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TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 RAJAB 7, 1438 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Visa woes of Trump hosts Qatar to boost Kuwait Times Pakistanis Sisi in landmark output from infographic: set to be visit, praises world’s biggest NBA Power resolved2 soon ‘fantastic13 job’ gas21 field Rankings18 Russia subway blast kills Min 18º Max 31º 10; second bomb defused High Tide 06:12 & 16:29 Low Tide Moscow probes ‘act of terror’ • Entire St Petersburg metro shut 11:10 40 PAGES NO: 17188 150 FILS

SAINT PETERSBURG: Russia opened a probe into a sus- conspiracy theories pected “act of terror” yesterday after 10 people were killed and dozens more injured in a blast that rocked the Saint Petersburg metro. Authorities shut down the Allah Kareem metro system in Russia’s second city as security services said they had also defused a bomb at a second metro station. Russia’s Investigative Committee said it was probing an “act of terror” but added it would look into all other possible causes of the blast. The Interfax news agency said law enforcement agencies were searching By Badrya Darwish for two suspects, and state TV showed a photo of one possible suspect wearing what appeared to be a skull- cap characteristic of Muslim regions in the former Soviet Union. Pictures screened on national television showed the [email protected] door of a train carriage blown out, as bloodied bodies lay strewn on a station platform. Above ground, emer- gency services vehicles rushed to the scene at the i guys. I was so busy over the week, I forgot Technological Institute metro station, a key transport to write about something important about hub in the city center. Health minister Veronika Hmy last trip through Kuwait Airport. I hope Skvortsova said the blast had killed seven people on the one day this airport will change and we will have a spot, with three more succumbing to their injuries later. new one. But please, until the new one is ready, Thirty nine people were hospitalized, including a 15- can’t you maintain the existing one that we are year-old girl, Skvortsova said. using? Firstly, can I ask if there is a maintenance “My mom was in the metro, I don’t know what’s hap- department at the airport? I have no idea. Whoever pened to her, I can’t get hold of her,” one woman, is in charge of maintenance, can I please bring to Natalia, told AFP outside the station as she was trying to his attention the problem with the escalator that make a phone call on her mobile. Pensioner Vyacheslav brings passengers from the gates downstairs to the Veselov told AFP he had seen four bodies at the station. “A station attendant in tears called on the men to help immigration hall? ST PETERSBURG, Russia: Blast victims lie near a subway train hit by an explosion at the Tekhnologichesky Continued on Page 13 carry the bodies,” he said. Institut subway station yesterday. — AP Continued on Page 13 LOCAL TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with member of the His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Minister of Health Dr senior scholars authority and special adviser to the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques Dr Abdullah Al- Jamal Mansour Al-Harbi and members of the Gulf Union for Cancer Control. Mutlaq and his delegation. —KUNA photos

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with member of the His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al- Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Minister of Social senior scholars authority and special adviser to the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques Dr Abdullah Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Minister of Affairs and Labor and State Minister for Economic Mutlaq and his delegation. Social Affairs and Labor and State Minister for Affairs Hind Al-Sabeeh. Economic Affairs Hind Al-Sabeeh. Amir meets member of senior scholars authority in Saudi

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah country. The meeting was attended by Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness Gulf joint conference on cancer control in sented a copy of the report to His Highness Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received at Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Kuwait. His Highness also received Minister of the Crown Prince as well. Also yesterday, His Bayan Palace yesterday member of the senior Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah and Minister of Awqaf and Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Social Affairs and Labor and State Minister for Highness the Crown Prince received scholars authority and special adviser to the Islamic Affairs and State Minister for Meanwhile, His Highness the Amir Economic Affairs Hind Al-Sabeeh who pre- President of the National Security Bureau Custodian of the two Holy Mosques Dr Municipality Affairs Mohammad Naser Al- received Minister of Health Dr Jamal Mansour sented His Highness a report on the develop- Sheikh Thamer Ali Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah Abdullah Al-Mutlaq and his accompanying Jabri. The Saudi delegation later met with His Al-Harbi and members of the Gulf Union for mental planning march in the State of Kuwait and former education minister Dr Bader delegation on the occasion of their visit to the Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al- Cancer Control on the occasion of the first during the past 65 years. Sabeeh later pre- Hamad Al-Essa. —KUNA Cabinet OKs citizenship revocation panel

KUWAIT: The Cabinet has consented to a decree forming an ad hoc committee entrusted with looking into Kuwaiti citi- zenship abrogation cases. The move was taken during a cus- tomary weekly cabinet meeting held yesterday at Bayan Palace under chairmanship of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. The committee would also give appropriate practical overtures in this regard in line with law, and would even- tually report to the cabinet over relevant findings, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah said in a press statement following the meeting. The cabinet also instructed all state agencies to use the logo of activities pertinent to the choosing of Kuwait Capital of Arab Youth for 2017 on their respective websites, added Sheik Mohammad Abdullah, who doubles as Acting Minister of Information. At the onset of the meeting, the ministers were apprised of a letter addressed to His Highness the Amir from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, inviting him to attend a donor conference on Yemen due in Geneva on April 25. The ministers then listened to a briefing from First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al- Hamad Al-Sabah on the outcomes of His Highness the Amir’s participation in the 28th Arab Summit held in Dead Sea in Jordan. In the briefing, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled quoted His Highness the Amir as calling for a fresh approach to be adopted in order to address the grave challenges of the Arab world. The cabinet lauded the efforts of His Highness the Amir and other Arab leaders during this summit, and KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah chairs the cabinet’s weekly regular session yesterday. —KUNA thanked Jordanian King Abdullah II for proper preparations posted on the outcomes of the 142nd session of the GCC extremism. Meanwhile, the cabinet condemned a recent wounded. The cabinet reiterated Kuwait’s unshakable posi- and successful organizing of the Arab gathering. Ministerial Council recently held in Riyadh, which under- attack that targeted a police training center in Tanta City in tions based on rejecting all terrorist act regardless of rele- Afterwards, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled kept the ministers lined Gulf positions and resolutions against terrorism and Gharbiya Governorate in Egypt, and left several policemen vant motives and goals. —KUNA Visa delay for Pakistanis to be resolved soon

By Ben Garcia founding father Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali decades to come. China-Pakistan Economic Jinnah to build a democratic, stable and pros- Corridor (CPEC) is considered as a game changer KUWAIT: Visa delays for Pakistani nationals in perous Pakistan. “Despite many challenges that and has the potential to transform the fate of Kuwait is now under serious considerations and it faced for decades, Pakistan has made tremen- the region in terms of socio-economic develop- this matter will be resolved soon, said Hind Al- dous progress in terms of socio-economic devel- ment. The mega project, once completed, will Sabeeh, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and opment. It is a matter of great satisfaction that usher in prosperity and progress not only in State Minister for Economic Affairs. Pakistan has emerged victorious and stronger Pakistan but also in the whole region,” he added. Speaking with reporters at the Pakistan out of many challenges including fight against On the Pakistani community in Kuwait, National Day reception yesterday, Sabeeh said the menace of terrorism in its ongoing opera- Dastgir noted that it plays a very constructive the main subject being deliberated are on the tions,” he said. role in the progress and development of Kuwait. KUWAIT: Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and State Minister for Economic procedural and technical matters being pre- Pakistan’s economy is on the rise, he said, and “Our community is also very active in social Affairs. Hind Al-Sabeeh, and Ambassador of Pakistan to Kuwait Ghulam pared by the Ministry of Interior. is poised to become a regional economic power. activities. They always come forward to help the Dastgir cut the ceremony’s cake during a reception held on the occasion of Last month, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz “All economic indicators are positive and less privileged people, which is acknowledged Pakistan’s national day at Crowne Plaza Hotel. —Photos by Joseph Shagra Sharif visited Kuwait and one of many issues renowned global institutions are projecting that and appreciated by all segments of the society,” tackled with the Kuwaiti leadership was the diffi- Pakistan will be among top global economies in he concluded. culty Pakistani nationals face obtaining family, visit and trade visas to Kuwait. In 2011, Kuwait suspended all tourism, visit, trade visas as well as visas sponsored by spouses for nationals of Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The ban was placed due to ‘difficult security conditions’ in the five countries. Asked on the plan to establish a refinery in Pakistan, Sabeeh said the issue is under study with the Ministry of Oil and the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC). “There are talks about it but it is under studying. They are being brought out to the cabinet to determine when the time table would be,” she noted. Sabeeh also lauded the Kuwait-Pakistan relations which she Ambassador of Pakistan Guests pictured in attendance. said are based on brotherly and mutual respect. to Kuwait Ghulam Dastgir Meanwhile, Pakistani Ambassador to Kuwait delivers a speech during Ghulam Dastgir said the government of Ambassador of Pakistan to Kuwait Ghulam Dastgir welcomes Ambassador of Pakistan, under the leadership of Prime Minister Senegal to Kuwait and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Abdul Ahad Mbacke. the ceremony. Sharif, is committed to realizing the dream of the LOCAL TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 Uneducated: Nearly half of expats in Kuwait private sector don’t have high school diplomas

Latest figures released by the Labor Market Information System

By Ahmad Jabr

KUWAIT: Nearly half of expatriates working in the private sector in Kuwait have only a middle school degree (49.5 percent), while the number of workers with a university degree reaches only 10.5 percent, according to official statistics. Those figures, released recently by the Labor Market Information System of the Central Statistical Bureau, shed more light on the quality of foreign manpower in a country where expatriates made up 81.9 percent of the total labor market as of December 31, 2016. They are also important considering that they are released at a time in which debate on the negative impact of the demographic imbal- ance is perhaps at an all-time high in political and social arenas in Kuwait. The private sector, which employs 59.9 per- cent of total manpower, remains heavily dependent on expatriate workers, who take up 95.5 percent of private jobs in Kuwait. Of those workers, 70.6 percent work in four economic activities: manufacturing industries (14.1 per- cent), construction (10.2 percent), wholesale and retail, trade, repair of vehicles and motor- cycles (32 percent), and real estate activity (14.3 percent). In addition to improving a worker’s chances of finding a better, more financially rewarding job, having a university degree is also essential for many governmental transactions in Kuwait, such as applying for a driver’s license (which also requires a minimum KD 600 monthly • Only 10 percent of expats in the private sector wage and two-year stay in the country), and having the ability to change employers freely. have university degrees

Average salary • Expats make up 81.9 percent of total manpower In the meantime, the statistics show that the average monthly salary of expatriates in Kuwait is KD 281, including only KD 259 in the private sector and KD 643 in the public sector. The average salary of a male expatriate private sector employee remains at a meager KD 251, which for instance is well below the aforemen- tioned KD 600 minimum to apply for a driver’s license, or the KD 400 minimum to sponsor a family in Kuwait. The average salary of expatriates working in the public sector is generally better at KD 643, but remains humble compared to the KD 1,457 average for Kuwaiti public sector employees. In the meantime, the statistics show a narrower gap between the average salary of Kuwaitis in the public and private sectors, as a Kuwaiti in the private sector receives an average of KD 1,378. Still, the pub- lic sector remains more attractive for national manpower considering that it is more reward- ing, less demanding (six daily working hours in average compared to eight in the private sector), and provides more in terms of bene- fits and job security.

Labor growth According to the statistics, the number of expatriate workers in Kuwait grew by 6.8 per- cent as of the end of last year compared to a year before, whereas the number of Kuwaiti workers increased by only three percent dur- ing that period. The total number of Kuwaiti manpower dropped slightly to 18.1 percent from 18.6 percent by the end of 2015. The total number of workers in Kuwait reached 1,965,381 as of December 31, 2016, of which only 354,806 are Kuwaitis while the rest (1,610,575) are citizens of many countries who call Kuwait home. This number does not include domestic helpers (also known as household employees) who totaled 673,099 by the end of last year. People from non-Arab Asian countries make up 50 percent of the total workforce, compared to 30.4 from Arab coun- tries (excluding Kuwaitis). The Indian and Egyptian worker groups remain the two largest expatriate communities in Kuwait respectively, and the only two that are larger than the Kuwaiti manpower in the country. LOCAL TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

Adan Hospital doctors Inw my vie successfully perform 12-hour heart surgery Then and now

By Abdellatif Sharaa aorta had expanded and the tearing endangered his life, as the diameter of the KUWAIT: A medical team at Salman Al- aorta reached 9 cm, which required a com- Dabbous heart center of Adan Hospital, plex surgical intervention. By Nawaf Al-Arbash led by the head of heart surgery center Dr Tarrazi said it was decided to carry Prof Riyadh Al-Tarrazi and assisted by a out the operation to prevent the danger of team from University of Hanover, suc- the aorta bursting at any moment, so the ceeded in carrying out a Vascutek surgery was done using the latest German Thoraflex frozen elephant trunk surgery, technology, maybe for the first time in the which lasted over 12 hours. This opera- Middle East. The German team that partici- tion is considered the most critical for the pated in the operation said the success rate KUWAIT: Khalid Al-Hajri, Chairman of the Green Line Environmental Group, speaks heart and the aorta. of this operation at University of Hanover is during a lecture to spread environmental awareness for teachers. The 44-year-old patient suffered from over 90 percent, and complications affect t first, let us set a fact straight: I strongly dissection and lacerations in his aorta since no more than 10 percent of cases. The Green Line spreads environmental believe that entrepreneurs do not have to 2011, and underwent lifesaving surgery patient is recovering very well and is under- Aown a business. They can be anyone who is then. But recently, it was noticed that the going rehabilitation. awareness among teachers proactive, takes the initiative and leads in their domain - be it a daytime job, volunteer work or By Nawara Fattahova making it successful,” stressed Hajri. even in their homes amongst their families - Its success and positive feedback were although this article sheds light on business entre- KUWAIT: The Green Line Environmental behind listing this project on the annual preneurs (business owners). Group Kuwait (GLEG) announced the con- agenda of GLEG’s activities. “We will hold I am very proud of all Kuwaiti entrepreneurs who clusion of a national project on environ- this program annually in cooperation with have risen in different business industries in the mental awareness for teachers yesterday. the Ministry of Education to spread aware- past decade. They were and still are role models for This program was held over two weeks in ness among teachers. This project focuses many entrepreneurs after them, which means they cooperation with the Ministry of Education. on enriching the teacher with information have set a benchmark that says “you do not have to Khalid Al-Hajri, Chairman of GLEG, said the on all aspects of the Kuwaiti environment,” settle for a job and a fixed paycheque.” This is where program is one of the biggest environmen- he added. I beg to differ. I have been witnessing a lot of resig- tal awareness projects on the ministry level More than 30 environmental issues in nations nowadays by people proclaiming to be in the region. “This is one of the national Kuwait were discussed, including the ways entrepreneurs, because they are willing to take the environmental projects held by GLEG dur- of dealing with them. “These included risk of leaving their job and starting their own busi- ing the past 17 years in cooperation with environmental pollution and the ways of nesses, shifting from the former to the latter like a other institutions. They all aim to raise envi- eliminating it, in addition to the impor- bullet train! ronment awareness in the society,” he said. tance of protecting the environment and You see, back in the days where our ancestors This year, 1,200 teachers participated in its impact on health, social and economic the project from various schools from all aspects of individuals,” he noted. “Every were working day and night to bring some bread areas. “It is a great achievement to witness environmental issue that was discussed and butter home; some made it as businesspeople, this huge number of teachers responding included statistics, information, scientific, while others merely secured a roof and food on and participating. GLEG considers this technical, legal, and environmental docu- their tables. Let us take the ones that established event as one of the biggest events of 2017. ments to provide full information, which successful businesses, many of whom own major It is also one of the achievements of the increases the environmental awareness of conglomerates in our present day. Such entrepre- Ministry of Education, which participated in teachers,” concluded Hajri. neurs from the 20th century most likely started from nil, or a very weak compensation from a job. Yet, they nurtured their families and saved some of their income - if they could afford to - and contin- Kuwait to import fuel, gas ued to work faithfully. Now, the difference in investment opportunities after refinery shutdown and business ideas back then is that the market was new and growing, where almost any idea would have been seen as a “new and good idea”, because 4.1 quake detected northern Kuwait at that time there were gaps and demands in many sectors, with zero competitors of those that could By A Saleh the sum of KD 6,000 in rent since issuing be counted on one’s fingers. This made it almost the withdrawal decision. Accordingly, inevitable (even statistically) for a business to suc- KUWAIT: Kuwait National Petroleum MSAL will withdraw the managements of ceed; and in turn, it would have made a lot of sense Company (KNPC) yesterday announced all other wedding halls, starting with the for the entrepreneur to leave their job and attend completely suspending operations at ones where violations were detected and to their business to nourish and grow it. Shuaiba refinery following the Supreme which have been ignoring ministry warn- Coming back to the 21st century: Our young Petroleum Council’s decision to shut ings and notices. Notably, ever since put- entrepreneurs are highly motivated and extremely down Kuwait’s oldest refinery. ting out MSAL’s administrative decision smart, but some might be a tad bit over-motivated Commenting on the decision, KNPC’s number 1291/2015 pertaining withdraw- after seeing their peers’ success, reading “successful deputy CEO for Mina Abdullah refinery ing the management of violating halls, people’s quotes” (which is a trend now), and seeing Mutlaq Al-Azmi said that the decision the ministry has so far withdrawn them wealthy people’s Instagram posts from all over the comes within a five-year plan including 16 from 25 halls, including 10 belonging to world. This creates a blur in their judgment. transitory months until Zour refinery and co-ops and 15 belonging to individuals. We are in an era where the gaps in the market the clean fuel project at Mina Abdullah are not as they were back in our ancestors’ days, and Mina Ahmadi are operational. Disabled workers and many ideas which our young entrepreneurs Speaking in an interview with Al- Deputy director of the Public have exposed to a saturated marked (which means Arabiya TV, Azmi said the plan includes Authority for Disabled Affairs’ (PADA) that there is no room for one more). It also means importing some products, namely fuel educational sector Majed Saleh said a that the person is taking a very high risk leaving oil to be used during the summer to gen- meeting would be held this month with their stable income for a business that they might erate electricity, in addition to importing 111 private sector companies to explain have not planned well for. gasoline during certain months when articles 14 and 15 of the disabled law per- As many success stories as there are, people Kuwaiti refineries undergo maintenance taining appointing four percent of dis- should also know there are lots of people who did operations. Azmi added that the cost of abled people in these companies. Saleh not quite make it - which is fine - but they have also gasoline was getting dearer because the added that a representative from the put themselves in debt and have lowered the living refinery was very old, but stressed that manpower authority would attend the standards of their families, all because of an ambi- importing it would have the same cost. meeting to explain the measures taken in tion. Or specifically, taking the wrong way to pur- Notably, the decision to close Shuaiba the case of ignoring this percentage, as sue an ambition. refinery came after all studies showed well as incentives to those respecting it. Opportunities are there in the market, and like how difficult and economically unfeasi- Saleh explained that disabled law mainly there were gaps back in the 20th century, new gaps ble its development would be. The refin- applies to citizens, while non-Kuwaiti dis- exist now as a result of the high rate of businesses ery was launched in 1968 with a daily abled people would only have access to opening. A person should have a comprehensive capacity of refining 200,000 barrels. It healthcare, education and employment business plan, do some market research and per- will be substituted by Zour refinery and provided they are children of Kuwaiti form a feasibility study. These tools are like stories its storage facilities and marine export mothers. He added that according to the that will tell you the risk you will be taking, and if it platforms will be used for the biofuel law, non-Kuwaiti disabled people get traf- is worth it or not to take it. project, while its staff will be distributed fic facilities and letters of recommenda- I hope all readers advise - but never stop - any- to new posts in the other three refineries. tion to charities assisting non-Kuwaiti dis- one around them who wants to leave their job abled people. blindly because of a business idea. Let them start it Earthquake leanly (I will talk about lean start-ups in another KISR’s national earthquake detection Drag racers article) - the state’s policies allow and support it network yesterday recorded a 4.1 earth- Jahra Governor Lt Gen (retired) Fahd well now. quake to the west of Faw in Iraq and Ameer declared plans to build a new city northern Kuwait. The network added 10 km to the west of Jahra including low- that the earthquake’s epicenter was 80 cost houses built by the housing welfare km to the north of Kuwait City and that it authority for the residents of Taima, Drug smuggling took place 20 km deep underground. It which can then be used as a private resi- also recorded two aftershocks - 2.1 and dence area. Ameer also reassured drag attempt foiled 2.6 on the Richter scale. race lovers that a special track would be built near Jahra cemetery where they can By Hanan Al-Saadoun Court orders practice various driving skills. In addition, The court of appeal yesterday rejected Ameer stressed the need to diversify KUWAIT: Kuwait Coastguard foiled an attempt to smug- a case filed by Shaab Co-op Society con- national income sources by building gle drugs into Kuwait via sea. The Coastguard testing a decision by the Ministry of more factories instead of imposing more Department had received information about a planned Social Affairs and Labor (MSAL) on invali- fees. He also expressed hope that the Silk drug smuggling attempt, and detectives were able to dating the co-ops union elections. The City project would achieve cultural confirm the data received. Two persons, Kuwaiti and court also seconded MSAL’s decision on development rather than building more Saudi, were identified and arrested red handed while withdrawing the Harbash wedding hall’s concrete structures. He also noted that a trying to smuggle a bag containing 60 pieces of drugs. management from the donor and have it touristic project would be built in A sample of the drug was sent for testing to determine run by the ministry’s community devel- Khowaisat, in addition to a heritage mar- its contents. The suspects were sent to concerned opment department. The court also ket similar to Mubarakiya to the south of authorities for further action. mandated the donor to pay the ministry Saad Al-Abdullah. Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry also announced that central prison authorities arrested two persons who attempted to smuggle contrabands into the prison’s facility. One of the suspects had a mobile phone and a SIM which he attempted to smuggle for his jailed brother, while the other possessed a sub- stance believed to be drugs.

Traffic campaigns The traffic department carried out several campaigns last week during which 36,185 tickets were issued, 189 vehicles and 17 motorcycles were impounded, 71 peo- ple were arrested and three expats were deported.

Fire Fire broke out in Ahmad Al-Humaidhi elementary school for boys yesterday morning. Jahra occupational center responded to an emergency call reported the fire, and managed to tackle the flames within minutes. The Shuaiba refinery. No injuries were reported. TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 LOCAL

KUWAIT: Sheikha Altaf Al-Sabah (left) and Leann Abdulraheem at the Kuwait Textile Arts Association’s annual Woven recreation of an old Kuwaiti flag. exhibition in Dahiat Abdullah Al-Salem. — Photos by Athoob Al-Shuaibi KTAA holds 18th textile exhibition

By Athoob Al-Shuaibi association held their 18th annual textile exhi- said. “I am real happy and proud to see the bition under the patronage and presence of growth of the KTAA under the Sadu House’s KUWAIT: Textile art is part of an ancient tradi- Sheikha Altaf Al-Sabah, the honorary presi- support.” Mariam Moussa, a textile artisan, tion inherited by generations in Kuwait, along- dent of Sadu House. expressed her appreciation for participating in side the sadu industry. From the past eight “This organization aims to emphasize the this exhibition. “I am from Yemen, and have years, the Kuwait Textile Arts Association advancement of cultural exchange regarding been living in Kuwait since 1963,” she said. (KTAA) has been guarding this craft under the the textile heritage in order to build up and “After my children grew up and winged away umbrella of the Sadu House. Recently, the energize our textile community,” Sheikha Altaf from our nest, I started to occupy my free time with a hobby. My work is not for sale; I am sav- ing it for my grandchildren. The exhibited work represents women selling bread in Sanaa.” The textile works were characterized by smart and vivid colors, as well as bold and harmoniously intertwined strings. They are

The quilted pixelated portrait of Abdulrahman, the father of Haifa Abdul Mughni. varied in content and concepts. Some of them represented nature and heritage, while others showed geometrical shapes. However, in a unique piece of art, Haifa Al- Abdul Mughni presented a monotone, pixelat- Haifa Abdul Mughni in front of her award ed portrait of her father using scraps of differ- winning textile artwork, a quilt she created ent shades of a gray of an Arab garment (dish- to honor her father. dasha). In the setting, there are thirty squares the end of the opening ceremony. Sheikha with a different pattern on each one of them. Altaf gave a special recognition and praised “This work has been recently selected among the effort of Leann Abdul Raheem, the inaugu- 80 textile creations from around the world, and ral member of the association who joined in A visitor looks at the ‘Weaving Stories’ exhibition. Textile artists from Kuwait and the from more than a thousand participants during 1995. The textile exhibition will carry on until United States collaborated to create the unique artwork, featuring various aspects of Textile artist Mariam Moussa (right) and a prestigious annual contest,” said Haifa. today. It is held at Ahmad Aladwani Hall in Kuwait’s heritage, environment and history. Organized by the Sadu House. her daughter in front of her textile artwork. All winning participants were observed at Dahiat Abdullah Al-Salem. Fishermen union speaks at press conference today

By Meshaal Al-Enezi ing was made months ago, urging state officials to solve the problem. “The owner did not give a reasonable period KUWIAT: The fishermen union yesterday called all fisher- before the eviction despite fact that April’s rent was already men for a press conference today at the union’s headquar- paid,” the union stressed in a statement, urging all fisher- ters in Sharq to discuss the challenges they face after a deci- men to be present at the union headquarters at 6:30 pm sion to evict fishermen from their accommodation. A num- this evening. ber of fishermen were handed over notices earlier this week The union also urged the government to build a village to evacuate their apartments at the fishermen’s temporary for fishermen in order to avoid a situation that would residence near the Amiri Hospital. The fishermen were not severely affect Kuwait’s daily production of fish. In addition, given an alternative residence they could relocate to. the union invited lawmakers and relevant government The union explained that the decision to evict the build- bodies to attend the press conference. Farmer nominated for Middle East prize

KUWAIT: Middle East Agricultural Award for best innova- cultural organizations around the world are competing to tion in Dubai selected Kuwaiti farmer Yousef Al-Kuraibani win the prize, one of the top agricultural prizes in the for the second consecutive year among best three nomi- region. The prize is not only restricted to the Middle East, nees to win the prize. Kuraibani said yesterday that hun- but also allowed participation of companies and agricul- dreds of companies, universities, research centers and agri- tural organizations around the world in case they possess branches in the Middle East like many American and European companies that have long expertise in this domain. This resulted in raising the number of participants from various parts of the world and made the com- petition tougher. After the referees’ com- mittee evaluated hundreds of participants, Kuraibani was chosen as one of the best three nominees, as he took part individually and presented a comprehen- sive project of planting rare kinds of vegetables which he succeeded to plant for the first time in the Middle East region. His plantations include black tomatoes, white strawber- ries, and red corn besides many other rare kinds. “I prefer to take part in this competition individu- ally and to compete with international companies and organizations to prove the ability of young Kuwaiti youth,” Kuraibani said. The prize recognizes the prominent achieve- ments of individuals, departments, teams, or organizations that con- tributed to the growth and development of agricul- ture, aquaculture and vet- erinary industry. The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Enviro- nment approved the prize officially in 2017. — KUNA TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 From the Arabic press Burgan Bank sponsors ‘Greek Musical Night’ Al-Anbaa KUWAIT: Burgan Bank, the second largest conventional bank Change of skin color in terms of assets, in partnership with the Embassy of Greece in Kuwait and Dar Al Athar Al-Islamiyyah recently sponsored a through generations Greek musical night event at the Yarmouk Cultural Center on 2 April 2017. The musical night, held under the patronage of the By Salah Al-Sayer Greek Ambassador in the State of Kuwait, Andreas Papadakis, aimed to celebrate the rich Greek music and encourage the oth anthropologists and biologists believe that exchange of cultures. Africa, namely Tropical Africa through which The night hosted a group of famous Greek musicians as well Bthe Equator passes and is known to be Parliament as renowned “Zoe Tiganouria”, the Greek composer, accordion extremely hot and humid, was the home of the first soloist and performer worked as a composer and accordionist man. They believe that, by time, people’s naturally with famous singers in the Greek discography, as well as with red skin turned into black to resist the negative international artists (such as James Brown, Al Di-Meola, Omer impact of ultraviolet rays and protect the folic acid Faruk Tekbilek, Goran Bregovic, Chico Freeman, Z¸lf¸ Livaneli, needed for fetuses’ growth inside wombs. However, and others). ‘Zoe’ entertained the audience through her Greek, following the first human migrations to cold areas, Middle Eastern, Latin and international music performance. their complexion changed to white to produce vita- Burgan Bank believes that sponsoring cultural events such min D because dark complexions provide natural as this, gives a chance to the public and younger generations protection against sunrays. to meet international artists and get introduced to different A research done by a group of scientists at music genres from different cultures. As art continues to play a Californian Academy of Science says that ancient powerful role in bringing people of different cultures together immigrants from Central Africa to South Africa, known and supporting progress and advancement in society, Burgan Cabinet as the Khoisan, have lighter complexions than that of Bank is proud to support such an important musical event. This sponsorship falls under Burgan Bank’s full-fledged community Central Africans. This change in color took place to program entitled ‘ENGAGE’ - Together to be the change. This cope with less ultraviolet rays in the new habitat. The program sheds light on important aspects affecting every seg- research also shows that the Zulu Group are darker ment of the society by promoting social welfare through edu- than the Khoisan because Zulus’ migration to the cational, cultural, social and health initiatives. Burgan Bank’s south was more recent (1,000 years ago) and they Al-Jarida approach to ‘ENGAGE’ begins with a vital principle that as a have not spent enough time to have their skin color Kuwaiti financial institution, its conduct and policies should be change like those who arrived earlier. aligned with the needs and interests of the Kuwaiti society. Racial groups that inhabited the western banks of the Red Sea (near Sudan and Ethiopia) have very dark skin to help them resist the heat and limit the effect of ultraviolet rays, which is unlike the Arabs who inhabit- ed the Eastern bank of the sea and managed to resist ABK marks World Autism Day the same climate conditions by more civilized ways such as wearing clothes without which they would KUWAIT: Reinforcing its support towards the special needs organizations together to aid in things like research, diag- cluded with a powerful message sent across by the chil- have had darker complexions. segment in Kuwait, Al-Ahli Bank of Kuwait (ABK) celebrated noses, treatment, and overall awareness for those with the dren, where they released blue balloons into the sky of The most amazing finding of the research is talking World Autism Day in collaboration with the Kuwait Dream disorder. ABK’s sponsorship and support to this cause Kuwait, as a sign of solidarity. about the dark complexion of the Inuit people in Center; a UK accredited Early Intervention Centre stems from its strong belief in the value of supporting indi- The Bank is keen to play an active role in encouraging a Alaska (where the cold requires a white complexion Specialized in autism. The event was held on April 2, viduals with special needs and raising awareness of the stronger sense of belonging among these individuals by that produces vitamin D from the sun). Scientists 2017at the center’s headquarters in Khaldiya. importance of recognizing them among Kuwait’s commu- celebrating them and offering them the opportunity to explain this by the fact that they have vitamin D-rich World Autism Day is an internationally recognized day, nities, and providing them with a sense of equality. realize how special they truly are. It will continue to partici- fish, which spared them from the need to change color which aims to raise awareness of children with autism The children from the Center enjoyed a fun-filled day pate in impactful events and activities in an effort to make and adapt because their bodies do not need it. around the world. The day itself brings individual autism and were engaged in various activities. The event was con- a true difference in the lives of these individuals. —Translated by Kuwait Times

Al-Anbaa Crime An armless parliament Report Crashing wall kills worker By Thaar Al-Rasheedi KUWAIT: An Egyptian man died when a concrete wall col- istorically speaking, politically those who accepted the offer, not those lapsed on him while working in a house in Naeem. A case immunizing His Highness the who made it. If what we hear is true, this was filed for investigation. A medical report that a col- HPrime Minister is not a first, and deal does not indict the government. It league of the victim brought to police indicated that the was not invented by some of the current indicts the entire parliament because it man died as a result of injuries sustained from a heavy lawmakers who announced this immuni- means that the opposition has turned object that fell on him. The man was pronounced dead at ty last month after making a deal to solve into a temporary pro-government wing, the hospital and his body was sent to the coroner for a some tensed issues in return for a period which clearly involves an unjustified and final report. of political calmness. The majority of the unacceptable abdication by the entire 2012 parliament; the first to be annulled, parliament, not only the opposition. gave the premier a similar immunity By this, the opposition has made a Officer charged when they suspended a grilling motion political bargain without authorization A military police officer ordered a non-commis- planned by then MP Obaid Al-Wasmi. from those who voted for them and sioned army officer to remove his uniform so that he However, both cases prove that suspend- thought they would achieve public can be locked up at Fintas police station. The policeman ing a monitoring tool is a fatal unaccept- gains. The people only authorized them faces charges of beating and insulting a citizen who had able parliamentary mistake not only to practice public monitoring and legis- lodged a complaint against him. because such ‘immunization’ has no con- late in the name of the nation. They were stitutional, legal, or even organizational not authorized to abdicate either consti- Missing wife support, but also because it is a declara- tutional tool. For the first time ever, the Jahra detectives are looking for an Egyptian woman tion of suspending the duty of monitor- government is innocent of committing a after her husband told police that she disappeared from ing, which is the parliament’s second arm fatal constitutional mistake for which Jahra Hospital where she was admitted earlier. The man after legislation. It costs the parliament only opposition MPs should be blamed. explained that he took his wife to the hospital after she to unjustifiably lose one of its arms. The real problem does not lie in declar- complained from an illness, but discovered later that she In my opinion, neither the govern- ing the parliament’s loss of its monitoring had escaped. He tried to call her but her phone was ment nor His Highness the Prime arm through this deal, it actually lies in the switched off, he added. Minister should be blamed for this fact that the parliament also suffers from immunization, because if we assume that paralysis in its legislative arm, as ever it was the government that made this since it was elected, it only passed one Thefts offer to opposition MPs as part of a cer- law so far. It is more of an armless parlia- An unknown person entered an Iraqi man’s house in tain political deal, we should only blame ment. —Translated by Kuwait Times Al-Qasr and stole KD 170 and $800 in cash. The com- plainant, a student, lodged a complaint at Naeem police station. Meanwhile, a citizen in Jabriya told police that his phone went missing while he was at a school. A theft case was filed. Separately, a citizen accused a Filipina of stealing a gold necklace worth KD 650 in Maidan Hawally. In the meantime, a citizen informed police that an unknown thief broke into her car and stole her iPhone, expensive watch, phone charger, an ID, blood pressure monitor, school notes, make-up bag and KD 50 in cash. The incident took place in Salmiya.

Harassment A woman accused a dentist of sexual harassment, say- ing that he committed his behavior inside his clinic in the presence of an Indian nurse. She said that the dentist harassed her for more than a minute before she confronted him. The dentist was summoned for questioning.

Teachers insulted Two Kuwaiti teachers lodged a complaint at Bayan Kuwait Airways’ 6th Boeing police station claiming they were insulted by a Kuwaiti 777-300ER arrives on time couple while at school. KUWAIT: Kuwait Airways, the official routes are now exclusively served by the Physical assault national carrier of the State of Kuwait, has new aircraft. These routes include: London; A citizen took his son to Naeem police station with a once again welcomed a further addition New York; Frankfurt; and soon to be Dhaka; medical report to lodge a complaint against a school mate into its fleet, with the arrival at Kuwait Bangkok and Manila. who beat him inside the school. When the student was International Airport of the sixth of 10 “The addition of the Boeing 777-300ER questioned after summoned, he said he was also beaten. Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on order. The into our fleet is not only making a signifi- Police are investigating. Meanwhile, a Lebanese woman sixth delivery in only four months. The new cant difference to the overall product and accused her compatriot of beating her, then when the man aircraft is to be called ‘Meskan’ - named after service Kuwait Airways can now offer our was summoned to the police station, he claimed that the the small Kuwaiti island just off the East passengers, but the fact that we are receiv- woman also assaulted him physically. Both were sent for coast of the mainland. ing more than one new aircraft per month, questioning to find out what exactly happened. The addition of ‘Meskan’ brings Kuwait since the first delivery in December 2016, Airways’ operational fleet up to 25, with the proves that we are well on schedule for this Hoax calls five 777-300ER aircraft already in service order of 10 to be completed by Q3 2017,” Police received a number of calls from a girl report- having made had an immediate impact on said Rasha Al-Roumi, Chairperson and CEO, ing a suicide and murder taking place in Farwaniya. the official national carrier of Kuwait’s Kuwait Airways. Police and detectives responded, but could not locate improving product, seat capacity and fre- “We are pleased to note that Kuwait the address given to them. When they called the quency increases to its passengers. Airways’ aircraft acquisition program is phone number that the emergency calls came from, it The sixth Boeing arrives during a backed fully by all stakeholders and the was out of service. Detectives called the same number Summer Season that Kuwait Airways Kuwaiti government and we are confident through WhatsApp, and this time a Syrian man in his recently announced has seen its weekly fre- that the official national carrier of Kuwait will sixties answered and told them he did not report any quencies increased by 16 percent, across its be a significant driver of success - not just for crime. Detectives went to his home and eventually network - a total of 324 flights per week. the airline - but for the overall ambitions of discovered that his 16-year-old daughter used her The 777-300ER’s introduction has also seen the government for the diversification of the mother’s phone and made the emergency calls. The seat capacity boosted by up to 58 percent, economy and the country’s long-term com- girl said she made the calls to challenge her family, on certain routes. mercial status, infrastructure development who had denied her request to travel back home. Her With the sixth 777-300ER now set to and wider business and tourism goals.” A fur- father told police that she suffered mental issues, so enter commercial service within days, this ther 25 Airbus aircraft are also on order by the case was closed after police took an undertaking allows Kuwait Airways to not only support Kuwait Airways, over the next four to five from the father to prevent his daughter from repeat- existing routes on its regular 36-destination years, including those from the A320neo ing her act. — Translated from the Arabic press network, but has also meant that certain and A350 families of aircraft. TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 Colombia mudslide Chilling online ‘death groups’ spark panic death toll hits 254

Page 11 Page 9 Bahrain approves military trials for civilians Top court cuts opposition chief’s jail term

DUBAI: Bahrain’s king yesterday approved a constitutional approved weeks ago by both the 40-seat upper house of amendment granting military courts the right to try civil- parliament, appointed by the king, and the 40-seat elect- ians, raising alarm among rights groups for activists in the ed lower house. Gulf kingdom. The decision comes as the Sunni-ruled king- Hamad had declared a temporary three-month state of dom tightens its grip on dissent, with scores of largely Shiite emergency after the crackdown on protests in 2011, allow- activists sentenced to lengthy prison sentences. Bahrain, a ing special courts to try civilians connected with a wave of key US ally that neighbors Saudi Arabia, has been rocked by protests. News of the latest amendment sparked harsh criti- frequent protests since authorities cracked down on Shiite- cism among rights groups. Amnesty International called led demonstrations demanding political reforms in 2011. the amendment a “disastrous move towards patently unfair” Military courts in Bahrain were previously limited to try- trials of civilians, warning that it could be used to try ing members of the armed forces or other branches of the activists on “trumped-up charges”. security services and could only try civilians under a state of Authorities have justified the move as necessary to fight emergency. Under the new amendment, the courts have what they say are Iran-linked anti-government cells that the power to try any civilian accused of threatening the have targeted the state. The kingdom has tightened its grip security of the state. The official BNA news agency said on on dissent over the past six years, stripping dissidents of cit- Monday that King Hamad had approved the amendment to izenship and banning foreign media. Bahrain, home to the Article 105(b) of Bahrain’s constitution. US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, accuses the opposition of working The move coincided with a decision by the kingdom’s with predominantly Shiite Iran to incite unrest in the king- top court to reduce the jail sentence of the leader of dom. Tehran has consistently denied involvement. The king- main Shiite opposition faction, Sheikh Ali Salman, who dom last year ordered the dissolution of Shiite opposition AZ ZINJ: A Bahraini man holds a placard bearing the portrait of Sheikh Ali Salman, head of the Shiite opposition had been convicted of inciting hatred and insulting the group Al-Wefaq, headed by Sheikh Salman, over links to movement Al-Wefaq, during a protest against his arrest, at Al wefaq headquarter building, in the village of Zinj on the state. Salman’s sentence was cut from nine years to four “terrorism”. Al-Wefaq had been the largest bloc in Bahrain’s outskirts of the capital Manama. — AFP years in prison. The constitutional amendment was elected lower house of parliament. — AFP

El-Sisi and Trump: A common language? CAIRO: Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, a former general who was elected but rules with a heavy hand, may find a kindred spirit in Donald Trump this week. The two first met in September at New York’s Plaza Hotel, with the US president calling El-Sisi “a fantastic guy” and proclaiming “good chemistry” in a meeting that boosted a struggling candidate short on foreign policy experience. Soon El-Sisi became the first foreign leader to con- gratulate Trump on his surprise electoral win, his office says. On Monday he visits the White House. That con- trasts sharply with El-Sisi’s distress under President Barack Obama, who seemed far more sensitive to human rights abuses than his successor, holding up various forms of assistance and never inviting El-Sisi to Washington. El-Sisi is hardly cut from Trump cloth: He is a somewhat taciturn career military man, while his host is a brash real estate developer and reality TV star who inherited a fortune. Yet their instincts and language seem strikingly similar:

Bad people Trump often speaks of “bad people” seeking to infil- trate the United States, using the term to justify attempted visa bans for nationals of various Muslim countries and to slam illegal immigration from Mexico. El-Sisi often speaks of “evil people” seeking to under- mine Egypt, seeming to reference the once-governing Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist group he overthrew, banned and declared a terrorist organization, as well as the Islamic State group which has launched attacks in Egypt. Some see a hint at mysterious other foreign powers as well.

Fake news In El-Sisi’s Egypt, journalists have been imprisoned on charges of disseminating “false news,” and informa- tion that contradicts official statements can lead to prosecution. El-Sisi has also said that “the media and the state should not disagree.” Trump hasn’t come close to arresting journalists, but he does rail against reporters he doesn’t like, often dismissing critical sto- ries and even entire media outlets as “fake news” regardless of the facts. He also has bitterly criticized the use of anonymous sources.

Great again Trump’s controversial borrowed slogan, “Make America Great Again,” struck a nostalgic chord among certain Americans who yearn for what they view as a simpler time of unabashed national greatness. Many Egyptians are also proud of past glories and despon- dent over present decline - which El-Sisi has tapped into with skill. “Long Live Egypt” was a mantra, as is “Egypt is the Mother of the World and will become as big as the world.” Both seek greatness in massive proj- ects: Trump wants a wall on the Mexico border and other infrastructure upgrades; El-Sisi has launched a much-ballyhooed widening of the Suez Canal, road- works and ambitious plans to build a new capital city.

Winning Both leaders whip up supporters with talk of victo- ries and seek to project a mystic sense of inevitable success. El-Sisi frequently claims Egypt is winning its continuing war on terrorism in the Sinai Peninsula and has urged people to not “listen to anybody’s words but me.” Trump promised to make Americans “bored from so much winning,” speaks of himself in singular terms and frequently references his surprise election victory.

So-called judges Trump’s attacks on the judiciary for blocking his executive orders have led him to refer to “so called” judges and to tweet that the public should blame them in case of another terrorist attack. El-Sisi has his conflicts with his judiciary, saying that they were “hold- ing back the hands of justice” and should be sentenc- ing more Islamists to death. — AP INTERNATIONAL TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 From ducks to Dushkas: Gun repair shops in Syria

HASAKEH: For years, Abboud Jan’s gun government control. Jan receives around 10 he is unhappy about the turn his business repair shop in the northeastern Syrian city customers a day in his cramped city centre has taken. Like Jan, he mostly worked on of Hasakeh catered exclusively to local shop, where empty tea cups sit atop soot- hunting weapons before Syria’s conflict hunters, but the country’s devastating six- covered drawers filled with tools. began in 2011, and he too has since shifted year war has changed all that. “We used to to fixing battlefield arms. repair just hunting weapons, but things Carrying arms “At the beginning, war prompted me to have changed with the crisis,” says the 36- Freddy, a 31-year-old jeweler wearing a quit my job for a while. I didn’t want to deal year-old, standing under a sign in his shop baseball cap, comes in holding a small pis- with combat weapons,” he said. But with no promising “Repair of all weapons”. tol. Jan swiftly gets to work on it. “Before the other work available, he felt forced to return Jan has been in the business for 15 years. war I had a hunting rifle, and I used to come to his sole source of income. He now handles When he started out, he mostly fixed shot- here for repairs now and again,” Freddy said. a wide range of arms, including pistols, rifles guns used to hunt waterfowl and other “But when the war started, I bought a pistol. and machineguns. He says he avoids work- birds. But since Syria’s conflict began in “I keep it with me all the time. We’ve seen ing with heavy weapons because of the dan- March 2011, his skills have branched out to several kidnappings during the war,” he says, gers involved. include weapons of war. Now he works on adding that his work as a jeweler makes him “Our profession requires a lot of concen- everything from pistols to the widely used particularly vulnerable to crime. Jan charges tration-it’s as though you’re dealing with Russian DshK heavy machinegun nick- between 1,000 and 5,000 Syrian pounds ($2- mines,” he says. “The first mistake you make is named the “Dushka”. “Now we fix big pieces, $10) for basic maintenance work on a pistol, your last.” The constant risk is one reason in addition to the Dushka and the PKC with the price for work on larger pieces why Abu Mohammed hopes to find another machineguns, as well as light Russian determined by their size and make. Most of job and stop repairing guns for good. weapons,” he says. his work involves fixing weapons that have “Maintaining a hunting rifle that brings His clientele has also changed. Many of his jammed because of heavy use without pleasure to its owner is far better than main- customers these days are either people who proper cleaning and care. taining these death pieces,” he says. He says carry a firearm for protection, or fighters from Local pro-regime militiaman Fayez, a HASAKEH: Syrian Abboud Jan inspects an assault rifle in his firearm-repair work- he never expected Syria to turn into a war local Kurdish or pro-regime militias. Much of 25-year-old dressed in military fatigues, shop in the central part of northeastern Syria’s Hasakeh city. — AFP zone, and struggles with the idea of fixing Hasakeh province and the regional capital are comes to Jan with a malfunctioning Fayez. “But today I take care of my weapons and enter a profession unrelated to vio- weapons to be used against fellow humans. under the control of a Kurdish “autonomous Kalashnikov.Jan examines the assault rifle’s and maintain them on a regular basis.” lence. In another repair shop in the Kurdish- As if trying to convince himself, he adds: “All administration,” which runs separate schools sights and then replaces a part. Within min- Fixing firearms is the only line of work Jan controlled Aziziyeh neighborhood, 47-year- the guns and pistols that I repair are being and police units. Other parts of Hasakeh city utes he hands it back, fully working again. “I has ever known, but he says he hopes his old Abu Mohammed replaces part of a pistol used to defend the country, not to spread and the surrounding province remain under never expected I’d be using weapons,” says children will continue with their education using rough, grease-stained hands. He says death within it.” — AFP Emotional reunion shows plight of Syria’s ‘lost kids’ DAMASCUS: When Jaafar’s grandmother rec- and secret keeper,” said Hajar apologetically, ognized him by his birthmark in a Turkish as if to justify her frequent sobbing and the orphanage, months after his parents were black clothes of mourning she still wears for killed fleeing Syria’s civil war, she held him the dead couple. tight, screaming for joy. The story of how Hajar Saleh, a 47-year-old nurse, spent Lost children fraught weeks tracing her grandson in a for- UNICEF told Reuters in March it had docu- eign country and many months trying to mented the cases of 650 separated children in bring him home underscores the terrible 2016 alone, but that the likely number of plight of Syria’s thousands of lost children and undocumented cases was probably far higher. their families. Since the war began in 2011, hundreds of thou- Jaafar was only three-months-old when his sands of Syrians have been killed and about parents, Amina Saleh, 23, and her husband half the country’s pre-war population made Imad Azouz, 25, decided to flee their home in homeless, large numbers of them children. the Sayeda Zeinab suburb of Damascus, close After learning about her grandson’s plight, to a frontline, and seek a better life for their Hajar approached every local and international family abroad. Palestinian refugees whose organization she could think of seeking help. families had been in Syria for decades, they Eventually, UNICEF and the UN’s refugee lacked legal travel documents, so they gath- agency UNHCR located Jaafar and secured ered their scant savings and paid a smuggler travel documents for her to visit Turkey to pur- to guide them across the border into Turkey sue the legal process of proving kinship and from an area held by Kurdish groups. claiming him. “My daughter always came to A last photograph Amina sent her mother me in my dreams and would beg me to bring before the attempted border crossing in her son back and raise him,” she said, speaking January 2016 shows her smiling warily at the in the UNICEF headquarters in Damascus. camera, wearing a heavy winter coat and black Little Jaafar, now 16-months-old, wide-eyed, headscarf and holding Jaafar, a tiny pink baby smiling and well-groomed, was meanwhile in yellow romper suit. But when they tried to snatching at everything in his reach and fidg- cross the frontier a few hours later with dozens eting to escape his grandmother’s lap for a of other refugees in a smuggler convoy in few steps before quickly returning to her. northeast Syria, the Turkish border guards who Hajar’s journey to the orphanage in Mardin battle Kurdish insurgents there opened fire. was nearly over before it began, a victim to MOSUL: Federal Police soldiers move towards the front line during fighting against Islamic State militants on the western side of Mosul. — AP Amina and her husband were killed. the chaos inflicted by the attempted coup d’e- Little Jaafar escaped unscathed, protected tat in Turkey last summer, a day before she by his father’s body, and was gathered up by was scheduled to fly, which closed all the ‘Brothers in arms’ - armed survivors of the shooting and taken to the country’s airports. nearby Turkish city of Mardin, where they With her Lebanese visa running out, Hajar gave him into the care of a local judge. Hajar’s only managed to fly to Ankara five days later account of the ill-fated border crossing comes with a day to spare before she would have groups grow as IS shrinks from them and from what Turkish authorities been returned to Syria. Unable to speak told the United Nations children’s agency Turkish and having never travelled before, she UNICEF, she said. was lost for five hours while changing flights Before they left Mardin, some of the in Istanbul before UNHCR officials found her Iraqi men flock to join armed forces to fight jihadists refugees phoned Hajar to inform her of the and guided her onwards. After a 16-hour bus fate of her daughter and son-in-law, and to drive from Ankara, she finally reached Mardin. MOSUL: For Iraqi police officer Jassem and his Hashid groups. They either want to fight terrorism ple who lead them, not to the state,” said Abdul give her the name and phone number of the As soon as Hajar saw Jaafar in the Cucuk Evleri brothers, the battle against Islamic State is per- or to get wages,” one security officer in the area Rahman al-Wagga, a council member for Nineveh, judge, the start of her months-long odyssey Sitesi Mudurlugu orphanage, she recognized sonal. The militants captured and beheaded their said, declining to be named because he was not of which Mosul is the capital. “So if a Hashid leader to reclaim her grandson. “I still have two sons, him by the prominent birthmark on his fore- father, a Shiite militiaman, in 2014; before that, authorized to speak publicly. “It’s easier than join- wants to impose himself in a certain region, and but Amina was my only daughter. My friend head, she said. — Reuters the family lost another son fighting the jihadists. ing state armed forces. You just put your name another sheikh or clan doesn’t like it, they might “We were able to identify my dad’s body by the down.” He said the number of those seeking to attack,” he told Reuters by phone. tattoo on his arm. The head wasn’t found. They join could be in the thousands, on top of the sev- “I think after Daesh, these groups will not be had also drilled holes in his hands and cut fingers eral thousand that local community leaders esti- reined in ... Their agendas are party, political or off,” 31-year-old Jassem told Reuters on the front mate are already in the Sunni tribal militias. This regional, and won’t serve Nineveh, or Iraq.” line in Mosul as Iraqi forces battle with Islamic would not pose security problems because the Ramzy Mardini, a fellow at the Atlantic Council State in the city. After the murder, Jassem’s Hashid ultimately answer to the government and think tank, said turning to armed forces, particu- youngest brother signed up with the army and have limited powers, the officer added. larly militias, was inevitable in an atmosphere another joined a Shiite paramilitary group. With a where local communities fear for their own safe- further brother already with the Counter- Militias spread ty. “Not only has the war further militarized Iraqi Terrorism Service, that meant their mother had Provincial government officials, however, say society, but there appears to be no pressure all four of her surviving sons at war. the rising number of recruits to paramilitary forces from the top or willingness from below to dis- “Mum wasn’t happy,” said Jassem, not giving and the formation of new militias is dangerous arm, demobilize, and reintegrate the militias that his full name because he works in intelligence. because it raises the risk of factional clashes. now occupy the diverse and former insurgent But his brothers still answered the call to arms. “These Hashid groups are subservient to the peo- landscape,” he said. — Reuters “They said Iraq was falling apart, and they want- ed to protect it,” he said. The family from southern Iraq - far from Mosul Death around corner for those which lies near the country’s northern border - is just one of many where entire sets of brothers living on the Mosul’s frontline have taken up arms against Islamic State out of MOSUL: Sitting in a wheelchair and wearing sun- up by the military, they say. “We are maybe three or revenge, duty or just to earn money. The US- glasses, pensioner Abdelraziq Abdelkarim enjoys four families left. The rest are gone,” said Abdullah backed Iraqi forces are now set to drive the the afternoon sun outside his house in Mosul Ahmed, a 42-year old engineer staying with group from its stronghold of Mosul, taken in after a day of rain. He does not flinch when a Abdelkarim. “Right across out door 50 people HAMOURIA, Syria: A Syrian man runs for cover amid the dust and smoke following a 2014 when the jihadists seized large areas of Iraq mortar opens fire just around the corner. His stayed in one house but they’ve fled.” reported government air strike on the rebel-controlled town of Hamouria, in the and Syria, proclaiming a caliphate. home is on the busiest frontline in the northern eastern Ghouta region. — AFP But the fight has further militarized Iraqi soci- Iraqi city just 200 m (yards) from Islamic State Death around corner ety, pushing young men into the armed forces positions. Outside his house, Federal Police units Their short alley shows the military’s challenges Egypt lawyer appeals court ruling and, increasingly, sectarian and tribal militias. are firing at the militants. Government forces in dislodging Islamic State fighters hiding in the This has raised fears of new outbreaks of violence have been evacuating civilians as they fight to Old City- navigating is difficult in the labyrinth of backing islands transfer to Saudi once the caliphate has crumbled. Iraq’s top Shiite seize Mosul, once the hardline Sunni militant narrow, often covered alleys offering perfect hide- cleric issued a fatwa in 2014, calling on all men group’s main urban stronghold in Iraq and now outs for snipers or to stage ambushes. US officials CAIRO: An Egyptian human rights lawyer and Saudi Arabia’s King Salman held a pub- able to carry arms to fight Islamic State, which is the scene of a six-month-old battle. estimated about 2,000 fighters were still in Mosul in said yesterday he had launched an appeal lic meeting at an Arab summit in Jordan, known in Arabic by its opponents as Daesh. On But some families refuse to go, shrugging off the February at the start of the second phase of the against a court ruling which backed Cairo’s another Egyptian court decreed that the another Mosul front line, Counter-Terrorism danger of a mortar fired two blocks away or a campaign, to dislodge them from western sector. proposed transfer of two Red Sea islands to administrative court’s ruling was void - Service commando Hamza Kadhem said that counter-attack from the militants who move around Iraqi forces have been edging closer to Al-Nuri Saudi Arabia. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s potentially reviving the deal. before Islamic State arrived, he was the only one at night. Gunfire rings out constantly between Mosque- some 300 meters away-where Islamic government announced last year a mar- Human rights lawyer Khaled Ali said of five brothers to have picked up a gun. “The Federal Police and militants holed up in abandoned State leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi proclaimed a itime demarcation accord with Saudi he submitted an appeal, arguing that the others all joined after the fatwa,” he said. shops and apartments. “I don’t want to go. I’ve lived caliphate nearly three years ago across territory Arabia, which has given billions of dollars of administrative court had the final say and all my life in this house,” said 72-year Abdelkarim, a controlled by the group in both Iraq and Syria. aid to Egypt, ceding control of the islands to the matter was beyond the jurisdiction of The Hashid Shaabi former studio photographer, sitting next to his But the front has hardly moved in past two the Gulf kingdom. The proposal angered the Court of Urgent Matters which issued They joined the Hashid Shaabi, or Popular handicapped son and a grandchild. They share a weeks as Humvees or tanks are of no use in the Old many Egyptians and the issue was referred the latest ruling. Mobilization Forces, a state-run umbrella that two-storey house in a narrow street with five people City. “See our street is about one-and-half meters to the courts - irritating Riyadh and raising Sunday’s verdict “reflects the contin- includes Shiite militias. Two are deployed west of from two other families. Military Humvees and mor- wide,” said Ahmed, whose TV satellite shop was political tensions between two major Arab ued attempts of the regime to circum- Mosul, and another two near the Syrian border, tar launchers are just parked outside. closed by Islamic State as watching TV channels states and traditional allies. vent the final ruling of the Higher where Shiite fighters have played a crucial role in Almost 300,000 people have fled Mosul since was banned under its austere version of Sunni The islands of Tiran and Sanafir, both Administrative Court”, Ali said in a state- cutting off Islamic State supply lines. Before the the government offensive to recapture the city Islam. “Near the mosque the streets only half as uninhabited, are situated in the narrow ment. Saudi and Egyptian officials had call-up, they had worked as farmers in the south- began in October, according to the United Nations. wide as this. There are some 40 to 50 small houses entrance to the Gulf of Aqaba leading to argued that the islands belonged to ern Kut region, more than 500 km away. As well as But Abdelkarim and his friends dread going to one clustered around it,” he said, pointing in the direc- Jordan and Israel. After an initial ruling Saudi Arabia and were only under Shiites from the south, young men from around of the crowded camps where aid agencies some- tion of the mosque. against the transfer last June, the govern- Egyptian control because Riyadh asked Mosul - where Sunni Muslims are in the majority - times place two families in one tent for lack of “It’s very difficult to move there.” When Federal ment appealed and the case was referred to Cairo in 1950 to protect them. But are also keen to fight. They are now flooding to space. Others stay with relatives in cramped homes. Police opened fire with a machine gun perched on the Higher Administrative Court which also lawyers who had opposed the accord join Sunni tribal militias also under the Hashid, They had stocked up food, water and petrol for a the top floor of a house through a hole broken into ruled against the proposed transfer, saying said Egypt’s sovereignty over the islands security officials and militia leaders say. Many resi- power generator when the military campaign a wall, Islamic State fired back within two minutes the islands’ Egyptian sovereignty was incon- dated back to a treaty in 1906, before dents told Reuters in recent weeks they want to began. There is no food store at the frontline but with accuracy. “There are snipers here,” a federal testable. On Sunday, just four days after Sisi Saudi Arabia was founded. — Reuters join, or know relatives and friends who are trying soldiers sometimes share rations or a family mem- policeman said. There is another reason why the to do so. “Many men are volunteering in the ber goes to one of the food distribution centers set friends want to avoid going to camps. — Reuters INTERNATIONAL TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 6 months post-hurricane, hunger gnaws at south Haiti

JEREMIE: Crouching beside the makeshift shelter the sand, Wiliana Charles has managed to rake in just a shared with his parents and five siblings, Fanfan dozen fish-mere centimeters long-and a few crabs. Edouard slowly sharpens his machete. But there’s no “Sometimes I lose money doing this, because at rush to cut firewood, because there is no food to the market I cannot resell them at the price I paid the cook. “I’ll try to buy rice on credit and find work, any- fisherman,” she said, adding that yesterday she failed thing to pay later,” the 26-year-old says, speaking to make even 25 Haitian gourdes, about 36 US cents. without much conviction. Since Hurricane Matthew Earning less than half a dollar a day means she can- destroyed their two small homes, the Edouard family not feed her five children. “I always look for friends makes ends meet in a shelter just a few square and neighbors who can give me a portion,” she said, meters large. her eyes fixed on the meager catch. “Really, I wonder But corrugated tin roofs do little to protect the if I have the right to live in this world.” two beds they share. When it rains, the family spends their nights in a nearby cave. “We’re not comfortable Waste of resources because we have to pile up on each other, but it’s a In March, a branch of the minister of agriculture chance for us to have a dry space,” says Edouard’s working on food security dubbed the circumstances mother, Marguerite. Having just one cave for shelter in the southwest Grande Anse department-which is hardly the main concern of the approximately 100 took a direct hit from the storm-”chaotic,” saying that people who live in Fond Rouge, on the outskirts of more than 180,000 people were in an “emergency sit- Jeremie in the southwest of Haiti. Matthew slammed uation.” Bertrand Dasney, who works in Jeremie for the region around Jeremie in October 2016. The the ministry of agriculture, got the fishermen’s associ- storm, which tore through the Caribbean, killed more ation to voluntarily clean up trash that has accumu- than 700 people-mostly in Haiti-and caused some lated over past months on the beach. He is a witness $2.8 billion in damage. Haiti is also still struggling to to the daily challenge Haitians face to survive as well recover from the world’s most significant cholera out- as what he sees as a waste of resources. break, with an estimated 30,000 cases expected this “The money goes into the big cars that come and year, as well as the effects of the January 2010 earth- JEREMIE: View of a beach close to the wharf in Jeremie, Haiti. In the background are seen houses that go, in the gas they consume,” he said. “Imagine, the quake, with tens of thousands of people still camping were damaged by Hurricane Matthew. — AFP other day, a foreign NGO took two cars, 10 people, in tents without proper sanitation. ty of hunger. “We’re Haitians, we’re used to misery,” says better. On Jeremie’s beach some 15 men work to raise a just to put two boxes back in a remote area.” “They are Joachim Agelot, a 22 year-old hurricane survivor. “I was nearly empty net. “We all lost our boats so we can only not accountable to us, Haitians, but they will have to ‘Used to misery’ in (school when the hurricane struck) and this is my life fish here,” lamented Astrid Guerrier, 38. “There is noth- be accountable to God,” he said, earning approving Isolated some two hours on foot from the nearest now: I can’t go to school anymore, and I lost two sisters ing but small fish. We know that it’s dangerous because looks from fishermen who have resumed cleaning, town, these small farming families that lost their crops in the hurricane.” In downtown Jeremie, where NGO aid they do not have time to breed, so later there will be though without masks to protect themselves from received aid only once in the past six months. They sur- groups regularly meet with United Nations officials, the fewer fish.” “But we have no choice: we only have that toxic fumes. “Unfortunately, we don’t have the money vived on tea of wild herbs and bread - and endure plen- living conditions of hurricane survivors is hardly any to eat and to try to earn a little money.” With her feet in to buy them,” sighed Dasney. — AFP Colombia mudslide death toll hits 254

43 children perish; desperate hunt for survivors

MOCOA: Residents of Mocoa were yesterday desperately searching for loved ones missing since devastating mudslides slammed into the remote Colombian town, as the death toll soared to over 250, including 43 children. Many who survived the torrents of mud, boulders and debris that hit the town late Friday gathered at the local hospital and at the cemetary to hunt for family members and friends they fear have been killed or injured. The mudslide, caused when three rivers over- QUITO: The Ecuadorean presidential candidate of the ruling Alianza PAIS party, flowed after days of torrential rain, swept away Lenin Moreno, waves to his supporters in Quito. — AFP homes, bridges, vehicles and trees. President Juan Manuel Santos traveled to Mocoa to over- South America ‘struggling left’ see relief operations and announced the death toll of 254 late Sunday, warning that it could boosted by Ecuador’s victory continue to rise. “Unfortunately, these are still preliminary figures,” Santos wrote on Twitter, QUITO: Leftist candidate Lenin Moreno yester- council offices in the capital, Quito, and after giving an earlier toll of 210. “We offer our day celebrated victory in Ecuador’s presiden- Guayaquil, waving yellow, blue and red prayers for all of them. We send our condolences tial election, bucking a shift to the right in Ecuadorean flags and chanting “No to fraud!” and the entire country’s sympathies to their fam- South America, but his conservative chal- and “We don’t want to be Venezuela!” There ilies.” More than 200 people were injured in the lenger demanded a recount as some support- were reports of isolated clashes, but protests disaster. Rescuers worked in stifling heat under a ers took to the streets in protest. Moreno’s tri- ebbed as the night went on and people went cloudy sky in the remote Amazon town, the cap- umph was a relief for WikiLeaks founder Julian home. Ruling Country Alliance officials scoffed ital of Putumayo department. Debris left by the Assange after former banker Guillermo Lasso that Lasso was a sore loser and inciting vio- mudslides was everywhere: buried cars, uproot- had vowed to remove him from Ecuador’s lence. Moreno also accused Lasso of paying a ed trees, children’s toys and stray shoes sticking embassy in London if he won the runoff. pollster to project him as winner. up out of the mud. It was also a boost for the struggling leftist movement in South America after right-lean- ‘Lenin President!’ Chilling discovery MOCOA: Rescuers search for survivors in Mocoa, Colombia. A grim search for the missing ing governments recently came to power in Moreno, who lost the use of his legs two Covered in mud, 38-year-old Marta Gomez resumed in southern Colombia after surging rivers sent an avalanche of floodwaters, mud and Argentina, Brazil, and Peru as a commodities decades ago when he was shot during a rob- told of going to search for her missing niece-and debris through a city, killing at least 250 people. — AP boom ended, economies flagged and corrup- bery, would become a rare head of state to making a chilling find instead. “I went to look for woke up late Friday to find water rushing into his avoid an epidemic and an even bigger public tion scandals grew. use a wheelchair when he takes office on May my niece, but I couldn’t find her. I dug and dug home he managed to pick up his three year-old health crisis.” An unexpected offer of help also The region’s high-profile Socialist leader, 24. “Lenin,” as he is commonly referred to by and found what turned out to be a baby’s hand. son Camilo. “But the water swept us away and came from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of President Nicolas Maduro of crisis-hit his supporters, celebrated in mountainous It was horrible,” she said in a shelter set up for then I was hit by rocks,” he said. Acosta was Colombia (FARC), a leftist rebel group engaged Venezuela, congratulated Moreno profusely on Quito overnight with the flag-waving crowd the newly homeless. knocked unconscious, and when he woke up in a historic peace process with the government. Twitter, as did Bolivian President Evo Morales. chanting, “Lenin President!” “We’re going to As she stood in line waiting to register for there was no trace of the boy. The stunned It said FARC members were prepared to help “Congratulations Ecuador, the citizen’s revolu- keep building the path. We’ve done a lot but government aide for those who lost their hous- father latched onto a tree branch and managed rebuild the town. tion has triumphed!” said Maduro, as did much there’s a lot more to do!” he said, flanked by es, Gomez said she had given up on finding her to extricate himself, but without his son. of his cabinet. “21st century Socialism always running mate and current vice president, niece. “The mud took her away. I’ll never see her ‘No preparations’ triumphs,” tweeted Morales. Jorge Glas, as well as outgoing President again,” she said, clinging to the leash of her Pope’s prayers Electricity and running water have yet to be “Congratulations brother @Lenin!” Lasso Rafael Correa. equally muddy German shepherd. Most of the hardest-hit neighborhoods in the restored to Mocoa. Local authorities said repair- had promised to denounce the embattled He broke into several songs, including one Carlos Acosta said he forced himself to vomit town of 40,000 are poor and populated with ing the electrical substation would take time. Maduro, who foes say has turned his country about Argentine revolutionary hero Ernesto mud to survive after he was swept away in the people uprooted during Colombia’s five-decade- Several deadly landslides have struck Colombia into a dictatorship. Moreno, a paraplegic for- “Che” Guevara. Moreno, a former UN special landslide. “I was dying due to a lack of air - so long civil war. A “profoundly saddened” Pope in recent months. A landslide in November mer vice president, secured 51.15 percent of envoy on disability and accessibility, has a what did I do? I stuck my finger in my mouth and Francis said Sunday that he was praying for the killed nine people in the rural southwestern the votes, compared with Lasso’s 48.85 per- more conciliatory style than the fiery Correa vomited a lot of mud,” Acosta, 25 said. victims. Santos declared an emergency to speed town of El Tambo, officials said. The previous cent, with more nearly 99 percent of votes and has promised benefits for single mothers, “Everything was mud. up aid operations. month, 10 people lost their lives in a mudslide counted, according to the electoral council the elderly, and disabled Ecuadoreans. He will I kept vomiting mud. I sneezed out mud until Health authorities said they had dispatched in the north of the country. The Pacific rim of yesterday morning. Lasso, who had pro- be under pressure to create jobs and crack I could breathe again,” said Acosta, 25, who was sanitation specialists in hopes of preventing out- South America has been hard hit in recent claimed himself victorious based on a top down on graft amid corruption scandals at recovering from cuts and bruises from the breaks of disease. Santos said four emergency months by floods and mudslides, with scores pollster’s exit poll, disputed the results that state-run oil company PetroEcuador and ordeal. But his pain ran deeper. When Acosta water treatment plants would be set up “to killed in Peru and Ecuador. — AFP would extend a decade-long leftist rule in oil- Brazilian conglomerate Odebrecht. rich Ecuador. Lasso has criticized Moreno as being ill- “They’ve crossed a line,” he told supporters equipped to deal with economic issues and in a hotel in his coastal hometown of warned that his major social promises would France’s Fillon vows to launch Guayaquil on Sunday, vowing to challenge hit already pressured coffers in a country the results, a complex process that could take dependent on exports of oil, bananas, and time. “We’re going to defend the will of the shrimp. “Moreno’s margin of victory was much probe into Hollande if elected Ecuadorean people in the face of this fraud smaller than those of his predecessor Rafael attempt,” he said. Lasso tweeted photos show- Correa, leaving him in a much weaker spot,” ing what he said were original votes for him said John Polga, a political scientist at the US PARIS: French presidential candidate Francois Fillon said. Hollande’s office has rejected Fillon’s that were changed by electoral officials. The Naval Academy. Fillon, an outsider to win after involvement in accusations and denied interference in the jus- election authority denied fraud allegations. “He has the advantage of a legislative financial scandal, said yesterday he would order tice system. Fillon said that, given the investiga- Lasso contrasted Sunday’s quickly tallied vote majority (for now), but his government will a parliamentary inquiry into allegations tions against him, there was “every chance” his with the first round in February, when a final have to confront fiscal restraints, a stagnant President Francois Hollande interfered in the jus- own phone was tapped. results took days to come out. Hundreds of his economy, and the burden of a recovery from tice system, if elected. Once the frontrunner, the Fillon also said that Francois Baroin, a former supporters swarmed in front of electoral last April’s earthquake.” — Reuters conservative former prime minister’s poll ratings finance minister, would be a “very good choice” have slumped since allegations surfaced that he for prime minister if he won election to the paid his wife and sons hundreds of thousands of Elysee. Investors are concerned the wave of frus- Singapore expels Islamic teacher euros of public money for minimal work. tration with political elites behind Britain’s vote SINGAPORE: Singapore’s interior ministry February, triggering a police investigation Although some polls show his support recover- to leave the European Union and the election of yesterday ordered the repatriation of an and the filing of charges. ing slightly with less than three weeks to the Donald Trump in the United States could sweep Indian Islamic teacher for an exhortation “Recent events abroad have highlighted April 23 first round, he is well behind far-right Le Pen into power in France. The National Front against Jews and Christians, saying there was how the build-up of anger and resentment leader Marine Le Pen and independent centrist leader would take France out of the euro and no room for such remarks in a multi-religious among different religious groups can lead to Emmanuel Macron, who are tipped to go hold a referendum on EU membership. society. Nalla Mohamed Abdul Jameel, 47, social friction and violence,” the ministry through to a May 7 run-off. The latest poll, by Opinionway, showed Le was ordered to be sent home after he plead- said. “The government has the responsibility Fillon, 63, who is being investigated by mag- Pen, with 25 percent in the first round, one point ed guilty at a district court to a charge of pro- to act quickly and firmly to repudiate divi- istrates over the jobs allegations and over a gift ahead of Macron and six points ahead of Fillon. moting enmity between different religious sive speech, even if the course of action is of expensive suits, insisted on his innocence. “If I It showed Macron would easily beat Le Pen in groups and was fined Sg$4,000 ($2,860). sometimes difficult.” Singapore is a mainly had the slightest doubt about my guilt I the run-off, but former Prime Minister Manuel “Nalla has paid the fine. He will be repa- ethnic Chinese society with large Malay wouldn’t be a candidate in the presidential elec- Valls said last week he believed Le Pen’s poten- tion,” he told BFM TV. He said he was the victim French conservative presidential tial score was seriously under-rated. Macron told triated,” the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a Muslim and Indian populations. candidate Francois Fillon statement. The imam, or Muslim religious District Judge Jasvender Kaur said of “manipulation” and believed his case was Le Monde in an interview yesterday that Fillon teacher, had recited a supplication in Arabic Singapore “cannot allow any person or being closely followed “by the highest authori- open an inquiry into allegations made in a book and Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon were during a prayer session at a mosque in group to sow discord or promote enmity ties”. He drew back from previous allegations by two journalists from the satirical weekly Le wrong to focus their attacks on him, when Le January, which translated as “Grant us help among the different religious or racial that Hollande, a Socialist president who is not Canard Enchaine that Hollande had had judicial Pen was the real threat. “Those who say Marine against the Jews and Christians”, court docu- groups when we have worked so hard as standing for a second term, had personally led a wiretaps that interested him sent to his office. Le Pen can’t win the second round are the same ments showed. A video of his remarks was a society to achieve religious and racial smear campaign against him. He said he could “Prosecutors should take up this case. If they as those who said Trump could never win. We uploaded by another person on Facebook in harmony”. — AFP not prove this. don’t do so and if I am elected president, there don’t know what can happen if she is far ahead He said however that prosecutors should will be a parliamentary commission of enquiry,” in the first round,” he said. — Reuters TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 INTERNATIONAL News Gibraltar says EU President in brief

German tourist ‘raped’ like a ‘cuckolded husband’ in southern India state NEW DELHI: A German tourist has accused two men of taking her captive and raping her in southern India, police Spain surprised by tone of British comments said yesterday, just weeks after the rape and murder of an Irish woman in Goa. The woman told police two men LONDON: Gibraltar’s leader yesterday cast named as having a veto on the application Britain has for three days focused on the mitment to the territory which has posi- dragged her to a secluded spot from a private beach EU Council President Donald Tusk as a of any future EU trade deal with Britain. “Mr future of the “Rock” captured by Britain in tioned itself as a springboard for finance to resort in the southern tourist town of Mamallapuram in “cuckolded husband taking it out on the Tusk, who has been given to using the 1704 but which Spain wants back. The row the EU because of an attractive tax and reg- Tamil Nadu state and raped her on Sunday. “We have reg- kids” for explicitly proposing that Spain be analogies of the divorce and divorce peti- over Gibraltar illustrates how swiftly the ulatory regime. A former leader of May’s istered a sexual assault complaint and a manhunt has given a veto over the ties between the tion, is behaving like a cuckolded husband United Kingdom’s influence has declined Conservative party, Michael Howard, even been launched to track the attackers,” the district police British enclave and the European Union who is taking it out on the children,” since the June 23 Brexit vote - in this case in said she would be prepared to go to war to chief Santosh said. “We are questioning suspects but no after Brexit. The future of Gibraltar, a British Gibraltar’s chief minister, Fabian Picardo, Spain’s favor-and how issues perceived by defend the territory, as then prime minister arrests have been made yet.” He said medical tests had Overseas Territory of just over 2-square told Reuters in an interview. “This is clear EU powers as marginal can become major Margaret Thatcher did with Argentina over confirmed sexual assault and the German embassy had miles of rock on Spain’s southern tip, has Spanish bullying.” complications. the Falkland Islands 35 years ago. “The been informed. A spokeswoman for Germany’s Foreign become the first big dispute of Brexit since Picardo said the EU should remove the Spanish government is a little surprised by Office said by email that its consul-general in the state Prime Minister Theresa May filed formal reference to Gibraltar, which voted over- Brexit rock? the tone of comments coming out of capital Chennai was in close contact with local authorities divorce papers on March 29. whelmingly to stay in the EU, from the draft After the explicit reference to Spain and Britain, a country known for its composure,” about the incident. It comes barely three weeks after a 28- In the EU’s draft position on the exit guidelines. While years of tortuous negotia- Gibraltar became publicly known, May Spain’s Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis said year-old Irish woman was raped and murdered in the talks distributed by Tusk, Gibraltar was giv- tions await on issues that could affect tril- spoke to Picardo and issued a statement during a conference in Madrid. popular tourist state of Goa. Danielle McLaughlin’s naked en explicit mention. Spain was specifically lions of dollars in trade, the Brexit debate in saying London was “steadfast” in its com- Ceded to Britain “in perpetuity” in the body was discovered in a field near a beach on March 16. 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, Gibraltar has long been a bone of contention between London and Madrid and the border was Hate crime beating; 5 closed for many years during the Franco people charged in UK dictatorship. In a 2002 referendum, LONDON: Authorities in London charged five people Gibralatrians rejected by 98 percent a pro- posal for joint British-Spanish sovereignty. yesterday over an unprovoked attack on a 17-year-old “The sovereignty of Gibraltar is unchanged Iranian-Kurdish asylum-seeker as police sought to piece and is not going to change,” British Foreign together the mob violence that involved up to 30 peo- Secretary Boris Johnson said on Monday as ple. London’s Metropolitan Police say the five were he arrived for an EU foreign ministers meet- charged with violent disorder, with one also being ing in Luxembourg. While every EU mem- charged with racially aggravated grievous bodily harm ber state would have a veto over any future following the attack Friday in the London borough of trade deal between the EU and post-Brexit Croydon. Three others remain in custody. Police said a Britain, the explicit mention of Gibraltar group of youths approached the teen at a bus stop and surprised London and angered the British questioned him. Upon learning he was an asylum-seek- territory. er, they chased him through the streets and beat him. May, in her letter to Tusk that triggered The attack only stopped after police sirens could be Brexit, had not mentioned Gibraltar, which heard and bystanders intervened. The teen’s two uses the British pound and where Britain friends got away. The teen has been hospitalized with a operates a military base overlooking the fractured skull and a blood clot on the brain but police strait. “The way that the European Council say he is starting to make a recovery and may be has behaved in allowing Spain to single out moved out of intensive care today. Gibraltar in this negative way is really quite pernicious,” Picardo said. When asked if Gibraltar was now a chip in negotiations, he said: “The last time I looked at this monolithic rock of mine and of the people of Gibraltar it doesn’t look like a chip and its not going on any table. “We are not going to be a chip and we are not going to be a victim of Brexit as we are not the culprits of Brexit: we voted to stay in the European Union so taking it out on us is to allow A woman walks on the Spanish side of the border between Spain and the British overseas territory of Gibraltar with Spain to behave in the manner of the bully,” the Rock as a background, in La Linea de la Concepcion, Southern Spain. —AP he said. —Reuters

Homeless Poles hoist sails Photo shows emergency services and ambulance at the Emirates and Etihad scene of a bus accident, on the E45 between Sveg and for around-the-world trip Fagelsjo in Sweden. —AP

to boost screening WARSAW: Residents of a homeless shel- er, we were on strike together during the 3 high school students ter in Warsaw can already feel the wind in Solidarity era, and then I left everything killed in Swedish crash DUBAI: Emirates and Etihad airlines Sydney, while Emirates has 11 daily their sails as they work on the imposing behind and wound up in a homeless shel- will tighten screening for passengers flights to international airports across HELSINKI: Swedish police say all three people who were steel hull of a majestic schooner, which ter,” Michalski said. He has been living at killed when a bus skidded off the road and crashed flying to Australia this week after the Australia. Regional carriers have since they aim to take around the globe. “I work the shelter in Warsaw’s western Ursus dis- Sunday in central Sweden were high school students. country imposed new requirements for last month scrambled to cope with the on it from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm, and more if trict-famous during the communist era Police spokesman Peder Jonsson declined to provide enhanced explosives detection, the US and British bans on laptops and we need it,” says Slawomir Michalski, of for its tractor factory-on and off since more information on the students yesterday. Authorities UAE companies said yesterday. tablets on board direct flights out of his labor of love. Sunny and mild spring 2009, as he has battled with alcohol. But say the two-story bus was carrying 52 students, six adults Australia on Friday announced it would key Middle East airports. Airlines weather now allows the work to go ahead building the schooner has helped keep and a driver when it crashed into a ditch and fell on its increase screening of passenger bag- including Emirates and Etihad have full steam after a long, cold winter. “It’s up his morale. Run by the Roman Catholic like I’m building my own home,” Michalski order of the Camillian Fathers, the centre side on a main highway about 7 am - nine hours after it gage on flights from Dubai and Abu introduced complimentary services had left the southwestern town of Skene on a school trip Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, as enabling passengers to continue to said, of the 57-foot-long sailboat (17.8 provides shelter for about 100 men over meters). the age of 40, and squeezes more in on to a northern ski resort. Ostersund hospital spokes- well as Doha, Qatar. use their personal electronics after woman Anna-Lena Hogstrom said Monday that 11 peo- While the directive stops short of check-in and until boarding. Construction began a decade ago-the extra mattresses on the floor in winter. brainchild of Father Boguslaw, a priest ple from the accident were still being treated, including the sweeping electronics ban intro- Qatar Airways has announced it will two with serious but not “life-threatening” injuries. duced last month by the United States offer free laptops for business class working at the Saint Lazarus shelter at the ‘Gives us strength’ time and a former shipyard worker in the “There were a lot of people wondering Jonsson said police were investigating but did not know and Britain, it may include targeted passengers flying to the United States. Baltic port city of Gdansk. With technical whether we weren’t a little mad-what a the cause of the accident. screening of passengers’ personal elec- The US ban went into effect on March knowledge and skills in shipbuilding, he completely silly idea: homeless people are tronic devices. Emirates and Etihad 25 on nine airlines in Turkey, Morocco, was convinced that involving the home- building a sailboat?” Michalski says, tap- Airways, two of the largest airlines in Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, less in the project would help win back ping his head. “But they’ve seen the yacht 262 Turks with official the Middle East, said the measures Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. their self-confidence, encourage team- grow from one year to the next, so people passports seek asylum would take effect on Thursday. “The The British ban targets direct flights on work and contribute towards their return have changed how they think about it, BERLIN: More than 250 Turkish diplomats, government new directive requires additional all airlines out of Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, to the workforce. When the charismatic and now they see it as a great idea,” he employees and their family members have filed for polit- screening at the gate, but there is no Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Lebanon. Father Boguslaw died in 2009, Michalski added. Polish shipbuilder Bogdan restriction on electronic devices,” said Officials from both countries cited says that residents swore “on his grave” to Malolepszy donated the blueprints for the ical asylum in Germany, Berlin said yesterday, amid a bit- an Emirates spokesperson. The new security concerns for the ban, which complete the schooner, which will bear two-masted BM-57 model schooner he ter row between the two NATO allies. Germany’s interior screening requirement covers direct has come under criticism as another his name. designed himself, while other firms have ministry said 151 of the asylum applications came from flights on Emirates, Etihad, Qatar measure targeting Muslim-majority furnished metal, cables, paint and other Turks holding diplomatic passports while the other 111 Airways and Qantas Airways. It does countries. Unlike the United States and ‘Left everything behind’ supplies. were from people with passports issued to other govern- not apply to flights bound for the UAE Britain, Australian officials say there is Shipbuilding is also in Michalski’s Hopes are high that the vessel will be ment employees and their dependants. The ministry did out of Australian airports. no specific threat behind the new blood. Now aged 60, in the 1970s, he seaworthy within two years and allow not specify how many of the requests came from Turkish military personnel stationed at NATO bases. “The asylum Etihad operates two daily flights to screening requirement.—AFP worked as a welder at the Lenin Shipyard those who built it to sail it, before then in Gdansk just as the anti-communist chartering it. “Altogether with the applications will be treated on a case-by-case basis ... and Solidarity movement was taking shape, bowsprit, the boat will be up to 63 feet decided according to the law,” a ministry spokeswoman led by freedom icon Lech Walesa. At the long,” said ship captain Waldemar said during a regular press conference. The wave of April fool’s advert ‘no joke’ time, Walesa was just another electrician, Rzeznicki, checking the schooner’s blue- requests for safe haven follows last July’s failed coup but soon won the Nobel Peace Prize as prints. He devotedly oversees the work, against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and a subse- the leader of Solidarity, the communist day and night, on the grounds of the shel- quent crackdown, which has seen more than 100,000 for Turkish sweet giant bloc’s first and only free trade union that ter. “Just building it gives us strength, people arrested or dismissed from their posts over peacefully toppled the system in Poland, both to the homeless and us volunteers, alleged links to the plotters or to Kurdish militants. ANKARA: An April-fool’s day advert “The campaign was hacked through ushering in democracy in 1989. because this work is happiness,” Rzeznicki from the Turkish confectionery giant manipulating scenes and messages on Walesa became Poland’s first freely said. Michal Jedynak, another shelter resi- Heavy security as Congolese whose stable includes top brands (the) digital campaign and subsequently elected post-World War II president a year dent, works on the staircase leading to Godiva and McVitie’s has proved to be taken out of context through the addi- later. “I worked on the ship’s hold, while the cabin, which will sleep 12 crew mem- opposition embarks on strike tion of texts and visuals on social media.” no laughing matter, inciting controversy Walesa was repairing the electric trolleys,” bers. But it has not been all smooth sail- KINSHASA: Congolese police deployed heavily across the and a dive in its share price. Prime “Legal action has been immediately tak- Michalski recalls, of his shipyard days, as ing. “Michal is very strong, but an alcohol capital Kinshasa yesterday as opposition calls for a gener- Minister Binali Yildirim lashed out at the en to protect our company and brand, he welds metal parts of a door leading to problem prevents him from working reg- al strike after a breakdown in talks with President Joseph advertisement for the Ulker confec- against every party involved in this mis- the schooner’s galley. “We worked togeth- ularly,” Rzeznicki notes. —AFP Kabila’s allies last week raised fears of renewed violence. tionery company, while the company’s conduct and/or misintent,” it said. Security forces in Democratic Republic of Congo killed share price dropped by over three per- Political tensions are running high in dozens in protests over election delays last year but the cent on the Istanbul bourse Monday. Turkey in a tightly-fought campaign strike appeared to be peaceful yesterday morning as Ahead of April 1, Ulker released an ahead of the April 16 referendum on stores and banks were shuttered and streets quiet. With advert in which siblings play pranks on expanding Erdogan’s powers. Shares in police deployed at bus stops and intersections, there each other during which one brother Ulker Biscuvi Sanayi were down 3.30 per- were only a handful of cars on the central boulevard in serves a chilli-covered cake. It ends with cent at 1000 GMT, having earlier fallen Kinshasa, a city of more than 10 million people, and the the narrator saying: “Now is the day of by nearly five percent. normally bustling central market was shut. “I couldn’t go reckoning”. Yildirim late Sunday said in Turkish conglomerate Yildiz Holding to work... It’s my way of supporting the opposition. an interview that the slogan was an owns Ulker, Godiva Chocolatier and unwelcome throwback to the failed July United Biscuits, whose portfolio of 15 coup aimed at unseating President brands includes iconic British names Bulgaria prosecutors charge Recep Tayyip Erdogan. like McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes. Yildiz chair- health minister Semerdzhilev “Already there is an uneasiness among man Murat Ulker is the son of Ulker’s SOFIA: Bulgarian prosecutors have charged the country’s the people, and this unfortunate advert founder Sabri Ulker and Turkey’s rich- interim health minister with misuse of power for threaten- triggers this unease,” he said. “These days, est man with an estimated fortune of ing the head of a state health agency because she would people must act more responsibly, must $3.7 billion (3.4 billion euros), accord- not hire his protege, they said yesterday. Ilko Semerdzhilev, respect the people’s sensitivity.” Ruling ing to the Turkish edition of Forbes who is also Bulgaria’s interim deputy prime minister, threat- party lawmaker Metin Kulunk added magazine. Like most of the bosses of ened to sack the executive director of the country’s drug there was “a dirty business” going on the family-run conglomerates that agency for refusing the favored candidate, citing potential with an attempt to “manipulate the psy- dominate the Turkish private sector, conflict of interest, they said in a statement. Prosecutors chology” of the Turkish nation. But Ulker Murat Ulker usually steers well clear of said two witnesses reported the threats against agency said in a statement that the advertise- commenting on politics. Yildiz bought head Asena Stoimenova and quoted Semerdzhiev as ment had been misconstrued and also United Biscuits in 2014, in one of the WARSAW: A steel schooner called ‘Father Boguslaw’ is under construction at telling her on March 24: “I can sack you, I can also do other distorted through digital manipulations most significant acquisitions in the things to you.” on social media. company’s history. —AFP the courtyard of a homeless shelter run by Catholic Fathers in Warsaw. —AFP TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 INTERNATIONAL Pirates hijack boat, kidnap 11 Indian crew members

DUBAI: Pirates have seized a small boat Other Indian media reported the boat Africa’s coast have largely shifted to the and kidnapped its 11 Indian crew mem- was heading to Mukalla, a southern port West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea on the bers off the coast of Somalia, an investi- city once occupied by Al-Qaeda in the Atlantic Ocean. But frustrations have gator said yesterday, the latest vessel tar- Arabian Peninsula that has since been been rising among Somali fishermen, geted by the region’s resurgent hijackers. captured by Saudi-led forces. India’s including former pirates, at what they The attack on the small ship happened Ministry of External Affairs said it was try- say are foreign fishermen illegally fishing Saturday as the vessel passed through ing to gather information about the in local waters. the narrow channel between Yemen’s hijacking. Databases also showed the In March, Somali pirates hijacked the Socotra Island and the Somali coast, said boat was named either the MV Al-Kausar Comoros-flagged oil tanker Aris 13, Graeme Gibbon Brooks, CEO of Dryad or the MV Al-Kaushar. It wasn’t immedi- marking the first such seizure of a large Maritime, a shipping security firm. The ately known what cargo the vessel is car- commercial vessel since 2012. They later pirates are taking the vessel to the Eyl rying or who owns or operates it. Lt Ian released the vessel and its Sri Lankan area of northern Somalia, he said. McConnaughey, a spokesman for the US crew without conditions, Somali officials There was conflicting information Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain, said sailors said at the time. Pirates in late March over the boat’s name and where it was there are “aware of the reports and we are also seized a fishing trawler, which police heading. Brooks said the small dhow, a monitoring the situation.” The 5th Fleet warned could be used for further piracy. traditional wooden sailing ship common oversees regional anti-piracy efforts. Dryad Maritime, the maritime safety in regional waters, initially was heading Piracy off Somalia’s coast was once a company in Britain, is warning its clients from Dubai to Bosaso, Somalia. Malini serious threat to the global shipping to stay at least 100 nautical miles away Shankar of the Indian Directorate industry. It has lessened in recent years from the so-called Socotra gap over pira- General of Shipping told the Press Trust after an international effort to patrol cy concerns. “The fact they’ve taken of India news agency that the vessel was near the country, whose weak central three now in a row is an indicator or a HOBYO: Masked Somali pirate Hassan stands near a Taiwanese fishing ves- instead heading to Yemen, where a government has been trying to assert warning of a growing problem” Brooks sel that washed up on shore after the pirates were paid a ransom and Saudi-led war against Shiite rebels hold- itself after a quarter-century of conflict. said. “I don’t think they are going to stop released the crew, in the once-bustling pirate den of Hobyo, Somalia. —AP ing its capital has raged for years. Since then, concerns about piracy off doing this.” —AP Chilling online ‘death groups’ Social media groups encourage teen suicides

SAINT PETERSBURG: Chilling online “death as “biodegradable waste” and “people who are to neighboring Ukraine, where the authorities groups” on popular social media that egg on worthless for society.” “First you have to create have sounded the alarm over a significant teenagers to kill themselves are causing panic groups with depressing content that plunges increase in teen suicide. in Russia after a string of teen suicides. Hidden you into a special atmosphere,” he said. “People Ukrainian police blocked access to 500 groups on social networking site VK, the click on links and enter a closed group. That’s social media groups this month, saying they Russian equivalent of Facebook, are reportedly when the game starts.” receive on a daily basis “nearly 70 alerts regard- controlled by “mentors” who incite their mem- Budeikin admitted he asked his victims to ing runaway minors, 20 to 30 percent of whom bers to take their own lives. The existence of share personal information and perform cer- are members of a death group.” Despite the these groups, highlighted in an investigation tain “tasks”, which often involved self-mutila- apparent impact the groups have had in Russia by Novaya Gazeta opposition newspaper last tion or scarification. “I just explained to some and Ukraine, experts think the phenomenon year, has rattled parents and sparked heated people why it was best to die, nothing more,” might not be as widespread as it seems. Some debate in a country where suicide is largely a he said. “They are the ones who made that have accused Novaya Gazeta of overblowing taboo subject. decision. No one forced them.” Budeikin added its findings and of creating an urban legend President Vladimir Putin has publicly that he was simply “cleansing society”. “Death out of a few isolated cases of teen suicide. expressed concern, this month calling for groups” even threaten to blackmail their mem- “This is not the first time panic has struck PUNE, India: Indian social activists shout slogans and hold signs during a harsher punishments for those convicted of bers by telling them they will go after their over an increase in suicide among minors,” protest condemning an attack on students from African countries yesterday. incitement to suicide-a crime that currently loved ones if they refuse to carry out the tasks, Meduza news site quoted demographer Representatives of 44 African countries accused the Indian government of carries a prison sentence of up to three years. Novaya Gazeta reported. Yevgeny Andreyev as saying. “Statistics don’t back up” this trend, he added. Rosstat nation- failing to do enough to stop racist attacks on their nationals following a Several dozen Russian teenagers out of the total of 130 who committed suicide between ‘Urban legend’ al statistics agency published data that 22,839 series of brutal assaults targeting Nigerians. —AFP November 2015 and April 2016 were pressured The discovery of the VK death groups sent a people committed suicide in 2016, down from by members of “death groups” on VK, who jolt through Russian society, where the suicide 24,982 in 2015, without differentiating age remain in the shadows as they spread a suicide rate among minors - 20 for every 100,000 peo- groups. The latest figure has more than African diplomats blast cult, Novaya Gazeta reported. ple-is three times higher than the global aver- halved from 2005 when there were 45,800 sui- A “mentor” on one death group, 22-year-old age, according to World Health Organization cides. Suicide, as a subject for discussion, is India over racist attacks Filipp Budeikin, was arrested by investigators (WHO) data. Russia’s children’s ombudswoman still shied away from in Russia, adding to the in the city of Saint Petersburg in November Anna Kuznetsova said this month that the sui- difficulties in tackling it. It came second only NEW DELHI: Representatives of 44 African pendent investigation into the latest vio- after allegedly inciting 15 teenagers on VK to cide rate among minors had increased nearly to sexual problems in a November survey by countries accused the Indian government lence by groups including the UN’s Human commit suicide. In an interview with local 57 percent last year after dropping in previous Levada independent polling agency, on top- yesterday of failing to do enough to stop Rights Council, calling it “xenophobic and media shortly before his arrest, Budeikin out- years, attributing the phenomenon to the ics considered unacceptable to talk about in racist attacks on their nationals following a racial”. Thousands of people from African lined his tactics to attract teens he referred to “death groups.” These groups have also spread the family. —AFP series of brutal assaults targeting countries study and work in India, where Nigerians. Around a dozen people were many face discrimination. They are often injured, some seriously, when a mob accused of involvement in the illegal drug angered by the death of a local teenager trade. The issue was thrown into the spot- How to save a life while went on the rampage in a satellite city of light last year when a Congolese teacher New Delhi last Monday. The violence was bludgeoned to death allegedly by erupted after a group of Nigerian students three Indian men after an argument over who were detained in connection with the hiring an auto-rickshaw in Delhi. under fire in Afghanistan teen’s death were released without charge, In 2013, a Nigerian national was killed with police saying there was no evidence by a mob in the tourist state of Goa, with a against them. state minister later calling Nigerians a “can- HERAT: It was first used by the orthopedic surgeon at TAAC-WEST. “It was very important for each sol- means civilians sometimes arrive The vicious assault was captured on cer”. Delhi’s former law minister was also armies of the Roman Empire. In addition to the Golden Hour, the dier to understand how to save a too late for effective medical aid to camera and shared widely on social media, accused in 2014 of harassing African Centuries later, the tourniquet is armed forces operating under life,” Buffet explains. be administered, he says. “Once triggering concern over a rise in racist vio- women after he led a vigilante mob buying casualties in Afghanistan NATO’s banner apply the “10.1.2” Like Suter, she says the tourni- they are here, they are treated lence against Africans in India. In a state- through an area of the capital, claiming what they need most-time-as sur- doctrine-three emergency phases quet plays a key role. During within 10 to 15 minutes... but ment, the African Heads of Mission said they were prostitutes. Police have arrested geons adapt their battlefield pro- which, cumulatively, must not Buffet’s first tour of Afghanistan some arrive 20 hours, one week that “no known, sufficient and visible deter- six of the 10 main suspects involved in the cedures to the grinding conflict. exceed two hours. Vital interven- from 2005-2007, the device was after the injury.” Spiraling casualty ring measures were taken” by New Delhi latest attack. India’s foreign ministry con- Since the US invasion of 2001, the tion must be received within the completely absent among figures have underscored the need after previous such attacks. It said the demned the incident as “deplorable” and pattern of injuries sustained in first ten minutes, known as the Afghan forces-as opposed to to narrow that time gap for civil- authorities had failed to “sufficiently con- assured Nigeria steps were being taken to Afghanistan has changed when Platinum Ten; emergency first aid American troops, who rely on it ians and soldiers alike. demn” either the latest attacks or past inci- protect their citizens in India, as Abuja compared to previous conflicts, within an hour, and the first sur- so heavily they often wear one When NATO combat forces dences of racist violence against Africans. demanded “diligent prosecution” of the such as Vietnam. In response, gery must be carried out by the attached to their pant legs. “The withdrew at the end of 2014, more The diplomats also called for an inde- culprits. —AFP Western armies working with their two-hour mark. Care is then divid- Afghan soldiers now all have their than 3,500 foreign soldiers had Afghan counterparts have dramat- ed into four stages, from initial tourniquets and their AFAK been killed and about 33,000 ically improved their emergency management to evacuation to the (Afghan first aid kit),” she says. wounded (including 20,000 protocols-and, in the case of tourniquets and blood transfu- sions, revolutionized them. These changes “have resulted from a combination of predomi- nantly blast injuries and the use of body armor, leading to special focus on head and extremity injuries”, says Colonel Robert Suter, an American surgeon based in Qatar. Suter says the tourniquet- long a controversial tool because, if badly applied, it can damage nerves or tissues on a wounded limb-in particular has had an enor- mous impact in Afghanistan. The peculiarities of war there have led YEREVAN: Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan arrives at a polling station to pioneering new forms of the during a parliamentary election in Yerevan, Armenia. —AP ancient device: the first recorded combat use of a junctional tourni- Pro-Russian ruling party wins quet, which can be used on a pelvis or an armpit, was in ‘milestone’ Armenian election Afghanistan in 2014. Blood transfusion protocols YEREVAN: Armenia’s pro-Russian ruling party has lowing his election in 2008, with 10 people have also “completely changed as won the first legislative elections held since the killed in clashes between police and opposition the result of our experience, with adoption of constitutional reforms that are trans- supporters. But opposition politicians have whole blood and early platelet use forming the country into a parliamentary repub- reported violations at polling stations after pre- now the standard”, Suter says. lic, official results released yesterday showed. viously warning that the government is prepar- Other tools such as advanced trau- LOGAR: A US Army soldier attached to the 2nd platoon operating under NATO sponsored With votes tallied from 99.8 percent of precincts, ing mass electoral fraud. ma dressings, blood containers International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) receives medical assistance after he was injured in the central electoral commission said President “We have recorded numerous violations at and concussion screenings are an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast during a patrol near Baraki Barak base. —AFP Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party beat the main polling stations-violation of ballots’ secrecy and being brought to the frontline- opposition coalition, led by wealthy politician multiple voting,” Hovsep Khurshudyan, a leader most of them accessible to the country of origin. “Now they can survive... This is Americans), according to the Gagik Tsarukyan, by 49.15 to 27.37 percent. of Ohanyan-Raffi-Oskanyan, an opposition NATO-trained Afghan army. “The It all works well in theory. But in the main advantage of the mili- Pentagon. But it is Afghan civilians “According to the elections’ early results, the coalition said on Sunday night. Before the vote, biggest lesson learned from practice it can be another story, tary (compared) to the civilians: who continue to pay the highest Republican Party has every chance of forming the EU delegation to Armenia and the US Afghanistan is that it is the simple admits Dr Polce: “Ten minutes is a they all have tourniquet.” price. More than 20,000 Afghan the new government,” the party’s spokesman, embassy said in a joint statement they were things done promptly that save tricky time when you are under non-combatants are estimated to Eduard Sharmazanov, told a news conference. “concerned by allegations of voter intimida- the most lives,” says Suter. “Things attack.” Nevertheless such proto- Civilians left behind have died in the conflict since Another opposition coalition, Elk, and the tion, attempts to buy votes, and the systemic like stopping bleeding, keeping cols are essential, says Stephanie At Kabul’s Emergency Hospital, 2005, and the situation has grown Dashnaktsutyun nationalist party received 7.78 use of administrative resources to aid certain the airway open, giving blood. Buffett, a medical advisor to which receives wounded civilians more grim with each passing year: percent and 6.58 percent of the vote respec- competing parties.” When we do these things we buy NATO’s Resolute Support mission and soldiers as well as insurgents, civilian casualties approached tively and will also enter the parliament. The polls followed constitutional amend- the time needed to do the more (RS). RS trains thousands of Afghan doctor Abdushukoor Sardar has 11,500 in 2016, the highest record- Turnout was 60.86 percent, the electoral panel ments initiated by Sarkisian in 2015 that his complex things later with excellent security personnel in emergency just received a man who was ed by the UN since 2009. A dispro- said. The West views Armenia’s election as a key opponents say are designed to perpetuate the survival rates.” first aid during winter’s relative lull wounded 12 days ago. “The man portionate number of those casu- democratic test for the landlocked nation of 2.9 rule of the Republican party, which has been in in fighting, and the country’s came from the north, he had alties were children, raising the million, which has no history of transferring power for the last two decades. The amend- Ten minutes under fire young air force carried out its first received a bullet in the thorax. I troubling question of how many of power to the opposition through the ballot box. ments will shift the country away from a strong “Time is gold, it will make the evacuations in 2016, flying 9,000 had to remove the left lung,” he those who died could have been The pro-Russian Sarkisian has said his gov- presidency to a parliamentary form of govern- says. The lack of infrastructure in saved, if only they had received ernment “made enormous efforts so that (the) ment after Sarkisian’s second and final term difference between life and death,” wounded soldiers to safety. The milestone vote is flawless.” Violence flared fol- ends in 2018. —AFP agrees Dr Gianluca Polce, an goal is to instill a sense of urgency. some parts of rural Afghanistan help in time. —AFP TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 INTERNATIONAL We the pupils: More states News in brief

Karaoke bar blaze kills teach founding documents 15 in central Myanmar YANGON: At least 15 people have died after a fire ripped through a karaoke bar in central Myanmar, trapping revelers Know your US Constitution? inside singing rooms filled with poisonous smoke. Eleven men and four women died when the blaze consumed the NORTH SMITHFIELD: Should US high deficiency in this country, all the way up the model or something similar. “You have partly inspired by a ninth-grade class top floor of the Shwe Myat Min Thamee KTV bar in the town school students know at least as much to the top, the very top,” said Rhode Island to learn the basics before you can have taught at North Smithfield High School. of Magway, northwest of the capital Naypyidaw, on Sunday about the Declaration of Independence, Democratic state Rep. Gregg Amore, a the higher-level discussions.” Other civics The honors class uses the “We the People” night. A local fire official said the electrical system had the Constitution and the Federalist papers longtime high school history teacher who education boosters say such a mandate is curriculum developed by Quigley’s group. apparently overheated and set fire to the sound-proof lin- as immigrants passing an American citizen- is co-sponsoring legislation that contends too simplistic. “If you do something like Students participate in a national competi- ing inside the singing rooms. “All those killed were inside ship test? In a growing number of school the “survival of the republic” depends on that, people are going to start teaching to tion in which they must orally defend their KTV rooms at the time... It seems the wires became hot and systems, having such a basic knowledge is Americans understanding its principles the test and teaching a game of Trivial ideas. On a March afternoon, teenagers started burning the foam,” Magway region fire department now a graduation requirement. But states and history. Pursuit,” said Charles Quigley, executive stood at their classroom’s lectern one by director Aung Win Sein said yesterday. The four women who are taking different approaches to combat- one, debating whether a California police were killed were all said to be workers at the bar. Police have ing what’s seen as a widespread lack of officer can search a suspected gang mem- opened two cases against the bar owner for negligence. knowledge about how government works. ber’s smartphone without a warrant. As Karaoke bars are popular in Myanmar, where many also Kentucky last week and Arkansas on they argued, some cited language from the serve as fronts for illegal brothels. March 16 became the latest of more than US Constitution’s Fourth Amendment. a dozen states since 2015 that have Others looked to Supreme Court Justice required the high school social studies Louis Brandeis’ 1928 dissenting opinion in a ‘Biggest insurgent attack’ curriculum to include material covered by wiretapping case. in years in south Thailand the 100 questions asked on the naturaliza- Their teacher, Natalie O’Brien, gently YALA: Insurgents fired hundreds of shots into a police tion exam. Lawmakers in other states, prodded them to think critically and tap booth in restive Muslim-majority southern Thailand including Minnesota, are hoping to foster into more than 200 years of American his- yesterday, wounding 12 officers in what police called even deeper understanding of the funda- tory and legal philosophy. She didn’t tell the biggest such attack in years. A decades-old sepa- mentals of American democracy by them that, in 2014, a unanimous Supreme ratist insurgency in the provinces of Yala, Pattani and adding a full course to study its most Court ruled in the California case that Narathiwat has claimed more than 6,500 lives since it important documents. police may not generally search the cell- escalated in 2004, according to independent monitor- “Rights might be inherent, but ideas phones of people they arrest without first ing group Deep South Watch. CCTV footage showed need to be taught,” said Maida Buckley, a getting search warrants. “Someone’s going what appeared to be about 30 insurgents surround a retired classroom teacher in Fairbanks, to channel James Madison, right?” she said. Yala police booth and firing more than 500 shots inside Alaska, who testified last year to an Alaskan “What would Brandeis be saying about this the building, Police Major General Kritsada legislative task force on civics education. particular decision? What would the Kaewchandee, chief of Yala provincial police, said. “This “When you have a system of government founders be saying?” that’s based on ideas, espoused in the North Smithfield High student Megan was the biggest attack in the deep south in many Declaration of Independence and carried Skinner said she didn’t pay much attention years,” he said. In February, the military government of out with a working document in the to politics before O’Brien’s class, but the 15- the Buddhist-majority country struck a deal with MARA Constitution, those ideas need to be year-old now said she now uses the found- Patani, a long-standing umbrella group that claims to taught.” It’s a bipartisan cause, and in many ing US documents as a guide as family and speak for the insurgents, over a “safety zone” to cover states such bills are jointly introduced by friends debate the Trump presidency. “It five districts in the three southern provinces. The Republicans and Democrats. Tested to death director of the Calabasas, California-based gives us an entirely new perspective on all names of the districts have not yet been announced. But proponents’ motivations vary from A campaign by the Scottsdale, Arizona- Center for Civic Education. “Kids are the events that are going on,” Skinner said. dismay about the lack of participation in based Joe Foss Institute has led many already tested to death.” “You see all these things in the news, and local school boards and town halls to con- states to pass laws requiring students to especially about the election, and all the cerns about how Republican President know what’s on the citizenship test. “It’s ‘We the People’ things that are going on with the executive Donald Trump and his supporters view not a panacea or silver bullet, but it’s a The Rhode Island bill, introduced by a orders he passed, the travel bans. Before the power of the executive branch. “We step forward,” said the group’s Lucian Republican from North Smithfield, a con- this class, we wouldn’t have understood clearly have seen there is a serious civics Spataro, who said 17 states have adopted servative town where Trump is popular, is these things.” —AP S Korea’s Moon eyes presidency SARGODHA: A view of the cordoned off Sufi shrine SEOUL: The man tipped to become South presidential election by Park and his party where three suspects including the shrine’s custodian Korea’s next president was formally nomi- has been out of power for almost 10 killed at least 20 people on the outskirts of Sargodha nated yesterday as candidate of the main years. But this election looks set to give District in Punjab province. —AFP opposition party, and promised “justice” him a strong chance at power, with opin- in a nation rocked by the impeachment of ion polls suggesting he has a command- ‘Living saint’ charged its former leader. Moon Jae-In, the left- ing lead. A Realmeter survey published with killing 20 people leaning former chief of staff to late presi- Monday put him on 34.9 percent, with his dent Roh Moo-Hyun, became the nearest rival, former software tycoon Ahn ISLAMABAD: A man seen by devotees as a living saint Democratic Party’s standard-bearer for Cheol-Soo, trailing far behind at 18.7 per- has been charged with murder and terrorism after the poll on May 9. It was called after Park cent. In December Moon said that if elect- allegedly knifing and clubbing 20 worshippers to death Guen-Hye was removed from the presi- ed, he was willing to visit North Korea at a Pakistani shrine, police said yesterday. Police are hav- dency over a corruption scandal which ahead of the United States, the South’s ing to bring the case against 50-year-old Abdul Waheed BAGHDAD: Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi meets with members of a led to her arrest Friday. security guarantor. and three alleged accomplices, officials said, because the US delegation including Gen Stephen Townsend, commander of the interna- Moon, known for his softer stance on He also vowed to recognize North victims’ relatives have such “blind faith” in him that they tional coalition forces in Iraq and Syria, Jared Kushner, senior adviser to US North Korea, has suggested Seoul should Korea’s strongman leader as his dialogue refuse to file charges. The slaughter took place Sunday at President Donald Trump, Tom Bosertala, the US national security adviser engage with Pyongyang. His conservative partner. “We can’t deny that the ruler of the the Sufi Muslim shrine of Mohammad Ali, built in 2015 and US ambassador Douglas Silliman. —AFP critics say he could also loosen South North Korean people is Kim Jong-Un.” In an near the city of Sargodha in Punjab province. Sufis Korea’s longstanding alliance with the interview with the New York Times, Moon believe in pirs or “living saints” who can intercede for United States, which bases 28,500 troops called the alliance with Washington “a pillar them directly with God. Ali, the shrine’s first saint, was Trump’s son-in-law flies in the country. The 64-year-old former of our diplomacy” but said South Korea succeeded by Waheed, the new pir, who is also the human rights lawyer promised to “start a should learn to “say ‘No’ to the Americans”. shrine’s custodian. Senior police official Malik Ghulam new history with the Korean people” after A US missile defense system is being Abbas said it was strange that even relatives of the dead into Iraq with a general securing a total of 57 percent of the votes deployed to the South in the face of threats did not wish to file a complaint. “They have such strong in nationwide primaries for his party. “This from the North, infuriating Beijing, which blind faith in their pir that they say whatever has hap- BAGHDAD: US President Donald Greg Hicks, said Kushner was traveling presidential election is not a showdown has imposed a series of measures seen as pened, happened with the blessing of Allah,” he said. Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, flew on behalf of Trump to express the pres- between conservatives and liberals but a economic retaliation. Moon has been into Iraq yesterday with the top US mil- ident’s support and commitment to choice between justice and injustice,” said ambivalent about the issue, saying it need- itary officer to get a first-hand assess- Iraq’s government and US personnel Moon in his acceptance speech. ed to be carefully handled as it would bring Vietnamese dies of stroke Moon was narrowly beaten in the 2012 the South “both gains and losses”. —AFP ment of the battle against Islamic State helping combat Islamic State. Trump, at Japan detention centre from US commanders on the ground who campaigned on defeating Islamic TOKYO: A Vietnamese man who died in solitary con- and to meet Iraqi officials. For Kushner, State, has yet to announce any dramat- finement at a Japanese immigration detention centre, who has not been to Iraq before, the ic shift in war strategy. raising questions about monitoring of detainees, died trip comes at a critical time as Trump from a stroke, a Justice Ministry official said yesterday. examines ways to accelerate a US-led US role after Mosul fight The death of Nguyen The Hung last month at the East coalition campaign that US and Iraqi The trip to Iraq comes as Iraqi secu- Japan Immigration Centre in Ibaraki prefecture, north- officials say has so far been largely suc- rity forces engage in fierce, house-to- east of Tokyo, took the toll in Japan’s detention system cessful in uprooting Islamic State mili- house fighting to retake Mosul, Islamic to 13 since 2006. The deaths have provoked criticism tants in Iraq and Syria. State’s last major stronghold in Iraq from activists and a watchdog overseeing the centers The visit appears to demonstrate the and the city where leader Abu Bakr Al- over medical care and monitoring of detainees. An far-reaching portfolio of Kushner, 36, Baghdadi declared a caliphate nearly autopsy found that Nguyen died of a subarachnoid haemorrhage, the official said, requesting anonymity. who is part of Trump’s innermost circle three years ago. Nearly 290,000 peo- The autopsy was carried out on Wednesday, a separate and who has been given a wide range ple have fled the city to escape the person with direct knowledge of the matter said. of domestic and foreign policy respon- fighting, according to the United sibilities, including working on a Nations. Although the loss of Mosul Middle East peace deal. Marine General would deal a major defeat to Islamic Islam critic Hirsi Ali cancels Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the State, US and Iraqi officials are prepar- Australia tour over security US military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, said ing for smaller battles even after the he invited Kushner and Tom Bossert, city is recaptured and expect the SYDNEY: Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the Somali-born women’s advo- White House homeland security advis- group to go underground to fight as a cate and leading critic of Islam yesterday cancelled a tour of er, to accompany him so they could traditional insurgency. SEOUL: Moon Jae-In (left), the left-leaning former Chief of Staff to late presi- Australia and New Zealand at the last minute citing security hear “first-hand and unfiltered” from What happens to the US military role dent Roh Moo-Hyun, poses with the Democratic Party leader Choo Mi-Ae after concerns. She was due to appear on an Australian military advisers about the situation on in Iraq after Mosul is recaptured remain he was elected as a presidential candidate of the party during a party primary Broadcasting Corporation current affairs panel show yester- day evening before speaking engagements later this week. the ground and interact with US forces. unclear. Influential Shiite cleric for the upcoming South Korean presidential election yesterday. —AFP But organizers Think Inc said in a statement that “Ayaan Hirsi “I said, ‘Hey, next time I go to Iraq, if Moqtada Al-Sadr has previously called Ali regrets that, for a number of reasons including security you’re interested, come and it’d be on Iraq’s government to order the with- Japan sends its envoy concerns, she must cancel her upcoming appearances in good,” Dunford said, adding he extend- drawal of US and allied forces after the Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Auckland”. No further ed the invitation weeks ago. battle of Mosul is over. Dunford said details were given. The former Dutch lawmaker is a contro- That kind of ground-level awareness Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi back to South Korea versial figure and has been threatened with death in the of the war helps inform strategic deci- understood the need for continued US past for criticizing Islam. sions, Dunford said, adding it was the military support. “It’s not our judgment TOKYO: Japan said yesterday it would send its 2011. That one, which has become a symbol for same reason he regularly leaves that the Iraqis will be self sustaining ambassador back to South Korea after a diplo- activists campaigning on behalf of the few sur- EU nations and Israel eye Washington to visit Iraq. “The more and self sufficient in the wake of Mosul. matic row had prompted his recall, because the viving former sex slaves, still stands and Japan longest undersea pipeline appreciation you could have for what’s More importantly, it’s not Prime countries should work closely together to count- saw the new one in the southern port city of actually happening on the ground, the Minister Abadi’s assessment,” Dunford er threats from North Korea. The government Busan as unacceptable. TEL AVIV: Italy, Israel, Greece and Cyprus pledged yes- more informed you are when you start said. Across the border in Syria, a US- ordered the envoy home in January over a statue But intensifying concerns over North Korea’s terday to move ahead with the world’s longest under- talking about the strategic issues,” backed campaign to isolate Islamic placed by activists late last year outside its con- nuclear and missile development prompted sea gas pipeline from the eastern Mediterranean to Dunford said. Although media report- State’s de facto capital of Raqqa is sulate in Busan. The statue symbolizes the plight Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida to announce that southern Europe, with support from the European of “comfort women”-a euphemism for women ambassador Yasumasa Nagamine would return to Union. If carried out as planned, the long-discussed ed on Sunday that Kushner and advancing ahead of an eventual assault forced to work in Japanese military brothels dur- Seoul today. “Japan and South Korea need to $6.2 billion (5.8 billion euro) pipeline will take gas Dunford were in Iraq over the week- on the city. US-backed Syrian forces ing World War II. Japan says the statue violates closely exchange information at high levels and from Israel and Cyprus’s recently discovered offshore end, they only arrived yesterday after- repelled a major counter-attack by the spirit of a 2015 agreement meant to settle closely communicate in order to deal with North gas reserves to Europe, potentially reducing European noon. Reuters was among a small Islamic State militants holding out at the hugely emotional and decades-long issue Korean issues,” Kishida told reporters. He said dependence on Russian energy at a time of ongoing group of reporters traveling with the the country’s largest dam and in the with a Japanese apology and payment of money Japan would continue to urge South Korea to tensions. In a joint news conference in Israel’s com- US delegation. nearby town of Tabqa, the group and to survivors. implement the “comfort women” accord after mercial capital Tel Aviv, energy ministers from the four Kushner, who is married to Trump’s activists said on Sunday. The dam is a South Korea’s foreign minister said at the Nagamine returns. Also behind the decision to nations and the EU’s Commissioner for Climate Action daughter Ivanka Trump, did not speak strategic target in the military cam- time that his government would “strive to solve” send the ambassador back, Kishida said, was and Energy Miguel Arias Canete pledged their com- with reporters during the flight to Iraq. paign, located about 40 km to the east the issue of a similar statue that has stood across South Korea’s election in May to choose a succes- mitment to the project. Dunford’s spokesman, Navy Captain of Raqqa. —Reuters the street from Japan’s embassy in Seoul since sor to ousted president Park Geun-Hye. —AFP NEWS TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 Trump hosts Sisi in landmark visit, praises ‘fantastic job’

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump put fully reinstated in 2015, but diplomatic relations human rights controversies aside to warmly welcome remained difficult. The catalyst for Trump and Sisi’s Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to the White House yesterday, the friendship has been a common hardline against mili- first such visit from an Egyptian president in almost a tant groups, which Sisi described as “a satanic ideolo- decade. Greeting Sisi in the Oval Office, Trump gy” during brief remarks at the White House. heaped praise on the former general’s leadership and While Trump noted the United States and Egypt embarked on a charm offensive designed to fix ties “have a few things” they do not agree on, he made no strained by revolution and security crackdowns. public airing of US concerns about human rights in “You have a great friend and ally in the United Egypt. Rights groups have called for the release of States and in me,” Trump told Sisi, sweeping aside his Aya Hijazi, an Egyptian-American who works with predecessor’s concerns about democratic abuses in street children and was arrested in May 2014 on Egpyt. “I just want to let everybody know that we are human trafficking charges. Hijazi has been held in very much behind President Al-Sisi, he has done a custody for 33 months in violation of Egyptian law, fantastic job in a very difficult situation,” Trump which states that the maximum period for pretrial added. The meeting symbolizes an end to years in detention is 24 months. Human rights groups have which the Egyptian leader had been kept at arm’s estimated that Sisi’s government has detained at length by Washington amid rights concerns. The last time an Egyptian president was at the least 40,000 political prisoners. White House was in 2010, when Hosni Mubarak A US official said Sisi would find a White House attended Middle East peace talks alongside Israeli, ready to soften US criticism of Egypt on human rights WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump meets Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi in the Oval Office of Palestinian and Jordanian leaders. Within months and to work on counter-terrorism but unwilling to the White House yesterday. — AP Mubarak was ousted by a popular uprising, which provide additional aid. “He’s going to get an end to received tacit support from president Barack Obama. finger-wagging. We’re not giving him any more mon- The Egypt-US relationship was strained further as a ey,” said the US official, who spoke on condition of Russia subway blast kills 10; second bomb... broadly Islamist and then a military government - led anonymity before Sisi’s meetings with Trump. “He’s by Sisi - took charge. going to be disappointed because he wants more Continued from Page 1 palace, offered “condolences” to those hurt in the blast The Obama administration froze military aid to assistance and he’s not going to get it,” the official and to the loved ones of those killed. Just hours after Egypt after then-defense minister Sisi led the 2013 added, saying it was not yet clear whether Egypt Witnesses said the explosion spread panic among the blast, people began laying flowers by the Sennaya ouster of president Mohamed Morsi, and a bloody would escape a cut in its foreign aid as part of the passengers, who ran toward the exits of the station, Square station. “I was shocked,” said local resident crackdown on his supporters. Egypt’s key role as the Trump administration’s plan to cut the overall State which is 40 m underground. “Everything was covered in Alexander Malikov. “I gathered my friends around and most populous Arab nation meant that the aid was Department budget by 28.7 percent. — Agencies smoke, there were a lot of firefighters,” Maria Smirnova, we came to put flowers here.” a student on a train behind the one where the bomb US President Donald Trump called the explosion a went off, told the Dozhd television channel. “Firefighters “terrible thing - happening all over the world -absolute- Allah Kareem shouted at us to run for the exit and everyone ran. ly a terrible thing”. EU foreign policy chief Federica Everyone was panicking.” Mogherini wrote on Twitter she was following develop- Continued from Page 1 now more efficient, fast and very organized, and we The blast occurred in a train carriage as it was travelling ments “together with all EU foreign ministers” gathered have started seeing smiling faces. between the Technological Institute and Vosstaniya for a meeting in Luxembourg. “Our thoughts are with all Since last August - if my memory is still as sharp - But then another horror - waiting for your luggage Square stations at 2:40 pm local time (1140 GMT), said the the people of Russia,” she wrote. this escalator has been out of order. Of course there is at the baggage carousel. The only plane that landed spokesman of Russia’s anti-terrorist committee (NAK) Extremists have targeted Russia’s public transporta- is another one adjacent and in between proper stairs, that morning was our flight from London, and we still Andrei Przhezdomsky. The NAK committee later con- tion systems in the past. In 2013, Russia was hit by twin but imagine you have your briefcase and bags and had to wait not less than 50 minutes for our bags. It firmed security services had found another explosive suicide strikes that claimed 34 lives and raised alarm everyone is using one escalator, or have to suffer climb- was unbelievable. I felt sorry for the captain and his device at the Vosstaniya Square metro station. This device over security at the Sochi Winter Olympic Games. A ing down the stairs. It’s OK if you are young and carry- crew who were also waiting with us for their luggage. did not explode and it was immediately “neutralized”. bombing at the main railway station of the southern ing nothing. But imagine an old man with a cane, and Why such a delay? It was 6 am and we were the only The metro network in Saint Petersburg announced city of Volgograd killed 18 people while a second strike twice I’ve helped mothers struggling with their flight arriving at that time. There was no other action it was shutting down entirely after evacuating all pas- hit a trolleybus, killing 16. A suicide raid on Moscow’s strollers, baby bags and babies, trying to get them all on the conveyor belts. Is it to do with a lack of workers? sengers. The Moscow metro also tweeted that it was Domodedovo airport claimed by Islamist insurgents safely to the floor below. How much does it cost the air- I started to get edgy and grumbly - that’s the nature “taking additional security measures” as required by from the North Caucasus killed 37 people in Jan 2011. port maintenance department to fix one broken escala- of journalists anyway. Then a woman standing near me law in such situations. NAK said in a statement carried Russia has intervened militarily to bolster Syrian tor? It’s not as long as the Oxford Circus underground noticed and told me, “Relax, Allah Kareem (keep the by Russian news agencies that security was being President Bashar Al-Assad’s forces in September 2015, in London, which has hundreds of steps. And if they faith in God)! They are building a new airport and I stepped up at transportation hubs and crowded turning the tables on the battlefield just as rebel forces don’t have budgets, we would be glad to publish a hope things will be better and faster and we will at places across the country. were strengthening their hold on key areas. Russian campaign to raise donations to fix the escalator. least become as modern and updated as our brothers Saint Petersburg announced three days of mourning bombardments helped the regime retake rebel areas in After the escalator trouble, you pass through immi- in the Gulf.” in the city while President Vladimir Putin, who was hold- the east of the northern city of Aleppo after four years gration. I want to just thank the Interior Ministry for all Well let’s pray that she’s right. But still this does not ing a meeting nearby in his official Strelna presidential of fighting. — Agencies the positive improvements. I have to say immigration is excuse the broken escalator. TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 ANALYSIS

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Focus Trump learning the hard way US presidency weak

ransitioning from businessman to politician has been tough for Donald Trump. The billionaire Tdealmaker promised sweeping-change-made- easy as president, but now finds himself facing fierce opposition in the Congress and the courts. It’s a basic civics lesson most school kids know by heart but one that Trump has had to re-learn the hard way: under the US Constitution, the power of the president is checked by the legislative and judicial branches. Those checks and balances have caused the first- time politician major setbacks to his two biggest initia- tives to date, his travel ban and his attempt to overhaul the healthcare system. “Our presidency is very weak in terms of the ability to set the legislative agenda” com- pared to those of other democracies, Dartmouth gov- ernment professor John Carey says. The White House can’t introduce bills to Congress, for instance. That’s the prerogative of legislators, who set their own agenda. The opposition party’s rights remain especially impor- tant in the Senate, where a qualified majority of 60 of 100 votes is required to pass a number of measures, includ- ing most tax and spending bills. “The president’s power Can tough-talking Trump solve N Korea? in terms of compelling legislators is mainly a power of persuasion,” Carey says. “And there, Trump severely over- estimated his ability.” The US president’s opponents also S President Donald Trump is sug- THE CONTEXT: China is without doubt China, he said, “Totally.” “I don’t have to say Nations, Nikki Haley, also had some tough typically rely on the judicial system to oppose his deci- gesting ahead of his meeting later a lifeline for North Korea. It accounts for any more. Totally.” talk over the weekend - but it conflicted sions and sometimes successfully block them. Uthis week with Chinese President Xi about 90 percent of the North’s trade and THE CONTEXT: So there it is, the tease. with the president’s. She said on ABC’s That’s nothing new. The Supreme Court almost sank Jinping that he can handle Washington’s is a key supplier of fuel and many of the If Trump does have a dramatic solution to “This Week” that China needs “to show us many provisions of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal in the North Korea problem with or without other necessities that keep the North’s this problem, it will have to be pretty how concerned they are ... They need to 1930s. But the “judicialization” of American politics has Beijing’s help - “totally”. Is the self-pro- economy running. If Beijing were to clever. And the stakes are extremely high. put pressure on North Korea. The only intensified in recent years. “I can’t remember any presi- claimed master of the deal doing what he aggressively clamp down on all its trade Back in 1994, President Bill Clinton consid- country that can stop North Korea is dent so much challenged in the courts so soon,” the does best - talking up his game? Even with Pyongyang, the North would certain- ered a pre-emptive strike to take out China, and they know that.” constitutional scholar Erwin Chemerinsky said. Those Trump said going it alone is not his Plan A. ly feel the pain - and possibly collapse. The North Korea’s nuclear weapons’ building THE CONTEXT: If Haley is right and challenges are taking place in one of the most polarized While declaring the US is ready to deal question, however, is what Trump means capability. That was ruled out as too risky. China is the only country that can stop contexts in history, with Trump lashing out against with Pyongyang on its own, Trump by “help”. He chose negotiations, and those failed, North Korea, it stands to reason the US what he calls a politicized justice system, accusing it of stressed in an interview with the Financial Sanctions advocates in the US believe too, after George W. Bush took over. can’t resolve this issue alone. And no one encroaching on presidential powers that he is discover- Times that he’d rather - much rather, actu- that with just the right amount of pres- Fast forward to today, and North Korea expects it to. UN resolutions and unilateral ing are far less absolute than he imagined. ally - have Beijing on board. China, he not- sure, North Korea can be coerced into giv- has a nuclear arsenal. It may already be sanctions imposed on North Korea have ed, has the most influence over the North ing up its nuclear weapons. But that’s not able to hit Japan and the tens of thou- so far failed to deter it from conducting The system pushes back economically and politically. a certainty. Too much pressure could also sands of US troops based there with nuclear and missile tests. Last year, the The particular characteristics of Trump’s presidency But can he sway Beijing into doing lead to open conflict with a tremendously nuclear warheads. It could be just a few North conducted two nuclear tests and are amplifying the usual strains present under the con- more of what Washington wants? The big high cost in casualties and deaths, wreak- years - if that - away from having an inter- two dozen tests of ballistic missiles. stitutional separation of powers. He’s the most unpopu- meeting is set to take place at Trump’s ing havoc on the Chinese, South Korean continental ballistic missile capable of hit- During his swing through Asia last lar head of state in recent history at this point in his Mar-a-Lago estate in South Florida on and Japanese - and by extension US - ting the US mainland. month, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson presidency, with an approval rating of just over 40 per- Thursday and Friday. Here’s a closer look at economies. A North Korean implosion, Whatever Trump has in mind, any said the past 20 years of US policy toward cent. The Democrats in Congress - who worked togeth- some of the rhetoric being tossed around, meanwhile, could be even more problem- change in the status quo that comes North Korea have been a failure. In fact, er with the popular Ronald Reagan in 1981 and other by Trump in the interview released atic, causing a massive refugee crisis. As about without China’s participation, or that could be extended all the way back to Republican presidents when they held the majority - Sunday, and by a top US official: Beijing well knows, that would impact Russia’s, is likely to antagonize North President Truman and the Korean War, have very little incentive to compromise with the cur- TRUMP: “China has great influence China far more dramatically than the far- Korea’s two nuclear-armed neighbors. which - thanks to China’s decision to back rent leader. over North Korea. And China will either away US. Trump may not need to tell a newspaper the North - ended not in a peace treaty in Even members of Trump’s own majority Republican decide to help us with North Korea, or TRUMP: According to the Financial what his plan is. But if he’s got one, leaders 1953 but in an armistice. Party are defying him. It was the hard-line conservative they won’t. And if they do that will be very Times report, when pressed on whether across Asia are all ears. So what would the US actually do if faction known as the Freedom Caucus that sank his good for China, and if they don’t it won’t the U.S. really could resolve the North AND PS, FROM YOUR UN AMBASSA- China doesn’t cooperate? “China has to effort to repeal Obamacare last week, a manifestation be good for anyone.” Korean denuclearization problem without DOR: Trump’s ambassador to the United cooperate,” Haley said. — AP of a long-running internecine battle within the party. The unorthodox, impatient management style of a businessman with little apparent desire to steep him- self in the details-or sometimes even the major points - of policy has increased the rancor and chaos in Bit by bit, Trump undoing Obama policies Washington. Having promised to “drain the swamp” of corruption in the capital, Trump has also surrounded mid the turmoil over staff shake-ups, blocked Abortion/Family Planning balked. Trump announced in Michigan that he’s putting himself with billionaires and ultraconservatives with a travel bans and the Russia cloud hanging over- Trump is expected to sign legislation erasing another the midterm review back on track. His decision has no record of fierce ideological opposition to government Ahead, US President Donald Trump is steadily Obama rule, one that barred states from withholding fed- immediate effect but requires the EPA to determine no but precious little experience in the political system’s plugging away at a major piece of his agenda: Undoing eral family planning funds from Planned Parenthood affil- later than April 2018 whether the 2022-2025 standards actual functioning. “This is the worst start for a presi- Obama. From abortion to energy to climate change iates and other clinics that provide abortions. The rule are appropriate. dency in my lifetime,” Duke political science professor and personal investments, Trump is keeping his prom- was finalized shortly before Obama left office in January. David Rohde said. ises in methodically overturning regulations and poli- The measure cleared the Senate last week with Vice Trans-Pacific Partnership cies adopted when Barack Obama was president. It President Mike Pence, who is also president of the Senate, Obama was his administration’s biggest cheerleader Not all lost hasn’t all been smooth sailing. casting the tie-breaking 51st vote in the 100-member for the sweeping agreement involving the US and 11 oth- Still, at just 10 weeks into his first term, the 45th Trump recently failed to fulfill his pledge to repeal chamber. er Pacific Rim nations. But the Senate needed to ratify it, president retains prerogatives that, if used wisely, could and replace the Affordable Care Act, which continues and bipartisan opposition basically doomed it before he enable him to regain the upper hand, including in a to stand as Obama’s most recognizable domestic poli- Keystone Xl Oil Pipeline left office. As a candidate, Trump railed against this agree- looming battle over the federal budget. His predeces- cy achievement. Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan Trump green-lighted the long-delayed project on ment and pledged to withdraw from it, saying he was a sors George W Bush and Barack Obama learned to work couldn’t persuade enough fellow Republicans to back March 24, reversing Obama’s decision less than 18 better negotiator and could strike better deals. Shortly around congressional obstruction and paralysis when new healthcare legislation last month. Ryan pulled the months earlier. After Trump invited TransCanada, the after taking office, he directed the US trade representa- possible by using their authority to enact executive measure just before a scheduled House vote. Trump Canadian company building the $8 billion pipeline, to tive to withdraw and said he would pursue individual orders. Although some of their initiatives ultimately has had better outcomes in other areas. resubmit its application, the State Department approved deals with the other countries. failed, others have lasted. the project, saying it would advance US national interests. “There’s still plenty of opportunity for Trump to take Climate Change Obama had said the project would not. Approval came Abortion/Mexico City Policy really consequential action on policy through executive Trump signed an executive order last week to deliv- nearly a decade after TransCanada applied to complete Trump reinstated a ban on providing federal money to orders and through the regulatory process,” Carey said, er on his pledge to unravel Obama’s efforts to curb the 2,735-km pipeline to carry oil from tar sands in international groups that perform abortions or provide pointing to Trump’s decision not to “waste any time” last global warming. The order launched a review of the Alberta, Canada, to refineries along the Texas Gulf Coast. information about them. Obama had lifted the ban when week by rolling back Obama-era environmental protec- Clean Power Plan, Obama’s chief effort to curb carbon Trump says the project will reduce costs and reliance on he took office in 2009. Known as the “Mexico City Policy” tions immediately following his healthcare defeat last emissions by restricting greenhouse gas emissions at foreign oil, and create thousands of jobs. Obama had said or, by critics, as the “global gag rule,” the regulation has week. As for the judicial system, Trump will have oppor- coal-fired power plants. Trump also lifted a 14-month- it would undercut US credibility in international efforts to been a political volleyball, instituted by Republican tunities to put his mark on it, starting with his nomina- old halt on new coal leases on federal lands. The tackle climate change. administrations and rescinded by Democratic ones since tion of Neil Gorsuch to a seat on the Supreme Court, Obama administration had imposed a three-year 1984. Trump signed it one day after the 44th anniversary which the Republican majority in Congress is poised to freeze on such leases in January of last year. Dakota Access Pipeline of the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe vs Wade decision that approve. Over the longer term, all the federal judges The executive order covers a range of other Obama- Under Obama, the Army Corps of Engineers had legalized abortion in the United States. The policy also the president appoints will gradually influence the era rules, including requirements to factor the “social declined in December to allow pipeline construction prohibits taxpayer funding for groups that lobby to legal- court system’s political makeup. — AFP cost” of carbon emissions into all regulatory actions and under South Dakota’s Lake Oahe on grounds that alter- ize abortion or promote it as a family planning method. to crack down on methane emissions at oil and gas wells. nate routes needed to be considered. Native American Business groups had complained to Trump, himself a tribes had sued to block construction, arguing that the Personal Finance businessman, that the rules were intrusive and expensive. pipeline threatened their water supply and cultural sites. Trump has instructed the Department of Labor to All articles appearing on these pages The project has moved forward again under Trump, who delay an Obama-era rule that would require financial pro- are the personal opinion of the writers. Internet Privacy acted shortly after taking office. In February, the Army fessionals who charge commissions to put their clients’ Trump is expected to sign a measure soon to block Corps of Engineers abandoned further study and granted best interests first when advising them on retirement Kuwait Times takes no responsibility online privacy regulations the Federal an easement that was needed to complete the pipeline. investments. The “fiduciary rule” was aimed at blocking for views expressed therein. Kuwait Communications Commission issued during Obama’s Energy Transfer Partners immediately began drilling consultants from steering clients toward investments final months in office. It’s a first step toward allowing under the lake. with higher commissions and fees that can eat away at Times invites readers to voice their internet providers to sell information about their cus- retirement savings. The rule was to take effect this month. opinions. Please send submissions via tomers’ browsing habits. The FCC rule was designed Fuel Efficiency Standards The financial services industry argued that the rule would to give consumers more control over how companies The Trump administration is re-examining federal limit retirees’ investment choices by forcing asset man- email to: [email protected] or like Comcast, AT&T and Verizon share information. requirements governing the fuel efficiency of cars and agers to steer them to low-risk options. Undoing the rule via snail mail to PO Box 1301 Safat, Critics complained that the rule would have increased trucks. In 2012, the Obama administration set fuel econo- was part of a promised assault by Trump on banking rules costs, stifled innovation and picked winners and los- my regulations for model years 2017-2025 and agreed to enacted after the Great Recession. He has directed the Kuwait. The editor reserves the right to ers among Internet companies. White House complete a midterm evaluation by next year. Then, days Treasury secretary to review the 2010 Dodd-Frank finan- edit any submission as necessary. spokesman Sean Spicer says the rule represents the before Obama left office, the Environmental Protection cial oversight law, which he has said is a disaster. The law’s type of “federal overreach” that Trump pledged as a Agency decided to keep stringent requirements it had set aim was to keep banks from repeating practices that candidate to reverse. in place for model years 2022-2025. The auto industry many blamed for the financial meltdown. — AP p15_Layout 1 4/3/17 9:46 PM Page 1

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 SPORTS

Boxer Murata face to Champions rugby final Chelsea’s Conte taking N’Dam for WBA crown to be played in Bilbao season ‘step by step’ TOKYO: NEUCHATEL: Next year’s Champions Cup rugby final will take place in Japan’s London Olympic champion Ryota Murata will fight LONDON: Premier League leaders Chelsea are focused on getting the Spanish city Bilbao. The 53,289-capacity San Mames Stadium, home Hassan N’Dam for the vacant World Boxing Association middleweight results in their remaining nine games as they fight for the title, instead crown next month, his gym said yesterday. The 31-year-old’s first title of the Athletic Bilbao soccer club, will stage the Champions Cup and of dwelling on Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace, manager Antonio shot will take place in Tokyo on May 20 against the veteran Cameroon- Challenge Cup finals, European Rugby said yesterday. “We are very excit- Conte said. Chelsea suffered their second loss in 10 league games, and born Frenchman, who is ranked number one by the WBA. “I’m grateful ed to be taking the best club rugby in the world to fans in what is largely their first home defeat in the league since September. The loss cut their for the opportunity to fight for the middleweight crown here in Japan,” a new market,” European Professional Club Rugby chairman Simon lead at the top of the table to seven points after second- Murata told reporters. “I expect a very tough fight but I want Halliday said. “Bilbao is an excellent destination which breaks new placed Tottenham Hotspur defeated Burnley 2-0. to leave everything out there and return the blessing of ground for our tournaments and we see this as a big step in the expan- “There are nine games to play and we have to think having won an Olympic gold medal.” Japan’s only previ- sion of our sport across the continent.” Spain is ranked 18th in the world step by step,” Conte told British media on Sunday. ous middleweight world champion was Shinji and has competed only once in the Rugby World Cup in 1999, when it “At the end (of the season), if we deserve to win Takehara, who won the WBA title in 1995. But the 33- lost all three group games. The country’s national team annually takes the title, we will be very happy...When you lose year-old N’Dam, a former World Boxing Organisation part in the European Nations Cup, the highest European rugby champi- this type of game, in your mind you try to apply a champion who has compiled a record of 35 wins, 21 of onship outside the Six Nations tournament. There are no Spanish teams lot of questions. But it’s very difficult to find a reply them by knockout, against two losses, will provide a competing in either the Champions Cup or the second-tier Challenge to this result.” Chelsea host fourth-placed strn test for Murata. The Japanese star, who fights out of Cup, the two top European domestic club competitions. But Bilbao is Manchester City tomorrow. Their last home win Tokyo’s Teiken Gym, has won all 12 of his professional located in Spain’s Basque country and borders a part of France where against the Manchester side in the league bouts, including nine by KO. —AFP rugby thrives. —AP was in 2013.—Reuters

SHOOTING Sheikh Jaber Al-Abdallah Al-Sabah Cup tournament concludes

By Abdellatif Sharaa Misfer Al-Ghurba and board member shooters who competed in a friendly atmos- Trap Men: Talal Al-Rashidi, Abdelrahman Al- 10 Meter Air Pistol Women: Ghizlan Al- Engineer Hussam Al-Roumi. phere, and results were very good. He said Faihan, Mohammad Al-Hamly. Hindi, Athari Qurban, Huthama Al-Baghli. KUWAIT: Sheikh Jaber Al-Abdallah Al- The tournament lasted three days with this tournament is organized every year Double Trap Men: Saad Al-Mutairi, Jarrah 10 Meter Air Nifle Women: Mariam Jaber Al-Sabah Cup tournament conclud- outstanding participation by club and since the establishment of the sport of Al-Shuwaier, Mishal Al-Thafiri. Erzouqi, Hiba Erzouqi, Reem Al-Bughaili. ed on Sunday in the presence of tourna- National Guard shooters in addition to shooting unitl now in recognition of the Skeet Women: Sheikha Al-Rashidi, Emam Olympic Archery Men: Abdallah Taha, ment sponsor representative Sheikh Sheikh Saad Olympic Shooting Academy, contribution of Sheikh Jaber Al-Abdallah Al- Al-Shamma, Afrah Abdelrahman. Bader Al-Shilahi, Faisal Al-Rashidi. Abdallah Al-Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, and covered the skeet, trap, double trap, Jaber Al-Sabah to the sport of shooting. 10 Meter Air Rifle Men: Abdallah Al-Harby, Olympic Archery Juniors: Mohammad Al- President of Kuwait and Arab Shooting 10m air pistol and rifle and Olympic archery. Mohammad Abdelrahman, Sultan Al- Haidar, Shaheen Kiti, Zaid Al-Saeed. Federations Eng. Duaij Al-Otaibi, KSF and Eng Al-Ghurba welcomed those present Results of the tournament are as follows: Osaimi. ASF Secretary General Obaid Al-Osaimi, at the closing ceremony, adding that the Skeet Men: Mansour Al-Rashidi, Abdelaziz 10 Meter Air Pistol Men: Hamad Al- KSSC Assistant Secretary Eng Mohammad tournament had a wide participation of Al-Faihan, Zaid Al-Mutairi. Namshan, Hamad Al-Mulla, Saad Al-Ajmi.

Guess the number of footballs for a chance to attend UEFA Champions League final

KUWAOT: Abdulmohsen Abdulaziz and enjoy an experience of a lifetime. Al Babtain Company (AABC), the The UEFA Champions League Final authorized dealer of Nissan vehicles match will take place in the City of in the State of Kuwait, is delighted to Cardiff, Wales on the 3rd of June, kick off a competition that offers a 2017. The package includes airplane chance for 1 lucky winner to attend tickets for two to London from June the UEFA Champions League Final, 2nd - 4th, 2017 and a 2-night stay at started Sunday 2nd April 2017 for 10 the Magellan Cruise Ship. days only. True to its promise to deliver value First, all participants have to be fol- and excitement to its customers in a lowing Nissan Kuwait Instagram form of unparalleled service and account, @nissankwt. Then partici- world-class Japanese engineered cars, pants have to either come to Nissan Nissan Al Babtain regularly strives to Al Rai Showroom or watch the com- design offers that people simply just petition video posted on Nissan’s can’t resist while creating a more account and estimate the number of memorable and enjoyable car pur- footballs that are inside the Nissan chasing experience. As Nissan is the kicks. Participants who guess or get a official automotive sponsor of the VIVA Manchester United soccer close guess of the actual number of UEFA Champions League since the footballs inside the Nissan kicks will 2014/15 season, Nissan Al Babtain is enter an automated draw for a providing customers for the third academy’s tryouts conclusion chance to win a ticket for two to time in a row the chance to win a trip attend the UEFA Champions League to the most anticipated match of the KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s fastest-growing and The tryouts focused on different technical ness to go to Manchester United Soccer Camp Final live. year - the UEFA Champions League most developed telecom operator, concluded aspects, such as dribbling, short passing, turning for world-class training in England during the Participants have the opportunity Final - bringing Innovation and tryouts to choose elite players who will have the and finishing. Kuwait Football Associated certi- summer. To find out more about VIVA’s partner- to win a complimentary trip to attend Excitement closer to its customers as chance to participate in “VIVA Manchester fied coaches shortlisted 32 players among 700 ships, latest offers and promotions, visit one of the UEFA Champions League Final live a token of appreciation. United Soccer Academy” in Manchester, for the participants and 16 players were selected (to be the 73 VIVA branches, or the VIVA website at third year in a row. announced soon) based on their skills and fit- www.viva.com.kw

CRICKET West Indies beat Pakistan in 4th T20 to take series

PORT-OF-SPAIN: Ahmed Shehzad scored 53 in 45 balls as Pakistan beat West Indies by seven wickets in SCOREBOARD the fourth and final Twenty20 match on Sunday to take the series 3-1. Pakistan reached 127-3 in 19 overs PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: in reply to West Indies’ 124-8. Scoreboard Sunday in the fourth and final Twenty20 between West Indies and Pakistan at Queen’s Park Oval. The tourists won the toss at Queen’s Park Oval and put West Indies into bat with Chadwick Walton top- West Indies Shadab Khan 4-0-16-2. scoring on 40 with four sixes and two boundaries. Evin Lewis c Hasan Ali b Imad Wasim 7 From 52-1, West Indies slumped to 83-7 as Hasan Ali Chadwick Walton c Shoaib Malik b Shadab Khan 40 Pakistan (2-12) and Shadab Khan (2-16) performed economical Marlon Samuels b Hasan Ali 22 Ahmed Shehzad b Williams 53 spells. Some late hitting from Carlos Brathwaite, who Jason Mohammed b Hasan Ali 1 Kamran Akmal c Williams b Samuels 20 Lendl Simmons run out (Hasan Ali) 1 Babar Azam c sub (R Powell) b Williams 38 made an undefeated 37 from 24 balls, gave West Kieron Pollard b Rumman Raees 3 Shoaib Malik not out 9 Indies something to bowl at but it looked unlikely to Carlos Brathwaite not out 37 Sarfraz Ahmed not out 3 be enough. Jason Holder c sub (Mohammad Nawaz) b Shadab Extras: (1lb, 3w) 4 Pakistan opener Kamran Akmal fell to Samuels for Khan 0 TOTAL: (for 3 wickets) 127 20 but Shehzad pressed on in partnership with Babar Sunil Narine b Wahab Riaz 9 Overs: 19. Azam (38) to take his team to the brink of victory. Samuel Badree not out 1 Fall of wickets: 1-40, 2-110, 3-115. With the target down to 15, both were dismissed in Extras: (2lb, 1w) 3 Did not bat: Imad Wasim, Fakhar Zaman, Rumman quick succession by Kesrick Williams, who bowled TOTAL: (for 8 wickets) 124 Raees, Wahab Riaz, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali. Shehzad with the last ball of one over and had Azam Overs: 20. Bowling: Samuel Badree 4-0-38-0, Jason Holder 3-0- caught by substitute Rovman Powell with the first ball Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-52, 3-59, 4-73, 5-73, 6-82, 7-83, 24-0, Kesrick Williams 3-0-16-2 (1w), Sunil Narine 4-0- of his next. 8-121. 19-0, Marlon Samuels 2-0-11-1, Carlos Brathwaite 2- Did not bat: Kesrick Williams. 0-13-0 (2w), Jason Mohammed 1-0-5-0. Sarfraz Ahmed survived the hat-trick ball and Bowling: Imad Wasim 4-0-25-1, Hasan Ali 4-2-12-2 Result: Pakistan wins by 7 wickets Shoaib Malik was dropped before the pair saw (1w), Rumman Raees 4-1-25-1, Wahab Riaz 4-0-44-1, Series: Pakistan wins series 3-1 Pakistan across the line with an over to spare. —AP TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 SPORTS

IOC says no sign of abuse in clenbuterol cases from Beijing

ZURICH: The IOC said it had not detect- events led by Usain Bolt, who took gold es and consulted the World Anti-Doping drug cheats. Clenbuterol is a perform- champion Alberto Contador of Spain ed any significant abuse of clenbuterol in the men’s 100 and 200 metres. In a Agency (WADA). ance-enhancing substance that is some- was handed a two-year ban for testing after finding “very low levels” of the statement, the IOC said that “very low According to the IOC, WADA said that times found in weight-loss pills and is on positive for clenbuterol during the 2010 banned substance during re-testing of levels of clenbuterol” were found in the it could not find “any significant and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) race, despite maintaining that he had samples from the Beijing Olympics. cases of athletes from a number of coun- consistent pattern of abuse of clen- banned list. eaten contaminated meat. The International Olympic tries and different sports. It said the ath- buterol in these cases and that it would In 2011, more than 100 players tested Jamaica were stripped of an eleventh Commmittee’s comments on Monday letes were innocent and could not give be appropriate not to take these cases positive for clenbuterol during the Beijing sprinting medal, the 4 X 100 came one day after German broadcaster any more details. Without mentioning any further”. under-17 soccer world championship metres gold, in January when Nesta ARD reported that traces of the banned Jamaica or the ARD allegations, the IOC The IOC stores samples for a decade held in Mexico. They were also acquitted Carter was found in re-tests of his sam- substance were found in samples pro- said that all values were “in the range of to test with newer methods or for new of any wrongdoing after FIFA, soccer’s ple to have taken the banned stimulant vided by members of the Jamaican potential meat contamination cases”. substances. It ordered re-tests of sam- governing body, said they were victims methylhexaneamine. sprint team at the games in 2008. It said it “carefully deliberated” ples from Beijing in the run-up to last of a health problem in the country. The whole team lost their medals as a Jamaica won 10 medals in the sprint whether or not to proceed with the cas- year’s Rio Olympics to try and root out However, double Tour de France result, including Bolt. — Reuters

Top-ranked Johnson, Spieth, McIlroy to beat at Masters

NEW YORK: Dustin Johnson returns to this fident with his irons and short game and a week’s US Masters a different person than a soft putting stroke that seems to be getting year ago, more confident and comfortable, better with age. a golfer with greatness in his sights but He also has a good recent Masters some Everest-like mountains still to climb. record - tied fourth last year and tied sixth Johnson, the newly-ascended world in 2015 - and returns approaching a golfer’s number one, Jordan Spieth and Rory usual peak at the age of 32. McIlroy are the three clear favourites for the “I don’t think I’ve ever gone into a major year’s first major championship, though at being ranked number one,” he said recent- least two dozen others have a realistic ly, before adding to laughter: “Actually, I chance of winning if the stars all align at know I haven’t. the right time. “It’s not going to be any different for me. But the road to the Green Jacket will I’m still going to prepare like I always do lead through Johnson, who ticks all the and go out and try to play the best I can. I boxes as the man to beat. Before he is played good there the last two years. I’m measured for a Green Jacket, however, it excited to go back when the game is in would be wise to remember he would not good form. I feel like everything is working be the first favourite to be spat out by the pretty well.” unforgiving Augusta National layout. While Johnson arrives with a spring in The American, with victories in his past his step, Spieth is hardly looking forward to being reminded of his 2016 debacle, when he endured arguably the worst collapse in Masters history, giving up a five-shot lead over the final nine holes, due largely to a quadruple bogey at the 12th hole. He missed the cut in Houston on Friday, but publicly at least sounded an upbeat note. “I made strides in my putting this week, which is something I can take a lot of confi- dence into next week,” he said. “Putting well next week obviously is important con- sidering I didn’t strike it very well last year and certainly was in position to win.” RANCHO MIRAGE: So Yeon Ryu of South Korea kisses the winner’s trophy after winning the ANA Inspiration on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club on Sunday in Rancho Mirage, California. — AFP MCILROY SHARP While Spieth’s short game and putting are usually second to none, McIlroy has GOLF been working to raise those facets of the game to a level close to his ball-striking. Perhaps only Johnson can drive the ball Lexi Thompson’s penalty puts as long and accurately as McIlroy, whose chances often hinge on the quality of his wedge game and putter. “I feel like that part of my game is as spotlight back on golf’s rules sharp as it has ever been going into Augusta, so that’s a good thing,” said RANCHO MIRAGE: Lexi Thompson heard fans After nearly two hours of agonizing over video took the traditional leap into Poppie’s Pond. A McIlroy, who with a victory would become chanting her name as she approached the 18th of the moment, LPGA Tour rules official Sue few yards away, Thompson embraced her family just the sixth man to win all four modern green, and it moved her to the brink of tears for Witters got the unpleasant job of informing and later signed dozens of autographs. She was major championships. Others to watch the second time in an hour. Although she had Thompson about her penalty after she left the shaken, but not deterred. “Every day is a learning include American veteran Phil Mickelson as lost her big lead at the ANA Inspiration on a 12th green. “Is this a joke?” Thompson asked. process,” Thompson said. “I wasn’t expecting he goes for a fourth Green Jacket at the age four-shot penalty for a day-old rules violation , Even Witters understands the prevailing opin- what happened today, but ... it happens, and I’ll of 46, Hideki Matsuyama trying to fulfill the Thompson had gained the unabashed support ion about the ruling. “Sure, but what’s my learn from it and hopefully do better.” — AP hopes of a nation and become the first AUGUSTA: Dustin Johnson of the United of a crowd desperately willing her to overcome choice?” she asked. “(Allow) a violation in the Japanese player to win a men’s major, and States hits a shot on the 13th hole during this bizarre break. rules, and then it would be the opposite story: Jon Rahm, young, strong and fearless, a practice round prior to the start of the Instead, So Yeon Ryu seized her opportunity ‘Oh, they knew. Why didn’t they do anything whose chances maybe be hindered only by 2017 Masters Tournament at Augusta to win the LPGA Tour’s first major of the year about it?’ I can’t go to bed tonight knowing that I his lack of course knowledge in his Masters National Golf Club yesterday in Augusta, when she birdied the only playoff hole Sunday. let a rule slide. “It’s a hard thing to do, and it debut. Fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia has Georgia. —AFP Thompson had to settle for second place, a made me sick, to be honest with you.” the quality to end his majors drought if he check worth roughly $155,000 less - and wide- Sickening things have happened with regu- can turn back the clock and putt as well as spread sympathy as the latest golfer to get larity in majors lately. At the men’s US Open at three starts, has a game tailor made for before several near-misses started to weigh blindsided in a major by the peccadillos of this Oakmont last year, Dustin Johnson won despite Augusta, prodigiously long off the tee, con- him down.— Reuters fussy, fastidious sport. “It’s great to have the fan playing the last seven holes without knowing his base that I do, and they really got me through score. His ball had moved slightly while he lined the whole round,” Thompson said. “It’s unfortu- up a putt on the fifth green, the USGA eventually BADMINTON nate what happened. I did not mean that at all. I hit him with a one-shot penalty after his round. didn’t realize I did that. I fought strong through A few weeks after that at the US Women’s the finish, and it was great to see the fans Open , Anna Nordqvist got a delayed two-stroke Malaysia’s ageing star behind me.” The fans on the Dinah Shore Course penalty during a three-hole playoff for acciden- largely shared the mixture of bewilderment and tally touching the sand with her club in a bunker anger expressed by Thompson’s fellow golfers when a television cameraman spotted it. Lee fired up for 2017 and most viewers online. Brittany Lang won by - you guessed it - two The 22-year-old US Olympian is the third shots. Perhaps all of this drama only underlines KUCHING: After a phenomenal start the damaged left knee would tolerate competi- major contender to be hit with a perplexing the importance of what could soon happen to year, Malaysia’s ageing badminton icon Lee tive stresses. penalty for a violation of golf’s stringent rules in that centuries-old rulebook. Chong Wei said yesterday he still has plenty Lee, the top seed at the Malaysia Open, the past year. The decision reignited the debate The two governing bodies of golf released a of firepower as he aims for the elusive won the tournament a record 11 times, about this sport’s baffling willingness to allow draft of modernized rules last month, attempt- World Championship title in August. making him the most successful men’s sin- armchair refereeing - and renewed hope for ing to simplify the arcana. The numerous pro- Lee, 34, the veteran world number one, gles shuttler in the history of the event. common-sense rule changes that could be posed changes would eliminate some of the captured the All-England Open last month “I will also play in the Malaysia Open adopted as early as 2019. punishment for inadvertent mistakes and freak with a trampling 21-12, 21-10 win over next year,” Lee said casting aside any plans occurrences that don’t actually give an advan- China’s unseeded Shi Yuqi and is primed to to quit in the near future. PENALIZED tage to a competitor. But those changes haven’t defend his Malaysia Open title this week. “I But Lee admitted that other players will “Viewers at home should not be officials been adopted yet, and Thompson was left with a am still keeping good fitness, good shape attempt to deny him a victory. “I want to wearing stripes,” Tiger Woods tweeted. “Let’s go crushing penalty for an action that easily could and good spirit, and I still have the fire to win for the 12th time. But there is some @Lexi, win this thing anyway.” Thompson was have been ignored under a more pragmatic keep on playing,” Lee told AFP. pressure because everyone wants to beat penalized for marking and moving her ball less interpretation of intent - a “reasonable judgment He had hinted of retiring after the 2016 me at my home ground,” he said. The other than an inch before a 1-foot putt on the 17th standard,” under the proposed rules. Olympics, but had a change of heart and players in the tournament are second seed- green during her third round at Mission Hills Instead of losing her composure after the rul- has now made the world meet in Glasgow ed Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark and third Country Club on Saturday. After putting down a ing, Thompson incredibly birdied the next hole, as his biggest target this year. seeded Chen Long of China, while Lin Dan marker and picking up the ball, Thompson swift- burying a 25-foot putt. She made two more Despite sweeping through 66 titles, Lee also of China is seventh seeded. ly put it back - but not precisely in the same birdies and a bogey down the stretch, but lost in the finals of the World “I am only focused on myself,” said Lee place, video review showed. The minor action missed a 15-foot eagle putt to win it on the last Championships in 2013 and 2015, as well when asked about Lin, the 33-year-old went unnoticed live, but a television viewer hole of regulation. Ryu nearly put her playoff as in the Olympics in 2008, 2012 and 2016. three-times Olympic champion. spotted it and emailed tour officials while approach shot into the water, but got up and But fresh off his fourth All-England Open Lin is regarded as the greatest bad- Thompson was playing the front nine on her down with a 6-foot birdie putt to win. Her cele- win, Lee is confident of defending his title minton player in history owing to his five final round with Suzann Pettersen on Sunday. bration was understandably muted, but she still Lexi Thompson on home turf, having skipped the India World championships and two Olympic Open to prepare. The Malaysia Open gold medals. But the Chinese star has nev- begins Tuesday in Kuching, the capital of er been able to win in Malaysia. Lin reached Sarawak state on Borneo island. the final three times but was defeated by The badminton star on Monday looked Lee in 2005 and 2006 and by Chen Long in Females are facing an off-ice good in training on the eve of the tourna- 2015. ment but still had his injured left knee In 2006, Lin was one point away from taped following a fall in February. the title, but Lee staged a shock comeback fight at all levels of hockey He said last month he almost didn’t in the deciding game to win 23-21 and make it to the All-England event in deny Lin the only superseries title missing Birmingham as he was unsure whether his from his trophy cabinet. — AFP PLYMOUTH: The best women’s hockey players in the onship. “I think it has a long way to go, and I’m excit- district or national championships. US can now make a living playing the sport they love ed to push it ahead. I’m certainly proud to be some- Malory McCormick, who coached the Lakers at thanks to a landmark agreement with USA Hockey one standing up for women’s hockey and really try- this year’s tournament, said the girls on her team that reached after a threat to boycott the world champi- ing to get it to move forward. I look forward to see are not old enough to play 14U hockey next year Lee Chong Wei onship. The deal will likely help their counterparts how far women’s hockey is going go.” In a border have limited options. They can drive 2-plus hours, north of the border make more money in their next town about 300 miles north of suburban Detroit, a each way, to join a 12U team in Kalkaska, Michigan; Olympic agreement with Hockey Canada. new USA Hockey rule appears to be having unin- play with 12U boys in their area; participate in house Even those who will benefit, though, acknowl- tended consequences for girls trying to find their hockey with girls just learning how to skate; or quit edge the off-ice fight isn’t over. stride. The Soo Lady Lakers, an organization based in playing the sport. At every level of female hockey, from pre-teen Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, participated in the state’s “It’s heartbreaking to tell the girls I don’t know girls to college to post-graduate players, there are Tier II 14-and-under tournament with just 11 girls what our team will look like next year,” McCormick obstacles. “Women’s hockey has come a long way that were mostly from Canada and 12 years old or said. Kristen Wright, USA Hockey’s manager of girls’ with the amount of teams that are popping up and younger. Beginning next season a USA Hockey rule player development, said the new rule was put in support and visibility,” said Meghan Duggan, captain states, no player 12 years or younger is eligible to place for safety and development reasons because of the Americans’ team playing in the world champi- play on a team intending or declared to compete in girls usually hit a growth spurt at about 13.—AP TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 SPORTS

ATHLETICS Kenyan star prepares ‘crazy’ sub-2 marathon bid

KAPTAGAT: As dawn breaks over the eran Eritrean distance runner Zersenay Kipchoge, a former world 5,000m people. Those who wait for things to announcement of the Adidas Adizero foothills of the Rift Valley, Eliud Tadese are the cream of East Africa’s sto- champion, ran the world’s third fastest happen. Those who go with the people Sub2 shoe. Nike, meanwhile, is taking Kipchoge’s feet beat a steady rhythm ried running crop and each is believed marathon time of 2:03.05 when he suc- who have started. And those who think everything that is known about nutri- along ochre trails and his mind is still, to hold the potential to run 1:59.59 or cessfully defended his London marathon about how to make things happen. tion, training and biomechanics to opti- undaunted by a goal many think impos- faster. This means shaving nearly three title last April. “I think it’s possible to run under two mise the runners’ chances. sible. It is the next mythical barrier in minutes off the current record of 2:02.57, Since switching from a stellar track hours. That’s why I’m going for it.” During a half-marathon test at a running: smashing a sub-2 hour run by Kenyan Denis Kimetto in 2014, a career to marathon running in 2013 he Formula 1 track in Monza in Italy in marathon. Kenya’s Kipchoge is one of mind-boggling leap that Kipchoge is has won seven of eight races in which he ADIDAS ALSO IN RACE March, the runners ingested core-tem- three elite runners chosen by American convinced he can achieve. has competed. Respected track and field In 1908, Irishman Johnny Hayes won perature pills and taped on sensors to sportswear giant Nike to attempt to run “I didn’t think it was crazy. No human magazine Runners World has predicted the first marathon set at the modern dis- measure muscle oxygen and skin tem- the 42.195 kilometres (26.219 miles) dis- being has run under two hours. And I that, based on data analysis, the barrier tance of 42.195 kilometres (26.219 miles) perature, according to Runners World. tance in under two hours, combining want to be the first human being to run would only be broken in 2075, and in a time of 2:55:18. It took 109 years for Kipchoge ran a promising 59 min 17 the latest science on training, nutrition, under two hours,” he told AFP in an called Nike’s bid “audacious”. the record to crumble to the current lev- sec and was followed by Tadese, who psychology and sportswear. interview in the village of Kaptagat, a “I accept the freedom of those who el run by Kimetto. Kimetto is sponsored holds the world half-marathon record He, Ethiopia’s former Boston popular training site in western Kenya at are pessimists,” says a serene Kipchoge. by Adidas, who quietly referred to their but has only ever managed to run a marathon winner Lelisa Desisa and vet- an altitude of over 2,000m. “In this world there are three types of own sub-2 bid in February with the 2:10:41 marathon. —AFP

TENNIS Flour power as Japan’s Date returns at 46

TOKYO: As a grimacing Kimiko Date rips way back to playing tour level tennis another forehand past a male hitting part- again.” ner less than half her age, all that’s missing is a cheesy Rocky-style backing track. At TV OLYMPICS the ripe of old age of 46, the former world Date, who at the 2009 Korea Open number four and part-time baker insists became the second-oldest player in the she’s not burnt-out yet as the Japanese star modern era to win a WTA singles title after prepares for her latest comeback to profes- Billie Jean King, refuses to say when she will sional tennis after a year of injury hell. call time on her career. Date, who took a 12-year hiatus from the “I really haven’t decided what age I want sport after quitting at the peak of her pow- to continue playing until,” said the former ers in 1996, has no plans to shuffle off into Wimbledon semi-finalist, eligible for a pro- retirement just yet. “Everyone just assumed tected ranking of 193 on her return to tour. I’d quietly retire when I got injured,” the “I’m sort of waiting for the moment Kyoto native told AFP in an interview after when I feel content enough to walk away a punishing three-hour workout. “But I did- from the game,” added Date, who last year n’t want to just quit because I was out hurt. divorced German racing driver Michael I used it as motivation,” added Date, who Krumm. “It hasn’t arrived yet so I’ll keep has undergone two knee surgeries and fighting.” opened a Tokyo bakery since last playing in Date’s erstwhile idol Martina Navratilova the 2016 Australian Open qualifiers. retired a month short of her 50th birthday, “Maybe you could call that gutsy. But I love but Date ruled out a fairytale appearance at a challenge-and I viewed this as another the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. “That’s probably challenge.” 100 percent a no,” Date winced. “I’ll be A wispy, wiry 5ft 4in (1.63 metres), Date’s watching the Tokyo Olympics at home on game is a throwback to a time when tennis TV.” Dwarfed by today’s muscular power- was as much about lobs, dinks and clever hitters, she is brutally honest about the PHOENIX: Infielder Brandon Drury #27 of the Arizona Diamondbacks catches the ball as Eduardo Nunez #10 of the San Francisco Giants safely steals use of spin as the wham-bam of today’s future. second base during the MLB opening day game at Chase Field on Sunday in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Giants 6-5. — AFP master blasters. And after an injury that “Every day I have aches and pains,” said almost dealt a knockout blow to her illustri- Date. “Some days are better than others but ous career, Date is once again looking to I have to be careful I don’t push too much. I BASEBALL defy the odds. have to hold myself back a bit and keep in “The nineties was my first career, then I control of my emotions.” came back and that was my second,” said But Date, who delights customers by the eight-times WTA Tour singles champi- making regular appearances at her new Giants lose 6-5 despite Madison on, who returns to competitive tennis next bakery, still packs a mean punch and left month at a challenger event in Gifu, central her practice partner shaking his head as Japan. “This is like my third time around her shots fizzed past. “The power and Bumgarner’s record performance but I know it won’t be easy after a blank speed of tennis has evolved so much,” she year,” she added, sweat dripping from her said. “Players are physically much stronger PHOENIX: Madison Bumgarner hit two homers brow.”But I’m not putting pressure on but I still have one or two weapons of my but the Arizona Diamondbacks scored twice with Baseball results/standings myself. I’m honestly not thinking about own. I reckon I still have a little bit more left two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning off ST. LOUIS 4, Chicago Cubs 3; ARIZONA 6, San Francisco 5; TAMPA BAY 7, NY Yankees 3. breaking records. I just want to fight my in me-even at my age.” — AFP new San Francisco closer Mark Melancon to beat the Giants 6-5 in a wild season opener Sunday. American League National League Derailed by a dreadful bullpen last year, the Eastern Division Eastern Division Giants started this season the same way - even W L PCT GB Washington 0 0 0 - after trying to solve the problem by bringing in Tampa Bay 1 0 1.000 - Philadelphia 0 0 0 - Melancon on a $62 million, four-year contract. Toronto 0 0 0 0.5 NY Mets 0 0 0 - They wasted a record-breaking performance by Boston 0 0 0 0.5 Miami 0 0 0 - Baltimore 0 0 0 0.5 Bumgarner, who retired his first 16 batters and Atlanta 0 0 0 - NY Yankees 0 1 0 1 Central Division became the first major league pitcher to hit two Central Division St. Louis 1 0 1.000 - home runs on opening day. Arizona got a double Minnesota 0 0 0 - Pittsburgh 0 0 0 0.5 and three singles after Melancon (0-1) retired his Kansas City 0 0 0 - Milwaukee 0 0 0 0.5 Detroit 0 0 0 - first two hitters in the ninth. A.J. Pollock singled in Cincinnati 0 0 0 0.5 the tying run and Chris Owings dumped a base Cleveland 0 0 0 - Chicago White Sox 0 0 0 - Chicago Cubs 0 1 0 1 hit into right field to end it. New Diamondbacks Western Division Western Division closer Fernando Rodney (1-0) gave up a run in a Texas 0 0 0 - Arizona 1 0 1.000 - shaky ninth but got the victory. San Francisco Seattle 0 0 0 - San Diego 0 0 0 0.5 took a 5-4 lead when Joe Panik led off the ninth Oakland 0 0 0 - LA Dodgers 0 0 0 0.5 with a triple and scored on pinch-hitter Conor LA Angels 0 0 0 - Colorado 0 0 0 0.5 Gillaspie’s sacrifice fly. Bumgarner struck out 11 Houston 0 0 0 - San Francisco 0 1 0 1 with no walks in seven innings. He gave up three runs and became the first Giants pitcher to go game. With two outs and the bases loaded, Masahiro Tanaka. Evan Longoria and Logan deep twice in one game since Jim Gott in 1985. Grichuk lined a 1-2 pitch into the gap in left-cen- Morrison homered and drove in three runs apiece ter for his second career game-ending hit. He was before a sellout crowd of 31,042 at Tropicana Field CARDINALS 4, CUBS 3 mobbed as he rounded first in the rain, and what on opening day. Tanaka (0-1), who had base- Randal Grichuk hit a two-run homer in the was left of a sellout crowd of 47,566 cheered wild- ball’s best ERA in spring training, was tagged for eighth inning and a game-ending RBI single in ly. The Cardinals appeared set for a tidy 3-0 win a career-worst seven earned runs in 2 2/3 the ninth, helping the St. Louis Cardinals top the before the Cubs rallied in the ninth. Ben Zobrist innings. A first-time All-Star in 2015 who lost an Chicago Cubs in a wild prime-time opener on was hit by a pitch from Seung-hwan Oh and AL-leading 19 times last season, Archer (1-0) Sunday night. Jose Martinez sparked the winning Jason Heyward singled before Willson Contreras limited New York to two runs and seven hits. He rally with a pinch-hit double against Mike hit a drive to left for a tying homer. narrowly escaped a bases-loaded jam and TOKYO: This picture taken on March 31, 2017 shows Japanese tennis player Kimiko Montgomery, who closed out Chicago’s World turned a five-run lead over to a revamped Date taking part in a training session in Tokyo. At the ripe of old age of 46, Date, the Series championship in November. Yadier Molina RAYS 7, YANKEES 3 bullpen. Alex Colome replaced rookie Austin former world number four and part-time baker, insists she’s not burnt-out yet as the then was awarded the first no-pitch intentional Chris Archer pitched seven solid innings and Pruitt with the bases loaded in the ninth, yield- Japanese star prepares for her latest comeback to professional tennis after a year of walk in major league history, part of baseball’s off- Tampa Bay won the first game of the major ing a sacrifice fly to pinch-hitter Chris Carter injury hell. —AFP season rule changes designed to speed up the league season, roughing up New York ace before finishing for a save. —AP

RUGBY S Africa’s Ackermann succeeds Fisher as Gloucester coach

LONDON: South Africa’s Johan Ackermann is to in a club statement: “We’re all delighted that Johan ability to take a team that has under-performed, become the new head coach of Gloucester in time has agreed to become the next head coach of and turned them into Championship contenders,” for the 2017/18 season, the English Premiership Gloucester Rugby. Humphreys said. side announced yesterday. “He is one of the top coaching talents in world “Their year on year progression has been Ackermann, 46, is currently in charge of the rugby, and it’s a significant coup for the club to impressive and they are continuing that upward Lions but will leave the Johannesburg-based club recruit someone of his calibre. “When we first trend this season. at the end of the current Super Rugby season. He spoke to Johan, we were struck by the enthusiasm “The way that the Lions play in Super Rugby will replace Laurie Fisher at Kingsholm after the and energy he displayed to take up the challenge under his leadership has attracted many admirers Australian resigned from his post with southwest at Gloucester but, once we had met with him, we around the world, as they have managed to create club Gloucester last month. Former lock knew he was the person we wanted to take the a winning brand but are also capable of playing an Ackermann, who won 13 South Africa caps, has club forward.” Gloucester were one of England’s attractive style of rugby.” Fisher quit after previous experience of the Premiership from a spell leading clubs when rugby union was an amateur Gloucester somehow squandered a 12-point lead with Northampton. He led the Lions to promotion sport but have had generally mediocre results in in the closing nine minutes of an eventual 30-27 to Super Rugby in 2013 and to the Super Final last the professional era. This is despite boasting one loss at home to Harlequins in the Premiership last season where they were beaten by New Zealand’s of the most passionate home crowds in the month, tweeting afterwards: “Unbelievable capitu- Hurricanes. But he believes moving to England will Premiership and being the centre of sporting lation. Clearly not good enough. My responsibility.” help improve him as a coach, telling the Lions’ attention in a city without a major soccer club. For all that they have failed to make much of an Facebook page: “I have come to a crossroad in my But former Ireland fly-half Humphreys believes impression upon the Premiership this season, career and believe that my coaching journey needs Ackermann can oversee a revival in the Cherry and Gloucester did get through to the semi-finals of CLERMONT-FERRAND: RC Toulon’s South African winger Bryan Habana (C) falls dur- to change in order for me to grow.” Meanwhile Whites’ fortunes. Europe’s second-tier Challenge Cup with a 46-26 ing the European Champions Cup match between Clermont (ASM) and Toulon at Gloucester director of rugby David Humphreys said “We were particularly impressed by his proven win at home to Cardiff Blues on Saturday. — AFP Michelin Stadium in Clermont-Ferrand on Sunday. — AFP TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 SPORTS

KUWAIT TIMES NBA POWER RANKINGS

By Ahmad Jabr

KUWAIT: In addition to its usual coverage of the NBA, Kuwait Times introduces a new feature this year: the NBA Power Rankings. It is a weekly list ranking each team based on its perform- ance during the week. Top playoff contenders have already punched their tickets to the post- season as lower-seed teams battle for the remaining spots. (For any comments or suggestions, e-mail the writer at: [email protected])

1- Golden State Warriors (63 - 14) Indiana for eighth and final playoff- Last week: 1 - The Warriors used strong qualifying spot in the East’s standings, defense and showcased their offensive and their hopes are not looking too prowess to overcome last week’s test good as they play their remaining which included a game against the games against the Hornets, Raptors, Spurs, two meetings with the Rockets Wizards (twice) and Cavaliers. and a match against the Wizards. They are on an 11-game winning streak and 16- Denver Nuggets (36 - 40) Last look prepared for a deep playoff run. week: 14 - The Nuggets’ playoff hopes got a boost following their victory over 2- San Antonio Spurs (59 - 17) Last the Heat on Sunday. They remain two week: 2 - A loss to the Warriors last games behind Portland for eighth place Wednesday prevented the Spurs from in the West’s standings. what would have been an eight-game winning streak entering today, but a 7- 17- Indiana Pacers (37 - 40) Last 1 record in their last eight games is not week: 15 - Desperate to make it to the bad either. playoffs (and keeping Paul George hap- py), the Pacers signed their former 3- Boston Celtics (50 - 27) Last week: starter Lance Stephenson, but it 4 - Boston might be first in the Eastern remains to be seen whether he pro- Conference’s standings, but they strug- vides the spark that they need or con- gle to score when Isaiah Thomas is on tinues to show the disappointing per- the bench. This means that any defen- formance he showed in the past couple sive plan that limits Thomas’ produc- of years. tion in the playoffs could spill an early postseason exit for the Celtics. 18- Charlotte Hornets (36 - 41) Last CLEVELAND: Indiana Pacers’ Paul George, right, drives against Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James during the sec- week: 21 - The Hornets kept their play- ond half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, in Cleveland. The Cavaliers won 135-130 in double overtime. — AP 4- Toronto Raptors (47 - 30) Last off hopes alive after lodging impressive week: 7 - DeMar DeRozan won his fran- wins over the Raptors, Nuggets and chise-record fourth Player of the Week Thunder last week, but still have a lot to BASKETBALL award, after which he scored 40 points overcome to secure a position in the in Friday’s win over the Pacers; his sev- postseason. enth 40-point game of the season, and his 30th game of 30 points or more this 19- New Orleans Pelicans (33 - 44) James makes big 3 pointer in season, tying Vince Carter’s 2000-01 Last week: 20 - DeMarcus Cousins franchise mark. made sure to let his former team know what they are missing after trading him. OT to help Cavs beat Pacers 5- Houston Rockets (52 - 25) Last In his first game against the Kings, he week: 3 - The Rockets lost three scored 37 points and grabbed 13 CLEVELAND: LeBron James made a remained atop the Eastern win for the fifth time in six games. straight games after they beat the rebounds to lead the Pelicans to victory. big 3-pointer in the final minute of Conference with its 50th victory, Chicago entered the day in a tie for Thunder on March 27, including two the second overtime and scored 41 beating New York. Jaylen Brown seventh in the Eastern Conference games against the Warriors in which 20- Atlanta Hawks (39 - 38) Last points to offset 43 by Indiana’s Paul added 16 for the Celtics, who will be with Miami and Indiana. Butler’s final their commanding offense was neutral- week: 18 - Paul Millsap finally came George, and the Cleveland Cavaliers no worse than tied with Cleveland points came on a step-back jumper ized by Golden State’s suffocating back from injury with much hope that opened their April schedule with a for the best record in the East when with 20 seconds left stem a late defense. his return would end Atlanta’s recent 135-130 win Sunday over the Indiana they host the defending NBA cham- Pelicans run. Bobby Portis scored 21 struggles suffered in his absence. But Pacers, who remain on the outside of pions on Wednesday. Boston is off points and Joffrey Lauvergne 15 for 6- Cleveland Cavaliers (49 - 27) Last his return was still not enough to beat the playoff picture in the Eastern until that showdown, while the the Bulls, while Rajon Rondo added week: 6 - LeBron James passed the Nets on Sunday. Conference. James added 15 Cavaliers were set to play two games 10 points, nine assists, nine rebounds Shaquille O’Neal for seventh place on rebounds and 11 assists in 52 minutes in between. Boston secured its first and three steals. Anthony Davis had the NBA’s all-time scoring list, but there 21- Dallas Mavericks (32 - 44) Last for the defending NBA champions, 50-win season since going 56-26 in 30 points and 11 rebounds for New is no time to celebrate after the Cavs week: 19 - The Mavs were officially who ended the game with some dra- 2010-11 and did it easily, shooting Orleans, while DeMarcus Cousins lost the top spot in the East’s standings eliminated from the playoffs after the ma as Tristan Thompson and James 55.6 percent and getting 14 points added 26 points and 18 rebounds. following losses to the Wizards, Spurs Blazers beat the Suns on Saturday. The angrily exchanged words during a apiece from Marcus Smart and Al and Bulls last week. last time they did not play in the post- timeout in the second OT. Kyrie Irving Horford. Courtney Lee scored 16 RAPTORS 113, 76ERS 105 season was in 2000. points and Kristaps Porzingis had 14 Serge Ibaka scored 24 points and 7- Washington Wizards (46 - 31) Last made four free throws in the final 16.5 week: 5 - The Wizards clinched their 22- Detroit Pistons (35 - 42) Last seconds and Kevin Love had 20 for the Knicks, who announced dur- DeMar DeRozan added 17 as Toronto first Southeast Division title since 1979, week: 22 - The Pistons have lost six of points and 12 rebounds as Cleveland ing the game that Derrick Rose will registered its ninth straight home ending the longest active division-title their last seven games, and it seems stayed within a half-game of Boston have season-ending surgery to victory over Philadelphia. DeRozan drought not only in the NBA, but in all highly unlikely that they will make it to for the top spot in the East. The Cavs repair torn cartilage in his left knee. tied his season high with nine assists, four major sports in North America. the postseason as they play four of visit the Celtics tomorrowday night. They also played without Carmelo and Jonas Valanciunas had 14 points their remaining five games this season George was magnificent in defeat, Anthony (sore lower back). for the Raptors, who closed out a 8- Los Angeles Clippers (47 - 31) Last against playoff contenders. scoring 19 straight points for Indiana four-game homestand by going 3-1. week: 10 - The Clippers had a perfect in the overtime sessions and adding HORNETS 113, THUNDER 101 The last time the 76ers won in week in which they scored an average 23- Brooklyn Nets (18 - 59) Last week: nine rebounds and nine assists. But Kemba Walker scored 29 points to Toronto was Nov. 10, 2012. Rookie of 124 points per games in three wins 25 - The Nets are showing some fight he couldn’t prevent the Pacers from help Charlotte overcome Russell Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot had a over the Wizards, Suns and Lakers. Chris as the regular season is winding down, their eighth straight road loss. Westbrook’s sixth straight triple-dou- career-high 23 points and Dario Saric Paul and Blake Griffin have each scored first losing by a small margin against ble and beat Oklahoma City. added 16 for the 76ers, who lost over 25 points in each of those games. both of the Pistons and 76ers, before ROCKETS 123, SUNS 116 Westbrook finished with 40 points, their third straight. surging to beat the Magic and Hawks Patrick Beverley scored a career- 13 rebounds and 10 assists. It was 9- Utah Jazz (47 - 30) Last week: 8 - the following two games. high 26 points and the Houston Westbrook’s 40th triple double of the MAVERICKS 109, BUCKS 105 Gordon Hayward is Utah’s leading scor- Rockets sent the Phoenix Suns to season, putting him one behind Harrison Barnes scored 15 of his er and a key reason for their success 24- Minnesota Timberwolves (30 - 45) their 12th straight loss with a 123- Oscar Robertson’s NBA record of 41, 31 points in the fourth quarter to lift this season, which is why the team’s Last week: 26 - Minnesota were offi- 116 victory despite not having set during the 1961-62 season. It was Dallas over listless Milwaukee. The management should probably be con- cially eliminated from playoff con- James Harden in the lineup. Harden Westbrook’s first career triple-double Mavericks played as if they still had a cerned with the All-Star’s impending tention with their loss to the Kings on was ruled out with acute viral syn- against Charlotte. Frank Kaminsky chance at the playoffs, while the free agency, especially with recent Saturday. They turn their attention to rumors indicating that Miami could lure the offseason where Tom Thibodeau drome, the team announced before had 18 points and Michael Kidd- Bucks frittered away an opportunity him this summer. will have a chance to reevaluate his ros- the game. He had not missed a game Gilchrist added 16 for Charlotte, to cement their hold on the fifth spot ter. all season and entered Sunday tied which entered the day in 10th place in the Eastern Conference. Dirk 10- Portland Trail Blazers (38 - 38) for second in the league in scoring at in the East, two games behind Nowitzki and J.J. Barea each had 17 Last week: 12 - Jusuf Nurkic battered 25- Sacramento Kings (30 - 47) Last 29.2 points per game. Beverley Chicago, Indiana and Miami, who points as the Mavericks snapped a his former team for a career-high 33 week: 27 - One day after losing to played despite a sore right ankle and were tied for seventh. Walker went 6 four-game losing streak. Yogi Ferrell points and 15 rebounds, putting DeMarcus Cousins’ Pelicans on Friday, scored 11 of his points in the third of 12 from 3-point range. It was the had 13 filling in for the ailing Seth Portland in position to seal the eighth the Kings defeated the Wolves behind quarter. Lou Williams scored 16 of 14th time this season Walker hit five Curry. Giannis Antetokounmpo had and final playoff-qualifying spot in the 22 points from Buddy Hield; one of the his 23 points in the fourth quarter, or more 3-pointers in a game. 31 points and 15 rebounds for the West’s standings. However, Nurkic fell main pieces that Sacramento got in and Troy Williams, called up from the Bucks, fresh off a 14-4 record in to injury and will be out at least two return for their former All-Star center. D-League early Sunday, scored 18 of SPURS 109, JAZZ 103 March. That was the franchise’s third- weeks. his career-high 21 points in the first Kawhi Leonard had 25 points and most wins in a month and best mark 26- New York Knicks (29 - 48) Last half. Williams, who last appeared in seven assists, and San Antonio held since the 1970-71 NBA champi- 11- Oklahoma City Thunder (43 - 33) week: 28 - The Knicks are officially out an NBA game on Dec. 16 with off Utah in a matchup of postseason- onship team went 16-2 in February. Last week: 9 - Russell Westbrook of the playoffs; a far cry from the aspira- Memphis, shot 5 of 7 from 3-point bound teams. The Jazz closed to 102- recorded his 40th triple-double of the tions that surrounded the team follow- range in the first 20 minutes. Tyler 98 on Joe Johnson’s 16-footer with LAKERS 108, GRIZZLIES 103 season on Sunday, which is one shy of ing their last summer acquisitions. The Ulis finished with a career-high 34 2:06 remaining that capped a 10-0 D’Angelo Russell scored 28 points Oscar Robertson’s single-season record. main questions now surround the points for the Suns, who were swept run. Leonard then blocked a shot by and three Lakers had double-dou- He also passed the 15,000-point career future of Carmelo Anthony and Derrick in a season series by the Rockets for 7-foot-1 center Rudy Gobert to help bles in a victory over Memphis. scoring mark during that game; which Rose with the team. the first time in franchise history. At San Antonio preserve the victory. Memphis fell to 42-35, 1 1/2 games the Thunder still lost to the Hornets. 22-56, Phoenix has the West’s worst Gobert had 19 points, 14 rebounds back of Oklahoma City for the sixth 12- Milwaukee Bucks (40 - 37) Last 27- Philadelphia 76ers (28 - 49) Last record by a half-game below the Los and six blocked shots. Boris Diaw spot in the Western Conference with week: 11 - Several players have week: 24 - Already without injured cen- Angeles Lakers. Ulis added nine scored 19 points, making all nine of five games to play. Mike Conley had stepped up for the Bucks since Jabari ter Joel Embiid, the 76ers have shut rebounds and nine assists, and his shots against his former team. 20 points and had 12 assists for the Parker fell to injury, including Tony down Jahlil Okafor and Robert Devin Booker scored 27 for the Suns. Utah (47-30) leads the Los Angeles Grizzlies, but missed a 3-pointer with Snell, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Covington for the rest of the season Clippers (47-31) by a half-game for the 6.3 seconds left that would have tied Thon Maker; who scored 26, 22 and 23 due to injuries as well. The injury-rid- WARRIORS 139, WIZARDS 115 Western Conference’s No. 4 seed and the score. Troy Daniels also had 20 points respectively in wins over the dled Sixers will miss the playoffs for the Stephen Curry hit nine 3-pointers home-court advantage in the open- points for Memphis. Julius Randle Hornets, Celtics and Pistons last week. fifth straight season. and scored 42 points, also dished out ing round. San Antonio (59-17) is sec- had 18 points and 11 rebounds for eight assists, and Golden State ond in the West behind Golden State. the Lakers, while Larry Nance Jr. 13- Chicago Bulls (38 - 39) Last week: 28- Orlando Magic (27 - 50) Last moved closer to locking up the added 12 points and 14 boards. 16 - The Bulls are suddenly back in the week: 23 - New NBA Hall of Fame Western Conference’s top playoff NUGGETS 116, HEAT 113 Thomas Robinson finished with 12 playoff picture, riding a four-game win- inductee Tracy McGrady had his best seed by beating Washington. Danilo Gallinari scored 29 points, points and 10 rebounds, the first ning streak behind Jimmy Butler’s dom- days as a scorer as a member of the Draymond Green had his 19th career Nikola Jokic and Wilson Chandler time the Lakers had three double- inant scoring. A major part of this suc- Magic. He led the league in scoring in triple-double and fifth this season each added 19, and Denver topped doubles in a game since Dec. 16, cess can be attributed to Butler’s cur- the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons as a with 11 points, 13 assists and 12 Miami. Emmanuel Mudiay scored 17 2014 (Wesley Johnson, Jordan Hill rent scoring surge and being placed as member of Orlando. rebounds. Curry scored 10 points for Denver (36-40), which got back and Ed Davis). the center focus in Chicago’s offense, over the final 1:52 of the first half within two games of Portland for the which makes Dwyane Wade’s injury 29- Los Angeles Lakers (22 - 55) Last and shot 15 for 22, including 9 of 14 final playoff spot in the Western HAWKS 91, NETS 82 seems like somewhat of a blessing in week: 29 - After a strong season with on 3s, in the Warriors’ 11th straight Conference. Gallinari hit two straight Brook Lopez scored 29 points, disguise. the Lakers this year, Nick Young remains undecided whether to pick up victory. It was his 26th career 40- jumpers late in the fourth to push a Jeremy Lin had 15, and Brooklyn 14- Memphis Grizzlies (42 - 35) Last his player option and remain with the point game and fourth this season. one-point Denver lead out to six, spoiled Paul Millsap’s return to the week: 17 - There was a sequence of team for one more year, or become a John Wall had 15 points and 11 and the Nuggets held on at the end lineup by beating Atlanta. Rondae plays that stood out during Friday’s win free agent this summer. assists for the Wizards, who couldn’t to deal Miami’s playoff hopes anoth- Hollis-Jefferson added 11 points for over the Mavs which started with 40- make it two wins over the mighty er blow. Goran Dragic scored 22 the Nets, who have won two straight year-old Vince Carter blocking the vir- 30- Phoenix Suns (22 - 56) Last week: Warriors in just more than a month’s points for the Heat (37-40). games. Dennis Schroder scored 16 tually unblockable fade-away jumper of 30 - The Suns have lost their last 12 time. He set the single-season fran- points, while Millsap and Tim Dirk Nowitzki before the Grizzlies made games. They play the next two matches chise assists record with No. 802 in BULLS 117, PELICANS 110 Hardaway Jr. each had 14 for the a three pointer at the other end of the against the Warriors and Thunder the third quarter, topping Rod Jimmy Butler scored 39 points Hawks, who have lost two straight. floor. before they close the season with Strickland in 1997-98. and Chicago sustained its playoff Millsap returned after a seven-game games against the Mavs and Kings push with a victory over recently absence with a left knee injury but 15- Miami Heat (37 - 40) Last week: respectively, hoping to secure a win CELTICS 110, KNICKS 94 resurgent New Orleans. Butler made Atlanta fell to 39-38, just a game 13 - The Heat’s two losses in their last that prevents closing the season on a Isaiah Thomas scored 19 points in 14 of 26 shots, including all three of ahead of seventh place in the two games moved them to a tie with 16-game losing streak. just 24 minutes and Boston his 3-point shots, to help the Bulls Eastern Conference. — AP TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 SPORTS

PREVIEW We’re coming for you, Pochettino tells Chelsea

LONDON: Mauricio Pochettino has evening as Chelsea face a tough fix- important to be there if Chelsea fail. We themselves as they look to cement in what they do. We don’t have too much warned Chelsea that his Tottenham side ture against Manchester City at are there fighting for the Premier Champions League qualification via a time to prepare but we go back to are ready to capitalise on any more slips Stamford Bridge, while Tottenham League.” Despite that rare home defeat top-four finish. Manchester now and recover and then from the Premier League leaders. travel to struggling Swansea. against Palace, Chelsea still have the fate come back to London,” Guardiola said. Tottenham closed the gap on Chelsea to With Chelsea showing signs of vulner- of the title in their own hands. FORMIDABLE Still, City ended their trip to the seven points on Saturday as they won 2- ability, Pochettino stressed Spurs must They require 21 points to be certain Pep Guardiola’s team twice squan- Emirates Stadium with more satisfaction 0 at Burnley while their London rivals take full advantage if they stumble of lifting the trophy, but Antonio Conte dered the lead in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at than Arsenal, who are in sixth place, sev- were crashing to a shock 2-1 home again. “It’s now seven points, it’s com- acknowledged it is far too soon to start Arsenal and are without a win in their en points behind fourth-placed City. defeat against lowly Crystal Palace. pletely different to 10,” he said. planning any celebrations. last three league games. With Arsenal fans once again calling With nine games remaining, “But there’s still a lot of work to do. It’s “Anything can happen, above all in City have a five-point lead over fifth- for Arsene Wenger to resign during a Pochettino’s second-placed team sud- not dependent on us; it’s dependent on England,” he said. “Every game is very placed Manchester United, who have a pre-match protest march, the Gunners denly find themselves with a chance to if Chelsea fail. But in that moment if they tough against a strong team like game in hand on their local rivals. boss desperately needed a dominant put real pressure on Chelsea for the first fail we need to do our job. “If we do our Manchester City. “It’s important to pre- Guardiola admitted playing back-to- display from his team. time this season. job we can be there until the end of the pare in the right way for this game. back away games against two such for- Instead, Arsenal twice had to come The title fight could swing further season and try to fight for the title. Another difficult game.” midable opponents is a major test. from behind to avoid a third successive in Tottenham’s favour tomorrow “We are at seven points now and it is Fourth-placed City need the points “We play against a team who is stable league defeat.—AFP Misfiring United get Ibrahimovic boost

MANCHESTER: Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s return Rashford, and may make changes beyond from suspension may be just the lift that bringing back Ibrahimovic. Manchester United need as they attempt to This is a busy period for United, who are improve their Premier League home form scheduled to play nine matches during against Everton on Tuesday. April. If there is no sign of improvement in The former Paris Saint-Germain striker, Premier League form against Everton or at United’s leading scorer this season, has Sunderland this coming Sunday, Mourinho missed three domestic matches through has indicated that he will put his focus on suspension - in which time Jose Mourinho’s winning the Europa League, and securing a team have been knocked out of the FA Cup Champions League place that way. and lost ground in the race for a top-four “After Sunderland, the Europa League finish. Ibrahimovic was certainly missed on comes, and then I don’t know,” he said. Saturday as United drew at home in the “Then, it’s possible that you see me league for the eighth time this season, as play in the Premier League with a team they were held 0-0 by West Bromwich where I’m going to protect the players Albion. Time after time, Mourinho’s men that I consider fundamental for the Europa have dominated possession at Old Trafford League. “But only, only if the results in the against visiting teams, yet failed to make next matches put us in a situation where their superiority count. mathematically, it becomes almost impos- So it was at the weekend, as United sible to do it.” enjoying 75 per cent of the possession yet managed only three shots on target. HEAVY CRITICISM In United’s defence, they were without France midfielder Pogba should return not only Ibrahimovic, but also Ander against Everton, having been able to take Herrera, who was suspended too, plus part in a training session on the pitch after injury victims Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Chris Saturday’s match. Smalling and Phil Jones, yet it was still a He was left out of the squad against hugely disappointing display. West Brom as a precaution because of the Mourinho was particularly angry with hamstring injury that kept him out of his front four of Jesse Lingard, Henrikh France’s matches against Luxembourg and Mkhitaryan, Anthony Martial and Marcus Spain during the recent international break. Herrera is also available after his NICE: Nice’s French goalkeeper Yoan Cardinale (C-R) stops the ball during the French L1 football match between Nice (OGCN) and Bordeaux ban, but Mata, Smalling and Jones will be (GDB) at Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice on Sunday. — AFP Matches on TV longer-term absentees; the Spanish winger is expected to miss the remainder of the SOCCER (Local Timings) season following groin surgery last week. Everton are seeking improvement them- ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE selves, having performed poorly in losing Burnley v Stoke City 21:45 3-1 at Liverpool in Saturday’s Merseyside beIN SPORTS HD 7 derby. Ross Barkley has come in for particu- Balotelli spot on as Watford v West Bromwich 21:45 larly heavy criticism in the media, having beIN SPORTS HD 9 Leicester City v Sunderland 21:45 been very fortunate not to be sent off at beIN SPORTS HD 8 Anfield for a dangerous challenge on Dejan Manchester United v Everton 22:00 Lovren when already on a booking. beIN SPORTS HD 2 Everton manager Ronald Koeman did Nice edge Bordeaux beIN SPORTS HD 11 say in public after the game that he was SPANISH LEAGUE proud of his team’s performance. But they have played much better than PARIS: Mario Balotelli scored a penalty as Nice coach Bruno Genesio. “It’s a match that sums up Lorient won 1-0 at home to Caen to climb off the Athletic de Bilbao v Espanyol 20:30 recovered from a goal down to defeat Bordeaux our season well. With what we showed today, we bottom, while Prejuce Nakoulma netted twice as that over the last three months, losing just beIN SPORTS HD 13 2-1 on Sunday and close the gap on Ligue 1 don’t deserve to be fighting for the top three.” Nantes defeated Angers 2-1. two of their last 13 league matches and beIN SPORTS HD 1 leaders Monaco to four points. Lyon remain fourth and a distant 16 points Andy Delort’s first-half strike earned Toulouse Real Betis v Villarreal 22:30 looking comfortable in seventh place. Gaetan Laborde struck with just nine minutes behind Nice in the final Champions League spot a 1-0 victory at Montpellier as the visitors were beIN SPORTS HD 13 Koeman is short of defensive options, beIN SPORTS HD 4 gone to give Bordeaux the lead in Nice, but with just eight games left to play. Benjamin forced to wear an all-white uniform provided by with Seamus Coleman recovering from a Balotelli quickly levelled from the spot after a Moukandjo netted his 10th goal of the season as their opponents to avoid a kit clash. —AFP de Madridv v Real Sociedad 22:30 broken leg and Ramiro Funes Mori set beIN SPORTS HD 3 foul on Arnaud Souquet. to miss the final weeks of the season Valentin Eysseric rifled home the winner from GERMAN BUNDESLIGA after suffering a knee injury while play- the edge of the area on 27 minutes as Nice kept SV Werder Bremen v Schalke 04 21:00 ing for Argentina. alive their outside title hopes after back-to-back Leicester good start beyond beIN SPORTS A back three of Matthew Pennington, draws had stalled their challenge. Nice are third Borussia Dortmund v Hamburger21:00 Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka did not in the table on 67 points but have played a wildest dreams: Shakespeare beIN SPORTS HD 4 work too well at Anfield, but Koeman may game more than both Monaco and reigning FC Koln v Eintracht Frankfurt 21:00 have to stick with that set-up. beIN SPORTS champions Paris Saint-Germain, who thrashed LEICESTER: Leicester City manager Craig they’ll be up for it because they need the points Hoffenheim v Bayern Munich 21:00 “We won’t be taking too many positives Leonardo Jardim’s side 4-1 in Saturday’s League Shakespeare admitted even he was surprised and are running out of games.” Leicester will beIN SPORTS HD 5 from Saturday, but we’ve got a big game Cup final. Serious knee injuries to Alassane Plea after inspiring the champions to the brink of again be without captain Wes Morgan as he con- on Tuesday,” said Jagielka. — AFP and then Wylan Cyprien have robbed Nice of Premier League safety. tinues to nurse a back injury. But the emergence two key players, but Lucien Favre’s men are all Four straight wins for the managerial novice of Yohan Benalouane during Morgan’s two but assured of qualifying for next season’s in the league combined with a historic victory in games so far on the sidelines has given Champions League. the Champions League have restored smiles and Shakespeare another reason for confidence. Moyes ‘deeply regrets’ slap Nice haven’t lost at the Allianz Riviera since confidence at the King Power Stadium in a February 2016, but that record looked under remarkable transformation following the sacking SUNDERLAND IN DEEP TROUBLE threat when Laborde seized on a defensive lapse of Claudio Ranieri. David Moyes insists Sunderland can still pull threat to female reporter from Dante and slotted through the legs of goal- Three more points at home to a doomed off their latest escape despite his side looking keeper Yoan Cardinale. The hosts replied just Sunderland side on Tuesday would take increasingly likely to drop into the LONDON: Sunderland manager David rewarded. Inexcusable.” Meanwhile Britain’s seven minutes later though, with Balotelli notch- Leicester to 36 and leave them seemingly all but Championship. A 1-0 defeat at Watford at the Moyes said yesterday he “deeply regrets” Women in Football, an umbrella group for ing his 11th goal of the season-all of which have safe, while defeat for the visitors would be weekend was Sunderland’s fourth loss in the last threatening to slap a female BBC reporter. women working in and around football, come at home-after Jeremy Toulalan was another nail in Sunderland’s relegation coffin. five games and leaves them bottom of the table. Earlier yesterday, Premier League strug- including female journalists, responded adjudged to have impeded Souquet. And Nice “At the moment it’s gone much better than I The Black Cats have orchestrated successful glers Sunderland had issued an apology on Monday by urging England’s governing led before the half hour as Balotelli found could have thought or dreamed of, but I have to end-of-season escapes in each of the past four behalf of Moyes for the remarks he made to Football Association to help rid the game Eysseric with his back to goal just outside the make sure we keep focus,” said Shakespeare, campaigns, but having failed to score in the last Vicki Sparks after a goalless Premier League of sexism by “educating” managers. box, the midfielder taking a touch before smack- who was Ranieri’s assistant before the Italian’s five matches and winning only once in the past draw at home to Burnley on March 18. “We are deeply disappointed and con- ing beyond the outstretched dive of Cedric axing in February. “I’m not looking at the points, 11 games, the chances of a repeat this time Moyes, speaking at a press conference cerned by the threatening language used Carrasso. Maxime Le Marchand’s sliced clear- other than getting three points out of every appear slim. “We’re in a position the club has yesterday, said: “It was in the heat of the by Sunderland manager David Moyes ance forced Cardinale to tip over as Bordeaux game,” added Shakespeare, who became the first found itself in for several seasons, but we’re moment. I deeply regret the comments I towards BBC reporter, Vicki Sparks,” said a again pressed forward, and the Nice keeper then Englishman to win his first four games as a capable of winning games and going on a posi- made. “That’s certainly not the person I am. WIF statement. “We are calling on the FA to produced a stunning save to deny Valentin Vada Premier League manager when Leicester beat tive run, even at this late stage of the season,” I’ve accepted the mistake. I spoke to the help educate football managers against from point-blank range. Francois Kamano Stoke City 2-0 on Saturday. “We want to make said Moyes, who has indicated that he wants to BBC reporter, who accepted my apology.” this type of behaviour.”—AFP spurned a pair of excellent chances to equalise sure that not only are we safe, but that we climb remain in charge next season even if they are Sparks had asked if Sunderland owner in the second half, first ballooning over from just up the league and the only way to do that is to relegated. Lee Cattermole is in contention for his Ellis Short’s presence at the Burnley game two yards out and then hastily lashing wide after approach every game as if it’s a cup final, in a first appearance following more than six months meant Moyes was under additional pres- Le Marchand miscontrolled. Ricardo Pereira way that shows we know the importance of it. out through injury, after the midfielder was an sure, with the Black Cats yet again involved could have sealed the points for Nice just past “Sunderland are coming on Tuesday and unused substitute at Vicarage Road. —AFP in a battle against relegation. the hour as Carrasso struggled to cope with Video footage published by the Daily Balotelli’s searing drive, but the Portuguese Star newspaper showed Scottish boss fluffed the follow-up with the goal gaping. Moyes replying, “No, none at all” before the interview concluded. LYON FRUSTRATED However, the former Everton and Earlier, Firmin Mubele struck a fine late Manchester United manager, believing he equaliser as Rennes held Lyon to a 1-1 draw was off camera, added: “You were just get- despite playing 85 minutes with 10 men. Ramy ting a wee bit naughty at the end there, so Bensebaini was sent off with just five minutes just watch yourself. You still might get a played at Roazhon Park after handling Sergi slap even though you’re a woman. “Careful Darder’s goal-bound shot. the next time you come in.” Rennes goalkeeper Benoit Costil diverted Both Moyes and Sparks were seen Alexandre Lacazette’s penalty onto the post, laughing at this point and the reporter her- although Lyon eventually opened the scoring self did not make a complaint. through Maxwel Cornet on 52 minutes. Former England striker turned television But substitute Mubele powered in from the football broadcaster Gary Lineker was edge of the area nine minutes from time, and among those who took to Twitter on Rennes nearly snatched all three points as Sanjin Monday to criticise Moyes’s behaviour, say- Prcic fired into the side netting after following LONDON: File photo shows West Ham United’s manager Slaven Bilic, left, and Leicester ing: “Moyes incident highlights a tendency up his initial strike. “Taking everything into City manager Craig Shakespeare chat prior to the English Premier League soccer match for some managers to treat interviewers account, we should have picked up three points. between West Ham and Leicester City at London Stadium. —AP with utter disdain. Pressured job. Well David Moyes So yes, this draw is like a defeat,” groaned Lyon Lexi Thompson’s Flour power as penalty puts spotlight Japan’s Date back on golf’s rules returns at 46

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 162017 17 Moyes ‘deeply regrets’ slap threat to female reporter Page 19

PITTSBURGH: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates with the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on Sunday in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. —AFP Penguins move to second spot in division

PITTSBURGH: Jake Guentzel and Conor Sheary points. New York has three games remaining and earned its 86th point to inch within five of Ottawa scored power-play goals and Scott Wilson picked Columbus has four. Valtteri Filppula had two goals for the Eastern Conference’s second wild card. It NHL results/standings up his eight of the season as the Pittsburgh and Brayden Schenn also scored for Philadelphia. was the Islanders’ first game since Tavares was Penguins held off the Carolina Hurricanes 3 -2 on Anthony Stolarz finished with 20 saves. sidelined by a left hamstring injury in a 2-1 win Arizona 2, Los Angeles 1; Anaheim 4, Calgary 3; NY Rangers 4, Philadelphia 3; San Jose 3, Vancouver 1; Minnesota 5, Sunday. Matt Murray finished with 33 saves for the over New Jersey on Friday. Colorado 2; Tampa Bay 6, Dallas 3; Washington 3, Columbus 2; Pittsburgh 3, Carolina 2; St. Louis 4, Nashville 1; NY Islanders Penguins, who moved into second place in the DUCKS 4, FLAMES 3 4, Buffalo 2; Boston 3, Chicago 2. Metropolitan Division with a week to go in the Logan Shaw scored with 3:06 left in the third BRUINS 3, BLACKHAWKS 2 Western Conference Boston 43 30 6 228 207 92 regular season. Jeff Skinner collected his 33rd goal period to lift Anaheim past Calgary. Patrick Eaves, Backup goalie Anton Khudobin made 41 saves Central Division Toronto 38 24 15 238 226 91 of the season for Carolina and Justin Faulk’s 17th Jakob Silfverberg and Korbinian Holzer also and Boston held on for its fifth straight win. Ryan WLOTLGFGAPTS Ottawa 41 27 9 199 203 91 of the year halfway through the third period gave scored for the Ducks, who moved ahead of Spooner, Patrice Bergeron and Kevan Miller Chicago 50 22 7 239 202 107 Tampa Bay 39 29 10 222 218 88 the Hurricanes momentum but Pittsburgh tight- Edmonton into sole possession of first place in the scored for the Bruins, who jumped over idle Minnesota 46 25 8 254 201 100 Florida 33 34 11 201 227 77 ened up in front of Murray to beat Carolina for the Pacific Division. Ryan Kesler finished with three Toronto and Ottawa into second place in the St. Louis 43 28 7 219 204 93 seventh straight time. Eddie Lack made 23 stops assists and Jonathan Bernier made 18 saves to Atlantic Division. Boston began the day in wild- Nashville 40 28 11 231 217 91 Buffalo 32 34 12 195 225 76 for the Hurricanes in his first start since being tak- improve to 10-0-2 in his past 12 games. Kris card position, four points ahead of Tampa Bay for Winnipeg 37 35 7 237 249 81 Detroit 31 35 12 196 234 74 Dallas 32 36 11 213 250 75 Metropolitan Division en to the hospital with a strained neck last week. Versteeg had two goals and Michael Frolik also the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Colorado 21 54 3 154 264 45 Washington 52 18 8 254 178 112 The loss inched Carolina closer to missing the scored for Calgary. TJ Brodie and Mark Giordano Chicago’s Artemi Panarin extended his goal-scor- Pacific Division playoffs for an eighth consecutive season. each had two assists and Brian Elliott finijshed ing streak to four games with his 29th. Jordin Anaheim 43 23 13 212 196 99 Pittsburgh 48 19 11 266 221 107 with 30 saves. On the winning goal, Shaw swatted Tootoo also scored for the Blackhawks, who got Edmonton 44 25 9 231 200 97 Columbus 49 21 8 239 180 106 CAPITALS 3, BLUE JACKETS 2 a rebound past Elliott for just his third of the sea- 26 saves from Corey Crawford in their final regu- San Jose 44 28 7 213 195 95 NY Rangers 47 26 6 252 213 100 Braden Holtby stopped 35 shots, Andre son - and second against the Flames - to help the lar-season home game. The Blackhawks clinched Calgary 44 31 4 220 214 92 NY Islanders 37 29 12 228 237 86 Los Angeles 37 34 7 188 191 81 Burakovsky had a goal and an assist and Ducks bounce back from a 3-2 overtime loss at first place in the Central Division and Western Carolina 35 29 14 204 220 84 Vancouver 30 39 9 174 228 69 Washington held on to beat Columbus. T.J. Oshie Edmonton the previous night. Conference on Saturday when Minnesota lost at Philadelphia 38 33 8 212 229 84 and Matt Niskanen also scored for the Capitals, Nashville. Chicago is assured of home-ice advan- Arizona 29 41 9 190 251 67 Eastern Conference New Jersey 27 37 14 175 229 68 who improved to 8-1-1 in their last 10 games. BLUES 4, PREDATORS 1 tage through the first three playoff rounds. Atlantic Division Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the Washington, with a league-best 112 points, leads Alexander Steen scored the tiebreaking goal Montreal 45 24 9 216 191 99 standings and are not included in the loss column (L). Pittsburgh by five points in the Metropolitan early in the second period, David Perron had a LIGHTNING 6, STARS 3 Division. The Blue Jackets are another point back goal and two assists, and St. Louis prevented Adam Erne scored twice and Ondrej Palat in third. Holtby’s 41st win of the season also tied Nashville from clinching a playoff berth. Vladimir added a power-play goal and two assists as Tampa place Chicago. Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko in the first when he ran into Vancouver forward him with his Blue Jackets counterpart Sergei Tarasenko and Joel Edmundson also scored, and Bay beat Dallas. Brayden Point scored the go-ahead Rantanen scored for Colorado, which has lost Michael Chaput from behind. The 37-year-old Bobrovsky for best in the league. Bobrovsky fin- Jake Allen stopped 35 shots as St. Louis earned at goal in the third period to break a 2-2 tie, and eight of nine overall and 10 in a row on the road. managed to get to the San Jose bench under his ished with 27 saves, and Jack Johnson and Kyle least at point for the ninth straight game (7-0-2). Braydon Coburn and Anton Stralman also had The Avalanche have a league-low 45 points this own power, but couldn’t put any weight on his left Quincey scored in the third period for Columbus, Allen improved to 9-1-2 with two shutouts and 16 goals for Tampa Bay. Backup Peter Budaj made 23 season. Calvin Pickard started in goal for Colorado leg and had to be helped to the locker room. which has lost three straight games for the first goals allowed his past 12 starts. Ryan Johansen saves to help the Lightning move within three but was pulled after allowing four goals on 16 time this season. scored for Nashville and Juuse Saros finished with points of the idle Ottawa Senators, who hold the shots. Jeremy Smith made 11 saves in relief. COYOTES 2, KINGS 1 21 saves. The Predators had won four of the last second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Anthony Duclair scored 3:09 into the second RANGERS 4, FLYERS 3 five meetings with St. Louis. Nashville needed one Gemel Smith, Jason Spezza and Brett Ritchie scored SHARKS 3, CANUCKS 1 period, Mike Smith made 34 saves and Arizona Oscar Lindberg and Chris Kreider scored 2:09 point in the game to clinch a postseason spot, but for Dallas, and Esa Lindell assisted on all three goals. Tomas Hertl scored twice in the first period ended Los Angeles’ slim playoff hopes. Alexander apart midway through the third period, and New can still qualify if Los Angeles doesn’t win against and Martin Jones made 29 saves as San Jose beat Burmistrov scored a power-play goal and Oliver York held on for its first home win in six weeks. Arizona later Sunday. WILD 5, AVALANCHE 2 Vancouver after losing Joe Thornton to an appar- Ekman-Larsson had two assists for the Coyotes, Mika Zibanejad and Brendan Smith scored in the Erik Haula had a goal and assist, Devan Dubnyk ent injury to his left leg. Patrick Marleau scored an who followed up an impressive 6-3 win over first period, and Henrik Lundqvist stopped 20 ISLANDERS 4, SABRES 2 stopped 30 shots and Minnesota beat Colorado. empty-netter and Jannik Hansen picked up an Presidents’ Trophy-leading Washington by guaran- shots to help the Rangers win at Madison Square Anders Lee scored third-period goals a little Martin Hanzal, Jared Spurgeon, Zach Parise and assist in his return to Vancouver for the Sharks, teeing the Kings would miss the postseason for Garden for the first time since beating more than five minutes apart, and New York over- Jordan Schroeder also scored for Minnesota, who have won 11 straight regular-season games the second time in three seasons. Alec Martinez Washington on Feb. 19. New York was 0-5-3 on came the absence of captain John Tavares to stay which recovered from a tough 3-0 loss at Nashville at Rogers Arena dating back to Jan. 21, 2012. Sven was credited with a power-play goal and home ice since. The Rangers are guaranteed to fall in the playoff hunt. Cal Clutterbuck and Joshua a day earlier with a resounding win against the Baertschi scored for the Canucks and Ryan Miller Jonathan Quick made 13 saves for Los Angeles, no lower than the first wild card in the Eastern Ho-Sang also scored and Jaroslav Halak stopped NHL’s worst team. The Wild remained seven points finished with 22 saves. Already missing center which needed to win its final five games and have Conference. They are fourth in the Metropolitan 35 shots to improve to 3-1 since being recalled ahead of St. Louis for second place in the Central Logan Couture because of a facial injury, Thornton Nashville lose each of its last three in regulation to Division, trailing third-place Columbus by six from the minors. With four games left, New York Division and closed to within seven points of first- crumpled to the ice with about three minutes left reach the playoffs. —AP Juve hold out for tense draw at Napoli

MILAN: Serie A leaders Juventus withstood pro- Saturday. Juve silenced the home fans when Khedira left seventh with 54 points. They dropped four behind longed pressure as they held out for a tense 1-1 draw picked up a loose ball, played a one-two with Miralem fifth-placed Atalanta, who were sent on their way at third-placed Napoli in an absorbing match on Pjanic, and scored with a shot which went under the when defender Andrea Conti met Leonardo Sunday. Sami Khedira gave Juve a seventh-minute arms of Napoli keeper Rafael, who was standing in for Spinazzola’s cross with a superb overhead kick after lead before Marek Hamsik finished off a flowing the injured Pepe Reina. 25 minutes. Alejandro Gomez helped himself to a hat- exchange of passes to score a superb equaliser on the After that, it was all Napoli as they penned Juve trick, including a penalty, and Mattia Caldara also hour and give Napoli a deserved point. into their own half and managed 13 shots on goal to scored while Genoa had Mauricio Pinilla sent off just Gonzalo Higuain was given a hot reception by their opponents’ three. Napoli were forced to play the after the hour. Genoa’s hardcore Ultra fans turned Napoli fans on his return to the San Paolo stadium fol- ball around in midfield for long periods probing for their backs to the pitch after the third goal. lowing his acrimonious move last July but made little openings but their patience was eventually rewarded. Crotone’s Falcinelli curled in an exquisite effort in impact on the game. There was plenty of drama else- After a long exchange of passes, the ball found the 82nd minute to give his side a famous win which where, with AC Milan’s European hopes suffering a Hamsik who played a quick one-two with Dries put them five points behind 17th-placed Empoli and setback in a 1-1 draw at basement side Pescara after a Mertens, got free of the defence and side-footed his the safety zone. Falcinelli was so excited that he tried rare mistake by 18-year-old keeper Gianluigi shot wide of Gianluigi Buffon. Napoli were nearly gift- to jump over an advertising hoarding to celebrate but Donnarumma. Genoa fans turned their backs to the ed a second goal when Mertens intercepted Kwadwo slipped and had to be carried off on a stretcher, pitch in protest during a 5-0 home defeat by Atalanta Asamoah’s backpass but could only shoot against the though he said later that he had merely suffered a cut and Diego Falcinelli injured himself celebrating after foot of the post from a narrow angle. to his knee. Torino’s Andrea Belotti hit the post twice his late goal in a 2-1 triumph at Chievo gave Crotone Milan gifted Pescara an early goal when before finally scoring in the 83rd minute to secure a 2- their first-ever Serie A away win. Donnarumma missed the ball completely as he tried 2 draw at home to Udinese and take his season’s tally Juventus, who have 74 points from 30 games, to control Gabriel Paletta’s back pass and it flew to 23 goals in the mid-table clash. remained 10 points clear of Napoli although their straight into the net for an own goal. Mario Pasalic Palermo’s troubles continued as they lost 3-1 at NAPOLI : Napoli’s Spanish forward Jose Maria Callejon (L) vies with Juventus’ for- advantage over AS Roma is down to six after the sec- levelled before halftime but, despite dominating the home to Cagliari, putting them second-bottom and ward from Croatia Mario Mandzukic during the Italian Serie A football match SSC ond-placed side’s 2-0 home win over Empoli on second half, Milan failed to find a winner and were seven points adrift of the safety zone. —Reuters Napoli vs Juventus FC on Sunday at the San Paolo Stadium.—-AFP EQUATE group announces $679m net profit for 2016

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US manufacturing Business activity pulls back as orders drop TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 Page 23 Mohammed Basher Abdullatef wins KD 250,000 GCC markets retreat as stocks go ex-dividend in NBK’s Al-Jawhara draw Page 25 Page 26

TOKYO: White-collar workers enjoy their lunch break underneath cherry blossom trees at a park in Tokyo yesterday. The Bank of Japan’s Tankan report-a quarterly survey of more than 10,000 companies-showed a reading of 12 among major manufacturers, rising from 10 in the previous survey. — AFP (See Page 25) Qatar to boost production from vast gas field QP chief downplays potential for dispute with Iran over new venture

DOHA: Qatar laid out plans yesterday to boost LNG export, whether it’s from Qatar or else- in Syria, though they maintain diplomatic rela- rate several projects valued at $20 billion over production from a vast underwater natural gas where,” he told The AP announcing the project tions. Al-Kaabi downplayed the potential for the next year. Qatar’s gas industry is depend- field by 10 percent, giving the energy-rich Gulf in the Qatari capital, Doha. “We will remain the any dispute with Iran over its plans to increase ent on partnerships with major international nation potential new revenue as it pursues dominant force in LNG for a very long time.” output from the field. energy companies, including ConocoPhillips ambitious infrastructure plans. Qatar is a small Al-Kaabi said the planned project follows “Iran and Qatar have an excellent political Co. and Total SA. The former head of one of but wealthy member of OPEC that generates studies and the drilling of exploratory wells that relationship, for us as technicians we have an the companies Qatar is closest to, Exxon most of its income from natural gas rather than began in 2005. excellent technical relationship. We have a com- Mobil Corp, is now the top US diplomat under crude oil. It exports the gas by chilling it to a Work on the project is expected to begin in mittee that meets regularly to discuss what US President Donald Trump. form known as liquefied natural gas, or LNG, the coming few months, and could take five to both sides are doing,” he said. “So there’s a In the interview with the AP, Al-Kaabi that can be shipped on tankers to customers seven years to complete. Qatar is in the midst of mutual understanding of what is happening,” heaped praise on US Secretary of State Rex around the world. a massive building boom as it prepares to host he continued. “They’re free to do what they Tillerson, someone he called a “good friend” State-run Qatar Petroleum said a new gas soccer’s biggest tournament in five years’ time. want on their side of the field and we’re free to that Qatar has gotten to know well during his project on the southern portion of the North Its finance minister told reporters in February do what we want on our side of the field.” time at the head of Exxon Mobil. Field would give the 2022 World Cup host that the country is spending nearly half a billion “He’s an excellent man who stands for ethics, capacity to export some additional 2 billion dollars each week preparing for the games. Partnerships integrity and (is) a great business leader,” Al- cubic feet of gas per day. Current production Qatar shares control of the North Field with DOHA: President and Chief Executive Iran is also looking to boost output from Kaabi said. “I think he will do a great job in his from the field is around 21 billion cubic feet dai- Iran, which lies on the other side of the Gulf. Officer of Qatar Petroleum Saad Sherida Al- the shared field, which it calls South Pars. job there because he has always been in coop- ly, QP President and CEO Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi The two countries sit on opposing sides of a Kaabi speaks during a press conference in Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said late eration with many leaders around the world to said. “Our aspiration is to remain the leader in number of regional conflicts, including the war Doha yesterday. — AFP last month that his country aims to inaugu- promote his business.” — AP Manufacturing growth caps Frankfurt stocks approach record peak, India soars strong Q1, led by China LONDON: The German stock market rose close Spain and Portugal also a factor. By country in to a record pinnacle yesterday, buoyed by February, Europe’s top economy Germany had LONDON/HONG KONG: Factories across Brexit uncertainty will start to weigh more struggle to pass the tax cuts and spending bright eurozone economic data, dealers said. one of the lowest eurozone jobless rate at 3.9 Europe and much of Asia posted another heavily on sentiment over coming months.” plans he promised, which could boost demand On the first trading day of April-which is the percent. Data firm Markit meanwhile reported month of solid growth in March, rounding off a in the world’s largest economy. first trading day of the second quarter- that factory orders in the eurozone were fuel- strong quarter for manufacturers, even though Trump trade Delays to the re-flationary plans could see Frankfurt’s benchmark DAX 30 index climbed ing the recovery in jobs. In its closely watched exporters fear a rise in US protectionism could The official Chinese PMI on Friday rose to US orders and global investment slow in com- as high as 12,375.58 points. That was a whisker survey, Markit said the eurozone manufactur- snuff out a global trade recovery. China led the 51.8 in March from 51.6, thanks to a months- ing months as businesses grow more cautious. away from its all-time peak of 12,391 that was ing PMI hit 56.2 points in March, up from 55.4 way, with an official manufacturing index long construction boom which is helping to China has strong domestic demand to fall back set on April 10, 2015. The DAX later stood just in February, the fastest growth in six years. A expanding at the fastest pace in nearly five boost resources prices around the world. That on, at least for now, but other export-reliant above 12,360. reading above 50 points line indicates eco- years. Surveys yesterday also showed encour- was the strongest reading since April 2012, Asian economies are more vulnerable if Trump Indian stock markets closed at record highs nomic expansion. aging growth in Europe, Japan, India and much though a private survey focusing on smaller goes on a trade offensive. yesterday, buoyed by increased investor confi- of emerging Asia. companies suggested a more cautious outlook, Japanese factory activity expanded at a solid dence in the domestic economy and in line ‘April hits ground running’ In the euro zone, IHS Markit’s final manufac- raising questions about whether the export clip in March, though the pace slowed from the with rises across Asia. Analysts said traders “April hits the ground running this turing Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to its recovery can be sustained. previous month as growth in new export orders were betting on economic reforms following Monday,” noted Spreadex analyst Connor highly in nearly six-year high of 56.2 in March, Julian Evans-Pritchard, an economist at and output slowed. the Indian government’s recent massive victo- Campbell. He added: “The eurozone-wide far above the 50 mark that separates growth Capital Economics, said the strength in China In South Korea, where exports account for ry in a key state election, while the indices manufacturing PMI came in at an effective six- from contraction. won’t last - measures to cool its overheated half of the economy and domestic demand is were also being lifted by recent rallies in some year high, largely thanks to the huge improve- However, British manufacturers lost some property market and tighter central bank policy similarly weak, readings have been decidedly international equities. ments seen in Germany and Italy, while the momentum last month, as export orders grew is likely to curb investment and industrial activi- mixed. On a more upbeat note, India’s manu- “The Uttar Pradesh election is a factor and region’s unemployment now sits at an eight- more slowly and rising inflation cut into con- ty in coming quarters. But the biggest risk for facturing activity grew at the fastest pace in five demonetization is behind us. Most important- year low. “All of this only worked in the DAX’s sumer demand. Sterling’s tumble following China may be brewing halfway across the months as output and new orders accelerated. ly GST (goods and services tax) will get favour; rising by half a percent, the German June’s vote to leave the European Union helped world. US President Donald Trump is due to The findings suggested the world’s fastest- approved in July and that’s positive,” Rahul index just needs to scrounge together another manufacturers enjoy their fastest annual hold his first meeting with his Chinese counter- growing major economy has largely recovered Shah, an equities analyst at Motiwal Oswal 40 points and it will be at a fresh all-time high,” growth in three years during the final quarter of part, Xi Jinping, in Florida later this week and from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision Securities, told AFP. Campbell said. 2016 but the sector’s PMI suggested growth those talks may be tense. in November to ban high-value currency notes, “But it’s not just India. There’s a global The Bombay Stock Exchange’s (BSE) slowed in the first three months of this year. On Friday, Trump sought to push his crusade which caused huge disruptions to the largely effect. All these things together is why the benchmark Sensex index rose 0.98 percent, “Greater optimism about global growth against US trade deficits and for more manu- cash-based economy. markets are touching new highs. Economically or 289.72 points, to end the day at 29,910.22. prospects appears to be providing a boost, facturing jobs back to the top of his agenda, by “Asia’s economic backdrop remains solid I don’t see any major challenges which might That surpassed its previous closing high of while the fall in the value of the pound post- ordering a study into the causes of the trade with most countries remaining above the key spoil the party right now,” he added. 29,681.88 set in January 2015. Meanwhile, the Brexit is helping new orders,” James Smith at deficits and a clampdown on import duty eva- threshold level of expansion, though US trade The Eurostat statistics agency said the job- Nifty on India’s National Stock Exchange ING said of the British PMI. sion. The failure of the new US administration protectionism fears is the biggest uncertainty less rate in the 19-nation single currency area (NSE) closed above the 9,200-point mark for “Whilst the near-term outlook for manufac- to push through healthcare reforms last month for now,” said Aidan Yao, an economist at AXA fell to 9.5 percent, with sustained drops in the first time ever. — AFP (See Page 24) turing looks encouraging, it’s possible that has also added to global worries Trump will Investment Managers. — Reuters TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 BUSINESS Global markets get a small dose of realism

NBK MARKETS REPORT

KUWAIT: The first quarter of the year saw the some 4-5 percent year-to-date (ytd). Moreover, the days of aggressive ECB easing action may up roughly 40-50 basis points (bps) since the House of Representatives’ failure to pass the January inauguration of a new US president, after a long stint of daily gains, US politics and well be numbered. In fact, the eurozone out- two rate hikes of December 2016 and March American Health Care Act (ACHA, to replace the unconventional Donald Trump, and the the US legislative process finally caught up grew the US in 2016 for the first time since the 2017 (two 25 bp hikes of the federal funds tar- Obamacare) was seen as a crucial first test of advent of a more “normal” or perhaps more with markets late in Q1. Some (overdue) financial crisis (1.7 percent to 1.6 percent, in get). The 10-year note is currently around 2.4 Mr. Trump’s leadership in Washington and of “aggressive” Federal Reserve. The Fed also adjustment finally weighed in, primarily on the US, real GDP growth). On the second percent after flirting briefly with the 2.6 per- his influence on his own party. Markets have raised its target rates in March when the earli- the USD and US equities, especially after the point, the agenda of Trump and the cent level. European levels are moving in the thus turned more cautious in their anticipation er expectation had been for June 2017. Trump administration failed to secure enough Republicans is indeed in the pipeline but the same direction, when not impacted by flight- of the other expected economic “goodies” (tax These events and others (including the dis- support to pass its priority health care reform rosy view of a smooth and timely policy to-quality. At the same time, their low yields cuts, infrastructure spending) down the road. appointing performance of anti-establishment legislation. According to the broad consensus unfolding has bumped into reality: (sub-50 bps for Bunds), as well as near zero- Meanwhile, regional GCC economies are voices in the Dutch election) were taken in of late 2016, the USD was supposed to rise in Congressional votes have to be rounded; dif- yield Japanese 10-year notes are preventing showing signs of growing moderately, led by stride by most markets, and were in line with 2017, at least in the first part of the year. That ferent groups and factions need to be satis- US rates from rising too fast or too far. Kuwait and Qatar and the UAE. Oil prices have expectations. The markets were looking for ris- view was based on three arguments: fied, parliamentary rules get in the way, etc. helped finances and sentiment by spending a ing equity markets, a rising USD, and higher ● The stronger US economy would imply a Finally, point-three above was deflated by Trump economic agenda good deal of time near $55 per barrel. Prices US interest rates. That is more or less what still tighter Fed policy stance, certainly rela- the results of the Dutch election. These saw Like equities and the USD, US rates also cor- were pressured lower more recently, by strong they got, except for the USD, which continues tive to the eurozone and the ECB (and other the far-right party do well but underperform rected slightly late in the quarter, driven in US (shale-led) production, now exceeding 9 to baffle many, and especially against major countries). expectations. Now fresh French polls show part by the more realistic expectations for the million barrels per day. The major story in the currencies. ● Trump’s economic agenda would further support for the mainstream candidates, so far, Trump economic and tax agenda. Trump and region the past few months has been the mas- In the case of Mr. Trump and his agenda for pump up the US economy. for the April-May presidential election. the Republicans (currently with zero help from sive issuance of sovereign debt, more recently a friendlier business environment, the expect- ● Political and election risk in Europe would So, the USD, which always had an extremely the Democrats) were intent on, in that order: by Kuwait ($8 billion) and Oman ($5 billion) in ed gains are many (deregulation, tax cuts, weigh on the euro and help the USD. difficult time breaking the 1.05 level to the euro, repealing and replacing Obamacare, cutting what were very successful issues (in terms of infrastructure spending), and stocks had a These three factors remain in play but was trading above 1.08 recently (euro up 3 per- taxes, and pushing infrastructure spending. both interest and pricing). Following 4Q16 very strong run after the election of 8 appear to have been largely discounted cent ytd). Similarly, the JPY had a good run and The first part, health care reform, has now issuance, Saudi Arabia is now looking to issue November. By quarter’s end (Q1), US stocks already. Furthermore, expectations are turning traded near 111, or up 5.5 percent ytd. Many ana- been postponed, or scrapped, for lack of suffi- international sovereign sukuk . These issues were up 13 percent (Dow Industrials) and 10 less supportive of the USD, in all three cases. lysts revised their USD numbers lower for 2017. cient Congressional support. This should fur- are also helping relieve any liquidity pressures percent (S&P 500) since the US election and EU economic numbers are relatively solid, and For the Fed and interest rates, US rates are ther weigh on expectations ahead. The US in the GCC countries. Turkish inflation hits highest rate in 8 years

ANKARA: Turkey’s inflation in March recent rise in the lira, last month’s rate hit its highest annual rate in over eight hike, and renewed pressure from the years, reaching over 11 percent, government to reverse the tightening according to official data yesterday. cycle make this unlikely.” Consumer prices rose 11.3 percent in But they added: “Nonetheless, there March from the same period in 2016, is no scope to loosen policy.” One of the highest annual rate recorded since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s advi- October 2008, the state statistics sors Bulent Gedikli suggested on agency said. Monthly inflation mean- Twitter there would be better figures while was 1.0 percent in March from later in the year as the government February, it added, with food, transport seeks to allay fears over the economy and alcohol prices showing strong rises. before the April 16 referendum. “It is The rise was sharper than expected, possible to say the inflation data is due after a tentative recovery in the value to the exchange rate effect and it is of the Turkish lira following heavy loss- temporary, that we will see the reflec- es earlier this year. Economists said that tions of measures taken after the sec- the figures indicated that inflation was ond quarter,” Gedekli said. Meanwhile, still worryingly stuck in double-digit Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci territory and made a mockery of the insisted inflation would decline after central bank’s nominal inflation target May, in an interview with CNN Turk of five percent. broadcaster. Ozgur Altug, chief economist at In less than two weeks, Turks will A picture taken yesterday shows megayachts mooring outside the “Grande Forme”, a 200mx60m drydock to refit and repair megayachts during Istanbul-based BGC Partners, warned decide whether to boost Erdogan’s its opening ceremony at the La Ciotat shipyards, southern France. German yacht builder Lurssen and Spanish leading superyacht refit centre, there was a “high” risk of seeing 12 per- powers under a new system that MB92, will jointly manage the new dry dock. —AFP cent annual inflation in the next two would see the role of the premier months and would “remain at double- axed and replaced with one or more digit level throughout 2017” but fall to vice presidents. 8.6 percent in December. The economy-which has shown EQUATE group announces William Jackson and Liam Carson of significant signs of weakness for the London-based Capital Economics pre- first time under Erdogan’s rule-is set dicted the data would not prompt an to be a key issue in the poll but the interest rate hike by the central bank, government was gladdened by $679m net profit for 2016 partly due to government unwilling- stronger than expected 2016 growth ness to risk subduing growth. “The of 2.9 percent. — AFP Group successfully issued a total of $2.25bn bonds KUWAIT: The EQUATE Group, a global producer average of $50 in 2015. Despite those develop- ciation and gratitude to EQUATE Group’s Hedge funds square up their of petrochemicals, announced yesterday $679 ments, the Group, with strong focus on opera- employees, shareholders, customers and other million in total net profit for the fiscal year end- tional efficiency and cost control, was able to stakeholders for being “Partners in Success.” record bullish position in oil ing 31 December 2016. maintain its solid profitability and cash flow, The EQUATE Group is a global producer of The EQUATE Group combines EQUATE achieving $1.2 billion EBITDA and an EBITDA petrochemicals that create a better world. The LONDON: Hedge funds have continued liq- 170 million barrels over the last five weeks Petrochemical Company, its subsidiaries, and margin of 33 percent,” noted Husain. Group combines EQUATE Petrochemical uidating their large bullish position in while adding 139 million barrels of extra The Kuwait Olefins Company (TKOC). EQUATE On the outlook for the petrochemical indus- Company (EQUATE), its subsidiaries and The crude amid doubts about the pace and short ones. Group’s CEO Mohammad Husain said, “At all lev- try in 2017, Husain said, “Despite high feedstock Kuwait Olefins Company (TKOC). The EQUATE timing of any rebalancing in the oil market. The result is that the ratio of long to els, 2016 was an extremely difficult year with limitation in some of our locations and fluctuat- Group is the world’s second largest producer of Hedge funds’ net position in Brent and short positions in Brent and WTI has fallen prices dropping by more than 14 percent and ing oil prices, impacting all other business sec- Ethylene Glycol (EG) with industrial complexes in WTI has been cut to 642 million barrels, to 3.7:1, down from a recent high of 10.3:1 the feedstock was limited during the first half of tors, we expect demand for our products to Kuwait, North America and Europe that produce down from a record 951 million barrels on on Feb 21. The buildup of a record concen- the year for our Group as a whole. increase around 4.5 percent for PE and 4 percent Ethylene, EG, Polyethylene (PE) and Polyethylene Feb. 21. The spread of risks between further tration of hedge fund long positions prior Despite these difficulties, the group made for EG. EQUATE Group participates in certain Terephthalate (PET). The products are marketed long liquidation and new short covering to Feb. 21 became a major downside risk to several achievements; we became the world’s downstream segments. So, the support of our throughout Asia, the Americas, Europe, the now looks more balanced than at any point oil prices in January and February. second largest producer of Ethylene Glycol (EG) employees, shareholders and customers allows Middle East and Africa. As a leading global enter- since OPEC’s production deal was The liquidation of long positions and with a total production capacity of 2.4 million us to grow at these rates on the basis of sustain- prise, the EQUATE Group strongly pursues sus- announced at the end of November. establishment of fresh shorts likely con- metric tons annually (MTA). We made excellent ability, reliability and innovation.” tainability principles and best practices wherev- Hedge funds and other money man- tributed to the sharp drop in oil prices progress on our new 750,000 MTA EG plant in Regarding EQUATE Group’s current strategic er it operates through partnerships with various agers cut their net long position in the starting on March 8. But by the end of the US Gulf Coast (USGC) with advantaged feed- focus, Husain said, “Our two main focus areas are stakeholders including employees and cus- three major futures and options contracts March 28, the previous congestion of stock. Construction commenced in the fourth completing our USGC EG plant on time in 2019, tomers as well as societies as a whole in fields linked to Brent and WTI by a further 41 mil- hedge fund long positions in the oil market quarter of 2016. The project is on time, on and achieving maximum operational efficiency that includes human development, environ- lion barrels in the week to March 28. seems to have dissipated. budget, and will be ready to start our opera- through the holistic integration of MEGlobal. ment, education, health and public awareness. Fund managers have cut their net long The squaring up of positions coincided tions during 2019.” These steps are critical for our strategic expan- The EQUATE Group’s shareholders include position for five consecutive weeks by the with an easing of persistent selling pres- Husain added, “While securing investment sion plans as an international petrochemical Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC), The equivalent of 309 million barrels, according sure, with Brent and WTI prices staging a grade ratings by S&P (BBB+) and Moody’s (Baa2), enterprise with operations in Kuwait, the Dow Chemical Company (Dow), Boubyan to an analysis of records published by modest recovery from March 28 through the Group successfully issued a total of $2.25 bil- Americas and Europe. In addition, towards the Petrochemical Company (BPC) and Qurain exchanges and regulators. Managers have March 31. With most but not all long posi- lion bonds. This issuances made us the first non- end of 2017, we will have a major Turnaround Petrochemical Industries Company (QPIC). The reversed more than half of the extra 529 tions liquidated, and a moderate number financial and non-banking Kuwait-based enter- (TA) for our Kuwait-based plants, which will Group provides reliable services and solutions million barrels of net long positions accu- of short positions already in the market, the prise to tap into such capital market products.” include ethylene, ethylene glycol and other that enables global customers and stakeholders mulated between the middle of November outlook for oil prices now appears more “The petrochemical market witnessed several units. It will be one of the biggest TAs for petro- to grow and attain the success they seek by and the middle of February. balanced than at any time in the last three challenges during 2016. The average price for chemicals in the Middle East & Africa.” being “Partners in Success.” www.equate.com Hedge funds have cut long positions by months. — Reuters crude oil was around $42 in comparison with an In conclusion, Husain extended overall appre- EXCHANGE RATES

Chinese Yuan Renminbi 44.784 Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Swiss Franc 306.920 Indonesian Rupiah 0.000018 0.000024 Australian Dollar 234.280 Thai Bhat 9.883 Japanese Yen 0.002658 0.002838 US Dollar Buying 304.650 Turkish Lira 84.390 ASIAN COUNTRIES Kenyan Shilling 0.002962 0.002962 Japanese Yen 2.748 GOLD Korean Won 0.000264 0.000279 Indian Rupees 4.717 20 Gram 255.550 BAHRAIN EXCHANGE COMPANY WLL Malaysian Ringgit 0.065669 0.071669 Pkistani Rupees 2.918 10 Gram 130.070 Nepalese Rupee 0.002961 0.003131 Srilankan Rupees 2.012 5 Gram 66.190 CURRENCY BUY SELL Pakistan Rupee 0.002730 0.003020 Nepali Rupees 2.956 Philippine Peso 0.006002 0.006302 Singapore Dollar 219.880 Europe Hongkong Dollar 39.356 Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd British Pound 0.377040 0.387040 Sierra Leone 0.000038 0.000044 Bangladesh Taka 3.806 Czech Korune 0.004060 0.016060 Singapore Dollar 0.213565 0.223565 Philippine Peso 6.102 Danish Krone 0.039816 0.044816 South African Rand 0.016754 0.025254 Rate for Transfr Selling Rate Thai Baht 8.929 Euro 0. 320900 0.329900 Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001641 0.002221 US Dollar 305.500 Norwegian Krone 0.031570 0.036770 Taiwan 0.009956 0.009121 Canadian Dolla 230.040 GCC COUNTRIES Romanian Leu 0.084764 0.084764 Thai Baht 0.008571 0.009121 Saudi Riyal 81.614 Sterling Pound 384.717 Slovakia 0.009167 0.019167 Qatari Riyal 84.059 Euro 327.087 Swedish Krona 0.030107 0.035107 Arab Omani Riyal 794.828 Swiss Frank 306.082 Bahraini Dinar 812.670 Swiss Franc 0.2998860 0.309860 Bahraini Dinar 0.804702 0.813202 Bahrain Dinar 810.284 UAE Dirham 83.327 Turkish Lira 0.078729 0.089029 Egyptian Pound 0.014549 0.020457 UAE Dirhams 83.569 Iranian Riyal 0.000085 0.000086 Qatari Riyals 84.793 ARAB COUNTRIES Australasia Iraqi Dinar 0.000197 0.000257 Egyptian Pound - Cash 20.250 Saudi Riyals 82.358 Australian Dollar 0.224097 0.236097 Jordanian Dinar 0.425719 0.434719 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 16.815 Jordanian Dinar 430.789 New Zealand Dollar 0.207605 0.217105 Kuwaiti Dinar 1.000000 1.000000 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.228 Egyptian Pound 16.970 Lebanese Pound 0.000152 0.000252 Tunisian Dinar 135.480 Sri Lankan Rupees 2.014 Jordanian Dinar 431.990 America Moroccan Dirhams 0.020121 0.044121 Indian Rupees 4.714 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 2.039 Canadian Dollar 0.224066 0.233066 Nigerian Naira 0.000398 0.001033 Pakistani Rupees 2.913 Syrian Lira 2.181 Georgina Lari 0.138139 0.138139 Omani Riyal 0.787994 0.793674 Bangladesh Taka 3.830 Morocco Dirham 30.894 US Dollars 0.301750 0.306150 Qatar Riyal 0.083198 0.084648 Philippines Pesso 6.086 US Dollars Mint 0.302250 0.306150 Saudi Riyal 0.080473 0.081773 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES Cyprus pound 168.592 Asia Syrian Pound 0.001297 0.001517 US Dollar Transfer 305.850 Japanese Yen 3.739 Bangladesh Taka 0.003467 0.004051 Euro 328.180 Tunisian Dinar 0.130924 0.138924 Syrian Pound 2.426 Chinese Yuan 0.042918 0.046418 Sterling Pound 385.830 Turkish Lira 0.078729 0.089029 Nepalese Rupees 3.928 Hong Kong Dollar 0.037267 0.040017 Canadian dollar 230.480 UAE Dirhams 0.081847 0.083547 Malaysian Ringgit 69.919 Indian Rupee 0.004102 0.004790 Turkish lira 84.610 Yemeni Riyal 0.000994 0.001074 TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 BUSINESS RBS rising from ruins as shadow of former self

LONDON: Nine years after the beginning is back in focus in Europe; while EU regula- of a 45-billion-pound ($56 billion) bailout tions have been tightened to make state by the British government, Royal Bank of bailouts a last resort, the Rome govern- Scotland is emerging from its restructuring ment is nonetheless seeking permission process a shadow of what was once the from European authorities to bail out debt- biggest lender in the world. RBS had a bal- laden Monte dei Paschi di Siena and two ance sheet of 2.4 trillion pounds in 2008 - smaller Italian banks. almost double Britain’s annual economic An RBS spokesman directed queries on output at the time - having staged a mete- whether taxpayers would retrieve their oric rise from being a small Scottish lender money to comments by Chief Executive in the early 1990s. Ross McEwan last year when he said it was Since the bailout it has offloaded bil- possible the state would not get its full lions of pounds of assets a week, as it tries investment back. A spokesman for the to shrink down to being a simple UK- Treasury said any future sale of its stake is focused lender. Later this year RBS will dependent on market conditions, and that shut its Capital Resolution division, which the government will seek value for money has sold off large chunks of its huge stock- for taxpayers. pile of unwanted assets. The closure will mark a milestone in the bank’s road to 90 billion bill recovery, with its balance sheet around 1.6 It was three weeks after the collapse of trillion pounds lighter than when its great Lehman Brothers crippled global credit sell-off began. markets in 2008 that Britain’s then finance “For the first time in a long time there is minister Alistair Darling had to make a snap a distinction between yesterday and decision to buy RBS. The giant bank was tomorrow,” Mark Bailie, who runs the unit hurtling towards bankruptcy so fast no one told Reuters in an interview at the lender’s in government had a chance to find out lender’s ultra-modern glass-and-steel exactly what it owned or how to value it. offices in London’s financial district. RBS has Reuters calculations based on RBS’s finan- undergone a huge asset sale, ranging from cial statements going back to the crisis CHICAGO: Construction workers are silhouetted as they work on a building project just south of Chicago’s Loop. The Commerce a fleet of aircraft in Beijing and the largest show how extreme the turnaround has Department reported on US construction spending in February. —AP hospital in Sydney, to a golf course 110 km been since then. from the nearest road in Florida, and a RBS’s management has been selling or graveyard in the US Deep South. running off on average 3 billion pounds US manufacturing activity The steep and ongoing asset-shedding, worth of assets every week, according to plus the deep staff and IT systems overhaul the analysis which tracked the size of the still to come, mean the future shape of RBS bank’s balance sheet from 2008 onwards. and its growth potential are still unknown That’s the equivalent of selling London’s pulls back as orders drop propositions for investors, according to Shard - Western Europe’s tallest skyscraper - shareholders and analysts. every five days. In total about 1.6 trillion “I think it is not investable at the current pounds of assets have been stripped out of Construction spending rises 0.8% in Feb time. There is just too much more work to RBS’s balance sheet - equivalent to the eco- be done,” said Julian Chillingworth, chief nomic output of Brazil. investment officer at Rathbone Brothers, Bailie, 44, a qualified accountant, was WASHINGTON: An index of manufac- US economy. The manufacturing building up. A report on Friday showed year ago. In February, private construc- which holds some RBS shares. tasked with shedding much of these turing activity retreated from a 2-1/2- recovery is being driven by the energy a key consumer inflation measure in tion spending rose 0.8 percent to its Britain’s government has ruled out unwanted assets. year high in March amid modest sector as steady increases in crude oil February recorded its biggest annual highest level since May 2006 after reducing its stake in the bank until it “You had an unsustainable balance declines in new orders and production, prices boost drilling activity. A report gain in nearly five years. being unchanged in January. resolves a multi-billion pound US fine for sheet, an unsustainable culture and an but a surge in manufacturing jobs indi- from energy services firm Baker The ISM’s prices index rose 2.5 per- Spending on residential construction mis-selling toxic mortgage-backed securi- unsustainable cost base and, therefore, I do cated that the sector’s energy-led Hughes on Friday showed US drillers centage points in February to 70.5, the surged 1.8 percent to its highest level ties and resolves its state aid requirements. think it will be the biggest turnaround ever recovery was gaining momentum. added 137 rigs in the first quarter, the highest reading since May 2011. The since July 2007. Investment in home- The bank’s relatively small size now and done,” he said. Much is yet to be done, Other data yesterday showed con- most since the second quarter of 2011. dollar rose against the yen on the data, building has now increased for five the cost of its nine-year overhaul is raising according to the other senior RBS source struction spending rising to a near 11- That has fueled demand for machinery, while prices for US government bonds straight months. questions from politicians and industry who said the bank had three to four years year high in February amid robust resulting in business spending on were little changed. US stocks were Spending on private nonresidential experts over whether taxpayers - who of cutbacks ahead. gains in home building investment. equipment rising in the fourth quarter trading marginally lower. structures fell 0.3 percent in February, already face a paper loss of 29 billion Tasks range from reducing the number The reports pointed to strong econom- for the first time in a year. In a separate report, the Commerce declining for a second consecutive pounds on their investment - will see the of payment systems from 140 to 10, and ic fundamentals, despite growth Last month, the ISM survey’s pro- Department said construction spend- month. In February, public construc- kind of stellar RBS growth needed to mortgage processing systems from five to appearing to have slowed sharply in duction sub-index decreased 5.3 per- ing increased 0.8 percent to $1.19 tril- tion spending rebounded 0.6 percent retrieve all their cash. one, to cutting thousands of back-office the first quarter. The Institute for centage points to 57.6. A gauge of new lion in February. That was the highest after three straight months of decreas- Few in the banking sector or govern- staff, said the source, who declined to be Supply Management (ISM) said its orders fell to 64.5 from a reading of level since April 2006 and followed an es. Outlays on state and local govern- ment believe rescuing and reducing RBS named as he is not authorized to speak index of national factory activity 65.1 in February. But a measure of fac- upwardly revised 0.4 percent drop in ment construction projects rose 0.9 was the wrong decision, given the risks it publicly. slipped to a reading of 57.2 last month tory employment jumped 4.7 percent- January. Economists polled by Reuters percent. It was the first increase in state posed to the wider financial system. A col- Reuters calculations also put a final cost from 57.7 in February, which was the age points to 58.9, the highest reading had forecast construction spending and local government construction lapse could have triggered a run on every on RBS’s lending losses in terms of write- highest since August 2014. since June 2011. rebounding 1.1 percent in February spending in three months. bank in Britain. offs, plus the writedowns on assets, as well A reading above 50 indicates an Manufacturers reported paying after a previously reported 1.0 percent Federal government construction Still, RBS’s story illustrates the perils of as restructuring costs, legal bills and fines. expansion in manufacturing, which more for raw materials, more evidence decline the prior month. Construction spending fell 2.8 percent after tum- bailouts at a time when state intervention It tops 90 billion pounds. —Reuters accounts for about 12 percent of the that inflation pressures are steadily spending increased 3.0 percent from a bling 5.6 percent in January. —Reuters KIB concludes Global Money Week 2017 campaign

KUWAIT: As part of the Bank’s strate- Speaking about the KIB’s participa- paign which ran throughout GMW. gy to promote financial education tion in GMW, Nawaf Najia, Manager of The education-focused campaign also and awareness across all segments of the Corporate Communications Unit at included the distribution of an educa- the community, Kuwait International the Bank, said: “KIB was one of the first tional flyer - along with a specially Bank (KIB) recently organized an banks in the region to have partnered designed piggy bank and a “Habboub awareness campaign entitled “With with CYFI, highlighting our strong Account” educational coloring book - KIB, I learnt how to spend and save”. belief in the importance of spreading to children and parents at the The multi-channel campaign was financial literacy and economic educa- Avenues Mall over the course of the held as part of the Bank’s participa- tion amongst children and youth. We GMW weekend. tion in the sixth annual Global Money have always considered financial liter- As part of its social responsibility Week (GMW) celebrations, which took acy to be one of the focal points of our program, KIB aims to draw on its vast place this year under the theme social responsibility program, and we experience in the financial sector to “Learn. Save. Earn”. have sought through a comprehensive educate the Kuwaiti community in all GMW is an annual global initiative program to promote awareness of the areas of finance, business and eco- which seeks to promote financial liter- importance of good money manage- nomics. Within this context, and in acy amongst youth and children ment amongst every segment of the line with its efforts to promote finan- worldwide. The annual celebrations population.” cial education amongst children and are spearheaded by Child and Youth This year KIB chose to celebrate youth, KIB maintains an ongoing pro- Finance International (CYFI), an organ- GMW with a dedicated, multi-plat- gram of school visits throughout the ization dedicated to economically and form campaign, which focused on year. The Bank also continues to sup- socially empowering children and educating youth about the basics of port “My Business”, the entrepreneur- youth around the world. This year, saving and the fundamentals of good ship program targeting school and GMW featured a diverse range of money management, as well as university students; hosting partici- events and activities aimed at inspir- encouraging parents to teach their pants of the program and offering ing children and youth to learn about children about the values of saving them internship and training oppor- money, saving, creating livelihoods, starting at an early age. “With KIB, I tunities to hone their professional gaining employment and becoming learnt how to spend and save” fea- skills and provide them with practical entrepreneurs. tured a social media awareness cam- real-world experiences. Bank runs and Frexit: Lenders prepare for Le Pen surprises

PARIS: From bank runs to credit crunches, regulators and any difficulties,” said a second banking executive, speaking investors are asking French banks about their preparations about a possible short-term liquidity squeeze in credit mar- for any market ructions that might be caused by Marine Le kets. The industry could easily weather a bout of brief Pen faring better than expected in the presidential elec- volatility, the banker added. tion, banking sources said. Banks are taking the requests in their stride since ECB Far-right leader Le Pen has said that if she becomes officials are including the questions in their regular surveil- president she would call a referendum on ditching the lance checks, rather than asking them to separately com- euro, dubbed “Frexit”, finance state spending through cen- pile and submit detailed plans. tral bank money-printing, force commercial banks to lend The lenders are also having to outline their preparations small firms and halve the maximum rates that banks can to foreign investors, according to the sources. In some cas- charge clients. es they have had to explain how the election process Opinion polls indicate she has a good chance of coming works, with the first round serving to whittle down a wide out on top of the first round of voting on April 23, with her field of candidates to just two hopefuls, who will contest share of the vote projected at 25-30 percent. But they see the runoff. her losing to centrist Emmanuel Macron in a May 7 runoff. “Foreign investors are asking a lot of questions. We have Regulators and investors are unwilling to rule out any sur- to keep explaining that there are two rounds,” said a third prises following the Brexit and U.S. presidential votes last senior executive at French bank. Some Paris-based lawyers year which confounded pollsters’ expectations. said they were getting questions from investors about After French bond yields spiked in February on poll whether it was legally possible for France to dump the gains by Le Pen, ECB supervisors have sought to ensure euro, how the Frexit process might work and what the banks have fully sized up the risks of the unexpected, four state could do if a bank run resulted. senior bankers told Reuters, speaking on condition of “What’s sure is that if there is a risk of a bank run and anonymity due to the political sensitivity of the matter. something needs to be done, the state can do it by decree,” “We’ve been asked what’s our plans for different scenar- one lawyer said, citing the example of Cyprus implement- ios including Frexit,” one of the bankers said. The ECB ing capital controls when its banks faced collapse in 2013. declined to comment. Meanwhile, retail French investors are keeping their money One scenario lenders have been asked about is the pos- liquid with popular tax-free regulated savings accounts sibility of Le Pen scoring higher than predicted in the first seeing large inflows in the last three months, said Pierre- round, thus increasing her chances of winning the presi- Rene Lemas the head of the state-backed Caisse des dency in the runoff two weeks later. Depots, which collects the money deposited in such “For a fortnight we’d be absolutely fine to get through accounts at banks. —Reuters TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 BUSINESS Q2 off to a firm start for stocks

LONDON: World stock markets and the US dollar vate survey on China’s manufacturing on Saturday and Chinese presidents. “Despite the solid gains and infrastructure spending bills. Trump benefit, however, if the differences grows started the second quarter on a positive note yes- came in below market expectations but still showed seen so far this year, there is some evidence that the held out the possibility on Sunday of using even further, then it spells more problems terday, although caution also set in as the first a healthy expansion after a similar survey by the rally in US markets is looking a little tired given trade as a lever to secure Chinese coopera- for the dollar,” said Naeem Aslam, chief mar- meeting between US President Donald Trump and government on Friday pointed to strong growth in President Trump’s trials and tribulations in Congress,” tion against North Korea and suggested ket analyst at Think Markets UK. China’s Xi Jinping loomed. the sector. The Bank of Japan’s “tankan” survey said Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Washington might deal with Pyongyang’s The dollar index, which measures the European shares touched a 16-month high, showed that business sentiment improved, albeit Markets. “The reflation trade is likely to face a new nuclear and missile programs on its own if dollar’s value against a basket of other tracking Asian shares up after generally upbeat eco- slightly less than expected. test this week when President Trump entertains the need be. On Friday, the US president sought major currencies, was up 0.28 percent at nomic data. German manufacturing growth reached MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares out- Chinese leader Xi-Jinping at his Mar-a-Lago golf to push his crusade for fair trade and more 100.63 - above four-month lows hit last an reached an almost six-year high in March, side Japan rose 0.2 percent, while Japan’s Nikkei course in Florida, which in the words of President manufacturing jobs back to the top of his week. US monetary policy also remained in Markit’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for manu- gained 0.8 percent after hitting a seven-week low Trump himself could be a little ‘difficult’.” agenda by ordering a study into the causes of focus with US jobs data due out on Friday, facturing showed yesterday. Manufacturing activity on Friday. US stock futures were flat, indicating a A failure to push through healthcare reforms US trade deficits and a clampdown on import while in Europe April marked the start of a in France and Italy also rose, adding to signs of a note of caution as focus turned to earnings and a last month has added to concerns that Trump duty evasion. fall in the European Central Bank’s monthly pickup in momentum in the global economy. A pri- meeting on Thursday and Friday between the US may struggle to pass highly anticipated tax cuts asset purchases to 60 billion euros from 80 Manipulator? billion euros. Governments and other eco- Any hints that Washington may name some nomic actors need to get ready for higher of its trade partners such as China, Japan and borrowing costs after years of record lows, Germany as currency manipulators could dent ECB Executive Board member Benoit Coeure the dollar. The US Treasury will release its next said yesterday. currency report on April 15. “The meeting The euro was little changed at around $1.06, between Trump and Xi is very important but 0.4 percent firmer against sterling, which because if they can form some sort of fell after data showed British manufacturing mutual interest, it will be in their mutual lost momentum last month. —Reuters

TOKYO: People stand in front of an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo yesterday. Asian markets were mostly higher yesterday cheered by a positive report on the Japanese economy.—AP TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 BUSINESS GCC markets pull back as stocks go ex-dividend

KUWAIT: Large-cap stocks in the GCC went ex- declines in Union Development and Barwa (- dividend during March-17 adding to the softer KAMCO GCC Markets Monthly Report 10.3 percent m-o-m). In corporate ratings market sentiments in the GCC markets. The related action Capital Intelligence Ratings decline was also reflected in the MSCI GCC index forming stock with a return of 10.6 percent, kets. Monthly volume declined by 12.6 percent performing market for the month that passed. announced that it has affirmed Doha Bank’s that declined by 1.3 percent during the month. while Zain and Ooredoo dropped 5.2 percent to 3.6 billion shares as compared to 4.2 billion For March-17, DFM was down by 4.1 percent Financial Strength Rating (FSR) at ‘A’. Key driv- A total of 43 percent of the companies by mar- and 4.8 percent, respectively. The Technology shares during the previous month. and closed at 3480.43 points. Sectoral trends ers supporting the rating were the Bank’s ket cap have gone ex-dividend by the end of index recorded the steepest decline of 7.7 per- Monthly value traded also declined but at a were mixed, but was skewed towards losers. good capital base, currently being further aug- March-17. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were the cent, while the Healthcare index topped significantly lower pace of 3.6 percent to reach The Financials pack plunged as Banks were mented by a rights issue and good overall only two positive performing market with an monthly performance with a surge of 8 per- SAR 72.5 billion in March-17 as compared to down by 6.3 percent m-o-m, Insurance was asset quality. index return of 0.5 percent and 0.4 percent, cent. Trading activity continued to drop for the SAR 75.2 billion during the previous month. down by 6.2 percent m-o-m, while Investment respectively. On the other hand, Dubai wit- second consecutive month. Alinma Bank topped the monthly value traded & Financial Services dropped by 5.3 percent. Bahrain Bourse nessed the biggest monthly decline of 4.1 per- Monthly volumes traded on the exchange chart recording trades worth SAR 8.2 billion The Consumer Staples & Discretionary sector Bahrain All Share Index continued as one of cent as large-cap indices, including Bank and declined by almost 20 percent to 7.1 billion during the month followed by SABIC and Al- index also declined by 6.2 percent m-o-m, the best performing markets YTD -2017, and Real Estate, declined. Lower oil prices added to shares as compared to 8.6 billion shares dur- Tayyar Travel recording trades worth SAR 6.8 mostly due to DXB Entertainments losing was the best performing market in the GCC in the market pressure as crude slid almost 6 per- ing the previous month. Value traded also billion and SAR 3.3 billion, respectively. ground by 5.6 percent. The Real Estate & March-17. The index rose, albeit marginally cent during the month on the back of rising pro- declined at an even higher pace of 25 percent Construction continued to slip in March-17 and closed 0.5 percent higher on a m-o-m duction in the US, although talks of an extension to KD 653 million as compared to KD 866 mil- Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange similar to February-17, as it fell by 2.5 percent basis. . The index closed at 1355.99 points at to the ongoing OPEC production agreement lion during February-17. In terms of stocks, ADX followed broad GCC market cues and m-o-m. Indices, which witnessed higher levels, the end of the month. Sectoral performance provided interim relief to falling prices. Alimtiaz topped the monthly value traded retraced lower in March-17 after closing mostly were led by Industrials, which was up 6.9 per- was mixed as there were indices which gained Trading activity continued to decline for the chart with KD 58 million worth of shares trad- flat in the first two months of the year. The index cent m-o-m, single-handedly due to National and receded. second consecutive month with total value trad- ed during the month followed by KFH and Market breadth for the index was positive, ed down by 7.4 percent to reach $ 28.4 billion. Zain with KD 44.8 million and KD 41.8 million as 9 stocks gained ground, while 7 stocks wit- Qatar and Bahrain were the only markets that worth of shares changing hands, respectively. nessed declines in their share prices. recorded higher value traded during the month The monthly gainers chart primarily included Industrials was the main sector which drove with increase of 53 percent and 35 percent, small-cap stocks that was also reflected in the the index up as the sector was up 37.8 percent respectively. On the other hand, Dubai recorded positive performance of the price index. for the month, singlehandedly pushed up by the steepest decline of 39 percent. Volume trad- Shares of NCCI and Amwal more than doubled Aluminum Bahrain which was the best per- ed on the GCC exchanges also declined by during the month followed by 60 percent gain forming index in the overall index. almost a third to 18.9 billion shares during the in shares of REAM and 32 percent gain in The Hotels & Tourism sector went up as month as compared to February-17. shares of Educational Holding. well by 3.6 percent, followed by Insurance On the economic front, Fitch ratings On the regulatory front, Kuwait completed names which went up by 1.6 percent m-o-m in slashed Saudi Arabia’s credit rating by one the long awaited sovereign international bond March 17. Services stocks and Commercial notch to A+ with a Stable Outlook. As reasons sale during the month achieving a pricing that Banks were the two sectors which were key for the downgrade, the agency highlighted was better than that of Qatar, Abu Dhabi and laggards for the index as it went down by 3.0 continued deterioration of public and external Saudi Arabia. According to reports, the gov- percent and 2.3 percent respectively for the balance sheets, wider-than-expected fiscal ernment sold $ 3.5 billion in 5-year notes at current month. In earning releases, Al Ahlia deficit in 2016 with the low oil prices being the 75 bps over corresponding US Treasuries and Insurance reported a net profit of BHD 31,808 key underlying factor. On the regulatory front, $ 4.5 billion in 10-year bonds at a 100 bps for FY 2016 as compared to a net loss of BD the Kingdom took another step towards its spread after receiving bids worth $ 29 billion, 622,699 for FY 2015. efforts to join the MSCI Emerging Market more than three times the total issuance size. index. The Saudi exchange said it would On the regulatory front, the CMA Kuwait Muscat Securities Market extend the period for settling trades and intro- announced key reforms in its bid to qualify as After minimal volatility since the start of duce short-selling on April 23. In addition, an emerging market. The regulator said it the year with the index being flat at the end of Kuwait also announced similar efforts includ- would extend trade settlement cycle to 3 days the first two months of the year, the MSM30 ing introduction of T+3 settlement, a reorgani- by the end of April from the current 2 days for was down 2.4 percent m-o-m and closed at Cement Company, which was up by 6.9 per- index recorded the second highest monthly zation and a new benchmark by next year. foreigners, whereas local traders trades would 4,443.53 points, as most major sectoral indices cent as well. Telecom also moved higher by 1.3 decline of 4 percent during March-17. The be settled the same day. The CMA also plans to closed lower. Investment & Financial Services percent, driven by DU (+1.3 percent). decline was broad-based as seen in declines in Boursa Kuwait introduce short-selling and derivative prod- was the worst performing index as it plunged by In prominent earnings, Arabtec reported all the three sectoral indices with Services sec- Boursa Kuwait retracted during March-17 ucts allowing tradable rights issues and ETFs 12.1 percent m-o-m, followed by Energy & Real revenues of AED 8.2 billion for FY 2016, up 7.1 tor falling by 4.1 percent followed by 4.0 per- amid a broader sell-off in the GCC. The next year. The exchange would also group Estate indices, that declined by 7.7 percent and percent y-o-y from FY 2015. The company cent decline in Financial index and 1.3 percent Weighted index dropped 2.5 percent during companies in segregated markets based on 7.3 percent, respectively. Waha Capital largely led announced that order backlog stands at AED decline in the industrial index. the month but continued to trade above the market cap and volumes. the decline of the Investment & Financial 18 billion, which is more than two years of Al Anwar Holding was the only Financial 400 points support level to close at 413.27 Services index as it went down by 12.2 percent book-to-bill based on current year revenues. stock in the regular market that closed with a points. Contrastingly, the Price Index surged Saudi Arabia (Tadawul) m-o-m, while large-cap Aldar Properties gain of 5.7 percent during the month. Banks in during the month by 3.6 percent indicating After two consecutive months of decline, declined by 5.8 percent and pulled the Real Qatar Exchange particular had a weak month with Bank demand for small cap stocks in the market as TASI recorded marginal gains of 0.4 percent Estate index down. In terms of gainers, the The QE 20 index reversed its positive trends Muscat, the largest stock on the exchange, against blue chips. In terms of YTD-17 per- during March-17 as the positive performance Telecom index led all indices with a monthly gain exhibited in the first two months of the year to recorded a decline of 19.7 percent, the sec- formance, the Kuwait Price index leads in the of banks and telecom stocks were partially off- of 2.6 percent, as Etisalat was up by 2.6 percent decline in March-17, as the index receded by ond-highest fall during the month. The stock GCC with a return of 22.3 percent whereas the set by a decline in energy stocks. The bench- m-o-m. The Insurance index followed and 2.9 percent m-o-m, and closed at 10390.60 going ex-dividend added to the already weak Weighted index reported a rise of 8.7 percent, mark mostly traded below the 7,000 mark dur- moved up 1.8 percent m-o-m. points. The Qatar All Share index dropped by a trends in the sector. Shares of NBO also third in the GCC. The monthly performance of ing the month only to surge 0.8 percent and In prominent earnings, Etisalat reported FY lower 1.4 percent for the third month of 2017, declined by 8.9 percent due to the cash divi- the weighted index reflected a decline in most regain this key support level on the last trad- 2016 revenues of AED 52.4 billion, a 2 percent while sectoral trends were mixed. Indices such dends announced during the month. major sectoral indices including Banks and ing session to close at 7,001.63 points. Food, y-o-y increase from 2015, despite a 1 percent as Transportation, Telecoms and Insurance Banks in the Sultanate continue to face Telecom that declined by 3.5 percent and 3.1 Healthcare and Retail were the best perform- decline in subscriber base to 162 million. were among the main laggards for the month tight liquidity conditions, in line with most of percent, respectively. The banking index per- ing sectors during the month in addition to 2.8 Consolidated EBITDA came in at AED 26.3 bil- of March-17. Transportation index was the the other GCC countries. According to the lat- formance primarily reflected 10.8 percent and percent return for the Telecom index and 1 lion, a 1 percent y-o-y decline in 2016 driven index, which receded the most as all stocks in est monthly report from the Central Bank of 13.1 percent fall in shares of NBK and Kuwait percent for the Banks index. On the decliners mainly by unfavorable FX in Egypt, competi- the index declined, witnessing an average Oman (CBO), the prevailing liquidity condi- Finance House, respectively, while AUB and side, Insurance and Utilities indices recorded tiveness pressure in Morocco and non-telecom drop of 9.7 percent. Ooredoo was responsible tions has led to an increase in average inter- Burgan Bank were the only banking stocks the steepest monthly decline of 4.2 percent operations. Net Income came in at AED 8.4 for the decline in the Telecoms index as the est rates with lending rate rising by as much that reported positive performance during the each, while the Energy index declined by 3.1 million which increased by 2 percent y-o-y. stock declined by over 8.8 percent m-o-m. as 34 bps year-on-year in January-17 and month. Moreover, 8 out of the 10 banks went percent as oil prices were under significant Amongst the indices which gained during the deposit rates increasing by 63 bps. However, ex-dividend during the month which also pressure during the month led higher produc- Dubai Financial Market month was the Real Estate index which gained the funds raised in the international market reflected the poor sector performance. In the tion in the US. Monthly trading activity DFM continued its declining trends from by 1.0 percent m-o-m for the month as Ezdan has alleviated some pressure from the Telecom sector, Viva was the only positive per- declined in line with the rest of the GCC mar- February-17 into March-17, and was the worst (+3.8 percent m-o-m) was able to negate the domestic banking system. Japan business outlook upbeat, though improvement modest Sentiment among manufactures improves: Survey

TOKYO: Encouraged by stronger export orders, Japanese manufacturers are feeling a bit more upbeat than they were late last year, according to a quarterly survey by the Bank of Japan released yesterday. The central bank’s “tankan” report put sentiment among large manufacturers at 12, up from 10 in December. Medium-sized and small White-collar workers walk on a crosswalk in Tokyo yesterday. The Bank of Japan’s companies also were more optimistic. The sur- Tankan report a quarterly survey of more than 10,000 companies showed a reading vey’s findings fell slightly below economists’ fore- of 12 among major manufacturers, rising from 10 in the previous survey. —AFP casts. But they were seen as a sign that improved exports are underpinning growth in the world’s No. 3 economy as China’s economy stabilizes. Easa Al-Yousifi Charity Masamichi Adachi of J P Morgan described the results as a “B,” or “not good but not bad.” The improvement is “basically consistent with our bull- Foundation inks MoU ish view on the current Japanese economy,” Adachi said in a research note. KUWAIT: On 27 March 2017, a memoran- cerned with traffic safety with their diversi- “Some improvement of business sentiment with dum of understanding was signed ty, including the traffic departments, driv- persistent autiousness is probably in line with the between the late Easa Al-Yousifi Charity ers, driving schools, road construction com- BOJ’s view, as well,” he said. For the current April- Foundation, represented by Dr Adel Al- panies, schools and universities throughout June quarter, firms of all sizes forecast a slight dete- Yousifi; and the United Nations Economic the world to benefit from this page as it rioration in operating conditions, which is typical Commission for Europe, represented by contains valuable information on road when conditions are favorable, said Marcel Thieliant Lukasz Wyrowski and Rebecca Huang. signs and signals showing their objections of Capital Economics. The Easa Al-Yousifi Charity Foundation and missions. The web page will allow “The survey suggests that growth will remain White-collar workers walk on a crosswalk in Tokyo yesterday. The Bank of Japan’s Tankan will fund and create interactive web page users to design and print the road signs in strong for now,” Thieliant said. A separate, month- report a quarterly survey of more than 10,000 companies showed a reading of 12 among for the roads signs and signals because accordance with the laws of their countries, ly survey of purchasing managers, Nikkei Japan major manufacturers, rising from 10 in the previous survey. — AFP both sides believe that this page will be without contravention to the international Manufacturing, also showed improved condi- important and it will allow all those con- standards approved by the United Nations. tions. The latest reading of 52.4 was down slight- ly from March’s reading of 53.3 on a scale where Made in Senegal? Industrial 50 marks the cutoff between expansion and con- Iceland govt can’t agree traction. Japan’s exports to the rest of Asia, espe- cially China, have recovered as Chinese factory park woos Chinese firms on how to curb krona activity has picked up amid a prolonged slow- down. But Japan’s own recovery remains vulnera- DAKAR: Four new factory buildings rise up from Africa. The stakes are high. Senegal suffers chronic REYKJAVIK: Iceland’s government cent in 2016, with 11 percent in the last ble: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has twice delayed fields on the outskirts of Senegal’s capital, the first underemployment that sends millions abroad in phase of a government plan to woo Chinese compa- search of a better life. “Lots of Chinese companies appeared to be in disagreement yesterday quarter alone. a sales tax increase to avoid shocks to the econo- over how to rein in the surging krona with The one dark cloud is its currency, the nies shifting low-end manufacturing to Africa as are discovering Senegal for the first time,” Mines and my. The BOJ, meanwhile, is injecting tens of bil- wages in East Asia rise. African countries are vying Industry Minister Aly Ngouille Ndiaye told Reuters in Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson slap- krona, which hit its highest level in almost lions of dollars a month into the economy for millions of jobs that China is expected to shed. a phone interview. “In the industrial domain, we ping down a suggestion by his finance a decade in early March. “Is the status quo through purchases of assets, mainly Japanese So far Ethiopia is ahead of the pack, with a fledgling have everything to learn from China.” minister that it could be pegged to the untenable? Yes. Everybody agrees on that. government bonds. shoe and garment-making sector that has made it Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda are among the other euro or pound sterling. The Icelandic cur- We’d like to have a policy that would stabi- The weak links in the strategy have been low- one of Africa’s rising stars. African countries that are chasing Chinese textiles rency is booming as a result of the island’s lize the currency,” Finance Minister er-than-expected corporate investment and con- Now Senegal, a country with a tiny manufactur- investment and have launched or planned new spectacular recovery after the 2008 eco- Benedikt Johannesson told the Financial sumer spending. While unemployment sank to a ing base and main exports including fish and industrial zones in the last three years. None, howev- nomic collapse, which forced authorities Times in an interview yesterday. 22-year low last month of 2.8 percent, companies peanuts, hopes to replicate that success with a new er, are as far along as Ethiopia. China has also invested to nationalize three failing banks and The Icelandic krona should therefore have so far kept wage increases to a minimum. industrial park and a deal with the Chinese business- in manufacturing in Ghana and Nigeria, West Africa’s impose capital controls. be pegged to a strong currency for advan- The BOJ’s survey showed large manufacturers woman whose shoe factory kickstarted Ethiopia’s top economies, but its activity in the French-speaking When these controls were lifted in tages comparable to those of Denmark, intend to increase spending on factories and nascent industrial revolution. Senegal’s stable countries has been centred around more traditional March, analysts hoped the krona would which has long bound its kroner to equipment by only 0.6 percent in this fiscal year, democracy and Atlantic Ocean port make it a natu- areas like infrastructure and mining. depreciate. Instead, a number of factors Deutschemark and then to the euro, which began April 1. Overall, companies plan to ral candidate for export-based industry, but it ranks C&H Garments, a Chinese company active in keep the currency at high levels, such as according to Johannesson. cut such capital spending by 1.3 percent. But 147 out of 190 countries on the World Bank’s ease of Ethiopia and Rwanda, plans to hire 5,000 workers at booming tourism, robust consumption But Prime Minister Benediktsson subse- capital outlays often increase during the year, doing business index due to problems with electrici- Diamniadio and export clothes to the U.S. and and comparatively high interest rates, quently told Bloomberg that he preferred Thieliant noted. ty access and bureaucracy. Europe, said co-owner Helen Hai. Hai expects the which are attracting investors. to keep a variable exchange rate, which The survey of 10,799 companies was conduct- The 85 billion CFA franc ($138.59 million) project plant to open this year. Iceland is basking in good times right would allow Iceland to better adapt to ed from late February to the end of March. in the town of Diamniadio is gambling on hopes it Around 20 other companies from Senegal, North resuscitate a manufacturing sector that has lan- Africa, Europe and Asia have applied for factory now: alongside the explosion in tourism, crises. “The krona’s role in the collapse and Readings are based on the difference between guished for decades. space and are awaiting selection, Ndiaye told the fisheries sector is thriving, and the subsequent resurrection is undisputed,” those surveyed who say conditions are good and economy grew by an impressive 7.2 per- Benediktsson said. — AFP If it works, this will be one of the first cases of Reuters, although Senegal still needs to pass new those who say they are unfavorable. — AP Chinese industry spreading to Francophone West tax laws for the special economic zone. — Reuters TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 BUSINESS US equities flat; Eurozone largest gainer

NBK Capital Monthly Global Markets Review

KUWAIT: Global equities ended the month in January. Housing starts grew in February cent, as measured by the FTSE 100. er hand grew year on year in February by reported a trade deficit of CNY 60.4B com- of March with mixed performances. The by 3 percent from the previous month to Manufacturing and services activities in the 1.2 percent which is lower than January’s pared to the surplus in January of CNY MSCI All Country Index was slightly positive 1.288m, although building permits dropped Eurozone area continue to grow month on reading of 8.5 percent. The Nikkei 345.5B. The Consumer Price Index came in at 1.0 percent. The eurozone was the by 6.2 percent. Existing home sales also saw month. The Eurozone Markit Manufacturing Manufacturing PMI preliminary reading for at -0.2 percent for the month of February largest gainer followed by Emerging a drop in February to 5.5m from January’s PMI preliminary reading for March is 56.2 March indicates continued growth with a compared to the 1 percent in January. The Markets. US equities were flat for the 5.7m. In retail, sales were flat at 0.1 percent compared to 55.4 in February, while the pre- reading of 52.6 yet slightly lower than the Consumer Price Index, year on year, for month with a minimal loss of 0.04 percent, and lower than the prior month. Consumer liminary reading for the Eurozone Markit previous month’s reading of 53.3. Housing February was reported at 0.8 percent com- as measured by the S&P 500. The Fed confidence was up with a reading of 125.6 in Services PMI came in at 56.5 compared to starts, year on year for the month of ing in below expectations and the previous increased interest rates signaling the econo- March vs 116.1 in February. last month’s 55.5. Consumer confidence in February, was reported as -2.6 percent com- month’s reading of 2.5 percent. my was sound but equities held back as March was unchanged from the previous pared to January’s positive growth rate of The MSCI Emerging Market Index was Trump was unable to secure the necessary UK markets month at -5. The Consumer Price Index for 12.8 percent. positive for the month of March gaining 2.4 votes to repeal and replace Obamacare In the UK, the Markit Manufacturing PMI percent, while Chinese equities, as meas- which caused some to worry he would be for February came in at 54.6 which is slightly ured by the Shanghai Stock Exchange unable to deliver on other campaign prom- below the previous month’s reading of 55.9. Composite, closed in the red 0.6 percent. ises. Commodities for the month of March The Services PMI for February also came in The GCC equity markets for the most part were as follows, Gold up 0.06 percent and slightly below the previous month’s reading ended the month in red. Brent Oil down 4.96 percent. at 53.3. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for The MSCI GCC Countries Index was US Manufacturing PMI and US Services the month of February came in significantly down 1.3 percent. Dubai’s market was the PMI, preliminarily, are down for the month of higher at 0.7 percent compared to last the month of March on a year on year basis Japanese equities were down in March, largest loser at -4.1 percent followed by March compared to the previous month, yet month’s reading of -0.5 percent. On a year had decreased to 1.5 percent compared to as measured by the Nikkei 225, decreasing Qatar at -2.9 percent, Kuwait at -2.5 percent, still showing signs of growth at 53.4 and on year basis, the CPI increased from 1.6 the previous month’s 2.0 percent. European 1.10 percent. China’s imports, measured in and Abu Dhabi at -2.4 percent. 52.9, respectively. The Consumer Price Index percent in January to 2.0 percent in equities closed up for the month by 2.9 per- local currency, increased by 44.7 percent in Two regional markets closed out the for the month of February increased by 0.1 February. Retail sales bounced back up to cent as measured by the Stoxx Europe 600. February on a year on year basis compared month with positive performance; Bahrain percent compared to the previous month, 1.4 percent in February from -0.5 percent in to last month’s reading of 25.2 percent. with a gain of 0.5 percent and Saudi Arabia while initial jobless claims came in slightly January, while March’s consumer confi- Japan’s exports Exports also grew during the month of with a gain of 0.4 percent. above expectations at 258,000 for the dence reading held stable at -6 unchanged Japan’s exports in February increased February by 4.2 percent, significantly lower For the month of March, Egypt reversed month of March. Durable goods orders fell from the previous month’s reading. 11.3 percent year on year compared to the than the growth recorded in January at 15.9 its negative performance in February with a to 1.7 percent in February from 2.3 percent UK equities ended the month up 0.8 per- 1.3 percent in January. Imports on the oth- percent. For the month of February, China gain of 8.4 percent. Ford celebrates triple win at 2017 Middle East Car of the Year awards

DUBAI: Ford came up winner in three differ- PS and 340 Nm is also offered. All are ent segments at the Middle East Car of the equipped with dual exhaust and a six-speed Year awards ceremony, held in Abu Dhabi automatic transmission. over the weekend. An extensive panel of For 2017, the new Ford Edge adds more judges, comprising 15 expert automotive technologies featuring the latest generation journalists from nine GCC and Levant coun- of Ford’s innovative communications and tries, awarded Ford’s new Edge the “Compact entertainment system SYNC 3. In addition to SUV” title for 2017 - emulating the award it other new languages, Ford’s SYNC 3 will sup- received from wheels magazine earlier this port Arabic for the first time - both text and month - with Ford Ranger claiming the “Best voice activation - enabling simpler control for Midsize Truck” award. To round off a stellar Arabic-speaking drivers. With integration of day, the inimitable compact Ford Figo took Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Siri Eyes the crown for “Best Hatchback”. Free, SYNC 3 is one of the most intuitive sys- Edge has proved to be exceptionally pop- tems available. Navigation sees a greatly- ular in the Middle East since its launch, hav- improved system, including 3D support with ing already topped the judges’ wish list in its landmarks, a Mecca compass, and enhanced segment for Lebanon’s Automobile Car of the junction view providing detailed lane visuals Year, Oman’s Automan Car of the Year, EVO and guidance. SYNC 3 also provides full dead Middle East’s Car of the Year, and earlier this reckoning support, 1.5 million points of inter- month, wheels magazine’s “Crossover of the est and 1.3 kilometres of road, and comes Year” award, making it the region’s most- with free map updates for five years; a neces- nominated and recognised CUV. sity for the ever-changing and evolving land- Mohammed Bashier Abdullatef wins The Ranger pickup truck delivers rugged scape of the Middle East. design and superior comfort. When you con- sider how customers use their vehicles, it’s Ford Ranger KD 250,000 in NBK’s Al-Jawhara draw important that a Ranger not only looks tough, The new Ford Ranger Pickup has proven but functions as a dependable tool and offers itself as one of the toughest and most capa- ble vehicles in its class. With an exceptional KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) tomers and answer their queries. Since the start of the comfort and convenience drivers need. 800 mm water wading depth, and with 230 announced the winner of the KD 250,000 Al- the Al-Jawhara program, more than 11,000 winners The award-winning truck’s impressive per- mm of ground clearance, it is designed and Jawhara quarterly draw, Mohammed Bashier have already been announced. Al-Jawhara contin- formance, capability, payload and towing engineered to handle the most extreme ter- Abdullatef, during a special event held at Marina ues to be the most popular prize-giving account in capacity are made possible thanks to the lat- rains with ease. Thanks to a 28-degree Mall last Thursday. The draw was conducted live on Kuwait and prizes are automatically credited to the est generation of powerful, more refined and approach angle and 25-degree departure Marina FM through Refresh Program with Ali winners’ accounts the day after the draw. fuel-efficient Duratorq TDCi diesel engines, as angle, drivers in the new Ranger can feel con- Nagem on Thursday 30th March and under the NBK customers have chances to win KD 5,000 well as the proven Duratec petrol unit. fident when taking on steep obstacles. The supervision of Abdulaziz Ashkanani, Ministry of weekly, KD 125,000 monthly and a grand prize of Ford’s Figo benefitted from a bumper new Ranger proudly takes this legacy even Commerce and Industry representative. The KD 250,000 quarterly. Each KD 50 in a customer’s 2016 in Saudi Arabia, seeing a tremendous further with upgraded engines, the adoption Executive Manager of Communications and PR at account entitles them one entry into the draw, thus five-fold boost in its sales, proving that bigger of electric power steering and improved ride NBK, AbdulMohsen Al-Rushaid, announced the more money in an account means more chances isn’t always necessarily better. Buoyed by quality and comfort. name of the proud winner, who is the fourth win- into each draw. exceptional demand in the region, and new The new, modern look lends a powerful ner for the month of March, where 3 lucky cus- This feature enables Al-Jawhara Account hold- levels of sophistication, smart technology and presence on the road, and immediately con- tomers each have won KD 5,000 in Al-Jawhara’s ers’ to double their chances when maintaining their safety in a hatchback, Figo was a shoe-in for veys a sense of capability. The design is weekly draws: Mohammed Amin Nasimi, balance without withdrawing. the MECOTY trophy. “At Ford, we strive to defined by a strong new trapezoidal grille, Mahmoud Murad Ashkanani and Abdulmajid Customers can easily calculate their number of build vehicles that offer a blend of all-round flanked by imposing chiselled projector head- Ahmad Albouhassan. chances in the draw by accessing a customized cal- performance and everyday usability,” said lamps that are shaped to flow into the front On this occasion, NBK held an exciting game “Al- culator on nbk.com. Al-Jawhara account is avail- Thierry Sabbagh, Managing Director, Ford wings. This clearly accentuates the width and Jawhara Challenge” in Marina Mall- Main Dome, able for both Kuwaitis and expats and can be Middle East. “Seeing that the region’s industry strong stance, thus making the new Ranger where participates had to look for Al-Jawahra to opened at any of NBK’s numerous branches around experts at MECOTY, have named three differ- instantly recognisable with a bold, technical win instant prizes. Besides, NBK’s booth was Kuwait, or safely and easily through NBK’s website ent Ford models as best-in-class in 2017 is look. The Ranger Pickup’s impressive perform- installed for three consecutive days to serve cus- for existing customers. testament to the great vehicles we are pro- ducing year-on-year.” ance, capability, payload and towing capacity are made possible thanks to the latest gener- Ford Edge ation of powerful, more refined and fuel-effi- Burberry licenses beauty business The all-new Ford Edge upscale crossover cient Duratorq TDCi diesel engines, as well as utility vehicle (CUV) delivers premium levels of the proven Duratec petrol unit. The Ford comfort, sophisticated driver assistance features Ranger is available in a wide range of models to Coty in new drive to expand and class-leading driving dynamics to a greater and specification levels such as Base, XL, XLT, number of customers in the cities of the Middle Limited, and the range-topping WildTrak to LONDON: British luxury brand Burberry said yes- partner the premium fragrance leader. “Coty has rently account for about 8 percent of beauty East region. The all-new Ford Edge cuts a bold, cater to customer needs whether for work or terday it would license its fragrances and cos- very broad experience of working closely with sales against an industry average of a third. sporty and imposing figure on the roads. play. Ranger is available in single cab, Rap metics to Coty in a deal totalling $225 million other luxury brands,” she said in an interview. “We “Make-up is a key recruitment tool for a luxu- Wheels pushed out to each corner give a wide, Cab and Double Cab variants. that will help it develop new products and bene- will benefit from their deep beauty industry ry brand, in that the price points are a lot lower aggressive stance and help maximise interior fit from the US group’s distribution. expertise and also their first class distribution.” than any other product,” he said. “As a means of space. Raised ground clearance enhances off- Ford Figo Known for its British-made trenchcoats, Coty will pay 130 million pounds for the long- recruiting people into the brand, it’s perfect.” road capability, and delivers a seating position The Figo offers new levels of sophistica- Burberry’s beauty range is led by fragrances My term licence, plus about 50 million pounds for Shares in Burberry were trading up 1 percent at for a commanding view of the road. tion, smart technology and safety in a com- Burberry and Mr Burberry, and includes cosmet- inventory and other assets, Burberry said. It will 1,739 pence. Analysts at Exane BNP Paribas said A fun-to-drive, responsive and agile char- pact saloon. The Figo is the first compact ics to help introduce its brand to new consumers. also pay royalties from October. Beauty con- they welcomed the choice of a first class partner to acter is enhanced with the sophisticated Ford saloon with standard driver and passenger The company, which brought the perfume busi- tributed 7 percent of Burberry’s revenue in the appropriately develop the business.“In fact, we Adaptive Steering system, which changes the airbags to help protect occupants in collisions ness in house in 2013, said it would retain cre- first half of its 2016/17 financial year, down 17 never liked the idea of Burberry managing its ratio between the steering and road wheels and with up to six airbags available for even ative control while Coty, which counts Gucci, percent on the prior period, partly as a result of beauty business directly, as beauty is an FMCG (fast according to vehicle speed. At lower speeds, greater protection. For the ultimate combina- Hugo Boss and Calvin Klein in its portfolio, would the repositioning. It launched men’s fragrance moving consumer goods) business where you win such as when pulling into a parking space or tion of performance and fuel economy, the bring its global distribution network to the table. Mr Burberry a year ago and young British model on the back of global reach,” they said. Burberry maneuvering in tight quarters, the system Figo is also available with a refined and Chief Financial Officer Julie Brown said Burberry Iris Law has promoted its cosmetics. Chief said the deal would be broadly neutral to adjusted makes the vehicle more agile and easier to sophisticated 1.5-litre Ti-VCT petrol engine, had repositioned the business by cutting sec- Operating Officer John Smith said there was an profit before tax in 2017/18 and accretive the fol- turn. At higher speeds, it enables the Edge to offering an impressive 112 PS of power and ondary-channel sales, and it was now the time to opportunity to grow cosmetics sales, which cur- lowing year. — Reuters react more smoothly and precisely to driver 136 Nm of torque at 4,250 rpm. input. Edge features three engine options, To explore these award-winning 2017 two of which are new powertrains - a stan- models from Ford and more, please visit the Gulf Bank announces winners dard twin-scroll 2.0-litre EcoBoost four-cylin- Alghanim Auto New Vehicle Showroom in the der engine producing 253 PS and 378 Nm of Shuwaikh Industrial Area, opposite from the torque, and a 2.7-litre EcoBoost V6 producing Classical Car Museum and Sirbb Circuit. The of Al-Danah daily draws 340 PS and 542 Nm of torque. A normally showroom working hours are Saturday aspirated 3.5-litre V6 engine which boasts 283 through Thursday from 9am to 8pm. KUWAIT: Gulf Bank held its Al-Danah daily 4) The most chances to win draws on 2 April 2017 announcing the names of 5) Only Bank that transfers your chances to win its winners for the week of 26 March - 30 March from year to year 2017. The Al-Danah daily draws include draws Only Al-Danah makes millionaires. each and every working day for two prizes of KD Al-Danah also offers a number of unique 1,000 per winner. day and each receive KD1000). Al-Danah’s 2nd services including: the Al-Danah Deposit Only Quarterly draw for the prize of KD250,000 will be ATM card which helps account holders deposit The winners are: held on 29 June and the 3rd quarterly draw for their money at their convenience; as well as the (Sunday 26/3): Latifa Mohammed Bader Al- the prize of KD500,000 will be held on 28 Al-Danah calculator to help customers calculate Bader, Fahad Abdulaziz Al-Hamad Al-Thwaikh September. The final Al-Danah draw for KD1 mil- their chances of becoming an Al-Danah winner. (Monday 27/3): Abdelshakur Abdelhameed lion will be held on 11 January, 2018 whereby Gulf Bank’s Al-Danah account is open to Ibrahim, Sadeq Abdulreda Makee the Al-Danah millionaire will be announced. Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti residents of Kuwait. (Tuesday 28/3): Soud Abdulaziz Mohammed Customers who open an account and/or deposit Sherif Al-Shrifi, Majed Hashem Al-Tamemy Five reasons why the Al-Danah more will enter the draw within two days. To take (Wednesday 29/3): Salah Sulaiman Othman Al- account is the best: part in the Al-Danah 2017 upcoming quarterly Nasralla, Mohammad Fayrouz Abed Ali Karam 1) Kuwait’s single biggest yearly cash prize of KD and yearly draws, customers must have an Al- (Thursday 30/3): Waleed Mohammad Abdullah 1 million Danah account containing at least KD 200; cus- Al-Ali, Hashem Abdulrasoul Askar Al-Saffar 2) Kuwait’s biggest quarterly cash prizes, up to tomers can visit one of Gulf Bank’s 56 branches, Gulf Bank’s Al-Danah 2017 draw lineup KD500,000 transfer on line, or call the Customer Contact includes daily draws (Two winners per working 3) Two winners of KD1,000 every working day Center for assistance and guidance. technology TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

Dubai police say they arrest hackers after White House staff

DUBAI: Dubai police have arrested foreign hackers United Arab Emirates, which hosts some 4,000 US Dubai police for assistance. Al-Khalidi was quoted assets, he said. The major said the three people had who targeted five senior White House officials in a troops fighting the Islamic State group, remains a as saying that investigators tracked down the gang entered the UAE on visitor visas a few years ago. The blackmail email scam, state-owned media reported crucial regional ally. to an apartment in the emirate of Ajman and arrest- reports did not identify the White House officials yesterday. The Arabic-language Al-Bayan newspa- Al-Bayan quoted Maj. Saud Al-Khalidi of Dubai ed three suspects. targeted. Al-Khalidi reportedly said those suspects per and the television channel Dubai One reported police as saying an “African gang” broke into the Those arrested are between 24 and 26 years of would be handed over to the United States for pos- the arrests, while Dubai police did not answer emails of the five senior officials and “got highly age and had a list of “5 million bank accounts,” as sible criminal trials. The US Embassy in Abu Dhabi repeated calls for comment. The arrests come as the confidential information.” He said the US asked well as hacking software and millions of dollars in did not respond to requests for comment.—AP Industry, academic partners team up to fight fake news Facebook, Google step up to root out misinformation WASHINGTON: A global alliance of tech industry and academic organi- zations unveiled plans yesterday to work together to combat the spread of “fake news” and improve public understanding of journal- ism. The News Integrity Initiative will launch with $14 million from Facebook, the Ford Foundation, Mozilla and others, based at the City University of New York’s jour- nalism school, which will coordi- nate research, projects and events. “We want to bring the conversation LOS ANGELES: This file photo shows a sign posted on the exterior of a Tesla service past just talking about media and center in Los Angeles, California.—AFP to bring the public in,” said Jeff Jarvis, who heads CUNY’s Tow- Knight Center for Entrepreneurial Tesla tops first Journalism. “We want to go beyond the fake quarterly sales forecast news discussion and get to what I hope is a flight to quality.”Fake WASHINGTON: Tesla sold more than the outset to be more efficient to make, a news became a serious issue in the 25,000 vehicles in the first quarter, a record move intended to avoid production stum- US election campaign, when clearly that beat analysts’ forecasts, the electric bles. CEO Elon Musk voiced confidence in fraudulent stories circulated on carmaker said Sunday. The Palo Alto, February that Tesla electric car production social media, potentially swaying California-based carmaker saw deliveries would climb to 500,000 next year. some voters. Concerns have been bounce back by 69 percent compared to a Tesla in January began mass production raised since then about hoaxes and rough first quarter in 2016. Tesla produced of energy-saving batteries that it vows will misinformation affecting elections 25,418 vehicles, a bit above its prior record take electric cars mainstream. A in Europe, with investigations in the third quarter of 2016. That puts Tesla “Gigafactory” created by Tesla and showing how “click farms” generate CALIFORNIA: In this file photo, a man walks past a mural in an office on the Facebook campus in Menlo on track to meet its target of 50,000 units in Panasonic is cranking out lithium-ion bat- revenue from online advertising Park, California.—AP the first half of the year. tery cells, which will be used in Tesla’s ener- using made-up news stories. In the first quarter it delivered 13,450 of gy storage products and the Model 3, Foundation, the John S and James L ries that may be false, and has Colombia-based Fundacion Gabriel the Model S and 11,550 of the larger Model according to the carmaker’s website. The Knight Foundation, the Tow launched a “journalism project” that Garcia Marquez para el Nuevo Better tools X. Its upcoming Model 3 is priced at a mod- Gigafactory, located in the western state of Foundation, AppNexus, Mozilla and aims to support the news ecosys- Periodismo Facebook and Google have erate $35,000 in the United States, far Nevada, is also working on residential ener- Betaworks. Campbell Brown, a for- tem. “We have to look at this glob- Iberoamericano, the Hamburg stepped up efforts to root out mis- below the price of its initial Models S and X gy storage technology that could be used mer NBC and CNN journalist hired ally, so we are going to be support- Media School and Hans-Bredow- information, Jarvis said, adding that vehicles. The Model 3 was designed from to power homes with solar energy.—AFP early this year to head the ing a lot of organizations around Institut in Germany, the Polis media helping the public understand the Facebook news partnerships team, the world addressing the chal- department at the London School difference between fraudulent said the social network is looking at lenges,” Brown said. of Economics, France’s Sciences Po news and serious journalism will the issue “holistically.” “We think Facebook joined the project as university, the Hong Kong-based KNPC selects Dell EMC to constitute an important element of news literacy is a global concern. It part of its effort toward “helping Society of Publishers in Asia, the the effort. “We have to equip the is important for people to be able people make more informed deci- Walkley Foundation in Australia, fuel agile business growth public with better tools and better to identify misleading news con- sions when they do encounter false Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales discussions,” he said. The initiative’s tent, be discerning about the news news,” she said. Other partners and UNESCO. KUWAIT CITY: Dell EMC yesterday protect critical data and applications, mission is “to advance news litera- that shows up on Facebook and include Arizona State University, the The move is one of many efforts announced that the Kuwait National simultaneously meeting internal gover- cy, to increase trust in journalism everywhere else,” she said. International Center for Journalists, to crack down on fake news. In Petroleum Company (KNPC), one of the nance and compliance requirements. around the world and to better “This is not a problem that we the News Literacy Project, the Trust February, a group of 37 French and largest oil refining companies in the region, Business continuity: With Vplex Metro, inform the public conversation,” a could ever solve alone.”Facebook Project, and the public relations international media outlets, sup- has successfully deployed Dell EMC’s industry two of KNPC’s data centers can ensure con- statement said. and Google have already taken group Weber Shandwick. Denmark’s ported by Google, launched leading storage solutions to drive an agile and tinuous service availability to assure uptime The founding funders include steps to cut off advertising rev- Constructive Institute at Aarhus “CrossCheck,” a fact-checking plat- future-ready business. Through these deploy- for their business critical applications. This is Facebook and the Craigslist enues to news sites promoting mis- University is also taking part, along form aimed at detecting fake infor- ments, KNPC aims to support rapid data a major evolution from legacy approaches founder Craig Newmark’s philan- information. Facebook has also with the European Journalism mation that could affect the French growth and create a highly available founda- of disaster recovery to disaster avoidance. thropic fund along with the Ford ramped up efforts to flag news sto- Centre in the Netherlands, the presidential election.—AFP tion for round the clock service delivery. Simplified Management: Advanced KNPC selected Dell EMC’s VMAX3 enter- automation capabilities offered by ViPR prise storage systems, Vplex Metro and VNX Suite allow KNPC to easily manage applica- unified storage arrays to create the right tions and data across multiple storage envi- storage environment to support data ronments, reducing IT complexities. Europe overtakes US as mobility across KNPC’s three data centers. With an aim to optimize storage efficiencies, Customer Challenges KNPC further reinforced this deployment Established in 1960, KNPC is largely internet child abuse hub with solutions from Dell EMC’s leading data responsible for maximizing the value of protection and availability division. hydrocarbons found in Kuwait and is con- With Dell EMC data protection software sidered the driving force behind boosting LONDON: Europe overtook North America 20,972, or 37 percent of the total-were in the that the number of reports it received had stack and Data Domain protection storage the country’s economy. In order to reach last year as the world’s biggest host of web- Netherlands, followed by the United States nearly doubled to 8.2 million in 2016 from 4.4 platforms, KNPC is able to protect the new markets, KNPC has pioneered clean sites containing child sexual abuse images, with 12,492 (22 percent), Canada with 8,803 (15 million in 2015. integrity of data and application services fuel projects and plans to multiply its oil according to a study by a British internet percent), France with 6,099 (11 percent) and The organization, an alliance of tech compa- while enabling continuous data protection refining capacity. In addition, KNPC aimed watchdog group published yesterday. Europe Russia with 4,176 (7 percent). “The global pic- nies and law enforcement based in Cambridge and disaster avoidance capabilities. at establishing a truly connected storage as a whole, including Russia and Turkey, ture isn’t good,” IWF’s chief executive Susie in England, also said that new website domains Additionally, KNPC deployed EMC’s ViPR infrastructure to effectively manage its data accounted for 60 percent of such sites, a 19 Hargreaves said in a statement. “Internet com- being released into the marketplace were controller and ViPR SRM to develop that can serve as a competitive advantage percentage point increase from 2015, the UK- panies and large businesses who are doing being used to host these images. It found a advanced storage automation capabilities in this era of massive oil-price fluctuations. based Internet Watch Foundation’s annual nothing, or too little, to address online child 258-percent increase in the purchase and to drive cost efficiency and simplify opera- In order to meet this objective, KNPC report said. North America hosted 37 percent sexual abuse imagery need to step up and abuse of new domains compared to 2015, as tional management. deployed Dell EMC’s VMAX3, VNX unified of the world’s child pornography websites, work with us,” she said. well as an increase in “masking techniques” storage arrays and Vplex Metro to enhance down from 57 percent in 2015. While the study noted advances in tracking used by criminals to hide abuse images and Customer Benefits data storage utilization and effectively The study found the highest number — technology to identify criminals online, it said videos on the internet.—AFP Improved performance: Dell EMC’s manage traditional and next generation VMAX3 and VNX unified storage arrays business applications. Supplementing its have enabled KNPC to consolidate its stor- efforts to create an agile storage environ- age infrastructure, to increase the level of ment, KNPC deployed Dell EMC’s data availability and enhance the perform- NetWorker, Data Domain and Avamar to ance of mission critical applications. create an integrated backup and archiving Hyper-Scale data protection: KNPC infrastructure to fuel its data availability achieved hyper-reduplication for its back- and recovery performance. ups by a factor exceeding 130 times, which With this deployment, KNPC observed helped protect over 14 Petabytes of critical major improvements on shorter backups data backups on Data Domain. This and data compression reduction rates. This allowed KNPC to meet compliance and has resulted in efficient storage optimiza- data retention requirements with minimum tion, providing more room to sustain data data center footprint. Furthermore with growth. This also helps KNPC to sustain its Data Domain KNPC minimized dependence business services availability against unfore- on tape media. The 14+ PB of data backups seen data loss that can impact customer would have resulted in 5,000 tapes with experience and its overall brand equity. massive cost, management overhead and KNPC came full circle with its transfor- risks and this is what Dell EMC was able to mational journey with the deployment of successfully address with its Data protec- ViPR controller and ViPR SRM that elimi- tion software and Data Domain. nates the need to adopt multiple storage Increased Efficiency: Using Dell EMC’s systems, allowing automation of applica- enterprise storage solutions KNPC has suc- tions and services through centralized cessfully optimized data storage utilization, management and enabling the company total cost of ownership (TCO), rack space to deliver storage-as-a-Service. KNPC has and power by 50%. successfully created a truly connected, next Enhanced Trust: With Data Protection generation storage infrastructure that is solutions, KNPC drives a unified backup, resilient to support the needs of a rapidly recovery and archiving environment to changing economy. Hacked New York Post app sends out Heil President alert NEW YORK: The New York Post app has The messages appeared directed at been hacked on April Fools’ Day, sending Trump. One message said, “Open your out push alert notifications that included heart to those you do not understand “Heil President Donald Trump.” The Post and listen to all those you fear and look apologized Saturday night, shortly after down upon.” The alerts even included its app sent out a series of alerts. The Post lyrics from Nirvana’s song “Come as You said in a follow-up alert: “Our push alert Are”: “Take your time, hurry up, the choice notification system was compromised is yours, but don’t be late.” The Post is this evening. We are working to resolve owned by Trump-friendly media mogul the issue. Please accept our apologies.” Rupert Murdoch.—AP IN SPACE: This handout photo taken from the European Space Agency website shows an artist’s impression depicting the separation of the ExoMars 2016 entry, descent and landing demonstrator module, named Schiaparelli, from the Trace Gas Orbiter, and heading for Mars.—AFP TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 HEALTH & SCIENCE

Cambodia to allow foreigners to leave with surrogate babies PHNOM PENH: The Cambodian government is set This prevented foreign parents—many believed She said foreign couples had to follow the law Southeast Asian nation after India and Thailand to allow foreign couples to return home with babies to be Australians—from taking the children out of and show a DNA match in order to claim their blocked foreigners from the services following a conceived to surrogates before the ‘womb for rent’ the country, although the couples were able to trav- babies, while the surrogate’s husband had to testify flurry of scandals and concerns about exploitation. business was banned last year, an official said yester- el in and out of Cambodia. But an official said the that the baby did not belong to him. “We also need With cheap medical costs and no laws excluding day. Curbs on the surrogacy industry in neighboring restriction is poised to change after Prime Minister the parents to say why they have asked others to gay couples or single parents, Cambodia quickly Thailand and India sparked a boom in the unregulat- Hun Sen approved an “exit strategy” allowing babies carry babies for them,” Chou Bun Eng added. “We soaked up much of the demand. ed baby business in impoverished Cambodia, with who were born to or being carried by-surrogates will facilitate the process and will not create any dif- In Nov, Australian nurse Tammy Davis-Charles, Australian couples in particular turning to the king- before the ban to leave. “We will allow parents who ficulty for the parents,” she said. But she warned that 49, was arrested for allegedly running an illegal sur- dom. But late last year Cambodian authorities have surrogate babies born (before the ban) to take parents tempted to try to take their children out of rogacy service in Cambodia-arranging for more banned commercial surrogacy and refused to legal- them out,” according to Chou Bun Eng, secretary of Cambodia illegally would face criminal charges. than 20 Cambodian women to carry babies for ize birth certificates for babies. state at the Ministry of Interior. Surrogacy agencies started springing up in the Australian couples.—AFP Indonesia’s selfie monkey threatened for its meat Indonesian village have no reservation on eating exotic animals TANGKOKO, Indonesia: The crested black Indonesia, including tigers and orangutans, who Tasty like dog macaque shot to fame when one of the mon- face a range of threats from poachers to the The macaque’s meat is prized by the ethnic keys snapped grinning selfies and became destruction of their habitat. Minahasan people, a largely Christian group in embroiled in a US court battle-but the tussle On a recent trip to Sulawesi’s Tangkoko the world’s most populous Muslim-majority over copyright is the least of the rare animal’s nature reserve, some of the amber-eyed, black- country, who have no reservation about eating worries. In a remote corner of their native haired macaques, known in the local language exotic animals, unlike Indonesia’s Islamic com- Indonesia, amid smoking volcanoes and dense as “yaki”, frolicked in a small river while others munities. “I like the taste, hot and spicy, it is simi- jungles, the monkeys face a far greater threat as climbed palm trees and knocked coconuts to lar to wild boar or dog,” Nita, a 32-year-old local they are aggressively hunted to be eaten. “In the ground. Among those living in Tangkoko is Minahasan who gave only her first name, said. At other places some macaque species are facing Naruto, who shot to fame after grabbing a a market in Tomohon city, stomach-churning extinction because of shrinking habitat,” Yunita British wildlife photographer’s camera and snap- arrays of burnt, mutilated animals were on offer. KATHMANDU: A Nepalese vet and technical team collar collect samples from a dart- Siwi from Selamatkan Yaki, a foundation that ping some selfies. Black crested macaques-flame-roasted and ed rhino in Chitwan National Park, some 250kms south of Kathmandu yesterday. campaigns to protect the primate, said. The pictures led to a legal fight after animal whole, with pained grimaces etched on their “But here the habitat is getting smaller—and rights activists PETA brought the case to a San faces-were on tables for sale alongside piles of people are eating the monkeys.” Authorities and Francisco court arguing that Naruto should sliced-open pythons, burnt bats and dogs. The Nepal to relocate five activists are stepping up efforts to persuade vil- own the copyright-a claim rejected by a judge macaques and some other animals at the market lagers on Sulawesi island to stop consuming the last year. The approximately 2,000 monkeys liv- are protected by Indonesian law and officials rare one-horned rhinos critically endangered monkeys, one of many ing in the 8,800-hectare reserve enjoy protec- have in the past raided the site, leading to vio- exotic creatures that form part of the local tion because they are in a restricted area, but lent clashes with vendors. But the trade in exotic CHITWAN, Nepal: Conservationists yester- The latest rhinos are needed to replen- indigenous community’s diet. The animal, whose that is not the case for about 3,000 others esti- creatures was still booming during a recent visit, day captured a rare one-horned rhinoceros ish the population, he added. Thousands of scientific name is Macaca nigra, is part of a kalei- mated to be in jungles elsewhere in the in Nepal as part of an attempt to increase one-horned rhinos once roamed the south- doscope of exotic wildlife found across province of North Sulawesi. with some local travel agents even offering tours to adventurous foreign travelers. The demand the number of the vulnerable animals, ern plains of Nepal but rampant poaching for the meat has prompted Minahasan hunters which are prized by wildlife poachers. Five and pressures of human encroachment to go far and wide in search of the macaque, rhinos—one male and four female—will be reduced their numbers to around 100 in released into a national park in Nepal’s far the later part of last century. There are now heading in pickups to remote parts of the island. west over the coming week in the hope of around 645 after a government-led conser- establishing a new breeding group. The vation push in the years since a 10-year civil Nail in coffin first, a large male estimated to be around war ended in 2006. Poaching has declined The population of Macaca nigra in its natural 12 years old, was located by rangers in significantly in Nepal, with only a few cases habitat on Sulawesi has dropped more than 80 Chitwan National Park after a four-hour in recent years. percent in four decades, from an estimated 300 search on elephant-back. A rhino died last year after being shot by per square kilometer in 1980 to just 45 per “He is one of the dominant males in this poachers, who were intercepted by author- square kilometer in 2011, researchers say. The area,” said park chief Ram Chandra Kandel. ities before removing its valuable horn. International Union for Conservation of Nature The team of vets, wildlife experts and Rhino horns can sell for tens of thousands classifies the monkey as critically endangered. mahouts hope to capture a second rhino of dollars on the international black mar- As well as being threatened by their status as a later yesterday before departing for ket, where they are used in traditional med- local delicacy, the monkey’s natural habitat is Shuklaphanta National Park, a 12-hour drive icines in China and Southeast Asia. Rhino being destroyed by expansion of settlements away. It will take at least a week to capture poaching carries a maximum penalty of 15 and agricultural lands. As the population has fall- and transport the remaining rhinos to their years in jail and a 100,000-rupee ($1,000) en, the local wildlife protection agency and new habitat, which is already home to an fine in Nepal. The other significant popula- activists have started campaigning to save them. estimated eight of their kin. The first group tion of one-horned rhinos is in the Tents manned by activists explaining that the of rhinos was released into Shuklaphanta in Kaziranga National Park in northeastern monkey is protected have been set up at local 2000, Dr Kanchan Thapa, a biologist from India, where there are believed to be markets, while billboards have been put up by conservation group WWF, said. around 1,200.—AFP roadsides to warn people that they face up to five years in jail if they hunt the creatures. NGOs and the local government have pushed schools The cost of cancer: New drugs to include lessons on conservation, including about the Macaca nigra, in their curriculum. show success at a steep price Campaigners have also reached out to churches in the mainly Christian area to urge priests to NEWYORK: Newer cancer drugs that opment at companies like AstraZeneca preach that humans are the guardians of Earth enlist the body’s immune system are Plc. Merck, which declined to comment and must protect endangered creatures like the improving the odds of survival, but com- on pricing plans, expects an FDA deci- monkeys, said activist Siwi. petition between them is not reining in sion by May 10 on its combination of They are also seeking to highlight the prices that can now top $250,000 a year. Keytruda and chemotherapy as an initial macaques’ key role in supporting biodiversity. As The drugs’ success for patients is the treatment for the most common form of they swing through the jungle canopy, the result of big bets in cancer therapy made lung cancer - by far the biggest market macaques disperse seeds and encourage growth by Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, Merck & Co for cancer drugs. of some trees, according to Stephan Lentey of Inc and Roche Holding AG, among oth- Pfizer said Bavencio, cleared by the the Macaca Nigra Project NGO. But campaigners ers in big pharma. The industry’s pipeline FDA earlier this month to treat Merkel cell warn that villagers’ hunger for the meat heaps of cancer drugs expanded by 63 percent carcinoma, a rare type of skin cancer, has extra pressure on a creature already threatened between 2005 and 2015, according to a price “comparable to other checkpoint by habitat loss. Hunting the animals for food “is the QuintilesIMS Institute, and a good inhibitors approved for different indica- the final nail in the coffin for a dwindling popula- number are reaching the market. tions.” The pharmaceutical industry holds INDONESIA: This picture shows a vendor preparing bat meat for customers in Tomohon mar- tion,” said Simon Purser of the Sulawesi-based The global market for cancer that discussion of prescription drug ket in northern Sulawesi.—FP photos Tasikoki wildlife rescue centre.—AFP immunotherapies alone is expected to prices has to take into account the major grow more than fourfold globally to $75.8 investment required for innovation and billion by 2022 from $16.9 billion in 2015, discovery of new lifesaving drugs. according to research firm GlobalData. “For cancer drugs in general ... it is hard for Unrestrained pricing power us to drive down cost,” said Steve Miller, Scientific progress, and pricing power, chief medical officer at Express Scripts is driving pharmaceutical companies to Holding Co, the nation’s largest manager emphasize oncology research. “Most of of drug benefit plans for employers and the strategy on the part of pharmaceuti- insurers. “You don’t want to be in the posi- cal companies assumes unrestrained tion of being told to use the second best pricing power,” said Dr. Peter Bach, direc- cancer drug for your child.” tor of Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Center Lawmakers on both sides of the for Health Policy Outcomes in New York. aisle, as well as US President Donald “We don’t see evidence that companies Trump, have been grappling with how are pursuing cost-effective strategies.” to restrain rising prescription drug Health insurers have had success in costs. They have talked about solutions demanding price concessions in some ranging from more price negotiation to drug categories - like diabetes, where faster approval of new drugs, often several companies sell similar products invoking increased competition and insurers are able to negotiate price between drugmakers. “Competition is discounts or rebates in exchange for cov- key to lowering drug prices,” Trump told erage. According to IMS, that tactic pharmaceutical executives at an Oval capped the overall rise in spending on Office meeting in January. diabetes medicines at 8 percent in 2015, But that is not happening with new compared with an increase of 30 percent drugs called checkpoint inhibitors that in billed invoices. All of the invoice price work by releasing a molecular brake, growth for insulin was offset by price allowing the immune system to recog- cuts, the institute said. nize and attack cancer cells the same But discounting is much less common way it fights infections caused by bacte- for newer, innovative cancer drugs, most- ria or viruses. For cancers like melanoma, ly given by injection and approved for the treatments can mean long-term sur- defined patient populations. Net price vival for around 20 percent of patients. growth for branded oncology drugs aver- Bristol’s Yervoy, first approved in 2011, aged 4.8 percent in 2015, versus 6.4 per- targets a protein known as CTLA-4. cent for invoices, according to IMS. Other immunotherapies, including Express Scripts’ Miller and others said Bristol’s Opdivo, Keytruda from Merck, makers of new cancer medications enjoy Roche’s Tecentriq, and Pfizer Inc’s pricing power due to coverage require- Bavencio, involve a different protein ments, insurance plan structure and a INDONESIA: This picture shows crested black macaques being displayed in a stall in Tomohon market in northern Sulawesi. called PD-1. Other targets are being lack of head-to-head comparison studies. explored. Some new data will be pre- “Cancer drugs don’t compete on sented this week in Washington at the price,” said Dr. Aaron Kesselheim, a American Association for Cancer researcher at Harvard Medical School and Leopard shuts down Nepal airport Research’s annual meeting. Current author of several studies of drug pricing. checkpoint inhibitors each have a list “Drug companies have market exclusivity KATHMANDU: Nepal had to close its only utes after the incident was reported but we ty problems at the single-runway airport, price near $150,000 a year. A combina- and we require payers to cover cancer international airport for around half an hour haven’t found the leopard yet,” Prem Nath although stray cattle and dogs have also been tion of Yervoy and Opdivo, approved by drugs - Medicare has six protected class- yesterday after a leopard was spotted close to Thakur said. known to disrupt flights. In 2016, a plane with the Food and Drug Administration for es, including cancer.” Medicare, the feder- the runway. A spokesman for the airport in One international flight was delayed but no nine passengers was forced to make an emer- advanced or inoperable melanoma, has al government’s healthcare plan for sen- Kathmandu said wildlife and security officers other flight was scheduled during the closure. gency landing when a bird struck its right a cost of $256,000 a year for patients iors and the disabled, covers most pre- were searching for the animal, believed to be Kathmandu is close to forested hills and leop- wing. Nineteen people were killed in 2012 who respond to the treatment. scription drugs under its “Part D” pharma- hiding in the drains, after it was spotted by a ards are occasionally known to stray into the when an aircraft hit a bird and crashed shortly Similar immunotherapies are in devel- cy benefits. —Reuters pilot. “We closed the airport for about 30 min- city. In the past birds have posed serious safe- after taking off from the airport.—AFP TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 HEALTH & SCIENCE Babies cry more in UK, Canada and Italy, less in Germany: Study LONDON: Babies cry more in Britain, Italy, while the lowest colic rates were Canada, Italy and Netherlands than in found in Denmark and Germany. On aver- other countries, while newborns in age, the study found, babies cry for around Denmark, Germany and Japan cry and two hours a day in the first two weeks. They fuss the least, researchers said yesterday. then cry a little more in the following few In research looking at how much babies weeks until they peak at around two hours around the world cry in their first three 15 minutes a day at six weeks. months, psychologists from Britain have This then reduces to an average of one created the first universal charts for nor- hour 10 minutes by the time they are 12 mal amounts of crying during that peri- weeks old. But there are wide variations, od. “Babies are already very different in with some babies crying as little as 30 min- how much they cry in the first weeks of utes a day, and others more than five hours. life,” said Dieter Wolker, who led the study The research, published in the Journal of at Warwick University. Pediatrics, was a meta-analysis of studies “We may learn more from looking at cul- covering some 8,700 babies in countries tures where there is less crying — (includ- including Germany, Denmark, Japan, ing) whether this may be due to parenting Canada, Italy, the Netherlands and Britain. or other factors relating to pregnancy Wolker said the new crying chart would experiences or genetics.” The highest levels help health workers reassure parents of colic - defined as crying more than three whether their baby is crying within a nor- hours a day for at least three days a week - mal range in the first three months, or may were found in babies in Britain, Canada and need extra support.—Reuters Shark takes bite out of terrified Australian’s kayak SYDNEY: A terrified Australian clung to looked for my paddle but unfortunately it the remains of his kayak for 40 minutes but had drifted away.” As he lay on top of what survived in one piece after a shark took a remained of his kayak, waves crashed huge bite out of the boat. Gavin Kleidon’s overhead. But he managed to keep his ordeal began late Sunday as he was pad- nerve and pull his phone from its water- dling in a leisurely fashion to Mud Island in proof casing and call emergency services. DUBAI: Pink flamingos stand in the water at the Ras al-Khor Wildlife Sanctuary on the outskirts of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.—AFP Moreton Bay off Brisbane. Then the shark Kleidon said he had a “fair idea” of his attacked from behind. Kleidon told the location because of landmarks on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation he shoreline but endured a nervous 40- never saw the predator but knew immedi- minute wait as marine police scrambled In energy starved Indian villages, ately what had happened. to find him, with passing planes heading “I saw the back of my boat floating into Brisbane airport helping track him. “I away and I knew pretty quickly what it was very nervous at that stage to know solar mini-grids light the way was,” he said. “I tried to climb on my boat that it (the shark) could’ve moved on as quick as I could. It was sinking pretty pretty quick, or it could’ve still been ATRAULI, India: A dusty plastic sheet covers a ate enough power, distribution companies are when the areas have adequate grid supply: quick, which was stressing me out a bit. I around. —AFP large diesel generator in a corner of a petrol sta- not in a position to take that power, and are not either the distribution company can receive tion in Atrauli, a village in India’s northern state interested in going into rural areas,” said Aruna energy from the mini-grids at an agreed tariff, or of Uttar Pradesh, a modest but telling sign of Kumarankandath at the Centre for Science and the project may be transferred to the distribu- Southern California rescuers progress. The gas station used to shut at 7 pm Environment. “When the supply is so unreliable, tion company. India’s ministry for renewable every day because the lights would often go off, people use it sparingly, making it an unattractive energy released a national draft policy for mini- on lookout for tangled whale and there was no way to know when they proposition to invest in,” said Kumarankandath, a and micro-grids last June. would come back on, said Sudhakar Singh, the renewable energy researcher. It aims to deploy at least 10,000 renewable DANA POINT: Boaters were asked Sunday around sunset Saturday near Newport manager. “The main power supply was very energy projects in the next five years in to be on the lookout for a gray whale tan- Beach Harbor by Capt. Dave Anderson, who irregular, and operating the generator was Lights, fans, action “unserved and underserved parts of the coun- gled in an unknown material heading runs a separate whale-watching cruise and expensive, so we could not afford to stay open The situation is particularly dire in Uttar try”, with an average capacity of 50 KW per proj- north along Southern California’s coast. is involved in whale rescues. Anderson told beyond 7 pm,” Singh told the Thomson Reuters Pradesh, India’s most populous state where only ect. The ambitious targets come at a time when Capt. Frank Brennan was leading a whale- The Associated Press it’s the fourth tangled Foundation, as motorbikes and trucks lined up 37 percent of households are electrified, com- renewable energy is at a turning point in India, watching tour Saturday when he spotted whale he has seen in the past two months. for petrol and diesel. pared with 67 percent nationwide. Help has as generating electricity from renewables costs the whale with what looks like some kind Figures released last month showed a Last year, the pump got a connection to a come from private mini-grids like the one in nearly the same as from conventional sources. of metal frame around its head about 2 record number of whales getting caught in solar mini-grid, a local power network not Atrauli operated by OMC Power, a company with Coal still provides the lion’s share of energy, miles off Dana Point. “The whale was being crabbing gear off the US West Coast. The connected to the national grid, which guaran- 67 grids in the state. Renewable energy is key to but as a signatory to the Paris Agreement on evasive because there were so many boats Center for Biological Diversity cited 71 cas- tees six hours of electricity every day. The India’s electrification plan, and mini-grids with a climate change, India is committed to ensur- around it,” Brennan told the Orange County es of whales caught in fishing lines off pump has since stayed open all night. “Now, capacity of 10 to 500 kilowatts (KW) are playing ing at least 40 percent of its electricity will Register. He saw it a second time later in California, Oregon and Washington last our expenses are lower and we earn more an increasingly important role. come from non-fossil-fuel sources by 2030. A the day off Laguna Beach. year. It was the highest annual total for the because we can stay open all night. We have “Mini-grids use the potential of untapped 10-year blueprint predicts 57 percent of India’s The National Marine Fisheries Service region since record-keeping began in 1982. not used the generator once since we got the renewable energy and manage demand effi- electricity capacity will come from non-fossil requested that boaters report any sightings The numbers of such entanglements have connection,” said Singh. ciently by generating power at the source of sources by 2027. Solar energy is a particular of the tangled animal. Whales caught in been climbing yearly. California recently consumption,” said Kumarankandath. A base focus and will contribute 100 gigawatts (GW) materials such as fishing line or crabbing passed legislation meant to encourage Power paradox home package from OMC Power costs 110 of the renewable energy capacity target of gear can starve or die from infected crabbers to remove unused crabbing gear Atrauli’s electricity revolution is a symbol of rupees ($1.70) a month and comes with a 175 GW by 2022. wounds. The mammal was seen again from the ocean.—AP the energy paradox dogging India, one of the switchboard with an LED bulb and a socket for “Renewable energy-based mini-grids will world’s fastest growing economies, where power charging a mobile phone. Additional lights, fans boost small businesses, create local jobs and cuts are rampant and per capita electricity con- and even a television can be added. build economies. This will improve living stan- sumption is about a third the global average. A 50 KW solar grid with battery storage and a dards in villages,” said Kumarankandath. “That in Fast-dropping costs for solar power, combined distribution reach of 5 km (3.1 miles) can power turn will ensure women’s empowerment, better with plenty of sun and a huge need for electrici- small businesses, schools, two telecom towers health and education. There cannot be a better ty in a country where about 300 million people - and over 500 homes, said Sarraju N. Rao, chief development agenda for the country,” she said. a quarter of the population - are still without it technology officer at OMC Power. “There is In Atrauli, OMC’s mini-grid is just off the main means solar energy has huge potential in India. enough demand in rural areas. If the supply is road, next to the telecom tower it also helps to Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reliable and good, people are willing to pay power. OMC has 280 customers in Atrauli, 60 pledge to supply power to every citizen by 2019 more,” he said. percent of them commercial, Rao said. and a surge in solar production, reaching remote One of OMC’s first customers in the village villages remains a challenge, with distribution Local jobs was Anita, a widowed mother of two, who didn’t losses as high as 30 percent on antiquated lines, Uttar Pradesh is the only state with a policy have an electricity connection and used low tariffs and limited use. Most of those with- for mini-grids. It aims to power nearly 20 million kerosene lamps for lighting in her shack. From out electricity live in the 99 percent of villages households, about a tenth of its population. The one base package of a single light, Anita now the government deems to be electrified because state offers a 30 percent subsidy for these grids, has three lights, one each in her room, her son’s at least 10 percent of households and public which may also be powered by wind, biomass or room and the kitchen. “Earlier, the children places have electricity. But at least half the elec- water, and must guarantee at least eight hours would have to go search for a light to study by. trified households do not get at least six hours of of electricity to homes, and six hours for com- But now they study at home, and I can do CALIFORNIA: In this photo provided by Capt. Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Safari, a gray electricity a day. mercial needs. housework even at night,” she said. “I would like whale is caught in a crab trap off the coast at Dana Point, California.—AP “While the grid has expanded and we gener- Importantly, the policy offers exit options to add a fan next.”—Reuters WHAT’S ON TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

Indians in Kuwait Central Blood Bank conducts their annual family gathering ndians in Kuwait Central Blood Bank conducted their Annual Family get together on March 24, 2017. On the prestigious occasion a farewell was given to Mr N S Das who completed 40 years in KCBB and also to Mrs Lekha Thomas who completed 17 years in KCBB. Members shared their good wishes to both of them on their Bon Voyage. The program was enriched by variety of cultural activities by members and their Ifamilies. WFK holds monthly meeting hat Boris Pasternak said about Literature, could not have been truer than what the evenings of Writers’ Forum bring to the fore. He said: Literature Wis the art of discovering something extraordinary about ordinary people, and saying with ordinary words something extraordinary. At the monthly meet- ing of the Writers’ Forum, Kuwait (WFK) held at the residence of its President Umesh Sharma on the March 31, some very insightful and beautiful words in poetry and prose, were presented by its members. The beauty not only lay in the content which had depth and provoked the lis- teners to think, but it also lay in the linguistic variety thereof. Original Short Story, Essays, Articles and Poetry were narrated and recited in English, Hindi, Urdu, Oriya, Sanskrit, and Gujrati. The Forum is unique in the sense that it unequivocally cherishes each and every Indian language and encourages the amateurs and the stalwarts to share space and thoughts on the same platform. While the seniors such as Dr Arvind Raina, Umesh Sharma and Maimuna Ali Chougle have their own Halo Effect, there also are present in WFK- other fine and young creative litterateurs. While the evening was presided over by Aamir Diwan who writes poetry in Hindi, the Chief Guest on the occasion was Dr Arvind Raina who is one of the founders of WFK and writes poems in Hindi, Dogri, and English. The meeting was steered by Rajesh Verlekar. In the first session, Maimuna Ali Chougle presented a critique on a great scholar, poet, and professor at Aligarh Muslim University-Ale Ahmad Suroor. The article was very well received, and so was the short story that followed in Oriya, penned and narrated by Biswa Ranjan. The story was translated in English by another Oriya poet- Tushar Misra. Dr. Navniit Gandhi presented a satirical essay in Hindi on the spiritual bonding that the mobile phones have brought about amongst humans. The second session comprised the recitation of poetry by Preeti Rajgolikar (Sanskrit), Ravin Singh (Hindi), Sayeed Nazar Kadapavi (Urdu), Kamaal Ansari (Urdu), Shakeel Jamshedpuri (Urdu), Chhaya Thakkar (Gujurati), Umesh Sharma (Hindi), Rajesh Verlekar (English), Tushar Misra (Oriya), Dr Navniit Gandhi (Hindi) and Chhaya Athavale (Hindi). Another former member-Parminder Kaur’s poem in English was recited by her father- Mohan Singh. Others who were present includ- ed Sunil Sonsi, Rajeev Athavale, Ameer Uddin Ameer and Milind Rajgolikar. The Chief Guest Dr Arvind Raina weaved his sentiments beautifully into words and expressed his happiness at the WFK’s success in bringing and keeping together the languages and poets of all seasons. He said that all the presentations evoked some very strong and deeply moving emotions. He then recited a beauti- ful poetry in Hindi. Aamir Diwan who was presiding over the evening, also expressed his elation and contentment, while listening to all the members. He too recited a gripping poem in Hindi. The host -Umesh Sharma was thanked for the gracious hospitality.

Dr. Michael Bourk, GUST Professor Bienvenido Leon, University of Navarra Professor Lloyd Davis, University of Otago GUST’s Global Studies Center organizes workshop

ulf University for Science and knowledge more effectively to students or Professor Bienvenido Leon, University of which can be used with their students or dur- processes of concerned states. Previous Technology (GUST) yesterday colleagues. Navarra, Professor Lloyd Davis, University of ing research seminars with a non-specialized events hosted by the GSC include a discussion Gannounced a workshop by their Assistant Professor in the Mass Otago, and Dr. Michael Bourk, GUST. audience. to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Global Studies Center (GSC), led by Professor Communication and Media (MCM) Throughout the workshop, they shared The GSC regularly holds seminars with liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi occupation, Bienvenido Leon of the University of Navarra, Department at GUST, Dr. Michael Bourk, said, results of an international research project on experts in various fields of study. The center sponsored by the US Embassy in Kuwait, a lec- Professor Lloyd Davis of the University of “Academics sometimes struggle to communi- online science communication, involving 15 was founded in 2015 in partnership with the ture by Dr. Peter Sluglett, an expert on Middle Otago, and Dr. Michael Bourk of GUST, enti- cate their research in the everyday language scholars from five different countries and National University of Singapore, and aims to Eastern history and Director of the Middle tled “Technical Communication for Non- of most people. This workshop aims to address nine different universities. Their findings were conduct cutting-edge research on cross- East Institute at NUS, entitled: “An Technical People: Opportunities and this issue. In an era of pseudo-science and fake highlighted to help attendees improve their national political, economic, social, cultural, Improvement on Colonialism? The ‘A’ Challenges Communicating Science in news proliferation, we need to ensure the abil- science communication messages with non- and environmental issues of critical impor- Mandates and their Legacy in the Middle Digital Environments”, which took place on ity to communicate objective truths and technical audiences and communities. tance, as well as share research output and East”, and another by Dr. Daniel Brumberg, the the university campus this week. The focus of rational science effectively, particularly in Attendees were given better tools and advice information regionally and globally. It seeks Kuwait Program Visiting Professor at the Paris the event was to help faculty and staff learn online environments.” The workshop was inter- to enable them to become better communi- to foster public understanding of global School of International Affairs, on US-Arab how to communicate scientific and technical active, taking on a panel discussion style with cators of scientific and technical knowledge, issues and support the policy-making Relations in a Time of Crisis. WHAT’S ON TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

Gulf Bank receives Excellence in VIP Customer Service Award

ulf Bank was pleased to receive the Association, Jamal Al-Nasrallah presented Bank’s strategy to provide its valued cus- and customer service across all industries, and organizations, in addition to a small ‘Excellence in VIP Customer Service’ the award to Gulf Bank representative, tomers with services tailored to their needs. from the public and private sectors. exhibition area where participants show- GAward from Kuwait’s Public Meshari Shehab, Assistant General Manager “With Gulf Bank Priority Banking, cus- A judging committee was formed to cased their products and services. Relations Association. Held under the Priority Banking. tomers enjoy a personalized and preferen- select the winners. It consisted of interna- The Kuwait Public Relations Award is patronage of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Upon receiving the award, Meshari tial treatment coupled with a suite of tional and local public relations and cus- one of the most prestigious events in Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the awards cere- Shehab commented in a statement to the Banking and investment products and serv- tomer service experts. The evaluation was Kuwait. The main objectives of the associa- mony took place on Wednesday, 29 March press:” We are proud to be recognized for ices designed to meet their financial goals.” based on international standards in regards tion is to promote the role of the State of 2017 at Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural our efforts in Priority Banking customer The awards aim at underscoring the impor- to the level of client servicing and the abili- Kuwait in public relations practice and Center. The event convened a high level of service and would like to thank Kuwait’s tance of customer service and public rela- ty to meet the clients’ needs. The event also functions, to create channels of coopera- attendance, where the Minister of Social Public Relations Association for this recog- tions that require unique skills and high featured a number of workshops about the tion with international and regional public Affairs and Labor Hind Al-Sabeeh and the nition. The ‘Excellence in VIP Customer experience, and at highlighting the efforts strategies of public relations and customer relations associations, and to raise aware- Chairman of Kuwait’s Public Relations Service’ award affirms the success of Gulf invested in the fields of public relations service targeted at employees of ministries ness of the importance of this industry.

LuLu Hypermarket awards prizes to Food Expo 2017 uLu Hypermarket, the leading hypermarket brand in the region, capped its Food Expo 2017 with a prize Ldistribution ceremony held on April 2 at its Al-Rai out- let. Winners of the various competitions held during the food festival were felicitated by LuLu management in the presence of a large crowd of shoppers and well-wishers. The competitions, which were launched on March 19 and extended throughout the expo period, featured a Cookery Contest, Live Cookery Demo, Junior-Chef Contest, Wow the Master Chef Contest, Taste and Win Contest, Make and Eat Competition, Carving Competition, Pickles Contest and Kitchen Queen Contests. All of the winners displayed remark- able cooking talent and skills in preparing distinct dishes. The top place winners in each segment were awarded KD 125 worth of gift vouchers, while the second place and third place winners were handed KD 75 and KD 50 worth of gift vouchers respectively. In addition to the food competitions, the Food Expo 2017, which started on 22 March and ended on 1 April, featured various other cooking and food-based activities that drew in large crowds. Among the programs were special promotions, a live demonstration of Arabian- cooking by Chef Asmaa Al-Bahar, and an assortment of dis- plays such as the biggest pizza, the longest egg roll and more. Indian celebrity chef and culinary consultant Hari Nayak inaugurated the Food Expo and interacted with his fans during theChit Chat with Master Chef program. LuLu Hypermarket’s Food Expo 2017 marks another brilliant endeavor by the hypermarket to provide shoppers with an exciting and unique shopping experience that includes a wide variety of high-quality products at competitive prices. The Iranian cultural attache holds symposium on World Poetry Day

By Nawara Fattahova words of Dr. Souad Al-Sabah at the beginning to encourage them to take care of their people, of the Al-Shahnama Epic, who said that this giving them their rights, and not oppressing n the occasion of celebrating the World epic great example of the Persian literature pre- them. Al-Firdousi advices them to spread love Poetry Day, The Iranian cultural attache sented and very exciting way of writing. This between people instead of aggression,” he Oheld a symposium titled, ‘Al-Shahnama; epic consists of 60 thousand verses, and is con- pointed out. The Eternal Ferdousi Epic’, which was presented sidered one of the most important literature Dr. Mohammed Khaqani Asfahani expressed by all of Dr. Mohammed Khaqani Asfahani, works in human history. “The writer his happiness of the cultural and intellectual teacher of Arabic literature at Esfahan Abualqasim Al-Firdousi spent 30 years writing activity in Kuwait. “Over 40 thousand poets University, Mohammed Sarkhouh, Kuwaiti poet this epic, which became an eternal book,” noted were active in Iran within 14 centuries since and writer, and Sameer Arshadi, teacher of Arshadi. Islam came to Iran. These 40 thousand poets Persian literature at Kuwait University. Kuwaiti poet and writer Mohammed became popular internationally, and Al-Firdousi Sameer Arshadi launched the event with Sarkhouh stated that Al-Shahnama means (the was on top of them. I advice all Arab intellectu- thanking Souad Al-Sabah Printing House for Letter of the Kings). “It’s a letter addressed to all als and writers to read Al-Shahnama, and dis- printing and publishing this Epic. He recited kings and leaders all over the world in all times cover the precious Persian literature,” he stated. TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 TV PROGRAMS

07:15 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Cat Noir 17:30 The Pioneer Woman Patrol 16:45 Elena Of Avalor 18:00 Chopped 08:05 Disaster Date 17:10 Liv And Maddie 19:00 Iron Chef America 08:30 Disaster Date 17:35 Descendants Wicked World 20:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 08:55 Ridiculousness 17:40 Girl Meets World 20:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 06:00 Guardians Of The Galaxy 00:00 Starship Troopers 09:20 Key And Peele 18:05 Stuck In The Middle 21:00 Man Finds Food 06:25 Marvel Ultimate Spider-Man vs 02:15 Alien Outpost 09:45 Disaster Date 18:30 Bunk'd 21:30 Man Finds Food The Sinister 6 04:00 Reign Of Fire 10:10 Ridiculousness 18:55 Bizaardvark 22:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 06:50 Atomic Puppet 06:00 Gone In Sixty Seconds 10:35 Impractical Jokers UK 19:20 Disney Mickey Mouse 22:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 07:15 Gravity Falls 08:00 Double Team 11:00 Urban Tarzan 19:25 Alex & Co. 23:00 Guy's Grocery Games 07:40 Supa Strikas 10:00 Road Wars 11:25 Urban Tarzan 19:50 Jessie 08:05 Two More Eggs 12:00 Big Game 11:50 I Live With Models 20:15 Tsum Tsum Shorts 08:10 K.C. Undercover 14:00 Gone In Sixty Seconds 12:15 Lip Sync Battle 20:20 Backstage 08:35 Milo Murphy's Law 16:00 Close Range 12:40 Impractical Jokers UK 20:45 Austin & Ally 09:00 Walk The Prank 17:45 A View To A Kill 13:05 Disorderly Conduct: Video On 21:10 The Next Step 09:25 Right Now Kapow 20:00 Automata Patrol 21:35 Cracke 00:10 The Chase 09:50 Lab Rats 22:00 Terminator Genisys 13:55 Ridiculousness 21:40 Best Friends Whenever 01:00 Emmerdale 10:15 Two More Eggs 14:20 Bondi Ink. 22:05 Girl Meets World 01:30 Coronation Street 10:20 Star vs The Forces Of Evil 15:10 I Live With Models 22:30 That's So Raven 02:00 Coronation Street 10:45 Mighty Med 15:35 Disaster Date 22:55 Star Darlings 02:30 Guess This House 11:10 K.C. Undercover 16:00 Disaster Date 23:00 Good Luck Charlie 03:25 Vera 11:35 Lab Rats: Bionic Island 16:30 Impractical Jokers UK 23:25 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 05:15 Come Date With Me Australia 12:00 Avalon High 00:15 Vet On The Loose 16:55 Lip Sync Battle Witch 06:10 The Chase 13:30 Star vs The Forces Of Evil 00:45 Bondi Vet 17:25 Key And Peele 23:50 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 07:05 Guess This House 13:45 K.C. Undercover 01:40 Lone Star Law 17:50 Life Or Debt Witch 08:00 Vera 14:10 Disney Mickey Mouse 02:35 Tanked 18:39 Ridiculousness 09:35 Gino's Italian Escape 14:15 K.C. Undercover 03:25 Pandamonium 19:03 Disaster Date 10:00 Come Date With Me Australia 14:40 Lab Rats 04:15 Gator Boys 19:27 Key And Peele 10:55 The Chase 15:05 Lab Rats 05:02 Vet On The Loose 19:50 Key And Peele 11:50 Guess This House 15:30 Supa Strikas 05:27 Vet On The Loose 20:13 Idiotsitter 12:45 Emmerdale 15:55 Supa Strikas 05:49 Lone Star Law 20:37 Important Things With Demitri 00:00 Henry Hugglemonster 13:15 Coronation Street 16:25 K.C. Undercover 06:36 Gorilla School Martin 00:15 Calimero 13:45 Coronation Street 16:50 Walk The Prank 07:00 Gorilla School 21:00 The Daily Show With Trevor Noah 00:30 Art Attack 14:15 The Chase 17:15 Lab Rats: Bionic Island 07:25 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 21:30 Workaholics 00:55 Zou 15:10 Guess This House 17:40 Milo Murphy's Law 08:15 Lone Star Law 22:00 Inside Amy Schumer 01:05 Loopdidoo 16:00 Murdoch Mysteries 18:05 Disney Mickey Mouse 09:10 Pandamonium 22:25 Key And Peele 01:20 Henry Hugglemonster 16:55 Brief Encounters 18:10 Gravity Falls 10:05 Tanked 22:50 Tosh.0 01:35 Calimero 17:50 Come Date With Me Australia 18:35 Mighty Med 11:00 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 23:15 Tosh.0 01:50 Zou 18:20 Come Date With Me Australia 19:00 Atomic Puppet 11:55 Bondi Vet 23:40 The Daily Show With Trevor Noah 02:05 Art Attack 18:45 Emmerdale 19:25 Gamer's Guide To Pretty Much 12:50 Lone Star Law 02:30 The Hive 19:15 Coronation Street Everything 13:45 Gator Boys 02:40 Loopdidoo 19:45 Coronation Street 19:55 K.C. Undercover 14:40 Pandamonium 02:55 Henry Hugglemonster 20:10 Guess This House 20:20 Star vs The Forces Of Evil 21:00 Murdoch Mysteries 15:35 Tanked 03:10 Art Attack 20:45 Mighty Med 21:55 Brief Encounters 16:30 Vet On The Loose 03:35 Loopdidoo 21:10 Walk The Prank 22:50 Emmerdale 16:55 Vet On The Loose 00:30 What Could Possibly Go Wrong? 03:50 Calimero 21:40 Disney Mickey Mouse 23:15 Coronation Street 17:25 Rugged Justice 01:20 Kids Do The Craziest Things 04:05 Art Attack 21:45 Marvel's Avengers Assemble 23:40 Coronation Street 18:20 Pit Bulls & Parolees 01:45 Kids Do The Craziest Things 04:30 Henry Hugglemonster 22:10 Marvel Ultimate Spider-Man vs 19:15 Tanked 02:10 Pick A Puppy 04:45 Zou The Sinister 6 EVEREST ON OSN MOVIES HD 20:10 Pandamonium 02:35 Pick A Puppy 05:00 Art Attack 22:35 Boyster 07:15 Emma's Chance 21:05 Rugged Justice 03:00 Destroyed In Seconds 05:30 Henry Hugglemonster 23:00 Programmes Start At 6:00am KSA 09:00 Frozen 22:00 Pit Bulls & Parolees 03:25 Destroyed In Seconds 05:45 Loopdidoo 10:45 The Hunchback Of Notre Dame II 22:55 Gator Boys 03:50 Ultimate Survival 06:00 Zou 12:00 American Girl: Isabelle Dances Into 23:50 Vet On The Loose 04:40 How It's Made 06:15 Calimero 00:00 America: The Story Of The U.S. The Spotlight 05:05 How It's Made 06:30 Loopdidoo 01:00 Cities Of The Underworld 13:45 Frozen 05:30 Dirty Jobs 06:45 Henry Hugglemonster 00:15 Food Lover's Guide To The Planet 02:00 America's Book Of Secrets 15:45 The Emperor's New Groove 06:20 Mythbusters 07:00 My Friends Tigger & Pooh 00:40 The Game Chef 00:05 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 02:50 Ancient Aliens 01:05 Raw Travel 17:15 Kronk's New Groove 07:00 Doki 07:25 Sofia The First 03:40 Bible Secrets Revealed 00:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 01:30 Dog Whisperer 19:00 High School Musical 3: Senior Year 07:25 Bear Grylls Survival School 07:50 The Lion Guard 04:30 The Universe 01:50 Botched 02:20 The Food Files 21:00 Inspector Gadget 07:50 Must Love Cats 08:15 PJ Masks 05:20 America: The Story Of The U.S. 00:35 The Living And The Dead 02:50 Celebrity Style Story 02:45 The Food Files 22:30 The Emperor's New Groove 08:40 How It's Made 08:40 Jake And The Never Land Pirates 06:10 The Universe 01:35 Line Of Duty 03:20 Celebrity Style Story 03:10 The Best Job In The World 09:05 How It's Made 09:05 Goldie & Bear 07:00 Cities Of The Underworld 02:35 DCI Banks 03:50 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 03:35 Lyndey Milan - Taste Of Australia 09:30 What Could Possibly Go Wrong? 09:30 Minnie's Bow-Toons 08:00 America's Book Of Secrets 03:25 DCI Banks 04:40 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 04:00 World's Best Beaches 10:20 Mythbusters 09:35 The Lion Guard 09:00 Ancient Aliens 05:30 Celebrity Style Story 04:50 Maximum Foodie 10:00 Bible Secrets Revealed 06:00 Hollywood Medium With Tyler 05:20 Maximum Foodie 11:00 The Universe Henry 05:45 Confucius Was A Foodie 00:30 The Zero Theorem 06:55 E! News 12:00 America: The Story Of The U.S. 02:30 Neil Young: Heart Of Gold 13:00 Cities Of The Underworld 06:40 Chasing The Sun 07:10 Hollywood Medium With Tyler 07:10 Raw Travel 04:15 Mood Indigo Henry 14:00 America's Book Of Secrets 06:30 My Old Lady 15:00 Ancient Aliens 07:35 Dog Whisperer 08:10 E! News 08:30 The Food Files 08:30 Of Mice And Men 09:10 Mariah's World 16:00 Bible Secrets Revealed 10:30 Gone With The Bullets 17:00 The Universe 09:00 The Food Files 10:05 Mariah's World 09:25 The Best Job In The World 12:30 Neil Young: Heart Of Gold 11:00 Mariah's World 18:00 America: The Story Of The U.S. 14:15 The Truth About Emanuel 19:00 Cities Of The Underworld 09:55 Lyndey Milan - Taste Of Australia 12:00 E! News 10:20 World's Best Beaches 16:00 The Girl 12:15 So Cosmo 20:00 America's Book Of Secrets 17:45 Frankie And Johnny 21:00 Ancient Aliens 11:15 Maximum Foodie 13:10 So Cosmo 11:45 Maximum Foodie 19:45 Unbroken 14:05 So Cosmo 22:00 Ancient Aliens 22:15 Suite Francaise 23:00 The Universe 12:10 Chasing The Sun 15:00 E! News 12:40 Raw Travel 15:15 WAGs 13:05 Dog Whisperer 16:10 WAGs 14:00 The Food Files 17:05 WAGs 14:30 The Food Files 18:00 WAGs 14:55 The Best Job In The World 19:00 E! News 15:25 Lyndey Milan - Taste Of Australia 00:45 Curious George 20:00 Mariah's World 00:20 Mankind The Story Of All Of Us 15:50 World's Best Beaches 02:30 Moomins And The Comet Chase 21:00 Mariah's World 01:10 The Curse Of Oak Island 16:45 Charlie Luxton's Homes By The 04:15 Capture The Flag 22:00 Mariah's World 02:00 Hunting Hitler Med 06:00 The Adventures Of Don Quixote 23:00 E! News 07:30 Mamma Moo And Crow 02:50 Storage Wars 17:40 Confucius Was A Foodie 23:15 Botched 09:00 Thumbelina 03:15 American Pickers 18:35 Chasing The Sun 19:05 The Best Job In The World 10:45 Curious George 04:05 Pawn Stars 19:30 Lyndey Milan - Taste Of Australia 12:30 Moomins And The Comet Chase 04:30 Pawn Stars 20:00 World's Best Beaches 14:00 Egon And Donci 05:00 Mountain Men 20:55 Charlie Luxton's Homes By The 16:00 Thumbelina 06:00 Leepu And Pitbull Med 18:00 The Boxcar Children 00:00 Restaurant: Impossible 06:50 Shipping Wars 21:45 Confucius Was A Foodie 20:00 The Tale Of Despereaux 01:00 Mystery Diners 07:15 Shipping Wars 22:35 Chasing The Sun 21:45 Egon And Donci 01:30 Mystery Diners 07:40 Counting Cars 23:00 Raw Travel 23:15 Mamma Moo And Crow BIG GAME ON OSN MOVIES ACTION 02:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 08:05 Counting Cars 23:25 Dog Whisperer 02:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 04:15 Casualty 11:10 Must Love Cats 10:00 Sofia The First 03:00 Man Fire Food 08:30 Pawn Stars 05:10 Stella 12:00 Ultimate Survival 10:30 Doc McStuffins 03:30 Man Fire Food 08:55 Pawn Stars 06:00 Casualty 12:50 How It's Made 10:55 Miles From Tomorrow 04:00 Chopped 09:20 Storage Wars 00:45 The Babadook 06:55 Casualty 13:15 How It's Made 11:20 My Friends Tigger & Pooh 05:00 Guy's Grocery Games 09:45 Storage Wars 02:45 Pitch Perfect 2 07:55 Father Brown 13:40 Dirty Jobs 11:50 Loopdidoo 06:00 Barefoot Contessa 10:10 American Pickers 04:45 The Invention Of Lying 08:45 Doctor Who 14:30 Doki 12:05 Sheriff Callie's Wild West 06:30 Barefoot Contessa 06:30 Dick Tracy 09:35 Stella 14:55 Bear Grylls Survival School 12:30 Gummi Bears 11:00 Time Team 00:10 Scam City 07:00 The Kitchen 08:45 Beaches 10:25 Casualty 15:20 Mythbusters 12:55 Zou 11:50 Time Team 01:00 Lawless Island 08:00 The Pioneer Woman 11:00 Pitch Perfect 2 11:25 Father Brown 16:10 What Could Possibly Go Wrong? 13:10 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 12:40 Swamp People 02:00 Mine Kings 08:30 The Pioneer Woman 13:15 The Guardian 12:15 Doctor Who 17:00 Race To Escape 13:35 PJ Masks 13:30 Ax Men 03:00 Mega Factories 13:05 Stella 09:00 The Pioneer Woman 15:45 The Bucket List 17:50 Now That's Funny 14:00 My Friends Tigger & Pooh 14:20 Mountain Men 04:00 Scam City 09:30 The Pioneer Woman 17:45 Everest 13:50 Casualty 18:40 Destroyed In Seconds 14:30 The Lion Guard 05:00 World's Toughest Fixes 10:00 Siba's Table 15:10 Ice Road Truckers 20:00 The Taking Of Pelham 123 14:45 Father Brown 19:05 Destroyed In Seconds 15:00 Sofia The First 06:00 Mygrations 10:30 Siba's Table 16:00 Leepu And Pitbull 22:00 Higher Learning 15:35 Doctor Who 19:30 How It's Made 15:30 Doc McStuffins 07:00 Filthy Riches 11:00 The Kitchen 16:50 Pawn Stars 16:25 Stella 19:55 How It's Made 15:55 Goldie & Bear 08:00 Mars 12:00 The Pioneer Woman 17:15 Pawn Stars 17:10 The Coroner 20:20 Mythbusters 16:20 Miles From Tomorrow 09:00 World's Toughest Fixes 12:30 The Pioneer Woman 18:00 Doctors 21:10 Race To Escape 16:50 PJ Masks 17:40 Hunting Hitler 10:00 Monster Fish 13:00 Siba's Table 18:30 Doctors 22:00 World's Funniest Fails 17:15 Sofia The First 18:30 The Curse Of Oak Island 11:00 Wicked Tuna 13:30 Siba's Table 19:05 Father Brown 22:50 Destroyed In Seconds 17:40 Doc McStuffins 19:20 Mountain Men 12:00 Air Crash Investigation 14:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 00:30 How Do They Do It? 20:00 Frankie 23:15 Destroyed In Seconds 18:05 Jake And The Never Land Pirates 20:10 American Pickers 13:00 Mygrations 14:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 00:55 Food Factory 21:00 The Level 23:40 Ultimate Survival 18:30 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 21:00 Ice Road Truckers 14:00 Mars 21:50 DCI Banks 15:00 Chopped 01:20 NASA's Unexplained Files 19:00 Goldie & Bear 21:50 Fifth Gear 15:00 Filthy Riches 22:45 DCI Banks 16:00 The Kitchen 16:00 Monster Fish 02:10 Ways To Save The Planet 19:25 Goldie & Bear 22:40 Swamp People 23:40 Doctors 17:00 The Pioneer Woman 17:00 Wicked Tuna 03:00 The Big Brain Theory 19:50 Doc McStuffins 23:30 American Pickers 20:05 Goldie & Bear 18:00 Air Crash Investigation 03:48 Mythbusters 20:35 My Friends Tigger & Pooh 19:00 Filthy Riches 04:36 How Do They Do It? 21:00 Gummi Bears 20:00 Monster Fish 05:00 Food Factory 05:24 NASA's Unexplained Files 00:10 Hank Zipzer 21:30 Miles From Tomorrow 20:50 Wicked Tuna 06:12 Ways To Save The Planet 00:35 Binny And The Ghost 22:00 PJ Masks 21:40 Air Crash Investigation 07:00 How Do They Do It? 00:00 Killers 01:00 Binny And The Ghost 22:25 PJ Masks 22:30 Filthy Riches 07:26 The Big Brain Theory 01:00 I Escaped My Killer 01:25 Hank Zipzer 22:55 PJ Masks 23:20 Mygrations 08:14 Mythbusters 02:00 Homicide Hunter 01:45 The Hive 23:20 Henry Hugglemonster 09:02 How The Earth Works 03:00 Crimes That Shook Australia 01:50 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 23:35 The Hive 09:50 How Do They Do It? 04:00 Killers Witch 23:45 Loopdidoo 10:14 Food Factory 05:00 I Escaped My Killer 02:15 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 10:38 The Unexplained Files 06:00 My Crazy Ex Witch 11:26 The Big Brain Theory 07:00 My Crazy Ex 02:40 Hank Zipzer 12:14 Mythbusters 08:00 Evil Up Close 03:05 Binny And The Ghost 00:20 Man V. Lion 13:02 How Do They Do It? 09:00 I Killed My BFF 03:30 Binny And The Ghost 01:10 Hunter Hunted 13:26 Food Factory 10:00 Crimes That Shook Australia 03:55 Hank Zipzer 00:20 Street Outlaws 02:00 Clouded Leopard 13:50 How The Earth Works 11:00 The First 48 04:15 The Hive 01:10 Gold Rush 02:50 Animals Gone Wild 14:38 The Big Brain Theory 12:00 The First 48 04:20 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 02:00 Idris Elba: Fighter 03:45 Jobs That Bite! 15:26 NASA's Unexplained Files 13:00 My Crazy Ex Witch 02:50 Killing Fields 04:40 Ultimate Animal Countdown 16:14 Mythbusters 14:00 Evil Up Close 04:45 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 03:40 Fast N' Loud 05:35 Clouded Leopard 17:02 Ways To Save The Planet 15:00 Crimes That Shook Australia Witch 04:30 Storage Hunters 06:30 Animals Gone Wild 17:50 The Big Brain Theory 16:00 I Killed My BFF 05:10 Hank Zipzer 05:00 How Do They Do It? 07:25 Jobs That Bite! 18:40 Mythbusters 17:00 The First 48 05:35 Binny And The Ghost 05:30 How Do They Do It? 08:20 Ultimate Animal Countdown 19:30 Sport Science 18:00 The First 48 06:00 Binny And The Ghost 06:00 Outback Truckers 09:15 World's Deadliest Animals 20:20 How Do They Do It? 19:00 Evil Up Close 06:25 Hank Zipzer 06:50 Street Outlaws 10:10 Survive The Wild 20:45 Food Factory 20:00 Britain's Biggest Heists 06:45 The Hive 07:40 Fast N' Loud 11:05 Man V. Monster 21:10 Ways To Save The Planet 21:00 Crimes That Shook Australia 06:50 The 7D 08:30 Venom Hunters 12:00 Shark Junction 22:00 Sport Science 22:00 Crime Stories 07:00 Jessie 09:20 Storage Hunters 12:55 Return Of The Lion 22:50 The Big Brain Theory 23:00 Sex, Fame And Murder 07:25 Jessie 09:45 How Do They Do It? 13:50 Animals Gone Wild 23:40 Mythbusters 07:50 Tsum Tsum Shorts 10:10 How Do They Do It? 14:45 Jobs That Bite! 07:55 The Zhuzhus 10:35 Gold Rush 15:40 Ultimate Animal Countdown 08:20 Elena Of Avalor 11:25 What On Earth? 16:35 Animals Gone Wild Compilations 08:45 Bizaardvark 12:15 Alaskan Bush People 17:30 Survive The Wild 09:10 Bizaardvark 13:05 How Do They Do It? 18:25 Man V. Monster 00:05 The Half Hour 09:35 Stuck In The Middle 13:30 Storage Hunters 19:20 Jobs That Bite! 01:10 Return To Amish 00:30 South Park 10:00 Stuck In The Middle 13:55 Storage Hunters 20:10 Ultimate Animal Countdown 02:00 My Big Fat Fabulous Life 00:55 South Park 10:25 Disney The Lodge 14:20 Gold Rush 21:00 Animals Gone Wild Compilations 02:25 Say Yes To The Dress: 01:20 Tosh.0 10:50 Bunk'd 15:10 Venom Hunters 21:50 Survive The Wild Bridesmaids 01:45 Tosh.0 11:15 Bunk'd 16:00 Outback Truckers 22:40 Man V. Monster 02:50 Love At First Swipe 02:10 Another Period 11:40 Pocahontas II: Journey To A... 16:50 Fast N' Loud 23:30 Shark Junction 03:15 Cake Boss 02:35 Another Period 12:55 Stuck In The Middle 17:40 Street Outlaws 03:35 Little Miss Atlanta 03:00 The Daily Show - Global Edition 13:20 Jessie 18:30 How Do They Do It? 04:20 Little People, Big World 03:25 Disorderly Conduct: Video On 13:45 Jessie 18:55 How Do They Do It? 04:45 Little People, Big World Patrol 14:10 Austin & Ally 19:20 Venom Hunters 05:10 Toddlers & Tiaras 04:15 Lip Sync Battle 14:35 Austin & Ally 20:10 Storage Hunters 06:00 Say Yes To The Dress: The Big 04:40 Ridiculousness 15:00 Liv And Maddie 20:35 Storage Hunters 00:15 Emma's Chance Day 05:05 Disaster Date 15:25 Liv And Maddie 21:00 The Wheel: Survival Games 02:15 Chilly Christmas 06:50 Say Yes To The Dress: 05:30 Sweat Inc. 15:50 Sunny Bunnies 21:50 Running Wild With Bear Grylls 04:00 American Girl: Isabelle Dances Into Bridesmaids 06:20 Catch A Contractor 15:55 The Zhuzhus 22:40 American Tarzan The Spotlight 07:15 Say Yes To The Dress: 06:50 Catch A Contractor 16:20 Miraculous Tales Of Ladybug And 23:30 Fast N' Loud MY OLD LADY ON OSN MOVIES FESTIVAL 06:00 Kim Possible: So The Drama TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 information

For labor-related inquiries INTERNATIONAL and complaints: CALLS Call MSAL hotline 128

Afghanistan 0093 Lithuania 00370 GOVERNORATE PHARMACY ADDRESS PHONE Albania 00355 Luxembourg 00352 Algeria 00213 Macau 00853 Ahmadi Sama Safwan Fahaeel Makka St 23915883 Andorra 00376 Macedonia 00389 Sabah Hospital 24812000 Abu Halaifa Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd 23715414 Danat Al-Sultan Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd 23726558 Angola 00244 Madagascar 00261 Amiri Hospital 22450005 Anguilla 001264 Majorca 0034 Maternity Hospital 24843100 Jahra Modern Jahra Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 24575518 Antiga 001268 Malawi 00265 Madina Munawara Jahra-Block 92 24566622 Argentina 0054 Malaysia 0060 Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital 25312700 Capital Ahlam Fahad Al-Salem St 22436184 Armenia 00374 Maldives 00960 Chest Hospital 24849400 Khaldiya Coop Khaldiya Coop 24833967 Australia 0061 Mali 00223 Austria 0043 Malta 00356 Farwaniya Hospital 24892010 Farwaniya New Shifa Farwaniya Block 40 24734000 Azerbaijan 00994 Marshall Islands 00692 Ferdous Coop Ferdous Coop 24881201 Adan Hospital 23940620 Modern Safwan Old Kheitan Block 11 24726638 Bahamas 001242 Martinique 00596 Bahrain 00973 Mauritania 00222 Ibn Sina Hospital 24840300 Hawally Tariq Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25726265 Bangladesh 00880 Mauritius 00230 Al-Razi Hospital 24846000 Hana Salmiya-Amman St 25647075 Barbados 001246 Mayotte 00269 Ikhlas Hawally-Beirut St 22625999 Belarus 00375 Mexico 0052 Physiotherapy Hospital 24874330/9 Hawally & Rawdha Hawally & Rawdha Coop 22564549 Ghadeer Jabriya-Block 1A 25340559 Belgium 0032 Micronesia 00691 Kindy Jabriya-Block 3B 25326554 Belize 00501 Moldova 00373 Ibn Al-Nafis Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25721264 Benin 00229 Monaco 00377 Mishrif Coop Mishrif Coop 25380581 Kaizen center 25716707 Salwa Coop Salwa Coop 25628241 Bermuda 001441 Mongolia 00976 Bhutan 00975 Montserrat 001664 Rawda 22517733 Bolivia 00591 Morocco 00212 Adaliya 22517144 Bosnia 00387 Mozambique 00258 Botswana 00267 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Khaldiya 24848075 Brazil 0055 Namibia 00264 Kaifan 24849807 Brunei 00673 Nepal 00977 Bulgaria 00359 Netherlands 0031 Shamiya 24848913 Burkina 00226 Netherlands Antilles 00599 Shuwaikh 24814507 Burundi 00257 New Caledonia 00687 Cambodia 00855 New Zealand 0064 Abdullah Salem 22549134 Cameroon 00237 Nicaragua 00505 Nuzha 22526804 Canada 001 Nigar 00227 Industrial Shuwaikh 24814764 Cape Verde 00238 Nigeria 00234 Cayman Islands 001345 Niue 00683 Qadsiya 22515088 Central African 00236 Norfolk Island 00672 Dasmah 22532265 Chad 00235 N. Ireland (UK) 0044 Chile 0056 North Korea 00850 Bneid Al-Gar 22531908 China 0086 Norway 0047 Shaab 22518752 Colombia 0057 Oman 00968 Comoros 00269 Pakistan 0092 Qibla 22459381 Congo 00242 Palau 00680 Ayoun Al-Qibla 22451082 Cook Islands 00682 Panama 00507 Costa Rica 00506 Papua New Guinea 00675 Mirqab 22456536 Croatia 00385 Paraguay 00595 Sharq 22465401 Cuba 0053 Peru 0051 Cyprus 00357 Philippines 0063 Salmiya 25746401 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Poland 0048 Jabriya 25316254 Czech Republic 00420 Portugal 00351 Denmark 0045 Puerto Rico 001787 Maidan Hawally 25623444 Diego Garcia 00246 Qatar 00974 Bayan 25388462 Djibouti 00253 Romania 0040 Russian Federation 007 Mishref 25381200 Dominica 001767 Dominican Republic 001809 Rwanda 00250 W Hawally 22630786 Ecuador 00593 Saint Helena 00290 Sabah 24810221 Egypt 0020 Saint Kitts 001869 El Salvador 00503 Saint Lucia 001758 Jahra 24770319 England (UK) 0044 Saint Pierre 00508 New Jahra 24575755 Equatorial Guinea 00240 Saint Vincent 001784 Eritrea 00291 Samoa US 00684 West Jahra 24772608 Estonia 00372 Samoa West 00685 South Jahra 24775066 Ethiopia 00251 San Marino 00378 Falkland Islands 00500 Sao Tome 00239 North Jahra 24775992 Faroe Islands 00298 Saudi Arabia 00966 North Jleeb 24311795 Fiji 00679 Scotland (UK) 0044 Finland 00358 Senegal 00221 Ardhiya 24884079 France 0033 Seychelles 00284 Firdous 24892674 French Guiana 00594 Sierra Leone 00232 French Polynesia 00689 Singapore 0065 Omariya 24719048 Gabon 00241 Slovakia 00421 N Khaitan 24710044 Gambia 00220 Slovenia 00386 Georgia 00995 Solomon Islands 00677 Fintas 23900322 Germany 0049 Somalia 00252 Ghana 00233 South Africa 0027 Gibraltar 00350 South Korea 0082 Greece 0030 Spain 0034 Greenland 00299 Sri Lanka 0094 PRIVATE CLINICS Grenada 001473 Sudan 00249 Guadeloupe 00590 Suriname 00597 Guam 001671 Swaziland 00268 Guatemala 00502 Sweden 0046 Ophthalmologists Plastic Surgeons Paediatricians Endocrinologist Guinea 00224 Switzerland 0041 Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf 22547272 Dr. Khaled Hamadi 25665898 Guyana 00592 Syria 00963 Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman 25339330 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari 22617700 Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed 25340300 Haiti 00509 Serbia 00381 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Abdel Quttainah 25625030/60 Dr. Zahra Qabazard 25710444 Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Taiwan 00886 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Family Doctor Dr. Sohail Qamar 22621099 Honduras 00504 Tanzania 00255 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Dr Divya Damodar 23729596/23729581 Dr. Snaa Maaroof 25713514 Hong Kong 00852 Thailand 0066 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Physiotherapists & VD Psychiatrists Dr. Pradip Gujare 23713100 Hungary 0036 Togo 00228 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Dr. Zacharias Mathew 24334282 Dr. Deyaa Shehab 25722291 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Tonga 00676 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Esam Al-Ansari 22635047 Iceland 00354 Tokelau 00690 Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan 22613623/0 Dermatology Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees 22666288 Trinidad 001868 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Gynaecologists & Obstetricians Dr. Mohammed Salam India 0091 Rheumatologists: Indian Ocean 00873 Tunisia 00216 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 DrAdrian arbe 23729596/23729581 Bern University 23845955 Indonesia 0062 Turkey 0090 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Verginia s.Marin 2572-6666 ext 8321 Dentists Dr. Adel Al-Awadi 25330060 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Iran 0098 Tuvalu 00688 Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan 22655539 Dr Anil Thomas 3729596/3729581 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah 25722290 Iraq 00964 Uganda 00256 Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami 25343406 Dr. Shamah Al-Matar 22641071/2 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 Ireland 00353 Ukraine 00380 Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly 25739272 Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed 22562226 Internist, Chest & Heart General Practitioners Italy 0039 United Arab Emirates 00976 Dr. Salem soso 22618787 Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer 22561444 Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 DR.Mohammes Akkad 24555050 Ext 210 Ivory Coast 00225 United Kingdom 0044 Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan 22619557 General Surgeons Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Mohammad Zubaid Jamaica 001876 Uruguay 00598 Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash 22525888 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer 22610044 MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Japan 0081 USA 001 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan 25653755 Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher 25327148 Assistant Professor Of Medicine Jordan 00962 Uzbekistan 00998 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Bader Al-Ansari 25620111 Head, Division of Cardiology Internists, Chest & Heart Kazakhstan 007 Vanuatu 00678 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Neurologists Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital 25339667 Dr. Adnan Ebil 22639939 Kenya 00254 Venezuela 00582 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri 25633324 Dr. Mousa Khadada 22666300 Consultant Cardiologist Kiribati 00686 Vietnam 0084 Urologists Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan 25345875 Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan 25728004 Dr. Farida Al-Habib 2611555-2622555 Kuwait 00965 Virgin Islands UK 001284 Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Gastrologists MD, PH.D, FACC Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra 25355515 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Virgin Islands US 001340 Dr. Sami Aman 22636464 Inaya German Medical Center Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Mobarak Aldoub 24726446 Laos 00856 Wales (UK) 0044 Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly 25322030 Te: 2575077 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr Nasser Behbehani 25654300/3 Latvia 00371 Yemen 00967 Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali 22633135 Fax: 25723123 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Lebanon 00961 Yugoslavia 00381 Zambia 00260 Soor Center Liberia 00231 Psychologists [email protected] Tel: 2290-1677 Kaizen center Noor Clinic William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Libya 00218 Zimbabwe 00263 /Psychotherapists www.soorcenter.com Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688 25716707 23845955 Lesotho 00266 stars34 TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

CROSSWORD 1568 STAR TRACK

Aries (March 21-April 19) Libra (September 23-October 22)

A sense of humor is good this morning. The appreciation of humor is what There is no stealing the glory from you. You have the ability to accomplish a sense of humor is all about. You are good at creating little bits and pieces whatever you set out to do. This afternoon you could be pulling out your hidden, cre- of humor but sometimes just laughing at somebody else's joke is fun and relieves a lot ative ideas in order to decide about some changes or develop some new methods. of stress. Be a humor detective and check out the typing goofs from advertisements, Perhaps this is just talking over a new plan with co-workers, but you are full of ideas. Your signs or the newspaper. In many cases you and your friends and family have a sort of a personal authority has improved and you are not only able to express yourself well, but psychic link. They just about know what you will say or do in many situations. This joke you are respected for your intelligent ideas. You may be learning to master frustrations sharing is one time when they never know what to expect and will end up laughing through activities that will help you think through situations. Whatever the reason for and carrying on in a most delightful manner, thanks to you. Of course, the best way to this growth, others will notice. If you work at a computer or a desk you would be wise to carry through on a joke is to not laugh at your own story-enjoy. practice good posture. You and family members talk about an upcoming trip.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

You may be reviewing your goals today. A parent, mentor or loved one Misunderstandings and confusion may happen this morning. With may have said or done something that reminds you of the expectations you had for your some effort, you can work past any problem by busying yourself in your work. future when you were young. At any rate you may be pleased with your assessments and However, be cautious in promising more than you can deliver; timing is everything. decide more education or a better job is in your own personal forecast. Probing conver- Any desire for the new and the different should be listed for future reference and not sations find you at your mental best. You have the right mental attitude and draw respect necessarily begun today. You impress someone at the top of the corporate ladder. Be and admiration from the people around you. Your analytical abilities are at a high and sure to take your breaks and walk after lunch. There is talk of a social gathering with business matters are carried out successfully. This is a great time to be with others in a co-workers after work and you may enjoy helping to plan an after work get-together. teamwork situation. There are many ways to become involved within the neighborhood, You will often draw emotional sustenance and a sense of security from ideals, friends and tonight you might be attending a neighborhood committee meeting. and a social involvement. Soft lights and sweet music are relaxing later this evening.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You may have to hold your breath and count to ten before you answer You will receive compliments today not only from a loved one, but from someone today. We all have times we would like to say what we think, but someone at work. You may have a special glow about you today that just draws kind you will be happier with the outcome when you go with the count-to-ten method. This comments. You may find yourself lunching with co-workers and enjoying conversa- also may not be a time to make quick professional decisions. It is, however, important to tions about past love relationships and lessons learned. Differences in social expecta- ACROSS 5. The time that has elapsed. keep a close eye on your systems and schedules and stick to them! The work you do and tions and personal expectations may be a topic of discussion as well. You may be able the way you take care of health and other mundane obligations are important keys to 1. A humorous anecdote or remark. 6. A unit of luminous flux equal to the amount to enjoy and value your own life situation or feel especially kind towards a friend or your best potential, in many respects. This is an ideal time to kick off a new fitness routine 4. Spiced hot milk with rum or wine. of light given out through a solid angle of loved one. Perhaps planning a vacation or a move is in order now. There is a cycle of or accelerate a current one. What a wonderful time it is this evening to spend with loved 12. A serve that strikes the net before falling 1 steradian by a point source of 1 candela romance and longing for the comfort of home-emphasizing a need for security and ones and family. Smile! Relationships are most meaningful at this time. into the receiver's court. intensity radiating uniformly in all direc- roots. Family, home, relatives and real estate play a big part in your life now. 15. Any of various coarse shrubby plants of the tions. genus Iva with small greenish flowers. 7. Acquire or gain knowledge or skills. 8. A city in northern India. 16. A fellow female member of a youth gang. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Capricorn (December 22-January 19) 17. Hormone secreted by the posterior pitu- 9. An authoritative direction or instruction to itary gland (trade name Pitressin) and also do something. It is easy for you to get your message across to others this day. You may Sales in real estate as well as the import-export business can be very lucra- by nerve endings in the hypothalamus. 10. of or involving excess nitrogenous waste be sad when your work is criticized, however. You may rise to the opportunity to tive at this time. If any part of your job involves writing, you are about to open up into a 18. A slight wind (usually refreshing). products in the urine (usually due to kid- demonstrate your abilities to compromise and solve problems. Your management wondrous path of discovery. You have a natural writing talent, and the way you put 20. Type genus of the Ardeidae. ney insufficiency). abilities are in high focus. Your ideas can change things for the better in the work- words together makes potential customers into permanent ones. You begin to know 21. An agency of the United Nations affiliated 11. Someone who works (or provides workers) place, but others may not be ready to merge their ideas with yours-patience. You are yourself better and all sorts of creative avenues open up to you now. You need to serve, during a strike. constantly in pursuit of new and different ways to improve moneymaking skills and perform, receive and express yourself each day in order to feel complete and useful. This with the World Bank. this may be a good time to consider your own business. A clear-minded insight into 12. (Scotland) A landowner. can be a real feat for most of us, but you are competent and will strike this balance when 22. A particular geographical region of indefi- your own plans and methods is obtainable now. Your charm and outgoing personali- you make a determined effort. Visiting with friends helps you to be even more expres- nite boundary (usually serving some spe- 13. Tropical starchy tuberous root. ty will draw others to your point of enthusiastic ideas. sive. Don't forget the family member that might like to hear a story this evening. cial purpose or distinguished by its people 14. The process whereby heat changes some- or culture or geography). thing from a solid to a liquid. 23. A genus of Mustelidae. 19. One who works hard at boring tasks. Aquarius (January 20- February 18) 25. United States baseball player and manager 24. A state in midwestern United States. Leo (July 23-August 22) (1873-1934). 26. A unit of force equal to the force exerted 27. A radioactive transuranic element. by gravity. You are hopeful concerning money matters this day. There is a desire to Harmonize yourself with the job demands in order to strengthen your present job course. Religion, philosophy and world affairs may influence your work. 29. An associate degree in nursing. 28. Fiber of the flax plant that is made into excel in the workplace. To complete an important project earlier than expected, you thread and woven into linen fabric. will find sources that will help equip you to solve problems and supply information. There could be some challenges this day but your attitude will show your willingness. 31. fastener that fastens together two ends of Some sort of temporary obstacle may appear and you could feel frustrated-have 30. A school for students intermediate Noontime may find you at a library, researching ways in which to beautify the furni- a belt or strap. ture you now have-restoring perhaps. With self-confidence you create good luck all patience, you will have everything running smoothly once again. Your words have as 38. A constellation in the southern hemisphere between elementary school and college. around you. Your powers of perception are particularly sharp and you would do well much effect as the example you set. Your thinking is lucid and grasping. You may near Telescopium and Norma. 32. Either of a pair of thick-walled tubes that now to work out the details of any previous plans. Combined interests between you unknowingly help a close friend later today. On a personal level, you are in touch with 39. Verse in the meter used in Greek and Latin carry urine from the kidney to the urinary and your partner may find you both planning a trip or a weekend outing. Young peo- your feelings and can restore any hard feelings that may have occurred in the recent poetry consisting of strophes of 4 tetra- bladder. ple may take precedence this evening. Your attention moves to new tools. past. Laughter is good medicine. Someone treats you to dinner tonight. metric lines. 33. West Indian tree having racemes of fra- 43. Affording or marked by rest or repose. grant white flowers and yielding a durable timber and resinous juice. 45. With eagerness. Virgo (August 23-September 22) Pisces (February 19-March 20) 48. Essential oil or perfume obtained from 34. English essayist (1775-1834). flowers. 35. Being one more than one hundred. Changes could occur in your environment that will shock you. You Your feelings at work may take on a positive, get-it-done attitude. 49. Wild ginger. 36. A port city and resort in Andalusia in could find yourself becoming quite thrilled to finally see positive changes take place. However, you may find interruptions that impede your progress. 51. The basic unit of money in Iran. southern Spain on the Mediterranean. Perhaps your city or workplace has finally decided to have a special place for the trash Circumstances could cause you to be firm with co-workers. However, suggesting a time that can be recycled. In the workplace you are moved by high achievers and may learn to talk later will help appease the situation. What you value in life is how you form your 52. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a 37. United States space station. 40. The portion of the vertebrate nervous sys- some new work techniques. Committing yourself to a purpose creates a positive focus goals. Do some deep thinking, perhaps even a little note taking about the progress of skewer usually with vegetables. forward. Balance between your sense of duty to the world and your sense of duty to these goals. If your money and your goals are not going in the direction of what you val- 53. Informal terms for a mother. tem consisting of the brain and spinal cord. yourself is an important lesson to learn now. Others are impressed by your productivity ue in life, do some reassessing. It could be you are trying to reach someone else's dream. 54. Primitive chlorophyll-containing mainly today. Your nature may be calm, as you take a serious attitude to just about all aspects Your friends may want you to join them in their activities this afternoon. You will find 41. Small terrestrial lizard of warm regions of aquatic eukaryotic organisms lacking true of your life. A little scholastic help for a youngster may be needed tonight. deep conversations between friends will turn a short visit into a long one. the Old World. stems and roots and leaves. 42. A rotating power drill powered by an elec- 55. An Arabic speaking person who lives in tric motor. Arabia or North Africa. 44. A peninsula between the Red Sea and the Word Search Yesterday’s Solution 58. Block consisting of a thick piece of some- Persian Gulf. thing. 46. A woman hired to suckle a child of some- 59. A ruler of the Inca Empire (or a member of one else. his family). 47. An implement used to erase something. 62. A ductile gray metallic element of the lan- 50. A unit of absorbed ionizing radiation equal thanide series. to 100 ergs per gram of irradiated materi- 63. The capital and largest city of Yemen. al. 69. A Hindu prince or king in India. 56. A white trivalent metallic element. 73. A self-funded retirement plan that allows 57. A white metallic element that burns with a you to contribute a limited yearly sum brilliant light. toward your retirement. 60. Greek mythology. 74. Someone who tries to bring peace. 61. Act in concert or unite in a common pur- 78. A boy or man. pose or belief. 79. A light touch or stroke. 64. Any of various strong liquors distilled from 80. A learner who is enrolled in an educational the fermented sap of toddy palms or from institution. fermented molasses. 81. A sudden loss of consciousness resulting 65. (Babylonian) God of wisdom and agricul- when the rupture or occlusion of a blood ture and patron of scribes and schools. vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain. 66. A linear unit (1/6 inch) used in printing. 82. A Kwa language spoken by the Yoruba 67. (old-fashioned) At or from or to a great dis- people in southwestern Nigeria. tance. 83. Clearly apparent or obvious to the mind or 68. Being of the age 13 through 19. senses. 70. Type genus of the Alcidae comprising sole- 84. A river in north central Switzerland that ly the razorbill. runs northeast into the Rhine. 71. An island in Indonesia south of Borneo. 72. The sixth month of the civil year. DOWN 75. An ester of adenosine that is converted to 1. An ancient Egyptian city on the west bank of ATP for energy storage. the Nile opposite Cairo. 76. A United States liquid unit equal to 8 fluid 2. Report or maintain. ounces. 3. An expression of open-mouthed astonish- 77. Of flax, hemp, or jute, so as to promote ment. loosening of the fibers form the woody tis- 4. Lacking self-confidence. sue.

Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 lifestyle

FEATURES

In this March 27, 2017, photo, tourists from China walk to board a boat for a Tourists from China take pictures at the New England Aquarium in Boston. Tourists from China enter Quincy Market in Boston. harbor tour in Boston. — AP photos US cities roll out the welcome mat for Chinese visitors

otels offering congee and other Chinese staples for room Los Angeles this year, said he didn't see any obvious outreach to service. Casinos training staff on Chinese etiquette. Chinese visitors, outside of Chinese-run establishments. The HRestaurants, tourist sights and shopping malls translating most intimidating part, he said, was ordering food with his basic signs, menus and information booklets into Mandarin. The grasp of English. "If possible, restaurants could provide a simple American hospitality industry is stepping up efforts to make Chinese menu or pictured menu," Zhang suggested. Cities can't Chinese visitors feel more welcome, since they are projected to afford to be caught flat-footed as China's growing middle class - soon surpass travelers from the United Kingdom and Japan as almost nonexistent two decades ago - flexes its spending power, the single largest overseas demographic. industry experts say. Chinese visitors already spend more in the And it's not just the typical tourist hubs of New York and Los US than other international visitors, at roughly $7,200 per per- Angeles, where such efforts have long been commonplace. son, according to the US Travel Association, an industry trade Smaller cities like Boston, Las Vegas, Seattle and Washington, DC, group. Travelers from the country are expected to more than are increasingly getting into the act, industry officials say. double from about 2.6 million visitors in 2015 to nearly 6 million "Americans traditionally lag behind what other international by 2021, the association said. designations do for different cultures," said Elliott Ferguson, CEO of Destination DC, the city's convention and tourism organiza- US-China trade relationship tion, which last year launched "Welcome China," a certification More direct flights from China to a wider range of US cities program for local businesses. "We just kind of assume that one Tourists from China watch penguins at the New England in recent years is partly fueling the boom. Creation of a 10-year An activities guide, left, a city guide, center, and a pop-up size fits all. Quite frankly, that's just not welcoming." Aquarium in Boston. visa between the US and China in 2014 has also made it easier map, right, all with Chinese translations, are displayed in a and pay for hotel rooms using WeChat, China's most popular for Chinese to travel more frequently to the US. That has guest room at the Sheraton Boston Hotel in Boston. Chinese guests social media app. "It's made a really strong statement to the allowed them to venture beyond must-see destinations like Local tourism associations in those and other cities have Chinese that these people really welcome us and understand New York and Los Angeles to smaller and mid-size destinations recently launched campaigns aimed at getting their member us," said Bruce Bommarito, the company's vice president for and even the national parks, said Scott Johnson, a New York hotels, restaurants and tourism companies to better incorporate international marketing, noting the Roman-themed casino has consultant working with Boston and other cities to grow their Chinese language and customs into their offerings. They're also rolled out other China-focused initiatives in recent years, international presence. embarking on tourism-focused sales missions to China and including training programs for staff on basic cultural etiquette The growing ranks of affluent Chinese are also staying opening satellite offices in Chinese cities to strengthen ties and for serving Chinese guests. longer and visiting more locations in the US as they plan for sell their city to trendsetters. Some companies have already their children's college education or seek real estate and other embraced the message. Flexes its spending power investment opportunities. US tourism officials are working to The Sheraton Boston in the Back Bay neighborhood started Those and other small touches are a step in the right direc- assure partners in China that they remain welcoming even as offering in 2013 simple creature comforts many Chinese travel- tion, but more companies need to make an effort to recognize the administration of Republican President Donald Trump ers expect, including slippers, robes, instant noodles, an electric the growing importance of the Chinese market, said Justin tightens international travel policies and promises fundamen- kettle and green tea, and have since taken other steps to cater to Minggan Wei, a 27-year-old from Beijing who came to Boston in tal changes in the US-China trade relationship, said Tom Chinese guests, said Angela Vento, the hotel's general manager. 2008 for college, an experience that inspired him to launch a Norwalk, CEO of Visit Seattle, the city's tourism organization. The Four Seasons in DC's Georgetown neighborhood makes consulting company helping local restaurants and businesses "Security and travel don't have to be mutually exclusive," he similar gestures, as well as offering Chinese-language television better serve Chinese customers. Zeng Wen, a 24-year-old who said. "We'd hate to see us roll back the clock. We've been pretty Items in a welcoming kit containing creature comforts and newspapers. It's also working on offering more traditional works part-time as a tour guide for Chinese-speakers in Chicago, loud and clear about that." — AP that many Chinese travelers expect in their rooms, includ- Chinese dishes on its room service and restaurant menus, said said she has noticed recent efforts to reach out to Chinese ing, from the left, an electric kettle, green tea, instant noo- Liliana Baldassari, a hotel spokeswoman. tourists, like the Hilton hotel chain's "Hilton Huanying" program, dles, slippers, and a robe, rest in a tray on a bed in a guest In Las Vegas, Caesars Entertainment last year started offer- which derives its name from the Chinese words for "welcome." room at the Sheraton Boston Hotel in Boston. ing guests at some of its affiliated resorts the option to book But Zhe Zhang, a 36-year-old from Guangzhou who visited 'Sizdeh Bedar' Iran Ancient Festival

An Iranian couple spend their time outdoors to observe the ancient festival of Sizdeh Bedar.

Iranians spend time outdoors to observe the ancient festival of Sizdeh Bedar. — AP photos An Iranian woman smokes a water pipe during the ancient festival of Sizdeh Bedar.

An Iranian family spend their time outdoors to observe the ancient festival of Sizdeh Bedar. Iranians ride boats on the Persian Gulf Martyrs lake during the ancient festival of Sizdeh Bedar. lifestyle TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

MUSIC & MOVIES Rap anti-hero Tupac Shakur bigger in death than life

upac Shakur's recording career lasted just five years Kanye West and The Weeknd, his influence remains profound. that surrounds his death, that it's unsolved," said Richard "RJ" before he was murdered in 1996, but it is the rapper's "For anyone who is serious about learning about hip hop, Bond, who in March released "Tupac Assassination: The Battle Tinfluence from beyond the grave that will be celebrated there are certain people whose music you have to deal with for Compton," his fifth documentary about Shakur. when he is inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on and Tupac is one of those people. You can't say you are knowl- Other than his murder, the Los Angeles film maker believes Friday. Arguably bigger in death than he was in life, Shakur edgeable about hip hop if you don't know about Tupac," said people gravitate towards Shakur's music today because his will be only the sixth rap act to be voted into the Hall of Fame Todd Boyd, professor of cinema and media studies at the observations about politics, the media, the police and rela- in its 30-year history. The Hall of Fame described him as "an University of Southern California. tionships are still relevant. "His themes are timeless and uni- international symbol of resistance and outlaw spirit, an irre- versal. He talked about relationships between sons and par- sistible contradiction, a definitive rap anti-hero." That is a big Holograms and Hollywood ents, between people and governments. What he talked claim for the Harlem-born son of two Black Panther activists Boyd was one of the academics who first created the study about still resonates with the human condition," Bond said. who spent time in jail for assault and released just four albums of hip hop culture in the American university system in the Boyd said Shakur does not need induction in the Rock Hall of before being killed at age 25 in a drive-by shooting in Las early 1990s when it was often demonized by politicians for Fame to confer legitimacy, although the honor is nice for his Vegas that has never been resolved. promoting violence and misogyny. He said Shakur had an fans. "When you listen to hip hop even these days there is still Rap too has evolved, becoming the second most popular emotional energy that distinguished him from many of his a great deal of reverence for him. And for any member of the music genre in the United States after rock, reflecting and contemporaries and transcended his skills as a rapper or a lyri- Tupac Shakur community who is young enough not to have been alive challenging social inequities in its lyrics and music videos, and cist. "When you listen to Tupac, you feel something. He has a music festival in 2012 sent sales of his music soaring. He has when he was around, to go back to his music now is very inspiring symposiums at prestigious universities such as strong emotional impact that I think speaks to the fact that also been the subject of several documentaries, a Broadway important to them," Boyd said. — Reuters Harvard. Shakur has sold 75 million albums, mostly from sev- here was a guy who, in my mind, was going perhaps to be a play, a June movie release "All Eyez on Me" and an upcoming en posthumous releases, and although his sales figures will better actor than rapper, had he lived," Boyd said. TV series on Shakur and his friend-turned-rival Biggie Smalls. never match those of 21st century hip hop kings like Drake, Shakur's "appearance" in a hologram at the Coachella "Everybody loves a mystery. That's a huge part of the mythos

Roland founder, digital music pioneer Ikutaro Kakehashi dies kutaro Kakehashi, the Japanese engineer who pio- neered digital music and founded synthesizer giant IRoland Corp., has died, his company ATV Corp. said Monday. He was 87. Kakehashi, reputed to have devot- ed his life to the pursuit of live entertainment, had a definitive impact on shaping the sound of electronic, hip hop and dance music. He founded Roland in 1972, and the company's first product was the rhythm Workers prepare the stage for French electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre ahead of his upcoming French electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre speaks to a man as he machine. Since then, Roland instruments have graced concert to publicize the plight of the shrinking Dead Sea at the ancient cliff top fortress of Masada. prepares the stage for his upcoming concert.— AFP photos the stage of top artists from Lady Gaga to Omar Hakim. Kakehashi received a Grammy in 2013 for developing MIDI, or Musical Instrument Digital Interface, which dig- itally connects instruments. Electro music pioneer plans Dead Sea show to defy Trump Upon receiving the Grammy, Kakehashi noted how quickly the years had passed since the debut of the MIDI protocol in 1983. "It is my great pleasure that MIDI played a significant role in their prevalence," he said at ioneering electronic musician Jean-Michel Jarre has ducing three albums in a year and a half, and is renowned for that time on the Roland website. "This year's Technical said he wants to use an all-night concert at the Dead large-scale outdoor performances including laser shows and GRAMMY Award is the result of the cooperation by the Sea to highlight what he sees as the anti-environ- pyrotechnics. He is a four-time Guinness world record holder P companies who worked towards the same dream - mental policies of US President Donald Trump. The French for number of spectators, once performing in front of 3.5 mil- growth of electronic musical instruments." ATV, a com- musician, who shot to fame in the 1970s, will perform in lion people in Moscow. pany Kakehashi founded in 2013, after he left Roland, front of the ancient Masada fortress in Israel on Thursday in But this time he said he wanted an "intimate" concert, out declined to give details about his death, citing the fami- a bid to draw attention to the "urgency of saving the Dead of respect for his surroundings. The concert will include per- ly's wishes for privacy. Japanese media reports said Sea", he told AFP. The lake shared by Israel, Jordan and the formances by Israeli and French DJs and musicians, along Kakehashi died on Saturday. Palestinian territories, which is the lowest and saltiest body with two sets by Jarre himself. The show is to end at sunrise "Music literally would not be what it is today without of water in the world, is receding by roughly a meter (three on Friday morning. Only 10,000 tickets will be available, for Mr. Kakehashi," said Steven Fisher, now at Yamaha and a feet) per year. between $128 and $767 (120 and 720 euros), said the show's former employee at Roland, who worked with Experts have warned it is on course to dry out by 2050. Israeli artistic director, Alexandra Juran, who will also direct a Kakehashi on electronic percussion and drum products. The musician said he wants to "make the world aware" of film of the concert set to be launched on the internet later Kakehashi taught him not to plan for something per- the danger. With a youthful look despite his 68 years, he this year. Jarre said he hopes to "reach as many people as fect, instead advising him to "take action, follow your warned of the lack of oxygen in the Dead Sea-an allusion to possible" with his message. Trump is set to roll back a slew of passion and respect your competition," Fisher said on his best known album "Oxygene". Jarre is a goodwill ambas- environmental protection measures implemented under for- his Facebook page Saturday, mourning his death. sador for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and mer president Barack Obama, in a bid to untether the US fos- Workers prepare the stage for French electronic music pio- Kakehashi always stressed that the advent of electronic Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which in 2002 designated sil fuel industry. The move has triggered doubts over the neer Jean-Michel Jarre ahead of his upcoming concert to music was not at odds with acoustic instruments, or Masada a world heritage site. The venue at the foot of the United States' commitment to global climate accords. Trump publicize the plight of the shrinking Dead Sea at the that it was trying to undermine the rich legacy of music. fortress is one of the most stunning sites in the region and has also given final approval for the controversial Keystone ancient clifftop fortress of Masada. But amplification held great potential, including the the location of a seminal event in Jewish history. XL oil pipeline from Canada into the United States, reversing possibility to create various speakers as well as present Biblical King Herod built Masada fortress in the first cen- Obama's decision to block it. "For me, the whole point of this music to far larger audiences, like the hundreds at con- tury BC on a rocky outcrop 430 meters (1290 feet) above 'Aware of the urgency' project is to make people aware of the urgency of dealing cert halls, not the previous dozens in old-style chamber the Dead Sea. In 73 AD, Roman troops besieged 960 Jewish "I want the Dead Sea, like Masada, to be part of UNESCO's with the Earth as a whole," Jarre said. "The concert will con- settings, he said. One Roland product he liked to show Zealots there after they rebelled against the Roman rule of world heritage," Jarre said during a pre-show visit to the site. tribute to, I hope, organizing the resistance against all the off was a guitar that was a collaboration with Fender, then Palestine, according to a historian of the period, "This region belongs to humanity," he said. "It involves all of Trumps of the world." — AFP which could not only play Stratocaster riffs but also the Flavius Joseph. Instead of allowing themselves to fall cap- us from a human point of view. We must do our utmost to sounds of an acoustic guitar, sitar and 12-string acoustic tive, they committed collective suicide. preserve this place." Jarre has had a prolific output, once pro- guitar, as well as instantly drop octaves and distort notes. "The options have widened," Kakehashi said of electronic music at a Roland seminar in 2012. "I believe the ways of musical expression have expanded." — AP Review: Unreleased Senegal's Orchestra Baobab returns with dance galore 1976 Bill Evans Trio enegal's Orchestra Baobab honors a reprises "Sey," a dance-floor classic. Formed former bandmate on "Tribute to in 1970, the band's career was revived by SNdiouga Dieng," a spicy mix of African the re-edition of its mouthwatering, hip- gig intimate treat and Cuban tempos with no rust and a fluc- shaking "Pirates Choice," and they got back tuating pulse. Relying on two-saxophone together in 2001. This is just their third n A Monday Evening" is the leads and kora player Abdoulaye Cissoko to album since that return - after the Grammy- first release of a 1976 record- partially fill in for Barthelemy Attisso - their nominated "Specialist In All Styles" from "Oing by the Bill Evans Trio, an long-time guitarist now busy with a legal 2002 and 2007's "Made in Dakar" - and it's a autumn concert in Wisconsin that finds career - the orchestra's seemingly effortless wonderful addition to their rich catalog. It's the influential pianist and his partners in ability to create irresistible dance rhythms subtlety and insinuation as much as the outstanding form. Sharing the stage with remains intact even after a 10-year pause. actual tick-tick-tock of the percussion and bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Eliot Dieng died in November 2016 but his son Charlie Ndiaye's velvety bass guitar that Zigmund on Evans originals like "Sugar Alpha has been recruited to sing his songs. complete the seduction, as the band dis- Plum" and "Time Remembered" or stan- Regular vocalists Balla Sidibe, also on guises its achievements with all the skills of dards like "All of You" and "Someday My timbales, and Rudy Gomis continue their a suave lover. Or, in this case, a whole Prince Will Come," the leader and his strong work, joined in exciting guest spots orchestra of them! — AP ensemble's improvisational brilliance by Cheikh Lo and West African megastar makes this release well worth discover- Thione Seck, also a Baobab alumni, who This photo shows Japanese engineer Ikutaro ing. Recorded at the University of Kakehashi. — AP Wisconsin's Madison Union Theater by radio DJs who interviewed Evans then, the sound is well-balanced, surprisingly good mono and feels intimate despite the large auditorium. Q&A: Nolan previews adrenaline rushing war epic 'Dunkirk' The impact of Bill Evans on jazz pianists and beyond - from Keith Jarrett irector Christopher Nolan has spent his career bending annihilation nor surrender makes it one of the greatest stories in Nolan: All of my big blockbuster films have been PG-13. It's a rating I to Lyle Mays to Fred Hersch - has been minds (and cities) with his films. He works on a scale that is human history. feel comfortable working with totally. "Dunkirk" is not a war film. It's described as "overpowering." From his Dstubbornly and obsessively cinematic and it seems that no a survival story and first and foremost a suspense film. So while there contributions to Miles Davis' "Kind of concept, be it Batman or the multiverse or dreams, is too big for the AP: How did you approach it? is a high level of intensity to it, it does not necessarily concern itself Blue" to his groundbreaking trio with visionary filmmaker. His latest movie, "Dunkirk," out July 21, takes Nolan: The approach is trying to take the full experience and put with the bloody aspects of combat, which have been so well done in Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian, Evans him out of the fantasy world and into reality and the storied evacua- the audience there. What would it be like to be on the beach? To be so many films. We were really trying to take a different approach and innovated, fascinated and entertained in tion of Allied soldiers from that beach in France in May and June of on a boat trying to cross the channel? It's a huge challenge, but achieve intensity in a different way. I would really like lots of different large measure. Gomez, who spent over a 1940. Nolan spoke to The Associated Press about "Dunkirk" at the exactly the kind of challenge that you look for in film. types of people to get something out of the experience. decade with Evans, and Zigmund, whose recent CinemaCon in Las Vegas, where he was promoting his epic to tenure in the 1970s was shorter but also theater owners: AP: You have said the film is less about character than survival. AP: Is there any truth to the report that the production bought well regarded, provide not only imagina- Can you explain what you mean? a $5 million vintage plane to crash? tive support but also exceptional cre- AP: Why Dunkirk? Nolan: I feel like Dunkirk is such a universal event and it involves so Nolan: No. We used real antique vintage planes and flew them for ative skills developing deep musical Nolan: As a filmmaker you're always looking for a gap in cultural many people that to try to encapsulate the specific detail of the the movie but we also constructed full scale models to destroy. A lot feedback with the ringing tones of Evans' movies and Dunkirk is a story British people are raised on. It's in human experience wasn't the way to go. What we decided to do of money was involved but not that much money. I would never! piano. On the bowed (or arco) bass solo our DNA practically. But it has not been addressed in the movies. was to really try and live in the moment of the experience ... the Obviously never ... These planes are so beautiful and so valuable for on "All of You," Gomez occasionally So for me, it was a very exciting gap. I've spent a number of years very immediate and human desire to survive. It's the most human so many reasons and the respect I have for them having done this, makes his instrument sound like a saxo- trying to figure out what's the angle of approach, what's the movie I've ever made because it's about the desire for survival. We especially now having worked with them. The Spitfire is the most phone. Over the nearly 47 minutes in this angle of attack for getting the story across? So we came upon the wanted to tackle that and make what I refer to as a very present glorious machine. set, Evans, Gomez and Zigmund add a notion of creating a very experiential film, one that rather than tense narrative where you're in the moment with the characters. precious chapter to their high-caliber trying to address the politics of the situation, the geopolitical sit- You're not necessarily spending too much time discussing who they AP: And you tell the story from three points of view? legacy. — AP uation, would really put you on the beach where 400,000 people were before or who they will be after. Nolan: The story needs to be told from different points of view are trapped, surrounded by the enemy closing in and faced with intertwined. We spend time looking at various points of view. On annihilation or surrender. The fact the story ended with neither AP: This film has been rated PG-13. Was that a choice you made? the beach. In the air. Out on the sea. TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 lifestyle

FASHION

Photo shows a counterfeit Hermes Berkin luxury handbag A forged 1990 bottle of DRC La Tache wine that was sold during a press preview. to billionaire Bill Koch alongside assorted forged wine labels during a press preview.

In this file photo, a counterfeit Chanel houndstooth suit, right, is displayed alongside a suit from Chanelís spring/sum- A genuine lampshade created by Tiffany Studios in the A forged painting purported to be the work of artist Mark mer 1971 collection during a press preview of ìTreasures on Trial: The Art and Science of Detecting Fakesî at the early 1900s, left, stands alongside a forgery created in the Rothko is displayed during a press preview. Winterthur Museum in Wilmington, Del. — AP photos second half of the 20th century during a press preview. Winterthur exhibit offers insight into detecting art fraud

new exhibition at Delaware's Winterthur Museum offers would-be sleuths a firsthand look at how experts Adetect high-priced fakes and forgeries. The exhibit opens Saturday and runs through Jan 7. It includes a broad range of objects that illustrate the ongoing battle pitting clever forgers and con men against equally determined art conservationists and historians, who used trained eyes, paper trails and high-tech equipment to determine what's real and what's not. The items on display, both genuine and fake, extend well beyond paintings and fine art, to include high fashion, furni- ture, sports memorabilia, even postage stamps and weather vanes. — AP

Artwork on a porcelain plate depicts a scene from early A detail of a painting purported to be the work of artist A bottle of wine purported to have belonged to Thomas American history during a press preview. Jackson Pollock is seen during a press preview. Jefferson is seen on display during a press preview. Fashion Bridal Couture Week

Models present designs by Emraan Rajput during the Fashion Bridal Couture Week in Pakistan’s capital Karachi. — AFP

Centrepoint SS17 live collection presentation

egional fashion retailer, Centrepoint, recently launched its to complement their summer outfits with lighter tones embel- fabulous collection for a stylish Spring Summer 2017 at lished with Swarovski crystals and bright bohemian prints on Rthe beautiful rooftop of Landmark Tower. The prestigious bags. A range of matt, glossy and frosty makeup shades to suit event introduced the region's top tier media and fashion influ- every woman's style sentiment complete the Spring Summer encers to a range of trendy and contemporary fashion, look footwear and accessories for women, men, teens and tots. As for men, the collection is inspired by 90s graphic styling The presentation primarily showcased the style inspiration teamed with modern minimalism. Men can put their best foot from Centrepoint's Spring Summer collection. Models, includ- forward from a range of trendy footwear, with a collection of ing men, woman and children, strutted on a styled runway, smart and comfortable sandals, high-top sneakers, and formal amidst the season backdrop campaign colours in sophisticated leather loafers. A pretty palette of pinks for little girls and bright hues of purple, blue and yellow; allowing guests to see the key aquatic greens and blues help dapper tots and teens get ready pieces come to life. for the season. The main inspiration behind the collection this The SS17 collection is comprised of nautical styling with a season is distinctive styles and trendy looks to add glamour to neo-twist with colourful stripes seen in both an optical re- the Spring Summer night! arrangement and in the classical nautical style for women. Get your hands on the latest Spring Summer collection at Fashionistas can show off their pretty feet in a range of floral- Centrepoint stores located in Al- Rai, Avenues, Hawally, printed sandals and feminine pearl-detailed wedges this sea- Salmiya, Fintas, Jahra, Fahaheel, Sulaibhikhat, Kuwait City and son. Ladies can choose from a range of fashionable accessories Khaitan. lifestyle TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

AWARDS

Jason Aldean poses with the Entertainer of the Year award Jason Aldean poses with the Entertainer of the Year award. Jason Aldean performs ‘Any Ol’ Barstool’. in the press room. — AP/AFP photos ACM Awards kick off with energy, jokes about Oscars mishap

he Academy of Country Music Awards kicked off with six separate performances full of energy, including a tribute Tto Chuck Berry featuring Joe Walsh, Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley. The trio performed "Johnny B. Goode" at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas as audience members got out of their seats Sunday to sing and dance along. "For the man that influenced every form of music, including country," said Bryan of Berry, who died last month. Before that, the nominees for entertainer of the year - Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban and Florida Georgia Line - started the show with per- formances of their recent hits. Aldean won entertainer of the year last year. Later in the show, airing live on CBS, Urban sang the soulful "Blue Ain't Your Color" with a throwback, black-and-white vibe, while the back of the stage was smoky and bright blue. As he switched to the upbeat, disco-flavored "The Fighter" - where he was joined by Underwood - the camera focused on his actress-wife Nicole Kidman, who sang and danced along. Miranda Lambert also had a top-notch performance: She earned a standing ovation after she sang the slow, acoustic-sounding "Tin Man" as the Miranda Lambert poses in the press room with her awards crowd watched along seriously as she hit all the right notes and for album of the year for ‘The Weight of These Wings,’ and strummed her guitar. female vocalist of the year. Stripper-cowboys The night featured comedy, including a play off the Academy Awards mishap during the best picture winner announcement in February. "This is odd. David?" asked "Entertainment Tonight" host Nancy O'Dell while holding the card with the name of the song of the year winner. "Emma Stone, 'La La Land,'" David Copperfield announced, as the audi- ence laughed. The real winner was Thomas Rhett for "Die a Brian Kelley, third from left, and Tyler Hubbard, third from right, of Florida Georgia Line, and from left, AJ McLean, Brian Happy Man." "Thank you to my beautiful wife, my beautiful Littrell, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, and Kevin Richardson, of Backstreet Boys, perform at the 52nd annual Academy of pregnant wife," said Rhett, whose wife was in the audience. "The Country Music Awards. song's inspiration was because of you." Bryan and Bentley, who are co-hosting the show for a second year, also had jokes: They In the latter category, he's up against Aldean, Bentley, laughed about doing Vegas activities leading up to the awards Stapleton and Rhett. Nominees for female vocalist of the year show, and even showed photos of them dressed as stripper- are Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini, Lambert, Underwood and cowboys. Bryan even joked days ahead that the ACM Awards Maren Morris, who recently won a Grammy for her hit song, "My would unite Democrats and Republicans. Church." Other performers during the show are Reba McEntire, "Democrats and Republicans are going to get along on Rhett, Ballerini, Brothers Osborne, Cole Swindell and Jon Pardi. Sunday night. They're all going to watch the ACMs together and Presenters include Darius Rucker, Miss America Savvy Shields, stuff's going to start happening in this country. It's going to Jake Owen, Kane Brown, Lauren Alaina and Kellie Pickler. Lori change," Bryan said in an interview with The Associated Press. McKenna, who won the best country song Grammy for two "Cats and dogs are going to make out." "Coming to an election consecutive years for writing McGraw's "Humble and Kind" and near you. Is politics your next career?" Bentley said. "Yes," Bryan co-writing Little Big Town's "Girl Crush," was named songwriter replied. Sam Hunt performed his No. 1 hit, "Body Like a Back Brian Kelley, left, and Tyler Hubbard, of Florida Georgia of the year. Road," and he went into the audience to sit next to his fiancÈ to Line, pose in the press room with their awards for single Morris won new female vocalist of the year, Pardi was sing the song. record of the year for ‘H.O.L.Y.’ and vocal event of the year named new male vocalist, and Brothers Osborne picked up for ‘May We All’. both vocal duo of the year and new vocal duo or group of the Female vocalist year. Little Big Town won vocal group of the year, beating out The show is expected to feature a number of other A-list Lady Antebellum, which had just performed on the show. "I just performances during the three-hour show, including the wanna be in Lady Antebellum's band," Kimberly Schlapman Backstreet Boys with Florida Georgia Line, Chris Stapleton, Faith yelled." Me too," screamed Karen Fairchild. — AP Hill and Tim McGraw. Earlier winners announced before Sunday's show included two wins for Florida Georgia Line: sin- gle record of the year with "H.O.L.Y." and vocal event of the year for "May We All" with McGraw. Urban, who had success with his Hosts Luke Bryan, left, and Dierks Bentley present genre-bending, Grammy-nominated album "Ripcord," is the top a performance by Florida Georgia Line and nominee with seven. He will compete for album of the year, Backstreet Boys at the 52nd annual Academy of song of the year with "Blue Ain't Your Color" and male vocalist Country Music Awards. of the year.

Thomas Rhett poses in the press room with his awards for artist and songwriter for song of the year for ‘Die A Happy Man,’ and male vocalist of the year.

John Osborne, center left, and TJ Osborne, center right, of Brothers Osborne, perform ‘It Ain't My Fault’. Thomas Rhett, left, and Maren Morris perform ‘Craving You’.

TJ Osborne, left, and John Osborne, of Brothers Osborne, pose in the press room with their awards for Vocal Duo of Kellie Pickler, center, presents John Osborne, (left) and TJ Osborne (right) of Brothers the year, and new Vocal/Duo Group of the year. Thomas Rhett performs ‘Craving You’. Osborne, the award for new Vocal/Duo Group of the year lifestyle TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

AWARDS

(From left) Jimi Westbrook, , Kimberly Schlapman, Karen Fairchild, and Phillip Sweet, of Little Big Town, perform ‘Happy Karen Fairchild, center, accepts the video of the year award on behalf of Artists of Then, Now & Forever for ‘Forever People’. Country’.

Winners

List of winners at the 2017 Academy of Country Music Awards

Entertainer of the year: Jason Aldean. Album of the year: "The Weight of These Wings," Miranda Lambert. Single record of the year: "H.O.L.Y.," Florida Georgia Line. Song of the year: "Die a Happy Man," Thomas Rhett. Male vocalist of the year: Thomas Rhett. Female vocalist of the year: Miranda Lambert. Vocal duo of the year: Brothers Osborne. Vocal group of the year: Little Big Town. Video of the year: "Forever Country," Artists of Then, Now & Forever. Vocal event of the year: "May We All," Florida Georgia Line and Tim McGraw. New female vocalist of the year: Maren Morris. New male vocalist of the year: Jon Pardi. New vocal duo or group of the year: Brothers Osborne. Songwriter of the year: Lori McKenna. — AP Lori McKenna arrives at the 52nd annual Academy of (From left) Phillip Sweet, , Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, and Kimberly Schlapman, of Country Music Awards. Little Big Town, accept the award for Vocal Group of the year.

Maren Morris accepts the award for new Female Vocalist of the year as Jon Pardi poses in the press room with the Maren Morris performs ‘I Could Use a Love Jon Pardi, left, performs ‘Dirt on My Boots’. presenter Kellie Pickler looks on at right. award for new Male Vocalist of the year. Song’.

Singer-songwriter Cam Australian actress Nicole Kidman and Hillary Scott of the music group Lady Recording artist Kacey Musgraves. Recording artist Reba McEntire Recording artist Kelsea Ballerini New Zealand-born Australian- Antebellum. American country musician Keith Urban.

Recording artist Kellie Pickler Faith Hill, performs ‘Speak To A Girl’. Recording artists Cowboy Troy, Big Kenny and John Rich of music group Big & Rich, and Preston Brust and Chris Lucas of duo LOCASH arrive with Kristen DJ Sinister pose as they arrive for the 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards. White (left) and Kaitlyn Lucas (right) for the 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards. ACM Awards kick off with energy, jokes about Oscars mishap

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 38

A worker checks the lanterns in preparation for the upcoming celebration of Buddha’s birthday on May 3 at the Jogye temple in Seoul, South Korea, yesterday. Many Buddhists visit the temple across the nation to cele- brate the Buddhaís birthday and pray with their wishes. — AP

Bizarre News Japan opens owl cafes 3. Elf cut-out Japan has opened a number of owl cafes in which cus- 4. Bulletproof vest tomers can pet the creatures whilst enjoying their lunch. 5. Expensive slipper Following on from the trend of cat cafes - where customers 6. Money bag enjoy the company of furry felines whilst eating their 7. Taser lunch or indulging in a hot beverage - Japan have started 8. Smoke machine opening similar sanctuaries for owl lovers. Owl Village in 9. Lobster Tokyo has eight owls, and representative Aya Matsuda says 10. Lottery ticket every care has been taken to ensure the safety and wellbe- ing of the majestic creatures. She told Reuters: "Some owl cafÈs lack enough staff, and customers can freely interact with owls, but in our cafÈ, customers are only able to enter the owl room with staff, who explain how to touch the ani- mals or give them a rest when they look tired." However, Chihiro Okada, an activist with the Animal Rights Centre in A man looks at atrworks by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso during the presentation of the exhibition ‘Pity and Tokyo, claims "confining" the winged animals can consti- Terror: Picasso’s Path to Guernica’ at the National Museum Reina Sofia Art Center in Madrid yesterday. tute animal abuse, and should be stopped. Chihiro said: "People think of kicking or hitting of animals when we think of animal abuse, but it isn't just limited to that. Confining an animal to a small space is certainly a form of Police arrest 99-year-old woman abuse. We were particularly shocked to hear that seven Police have 'arrested' a 99-year-old woman who wanted to Madrid show delves into Picasso's owls died within one year at an owl cafÈ." If managed complete her bucket list. The woman - known only as properly, owl cafes can continue to exist, but work must be Annie - wanted to experience being arrested and locked in done to ensure the safety of the animals. Veterinarian a police cell before she dies, and police in the Dutch city of Nobumoto Izawa said: "(Owl cafÈs) can exist. But its impor- Nijmegen-Zuid have granted her wish with a number of tant to have checks on how they are kept. And more photos on their Facebook page which show the elderly dark journey to Guernica importantly we need to make sure the birds there are hap- woman happily sitting in a jail cell. According to the trans- py and not stressed. So I don't think its necessary to say lations on their Facebook post, they claimed it was "a day owl cafes should not exist." to remember" for both the police and Annie, who finally got to live out one of her dreams. The caption also stated t's an artistic journey through "terror," "panic" and "fear" how Annie was nearing the milestone age of 100, and had that culminates in "Guernica", Pablo Picasso's universal always wanted to 'experience a police cell from within'. It is Ihowl against the ravages of war that turns 80 next month. unknown how long the request had been on Annie's buck- Yesterday, Madrid's Reina Sofia museum of modern art et list, but the photos posted by the police show her to be launched a major exhibition that delves into the darkness of incredibly gleeful at being given the opportunity to tick off Picasso's work before his masterpiece, and attempts to shed the strange goal. light on how he was able to create one of the world's most famous paintings. "Pity and Terror: Picasso's Path to Guernica" opens today and runs until September 4, bringing together some 180 pieces from the Reina Sofia's collection and more than 30 institutions around the world such as the Centre Georges-Pompidou in Paris, New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and private collections. "There is no other piece in the 20th century that has gener- ated so many comments, so many interpretations as Guernica," said Manuel Borja-Villel, director of the museum A photographer takes images of a sculpture by Playing Tetris soothes stress after a trauma British man sells air for £200 that has housed the painting for 25 years. A depiction of the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso titled ‘Head of a Woman Playing Tetris has been linked to soothing stress after a bombing of the small Basque town of Guernica on April 26, A British man has been selling fresh mountain air for £200 on a Grey Background’. trauma. According to an Oxford University study reported 1937, during Spain's civil war, the canvas mixes stark, almost in The Times newspaper, playing the video game for 20 a bottle. John Green, an IT consultant from London, has unbearable images of women, infants, animals in agony. It has lived in the Swiss city of Basel for 20 years, and has been from MoMA, or "The Three Dancers", a canvas normally on dis- minutes acts as a vaccine against post-traumatic stress dis- since become a potent plea for peace, recognized the world using his location to travel to the Swiss Alps to bottle up play in London's Tate Modern. order. Those who took part in the experiment and played over and used in countless anti-war protests. the video game soon after a car accident were found to fresh air, which he plans to sell to people living in heavily The latter, painted in 1925, portrays three figures polluted cities. He said: "I actually go 3,000 meters engaged in a macabre, maniacal dance and represents the have 62 percent fewer traumatic memories over the days Crying blood that followed. Scientists put the game down to being a (10,000ft) up to fetch it. I don't go into a car park to get it, moment when Picasso's art took a dark, violent change of So what do you do to commemorate the 80th anniversary distraction which stops the brain from consolidating trou- honest. "I have lived here for 20 years, and the Swiss don't direction, said Clark. Women with dead babies, a person cry- of such a famous, much talked-about work of art? The answer: bled memories. A long-term trial is now being planned know what they've got. The air really is something special. ing blood-the exhibition also includes some of the powerful try to shed light on the Spanish artist's journey towards involving other games. "When I go up the mountains I really do feel better, I am preparatory drawings that he did before painting Guernica Guernica. In order to do so, curators decided to delve into not imagining it. I seriously feel almost reborn." John's in May 1937. "We wanted to think about the attitudes, the Picasso's work from the mid 1920s when the artist took a turn company, mountainairfromswitzerland.com - which sells concerns, maybe even the fantasies and obsessions and for the more macabre, possibly in belated response to the air in three litre bottles for £200, one litre bottles for £135, unresolved knots in the psyche that went into the making of devastating First World War. "Terror, violence, horror, panic, or a pint for £75 - keeps the exact location of its air supply Guernica," said Clark. — AFP fear, death become his subject," British art historian Timothy a secret, but purchasers will be sent GPS co-ordinates so James Clark, one of the curators, told reporters. The exhibition they know the air is definitely the freshest it can be. features such works as "Woman Dressing Her Hair", borrowed Speaking in a promotional video for his company, John said: "If you're sitting in some polluted town, which you probably are, gasping with diesel fumes, we're at 3,000 metres, and we've just got new supplies of mountain air...so get yours. "Only purchasers will know where their jar of air was collected. We keep the extraction location a secret to protect supplies. "All I can say is it is collected near a babbling mountain stream, fed by melt water from a famous glacier, near a very famous mountain." — Bang Showbiz A lobster is just one of the weird things ever left behind in an Uber A lobster is among the bizarre things ever left in an Uber. The cab app service launched a new Lost & Found Index of left-behind items along with a video explaining how cus- tomers can claim back their lost items. According to the Telegraph newspaper, among the weird items left behind by passengers include a solitary lobster, an engagement ring and a bulletproof vest are just some of the most bizarre items ever left behind in an Uber. Valuable Nordic walking poles, paintings and an expensive slipper also make the list of 50 most unique items forgotten in Ubers. The top 10 list in full: A man takes photos near a A man takes notes near a painting by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso titled ‘Mandolin 1. Engagement ring painting by Spanish artist Pablo and Guitar’.—AFP photos 2. Rubber mallet Picasso titled ‘Monument to Spaniards who died for France’.