Dec.28

December 28th 2017




















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Fitness Class Schedule A visit to the Spa at Hacienda Beach Club and Residences is a journey into a world of
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atmosphere of luxury with a sense of place and invites guests to relax while restoring a
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Monday, December 25 connection with the natural rhythms of life. Poised amid the historic architecture and
Beginners Beach Yoga: 8:00 am 9:00 am traditional decor of Hacienda, and the vibrant colors and textures of Cabo San Lucas,
(Hacienda Beach Club) the Spa offers a peaceful haven for physical, mental, and emotional renewal.
Glutes Abs and Legs: 9:30 am- 10:30am

Tuesday, December 26
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Pool Side Spinning: 8:00 am – 9:00 am CHRISTMAS JOY TREATMENT
(Hacienda Upper Pool)
Reformer Pilates: 10:30 am– 11:30 am As way to celebrate Christmas Eve let us
pamper you and celebrate together this
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Wednesday, December 27 magic season. Hacienda Spa has designed
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Yoga: 10:00 am-11:00 am vanilla oil, cinnamon and lavender, it
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Thursday, December 28 pleasant memories of childhood. Will
Glutes, Abs and Legs: 9:00 am- 10:00 am increase your muscular energy to leave it
Mat Pilates: 10:30 am – 11:30 am ready to begin a new beginning.


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Friday, December 29 80min - $175 USD + 16 %TAX
Functional Training 8:00 am –9:00 am
Pool Side Spinning: 9:30am – 10:30 am
(Hacienda Upper Pool) The Hacienda Spa Café is available daily serving a selection of healthy
Reformer Pilates: 11:00 am- 12:00 pm snack foods, beverages and freshly made
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Saturday, December 30 menu. The Café offers wifi service. Adjacent
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green. Putters and golf balls are available at
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Sunday, December 31
Boot Camp Training: 8:00 am- 9:00 am Daily from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm
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Pool Side Spinning: 9:30 am – 10:30 am *COME TO ENJOY OUR SPECIAL HOLIDAY´S SMOOTHIE*
(Hacienda Upper Pool)

Private classes
Hacienda Spa offers personal training classes Rejuvenate your Body
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Important news for important people
www.dedicatedpress.com Volume 3044 Thursday December 28, 2017
International Business Sports
French President Emmanuel Macron US consumer confidence dampened Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Cabo San Lucas
came under fire Wednesday over his in December, retreating from a 17- Roethlisberger said Wednesday he Cloudy
policy on jobless benefits after a press year high in November as optimism has no ill will to linebacker James Sunrise: 6:59 AM
leak pointed to plans to tighten moni- about the short-term outlook fell Harrison after the long-time Steeler Sunset: 5:43 PM
toring of people on the dole... P.2 sharply, according to a... P.3 signed with the New... P.5 Humidity: 63% 71-76 F

The temperatures were 10 to 20 degrees below what is normal for the season Forcing officials
Arctic cold grips Canada, northern United States Christmas storm breaks
records in US lakeside city
An Arctic snap gripped most of Can- Parent said. High winds of up to 120 Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf Dreams of a white Christmas have
ada and a large swath of the northern kilometers (76 miles) per hour linked announced that the National Guard turned into a nightmare in the north-
United States on Wednesday, with to the low temperatures have left al- was “providing high clearance all- eastern US city of Erie after a storm
unusually low temperatures recorded most 160,000 homes in the eastern terrain military vehicles to aid local dumped a record-breaking five feet
in both countries. province of Nova Scotia -- almost agencies with medical emergency (1.5 meters) of snow in a 48-hour
In Canada, extreme cold warnings one-third of the power company’s and law enforcement response.” period, forcing officials to declare an
were issued for scores of communi- customers -- without electricity, of- According to data from the Nation- emergency.
ties across the country, including the ficials said. al Weather Service, the 34 inches of Residents took to social media to
heavily populated provinces of On- In the United States, brutal sub- snow that fell on December 25 was post stunning photos of the white-
tario and Quebec. zero temperatures were recorded in the highest the city had ever record- out, with meteorologists attributing
While Toronto reported tempera- places like Duluth, Minnesota (mi- ed, eclipsing the previous high of 20 the 58 inches of snow that fell over
tures of minus 15 C (5 F) and Ottawa nus 37.7 C) on Tuesday, and Minot, inches on November 22, 1956. Christmas Day, Monday, to 5pm on
minus 25 C, the coldest spot in Can- North Dakota (minus 29 C). “The crews are out, but quite Tuesday to icy winds blowing over
ada was minus 42.8 C in Armstrong, A storm dumped a record-breaking simply they can’t keep up with the the adjoining Lake Erie, one of North
Ontario, according to Environment five feet (nearly 1.5 meters) of snow amount of snow that’s falling,” said America’s Great Lakes.
Canada. Extreme cold warnings are in a 48-hour period on the Pennsyl- Matt Exley, a local emergency offi- More snow was expected at a rate
issued “when very cold temperatures vania city of Erie, forcing officials to cial on a Facebook live post. of up to an inch or two per hour as
or wind chill creates an elevated risk declare an emergency. Erie has received 97 inches of residents were warned to stay off the
to health such as frost bite and hy- Residents shared stunning pho- snow in December, making it the roads unless absolutely necessary and
pothermia,” the government agency tos of the whiteout on social media, snowiest month in the city’s history pack emergency kits including tow
said. with meteorologists attributing the 58 -- which usually averages about 100 ropes, flashlights, shovels and flares
The temperatures were 10 to 20 inches (147 centimeters) of snow that inches of snow in an entire season. for essential travel.
degrees below what is normal for the fell over Christmas Day, Monday, to Unusually low temperatures were Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf
season, said meteorologist Alexandre 5 pm on Tuesday to icy winds blow- also recorded in the US northern At- announced in a statement that the
Parent with Environment Canada. ing over the adjoining Lake Erie, one lantic states. In New York, weather state national guard was “providing
The deep cold is forecast to remain of North America’s Great Lakes. authorities told residents to expect high clearance all terrain military
until early January, he said. More snow was expected at a rate temperatures of between minus 12.7 vehicles to aid local agencies with
“In my memory I have never seen of up to an inch or two per hour as C and minus 6.6 C through Saturday, medical emergency and law enforce-
cold weather that settles for such a residents were warned to stay off the which they described as “well below ment response.”
long time in such a broad expanse,” roads. the normal.” According to data from the Na-
tional Weather Service, the 34 inches
The move prompted considerable reaction -- including on Twitter (86 centimeters) of snow that fell on
December 25 was the highest the city
US Library of Congress backtracks on complete Twitter archive had ever recorded, eclipsing the pre-
The US Library of Congress has collections and topics, cost effective- “will continue to acquire tweets but vious high of 20 inches (51 centime-
scaled back plans to archive every ness, use of collections and other fac- will do so on a very selective basis” ters) on November 22, 1956.
message ever sent on Twitter, spark- tors. This change results from such a adding that the collection will likely The two-day snowfall of 58 inches,
ing debate on the importance of so- review.” be “thematic and event- based, in- which was still ongoing, also sur-
cial media in historical records. Officials cited several reasons for cluding events such as elections, or passed a previous state record of 44
The library, which is believed to be the decision: the volume of the tweet themes of ongoing national interest, inches set in Morgantown on March
the largest in the world with a mission database is much bigger than it was e.g. public policy.” Still, it added that 20-12, 1958. “The crews are out, but
of preserving important national and a few years ago and the library lacks the 12-year archive of tweets already quite simply they can’t keep up with
global cultural records, announced the capacity to deal with images and collected “may prove to be one of this the amount of snow that’s falling,”
this week it would stop collecting the items other than text. generation’s most significant legacies said Matt Exley, a local emergency
entire Twittersphere’s tweets from The library in 2010 began its tweet to future generations.” official on a Facebook live post.
January 2018. archive after receiving a “gift” from The move prompted considerable Erie meanwhile has received 97
“Effective January 1, 2018, the Li- Twitter of the full database of public reaction -- including on Twitter. inches (245 centimeters) of snow in
brary will acquire tweets on a selec- tweets dating from the first tweet in “Not good,” tweeted CNBC news December, making it the snowiest
tive basis -- similar to our collections 2006, but has not determined when or associate Mariam Amin. month in the city’s history -- which
of web sites,” the library’s communi- how to make this public. “I want every tweet to be archived. usually averages about 100 inches of
cations director Gayle Osterberg said The archive “will remain em- In 40 years, I want to take my grand- snow in an entire season.
in a blog post. bargoed until access issues can be daughter to the Library of Congress Residents posted pictures reminis-
“The Library regularly reviews resolved in a cost-effective and sus- and show her the madness I dealt cent of a bleak polar landscape, dub-
its collections practices to account tainable manner,” Osterberg said. A with as a journalist...make every bing the phenomenon #Snowmaged-
for environmental shifts, diversity of statement said the library from 2018 tweet count.” don on Twitter.

International
Page 2 Thursday December 28, 2017
“If there are no rules, things cannot move ahead. That doesn’t mean that we’ll chase everyone”
Macron under fire over plan to tighten joblessness monitoring


French President Emmanuel Macron tably pushing through his overhaul
came under fire Wednesday over his of France’s complex labour code in
policy on jobless benefits after a press September. On Wednesday the for-
leak pointed to plans to tighten moni- mer investment banker told the Span-
toring of people on the dole. ish daily El Mundo he expected the
The investigative weekly Canard labour reforms to produce “major
Enchaine, citing an internal memo, results within 18-24 months” for the
said those receiving jobless benefits employment situation.
would be required to submit a month- Since Macron’s election, unem-
ly report on their job-hunting efforts. ployment has dipped to around 9.6
Politicians both to the left and the percent -- still about twice that of
right of the centrist president assailed Britain or Germany and well above
the idea of a monthly reporting re- the European average of 7.8 percent.
quirement, with the Socialist Party “The first year of one’s term is cru-
tweeting that it was first mooted by cial,” Macron told El Mundo. “That’s
the head of the employers’ federation, why I wanted to move fast.”
Pierre Gattaz. Joblessness was a constant thorn
But Macron defended the plan in in the side of Macron’s Socialist
an interview with French radio LCI. predecessor Francois Hollande, who
“If there are no rules, things cannot failed to move the needle much be-
move ahead. That doesn’t mean that low 10 percent during his single term
we’ll chase everyone,” the 40-year- France’s President Emmanuel Macron (Photo AFP) in power.
old said Wednesday evening. Alexis Corbiere of the radical left job offers deemed “reasonable” or His short tenure saw massive,
Macron, elected in May on a pro- France Unbowed party told news who refuse training will have their sometimes violent street protests
business platform, repeatedly pledged channel BFMTV: “All this bureau- benefits halved for two months com- against proposed labour reforms.
on the campaign trail to overhaul un- cracy around unemployment has pared with the current 20 percent cut, Macron’s reforms are designed to
employment insurance -- along with only one goal: to strike people (off said the Canard, which combines bit- give employers more flexibility to ne-
his landmark labour reforms -- with the rolls) and then be able to say, ing satire with regular investigative gotiate pay and conditions with their
a view to reining in unemployment. ‘Look, thanks to us unemployment is scoops. workers while making it easier and
Employers regularly point to the down’.” If they fail to step back into line the less costly to shed staff.
unemployment benefit system, seen Far-right National Front spokes- benefits will be totally withdrawn for Unemployment is expected to sta-
as among Europe’s most generous, as man Jordan Bardella questioned a the next two months, it said, citing a bilise at around 9.4 percent by mid-
one of the main reasons for France’s policy of “generalised suspicion” confidential labour ministry memo. 2018, its lowest level since early
chronically high joblessness. towards the unemployed, saying the Thanks to the comfortable parlia- 2012. Also on Macron’s frenetic
Some five weeks of negotiations government should instead focus on mentary majority enjoyed by Ma- agenda -- and just as sensitive as the
on the sensitive issue are set to begin rooting out “notorious cheaters”. Un- cron’s LREM party, the president overhaul of unemployment insurance
on January 11. der the plan, those who refuse two has been on a legislative roll, no- -- is pension reform.

Officials said “The government of Honduras does not accept the request”
10 hurt in Saint Petersburg Honduras opposition demands annulment of president’s re-election
supermarket bombing The Honduras opposition said the Organization of American States lice and troops who fired tear gas to
(OAS) for a fresh election and for
try to disperse the demonstrations.
Wednesday they filed an appeal with
A homemade bomb blast at a su- election officials demanding that permission to send a team to investi- Zelaya’s Opposition Alliance
permarket in the Russian city of President Juan Orlando Hernandez’s gate the deaths of at least 12 protest- Against the Dictatorship said that 34
Saint Petersburg injured 10 people re-election be annulled because the ers killed during the demonstrations. people were killed in the street clash-
Wednesday, officials said. recent vote was marred by fraud. “The government of Honduras es, and the United Nations voiced
“According to preliminary infor- Election officials declared Hernan- does not accept the request” and re- concern over “excessive use of
mation, an explosion of an unidenti- dez the victor after narrowly defeat- jects any “interference,” the ministry force.” When he conceded last week,
fied object occurred in a store,” In- ing leftist opposition candidate Sal- said in a statement. Nasralla said if the United States --
vestigative Committee spokeswoman vador Nasralla in the controversial International monitors from both Honduras’ biggest trade partner and
Svetlana Petrenko said in a statement. November 26 vote. the OAS and the European Union aid donor -- was siding with his oppo-
The blast was caused by a “home- Nasralla conceded on December noted irregularities in the election nent, he had little chance of success.
made explosive device with the 22 shortly after Honduras’ key ally process, which the former said had “With the decision by Washing-
power equivalent to 200 grammes Washington endorsed Hernandez’s been of “poor quality.” ton, I am no longer in the running,”
of TNT filled with lethal fragments,” re-election, following a month of According to election officials, the he told HCH television station at the
she said. deadly street clashes. final results showed the conserva- time.
“The investigation is looking at all Former president Manuel Zelaya, tive Hernandez winning with 42.95 A senior US State Department of-
possible causes of what happened,” coordinator of the leftist alliance op- percent of the vote, over Nasralla’s ficial had told AFP that Washington
she said, adding that a probe for at- posed to Hernandez, filed the appeal 41.42 percent. After the results were had not seen “anything that alters the
tempted murder had been launched. with the Supreme Electoral Tribunal announced, protesters took to the final result that the (electoral author-
“Ten people have been hospital- late Tuesday. Zelaya, who was ousted streets where they clashed with po- ity) has come out with.”
ised, their lives are not in danger,” in a bloodless coup in 2009, cited “the
said the head of Saint Petersburg in- fraud in the vote counting, the altera-
vestigative unit Alexander Klaus, In- tion and falsification of precinct vote
terfax news agency reported. results” among other irregularities that
An AFP correspondent at the scene resulted in Hernandez’s triumph over
observed first responders and police Nasralla, the “legitimate victor.”
as well as a car belonging the Federal Early vote returns in the Novem-
Security Service (FSB), which inves- ber election showed a strong Nas-
tigates acts of terror. ralla victory, but vote counting then
Police said the blast occurred in slowed down and took more than a
a supermarket northeast of the city week to complete, with mysterious
centre, with sources telling Russian breaks in the process.
agencies that the explosive device The Honduran Foreign Ministry on
had been placed in a storage locker. Wednesday rejected a demand from

Business
Page 3 Thursday December 28, 2017
The outlook for the job market also was less upbeat than in November Wall Street Indexes
US consumer confidence dampens in December Dow Jones 24,774.30 + 0.11%
Nasdaq
6,939.34
+ 0.04%
S&P 2,682.62 + 0.08%
International Stock Indexes
US consumer confidence damp- However, Franco said, “Despite 16.3 percent from 12.1 percent. Ana- Australia 6,069.873 + 0.00%
ened in December, retreating from the decline in confidence, consumers’ lysts agreed with Franco that the de- Frankfurt 13,070.02 - 0.02%
a 17-year high in November as op- expectations remain at historically cline in December should not detract Italy 22,201.27 - 0.04%
timism about the short-term outlook strong levels, suggesting economic from high levels of optimism, even London 7,620.68 + 0.37%
fell sharply, according to a closely- growth will continue well into 2018.” though the consensus forecast ex- Madrid 10,165.20 - 0.16%
watched monthly survey released Consumers’ feelings about present- pected a modest decline in the head- Paris 5,368.84 + 0.08%
Wednesday. day conditions were slightly more line index to 128.0. Tokyo 22,911.21 + 0.08%
While sentiment about current con- positive in December, as the percent- James Bohnaker of IHS Markit Toronto 16,203.13 + 0.23%
ditions were more positive than last age saying business conditions are said some of the drop could be due to Latin-American Stock Indexes
month, consumers were more pessi- “good” increased marginally to 35.2 uncertainty about the massive tax re- Bogota 1,505.00 + 0.77%
mistic about the situation for business percent, while those saying business form passed by Congress December Buenos Aires 29,193.48 + 0.03%
and jobs six months out, the Confer- conditions are “bad” decreased very 20. The cutoff date for the Confer- Lima 19,661.48 + 0.29%
ence Board reported. slightly to 12.1 percent. ence Board survey was December 15. Mexico 48,652.56 + 0.42%
The consumer confidence index However, optimism about the “Consumer Confidence fell dra- Panama
fell to 122.1 from 128.6 in Novem- short-term outlook declined sharply, matically in December, but the details Santiago 5,496.25 - 0.34%
ber, which was revised down from as those anticipating business condi- show that there is no fundamental Sao Paulo 76,072.54 + 0.48%
the originally reported 129.5, but tions will improve over the next six reason to be concerned about confi- Venezuela 1,262.800 - 0.27%
still was the highest since 2000. The months declined to 20.2 percent from dence,” Bohnaker said in a research Most Active Stocks
high confidence last month matched 23.1 percent, while those expecting note. 3M Co 236.2 + 0.32%
reports of solid sales in the holiday business conditions to worsen in- “The present situation index is a Alcoa 51.84 + 2.90%
shopping season. creased to 9.2 percent from 6.7 per- far better indicator of consumers’ Amex 99.13 + 0.57%
“The decline in confidence was fu- cent. ability to spend, and is underpinned AT&T 38.89 - 0.44%
eled by a somewhat less optimistic The outlook for the job market also by the best job market in nearly two B. of America 29.73 - 0.17%
outlook for business and job pros- was less upbeat than in November. decades,” added to the repeated new Boeing 295.62 + 0.09%
pects in the coming months,” said The proportion expecting more jobs records in the stock market, which Caterpillar 157.52 + 0.69%
Lynn Franco, head of indicators at the in the months ahead decreased to have “given stock-owners and upper Chevron 125.55 - 0.34%
Conference Board, which produces 18.4 percent from 21.3 percent, while income households even more reason Cisco Systems 38.56 + 0.21%
the survey, in a statement. those anticipating fewer jobs rose to to be optimistic.” Coca Cola 45.93 + 0.26%
Dupont
These included real estate and entertainment giant Dalian Wanda and airline operator HNA
Exxon Mobil 83.9 - 0.10%
China imposes new restrictions on outbound investment General Electric 17.38 - 0.29%
China has issued new rules increas- entertainment after a series of high- bids over $300 million, the new rules H.P. 21.27 + 0.19%
ing oversight of overseas acquisi- profile investments -- at questionable broaden supervision of foreign in- Home Depot 190.19 - 0.09%
tions by its companies, as it seeks to valuations -- by some of the country’s vestments made by overseas subsid- IBM 153.13 + 0.20%
reduce investment in assets ranging biggest companies. iaries of Chinese companies. Intel 46.11 + 0.07%
from golf courses and movie studios These included real estate and en- New applications should include Johnson & Johnson 140.57 + 0.34%
to football clubs. tertainment giant Dalian Wanda and detailed information about investors, JPMorgan 107.22 + 0.19%
The rules are the latest attempt to airline operator HNA. The new regu- the content and scale of the project Kraft Heinz Co 77.98 - 0.17%
stem the tidal wave of capital that lations, issued by the National De- and the amount of Chinese capital McDonalds 172.67 + 0.81%
has flown out of the country in recent velopment and Reform Commission involved. Merck & Co
years, a trend which regulators fear (NDRC), require all outbound in- Projects must also include a state- Microsoft 85.71 + 0.36%
could threaten financial stability at vestments by Chinese firms and their ment of authenticity. Fake invest- Pfizer 36.33 + 0.33%
home. overseas subsidiaries to be registered ments are often used as a means Procter & Gamble 92.1 - 0.41%
The country in August announced through a new online system. to evade China’s strict controls on Travelers Cos 134.77 - 0.01%
rules to restrict investment overseas While it cancels a previous re- transferring money out of the coun- United Tech. 127.58 + 0.35%
in some previously encouraged fields quirement for Chinese investors to try, a problem that has bedevilled Verizon 53.28 + 0.11%
such as sports clubs, real estate and report plans for any acquisitions or regulators. Wal-Mart 99.26 + 0.10%
Walt Disney 107.64 - 0.44%
The dump and scrapyard sit next to the heavily polluted Odaw River in the slum-like area, home to an estimated 40,000 people
Turning e-waste into art at Ghana’s toxic dump
Joseph Awuah-Darko sits on a stool are brought to Ghana from around thia Muhonja, a fellow student from area, and the harsh reality of life for
at one of the world’s largest elec- the world. Ashesi University, about an hour’s some of Ghana’s poorest people.
tronic waste dumps, watching poly- After burning, they salvage and drive from Accra. They repurpose the Mohamed Abdul Rahim, who is in
styrene and insulation cables burn on resell copper and other metals from electronic scraps, “upcycling” them charge of about 20 young men, has
the blackened ground. these leftovers of modern consumer into furniture, and offer training for been working at Agbogbloshie since
“It’s survival and dystopia,” says culture. the young men who work at the dump 2008. The 25-year-old from the north
the 21-year-old British-born Ghana- The dump and scrapyard sit next to to create the pieces. of Ghana works 12-hour days, six
ian, surveying the stretch of waste- the heavily polluted Odaw River in The students straddle two worlds days a week. On average the workers
land around him as dense plumes of the slum-like area, home to an esti- -- a privileged life on the lush campus make only about 20 cedi each ($4.50,
acrid smoke rise into the air. mated 40,000 people. of a private university in a forested 3.75 euros) a day.
Awuah-Darko and his university The United Nations has said that
friends have ambitious plans for the salvaging materials for recycling pro-
sprawling Agbogbloshie dumping vides income for more than 64 mil- Foreign Exchange
ground in Ghana’s capital, Accra. lion people in the developing world.
In January this year, he co-founded Ghana is said to have the largest EURO USA CAN UK AUS SWISS H.KONG JAP
the non-profit Agbogblo.Shine Initia- informal recycling industry in Africa EURO - 1.19 1.49 .89 1.54 1.18 9.30 135.00
tive, which encourages people work- and imports some 40,000 tonnes of USA .84 - 1.27 .75 1.30 .99 7.81 113.64
ing at the dump to turn waste into this e-waste annually. CAN .67 .79 - .59 1.02 .80 6.20 90.00
high-end furniture. When Awuah-Darko first saw the UK 1.12 1.34 1.69 - 1.72 1.33 10.50 152.00
The dump workers typically risk piles of circuit boards, wires and AUS .65 .77 .98 .58 - .75 6.00 88.00
exposure to harmful fumes by burn- plastics at Agbogbloshie he decided SWISS .85 1.01 1.25 .75 1.33 - 7.90 114.00
ing obsolete and unwanted appli- he wanted to use his artistic talent as H.KONG .11 .13 .16 .10 .17 .13 - 14.50
ances such as mobile phones, com- a force for change. So he set up the JAP .01 .01 .01 .01 .01 .01 .07 -
puters, televisions and plastics that Agbogblo.Shine project with Cyn-

Business
Page 4 Thursday December 28, 2017
“We apologize for what occurred on this flight” Regional powerplays
American Airlines apologizes to pro basketball players Saudi chess PR gambit
American Airlines has apologized to South Dakota. An African-American customers down,” airline spokesman
two professional basketball players flight attendant accused the athletes, Joshua Freed said in a statement. checked by controversies
who were kicked off a flight originat- who were flying in coach, of taking Freed added that the airline was Saudi Arabia brushed aside rulings
ing from Dallas, Texas, after being blankets from first class and they reviewing the incident and “will be from top clerics to host a big money
falsely accused of theft. were kicked off the plane. The two reaching out” to the players, who chess tournament, but the gambit to
The airline said it apologized to were in fact given the blankets by had not addressed the incident as of improve the kingdom’s image has
Marquis Teague and Trahson Burrell, first-class passengers. Wednesday morning. been jolted by regional powerplays.
both members of the National Bas- The incident comes at a time when The civil rights group NAACP is- The landmark event and its record
ketball Association’s minor league American is trying to address accusa- sued a travel advisory in October, $2 million (1.7 million euro) prize
team Memphis Hustle, for the Christ- tions of bias in the way it has treated warning African-Americans about “a pot come as Crown Prince Moham-
mas Eve incident, which came to some customers. The airline apolo- pattern of disturbing incidents report- med bin Salman looks to repackage
light Tuesday. gized to the players and booked them ed by African-American passengers, his oil-rich nation as more welcoming
The two men, who are African- first-class seats on a later flight. specific to American Airlines.” -- and moderate.
American, had boarded a flight oper- “We apologize for what occurred After a meeting with the group, But a refusal to give Israeli play-
ated by American’s regional subsid- on this flight. We take pride in bring- the airline said it would require its ers visas, doubts whether Iranians
iary Envoy Air. They were headed ing people together, and we know 120,000 employees to undergo new and Qataris will come, and a no-
to a scheduled game in the state of that on this flight we let some of our training, among other changes. show over Saudi Arabia’s record on
women’s rights have all cast their
According to a new study released on Wednesday shadows.
The King Salman Rapid and Blitz
British purchasing power set to stagnate in 2018: study 2017 tournament opened on Monday,
Britons’ purchasing power, which Torsten Bell, head of the Resolution low productivity has prevented but just a day later Israel’s chess fed-
took a hit this year against the back- Foundation, a London-based think wages from keeping pace with in- eration said it was seeking compensa-
drop of Brexit, looks set to stagnate tank. Since Britain voted to leave the flation. The think tank noted that tion from the game’s governing body
in 2018, according to a new study re- European Union in June 2016, a drop stagnant pay packets next year ac- FIDE over the rejection.
leased on Wednesday. in sterling -- making imported goods tually represented an improvement Hints of a tentative political rap-
Following what was a “tough year more expensive -- has pushed infla- over 2017, when real wages fell. It prochement between the ultra-con-
for living standards” in 2017... the tion up to more than 3.0 percent. suggested that the effect of the falling servative Sunni Muslim kingdom and
prospects for a “meaningful pay re- And while unemployment is cur- pound could ease off in the coming the Jewish state had stirred hope that
covery” are “still out of sight”, said rently at its lowest level since 1975, months, causing inflation to slow. Israeli players might play.
But the Saudis ultimately nixed
She retweeted a post from a fan alongside a selfie with her and Legend their participation after Arab ire
American model’s Japan-bound flight returns to LA surged over US President Donald
Trump’s decision to recognise Jeru-
American model Chrissy Teigen and disembarked,” ANA said. “ANA is After a series of tongue-in-cheek salem as Israel’s capital.
singer John Legend were reportedly researching the situation currently to posts, Teigen herself seemed to take The Israeli team was not the only
among passengers whose flight from determine how the passenger boarded the debacle in her stride. one to find itself caught up in the
Los Angeles to Japan was forced to the flight.” Teigen fired off a series “Lmao after all this I will have broader chess game of Middle East
turn back because one person had tweets about the ordeal, saying all spent 8 hours on a flight to nowhere. politics.
boarded the wrong plane. the passengers had to disembark and Like we were all just havin a great Players from Iran and Qatar -- both
All Nippon Airways flight NH175 that police interviewed those seated time up here flyin in the sky watching locked in their own regional rival-
departed from Los Angeles Interna- “around the mystery person”. gran torino time to go home now”, ries with Riyadh -- were also a major
tional at 11:36 am (1936 GMT) Tues- She retweeted a post from a fan she tweeted. “Why did we all get doubt.
day for Narita Airport outside Tokyo, alongside a selfie with her and Leg- punished for this one person’s mis- As reports swirled that the Ira-
but returned to the US city after a end. take? Why not just land in Tokyo and nian and Qatari delegations were not
matter of hours, the airline told AFP. “My first tweet can’t be more send the other person back? How is granted visas, World Chess Federa-
“As part of the airline’s security epic than this: just survived an this the better idea, you ask? We all tion FIDE insisted they could show
procedure, the pilot in command 8-hour LAX-LAX flight with @ have the same questions”, she added. up -- even if they chose not to in the
decided to return to the originating chrissyteigen and @johnleg- The airline apologised to passen- end.
airport, where the passenger was end on #ANA#NH175”, the fan said. gers for the inconvenience. “Ground-breaking special arrange-
ments have been made to issue visas
“The purpose of this display is absolutely not to glorify Hitler and his destructive policies” upon arrival for over 200 persons,
including the players of Iran and Qa-
Hitler’s Nazi-parade Mercedes set for US auction tar,” FIDE said Sunday.
A 1939 luxury Mercedes limousine ning defeat of France, and for a state owner’s identity but it is not thought “The fact that players from Iran
used to carry Adolf Hitler around visit by Italian fascist dictator Benito to have been sold since that time. and Qatar may decide not to par-
Germany will be auctioned in the US Mussolini. “The purpose of this display is ticipate, after consulting with their
state of Arizona next month -- one of As the conflict turned in the Al- absolutely not to glorify Hitler and own authorities, is clearly their own
only four such models ever built. lies’ favor, it fell into disuse in France his destructive policies,” the auction individual decision,” the statement
Powered by a 7.7-liter super- and was captured after the war by US house wrote in a post on its website added.
charged engine capable of exceeding forces who, apparently unaware of its last week. Beyond politics, the decision to
100 mph (160 kph), the Mercedes- provenance, put it into a military po- “It is to show you one of the out- hold the tournament in Riyadh drew
Benz 770K Grosser -- known to the lice motor pool. standing cars of the century, built by criticism from some female players
world as the “Super Mercedes” -- was After the war it went briefly to a gifted people, and representing the over Saudi Arabia’s tight regulations
a potent propaganda symbol of the private owner in Belgium before be- highest in craftsmanship. on women.
Third Reich which the Fuhrer rode ing sent to the US where it made its “But it is also as a memorial to FIDE claimed success when it
standing in the front seat. way to the Greenville, North Carolina the fighting prowess of American got the authorities to loosen up their
Billed as “the most historically sig- bureau of Veterans of Foreign Wars, soldiers that we take pride in dis- traditional demands for full-body
nificant automobile ever offered for which used the car for parades, carry- playing this showpiece of a fallen abayas with a “historic” dress code:
public sale,” the imposing four-door ing dignitaries and Gold Star Moth- dictator. And above all, as a re- high-necked white blouses.
convertible will be offered to bidders ers. minder that the evil which this car But that was not enough to con-
at the Worldwide Auctioneers event It then changed hands several more symbolizes, must never again be al- vince double champion Anna Muzy-
in Scottsdale on January 17 at the times within the US before being sold lowed to happen.” chuk from Ukraine, who dropped out
city’s annual classic car event. to a European collector in 2002, then It added that 10 percent of the sale of the tournament despite the record-
The car -- which carried the num- to a Russian billionaire in 2009. price “will be donated and used to busting financial incentives.
ber plate 1A 148461 -- was used to US media reports say it could sell educate how and why the Holocaust “I am going to lose two World
ferry Hitler on his victory parade for million of dollars. Worldwide happened and how to effectively pre- Champion titles - one by one,” she
through Berlin following the stun- Auctioneers did not reveal the current vent such atrocities in the future.” wrote on Facebook.

Sports
Page 5 Thursday December 28, 2017
“James has to do what James has to do. It’s not like he called and asked me if he should or not” Tennis
NFL: Big Ben says no hard feelings over Harrison joining Patriots Djokovic more dangerous
than ever, says rival Thiem
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Former world number one and 12-
Roethlisberger said Wednesday he time Grand Slam title winner Novak
has no ill will to linebacker James Djokovic will be more dangerous
Harrison after the long-time Steeler than ever when he makes his long-
signed with the New England Patri- awaited return from an elbow injury,
ots. top 10 rival Dominic Thiem said
The 39-year-old defender was re- Wednesday.
leased by the Steelers on Saturday Djokovic hasn’t played since retir-
to make room for tackle Marcus ing from his quarter-final at Wimble-
Gilbert’s return from a four-game don against Tomas Berdych in July,
suspension. Harrison cleared waivers but the 30-year-old makes his come-
to become a free agent, then inked a back at the Mubadala World Tennis
one-year deal with the Patriots for the Championship in Abu Dhabi on Fri-
regular-season finale and playoffs. day before launching his competitive
Roethlisberger wished Harrison campaign as top seed at the Qatar
well even though he joins a defend- Open next week.
ing NFL champion Patriots team that “We all know what Djokovic is ca-
could very well face the Steelers next pable of,” said Austria’s Thiem who
month to decide a berth in the Super is also playing in the six-man Abu
Bowl. Dhabi field.
“James has to do what James has “But now, if his injury is fine, he’s
to do. It’s not like he called and asked Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers (Photo AFP) probably more dangerous and better
me if he should or not,” Roethlis- “That’s on James. If they want to match of New England’s 27-24 vic- if he had some time to recharge. I
berger said. ask him about every single piece of tory earlier this month. think everybody wants to know how
“James was out there. He’s a free information he has, that’s what this Harrison will be able to play for the he’s playing again and we’ll see his
agent, he has to do what’s best for league -- other people do that, too,” Patriots in Sunday’s regular-season first matches here.”
him and his family. I wish him the Roethlisberger said. “I’m not wor- finale against the New York Jets. Thiem feels Djokovic could make
best. I’ve had a lot of good years with ried about it. We don’t play them this Harrison had a club-record 80.5 the same impact as Roger Federer
him.” week. We don’t play them next week. quarterback sacks for the Steelers and Rafael Nadal who came back
“Big Ben” said he was not overly So we’ll see.” but his role diminished as defensive from injuries this year.
worried that Harrison could share in- The Steelers and Patriots are each scheme changes gave more pass de- Federer won the Australian Open
formation about his former team with 12-3 and have earned first-round fending responsibilities to outside line- and a record eighth Wimbledon while
his new one and make it easier for the playoff byes. Each host American backers. “We’re playing the Jets this Nadal claimed a 10th French Open
Patriots to defeat the Steelers should Conference second-round games. week. I don’t even know what that has and the US Open in a Slam sweep for
they meet again in a January playoff Should they both win, they would to do with it,” Belichick said. “Maybe the two veteran stars.
game. meet for a Super Bowl spot in a re- I’m missing something, I don’t know.” Nadal and Federer also ended the
year at one and two in the world.
NBA NFL Tennis “I think we can expect the same
Pistons lose guard Jackson Lions blocker donates brain Murray takes it slow from Djokovic because he is in the
same league as Roger and Rafa. He
for six to eight weeks to head injury research after injury woes is also one of the greatest players of
all time,” added Thiem who claimed
Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jack- Detroit Lions offensive tackle Em- Andy Murray says his injury-ravaged his first ever win in six meetings
son has suffered a severe right ankle mett Cleary pledged Wednesday to season has forced him to take a cau- over Djokovic at the French Open
sprain and will miss the next six to donate his brain to the Concussion tious approach to what he can achieve quarter-finals in June. “It’s going to
eight weeks of the NBA season be- Legacy Foundation to help research when he returns to action. be an exciting year. There are play-
fore being re-evaluated, the NBA into chronic traumatic encephalopa- Murray has been sidelined since ers returning from injuries, but apart
club announced Wednesday. thy (CTE) and other head injuries. July when he was beaten by Sam from Novak, nobody else will make a
Jackson sustained the injury mid- CTE and other serious brain injury Querrey in the Wimbledon quarter- comeback like Roger and Rafa.
way into the third quarter of Tues- issues have nagged the NFL in recent finals. “It’s too tough. I think everybody
day’s 107-83 home victory over the years. Three Boston University stud- That loss was caused largely by can look forward to a great and tense
Indiana Pacers, immediately drop- ies on CTE this year included tests on Murray’s problems with a hip injury start of the season.”
ping to the court in pain. 111 brains of deceased former NFL and he missed the US Open as a result Also back in action in the exhibi-
The 27-year-old backcourt stand- players that showed evidence of CTE of his fitness struggles. tion tournament, which starts at the
out could not put any pressure on in all but one. The three-time major winner plans Zayed Tennis Centre in the UAE cap-
the leg and was helped to the locker “Everyone in football should be to make his comeback at the Bris- ital from Thursday, is former wom-
room by the team’s medical staff. supportive of this research,” Cleary bane tournament which starts on New en’s number one Serena Williams.
He did not return to the contest, in said in a posting on the Legacy Foun- Year’s Eve. But despite also surren- The 36-year-old American was last
which he scored eight points and dation website. dering his world number one ranking seen in action winning the Australian
passed off a season-high 13 assists. “You have responsibility to your during a frustrating year, Murray in- Open for a modern-era record 23rd
An MRI exam Wednesday showed teammates, other players in the sists he won’t be motivated solely by Grand Slam title in January.
the extent of the injury, making cer- league, and the next generation of thoughts of Grand Slam glory once She then took a sabbatical to give
tain there was nothing broken. football players to support the re- he gets back on court. birth to her first child, Alexis Olym-
“That was tough, to see my guy search.” Cleary, 27, joins Cincinnati Instead, the Scot wants to first pia, in September.
go down like that,” Pistons standout Bengals offensive lineman Eric Win- prove he is finally fit and start to en- Williams takes on reigning French
Andre Drummond said. “He’ll be ston as active NFL players who this joy his tennis again. “When I was fit Open champion Jelena Ostapenko
OK. It’s not as bad as we thought it year donated their brains to research. and healthy last year (2016) you think in a match scheduled just before the
was.” “Football has had an overwhelm- about winning all the major events, men’s final in Abu Dhabi on Saturday
Jackson is averaging 14.6 points ingly positive impact on my life. I getting to No 1 and winning every evening.
and 5.5 assists a game for the Pis- love the game and I hope it continues competition that you are in and that is Another player in the field look-
tons, who likely will start Ish Smith to flourish,” Cleary said. “Anyone what really drives you,” Murray told ing to build on his successful 2017 is
in Jackson’s place on Thursday at involved with the game should be Sky Sports. “I am hoping next year I South African Kevin Anderson.
Orlando. aware and proactive about research can get back to that and if I do then The world number 15, who reached
The Pistons ranked fourth in the and the long-term well-being of the I have an opportunity to compete for the final of the US Open before losing
Eastern Conference at 19-14, six players. Why wouldn’t I pledge to the biggest tournaments in the world to Nadal, also welcomed the return of
games behind pace-setting Boston. donate my brain?” and I still believe that.” Djokovic and Williams.

Entertainment
Page 6 Thursday December 28, 2017

Sudokumania
The aim of the game is to fill a 9x9 grid (81 squares) that is subdivided into 3x3 “sub-squares, with each of the numbers one through nine, besides
the ones that are already filled with numbers.
The rule is that each number appear only once per row, once per column, and only once per sub-square. It is rather easy to solve, in fact no math-
ematical knowledge is required. The solutions are indicated below.
Have fun!

Beginners Advanced
2 3 1 8 6 8

6 2 9 7 2 7

8 9 6 1 7 2 7 8 3 5


8 6 2 5 7 9 4 1 9 6

5 9 1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
2 5 4 8 7 6 1 9 7 10 11 5 1

12 13
3 9 4 6 8 1 4 7 14 15 5 8
16
17 18 19 20
9 8 4 5 8 21 22 23 6
24 25
6 1 5 2 9 26 27 28 29 2
30 31 32 33
34 35
Crossword
www.CrosswordWeaver.com
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ACROSS DOWN

1 Creaky 1 Samarium (abbr.)
9 10 11
7 Forte, forte (abr.) 2 Death
9 Silent 3 German letter topper
12 13 10 Cursed 4 Sum
12 Roman 49 5 Asian language
13 Medicine 6 Not mine
14 15 16
14 Spruce 7 Iron (abbr.)
15 Tv show 8 Popular president's initials
17 18 19 20 17 British thermal unit 11 Magnesium (abbr.)
18 Egg holiday 14 BB association
21 Fall 16 Snake
21 22 23
23 Government agency 18 Show up
24 Canadian prov. 19 Scoffs
24 25 25 Sheet of matted cotton 20 Gnawer
27 Visionary 22 Turn over
26 27 28 29 29 System international (abbr.) 26 American Football Conference
30 Edge (abbr.)
32 Shade tree 27 Three-toed sloth
30 31 32 33 34 Metal 28 Yes
35 Salt water body between Jordan and 31 Sun god
34 35 Israel (2 wds.) 33 Female parent
Fold Fold
www.CrosswordWeaver.com
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DEDICATED PRESS sales
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D E A D S E A
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ACROSS 5 6 4 1 3 7 8 2 9 DOWN 9 7 4 2 8 1 3 E L M F R I N G E (52)8183105037
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[email protected]
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A E R Y
S I
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DEDICATED PRESS editorial
B A T T
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(52)5555726129
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1 Creaky 8 5 2 4 6 1 3 9 7 1 Samarium (abbr.) E P A A U T U M N [email protected]
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Information Source:
E A S T E R
B T U
7 Forte, forte (abr.) 4 9 7 5 2 3 6 8 1 2 Death 8 3 9 5 1 R E R N E A T Agence France-Presse (AFP)
Printed and distributed locally in each hotel.
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All rights reserved.
D R U G
I L
9 Silent 7 3 9 8 5 4 2 1 6 9 3 German letter topper D O O M E D M U M Reproduction in whole or in part by any printed
R
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or electronic without permission of the publisher.
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10 Cursed 6 8 1 3 9 2 7 4 5 4 Sum 9 7 4 3 6 5 F F S Q U E A K Y Solution:
2
1
8
12 Roman 49 5 Asian language
13 Medicine 6 Not mine
14 Spruce 7 Iron (abbr.)
15 Tv show 8 Popular president's initials
17 British thermal unit 11 Magnesium (abbr.)
18 Egg holiday 14 BB association
21 Fall 16 Snake
23 Government agency 18 Show up
24 Canadian prov. 19 Scoffs
25 Sheet of matted cotton 20 Gnawer
27 Visionary 22 Turn over
29 System international (abbr.) 26 American Football Conference
30 Edge (abbr.)
32 Shade tree 27 Three-toed sloth
34 Metal 28 Yes
35 Salt water body between Jordan and 31 Sun god
Israel (2 wds.) 33 Female parent