling him out of the 50-over ODIs in Durban, Pretoria and Cape Town, starting on Thursday.

De Villiers has scored 9,515 runs in 225 ODIs at an average of more than 54 and a strike rate of 101. He holds the record for the fastest century in the format, reaching the milestone off only 31 balls against the West Indies in 2015.

The South Africa selectors have not named a replacement, hoping he will be fit in time for the fourth match in the six-game series in Johannesburg on Feb. 10. (Reuters)

Aymeric Laporte (Pic courtesy: theguardian)

Chung Hyeon (Pic courtesy: Reuters)

Julia Goerges (file pic)

Wednesday, January 31, 2018 21SPORTS

London

Manchester City have confirmed the signature

of defender Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao for a club-record fee.

The 23-year-old centre-back has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract at the Etihad, and will wear the

number 14 shirt.The Frenchman had a

release clause worth 65 million euros (£57.1m), which means City have broken their transfer record – previously £55m for Kevin De Bruyne from Wolfsburg in 2015.

Laporte, who comes in

to bolster Pep Guardiola’s defensive options as City chase an unprecedented quadruple, told mancity.com he is delighted to have joined one of Europe’s best teams.

“I am very happy to be here,” Laporte said. “City are a club with a lot of ambition

and they are one of the best teams in Europe.

“I am looking forward to working under Pep Guardiola and trying to help the Club to achieve success.

“It means a lot that the club have shown faith in me and I am excited to get started.” (Eurosport)

Man City confirmLaporte signing

Saint Petersburg

Big-hitting German Julia Goerges tamed Greece’s

Maria Sakkari 6-2 7-6(5) to reach the second round of St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy yesterday.

Fifth seed Goerges fired 37 winners, including 10 aces, and faced only two break points in a convincing victory in her first meeting with Sakkari in the main draw of an event.

“I just wanted to focus on my game and be aggressive on my shots,” Goerges, who recorded her 16th victory in her last 17 matches, said.

“I know she’s a very good mover and she’ll make you see a lot of balls and I just tried to make sure that I was aggressive and taking charge of the game.”

There had been no hint of a break in the early exchanges, yet from a comfortable position in the sixth game Sakkari dropped her serve after Goerges hit a couple of ferocious forehand winners.

The world number 12 sealed the first set on the back of two precise cross court backhands that her 22-year-old opponent was unable to answer.

Goerges appeared to have lost her ruthless edge in the second set but had enough firepower to beat Sakkari in the tiebreak and secure victory in an hour and 33 minutes.

She will next face Italian Roberta Vinci, who outplayed Czech Tereza Martincova 6-2 6-2 in the other opening round match. (Eurosport)

Goerges storms past Sakkari

Sofia

Chung Hyeon will miss next week’s Sofia Open

after failing to recover from the foot injury that forced him to retire from his Australian Open semi-final against Roger Federer, organisers said yesterday.

The 21-year-old South Korean, who beat six-times champion Novak Djokovic in

the fourth round at Melbourne Park, has climbed from 58th to 29th in the world, the highest ranking achieved by a Korean player.

Bulgarian world number four Grigor Dimitrov faces a race against time to get fit to defend his title in Sofia after shoulder pain and exhaustion prevented him from practising. (Reuters)

Chung pulls out of Sofia Open

De Villiers ruled out of first three ODIs

Cape Town

Free-scoring batsman AB de Villiers has been ruled out of the first three one-day internationals against

India through injury, Cricket South Africa announced yesterday.

De Villiers bruised an index finger attempting to take a catch in the 63-run defeat in the third test against the tourists in Johannesburg. He will need at least two weeks for a full recovery, ruling him out of the 50-over ODIs in Durban, Pretoria and Cape Town, starting on Thursday.

De Villiers has scored 9,515 runs in 225 ODIs at an average of more than 54 and a strike rate of 101. He holds the record for the fastest century in the format, reaching the milestone off only 31 balls against the West Indies in 2015.

The South Africa selectors have not named a replacement, hoping he will be fit in time for the fourth match in the six-game series in Johannesburg on Feb. 10. (Reuters)

Aymeric Laporte (Pic courtesy: theguardian)

Chung Hyeon (Pic courtesy: Reuters)

Julia Goerges (file pic)

Wednesday, January 31, 2018 SPORTS22

© GRAPHIC NEWSSource: UEFA

UEFA Nations League 2018-19Fifty-five member associations will participate in theinaugural Nations League tournament, which aimsto introduce more competitive fixtures to replacemost international friendlies, and offers four placesat Euro 2020 for the eventual league winners

League A

Group winners contest play-offs, with four eventualwinners securing final four places at Euro 2020tournament, held in 12 host cities across Europe

If any team has already gained Euro 2020 berth throughdirect qualifying matches, next best-placed teamwill take play-off berth

Matchdays 2018: Sep 6-8, 9-11, Oct 11-13, 14-16, Nov 15-17, 18-20

LEAGUE PHASE: Each league divided into four groups,in which each team plays others home and away.Group winners gain promotion to higher league,last-placed teams are relegated to league below

Final FourCompetitionFour group

winners play offto be crowned

Nations League champions

Group 1 Group 1

Germany, France,Netherlands

Group 2

Belgium,Switzerland, Iceland

Group 3

Portugal, Italy,Poland

Group 4

Spain, England,Croatia

League B

Slovakia, Ukraine,Czech Republic

Group 2

Russia, Sweden,Turkey

Group 3

Austria, Bosnia,Northern Ireland

Group 4

Wales, Ireland,Denmark

League C

Group 1

Scotland, Albania,Israel

Group 2

Hungary, Greece,Finland, Estonia

Group 3

Slovenia, Norway,Bulgaria, Cyprus

Group 4

Romania, Serbia,Montenegro, Lithuania

League D

Group 1

Georgia, Latvia,Kazakhstan, Andorra

Group 2

Belarus, Luxembourg,Moldova, San Marino

Group 3

Azebaijan, Faroes,Malta, Kosovo

Group 4

Macedonia, Armenia,Liecht., Gibraltar

UEFA Nations League play-offs: June 2019

Bottas doubted himself during 2017 slump

London

Valtteri Bottas admits he was overthinking and starting to drive

unnaturally when his first Formula 1 season with Mercedes began to go awry.

While team-mate Lewis Hamilton took control of the championship battle with four wins from five grands prix after last year’s summer break, Bottas started struggling to get the Mercedes to his liking and fell off the pace.

He arrested that slide with pole for the penultimate race in Brazil and then a win in the Abu Dhabi season finale, but admits his run of

poor performances had been mentally draining.

“After struggling quite a lot for a couple of races, it wasn’t easy mentally because I was quite confused in the beginning - like, ‘what’s going on?’,” Bottas said.

“For sure you also start to doubt what you’re doing.

“Then also when you need to change some things with your driving style and need to adapt to many different things suddenly you realise it’s not that simple.

“Then you easily overthink things and then it becomes less natural driving.

“But it’s going to a much better direction. If there’s going to be similar struggles [in 2018] I’m prepared for that.

“And I’ve learnt massively from those difficult races so I think I’m a lot better driver as well than for example in Spa or Malaysia or Japan.”

Though F1 underwent a huge change in aerodynamic regulations for 2017, Bottas believes the fundamental characteristics of the Mercedes remained consistent with the cars Hamilton had driven for the previous four seasons. (Autosport)

Khan throws

water at Lo

GrecoLondon

Amir Khan threw water over opponent Phil Lo Greco

yesterday reacting to talk about his personal life.

The pair meet in Liverpool on 21 April, when British welterweight Khan fights for the first time in nearly two years.

At a pre-fight promotional event, Lo Greco pointed to

Khan’s family issues and marital difficulties since losing to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in May 2016.

And the former world champion, 31, responded by throwing water at the Canadian, prompting an on-stage melee.

Lo Greco said: “After the Canelo loss you went on a losing streak - family, wife, and

then you go out and tweet to the heavyweight champion of the world. What is wrong with you, mate?”

Lo Greco’s reference was to a tweet Khan sent to Anthony Joshua in August 2017. It concerned his own marriage and Khan later apologised to the British heavyweight for sending it.

After security had calmed

the clash on stage, promoter Eddie Hearn asked Lo Greco to apologise, while Khan later said his rival’s behaviour would serve as motivation to “give this guy a beating”.

The Bolton boxer, who has won 31 of his 35 professional bouts, has signed a three-fight deal with Matchroom after ending a long-running feud with Hearn. (BBC)

Golovkin-Alvarez rematch setLos Angeles

A hotly anticipated rematch between middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez will be held on May 5 at a location yet to be determined, fight promoters

said yesterday.Their previous fight on Sept. 16 in Las Vegas ended in a controversial draw when Kazakhstan’s

Golovkin and Mexico’s Alvarez each got the nod from one judge, while the third declared it a draw.

“Golovkin, this time you won’t need the judges. I‘m going to knock you out,” Alvarez said in Spanish in an online promotion of the fight.

Golovkin, who holds the WBA, WBC, IBF and IBO belts, is unbeaten with a 37-0-1 record while Alvarez is 49-1-2, with his only loss coming against Floyd Mayweather in 2013.

“This time we won’t need the judges,” said Golovkin, who is also nicknamed ‘Triple G.’ (Reuters)

Valtteri Bottas (file pic)

Amir Khan scuffle with Phil Lo Greco halts press conference (Pic courtesy: Skysports)

Gennady Golovkin celebrates after his middleweight championship bout against Canelo Alvarez (not pictured) at T-Mobile Arena (Pic courtesy: Reuters)

London

British cyclist Chris Froome has denied he is ready to

accept a six-month ban from cycling by admitting negligence following his failed drug test last year.

The four-times Tour de France winner reacted to a claim in an Italian newspaper that he was preparing to accept the six-month sanction as a plea bargain on the advice of his wife, Michelle, who is also his manager. The article

suggested he would agree to an “acceptance of consequences” deal in order to avoid the case reaching an independent anti-doping trial.

Froome tweeted: “I have seen the report in Corriere della Sera this morning – it’s completely untrue.”

It is understood the rider will not accept a ban of even one day in relation to his failed test at the Vuelta a Espana last September when double the permitted amount of a banned asthma drug, salbutamol, was found in his system.

It is understood Froome, his advisers at Team Sky and his lawyer, Mike Morgan, are still committed to finding a physiological reason to explain why he returned an adverse analytical finding to a urine test. Froome won the Vuelta but could have that title stripped if he is given an anti-doping rule violation. He also rode for Great Britain in the time trial world championships after being told of his failed test and could be stripped of the bronze medal he won there. (Irishtimes)

Wednesday, January 31, 2018 23SPORTS

Carlston Harris promises fight

Manama

Brave Combat Federation welterweight champion,

Carlston Harris promised Jarrah Al Selawe the championship title fight if he becomes victorious in Jordan.

Carlston Harris was scheduled for the championship title defence in Jordan, but was forced to pull out of the fight due to multiple injuries. Jarrah will compete against the undefeated newcomer, David Bear from France.

Jarrah Al Selawe is amongst the four Jordanian mixed martial artists featured in Brave 10: The Kingdom Rises. The event will take place on 2nd March, 2018 at Amman Jordan.

Jarrah Al Selawe had defeated Carl Booth at the ninth edition of Brave hosted in Bahrain.

Carlston Harris had secured his welterweight championship after competing against Carl Booth at Brave 8: The Rise of Champions hosted at Curitiba, Brazil.

Aside from the main event, the fight card will feature four of the most exciting Jordanian fighters in MMA today.

In the Lightweight division, Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady also seeks his fourth consecutive win against England’s Charlie Leary, while Bantamweights Jalal Al Daaja and Nawraz Abzakh will face Philippine’s Crisanto Pitpitunge and Brazil’s Michael Deiga-Scheck, respectively.

Bahrain Endurance 13 team announcedDT News NetworkManama

Bahrain Endurance 13 team is setting the bar even higher with

its line-up of all-star athletes and achievers racing for key long-distance triathlon titles and promoting a culture of health, wellness and endurance sporting excellence across the Gulf region and beyond.

Eight of the founding athlete line-up will once again return: five-time ITU world champion and two-time Ironman 70.3 world champion Javier Gomez, multiple Ironman world champions Daniela Ryf and Jan Frodeno, two-time ITU long course world champion Jodie Swallow-Cunnama, five-time world champion Terenzo Bozzone, two-time Ironman African champion Ben Hoffman, Ironman South American champion Brent McMahon, and Ironman champion David Plese.

Dual Olympic gold medallist Alistair Brownlee and Ironman 70.3 world champion Holly Lawrence first signed onto the team last year, and

both will be returning in 2018.The team is also welcoming two new

athletes to the roster: Ironman 70.3 World Championship runner-up Ben Kanute from the USA and Australian Olympian Ashleigh Gentle. The two will race over Olympic, mixed team relay, and 70.3 formats, broadening Bahrain Endurance’s representation across all triathlon formats.

The thirteenth spot this year will be filled by Team Captain and founder HH Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of Bahrain Olympic Committee, who qualified for the Ironman World Championship and is one step closer to fulfilling a longtime dream.

Heroes of handball team returnsDT News NetworkManama

Bahrain’s national handball team were given a heroes’

welcome on their return from South Korea yesterday after coming second at the 18th Asian Men’s Championship, and qualifying for the 2019 World Championship in

Germany and Denmark.The nationals put on a brave

show before going down to highly-favoured Qatar 31-33 in their final match which was played in the South Korean city of Suwon on Sunday.

Supreme Council for Youth and Sports assistant general secretary and Bahrain Olympic

Committee (BOC) general secretary Abdulrahman Askar welcomed members of the team on return and congratulated them on this achievement.

Askar commended the overall performance of the team during the competition, especially in the title clash, and also securing their

place in next year’s World Championship for the fourth consecutive time.

The BOC general secretary also asserted the efforts of the Bahrain Handball Association and its president Ali Isa Esaaqi, which played a major part in the team’s success in this continental championship.

Chris Froome denies report

Daniela Ryf (file pic)

Jarrah Al Selawe

Chris Froome (file pic)

Abdulrahman Askar welcomes the team on return from South Korea

London

British cyclist Chris Froome has denied he is ready to

accept a six-month ban from cycling by admitting negligence following his failed drug test last year.

The four-times Tour de France winner reacted to a claim in an Italian newspaper that he was preparing to accept the six-month sanction as a plea bargain on the advice of his wife, Michelle, who is also his manager. The article

suggested he would agree to an “acceptance of consequences” deal in order to avoid the case reaching an independent anti-doping trial.

Froome tweeted: “I have seen the report in Corriere della Sera this morning – it’s completely untrue.”

It is understood the rider will not accept a ban of even one day in relation to his failed test at the Vuelta a Espana last September when double the permitted amount of a banned asthma drug, salbutamol, was found in his system.

It is understood Froome, his advisers at Team Sky and his lawyer, Mike Morgan, are still committed to finding a physiological reason to explain why he returned an adverse analytical finding to a urine test. Froome won the Vuelta but could have that title stripped if he is given an anti-doping rule violation. He also rode for Great Britain in the time trial world championships after being told of his failed test and could be stripped of the bronze medal he won there. (Irishtimes)

Wednesday, January 31, 2018 23SPORTS

Carlston Harris promises fight

Manama

Brave Combat Federation welterweight champion,

Carlston Harris promised Jarrah Al Selawe the championship title fight if he becomes victorious in Jordan.

Carlston Harris was scheduled for the championship title defence in Jordan, but was forced to pull out of the fight due to multiple injuries. Jarrah will compete against the undefeated newcomer, David Bear from France.

Jarrah Al Selawe is amongst the four Jordanian mixed martial artists featured in Brave 10: The Kingdom Rises. The event will take place on 2nd March, 2018 at Amman Jordan.

Jarrah Al Selawe had defeated Carl Booth at the ninth edition of Brave hosted in Bahrain.

Carlston Harris had secured his welterweight championship after competing against Carl Booth at Brave 8: The Rise of Champions hosted at Curitiba, Brazil.

Aside from the main event, the fight card will feature four of the most exciting Jordanian fighters in MMA today.

In the Lightweight division, Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady also seeks his fourth consecutive win against England’s Charlie Leary, while Bantamweights Jalal Al Daaja and Nawraz Abzakh will face Philippine’s Crisanto Pitpitunge and Brazil’s Michael Deiga-Scheck, respectively.

Bahrain Endurance 13 team announcedDT News NetworkManama

Bahrain Endurance 13 team is setting the bar even higher with

its line-up of all-star athletes and achievers racing for key long-distance triathlon titles and promoting a culture of health, wellness and endurance sporting excellence across the Gulf region and beyond.

Eight of the founding athlete line-up will once again return: five-time ITU world champion and two-time Ironman 70.3 world champion Javier Gomez, multiple Ironman world champions Daniela Ryf and Jan Frodeno, two-time ITU long course world champion Jodie Swallow-Cunnama, five-time world champion Terenzo Bozzone, two-time Ironman African champion Ben Hoffman, Ironman South American champion Brent McMahon, and Ironman champion David Plese.

Dual Olympic gold medallist Alistair Brownlee and Ironman 70.3 world champion Holly Lawrence first signed onto the team last year, and

both will be returning in 2018.The team is also welcoming two new

athletes to the roster: Ironman 70.3 World Championship runner-up Ben Kanute from the USA and Australian Olympian Ashleigh Gentle. The two will race over Olympic, mixed team relay, and 70.3 formats, broadening Bahrain Endurance’s representation across all triathlon formats.

The thirteenth spot this year will be filled by Team Captain and founder HH Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of Bahrain Olympic Committee, who qualified for the Ironman World Championship and is one step closer to fulfilling a longtime dream.

Heroes of handball team returnsDT News NetworkManama

Bahrain’s national handball team were given a heroes’

welcome on their return from South Korea yesterday after coming second at the 18th Asian Men’s Championship, and qualifying for the 2019 World Championship in

Germany and Denmark.The nationals put on a brave

show before going down to highly-favoured Qatar 31-33 in their final match which was played in the South Korean city of Suwon on Sunday.

Supreme Council for Youth and Sports assistant general secretary and Bahrain Olympic

Committee (BOC) general secretary Abdulrahman Askar welcomed members of the team on return and congratulated them on this achievement.

Askar commended the overall performance of the team during the competition, especially in the title clash, and also securing their

place in next year’s World Championship for the fourth consecutive time.

The BOC general secretary also asserted the efforts of the Bahrain Handball Association and its president Ali Isa Esaaqi, which played a major part in the team’s success in this continental championship.

Chris Froome denies report

Daniela Ryf (file pic)

Jarrah Al Selawe

Chris Froome (file pic)

Abdulrahman Askar welcomes the team on return from South Korea

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2424 Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Carlston Harris promises fightP23

London

Fernando Alonso will take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year after agreeing a deal with Toyota to race

at all World Endurance Championship events that do not clash with Formula One grands prix.

The deal allows Alonso to continue his pursuit of motorsport’s triple crown, which includes victories at the Indy 500, Le Mans 24 Hours and Monaco Grand Prix. Alonso currently has two Monaco victories to his name and last year competed in the Indy 500 for the first time but did not win.

Alonso will join former F1 drivers Sébastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima in the No.8 Toyota this season and his first race will be at the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on May 5 before taking part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 16-17.

“I’ve never been shy about my aim of winning motorsport’s ‘Triple Crown’ - the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indy 500, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We tried for Indy last year, came close, but just missed out,” Fernando Alonso said.

“This year, I have the chance thanks to McLaren to race for the win at Le Mans. It is a big challenge - much can go wrong - but I am ready, prepared and looking forward to the fight.

“My deal to race in WEC was only made possible through the good understanding and strong relationship I have with McLaren, and I’m very happy that they listened and understood what this means to me.

“In no way will this challenge take away from my main target of Formula 1 with McLaren. In 2018, my aim is to be competitive at every grand prix, and I feel sure that we are closer to achieving that.”

Alonso’s F1 team McLaren agreed to the deal on the proviso that his Formula One duties come first. Last year Alonso skipped the Monaco Grand Prix to compete at the Indianapolis 500 but he is set to compete all 21 rounds of the F1 world championship this year.

The only clash in 2018 comes on October 21 when the Six Hours of Fuji coincides with the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, but McLaren executive director Zak Brown says he supports Alonso’s plans to race at all other rounds of the WEC this year. (Espn)

Alonsoto race at Le Mans

with Toyota

Fernando Alonso

Alonso made his sportscar debut at the Daytona 24 Hours last weekend