RAJAB 10, 1439 AH TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2018

Max 34º 32 Pages Min 18º 150 Fils Established 1961

ISSUE NO: 17491 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net

Govt agrees with proposal Porn actress ‘threatened’ to 64 dead in Russia inferno; Australian cricket in crisis 3 to tax expat remittances 11keep silent on Trump fling 11 Amir sends condolences 14 over ball-tampering scandal

Saudi-led coalition warns Iran after Houthi missile barrage Falling debris kills Egyptian • Amir condemns attacks • Yemenis stage rally

RIYADH: A military coalition led by Saudi Arabia yes- terday threatened retaliation against Iran, accusing it of being behind a barrage of Yemeni rebel missile attacks on the kingdom. Saudi forces said they intercepted sev- en missiles on Sunday, including over the capital Riyadh, in a deadly escalation that coincided with the third anniversary of the coalition’s intervention in Yemen. Displaying wreckage at a news conference in Riyadh of what it said were fragments of those mis- siles, the coalition claimed forensic analysis showed they were supplied to Houthi rebels by their ally Iran. We “reserve the right to respond against Iran at the right time and right place”, coalition spokesman Turki Al-Malki told reporters. The missile strikes resulted in the first reported fatal- ity from Houthi fire in the Saudi capital. Egyptian national Abdul-Moteleb Ahmed, 38, died instantly in his bed when what appeared to be burning shrapnel struck his ramshackle room in Riyadh’s Um al-Hammam dis- trict, leaving a gaping hole in the roof, witnesses told RIYADH: A man looks yesterday at a hole in a ceiling of a house in the Um al-Hammam RIYADH: Saudi soldiers reveal the remains of missiles that a military coalition led by AFP at the site. Three other Egyptian laborers in the district caused by falling shrapnel from Yemeni rebel missiles that were intercepted Saudi Arabia claims are Iranian during a press conference at the Armed Forces Club same room were wounded and hospitalized, they said. over the Saudi capital. — AFP yesterday. — AFP Continued on Page 11

Accordingly, the finance ministry urged all Hajraf explains government bodies to fully commit to its directives and regulations concerning submit- Jabri handed ting the needed documents and details as well delay in paying as responding to the ministry’s inquiries to protect public funds. The ministry also con- additional labor allowances firmed that it will not accept blame for the failure of any government body to meet its youth portfolio By A Saleh commitments and obligations towards citi- zens. “It is the responsibility of every govern- KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah KUWAIT: Finance Minister Nayef Al-Hajraf ment body to verify the data submitted as Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, with the yesterday said that the ministry was not well as how every single dinar is spent,” the attendance of HH the Crown Prince responsible for delaying the payment of the ministry stressed. national labor support allowances. He said that Meanwhile, MP Abdulkareem Al-Kandari Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Mohammed Al-Jabri Sabah, received yesterday HH the through the Civil Service Commission, the demanded referring those responsible for the Manpower and Government Restructuring Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- roadmap for promoting youth services. delay for immediate investigations. “A gov- Program (MGRP) had “unofficially” asked on Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. The pre- This is likely to guarantee youth dis- ernment that is incapable of coordinating March 13, 2018 for KD 11,640,000 to pay the mier presented to the Amir Mohammed tinction and creativity in assuming between various ministries and bodies cannot allowances. The finance ministry requested Al-Jabri, who was sworn in as Minister their national responsibilities in build- be trusted with citizens’ vocational rights,” he Nayef Al-Hajraf more details, which were only sent back to the of Information and Minister of State for ing the nation and developing it in all underlined. MGRP Secretary General Fauzi ministry on Sunday, March 25, and the min- Youth Affairs. fields, Jabri said in an exclusive press Al-Majdali stressed that the salaries of of KD 40 million. Majdali added that MGRP istry approved the payment on the same day. Jabri said the lofty directives he statement to KUNA after he was 59,299 citizens registered with the national had sent the lists to the finance ministry on The allowances are usually never paid later received from HH the Amir offer a sworn in. — KUNA labor support program would be paid by March 15, insisting that it was the ministry than the 24th of every month. Thursday or Sunday at most - a total amount which was late in providing the needed funds.

News in brief situation in the labor market in favor of cer- engineers work in the private sector. “In the In order to get certified by KSE, an New rules due tified engineers. According to a PAM past two weeks, around 4,000 engineers engineer should be a graduate of an 100-day ‘probation’ visas introduced administrative circular dated March 11, came to get more information and have accredited university. “Those who graduat- 2018, all expat engineers working in the their certification done. We are under huge ed from universities that are not recognized KUWAIT: An official source at the Public Authority to presence of private sector have to get certified by KSE pressure as we are dealing with over 300 by their own countries won’t be able to in order to renew their work visas, which people daily,” he told Kuwait Times. hold the title of ‘engineer’ in their work per- for Manpower said the labor inspection department has resulted in large crowds at the society. Some engineers’ residencies will expire mit. Those who have graduated from a rec- has begun issuing temporary work permits for 100 ‘fake’ engineers “Expat engineers will benefit from this soon and they are worried of getting into ognized university will either have to pass a days for those who change jobs or those under pro- decision as there are many fake engineers legal troubles. “The procedure of receiv- test (for those who graduated before 2010) bation after entering the country for the first time. By Nawara Fattahova in the country, who have led to the monthly ing the certification from KSE will only or just an interview (for those who gradu- Employers have been asked to obtain the temporary salary of an engineer falling to KD 300. take a few days. If their visa expires ated after 2010). The interview is held by permit during the trial period as determined by the KUWAIT: The Public Authority of After these uncertified engineers will be before getting the certificate, they can an academic committee consisting of doc- private sector labor law to protect workers from any Manpower (PAM) claims there are many gone from the labor market, the salaries of always get a two-month extension till they tors from Kuwait University and engineers violations and from facing any punishments including fake and uncertified engineers in Kuwait, so real engineers will rise,” argued Ali have their papers ready. Applicants have from inside and outside Kuwait. The test is administrative deportation and fines. The temporary in cooperation with the Kuwait Society of Mohseni, member of the board of directors to pay KD 30 for the certificate by KSE,” in English, and the results should be ready work permits will be issued online in the near future - Engineers (KSE), it decided to rectify the of KSE. He estimated around 40,000 expat explained Mohseni. in four days,” he pointed out. meanwhile, these permits are currently being issued only by the central department in Egaila. — Al-Anbaa

First UAE nuclear reactor complete gown and a bandana in the colors of the Sisi supporters Egyptian flag, and with a flag wrapped ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates said yester- around her shoulders. Scores of employ- day that one of four nuclear reactors at its debut plant revel as election ees, mainly assembly line workers, at a has been completed as it moves closer to becoming government pharmaceutical company the first Arab nation to produce atomic power. The across the street arrived together, not to announcement came after visiting South Korean gets underway vote, as they were not registered at this President Moon Jae-in and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince station, but to cheer for Sisi, the military, Mohammed bin Zayed toured the $20-billion Barakah CAIRO: Hundreds of President Abdel and the police. plant, the state-run WAM news agency reported. The Fattah Al-Sisi’s supporters reveled out- Sisi was elected a year after leading second reactor is 92 percent complete, the third 81 side polling stations in Cairo yesterday the 2013 military ouster of former percent, while 66 percent of the fourth has been com- as voting got underway to celebrate Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, amid pleted, WAM reported. — AFP what they expect will be his certain re- mass protests against his rule. “We got election. In the southwestern neighbor- together with the officials from the hood of Al-Haram, close to the ancient (company’s) union and they told us all to Syrian FM in rare Oman visit Giza pyramids, women danced and a come to this school... The whole compa- man beat a large drum, while those gath- ny is united... we all love Sisi,” said Sahar ered around them waved the Egyptian Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem Nasr, 41. Mother-of-six Nasr added: MUSCAT: flag and sang in unison. Nearby, trucks arrived in the Omani capital yesterday for talks with “We came here to salute Sisi and each of carrying large speakers blasted national- officials, the two countries’ official news agencies said. us will go to their (polling) station and istic and pro-military pop songs, encour- The talks would cover “the current situation in the then go back to work”. aging people to take part in the vote. region and means of strengthening bilateral ties”, as Sisi is facing a single opponent, “In spite of America, long live Egypt. well as regional and international issues, said Syria’s Moussa Mostafa Moussa, a little-known Long live Egypt with its great military,” CAIRO: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi casts his vote on the first day of the SANA news agency. — AFP chanted a woman dressed in a black Continued on Page 11 presidential elections at a polling station in the capital yesterday. —AFP 2 Established 1961 Local Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Amir meets charity organization’s members, commends their works

Charity is a deep-rooted value in the Kuwaiti society: Sheikh Sabah

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Marafi Charity His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with the outgoing Malaysian members. —KUNA Photos ambassador to Kuwait Dato’ Ahmad Rozian Abd Ghani.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber meets with the Swiss ambassador to Kuwait Aldo de Luca. Al-Sabah meets with former minister of commerce and industry Al-Sabah meets with President of National Security Bureau Falah Fahad Al-Hajri. Sheikh Thamer Ali Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad They briefed His Highness the Amir about the charity’s ing Malaysian ambassador to Kuwait Dato’ Ahmad ambassador to the country Aldo de Luca; who also met Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received at Seif Palace yesterday latest developments. His Highness praised the charity offi- Rozian Abd Ghani. His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh with His Highness the Prime Minister. In the meantime, His members of Marafi Charity, namely Abdul-Elah cials and the charitable works that they offer, which is a Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness Highness the Crown Prince received President of Mohammad Marafi, Nader Abdulqassem Marafi, deep-rooted value in the Kuwaiti society since the old times. the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad National Security Bureau Sheikh Thamer Ali Sabah Al- Mohammad Taqi Marafi, Abdulhakeem Abdulfatah Marafi His Highness wished them everlasting progress and success. Al-Sabah received the Malaysian ambassador as well. His Salem Al-Sabah, as well as former minister of commerce and Khaled Abdul Ghaffar Marafi. Meanwhile, His Highness the Amir received the outgo- Highness the Amir also received the outgoing Swiss and industry Falah Fahad Al-Hajri. —KUNA Defense minister discusses cooperation with ambassadors Kuwait-proposed Jerusalem emergency article passed: Speaker GENEVA: Kuwait National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al- Ghanem said yesterday that the passing of the emergency article relating to Jerusalem, presented by Kuwait and three other countries, confirmed that Arab and Islamic countries could achieve a lot when cooperating. The Israeli delegation has been deeply embarrassed in terms of voting and this confirms that ‘peaceful’ parliamentary diplo- macy can achieve a lot, Ghanem said. The Kuwaiti delegation, in cooperation with Arab and Islamic countries’ delegations, succeeded in National Assembly Speaker First Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah meets with US ambassador to Kuwait Lawrence Silverman. passing the Kuwaiti proposal, which Marzouq Al-Ghanem was a difficult challenge, he added. Since the establishment of the IPU, the proposals of the Arab KUWAIT: Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister geopolitical group have not succeeded in any of the sessions except Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah held talks yesterday with a in the past two, when a proposal for the Rohingya went through and bevy of international ambassadors to the Gulf state, focusing on strate- this year the proposal of Kuwait, he pointed out. A committee in the gies to develop closer ties. The US ambassador to Kuwait Lawrence Arab Parliament recommended to include an emergency article relat- Silverman, Jordanian envoy Sager Abu Shtal, Vietnamese diplomat Trinh ed to Jerusalem crisis on the agenda of IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Minh Manh and Brazil’s ambassador Norton de Andrade Mello were Union) meeting. The article passed concerns Washington’s decision to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. among those to have met with Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah, read a state- Meanwhile, two Kuwaiti MPs have shared the view that an emer- ment by the Kuwaiti defense ministry. The statement pointed out that a gency article on Jerusalem was passed at the 138th Assembly of the sense of camaraderie pervaded the Kuwaiti defense minister’s encoun- IPU thanks to Kuwait’s balanced policies and respect of human rights. ters with the diplomats, in which discussions were held over issues of Member of the Kuwaiti Parliamentary Group attending the IPU mutual concern. Assembly Ali Al-Deqbasi said the fact that the proposal, submitted by Meanwhile, Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah’s meeting spree included talks Kuwait, Bahrain, Palestine and Turkey, received 843 votes in favor and with the Chief of the Australian Army Angus Campbell and a delegation 108 against, reflected the distinctive status of the Kuwaiti National accompanying him. Also yesterday, the Kuwaiti minister received the Assembly. He stressed the significant role of the Kuwaiti parliamen- director general of Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences tary diplomacy that always defended causes of the Muslim nation. Dr Adnan Shihab-Eldin. The defense ministry’s undersecretary Sheikh KUWAIT: Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al- “One has learnt this active and elevated role from His Highness the Ahmad Al-Mansour Al-Sabah was present during the meetings. —KUNA Ahmad Al-Sabah meets with Jordanian envoy Sager Abu Shtal. —KUNA Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah,” Deqbasi stressed. MP Naif Al-Ajmi expressed meanwhile his gratitude over the success of the Kuwaiti Parliamentary Group led by Ghanem, to secure the emergency article on the Assembly agenda. Kuwait has always been a pioneer in advocating the Arab and Muslim causes, he said. Ajmi, also member of the group, noted that the Palestine cause is that “of every Muslim.” In the meantime, MP Omar Al-Tabtabaei has lauded the victory secured by Kuwait’s National Assembly as the 138th Assembly of the IPU voted for including an emergency item on Jerusalem on the agenda of the Geneva gathering. The success, realized thanks to sup- port by the Arab and Islamic parliaments, is a “moral and political tri- umph for an issue the international parliaments forgot for the past years, namely the cause of the Palestinians’ and their right in their capital, Jerusalem,” Tabtabaei said. “The victory against the Zionist entity, represented by the Knesset, will be recorded in the name of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, which managed to include a similar emergency item on the Rohingya on the conference agenda last year, First Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- First Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- he stressed.” —KUNA Sabah meets with Brazil’s ambassador Norton de Andrade Mello. Sabah meets with the Vietnamese ambassador Trinh Minh Manh. Established 1961 3 Local Tuesday, March 27 , 2018 Government agrees with proposal to tax expatriates’ remittances

Compromise reached after meeting with Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry

By A Saleh and Meshaal Al-Enezi settle this before putting the law into practice, other- age took place during the second period without any March 11 for those who had been already operating wise, the tax might be also imposed on citizens,” backup plan. A large number of students fainted and the trucks to legalize their status before the end of KUWAIT: Official sources said the government remarked the sources, noting the bill will be discuss in were rushed to Farwaniya Hospital for treatment. September to avoid legal accountability. He added agrees with a proposal to tax remittances made by parliament in this term to take effect by October if Chairman of the Public Authority for Food and the ministry will inspect the license once the grace expatriates and denied that the Central Bank raised passed. Nutrition Essa Al-Kandari issued a directive exempt- period is over. objections during a meeting of the parliamentary ing seasonal foodstuff outlets from the conditions financial affairs committee to discuss the matter. Budget deficit mentioned in the ministerial decision number Marine wildlife “What the Central Bank suggested was taking more The state budget deficit as of the end of February 25/2017, provided they get temporary licenses As part of its fourth season of surveying and doc- time to discuss the details of parliamentary proposals (11 months of the fiscal year) according to certain condi- umenting marine wildlife in Kuwait, Kuwait to avoid derailing the entire issue,” the sources said. reached KD 2.52 billion tions. Kandari explained that Environment Protection Society (KEPS) used a heli- The sources stressed that represented by the after deducting KD 1.44 bil- the conditions for the tempo- copter to scan various locations to the northeast of Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the pri- lion for the Future Taxes help rary licenses should include Kuwait, said KEPS’ wildlife committee member Dr vate sector had a different viewpoint, which was tak- Generations Fund, accord- full observation of hygiene Ra’fat Mesak, noting that the chopper took off from en into full consideration and a compromise was ing to the finance ministry’s get rid of conditions and protecting Ali Al-Salem airbase and flew over Subbiya and reached by agreeing to categorize and reduce the fee monthly report. The report food items from spoilage, that Boubyan creeks. Mesak added that the survey value instead of the suggested five percent charge on added the budget deficit marginal labor workers should have valid flight also covered Al-Melh and Al-Tha’lab creeks - all remittances regardless of the amount. “It was dropped by KD 211 million health certificates, that they the two main entrances to Mubarak Al-Kabeer agreed to collect a two percent charge for amounts in February compared to fully observe personal sanctuary - which covers around a third of up to KD 100, three percent for sums between KD January, when it was KD hygiene conditions, full com- Boubyan island (around 51 hectares) and was 100 and 500 and four percent for transfers more than 2.73 billion. mitment to the license tenure, declared as one of 2,200 international wetlands on KD 500,” the sources explained, noting that this was The report explained the drop in the deficit due to activity, location and getting all the relevant Sept 5, 2015. Mesak stressed that the aerial scan- the final vision that will be discussed further during growth in revenues, as KD 1.7 billion was added to approvals. ning also covered Meskan, Failaka and Um Al-Naml the committee’s meeting next week. increase revenues from KD 12.7 billion at the end of islands, Shuwaikh Port, Oshairej cape and the west- In addition, the sources warned that the chamber has January to reach KD 14.4 billion by the end of Exceptions ern side of Kuwait Bay, before landing back at the fears that the fees might have a negative impact on February. On the other hand, the report showed that The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) base. KEPS Chairperson Wejdan Al-Oqab said the attracting skilled labor to Kuwait, which was refuted by expenses increased by KD 937 million by the end of urged the owners of mobile vending trucks already flight was in collaboration with the ministry of the parliamentary committee, which argued that such February to reach KD 13.6 billion, compared to KD engaged in activities included in the ministerial reso- defense and the air force. fees or taxes will help get rid of marginal labor already 12.7 billion by the end of January, which makes the lution number 693/2017 to check with the ministry overburdening public services. The sources also noted difference between February revenues and expenses and legalize their statuses, according to some condi- Iraqi delegation that the argument now was how to control possible reach KD 758 million. tions. MoCI assistant undersecretary for companies Ministry of Electricity and Water’s (MEW) under- attempts to avoid paying the fees, saying that imposing and licenses affairs Ahmed Al-Fares said the ministry secretary yesterday met a delegation from the Iraqi them only on expats might lead to “agreements” with Students fainted already started receiving applicants to issue licenses ministry of electricity headed by his counterpart Adel citizens to send the money on behalf of expats. Over 10 ambulances were dispatched yesterday to for these trucks from March 11. He added that the Al-Dulaimi to discuss linking Kuwait, Iraq and GCC “Both the committee and the government need to a private girls school in Khaitan, where a power out- resolution set a six-month grace period effective power grids.

Woman dies after leaping off burning building

By Hanan Al-Saadoun and Agencies

KUWAIT: A woman died after she jumped from a burning building in Jleeb KUWAIT: A firefighter inspects the Al-Shuyoukh yesterday. The victim scene after tackling a blaze in a Jleeb reportedly died on the scene from fatal Al-Shuyoukh apartment yesterday. wounds she sustained after jumping from a seventh floor apartment. Firemen from the Jleeb, Ardhiya and Technical the company. The man cashed the Rescue fire stations headed to the cheque, then switched off his phone scene in response to an emergency call and disappeared. Police are working on reporting a blaze in a sixth floor apart- the case. ment in the 10-storey building. Firefighters were able to evacuate the Forged notes building before extinguishing the Hawally detectives raided an apart- flames. Two firemen suffered burns ment following information that a citizen while battling the blaze. Separately, an was planning to release KD 200,000 in explosion rocked a Hawally restaurant forged notes into the market. The sus- due to a gas leak, but no injuries were pect had KD 260 in forged money as reported. Firemen and paramedics well as three scanners. A woman who rushed to the scene and put out the fire. was found in his apartment was released as she was not involved in the forgery. Awareness campaign Kuwait Municipality’s public relations Swindling department said the environment affairs Concerned authorities closed down a department carried out an awareness money exchange shop after it swindled campaign at Saeed bin Al-Aas School in various customers of more than KD cooperation with the cleanliness and 200,000. The manager was sent to the road occupancy department in Hawally central prison, as investigations are to clean up Anjifa Beach. It said such underway to find out how the money campaigns educate students on the can be recovered. The public funds importance of protecting the environ- prosecution received more than 75 ment and to stop beachgoers from leav- complaints from people who said they ing rubbish strewn around by using col- were attracted by special offers from or-coded garbage bags: Yellow for the Hawally shop to make transfers for medical Waste; black for home garbage 200 fils cheaper for every 1,000 and solid municipal waste; and red for Egyptian pounds. The victims kept fecal waste, in addition to educating going to this shop for transfers that them on how to place the garbage in were not delivered, so they complained designated areas. The campaign result- to the police. ed in removing 32 bags of trash and plastic material, in addition to dead fish. Prostitution Two Spanish and two Romanian Assault women who entered the country togeth- A citizen told police he was beaten er were found engaged in prostitution. by a compatriot, adding that while he The Spanish women used a furnished was leaving his farm, he saw his friend apartment in Hawally after they “pro- with some other people. He approached moted” themselves on the Internet them to say hello, but the man hit him before arriving in Kuwait. The with an axe instead. Separately, the Romanians did the same before arriving Dhaher police station investigator in Kuwait, and all of them were arrested asked for information about the owner by vice detectives. The arrest was made of a vehicle, whom a doctor accused of after vice police learned about the insulting him while on duty at Dhaher women’s activities, who charged KD 250 health center. The doctor handed over per hour. The women arrived in Kuwait the license plate number of the sus- four days ago. The suspects face legal pect’s care to police as he lodged a action before being deported. complaint. Drug smuggling Theft A policeman at the central prison A Palestinian man told police that he acted as a link between drug dealers gave a cheque to an Indian national to outside the prison and inmates. Prison cash, but the man escaped with the drug fighting officers learned the police- money. The plaintiff, who manages a man had been active for one year, and food company, told Jleeb police that he was arrested while reporting to work. would usually give the Indian suspect He said he used to smuggle drugs to money to deposit in the bank, but this prisoners and gave information about time he gave him a cheque of KD the sources. He was referred to the pub- 19,000 to cash and bring the money to lic prosecution. 4 Established 1961 Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Local Government issues decisive orders to develop Failaka island Sheikh Mohammed Al-Yousef named head of agriculture authority

KUWAIT: Ministers dedicated special attention during the Mohammad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah as Chairman and General cabinet’s weekly session yesterday to the topic of devel- Director of the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs oping Failaka island, instructing competent authorities to and Fish Resources (PAAAFR). This was announced by take all necessary action to press ahead with renovating it Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet and barring any new transactions or contracts on it. The Affairs Anas Al-Saleh. The ministers tackled other matters, executives examined a rec- praising the mission car- ommendation on the final ried out by the parlia- report of the team tasked mentary delegation dur- with developing Failaka ing the ongoing 138th island. No new session of the Inter- They have decided to Parliamentary Union (in charge the department of contracts to Geneva), particularly reclaiming properties for with respect of the public interest to take the allow island’s unscheduled topic on proper measures regarding Jerusalem, which came as the irregular private plots renovation a new manifestation of on Failaka island and report support for Arab and back to the cabinet in two Islamic causes-also in months. line with the unwavering Furthermore, they have policy bases of which decided to task the ministry of finance to take required had been placed by His Highness the Amir. KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah chairs the cabinet’s meeting legal measures and coordinate with the competent author- yesterday.— KUNA ities to vacate the plots; contracts of which have expired, Missile attacks and removing any illegal structures. Also in this vein, the The cabinet meanwhile reaffirmed Kuwait’s strong con- Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish demnation of the ballistic missile attacks on the Kingdom ing all opportunities and endeavors for peace, which urges bless Saudi Arabia with everlasting security, stability and Resources, in coordination with the Environment Public of Saudi Arabia Sunday. Chairing the government’s meet- the international community, topped with the UN Security prosperity under leadership of King Salman bin Abdulaziz authority and other concerned departments, to take all ing at Seif Palace, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Council, to immediately and seriously move to end these Al Saud. needed legal and practical measures to remove all enclo- Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah also voiced deep despicable criminal acts, that terrorize peaceful people. The cabinet also condemned a recent bomb attack in sures on the island. Identical instructions are to be given as relief that the Saudi Air Defense Forces intercepted the His Highness the Prime Minister reasserted full confi- the Egyptian city of Alexandria that targeted the local well to Kuwait Municipality. missiles, the Houthi militia launched from Yemen on Saudi dence in Saudi Arabia’s determination and ability to face security chief, leaving a police officer dead and four others As to the Ministry of Defense, it will be responsible for Arabia targeting populated areas and innocent people. His the “forces of evil and to maintain the security and safety wounded. The ministers also deplored in equal measure an demining and clearing the island of lethal ordnance left Highness the Premier reiterated Kuwait’s utter rejection of of the (Saudi) people.” His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al- attack in southwestern France last week, in which a gun- behind after past wars. The team tasked with developing these “criminal acts” that threaten regional and interna- Mubarak, stressed Kuwait’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia man opened fire on scores of people, in addition to a sui- the island is instructed to pursue all needed and necessary tional security, minister Saleh said after the meeting. They and support to whatever measures Riyadh may take to cide bomb attack in the Afghan capital Kabul. The Kuwaiti activities for renovating it. The cabinet has stressed no are incriminated by the international laws, resolutions and maintain the Kingdom’s security and stability, embodying cabinet emphasized its disapproval of such heinous acts, new contracts will be allowed for venture on the island. covenants. The criminal acts reflect intransigence on the the historical well-established relations between both urging the international community to work as a cohesive The cabinet also approved a bill appointing Sheikh side of the Houthis who insist on undermining, and abort- states. His Highness the Premier prayed Allah Almighty to unit in the fight against terrorism. —KUNA

Chinese embassy donates 1,000 books Deputy FM upbeat to National Library about prospects of cancelling Schengen By Ben Garcia

KUWAIT: Ambassador of China to Kuwait Wang Di yes- SOFIA: The visiting Kuwait’s Deputy Foreign Minister terday led the handover ceremony of books gifted by Khaled Al-Jarallah held lengthy and intensive talks yes- China to the National Library of Kuwait. The books were terday with his Bulgarian counterpart Todor Stoyanov received by Ali Al-Yoha, Secretary General of the aimed at bolstering further the 55-year-old bilateral National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL). relations between the nation and the State of Kuwait. NCCAL also arranged an exhibition of Chinese books He has also voiced optimism the Kuwaiti diplomatic and culture at the National Library, which the two offi- efforts aimed at cancelling Schengen would be success- cials inaugurated. ful and fruitful. “I am glad to come to the National Library of Kuwait, a Speaking after the meeting, Jarallah expressed satis- sacred place of knowledge, and attend the opening cere- faction at the outcome of the discussions saying he had mony of the exhibition of Chinese books and culture with “sensed from our friends in Bulgaria all concern and my friends,” Wang said. “Thank you for providing this keenness on boosting the relations in various sectors.” good platform for Kuwaiti friends to understand Chinese Jarallah has noted significance of his mission to the culture. I would also like to extend a warm welcome to all nation at a time Bulgaria is heading the European Union guests present to appreciate Chinese culture with its in first half of the current year, hoping Sofia will 5,000-year history, rapid modernization and achievements “respond to Kuwait’s request to one of the mission’s KUWAIT: Ambassador of China to Kuwait Wang Di (center) and other officials inaugurate the handover ceremony of books and the future-oriented, human-oriented blueprint for topics, which is of great significance; canceling the gifted by China to the National Library of Kuwait. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat development. China-Kuwait relations are traditionally Schengen visa for Kuwaiti citizens.” friendly. Kuwait was the first Gulf Arab country to estab- “We have made headways in this regard and we lish diplomatic relations with China,” he said. have sensed response from Bulgaria and the European According to the ambassador, since the establishment Union via Bulgaria,” he said, expressing hope there of diplomatic relations between China and Kuwait in 1971, would speedy response to the request, “and we are both countries enjoy even stronger links in mutual political optimistic to reach what we are aspiring to,” he added. trust, business cooperation, cultural exchanges and friend- Jarallah added that his talks with Stoyanov dealt with ship between their peoples. “The Chinese Embassy in a host of issues related to the economic, business, ener- Kuwait has always attached importance to promoting gy, medical and educational sectors. There are 22 exchanges of humanities between the two countries and is accords that govern the bilateral relations between committed to building a bridge of friendship to enhance Bulgaria and the State of Kuwait, Al-Jarallah said, not- both peoples’ understanding about each other’s society ing that 12 others would be inked during a scheduled and culture and strengthen the people-to-people bond visit to Kuwait by the Bulgarian premier in middle of under the “Belt and Road” framework, laying a solid social April. “We view with great optimism the prospected foundation for further deepening China-Kuwait coopera- further growth of the relations between Kuwait and tion,” he said. Bulgaria and there will be meetings in preparation for Wang presented to the National Library more than the premier visit to Kuwait,” he said. 1,000 books on more than 80 subjects in English and On Gulf affairs namely Kuwait’s mediation efforts Arabic covering Chinese history, culture, politics, diploma- among some of the GCC countries, Jarallah said the cy, tourism and many other fields. “There are also some Bulgarian officials expressed strong support for His basic books on learning the Chinese language and exqui- Highness the Amir bids to heal the rifts. Stoyanov said site children’s books. It is believed that these books will meanwhile that he was pleased with Jarallah’s visit, dur- become a window for Kuwaiti friends to fully understand ing which there were follow-up talks on previously held China and become a bridge connecting the Chinese and official discussions. —KUNA Kuwaiti people. Today, we bring the seeds of knowledge from China to Kuwait, believing that they will root, grow, bloom and bear fruit in the care of China-Kuwait friend- ship, promoting the development and progress of Kuwait’s society, making contributions to the friendship of both peoples and the bright future of China-Kuwait coopera- Officials view books gifted by China to the National Library of Kuwait. tion,” he concluded. Zain diamond PAAAFR bans bird sponsor of imports from Holland GUST’s Italy and Missouri 20th Career Fair KUWAIT: The Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) announced yetserday ban- KUWAIT: Zain, the leading telecom- ning the importation of all kinds of live birds, one-day old munications company in Kuwait, chicks, and hatching eggs from the Netherlands, Italy, and announced its Diamond Sponsorship KUWAIT: GUST’s President Dr Donald Bates visits Zain’s booth at the fair. Missouri (Unites States), while, PAAAFR lifted the ban on of the Gulf University for Science and exports from Cameron, Slovenia, and Lithuania. Technology’s (GUST) 20th Career Fair mistic youth who are looking for job Zain is committed to playing an active It added in a press release issued yesterday that the held from 25-26 March at the univer- opportunities in the various industries role in the investment in the human capi- ban was lifted from the mentioned countries after checking sity’s main campus in Mubarak Al- within the local private sector. tal of Kuwait. The company seeks to that imported birds are free from bird flu. Any sent dis- Abdullah area with the attendance of Through its dedicated booth, Zain provide young and eager Kuwaitis with patches infected by any infectious and epidemiological GUST’s President Dr Donald Bates. showcased its available vacancies as suitable job opportunities that allow diseases after PAAAFR’s lab checkup, will be sent back to Zain’s continuous support to this well as its human resources policy, them to apply their practical skills, the exporting countries at the expense of the importer, as annual job fair comes in line with the which closely focuses on attracting achieve their potential, and fully develop PAAAFR claims no responsibility for such goods. All company’s core belief that contributing national talents that are capable of their capabilities. Zain was present at the imported cargo must meets conditions and regulations to educational development is essential enriching its internal culture. The com- job fair and its representatives highlight- issued by PAAAFR’s Animal Health Department, which for students to then go-on to be suc- pany also showcased the available ed to visitors the available job vacancies come in accordance with the measures of World SOFIA: Kuwait’s Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al- cessful and contributing members of vacancies for undergraduates to work in addition to providing a detailed Organization for Animal Health measures, as well as veteri- Jarallah and his delegation meet with his Bulgarian coun- the society. This particular event plays in part-time jobs as part of it Future explanation of the nature of work at nary quarantine at Kuwait and the Gulf Cooperation terpart Todor Stoyanov and Bulgarian officials. — KUNA a big role in exposing bright and opti- University Network (FUN) program. various departments and divisions. Council (GCC) countries. —KUNA Established 1961 5 Local Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Dhaman signs partnership agreement with IBM to establish advanced healthcare system Launches Kuwait Digital Health Roadmap Initiative

KUWAIT: In a pioneering step made in line with forth an ambitious strategic vision and technical plans Kuwait’s development plan and Vision 2035 ‘New to become a leader in the healthcare sector. This Kuwait’, the Health Assurance Hospitals Company vision can only be achieved by the full integration of (Dhaman) signed a strategic partnership agreement healthcare with the Information Technology (IT) sec- with multinational technology company IBM, for the tor to enable us to achieve our goals and provide a development of the Digital Health System and the unique experience to beneficiaries through unified launch of the Kuwait Digital Health Roadmap access across all services. It will also enable us to Initiative. Through the agreement Dhaman aims to establish a state-of-the-art technical and practical become a regional leader in the technological health- platform that meet international standards in health. care sector by 2020. “Dhaman is proud to present a national vision Opening the doors for further cooperation and the through the ‘Kuwait Digital Health Roadmap development of the industry in Kuwait through IBM’s Initiative’ offering a better future to Kuwaiti citizens. breakthrough technology and world-renowned expe- The partnership with IBM will enable Dhaman to rience; Dhaman will establish a Digital Health System connect with international and innovative institutes and launch the Kuwait Digital Health Roadmap and centers around the world and stay up-to-date Initiative to advance and digitize the healthcare sec- with the latest advancements in technology and tor including the management of Electronic Medical healthcare. The roadmap will feature a unified e- records and providing high-quality services to all health file, infrastructure for cloud services, access to beneficiaries in a professional and efficient manner. health services through multiple channels, and estab- The agreement aims to achieve a qualitative leap in lish a medical decision support system and artificial the quality of services provided to the public to intelligence systems in addition to the development of increase efficiency, reduce operational costs and public health systems, awareness, and preventive waste, and optimize solutions. capital assets and “IBM will provide equipment. It will also project management link and integrate dif- and consulting services ferent departments at Under the to Dhaman through the Kuwait’s Ministry of establishment of a full- Health, which will per- Health integrated digital sys- mit the ministry to mon- tem that will accommo- KUWAIT: Dhaman Chairman Mutlaq Al-Sanea (left) and IBM Region Executive Middle East Bashar Kilani itor health facilities and Ministry’s date Primary Healthcare (right) shake hands after signing the agreement as the Health Ministry’s Undersecretary Dr Mohammad real time performance Centers and Secondary Al-Khashti looks on. —Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat management. patronage Healthcare Hospitals Undersecretary of geographically spread the Ministry of Health across Kuwait. Setting tirelessly to provide the support needed to achieve transform Dhaman into a leading digital healthcare Dr Mohammad Al- the criteria to reach our goals and overcome the challenges in order for us system in the MENA region, and the second is proj- Khashti said: “This ini- HIMSS Analytics Stage to contribute towards the development of the health- ect management and execution of the vision. These tiative between Dhaman and IBM is a strategic step in 7 and continuing to work towards establishing care sector in Kuwait.” phases in return will set the long-term agenda for the the direction of reformation as the technological solu- Dhaman as a leading digital health organization in the Dhaman Information Technology Director, future vision in technology through well-studied tions and outputs expected from it will serve as a Middle East by 2020. HIMSS Analytics is a global Engineer Abdullah Al-Najjar said: “The modern inter- experiences and scientific; methodologies, and deter- launching pad of innovative ideas to further develop healthcare IT market intelligence, research and stan- active technologies to be provided by this agreement mining the technological and strategic requirements quality, standards and ease of access to services in the dards organization that tracks and benchmarks tech- will offer beneficiaries with unified access to all serv- to achieve a digital healthcare system.” healthcare sector in Kuwait. I commend Dhaman and nological progress against other healthcare organiza- ices and securely automate all internal and external Dhaman was established in 2015 as a public-pri- IBM for their initiative and hope it will be the begin- tions. This comes in addition to signing an agreement operations, which in return will achieve the strategic vate-partnership (PPP) project with an authorized ning of enhancing the digital healthcare system for the with JCI, an international non-profit organization and objectives of managing the public’s health. Dhaman capital of KD 230 million. Government entities repre- benefit of the community.” IBM is ranked as one of the the oldest and largest accreditation organization in has set a strategy to healthcare and a roadmap to sented by the Kuwait Investment Authority and top 10 brands influencing the world’s economy, and is the field of healthcare in the world, to strengthen and implement the EMR Adoption Model (EMRAM), General Authority for Social Insurance own 24 per- one of the largest technology, digital health, and artifi- enable core activities to meet standards in clinical which aims to achieve minimal paper use and harness cent of the company, while 26 percent is owned by cial intelligence companies in the world. care, effective leadership, safe facility management technology to support and improve patient care. Our strategic partner Arabi Holding Company. The com- Dhaman CEO and Board Member, Dr Ahmad Al- and continuous quality improvement. Our local partnership with IBM is divided into two phases; the pany allocated 50 percent of its shares for public Saleh said: “Since our establishment, Dhaman has put strategic partner Arabi Holding Company is working first of which is offering consulting services to help subscription for Kuwaiti citizens.

Ooredoo, Najat Charity organize ‘Imagine’ campaign

KUWAIT: Stemming from the company’s deep-rooted socially-responsible activities through its corporate values of caring, connecting, and challenging, Ooredoo social responsibility agenda. “We are happy that the Kuwait participated in Najat Charity Society’s campaign raised the necessary funds to reach its tar- fundraising campaign ‘Imagine,’ which successfully get and are proud of every person who participated in raised funds for digging 50 artesian wells in the driest this campaign, and this isn’t strange to the charitable areas of the African continent. The fundraising cam- and kind people of Kuwait. We’re honored to work paign took place in 360 Mall last Thursday from 10 am with Al-Najat Charity Society, who have an extensive to 10 pm. Ooredoo participated with a social media portfolio of activities around the world serving the awareness campaign ahead of the Thursday, to invite underprivileged.” the public to this event. Al-Najat Charity Society will announce the second The event was attended by several social media phase of this campaign at a later stage. Donations for influencers, charity patrons and donors. It included sev- Al-Najat Society are possible through its locations in eral activities aiming to raise awareness about the grav- Sabah Al Salem and Rawda, in addition to its affiliate ity of the issue of lack of potable water, which affects societies of Salwa Zakat Committee and Al-Othman millions of people, causing more than 650 deaths a day. Zakat Committee, Rumaithiya Zakat Committee, Ooredoo Kuwait’s Corporate Communications Andalus Zakat Committee, Kaifan Zakat Committee, Senior Director Mijbil Alayoub said in a statement that and the Islam Presentation Committee. Donors can call the company is committed to fostering charitable and the Society’s hotline on 1800082 for more information. Established 1961

InternationalTuesday, March 27, 2018 Comoros passport scheme unlawful, Pregnant migrant workers in Asia face deportation, discrimination Page 9 abused by mafia Page 8

PARIS: Photo shows a general view of the embassy of the Russian Federation in Paris. Fourteen EU states are expelling Russian diplomats in a coordinated response to the nerve agent attack on a former spy in the English city of Salisbury, EU President Donald Tusk said yesterday. —AFP US expels 60 Russian diplomats Russians expelled from 14 EU states, Canada, Ukraine

LONDON: The United States said yesterday it would expel ous consequences,” a senior US administration official told ‘Response will be symmetrical’ given that it would be leaving the bloc next year. “Britain is 60 Russian diplomats, joining governments across Europe in reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity. EU leaders European Council President Donald Tusk said 14 EU leaving the European family. No one cancelled Brexit, and taking action against the Kremlin for a nerve agent attack last week said evidence of Russian involvement in the attack countries in all were expelling Russian diplomats and the divorce process is in full swing,” Russian Foreign on a former Russian spy in Britain that they have blamed on presented by British Prime Minister Theresa May was a solid warned that further measures could be taken in the coming Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Moscow. It was the toughest action that US President basis for further action. weeks and months. Russia Facebook. “Therefore a country which is leaving the Donald Trump had taken against Russia since coming to Germany and France said it would respond in European Union is exploiting the solidarity factor and is office. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson tweeted that made good on those threats kind. “The response will foisting on those countries that remain a worsening of rela- “Today’s extraordinary international response by our allies by announcing expulsions be symmetrical. We will tions with Russia.” Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter stands in history as the largest collective expulsion of and in a coordinated move, work on it in the coming Yulia were found unconscious on a public bench in a shop- Russian intelligence officers ever and will help defend our other states across the EU Moscow days and will respond to ping centre, and remain in hospital in critical condition. A shared security.” followed suit, along with every country in turn,” British court has said they may have suffered brain damage, British Prime Minister Theresa May said the coordinated Canada and Ukraine. fumes, the RIA news agency cit- while a policeman who went to help them has also indicated measures “clearly demonstrate that we all stand shoulder to Skripal’s poisoning, alleged ed an unnamed Foreign that he has suffered lasting damage to his health. shoulder in sending the strongest signal to Russia that it to have employed the vows to Ministry source as saying. British Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson hailed the cannot continue to flout international law”. Russia’s Foreign Soviet-era military-grade The Kremlin has support Britain had received during a visit on Monday to Ministry called the actions a “provocative gesture” and nerve agent Novichok, is respond accused Britain of whip- Estonia, where Britain has troops as part of a NATO promised to respond. Moscow has denied being behind the the first known offensive ping up an anti-Russia mission to deter any Russian aggression following its attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the southern use of a nerve toxin in campaign and sought to seizure of Ukraine’s Crimea in 2014. “The world’s English city of Salisbury on March 4. Europe since World War cast doubt on the British patience is rather wearing thin with President Putin and The staff expelled by the United States included 12 intelli- Two. “In solidarity with our analysis that Moscow was his actions,” Williamson said. “Their aim is to divide, and gence officers from Russia’s mission to United Nations British partners, we have today notified the Russian authori- responsible. The two countries have already expelled 23 what we are seeing is the world uniting behind the headquarters in New York. Trump also ordered the closure ties of our decision to expel four Russian personnel with diplomats each in tit-for-tat moves. Russian Foreign British stance - and that in itself is a great victory and of the Russian consulate in Seattle. “To the Russian govern- diplomatic status from French territory within one week,” Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova suggested that sends an exceptionally powerful message to the Kremlin ment we say: when you attack our friends, you will face seri- said French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian. the EU’s expression of support for Britain was misguided and President Putin.” —Reuters

Afghan mum cradling baby during university Puigdemont in examination goes viral court as arrest KABUL: Afghan farmer Jahantab Ahmadi sits on the ground, her baby resting in her lap, as she focuses on the ignites protests university entrance exam she hopes will help her fulfil her NEUMUNSTER: Former Catalan president Carles dreams. The powerful photo, taken by a professor at Puigdemont is to appear in court yesterday following his Nasir Khusraw private university in central Afghanistan, arrest in Germany which triggered a wave of protests in has gone viral after striking a chord in a country where Catalonia where thousands of separatists faced off with most women are illiterate and treated as second-class police. Puigdemont spent the night in a German jail cell fol- citizens. lowing his arrest Sunday after he crossed the border from The picture has sparked an outpouring of admiration Denmark, under a European warrant issued by Spain. and offers of financial help for the 25-year-old mother of The arrest comes five months after Puigdemont went on three. “I don’t want to be deprived of my studies,” the run as Spanish prosecutors sought to charge him with Ahmadi, who comes from a remote farming village in sedition and rebellion in the wake of a vote by the Catalan Daikundi province where wheat, corn and potatoes pro- parliament to declare independence. It marks the latest chap- vide a meagre income, told AFP in Kabul. “I want to work ter in a secession saga that has bitterly divided Catalans and outside the house. I want to become a doctor, someone triggered Spain’s worst political crisis in decades. According who serves women in my community or society.” to Puigdemont’s lawyer Jaume Alonso-Cuevillas, he was on Ahmadi passed the exam after undertaking an arduous his way back to Belgium, where he fled after Spanish authori- journey to reach the provincial capital Nili-two hours on ties moved to impose direct rule over Catalonia. The ousted foot through mountains and nine hours in public trans- Catalan leader, 55, will be brought before a German court port on a bumpy road. An online GoFundMe campaign yesterday to confirm his identity. It will later decide if he is to launched by the Afghan Youth Association to help pay for remain in custody pending extradition proceedings. her university fees has so far raised more than $14,000 — a fortune in a country where about 39 percent of the ‘Delicate’ situation population lives in poverty. Ahmadi appears a little “It will take place in the course of the day, probably in bemused by the attention triggered by the photo of her NILI, Afghanistan: Afghan student Jahantab Ahmadi (bottom right), 25, sits on the ground as her baby lays on her lap as she the afternoon,” a spokeswoman for the prosecutor’s office cradling baby Khizran during the exam last month, which takes an entrance exam for Nasir Khusraw private university. —AFP for Schleswig-Holstein state told AFP. Calling the situation she only found out about later. “very delicate”, Alonso-Cuevillas told Catalonia’s Rac1 radio “My friends in the village told me ‘you have been pho- it was “very likely that he will not be allowed to leave tographed’. I said ‘how did I not know that I was being to be educated. “You are a true world champion, you Daikundi and she would have to live in a rented house. Germany”. Clashes erupted as protesters took to the photographed and they said ‘you were concentrating on have shown that a Hazara girl can do anything in any “We will give her a house (in Kabul). There are many streets in Catalonia on Sunday following his arrest. the paper,” she said, smiling shyly. At the beginning of the conditions or circumstances,” Nazar Hussein Akbari friends who have promised to help her. We are trying to Catalan police decked out in riot gear shoved and hit test, which was held outdoors, Ahmadi sat at a desk with wrote on Facebook, referring to her ethnicity. Another find a job for her husband and also raise money for her demonstrators with batons to keep the crowd from advanc- Khizran in her lap. But the infant had an ear ache and user posted: “I hope this hard-working woman reaches children to go to school.” For Ahmadi, this would be the ing on the office of the Spanish government’s representative would not stop crying. To keep her quiet and not disturb her goals.” Afghan women’s rights activist Zahra Yagana fulfillment of her dreams. “My life goal was to get admit- in Barcelona, the capital of the wealthy northeastern region. others, Ahmadi sat on the ground in the shade of another was also impressed. ted into university,” said Ahmadi, who finished high school Officers fired warning shots in the air to try to contain the person and kept writing. “I had to concentrate on the She contacted Ahmadi and convinced her to come to after she got married at the age of 18. “But due to our demonstrators, who pushed large recycling containers baby and do the paper,” she said. Kabul to study. The family is staying with Yagana while poor economic situation and poverty I could not afford to towards police. Some people threw glass bottles, cans and she helps Ahmadi get into a private university in the study for three or four years.” Afghanistan’s general liter- eggs at police. About 90 people were slightly injured during University a ‘life goal’ Afghan capital. “If she had to study in Daikundi it would acy rate is one of the lowest in the world-just 36 percent, the protests in Barcelona, including 22 police officers, emer- Ahmadi’s story has resonated with social media users be difficult for her,” Yagana said at her apartment. “The according to official figures. It is much lower for women. gency services said. —AFP across the country, who have praised her determination standard of education is low. There is no student hostel in “I don’t want to be left behind,” she said. —AFP Established 1961 7 International Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Death and despair: Life under siege in war-ravaged Ghouta Corpses become commonplace as rockets rain down

GIHAL ZER: The image of a small, limbless girl lying in a should not show these scenes to any man,” he said. hospital in Ghouta is burned into the memory of Increasing deprivation eroded neighborhood solidarity. Mohammad Fadhl Akram, one of the first people to flee a They scavenged in garbage for fuel, washed clothes in ash, rebel Syrian city under bombardment from government and as water ran short did not shower for months. “There forces. Years of siege left the enclave a desperate place, was no salt, no sugar, no tea, nothing... We ate leaves,” said where hungry people depended on the kindness of neigh- Akram. A livid scar on Akram’s abdomen, which he pulls bors for food; where disease lurked in the faltering water his white shalwar kameez up to reveal, bears witness to an supply and where death fell from the sky in a hail of rock- appendectomy performed without anaesthestic in a clinic ets. “We did not know who was killing us and who wasn’t,” that lacked both drugs and doctors. says Akram, now in Pakistan. “The one thing we knew was that they were destroying Barrage our city.” Initially the violence that has engulfed their On February 18 this year, Syrian president Bashar al- adopted country since 2011 did not worry Akram, a Assad’s forces turned their full fury on this hold-out enclave Pakistani who arrived in Syria in 1974 and took two wives- on the edge of Damascus. More than 1,600 civilians have a woman from Ghouta, Rabah Jarrad, and Saghran Bibi, a died since, and 107,000 people have fled, with many using Pakistani cousin. Then foreign militants came. Two of his “corridors” opened up by Syrian army troops advancing sons enlisted in an armed into rebel territory. For group, while a third was Akram and Bibi, evacuated caught up in street vio- in a “humanitarian pause” lence in 2013. Akram announced by Russia earlier remembers darkness this month, the increasing thickening as the family Witnessing the desperation of the five-year waited for their son to siege-and the children and return home. When he annihilation of grandchildren they were did, he lay lifeless in the forced to leave behind-will back of an ambulance. the population forever haunt them. HARASTA: A Syrian soldier takes photos in the town of Harasta in Eastern Ghouta yesterday, after The boy’s mother “could The terrifying final month government forces entered the town and struck an evacuation deal with the rebels.—AFP not stand it, she had a of government bombard- heart attack” and died, ment at first brought Bibi a he says, clutching kind of acceptance of the gry and thirsty, we had no strength. I could not walk... we in Pakistan, the couple have not yet adjusted. Motorbikes Rabah’s blue passport. inevitability of death, and had no hope in ourselves.” At the embassy, horrified officials sound like planes, slamming doors like bombs. Bibi, still she felt stronger. But her husband began to deteriorate. tried to feed them, cooking Pakistani staples to strengthen weak, closes her eyes, her face tense as her husband Prisoners “He... stopped eating, and even drinking water.” By chance their malnourished bodies. At first unable to eat, their recounts their experiences. “They are destroyed from In 2015 Akram and his family tried to flee. “The armed they met a journalist, who warned the Pakistani embassy in strength slowly began to return. But the grief was setting in. within,” sighs their nephew Mohammad Irfan, who has tak- groups shot at us first, then the government forces, we Damascus of their plight. On March 1, Akram and Bibi were “I was so sad,” Akram sobs. “I left behind 40 years of work, en them in. The decision to leave their family was agoniz- could not get out.” Prisoners of the enclave, they found the first residents of Ghouta to be evacuated. Bibi described my house, my grandchildren running between my legs.” Bibi ing, and made only after the children begged them to go. themselves witnessing the progressive annihilation of its their fearful journey out, passing through four checkpoints as described a toddler at the embassy kissing her as her grand- “They said, ‘For God’s sake, you leave. We will come lat- population. Corpses became commonplace as rockets planes roared overhead, dropping their bombs on the home daughter had once done. It felt like a heart attack, she said. “I er,’” Bibi said. Three days before he spoke to AFP, Akram rained down; images of human beings strewn among rub- they had left behind. “I thought we would not get out alive,” could not feel where I was.” was able to call one of his sons in Syria. “His son told him: ble are seared into his mind. People with horrific injuries she said. “It is too hard.” She was so weak that by the third ‘We are in the worst of situations, and soon we will not be were everywhere. The sight of a girl “without arms and checkpoint she could no longer stand, and had to be given Silence able to talk to you anymore,’” Irfan said. Since then, there legs” particularly haunts Akram. “I pray to Allah that he oxygen in an ambulance. “It was so terrifying, we were hun- Weeks later and thousands of kilometers (miles) away has been silence from Syria.—AFP

ous push by either party to divide Yemen, Three years on, there seems to be investment in maintaining the status quo of weakness and that hinders the chance of a political solution,” said Yemeni war at Yemeni analyst Majed Al-Madhaji. US sanctions Territorial control has not changed hands deadly impasse much over the past year: the Houthis con- Pakistani firms trol Sanaa and much of the north, while the south is nominally under the control of over nuke trade DUBAI: Three years after Saudi Arabia and Hadi’s government but is now effectively in its allies joined the Yemen war, triggering a the hands of rival separatist forces, which ISLAMABAD: The United States has imposed sanc- devastating humanitarian crisis, the conflict include troops trained by the UAE. tions on seven Pakistani companies over suspicion is at a deadly impasse. Iran-backed Houthi Long marginalized in Yemen, the Houthis they have links to the nuclear trade, potentially hurting rebels remain in control of large parts of have consolidated their grip on power after Pakistan’s ambitions to join the Nuclear Suppliers the country including the capital Sanaa and the death of their onetime ally Ali Abdullah government forces have struggled to Group (NSG). Pakistani government spokesmen could Saleh, the ex-president killed by rebel not be immediately reached for comment yesterday. retake territory, despite the support of a forces in December. “Even if the Saudi-led coalition led by the powerful Saudi military. Relations between the United States and Pakistan coalition... advances along the Red Sea have been strained in recent years over Pakistan’s And as the conflict rumbles on-with 27 coast, as it appears to be doing, the Houthi alleged support for Islamist militants waging war in million people caught in the middle-cracks front will not collapse,” said Robert Malley Afghanistan, something Pakistani officials deny. The are beginning to show in the unity of the and April Longley Alley of the International US Bureau of Industry and Security, Commerce coalition. On March 26, 2015, Saudi Arabia, Crisis Group. “The most the Saudis can imposed the sanctions on the Pakistani companies on joined by the United Arab Emirates and hope for is prolonged guerrilla warfare in SANAA: Performers dance during a rally to mark three years of war on the coun- other allies, launched an operation aimed at March 22 by placing them on its “Entity List”. the inhospitable northern highlands,” they try, in the capital Sanaa yesterday. —AFP reinstating the government of President The companies had been “determined by the US wrote in a column this month. Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi. The Saudi-led alliance is meanwhile signs of tension have emerged,” said Rice UAE, which deployed troops to Kosovo in government to be acting contrary to the national Multiple rounds of UN-brokered talks University’s Kristian Coates Ulrichsen. security or foreign policy interests of the United between the warring parties have failed starting to show signs of unraveling, ana- the 1990s, has had more impact on the “The two combatants face very different States”, the bureau said in a report on a US govern- and UN special envoy to Yemen Ismail lysts say. A spokesman for the Saudi-led ground, working closely with the Yemeni perceived and actual threats that range ment website. The Department of Commerce’s Entity Ould Cheikh Ahmed threw in the towel last coalition declined to comment. The official army and training southern troops. from border security and territorial incur- List does not freeze assets but requires that US and month. His successor, Martin Griffiths, narrative from Riyadh and Abu Dhabi has This has given them the upper hand in sions for Saudi Arabia to the region-wide foreign companies doing business with those on the arrived on Saturday to a political quagmire been one of unconditional support for southern Yemen, where they back the sep- campaign to crush Islamist groups in the list first obtain a license. Companies placed on the that grows more complicated by the Hadi, who has lived in the Saudi capital aratists who wrenched control of the south case of Abu Dhabi,” Coates Ulrichsen Entity List will need special licenses to do business in month. One thousand days of war have fur- since 2015. But reports that Saudi Arabia from Hadi, their former ally, in January. But wrote in a Project on Middle East Political the United States. None of the seven sanctioned ther punished a people already living in the could be open to talks with the Houthis despite divergent priorities, analysts say Science (POMEPS) memo. Arab world’s most impoverished country. have been swirling, and Saudi Foreign the coalition will likely hold strong. “We Pakistani companies, which are not well known, could Nearly 10,000 people have been killed Minister Adel Al-Jubeir hinted at a press “This has produced distinct alignments cannot bet on the differences between be immediately reached for comment, nor could a since 2015, as one million people fight conference in Washington last week that with local forces on the ground, with the them,” said Madhaji. “The fact that they Singapore-based company which the bureau said was cholera and another eight million look the Iran-backed Houthis could “play a role” Saudis backing president Hadi and the need each other precedes any disagree- linked to one of the Pakistani companies. famine in the face. And analysts say there in Yemen’s future. Emiratis supporting various factions and ment between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Pakistani officials have in the past been accused of seems little hope of the situation changing. militias in southern Yemen that reject Hadi’s “There are clear political differences handing over nuclear secrets to North Korea. The ‘Signs of tension’ leadership.” Saudi Arabia’s military has lit- between the two... but what unites them is government has denied the accusations though Stagnant front lines “Although neither the Saudis nor the tle battle experience, with the Yemen oper- the joint need to manage the complex mili- Pakistan has a poor record on nuclear proliferation. “While there does not seem to be a seri- Emiratis have yet split from the coalition, ation marking its first major campaign. The tary situation on the ground.”— AFP The Pakistani scientist lionized as the father of Pakistan’s atomic bomb, Abdul Qadeer Khan, in 2004 said he had sold nuclear secrets to North Korea. A UN tries around the world resettle fewer nuclear watchdog said in 2008 that Khan’s network Living in limbo: refugees and impose stricter criteria to smuggled nuclear weaponization blueprints to Iran, accept migrants, Begum’s predicament Libya and North Korea and was active in 12 countries. Indonesia’s could be shared in years to come by mil- lions of others who flee their homes in Sanctioned companies response to pressures including climate Of the latest companies to be sanctioned, refugees face change and persecution. Singapore-based Mushko Logistics and Pakistan- based Mushko Electronics “procured items for several uncertain future No place to go Pakistani entities on the Entity List”, the U.S. bureau By the end of 2016 there were about said in its report. Another company, Solutions 22.5 million refugees worldwide, according MEDAN: When she was eight, Sharifa Engineering, “has been involved in the procurement of to the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR), the Begum was forced to flee her village in US-origin items on behalf of nuclear-related entities in Myanmar’s Rakhine State after fighting highest number recorded since the agency was established in 1950, in the aftermath of Pakistan that are already listed on the Entity List”. erupted and homes were set on fire. Three of the companies - Akhtar & Munir, Proficient Separated from her parents in the panic, she World War Two. During 2016, 37 countries Engineers and Pervaiz Commercial Trading Co. escaped with her 17-year-old brother and participated in UNHCR’s resettlement pro- (PCTC) - were on the list due to “involvement in the 66 other Rohingya people on a boat, drift- gram, taking in about 126,300 people, or proliferation of unsafeguarded nuclear activities that ing at sea for a month with little food or less than 1 percent of the world’s refugee drinking water. Eventually rescued and population. are contrary to the national security and/or foreign towed to land by Indonesian fishermen, But in 2017, the number of refugees policy interests of the United States”. Begum - whose name has been changed to resettled fell by nearly half, to just over Marine Systems was placed on the Entity list for protect her identity - has since spent almost 65,000. It is likely to drop even further, helping other already-sanctioned bodies obtain items half her life living as a migrant in limbo. refugee officials said, as the United States, MEDAN: A refugee prepares food in a shared kitchen at a migrants accommoda- without a licence, while Engineering and Commercial Like almost 14,000 other refugees in Australia and Europe tighten restrictions. tion facility in Medan, Indonesia. —Reuters Services (ECS) was sanctioned for “involvement in Indonesia and more than 250,000 across For Begum, the news is particularly bad: supplying a Pakistani nuclear-related entity on the Southeast Asia, Begum, now 15, has no She has just been told by UNHCR that she refugee and co-founder of the Refugees migrants with housing, healthcare, counsel- Entity List”. The sanctions could deal a blow to access to citizenship and few rights in the - like many fellow refugees in Indonesia - and Asylum-seekers Information Center, ing and training, she said. Campaigns to Pakistan’s application to join the NSG, a 48-nation country where she lives - but she is unable to is extremely unlikely to be resettled in a which runs projects around Jakarta, said boost awareness of the plight of refugees club dedicated to curbing nuclear arms proliferation go home due to safety fears. “There is no third country. Several aid workers in those she works with often suffer mental in Indonesia are needed both locally and by controlling the export and re-transfer of materials peace back in Myanmar, so I cannot return,” Indonesia said some refugees had attempt- health problems including depression and overseas, she said. that could foster nuclear weapons development. she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation at ed suicide or killed themselves after being anxiety as a result of past abuses or expe- In Southeast Asia, only Cambodia, the Nuclear-armed Pakistan applied to join the NSG in a refugee centre in Medan, one of Indonesia’s given that information. Begum now faces riences in their home countries. “Indonesia Philippines and East Timor have signed the 2016 but little progress has been made. The United largest cities, on the island of Sumatra. an uncertain future in Indonesia, where she doesn’t give any rights to refugees,” said 1951 Refugee Convention, which enshrines States has been concerned about Pakistan’s develop- Since insurgent attacks last August has no right to settle, as the country is not the Iranian, who has spent five years in basic human rights for migrants and dis- ment of new nuclear weapons systems, including small sparked a military crackdown, amid reports a signatory to the UN refugee convention. Indonesia. placed people. Although Indonesia has not, tactical nuclear weapons, and has been trying to per- of arson, murder and rape, nearly 700,000 “The challenge is to survive on a day- it does have a long tradition of offering suade Islamabad to make a unilateral declaration of more Rohingya have fled Myanmar, mostly ‘Most lose hope’ to-day basis. But most lose hope.” protection to refugees, who in the past “restraint”.—Reuters to Bangladesh. As many wealthier coun- Mozhgan Moarefizadeh, an Iranian Indonesia’s government should support have used it as a transit country. —Reuters 8 Established 1961 Tuesday, March 27, 2018 International Comoros passport scheme unlawful, abused by mafia Comoros-Kuwait-UAE passport deal dogged by controversy NAIROBI: A program to sell Comoros Islands citizenship led by President Azali Assoumani, has said it has suspended to fund development resulted in thousands of passports citizenship sales since coming to power in May 2016. being sold outside official channels via “mafia” networks and up to $100 million of revenues went missing, accord- Missing funds ing to a report by the small Indian Ocean state’s parlia- Nearly a decade ago, Comoros launched a program ment. The report, produced by a parliamentary commis- with the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait to sell citizen- sion set up in June 2017 to investigate the citizenship pro- ship to stateless people in those countries, known as gram, also said former presidents Ahmed Abdallah Bedoon, in return for cash to help develop the poor Indian Mohamed Sambi and Ikililou Dhoinine, who were in power Ocean archipelago. The scheme was dogged by controver- when the alleged abuses took place, were “suspected of sy from the beginning, with some members of parliament the embezzlement of pub- and civil society saying the lic funds.” changes to Comoros law The program was that allowed the sale of flawed from its inception citizenship were made ille- and the current Comoros gally. The cross-party government should seek Two Iranians commission found that the international help to law allowing the sale of recover the missing funds accused by US citizenship was changed and take officials involved during a parliamentary to court, the report con- bought passports session that violated its cluded. In a video posted own procedures. The bill on Facebook, Sambi that was promulgated rejected all accusations lacks the correct signa- against him, saying they tures and stamps, and had been fabricated to does not officially figure discredit him. He didn’t respond to a request for further on a list of laws passed by the National Assembly, the comment. Ikililou told Reuters by telephone that he could commission found. not comment on the report as he had not read it yet. Both Critics of the passport program also called for more ANJOUAN, Comoros: This general view from the port of Mutsamudu, the capital of the Comoros Union men have previously said they believed the scheme would transparency over revenues from the Gulf after promised Island of Anjouan shows fisherman waiting for incoming boats. —AFP help develop the country, an archipelago off the east development projects failed to materialize. While most of coast of Africa. the passports were sold to Bedoon, Comoros and Emirati country’s gross domestic product in one year. The com- financial resources. Sadly a big part of the funds generated The report was completed in December but has not officials said a number of passports had also been sold to mission said that the secrecy of contracts, lack of docu- never arrived in the state coffers,” the report concluded. been publicly released. Reuters has reviewed a copy that other foreigners. A Reuters investigation published last mentation and variety of groups of officials involved in The commission’s report is due to be debated in parlia- was signed by Dhoihir Dhoulkamal, head of the commission year found that two Iranians accused by the US govern- passport sales complicated efforts to establish how much ment when the next session begins in April. A spokesman and an independent member of parliament. Abdallah Tocha ment of breaking sanctions were among those who bought money went missing. However, by analyzing the number of for Assoumani said that the president had not yet received Djohar, a Sambi supporter initially on the commission who Comoros passports via the networks that sold documents passports issued without official approval and the shortfall a copy but the president would analyze the findings. “If later called for it to be disbanded, said the report had not outside the official program. in revenues from those sales that were approved, the com- some people are found to have embezzled money or bro- been officially approved by the entire commission and its The parliamentary commission estimates that the over- mission estimated an overall revenue gap of about 43 bil- ken the law, there is no doubt that steps will be taken to disclosure violated procedures relating to how the com- all sum of government revenues from the passport sales to lion Comoros francs ($100 million). establish who is responsible,” Mohamed Ismaella, mission should operate. The current Comoros government, have gone missing amounts to around 17 percent of the “The economic citizen program generated significant Assoumani’s spokesman, said. —Reuters

Malaysia proposes The plunder of 10-years jail term Albania’s coastline for ‘fake news’ exposes deeper ills KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian government yesterday proposed a “fake news” law which would carry a maxi- TIRANA: Only when the police questioned him in mum 10-year jail term, including for articles published January did Rrahman Qosja discover he had been the abroad, sparking fears of a crackdown on dissent as elec- victim of identity theft-some of Albania’s publicly tions loom. Governments in several countries, emboldened owned coastline had been sold in his name. “This is a by US President Donald Trump’s fulminations against “fake mafia, more dangerous than a mafia,” said the shocked news”, are considering such legislation. But rights groups septuagenarian, a farmer from Sterbeg, a hillside village warn that authoritarian regimes are likely to use such laws some seven kilometers from the Adriatic coast. And to silence opposing voices. Qosja was not alone in his misfortune-in total, 180 ordi- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has already nary people like him were caught up. They were all been targeting critics in politics and the media who have supposedly co-owners of the land-part of an army mili- attacked him over allegations that huge sums were looted tary base at Rreth-Greth-and had “sold” it to a busi- from sovereign wealth fund 1MDB. Najib and the fund nessman, according to prosecutor Artan Madani in the deny any wrongdoing. The proposed law, introduced in western town of Kavaja, who is leading the probe. parliament Monday, fuelled fears the government is seek- Although spectacular in scale, the case is far from ing to intensify a clampdown before a general election, KUALA LUMPUR: Commuters wait for the train in-front of an advertisement reading ‘sharing a lie makes u a unique. Similar variations of the audacious fraud have which must be called by August but is widely expected liar’ at a train station in downtown Kuala Lumpur yesterday.— AFP become common in Albania, one of Europe’s poorest sooner. Opposition MP Charles Santiago said the bill was countries. “It seems to follow the same pattern” in each “a powerful weapon for the government to silence dissent in the country”. “It is timed for the elections and to silence Phil Robertson, Asia deputy director for Human Rights a muted and largely uncritical fashion. Despite the concerns, case, the police’s anti-financial crime chief Lutfi Minxhozi Watch, accused the Malaysian government of employing cabinet minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar insisted the law told AFP. With the help of corrupt property notaries, offi- discussions on 1MDB,” he said. The bill, which described fake news as a “global con- “Trump-style scare tactics to grant itself powers to arbi- “will not be abused”, adding: “It is not aimed at silencing cials and local politicians, crooks, money launderers or cern”, includes a maximum 10 years in jail or fine of up to trarily determine what people can say about Malaysia in critics.” The bill must be approved by a majority in the 222- shady promoters create false property certificates on 500,000 ringgit ($130,000) for anyone guilty of creating the world”. Amnesty International said the bill was “noth- seat lower house and also in the upper house, and this is like- behalf of individuals who are totally unaware. They then or disseminating what authorities deem to be fake news. It ing but a blatant attempt to shield the government from ly as both chambers are controlled by the ruling coalition. It “buy” the plots of land, which are actually the property of said anyone-including foreigners-who breaks the law out- peaceful criticism”. It was no coincidence that it had been needs to go through several readings in parliament before it the state, and resell them at a higher price or construct side the country by publishing fake news can face punish- tabled with general elections just around the corner, said passes. Malaysia is ranked 144th out of 180 countries in villas, buildings and hotels on them. ment in Malaysia, as long as what is published concerns Amnesty’s regional director James Gomez in a statement. Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index. Malaysia or a Malaysian citizen. Fahmi Fadzil, spokesman The government has the power to revoke newspapers’ print- A gravedigger with 220 hectares for the opposition People’s Justice Party, said it suggested Taking aim at fake news ing permits and regularly attacks critical media, particularly A top judiciary official, who asked not to be named, the government was seeking to target foreign media, which Malaysia’s traditional pro-government media have online news sites that have gained a following by reporting told AFP about the case of a gravedigger in the south- have led the coverage of 1MDB. reported on the 1MDB controversy only occasionally and in on official malfeasance and corruption. —AFP ern coastal city of Vlora. He had no inkling that he was supposedly the “owner” of 220 hectares (540 acres) of military land in the Karaburun peninsula. In early March, the authorities decided to examine more than 30,000 property titles on 200 square kilometers of Erdogan insists Turkey Slavery on the coastline, according to the urban planning administra- tion. Thirty-five land registry agents have already been sacked. By mid-March, all sales had been suspended wants EU membership rise in Britain along 450 km of the coast, from Shengjin in the north LONDON: From children being forced by gangs to carry to Saranda down in the south. as tense summit looms illegal drugs, to migrants smuggled into Britain and trapped in exploitative work, reports of slavery in Britain Land, buildings, accounts seized have surged as authorities crack down on the crime, Other moves to clamp down on property fraud VARNA: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday insisted Turkey still wanted to become a member of the according to data released yesterday. The National Crime already got under way at the start of the year. In Agency (NCA) said it received 5,145 reports of suspected February, a dozen beach bars and restaurants were European Union ahead of a potentially stormy summit with EU chiefs seeking to repair an increasingly fractured rela- slavery victims in 2017 across Britain, an increase of more pulled down near Golem in the north. Bank accounts, than a third from 3,804 in 2016. Those involved were com- villas, land and hotels are increasingly being seized. tionship. European Union President Donald Tusk and European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker will talk monly British, Albanian and Vietnamese, said the NCA, Albania is plagued by corruption, the looting of public BERLIN: Protesters hold a giant banner reading ‘No which is dubbed Britain’s FBI, warning that criminal net- property and an anarchic land registry system. Its with Erdogan at the Bulgarian Black Sea resort of Varna deals with Erdogan, stop weapons export, Protect with a litany of problems clouding their discussions. Topic works were heading online to sexually exploit people, coastline has been disfigured by concrete, environmen- Afrin’ during a demonstration of Kurdish groups to expected to be high on the agenda include the crackdown especially through adult services websites. tal degradation is ignored, while money laundering and protest against Turkey’s offensive against Kurds in in Turkey after July 2016’s failed coup, Ankara’s demands “What this report reinforces is that we are now dealing trafficking, especially of drugs, is rife. In Qosja’s case, Syria’s Afrin region in Berlin. —AFP for visa liberalization and the near-endless saga of the with an evolving threat,” NCA director Will Kerr said in a the police probe revealed that his personal documents country’s own EU membership bid. statement. “Particularly concerning to us is the rise in young and signature had been misused by a local official when And a row over Greece and Cyprus that erupted last people being exploited for sexual purposes or drug traffick- lost its objectivity on Cyprus, which is divided between the Qosja went to register land acquired by his family in week has added another point of contention just days ing.” The NCA said the jump in numbers was largely due to Greek-majority internationally recognized Republic of the 1990s, Madani said. Prosecutors in the case, which before the talks. Before departing Istanbul for Bulgaria, British children being reported to authorities as suspected Cyprus and the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north. concerns 10 hectares, are investigating 23 people, Erdogan said Turkey was still seeking to become a full EU victims of sexual exploitation or being used by gangs to The statement on Thursday by the 28 EU members including officials and local politicians. member and blasted the bloc for what he said were “dou- carry illegal drugs in the so-called ‘county lines’ drug trade. meeting in Brussels condemned Turkey over Ankara’s ble standards” towards Ankara. “EU membership contin- There were also increased crossovers between smug- arrest of two Greek soldiers and its promise to prevent the Assassinated judge ues to be our strategic target,” Erdogan said. But Erdogan gling rings, that transport vulnerable migrants into Britain, “It is white-collar organized crime, which falls under added: “We are going to remind them (Tusk and Juncker) Greek Cypriot government from exploring for oil and gas. and slavemasters, who force them into exploitative work, corruption and money laundering via property,” said once more that Turkey will not tolerate hypocrisy.” Ankara and Brussels had in March 2016 agreed a contro- Kerr said. Kerr said the figures “almost certainly” repre- Fabian Zhilla, of the Canadian Institute of Technology versial deal to stop the flow of migrants, in what was seen sent an underestimate of the true scale of slavery and traf- who specializes in the subject of organized crime. It is a ‘Mixed feelings’ as a landmark in cooperation and which Turkey hoped ficking in Britain. At least 13,000 people across Britain are “mafia style” crime “if one looks at the nature of its Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, whose country would yield visa free travel to Europe. So far this incentive estimated by the government to be victims of modern slav- organization and the land concerned”, said Minxhozi, of holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council, said it has not been realized and Erdogan is expected to press ery - trapped in forced labor, sexual exploitation and the police’s anti-financial crime squad. In 2011, a judge was expected to be “a very difficult meeting”. Juncker said this point strongly in the talks. domestic servitude - but police say the true figure is likely Skerdilajt Konomi was assassinated in Vlora. he was “looking with mixed feelings towards the summit to be in the tens of thousands. Britain is regarded as a Investigators believe he paid the ultimate price for because the differences in views between the EU and Looser partnership? leader in global efforts to combat slavery, with its 2015 refusing to sign fake property deeds for land near the Turkey are many”. But he added that “we will have a frank Brussels has repeatedly criticized the post-coup crack- Modern Slavery Act introducing life sentences for traffick- western port city of Durres, a legal source from the and open debate with President Erdogan”. Temperatures down, which has seen nearly 160,000 people detained, ers, forcing companies to address the risk of forced labor, prosecutors’ office for serious crime said. Stretching to were raised last week after EU leaders condemned including dozens of journalists. Turkey, for its part, has and better protect people at risk. The National Police the south of Durres, kilometers of concrete buildings, Turkey’s “illegal actions” towards Greece and Cyprus in accused Brussels of failing to show solidarity after the Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said yesterday it held 568 police often empty, blight the coast. —AFP the eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea. Ankara hit coup and appears set on forging a strong partnership with operations in February alone but despite more arrests, back at the “unacceptable comments” and said the EU had President Vladimir Putin’s Russia. —AFP authorities are struggling to jail slavemasters. —Reuters Established 1961 9 International Monday, March 26, 2018 In the rush to develop, Asia’s cities advised to think green Philippines tackles booming population, density, congestion, pollution

CLARK: He may never set foot in New Clark City, but taxi say Duterte is fast-tracking the project as the Philippines, one driver Edgard Labitag hopes the Philippines’ first green, dis- of Asia’s fastest-growing economies in 2017, seeks to boost aster-resilient, high-tech metropolis will ease the pressure on spending on infrastructure to create jobs and attract more Manila - meaning fewer hours stuck in traffic and more time foreign firms. with his children. On a sweltering Sunday afternoon, the 42- Yet even as the government races to build New Clark and year-old at the wheel bemoaned another shift spent inching tackle Manila’s booming population, density and congestion, along the infamously congested streets of the capital city of 13 it must plan the new city with care and avoid past mistakes, million people. “Crowding, pollution and traffic - this is what says the state-run Bases Conversion and Development people say about Manila,” he Authority (BCDA). “We said, gesturing at the gridlock. need to strike a balance “But luckily the govern- between fast-paced ment has a plan ... and development that maxi- (President Rodrigo) Duterte New Clark - a mizes value for the private is the right man to see it sector, and protecting through.” That plan is New city equipped open spaces and making Clark, a 9,450-hectare city the city walkable, green that government officials say to deal with and resilient,” said Vince An artist impression of the New Clark City development in the Philippines. —Reuters will be bigger than New Dizon, president of the York’s Manhattan by the climate shocks BCDA, which oversees the grated manner where water management and green spaces approaches, who may be wary of going green, urban experts time it is completed in 25 to project. “Traditional are linked closely to all urban systems, according to Dutch say. “How do you do this in a regional context in Asia where 30 years - with an expected development cannot over- architect Matthijs Bouw. there is massive and widespread corruption, and where elected population of more than 1.2 whelm or overpower the By focusing on nature and allowing plenty of open space representatives change in the short term?” asked Harini million. The aim is to build a area,” he told the along rivers, for example, New Clark can benefit beyond pro- Nagendra, an author and academic based in southern India. city equipped to deal with climate shocks in one of the Thomson Reuters Foundation. “For New Clark City, here lies tecting itself from floods, said Bouw, who has worked on the The answer: convince politicians and bureaucrats that world’s most cyclone-affected regions, and to promote the challenge.” master plan for the city with the government. “Putting green making a city stronger and safer against modern-day threats healthy, eco-friendly and sustainable living by putting nature areas on the agenda not only helps with water storage and will not slow down development, and will save their govern- at the heart of development, urban experts say. Green agenda drainage, but creates community spaces and guides street ments money in the long run, said Oesha Thakoerdin of the Reflecting a rising trend from Japan and India to the Situated about 100 km (62 miles) north of Manila in Tarlac design in a way that benefits pedestrians and bikes ... so Asian Development Bank (ADB), which is backing the New United States, New Clark seeks to challenge conventional province near Clark International Airport, one of the coun- social resilience also gets strengthened,” Bouw said. Yet the Clark project. Economists at RAND are seeking to demon- urban planning by uniting government, developers, business try’s busiest hubs, New Clark will be home to several govern- rapid pace of development and large number of actors work- strate the social, environmental and economic gains from and the public - and proving that green and resilient cities ment departments, an agro-industrial park and a huge sports ing on different structures and systems means some aspects building resilience and are developing a business case to can be cost-effective. “The objective is not simply to build a complex. Yet despite the range of planned infrastructure, only could “fall through the cracks resilience-wise”, he warned. prove that green urban planning is not only an option for disaster-resilient city, but rather a successful, innovative and a third of the $14-billion city’s land will be developed, with wealthy economies. “Increasingly we are seeing middle- economically competitive city that is also disaster-resilient,” two-thirds reserved for green spaces and agriculture, the Making the case income countries realize that planning and investing in green said Benjamin Preston, a researcher at RAND Corporation, a government said. Houston in Texas and nearby Singapore Another challenge in designing and developing such a city areas in cities is critical for their development - and cost- global think tank. New Clark is still in its infancy, but officials have provided inspiration on how to plan the city in an inte- is changing the mindsets of officials used to traditional planning competitive,” Thakoerdin said. —Reuters

allow or encourage pregnancy tests and the use of contra- departure from their home country, and on a yearly basis Pregnant migrant ception as a condition of employment. The group also thereafter, according to the report entitled “Triple News in brief encouraged brands - including those who have committed Discrimination: Woman, Pregnant and Migrant”. A to FLA’s code of conduct, such as Nestle and Hugo Boss - migrant working in a Malaysian factory found to be workers in Asia to support initiatives to protect pregnant workers. “Our pregnant is immediately deported at her own expense. To Israeli PM questioned affiliates have made a commitment to not discriminate avoid deportation, many enter the informal workforce face deportation, against women who want to become pregnant or who are where labor laws are often ignored and abuses are com- JERUSALEM: Israeli police arrived at Prime Minister pregnant,” said Sharon Waxman of the FLA. “It’s time for mon. “If you don’t have money to pay for an abortion or Benjamin Netanyahu’s Jerusalem residence yesterday the laws of these important manufacturing countries to to break your contract, and you cannot go home, then morning to interrogate him over one of several graft discrimination catch up,” she said in a statement. what else can you do?” the report quoted a worker in cases that threaten to topple him, Israeli media said. There are more than 122 million women working out- Malaysia saying. Multiple Israeli media reports said the longtime premier side their home countries globally, the report states. Many While Taiwan bans pregnancy testing and prohibits was to be questioned over a case of alleged corruption CHENNAI: Women migrant workers in parts of Asia risk of them find factory jobs in Asian nations like Taiwan, employers from terminating a pregnant worker, it provides involving Israeli telecoms giant Bezeq. He could for the being deported if they become pregnant, forcing many to Thailand and Malaysia. Migrant workers in these countries no legal status for their children. Workers are therefore first time face questions over information provided to have unwanted abortions or abandon their newborns, are under tremendous pressure to finish their contracts so forced to choose between having abortions, going home, police by Nir Hefetz, a longtime Netanyahu ally who has researchers said yesterday. Migrant workers in garment they can continue to financially support their families back or even abandoning their children to keep their jobs, the turned state witness. Netanyahu’s wife Sara and son Yair and footwear factories are forced to undergo regular home, campaigners say. The report states that Malaysia - a report states. In Thailand, pregnant workers from are also being questioned along with Shaul Elovitch, pregnancy tests, according to the Fair Labor Association export manufacturing hub and the largest destination for Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia are eligible for pre and Bezeq’s largest shareholder, Israeli media reported. A (FLA), a coalition of companies, universities and charities. migrant workers in Southeast Asia - has the most restric- post natal care. But they are subjected to pregnancy tests police spokesman confirmed “various investigative In a report, the FLA called for an end to “pregnancy tive legal environment for female migrants. as part of a general medical exam when they apply for a activities” linked to the probes, without mentioning the discrimination”, and urged countries to scrap laws that They are required to take a pregnancy test prior to work permit.—Reuters Netanyahus by name. —AFP

Indian journalist killed at separatism. China’s hostility towards Taiwan has Taiwan scrambles grown since Tsai Ing-wen from the pro-independence NEW DELHI: Indian police yesterday detained a former Japanese ‘First Lady’ Democratic Progressive Party won presidential elec- village chief accused of running over and killing a journal- tions on the island in 2016. Meeting New Taipei City ist with his sports-utility vehicle. Navin Nischal, a reporter role now puts her jets; China holds Mayor Eric Chu in Shanghai yesterday, the newly for Danik Bhaskar, a major Hindu newspaper, was the lat- appointed head of China’s policy-making Taiwan est in a string of journalists to be killed in one of the in scandal spotlight drill near island Affairs Office, Liu Jieyi, said China was clear in its world’s most dangerous countries for media. Nischal and opposition to Taiwan independence, Chinese state tele- an associate Vijay Singh were on a motorbike when they vision said. were run over in Bhojpur, about 50 miles from Patna, capi- TOKYO: Japan’s first lady, Akie Abe, once known TAIPEI: Taiwan sent aircraft yesterday to shadow China China hopes both sides of the Taiwan Strait can work tal of the eastern state of Bihar. Police said they had mainly for embracing progressive causes that put her air force fighter jets as they flew through the Bashi together for the peaceful development of relations and detained Mohammad Harsu, a former village chief in the at odds with her conservative spouse, is now in the Channel to the south of the island, its defense ministry “jointly promote the process of the peaceful reunifica- region. “Navin’s brother filed a complaint for his journalist hot seat as doubts revive about a murky land sale to a said, the latest such incident to add to tension between tion of the motherland”, Liu told Chu, state television brother. He said it was a murder as he had an argument nationalist school to which she had ties. The daughter Taipei and Beijing. China sent an unspecified number of added. The New Taipei City government said in a state- with the former village head yesterday,” Bhojpur police of a confectionary magnate, Abe has tried to carve Xian H-6 bombers, Su-30 fighter jets and Y-8 transport ment that Chu, from the China-friendly opposition superintendent Avkash Kumar told AFP. “—AFP out a US-style public “First Lady” role in a land aircraft over the waterway on their way to the West Nationalist Party, told Liu they hoped for peaceful coop- where political wives typically stay in the shadows. Pacific Ocean, the Taiwan ministry said. eration. “Although the political situation has changed, But that approach comes with risks, acquaintances They were followed by Taiwan jets until the mainland what people hope for most is peace,” said Chu, who Tsai Ethiopia detains 11 and experts say. “Her ideas and those of other wives aircraft returned to base, it said in a statement. Taiwan defeated for the presidency two years ago. of prime ministers are different,” said Yu Toyonaga, on March 21 sent ships and aircraft to shadow a Chinese While China insists it has no hostile intent, its military ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopian police have arrested a group head of a non-profit organization promoting organic aircraft carrier group that sailed through the narrow exercises and patrols around Taiwan, and in the busy of 11 high-profile dissidents, some of whom had been rice, who has done volunteer work with Akie Abe. Taiwan Strait. Taiwan is one of China’s most sensitive South China Sea waterway, have touched a nerve in the pardoned and freed from jail just weeks before, an “Rather than being a woman who is ‘useful’ within a issues and a potential military flashpoint. The Chinese region and in the United States. US Deputy Assistant attorney said yesterday. Among those detained on male-dominated society, she wants to interact ... as an military movements come during a time of heightened Secretary of State Alex Wong angered Beijing during a Sunday were journalist Eskinder Nega and opposition autonomous person.” tension between Beijing and the self-governed island recent visit to Taiwan by saying the US commitment to politician Andualem Arage, who were pardoned in a Opposition parties are demanding she testify in and follows strong warnings by Chinese President Xi the island had never been stronger. Beijing is already mass prisoner amnesty ordered by the prime minister parliament about her ties to Moritomo Gakuen, the Jinping against Taiwan separatism. furious about a law signed two weeks ago by US last month, lawyer Ameha Mekonnen said. Two of nationalist school operator whose deeply discounted China claims Taiwan as its own and considers the President Donald Trump that encourages the United Ameha’s clients, Befekadu Hailu and Mahlet Fantahun of purchase of state-owned land is at the heart of a sus- island a breakaway province. Xi said last week Taiwan States to send senior officials to Taiwan to meet coun- the Zone 9 blogging collective, whose members were pected cronyism scandal and possible cover-up that would face the “punishment of history” for any attempt terparts and vice versa.—Reuters the subject of a years-long prosecution that the govern- has sliced Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s support rat- ment abandoned in February, were also arrested. —AFP ings. The finance ministry admitted on March 12 that it had altered documents about the deal, including removing references to Akie Abe. Her husband has 23 killed in Mozambique denied he or his wife intervened in the sale or that he ordered a cover-up. MAPUTO: Mozambique police said yesterday that a The prime minister is opposed to her testifying, pick-up truck ploughed into a crowd of party-goers at but 62 percent of respondents to a Nikkei business the weekend killing 23 people, many of whom were daily poll published yesterday said she should answer teenagers. The speeding vehicle ignored orders from questions in parliament. The survey showed Abe’s traffic police, hit an obstacle and veered into the local support sank to 42 percent while those opposed to carnival in the working-class Luis Cabral neighborhood his cabinet jumped to 49 percent. Akie Abe, 55, has of Maputo in the early hours of Sunday morning. “The made waves since her husband returned to office in driver was speeding when he did not obey the signal 2012 for a second term with activities that include from a traffic police officer,” Maputo police spokesman taking part in an LGBT rights parade, opposing Orlando Mudumane told reporters in the capital. “A few nuclear power, and visiting protesters against a meters later he lost control of the car, crashed into an planned US military facility on Okinawa - all positions obstacle and caused the accident.” The male driver and that resonate with liberals. She also runs a tiny organ- his passenger were among the dead, with 30 others ic restaurant and has spoken in favor of legalizing injured. — AFP marijuana for medical use. Such progressive views won her the nickname “domestic opposition,” and helped soften Shinzo ‘Not rude, just French’ Abe’s own hawkish image. Akie Abe has also, howev- er, at times publicly aligned more closely with her MONTREAL: A French waiter fired for being “aggres- husband’s conservative views. She has visited Tokyo’s sive, rude and disrespectful” says his behavior wasn’t Yasukuni Shrine for war dead, seen by China and out of line-he’s simply, well, French. Guillaume Rey, who South Korea as a symbol of Japan’s past militarism worked at a Vancouver restaurant on Canada’s Pacific because it also honors World War Two leaders con- coast, filed a complaint with British Columbia’s Human victed as war criminals by an Allied tribunal. Abe vis- Rights Tribunal against his former employer, claiming ited Yasukuni once in December 2013 but has since “discrimination against my culture.” The restaurant, stayed away to avoid angering Beijing and Seoul. operated by Cara Operations, accused Rey of violating Until the scandal broke last year, Akie Abe was set to its code of conduct and said he persisted in his behavior become honorary principal of an elementary school TAOYUAN: Lee Ching-Yu, wife of detained Taiwanese rights activist Lee Ming-Cheh, speaks to the press at Taoyuan International Airport, near Taipei, prior to boarding her flight to Changsha, China yesterday. Lee despite verbal and written performance reviews. In that Moritomo Gakuen planned to open in western alleging discrimination Rey said French culture just Japan on the discounted land. —Reuters Ming-cheh-an NGO worker arrested during a trip to the mainland last March-was sentenced in November 2017 to five years in prison on charges of subverting state power. —AFP “tends to be more direct and expressive.” —AFP 10 Established 1961

Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Analysis

Established 1961 The First Daily in The Arabian Gulf THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF ESTABLISHED 1961

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Here’s one way to help Facebook protect user data

ark Zuckerberg has apologized for “mistakes” and “a major breach of trust” after it came to Mlight that the data of millions of Facebook users was compromised by a formerly little known consulting firm, Cambridge Analytica. But if you’re tempted to join the growing chorus of people pledging to boycott the behemoth tech giant, you should also be involved in finding a way to prevent this happening again. Facebook isn’t the only company that’s vulnerable to cyber intrusions. Unless you live off the grid, the chances you’ve had your electronic data mined by a social media company or an online retailer hovers at just about 100 percent. And while there’s no easy answer to the question of how to stop abuse of that information, the time is long overdue for Americans to have a blunt conversation about our data and the fed- eral government’s role in protecting it. India’s most vital hub city isn’t in India In America, data mining is built into the DNA of the Internet. Most every time you click an icon or browse ook up at the departures screens at any major Indian of the Indians landing in the UAE are neither tourists nor tunities in the UAE. Indians working in the Emirates send anything on a digital platform that seems far away in that airport and you are likely to see a familiar pattern: transit passengers. They are returning to jobs and resi- more than $12 billion back to India annually, making the nebulous realm we’ve grown accustomed to calling LDubai and Abu Dhabi appear repeatedly on the flick- dences: Some 2.8 million Indian nationals live and work UAE India’s largest single source of remittances. What’s “cyberspace,” you’re opening yourself up to being vio- ering displays. Roughly one in three international passen- there, outnumbering Emirati nationals by nearly three to more, Indians based in the UAE are the largest group of lated in this other realm, commonly referred to as reality. gers in India are either heading to or arriving from the one. These Indians are the clerks and accountants, the travel non-resident investors in real estate back home, accounting It’s not like this everywhere. In Europe web surfers United Arab Emirates. Many Indian passengers use Dubai, agents and the real estate brokers that make up the large for some 20 percent of all investment. According to the have to physically opt-in to having their data mined. Abu Dhabi or, increasingly, Sharjah as hub airports, con- emerging market middle class that calls the UAE home. Dubai Land Department, Indians are the biggest foreign Many choose to take the leap because they’ve tasted necting in the UAE to flights bound for Europe, North investors in the UAE as well. the seamless glory of an inanimate screen that knows America, or elsewhere in Asia. It’s no wonder then that the 130,000 seats per week on and remembers them - quirks, refined tastes and dark Now that the UAE has become India’s gateway to the flights between India and Dubai are often overbooked. secrets alike. (Although in some cases they’re tracked world, the two countries are also developing a strategic When global air giant Emirates was founded in 1985, the even if they explicitly opt out.) alliance that could reshape geopolitics across South Asia oft-branded “Middle East carrier” chose two Indian desti- Here in America we only know an internet that and the Middle East. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was Sense of nations for its first three flights: Mumbai and Delhi (the owns us and that potentially knows more about our among the Indian passengers disembarking last month in other was Karachi, Pakistan). Abu Dhabi-based Etihad tastes, desires and infidelities than we do ourselves. Dubai, a city that has come to signify, for upwardly-mobile ownership Airways boosted India’s aviation industry when it bought a That’s because in the United States the web demands Indians, what Hong Kong represents for affluent mainland minority stake in Jet Airways in 2013. that we actively opt-out of being tracked - and we Chinese: A place to trade, invest, shop and connect. stops short Despite its relatively small population of 9.5 million, the lose some functionality if we do. When Modi last visited the UAE, in 2015, he was the UAE is India’s second-largest export destination, account- American capitalism is the foundational underpin- first Indian prime minister to do so in 34 years. Given the of citizenship ing for nearly 12 percent of all exports. A large proportion ning of our Internet. That’s fine and good, but what we two countries’ shared past, this seems remarkable: When of those goods land in Dubai ports and are transshipped should be talking about now is whether websites like the UAE became a nation in 1971, Indian merchants had elsewhere. Clocking in at $30.7 billion, India exports to the Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and also spots like Amazon already lived there for generations; until 1959, the Indian UAE roughly the same amount as it does to its next three - or even Hulu or Netflix - should be designated critical rupee was the official currency. But while history helps top export destinations combined: Hong Kong, China, and national infrastructure - along with all the consumer explain why trade between India and the UAE remains In addition, there are many Indians in C-suites and pro- the United Kingdom. protections that go along with that. Sure, they’re all robust, at $53 billion annually, the UAE’s relationship with fessional firms across the UAE, filling the consultancies, UAE entities are significant investors in India as well. private corporations. But they’re also entities most of Pakistan hampered a broader alliance with India for banks, design firms, and public relations shops that keep the Dubai-based DP World has invested some $1 billion in us rely on to get through our regular routines, espe- decades. commercial wheels moving. Then, of course, there are the developing ports across India and last month announced a cially when it comes to conversing with our neighbors In recent years, however, Emirati ties to Pakistan have laborers who toil long hours to erect the buildings that have $3 billion joint fund alongside an Indian state entity to invest who live down the block or an ocean away. grown increasingly frayed. As UAE officials began taking a put the UAE on the global map. During Modi’s 2015 visit to in logistics businesses. In a series of advertisements organ- That makes these firms more like the telephone stronger stand against militant Islam, Pakistan’s murky ties the UAE, he visited a worker’s camp in Abu Dhabi, home to ized by Dubai’s tourism board, Shah Rukh Khan, the lines dotting the national landscape than they are like to the Taleban became more problematic. In April 2015, the thousands of Indian laborers. The message was clear: India Bollywood mega-star, walks around Dubai, surprising - and CBS or CNN. No one will ever own the internet, just UAE publicly repudiated Pakistan for refusing to take sides will be paying attention to the UAE’s often-criticized treat- delighting - people while posing as a waiter, or turning up as no one will ever own the television airwaves or in the war in Yemen. ment of its migrant laborers. This was an important message, for a game of beach volleyball. In the videos, which have radio signals. But web-based companies are as vital to In Jan 2017, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh and should be followed up with consistent engagement on gone viral on YouTube, he welcomes visitors to “MY the contemporary way of life as highways, airplanes Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan was the guest of honor at the issue. Dubai.” (Fans of Shah Rukh Khan and Indian cinema may and rail lines. India’s National Day celebrations in Delhi. That visit elevat- Domestic workers from India and elsewhere have also also enjoy Dubai’s latest theme park: Bollywood Parks.) The Internet’s reach gives it almost unimaginable ed the relationship beyond the purely commercial. Last been under the spotlight recently, as the UAE passed The sense of ownership that “my Dubai” suggests stops power. The political consultants at Britain’s Cambridge month, an Indian consortium led by India’s Oil and Natural reforms to the kafala, or sponsorship, system, which leaves short of citizenship. Unlike Singapore, for example, the UAE Analytica are said to have embezzled personal data to Gas Corp (ONGC) was awarded a significant stake in an workers beholden to the employers who secured their rarely grants citizenship to foreign nationals, even those build voting profiles of millions of Americans who for- offshore oil concession by the Abu Dhabi National Oil visas, thereby creating opportunities for exploitation. whose families have lived there for generations. Still, with merly trusted Facebook. But cyber criminals have also Company, and the two countries agreed to a currency swap Human Rights Watch called the new worker protections a Bollywood premieres, top-notch Indian schools, clean air to recently stolen credit card details, social security num- arrangement that would allow for direct trade in UAE “step forward,” though implementation will be the key to breathe, and some of the best Indian food this side of bers, addresses and even more intimate data from the dirhams and Indian rupees. their success. Mumbai, a joke has been making the rounds among Indian likes of Yahoo! (3 billion!), My Space (360 million!), Last year, India was the largest source of tourists to Opportunities professionals in the UAE. “What’s the best city in India?” Equifax (145 million!), eBay (145 million!), Target (110 mil- Dubai, beating out Britain and Saudi Arabia. But many more Despite the challenges, Indians continue seeking oppor- the joke goes. The answer? Dubai. —Reuters lion!), LinkedIn (100 million!) or even Uber (57 million!).

Vulnberable women started tagging #blessed on most important foreign policy decisions in Just because these are private companies shouldn’t Girls #blessed by Instagram and Facebook posts showing Denmark faces Denmark since the Cold War,” said senior for- mean the federal government doesn’t have a duty to their expensive clothes and shoes, paid for eign policy researcher Hans Mouritzen at the safeguard the data of American citizens. Sure, we’re sugar daddies by men dubbed blessers. “There is actually Danish Institute for International Studies. A now talking about Facebook, but tomorrow it will be... a group of women who are happy to be dilemma over delay would weaken Russian gas giant (insert any company you love, trust and have grown to called ‘blessees’, who own it, who are at the Gazprom’s hand in talks with Ukraine for a rely on here). Every website is vulnerable. add to HIV mercy of this person that can provide them Russian pipeline new gas transit deal after 2019 and create The Department of Homeland Security deemed with money for as long as they’re willing to uncertainty for the firm’s partners: Germany’s election centers across America as critical national epidemic comply,” said Karabo Sitto, a Uniper and Wintershall, Anglo-Dutch Shell , infrastructure in 2016 in order to help the local entities Johannesburg academic. More than 10 enmark is under pressure to rule on Austria’s OMV and France’s Engie. Access to combat cyber intrusion from powerful foreign actors. percent of young women in South Africa whether a new Russian pipeline sup- cheap Russian gas to offset declining Dutch Well, what’s now more American than the Internet we efore 20-year-old Lebogang are HIV positive, compared to 4 percent of Dplying gas to Germany can be built production takes priority for nations in north- all individually surf as a collective whole? Motsumi even had sex with her first young men, UNAIDS says. “Women often near its Baltic coast, a decision that puts it in ern Europe, particularly Germany, but eastern DHS didn’t force states into the election program, B“blesser” - or sugar daddy - a suc- do not have the power to negotiate safe the line of fire from friend and foe alike. European countries fear the pipeline will make rather the designation enabled states to coordinate cessful, married, company boss more than sex in these relationships, especially as Denmark does not want to act alone in the EU a hostage to Russian gas. with their federal counterparts. Today, these tech twice her age, he handed her a wad of some men offer more money for sex with- resolving one of the biggest foreign policy giants ought to ask, even beg, the federal government cash. He was soon making regular deposits out a condom,” said Nozizwe Madlala- quandaries that the small European Union Security Concerns to help them protect users’ data. At the very least that into her bank account, paying her rent and Routledge, head of Embrace Dignity, a nation has faced since the Cold War. But its In the Nordic states, where Moscow’s mil- could renew trust in these companies, but it would also taking her out in exchange for sex, which charity that supports women who sell sex. search for a united EU stance on the pro- itary posturing in and around the Baltic Sea posed pipeline is deadlocked by divisions be in their own self-interest because when they’re the young single mother readily accepted has rattled nerves, security is the main con- among member states over whether to do breached again - and it will happen again - then they as she had a three-month-old baby to feed. Honest cern. The United States has played up these more business with Moscow despite its mili- can pass the blame up the chain to Washington, where “It’s a confidence boost at the time but Although new HIV infections have fall- worries in its opposition to Nord Stream 2. when you’re alone and you’re thinking tary incursions in Ukraine and Syria and it rightfully belongs. en, almost 40 percent of the 270,000 peo- Confidential guidance from Washington, seen about this, you feel very disgusted. This ple infected in 2016 were young women accusations it used a nerve agent in an Even without that declaration, Congress needs to by Reuters, for US embassy officials in meet- man is old enough to be your dad,” she aged between 15 and 24, South Africa said attempted assassination on British soil. stop living in a sleepy 1950s mindset. This social media ings with EU governments argues that the told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. “I last year, amid a push to roll out pre-expo- The Danish government is facing fierce era is the time for lawmakers to exert pressure by pipeline could strengthen Russia’s projection would bathe and I would really scrub sure prophylaxis (PrEP) to at risk adoles- lobbying by Russia, EU allies and the United demanding accountability from the likes of the of power in the region. myself because I just wanted whatever cents. As the daily medication almost erad- States over the €9.5 billion ($11.7 billion) Zuckerbergs, Tim Cooks and Jeff Bezos’ of the world. Sweden and Finland have yet to issue per- Their products may be their own, but they belong to smell to get out of my body.” icates the risk of infection, South Africa is Nord Stream 2 project championed by Experts are grappling for ways to one of several countries on the continent President Vladimir Putin and financed by five mits for the 1,225 km pipeline to run under the rest of us now too. the Baltic Sea through their exclusive eco- This is in no way calling for censorship. In fact, reduce relationships like these, which are conducting trials to assess how it could Western firms. “They are under huge pres- fuelling new HIV infections in South Africa, help protect people who have difficulty sure from all sides,” one senior EU official nomic zone, which is regulated by UN law. social media censorship is dangerous and raises seri- Germany did so earlier this year. But only in ous First Amendment concerns. Americans also need home to 7 million HIV positive people - the negotiating condom use. About a third of said. There is no definite timing for a decision, highest number in the world, according to teenage girls in South Africa have had a which had been expected this spring but has Denmark would the undersea pipe pass to demand their privacy is guarded when the federal through sovereign territorial waters, giving it government takes a more hands-on role in protecting the UN agency for HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). partner at least five years older than them, been delayed while Denmark considers the security implications. But officials say it can- a greater say. US diplomat Sandra Oudkirk, their data, but for the moment action against hacking But “blessing” - where wealthy, older men a 2012 government survey found. not be postponed indefinitely. who visited Copenhagen on her first needs to be a priority. For now, it’s time to let everyone spend lavishly on younger women - has “Reducing age-disparate sex is key to become a symbol of prestige for teenage slowing HIV rates in young women,” said A Danish veto, under new legislation allow- European tour as Deputy Assistant Secretary know the risk of logging on so they can either opt-in for Energy Diplomacy last week, said or opt-out. And I bet more would opt-in with carefree girls trapped in a toxic cycle of poverty Salim Abdool Karim, director of the Centre ing it to do so on security grounds, would and ignorance, amid record unemployment for the AIDS Programme of Research in force Russia, which supplies about one third of Washington does not want Nord Stream 2 ease if they only were given something more tangible built and wants to understand “if the Danish to put their trust in. —Reuters and stark inequalities in South Africa. South Africa, a partnership between five Europe’s gas needs, to find a new route for the The term emerged when girls and research institutions. —Reuters pipeline. “This is not about gas, it is one of the law is a means to that end”. —Reuters Established 1961 11 News Tuesday, March 27, 2018

me and said to me, ‘Leave Trump alone. Forget the story.’ unaccounted for. Health Minister Veronika Skortsova said Porn actress And then he leaned around and looked at my daughter and 64 dead in Russian from the scene that 13 people were in hospital, including an said, ‘That’s a beautiful little girl. It’d be a shame if some- 11-year-old boy in a serious condition. Russian media said the thing happened to her mom,’” Daniels said. boy had leapt from a window and that both his parents had ‘threatened’ to Cooper asked: “You took it as a direct threat?” mall inferno; Amir been killed. Many of the victims will only be able to be identi- “Absolutely,” Daniels said. “I was rattled, I remember fied via DNA testing, officials said. going into the workout class and my hands were shaking An unofficial list of those missing circulating on Russian keep silent on so much I was afraid I was gonna drop her,” she said of sends condolences media included more than 20 children, some as young as five. her daughter. MOSCOW: Investigators looking into a fire that killed at least Mobile phone messages sent from one of those on the list, 13- Trump fling Daniels said she was introduced to Trump at a celebrity 64 people at a busy shopping mall in Siberia said yesterday a year-old Maria Moroz, and published by Russian media, said: golf tournament in Lake Tahoe in July 2006. He invited her security guard had turned off the public address system and “We are burning. I love you all. This is perhaps farewell.” WASHINGTON: Porn actress Stormy Daniels said she to his hotel suite, the only time they had sex. The conversa- exits had been illegally blocked. The fire, one of the deadliest Alexander Lillevyali told online newspaper Meduza that was threatened in a bid to keep her silent about her alleged tion “started off all about him, just talking about himself,” in Russia since the break-up of the Soviet Union, swept he and his wife Olga had lost all three of their daughters, two fling with Donald Trump, which she detailed in a highly- with Trump asking if Daniels had seen his picture on the through the upper floors of the “Winter Cherry” shopping aged 11 and one five, in the blaze. He was cited as saying he anticipated primetime TV interview broadcast Sunday. She cover of a magazine, she said. “I was like, does this, does center in the city of Kemerovo, where a cinema complex and had dropped the girls off at the cinema and that one of them is seeking to be released from a non-disclosure agreement this normally work for you? And he looked very taken children’s play area were located, on Sunday afternoon. had phoned later to say the auditorium was filling with smoke she signed 11 days before the 2016 presidential election back.” She told him: “Someone should take that magazine Dozens of children were feared to be among the dead. and that they couldn’t get out because the doors were locked. that brought Trump to power, for which she was paid and spank you with it.” She took the magazine and told Vladimir Putin, re-elected last weekend, expressed “deep He described how he had led rescuers up the stairs, but that $130,000 - leading to allegations that the payment Trump to drop his pants, which he did - with underwear condolences”, the Kremlin said. But the president has yet to they had been ordered to go elsewhere and that rescuers, cit- amounted to an illicit contribution to his campaign. still on - “and I just gave him a couple swats,” said Daniels. speak publicly about the tragedy, which has stirred anger in ing regulations, had refused to give him a respiratory mask. Daniels told Anderson Cooper on CBS’s “60 Minutes” The real estate mogul “was a completely different per- Kemerovo, a coal-producing region about 3,600 km east of “My daughters were left to burn because of their bloody that Trump had not asked her to keep their 2006 sexual son” after that, and he stopped talking about himself. Moscow. HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- rules,” Lillevyali told Meduza. encounter secret, but said she was approached by a man in Trump told her, “‘Wow, you, you are special. You remind me Jaber Al-Sabah yesterday cabled Putin expressing condo- Anna Kuznetsova, Russia’s children’s rights commissioner, a Las Vegas parking lot after agreeing to sell her story for of my daughter.’ You know, he’s like, ‘You’re smart, beautiful lences. HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- said the fire had been caused by incompetence and that simi- $15,000 in 2011. “I was in a parking lot, going to a fitness and a woman to be reckoned with,’” she said. Trump’s wife Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- lar shopping centers across Russia should be urgently class with my infant daughter. Taking, you know, the seats Melania - who had recently given birth to their son - came Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah sent similar cables. checked. Pro-Kremlin politicians called for anyone found facing backwards in the back seat, diaper bag, you know, up only briefly: “I asked, and he brushed it aside, said, ‘Oh Russia’s Investigative Committee, which handles major guilty of negligence or worse to be harshly punished. gettin’ all the stuff out,” she said. “And a guy walked up on yeah, yeah, you know, don’t worry about that, we have sep- crimes, said it was trying to bring in the mall’s owner for Witnesses told Russian media the fire alarm and sprinklers arate rooms,’” Daniels said. — Agencies questioning and wanted to detain a security guard who had failed to function. Video footage showed a group of peo- turned off the public address system after learning of the ple in a smoke-filled staircase trying to smash a fire exit door, blaze. “Serious violations (of the law) took place when the which was jammed. The cause of the blaze remains unclear. as well as its aim to undermine all chances of peace. mall was being built and when it was functioning. The fire The Interfax news agency cited an unnamed local official Saudi-led coalition The source urged the international community, espe- exits were blocked,” Svetlana Petrenko, a spokeswoman for source as saying the main theory being looked at was that the cially the UN Security Council, to take immediate the committee, said in a statement. Four people have already fire had been caused by an electrical short circuit. However, it action to stop such attacks. The source affirmed that been detained, including two employees of the firm that serv- quoted Vladimir Chernov, the region’s deputy governor, as warns Iran after... these actions will not undermine the determination of ices the mall’s fire alarm. saying on Sunday that the blaze may have started when a Continued from Page 1 the brothers in Saudi Arabia in maintaining its security Emergency services said they had extinguished the fire, teenager set fire to the rubber foam on a trampoline in a play and stability as well as the safety of its people. but later said it had reignited in places, and that rescuers area using a lighter. Other officials were quoted as saying the blaze may have been started by candles used in a children’s The Houthis said on their Al-Masirah television that Hours after the missile attacks on Saudi Arabia, hun- were struggling to recover bodies because the building’s top floor had collapsed. It was unclear if any people were still celebration. — Reuters Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport was among dreds of thousands of Houthi rebel supporters flooded the targets. the streets of Yemen’s capital yesterday to mark three Malki alleged the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in years of war. Sanaa’s Sabaeen Square was a sea of Sanaa were using the airport there to launch missiles on Yemeni flags as rebel authorities ordered all schools Saudi territory, adding the coalition had targeted a and government offices shut for the anniversary. Houthi “missiles shipment” at the facility. Iran has repeatedly supporters carried portraits of rebel chief Abdulmalik rejected claims it is arming the rebels. A Saudi-led mili- Al-Houthi and speakers blasted out a fiery speech by tary coalition intervened in Yemen on March 26, 2015 Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Lebanon’s powerful to try to restore the government of President Hezbollah Shiite movement, praising the “steadfastness” Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi after the Houthis and their of the Yemeni people. allies took over large parts of the country, including the War songs, poems and speeches condemning the capital Sanaa. United States, the main arms supplier for the Saudi- HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- led coalition, echoed across the square. “No one can Sabah strongly denounced the missile attacks on speak on behalf of the Yemeni people. The people tak- Saudi Arabia. This hostile act violates all international ing to the streets today are the real voice,” Ibtisam Al- norms, values and principles, the Amir said in cable Mutawakel, head of a Houthi cultural committee, told sent to King Salman Sunday evening. He reaffirmed AFP. About 10,000 Yemenis have been killed and Kuwait’s solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 53,000 wounded since the start of the coalition inter- and support of all measures it takes to maintain its vention in Yemen, which triggered what the United security. He prayed to Almighty God to protect the Nations has called the world’s worst humanitarian cri- brotherly kingdom and its people against all evils. He sis. Despite the intervention the rebels remain in con- also wished Saudi people everlasting security, safety trol of the capital, northern Yemen and the country’s and prosperity under the wise leadership of King largest port. KEMEROVO, Russia: An aerial view taken on Sunday with a drone shows a fire raging in a shopping center. —AFP Salman. HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Amnesty International, which has criticized both Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Prime Minister Sheikh sides in the Yemen war for neglecting civilian safety, Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah sent similar yesterday said the “indiscriminate” Houthi missile cables to King Salman. attack “could constitute a war crime”. Britain urged Sinai, has vowed to disrupt the elections. Sheikh Jaber yesterday expressed his deep satisfac- Iran to “stop sending in weapons which prolong the Sisi supporters Since polling stations opened at 9:00 am (0700 tion at the success of the Saudi air defense forces in conflict”, while Tehran accused London - a key arms GMT), both candidates voted, Sisi in the eastern district foiling the missile attacks carried out by the Houthi supplier for Saudi Arabia - of hypocrisy. The US State of Heliopolis, according to state TV, and Moussa at a militia. In a statement, he expressed Kuwait’s condem- Department said Washington would support the Saudis’ revel as election... station in downtown Cairo. In front of Sisi’s polling sta- nation and rejection of these Houthi criminal acts that “right to defend their borders against these threats”. tion, guarded by the military, ordinary citizens also came threaten regional and international security. He also Rebel leaders have sought to highlight the role of the Continued from Page 1 to vote to the tune of a new song by Egyptian pop star called on the international community, in particular the United States in the Saudi-led intervention. At Hakim, calling on people to participate. “Since the revo- Security Council, to take immediate and serious action Monday’s rally, Saleh Al-Sammad, head of the rebels’ politician and head of the liberal Al-Ghad party who lution (2011), I have considered it as my duty to vote,” to put an end to these despicable criminal acts. The Supreme Political Council, said the rebels were “ready himself is a supporter of the incumbent. All other presi- said Basma Sherif, a physical education professor. prime minister affirmed the confidence of Saudi Arabia to reach an understanding” to end the intervention and dential hopefuls were arrested or withdrew. The opposi- The Jan 2011 uprising, which toppled longtime ruler and its ability to confront these criminals and preserve the coalition’s blockade of Yemen. “It is the Americans tion has called on people for weeks to boycott the vote, Hosni Mubarak, left Egyptians to endure years of politi- the security and the safety of the brotherly people of who are directing this aggression and participating calling it a “charade”. A few motorists passing by hurled cal, security, and economic turmoil, as well as succes- the kingdom. He reiterated Kuwait’s solidarity with its directly on a number of fronts,” Sammad told the rally. insults at the pro-Sisi crowds, accusing them of being sive presidents and ruling councils. Since Sisi’s election brothers in Saudi Arabia and its support of all measures The Hadi government, for its part, said yesterday “liars” before quickly driving away. in 2014, conditions have calmed, although the opposi- taken to protect its security and stability under the that the overnight attacks on Saudi Arabia amounted to With Sisi’s win a certainty and without a serious con- tion says it has been effectively silenced, while domes- wise leadership of King Salman. “an open rejection of peace”. The US Senate last week tender, the only barometer that concerns Sisi is the tic and international rights groups say abuses are on An official source at Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry also rejected a bipartisan bid to end American involvement turnout. In the past few weeks, and increasingly in the rise. In the middle of Tahrir Square, the epicenter of firmly denounced the missile attacks. Kuwait followed in Yemen’s war, voting down a rare effort to overrule recent days, Sisi, his government, and pro-state media the 2011 uprising, a large truck played loud patriotic with full dismay and condemnation the news about mis- presidential military authorization. The US has provided have called on people to go and vote, saying that by songs as dozens of young men and women waved the sile attacks on Saudi Arabia which terrorized innocent weapons, intelligence and aerial refuelling to the Saudi- doing so, they were standing up to terrorism. In Al- Egyptian flag and danced. Excerpts of Sisi’s speech, people, the source said. The source reiterated Kuwait’s led coalition. Washington formally approved defense Haram, police barricaded the street where the polling often spoken in a nationalistic tone, played in sequence total denunciation of these attacks, which showed the contracts worth more than $1 billion with Riyadh last station is set up, two days after a car bomb killed two on a large screen, installed a few days earlier in the Houthis’ rejection of peace and the will of the interna- Thursday during a high-profile visit by Saudi Crown policemen in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria. The place were, seven years ago, Egyptians celebrated tional community to put an end to the conflict in Yemen Prince Mohammed bin Salman. — Agencies Islamic State group’s affiliate in Egypt, based in North Mubarak’s fall. — AFP 12 Established 1961 Sports Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Checkmate or knockout: Chess boxing lands a punch The rules of chess boxing are simple

BERLIN: With his dental guard still in his mouth and a in boxing,” said Cazeneuve, 24, a recruitment consult- slightly queasy feeling in his gut, a shirtless Thomas ant. “I held on thanks to my mental strength,” he added. Cazeneuve was exuberant after checkmating his oppo- In fact, “60 percent of the winning moves are made on nent during a chess boxing bout in Berlin, the world the chessboards and 40 percent in boxing,” said capital of the unusual sport. Rubingh, a 43-year-old Dutchman. Recalling the Just as deft in the movement of his rooks as with his sport’s gestation, chess-lover Rubingh said that it fists, Cazeneuve claimed victory against his Ukrainian began in 2002, when, after a round of chess that ended challenger after seven alter- in stalemate, he suggested to nating rounds of boxing and a friend that they go for a chess. The match played out boxing bout at a bar in before a crowd of curious Amsterdam. “The idea was onlookers drawn to the spec- born, but we were sober,” he tacle of the so-called You need to said. “Combined, the two “Intellectual Fight Club”. sports are the amalgamation Chess boxing was born 16 be good in of the most beautiful capaci- years ago when its founder ties of human beings to cre- Iepe Rubingh brought to life both disciplines ate a type of supreme a seemingly far-fetched idea being,” he said. The author from a French graphic novel, of the graphic novel, Bilal, “Cold Equator” by Enki Bilal. told AFP that he found it Today, Rubingh has set his “rather amusing that the sights on introducing chess boxing to the Olympics and idea that was potentially absurd had become reality”. even looking at sending robots into battle, as the multi- disciplinary sport gains popularity. The rules of chess ‘MORE KASPAROV THAN TYSON’ boxing are simple. Three minutes of gentlemanly chess While it was considered more a curiosity than a real played on a board in the ring is alternated with three- sport in the beginning, chess boxing has gained a minute bouts of intense boxing over 11 rounds-six of strong following, including chess fans who have crossed BERLIN: File photo shows Daniel Biman (R) and Mohamad Kadija attend a chessboxing fight during an chess, five of boxing. over to the more physical realm of boxing. Alina Rath, a amateur fight event at the Intellectual Fight Club IX in Berlin on December 15, 2017. — AFP The winner has to earn either a boxing knockout or 29-year-old German, has been a member of a chess a checkmate on the chessboard, but either chess boxer club for 20 years but only began adding boxing to the can be disqualified for taking too long to make a chess mix in August. “Chess boxing breaks down cliches of MAN VERSUS ROBOT? companies to partner him in organising a series of move or by breaking the boxing rules. the rough guy who only knows how to beat up the Regular exhibition games are organised, pitting matches pitting men against robots. weak intellectual,” said the accountant. Although Rath players of all nationalities. “Our aim this year is to cre- “I would fight against a robot with artificial intelli- ‘WE WERE SOBER’ says she feels “more like Kasparov than Tyson”, she ate a professional league financed by investors and gence and which is much stronger than us in chess but “You need to be good in both disciplines, which can said she was tempted to sign up for the dual discipline partners,” said Rubingh, who is pushing for the sport to also weaker in terms of reflexes,” he said. “Every year, I be quite complicated. But it’s true that one mustn’t be after five years of practice in mixed martial arts. be included in the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024. would challenge the best of the robots and it would afraid of being punched,” said Rubingh. The biggest Some 3,500 people are card-carrying members of 11 To gain publicity for the sport, Rubingh has another become increasingly difficult for me to win as they difficulty may be staying lucid to pull off the winning federations in countries including Britain, Iran and seemingly space-aged idea up his sleeve. This time, he improve. chess move despite the physical demands of boxing. Russia. And it is Berlin that is the undisputed headquar- is turning to science fiction guru Isaac Asimov for “The day that I lose, the machine will have overtaken “It was my toughest fight with a rival who is a total ters of the sport after the World Chess Boxing inspiration. Taking a leaf from Asimov’s series depicting mankind,” said Rubingh, who is dreaming of a million- all-rounder, and who has left me exhausted, especially Organisation was set up there in 2004. man’s fight against the machine, Rubingh wants robotic dollar fight in New York’s Times Square. —AFP

Advantage Vettel, Stung Mercedes but Hamilton can vow to bounce feel confident

back after ‘one LONDON: Sebastian Vettel won the first round of what could be a long and lively Formula One title fight with that got away’ Lewis Hamilton on Sunday but the Ferrari driver may be the one with more to worry about as they leave Australia. Champions Mercedes messed up in MELBOURNE: Mercedes have vowed to bounce Melbourne, their mistake denying Hamilton what had back in Bahrain next month after throwing away looked a nailed-on victory from pole position, but they Sunday’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix to also left rivals in no doubt about their pace. Ferrari, with team boss Toto Wolff admitting it was “At the moment we’re a bit worse off,” Vettel told tough to take. Sebastian Vettel got the jump on reporters after repeating last year’s opening win thanks world champion Lewis Hamilton as Mercedes blun- to a pitstop during a virtual safety car period that dered their calculations on the Ferrari ace’s pit stop wrong-footed Mercedes, whose data wrongly indicated MELBOURNE: Ferrari’s German driver Sebastian Vettel (C), second-placed Mercedes’ British driver Lewis under Virtual Safety Car (VSC) conditions. Hamilton had him covered. Hamilton (L) and third-placed Ferrari’s Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen (R) attend a press conference after Vettel went on to keep Hamilton at bay for his “Last year we had more pace at this point. If you the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on Sunday. — AFP second straight win in Melbourne and third overall. look at the gaps the whole weekend, we’re not yet a It’s a defeat that sticks in the craw of Mercedes and true match,” added the German, who is vying with team principal Wolff, who is determined the cham- Hamilton to become a five-times champion. But rivals also pointed to Mercedes’ qualifying ‘par- tail of Raikkonen. “We are convinced that we had a pion team will not repeat the same error again. “I think if you look, and you are fair, then Lewis was ty mode’ engine setting with concern. “Mercedes is better car than Ferrari, though the Mercedes still prob- “This was one that got away and it’s a bitter pill for fastest whereas last year I think we were fastest and it playing with everyone... with that engine, no one can ably had something in hand,” said Red Bull principal us all to swallow,” Wolff said. was very, very close.” Last year, Vettel led from beat Mercedes. They’re in a different world,” Red Bull Christian Horner. Melbourne is a hard track to overtake “Following Lewis’s pit stop, we believed that we Melbourne to Monza before his challenge imploded. motorsport consultant Helmut Marko was quoted as on but Bahrain is next up and more open. Vettel won had the scenarios of both the safety car and the vir- Hamilton took pole on Saturday with one of the saying after qualifying. Despite the pessimism, and the there last year when it was the third race of the season tual safety car covered, so that Sebastian could not great qualifying laps of his career, lapping a massive absence of Red Bull drivers from the year’s first podium, but Hamilton will also fancy his chances. pit and come out ahead of Lewis on track. 0.664 quicker than Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen. The time Melbourne did not dispel hopes of a three-way team “We still got second. It feels like a dark cloud but it’s “We should have been several seconds safe, then may have flattered him, with the Briton producing a battle. Australian Daniel Ricciardo, who finished fourth not,” the Briton had said on Sunday. “We have a great suddenly saw on the TV screens that we were not. near-perfect lap while Vettel would doubtless have after starting eighth following a grid penalty, set the car, we are still the world champions and with a couple “Of course, under the VSC sometimes you benefit been closer had he not made a mistake. fastest lap of the race for Red Bull and was right on the of adjustments we can win the next race.” — Reuters and sometimes you lose out but it was clearly a problem on our side and we need to analyse that to understand what happened and correct it.” Wolff said what was particularly frustrating was that Mercedes had the pace to win the Melbourne Professionalism race. “Lewis was in control through the opening stint, then after the pit stop as well, and looked on course for a strong victory but it wasn’t to be,” he has changed rugby, said. “Congratulations to Ferrari on their win. For us, it’s a tough one to take, but there are lots of lessons says Hugo Porta to be learned so we can come back stronger next time.” Mercedes have already set their sights on the second race of the season in Bahrain on April 8. LONDON: Argentina great Hugo Porta says rugby’s Corinthian spirit has taken a hit in the professional era and ‘NOT WHERE WE WANT TO BE’ believes it is vital the sport holds on to its unique identity. Hamilton said he was bewildered to find himself The 66-year-old former Pumas fly-half, capped 58 times behind as Vettel emerged from the pits to hold on to for Argentina, said the gruelling international schedule the lead around the notoriously-restrictive Albert makes it difficult for players from opposing teams to bond Park street circuit. “I did everything I could, but it’s and that the game lacks the conviviality of previous not what anyone expected to happen,” said the decades. Porta, who opted for rugby instead of football, Briton. said players do not have time to absorb the culture or “I’m still in a little bit of disbelief as I don’t really immerse themselves in the countries they visit. “I think one of the best things that rugby gave me when I was understand what happened yet. “At least in my heart playing was the opportunity of touring countries as a I know that I gave everything this weekend. I’m sure youngster,” said Porta, who played for just one club, Banco the team is feeling pain right now but we will Nacion, for his 24-year career. “Nowadays the teams are regroup and we’ll work on it.” For his part Vettel playing one weekend in Japan then the next in London and believes Ferrari’s 2018 car is not currently “a true the next one in Buenos Aires. They don’t get to know the BUENOS AIRES: File photo taken on April 17, 1999, former rugby player Hugo Porta (C) from Argentina match” for Mercedes, despite having won the first people they are playing against or their culture.” reaches for the ball as Berrie-Jon Mather tackles him, in Buenos Aires, during a friendly match between race. Vettel and teammate Kimi Raikkonen had Porta, who is an architect by profession, told AFP about the Argentine “Los Pumas” and an international team of players.—AFP been unable to challenge Hamilton in Melbourne his enduring friendship with South African great Morne du qualifying, both finishing almost seven-tenths of a Plessis. “I played my first game against the Springboks second off the defending champion. when he played 40 years ago and now our families are admits the game has changed. “Professionalism means we still the same type of people,” said the 41-year-old. “I The German conceded he was “a bit lucky” to friends and I have friends everywhere thanks to my tour- can’t always have as many beers as we want and we need played in Japan for a number of years, which is a very win, and admitted Ferrari was not yet where it ing days. “I think that is one of the things that rugby is los- to respect that,” he said. “That is where organisations like diverse culture, but the rugby thread is very similar in the wanted to be. “If you look at the gaps the whole ing, its conviviality and spirit.” Porta said he understands the Barbarians, who were kind of losing their role in the manner in which we interact with each other. weekend, we are not yet a true match (for that World Rugby cannot treat every country the same game, bring back that romanticism around the game and “There is an incredible amount of respect for each oth- Mercedes),” he said. “Therefore at this point we and has to respect the culture of every nation but he the reason why we all laced on boots aged seven years er and that will always remain consistent. “There is a spe- know that we are not yet where we want to be, added that the sport must preserve its identity. old.” But Hassanein believes the character of those playing cial bond and attitude. Our sport is always first and in all of because we want to be fastest.” —AFP Former Waratahs flanker Omar Hassanein, now the chief the game has not changed, nor have the principles under- our players I believe there is a common understanding you executive of the International Rugby Players’ Association, pinning the sport. “The fabric remains the same, we are all represent the sport and not just yourself.” — AFP Established 1961 13 Sports Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Former US champs Cilic, del Potro reach Miami Open fourth round

Cilic to face John Isner for quarter-final berth

MIAMI: Former US Open champions Marin Cilic and field lacking star power thanks to the early exits of Juan Martin del Potro powered into the fourth round of Federer and Novak Djokovic and the injury absences of the Miami Open on Sunday with straight-sets victories. Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray. Argentina’s fifth-seeded del Potro, chasing his sec- Third-seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria joined the ond ATP Masters title in as many weeks, breezed past exodus as he fell 6-4, 6-4 to unseeded Frenchman Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-2. Ranked sixth in the Jeremy Chardy. Del Potro, the hottest player on the ATP world after vanquishing Swiss great Roger Federer in tour right now, is actually in search of a third straight the final at Indian Wells last weekend, del Potro needed ATP crown after back-to-back victories in Acapulco just 73 minutes to book a and Indian Wells. fourth-round meeting with His win in the California Filip Krajinovic of Serbia, desert was his first in a who beat France’s Benoit Masters 1000 event, a wel- Paire 6-3, 6-3. come milestone after a suc- Second-seeded Cilic also It was a cession of injury setbacks reached the fourth round almost forced him into with a 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) victory relief at retirement in 2015. “I think over Canadian Vasek Pospisil. I’m playing good,” Del Potro Cilic produced six aces and the end said after his 13th straight saved all three break points match win. “I can play even he faced. But Pospisil made better, but I need to get him work to finish it off, save confidence playing in this three match points on his court, trying to keep win- own serve in the 12th game of the second set. ning matches. “It was a relief at the end,” Cilic admitted. “I had “But it’s not easy,” he added. “My body starts to those three match points at 6-5 and there was that feel tight because of all my success.” In other third- great rally at deuce. I was playing really well in the tie- round action, South Korean Chung Hyeon posted a break, returning really well and serving really good. I convincing 6-1, 6-1 victory over American qualifier saved the best for last and I’m really pleased with the Michael Mmoh. victory.” Cilic will face 14th-seeded American John Chung, who has yet to drop a set in Miami, needed Isner for a quarter-final berth. just 63 minutes to advance to a meeting with Portugal’s KEY BISCAYNE: Marin Cilic of Croatia serves during the Miami Open at the Crandon Park Tennis Center in Key Isner defeated Russian veteran Mikhail Youzhny 6-4, Joao Sousa, who rallied for a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Biscayne, Florida. — AFP 6-3. Cilic and del Potro are the biggest names left in a American Jared Donaldson. — AFP Venus outlasts Bertens to book Pakistan touts PSL Konta clash final in pitch to

MIAMI: Three-time winner Venus Williams saved three host foreign teams match points in a three-set victory over Kiki Bertens on Sunday, lining up a fourth-round clash with reigning cham- pion Johanna Konta at the Miami Open. Williams, ranked KARACHI: The trouble-free Pakistan Super eighth in the world, labored nearly three hours to beat League (PSL) cricket final, held in Karachi on 29th-ranked Bertens 5-7, 6-3, 7-5. Sunday amid a festival atmosphere, has reignited The 37-year-old American was cruising with a 5-0 calls for foreign national teams to look past secu- lead in the opening set, but she squandered three set rity concerns and play regular cricket in Pakistan. points as Bertens reeled off seven straight games to The South Asian nation has largely been snatch it. The second set was another streaky affair, but starved of international cricket since the 2009 Williams gained a decisive break for a 5-3 lead and attack on a bus ferrying Sri Lankan cricketers in fought off a break point in the next game to force the Lahore which killed eight Pakistanis as well as decider. The seven-time Grand Slam champion would wounding six players and a British coach. have to dig deep when she fell 1-4 down to her Dutch opponent in the third. Bertens served for the match at 5- Pakistan’s biggest city ground to a halt for sev- 3 but was unable to convert two match points as Williams eral hours on Sunday as fans packed restaurants broke to put the match back on serve. Williams would KEY BISCAYNE: Venus Williams plays a shot against Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands during Day 7 of the Miami and cafes to watch Islamabad United defeat face one more match point against her own serve in the Open at the Crandon Park Tennis Center on Sunday in Key Biscayne, Florida. —AFP defending champion Peshawar Zalmi by three next game, but she held on as Bertens appeared to strug- wickets after being set a 148-9 target. gle with cramps in the final games. “This is a very big historic occasion,” Najam Williams sealed the win with an emphatic forehand round, where the 26-year-old will try to get past the last Latvian Ostapenko defeated Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Sethi, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman told fans winner, giving a little leap of elation. “It didn’t look good 16 of a tournament for the first time this season. Maia 6-2, 7-6 (7/2). She led by a set and a break before in the stadium just before the culmination of the sometimes, that’s why you keep playing until the last Haddad Maia battled back to level the set. Ostapenko Twenty20 league started. “You have filled this SVITOLINA, OSTAPENKO ADVANCE twice served to avoid a third set. She fell behind 0-2 in the point,” said Williams, who lifted the trophy in Miami in stadium and shown the world that we are ready 1998, 1999 and 2001. “And that’s why I love this game.” Fourth-seeded Elina Svitolina and sixth-seeded Jelena tiebreaker before winning seven straight points for the vic- for the return of the international cricket.” Konta, whose victory here last year propelled her into the Ostapenko, the reigning French Open champion, also tory. “In the tie-break, I showed my great tennis, and I top 10 in the world rankings, advanced with relative ease, advanced, as did 2016 Olympic gold medalist Monica Puig. won the match,” Ostapenko said. “I’m really glad it hap- In its third year, the PSL has become a phe- beating Belgian Elise Mertens 6-2, 6-1. Konta exchanged Ukraine’s Svitolina beat Daria Gavrilova 4-6, 6-0, 6-1, her pened that way.” She next faces ninth-seeded Czech Petra nomenal success in the cricket-obsessed nation of early breaks with Mertens, but gained the upper hand with fourth straight win over the Australian. In a match of tense Kvitova, who rallied for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory over 208 million but security concerns mean many of a break for 3-2 when the Belgian double faulted four times rallies Svitolina finished with 28 winners and won 70 per- American qualifier Sofia Kenin. Puerto Rico’s Puig fol- the group games and Pakistan’s international test in one game. It launched a streak of four straight games cent of her first-serve points. Svitolina will battle for a lowed up her upset of second-seeded Australian Open matches are played in the Middle East. for Konta that gave the Briton the opening set. quarter-final berth against another Australian, 21st-seeded champion Caroline Wozniacki with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Ahead of Sunday’s final, the first major cricket She powered through the second to reach the fourth Ashleigh Barty, who beat Croatia’s Petra Martic 6-4, 6-3. Greece’s Maria Sakkari. — AFP event in Karachi since the Sri Lanka bus attack, key roads leading to the stadium were closed and checkpoints erected amid tight security. Despite temperatures soaring to 38 degrees Winnipeg Jets clinch Celsius, many fans queued for hours to get into the stadium early to catch a glimpse of the local and foreign players whose popularity has soared playoff berth with in the run up to the final. “We are happy on return of international crick- thrilling shootout et to Karachi,” said Ahmed Alam, 20, an engineer- ing university student on his way to the stadium clutching bottles of chilled water and packets of win over Nashville potato snacks. “Cricket was unjustly kept away from Karachi for so long. Such matches could be WINNIPEG: Mark Scheifele scored in a shootout and held here much before.” Connor Hellebuyck made it stand up by stopping all three attempts as the Winnipeg Jets clinched a playoff berth WINDIES SERIES with a 5-4 victory over the visiting Nashville Predators on Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Sunday night. Kyle Connor had a goal and two assists, Abbasi said the successful hosting of the PSL Bryan Little and Blake Wheler each had a goal and an final “was a victory of the entire nation”. assist, and Dustin Byfuglien also scored for Winnipeg, Pakistani officials are keen to repair the coun- which won its fifth consecutive game with its NHL-best 29th home win. Hellebuyck finished with 32 saves. Viktor try’s image and reassure sceptical foreign Arvidsson, Kyle Turris and Ryan Ellis each had a goal and nations, especially the more reluctant Western an assist and Roman Josi and also scored for Nashville, countries, that security is now good enough host which moved a point ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning major events. Since the bus attack, Pakistan has hosted for the NHL’s top total. Predators goalie Juuse Saros made PITTSBURGH: Jake Guentzel #59 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates after the puck gets by Alex Lyon #49 of 43 saves. the Philadelphia Flyers at PPG PAINTS Arena on Sunday in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.— AFP Zimbabwe, a World XI, and a Sri Lanka team for limited overs matches, all at Lahore’s Gaddafi BRUINS 2, WILD 1 (OT) Stadium. Pakistan also received a further boost Brad Marchand scored his fifth overtime goal of the net 2:25 into overtime, giving host Pittsburgh a victory in regulation on his second tip-in of the night. McDavid earlier this month when West Indies agreed to season and Tuukka Rask made 24 saves as Boston beat over Philadelphia. Crosby shot the puck from the left wing, scored Edmonton’s first goal and set up two others, play a three-match Twenty20 series in Karachi in Minnesota in Saint Paul. Marchand, sprung by Torey Krug, and Rust sent it past goalie Petr Mrazek from right in front. increasing his season points total to 99. He is four points the first week of April. zipped down the wing and ripped a top-corner shot past Derick Brassard, Patric Hornqvist, Evgeni Malkin and ahead of Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov for the league lead. “I am looking forward to playing more cricket Wild goalie Alex Stalock 28 seconds into overtime. David Crosby scored in regulation for the Penguins, and Justin here, I have enjoyed it,” Darren Sammy, a West Pastrnak scored a second-period goal for the Bruins, and Schultz notched three assists. Travis Sanheim, Brandon CANUCKS 4, STARS 1 evened the score for the Wild midway through the third Manning, Jordan Weal and Sean Couturier (the tying goal Reid Boucher scored a goal and added an assist as Indies cricketer and Peshawar Zalmi captain, told period. Marchand finished with a goal and an assist, giving with 43 seconds left in regulation) scored for the Flyers. visiting Vancouver beat Dallas. The Canucks earned only local Geo Super TV channel after the game. The him a five-point weekend in which he had a hand in all five their second win in the past 10 games. It was only fans are excited at the prospect of more cricket goals over two games. He tied the record for most over- DUCKS 5, OILERS 4 (OT) Vancouver’s second win in the past 16 meetings with inside Pakistan. time goals in one season, also held by Steven Stamkos, Hampus Lindholm scored the game-winning goal 1:21 Dallas. The Stars took their eighth straight loss and saw “West Indies’ three matches at Karachi next Jonathan Toews and Alex Galchenyuk. into overtime as Anaheim overcame a big night from their flickering playoff hopes fade further. Vancouver month truly heralds the return of international Connor McDavid and posted a victory at Edmonton. The goaltender Jacob Markstrom finished with 30 saves on cricket to Pakistan,” added Alam, the student. “It’s PENGUINS 5, FLYERS 4 (OT) Ducks gained a point in their sixth straight game after 31 shots, while Dallas netminder Kari Lehtonen blocked a real treat for the people of this city.” — Reuters Bryan Rust redirected a Sidney Crosby shot into the Adam Henrique netted the tying goal with 89 seconds left 23 of 26 shots. — Reuters 14 Established 1961 Sports Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Australian cricket faces huge backlash over ball-tampering Cricket Australia chief Sutherland rushing to S Africa

SYDNEY: Sutherland was rushing to South Africa yes- Monday. “We know Australians want answers and we terday with the sport facing one of the toughest weeks will keep you updated on our findings and next steps, as in its history as a backlash grows over a ball-tampering a matter of urgency.” Smith and all members of the team scandal which is likely to cost Steve Smith the Test cap- will remain in South Africa to assist in the probe to taincy. Sponsors expressed “deep concern” as media determine exactly what happened, and who knew. and fans called for wide- Smith, whose talents with the spread changes and deci- bat have drawn breathless sive action following the comparisons with Aussie great shock admission that Smith Don Bradman, is not the only and senior team members man caught in the crosshairs. plotted to cheat in South Sponsors David Warner also stood Africa. Smith, 28, was down from his role as vice- removed from the captain- expressed captain, while questions remain cy for the remainder of the over coach Darren Lehmann third Test against South ‘deep concern’ although Smith said the former Africa on Sunday and was Australian international was not then banned for one match involved in the conspiracy. by the International Cricket Smith initially said the deci- Council (ICC). sion was made by the leader- His team’s weekend of ship group within the team, but shame then ended in a crushing 322-run rout. Set an reports in Australia said Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell unlikely 430 to win, Australia were bowled out for a pal- Starc, seen as among those senior figures, were not try 107 with fast bowler Morne Morkel taking five for 23. involved and angry at being implicated. “It’s been a hor- Now Smith is expected to face a harsh sanction from rible 24 hours-I want to apologise to our fans and those under-pressure Cricket Australia (CA) for his role in the back home,” said Tim Paine, who was handed the stand- plot which saw team-mate Cameron Bancroft tamper in skipper role on Sunday. “We’re struggling but the SYDNEY: Photo shows Australian cricket captain Steve Smith on the front pages of the major newspapers in with the ball by using yellow sticky tape, before desper- reality and the enormity of what’s happened has proba- Sydney yesterday. Australia’s cricketers have heaped disgrace and humiliation on the country, the local press ately trying to conceal the evidence down the front of his bly started to sink in. I don’t think we expected this to said in blasting the “rotten” team culture under the current leadership of Steve Smith. — AFP trousers. A charge of conduct contrary to the spirit of be as big as it has been, the fall-out we have seen from the game includes a possible life ban. CA has sent its back home.” head of integrity Iain Roy and head of team performance scathing commentaries Monday, Australian media said he’s trying to take responsibility so there is right in that Pat Howard to Cape Town to conduct an investigation, ‘DISGRACE AND HUMILIATION’ the team had heaped “disgrace and humilation” on the but there’s also a right in that people are responsible for with Sutherland, who is facing mounting pressure to take Smith, also docked 100 percent of his match fee by country, while sponsors also weighed in. their own actions,” he said Sunday. responsibility for what Australian media slammed as a the ICC, will miss the fourth and final Test in “This is deeply disappointing and certainly not what Smith had insisted on Saturday he wouldn’t resign “rotten” team culture, now deciding to join them. Johannesburg from Friday due to his ban. anyone expects from our national cricket team,” airline the captaincy he has held for three years since succeed- However, Bancroft, the 25-year-old opening batsman, Qantas, whose logo is on the team shirts in South Africa, ing Michael Clarke, but his position appears to be ‘HORRIBLE 24 HOURS’ escaped an ICC suspension. He was instead fined 75 told AFP in Sydney. “We are in discussions with Cricket increasingly tenuous. Several former Australian Test “I am travelling to Johannesburg this evening and will percent of his fee, warned, and hit by three demerit Australia as this issue unfolds.” stars have said it was impossible for him to continue, arrive today morning local time to meet Iain to under- points. The admission of cheating brought a firestorm of South Africa captain Faf du Plessis, who has himself and Clarke insisted Smith must suffer the consequences. stand the findings of the investigation to that point, and anger, with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull twice been sanctioned for ball-related offences, gave But Clarke added: “I think it’s important that we do over to determine recommended outcomes,” he said late saying he was “shocked and bitterly disappointed”. In Smith qualified support for coming clean. “Obviously time forgive as well.” — AFP

Root denies reports Smith quits as of concerns of Ashes Royals captain ball-tampering after scandal AUCKLAND: The ball tampering scandal by Australia was disappointing for cricket said England captain Joe NEW DELHI: Indian Premier League side Root, but he was unaware of Steve Smith’s side Rajasthan Royals yesterday replaced Australia’s employing similar tactics during the recent Ashes Steve Smith as captain over his role in a ball-tam- series. Smith stood down from his post as captain and pering controversy. Smith, who is on a $1.9-million was banned for one test match by the International contract with the Royals, will be replaced by India’s Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday after admitting con- Ajinkya Rahane as skipper for the IPL season spiring to tamper with the ball during the third test starting next month. “Steve believes given the cur- against South Africa in Cape Town. rent circumstances it’s in the best interest of the Unsourced media reports in Britain have said that Rajasthan Royals that he steps down as captain so some England players had suspicions over whether the team can get ready for the start of the IPL Australia had doctored the ball during their 4-0 without the ongoing distractions,” the club said. series victory, but Root quickly knocked that down Australia captain Smith, 28, was banned for one yesterday. Test and fined by the International Cricket Council “Not to my knowledge. I was not aware of any ball after admitting that he and leading players planned tampering,” Root told reporters in Auckland after his ball tampering during the third Test against South side crashed to an innings and 49-run loss to New Africa. “The incident in Cape Town has certainly Zealand in the first Test. “I have enough to worry Joe Root disturbed the cricket world. We have been in con- about... but it’s disappointing for test cricket and stant touch with the BCCI (the Indian board) and cricket in general.” taken their counsel. Furthermore we have been in England pace bowler Stuart Broad had also said Root added that while the burden of responsibility and make sure I’m happy with how they conduct regular contact with Steve,” said Zubin Bharucha, that he was unaware of any tampering by Australia’s for teams’ behaviour always fell upon the captain, themselves. Royals head of cricket. bowlers, despite the fact they were able to get reverse some of it rested with the players themselves. “As “As an international player you should know the Australia’s senior opening batsman David swing in conditions that were not usually conducive to captain you’re responsible for how everyone else rules. I should not have to back that up. It’s as simple Warner also faces IPL uncertainty after he stepped being able to do so. behaves,” he said. “I have to look after my own group as that.” — Reuters down as vice-captain over the scandal. Warner has not been punished by the ICC. However his IPL side, Sunrisers Hyderabad, said they would wait for any action by Cricket Australia before deciding on Warner’s captaincy of the side. Pakistan ignore “It’s very unfortunate what has happened in the Cape Town Test,” said Hyderabad advisor VVS Kamran in T20 Laxman, adding that it was too early for the team to make a decision. “We will wait for the decision of Cricket Australia,” Laxman told Press Trust of squad for India news agency. The Royals won the inaugural IPL 11 years ago Windies series under Shane Warne but this year are returning from a two-year ban for corruption, which increased pressure on the franchise for action over KARACHI: Pakistan yesterday ignored in-form opener Smith. A Supreme Court-appointed panel barred Kamran Akmal but included three uncapped players in the the Royals and Chennai Super Kings from the squad for next month’s three-match Twenty20 series wealthy T20 league in 2015. “Rajasthan Royals will against the West Indies in Karachi. Sarfraz Ahmed will do everything possible to protect the values and captain the hosts in the matches played in Karachi on April the integrity of the game,” team’s co-owner Manoj 1, 2 and 3 — the first ties between international sides to Badale said of Smith’s replacement as captain. take place in the port city since 2009. “We agree with Steve’s decision to step down The 36-year-old Kamran misses out despite notching as captain, and we are fortunate to have such a 425 runs in 13 Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches, capable successor with Ajinkya Rahane.” Badale including a century and four half-centuries for Peshawar added: “What happened in South Africa was clear- Zalmi. But the selection committee led by former captain ly wrong, especially given that it appears to have Inzamam-ul-Haq and head coach Mickey Arthur did not been pre-meditated. That said, this will be a diffi- include him due to his age and poor fielding. cult time for Steve as well, given how much he Two players from Islamabad United, who won the PSL cares about the game.” Royals will travel to by beating Peshawar Zalmi in Sunday’s final, were included Hyderabad in their opening match of the season on in the squad-Asif Ali and Hussain Talat. Lahore Qalandars’ April 9. The IPL tournament itself starts two days teenage paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi also received a KARACHI: Cricket players of Islamabad United celebrate their victory at the end of the Pakistan Super call-up. earlier in Mumbai. Smith is hugely popular in League final match between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United at the National Cricket Stadium in “We have included Talat, Asif and Shaheen in the squad India, and last year featured for Rising Pune Karachi on Sunday. — AFP Supergiant. The controversy surrounding Smith primarily for their performances in the PSL,” said exploded on day three of the Cape Town Test on Inzamam. “Imad Wasim and Rumman Raees are still recov- ering from injuries so were not included.” “Shaheen is an exciting and amazing talent and I am Lanka in February 2009, a week before the visitors were Saturday, when Australia’s Cameron Bancroft was Asif, 26, smashed three sixes in one over to help sure after a few years he will be a star,” said Arthur of attacked by gunmen in Lahore. It hosted several interna- caught using yellow tape to alter the condition of Islamabad win the final and impressed with his power hit- Shaheen, who hails from the northwestern tribal district of tional players for the PSL final on Sunday. the ball before hiding it in his underwear. Smith ting throughout the PSL. Talat, 22, is an exciting allrounder Khyber bordering Afghanistan, where Taleban and Islamist Squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, took responsibility for Bancroft’s actions, admitting who bats left-handed. Shaheen, a tall left-arm paceman, groups had been active. Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Hussain the move was planned by the team’s “leadership took 5-4 against Multan Sultan in one PSL match. Head The 29-year-old Rahat Ali stages a comeback after last Talat, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, group” and was “a big mistake”. — AFP coach Mickey Arthur said the 17-year-old can become an playing for Pakistan in January 2016. The last international Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Rahat Ali, Usman Khan important asset for the national team. match Karachi hosted was a Test between Pakistan and Sri Shinwari, Shaheen Shah Afridi. — AFP Established 1961 15 Sports Tuesday, March 27, 2018 England have World Cup places up for grabs, says Southgate England’s boss planning to make several changes against Italy

LONDON: Gareth Southgate has told England’s World against Holland, keeping his second clean-sheet in two Cup hopefuls there are still places up for grabs as he appearances, but Southgate confirmed Stoke’s Butland prepares to finalise his squad for the tournament in will begin the Italy match. Russia. Southgate must submit his 23-man squad for Joe Hart is also a contender but he has dropped the World Cup no later than June 4, but the England down the pecking order after struggling with West manager would ideally prefer to finalise his selection Ham. “Jack will play in goal. I wanted to give him and before the friendly against Nigeria on June 2. Jordan a game each for the experience,” Southgate Southgate wants his final said. World Cup group together “I can’t predict if Joe will for the warm-up games play for England before the against Nigeria and Costa World Cup. “It’s up to the Rica, which means today’s It’s not goalkeepers to perform well friendly against Italy at in the last six or seven Wembley represents a sig- too late for matches, and we’ll take deci- nificant milestone in the fight sions from there.” to secure a seat on the plane anybody to Russia. LOW EXPECTATIONS After England’s solid 1-0 Once Southgate has set- friendly win over Holland on tled on his final squad, he will Friday, Southgate is planning turn his attention to to make several changes against Italy, giving his fringe England’s group stage matches against Tunisia, Panama players one of their last chances to stake their claim. and Belgium. Expectations are low among England fans “It’s not too late for anybody. We will still be moni- after years of underachievement in major tournaments, toring everyone until the end of the season,” Southgate but Southgate is adamant his team are heading in the told reporters at England’s north London training base right direction. yesterday. “There are 31 or 32 players that will be in “What is more pleasing is the way the players are contention and no one knows what will happen over the starting to adapt to the system. We were more fluid next few weeks. with the ball, we played with more freedom. there were LONDON: England’s midfielder Raheem Sterling (L) and England’s manager Gareth Southgate attend a “In lots of positions we’ve got really good options, really good signs of that on Friday,” he said. press conference following a training session at Tottenham Hotspur’s training ground in north London yes- players we know would come in and do well. We have “We have to allow this young team to go and per- terday, ahead of their international friendly football match against Italy. — AFP to get the balance right. “It’s important we have compe- form, there are some super exciting young players. tition all over the pitch, the additional pressure of “They have to grow together, they dont have 50 or 100 knowing you have to play well to retain your place, that caps. We have to give them space to do that. Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling. England, but I’m still young. I’m always trying to devel- takes players to another level.” “I know people don’t always want to do that, but if After starting the season with his place at City in op,” he said. “With the City aspect, and (City boss) Pep One of the most intriguing selection battles is we want to go further in the tournament than our rank- doubt, Sterling has emerged as a significant threat for (Guardiola), he’s been fantastic with me.” “It hasn’t ben- between Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford and Joe Hart for ing shows we have to allow them that.” One of the key the Premier League leaders, but he has yet to hit the efitted England at all yet. I haven’t got to the level I the goalkeeper’s jersey. Everton’s Pickford started figures for England at the World Cup is likely to be same heights with England. “I feel established with want.” — AFP

‘Ghost’ of 7-1 Germany mauling Dooley’s Philippines still haunts Brazil set sights on maiden Asian Cup BERLIN: Brazil coach Tite says the “ghost” of their 7-1 mauling by Germany at the 2014 World Cup still haunts the ‘Selecao’, as the teams prepare to meet today. Brazil appearance suffered their heaviest home defeat when Germany hit four goals in six devastating first-half minutes of the HONG KONG: In the Philippines, where basketball Belo Horizonte semi-final nearly four years ago. monopolizes the airwaves and ageing boxer Manny Toni Kroos and Andre Schuerrle both scored twice Pacquiao is still king, a small piece of football history over the 90 minutes as Germany’s attack ran riot en could be made today evening. At the rundown Rizal route to winning the World Cup title. The teams meet in Memorial Stadium in the Malate district of Manila, a friendly for the first time since at Berlin’s Olympic Thomas Dooley will lead the Philippines into their Stadium and Tite says Brazil still bear the scars. biggest ever game when they take on Tajikistan in the “This has a huge psychological meaning - no one final round of qualifying for next year’s Asian Cup needs to fool themselves about that,” Tite told German finals.A draw will be enough to take the Azkals - magazine Kicker. “The 7-1 from the World Cup is like a ‘Street Dogs’ in Tagalog - to January’s finals in the ghost. “It’s present, people still talk about it, but the United Arab Emirates and seal the nation’s first-ever more you talk about it, the less this ‘ghost’ disappears. qualification in the 62-year history of the continental “It won’t just be a sporting challenge, but a huge championship. emotional challenge too. “We are preparing to give our “Obviously it’s a very important game for us,” said best performance, which will be important, but of Dooley, the former United States international course I also want a good result.” Tite has been in defender now in his fifth year as Philippines head charge of Brazil since 2016, but Felipe Scolari was head coach. “We never expected it would come back to coach for the mauling by Germany at the last World BERLIN: Brazil’s players attend a training session on the eve of the friendly football match Germany vs the last day. I hoped we could have closed it down a Cup. “I was watching the game at home in Sao Paulo Brazil in Berlin, Germany, yesterday, in preparation of the 2018 Fifa World Cup. — AFP little bit earlier, but that happens sometimes. with my wife and after the third goal went in, she start- “We have a home game and we cannot afford to ed to cry,” said the 56-year-old Tite. “That started me lose, so we have to get a point or a win and then we off. “It was a moment of great inspiration for Germany, meeting at senior international level since the 7-1 rout. expected to start in Germany’s midfield. Tite explained qualify. “I’m trying to get the pressure away from the every shot was a goal - stuff like that doesn’t even hap- Tite told Brazil reporters that Manchester City mid- in depth why he sees Germany as one of the favourites players and I’m just trying to get them focused on pen in video games. fielder Fernandinho will replace Douglas Costa in the to defend their World Cup title this June in Russia. “Not writing history for the Philippines.” “Sometimes you get that in football, a team comes only change from the team which beat Russia 3-0 in only because of the football, but because of something Qualification for the Asian Cup finals, which have close to perfection and that’s what happened to Moscow on Friday. Germany head coach Joachim Loew hard to attain: Continuity in their performances,” said been expanded from 16 to 24 teams for next year’s Germany. “The wound is still open and the match in expects to make up to five changes from the starting the Brazilian. “It has been a process in the years under edition, would give the game a boost in a country Berlin is a part of the process of closing it.” Germany line-up of Friday’s 1-1 with Spain. Joachim Loew. “Tactically, Germany has a lot of where the sporting landscape is overwhelmingly lost to Brazil on penalties in the men’s final of the 2016 Stars Mesut Ozil and Thomas Mueller have been options, you saw that at the Confederations Cup (which dominated by basketball. Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, but this is their first released by Loew to rest while Ilkay Gundogan is they won) with high quality young players.” —AFP The Philippines, however, occupies a unique posi- tion within the fabric of football in Asia. The country played in the first international fixture on Asian soil when they won the opening game of the 1913 Far Eastern Games against China. World Cup hosts In an even less likely claim to footballing fame, for- mer Philippines international Paulinho Alcantara was Barcelona’s all-time leading goalscorer until Lionel Russia seek French Messi surpassed his tally almost four years ago. Manila was also the birthplace of the Asian Football Confederation in 1954 but, despite those redemption deep connections, the Philippines has little track record of which to speak. SAINT PETERSBURG: After getting well beaten by Brazil, Stanislav Cherchesov says his Russia side must step DIASPORA TAPPED it up a notch in their next World Cup warm up match The nation has never qualified for the continental against France today. Cherchesov’s men were thoroughly championship since its inception in 1956 and no club outplayed from start to finish by the five time champions in from the country has ever qualified for the group a 3-0 loss on Friday in Moscow. It was a deflating per- stages of the elite Asian Champions League. Over the formance that left 2018 World Cup hosts Russia with just last decade, however, there have been some encour- one win against South Korea in October in their last five aging signs as officials have tapped into the country’s warm up friendlies. Russia’s problems have been com- ST PETERSBURG: France’s forward Antoine Griezmann (L) and France’s forward Olivier Giroud take part in vast diaspora to enhance hopes of turning the pounded by a string of injuries that ruled out two starting a training session at Krestovski Stadium in St Petersbourg yesterday, on the eve of their international Philippines into a regional force. defenders Georgy Dzhikiya and Viktor Vasin and a top friendly football match against Russia. — AFP Brothers Phil and James Younghusband, both for- striker Alexander Kokorin for the June to July final. mer trainees at Chelsea, were among the first and Cherchesov stayed positive by calling Friday’s perform- they were soon followed by goalkeeper Neil ance better than the one Russia showed in a 1-0 loss to clash in the brand new Saint Petersburg Stadium pits two Ruslan Kambolov developed an undisclosed muscle strain. Etheridge, currently first choice goalkeeper with Argentina in November. But he admitted that he held a teams thirsting for a win. France want to avoid ending their All three are expected to be healthy for the World Cup. Cardiff City in the second tier of English football. team meeting after the Brazil match to regroup. “The World Cup preparations on a sour note after giving up a Cherchesov will also play reserve goalkeeper Andrei In 2010, they, and others, helped the Philippines defeat did not make us very happy and we held a little 2-0 lead and losing 3-2 to Colombia at the Stade de Lunev of Zenit Saint Petersburg instead of CSKA reach the semi-finals of the AFF Suzuki Cup - a meeting,” Cherchesov said after yesterday’s training ses- France. And Cherchesov is desperate to restore team con- Moscow’s veteran Igor Akinfeev. Lunev was accidentally regional tournament played amongst South East sion. “Tomorrow we have a chance to redeem ourselves. fidence heading into Russia’s first home World Cup. kneed in the face by Rodrigo Moreno and stretchered off Asian nations - and since then expectations have We want to show much better quality against France.” Yet his streak of bad luck continued over the weekend at the end of Russia’s 3-3 draw against Spain in November. grown. There have been ups and downs along the Russia’s training session began after a minute’s silence with the loss of three more players for today’s game. Cherchesov wants to see Lunev put in a steady display way, with the Philippines narrowly missing out on a held for the 64 victims of a fire that engulfed a shopping Spartak Moscow midfielder Daler Kuzyayev had an old that can guarantee his spot as Akinfeev’s backup. place at the 2015 Asian Cup finals when they were mall in Siberia on Sunday. World Cup organisers and the foot problem flair up and returned to his club. Russia will have one last chance to fine-tune their defeated in the final of the AFC Challenge Cup by world football governing body FIFA expressed their His Zenit Saint Petersburg counterpart Roman Zobnin squad on May 30 in Innsbruck against Austria and June Palestine.— Reuters “heartfelt condolences” in a joint statement. Tuesday’s suffered a knee injury while Rubin Kazan defenceman five against Turkey in Moscow. — AFP Established 1961 Sport

TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2018

Checkmate or knockout: Former US champs Cilic, del Potro England have World Cup places 12Chess boxing lands a punch 13 reach Miami Open fourth round 15 up for grabs, says Southgate

AUCKLAND: New Zealand’s Neil Wagner (L) is unable to run out England’s Stuart Broad on the fifth day of the day-night cricket Test match between New Zealand and England at Eden Park in Auckland yesterday. — AFP Wagner bounces NZ to innings victory New Zealand complete rout with under 19 overs to spare AUCKLAND: Neil Wagner bounced New Zealand to a since his return from exile, ended what little hope by Henry Nicholl and 102 from Williamson. But Stokes’s Christchurch.” But Root would not be drawn on comprehensive victory against England in the first Test England had of saving the Test after they were rolled 66 was the best England could produce in two turns at whether any changes were likely in the line-up. in Auckland yesterday, taking the key wicket of Ben for 58 in their first innings. bat. Stokes, out just on dinner, was one of three “There’s a lot of emotion knocking around now, it’s still Stokes as he fought for a draw. The hosts now head to They started their second innings 369 in arrears England batsmen dismissed in the last over before a very raw,” he said when asked if changes were likely. “I the second and final Test starting in Christchurch on after New Zealand had declared on 427 for eight. “We break. Joe Root was out on the last ball before stumps think it’s important we have some rational thinking Friday in buoyant mood, confident that they are tough were confident, but we knew it would be hard work,” on Sunday and Moeen Ali was removed in the last over behind that and we sit down and I’m sure we will go to beat on home pitches. skipper Kane Williamson said after New Zealand com- of the first session yesterday. Williamson described the into that Test match with the Eleven we think is going New Zealand have now won seven and drawn two of pleted the rout with under 19 overs to spare in a Test three wickets as “big moments” while England captain to win the game.” their past 10 home matches, while England’s disap- where almost two full days were lost to rain. Root depicted them as part of the difference between It was only the 10th time New Zealand have beaten pointing away record has stretched to 12 matches with- Stokes “was a big wicket. He was playing very, very the sides. “We stood up and showed some resolve (in England in the 102-Test history between the two sides. out a win. There were times on the final day of this well, an innings that perhaps wasn’t to his true nature in the second innings) and they continued to put us under The final session started with New Zealand just three Test when Stokes threatened to repeat the heroic per- terms of the stroke player that he is and he knuckled pressure and you have to give them credit. It is very wickets short of victory, while England needed a fur- formance of Matt Prior, whose century on the same down and batted a long period of time and kept us out disappointing and it’s another thing we need to start ther 69 runs to make New Zealand bat again. ground on the same day five years ago salvaged a draw for a long time,” Williamson said. improving on,” Root said. Chris Woakes, who featured in an 83-run stand with for England. “It was a brilliant match for our team in all depart- “Obviously it was a massive task coming back from Stokes, made 52 before falling to Wagner-and Mark But after facing 188 deliveries for a patient 66, ments. The first innings was the perfect storm. The boys the start we had in that first innings, which was bitterly Stoneman scored 55 earlier in the innings along with Stokes lost his composure in the midst of a Wagner put the ball in the perfect area ... and the way the boys disappointing, and we were always fighting our way Root’s 51 — but there was little else for the tourists to barrage and clipped a bouncer to Tim Southee at point. built those partnerships with the bat was very pleas- back in the game. enthuse over. Wagner, Todd Astle and Trent Boult each Stokes’s dismissal, after his first substantial innings ing.” New Zealand’s innings featured an unbeaten 145 “We need to be better when we get to finished with three wickets. — AFP

season, and Houston parlayed torrid 3-point shooting into rebounds for his 29th double-double of the season as rebounds for the Thunder. Pacers pull away a victory over visiting Atlanta. Houston extended its win- Cleveland shot 50.6 percent from the floor. Joe Harris ning streak to nine games. The Rockets converted 14 of 28 scored a career-high 30 points, but the Nets lost for the Bucks 106, Spurs 103 3-point attempts in the first half to build their advantage. 14th time when holding a lead or being tied going into the Giannis Antetokounmpo had 25 points and 10 rebounds late to clinch They finished 20 of 52 from long range while extending fourth quarter. and Eric Bledsoe finished with 23 points to lead Milwaukee their home-court winning streak to 16 games. Harden tal- past visiting San Antonio. Coming off a career-high, 45- lied 18 points, 10 rebounds and 15 assists to help steer the Clippers 117, Raptors 106 point performance in an overtime victory over Utah Friday playoff spot Rockets, who were without Chris Paul (hamstring) for a Lou Williams had 26 points and Tobias Harris added 20, night, LaMarcus Aldridge paced San Antonio with 34 third consecutive game. Taurean Prince and Isaiah Taylor and Los Angeles opened the fourth quarter with a big run points. Pau Gasol scored 22 points and grabbed 13 scored 28 and 26 points, respectively, for the Hawks, who to post a win at Toronto. Montrezl Harrell had 19 points rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench for the Spurs, who LOS ANGELES: Victor Oladipo scored 23 points, includ- were without Dennis Schroder (ankle). and Milos Teosodic added 15 points for the Clippers, who saw their six-game winning streak end. ing a key overtime 3-pointer, to lead the Indiana Pacers to have won two of three after losing four straight. Jonas a 113-107 victory over the Miami Heat on Sunday in Celtics 104, Kings 93 Valanciunas had 16 points and 10 rebounds, Fred VanVleet Jazz 110, Warriors 91 Indianapolis. Darren Collison scored eight of his 12 points Terry Rozier scored a career-high 33 points, including had 16 points and Pascal Siakam added 15 to lead the Joe Ingles, Donovan Mitchell and Ricky Rubio hit 3- in overtime as the Pacers clinched a playoff spot with the a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 8:53 remaining that gave Raptors, who lost for the third time in five games. pointers during an 18-3 flurry to start the second half as win. The result also sealed a postseason berth for the idle Boston the lead for good at Sacramento. Rozier’s game- Utah pulled away from short-handed Golden State. Utah, Philadelphia 76ers. Thaddeus Young contributed 22 points high point total included a career-best eight 3-pointers as Trail Blazers 108, Thunder 105 which had a 12-game road winning streak snapped Friday and nine rebounds, and Bojan Bogdanovic added 18 points he singlehandedly outscored the Kings 24-21 from beyond CJ McCollum scored 14 of his 34 points in the fourth in an overtime loss at San Antonio, regained its winning for the Pacers. Tyler Johnson led the Heat with 19 points, the arc in Boston’s third consecutive win. Reserve Buddy quarter as Portland got past host Oklahoma City. Damian ways away from home en route to the 23rd victory in its including 12 in the first quarter. James Johnson added 15 Hield had three of the Kings’ seven 3-pointers and a team- Lillard added 24 points for the Trail Blazers, who snapped past 27 games. Mitchell scored a game-high 21 points. points and Bam Adebayo 14 for Miami. Dwyane Wade had high 21 points. a two-game losing streak. Jusuf Nurkic had 17 points and Playing without injured stars Stephen Curry, Klay 13 points and seven assists off the bench. Cavaliers 121, Nets 114 12 rebounds for Portland, which swept its season series Thompson, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green, the LeBron James totaled 37 points, 10 rebounds and eight with Oklahoma City 4-0. Russell Westbrook collected 23 Warriors fell for the fifth time in 11 games in March, their Rockets 118, Hawks 99 assists, and Cleveland made the plays down the stretch to points, nine assists, eight rebounds and four steals for losingest month in the Steve Kerr era. Quinn Cook led James Harden posted his fourth triple-double of the win at Brooklyn. Kevin Love added 20 points and 15 Oklahoma City. Steven Adams had 18 points and 10 Golden State with 17 points. — Reuters Established 1961

TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2018 Business

Mercedes-Benz Kuwait unveils IMF head tells eurozone time KIF 2018 concludes on a note of 18new AMG Performance Center 19 right to set up rainy day fund 21 optimism among global investors

NORTH CHARLESTON: Planes are seen under construction at Boeing in North Charleston, South Carolina on Sunday. The sparkling new Boeing 787s bound for China Southern Airlines and Air China are waiting to be delivered but the prospect of a trade war could make for a less rosy future. — AFP China slams US ‘economic intimidation’ Beijing urges WTO: Put US tariff ‘beast back in the cage’

BEIJING: China yesterday lashed out at US also have the confidence and the capacity to Mnuchin and Lighthizer sent Liu a letter last agency said at the weekend that Liu, a Xi aide President Donald Trump’s plan to impose tariffs “economic intimidation” following President safeguard our legitimate and legal interests, week spelling out requests including greater US who was promoted to the post of vice premier on up to $60 billion of Chinese goods under Donald Trump’s announcement of new import whatever the circumstances,” Hua said. “Now access to China’s financial sector, the reduction earlier this month, told Mnuchin on Saturday that Section 301 of the 1974 US Trade Act broke tariffs, but said it was open to negotiations to the ball is in the US court.” of Chinese tariffs on US vehicles and for China Beijing was “ready to defend its national inter- WTO rules. resolve trade frictions. The two countries have to increase its US semiconductor purchases. ests”, but both “agreed to continue to communi- “The US is setting a very bad precedent by traded threats and heated rhetoric in recent Trade negotiations cate”. China is not the only country facing bluntly breaching its commitment made to the days, ratcheting up fears that the world’s two While the two sides have traded Trump’s ire over trade. world. WTO members should jointly prevent the biggest economies are heading towards a dam- barbs in public, US and Chinese officials Trump on Thursday authorized the sus- resurrection of 301 investigations and lock this aging trade war. Trump said last Thursday that have begun behind-the-scenes negotia- US, China pension of the controversial tariffs on steel beast back into the cage of the WTO rules,” he the United States would impose new tariffs on tions to improve American access to the and aluminum imports from key trade said. Unilateral investigations under Section 301 some $60 billion of Chinese imports over the Asian country’s huge market, according open behind partners including the European Union, were fundamentally against WTO rules, Zhang “theft” of intellectual property, rattling global to the Wall Street Journal. “We keep Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, said, adding that Washington had given a com- financial markets. saying that the Chinese side is willing to the scenes Mexico and South Korea-but only until mitment, after a previous WTO ruling, not to Vice President Mike Pence boasted the negotiate with the US to properly man- May 1. Seoul, a major US ally in Asia, said impose such tariffs unless it won the right to do measures mean that the “era of economic sur- age divergences, on the basis of mutual negotiations on Monday that it has agreed to conces- so in a WTO dispute. China is prepared to react render is over”. Asked about the remarks, respect and equal mutual benefits,” Hua sions with the United States to escape the using WTO rules and “other necessary ways”, to Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua said when asked about the report. “Our steel duties and to secure a revised trade safeguard its rights and interests, he said, Chunying told a press briefing on Monday that door is always wide open to dialogue deal that Trump has repeatedly threatened according to a written copy of his remarks pro- “it would have been more appropriate to say and consultation.” to tear up. Meanwhile, China called on vided to Reuters. “Unilateralism is fundamentally that it’s time to stop the US’s economic intimida- The Wall Street Journal said the discussions- Speaking on Fox News Sunday, the US treas- World Trade Organization members yesterday to incompatible with the WTO, like fire and water. tion and hegemony”. Beijing has not stood idle. led by China’s economic “czar” Liu He, US ury secretary said “we’re working on a pathway unite to prevent the United States “wrecking” the In the open sea, if the boat capsizes, no one is On Friday, it unveiled a list of $3 billion worth of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and US trade to see if we can reach an agreement as to what WTO and urged them to oppose US tariffs tar- safe from drowning. We shouldn’t stay put US goods, including fruits and wine, that could representative Robert Lighthizer-cover topics fair trade is for them.” “I am cautiously hopeful we geting China’s alleged theft of intellectual prop- watching someone wrecking the boat. The WTO be targeted with tariffs in retaliation for steel including manufacturing and financial services, reach an agreement, but if not we are proceeding erty. Beijing’s envoy Zhang Xiangchen told dele- is under siege and all of us should lock arms to and aluminum tariffs-if negotiations fail. “We citing anonymous sources close to the issue. with these tariffs.” China’s official Xinhua news gates at the Geneva-based trade body that defend it.” — Agencies

issue is psychological rather than economic. There’s hoped to attract massive foreign investment in the Iran currency no reason to buy dollars except in the hope that you wake of the nuclear deal. Already facing huge obsta- can sell them later at a higher rate,” said Esfandyar cles from remaining, non-nuclear US sanctions, the Batmanghelidj, founder of the Europe-Iran Forum, a collapsing currency will serve as another deterrent to hits record low, business network. potential investors, Batmanghelidj said. Disclosure He said Iranians were reacting to worrying news “Even in an instance where an investor is willing crashing through from the United States, where President Donald to operate in Iran, the devaluation is very concerning. from NBK Trump this month appointed hardline anti-Iran fig- If you invest now and the currency falls even 15 per- ures Mike Pompeo and John Bolton to senior posts in cent, you have to discount that from your returns, and As per article (4-4) of the Tenth Module of the Executive 50,000 mark his administration. Many analysts believe Trump will that’s very difficult to hedge against,” he said. Bylaws of Law No.7/2010 regarding the Establishment of pull out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran when it “This will be difficult for the government. There is Capital Markets Authority and Regulating Securities Activities TEHRAN: The Iranian rial fell to a record low yester- and its amendments. We would like to inform you; it came to next comes up for renewal in May, bringing back very little they can do about the mentality of individ- day, breaking through the 50,000-to-the-dollar NBK’s attention that there are speculations among some mark for the first time as analysts blamed uncertainty crippling sanctions. uals.” The government has resisted unifying the offi- traders that increasing Bank’s authorized capital from KD from Washington. The rial has lost around a quarter “I see many people looking to invest in neighbor- cial and free-market rates of the rial because it would 600,000,000 to KD 750,000,000 will be followed by immi- of its value in the past six months, hitting 50,860 ing countries because this fear is spreading about the mean more expensive imports and therefore higher nent rights issue to increase its issued and fully paid-up capital. against the US dollar, according to Financial future of the JCPOA (nuclear deal),” said Navid inflation. But analysts say the gap has distorted trade In response to these speculations, the Bank would like to Informing Network, a trusted Iranian website for Kalhor, a Tehran-based financial analyst. and fuelled corruption. Perhaps the biggest chal- advise that issued and fully paid-up capital has been increased open market currency rates. Local officials have complained that Iranians are lenge is that hoarding dollars has become a preferred recently as a result of Bonus shares, where the Ordinary and The gap between that and the official rate, which hoarding billions of dollars as local banks run short of way to store money amid economic uncertainty, Extra-Ordinary General Assembly - which convened on stood at 37,686 yesterday, has continued to widen. cash. “I have friends who go to banks and ask for 15 especially after a housing boom stagnated after years 10/3/2018 - decided to distribute 5 percent Bonus shares to Iran’s government took drastic measures last month or 20 million rials ($300 or $400) and they’re told to of over-construction. the registered shareholders in Bank’s shareholders register at to stem the decline in the free market rate, arresting come back in a week because they’re out of cash,” Iranian banks have tried to counter this by offering the end of the due date on Thursday 29/3/2018. foreign exchange dealers, freezing speculators’ said Kalhor. interest rates as high as 20 percent. But this has only As the Bank has a strong capital base and its Capital accounts and raising interest rates. fuelled wider problems in the economy by discourag- Adequacy Ratio exceeds the regulatory requirement, the Bank has not made any decision or have any intentions - for the time But on the streets of Tehran, long queues contin- ‘Very concerning’ ing investors from putting their money into business- The devaluation poses a major problem for es. “The situation in the economy right now is far being - to get another increase in Bank’s issued and fully paid- ued to gather outside foreign exchanges in the run- up capital through rights issue. up to this month’s Nowruz New Year holiday. “The President Hassan Rouhani’s government, which had from beautiful,” said Kalhor. — AFP 18 Established 1961

Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Business Mercedes-Benz Kuwait unveils new AMG Performance Center Visitors to experience the AMG brand with all five senses

KUWAIT: Abdul Rahman Albisher & Zaid Alkazemi vehicles on an authentic surface. The new drywall superimposed Speed lines are another dynamic design qualified experts on hand to provide helpful informa- Company, the Authorized General Distributor of structures present in the new center make it possible to element with a striking effect from a distance. With the tion and assist in any customer requests. Mercedes-Benz in Kuwait, has unveiled its newly-reno- create an emotional retail experience, while also interactive sound module as part of Pit Lane display, vated AMG Performance Center in Kuwait, allowing demarcating the spaces, constantly producing new the customers can experience the distinctive feature of Driving performance visitors to experience the AMG brand with all five visual connections and sight-lines. The customer every AMG vehicle - the sound. AMG - these three letters stand worldwide for senses, from the power- Lounge makes visitors Visitors entering from the Mercedes-Benz show- supreme automotive performance, exclusivity, efficien- ful sound of the feel as though they are room to the 550 square meter AMG Performance cy and high driving dynamics. The company founded by engines, to the smell of sitting inside an AMG car Center will feel what the AMG brand stands for - First- Hans-Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher in 1967, has leather and the unmis- thanks to the high-quality class experience, passion and dynamic design. further consolidated its position as an extremely suc- takable design of the carbon and leather mate- Commenting on the new AMG Performance Center, cessful sports car and performance brand with numer- AMG cars. Over 50 years rials used in the decor. Mohammed Abdul Rahman Albisher, Director of Abdul ous successes in motorsport and the development of The experience of The centerpiece of the Rahman Albisher & Zaid Alkazemi Company, said: “The unique road-going vehicles. AMG Performance of driving AMG Performance Center new interactive concept of our AMG Performance Every Mercedes-AMG performance car promises to Center starts from the is the Hot Car Place Center in Kuwait adds a new level in exciting and provide outstanding performance, exciting driving moment visitors step performance where the hottest and the immediate engagement with our AMG customers, who pleasure and ultimate quality down to the finest detail. into the showroom. The latest AMG car will be demand nothing less than excellence. The facility really A promise bolstered by the standards set for maximum floor looks and feels displayed. The tunnel brings Mercedes-AMG cars to life like never before.” output and torque, fuel consumption and emissions. like asphalt, transform- graphics behind the hot Michael Ruehle, Chief Executive Officer, Abdul Now not only is the Mercedes-AMG model range ing the typical show- car display gives the feel- Rahman Albisher & Zaid Alkazemi Company, said: “It’s larger and more varied than ever before, but it is also room experience into ing of motion blur and more than just an average display room. The new cen- built to cater to the most diverse desires and require- something unique and exciting. The asphalt-look stone three dimensionality in the large scale graphics which ter offers a differentiated retail experience wherein ments of the customer. The offering encompasses over granule design is inspired by the urban habitat of the gives visitors the illusion of speed and performance. customers can see for themselves what makes the AMG 50 Mercedes-AMG performance vehicles with power AMG vehicles. Pulsating light reflections from the Linear LED light brand truly unique. outputs from 270 kW (367 hp) to 463 kW (630 hp). The Regupol flooring with tyre marks, kerbs and Pit Fixtures emphasize the powerful lines of the body and “We are delighted to officially open the new AMG The selection of models on offer includes sedans, Lane markings immediately brings to mind the thrilling create the illusion of a vehicle in motion. Performance Center and have no doubt it will solidify coupÈs and SUVs, as well as roadsters. world of motor sport. In contrast, the deep-pile carpet- The Pit Lane module shows the AMG vehicle in a the AMG brand presence in Kuwait in terms of high Customers can visit the new AMG Performance ing creates a feeling of luxury and comfort. New floor- race track setting. The emotional graphics show the performance, dynamic design and world class customer Centre Kuwait in Shuwaikh from Saturday to ing materials make it possible to clearly demarcate and team of mechanics at work. The scene looks even more experience.” Located in Shuwaikh, the new AMG Thursday. The opening timings are 8.30 am to 1 pm differentiate various AMG sections and present the realistic thanks to the integrated backlighting. The Performance Center is now officially open with highly and 4.30 pm to 8 pm.

Fund, was trans- and economic the corporate governance structure. Banking at Global commented: “We are proud Global concludes ferred to the environment. During the past five ears,y Jazeera Steel to have successfully concluded this M&A acquirers Sheikh We expect to managed to maintain its growth trajectory transaction efficiently and in a short period. exit from Jazeera Suhail Bahwan distribute the despite tough financial and economic times, This could not have been completed without and Sheikha Amal proceeds from thanks to the robust strategy and management the full support from all related parties Suhail Bahwan, this transaction team. The company has reported significant including the sellers, buyers, management and Steel, a listed Chairman & Vice to clients invest- achievements including an increase of 35 per- regulators. This is a testament to Global’s IB Chairperson of ing in the Fund cent in total volume of products delivered, ability to effectively manage cross border company on MSM Suhail Bahwan within the sec- maintaining an efficient purchasing and inven- M&A, which is one of the key and unique Group, respec- ond quarter of tory management and reporting steady finan- abilities among Kuwaiti and regional invest- tively. The 2018”. The fund cial performance with good dividends yield ment banks”. KUWAIT: Global Investment House (Global), Investment acquired 51 per- which resulted in its inclusion in MSM30 index. Al-Rubaie concluded by thanking the a regional asset management and investment Banking team at cent stake of Al-Rubaie added: “We are confident that Omani government for all the support extend- banking firm headquartered in Kuwait, with Global was the Jazeera Steel in the commitment, track record and expertise of ed to the industrial sector, foreign investors offices in major capital markets in the MENA sell-side advisors 2007 and the the acquirers will provide Jazeera Steel with and to Jazeera Steel in all fronts. region, announced yesterday that its alterna- to the Fund in management Sulaiman M the required support and guidance to further It is worth noting that since the new man- tive asset management arm, Global Capital M. Sherif El-Rafie this Merger & team of GCM Al-Shaheen Al-Rubaie grow the company. The strong financial and agement of the private equity team took over Management (“GCM”), has concluded a suc- Acquisition implemented a competitive position in addition to the solid in 2010, the team has successfully restruc- cessful exit of its controlling stake in Al transaction. growth program foundation for future growth made Jazeera tured the portfolio companies, put them on Jazeera Steel Products Company (“Jazeera Sulaiman Mohammed Al-Rubaie, Deputy for the company. The program focused on Steel an ideal target. Over the years, the pri- the growth path and enhanced their value. Till Steel”), a Omani company listed on Muscat CEO of Global Investment House and enhancing its penetration in regional and inter- vate equity team has demonstrated its capa- date, the team has also concluded 33 exits, the Securities Market. Managing Partner of GCM commented on this national markets namely Saudi Arabia and bilities in managing, growing and exiting highest among all private equity firms in the The transaction was concluded on Sunday exit: “We are extremely delighted to have North America, diversifying its product offer- assets across diverse sectors and in challeng- region, and distributed more than $360 million 25 March 2018 and the full ownership held completed this exit and provide our investors ings by developing new product lines, ing market conditions”. to its clients, raising the total distributions through GCM’s managed fund, Global Buyout with liquidity in such challenging geopolitical strengthening the balance sheet and improving M Sherif El-Rafie, CFA, Head of Investment since inception to more than $580 million.

EXCHANGE RATES

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Canadian dollar 234.790 Malaysian Ringgit 77.640 Chinese Yuan 0.046056 0.049556 Turkish lira 76.120 Chinese Yuan Renminbi 47.915 Hong Kong Dollar 0.036173 0.038923 Swiss Franc 318.960 Thai Bhat 10.610 Indian Rupee 0.004130 0.004771 ASIAN COUNTRIES Australian Dollar 233.780 Turkish Lira 77.140 Indonesian Rupiah 0.000017 0.000023 Japanese Yen 2.857 US Dollar Buying 299.100 Indian Rupees 4.631 Japanese Yen 0.002776 0.002956 Pakistani Rupees 2.640 GOLD Bahrain Exchange Company Korean Won 0.000267 0.000282 Srilankan Rupees 1.922 20 Gram 249.070 Malaysian Ringgit 0.072919 0.078919 Nepali Rupees 2.897 10 Gram 127.450 Nepalese Rupee 0.002996 0.003166 CURRENCY BUY SELL Singapore Dollar 229.850 5 Gram 64.570 Pakistan Rupee 0.002451 0.002741 Europe Hongkong Dollar 38.265 Philippine Peso 0.005657 0.005957 Bangladesh Taka 3.591 British Pound 0.419204 0.426704 Philippine Peso 5.749 Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Czech Korune 0.006585 0.015885 Singapore Dollar 0.223406 0.233406 Thai Baht 9.654 Danish Krone 0.045750 0.050750 Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001602 0.002182 Euro 0. 365605 0.373105 Taiwan 0.010182 0.010362 GCC COUNTRIES Rate for Transfer Selling Rate Georgian Lari 0.136182 0.136182 Thai Baht 0.009270 0.009820 Saudi Riyal 80.133 US Dollar 300.050 Hungarian 0.001095 0.001285 Canadian Dollar 233.370 Qatari Riyal 82.534 Norwegian Krone 0.034655 0.039855 Arab Sterling Pound 426.210 Omani Riyal 780.405 Romanian Leu 0.062626 0.079476 Bahraini Dinar 0.789921 0.798421 Bahraini Dinar 797.930 Euro 372.320 Russian ruble 0.005246 0.005246 Egyptian Pound 0.014058 0.019776 UAE Dirham 81.837 Swiss Frank 286.070 Bahrain Dinar 797.945 Slovakia 0.008909 0.018909 Iranian Riyal 0.000083 0.000084 Swedish Krona 0.032372 0.037372 ARAB COUNTRIES UAE Dirhams 82.095 Iraqi Dinar 0.000202 0.000262 Egyptian Pound - Cash 19.300 Qatari Riyals 83.325 Swiss Franc 0.310317 0.321317 Jordanian Dinar 0.418934 0.427934 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 17.026 Saudi Riyals 80.910 Kuwaiti Dinar 1.000000 1.000000 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.206 Jordanian Dinar 424.475 Australasia Lebanese Pound 0.000148 0.000248 Egyptian Pound 17.089 Tunisian Dinar 126.980 Australian Dollar 0.223261 0.235261 Moroccan Dirhams 0.023247 0.047247 Sri Lankan Rupees 1.924 New Zealand Dollar 0.211689 0.221189 Jordanian Dinar 423.600 Omani Riyal 0.773682 0.779362 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 2.002 Indian Rupees 4.612 Qatar Riyal 0.078195 0.083135 Syrian Lira 0.000 Pakistani Rupees 2.627 America Saudi Riyal 0.078993 0.080293 Morocco Dirham 33.330 Bangladesh Taka 3.600 Canadian Dollar 0.227735 0.236735 Philippines Pesso 5.762 US Dollars 0.296200 0.300620 Syrian Pound 0.001272 0.001492 Cyprus pound 17.860 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollars Mint 0.296700 0.300620 Tunisian Dinar 0.121494 0.129949 US Dollar Transfer 300.300 Japanese Yen 3.835 Turkish Lira 0.070629 0.080929 Syrian Pound 1.584 Euro 373.570 Asia UAE Dirhams 0.080335 0.082035 Sterling Pound 427.630 Nepalese Rupees 2.882 Bangladesh Taka 0.003185 0.003769 Yemeni Riyal 0.000976 0.001056 Established 1961 19 Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Business IMF head tells eurozone time right to set up rainy day fund Global upswing offers window for reform

BERLIN: International Monetary Fund (IMF) head building a rainy day fund could come quickly. “Within the Christine Lagarde said yesterday eurozone leaders should next six months or so there could be a meeting of minds ... set up a “rainy day fund” to help cushion member states in on the general principles and timeline,” she said. Even if economic downturns. details took five years to hammer out, the announcement Officials in the bloc have been discussing such a fund would “let it be public that members of the currency union since last year as one option for setting up a eurozone stick together”. budget or boosting fiscal capacity-an idea championed by For the eurozone to prepare for the next downturn, she France and to which opposition from Germany appears to urged members to develop a modernised capital markets be softening. In a speech in Berlin, the Fund’s managing union, an improved banking union and to move towards director welcomed a “sustained and broadly shared greater fiscal integration - starting with a central fiscal upswing” in the global economy, which she said offered a capacity that would reassure investors. precious window of opportunity for governments to Eurozone countries would contribute to the rainy day “complete the architecture” of the euro zone. fund each year, building up assets in good times that they “There are other, forceful headwinds threatening,” could then tap during a downturn. In extreme circum- Lagarde said. “Think of the rise of populism and the stances, countries could borrow from the fund and repay short-sighted siren call of protectionism.” Talks among loans with future contributions, she said. Transfers should euro zone finance ministers on an additional fiscal capaci- be conditional on members sticking to EU fiscal rules. ty have so far brought no conclusions, partly because Lagarde recommended that countries pay a premium in Germany was long without a government following an good times based on the benefits they receive in bad inconclusive election in September. Leaders are likely in times, incentivizing members to streamline their June to give direction to further work. economies and maintain fiscal discipline. These twin steps would aim to avoid permanent trans- Six-month lead-in? fers, also a priority of euro zone officials’ own fund pro- Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and the cen- posals. EU officials are also considering an unemployment ter-left Social Democrats offered some encouragement to re-insurance scheme, a fund to support investment during that process in the coalition deal they sealed last month, economic downturns and money to support structural agreeing to support devoting specific budget funds to eco- reforms that help euro zone economies converge. On a nomic stabilization, social convergence and structural capital markets union, she called for enhanced regulation reform in eurozone. Those funds - developed from the euro and upgraded oversight arrangements to handle a likely BERLIN: International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde (center) meets German zone’s existing ESM bailout fund - should form the basis for influx of financial services firms to continental Europe Finance Minister and Vice-Chancellor Olaf Scholz (left) next to Germany’s former Foreign Minister a future bloc-wide “investment budget”, the parties said. after Brexit. Lagarde welcomed signs of progress on a Joschka Fischer at the 4th DIW Europe Lecture “Strengthening the Euro Area Architecture” at the Lagarde said the initial decision to get to work on banking union. —Reuters German Institute for Economic Research DIW in Berlin, yesterday. —AFP

procurement and construction (EPC) project at Ruwais refin- “Such a normalisation would give monetary UAE awards major ery, the UAE’s largest with a capacity of over 800,000 bar- ECB should quit policy more room to manoeuvre to react to any rels per day. Slated for completion in 2022, the project will future economic slowdown,” the Bundesbank refining contracts handle oil from the Upper Zakum field, freeing up more crisis-fighting mode: president said in a Vienna speech. expensive Murban crude for export, the state-owned ADNOC The present economic upturn, which saw the said in a statement. It will also raise production capacity by Bundesbank chief 19-nation eurozone hit growth of 2.3 percent to Korea’s Samsung part of the refinery, Ruwais West. The second contract worth last year-its fastest expansion in a decade-”will $473 million is to build a new waste heat recovery facility to ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said yester- FRANKFURT AM MAIN: The European not last forever,” the economist warned. ECB reduce the environmental impact of the refinery and generate day it has awarded two contracts worth $3.5 billion to South Central Bank should quickly wind down its cri- governors have already begun inching towards electricity, ADNOC said. the exit from their support to the economy. Korea’s Samsung Engineering to boost output at the largest sis-fighting policies of ultra-low interest rates Several other South Korean companies are engaged in Since January, the Frankfurt institution has refinery in the United Arab Emirates. ADNOC’s announce- and massive bond purchases to brace itself for major energy projects in the UAE, including the construc- slashed its monthly purchases of government ment came as South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in was visit- the next downturn, German central bank chief ing the oil-rich Gulf state. tion of a $20-billion nuclear plant due to open later this and corporate bonds by half, to 30 billion euros Jens Weidmann said yesterday. The main contract, worth $3.1 billion, is for an engineering, year. —AFP ($37 billion). —AFP 20 Established 1961

Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Business World stocks stage timid recovery LONDON: World stock markets recovered lost ground Will it last? ground against European units. “With equity markets noon, while Wall Street rose at the opening bell, after yesterday following a sharp downturn the previous The dollar also bounced off a 16-month low against so heavily beaten down last week, a rebound was a tumbling for the second successive day Friday. “How session, amid signs that global trade players are making the Japanese yen but remained close to a one-month definite possibility, the only questions are how long it China escalates will determine the pace of play, but efforts to avoid an all-out trade conflict, dealers said. low against a basket of currencies, suggesting that lasts and how far it goes,” said Chris Beauchamp, chief Chinese retaliation so far has been more genial than But gains were capped as investors remain on edge fears have not receded completely. Safe-haven govern- market analyst at IG trading group. initially thought, and they have made efforts for a diplo- over US President Donald Trump’s controversial tariffs ment bonds yields, which have been compressed in The US move to impose $60 billion in levies on matic solution,” said Stephen Innes, head of Asia- that have fanned fears of a trade war that could ham- recent times by worries over a potential trade war, China-claiming the country is breaching intellectual Pacific trading at OANDA. mer the global economy according to experts. firmed on Tuesday with US Treasury yields rising 2 property rights-sparked a rout on equity markets Asian stock markets kicked off the day with another “Equities have started the week on the front foot, basis points and euro zone bond yields also edging across the world, while Beijing warned it was “not drop but bargain-buying saw some return to positive with reports of US-China talks helping ease the trade higher. Concerns over the formation of a new anti- afraid of a trade war”. territory and others pare the losses-as it emerged that war fears which pushed equities lower last week, as establishment government in Italy weighed on US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said at the South Korea and the United States had reached an well as Trump signing rather than vetoing a US govern- Southern European debt in particular yesterday, weekend that Trump was not ready to back down but understanding on revising their free-trade agreement ment spending bill,” said Michael van Dulken, head of though this was counterbalanced to an extent by a rat- added that he had “very productive conversations” and on steel tariffs. research at Accendo Markets. ings upgrade for Spain late on Friday. with Chinese officials on the issue. Trump’s announce- “So far, the initial measures from Trump and China The Wall Street Journal reported at the weekend Italian bonds underperformed, with 10-year yields ment came weeks after he unveiled tariffs on the import are relatively muted,” said James Cheo, senior invest- that China and the United States had begun behind- rising as much as 4 basis points on further signs that of steel and aluminum products as he presses on with ment strategist at Bank of Singapore. the-scenes negotiations to improve American access to the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and the anti- his “America First” protectionist program. “The room for miscalculation seems to be high, the Chinese domestic market. migrant League might explore an alliance to form a both in terms of provoking Chinese retaliation or On Friday, Trump abandoned a threat to shut down government. ‘Room for miscalculation’ taking measures that end up hurting the US econo- the US government, signing off on a budget despite The dollar fought back against the yen, seen as a London, Paris and Frankfurt stocks held on to most my. The hope is that there is rationality from both being “unhappy” with many of its provisions. haven currency in times of economic unrest, but lost of their modest opening gains in the European after- parties.” —AFP Established 1961 21 Business Tuesday, March 27, 2018 KIF 2018 concludes on a note of optimism among global investors Govt reaffirms commitment to reforms and investor-friendly politics

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Investment Forum (KIF vision of HH the Amir of Kuwait to be a com- 2018) concluded in Kuwait City on a resound- mercial and financial hub, stressing on the ing note of optimism among global investors in need to harness the country’s potential and the investment landscape of the country, energies to implement this vision. Kuwait’s underpinned by the government’s commitment foreign policy is characterized by moderation to reforms and investor-friendly politics. and stability, as one of its main pillars is “pre- At the closing dialogue on ‘Kuwait ventive diplomacy,” as well as in resolving dis- Development Path: The Vision & The putes peacefully and enhancing the role of Determination’, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al- international organizations, especially the Hamad Al-Sabah - Deputy Prime Minister and United Nations and the UN Security Council. Minister of Foreign Affairs; Anas Khaled Al- Anas Khaled Al-Saleh said Kuwait focuses Saleh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of on regulatory reforms that has helped in State for Cabinet Affairs; and Sheikh Dr enhancing its global ranking in the ease of Meshaal Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Director doing business and in economic competitive- General, Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion ness. The growth in number of companies and Authority (KDIPA), addressed the audience. infrastructure investments are aimed at bring- Several projects were highlighted at KIF ing a new era of progress for Kuwaitis, he said. 2018 that presented an overview of the multi- Sheikh Dr Meshaal Jaber Al-Ahmad Al- billion dollar investments and strategic part- Sabah expressed his deep appreciation and nerships that the country offers, led by its gratitude on behalf of the Kuwait Direct Vision 2035 for a New Kuwait. Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) and Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al- the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Sabah said Kuwait is keen to strengthening its Industry (KCCI) to His Highness the Amir leaders, and financial institutions was crucial in (Kuwait Steel) and Zain Telecommunications, - all Platinum Sponsors; for their support to security and stability because that serves as Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the success of KIF 2018. Ali Alghanim & Sons Group - all Diamond the Forum, which enabled the event to achieve the incubator to prosperity and development. who graced this forum with his attendance. He He also thanked the sponsors of the event - Sponsors; and Kuwait Foundation for the its main objectives. He expressed his gratitude He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also praised the participation of senior state Kuwait Finance House, National Bank of Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), Kuwait to all the speakers and guests for their whole- focuses on economic diplomacy based on the officials, local and foreign investors, industry Kuwait, United Steel Industrial Company Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and Al-Markaz hearted cooperation and participation.

ing a knowledge-based economy, strengthening Kuwaiti youth the market against instability, developing the financial market, enabling the private sector to The Nissan work is making strides in gen- lead growth, and encouraging foreign direct TBWA der equality and has placed it in a catalyze the investment through legislation that allows 100 Category of One.” percent foreign ownership. Dr Adnan Shihab- Two of the evening’s biggest winners nation towards Eldin charted the building of the innovation dominates were ‘#SheDrives’ for Nissan Saudi Arabia, ecosystem in Kuwait, starting with the Mubarikya, which sought to empower women and built in the 1920, through the discovery of oil in Dubai Lynx effect change in attitude and behavior from knowledge 1938, and the first oil export in 1946. As early as men in Saudi Arabia following the decision 1936, merchants in Kuwait asked the ruler to pay to allow women to drive - winning the economy an additional tax proactively to establish the Int’l Festival Interactive Grand Prix, and the first-ever Department of Education. The Shuwaikh High radio-guided ‘Highway Gallery’ for the KUWAIT: The youth in Kuwait are catalyzing the School was established in 1954, followed by the of Creativity Louvre Abu Dhabi. The latter saw special nation towards a full-fledged knowledge econo- seminal moment in the country’s history- its FM transmitters powered by solar panels my, that in turn contributes to increased invest- Independence in 1961, and the formation of the NEW YORK: TBWA Worldwide was intercept drivers’ car radios, triggering the ment, cross-border collaboration and the creation Constitutional Assembly in 1962, which set the foundations for the true democracy in the region. named Network of the Year at the Dubai Louvre Abu Dhabi museum audio guide of a thriving innovation ecosystem, said an expert Powering the innovation ecosystem, the Lynx International Festival of Creativity when they approached any of 10 master- at the Kuwait Investment Forum (KIF 2018). and TBWA\Raad was crowned Agency of Addressing delegates one the second day of Kuwait University was established in 1966 and pieces placed along Abu Dhabi’s highways. the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research a year the Year, winning an unprecedented, the forum, Dr Adnan Shihab-Eldin - Director- lines the government’s commitment to build a tal- ‘Highway Gallery’ was the Innovation later. The scientific culture in students was under- ent pool that will drive the New Kuwait vision. record-breaking eight Grand Prix and a General, Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement Grand Prix. pinned with the formation of the Kuwait Science These initiatives will also help drive increased host of other awards during the culmination of Sciences (KFAS) said the economic diversifica- Also winning big was McDonald’s’ tion initiatives under Vision 2035 is accelerating Club in 1974, while in 1976, the private sector participation of Kuwaiti workforce in the private of this year’s festival. ‘Promoticon,’ which redefined delivery the shift to a knowledge-based economy. supported the vision of the late Amir of Kuwait, sector. With the Shagaya Renewable Energy It is the first time that the Dubai-head- apps by turning the McDelivery app icon He said: “There is an approved plan to His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al- Project and the solar rooftop initiative, examples quartered agency has won the title, taking into a promotional medium, awarded the increase government spending on R&D to be Sabah, in the establishment of the Kuwait of innovation at work, the country can achieve its home Grand Prix awards in Creative Direct Grand Prix. over 1 percent of the total GDP from 0.3 percent Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences. The renewable energy targets. Effectiveness, Direct, Innovation, “I am extremely proud of the team, - closer to global average and set up a national establishment of the National Fund in 2013 and Dr. Adnan Shihab-Eldin underpinned the role Interactive, Mobile, PR, Promo & Activation which has consistently produced great council for Science, Technology & Innovation, the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion of the private sector in promoting innovation, and Radio for clients such as Nissan, work that is both disruptive and innova- which will also strengthen the role of the private Authority in 2013, further strengthened the inno- highlighted by its annual contribution to KFAS, McDonald’s, Henkel and Louvre Abu Dhabi. tive,” said Reda Raad, CEO of sector to improve their products, processes and vation ecosystem. Emphasising role of KFAS, Dr the establishment of over 40 private universities Adnan Shihab-Eldin said that the government It is also TBWA\Worldwide’s first time TBWA\Raad. “These wins are confirmation services. The human potential and support of the and more than 500 schools in addition to incuba- plays a key role in promoting and advancing sci- tor labs for start-ups. “We work on innovation awarded Dubai Lynx Network of the Year. that we are providing our clients with a government continues to promote the initiatives ence, technology and innovation in Kuwait by challenges, working with renowned educational “I am extraordinarily proud of our peo- truly competitive edge, producing real to building a stronger innovation ecosystem for ple and clients who contributed to this out- the welfare of the country and its people.” increasing the advocacy of scientific culture, fos- institutions for capacity building, both in private work for real brands that is at the cutting tering investment in technology, promoting tech- sector and government. We also build research standing performance at Dubai Lynx,” said In his keynote speech on ‘Investing in Youth: edge of creativity. We’ve created some- nology and innovation within the public and pri- capacity among young Kuwaitis that deal with Troy Ruhanen, President and CEO, TBWA Creativity and Technology’, Dr Adnan Shihab- thing to be proud of at TBWA\Raad, which Eldin pointed out that “a strong foundation exists, vate sectors, and driving socioeconomic develop- national priorities. The role of KFAS now is to Worldwide. “TBWA\Raad is an agency at is a creative culture capable of consistently building on the pioneering efforts that were start- ment and sustainability by empowering the youth maximize our impact in catalyzing innovation in the top of its game, but what I found most producing exceptional work. I would like to ed during the last century. The KFAS is expand- through education and innovation. youth and accelerating the deployment of tech- satisfying were the notes I received from thank all of the people and clients who have ing its role as a catalyst to support and foster the He said initiatives such as the Sheikh Abdullah nologies benefitting society,” he said. KIF2018 our clients who celebrated the result equal- helped to make this possible.” development.” Al Salem Cultural Center and the Sheikh Jaber Al has remarkable guest speakers including promi- ly. Brilliant collaboration across a region TBWA\Raad Chief Creative Officer He said that Kuwait’s 5-year development plan Ahmad Cultural Centre, which form Kuwait’s new nent pubic officials, leading Kuwaiti business and that comes to innovate and astound. Walid Kanaan added: “It was magnificent (2015-2020), allocates $103 billion to developing national cultural district, help position Kuwaiti financial community, as well as prominent interna- Congratulations to everyone.” to see clients and agency standing together infrastructure, increasing competitiveness, build- youth on par with their peers globally, and under- tional business executives. “TBWA\Raad has created fresh, cultur- proudly on stage. This is as real as it gets, ally relevant work and is pioneering the one team of creative believers, who share way for some of our biggest brands to join the same passion, the same vision, and the experience in areas that include securities and impactful, cultural conversations,” added same glory.” Earlier in the year Sununu Advisors real estate investment, finance, law and immigra- Chris Garbutt, Chief Creative Officer, TBWA\Raad was named one of the top 10 tion. They have delivered comprehensive and TBWA Worldwide. “Congratulations to ‘Bravest and Best Agencies on the Planet’ successful solutions to clients globally through our entire Middle Eastern TBWA team. by Contagious magazine. opens office their extensive network of world-class institution- al partners that include private banks, brokerage firms, wealth managers and law firms in each of in Kuwait the countries they advise on. Additionally, Sununu European bank. Inaugurating the new office, Advisors maintains partnerships with local and KUWAIT: Sununu Advisors, an international cit- Kaoukji said: “Heightened concerns related to international banks dedicated to providing clients izenship and residency by investment advisory economic and geopolitical stability are spurring with outstanding financial support whether they firm, recently announced the opening of its office demand for alternative investments that yield invest in government bonds or in real estate in a in Kuwait, the second in the region. Launched as residencies and citizenships. And our expansion specific program of choice. a regional hub, the Kuwait office will provide to Kuwait is an indication of robust regional “Due to our core competencies and extensive on-the-ground advisory support to a growing activity and our commitment to the Middle East network of institutional relationships, we are client base in Kuwait and across the Middle as a key market. On the one hand, high net uniquely positioned to deliver capabilities that East. With a global footprint and a successful worth investors are seeking to mitigate risks others cannot and these include providing track record spanning many jurisdictions, they face in order to safeguard their businesses financing solutions and sound investment advice. Sununu Advisors’ Kuwait office will advise and the future of their families and on the other While identifying the best program fit for our potential investors on the most suitable migra- hand, foreign governments are keen to provide clients and processing their applications is key, tion programs, investment opportunities and those investors with the benefits that come with in our view it is the bear minimum of service provide access to diverse sources of financing. residencies and citizenships in exchange for offerings. Our guiding principle is to approach The office is situated in the prominent Al- their capital investment. Sununu Advisors is our mandates from an investor’s perspective Sahab Tower in Salhiya, Kuwait City and will be positioned at that intersection of supply and with a keen sense for risk adjusted returns and led by Tarik Kaoukji, who is the firm’s founder and demand as it advises high net worth investors capital preservation”, added Kaoukji. As an CEO. He brings extensive international invest- looking to capitalize on those opportunities and established industry leader, Sununu Advisors ment experience having served in a senior capac- governments interested in attracting them.” provides investment, financial, legal, and admin- ity at renowned New York based hedge fund SAC Indeed, Sununu Advisors has been involved in istrative advice on over 20 jurisdictions and pro- Capital Advisors and been involved with the developing innovative financial solutions that have grams, including Germany, the UK, the US, restructuring of a Kuwait based family-held con- accelerated the flow of capital. The company’s Spain, Malta, Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Portugal, glomerate and the acquisition of a publicly listed partners and principals bring to bear a wealth of and various Caribbean programs.

ognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as ePay (Self-Pay) service, which is available on Gulf the acclaimed largest prize linked to a bank Bank’s Online and Mobile Banking. Gulf Bank’s account in the world. The grand prize of this inter- Al-Danah also offers many unique services nationally renowned draw was claimed last year by including the Al-Danah Deposit Only ATM card, the draw’s youngest winner, 11-year old Obaid Saad which helps account holders deposit their money at first Al-Danah Al-Rashidi. their convenience, as well as the Al-Danah calcula- In addition to announcing the winner of the first tor to help customers calculate their chances of KD 200,000 prize, Gulf Bank will also announce becoming an Al-Danah winner. quarterly draw five winners from the Al-Danah social media con- Gulf Bank’s Al-Danah account is open to test. Al-Danah’s second quarterly draw for the Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti residents of Kuwait. is tomorrow prize of KD 250,000 will be held on 27 June and Customers require a minimum of KD 200 to open the 3rd Quarterly Draw for the prize of KD an account and the same amount must be main- KUWAIT: Tomorrow, Gulf Bank will hold the first 500,000 will be held on 26 September. The final tained as for customers to be eligible for the quarterly Al-Danah draw, for a cash prize of KD Al-Danah draw for KD 1 million will be held on 10 upcoming Al-Danah draws. If the customer’s 200,000, which will be aired live on the “Diwaniyat January 2019, where the Al-Danah millionaire will account balance falls below KD 200 at any given Al-Yaqout & Al-Ansari” program on Kuwait Pulse be announced. time, a KD 2 charge will be made monthly to the (88.8 FM) at 1.30pm. The Al-Danah draw, which Gulf Bank encourages you to increase your account until the minimum balance is met. celebrated its tenth anniversary of the KD 1 million chances of winning with Al-Danah by depositing Customers who open an account and/ or deposit grand prize earlier this year, is internationally rec- more into your Gulf Bank account using the new more will enter the daily draw within two days. 22 Established 1961 Technology Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Uber exits SE Asia in latest retreat from global markets Singapore-based Grab taking over ride-sharing

SINGAPORE: Uber sold its Southeast Asian who is joining Grab’s board as part of the agree- time as the remaining players seek to improve business to rival Grab yesterday, ending a bruis- ment, said: “This deal is a testament to Uber’s their profitability longer term,” Corrine Png, a ing battle between the ride-hailing behemoths exceptional growth across Southeast Asia over transport analyst from Singapore-based and marking the US firm’s latest retreat from the last five years. It will help us double down on research firm Crucial Perspective, told AFP. international markets. Singapore-based Grab is our plans for growth.” Grab, launched in 2012, has poured money taking over the ride-sharing and food delivery The value of the deal, which Grab said was the into expanding its regional fleet and now oper- operations of Uber in the region, with the largest ever acquisition by a Southeast Asian ates in 195 cities in Singapore, Indonesia, the California-headquartered company to receive a internet company, was not disclosed. Grab has Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, 27.5 percent stake in the business in return. long been the dominant force in ride-hailing in Myanmar and Cambodia. As well as linking cus- The sale is Uber’s latest withdrawal from a Southeast Asia and speculation mounted that a tomers up with private cars, it has services offer- market where it had faced tough competition, as deal with Uber was on the cards after Japanese ing motorbike taxis in some countries, regular new chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi seeks to financial titan Softbank invested huge sums in the taxis and carpooling, as well as food and pack- stem huge losses and move past a series of scan- US firm. Softbank is also a major investor in Grab, age delivery. dals. After a fierce battle, Uber sold its China and is known for pushing for consolidation in the Before the acquisition, Uber operated in 64 operations to rival Didi Chuxing in 2016 in return global ride-hailing industry, which has been losing cities in eight Southeast Asian countries. for a stake, and last year the US firm merged in billions of dollars a year due to turf wars. Competition between ride-hailing apps has been Russia with the taxi-hailing app of internet giant heating up in Southeast Asia, with the market Yandex. The deal with Grab-which operates in ‘Fewer choices for commuters’ forecast to grow more than five times to $13.1 eight Southeast Asian countries-is similar to the As part of Monday’s deal, Grab is combining billion by 2025, according to a 2016 report by one struck with Didi, and ends a fight for market Uber’s food delivery service in the region with Singapore sovereign wealth fund Temasek. SINGAPORE: A Comfort Delgro taxi with an advertisement offering services on share in a region that is home to some 650 million its own and plans to expand it to more countries. Uber is the largest firm of its kind with a Uber apps ride through the street. — AFP people and an increasingly affluent middle class. While both sides said the move would benefit presence in more than 600 cities, but it has been “Today’s acquisition marks the beginning of a customers, analysts raised concerns a lack of rocked by scandals and is facing fierce competi- tions of executive misconduct, a toxic workplace gears up for a 2019 public share offering. But he new era,” said Grab chief executive Anthony Tan. competition could push up prices. “Industry tion from rivals in Asia and Europe. atmosphere and potentially unethical competi- has a fight on his hands-Uber’s losses in 2017 “The combined business is the leader in platform consolidation will mean fewer choices for com- Chief executive Travis Kalanick was ousted in tive practices. New boss Khosrowshahi has grew to $4.5 billion from the $2.8 billion the and cost efficiency in the region.” Khosrowshahi, muters and fares are likely to trend higher over June last year after missteps including allega- vowed to turn the company around as Uber company lost a year earlier. — AFP

Space pioneer with whom he had two daughters. ‘We’re off!’ On April 12 at 9:07 am Moscow time, Gagarin killed Gagarin uttered the famous words “Poyekhali!”-translated as “Let’s go!” or “We’re 50 years ago off!”-as his spacecraft blasted off and took him into orbit. At 9:12 am he said over the radio: “I PARIS: The first man in space, Russian Yury see the Earth, it’s magnificent.” After a flight of Gagarin, was killed in a mysterious plane 108 minutes that included a single orbit of the crash a half-century ago, just seven years Earth, Gagarin landed by parachute, the first after his historic feat, a Soviet-era propagan- man ever to have crossed the frontier with out- da coup. Gagarin’s 108-minute foray into er space. Two days later he received a hero’s space, which beat the United States’ own welcome in Moscow. Thousands took to streets effort by three weeks, made him a Russian decked with flowers and posters as he was hero even after the fall of the Soviet Union in paraded in an open top car. 1991. Here is a recap of his life, which ended on March 27, 1968. Grounded The Soviet regime sent the space hero on Humble beginnings “missions of peace” and he met world leaders Gagarin was born on March 9, 1934, in the such as Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and Cuba’s rural village of Klushino, about 200 kilome- Fidel Castro. But he had become too precious tres (125 miles) west of Moscow, to parents a symbol to risk on any other dangerous mis- who worked on a Soviet socialist-style collec- sions and his career as a cosmonaut or pilot tive farm. His schooling was interrupted by the was halted. Television footage from a few 1941 Nazi invasion when the family’s home years after his space flight showed he had put was requisitioned and they were forced to on weight and appeared out of condition. move into a mud hut. Passionate about planes Soviet general Nikolai Kamanin, head of cos- from childhood, Gagarin joined a flying club monaut training at the time, wrote in diaries at the age of 20 and later trained as a military published in 1995 that Gagarin had spent a lot fighter pilot. of time at receptions. “Everyone wanted to drink with Gagarin ‘for friendship’, ‘for love’ Selected for space and for a thousand other reasons, and to drink As a member of the Soviet air force, Gagarin to the bottom of the glass,” he said. Gagarin MOSCOW: People walk past a statue of Yuri Gagarin as they visit the Museum of cosmonautics. — AFP volunteered in 1959 with 19 others to train to fly had to beg the authorities to lift his flight ban what was called a “new type of apparatus”. The and in 1968 he was eventually allowed to group was whittled down to six, including return to flying, retraining as a jet pilot. Gagarin. In April 1961 he was picked for the his instructor were killed. The circumstances most likely cause was a sharp maneuver to immortal, living on in statues, images and film, first manned mission to space, an announce- Mysterious crash were unclear and the accident was hushed up avoid a weather balloon. Questions remain, as well as buildings and sites named in his ment made just days before the flight. By then On a training mission on March 27, 1968, for days. The investigation became a state nonetheless. Tens of thousands attended honor, including a launchpad at the Baikonur Gagarin was aged 27 and married to a nurse his MiG fighter plane entered a high-speed secret, leading to various conspiracy theories. Gagarin’s state funeral three days after the cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and a crater on spin and crashed into the ground. Gagarin and Documents declassified 50 years later say the crash. But the space pioneer has become the moon. — AFP

ments in emerging areas such as virtual reality. Its Taiwan’s HTC woes were reflected in the results for the October- December period, which typically would get a lift from the holiday season. But instead the firm booked a net yet been confirmed,” Toshiba said in a statement Monday. to get Google loss of Tw$9.8 billion ($336.8 million) in the fourth Toshiba awaits “Although the timing of the closing has not been deter- quarter, the biggest on record. mined, Toshiba intends to close the transaction as soon as Revenue dropped 29 percent to Tw$15.7 billion. The possible,” the statement continued. boost as it posts Toshiba spokeswoman Midori Hara told AFP “for now firm attributed the quarterly loss to competition, its prod- approval for key it’s only China’s anti-trust law” that is holding up the sale. uct mix and pricing and inventory write-downs. “HTC has... “We don’t know the timeline for the approval, but we are biggest loss undertaken a strategic review of the business to optimize chip unit sale still seeking to complete the deal on March 30.” The teams and processes, and bring the regions under common Bain-led group acquiring the memory chip business TAIPAI: Taiwan’s struggling smartphone maker HTC leadership for greater coordination of the smartphone and TOKYO: Embattled Japanese conglomerate Toshiba includes US tech giants Apple and Dell, as well as South posted its worst-ever quarterly loss yesterday, but virtual reality businesses,” it said in a statement. said yesterday it was still waiting for regulators to Korean chipmaker SK Hynix. said it expects a boost from the $1.1 billion deal with The next quarterly earnings period for January-March approve the key sale of its chip unit, a delay that could Toshiba has struggled after the disastrous acquisi- Google sealed earlier this year. The deal, completed in will benefit from the Google deal, which will be booked stymie plans to complete the deal this month. The firm tion of US nuclear energy firm Westinghouse, which January, saw Google buy part of HTC’s smartphone then. Under the agreement, Google took on half of HTC’s agreed in September to sell its memory chip business to racked up billions of dollars in losses before being business as the US giant looks to take greater control research and development staff-about 2,000 people-many a consortium led by US investor Bain Capital, which was placed under bankruptcy protection. In order to sur- of its hardware business. of whom have already been working on the Silicon Valley seen as crucial to keeping it afloat after multi-billion- vive and avoid delisting, the cash-strapped group HTC has suffered consecutive losses due to stiff firm’s Pixel handset as well as acquiring intellectual proper- dollar losses. decided to sell its chip business-the crown jewel in a competition in the smartphone sector from Apple, ty licensing. Google wants to emulate the success of Apple Under the deal, Toshiba had expected to meet all the vast range of businesses ranging from home appliances Samsung and strong Chinese brands. Analysts are also iPhones by controlling the hardware as well as the soft- sale conditions by March 23 and complete by March 30. to nuclear reactors. With the chip deal and the sale of skeptical about the earnings potential of HTC’s invest- ware used in the premium-priced handsets. — AFP “However, the satisfaction of certain conditions relating Westinghouse, Toshiba said in February it would swing to antitrust approvals in required jurisdictions have not into the black for the full fiscal year. — AFP

Egypt scraps Mubarak ruling over telecoms shutdown CAIRO: An Egyptian court on Saturday scrapped The court, which had been petitioned by a a ruling to fine ousted president Hosni Mubarak lawyer who filed a suit against the ousted president and two top aides for a telecommunications shut- and his aides, had ordered Mubarak to pay 200 down during the 2011 uprising, a judicial source million Egyptian pounds, Adly 300 million and said. In the first days of the revolt that unseated Nazif the rest. Saturday’s decision comes as Egypt Mubarak, authorities cut off the internet and gears up for a presidential election that looks cer- mobile phone services in the country as they tain to see President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi secure a cracked down on protesters who relied heavily on second four-year term. Mubarak and many mem- social networks to mobilize. bers of his ousted government were detained or As a result Egypt’s four main internet service tried after the 2011 uprising. providers cut off international access to their cus- The former president went on trial in August 2011 tomers in a near simultaneous move, while mobile for involvement in the killing of protesters and cor- service was also disrupted. At the time experts said ruption and was detained most of the time in a mili- the shutdown in Egypt-which sparked condemnation tary hospital. In March 2017, he was freed after hav- around the world-was the most comprehensive offi- ing been acquitted of involvement in killing protesters cial electronic blackout of its kind. The top Supreme and serving three years for corruption. In January, an Administrative Court had ordered Mubarak, his prime Egyptian court overturned a seven-year prison sen- minister Ahmad Nazif and his interior minister Habib tence against Adly and ordered a retrial on accusa- Al-Adly to pay a cumulative fine of 540 million tions of embezzlement. Nazif was sentenced in 2011 BEIJING: This photo illustration taken on March 23, 2018 shows Google logos on a computer screen. — AFP Egyptian pounds in damages. to three years in prison for corruption. — AFP Established 1961 23 Health Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Biodiversity 101: Are Earth’s wild megafauna doomed? Earth enters a so-called ‘mass extinction event’

PARIS: Pop quiz: How many species of big, land-dwelling animals are there in the world? Count all the different kinds of big cats, bears, wolves, wild dogs and other carni- vores weighing at least 15 kilos. Add large herbivores — 100 kilos or more-such as bison, zebra and deer, along with rhinos, elephants, large apes, giraffes, hippos, wild More than 130 pilot pigs, tapirs... What’s the final tally? The answer, based on this widely whales die in mass used definition of terrestrial megafauna, is 101. That mod- est number is sure to shrink to double digits, and could continue to diminish at an alarming rate, biologists warn. Australia beaching Two-thirds of these iconic creatures are already listed as threatened with extinction by the International Union for PERTH: At least 135 short-finned pilot whales died the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which tracks the sur- Friday after a mass beaching in Australia as rescuers vival status of Earth’s animals and plants on its Red List. worked to herd those still alive back out to sea. The More than a dozen are in the wildlife equivalent of stranding of 150 whales at Hamelin Bay, some 315 intensive care, tagged as “critically endangered” or kilometers south of Perth, was spotted by a commer- “extinct in the wild”. “Conservation scientists will soon be cial fisherman at daybreak, with fears the carcasses busy writing obituaries for species and subspecies of GUWAHATI: An Indian mahout stands on his elephant as it washes itself after forestry officials will attract sharks. Western Australia state’s Parks and megafauna as they vanish from the planet,” said Bill conducted a census of one horn rhinos at the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, some 45km from Wildlife Service said its staff were on site and assess- Ripple, a professor at Oregon State University, and lead Guwahati. — AFP ing the health and well-being of the 15 still alive. author of an appeal published in December-entitled “Most of the whales beached themselves on dry “World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity: A Second land overnight and have not survived,” said incident Notice”-signed by more than 15,000 of his colleagues. The broader context is not encouraging. Scientists ed to quadruple from one to four billion by 2100. controller Jeremy Chick who added they were await- Just this week, the last male northern white rhino, a agree that Earth has entered a so-called “mass extinction Conservationists are, by necessity, optimists-if they ing support and equipment to help in a rescue genetically distinct subspecies, died at age 45 in a Kenyan event” in which species of all sizes and shapes are disap- didn’t see a silver lining, all their efforts would seem point- attempt. “The strength of the animals and the windy zoo. When the rhino, named Sudan, was born, there were pearing at 100 times the normal rate. The last mass die- less. In certain regions, they have in fact helped species and possibly wet weather conditions will affect when at least 700 of its kind still roaming the wild. off-the fifth in half-a-billion years-was 65 million years claw back from the brink. But they must also be realists, and where we attempt to move them out to sea. “The Conservation biologists, once circumspect, no longer ago, when an asteroid collision wiped out non-avian said Michael Knight, head of the IUCN’s African Rhino main objectives are to ensure the safety of staff and mince words. dinosaurs. Specialist Group, and a scientist at the Centre for African volunteers as well as the whales’ greatest chance of Many forces are pushing megafauna-especially vulner- Conservation Ecology in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. survival.” Silent savannah syndrome able to such pressures-towards the edge, including habitat “Africa is no longer the pipedream people imagine Hamelin beach, named after French explorer The Saharan Addax antelope is “doomed to extinction”. loss, poaching, conflict over livestock, and-in the case of of open landscapes with wild animals running all over,” Jacques Felix Emmanuel Hamelin who sailed through The Eastern Gorilla, also hunted for meat, is “only one step polar bears-climate change. But the common denominator he said in an interview. “We are going to have to face the area in about 1801, was closed with a shark alert away from going extinct”, as are the startlingly gentle and behind all this is a single cause: humanity’s inexorable the reality that certain areas are not going to be com- issued for the area. Short-finned pilot whales inhabit intelligent orangutans of Borneo and Sumatra. Charismatic expansion. “The primary threat to wildlife in Africa is that plete ecosystems.” Fifty years down the road, he tropical and subtropical waters and are often seen in species still numerous enough to attract millions of tourists we are eating it to death,” said Paul Funston, senior lion added, “the challenges are going to be ten-maybe 50 the hundreds and when they beach, it is usually en to Africa each year are also in sharp decline. program director for Panthera, a global wild cat conserva- — times harder”. masse. The reason why mass standings’ occur is still Over the course of the last century, lions, rhino and tion organization. For Funston, the key is strategic investment in national unknown. cheetah populations have collapsed by more than 90 per- parks-studies have shown a direct correlation between There are many theories including the shape of cent; once common giraffes-newly classified as “vulnera- Time for triage dollars-per-square-kilometer invested, and the survival the coastline being a contributing factor, whales ble” to extinction-are down by 40 percent in just three In some areas, this has led to what conservationists call rate of protected species. “We are almost ready for responding to distress calls from other whales, or decades; polar bears are forecast to lose a third of their the “silent savannah syndrome”, he added. “There are triage,” he said. “For lions, it’s done-we have identified 14 groups following a leader into shore. The largest numbers by mid-century. “We are facing the very real many protected areas that look absolutely intact-the key landscapes where conservation money and attention mass stranding in Australia’s west was at possibility of seeing these titans of nature go extinct in the woodlands, the birds, the bees are all there,” Funston said. should be spent.” “This applies to all megafauna,” he Dunsborough in 1996 when 320 long-finned pilot wild in our lifetime, on our watch,” said IUCN Director “But the big mammals are gone, and that’s because they added. “We urgently need to get away from our single- whales came ashore. All but 20 survived.—AFP General Inger Andersen. have been eaten.” Africa’s population, he noted, is project- species approach to megafauna.”—AFP 24 Established 1961 What’s On Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Oncost Cash & Carry opens its 4th branch

ncost Cash & Carry, the first whole- wholesale market sector. The brand’s pric- sale membership retail store in ing policy has been constructed to focus on OKuwait, opened its 4th outlet in the competitive pricing by the unit and whole- country in Shuwaikh yesterday. The new sale prices by the carton, thereby passing outlet was inaugurated by the Chairman of on substantial savings to its loyal customer IFA Hotels & Resorts, Talal Jassem Al- base, particularly to those who make large Bahar, alongside the CEO of Oncost Cash & volume purchases. Moreover, there are the Carry, Saleh Al-Tunaib, and the COO of added benefits of weekly promotions that Oncost Cash & Carry, TA Remesh, in the see customers shopping for household sta- presence of their excellences the ples gaining great savings. Ambassadors to Kuwait, of Guyana, In January 2018, Oncost launched its first Mexico, South Korea, along with diplomats and the only retail Membership Program from the embassies of Turkey, Philippines that offers a cash-back reward of up to 4 and Indonesia, as well as top management, percent. Registration to the Membership staff and well-wishers. Program is free to all customers and can be The new outlet is not only the largest used in all Oncost stores. As part of its Oncost store in Kuwait, but also the brand’s expansion drive, Oncost plans to open a first wholesale outlet in the Capital new branch in Farwaniya Governorate in Governorate. Oncost’s new branch offers the immediate future, and more branches customers the benefits of wholesale shop- are slated to open shortly in the Hawally ping in a modern retail environment that and Jahra Governorates. The expansion is prioritizes significantly discounted prices to in line with the company’s strategy of its customers. Wholesale shopping in a extending its reach across Kuwait, while retail environment is a new and unique providing affordable prices to customers in model that is unparalleled in Kuwait’s all governorates.

badge for your online profile. You will be able to get KU to hold Google hands-on experience with - Docker, Kubernetes and Scientific Data Processing, all of which will you earn addi- tional badges. By learning together we think it’s going to Cloud Study Jam be more fun and more of us are going to be able to com- oin us for our Google Cloud Study Jam on Wednesday plete it. Bring your own laptop (PC, Mac or Chromebook) 28th of March 6-9 pm at Kuwait University Khaldiya. with charger! The labs will run on all of the latest versions J Together with Burhan Khalid of GDG Kuwait we’ll of the popular browsers. For the best experience, make work through three Google Cloud Platform Essentials labs, sure your laptop has Firefox or Chrome installed. Join this then you will get free access to the next quest so you can meet-up to get official Google training of $70+ value at finish this series of labs at home to get a Google-hosted free of charge.

Sheraton Kuwait shows support for Earth Hour heraton Kuwait, a Luxury Collection Hotel and Four Points by Sheraton Kuwait went dark for one hour on March 24 to Sshine a light on climate action in support of Earth Hour the traditional ribbon cutting ceremony and 2018. The hotel joined millions around the world in turning off its ACK successfully opening remarks welcoming all guests and lights at 8:30 pm local time to illuminate a powerful message visitors, thanking the participating companies, about environmental awareness and action. The World Wildlife and encouraging students and alumni to take Fund (WWF) created the annual global environmental awareness concludes 2018 this unique opportunity to connect with event 11 years ago to emphasize the threat of climate change. potential employers. The Opening Ceremony Sheraton and Four Points Kuwait participated by turning off ‘Career Fair’ was followed by an official tour of the booths, exterior signage lighting; diming or turning off non-essential awarding each participating company with a interior lighting; using candlelight in appropriate public areas he Australian College of Kuwait (ACK) token of appreciation. such as restaurants; and using in-room voicemail messages and held its 2018 Career Fair on March 19th The Alumni and Career Placement Center in-room television messages to inform guests about Earth Hour Tand March 20th of this year on campus, organized the Fair and the Manager of the observances. Sheraton and Four Points Kuwait also participated at the Aviation Hangar. The Fair hosted a total Center, Dr Zeina Nehme, declared the 2018 in Marriott International’s drive to raise funds for WWF and of 43 leading companies from different sec- Career Fair a huge success, attracting a total used the bare minimum amount of electricity to help make a tors in Kuwait to provide multiple networking, of about 3,000 visitors on both days. In addi- defined difference this Earth Hour. career, and internship opportunities for its tion, she was delighted to see major interest “It’s a privilege for us to support Earth Hour because it students and alumni. from companies in ACK students and alumni. echoes Marriott International’s global focus on the environ- The guest of honor, Bandar Al-Rashed, On this occasion, the College thanked all ment,” said Denise Naguib, Vice President of Sustainability and every small step each of us takes make a big difference together.” Assistant Secretary General for Manpower participants and attendees and especially the Supplier Diversity. “Today, business plays a critical role in taking Marriott International embraces its global responsibility and and Government Restructuring Program Platinum Sponsors, such as: Kuwait Finance on our world’s most pressing social and environmental issues, unique opportunity to be a force for good. Guided by its sus- (MGRP) and on behalf of ACK, Prof Isam House (KFH), National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), including climate change. Earth Hour reflects a philosophy we tainability and social impact platform, Serve 360: Doing Good in Zabalawi - President, Dr Usameh Jamali - Boubyan Bank, Limak Insaat Kuwait SPC, aim to practice year-round through our sustainability & social Every Direction, Marriott is committed to making a positive and Advisor to the Chairman, Engineer Sager Ooredoo Kuwait and the Gold Sponsors: impact platform, Serve 360.” sustainable impact wherever it does business. While integrating Abdullah Al-Sharhan - Deputy Managing Manpower and Government Restructuring “It is a real pleasure and honor to support each and every sustainability across its value chain and mitigating climate-relat- Partner - Industry, Dr Abdullah Karkouh - Program, Schlumberger, National Aviation year, such a powerful movement with such a simple gesture,” said ed risk, the company is working to reduce environmental Vice President of Administrative Affairs, and Services (NAS), Kuwait International Bank, Fahed Abushaar, the General Manager of Sheraton Kuwait, a impacts, build and operate sustainable hotels, source responsi- Dr Jasem Hajih - Senior Manager of Student AL Wazzan Catering Co, Jassim Transport & Luxury Collection Hotel. “Earth Hour itself mirrors our way of bly, advance human rights, and create opportunities for the Support and Alumni, inaugurated the Fair with Stevedoring Co KSCC. (JTC). thinking that we try to spread on all year-round: No doubt that communities where we operate. Established 1961 25 TV Tuesday, March 27, 2018

13:05 Friends 15:05 Disney Mickey Mouse 14:40 Right Now Kapow 22:20 Forged In Fire 14:12 The Thundermans 06:20 The Last King 13:30 Friends 15:10 Elena Of Avalor 15:05 Right Now Kapow 23:10 Forged In Fire 14:36 Sanjay And Craig 08:15 Newsies: The Broadway 13:55 Disaster Date 15:35 Bizaardvark 15:30 Milo Murphy’s Law 15:00 Rabbids Invasion Musical 14:20 Workaholics 16:00 Tangled: The Series 15:55 Two More Eggs S2 15:24 Harvey Beaks 10:35 The Challenger 14:45 Detroiters 16:25 Miraculous Tales Of Ladybug 16:00 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 15:48 SpongeBob SquarePants 12:10 It Boy 00:50 Independence Day: 15:10 Friends & Cat Noir 16:25 Lab Rats 16:12 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 13:50 Noble Resurgence 15:35 Key And Peele 16:50 Raven’s Home 16:50 Walk The Prank 16:36 The Loud House 15:40 An Inconvenient Truth 02:50 The Last Witch Hunter 16:00 Comedy Central Presents 17:15 Stuck In The Middle 17:15 Mech-X4 00:15 Chasing The Sun 17:00 Massive Monster Mayhem 17:25 To Kill A Mockingbird 04:40 Being Evel Comedy 3alwagef 17:40 Hotel Transylvania: The Series 17:40 Marvel’s Spider-Man 00:45 Food Lover’s Guide To The 17:24 I Am Frankie 19:35 99 Homes 06:25 Allegiant 16:30 Friendszone 18:05 K.C. Undercover 18:05 Kickin’ It Planet 17:48 Hunter Street 21:30 Hacker 08:30 Independence Day: 16:55 Friends 18:30 Bunk’d 18:30 Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade 01:10 Miguel’s Tropical Kitchen 18:12 Henry Danger 23:25 Amores Perros Resurgence 17:20 Friends 18:55 Descendants Wicked World Ninja 01:40 Chasing Time 18:36 Nicky, Ricky, Dicky And Dawn 10:30 The Last Witch Hunter 17:45 Disaster Date 19:00 Miraculous Tales Of Ladybug 18:45 Kickin’ It 02:05 Chasing The Sun 19:00 School Of Rock 12:20 Hunting The Phantom 18:10 Life Or Debt & Cat Noir 19:10 Mini Ninjas 02:35 Trekking The Great Wall 19:24 Game Shakers 13:55 Allegiant 19:00 Friends 19:25 Liv And Maddie 19:25 Walk The Prank 03:30 Tripping Out With Alie & 19:48 The Thundermans 16:00 Street Fighter 19:25 Friendszone 19:50 Jessie 19:50 Marvel’s Rocket And Groot Georgia 20:12 Harvey Beaks 17:45 Star Trek Beyond 19:50 Real Husbands Of Hollywood 20:15 Disney Mickey Mouse 19:55 Mech-X4 03:55 John Torode’s Asia 20:36 SpongeBob SquarePants 00:25 Scooby-Doo! And WWE: 19:55 In Time 20:12 Friends 20:20 Tangled: The Series 20:20 Penn Zero: Part Time Hero 04:25 Maximum Foodie 21:00 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Curse Of Speed Demon 21:50 Death Warrant 20:35 Friends 20:45 Bizaardvark 20:45 Gamer’s Guide To Pretty Much 04:50 Sinful Sweets 21:24 Sanjay And Craig 01:55 Rh+ The Vampire Of Seville 23:25 The Assignment 21:00 The Daily Show With Trevor 21:10 Hotel Transylvania: The Series Everything 05:20 Access 360 World Heritage 21:48 Rabbids Invasion 03:20 Papelucho & The Martian Noah 21:35 Bunk’d 21:10 Kid vs. Kat 06:15 Building Wild 22:12 Breadwinners 04:45 Catcher: Cat City 2 21:30 The Opposition With Jordan 22:00 Miraculous Tales Of Ladybug 21:35 Marvel’s Rocket And Groot 07:10 Chasing Time 22:36 Harvey Beaks 06:25 The Fairy Tales Tree Klepper & Cat Noir 21:40 Disney Mickey Mouse 07:35 Chasing The Sun 23:00 SpongeBob SquarePants 07:50 Dinofroz The Origin 22:00 Another Period 22:25 Miraculous Tales Of Ladybug 21:45 Lab Rats 08:05 Trekking The Great Wall 23:24 SpongeBob SquarePants 09:25 The Happy Cricket And The 22:25 Teachers & Cat Noir 22:10 Lab Rats 09:00 Tripping Out With Alie & 23:48 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Giant Bugs 00:45 O’shea’s Big Adventure 22:50 Teachers 22:50 Lolirock 22:35 Phineas And Ferb Georgia 11:00 Freddy Frogface 01:40 Bad Dog 23:15 Real Husbands Of Hollywood 23:10 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 23:00 Programmes Start At 6:00am 09:25 John Torode’s Asia 12:30 Rock Dog 02:35 Predator’s Prey 23:40 The Daily Show With Trevor Witch KSA 09:55 Maximum Foodie 14:10 Papelucho & The Martian 03:00 Predator’s Prey Noah 23:35 Binny And The Ghost 10:20 Sinful Sweets 15:35 Catcher: Cat City 2 03:25 Monster Island 10:50 Access 360 World Heritage 00:05 Max & Ruby 17:15 Monkey King: The Hero 04:15 After The Attack 11:45 Building Wild 00:28 Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom 18:50 Freddy Frogface 05:02 Wildest Indochina 12:40 Food Lover’s Guide To The 00:39 Kiva Can Do! 20:20 Azur & Asmar: The Prince’s 05:49 Untamed & Uncut Planet 00:49 The Day Henry Met Quest 06:36 Escape To Chimp Eden 00:05 WAGs LA 13:05 Tripping Out With Alie & 00:55 Blaze And The Monster 22:05 Shopkins - Chef Club 07:00 Escape To Chimp Eden 00:30 Kids Do The Craziest Things 00:00 PJ Masks 01:00 WAGs LA Georgia Machines 23:05 Monkey King: The Hero 07:25 Predator’s Prey 00:55 Kids Do The Craziest Things 00:30 Art Attack 01:55 WAGs LA 13:35 Restoration Man 01:18 Blaze And The Monster 07:50 Predator’s Prey 01:20 Finding Bigfoot 00:55 Henry Hugglemonster 02:50 WAGs 14:30 David Rocco’s Dolce India Machines 08:15 O’shea’s Big Adventure 02:10 Somebody’s Gotta Do It 01:05 Loopdidoo 03:40 WAGs 14:55 David Rocco’s Dolce India 01:41 Paw Patrol 09:10 Bad Dog 03:00 Nextworld 01:20 Henry Hugglemonster 04:35 WAGs 15:25 Poh & Co. 01:53 Kid-E-Cats 10:05 Wildest Indochina 03:50 Ultimate Survival 01:35 Calimero 05:30 Celebrity Style Story 15:50 Sinful Sweets 01:58 Kid-E-Cats 00:05 The Scarlet Letter 11:00 Predator’s Prey 04:40 Tanked 01:50 Henry Hugglemonster 06:00 So Cosmo 16:20 Access 360 World Heritage 02:03 Shimmer And Shine 02:20 Harlock: Space Pirate 11:28 Predator’s Prey 05:30 How It’s Made 02:05 Art Attack 06:55 E! News Middle East 17:15 Bangkok Airport 02:25 Nella And The Princess Knight 04:10 The Finest Hours 11:55 Monster Island 05:55 How It’s Made 02:30 The Hive 07:10 So Cosmo 18:10 Eat Street 02:37 Paw Patrol 06:05 Dirty Dancing 12:50 After The Attack 06:20 Kids Do The Craziest Things 02:40 Loopdidoo 08:10 E! News: Daily Pop 18:35 Tripping Out With Alie & 03:00 The Day Henry Met 08:15 The Golden Child 13:45 Bad Dog 06:40 Kids Do The Craziest Things 02:55 Henry Hugglemonster 09:10 Botched Georgia 03:06 Max & Ruby 09:50 Kung Fu Panda 14:40 Wildest Indochina 07:00 Ultimate Survival 03:10 Art Attack 10:10 Botched 19:05 Restoration Man 03:28 Dora The Explorer 11:25 The Finest Hours 15:35 Untamed & Uncut 07:50 How It’s Made 03:35 Loopdidoo 11:05 Botched 20:00 David Rocco’s Dolce India 03:52 Sunny Day 13:25 Alvin And The Chipmunks: 16:30 O’shea’s Big Adventure 08:15 How It’s Made 03:50 Calimero 12:00 E! News Middle East 20:30 David Rocco’s Dolce India 04:14 Nella The Princess Knight Chipwrecked 17:25 Pit Bulls & Parolees 08:40 Kids Do The Craziest Things 04:05 Art Attack 12:15 Hollywood Medium With Tyler 21:00 Poh & Co. 04:36 Shimmer And Shine 14:55 Calendar Girls 18:20 Cat vs Dog 09:05 Kids Do The Craziest Things 04:30 Henry Hugglemonster Henry 21:30 Sinful Sweets 04:58 Wallykazam! 16:45 Last Chance Harvey 19:15 Bad Dog 09:30 Tanked 04:45 Henry Hugglemonster 13:10 Hollywood Medium With Tyler 22:00 Access 360 World Heritage 05:22 Zack & Quack 18:20 Ghostbusters 20:10 Predator’s Prey 10:20 Nextworld 05:00 Art Attack Henry 22:55 Bangkok Airport 05:32 The Day Henry Met 20:15 The Proposal 20:38 Snake Sheila 11:10 The Next Great Magician 05:30 Henry Hugglemonster 14:05 Hollywood Medium With Tyler 23:50 Eat Street 05:38 Blaze And The Monster 22:05 Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising 21:05 Pit Bulls & Parolees 12:00 Risking It All 05:45 Loopdidoo Henry Machines 23:40 V/H/S Viral 22:00 Cat vs Dog 12:50 How It’s Made 06:00 Henry Hugglemonster 15:00 E! News Middle East 06:00 Rusty Rivets 22:55 Wildest Islands 13:15 How It’s Made 06:15 Calimero 15:15 E! News: Daily Pop 06:13 Paw Patrol 23:50 Untamed & Uncut 13:40 Kids Do The Craziest Things 06:30 PJ Masks 16:15 Botched 06:37 Dora The Explorer 14:05 Kids Do The Craziest Things 07:00 Trulli Tales 17:10 Botched 07:00 Nella The Princess Knight 14:30 Tanked 07:30 Jungle Junction 18:05 Botched 07:21 Kiva Can Do! 15:20 Ultimate Survival 07:50 Handy Manny 19:00 E! News 00:10 On The Brink: Unchartered 07:32 Kiva Can Do! 00:30 How Do They Do It? 16:10 Nextworld 08:10 PJ Masks 20:00 WAGs Atlanta Waters 07:43 Blaze And The Monster 00:55 Food Factory 17:00 The Next Great Magician 08:30 Vampirina 21:00 WAGs Atlanta 01:00 India’s Mega Kitchens Machines 01:20 Mythbusters 00:35 Cold Feet 17:50 Risking It All 09:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 22:00 WAGs Atlanta 02:00 Mega Factories 08:06 Paw Patrol 02:10 Redesign My Brain 01:25 Silent Witness 18:40 Kids Do The Craziest Things 09:30 Mickey And The Roadster 23:00 E! News Middle East 03:00 Locked Up Abroad 08:29 Shimmer And Shine 03:00 Junkyard Wars 02:20 Top Of The Lake 19:05 Kids Do The Craziest Things Racers 23:15 Keeping Up With The 04:00 On The Brink: Unchartered 08:53 Nella The Princess Knight 03:48 Mythbusters 03:15 Father Brown 19:30 How It’s Made 10:00 Puppy Dog Pals Kardashians Waters 09:14 The Day Henry Met 04:36 How Do They Do It? 04:05 Doctors 19:55 How It’s Made 10:30 Puppy Dog Pals 05:00 Man Hunt 09:20 Paw Patrol 05:00 Food Factory 04:35 Doctors 20:20 Tanked 11:00 The Lion Guard 06:00 The Happenings 09:43 Rusty Rivets 05:24 Mythbusters 05:05 Doctor Who 21:10 The Next Great Magician 11:30 The Lion Guard 07:00 Fish Tank Kings 10:06 Wallykazam! 06:12 Redesign My Brain 06:00 Casualty 22:00 Risking It All 12:00 Sofia The First 08:00 Science Of Stupid 10:29 Bubble Guppies 07:00 How Do They Do It? 06:55 Father Brown 22:50 Nextworld 12:30 Sofia The First Compilations 10:52 Team Umizoomi 07:26 Junkyard Wars 07:40 Doctors 23:40 Ultimate Survival 13:00 PJ Masks 08:30 Science Of Stupid 11:15 Kid-E-Cats 08:14 Mythbusters 08:10 Doctors 13:30 PJ Masks 00:10 Who’s Doing The Dishes? Compilations 11:20 Shimmer And Shine 09:02 Redesign My Brain 08:40 Casualty 14:00 P-King Duckling 01:00 Emmerdale 09:00 Man Hunt 11:43 Sunny Day 09:50 How Do They Do It? 09:30 Casualty 14:30 Vampirina 01:30 Coronation Street 10:00 Yukon Gold 12:05 Max & Ruby 10:14 Food Factory 10:25 Father Brown 15:00 Puppy Dog Pals 02:00 Coronation Street 11:00 Wicked Tuna 12:28 Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:38 Mythbusters 11:10 Death In Paradise 15:30 Sofia The First 02:30 The Chase 12:00 Air Crash Investigation 12:39 Kiva Can Do! 11:26 Junkyard Wars 12:05 Doctor Who 16:00 PJ Masks 03:25 The Voice UK 2018 13:00 The Happenings 12:50 The Day Henry Met 12:14 Mythbusters 12:55 Stella 00:45 Obsession: Dark Desires 16:30 Mission Force One 05:15 Royal Recipes 14:00 Science Of Stupid 12:56 Blaze And The Monster 13:02 How Do They Do It? 13:40 Casualty 01:40 True Conviction 17:00 The Lion Guard 06:15 Who’s Doing The Dishes? Compilations Machines 13:26 Food Factory 14:30 Casualty 02:35 Alaskan Temptress: People 17:30 Puppy Dog Pals 07:10 The Chase 14:30 Science Of Stupid 13:18 Blaze And The Monster 13:50 Redesign My Brain 15:25 Death In Paradise Magazine Investigates 18:00 Trulli Tales 08:05 The Voice UK 2018 Compilations Machines 14:38 Junkyard Wars 16:20 Doctor Who 03:30 The Perfect Suspect 18:30 Mickey And The Roadster 09:55 Royal Recipes 15:00 Fish Tank Kings 13:41 Paw Patrol 15:26 Mythbusters 17:10 Stella 04:25 Swamp Murders Racers 11:00 Who’s Doing The Dishes? 16:00 Yukon Gold 13:53 Kid-E-Cats 16:14 Mythbusters 18:00 Holby City 05:20 I Almost Got Away With It 19:00 Sofia The First 11:50 The Chase 17:00 Wicked Tuna 13:58 Kid-E-Cats 17:02 Redesign My Brain 19:00 Death In Paradise 06:10 Blood Relatives 19:30 The Lion Guard 12:45 Emmerdale 18:00 Air Crash Investigation 14:03 Shimmer And Shine 17:50 Junkyard Wars 20:00 Silent Witness 07:00 California Investigator 20:00 Vampirina 13:15 Coronation Street 19:00 Drugs Inc 14:26 Nella And The Princess Knight 18:40 Mythbusters 20:55 Our Girl 07:25 Deadline: Crime With Tamron 20:30 PJ Masks 13:45 Coronation Street 20:00 Yukon Gold 14:37 Paw Patrol 19:30 Extreme Engineering 21:50 Death In Paradise Hall 21:00 Trulli Tales 14:15 Who’s Doing The Dishes? 20:50 Wicked Tuna 15:00 The Day Henry Met 20:20 How Do They Do It? 22:45 Holby City 08:15 Swamp Murders 21:30 Sofia The First 15:10 The Chase 21:40 Air Crash Investigation 15:06 Max & Ruby 20:45 Food Factory 23:45 Silent Witness 09:10 Blood Relatives 22:00 P-King Duckling 16:00 Murdoch Mysteries 22:30 Drugs Inc 15:29 Dora The Explorer 21:10 Redesign My Brain 10:05 Obsession: Dark Desires 22:30 Puppy Dog Pals 16:55 Murdoch Mysteries 23:20 Science Of Stupid 15:52 Sunny Day 22:00 Extreme Engineering 11:00 A Crime To Remember 23:00 Mission Force One 17:50 Royal Recipes Compilations 16:13 Nella The Princess Knight 22:50 Junkyard Wars 11:55 Deadline: Crime With Tamron 23:30 PJ Masks 18:50 Emmerdale 23:45 Science Of Stupid 16:35 Shimmer And Shine 23:40 Mythbusters Hall 19:15 Coronation Street Compilations 16:58 Wallykazam! 12:50 I Almost Got Away With It 19:45 Coronation Street 17:21 Zack & Quack 00:00 Britain’s Forgotten Serial 13:45 Blood Relatives 20:10 The Chase 17:32 The Day Henry Met Killer: Trevor Hardy 14:40 Obsession: Dark Desires 21:00 Murdoch Mysteries 17:38 Blaze And The Monster 01:00 It Takes A Killer 15:35 Reel Crime/Real Story 21:55 Murdoch Mysteries Machines 01:30 It Takes A Killer 16:30 Deadline: Crime With Tamron 22:50 Emmerdale 18:00 Rusty Rivets 00:55 Tere Naam 02:00 Britain’s Forgotten Serial Hall 00:15 Alaskan Bush People 23:15 Coronation Street 18:13 Paw Patrol 03:00 Tere Naam Killer: Trevor Hardy 17:25 Swamp Murders 01:05 Impossible Engineering 23:40 Coronation Street 00:20 Lion Gangland 18:37 Dora The Explorer 03:30 Little Krishna : The Legendary 03:00 Robbie Coltrane’s Critical 18:20 I Almost Got Away With It 01:50 Fire In The Hole 01:10 Natural Born Monsters 19:00 Nella The Princess Knight Warrior Evidence 19:15 Blood Relatives 02:35 What On Earth? 02:00 Original Fight Club 19:21 Kiva Can Do! 05:00 The Front ROW 04:00 Britain’s Forgotten Serial 20:10 Obsession: Dark Desires 03:20 Extreme Engineering 02:50 Monster Fish 19:32 Kiva Can Do! 05:30 Koffee With Karan Killer: Trevor Hardy 21:05 The Perfect Murder 04:05 Flying Wild Alaska 03:45 Wild Case Files 19:43 Blaze And The Monster 06:30 Dil Kya Kare 05:00 It Takes A Killer 22:00 Killed Before Dawn: People 04:50 Dirty Jobs 04:40 Wild 24 Machines 09:25 Chaloo Movie 05:30 It Takes A Killer Magazine Investigates 05:35 How Do They Do It? 00:00 Ancient Top 10 05:35 Original Fight Club 20:05 Paw Patrol 11:45 Well Done Abba 06:00 Cold Case Files 22:55 Murder In The Heartland 06:00 Classic Car Club 01:00 Brad Meltzer’s Decoded 06:30 Monster Fish 20:29 Shimmer And Shine 14:15 Shaan 07:00 The First 48 23:50 Evil Lives Here 06:23 Dallas Car Sharks 02:00 The Universe 07:25 Wild Case Files 20:52 Nella The Princess Knight 17:20 Bol Bachchan 08:00 It Takes A Killer 06:45 How Do They Do It? 02:50 Ancient Aliens 08:20 Wild 24 21:14 The Day Henry Met 20:00 Jai Ho 08:30 It Takes A Killer 07:10 How Do They Do It? 03:40 Bible Secrets Revealed 09:15 Monster Croc Wrangler 21:19 Paw Patrol 22:20 Mohenjo Daro 09:00 Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart 07:35 Flying Wild Alaska 04:30 Dogfights 09:40 Wonderfully Weird 21:43 Rusty Rivets 10:30 Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart 08:20 Classic Car Club 05:20 Million Dollar Genius 10:10 World’s Deadliest Killer Three 22:05 Wallykazam! 12:00 The First 48 08:45 Dallas Car Sharks 06:10 The Universe 11:05 America The Beautiful 22:29 Bubble Guppies 13:00 Robbie Coltrane’s Critical 09:10 Dirty Jobs 07:00 Ancient Top 10 12:00 Prehistoric Predators 22:52 Team Umizoomi Evidence 00:00 Hank Zipzer 09:55 Impossible Engineering 08:00 Brad Meltzer’s Decoded 12:55 Lion vs. Giraffe 23:15 Kid-E-Cats 01:15 Get Over It 14:00 Homicide Hunter 00:25 Alex & Co. 10:45 Fire In The Hole 09:00 The Universe 13:50 Hooked 23:20 Shimmer And Shine 03:00 Dirty Pretty Things 15:00 Homicide Hunter 00:45 Disney Mickey Mouse 11:30 What On Earth? 10:00 Ancient Aliens 14:45 Wild Case Files 23:43 Sunny Day 04:30 The First Time 16:00 Cold Case Files 00:50 Evermoor Chronicles 12:20 Classic Car Club 11:00 Bible Secrets Revealed 15:40 World’s Weirdest 06:00 Duplex 17:00 Robbie Coltrane’s Critical 01:15 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 12:43 Dallas Car Sharks 12:00 Dogfights 16:35 How Big Can It Get 07:30 Moonrise Kingdom Evidence Witch 13:05 How Do They Do It? 13:00 Ancient Top 10 17:30 World’s Deadliest Killer Three 09:00 Frank 18:00 It Takes A Killer 01:40 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 13:30 How Do They Do It? 14:00 Brad Meltzer’s Decoded 18:25 World’s Weirdest 10:30 Hesher 18:30 It Takes A Killer Witch 13:55 Dirty Jobs 15:00 The Universe 19:20 Wild Case Files 12:15 Terminus 19:00 Cold Case Files 02:05 Binny And The Ghost 14:40 Alaskan Bush People 16:00 Ancient Aliens 20:10 World’s Weirdest 01:10 Feed 14:00 Butterfly On A Wheel 20:00 Cold Case Files 02:30 Binny And The Ghost 15:30 Impossible Engineering 17:00 Bible Secrets Revealed 21:00 How Big Can It Get 02:50 Beauty And The Beast 15:30 Get Over It 21:00 Cold Case Files 02:55 Hank Zipzer 16:15 Fire In The Hole 18:00 Ancient Top 10 21:50 World’s Deadliest Killer Three 05:05 Hurricane 17:00 The Moment 22:00 The First 48 03:15 Disney Mickey Mouse 17:05 What On Earth? 19:00 Brad Meltzer’s Decoded 22:40 World’s Weirdest 06:35 Dragonheart: Battle For The 18:30 Welcome To Collinwood 23:00 It Takes A Killer 03:20 Hank Zipzer 17:50 Flying Wild Alaska 20:00 The Universe 23:30 Prehistoric Predators Heartfire 20:00 The King’s Speech 23:30 It Takes A Killer 03:45 Alex & Co. 18:40 Dirty Jobs 21:00 Ancient Aliens: The Ultimate 08:15 Justice League Dark 22:15 Dorfman In Love 04:10 Alex & Co. 19:25 Alaskan Bush People Evidence 09:45 Beauty And The Beast 23:45 Bad Santa 04:35 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 20:15 Extreme Engineering 22:00 UFO Files 12:00 LA LA Land Witch 21:00 Killing Fields: Murder Isle 23:00 The Lost Evidence 14:10 Ace The Case 05:00 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 21:50 Manhunt With Joel Lambert 00:12 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 15:50 Nine Lives 00:05 Nathan For You Witch 22:40 Kidnap And Rescue 00:36 Rabbids Invasion 17:30 Nerve 00:30 Why? With Hannibal Buress 05:25 Binny And The Ghost 23:30 Flying Wild Alaska 01:00 Rabbids Invasion 19:15 Jackie 00:00 The Fashion Fund 00:55 Steve Rannazzisi: Manchild 05:45 Disney Mickey Mouse 01:24 Sanjay And Craig 21:05 XXX: Return Of Xander Cage 01:00 The Fashion Fund 01:45 Tosh.0 05:50 Rolling With The Ronks 01:48 Sanjay And Craig 23:00 Alien: Covenant 02:00 Grey’s Anatomy 02:10 South Park 06:00 Miraculous Tales Of Ladybug 02:12 Winx Club 03:00 Married At First Sight 02:35 Real Husbands Of Hollywood & Cat Noir 00:20 Forged In Fire 02:36 Winx Club 04:00 Three 03:00 The Daily Show - Global 06:25 Hotel Transylvania: The Series 01:05 Swamp People 03:00 Harvey Beaks 05:00 House Of DVF Edition 06:50 Tsum Tsum Shorts 06:00 Marvel’s Spider-Man 02:00 American Pickers 03:24 Harvey Beaks 06:00 The Fashion Fund 03:25 Tosh.0 06:55 Tangled: The Series 06:25 Milo Murphy’s Law 02:50 Hunting Hitler 03:48 The Loud House 08:00 Grey’s Anatomy 03:50 Comedy Central Presents 07:20 Stuck In The Middle 06:50 Right Now Kapow 03:40 The Zodiac Killer: Case 04:12 The Loud House 01:30 Tank Girl 09:00 Married At First Sight Comedy 3alwagef 07:45 K.C. Undercover 07:15 Mech-X4 Closed? 04:36 Breadwinners 03:15 Without A Paddle: Nature’s 10:00 Three 04:15 Comedy Central Presents 08:10 Bunk’d 07:40 Disney Mickey Mouse 04:30 Swamp People 05:00 Breadwinners Calling 11:00 House Of DVF Comedy 3alwagef 08:35 Miraculous Tales Of Ladybug 07:45 Walk The Prank 05:15 Swamp People 05:24 Get Blake 04:50 Tyler Perry’s Boo: A Madea 12:00 The Fashion Fund 04:40 Key And Peele & Cat Noir 08:10 Walk The Prank 06:00 Mountain Men 05:48 SpongeBob SquarePants Halloween 14:00 Grey’s Anatomy 05:05 Detroiters 09:00 Miraculous Tales Of Ladybug 08:35 Right Now Kapow 06:50 Forged In Fire 06:12 SpongeBob SquarePants 06:35 Big Momma’s House 15:00 Married At First Sight 05:30 Disaster Date & Cat Noir 09:00 Right Now Kapow 07:40 Hunting Hitler 06:36 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 08:15 Holiday Joy 16:00 Three 05:55 Ridiculousness Arabia 09:25 Lolirock 09:25 Mighty Med 08:30 The Zodiac Killer: Case 07:00 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 09:55 Yoga Hosers 17:00 Style By Jury 06:20 Comedy Central Presents 09:50 Lolirock 09:50 Mighty Med Closed? 07:24 Rabbids Invasion 11:30 Tyler Perry’s Boo: A Madea 18:00 Project Runway Comedy 3alwagef 10:15 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 10:20 Star Wars: The Freemaker 09:20 Ice Road Truckers 07:48 Get Blake Halloween 20:00 Grey’s Anatomy 06:50 Life Or Debt Witch Adventures 10:10 Alone 08:12 Harvey Beaks 13:20 Big Momma’s House 21:00 Married At First Sight 07:40 I Live With Models 10:40 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 10:45 Star Wars: The Freemaker 11:00 Forged In Fire 08:36 Sanjay And Craig 15:05 Men At Work 22:00 Project Accessory 08:05 Key And Peele Witch Adventures 11:50 Hunting Hitler 09:00 SpongeBob SquarePants 16:50 Are We Done Yet? 23:00 Style By Jury 08:30 Disaster Date 11:05 Hank Zipzer 11:10 Gamer’s Guide To Pretty Much 12:40 Road Hauks 09:24 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 18:30 Big Momma’s House 2 08:55 Workaholics 11:30 Alex & Co. Everything 13:30 Ice Road Truckers 09:48 Henry Danger 20:15 Tommy Boy 09:20 Comedy Central Presents 11:55 Alex & Co. 11:35 Gamer’s Guide To Pretty Much 14:21 American Pickers 10:12 Game Shakers 22:00 The Rocky Horror Picture Comedy 3alwagef 12:20 Lolirock Everything 15:10 Alone 10:36 Regal Academy Show 09:45 I Live With Models 12:45 Lolirock 12:00 Kid vs. Kat 16:00 American Pickers 11:00 Winx Club 23:35 Plan 9 00:20 Baby Changes Everything 10:10 Detroiters 13:10 Miraculous Tales Of Ladybug 12:25 Two More Eggs S2 16:50 Hunting Hitler 11:24 SpongeBob SquarePants 01:05 My Giant Life 10:35 Friends & Cat Noir 12:30 Kid vs. Kat 17:40 Road Hauks 11:48 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 01:50 Return To Amish 11:00 Key And Peele 13:35 Miraculous Tales Of Ladybug 12:55 Kirby Buckets Warped 18:30 Ice Road Truckers 12:12 The Loud House 02:35 90 Days To Wed 11:25 Disaster Date & Cat Noir 13:20 Kirby Buckets Warped 19:20 Forged In Fire 12:36 Rabbids Invasion 03:20 Outdaughtered: Busby Quints 11:50 Ridiculousness Arabia 14:00 The Zhuzhus 13:45 Supa Strikas 20:10 American Pickers 13:00 Breadwinners 04:05 My Big Fat Fabulous Life 12:15 Friendszone 14:15 Bunk’d 14:10 Disney Mickey Mouse 21:00 Biggie: The Life Of Notorious 13:24 Massive Monster Mayhem 00:30 Once Upon A Time In America 04:50 Promzillas 12:40 Key And Peele 14:40 K.C. Undercover 14:15 Supa Strikas B.I.G. 13:48 I Am Frankie 04:20 My Sister 05:35 Say Yes To The Dress 26 Established 1961

Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Stars

CROSSWORD 1868 STAR TRACK

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

You could be suffering from blockages and negative energy regarding a You have entered a phase that ushers in a time full of positive interactions situation you find yourself in. A rude person challenges your strategies and the forming of new bonds that could last a lifetime. Creative energies are in charge and ideas; this person could actually feel threatened and intimidated by you. A deep- now as you call upon them to take you to the next level of an important project; looking seated need to be the center of attention just won t go away today; this could indicate at scientific, medical or mechanical intricacies is strongly indicated. Your curious mind that someone special is away at this time. You enjoy giving, but you also enjoy receiving. absorbs new facts on topics you have wondered about for some time. You have reached Creative juices flow like water and you buckle down and take advantage of them. You a difficult decision that could change something important; leaning on your natural could find yourself interested in a new romance or rekindling a current one. Making instincts gives you guidance you can depend on. You may question your motives when good memories signifies that you ll look back on this time with great fondness; making dealing with a difficult person; it could be you simply don t want anything to do with special efforts is highlighted. Finding some enjoyment tonight comes easy for you. them. Some professional moves you have made are paying off in a big way at this time.

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

Your influence is felt far and wide as you explain a new concept to a You gain very important information on a relative that could change your group. Thoughts on serious issues are a bit overwhelming. Creative energy is prevalent opinion; sometimes we ve got to have something thrown in our faces to realize the at this time and could be used to earn impressive money on the side. You shy away truth. Telling the truth about your feelings could be hard but it s necessary; the truth from partnerships at this time, but could revisit this later. A new situation is perfect for does, indeed, set us free if we allow it to. You could secretly desire to be the center of you to perform in some way; an exciting artistic endeavor is strongly indicated. You attention but are reluctant to publicly say so. People turn to you for guidance n a press- could find it necessary, but extremely difficult, to hold your tongue when someone ing matter that could become explosive if not taken care of. Clear emotions are preva- seems to want to intimidate you. Your generous nature could save the day for a friend; lent regarding loved ones and dear friends. Your thoughts are on things that could seem you re always a willing giver. A family discussion could get out of hand so be careful. impossible to others. Working with a certain group of people invigorates and spurs Be who you are; whoever doesn’t like it, too bad! Those who matter love you. your imagination. A nice evening creating new memories with special people.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

You could feel as though a new project holds more risk than you re You have a need to be cared about and for; the energy of love and comfortable with; listen to your intuition on this one. An emotional situa- romance demand to be noticed! You enjoy mystery in books and film; tion could seem impossible but being patient pays off. You look forward to a certain you seem to relate to a certain period of time in the past. Your curiosity about reincar- ACROSS 5. Of or relating to Chios. event like a garden show or some type of artistic event! People admire you and let nation and past lives is becoming more satisfied and you like what you re learning. You 1. Any piece of work that is undertaken or 6. An associate degree in applied science. you know today. You may find that your mind is on someone who s passed away; have entered a period of intensified creativity and a specific broadening of your knowl- attempted. 7. United States Protestant theologian somehow you know this person is alive and well somewhere beyond your reach. You edge base. You could come across as distant or cool but the truth is that your thoughts 5. A form of rummy using two decks and (1892-1971). dislike the feeling of being helpless; you may soon realize that this isn’t true! Be mind- are elsewhere, searching for solutions to a vexing problem. You could be faced with a ful of your thoughts as they could actually manifest; you re loved more than you know, decision regarding your career or the company you keep; making a critical choice is four jokers. 8. A wall hanging of heavy handwoven near. You re experimenting with a new look; it feels good! It s full speed ahead for you. 12. Automatic data processing by electron- fabric with pictorial designs. some people just have no idea how to show it. A celebration brings joy this evening. ic means without the use of tabulating 9. A detailed description of design criteria cards or punched tapes. for a piece of work. Capricorn (December 22-January 19) 15. Title for a civil or military leader (espe- 10. A light strong gray lustrous corrosion- Cancer (June 21-July 22) cially in Turkey). resistant metallic element used in You could feel like a misfit today everywhere you turn; working inde- You are up to making changes that need to be made in whatever area pendently goes far better than working with others does. Decisions made 16. A double pronged pin used to hold strong light-weight alloys (as for air- you find the need. An elder disapproves of your break from tradition. now could be unwise and need to be reversed at a later time; your tendency to be too women's hair in place. plane parts). Creative energies touch your efforts in painting, writing or other inspired activities. You giving is at work here. Letting others stand on their own works out best for them and 17. A unit of length of thread or yarn. 11. The capital of Turkey. want attention and a lot of it; be on guard against letting your ego take over. A friend you. You could wear yourself out jumping from one matter to the next; take a few 18. An urban area with a fixed boundary could violate their boundaries and create a problem. You expect someone to step up 12. Fragrant resin obtain from trees of the moments to breathe and visualize peaceful circumstances. Notice how much coffee or and do what they say but you could be sorely disappointed. Keeping your spirits high that is smaller than a city. family Burseraceae and used as other caffeine you intake as this could add to your sense of agitation. You find a differ- could be a struggle but this is short lived. Sometimes you feel that you could gladly run 19. A river in southeastern France. incense. ent place to buy something that s hard to get. You discover a new flavor that could away but you realize just how much you re truly needed. Stepping out with a sort of 20. German mathematician who created become your favorite at least for a while. A new place highlighted for you tonight. 13. A person who believes that God creat- controversial person draws attention. You re a true-blue friend who loves freely. the Klein bottle (1849-1925). ed the universe and then abandoned it. 21. A landlocked republic in eastern Africa. 14. A large heavy knife used in Central and 23. An indehiscent fruit derived from a sin- South America as a weapon or for Leo (July 23-August 22) Aquarius (January 20- February 18) gle ovary having one or many seeds cutting vegetation. within a fleshy wall or pericarp. 22. A potent estrogen used in medicine You make an important decision regarding your work. Someone teases Luck is strongly indicated for you today! This could be the time for buy- 24. White crystalline compound used as a and in feed for livestock and poultry. you about some private matter; you know how this person means this ing lottery tickets or entering raffles; the stars are aligned to create good chances for most risks you take during this particular time. When you turn to a certain source you food additive to enhance flavor. 27. The upper angle between an axis and and there are no hard feelings. Figuring out how a problem got started isn’t easy; some- one who could help, and knows you re looking for answers, doesn’t offer any informa- have relied on for a long time, you find it unavailable; this is a temporary situation, no 25. (Irish) God of love and beauty. an offshoot such as a branch or leaf- worries! A mentor guides you in untried, somewhat risky, directions regarding 26. An Indian side dish of yogurt and tion. You re appreciated far more than you know; relax and keep doing what you do for stalk. others, this is excellent karma in the making. Being diplomatic gets you something you finances; sticking your toe in something never hurts when it s conservatively done. You chopped cucumbers and spices. 29. A large fleet. need to complete an assignment. An interesting new person offers some input on a sen- enjoy being center stage later when you attend a meeting; you consider this one of the 28. A game played with playing cards. 30. 40th President of the United States sitive situation; this person has very positive vibes! As you look at the circumstances of best times of your life. You set out to accomplish a certain task and you do it! Being 32. A particular geographical region of (1911- ). the life of a close friend, you realize how lucky you have it. A grateful heart always wins. alone this evening for recharging seems to be exactly what does the trick. indefinite boundary (usually serving 31. Large shrimp sauteed in oil or butter some special purpose or distinguished and garlic. Virgo (August 23-September 22) by its people or culture or geography). 33. An adult male person (as opposed to a Pisces (February 19-March 20) 35. Wading birds of warm regions having woman). You may feel ambushed as you attend a social gathering; someone has a long slender down-curved bills. 34. A unit of dry measure used in Egypt. Working with an unrealistic person who seems removed from the situa- tion is something you choose not to do. You attend a social event that could further major problem with your thinking or opinion regarding something sensi- 39. A benevolent aspect of Devi. 36. Strong lightweight wood of the balsa tive. You find there s a certain way to handle disagreements that works well with difficult 41. A state in northwestern North America. your career; this could also result in receiving a job offer! Successful vibrations are tree used especially for floats. strongly felt and you act on them. You want to be in the middle of everything with the people. You could feel apart from others, isolated or kept out of the loop. You re a major 43. Rock that in its molten form (as mag- 37. Overgrown with ivy. attention of everyone on you; you re experiencing a strong need to be cared for. A con- giver, but you d sometimes like to receive; your generous nature stays intact no matter ma) issues from volcanos. 38. The main city of ancient Phoenicia. troversial situation comes to your attention and you wonder what the outcome might what. Choices about your home life should be made at a later date when you re able to 44. 10 grams. be. You could volunteer to help those less fortunate for you have a most giving heart. think about this more clearly. Now s the time to reconcile yourself with something from 40. A soft yellow malleable ductile (triva- the past that’s lingered far too long. There s no time like the present! Spiritual matters 45. Not made dim or less bright. lent and univalent) metallic element. You could find a certain accessory for your d cor that adds just the right touch. Your unique style and attitude bring very interesting new people into your life at this time. seem more important. You make a strong effort to stay true to yourself. 48. Being two more than fifty. 42. A Chadic language spoken in Chad. 49. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind. 46. Essential equal to suborder 50. Held up in the air. Myomorpha with the Dipodidae Wordsearch Puzzle Yesterday’s Solution 52. A local computer network for commu- excluded. nication between computers. 47. An official prosecutor for a judicial dis- 56. An informal term for a father. trict. 58. An uproarious party. 51. Conforming to an ultimate standard of 59. A light strong brittle gray toxic bivalent perfection or excellence. metallic element. 53. A white soft metallic element that tar- 60. The United Nations agency concerned nishes readily. with atomic energy. 54. A state in midwestern United States. 66. Any culture medium that uses agar as 55. Third son of Elizabeth II (born in 1964). the gelling agent. 57. Having undesirable or negative quali- 70. Any of a number of fishes of the family ties. Carangidae. 61. A unit of area (4840 square yards) 72. A Tibetan or Mongolian priest of used in English-speaking countries. Lamaism. 62. Freedom from difficulty or hardship or 73. The bureau of the Treasury effort. Department responsible for tax col- lections. 63. A branch of the Tai languages. 76. A device for creating a current of air 64. Any of the three Fates or goddesses of by movement of a surface or surfaces. destiny. 77. The seat within a bishop's diocese 65. A facial expression characterized by where his cathedral is located adv. turning up the corners of the mouth. 78. Large and brightly colored handker- 67. A spar rising aft from a mast to support chief. the head of a quadrilateral fore-and- 79. The federal agency that insures resi- aft sail. dential mortgages. 68. A woman hired to suckle a child of someone else. DOWN 69. Type genus of the Ranidae. 1. About three feet long exclusive of tail. 71. An accountant certified by the state. 2. Highly excited. 74. A metallic element having four 3. A neutral middle vowel. allotropic forms. 4. A Dravidian language spoken in south- 75. A soft silvery metallic element of the ern India. alkali earth group.

Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution ClassifiedsTuesday, March 27, 2018

by solemnly affirm declare SITUATION WANTED that the name of deponent Sharik Ahmad is wrong in Oilfield Operations Support my passport No. H2446155 Admin Coordinator and issued on 20.12.2008 at Billing Executive Indian (M), Patna. That the real name & 18 years experience in real spelling of deponent DAAYY: 0RQGDD\\  99DDOLG )URP  $0 7R  30 Middle East MNCS search- should be Sharique Ahmad ing suitable position. Mob: & real name & real spelling Expected WeWeather for the Next 24 Hours 66539779 / 96046944. Email: of the deponent father [email protected] (C 5389) should be Qeyamuddin %< '$$<< 5HODWLYHO\ KRW  ZLWK  OLJKW  WR PRGHUDWH  YDULDEOH  ZLQG  WR VRXWK  HDVWHUO\ ZLQG  ZLWWKK VSHHG  RI    NPK  DQG 27-3-2018 Ahmad. (C 5388) VRPH KLJK FORXGV  ZLOO DSSHDUU 26-3-2018 %< 1,*+7 )DLU ZLWK OLJKW WR PRGHUDWH  VRXWWKK HDVWHUO\  ZLQG  WR YDULDEOH  ZLQG ZLWK VSHHG  RI    NPK  CHANGE OF NAME FOR SALE I, Sharique Ahmad S/o :($7$7+(5:$:$51,1* 1R&XUUHQW ::DDUQLQJV Qeyamuddin Ahmad resi- Mitsubishi - Outlander dent of village- Hathauri 2016, full options - Blue STTAAATTION 0$;(;33 0,1 5(& 6)& &+$57  87& Tola Ram Nagar, PO- Color, 31,000 km, KD 3150. .8::$$,7 &,7<  ƒ&  ƒ& Chhapia, PS- Hussainganj, Contact: 50994848. (C 5387) 25-3-2018 .8::$$,7 $,5325577  ƒ&  ƒ& Dist.-Siwan (Bihar) do here- $%'$//<<  ƒ&  ƒ& Airlines %8%<<$$$11  ƒ&  ƒ& -$+55$$  ƒ&  ƒ& ))$$,/$.$ ,6/$$11'  ƒ&  ƒ&

6$/0,<<$$+  ƒ&  ƒ& American Airlines 22087425 $+0$',  ƒ&  ƒ& 22087426 18::$$,6,%  ƒ&  ƒ& Kuwait Airways 171 ::$$)5$  ƒ&  ƒ& Jazeera Airways 177 Jet Airways 22924455 6$/0<  ƒ&  ƒ& FlyDubai 22414400 4 DAAYYS FORECAST Qatar Airways 22423888 Temperatures KLM 22425747 DAAYY DAATTE WEAATTHER Wind Speed MAX. MIN. Wind Direction Royal Jordanian 22418064/5/6 7XHVGD\  5HODDWWLYHO\ KRW  ƒ&  ƒ&95%      NPK British Airways 22425635 Automated enquiry ::HHGQHVGD\  5HODWLYHO\KRW DQG VRPH KLJK FORXGVZ LOO DSSHDU  ƒ& ƒ& 6(6      NPK Air France 22430224 about the Civil ID 5HODWLYHO\KRW DQG &ORXGVZ LOO LQFUHDVH Emirates 22921555 7KXXUUVGD\  JUDGXDOO\ZLWK D FKDQFH IIRRU ULVLQJ GGXXVW  ƒ&  ƒ& 66(      NPK card is 3DUUWWO\FORXG\ULVLQJ GXVW ZLWK DFKDQFH IIRRU Air India 22438184 )ULGD\  VFDWWHUHG UDLQ ODWHU  RQ  ƒ&  ƒ& 6(1:      NPK Sri Lanka Airlines 22424444 112 1889988 PRAAYYER TIMES RECORDED YESTERDAAYY AATT KUWWAAITT AIRPORT Egypt Air 22421578 Fajr  MAX. Temp.  °C Swiss Air 22421516 Sunrise MIN. Temp. °C   Saudia 22426306 Zuhr MAX. RH % For labor-related   Middle East Airlines 22423073 Asr  MIN. RH  % Lufthansa 22422493 inquiries and complaints: Sunset  MAX. Wind 6(  km/h Isha  TOTTAALL RAINFFAALLL IN 24 HR.  mm Call MSAL hotline 128

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw) DIAL161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Arrival Flights on Tuesday 27/3/2018 SVA 500 Jeddah 14:45 Departure Flights on Tuesday 27/3/2018 MSR 611 Cairo 14:00 Airlines Flt Route Time KNE 529 Jeddah 14:55 Airlines Flt Route Time AXB 394 Kozhikode 14:15 JAI 572 Mumbai 00:05 KAC 304 Mumbai 15:10 KAC 285 Dhaka 00:01 JZR 324 Al Najaf 14:25 JZR 607 Kochi 00:10 KAC 788 Jeddah 15:10 AIC 976 Goa/Chennai 00:05 GEL 614 Dubai 15:00 JZR 539 Cairo 00:50 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 15:15 JZR 528 Asyut 00:15 KAC 661 Abu Dhabi 15:00 JAI 573 Mumbai 00:30 KAC 673 Dubai 15:05 PGT 858 Istanbul 00:55 KAC 502 Beirut 15:30 MSC 406 Sohag 00:30 FDB 060 Dubai 15:10 THY 772 Istanbul 00:55 KAC 562 Amman 15:30 FDB 072 Dubai 00:35 QTR 8512 Beirut/Doha 15:25 KAC 102 London 01:20 OMA 645 Muscat 15:35 MSC 412 Asyut 01:00 GFA 222 Bahrain 15:25 DLH 625 Bahrain 01:45 UAE 857 Dubai 15:45 JAI 571 Mumbai 01:05 KAC 785 Jeddah 15:25 THY 764 Istanbul 01:50 QTR 1072 Doha 15:55 JZR 142 Doha 01:45 QTR 1079 Doha 15:30 AXB 395 Kozhikode 02:00 FDK 801 Damascus 16:00 KAC 677 Dubai 01:50 SVA 501 Jeddah 15:45 JZR 267 Beirut 02:10 ABY 127 Sharjah 16:00 KAC 417 Manila 02:00 KNE 530 Jeddah 15:45 ETH 620 Addis Ababa 02:15 KAC 118 New York 16:00 THY 773 Istanbul 02:30 KAC 775 Riyadh 15:50 QTR 1086 Doha 02:20 JZR 779 Jeddah 16:25 PGT 859 Istanbul 02:30 KAC 283 Dhaka 15:50 GFA 211 Bahrain 02:30 FDB 051 Dubai 16:40 DLH 625 Frankfurt 02:45 KAC 743 Dammam 16:05 KLM 446 Bahrain 02:30 RJA 640 Amman 16:55 AXB 396 Kozhikode 02:55 PAL 669 Manila 16:10 WAN 548 KTM 02:40 SYR 341 Damascus 17:00 ETH 621 Addis Ababa 03:05 KAC 563 Amman 16:10 QTR 1087 Doha 03:40 KAC 619 Doha 16:10 FDB 069 Dubai 04:55 KAC 542 Cairo 17:05 KLM 446 Amsterdam 03:55 ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 16:20 ETD 995 Abu Dhabi/Bahrain 05:05 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 KKK 1269 Istanbul 03:55 OMA 646 Muscat 16:35 JZR 609 Hyderabad 05:10 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 OMA 644 Muscat 03:55 ABY 128 Sharjah 16:40 THY 6376 Istanbul 05:10 JZR 777 Jeddah 17:40 THY 765 Istanbul 04:00 KAC 615 Bahrain 16:40 DHX 170 Bahrain 05:20 WAN 984 Tbilisi 17:50 MSR 607 Luxor 04:05 FDK 802 Damascus 16:55 JZR 143 Doha 05:25 JZR 325 Al Najaf 17:50 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:05 QTR 1073 Doha 17:15 THY 770 Istanbul 05:25 UAE 875 Dubai 18:00 MSR 613 Cairo 04:15 JZR 266 Beirut 17:15 KAC 346 Ahmedabad 05:30 FDB 063 Dubai 18:10 LMU 5511 Cairo 05:00 JZR 240 Amman 17:15 KAC 332 Trivandrum 05:40 JZR 177 Dubai 18:15 QTR 1077 Doha 05:30 FDB 052 Dubai 17:40 KAC 302 Mumbai 06:10 MSR 620 Cairo 18:30 KAC 303 Mumbai 05:30 UAE 858 Dubai 17:45 KAC 678 Dubai 06:30 QTR 1080 Doha 18:50 FDB 070 Dubai 05:45 KAC 361 Colombo 17:45 WAN 338 Alexandria 06:40 KAC 744 Dammam 19:10 UAE 874 Dubai 06:15 RJA 641 Amman 17:55 JZR 786 Riyadh 06:25 SYR 342 Damascus 18:00 JZR 529 Asyut 06:50 KAC 776 Riyadh 19:20 JZR 560 Sohag 06:25 KAC 331 Trivandrum 18:00 KAC 206 Islamabad 06:50 ABY 123 Sharjah 19:25 THY 771 Istanbul 06:50 KAC 343 Chennai 18:00 BAW 157 London 07:15 RBG 555 Alexandria 19:25 JZR 164 Dubai 06:55 JZR 538 Cairo 18:15 FDB 053 Dubai 07:35 KAC 662 Abu Dhabi 19:25 RJA 645 Amman 07:05 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15 KAC 354 Bengaluru 07:35 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:30 ETD 9882 Dubai 07:05 GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 KAC 358 Kochi 07:40 KAC 156 Istanbul 19:30 GFA 212 Bahrain 07:15 JZR 184 Dubai 18:30 KAC 384 Delhi 08:00 WAN 356 Luxor 19:35 KAC 167 Paris 07:35 JZR 608 Hyderabad 18:40 UAE 855 Dubai 08:35 NIA 161 Cairo 19:40 KAC 171 Frankfurt 08:00 KAC 381 Delhi 18:50 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:05 KAC 674 Dubai 19:45 KAC 501 Beirut 08:00 FDB 064 Dubai 19:10 ABY 125 Sharjah 09:05 FDB 057 Dubai 19:50 THY 6376 Dubai/Istanbul 08:10 UAE 876 Dubai 19:30 QTR 1070 Doha 09:10 KAC 616 Bahrain 19:55 KAC 165 Rome 08:15 MSR 621 Cairo 19:30 FDB 055 Dubai 09:40 KAC 166 Rome 20:10 FDB 054 Dubai 08:35 QTR 1081 Doha 20:00 KAC 787 Jeddah 08:40 JZR 787 Riyadh 09:50 KAC 620 Doha 20:15 RBG 556 Alexandria 20:05 BAW 156 London 08:55 SVA 512 Riyadh 10:00 OMA 647 Muscat 20:20 ABY 124 Sharjah 20:05 KAC 613 Bahrain 08:55 IRA 675 Lar 10:40 QTR 1088 Doha 20:45 GFA 218 Bahrain 20:15 KAC 117 New York 09:00 FDB 058 Dubai 20:35 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 DLH 624 Frankfurt 20:45 KAC 561 Amman 09:40 NIA 162 Cairo 20:40 MSC 403 Asyut 11:15 ICV 675 Luxembourg 21:10 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:45 KAC 301 Mumbai 20:50 QTR 1074 Doha 11:20 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:20 KAC 671 Dubai 09:45 KAC 357 Kochi 21:00 JZR 165 Dubai 11:30 MEA 402 Beirut 21:20 KAC 101 London 09:45 OMA 648 Muscat 21:20 WAN 134 Doha 11:55 ALK 229 Colombo 21:20 UAE 856 Dubai 10:00 KAC 1543 Cairo 21:20 MEA 404 Beirut 11:55 KAC 168 Paris 21:20 KAC 541 Cairo 10:00 DLH 624 Bahrain 21:30 KAC 614 Bahrain 12:10 KAC 786 Jeddah 21:25 KAC 515 Tehran 10:00 DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:10 SAW 701 Damascus 12:30 KAC 172 Frankfurt 21:30 QTR 1089 Doha 22:00 KAC 773 Riyadh 10:10 KAC 286 Dhaka 12:35 UAE 859 Dubai 21:35 KAC 411 Bangkok 22:05 KAC 617 Doha 10:15 JZR 561 Sohag 12:45 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45 KAC 205 Islamabad 22:05 QTR 1071 Doha 10:20 MSR 610 Cairo 13:00 KLM 445 Amsterdam 21:50 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:10 KAC 155 Istanbul 10:25 MEA 403 Beirut 22:20 GEL 616 Baku 13:00 WAN 116 Bahrain 21:50 FDB 056 Dubai 10:35 ALK 230 Colombo 22:25 AXB 393 Kozhikode 13:15 KAC 564 Amman 22:00 JZR 778 Jeddah 10:40 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:30 KAC 774 Riyadh 13:40 QTR 1082 Doha 22:05 SVA 513 Riyadh 11:00 KAC 783 Jeddah 22:35 QTR 8322 Doha 13:55 AIC 987 Chennai/Hyderabad 22:25 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:25 PAL 668 Manila 14:00 PIA 239 Sialkot 22:35 IRA 674 Lar 11:40 KAC 383 Delhi 22:40 KLM 445 Bahrain 22:50 KAC 618 Doha 14:15 JZR 241 Amman 22:40 JZR 776 Jeddah 12:00 UAE 860 Dubai 23:00 KAC 516 Tehran 14:20 JZR 185 Dubai 23:10 MSC 404 Asyut 12:15 KAC 795 Madinah 23:05 QTR 1078 Doha 14:20 JAI 574 Mumbai 23:15 QTR 1075 Doha 12:30 JZR 606 Kochi 12:45 ICV 675 Hong Kong 23:10 FDB 059 Dubai 14:20 MSC 405 Sohag 23:30 QTR 1083 Doha 23:20 KAC 672 Dubai 14:25 BBC 043 Dhaka 23:30 MEA 405 Beirut 12:55 SAW 702 Damascus 13:30 PIA 240 Sialkot 23:35 GFA 221 Bahrain 14:40 FDB 071 Dubai 23:45 JZR 176 Dubai 13:40 WAN 337 Alexandria 23:45 Established 1961 28 T Tuesday, March 27, 2018 L i f e s t y l e G o s s i p

wedish House Mafia reunited on You Know ‘ in December 2017, and stage for the first time in five revealed they hope to remain current. Syears at Miami’s Ultra Music Ingrosso said: “We love to experiment Festival last night. The EDM stars - and it’s important as They also revealed Axwell, Sebastian Ingrosso and Steve at the time that they are looking at cut- Angello - poignantly last performed as ting back their shows in Ibiza and are a trio at the same event in March 2013. keen to come back to the UK as much Emerging from the dark stage, they as possible. Axwell said: “We have said: “I am Axwell, I am Sebastian played Ibiza for so many years, so we Ingrosso, and I am Steve Angelo. “And are only doing a couple of shows here Miami, tonight we go by Swedish now but making them as crazy as pos- House Mafia.” The trio performed their sible. Whether or not they plan on breakthrough song ‘Miami 2 Ibiza’ releasing new music as a trio is still which usually features Tinie Tempah unknown. Asked about reunion plans in among hits including ‘Greyhound’ and 2016, Axwell said: “I think we’re all in ‘Save The World’. Asked why they our happy places right now. Having said decided now was the right time to get that it would be stupid of me to say back together, they simply said: “It was never [to a reunion]. “Maybe one day time...” Since they parted ways, Axwell something will happen inside of us that and Ingrosso have performed under the says ‘boom’. But it’s more [likely to be] name Axwell Ingrosso. The pair coming from us than at a festival.” released their debut album ‘More Than

Jack White: Hip-hop is the DeKnight wants new punk rock Hunnam to return to Pacific Rim franchise teven DeKnight hopes Charlie in the Pacific Rim - from destroying Hunnam will come back for a the planet. Humans created giant Sthird installment of the ‘Pacific robots called Jaegers - designed to Rim’ franchise. The 37-year-old be piloted by two humans locked actor starred as hero Raleigh together in a neural bridge. Beckett in Guillermo del Toro’s first However, humanity’s hopes relied on installment of the sci-fi franchise, a washed-up ex-pilot Raleigh but due to scheduling conflicts, he Becket (Hunnam) and Stacker was unable to reprise his role in Pentecost (Idris Elba). The new film DeKnight’s sequel, but the filmmaker ‘Pacific Rim Uprising’ - which is set hopes Hunnam will return in the 10 years after the original - follows future. In an interview with Collider, Jake Pentecost (John Boyega), the DeKnight said: “There was a version son of hero Stacker who sacrificed that was shot where what happened himself to save the world, who rises to him [Raleigh] was explained and up to stand against the evolved talked about. “We tested it, but alien race Kaiju alongside a rogue people had more questions. We Jaeger to prevent humanity’s ack White says hip-hop stars have more of a “dan- decided we didn’t want to lock our- extinction. Scott Eastwood - who gerous edge” than rock stars nowadays. The for- selves in and say Raleigh is dead or stars in the sequel - also revealed Jmer White Stripes star has been vocal about how Raleigh has retired, which seemed a that Hunnam - who was set to he feels current rock ‘n’ roll lacks a “wildness”, and little cheap. “We wanted to leave it reprise his role in the sequel but now he’s admitted he is a bigger fan of hip-hop than open for the third installment of the due to scheduling difficulties was rock because it’s punk’s next best thing. He said: movie in case we can get Charlie unable to - is up for returning as “Rappers have the dangerous edge of music now - Hunnam back. “The only reason well for a third movie. The what I would consider the closest thing to that stuff Charlie isn’t in the movie is schedul- Hollywood hunk said: “Absolutely! you might not want your parents to know you’re lis- Morrison supporting ing problems, he had his dream Charlie Hunnam and I sat down and tening to.” The ‘Seven Nation Army’ hitmaker recruit- project, a remake of ‘Papillon’, that talked about this movie. “We actu- ed musicians that have worked with the genres big as we had finished the script with ally wrote an entire script with shots, Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar, on his new him in it, it was announced he was Raleigh Becket as the main charac- Michael Buble at BST Hyde Park solo LP ‘Boarding House Reach’. The 43-year-old doing ‘Papillon’, his passion project ter. I turned it in. “Everybody loved musician admits that critics would have preferred him and unfortunately the dates were it and the next day it was to release new music like White Stripes’ 2002 album an Morrison will support Michael Buble at night for his fans.” The Head of Events, Filming exactly the same as ours, right in announced that he was doing the ‘Elephant’ though. In an interview with the Orlando British Summer Time Hyde Park. The and Commercial Development at The Royal Parks, the middle of when we would shoot remake of ‘Papillon’, which shot at Sentinel, Jack admitted: “I hear a lot of talk about peo- V‘Brown Eyed Girl’ hitmaker is set to open Alun Mainwaring, added: “We are very excited to “So very sadly he couldn’t be a part the exact same time we were, and I ple listening to this album, saying, ‘You don’t even for the ‘Haven’t Met You Yet’ singer at the London welcome Michael Buble to Hyde Park in what of this one, but hopefully in a future know it was a passion project for actually hear a song till you get to ‘Over and Over and landmark on July 13, where Michael will perform promises to be another unforgettable evening from installment he will be.” The first film Charlie. “I love Charlie. I would love Over’. “What they’re really saying is, ‘I’m not hearing for the first time since December 2017. Also per- a world class act. Since it began, Barclaycard pres- followed mankind’s attempts to stop to work with him. There is definitely a song that I want from Jack White until ‘Over and forming on the same stage are iconic female pop ents British Summer Time Hyde Park has been monstrous creatures known as room in the franchise to bring him Over and Over.’ They want me to write songs like I did vocal group Bananarama, indie rockers The Feeling attracting the biggest artists on the planet and Kaiju - who entered from breaches back.” — Bang Showbiz on ‘Elephant’ [‘White Stripes’ 2002 LP]” Jack used and country music’s rising duo The Shires. Siobhan delighting sell-out crowds - which in turn has YouTube videos to search for players and asked his Fahey of ‘Shy Boy’ group Bananarama commented: helped us to maintain this precious park.” And team to find them. He said: “I’d literally point and say, “British Summer Time Hyde Park has become such though Michael’s performance at the music extrav- ‘Can we find out who this guy is?’” The ‘High Ball an important part of the year. “To be included in aganza will be his “only show in the UK”, it will no Stepper’ singer says when it comes to being in charge this year’s line-up alongside so many wonderful doubt be a show “to remember”. Roscoe Bowman, in the studio, he was most like Captain Picard from acts is just joyous.” Michael, 42, put his music VP Senior Experiential Marketing and ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ letting the musicians career on hold when his four-year-old son, Noah, Partnerships Manager for Barclaycard, said: have an input. He said: “‘Star Trek: The Next was diagnosed with cancer in 2016, and now the “We’re really excited to announce Michael BublÈ Generation. “It wasn’t like the old ‘Star Trek,’ where youngster is recovering the ‘Home’ singer is gear- as our third headliner at Barclaycard presents there was this hero, Capt. Kirk, who told everybody ing up for his comeback. The Senior Vice President British Summer Time Hyde Park 2018. With his what to do. “Capt. Picard said, ‘Someone give me of AEG Presents, James King, said: “I am thrilled to charismatic stage presence and catalogue of hits, options.’ “That’s the way to be the captain of a ship.” be able to welcome Michael Buble to the Great his only show in the UK next year will surely be Oak stage next year. July 13 is going to an amazing one to remember.” Tickets are on sale now.

Hamill reveals change to iconic Star Wars scene ark Hamill revealed scene between on-screen an iconic ‘Star siblings Luke and Leia and ef Leppard are proud of fellow Sheffield band Arctic Monkeys. MWars’ scene had to said Fisher will be “forever The ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’ hitmakers’ singer Joe Elliott be reshot following a char- missed”. In an interview Dadmires the indie band’s frontman Alex Turner for staying true to acter name change. Most with Entertainment his roots and singing in his northern accent, something he’s always avoid- fans of the popular sci-fi Tonight, Hamill said: “I ed as he wanted to sound more like The Rolling Stones’ Sir Mick Jagger. franchise will know that can’t watch that scene. “It’s Joe told the Daily Star newspaper: “We’ve got a work ethic up north. Hamill’s Jedi Master charac- just, you know, takes me “When the first album came out I thought it was brilliant because Alex ter Luke Skywalker was out of the movie complete- was probably the first singer who came ohn Boyega always wanted to be part of the sci-fi genre. The 26- originally supposed to have ly. I’ll get over it, but she’ll from Sheffield that actually sounded like year-old actor landed the role of Stormtrooper-turned-Resistance the surname Starkiller. And be forever missed and she’s he came from there. “I didn’t I wanted to fighter Finn in the newest ‘Star Wars’ trilogy and is currently star- Hamill has revealed in the irreplaceable.” Although be completely transatlantic like [Sir] Mick J first original movie ‘A New his character died during ring in the sequel to ‘Pacific Rim’. Before landing his breakout role in Jagger. “Alex embraced it, like the Manics ‘Star Wars’, Boyega became a household name in the British sci-fi Hope’ the scene where Luke the events of ‘The Last did 10 years before. “I thought songs like movie ‘Attack the Block’, and he always knew he wanted to be part of and Han Solo (Harrison Jedi’, Hamill admitted he ‘Mardy Bum’ were brilliant. “He’s multi-tal- the genre. He told Fanfest.com: “I’ve always wanted to be part of the Ford) rescue Princess Leia would love to be back in ented, he’s a bit like Damon from Blur, who sci-fi genre. And also at the same time, I just thought that if I wanted to (Carrie Fisher) had to be shot again. The the upcoming ninth movie but wants to see can then go on and do stuff with that car- be in a film, that I always enjoy it, and be a part of it in a very unique 66-year-old actor wrote on Twitter: “FUN his Force Ghost used in a different way. He toon band Gorillaz.” Meanwhile, Joe - who performed a Teenage Cancer Trust Gig way which means playing a character important to the story and at the FACT - the name change to Skywalker told RadioTimes.com: “Well I thought, if with his bandmates at London’s Royal forefront of these stories as well. “But honestly, not specifically to ‘Star came late enough in production that we he’s a Force Ghost I’d love to see him used had to re-shoot the scene where I liberated in a way that hasn’t been done before. “I Albert Hall on Sunday night - has revealed Wars’ or ‘Pacific Rim’, I just wanted to be involved in sci-fi.” Boyega is the late music icon David Bowie gave them set to start filming the ninth instalment of the current Skywalker saga in the Princess from her cell. “We had already mean let’s use the word ghost! That implies shot it using the original line: ‘I’m Luke that it’s frightening.” Although Hamill hasn’t his seal of approval of their cover of 1973’s July and admitted he felt more pressure starring in 2017’s ‘The Last ‘Drive-in Saturday’. He recalled: “Bowie Jedi’ compared to his first outing as Finn in 2015’s ‘The Force Awakens’. Starkiller. I’m here to rescue you!’” The heard whether he will be returning in original ‘Star Wars’ legend have all reprised Abrams’ ninth installment of the franchise, emailed a friend and said, ‘Tell Joe it’s one of the best covers I’ve ever He said: “I think definitely you feel the pressure when it comes to any heard of one of my songs’. “I didn’t believe them, but they forwarded the role. “With ‘The Force Awakens’, we had so much time auditioning that their iconic roles in the current trilogy and he knows there is a “certain sense of clo- in two installments so far, both Han and sure” for him. He said: “We haven’t really email.” The ‘Love Bites’ rockers - also comprised of Vivian Campbell, the role was already built up so that by the time I got to the fourth or Rick Allen and Rick Savage - will play their first UK and Ireland tour fifth audition I felt like I knew who Finn was and I felt like I knew how I Luke have died. However, Fisher tragically discussed it, so it’s all in J.J.’s hands. “But passed away in December 2016 after you know, there’s a certain sense of closure since 2015 in December. The run will see them playing their 1987 LP was gonna perform exactly. “By the time you go into principal photog- ‘Hysteria’ in full after demand from fans. Savage said: “After many shooting her final scenes for the eighth for me. J.J. gave me one of the most spec- raphy, you know exactly where the character is gonna go and so being requests from fans in the UK, I’m delighted that we can bring the whole instalment ‘The Last Jedi’ and director Rian tacular entrances, certainly of my career, heavily involved, especially with J.J. (Abrams) bringing us in, and being ‘Hysteria’ album to arenas across Britain and Ireland later this year. From able to discuss and rehearse... it makes for an easier transition going Johnson decided not to include her death in maybe in all of film history. “I don’t know if ‘Women’ to ‘Love and Affection’ plus many other faves thrown in for obviously from myself as I am, into a character like Finn.” Boyega will his movie, leaving J.J. Abrams to complete anybody’s been talked about for two hours good measure. “Oh, and our old pals Cheap Trick will be there also to be reprising his role alongside Daisy Ridley as Rey, Adam Driver as Fisher’s ‘Star Wars’ saga. Hamill - who was and then shows up for 30 seconds before help with the celebrations!! We can’t wait’.” The run kicks off in Dublin Kylo Renn and Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux. close friends with the actress - recently the end credits roll. “And what a spectacu- On December 1, and ends in Birmingham on December 17. admitted that he cannot watch the final lar exit Rian gave me!” Established 1961 T 29 Tuesday, March 27, 2018 L i f e s t y l e Fe a t u r e s

In this picture, In this picture, a man walks local artist with his dog Zoei Lam past a mural by paints a mural US artist onto a wall. Bisco Smith. Street art makes a splash in Hong Kong

In this picture, Australian artist Anthony Lister poses In this picture, the hand of local artist Neil Wang, In this picture, British artist Dan Kitchener spray paints in front of his mural on a wall. bottom left, is seen as he paints a mural onto a wall. a mural onto the outside wall of a bar.

rom murals made famous by Instagram to But English mural artist Dan Kitchener, outside wall of a city bar. Trained for many by graffiti artist Alex Croft said to be the city’s of exhibitions in recent years, giving it a high- painting battles, Hong Kong’s once largely drawn to the city’s unique geography and ener- years in water color and acrylic painting, 43- most photographed wall, featuring rows of old er profile and more commercial spin in the Funderground street art scene has explod- gy, made his third visit to Hong Kong this year-old Kitchener is particularly fond of por- townhouses on a bright blue background. city. In 2015 a mosaic of 1970s American car- ed in recent years, and is now blossoming month to depict atmospheric urban scenes with traying neon lights, reflections and rain sights Hong Kong lacks a world-class art museum toon character Hong Kong Phooey by French across the city’s walls and alleyways. The com- spray paint in its narrow and steep streets. that first captivated him in Tokyo. He had just and marquee exhibitions rarely make a stop in artist Invader sold at auction in Hong Kong mercial high end of the art world is at the fore “Hong Kong’s got that feel to me-the epic scale finished a detailed mural of a street market in the southern Chinese city, where it can be dif- for HK$2 million. The popular piece of street in March, with gallerists, collectors and celebri- and the skyscrapers, and then it’s got these little the bustling Wan Chai district, before moving ficult to secure permission for public shows. art had been destroyed by the city’s authori- ties descending on Hong Kong for the annual tiny alleyways,” Kitchener said while balancing on to paint outside a watering hole in down- But street art has enjoyed a boost from grow- ties, infuriating residents, and was later recre- Art Basel fair. on bamboo scaffolding as he painted on the town Central. Just opposite the bar is a mural ing demand in Asia and an increasing number ated for sale. —AFP

In this picture, Chinese artist SIK spray paints a mural in an alley in the Sai Ying Pun district of Hong Kong. — AFP photos In this picture, a pedestrian runs past a mural spray painted by British artist Dan Kitchener. Pyongyang Style? Seoul ‘push’

for Psy to play in N Korea merican designer and celebrity DJ Virgil Abloh is to take over menswear at Louis eoul is pushing for “Gangnam Style” star AVuitton, the brand said yesterday, in a Psy to perform in next week’s historic dramatic shake-up at the top of men’s fashion. Sconcerts by South Korean artists in the The appointment of rap star Kanye West’s North’s capital, multiple reports said. A team longtime friend and creative director to the of at least nine South Korean pop acts are set world’s biggest luxury label shows the massive to visit North Korea next week for two con- impact street style is now having on fashion. certs in Pyongyang, the first of their kind for Abloh, 37, an engineering and architecture more than a decade. The shows-part of rec- graduate, has won plaudits for his Off-White onciliatory moves ahead of a planned inter- label, with fans regularly queuing to get their Korean summit in April-feature many top hands on his latest designs. He posted a picture stars including K-pop girlband Red Velvet. of a vintage Louis Vuitton travel chest to his 1.6 But Seoul is also seeking to include Psy in million Instagram followers to announce the the lineup, South Korean media reports said, move. He had earlier teased them with a post of citing sources in the government and the K- a white T-shirt with the letters “SHM”, which pop industry. The 40-year-old rapper/singer stood for “something huge Monday”. became an international sensation in 2012 Abloh is the second black man to head one when his wacky but catchy “Gangnam Style” of the big Paris fashion houses, with French music video went viral on Youtube, pushing designer Olivier Rousteing responsible for him into global stardom. The song satirized both Balmain’s men and women’s lines. They the lifestyle of the wealthy denizens of follow in the footsteps of British creator Gangnam in Seoul, the South’s richest dis- Ozwald Boateng, who led Givenchy menswear trict, and the video has been viewed more from 2003 to 2007. than 3 billion times, spawning a host of imita- In this file photo US fashion designer Virgil Abloh acknowledges applause following the presentation tions. “We have formally proposed to the Black pioneer of the men’s Fall/Winter 2018/2019 collection he designed for Off White in Paris. — AFP North to add Psy to the lineup,” Seoul’s MBC “It is an honor for me to accept the position designed for Nike have reportedly sold for as label in 2012. The following year West made TV station late Sunday quoted a Seoul gov- of men’s artistic director for Louis Vuitton,” much as $2,000 a pair, with his Air Jordan 1s on him his creative partner. He designed West’s ernment official as saying. Abloh said in a statement released by the brand, sale for up to 950 euros on eBay. merchandise as well as his own lines which But Pyongyang opposed the idea, it said, the largest in the luxury giant LVMH’s stable. He found a lucrative sweet spot between street adding the conservative North was appar- later referred to his color, telling the New York Purveyor of cool wear and high Paris fashion. Known mostly for ently concerned about the singer’s provoca- Times that his appointment will “show a Described by Vogue magazine as “one of its bold diagonal stripes, Off-White has moved tive performance style. Psy has in the past summit with US President Donald Trump, the younger generation that there is no one way fashion’s consummate purveyors of cool and from loudly branded hoodies and T-shirts into stripped topless on stage in the South and envoys said, and Trump agreed to the ren- anyone in this kind of position has to look.” hype”, and “a master of irony, reference and a far more sophisticated silhouette. his lyrics include Korean swearwords, while dezvous. North Korea has not officially con- Abloh takes over from British designer Kim the self-aware wink” by the New York Times, Clever collaborations with big brands have spectators at shows by the North’s popular firmed or denied the proposed summits. The Jones-who left to take over Dior Homme last he has not been afraid to court controversy. also brought it into the spotlight. Abloh’s latest Moranbong band remain firmly seated South’s TV dramas and pop songs have taken week-and will stage his first Vuitton show dur- Last year he teamed up with the famed with furniture maker Ikea is rumored to include throughout. Asia by storm and despite not being broad- ing Paris men’s fashion week in June, the label American artist Jenny Holzer for a show in Italy bags and mats with the legend, “Keep Off!” “I The K-pop gigs are part of a cross-bor- cast in the isolated North are known to enjoy said. He looks set to continue Jones’ high-profile that shone a light on the migrant crisis there. feel elated,” the designer told the New York der deal made earlier this month when Seoul growing popularity thanks to flash drives hook-ups with street style labels, with Jones Raised in the US state of Illinois by Ghanaian Times of his new role with Louis Vuitton, say- envoys met North Korean leader Kim Jong smuggled across the border with China. The famously teaming up with New York street parents, his mother was a seamstress who ing he would move his family to the French Un to pave the way for dialogue after months authoritarian nation harshly punishes those brand Supreme. Abloh-who has an address taught him her trade before he went on to capital. “This opportunity to think through of tensions on the flashpoint peninsula. Kim who possess or view outside cultural materi- book full of celebrity friends that goes from the study civil engineering and later architecture. what the next chapter of design and luxury will offered to meet South Korean President al unsanctioned by the state, with offenders Kardashian clan to the art world-is responsible He began his fashion career alongside his mean at a brand that represents the pinnacle of Moon Jae-in before having a face-to-face facing potential jail terms. —AFP for some of the most sought-after trainers of the friend Kanye West as a 500 euro-a-month luxury was always a goal in my wildest moment. “The Ten” trainers his Off-White label intern at Italian label Fendi, setting up his own dreams.” — AFP 30 Established 1961 Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Lifestyle Awards

Candace Cameron-Bure

Nick Cannon, center left, Mariah Carey, center right, and from left, their children Moroccan and Monroe arrive at the Kids’ Skai Jackson Choice Awards at The Forum in Inglewood, California. — AP/AFP photos Patrick Schwarzenegger Celebrities at Kids’ Choice Awards praise youth marches

he power of the youth rallies against gun violence that were held across the US this weekend impressed Tmany of the celebrities who turned out at the Kids’ Choice Awards. Stars including former couple Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon voiced their support for the hun- dreds of thousands of teenagers and their supporters who spent Saturday marching for gun control. “We were with them in spirit,” Carey said as she arrived that night to the annual event with ex-husband Cannon and their twins, Moroccan and Monroe. “Oh, it’s so amazing. Absolutely! I want them to see that as well,” Jace Norman accepts the award for favorite TV actor for Cannon said, pointing to his son perched on his shoulders. “Henry Danger.” The Kids’ Choice Awards in Los Angeles featured host John Cena and others getting doused with green slime, as is tradition, along with performances and awards. Before the ceremony, stars praised the kids and teens who participated in the rallies in the kind of numbers seen during the Vietnam era. They were called to action by a new corps of leaders: student survivors of the high school shooting in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead on Feb. 14. The demonstration in Los Angeles was the first protest for 15-year-old Jenna Ortega. The “Jane the Virgin” actress was deeply moved by the atmosphere. “We are kids. We have so much ahead of us. We have these full lives to live that these other people have already lived,” she said. “We have so much hope, so many dreams. So when situations like school shootings happen, they’re killing those dreams along with them and our future activists and politicians.” Ortega said the prevalence of mass shootings has made her scared to go to public places. Place for love “I’m only 15! It shouldn’t be like that. And school is sup- Shay Haley from left, Pharrell Williams, and Chad Hugo of N.E.R.D perform “Lemon.” posed to be a place for love, where you learn, where you grow, not die. And that’s the saddest thing,” she said. Disney Channel actress Skai Jackson spoke at the Los voice heard, regardless of whether people agree or dis- Angeles rally and said teenagers still have power, even if agree with them, but they have to speak up,” she said. they aren’t old enough to vote. Patrick Schwarzenegger, star of romantic teen film “We still have a voice, and that change needs to be “Midnight Sun,” said he can’t wait to see this young gener- done,” she said. “And I know even my friends, they want to ation of activists become the leaders of tomorrow. feel safe when they go to school, and they shouldn’t be “They’re the future, and I think it’s awesome how they’ve scared.” Candace Bure, a Kids’ Choice Awards nominee handled themselves and gone out and used the situation for “Fuller House,” said she’s proudly raised her daughter (that) unfortunately (happened) to create a change,” said to be an activist. Schwarzenegger, son of actor and former California Gov. Lizzy Greene “I think it’s so important to teach our kids to speak up Arnold Schwarzenegger. — AP for what they believe in and use their voice and know that they are never too young to have an opinion, to have their

Liza Koshy gets slimed as she accepts the award for favorite Jayden Bartels Yara Shahidi, left, and Zendaya participate in a snowball fight onstage. funny YouTube creator. Established 1961 31 Lifestyle Awards Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Heidi Klum, left, and Mel B get slimed as they present the award for favorite movie actress.

General view of the stage JoJo Siwa performs at the Kids’ Choice Awards.

Camila Cabello accepts the Favourite Breakout Artist award. Zendaya accepts the Favorite Movie Actress award for “Spider-Man: Homecoming” Channing Tatum gets snowballed onstage and “The Greatest Showman.”

Ricardo Hurtado Kristen Bell Caleb McLaughlin

Alabama Barker

Millie Bobby Brown walks to stage

Host John Cena speaks onstage Established 1961

Lifestyle TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2018

Host John Cena gets slimed onstage at the 31st Annual Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards on March 24, 2018 at the Forum in Inglewood, California. — AFP In ‘city of shanasheel’, Iraqi Sierra Leone ‘people’s popstar’ on life heritage crumbles from neglect as govt enemy No.1 s a child, Adnan Khalaf used to marvel at The newcomers have “changed the buildings, the Iraqi city of Basra’s “shanasheel”, demolished them and rebuilt them with breeze or a musician used to receiving tion, collaborating with four other Afinely crafted bay windows complete blocks”, said heritage specialist Hashem al- personal insults from the presi- artists on the song “Mi vote na mi life” with intricate wooden latticework and ornate Azzam. “If there had been a mechanism for the Fdent and anonymous death last year to encourage voters deeply stained glass. Today, the Iraqi retiree can only Today about renovations and financing, the shanasheel would threats with the release of every new split along tribal and regional lines to watch as the hallmarks of his hometown-”the still be in good condition,” he said. Of all Basra’s single, Emmerson Bockarie laughs a consider policies when making their city of shanasheel”-crumble out of neglect. 400 are left traditional buildings and shanasheel-which lot. The Sierra Leonean popstar, a choice. “Emmerson songs are about Authorities in Basra, the capital of Iraq’s richest allow inhabitants to see outside without being thorn in the side of successive govern- issues affecting ordinary people,” oil province, are struggling to provide the bare seen-”today about 400 are left more or less ments over his 15-year career, chuck- explained Murtala Mohamed Kamara, minimum of services to its inhabitants, as nepo- more or intact”, according to Qahtan al-Obeid, head of les as he recalls the countless times publisher of entertainment publication tism and corruption divert lucrative revenues archaeology and heritage in Basra province. politicians have sought to dampen his the Salone Jamboree. “He has been from the black gold. But the southern port city’s Where there once stood a Jewish library, a appeal, and the countless times they consistent with his criticism and advo- “golden age” was not all that long ago. At 71, less intact women’s steam room and the home of a Kuwaiti have failed. “Politicians make mentions cacy for change without bias to any Khalaf remembers it well. sheikh, locals say, all that remains are crumbling of my music on TV and radio. That government,” he added. He can still name the city’s wealthy old fami- walls, wooden beams eaten away by termites means they hear the songs and are lies-Jewish, Christian and Muslim-who lived stained glass windows onto the streets below. and dangerously leaning shanasheel. Obeid said getting the message,” he notes with behind elaborate shanasheel in traditional All the houses in the Old City, built by the com- that decision-makers at the local and national delight, settling down for an interview homes along canals of Basra’s Old City. “But the mercial bourgeoisie and local aristocracy, were levels were failing to prioritize “heritage preser- with AFP at his Freetown studio. Better city has been neglected, rubbish has been once adorned with shanasheel. The wooden vation” in their budgets. known simply as “Emmerson”, the dumped into its waters,” said Khalaf. “No one beams, coated with a natural wax to resist water Afrobeat singer is the bete noire of cares about it anymore.” The latticework win- and fire, made for strong homes. No budget for heritage Sierra Leone’s music scene, one of few dows-also known as mashrabiya-date back to Whenever King Faisal II, the last monarch of Like elsewhere in Iraq, power cuts in Basra successful artists who refuse to play the 16th and 17th centuries, according to Iraq, visited Basra, he would stay with the gov- are chronic. The Old City’s walls, where political rallies or back a party in a Abdelhaq al-Moudhaffar, head of the city’s ernor on the river running through the city, now engraved inscriptions still remain, are now cov- nation where rappers and singers are Palace of Culture and Arts. They spread to other just a trickle of water where waste floats. But ered by webs of electrical wires connected to co-opted for their youth appeal. cities in Iraq, including Baghdad, and across the with the fall of the monarchy, Saddam Hussein’s generators at every corner. Air conditioners With a new president due to be Levant and to Egypt. rise to power and Iraq’s multiple wars, the situa- have been installed in holes dug into the weath- elected on Tuesday, Bockarie says he Sierra Leonean popstar Emmerson tion in Basra has slowly but surely deteriorated. er-worn stone facades. Some buildings, howev- expects fresh inspiration for his soft posing at his studio in Freetown, Sierra ‘Dismantling’ heritage The 2003 US-led invasion was the coup de er, have been restored and now house a handful yet scathing lyrics-whoever wins-as Loene.—AFP the ruling All Peoples’ Congress (APC) When lights are turned on at night inside the grace. “The original inhabitants have gone, oth- of cultural institutions, such as the union of visu- faces off against the main opposition ‘No easy eh’ traditional homes, inspired by a mix of Indian, ers have arrived. I’ve seen some dismantle the al artists, or centers dedicated to heritage. Sierra Leone Peoples’ Party (SLPP). A typical Emmerson song will Persian and Islamic influences, a patchwork of pieces of wood from their houses to sell them,” In another rare success story, the home of The two parties have ruled the country encompass mockery of politicians’ orange, green, red and blue light is cast from the said Khalaf. Basra’s most famous poet, Badr Shakir al- alternately since independence in 1961. Sayyab, has also been saved with funding from greed and uselessness, tributes to “I stand with the people; I am with the Sierra Leone and its long-suffering local authorities. With the ravages of time, the country,” he enthuses. “It makes no people, and some element of hope for house had turned into a ruin piled up with rub- sense for me to belong to a political the future. His lyrics about poverty-”wi bish. “Today, all the architecture and wooden party.” weh no born mit money/ less opportu- ornaments have been redone to the original nity/ still wi wan be somebody/ e no design,” said Obeid. He said the province’s ‘Consistent criticism’ easy eh”-reflect the frustrations of antiquities department had been “there to over- Emmerson began making music in young people in a country with high see and provide technical support, but not to the local Krio language after Sierra unemployment and enduring social fund the renovation because it doesn’t have the Leone’s civil war ended in 2002, when injustice. “I started listening to funds”. — AFP he had just left school. His first single Emmerson’s music in 2007, and I still “Yu Go See Am” ridiculed government love him for telling the truth,” fan officials stuffing their faces and skim- Ophaniel Gooding told AFP. But his ming money off state funds while ordi- riotously successful songs have made An Iraqi man walks in the courtyard of nary citizens went hungry. “The (then) him some powerful enemies. “I know an old building with traditional president, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, was there are propaganda machines out ‘shanasheel’, finely crafted bay win- like: it’s better for them to sing than to there organised by the government to dows complete with intricate wooden go back to the bush and be rebels,” he go against my music on social media,” latticework and ornate stained glass explains, referring to the legions of Emmerson says.—AFP which allow inhabitants to see outside child and youth soldiers. These days, without being seen, in the southern city he is heavily engaged in civic educa- of Basra. — AFP