turkey enters libya battle - dt news

04 Al Ayam book fair opens

05Babies-for-sale’ scheme shocks Armenia

08 Petrochemicals boost Saudi

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Russia, Iran, China to hold joint naval drills Reuters | Beijing

China, Iran and Rus-sia will hold joint na-

val drills starting today in the Indian Ocean and Sea of Oman, China’s Defence Ministry said yesterday, amid heightened tensions in the region between Tehran and Washington.

China will send the Xin-ing, a guided missile de-stroyer, to the drills, which will last from Dec. 27 to 30, and is meant to deepen co-operation between the three countries’ navies, ministry spokesman Wu Qian told a monthly news briefing.

The Sea of Oman is a par-ticularly sensitive waterway as it connects to the Strait of Hormuz - through which about a fifth of the world’s oil passes - which in turn connects to the Arabian Gulf.

Chinese President Xi Jin-ping is likely to visit Saudi Arabia next year as it is the host of the 2020 G20 sum-mit.

Arab Coalition to investigate Yemen market attackReuters | Dubai

Th e A ra b C o a l i t i o n supporting the legiti-

mate government in Yem-en promised yesterday to investigate a military op-eration this week that the United Nations said killed at least 17 civilians in the latest of three attacks this month on a market.

UN humanitarian coordi-nator Lise Grande said 17 people, including 12 Ethi-opians, died and 12 people were injured in Tuesday’s strike on the al-Raqw mar-ket in Saada, an area near the Saudi border controlled by the Houthis.

Tamkeen relaunches “Discover Life” with Augmented RealityTDT | Manama

Labour fund “Tamkeen” yester-day launched a revamped ver-sion of its magazine “Discover

Life” with a new distinctive look. The magazine is available at Tam-

keen’s booth in the Cultural Book Festival at the Bahrain Internation-al Exhibition & Convention Centre which began yesterday. The festival will continue until 4 January 2020.

Similar to the previous editions, the “Discover Life” magazine focuses on education and training, self-develop-ment, entrepreneurship, the job mar-ket, and career development.

The magazine is considered one of the first in Bahrain to embed Aug-mented Reality (AR), which readers can make use by scanning a QR code on the cover of the magazine.

Tamkeen launched the first edition of the “Discover Life” magazine in

2011, as a quarterly targeting student and fresh graduates.

“Discover Life” magazine has a cir-culation of over 70,000 copies in the Kingdom.

Launch of the new look “Discover Life”

Celestial treat

Turkey enters Libya battle Istanbul

President Recep Tayyip Er-dogan yesterday opened the way for direct Turkish

military intervention in Libya, announcing a parliamentary vote in early January on sending troops to support the UN-backed Tripoli government against strongman Khalifa Haftar.

“We will present the motion to send troops (to Libya) as soon as parliament resumes” on Jan-uary 7, Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara.

“God willing, we will pass it in parliament on January 8-9 and thus respond to an invitation” from the Tripoli-based Govern-ment of National Accord (GNA), he said.

Erdogan’s comments come after the Turkish parliament on Saturday ratified a security and military cooperation deal with the GNA of Fayez al-Sarraj.

That agreement, which came into force yesterday, allows An-kara to send military and se-

curity personnel to Libya for training purposes, according to Turkish officials.

But a separate motion is need-ed to send boots on the ground. The Turkish parliament in Oc-tober passed another motion to deploy troops in Iraq and Syria for another year.

The Turkish leader has in re-cent weeks vowed to increase

military support to the GNA if needed as it battles Haftar, who launched an offensive in April to seize the capital.

Erdogan on Wednesday paid an unannounced visit to Tuni-sia with his defence minister and spy chief to discuss ways of reaching a ceasefire in Libya.

Ankara has also signed a sepa-rate maritime jurisdiction agree-

ment with the GNA -- which has drawn international criticism especially from Greece, as part of its efforts to establish itself as a key player in the exploitation of hydrocarbons in the eastern Mediterranean.

‘Helping a warlord’Pro-GNA militias and Haftar’s

self-styled Libyan National Army are vying for control of the North African country.

Erdogan has said Haftar’s forces are backed by Russian security company Wagner but Moscow has denied this.

“They are helping a war-lord. We are responding to an invitation from the legitimate government of Libya,” Erdogan said yesterday. “That is our dif-ference.”

Asked about Ankara’s plans to send troops to Libya, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was “unlikely that the inter-ference of third parties in this situation could contribute to a settlement.”

He added: “But any attempt by third countries to contribute directly to solving the problem and to help the parties to the conflict find a solution is always welcome.”

Ankara is likely to send an elite joint contingent to Lib-ya, Can Kasapoglu, director of security and defence research programme at the EDAM think-tank in Istanbul, wrote in a pol-icy paper this week. The initial group could include special forces along with military intel-ligence and liaison officers, he commented.

Erdogan has in recent weeks vowed to increase military support to the GNA

Bahrain yesterday witnessed the deepest solar eclipse ever recorded in its history as skywatchers from Saudi Arabia and Oman to India and Singapore were treated to a rare “ring of fire” solar eclipse. (Full story on page 3)

Bruce Lee’s daughter sues chain for using father’s nameShanghai

A company run by Bruce Lee’s daughter is suing a Chinese

fast food chain for allegedly us-ing an image of the late martial arts film star without permis-sion.

Shannon Lee’s Bruce Lee Enterprises accuses restaurant chain Kungfu Catering Manage-ment of having used her father’s image for 15 years in a logo with-out paying intellectual property rights.

The food chain responded Thursday by saying the logo had long been authorized by Chinese

authorities.“We’re confused that we are

prosecuted many years later. We’re actively studying the case and preparing to respond,” the company said in a statement posted on China’s Twitter-like Weibo platform.

According to the Chinese in-ternet portal sina.com, Shannon Lee asked the food chain to im-mediately stop using her father’s image, clarify for 90 consecutive days that it has nothing to do with Bruce Lee, and pay com-pensation of 210 million yuan (US$30 million).

The Guangzhou-based restau-

rant chain known as Real Kung Fu (Zhen Gongfu in Mandarin) was founded in 1990. Since 2004

its logo has featured image of a dark-haired man in a kung fu pose who looks like Bruce Lee.

The founder of the chain said it has more than 600 stores across the country, with a total asset value of over five billion yuan, according to Chinese me-dia.

Bruce Lee Enterprises in Los Angeles handles merchandising and licensing of Bruce Lee’s im-age and aims to keep the martial artist’s energy alive, its official website showed.

Shannon Lee, who has tak-en over the company from her mother, has been involved in the preservation of her fa-ther’s legacy for around two decades.

We will present the motion to send troops (to Libya) as soon as parliament

resumesTAYYIP ERDOGAN

The Real Kung Fu chainis being sued by the company that looks after Bruce Lee’s estate for alledly using his image in a logo without permission

02FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019

Royal Court Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa with the Head of programmes and activities at Education Ministry Undersecretary’s office Dr Safa Ibrahim Al-Alawi, who presented him a copy of her book entitled “Word for Human, Biography of the Thinker Dr Mohammed Jaber Al-Ansari.” The minister stressed the importance of researchers and writers in the Kingdom, wishing her further success.

Deputy Prime Minister, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, receiving a copy of Dr Suad Mohammed Yaseen’s doctoral thesis on constitutional oversight mechanisms in the Bahraini constitutional system, which she obtained from the Faculty of Law at Cairo University. Separately, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla received a copy of the doctoral thesis prepared by Dr Lulwa Bodamlama, on developing endowment using social Innovation concepts, which is the first doctoral thesis in the field of innovation management at the Arab Gulf University. He also received a copy of the master’s thesis prepared by researcher Haifa Adwan on the role of television in setting the priorities of the Bahraini public towards family issues, which she obtained from the Al-Ahlia University. Shaikh Khalid was also presented with a copy of the master’s thesis prepared by researcher Asmahan Al-Jowder, on matrix methods for linear systems of differential equations. The Deputy Premier received Dr Jassim Haji, who presented him with a copy of his latest book titled “Artificial Intelligence ... The Future of Humanity”, and Hassan Al-Ghazal, who presented him with a copy of his book “Stars in Memory”

Stepway Academy Adliya conducted a chess tournament as part of Bahrain National day celebrations at their premises. Chief guest Arun Kumar Sharma, Principal New Millennium School, presented winners with awards

Bahrain, Philippines mull stronger bilateral ties

TDT | Manama

The Undersecretary of Min-istry of Foreign Affairs, Dr

Shaikha Rana bint Isa bin Daij Al Khalifa, yesterday hailed the Filipino community here for their constant support to the Kingdom’s development drive.

The Undersecretary also ex-pressed her aspiration to con-vene the Joint Higher Com-mission between Bahrain and Philippines to develop bilat-eral cooperation between the

two sides in various fields of mutual interest.

Dr Shaikha Rana was meet-ing the Department of For-eign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs of Philippines, Sarah Lou Arriola, who is on a three-day official visit to the Kingdom, in the Ministry’s General Court.

The Undersecretary af-firmed Bahrain’s pride in ac-ceding to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), which also re-flects the Kingdom’s keenness to strengthen relations with ASEAN countries.

Dr Shaikha Rana expressed her appreciation of the efforts of the Embassy of the Philip-pines in strengthening bilater-al relations at all levels.

For her part, Sarah Lou Arri-ola expressed her appreciation for the support Kingdom of-fers to the Filipino community.

She also wished for the continuation of cooperation between the two countries to achieve common interests.

Undersecretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Shaikha Rana bint Isa bin Daij Al Khalifa

Minister of Finance and National Economy Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa with Bahraini Ambassador to the United Kingdom Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa. The minister lauded keenness of Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa on promoting historical relations mainly in the economic and financial fields.

Southern Governor His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa visiting the Camping Services Centre where he was briefed on work procedures. Southern Governorate’s Engineering and Investment Services director Khalid Abdullatif Hajji delivered a presentation, highlighting a big increase in the number of campers. He said that 2443 expatriates have so far registered through the “Janubia” application, up by 63 per cent. A total of 3456 citizens have also have requested queries about the camping season.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa was welcomed by the National Evangelical Church, the Sacred Heart Church, and St. Christopher’s Cathedral, to mark Christmas festivities. During the visits, His Highness noted that Bahrain continues to provide a model for religious coexistence between all faiths, through the values of inclusion and cultural understanding. His Highness wished the church leaders a Happy Christmas and stressed that the Kingdom remains committed to fostering harmony amongst Bahrain’s multifaith society. His Excellency Shaikh Khalifa bin Duaij Al Khalifa, President of the Court of the Crown Prince, Jameel Humaidan, Minister of Labour and Social Development, and several officials were also present.

Jameel Humaidan, Minister of Labour and Social Development inaugurates NGOs’ electronic platform

Dr Abdul Hussain Ali Mirza honours 52 participants in 6th training course on installing solar energy systems

03 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019

The last celestial treat of 2019Partial solar eclipse graces Bahraini skies

TDT | Manama

As the celestial dance start-ed unwinding slowly across the morning sky

of Bahrain, there were countless eyes gazing at the horizon.

Joy, fear, anxiety, you name it and they had them all as the Sun, Moon and Earth slowly started their full, jaw-drop-ping, knee-buckling, emotion-ally-overloading spectacle in its totality.

However, for Bahrainis, being outside the path of totality, the experience was not full with the Moon only partially covering the Sun’s disk creating a less dramat-ic but still impressive show.

The annular or “ring-shaped” phase of the eclipse was visible only at those places where the Sun, Moon and Earth got aligned in a perfect straight line.

Annular eclipse occurs when the Moon covers the Sun’s cen-tre, leaving the Sun’s visible out-er edges to form a blazing “ring of fire” or fierce sunlight or an-nulus. Had the moon been closer to earth, it would have been a total eclipse with it completely blocking out the sun.

Yesterday, during the eclipse, the apparent size of the Moon was 3 per cent smaller than that of the Sun and was at a distance of 384,200 km from Earth.

Partial in BahrainIn Bahrain, the celestial glide

began at 05:32 am local time below the horizon with the sil-houette of the moon moving at a direction of 110° and -11.2° al-titude. The eclipse reached its deepest point at 06:36 am at 117° angle and 2.2° altitude.

The partial eclipse concluded

at 07:49 am as the Moon left the sun’s edge at an angle of 126° and 15.9° altitude.

The entire eclipse event lasted for about 3 hours and 13 minutes, though not all of it were visible from Bahrain.

In Bahrain, the total duration was 01 hour 26 minutes 43 sec-onds.

Morning assemblies were can-celled at schools throughout in the Kingdom as warnings were also given to people to not to watch the eclipse with naked eyes. The education ministry has confirmed that schools will function as usual.

First in SaudiIn the Middle East, the phe-

nomenon presented itself on the horizon early morning, while in southern India it happened at mid-morning. In Indonesia, the strange sight occurred early afternoon and towards sunset in the Philippines.

Preparations to witness the event were elaborate all across the Middle East with the UAE also holding ‘eclipse’ prayers at mosques across the country. The General Authority for Islamic

Affairs and Endowments held ‘Kusoof ’ prayer at 7.40 am at Sheikh Zayed mosques and oth-er major ones.

The UAE also organised sev-eral free-for-all events across the nation in association with the UAE Space Agency and ob-servatories.

Ends in GuamSince the amount of solar disk

hidden by the moon in a partial eclipse depends on how far in-side the penumbral shadow an observer is, those wanting to enjoy that fleeting seconds of wonderment, inside the shad-ow of the moon, were stationed along a 118-kilometre wide path stretching from Saudi Arabia to the Philippines.

Only those in Qatar, the UAE, Oman southern India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and the tiny US territory of Guam managed to see the “ring of fire”.

While these types of eclipses occur every year or two, they are only visible from a narrow band of Earth each time and it can be decades before the same pattern is repeated.

Depending on weather con-ditions, this year’s astronomical phenomenon was set to be visi-ble from the Middle East across southern India and Southeast Asia before ending over the northern Pacific.

8 minutes to cross IndiaThe first place to see the an-

nual eclipse was 220 kilometres northeast of Riyadh, where it began at 6:34 am local time (0334 GMT), and the “ring of fire” phase lasted 2 minutes and 59 seconds.

Travelling at a ground speed

of about 1.1 kilometres/second, it took the ant umbral shadow 8 minutes to cross India.

The immense opportunity to stand in the shadow of the moon lasted for a maximum of 3 minutes and 39.5 seconds at the Indonesian island of Paulo Gin Besar, which was also the longest yesterday.

Southern India In southern India, prepa-

rations were elaborate with government officers, courts, schools and colleges declaring a public holiday. Mumbai even cancelled a first-class cricket match between Mumbai and Rajkot. However, in New Del-hi, cloud blocked the view with Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeting his disappointment, although the view would have been partial.

“Like many Indians I was enthusiastic about solareclipse 2019,” Modi said.

“Unfortunately, I could not see the Sun due to cloud cover but I did catch glimpses of the eclipse in Kozhikode and other parts on live stream.”

In Indonesia, hundreds of people gathered outside Jakarta Planetarium to watch the event using protective glasses supplied by the planetarium, hoping for clear skies at the time of maxi-mum eclipse.

“I could see the eclipse this morning and now am very ex-cited to see the peak though now it is cloudy,” said Chandra Ayu Dewi, 39, who arrived at 7:00 am with her children.

Outside the narrow band where the “Ring of fire” effect can be observed, skywatchers would see a partial solar eclipse.

Missed it? Don’t worry, there is another coming!Yesterday’s was the first eclipse of the season. But space buffs who managed to miss it, won’t have to wait for long. People in this part of the world only have to wait another six months for the next opportunity to witness a ‘ring of fire’ eclipse. But

before that, there is another chance in the form of a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse.

10-11 Jan, 5-6 Jun 2020Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

This phenomenon occurs when the Moon moves through the faint outer part of Earth’s shadow. The Earth blocks some of the Sun’s light from falling directly on the Moon and covers all or part of the Moon with the outer part of its shadow, also known as the penumbra. However, it is almost impossible

to see the start and end of a penumbral eclipse, unlike solar eclipses, even with telescopes. According to timeanddate.com, the earth’s penumbra will start touching the Moon’s face at a direction of 81° and altitude of 41.2° at 20:07 local time on

10 January 2020. The maximum eclipse happens at 22:10 at an angle of 93° and 67.8° altitude. The view will come to a close at 00:12 at a direction of 237° and 83.9° altitude on Saturday, 11 January 2020. The same can also be witnessed from Manama, Riffa from 5 to 6 June 2020.

21 June 2020 (Partial Solar Eclipse)

This peculiar sight, like yesterday’s, is not complete, but will still be a spectacular event to witness. The partial eclipse will begin here at 07:14 local time and end at 10:00 AST for Manama. Maximum eclipse or the time at which the moon is closest

to the centre of the Sun is 08:30 AST.

big story

Picture by Mani S Adoor. Taken from Chandanathoodu, Wayanad in Kerala, southwest India

The moon moves in front of the sun during the start of the rare “ring of fire” solar eclipse in Jakarta

The ‘ring of fire’ eclipse, as seen from Sri Lanka

Skywatchers in Bahrain. In an annular solar eclipse the Moon does not totally obscure the Sun, causing the ‘Ring of fire’ effect.

Soiar eclipse, a view from Bahrain

Bahrain witnesses

biggest solar

eclipse in its history


This is a collective shared

responsibility that should be

transferred across generations

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SHAIKH KHALID BIN ABDULLAH AL KHALIFA

New appointments Manama

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa yesterday named Hussein Ahmed Al Shuail as an Assistance Undersecretary

for Air Transport, Aviation Safety and Security at Transporta-tion and Telecommunications Ministry.

Transportation Minister shall implement the order, which takes immediate effect and will be published in the Official Gazette.

Separately, HM the King named Yousif Abdullah Hamoud as Undersecretary for Financial Affairs at the Ministry of Finance and National Economy.

The appointment will come into effect from the date of its issuance and will be published in the Official Gazette.

Al Ayam book fair opens • 240 publishers from 16 countries at the fair

• Autograph sessions with more than 100 authors

TDT | Manama

Deputy Prime Minister Shai-kh Khalid bin Abdullah Al

Khalifa yesterday inaugurated the Al Ayam Book Fair hailing Bahrain’s deep-rooted tradition that readily embraces various cultures and ideas.

“This is a collective shared responsibility that should be transferred across generations,” Shaikh Khalid said inaugurating the fair now in its 26th edition.

Two-forty publishing houses from 16 countries are partici-pating in the fair which features thousands of books on various topics and ideas.

The Deputy Prime Minister thanked Al Ayam for its steady commitment to holding the fair, saying, “The advancement and progress of nations are meas-ured by the intellectual and cul-tural standards of their people.”

“The knowledge should be harnessed for the benefit of

humanity and help it avoid the evils and dangers generated by deviant ideas and cultures,” he added.

Shura Council Chairman, ministers, diplomats, intellectu-als and media figures attended the ceremony which is backed by Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khali-fa and HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown

Prince, Deputy Supreme Com-mander and First Deputy Prime Minister.

Al Ayam Board Chairman Na-jib Al Hamer said the official patronage of the fair demon-strates the state’s commitment to Bahrain’s progress and prosperity.

The fair also offers readers an opportunity to get autographs from more than 100 authors.

Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Khalid inaugurates Al Ayam Book Fair in the presence of top officials and guests

“Elderly sitter” programme holds graduation ceremony Manama

The Bahrain Society for Women Development cel-

ebrated the graduation of the second batch of “elderly sitter” programme held under the pa-tronage of Her Highness Shai-kha Zain bint Khalid Al Khalifa, the honorary president of the society.

Shaikha Lubna bint Abdul-lah bin Khalid Al Khalifa, rep-resenting Shaikha Zain at the ceremony, said the programme is “a true translation of how Bah-rain, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, is keen to provide proper attention and care to the elderly in a way that guarantees them a decent life.”

Bahrain Society for Wom-en Development President Khadija Al Sayyed said that 13

male and female trainees are graduating.

“The programme specialises in preparing Bahrainis to care

for elderly people in their homes or governmental and private homes as per the regulations of the Ministry of Health and the

Ministry of Labour and Social Development. It includes com-pleting and passing a training programme in the College of

Health Sciences for six months,” she said.

The programme requires trainees to make home visits

and provide necessary physi-cal care, assistance, advice and guidance on request, said Al Sayyed.

The graduates with officials during a ceremony held on the occasion of the graduation of the second batch of “elderly sitter” programme

Enhancing the use of Artificial Intelligence

TDT | Cairo

Bahrain has participated in the 17th conference for min-

isters responsible for higher ed-ucation and scientific research in the Arab world, held under the patronage of President Ab-del Fattah el-Sisi.

Education Minister Dr Majid

bin Ali Al-Nuaimi headed Bah-raini delegation to the confer-ence under the theme “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Education: Challenges and bets”.

The conference made several recommendations, including working to develop general policies and plans to enhance the use of AI in education and

scientific research.The minister stressed the im-

portance of the conference in setting a timeline for the im-plementation of the recommen-dations reached which will be viewed by the executive council of Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organi-sation (ALESCO).

He praised the support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in implementing initia-tives related to creative innova-tion and AI in this sector.

The delegation participated in an exhibition, which pre-sented the achievements of 100 years of education in Bahrain, on the sidelines.

Education Minister Dr Majid bin Ali Al-Nuaimi headed Bahraini delegation to the conference held in Cairo

Sand theft: Man gets 3 years in jail Man robes sand and stones, sell them for BD500,000TDT | Manama

The Lower Criminal Court sentenced a Bahraini man

to three years behind bars in absentia for stealing sand and stones from a plot and selling them for more than BD500,000.

Court files say, the suspect committed the crime after leasing the property claiming to use it for a project.

However, the landlord found that he instead fenced the property and excavated all of the sand and stones from there and sold it.

“During negotiations, he pledged that he would build a project on the land. Thus, we

agreed to lend it to him,” the owner said in her complaint.

“Then we found out that he dug out all of the land and stones from there and sold it to a third party. He also ran away before lodging the complaint,” she added.

The man was held guilty of dishonesty and fraud.

Representative picture

Court orders to arrest witnesses in fraud CaseTDT | Manama

The High Criminal Court ordered to arrest witness-

es who failed to testify in a swindling case.

The witnesses were sup-posed to make their statement against two brothers who are accused of swindling 38 people out of one million Bahraini dinars by making promises to invest the money in the Forex trade.

The brothers reportedly cre-ated a fake real estate company and made the victims believe that they are ready to gener-

ate revenue for them through Forex.

They reportedly collected funds from them, before dis-appearing.

Police investigated the case after several victims come for-ward with complaints against the pair.

Investigators found that the pair didn’t have the required permissions to receive money for investment purposes.

According to court files, the duo began their activities in 2015 up until 2017. Some of the victims are from Saudi Arabia.


Typhoon Phanfone kills at least 16 in Philippines• Wind gusts reaching 200 kilometres (125 miles) an hour, tore roofs off houses and toppled electric posts

AFP | Manila

Tourists on the popular Philippine holiday island of Boracay were stranded

on Thursday after a typhoon swept across on Christmas Day, killing at least 16 people in other parts of the country.

Typhoon Phanfone, with wind gusts reaching 200 kilometres (125 miles) an hour, tore roofs off houses and toppled electric posts as it ripped through the central Philippines on Wednes-day.

At least 16 people were killed in villages and towns in the Visayas, the central third of the Philippines, according to disas-ter agency officials.

Phanfone also hit Boracay, Coron and other holiday desti-nations that are famed for their white-sand beaches and popular with foreign tourists.

Mobile phone and internet ac-cess on Boracay was cut during the storm on Wednesday and the networks remained down on Thursday, making assessment of the damage there difficult.

“Still, communication lines are

down. Electricity is still down,” Jonathan Pablito, police chief of Malay town in Aklan province, which is on a neighbouring is-land to Boracay, told AFP.

Pablito said ferry services be-tween Boracay and Aklan -- the main way to travel to and from the holiday island -- were still

not operating on Thursday, even though the storm had passed.

“We have no news from coast guard if ships were allowed to sail. Since the 24th... all those going to the island and coming from the island weren’t able to cross.”

The airport at Kalibo town in Aklan, which services Boracay, was badly damaged, according to a Korean tourist who was stranded there and provided images to AFP.

“Roads remain blocked, but some efforts have been made to

clear away the damage. It’s pretty bad,” Jung Byung

Joon said via Insta-gram messenger.

“Everything with-in 100 meters of the airport looks bro-ken. There are a lot of frustrated peo-ple at the airport

as flights have been cancelled.“Taxis are still run-

ning but it’s windy and still raining so no one wants to leave the airport, including me.”

Another Korean tourist stuck at the damaged airport said she had been unable to make contact with her friend on Borocay on Thursday.

“I tried to call my friend in Boracay today and wasn’t able to get through. Maybe something isn’t working,” Dahae Gong said via Instagram.

“I don’t know when I will be able to go home.”

Memories of monster stormStill, there was no indication

of any major damage or other-wise on Boracay.

Though much weaker, Phan-fone tracked a similar path as Super Typhoon Haiyan -- the country’s deadliest storm on re-cord which left more than 7,300 people dead or missing in 2013.

“It’s like the younger sibling of Haiyan. It’s less destructive, but it followed a similar path,” Cindy Ferrer, an information officer at the Western Visayas region’s disaster bureau, said.

Tens of thousands of people in the mostly Catholic nation had been forced to evacuate their homes on Wednesday, ruining Christmas celebrations.

Many others were not able to return to their families, with ferries and plane services sus-pended.

Among those killed Phanfone was a police officer who was electrocuted by a toppled post while patrolling.

The Philippines is the first major landmass facing the Pa-cific typhoon belt, and is hit by an average of about 20 major storms a year.

Many of the storms are deadly, and they typically wipe out har-vests, homes and infrastructure, keeping millions of people per-ennially poor.

Typhoon Phanfone swept across the central Philippines on Christmas Day, tearing roofs off

Residents wade through a highway flooded by typhoon Phanfone in Ormoc City, Leyte province

‘Babies-for-sale’ scheme shocks ArmeniaAFP | Yerevan

Syuzan Patvakanyan has been searching for her daughter

ever since doctors in post-Soviet Armenia forced her to give her up as a baby nearly two decades ago.

Now 35, she shared her story as the authorities this month detained the country’s chief obstetrician-gynaecologist, the head of an orphanage and other officials as part of a probe into an alleged black-market adoption scheme believed to have been operating for years.

Patvakanyan accused the detained chief gynaecologist, Razmik Abramyan, and other doctors of pressuring her to give up her daughter Stella.

She was just 16 when she “fell madly in love” with a man five years her senior, she said.

After Stella’s birth, Armenian doctors threatened to report the father to police and coerced Pat-vakanyan into signing a consent form to hand over the baby.

“I cried, I didn’t want to do it,” she said in an interview, tears streaming down her face.

When she returned to the ma-ternity ward three days later to take her home, Stella was no longer there.

The doctors claimed she had been sent to an orphanage in the country’s second largest city of Gyumri. But the teenage mum could not locate her there either.

“We realised that the swad-dled baby had been sold right out of the hospital,” said the dis-traught woman.

Patvakanyan appears to be one of dozens of women caught up in an underground baby-selling network that is now the subject of an official investigation in the impoverished ex-Soviet country.

In December, investiga-tors said they had detained Abramyan, as well as the heads

of a maternity ward and an or-phanage in the capital Yerevan.

The chief gynaecologist was released several days later, sparking public outrage.

According to his lawyer, Abramyan dismisses the claims as “unfounded and absurd” and insists he had nothing to do with the adoptions.

The lawyer, Samvel Dilban-dyan, confirmed Abramyan had helped to deliver Stella, but could not be expected to remember every birth he was involved in.

“It’s been 20 years, how can he remember her?” Dilbandyan asked.

‘More powerful than drugs mafia’

Armenia’s pro-reform leader Nikol Pashinyan has ordered a thorough investigation into the alleged scheme, which he said is believed to have been operating

“for many years.”“How could such a scheme

exist in Armenia?” Pashinyan in-dignantly asked at a government meeting this month.

Marat Kostanyan, a lawyer who has represented Patvakan-yan since 2013, claims the net-

work was vast and involved high-ranking officials and po-lice, as well as staff at maternity wards and orphanages.

“The mafia selling children is more powerful than the drugs mafia,” Kostanyan said.

“This criminal network has

turned the country into a hatch-ery to produce babies.”

Despite all his efforts, there has been little progress in Pat-vakanyan’s case, the lawyer said.

“As far as I know, no one has managed to achieve justice and get their babies back,” he said.

Separately, Armenia’s security service said in November it had exposed a criminal network that helped Italians adopt more than 30 babies in recent years.

It said that between 2016 and

2018 several young women who had wanted to terminate their pregnancies were instead forced to carry the babies to term and then give them up for adoption.

“In some cases, the frightened mothers were told their new-born babies were sick,” the se-curity service said.

Deputy labour minister Zhan-

na Andreasyan said officials had started looking more closely into adoptions after noticing that four times as many children went to foreigners rather than to locals.

All adoptions have since been suspended while the investiga-tion is ongoing.

Armenia, a South Caucasus country of fewer than three mil-lion people, has also pledged to abolish orphanages by 2023, instead reuniting children with their biological parents or find-ing new homes for them.

In a 2017 report, Human Rights Watch said that thou-sands of Armenian children were “needlessly” separated from their parents due to disa-bility or poverty and placed in institutions.

More than 90 percent of chil-dren in residential institutions in the country have at least one living parent, it said.

According to Armenia’s labour ministry, fewer than 650 chil-dren currently live in orphan-ages. More than 70 percent of these have disabilities, according to UNICEF.

‘I will never stop’ Patvakanyan said she still

hopes to find her daughter.“I love my Stella very much, I

miss her very much, I see her in my dreams. She comes to me and says: ‘Mum, I live nearby, don’t cry so hard’.”

She said she would not marry or have another child until she gets her daughter back.

She has bought a small plot of land where she wants to grow a garden for her long-lost child. She buys her gifts. She intently studies the faces of strangers.

“I’ll never stop searching for her,” she said, weeping. “I will look for her even when my hair turns white.”

Armenia has launched an official investigation into what appears to be an underground baby-selling network in the impoverished ex-Soviet country

Deputy labour minister Zhanna Andreasyan said officials had started looking more closely into adoptions after noticing that four times as many children went to foreigners rather than to locals

In a 2017 report, Human Rights Watch said that thousands of Armenian children were “needlessly” separated from their parents due to disability or poverty and placed in institutions

According to Armenia’s labour ministry, fewer

than 650 children currently live in orphan-ages, but more than 70 percent of these have

disabilities, according to UNICEF

The National | Cairo

With her trademark rollers, thick eyeliner and glamorous outfits, Abla Fahita makes a lasting im-

pression wherever she goes.A gossipy widow from Egypt who likes

“only handsome men”, Fahita has two children: a daughter, Karkoura, whom she is hard on because “life is tough on girls”, and baby son, Boudi, the “apple of my eye”. She also has a pet cat, Rex, “who is more like a dog and miaow-barks”, and Hudhud, a parrot given to screeching profanities.

She’s a puppet with her own television show. Abla Fahita: Live from the Duplex launched in 2015.. The show was filmed in an old, refurbished theatre in downtown Cairo that doubles as the puppet’s home – a lavishly decorated set depicting a duplex, where she welcomed celebrity guests from across the region.

Fahita made her sensational debut on YouTube in 2010 and quickly became one of the Arab world’s best-known online characters. The identity of her creator is a closely guarded secret – he or she has chosen to remain anonymous, although theories abound.

At the Dubai International Film Festival in 2015, the ¬puppet, who made an ap-pearance on the red carpet, was overheard cheekily asking for Hollywood star Tom Cruise’s number so that she would not

have to arrive alone.Fahita, who was dressed in a gorgeous

evening gown by Egyptian designer Hani Elbeheri, said of the emirate: “Dubai is a spitting image of Cairo: same big clean streets, same big tall skyscrapers, same excellent service. Cairo being only far more expensive.”

The puppet got her name from a hilar-ious video in which she discussed how to make fajitas, the Mexican dish, while “Abla” is a term of respect used for an older person. Her mannerisms are similar to the legendary Arab comediennes Zay-nat Siddqi and Marie Munib, who often portrayed acid-tongued mothers-in-law or nosy neighbours.

Her subsequent YouTube clips quickly went viral and were often themed around Fahita’s exploits. The plots usually in-volved outrageous gimmicks, such as the one in which Fahita and Caro are crushed after a ceiling fan falls on them. Mother and daughter undergo plastic surgery in Paris, from which they emerge completely transformed.

“I debated on whose lips I wanted – Catherine Zeta Jones’s or Nicole Kid-man’s,” Fahita said about the episode.

Opinionated and outspoken, the puppet often finds herself in the limelight for her outrageous comments.

Abla Fahita is seen as a treasure in her native Egypt. Considered to be one of the region’s most outspoken feminists, she is

the founder of the fictional “on-my-own” association for single women, widows and divorcees, and has a strong presence on social media, with almost four million followers.

“What to do? I am too much loved, it’s understood, of course,” she said, her speech peppered with the occasional Eng-lish or French word. Her witty remarks, delivered straight-faced (she is, after all, a puppet) in a lilting Egyptian accent, and glamorous get-up, strongly reminiscent of the golden age of her country’s cinema, are a large part of her appeal.

But it was during the 2011 Egyptian Revolution when her popularity skyrock-eted. She provided commentary in her usual controversial style, directing barbs at various politicians and their policies. Her

antics earned her a guest appearance in 2013 on El Bernameg (“the show”), a news satire TV programme presented by Bassem Youssef, Egypt’s own “Jon Stewart”, and overnight her followers on social media soared from 60,000 to 220,000.

“Abla Fahita” quickly became a brand. The puppet frequently appeared in design-er clothes that she plugged on her show and a career in television soon followed. She even appeared in popular commercials for companies including Nestlé.

But it was a Vodafone Egypt advert re-leased in December 2013 that brought her notoriety and set social media abuzz. A little-known rap singer alleged that the advertisement included coded signals for bomb attacks by the Muslim Brotherhood, and Fahita was accused of being a spy, among other things.

“Silly. A new level of silly. The only spy I like is James Bond,” said Fahita, who appears to take it all in her stride.

Her ability to cross genres has resulted in a wide fan base. Last July, she appeared in a music video called Mayestahlushi (“they don’t deserve me”), with Egyptian heartthrob Hassan El Shafei, a music pro-ducer and Arab Idol judge.

“Yes, girls, I got him,” said Fahita, who sings as she romances Hassan in the video.

What’s next for the irrepressible pup-pet?

“I am aiming to surprise myself with my next move – maybe movies, something new enough to shake Hollywood,” she said, adding that she has already been approached by a few filmmakers at Diff

about a possible film project.Fahita wants to make a collaborative film

with eclectic talent from across the region.“I may also go blonde,” the brunette

added, with a wink. “It will definitely help me shine through the nights when the electricity is down.”

Arab News | Sharjah

Since time immemorial, music has played a key role in binding human society. Social reforms in Saudi Ara-

bia, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, have paved the way for many public musical performances.

These reforms have given artists opportu-nities to express themselves. Syrian musician Basheer Abu Al-Kheir, 75, has been playing the qanun, a string instrument, in different parts of the Arab world for 50 years. He has been performing in Jeddah for six years, and began performing in cafes and restaurants over a year ago.

Abu Al-Kheir was well-received by the audience at Jeddah’s Naranj, where he per-

formed Sufi songs.“I was asked on a Friday night to come

to the restaurant and perform religious

Ibtihalat (chanting praise of Allah), and the audience liked my performance as it came from a pure heart full of spirituality and thoughtful words,” he said. “Conse-quently, people started asking me for more performances.”

Abu Al-Kheir wants to bridge gaps be-tween different communities through his music, which focuses on praising Allah.

“We should accept other Muslim commu-nities as we have something very important in common: The worship of Allah and love for his prophet,” he said, adding that music is the only common language between every-one on this planet.

“When it’s authentic and stemming from a sincere place, there’s no doubt that mu-sic refines the hearts of its listeners and

takes them to a world free of grudges,” he said.

“Hearts are purified and hatred is thrown far away, and only love and serenity among people will remain.”

Abu Al-Kheir said the Vision 2030 re-form plan paved the way for the art scene in Saudi Arabia. “There’s no doubt that the reform steps taken by Crown Prince Mo-hammed bin Salman were wonderful on all levels, especially the revitalization of the art scene in general and music in particular,” he added.

“We could only dream of this opportunity (performing in public places such as res-taurants and hotels) in the past. The field of art has become essential, which has made people happy.”

THE ONLY MAN WHO NEVER MAKES A MISTAKE IS THE MAN WHO NEVER DOES ANYTHINGTHEODORE ROOSEVELT

1939 19491945 1979TODAY IN HISTORYQUOTE

OF THE DAYFRIDAY

We should accept other Muslim communities as we have something very

important in common: The worship of Allah

and love for his prophet. Music is the only common

language between everyone on this planet

BASHEER ABU AL-KHEIR

DECEMBER 27, 2019

Abu Al-Kheir wants to bridge gaps between different communities through his performances

Abla Fahita is an online

public figure on Egyptian

social media, who has

become an internet

‘millionaire’

Hon. Chairman Najeb Yacob Alhamer | Editor-in-Chief Mahmood AI Mahmood | Chairman & Managing Director P Unnikrishnan | Advertisement: Update Media W.L.L | Tel: 38444692, Email: [email protected] | Newsroom: Tel: 38444680, Email: [email protected] & circulation: Tel: 36458394 | Email:[email protected] | Website: www.newsofbahrain.com | Printed and published by Al Ayam Publishing

Between 20,000 & 40,000 die in magnitude 8 quake in Erzincam, Turkey

Queen Juliana of the Netherlands grants inde-pendence to Indonesia

International Monetary Fund formally estab-lished by 29 member countries based on ideas of Harry Dexter White and John Maynard Keynes

After invading Afghanistan two days earlier Soviet forces pull off a coup in Kabul, killing Pres-ident Hafizullah Amin

R E V O L T

S T R I N G

On her show, “Live from the Duplex”, Abla Fahita frequently and una-

shamedly addresses taboo topics – a fact that divides opinion in Egyptian

society

Basheer Abu Al-Kheir has been playing the qanun for 55 years, and his voice has been familiar to radio

listeners in Damascus, Cairo and Amman for 50 years

Abla Fahita: a puppet without strings

Inspired by Saudi Arabia’s social reforms, Syrian musician steps up effort to promote cultural harmony, tolerance

Abla Fahita

A poster of Abla Fahita’s TV show

Abla Fahita

Abla Fahita during a show

Basheer Abu Al-Kheir plays his qanun

Basheer Abu Al-Kheir with his qanun

08

business

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019

Russia can finish Nord Stream 2 within couple of months: IfaxReuters | Moscow

Russia can finish the con-struction of the Nord

Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany within a couple of months, Interfax cited Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak as saying.

President Vladimir Putin said Russia has a “pipe-laying vessel” to complete the con-struction of the Nord Stream 2, Kommersant daily report-ed citing unnamed sources on Thursday, following sanctions imposed by Washington.

US President Donald Trump

imposed sanctions last week on the Nord Stream 2 pipe-line designed by Moscow to bypass Ukraine and increase gas supplies via the Baltic Sea to Germany, Russia’s biggest

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak

China says in close touch with US on trade dealReuters | Beijing

China is in close touch with the United States on sign-

ing a Phase 1 trade deal, the country’s commerce minis-try said yesterday, adding that both sides are still going through necessary procedures before the signing.

Gao Feng, commerce minis-try spokesman, made the com-ments to reporters at a regular briefing.

A worker drives a truck carrying a container at a logistics center near Tianjin port, in Tianjin, China

Petrochemicals boost Saudi• Aramco rebounds to 35.4 riyals

• Yansab drops on lower H2 dividend

• Top lender biggest drag in Abu Dhabi

• Financials strong in Egypt

Reuters

Stock markets in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar fell yesterday with bank-

ing shares leading the way, but petrochemicals helped Saudi Arabia buck the trend.

Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index reversed earlier losses to close up 0.1 per cent, with Saudi Basic Industries gaining 1.3pc and state-owned Aram-co 0.4pc higher at 35.4 riyals ($9.44).

On Tuesday, Aramco said IPO bookrunner Goldman Sachs may make additional purchas-es of the oil giant’s shares to support the price of the stock. The so-called stabilisation pe-riod will end on Jan. 9, but so far no transactions have been executed.

Yanbu National Petrochem-icals (Yansab) fell 1.8pc after its board proposed a lower sec-ond-half dividend this year.

In Abu Dhabi, the index slipped 1pc with the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) largest

lender First Abu Dhabi Bank down 1.2pc and Abu Dhabi

Commercial Bank off 0.9pc.Telecoms firm Etisalat de-

creased 1.2pc.Dubai’s index fell 0.3pc with

the country’s largest shar-ia-compliant lender Dubai Is-lamic Bank and Dubai Invest-ments shedding 0.9pc and 1.5pc, respectively.

The UAE’s central bank on Wednesday said it expected gross domestic product to in-crease by 2pc in the fourth quar-ter from the same period last year, state news agency WAM reported.

The Qatari index edged down 0.2pc with Qatar Islamic Bank ending 0.7pc lower and Qatar National Bank 0.5pc lower.

However, the index found

some support from Commercial Bank, which leapt 4.2pc.

Egypt ’s blue-chip index traded 1pc higher with gain-ers outnumbering losers. Com-mercial International bank rose 1.8pc and Cairo for Investment and Real Estate Development jumped 4.3pc.

Egypt’s current account defi-cit narrowed to $1.382 billion in July to September 2019 from $2.012 billion in the same period a year earlier, central bank data showed on Wednesday.

Net foreign direct invest-ment inflows during the peri-od, which is the first quarter of Egypt’s 2019/2020 financial year, rose to $2.353 billion from $1.415 billion a year earlier.

Closing Bell SAUDI p 0.1pc to 8,353 pts

ABU DHABIq 1pc to 5,050 pts

DUBAI q 0.3pc to 2,765 pts

QATAR q 0.2pc to 10,426 pts

EGYPT p 1pc to 13,885 pts

BAHRAIN p 0.1pc to 1,604 pts

OMAN q 0.2pc to 3,866 pts

KUWAIT q 0.4pc at 6,926 pts

Traders watching stock movements on the floor of Saudi stock market (Courtesy of Forbes)

The Avenues - Bahrain, the largest waterfront shopping and entertainment destination in the Kingdom, held a series of events from 13th – 17th of December, showcasing Bahrain’s rich culture as part of Bahrain National day celebrations. Activities included a traditional Ardha dance and decorative handicrafts stations where visitors where engaged in basket weaving and pottery making. Visitors were also treated to traditional Arabic coffee and sweets and were served delightful delicacies at the live cooking stations at the main entrances. The Avenues-Bahrain also treated families to a special Winter Wonderland experience. Till the end of December 2019, visitors can enjoy a specular display of lights and decorations throughout the entire shopping complex. The Avenues-Bahrain Dome area boasts a snow play zone for kids equipped with snow machines, which project artificial snow

Al Hawaj shopping bazaar to end 2019 with a blast

TDT | Manama

Al Hawaj Shopping Bazaar welcomes shoppers to bid

the year a sweet farewell by tak-ing advantage of the amazing discounts on offers at its bazaar in Hall 2A of Bahrain Interna-tional Exhibition Centre (BIEC).

The bazaar which began on 24 December 2019 will con-tinue until Saturday. Doors

are open from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm and resumes from 4 pm to 10 pm.

Indulge your fashionable palate from a wide array of fabulous brands in perfumes, cosmetics, watches, skincare, leather bags, luggage items, gift sets, electronics, home appli-ances, and crystal jewellery and accessories.

This collection boasts of

world-famous brands, namely: Swarovski, Samsung TCL, Sam-sonite and American Tourister, Guess, GC. Other special offers are available for various range of customers.

Al Hawaj Shopping Bazaar also features special rosaries or Misbah. Admire the colourful collection of beautiful and ele-gant beads made from the finest materials.

In addition to a huge number of perfumes, rosaries, accesso-ries, cosmetics and skincare, Samsung is also participating in this bazaar with a large as-sortment of home electronics at attractive offers and huge discounts.

Visit the BIEC for the Al Ha-waj Shopping Bazaar. Entrance is free. For more information, call 16160000.

The bazaar which began on 24 December 2019 will continue until tomorrow

National Day: The Avenues - Bahrain

AL FELOUS (THE MONEY) (PG-15)OASIS JUFFAIR : 11.15 AM + 1.45 + 4.15 + 6.45 + 9.15 + 11.45 PM OASIS JUFFAIR (VIP): 12.00 + 5.30 + 11.00 PM CITY CENTRE: 10.30 AM + 11.30 AM + 1.00 + 2.00 + 3.30 + 4.30 + 6.00 + 7.00 + 8.30 + 9.30 + 11.00 PM + 12.00 MN + (12.30 MN + 1.00 AM THURS/FRI)CITY CENTRE (VIP I) : 11.00 AM + 1.30 + 4.00 + 6.30 + 9.00 + 11.30 PMSEEF (I): 11.00 AM + 12.00 + 1.30 + 2.30 + 4.00 + 5.00 + 6.30 + 7.30 + 9.00 + 10.00 +11.30 PM + (12.30 MN THURS/FRI)SEEF (II): (1.00 AM THURS/FRI) WADI AL SAIL: 10.30 AM + 11.00 AM + 1.00 + 1.30 + 3.30 + 4.00 + 6.00 + 6.30 + 8.30 + 9.00 +11.00 + 11.30 PM

TAMER HOSNY, ZEINA, KHALID EL-SAWI

SPIES IN DISGUISE (PG)OASIS JUFFAIR (KIDS CINEMA): 1.00 + 3.15 + 5.30 + 7.45 PMOASIS JUFFAIR (KIDS CINEMA): (3D) 10.45 AM + 10.00 PMCITY CENTRE: 11.30 AM + 1.45 + 4.00 + 6.15 + 8.30 + 10.45 PM CITY CENTRE:DUBBED IN ARABIC: 12.00 + 2.15 + 4.30 + 6.45 + 9.00 + 11.15 PM CITY CENTRE (3D): 11.00 AM + 1.15 + 3.30 + 5.45 + 8.00 + 10.15 PM SEEF (II): 11.30 AM + 1.45 + 4.00 + 6.15 + 8.30 + 10.45 PM SEEF (II):DUBBED IN ARABIC: 12.30 + 2.45 + 5.00 + 7.15 + 9.30 + 11.45 PM WADI AL SAIL: 11.15 AM + 1.30 + 3.45 + 6.00 + 8.15 + 10.30 PM

WILL SMITH, TOM HOLLAND, KAREN GILLAN

GOOD NEWWZ (15+)(HINDI/COMEDY/DRAMA)From Friday 27thOASIS JUFFAIR : 11.30 AM + 2.30 + 5.30 + 8.30 + 11.30 PM CITY CENTRE: 11.30 AM + 2.30 + 5.30 + 8.30 + 11.30 PM SEEF (I): 11.30 AM + 2.30 + 5.30 + 8.30 + 11.30 PM WADI AL SAIL: 11.00 AM + 2.00 + 5.00 + 8.00 + 11.00 PM

AKSHAY KUMAR, KAREENA KAPOOR, DILJIT DOSANJH

THE COURIER (15+ )(ACTION/THRILLER)CITY CENTRE: 11.00 AM + 1.15 + 3.30 + 5.45 + 8.00 + 10.15 PM SEEF (II): 10.30 AM + 12.45 + 3.00 + 5.15 + 7.30 + 9.45 PM + 12.00 MN

OLGA KURYLENKO, GARY OLDMAN, AMIT SHAH

TRAUMA CENTRE (PG-15)(THRILLER)CITY CENTRE: 10.30 AM + 3.00 + 7.30 + 12.00 MN SEEF (II): 10.30 AM + 12.30 + 2.45 + 5.00 + 7.15 + 9.30 + 11.45 PM

BRUCE WILLIS, NICKY WHELAN, STEVE GUTTENBERG

IP MAN 4 (PG-15)(ACTION/DRAMA/BIOGRAPHY) CITY CENTRE: 12.45 + 5.15 + 9.45 PM SEEF (II): 12.15 + 2.30 + 4.45 + 7.00 + 9.15 + 11.30 PM

DONNIE YEN, SCOTT ADKINS, KWOK-KWAN CHAN

MIRACLE IN CELL NO.7 (PG-15)(FILIPINO/DRAMA) OASIS JUFFAIR:3.15 + 9.00 PMSEEF (II): 11.00 AM + 1.30 + 4.00 + 6.30 + 9.00 + 11.30 PM

AGA MUHLACH, JOEL TORRE, JC SANTOS

JUMANJI THE NEXT LEVEL (PG-15)OASIS JUFFAIR: 2.45 + 8.30 PMCITY CENTRE: 10.30 AM + 1.00 + 3.45 + 6.30 + 9.15 + 12.00 MN + (12.30 MN THURS/FRI)CITY CENTRE (IMAX 2D) :11.30 AM + 5.15 + 11.00 PM CITY CENTRE (VIP II) : 12.30 + 3.15 + 6.00 + 8.45 + 11.30 PMSEEF (II): 12.30 + 3.15 + 6.00 + 8.45 + 11.30 PMWADI AL SAIL: 12.45 + 3.30 + 6.15 + 9.00 + 11.45 PM

DWAYNE JOHNSON, JACK BLACK, KEVIN HART

DABANGG 3 (PG-15)(HINDI/ACTION/COMEDY) د OASIS JUFFAIR : 11.00 AM + 2.00 + 5.00 + 8.00 + 11.00 PM CITY CENTRE: 10.30 AM + 1.30 + 4.45 + 8.00 + 11.15 PM SEEF (II): 10.30 AM + 1.45 + 5.00 + 8.15 + 11.30 PM WADI AL SAIL: 11.30 AM + 2.30 + 5.30 + 8.30 + 11.30 PM

SALMAN KHAN, SONAKSHI SINHA, WARINA HUSSAIN

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER (PG-13OASIS JUFFAIR: 11.45 AM + 5.30 + 11.15 PMOASIS JUFFAIR (VIP): 2.30 + 8.00 PMCITY CENTRE: 11.30 AM + 2.30 + 5.30 + 8.30 + 11.30 PM CITY CENTRE (IMAX 2D) : 2.15 + 8.00 PM SEEF (II) : 12.45 + 6.00 + 11.15 PM

DAISY RIDLEY, MARK HAMILL, ADAM DRIVER

FROZEN 2 (PG)(ANIMATION/ADVENTURE/COMEDY) د CITY CENTRE: 11.00 AM + 1.15 + 3.30 + 5.45 + 8.00 + 10.15 PM SEEF (II):10.30 AM + 3.45 + 9.00 PM

KRISTEN BELL, IDINA MENZEL, JOSH GAD

21 BRIDGES (PG-15)(CRIME/ACTION/THRILLER) 21 ددد CITY CENTRE: 12.15 + 2.30 + 4.45 + 7.00 + 9.15 + 11.30 PM

CHADWICK BOSEMAN, SIENNA MILLER, STEPHAN JAMES

KNIVES OUT (PG-15)(CRIME/COMEDY/THRILLER) دCITY CENTRE: 3.15 + 8.45 PM

DANIEL CRAIG, CHRIS EVANS, ANA DE ARMAS

JOKER (15+)(THRILLER/CRIME/DRAMA) دددددد CITY CENTRE: 12.30 + 6.00 + 11.30 PM

JOAQUIN PHOENIX, ZAZIE BEETZ, ROBERT DE NIRO

LE MANS ‘66 (PG-13)(DRAMA/SPORT/BIOGRAPHY) CITY CENTRE: 2.30 + 8.00 PM

MATT DAMON, CHRISTIAN BALE, JON BERNTHAL

MALEFICENT 2: MISTRESS OF EVIL (PG) CITY CENTRE: 12.00 + 5.30 + 11.00 PM

ANGELINA JOLIE, TERESA MAHONEY, MICHELLE PFEIFFER

THAMBI (PG-13)(TAMIL) OASIS JUFFAIR : 12.00 + 5.30 + 11.00 PM SEEF (I): 2.00 + 11.15 PM AL HAMRA: 6.00 PM

KARTHI, JYOTHIKA, SATHYARAJ

HERO (PG-15)(TAMIL) SEEF (I): 8.00 PM

SIVAKARTHIKEYAN, ARJUN, ABHAY DEOL, KALYANI PRIYADARSHAN

KETYOLANU ENTE MALAKHA (PG-15)(MALAYALAM) OASIS JUFFAIR : 2.45 + 8.15 PM

ASIF ALI, VEENA NANDAKUMAR

PRATI ROJU PANDAAGE (PG) (TELUGU) SEEF (I): 11.00 AM + 5.00 PM

RAASHI KHANNA, SATHYARAJ, SAI DHARAM TEJ

DRIVING LICENCE (PG-15)OASIS JUFFAIR: 12.15 + 3.00 + 5.45 + 8.30 + 11.15 PMSEEF (I): 10.30 AM + 1.00 + 3.45 + 6.30 + 9.15 + 12.00 MN AL HAMRA: 3.00 + 6.00 + 9.00 PM

PRITHVIRAJ SUKUMARAN, SURAJ VENJARANMOODU

MY SANTA (PG-13)(MALAYALAM) OASIS JUFFAIR: 11.00 AM + 2.00 + 5.00 + 8.00 + 11.00 PMSEEF (I): 2.00 + 8.15 PMAL HAMRA: 6.00 PM

DILEEP, SIDDIQUE, SUNNY WAYNE

VALIYAPERUNNAL (MALAYALAM) OASIS JUFFAIR: 12.00 + 5.45 + 11.30 PMSEEF (I): 10.45 AM + 5.00 + 11.15 PMAL HAMRA: 11.45 AM + (12.00 MN THRUS/FRI)

SHANE NIGAM, HIMIKA BOSE, JOJU GEORGE


Uncut Gems: Adam Sandler shines in frenetic drama• In the Safdie brothers’ new movie, Sandler plays a jewellery-store owner and compulsive gambler running for his life

Do you like cringing during a movie and maybe yell-ing, “DON’T DO THAT!” at

the screen? Then “Uncut Gems” is the movie for you, and I mean that in the most positive way possible. It’s a terrific film, un-nerving and relentless, like one of those amusement park rides warning people with heart con-ditions not to ride.

f course, the temptation is to say, see it because of the flat-out incredible performance by Adam Sandler. And if that’s what gets you to it, fine. But you should see it no matter what; “Uncut Gems” is simply that good. It also reaffirms what anyone who saw “Good Time” knows — that Benny and Josh Safdie are some of the most innovative, exciting directors working today. Sandler plays Howard Ratner, a jeweller with a shop in Manhattan’s Di-

amond District. Actually, being a jeweller seems like more of an avocation — what he really likes to do is hustle, and what he likes to do more than hustle is gamble. Is he any good at it? He seems like a pretty good jeweller, knows his stuff, all that. He’s less good at hustling, and he’s awful at gambling. (Over time, isn’t everyone?)

He’s in debt up to his ears, but that’s not the orifice that be-gins the film. The Safdies begin with a mine in Ethiopia, where a miner is horribly injured. This

leads to the theft of a huge, uncut opal, which in turn leads to a trip through what seems like time and space until we arrive inside Howard’s colon; he’s having a colonoscopy. It’s not the least pleasant thing that will happen to Howard during the course of the movie. Not by a long shot. The opal, Howard believes, is his ticket out of debt. He wants to sell it at auction, but there are wrinkles in the plan, in addition to what only he sees as oppor-tunities; to everyone else, the audience included, they’re land

mines that will be impossible not to step on. For instance, Kevin Garnett, the basketball player (playing himself ), is a sometime customer. (Most of the film is set in 2012, when Garnett was a member of the Boston Celt-ics.) Howard can’t help himself — he has to show Garnett the opal. Garnett becomes obsessed and convinces Howard to let him keep it for the night. He thinks it’ll bring him luck during a game.

Howard asks to hold his cham-pionship ring as collateral. If

you’re not already a little un-easy just hearing that, it only gets worse. And worse. And then worse than that.

It’s such cringeworthy ma-terial (the Safdies wrote the script with Ronald Bronstein). You want to smack some sense into Howard, or want someone to. But if being held out of the window of a tall building by thugs you owe money to doesn’t improve your decision making, what will?

Ah, but it’s enjoyable agony. Sandler is amazing. Everything that may annoy you about him in his bottom-feeder comedies? It’s all here, but employed as part of Howard’s personality. He’s

desperate but always scheming. And no one looks more desper-ate than the person trying not to appear so. His marriage to Dinah (Idina Menzel) is all but over, thanks to his ongoing affair with Julia (Julia Fox), who is also one of his employees. He’s a doting father when he gets around to it. A Passover Seder combines the best and worst of his life, in ways that are intensely uncomfortable, yet no less pow-erful — and watchable — for it. Demany (LaKeith Stanfield) also works for Howard, bringing in high-profile customers like Gar-nett and The Weeknd, who is on his first U.S. tour. Yet whatever good fortune comes Howard’s way, he manages to screw up.

There’s one way out — a com-plicated bet involving Garnett and the Celtics, as well as more bad decisions. If it all breaks his way, maybe Howard can save himself. You’ll want him to — even when he’s unwatchable in drivel like “Grown Ups” (and, cruelly, its sequel), Sandler pos-sesses an innate charm. That’s on display here, too. A good thing — if not for that, the mov-ie would basically be a filmed nervous breakdown.

M O V I E R E V I E W

DON’T MISS IT

Adam Sandler’s jewel salesman is a palpable knot of anxiety in this darkly captivating film

Adam Sandler in ‘Uncut Gems’

Taylor Swift almost landed a role in ‘Les Miserables’ before Cats movie debutFox | Los Angeles

Taylor Swift nearly landed a role in the 2012 film “Les

Miserables.”Director Tom Hooper ex-

plained in a new in-terview that while Swift “rather bril-liantly auditioned” for a role in the

adaptation he ul-timately passed on

casting the superstar.“I didn’t cast her, but

I got very close to it. Ul-timately, I couldn’t quite believe Taylor Swift was a girl people would overlook,” Hooper told Vulture. “So it didn’t quite feel right for her for the most flattering reason.”

The role went to actress Samantha Barks.

S w i f t w o u l d get her c h a n c e for the

big screen seven years later in Hooper’s “Cats.”

However, Swift may have been better off in “Les Mis-erables” as the $100 mil-lion adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical bombed at the box office, taking in just $6.5 million in ticket sales its first week-ends. Critics haven’t liked the film much better, as the movie drew an 18 percent fresh score on Rotten Toma-toes.

Madonna gets unexpected Christmas gift from ex-husbandANI | Los Angeles

American Singer Ma-donna got an unwant-ed Christmas surprise

from her ex-husband Guy Ritchie, which might have

dampened her Christmas spirit.

According to Page S i x , t h e s i n g e r ’s ex-husband just sent her a Christmas pres-ent, she could do with-

out - a Manhattan court filing linked to their di-vorce.

On Monday, Rit-chie filed a motion in the Supreme Court of Manhattan asking in the pair’s cases to impose or execute a

decision or order.The couple got divorced in 2008

after eight years of marriage.Both of them shared two sons,

Rocco, who is nineteen years old and an adopted fourteen-year-old David Banda, who in the past became the victim of custody struggles.

Ritchie has previously de-scribed his former marriage as a ‘soap opera.’

The 61-year-old Madonna has four other kids while the 50-year-old Ritchie has three other kids with his second wife Jacqui Ain-sley.

However recently the music icon was linked with a backup dancer named Ahlamalik Williams, who was with her on her Madame X world tour reported Page Six.

The Post’s request for comments was not returned by either Madon-na’s or Ritchie’s representatives.


celebs

Mum-of-six Madonna - who has been married twice but has dated a

string of models, danc-ers and rappers- has

been falling for increas-ingly younger men in

recent years

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Demi Lovato gets an Inspirational tattoo

ANI | Los Angeles

Demi Lovato celebrated Christ-mas by getting an inspirational

tattoo that reportedly took eight hours to complete.

As per TMZ, the singer spent most of her day getting inked up by a tattoo art-

ist named Alessandro Capozzi at a private studio in Los Angeles.

Alessandro posted a picture of the tattoo on his Instagram account. The tattoo represents an angel who is being

held up by three birds as her own wings fade away.

He captioned the post, “Divine Feminine Destruction Effect XVIII,” and explained that it showed a rebirth of the spirit. The dark wings represent evil times, but the declining wings show the progress of

Demi. The light from within represented the inner

force needed for life’s change. The pulling up the doves symbolized the extent to which the con-sciousness reaches higher.

“Congratulations on your inspiring journey Demi honoured to have represented this for you,” Alessandro added.

On Christmas, Kanye West releases new album ‘Jesus Is Born’ANI | Los Angeles

American rapper Kanye We s t o n C h r i s t m a s

dropped his new album called ‘Jesus is Born.’

The rapper had just dropped his album ‘Jesus is King’ in October.

According to Fox News, the rapper got together which the Sunday Service Choir for the 19-track gospel album, which he released under the name of ‘Sunday Service’ instead of his own.

Kanye posted the album cover on his Twitter account, and also added the link to the playlist in the description box.

The album with the Sunday

Service choir was marked as West’s second foray into gos-pel music.

In October last, he recorded and released ‘Jesus is King’ under his own name.

On the Billboard 200 chart, it reached No. 1 and became the ninth chart touching re-lease in a row of West, a re-cord that was set by rapper Eminem.

Kanye’s Sunday Service events have made waves amongst his fans, most recently held at Joel Os-teen’s megachurch, Lake-wood Church, in Houston, before releasing his opera titled “Nebuchadnezzar.” A second opera, titled ‘Mary’,

d e b u t e d earlier this month.

Miley Cyrus wishes fans happy holidays from ‘America’s most

dysfunctional family’Fox | New York

Miley Cyrus is wishing her fans happy holidays.

The singer posed with her parents and four of her siblings all dressed in black.

“Happy Holidays from America’s most dysfunctional family,” Cyrus, 27, wrote.

Sitting next to Cyrus was olde sister Brandi Cyrus, 32, followed by dad Billy Ray Cyrus, mom Tish Cyrus, lit-tle sister Noah Cyrus, 19, and brothers Trace Cyrus, 30, and Braison Cyrus, 25.

The musical family posed for several photos at their Tennes-see home.

Miley is likely leaning on her family for support after recent-ly settling her divorce from Liam Hemsworth.

She shared a message for “self love” on her Instagram Story: “Take time off, relax, enjoy warm meals, indulge in the sweets we usually try to stay away from but alsooooooo KEEP MOVING!

“Even if it’s for 15-20 min-utes a day! Something is bet-ter than nothing! I’ve been trying to be super gentle on myself and even if it’s just a walk with my mom or dogs in the morning! Movement is an important ingredi-ent to self love/care!” the 27-year-old entertainer added to a photo of her-self Monday after a Pilates session.

The note came right on what would have been their one-year wedding anniversa-ry (Dec. 23, 2018) and one day before the news broke that she and Hemsworth of-ficially settled on a di-vorce agreement.

Sources told TMZ that on Tuesday Cyrus’ lawyer filed documents

stating the former couple had reached a settlement. An agreement reportedly wasn’t too stressful to come to as they don’t have any kids, each will be taking the pets they own, and they signed a prenup so properties will be divided.

Even if it’s for 15-20 minutes a day!

Something is better than nothing! I’ve been trying to be super gentle on

myself and even if it’s just a walk with my mom or dogs in the morning! Movement

is an important ingredient to self

love/careMILEY CYRUS

Priyanka Chopra gets a

snowmobile on Christmas from

hubby Nick JonasANI | Los Angeles

Priyanka Chopra was seen dashing through

the snow on her new snow-mobile this Christmas as her husband and singer Nick Jo-nas gifted her the vehicle on the occasion.

Chopra took to Instagram to share the pictures and videos of her new ride with her husband as the pillion rider.

“Santa drove in on my batmobile!! Aaaah! My hus-band knows me so well! Thank you baby. I love you! #christmas,” she captioned the post.

The actor alternatively shared pictures from the Christmas celebration with her family and dogs.

Both Chopra and Jonas are currently basking in the success of their last re-leases ‘The Sky is Pink’ and ‘Jumanji: The Next Level’, respectively. Both the films have drawn wide appreci-ation from fans, critics and celebrities.

Madonna

Demi Lovato

Kanye West

Taylor Swift

Miley Cyrus

Priyanka Chopra

I didn’t cast her, but I got very close to it. Ultimately, I couldn’t quite believe Taylor

Swift was a girl people would overlook

TOM HOOPER

11

sports

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019

Bahrain handball team prepare for Iraq, South Korea friendliesTDT | Manama

Bahrain have lined up four friendly matches early next month as part

of their final preparations for the 2020 Asian Men’s Hand-ball Championship in Kuwait, scheduled to take place from

January 16 to 27. The Kingdom’s senior men’s

national team will be taking on their counterparts from Iraq on January 5 and 7, and then will also face off with South Korea on January 11 and 13. All four tune-up games will take place at the Bahrain Handball Association

arena in Um Al Hassam. Thirteen teams are taking part

in the continental competition at Kuwait City. They have been divided into four groups for the preliminary round. Bahrain have been drawn in Group A along with Iran and New Zealand.

The Bahrainis, who earlier

this year made history by qual-ifying for the Tokyo Olympics, play their first game against the Kiwis on the tournament’s first day before playing their Iranian rivals on January 18.

The top two teams from each group at the end of a single round-robin move on to the next phase.

Group B features Qatar, Japan and China; Group C includes South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Australia; and Group D consists of the UAE, Hong Kong, Iraq and

hosts Kuwait. The ensuing main round will

feature eight teams in all, to be divided into another two groups and another single round-robin. The top two then march on to the semi-finals, scheduled for January 25. The final match will then be held on January 27 along with the bronze medal game.

The Asian championship also acts as the continental qualifying tournament for the 2021 World Men’s Handball Championship. Each of the competition’s four

semi-finalists will book their tickets to the worlds, set to take place in Egypt in January of 2021.

National team head coach Aron Kristjánsson from Iceland has announced 25 players that will be a part of the team in Ku-wait.

The line-up includes Hussein Al Sayyad (Al Wehda, Saudi Ara-bia), Ali Mirza (Sharjah, UAE), Mohammed Habib Madan (Ahli Shabab Dubai, UAE), Jassim Al-Salatna (Al Khaleej, Saudi), Ali Eid (Al-Nasr, UAE); Moham-med Abdul Hussein, Hassan Shehab, Mahdi Saad, Moham-med Mirza, Bilal Basham, and Mohammed Habib (Al-Najma Club); Sadiq Ali, Hassan Al Samaheeji, Mohammed Ab-dul Redha, Hassan Madan and Mahmoud Hussein (Al Ahli); Ahmed Al Maqabai, Isa Khalaf, Qassim Al Shuweikh and Qassim Qamber (Barbar Club); Ahmed Jalal and Abdulla Zeimour (Al Shabab); Ahmed Hussein and Hassan Mirza (Al-Tadha-mun); and Hussein Mahfoudh (Tubli).

The Bahrainis have been train-ing locally under Kristjánsson and are set to step up their prac-tices ahead of the friendlies.Coach Kristj†nsson instructs players during practice Players compete during a scrimmage in training

Bahrain National Football team players along with officials of Bahrain Gas including Bashar Alhasan-Managing Director, Ammar Alhasan- Director, Rawwaf Alhasan- Director, Fahad Alhasan- Senior Management Executive and Talal Alhasan- Senior Management Executive. Bahrain Gas has rewarded the players for winning the 24th Gulf Cup in Doha at Bahrain Gas Headquarters in Salmabad

Kingdom of BahrainMinistry of Industry Commerce and Tourism

(Registration Management).

Vacate - Commercial Shop

The below mentioned Proclaimer, Mr. Hussain Jawad Ahmed Abdurahim has submitted to us a request to transfer the following shop to Mr. Qamar Nawaz Mushtaq Ahmed Ghulam Mohammed

Any person who has legal objection shall submit a letter to the administration within fifteen days with which is attached a support for its objection.

Registration Number Commercial Name

01 80144 ANWAR SARAA GENT SALON

Notification No: (CR2019-174864)

C L A S S I F I E D S

Smith eyes century as Australia seize control against New ZealandAFP | Melbourne

Master batsman Steve Smith ground out an un-

beaten 77 yesterday as he ze-roed in on yet another century, putting Australia in the driving seat after the opening day of the second Test against New Zealand.

In the Black Caps’ first Box-ing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground since 1987, skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to bowl, and it looked to be a good decision with Joe Burns out first ball

and David Warner just before lunch.

But first Marnus Labus-chagne, the world’s leading run-scorer for 2019, and then Smith smacked half centuries to seize back control and leave them on 257 for four, frustrat-ing the disciplined New Zea-land bowlers.

Along with the fidgety Smith, Travis Head was not out 25, desperate for runs after a lean spell. Labus-chagne made 63 with Col-in de Grandhomme taking 2-48.


BD4,000is the total prize money

for Nass Corporation BSU Cup

REHC set for thrilling racesNass Corporation BSU Cup highlights today’s racecard at REHC

TDT | Manama

A 10-horse field will be competing for the Nass Corporation BSU Cup to-

day in the eighth and feature race at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) in Riffa.

The six-furlong event for imported horses carries a total prize of BD4,000, and it is sched-uled for a 4.30pm start.

Three are tipped to have a chance to win, including Dark Power owned by Al Adiyat Rac-ing, trained by Alan Smith and ridden by T P O’Shea; London Look competing for Karrar Ab-dulhadi Ali Al Baqqali, trained by Taleb Ali and ridden by Connor Beasley; and Likethelook owned by Ramadhan Stable, trained by Jaber Ramadhan and ridden by Brett Doyle.

The rest of the pack includes Android of Al Mallah Syndicate, Don Armado of Al Afoo Rac-ing Stable, Northern Thunder of Ali Jaafar Al Ansari, Prince Elzaam of Al Mohamediya Racing, Sir Viktor of Al Her-mi Syndicate, Solar Flair also of Al Mohamediya Racing and Lolla Fincess of Awal Racing Syndicate.

The seventh and penultimate race of the day at 4.05pm is for the Late Mr. Abdulla Ahmed Nass Cup (sponsored by Nass The Group). It is over 11 fur-longs and it carries a prize of

BD2,500. A field of 10 imported horses, rated zero to 85 will be competing.

The sixth race at 3.40pm is for the Applied Science Univer-

sity – ASU Cup. It is over 10 fur-longs and it offers a total prize of BD2,000. Six locally bred horses are taking part in the race, with three horses tipped to have a

chance including Milyar owned by HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, as well as News Breaker and Re-tort, both competing for Victo-

rious. Race number five for the Blue

Dawn (Dodson and Horrell) Cup sees the biggest field of the day with 16 participating horses.

To be contested over nine fur-longs with a prize of BD2,000, the competing imported horses have three tipped with a chance to win. These are Tamerlane owned by Al Mohamediya Rac-ing, Albert Finney of Victorious and Muwaaly owned by Al Afoo Racing Stable.

Meanwhile, in the first four races of the day, race one is over six furlongs with a BD2,000 prize and four imported horses competing; race two for the Gulf City Cleaning Company Cup over six furlongs and BD2,000 prize sees nine locally bred horses; race three for the Late Abdulla Ahmed Nass Cup (sponsored by Sarens Nass Middle East) over seven fur-longs (WAHO) and BD2,000 sees six horses; and race four for the Gulf City Cleaning Com-pany Cup over eight furlongs and BD2,000 in prize mon-ey includes eight locally bred horses.

Action from last week’s races at REHC (File photo)

BIC all set for top fan experiencesBIC offers double the thrills with Ultimate Track Experience and Open Track Night

TDT | Manama

Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) continues the festive

mood by offering twice the thrills today with two of the most exhilarating experiences on offer at “The Home of Mot-orsport in the Middle East.”

BIC will be holding the Ul-timate Track Experience and Open Track Night back to back, making for a whole day of un-paralleled action.

From 8am to 4pm, fans will be able to choose from a series of drives and passenger rides that are all under the umbrella of the Ultimate Track Experi-ence. Then, from 4pm to 11pm, speed enthusiasts will have an opportunity to drive their very own cars or ride their motor-bikes under the lights in Open Track Night.

The Ultimate Track Experi-ence includes drives in a Clio Cup car and in a Radical SR1 prototype, as well as a passenger ride in both the Clio Cup car and an ultra-quick Radical SR3.

The Clio Cup car is a Re-

nault-manufactured racing machine that features a 1.6-li-tre Turbocharged engine that can generate up to 220bhp and 6,000rpm. The drive can be pur-chased for BD115.5 while the passenger ride is BD26.5.

The Radical SR1 prototype features a 1,340cc engine which can generate 185bhp. It launch-es from zero to 100kph in 3.6 seconds. This drive costs BD126, and completing the drive in the Clio Cup car is a prerequisite to taking part in the SR1 expe-rience.

The Radical SR3 passenger ride will be conducted along-side one of BIC’s highly quali-fied driving instructors. It costs BD37.

Meanwhile, Open Track Night is expected to attract many par-ticipants who are itching for a taste of a world-class racing fa-

cility in their very own vehicles. The cost to take part is BD94.5 for the whole night and BD68.5 for a half of the evening. There is also an option at BD31.5 for each single session.

Also available during Open Track Night are the Jaguar Ex-perience and passenger rides in the Clio Cup and SR3.

The Jaguar Experience has been designed to ensure that all guests are given a dynamic, hands-on and memorable ex-perience on the track in a Jag-uar F-Type. Powerful, agile, and utterly distinctive, the F-Type is a true sports car and the oppor-tunity to drive it must be fully taken advantage of. The cost for the Jaguar Experience is BD63.

The Clio Cup car passenger ride remains BD26.5, while the Radical SR3 passenger ride is BD37.

A car on track at BIC A car in action at BIC

Curran takes four for England as De Kock resists

AFP | Centurion, South Africa

Sam Curran took four wick-ets for England, while

Quinton de Kock played a crucial innings of 95 for South Africa on the first day of the first Test at SuperSport Park on Thursday.

South Africa were 277 for nine at the close, providing justification for captain Joe Root’s decision to bowl first.

But it could have been a lot better for England – and worse for South Africa. The hosts were in deep trouble at 111 for five before De Kock counter-attacked to make a half-century off 45 balls.

De Kock played some risky strokes early in his innings but was more circumspect after his initial flurry of strokes.

Having been 64 not out off 69 balls at tea, De Kock needed 59 balls to add 31 more runs be-fore fellow left-hander Curran

had him caught behind.Curran took four for 57

and was the best of the Eng-land bowlers, keeping a fuller length than his team-mates and slanting the ball across r i g h t - h a n d e d b a t s m e n , with some balls swinging back in and others moving away.

Stuart Broad, recovered from illness, which prevented him from bowling in his team’s two warm-up matches, took three for 52.

James Anderson, playing in his 150th Test – the first specialist bowler to reach the milestone – took a wicket with the first ball of the match when Dean Elgar nudged what looked no more than a leg side loosener to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

Elgar’s fellow opener Aiden Markram also fell to a loose shot, clipping Curran to mid-wicket.

Quinton de Kock

The Ultimate Track Ex-perience includes drives in a Clio Cup car and in

a Radical SR1 prototype, as well as a passenger

ride in both the Clio Cup car and an ultra-quick

Radical SR3

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turkey enters libya battle - dt news

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