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THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 RAJAB 7, 1437 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Empower Jordan security Bill Gates Atletico in semis women by services shut predicts as Griezmann abolishing Brotherhood end of double knocks outdated3 laws headquarters8 polio13 soon out20 Barcelona Nod to higher power tariffs Min 22º Max 33º for expatriates, businesses High Tide 05:52 & 16:10 Low Tide Lawmakers exempt citizens from proposed raises 10:53 40 PAGES NO: 16844 150 FILS

By B Izzak conspiracy theories KUWAIT: The National Assembly yesterday voted in the first round to allow the government to raise electricity This is apartheid and water charges on apartment buildings - mostly used by expatriates - and businesses, but exempted citi- zens. Thirty-one MPs voted in favor and 17 members against the bill. The second and final round of voting will take place after two weeks, and MPs said they will introduce amendments to the bill. If given the final clearance, it will be the first time in 50 years that Kuwait By Badrya Darwish will raise power charges. According to the bill, those living in apartments will pay 5 fils per kilowatt for the first 1,000 kilowatts, 10 fils per kilowatt for between 1,000 and 2,000 kW and as much as 15 fils a kilowatt for consumption above 2,000 [email protected] kW. Water prices will also be more than doubled. Citizens and those staying in private houses have been exempted and will continue to pay just 2 fils per kilo- fter many sessions since the government watt regardless of consumption. MPs are expected to started suggesting increasing the prices of also exempt tens of thousands of Kuwaiti families living petrol and water for the nation and took it to A in apartments while waiting for their turn to receive a the parliament for debate of course due to the drop government house. in the price of oil - this is what the great parliament It was not immediately clear when the new charges came out with yesterday. will be applied, but indications are that it will be applied The question of lifting subsidies was justified due only after installing smart power meters and could take to collapsing oil prices, with Kuwaiti crude hitting a up to one year. Initially, MPs rejected the draft law for low of around $20, but very recently we’ve seen including private houses, but then passed it when pri- prices rise as high as $36, and there is lots of opti- KUWAIT: Finance Minister and acting oil minister Anas Al-Saleh gestures as Electricity and Water Minister Ahmad vate houses were excluded. mism that oil prices will recover. On the other hand, Al-Jassar looks on during a parliament session at the National Assembly yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat Continued on Page 13 Kuwait does not have a deficit if you include all of its revenue streams. So the big drama that the govern- ment is making by increasing prices, cutting budgets, tightening belts, or whatever you call it, is not totally National guard to be deployed at oil sites based on real numbers. These are the government’s justification which KUWAIT: Kuwait was to deploy national ers. KPC spokesman Sheikh Talal Khaled was to be considered by the parliament. guard units yesterday to run and protect Al-Sabah said the ministry had scheduled Unfortunately it was sad to see the parliament’s ver- MoI: No ‘amnesty’ some oil facilities after workers negotiations with the oil workers for dict on the issue yesterday. It approved increased announced a major strike for this week- today, and that the KPC would attend. electricity and water charges for businesses and end, a newspaper said. The units would Sheikh Talal said that under Kuwaiti laws, expats. for visa violators start working at facilities in the state’s oil- no strike can take place while negotia- This is impossible for businesses. It’s illogical to rich southern region, Al-Rai said, citing tions are under way, urging workers and increase any price more than 100 percent. As you can unnamed sources. The report could not KPC and its subsidiaries not to “heed calls see, it used to be 2 fils per kilowatt and now it will be Crackdown to continue be confirmed. Kuwait’s oil workers’ union to obstruct work”. A spokesman for the 25 fils per kilowatt for businesses. And for flats rented decided to begin an open-ended strike workers told AFP that the union was by expats, tariffs will jump from 2 fils per kilowatt to By A Saleh to pursue every lawbreaker every- from Sunday after a dispute with the gov- meeting to study the ministry request 15 fils per kilowatt. Kuwaitis living in apartments and where,” he added. ernment over proposed pay cuts. and whether to attend new negotiations. in residential areas will be exempted. KUWAIT: Kuwait has no plans to give an The minister confirmed that his min- Hit by the sharp drop in crude prices, However, a labor union leader said Why the discrimination in the nation? We are all amnesty to visa violators because law- istry’s new strategy aims to conduct full Kuwait is introducing a new payroll plans for the strike by thousands of work- living under the same roof. I’m lucky I’m Kuwaiti and breakers in recent years have used the and comprehensive security inspection scheme for all public employees and ers at state-owned oil, gas and petro- this will not affect me, but in all fairness, it’s not just amnesty period to exit the country tours in all governorates due to its effec- wants to include the country’s 20,000 oil chemical companies were in place, deny- and not Islamic at all to treat people who are living without paying fines, a senior govern- tiveness in apprehending wanted sus- workers, which would mean an automat- ing reports that negotiations were under with us in the same country in the same conditions in ment official said yesterday. pects in the country. About 42,000 ic cut in wages and incentives. The union way. “There are no negotiations between this apartheid manner. “It has become a habit that every expats living illegally in Kuwait had ben- decision for the strike at all production the unions and the government over the This is completely wrong and I hope the honor- now and then, visa violators look for- efited from a four-month amnesty peri- units and other facilities was taken on strike,” Farhan Al-Ajmi, head of the able gentlemen in the parliament will reconsider. I ward for an amnesty period so that they od which ended on June 30, 2011 - the Monday, a day after talks with acting oil Petrochemicals Industries Company know they plan to have one more reading in two can travel and escape without paying last time an amnesty was given. In minister Anas Al-Saleh broke down. Saleh workers union, told Reuters. He said the weeks to finalize this harsh verdict on businesses and their fines,” Deputy Prime Minister and January, the ministry allowed residency told parliament yesterday that negotia- door for negotiations had been closed expats. Kuwait has always been known as the freest Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al- violators to pay their fines and either tions with unions were still ongoing. since the last meeting with Saleh earlier and fairest nation in the Middle East. Don’t ruin its Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said during legalize their status or leave the country National oil conglomerate Kuwait this week. “The strike will not be can- reputation. Hopefully, in two weeks’ time, we will a parliament session yesterday. “We at without being blacklisted. This will Petroleum Corp said it had accepted a celled or suspended until all the hear more fair and reasonable ideas that abide by the the interior ministry saw that there is mean they can return on a new visa in request by the ministry of social affairs demands are met,” he said. laws of our religion and our humanity. no need for an amnesty, as we continue the future. and labor for negotiations with the work- Continued on Page 13

Saudi cabinet Sisi on defensive over curbs powers isles, student’s killing

of vice police CAIRO: Egypt’s president yesterday sought to defuse a storm stirred up by his RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has stripped its frequently government’s declared intention to hand criticized religious police of their powers to arrest, over control of two strategic Red Sea urging them to act “kindly and gently” in enforcing islands to Saudi Arabia, arguing that he Islamic rules. Some Saudis called the move long did not surrender Egyptian territory. overdue. Under changes approved by the cabinet, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi also reiterat- religious officers will no longer be allowed to detain ed Cairo’s position that Egyptian security people and instead must report violators to police forces had nothing to do with the torture or drug squad officers, the official Saudi Press and killing of an Italian doctoral student Agency said late Tuesday. Officers of the Haia force, RIYADH: A Saudi municipal worker cleans a flooded street after heavy rainfall abducted in Cairo, an incident that has also known as the Mutawaa, must “carry out the across the Saudi capital yesterday. — AFP poisoned ties with Italy. Rome recalled its duties of encouraging virtue and forbidding vice by ambassador to Cairo in protest of what it advising kindly and gently” under the new rules, called a lack of cooperation by Egyptian Traffic chaos, schools SPA reported. authorities in the investigation. “Neither the heads nor members of the Haia are Addressing both issues in a speech to a to stop or arrest or chase people or ask for their IDs group of officials and journalists, Sisi sug- shut in Riyadh floods or follow them - that is considered the jurisdiction of gested conspirators were working against CAIRO: Egyptian President Abdel- RIYADH: Traffic backed up and schools were for kilometres along at least one major thor- the police or the drug unit,” the regulations say. the country. “The conspiracy by the people Saudi Arabia’s religious police enforce the country’s Fattah Al-Sisi speaks during a live shut in the Saudi capital Riyadh yesterday oughfare and many vehicles broke down as of evil, they have been at work, and are still broadcast yesterday. — AP after the desert city was struck by a rare the deluge flooded city streets. Riyadh, an strict interpretation of Islam including segregation of working,” Sisi said, adding that he would the sexes and ensuring that women cover them- severe storm that sparked flooding. The inland desert city of 5.7 million, is famed for not identify them. “Trust the man you State television severed live transmission selves from head-to-toe when in public. storm, which struck during Tuesday evening’s its searing temperatures and sees only occa- entrusted with your country, with your immediately after the outburst, which Formally known as the Commission for the rush hour, had subsided by daybreak yester- sional bursts of rain. honor. Your land is your honor. I’m saying, stunned viewers and set off a social day but some roads were still inundated. The Arab News daily cited the education Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, its mem- guys, there’s a lot of chaos,” he said in the media frenzy over the encroachment on Riyadh implemented its emergency plan to department as saying all schools in the capi- bers also patrol shops to make sure they are shut- speech, broadcast live on state television. free expression in Sisi’s Egypt. deal with the flooding, the spokesman for the tal region would be shut yesterday. SPA tered during prayers five times daily. Their tactics The impromptu, two-hour address The hashtag “speech does not need municipal council, Mohammed Al- reported that at least one university, the Naif have regularly been the subject of controversy, most lasted so long one MP had to excuse permission” trended on Twitter, with Shwayman, was quoted by the official Saudi Arab University for Security Sciences, had also recently in February when members were arrested himself to use the bathroom. At the end, Press Agency (SPA) as saying. Residents were suspended classes. In the kingdom’s south- for allegedly assaulting a young woman outside a Egyptians mocking the fact that Sisi had he tried to ask a question and was urged not to gather in affected areas “for the west, classes were suspended in the Asir Riyadh shopping mall, local media said at the time. invited people to a debate in which only silenced by Sisi, who retorted: “I did not sake of taking pictures and videos, putting region “due to weather conditions,” an official Continued on Page 13 he aired his views. their lives at risk”, he said. Traffic backed up cited by SPA said. — AFP give permission for anyone to speak.” Continued on Page 13 THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 LOCAL

‘Kuwait top contributor to Islamic labor’

ISTANBUL: Director General of the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Center for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) Musa Kulaklikaya hailed the efforts of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to develop joint Islamic labor. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad has made numerous prominent contribu- tions, aiming to boost economic cooperation among Islamic states, Kulaklikaya said in an inter- view yesterday. Meanwhile, he noted Kuwait’s chain of contribu- tions to support development, including a financial aid to establish SESRIC’s new headquarters in Ankara, Turkey, as well as donations by Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) to launch projects in 45 Islamic states. The official also men- tioned Kuwait’s contributions to the Islamic Development Bank as a founding member, for boosting trade and achieve development. As for the Islamic Summit Conference to be held in Turkey today, Kulaklikaya pointed out the OIC KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is seen off ISTANBUL: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is wel- important achievement, completing the OIC-2025 at the airport by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- comed by Turkish Minister of Economy Mustafa Elitas after arriving at Turkey’s Program of Action, for developing joint-Islamic Sabah. — Amiri Diwan photos Ataturk Airport. labor in different fields for the next ten years. The summit will address several vital issues including religious extremism, terrorism, the Syrian Amir arrives in Turkey for Islamic Summit crisis, the Palestinian cause and the current situa- tion in Yemen, Iraq, Libya and other conflict-stricken ISTANBUL/KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah His Highness the Amir was seen off upon departing Minister of Finance and Acting Minister of Oil Anas Al- Muslim countries, said the official. Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and his accompanying dele- Kuwait by His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Saleh, Minister of Justice and Minister of Awqaf and SESRIC, established under the OIC, collates, gation arrived at Turkey’s Ataturk Airport yesterday to lead Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, National Islamic Affairs Yaqoub Al-Sane, chairman of the office of processes and disseminates socio-economic statis- Kuwait’s delegation to the 13th session of the Islamic Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem, His Highness His Highness the Amir Ahmad Al-Fahad, Amiri Diwan tics and information on and for utilization by the Summit Conference ‘Unity and Solidarity for Justice and Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Acting Advisor Mohammad Abu Al-Hasan, head of the Amiri member countries, he said. The center also studies Peace’ due in Istanbul today. Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Mohammad protocol department Sheikh Khaled Al-Abdullah Al- and evaluates economic and social development His Highness the Amir was welcomed at the airport by Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of Amiri Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah, Amiri Diwan Advisor Abdullah in the member countries to help generate propos- Turkish Minister of Economy Mustafa Elitas, Kuwait’s Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Al-Matouq, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Khaled Al- als that will initiate and enhance co-operation Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah, Istanbul Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Jarallah, head of media and cultural affairs at the Amiri among them. It also organizes training programs Deputy Governor Ismail Gultekin, Kuwaiti Ambassador in Al-Sabah, top sheikhs, security officials and ministers. Diwan Yousif Al-Roumi, head of economic and political in selected fields, geared to the needs of the mem- Turkey Abdullah Al-Thuweikh and Kuwaiti Consul General His Highness’ delegation includes First Deputy Prime affairs at the Diwan Sheikh Fawaz Saud Nasser Saud Al- ber countries as well as to the general objectives in Istanbul Mohammad Fahad Al-Mohammad and several Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al- Sabah and senior Amiri Diwan and foreign ministry offi- of the OIC. — KUNA other Kuwaiti diplomats. Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister, cials.— KUNA Joint strategy for judiciary in GCC’s high, cassation courts

RIYADH: Setting a joint strategy for judiciary in the Gulf During the meeting, Kuwait proposed that the GCC Cooperation Council (GCC) high and cassation courts was high and cassation courts would be committed to submit the major issue on the agenda of a judicial meeting held in reports on what they achieve of the plan in each member Riyadh yesterday. The topic was discussed by the heads of state, he added. The operational programs of the plan high courts and courts in the GCC, said Chairman of the comprise exchange of visits between GCC judges and judi- Supreme Judicial Council Judge Yousef Al-Mutaw’aa, who cial staffs. is also President of Court of Cassation. In addition, the meeting approved yesterday a Kuwaiti The gathering discussed all aspects of the strategy, paper on qualifying judges of cassation courts, Mutaw’aa identifying its vision, goals, programs and operational plan, said. The Kuwaiti Court of Cassation was also entrusted Judge Mutaw’aa said. He noted that a draft project was with designing the litigation system likely to help realize approved by deputy heads of high and cassation courts convergence, or similarity, among the judicial and adminis- last month. trative bodies in the GCC courts of cassation. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Acting Premier Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled (center), Justice Minister Yaqoub Al-Sane (right) and Awqaf Ministry’s Undersecretary Fareed Emadi attend the Holy Quran International Prize. — KUNA Kuwait Int’l Prize for Holy Quran kicks off

KUWAIT: The 7th Kuwait International Prize of the Holy al identity, the most valuable thing it owns. The identity, Quran, patronized by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah built through the Quran, preserves national unity, boosts Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, was opened yesterday. The co-existence and counters extremism, exclusion and exag- opening ceremony, held by the Ministry of Justice, Awqaf geration in religion, the minister stressed. and Islamic Affairs, was attended by Acting Prime Minister Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice, Awqaf and and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al- Islamic Affairs Fareed Emadi, stressed Kuwait’s great inter- Sabah. Addressing the event, Minister of Justice and Awqaf est in Quran and His Highness the Amir’s keenness to and Islamic Affairs Yaqoub Al-Sane referred to the enor- patronize the Prize. Emadi, who is also head of the higher mous hazards, intellectual and security, facing the Muslim committee of the Prize, referred to Kuwait being chosen as nation, which makes it inevitable to stick to sources of Capital of Islamic Culture 2016. Up to 100 people, from 50 power, and nothing is greater than the Holy Quran, “the countries, are taking part in the 7th Kuwait International strong rope of Allah.” The Prize should not only focus on Prize for the Holy Quran. An exhibition is held as part of the recitation and memorization of the Quran, but has to pro- Prize, under the theme of “scientific miracles in the Holy ceed to the components of “such genuine identity” includ- Quran.” It includes the biggest copy of the Quran, nominat- ed in the Holy Book, the minister said. ed to enter the Guinness World Records. The exhidition For Sane, the worst plight of a nation is to lose its cultur- runs up till April 20. — KUNA

NSB chief meets British official

KUWAIT: The President of National Security Bureau (NSB) Sheikh Thamer Al-Ali Al-Sabah met yesterday with British Duke of Westminster Major-General Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor to discuss several issues of common concern. In a statement, Sheikh Thamer said the meeting also high- lighted ways of boosting joint cooperation between the two countries. The statement noted that both sides also tackled an initia- tive for establishing a rehabilitation center for the UK and its allies in Bahrain, which also aims at serving British veterans and victims of conflicts through a creative process and clinical rehabilitation. — KUNA THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2015 LOCAL

In my view Expats cannot join ‘Abolish Article 153’ cooperatives’ funds

KUWAIT: There is no plan to allow expatriates to join cooperative societies’ shareholding funds, a senior offi- cial of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Work said yester- By Alanoud Al-Sharekh day. Dismissing relevant reports, the Ministry’s Undersecretary Matar Al-Muteiri said in a press release: “Such media reports are inaccurate and there is not any move by the ministry in this regard.” He added that cooperative societies dot not need to take such a step, mostly because they already post growth in sales and profits. —KUNA here has been increased interest in the importance of empowering women in Kuwait. This has included des- Tignating a national day to celebrate the achievements of Kuwaiti women (May 16), and greater visibility for pro- grams concerned with ensuring that women are better rep- resented in the labor market, with the long-awaited SME Fund also focusing on aspects of female entrepreneurship. While this momentum is both welcome and necessary to continue the development of Kuwait on both the economic Shuwaikh Port and social fronts, what is equally, or even more important, is to tackle the issues that disempower Kuwaiti women on a daily basis. There is an entrenched tradition of ignoring KPA seeks to cope with directives to many of the damaging legal and social practices that exist on the institutional, and the more insidious personal level, which make it difficult to implement any serious measures turn country into int’l financial hub to change the gender inequality status in Kuwait. Many of these practices are defended in the name of tra- KUWAIT: Kuwait Ports Authority medium, and long-term projects. CCTV system and maritime system, dition, and many of them threaten the very fabric of this (KPA), in its 2015-2019 plan, is plan- and building customs areas, a uni- society and its inherent humane values. These practices exist ning to cope with directives aiming Shuwaikh port fied housing of all maritime opera- within a vacuum of legal assistance, medical aid and the to turn the country into an interna- Shuwaikh port is the main com- tions’ employees and a modern support infrastructure necessary to protect the most vulner- tional financial and commercial hub, mercial port in the State of Kuwait. watchtower, as well as deepening able women and children, a vacuum that has enabled those as logistic transport is an optimal It is located to the immediate North some pavements, and others. who would physically and emotionally harm them in the use of Kuwait’s strategic location. and East of Kuwait City. Shuwaikh Shuaiba Port is located 54 kilo- name of guardianship. Domestic abuse and the psychologi- The authority seeks to benefit from navigation channel is about 8 kilo- meters south of Kuwait City and cal scars that women and children bear as a result of it is not pioneering experiments in this meters long. The port has 21 berths bounded by the Southern Pier of a pleasant subject; it is difficult, divisive and highly charged regard, particularly that of the UAE. including 2 container berths. Ahmadi Port from the North side because it cannot be eradicated without real political will to It has recently sent a team to Development plan at Shuwaikh and by Mina Abdullah from the punish those who would use violence to control others. Dubai’s ports to be briefed on this includes many projects like mar- South side. The port has 20 com- Sadly, there are laws that exist within our penal code that successful move. itime system and CCTV system, mercial and container berths, while encourage this type of physical tyranny, laws that violate our The State of Kuwait is building developing infrastructure, widening oil pier berths operated by KNPC constitution, our Islamic values and the basic tenets of Mubarak Al-Kabeer Seaport in line and deepening the waterway lead- has 4 berths. Shuaiba Port works on human rights. In late 2014, a small group of dedicated Scientific Center with its policy aiming to enhance its ing to the port, and evolving and direct delivery basis. women decided to take a stand against this conspiracy of silence around violent legalization and around the taboo regional location in the area of mar- rebuilding berths. Among projects at Doha Port are takes clear nature of opposing “disciplinary violence” against women itime transport, in addition to devel- The project of building a contain- installing CCTV system and mar- and children as the traditional right of a male guardian. oping the current seaports through er terminal at Shuwaikh Port is also itime system, and developing infra- pictures of Saturn These women formed a campaign to ‘Abolish Article 153’ a plan including ambitious projects among the development plan that structure as well as building a mod- from Kuwait’s penal code, an “honor” killing law that would to increase their capacities and includes berths with 14 meters ern watchtower, deepening berths KUWAIT: Kuwait Scientific Center (KSC) has suc- treat these murders as a misdemeanor and punish them capabilities. depth and 1,250 meters length. and others. As for the KPA’s employ- ceeded in taking clear photos of the planet with a maximum of a 3-year prison sentence or a 3,000 A review of KPA’s projects in the Deepening the port’s navigational ees, the five-year plan seeks to reha- Saturn. Bader Al-Emairah, in charge of the space rupee (KD 225) fine. There are other laws that encourage vio- upcoming five years shows that channel is included in the plan to bilitate and train all workers in the sciences department at the center, said in a state- lence by not punishing perpetrators, such as allowing kid- the authority has four sectors; the increase depth to 12.5 meters to upcoming five years at the best ment yesterday that Saturn is one of the most nappers who rape their victims to marry them as an alterna- two main ones are ports and facilitate navigation of ships with 12 international maritime colleges and beautiful planets, distinguished with surrounding tive to jail time. employees, the two others are meters draft. academies specialized in ports man- circles, formed from rocks of various sizes. Saturn The consequences of the continued existence of these logistic land and marine berths. agement, and recruit new workers. is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second- legislations, and the lack of government backed networks to The development plan includes Shuaiba Port The authority has announced that it largest in the Solar System, after Jupiter. It is a gas enable, protect and ultimately empower the most vulnera- the three ports; Shuwaikh, Shuabia The development plan of eyes revenues of about KD 100 mil- giant with an average radius about nine times that ble demographic in Kuwait (such as shelters, helplines and a and Doha. The plan has short, Shuaiba Port includes installing lion annually. —KUNA of Earth. — KUNA trained police force that treats the male aggressor as a crimi- nal rather than a “disciplinarian”), means that we will contin- ue to see violence escalate in our community, and little progress in terms of female economic and political integra- tion. The fact that there are no women MPs in National Gulf Bank sponsors KU’s Accounting Club activities Assembly eleven years after Kuwaiti women gained full political rights is a testament to that. KUWAIT: Gulf Bank has sponsored reach out to young people has We need to rediscover our national pride, and within that Kuwait University’s (KU) College of always been a priority. The bank the respect for ourselves that would not allow such shame- Business Administration’s frequently partners with organiza- ful and inhuman actions to continue unchecked for fear of Accounting Club’s activities during tions with similar goals to provide transgressing on the public/private divide. The state has an Accounting Week, which was held the support students need during obligation to protect its citizens, and to provide the basic between 3 and 7 April 2016. The their education. needs for them in terms of trauma care in hospitals, and club’s activities were conducted on Gulf Bank has a dedicated ‘red’ trained and sympathetic police officers who will side with the university’s campus under the bank account which is designed to the victims first and foremost. patronage of Sheikha Al-Zain Al- meet the needs of university and Kuwait’s government has taken some small steps in that Sabah, Undersecretary of the college students aged from 15 to direction, with the inauguration of the so-called “Social Ministry of State for Youth Affairs. 25. Opening the account requires Police” and a weekday helpline that aims to arbitrate more The activities, which were no minimum deposit and it can be than resolve the issue or provide safe passage for victims of designed to raise students’ knowl- used as an interest earning savings domestic violence from their abusers. We as a civil society edge of accountancy, included account. Red customers are also need to do our part as well, and lobby our representatives to seminars and workshops present- entitled to number of other bene- make this issue a priority, and to raise awareness around these harmful practices without fearing the backlash, ed by selected leading profession- fits, including monthly cash draws because it is this culture of fear, and of social embarrass- als from the banking and financial and quarterly car draws. ment, that has allowed this unnecessary evil to flourish. sector, who shared their profes- To learn more about Gulf Bank’s Dr Alanoud Al Sharekh is an academic, activist and sional experience and answered products and services, visit one of researcher on Arab youth and women’s issues. She is a questions and queries. Gulf Bank’s 56 branches; call the Research Associate at the London Middle East Institute Youth development is a key Customer Contact Center on at the School for Oriental and African Studies and a pub- long term element of Gulf Bank’s 1805805, or log on to www.e-gulf- lished author. corporate social responsibility pro- bank.com, Gulf Bank’s bilingual gram and the commitment to website. Photo of the day

KUWAIT: A white-eared bulbul catches a bait. KUFPEC’s Kuwait Birds’ encyclopedia says that the white-eared bulbul is “one of the more common species in Kuwait and typically found in pairs and small flocks in most urban areas with gardens and trees.” Trapping for illegal bird trade and loss of habitat are considered the most common threats for the white-eared bulbul, according to the encyclopedia. —Photo by KUNA THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 LOCAL Panel of judges announced for Arab Woman Awards Kuwait 2016 KUWAIT: The Arab Woman Awards board of judges were Director of Hayatt, Dr Labiba Temmim. announced yesterday ahead of the winners’ presentation ceremo- • Modern kaftan designer and previous award winner, Sheikha ny taking place at a royal residence on Sunday 17th April. Souad Jaber Al-Sabah. Launched in 2009, the Arab Woman Awards was established • Editor in Chief of Hello! Arabia, Gina Tadros. by ITP with the aim of providing a culturally accepted platform to Arab Woman Awards Founder and Executive Director of ITP raise awareness on the significant achievements of Arab women Consumer Sue Holt said, “We are very proud of the quality of the in areas including business, finance, legal, media and the humani- Judging Board for the 2016 Kuwait awards. The strength of the tarian field. The awards run annually in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, bench ensures that the highest calibre of winners are selected. Qatar and Kuwait and to-date over 250 women have been pre- This year, in particular, we were encouraged to see a large number sented with the prestigious trophies. of women in the non-traditional female sectors being nominated Judging for the Kuwait awards commenced 3 months ago for their achievements. I know the benchmark is high so we look with the panel nominating and analyzing potential candidates forward to seeing next week the final list of winners that they following a strict criteria per award as supplied by ITP. This have chosen.” year there will be twenty-two winners presented as selected The private winners’ ceremony will be attended by the board by the board of judges: of judges, this year’s winners and their families plus VIP guests. • Honorary Chairperson Sheikh Mubarak Fahad Al-Salem Al- This year’s event is supported by Tory Burch, Gulf Bank of Kuwait, Sabah; Undersecretary of Department of Protocol Affairs at The Flower Box and the Sheraton Kuwait. A commemorative pub- Sheikh Mubarak Fahed Dr Labiba Tammim Sheikha Souad Jaber Al- Gina Tadros the Amiri Diwan; lication is created which highlights each of the winners’ stories Salem Al-Sabah Sabah • Arab Woman Awards Kuwait co-founder and Executive and is distributed to all guests after the event. MIT Enterprise Forum kicks off today in Saudi Arabia Event held in partnership with Community Jameel, Zain

JEDDAH/KUWAIT/BEIRUT: The MIT Enterprise Forum (MITEF) Pan Arab will host the award ceremony rewarding the winning Ideas, Startups and Social Entrepreneurs of the MIT EF Arab Startup Competition today at the Bay La Sun Hotel and Marina in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. This event is in partnership with founding partner Community Jameel and for the second con- secutive year, with the Zain Group. This yearís event is supported by government partner the Economic Cities Authority and hosting partner the King Abdullah Economic City along with global technology provider Huawei. The Award Ceremony is preceded by a conference entitled Time to Invest in Arab Youth and Their Innovations organized by MIT Technology Review Arab Edition. The confer- ence will address the tremendous opportuni- ties for regional and global players to invest in an increasingly innovative Arab youth. The event will also announce MIT Technology Review Arab Editionís five Innovators under 35 in the Arab World, which were selected by a solid lineup of judges. Several high-profile entrepreneurs, investors and government officials from Saudi Arabia, the region and beyond will be sharing insight during the conference and judging the competition. These include HRH Saud K Al-Faisal, Executive Director for Investment Policy at SAGIA, HH Reema Bint Bandar, founder and CEO of Alf Khair, Fady Jameel, President of Community Jameel International, Hassan Kabbani, CEO of Zain Saudi Arabia, KUWAIT: A picture from last year’s event, held in Kuwait, showing the competition winners. Fahd Al Rasheed, Group CEO and Managing Director of Emaar Economic City and Wassim 76 teams Social Entrepreneurship, with a total of the 76 semi-finalists underwent design-think- The national origins of the groups and the Khashoggi, vice secretary general operations A total of 76 teams from 15 countries have $130,000 to be awarded amongst the win- ing sessions and practiced their pitching to corresponding number of semi-finalists who of the Economic Cities Authority. Speakers qualified for the advanced rounds of the MIT ners. mentors from different institutions in order to made it to the second round include: Egypt and judges from several leading organizations EF Arab Startup Competition, which received Ahead of the training sessions held in Saudi perfect their deliverables which they will pres- (19), Jordan (8), Lebanon (7), Tunisia (7), in the finance and technology space such as a record 5,967 applications (comprising over Arabia on the 11th and 12th of April, pre-boot- ent to judges on the 13th and 14th of April. Saudi Arabia (6), United Arab Emirates (6), Google, Facebook, Oak Investment Partners, 16,500 entrepreneurs) from 21 countries camps were held in four different countries: Previous winners of the MIT EF Arab Startup Palestine (6), Morocco (4), Kuwait (3), Bahrain 500 Startups and MBC Group will also be shar- across the Arab world. The three tracks that Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Competition shared their experience with the (2), Qatar (2), Sudan (2), Syria (2), Algeria (1), ing insight during the event. entrants applied for are: Ideas, Startups, and Arab Emirates. During these pre-bootcamps, semi-finalists and held inspirational talks. Yemen (1). THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 LOCAL Food from Iraq could carry cholera: Ministry official Bidding to demolish Sawaber Complex next week

By A Saleh customs department reconfirming the use of had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013 those measures and the need to ban the entry of and that the number is growing. He added that KUWAIT: Health Ministry Assistant any food items from Iraq lest they might be car- early detection helps increase the success of Undersecretary for Public Health Affairs Dr rying the disease,” she stressed, pointing out that remedies used by 80 percent. Awadhi added Majeda Al-Qattan said that the ministry has five patients had been diagnosed with cholera that the construction of the new cancer center Reckless drivers, lawbreakers been taking all needed precautions against and were cured since it struck Iraq and that they was going according to schedule and would be cholera. Speaking on the sidelines of the inter- all came from Iraq. finished within three to four years. arrested in Ahmadi crackdown national conference on developments in breast, Speaking about vaccinations, including that By Hanan Al-Saadoun 1,020 kg of meat destroyed liver and pancreas cancer yesterday, Qattan said of chickenpox, Qattan said that all needed meas- Sawaber Complex Kuwait Municipality’s Ahmadi food and that the contagious diseases prevention com- ures had been taken while others, concerning The Ministry of Finance announced that bid- KUWAIT: The Ahmadi security department meat department destroyed 1,020 kilo- mittee at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) medical warehouses and importing companies, ding would be held to demolish Al-Sawaber carried out a security campaign in Fintas, grams of meat unfit for human consump- met last month and recommended the continu- still need to be taken including awareness cam- Complex in downtown Kuwait City next week. Jaber Al-Ali, Sabahiya, Mahboula, Dhahr, tion during the period between February ation of precautionary measures followed in paigns and medical staffs’ training. The ministry added that the Public Authority for Riqqa, Egaila, Abu Halifa, Mahboula, Mangaf, 22 and March 7. The public relations fighting cholera arriving from some neighboring Dr Ahmed Al-Awadhi, Director of the Kuwait Housing Welfare had already disconnected the Kabd and Khairan to stop reckless drivers department said 577 Australian sheep countries, namely Iraq. Cancer Control Center (KCCC) said that accord- complex’s electricity at the end of March pend- and violators of the law. The campaign, led were slaughtered in the governorate’s “We have contacted the civil aviation and the ing to Kuwait’s cancer records, over 400 women ing demolition. by Acting Director of Ahmadi Security Brig slaughterhouse for companies and stores, Abdullah Saffah Al-Mulla, resulted in the while 272 sheep were slaughtered for pri- arrest of 78 persons, 14 of whom were vate citizens. The report said that the reported absconding, 21 wanted for civil number of Arab sheep slaughtered for Mental assessment report cases and three over suspicion of drugs pos- companies was 134. Meanwhile, five goats session, while 31 traffic citations were issued were slaughtered for companies and 1,164 determines offender sane and six vehicles impounded. for private citizens.

By Meshaal Al-Enezi Hathal for 10 days at the central prison over charges of fraud and cases filed by KUWAIT: The criminal court set a hear- various citizens of a total value of KD 15 ing to be held on April 21 to review the million. Notably, Hathal was arrested by state security case filed against Kuwaiti Interpol in Egypt and was extradited to citizen Salem Al-Doussary, also known Kuwait. as ‘Bu Refaa’ over charges of slandering His Highness the Amir. Notably, follow- Environmental activities ing receiving a medical report from the The Green Line Environmental Group Abdali cell case psychological diseases hospital stating (GLEG) urged Minister of Public Works that the suspect is completely sane and Ali Al-Omair, as the minister concerned adjourned to April 20 responsible for his actions, the public with and responsible for environmental prosecutor, Chancellor Dherar Al- issues, to intervene and regulate envi- Assoussi, referred Bu Refaa to the crimi- ronmental activities among various gov- KUWAIT: Fawzy Al-Thunayan, General Manager Board Affairs receives an award on behalf KUWAIT: The court of appeals adjourned yesterday the terrorist nal court, otherwise the case would ernmental bodies as stipulated by arti- of ABK from Sheikha Sheikha Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah. cell case number 302/2016, in which 26 defendants are involved, have been shelved. cle 7 of the environment protection law to April 20 for further questioning of the accused. The court asked number 42/ 2014. A statement issued by the Public Prosecution to address some government bodies to ABK concludes sponsorship of Ideal Blogger acquitted GLEG explained that since the law’s send reports concerning some defendants involved in the case. The criminal court yesterday acquit- executive charter had not been set yet, The court yesterday heard from the defense, before postponing Mother Award for Special Needs ted blogger Sara Al-Drais of showing the citations filed by the Environment the session to April 20. KUWAIT: Al-Ahli Bank of Kuwait (ABK) recently to recognize the tremendous efforts of mothers Last January 12, the criminal court sentenced two of the religious contempt through her Twitter Public Authority (EPA) were legally void. account. Notably, Drais had voluntarily The statement added that environmen- concluded its strategic sponsorship of the 4th of children with special needs and honor their defendants, the first and the 23rd one on the list of defendants in Annual Ideal Mother Award for Special Needs, commitment to making a substantial difference given herself in to security on arrival to tal citations filed by the environment the terrorist cell, to death, while one of the accused in the 26 organized by Al-Kharafi Activity Kids Center. The in the lives of their children. Kuwait at Kuwait airport. Separately, the police were also void according to arti- member cell was given a sentence of life imprisonment. Other honoring ceremony was held on 11th April, ‘Special Needs’ is ABK’s primary CSR focus for accused defendants in the case received sentences from five to court of misdemeanor yesterday decid- cle 113 of the law because a decision on 2016 at The Regency Hotel, where a total of 15 2016, where the Bank works towards creating ten to 15 years in prison. One of them was fined about KD 5,000 ed re-hearing a case filed by Chancellor authorizing the environment police to mothers were honored of which ten were from nationwide awareness of this important seg- while another was acquitted of all charges against him. Mohammed Al-Duaij against former MP file such citations had not been pub- Kuwait and five from across the GCC. ment in society and the importance of helping Furthermore, the court ordered the confiscation of all weapons Khaled Al-Sultan on May 4. lished in the official gazette so far, which Fawzy Al-Thunayan, General Manager Board individuals with special needs to develop a that were possessed by the terrorist cell. Last September, the pub- might legally result in nullifying the Affairs was present at the ceremony on behalf of sense of belonging in a community they are a lic prosecutor lodged criminal charges against the terrorist cell Suspect remanded measures taken by the environment ABK, where he joined in the honoring of moth- part of. For more information on Al-Ahli Bank of known as ‘Al-Abdali Cell,’ in which 26 defendants were put on trial The public prosecution yesterday police and refunding the sums collected ers with their awards. Kuwait please visit www.eahli.com or contact a over possession of huge caches of weapons and ammunition, as remanded Saudi national Mohammed in fines from violators. The 4th Annual Ideal Mother Award for customer service agent via ‘Ahlan Ahli’ at well as espionage for Iran and Hezbollah. — KUNA Special Needs has been organized with the aim 1899899. THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 FROM THE ARABIC PRESS

Al-Anbaa Al-Qabas Unprecedented siege Prices Privatization of cooperative societies By Sami Al-Nisf By Abdelrazaq Abdullah esieging the Iraqi city of Fallujah by the Iraqi army coincides with besieging many cities and he cooperative society is an independent group Bvillages in Syria, of which, according to a BBC of persons who share electively to meet their report, 93 percent is done by the official Syrian army. Teconomic, social and cultural needs as well as In fact, history has never witnessed armies besieging their joint ambitions through collective ownership of a their own people in cities or villages. What usually project with administrative democracy. Cooperatives happens is that armies may besiege cities of other are established on noble values, including self-depen- countries as a means to conquer them the way the dence, democracy, equality, justice and solidarity. Nazi German army did with the Russian Stalingrad city. According to the traditions instilled by cooperative Besieging cities and own people by their own founders, its members believe in ethical values such as armies only started with the arrival of some Arab revo- honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for lutionists to power in afflicted countries. For instance, others. the Syrian city of Hama was besieged by the Syrian Also, among the cooperative principles is the open army in 1983 and was completely destroyed, with optional membership, members’ administrative and 30,000 of its inhabitants killed and 3,000 others taken supervisory democracy, economic contribution of to the terrible prison in Palmyra where they were killed members and self-independent personality, and by Ref’at Assad’s forces. All historic monuments in the among its characters is self-help, members’ supervi- historic city of Hama were destroyed then. sion, educating and training members, elected repre- In 1989, when General Michel Oun was on top of a sentatives, managers and employees to effectively military government in Lebanon, and upon direct contribute to the development of their cooperative orders from Saddam Hussein who funded and armed and care for society affairs. him, he besieged and bombed eastern Beirut with the There is no doubt that Kuwait is a pioneer in coop- excuse of unifying Christian troops before waging a erative activity, and cooperative societies in Kuwait liberation war against the Syrian troops. This was done Al-Jarida proved their worth, and their continued support of in retaliation of Syria for supporting Iran. The general social development serving various areas and resi- did not even spare western or southern Beirut from his dents, and those societies present various services for bombs that poured like rain, killing hundreds. Scholarships to ISU suspended families and individuals. In 1991, the first ‘Arab Spring’ started in 14 out of We see cooperative societies in Kuwait as a unique the 18 Iraqi governorates only two years after the model of its kind worldwide, as they really play a dis- spring in Eastern Europe started, against Saddam and after Kuwaiti students harassed tinguished and effective role serving citizens and the Republican Guards led by Hussein Kamel, then expatriates. The cooperative movement in Kuwait struck cities, villages and mosques in northern and KUWAIT: Education Minister Bader Al-Essa said omy depends on the university and its stu- began in 1979 with the issuance of law 24/1979 with southern governorates including Karbala and Najaf, the ministry has decided to stop sending schol- dents, adding it will suffer losses in the millions regards to cooperative societies, in which the legisla- killing thousands and displacing millions. Saddam’s arship students to Idaho State University (ISU) of dollars. He condemned the unprecedented tor confirmed the role of cooperatives, as it mentioned army also destroyed thousands of Kurdish villages and due to the harassment Kuwaiti students there and hostile statements against Kuwaiti stu- in article one that “it is meant by the cooperative soci- killed hundreds of thousands of them by chemical are subjected to. He said that nearly 400 stu- dents in the state, adding that the ministry will ety a society established by natural or judicial persons weapons in 1988-1989. dents are facing racist discrimination in the spare no effort to take all the necessary steps according to the rules of this law for a limited or unlim- Finally, IS, which was only created to annihilate state. Essa said there have been communica- to safeguard the well-being of Kuwaiti students ited period, with the aim of elevating the economic regional peoples, is showing false images about the tions at the highest level to “protect our stu- abroad. and social level of its members by following the coop- availability of enough supplies in Fallujah as a means dents from any harm or discrimination”, adding Essa said that the malicious campaigns erative principles mentioned in the executive rules of to keep the city besieged despite the starvation of that he contacted Foreign Minister Sheikh increased when the university learned that this law.” thousands of its people. So, does anyone still suspect Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah as well as Kuwait’s Education Minister scholarships have been stopped, and pub- And in the second article of the executive list of this IS’ devilish intentions?! ambassador, in addition to the cultural attach� Bader Al-Essa lished false information over the media. When law is “the society aims at elevating the social, eco- — Translated by Kuwait Times to take the necessary action to transfer the stu- asked about the reason why such attacks are nomic and productive levels, and presents the neces- dents to other universities. taking place, all of a sudden, he said what is happening is sary services for its members. It also works on qualify- Essa said canceling scholarships for Idaho University will the result of the racist election rhetoric by presidential can- ing and training them on the cooperative work within affect the state’s economy, because it is small and its econ- didate Donald Trump. — Al-Qabas its geographic or quality domain as decided by the ministry”. Crime The third article of the same list says, “for a society Municipality might to be established, the cooperative principles must be Report followed, and particularly the following principles: lay off 60% of a) Membership is optional and open for all who meet KD 1.2 million in the conditions mentioned in the law and society statutes. electricity bills expat employees b) Administrative democracy. c) Cooperation between societies. KUWAIT: Ministry of Electricity and Water inspectors with KUWAIT: The Municipality’s financial and administrative sec- d) Spreading education and cooperative culture judicial power uncovered a citizen’s manipulation of water tor is currently preparing to review various expats’ contracts, among societies. lines connected to six of his buildings in Farwaniya in a bid positions and qualifications with the aim of reviewing their e) Returns on transactions. to reduce the bills. Sources said the citizen aimed at reduc- salaries to decrease some of them after amending their job f) Limited profit on capital. ing the value of the bill by having one meter for every two descriptions and titles, increase it for others and lay off those g) Cash transactions. buildings, and the water connections are behind the meter, who do not show up to work regularly, those who fail to do These conditions represent the basic international so if the meter malfunctions, then an estimation will be their job duties or those holding fake degrees. cooperative principles, and from all of this, the differ- made for one building, so the value of water used in the Informed sources at the municipality said that the sector ence between cooperative societies from establish- Former MP Abdulkareem Al-Kandari second building will not be calculated. The sources said has already started preparing the lists under the supervision ments, companies and business in general becomes that calculated estimates of the total value of the bills for Former MP Kandari to of the municipality’s deputy director Waleed Al-Jassim. The clear, and really far away from them, as it is enough this citizen’s real estate reached KD 1.2 million. sources stressed that many of the expats had been recruited that the latter aims at making profit, rather this is its contest in ‘17 elections by wasta that gave them special privileges they are not enti- main goal, while cooperatives aim at serving the socie- tled to, though their degrees did not match the positions ty only, and does not aim at making profits. Drug user arrested KUWAIT: Former MP Abdulkareem Al-Kandari said all current they held. “This might open the door for terminating around Cooperatives are supervised by the social affairs A woman was arrested while under the influence of indicators and popular discontent point to the presence of a 60 percent of them,” said the sources. — Al-Rai ministry, while businesses and companies that aim to drugs and had two envelops of shabu (methampheta- 50 percent change in the next National Assembly, with a large make profits are under the ministry of commerce, mine), syringes and paraphernalia, and she was sent participation of patriotic elements among former MPs and business and company laws. The minister of social along with the drugs to Drugs Control General competent candidates to run for parliament and tackle reform affairs and labor has the right to dissolve a society or Department. The woman was arrested in Mangaf area. affairs. Kandari said coordination began at the highest level Yemeni found remove one of its members, unlike commercial com- between independents and factions, and many have begun panies, over which the minister does not have this getting ready to run in the 2017 National Assembly elections. with fake right, so we see that privatizing cooperative societies Cafe waiters fight He said the government making decisions alone will bring a removes them from their basic nature and makes Two staff in a Jahra cafe exchanged blows following a short different reality by the people to avoid being harmed more them deviate from their social principles, most impor- argument over the work. A security source said a customer than now, in addition to the determination to face the govern- citizenship tant of which is serving the citizen and residential went to the cafe and asked for some drinks, then when his ment and its decisions regardless of the results. — Al-Anbaa areas as well as making goods available at competitive order was delayed he became angry and started shouting prices; rather it drops the noble principles that forms KUWAIT: Following up citizenship forgery cases, cit- the essence of cooperatives, as the privatization of at the staff. This led to one of the Egyptian waiters to izenship and passport detectives recently found accuse his colleague of failing to do his job properly. Then 108 violence against cooperative societies will enable investors to control that a Yemeni man received Kuwaiti citizenship by the assets of those societies, and for sure the investor the argument evolved into a fist fight. When their col- children cases in 2015 having his name added to a Kuwaiti citizen’s file, and leagues failed to control the two men, police were called who takes over the society will think about profits accordingly had been enjoying many privileges like only, and the society, in this case, will only be a com- and came to arrest both of the waiters. Investigations are getting a job in an oil company, receiving a hand- underway. mercial project that seeks profits. some salary, getting a government-provided house Al-Qabas published in its Mar 23, 2016 issue a col- and opening up his house for his Yemeni mother umn by Mohammad Ramadan titled “no to privatiza- and two brothers, before he ended up in the central tion... yes to private administration contracts of public Car broken into prison on charges of drug abuse and trafficking, said A citizen in Sabahiya told police that his car was bro- facilities,” and I agree with what the columnist suggest- informed security sources. ken into when it was parked in front of his house and ed with regards to not privatizing cooperative soci- The sources added that detectives had been tipped KD 920 was stolen from it. Criminal evidence went to eties, because it will turn them into establishments off concerning the suspect’s father’s agreement with the scene and lifted fingerprints, as detectives are and companies that aim for profit only without regard the citizen who gave the Yemeni his name and had a working on the case. to the social dimension and without regard to the Kuwaiti passport and ID issued for him as his own son noble principles societies adopt, especially since the in return for money back in 1959. The sources added experience of privatizing cooperative units failed in KUWAIT: Chairperson of the Pediatrics Department Council that investigations showed that the suspect had two many of world countries, including the United States Car stolen by fake detectives Dr Muna Al-Khawari said 108 cases of violence against chil- younger Yemeni brothers residing and working in of America. An Asian man told Ardhiya police that two unknown per- dren were registered in 2015, which is a 60 percent increase Kuwait. As for the excuse of the social affairs and labor min- sons claiming to be detectives, asked him to stay away from previous years. She said that the number of cases regis- Further, the sources said that detectives arrested ister, which is that privatizing cooperative societies will from his car, as they wanted to search it for drugs, then one tered form 2010 to 2015 were 299, 154 of which were of physi- the Kuwaiti citizen and interrogated the main suspect’s eradicate corruption that is in those societies, it is not of them drove off while the other followed him in their car. cal abuse, 111 negligence and 25 cases of sexual abuse. brothers, who admitted and said that they knew that enough to do away with the society and cancel its role Meanwhile, Assistant Undersecretary for Legal Affairs at the their father, who passed away in Kuwait in 1997, had in the society, because eradicating corruption can be Health Ministry Dr Mahmoud Al-Abdelhadi said the Fourth made such an arrangement. They also said that their through activating punishments mentioned in cooper- Regional Conference against violence against children will be brother was doing time in the central prison. In addi- ative societies law 24/1979, and drying up the sources Woman accuses brother of sorcery held from April 18 to 20 under the patronage of Health tion, the sources said that on interrogating the main of corruption and stop bribes and influence, and use A citizen said that her house had been subject to sor- Minister Dr Ali Al-Obaidi. He said the conference is unique and suspect, the fake Kuwaiti, he confessed, adding that of connections that is rampant inside those societies, cery by her brother and his friend. She said that there will discuss social and health topics that are of interest to all the citizenship gave him access to housing welfare, and not through privatization, as it is not possible and are disputes over inheritance and the house after the Kuwaiti society groups, be they doctors, psychologists as well medical care, education, a highly-paid job, housing it is not right to call for canceling traffic to eradicate death of the father, and that the brother wants her to as education and Interior Ministry officials and others due to loan and a marriage loan in addition to many other road accidents. leave the house. — Al-Rai the importance of the topic, as the child is considered the privileges allocated for citizens. — Al-Rai So, we see that privatizing cooperative societies as “nucleus” of the society. — Al-Rai a step in the wrong direction; rather it is a step back- wards and may lead to unwanted repercussions. — Translated by Kuwait Times

Citizen’s kidnappers in Iraq demand $1m ransom

KUWAIT: The kidnappers of citizen Khaled Abdul Razzaq Sarhan in Iraq have demanded a $1 million ran- som to release him, said Sarhan’s wife, noting that the kidnappers only gave the family a three-day period to pay the ransom, then extended it for a further two days that are already over. The wife added that the family received threats that unless they pay the ransom, her husband would be killed. “The information we have so far is that an official Iraqi vehicle stopped him between Nasiriya and Basra and that one of the three people in it got off and rode with my husband, before we lost contact,” she KUWAIT: A delegation from Kuwait Army and Kuwait National Guard visited the Sabah Al-Ahmad Navy Base in Fintas yesterday, and were given a demonstration of the tasks explained. —Al-Anbaa carried out by the Interior Ministry’s Coastguards General Department. THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 Syrians vote for Russians worried about economy before Putin call-in show parliament denounced by Assad’s enemies Page 10 Page 8

US appeals court rules for Argentina on debt injunctions NEW YORK: A US appeals court yesterday Capital Management, which can terminate cleared the way for the lifting of injunctions $4.65 billion in settlements if no payment that prevented Argentina from paying off occurs by then. Lawyers for NML and Aurelius some debts, a ruling the country sought after said their clients would not terminate the agreeing to settle litigation by creditors suing agreements on Thursday and could wait a lit- over defaulted bonds. tle longer. But they urged the 2nd Circuit to The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in not lift injunctions that had given them lever- New York ruled after hearing arguments from age against Argentina. bondholders opposed to giving any relief to “Argentina’s feet need to be held to the Argentina, which contends that vacating the fire,” said Matthew McGill, NML’s lawyer. injunctions is a crucial step in settling the liti- Argentina offered to settle the litigation in gation. Argentina, which under newly elected February and soon after asked US District President Mauricio Macri has sought to Judge Thomas Griesa to vacate injunctions resolve litigation spilling out of its $100 billion that prevented it from servicing its restruc- default in 2002, had pushed for a swift ruling tured debt until it paid the suing bondhold- as it tried to raise funds to pay for over $8 bil- ers. Those creditors spurned its 2005 and lion in settlements. 2010 debt restructurings, which resulted in 92 Argentina also faces a deadline today to percent of its defaulted debt being swapped pay its four biggest creditors, including Elliott and investors being paid less than 30 cents on Management’s NML Capital Ltd and Aurelius the dollar. — Reuters

ROME, NEW YORK: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump tosses his coat during a rally at Griffiss International Airportn o Tuesday. —AP Trump amassing delegates who might not be loyal to him ‘Are we concerned? Yes, definitely’ DES MOINES, IOWA: Already behind the place until next month. But the deadline to ager, Paul Manafort, last week. Manafort curve in organizing for the Republican con- become a national convention delegate was helped lead the fight against Ronald vention, Donald Trump has missed crucial in mid-March. “Are we concerned? Yes, defi- Reagan’s challenge of then-President Gerald deadlines in a number of states to lock up nitely,” said Tony Samuel, vice chairman of Ford at the 1976 Republican convention in delegates who would stay loyal beyond the Trump’s Indiana campaign. The Cruz team Kansas City. first ballot. feels the opposite. “Even if (Trump) jumped Manafort has accused Cruz’s campaign of Trump’s shortcomings in this behind-the- into high gear, he can’t do it,” said Shak Hill, a strong-arming would-be delegates and said scenes campaign, which hasn’t played much Cruz campaign leader in Virginia. “That’s in an interview with Fox News Channel’s of a role in selecting the GOP nominee in where he’s been shut out of the game.” Sean Hannity airing Tuesday night that he decades, could doom his presidential candi- Trump’s delegates must vote for him on shared concerns with his boss. dacy if he is unable to win the nomination in the first ballot at the convention. But if no “The point that Donald Trump was mak- the initial voting at this summer’s national one gets a majority, most of the delegates ing is that the process in Colorado was convention in Cleveland. can then bolt if they choose. being abused and it’s not that the rules Trump is the only candidate with a realis- themselves were unknown, it’s the way the The delegates tic path to the 1,237 delegates needed to rules were applied,” Manafort said, according After that first ballot, most delegates are clinch the nomination before the conven- to a transcript provided by the network. no longer bound to support the winner of tion. But the path is narrow, and Cruz is “We’re seeing the same mistakes in their state’s party primary or caucuses - working to block him. Colorado, Missouri and Louisiana. And so they’re free agents who can support the can- Cruz has built an organization of volun- the mistakes are not really mistakes - it’s a didate of their choosing. teers who are working in state after state to pattern.” However, he said Trump was suc- Most of the actual delegates are elected get his supporters selected as delegates, cessful in selecting delegates in Michigan, at state and congressional district conven- even those who must vote for Trump at first. and predicted the same in Nevada. tions run by party insiders, members of the Trump is just ramping up his operation, “In fact, we wiped him out,” Manafort said Republican establishment that Trump has but in some states he’s too late. In Virginia - a in an NBC interview Sunday. “And we’re run against from the outset of his campaign. state where Trump won the primary - he has going to see Ted Cruz get skunked in And while Trump’s team has had little missed the deadlines to assemble lists of Nevada.” Former South Carolina Republican contact with these loyal party activists, his potential delegates. Cruz, however, has dele- Chairman Katon Dawson, who has been pub- chief rival for the Republican nomination, gate candidates in 10 of Virginia’s 11 con- licly neutral in the race, said he’s seen no dif- Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, has been actively court- gressional districts. ference in Trump’s delegate strategy since ing them for months. Trump has spent the Manafort’s hire. past three days hammering at his party’s The application deadline was last month Said Dawson, a veteran national GOP delegate selection process as “unfair.” At a Indiana’s primary is May 3, but 27 of the strategist, “He’s not a household name or rally in Rome, New York, Tuesday evening, state’s 57 delegates - the actual people - miracle worker by any stretch.” Trump won all Trump angrily denounced Saturday’s final have already been selected at congressional 50 of South Carolina’s delegates. But in order allocation of all of Colorado’s delegates to district caucuses. The deadline to register as to be a delegate at the national convention, Cruz, blasting the party’s system as “rigged” a candidate for delegate was March 15. In all, you had to be a delegate at last year’s state and “corrupt.” at least nine states have picked some or all of convention. Trump’s team is only now starting to their delegates: Colorado, Iowa, Indiana, “The people that are going to fill those engage in the delegate selection process, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, North Dakota, slots were already selected anyway,” said the choosing of the actual people who will Tennessee and Wisconsin. Republican political consultant Tony Denny, attend and vote at the convention. Trump has won a total of 100 delegates in who has been a delegate to three previous Republicans have already selected delegates primaries and caucuses in these states. In GOP national conventions. Cruz has already in at least nine states. And in others, such as most, however, the candidates had no formal done a lot of groundwork to get supporters Virginia and Arizona, the deadline to apply to role in selecting the people who will fill selected as delegates in South Carolina. “The be a delegate has passed. those slots. To help manage the process, delegate selection process is in their DNA,” Indiana’s primary, for example, won’t take Trump’s campaign hired a convention man- Denny said of Cruz’s ground operation. —AP Missing Ugandan maid fuels fears of abuse in Saudi Arabia

KAMPALA: Jannat Mubiru has heard nothing from In January, the Ugandan government the nature and income of their promised jobs by her daughter since the 27-year-old called to say she announced a ban with immediate effect on the recruitment companies, though these were licensed had arrived safely in Riyadh, where she was due to recruitment of Ugandans as domestic workers in and vetted by the authorities. The same agencies start work as a maid five months ago. Mubiru has Saudi Arabia, after the local media reported cases sometimes took money from both the prospective repeatedly phoned the Saudi number her daughter, of abuse and mistreatment. Despite the ban, the employer and the migrant worker to cover recruit- Shamim Nakitende, used but her calls went unan- recruitment of Ugandans to work in the oil-rich ment fees, the cost of a visa and the air fare, workers swered at first, and then were blocked. “There are so Gulf states is still flourishing as agents prey on job- said. “An Arab employer who has paid these exorbi- many stories of Ugandans being mistreated in Saudi less youths in the east African country eager for tant fees, believes he or she just bought you. In oth- Arabia. I am so worried,” Mubiru told the Thomson adventure, overseas travel and the promise of a er words you are his slave with no rights whatsoev- Reuters Foundation. “Shamim left behind a daugh- good salary. er,” said Ramla Nakazibwe, who returned from the ter and son and it’s difficult to answer their daily Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Welfare UAE in January, her dream in tatters. questions about their mother without knowing if Muruli Mukasa said the government had received Nakazibwe used a licensed recruitment agency she is still alive or not,” she added. many complaints of exploitation from workers in the to find her a job in the UAE, spending 6 million Since Nakitende left, the company which had Gulf - including having their passports confiscated shillings ($1,800) on fees. Instead of working in a offered her work in Saudi Arabia has closed its exter- on arrival and being made to work 12 hours a day or supermarket as she was promised, she was given a nal recruitment department and severed links with more, sometimes without enough to eat. Some also cleaner’s job which paid only 600 dirhams ($160) a the unit’s director over violations of recruitment reported having their salaries withheld and being month. President Yoweri Museveni’s government is guidelines, Mubiru said. More than 10,000 Ugandans subjected to verbal abuse, physical assault, threats trying to raise awareness of the risks of being traf- are estimated to be working in Saudi Arabia, the and intimidation by their employers. Thomson ficked abroad, using a TV campaign urging United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait as security Reuters Foundation asked Saudi embassy officials to Ugandans to be careful about overseas job offers, guards, domestic workers, drivers and cashiers in respond but they declined to comment. said Moses Binoga, national coordinator for the inte- supermarkets and fast food restaurants. Some Ugandans said they were deceived as to rior ministry’s anti-trafficking task force. — Reuters INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 Rouhani heads to Turkey for key Islamic summit

TEHRAN: Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani Erdogan greeting him at the airport in a ings with some of the dozens of leaders $13.71 billion but dropped to $9.76 bil- remain at odds over a deadly stampede headed to Istanbul yesterday for a sum- rare break of ]protocol. attending, according to Parviz Esmaeili, a lion in 2015. However the red carpet at the annual hajj pilgrimage in the king- mit of Islamic countries which Saudi Saudi Arabia cut its diplomatic rela- spokesman in the presidency’s office. treatment for Salman symbolized an dom last year which killed more than Arabia’s King Salman, Turkey’s burgeon- tions with Iran after a rampaging mob set He will also focus on bilateral econom- emerging Riyadh-Ankara alliance against 2,000 worshippers including 464 Iranians. ing ally, is also attending. fire to its missions in Tehran and ic issues with Turkey, Telecom Minister Shiite Iran’s rising influence following An Iranian delegation on Tuesday Rouhani and Salman, whose countries’ Mashhad, Iran’s second city, in protest at Mahmoud Vaezi said, according to state Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers went to Saudi Arabia to discuss this year’s ties plummeted in January when Riyadh the execution by Riyadh of a prominent television service IRIB. that lifted sanctions. hajj ceremonies in Mecca and nearby cut diplomatic relations, are to take part Shiite cleric. The regional rivals have since Iran has moved to improve its rela- Iran is also the main regional ally of cities. It will be the first meeting between in an Organization of Islamic Cooperation accused each other of funding terrorism tions with Turkey in recent months. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose officials of the two rival powers since pro- summit today and Friday. The 80-year-old and destabilizing the Middle East. Tehran and Ankara announced earlier this stepping down is necessary, according to testers ransacked the Saudi missions in Sunni king arrived Monday in Ankara Rouhani will make a speech at the year plans to increase annual trade to $30 Salman and Erdogan, to end the five-year January after the execution of Shiite cleric with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Istanbul summit and hold bilateral meet- billion, IRIB said. Trade for 2014 stood at Syrian war. Iran and Saudi Arabia also and activist Nimr al-Nimr. — AFP Shooting probe puts Israel’s military courts in spotlight

JERUSALEM: Israel’s military justice system is with the country’s defense minister, military in the spotlight as it investigates a soldier officials and many Israelis calling it contrary caught on tape shooting to death a subdued to the army’s values. That outcry in turn Palestinian attacker, a case that has polarized kicked up a counter-torrent of support for the the nation. soldier, with many calling his actions appro- While the military has stressed that its courts priate for a country reeling from months of are independent, critics say the system has a Palestinian attacks, mostly stabbings, that poor record of punishing errant soldiers, perpet- have killed 28 Israelis and two Americans. uating a culture of impunity. They say the same Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ini- result is likely for the soldier, who is expected to tially critical of the soldier, later softened his be formally charged in the coming days. opposition in a nod to his nationalist con- The shooting took place last month in stituents. Critics say only accountability can Hebron, the volatile West Bank city that has promise deterrence and prevent excessive been a focal point of the latest, 7-month wave force from being used against Palestinians, of Israeli-Palestinian violence. The military ini- even if they are attacking Israelis. Few soldiers tially said two Palestinians stabbed and have been punished for their alleged roles in wounded an Israeli soldier before troops shot crimes against Palestinians, prompting criti- and killed the pair. In a video later released by cism of the system. the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, one “An investigation has to be independent, of the attackers was shown still alive after the effective, could lead to actual measures, has initial shooting. The video, taken by a to be timely, transparent and has to be fair Palestinian volunteer for the group, shows and unbiased,” said B’Tselem spokeswoman the wounded attacker lying on the ground, Sarit Michaeli. Israel’s military justice system slowly moving his head. About a minute later, “simply does not adhere to these standards,” a soldier raises his rifle, cocks the weapon and she said. Citing official army figures, the Israeli fires. Blood is then seen streaming from the rights group Yesh Din said that of the more Palestinian’s head. than 2,600 investigations opened by the mili- tary into alleged crimes committed by sol- Autopsy results diers against Palestinians between 2000 and An autopsy determined the bullet to the 2014, only 136, or 5 percent, resulted in DAMASCUS: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (C) and his wife Asma (L) casting their votes at a polling station during the parliamentary head was the cause of death. During the cur- indictments, leading to 193 convictions. More elections. — AFP rent wave of violence, the Palestinians have than one soldier can be listed in a single accused Israeli security forces of using exces- indictment. sive force against attackers who have already Wary of Israeli self-investigation, the Syrians vote for parliament been stopped or wounded. Of the 188 Palestinians have turned to the International Palestinians killed during the outburst, Israel Criminal Court. One of the criteria for the ICC says 142 were attacking or trying to attack to intervene would be if Israel’s justice system denounced by Assad’s enemies Israelis, with the rest killed in clashes. A hand- were deemed insufficient. Israel says its sys- ful of amateur videos supporting the tem is fair and independent, but B’Tselem Palestinian claims have emerged, but the and the Palestinians say Israeli investigations ‘Syrian people is the one that decides its fate’? Hebron killing was perhaps the clearest so far. are merely a front to thwart an external The incident triggered an uproar in Israel, inquiry. —AP DAMASCUS: Syrians voted in a parliamentary for the main opposition body, the High resolution that calls for elections at the end of an election in government-held areas of the coun- Negotiations Council. “They are illegitimate - 18-month transition. His allies, notably Russia, try on yesterday in what they called a show of theatre for the sake of procrastination, theatre say it is in line with the constitution. support for President Bashar al-Assad, while his through which the regime is trying to give itself “The decision of the regime to hold elections opponents and Western powers denounced the a little legitimacy.” is a measure of how divorced it is from reality. poll as illegitimate. The conflict has killed more than 250,000 and They cannot buy back legitimacy by putting up The election is going ahead independently of created millions of refugees, splintering Syria a flimsy facade of democracy,” said a spokesper- a UN-led peace process aimed at ending the into a patchwork of areas controlled by the gov- son for the British government. France said the five-year-long war. Peace talks are due to resume ernment, an array of rebels, a powerful Kurdish elections were a “sham” organized by “an oppres- in Geneva on Wednesday as an upsurge in fight- militia, and the Islamic State group. The govern- sive regime”. Russia, one of Assad’s main foreign ing darkens the already bleak outlook for diplo- ment views all the groups fighting it as terrorists. allies, said however that the election was neces- macy. The government says the vote is being The government controls around one third of sary to avoid a power vacuum. held on time in line with the constitution, a view Syria, including the main cities of western Syria, “There is understanding already, that a new echoed by its Russian allies. The opposition says home to the bulk of Syrians who have not fled constitution should emerge as a result of this the election is meaningless, while Britain and the country. The United Nations puts the num- political process, on the basis of which new, ear- France dismissed it as “flimsy facade” and a ber of refugees at 4.8 million. With parliament ly elections are to be held,” Russian Foreign “sham”. Voters are to elect 250 MPs to parlia- elected every four years, it is the second parlia- Minister Sergei Lavrov told a news briefing. “But ment, which has no real power in Syria’s presi- mentary election held by the government in before this happens, one should avoid any legal dential system. The state is rallying them around wartime. Assad was reelected head of state in a vacuum or any vacuum in the sphere of execu- the slogan “Your vote strengthens your stead- presidential election in 2014. tive power.” fastness”. “We are voting for the sake of the Syrian people and for the sake of Assad. Assad is Opposition sees vote as “theatre” ‘Syrian people is the one that decides its fate’ already strong but these elections show that the The election coincides with the start of a sec- Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem said the ASHKELON, ISRAEL: Israeli right wing protesters wave flags outside of Castina people support him and bolster him,” said Hadi ond round of UN-led peace talks in Geneva. The election showed that “the Syrian people is the Military Court. — AP Jumaa, a 19-year-old student, as he cast his bal- opposition delegation is due to meet UN envoy one that decides its fate”. But Syrians living in lot at his university halls of residence in Staffan de Mistura on Wednesday. The govern- opposition-held areas dismissed it. “We used to Jordanian police shut Muslim Damascus. Dozens queued to vote at one ment has said it will be ready to participate from be forced to cast our vote in sham elections. polling station where a portrait of Assad hung Friday. De Mistura wants this round to make Now, we are no longer obliged to. After all Brotherhood headquarters on the wall. Outside, some danced. progress on the question of a political transition. this killing they want to make a play called elec- With his wife Asma at his side as he went to The government had ruled out any discussion of tions,” said Yousef Doumani, speaking from the AMMAN: Police in Jordan sealed the headquar- underrepresented in parliament and govern- vote in Damascus, a smiling Assad told state TV the presidency ahead of the first round of talks rebel-held Eastern Ghouta area near Damascus. ters of the Muslim Brotherhood in Amman yes- ment posts that are dominated by native that terrorism had been able to destroy much of last month. Spiralling violence meanwhile Shereen Sirmani, who fled to Damascus from the terday, a senior figure in the Islamist movement Jordanians, many of the Brotherhood’s poor Syria’s infrastructure but not Syria’s “social struc- threatens to unravel the entire political track by Islamic State-besieged city of Deir al-Zor four said, as the authorities clamp down further on Palestinian supporters in the major cities see ture, the national identity”. Assad said it was the wrecking a partial truce that had helped bring months ago, said the election was good for the kingdom’s most vocal opposition group. The them as defending their interests. first time a president had taken part in parlia- the sides to Geneva. Syria. “We hope they bring people together,” she Brotherhood, which is close in ideology to its “We are not a group that is rebellious or mentary polls. “These elections do not mean Foreign states opposed to Assad have said said. “We support Assad and these elections are Egyptian namesake and has strong ties with the operating outside the law. This is not an appro- anything,” said Asaad al-Zoubi, chief negotiator the vote is out of line with a UN Security Council a boost for him.” — Reuters Palestinian movement Hamas, wants sweeping priate means to deal with us ... deploying political reforms but stops short of calling for the heavy-handed security measures against us overthrow of the monarchy. Jordan’s authorities rather than reaching understandings,” Abu Lebanon shocked over sex suppressed Arab Spring pro-democracy protests, Bakr told Reuters. and human rights groups say that since then the In keeping with a regional crackdown on kingdom has strongly curbed dissent. political Islam and public freedoms, Jordan has Police acting on orders of the Amman gov- been tightening restrictions on the trafficking of Syrian women ernor evacuated staff and closed off the build- Brotherhood in the last two years, forbidding ing, giving no reason for their actions, said the their public rallies and arresting vocal govern- BEIRUT: Back in Syria, the young women were told Brotherhood senior member, Jamil Abu Bakr. ment dissenters. The authorities have also they would get well-paid jobs at restaurants and Government spokespeople and police were encouraged a splinter group to legally chal- hotels in Lebanon. But when they arrived, their not immediately available for comment. lenge the main movement’s license to operate, belongings and mobile phones were taken away, The Brotherhood has operated legally in which goes back to 1946 when Jordan’s and the women were locked up in two hotels north Jordan for decades and has substantial grass- monarchy had in Muslim Brotherhood leaders of Beirut and forced into prostitution. roots support in major urban centers. Its politi- a strong political allies. Earlier this year, the What followed was an ordeal of beatings, tor- cal arm, the Islamic Action Front, is the king- movement’s deputy leader Zaki Bani Rusheid ture and abuse - until Lebanese security forces raid- dom’s largest opposition party and represents was released after serving an 18-month jail ed the hotels and dismantled the operation in late many disenfranchised Jordanians of sentence for criticizing on social media the March. The discovery of the sex trafficking ring and Palestinian origin, who are in the majority in United Arab Emirates for its crackdown on the rescue of the women deeply shocked tiny the population of seven million. Grossly Islamists. —Reuters Lebanon, a Mediterranean Arab nation already overwhelmed by the influx of more than a million Syrian refugees who have fled the civil war, and prompted calls for investigation.

The gruesome details The case, which involves 75 female victims, is considered the worst sex trafficking scandal in Lebanon in decades and has raised questions about who might have shielded and enabled such a vast network. When they were found in the Chez MAAMELTEINE, LEBANON: This picture taken on Thursday shows a whip that remains on the Maurice and Silver Hotel in the town of table of the guard’s room of the Chez Maurice Hotel. — AP Maamelteine, 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of the ted, according to Lebanese women’s rights Al-Ammar, the women’s rights activist, said Lebanese capital, the women were said to have activists. “Some reported that they were forced to some 200 abortions were carried out at the clinic, been in miserable condition. The three-story Chez have sex with 20 clients per day,” said Maya al- though she did not provide the source for the data. Maurice looked more like a jail than a hotel when it Ammar, an official with women’s rights group Kafa, The case of the trafficked Syrians went public after was recently visited by an Associated Press crew, which is Arabic for “Enough.” police raided the two hotels and freed the women. with bars on balconies and windows. After the women were freed, the Health Lebanese police spokesman Col. Joseph Msalem A whip was seen lying on one of the guard Ministry sealed a clinic belonging to gynecologist said several guards, both male and female, were tables. The premises have been sealed off and offi- Riad al-Alam, who authorities say was involved in detained but the two ringleaders remain at large. cial documents were stamped on the gates, bar- performing abortions for trafficked Syrian women According to Msalem, police got the first lead ring entry. The Syrian women were brought to who got pregnant. Lebanese Health Minister Wael on March 25, the Good Friday holiday in Lebanon, Amman: Jordanians check the main entrance of the Muslim Brotherhood’s office in Lebanon in stages over the past several months. Abu Faour said the doctor “should be in prison when four Syrian women managed to flee from the Jordanian capital, which was sealed with wax after it was shut by police acting on Those who refused to work as prostitutes were where he should rot.” Al-Alam’s license has been one of the hotels when the guards briefly became orders of the Amman governor yesterday. — AFP repeatedly raped and tortured until they submit- revoked by a medical workers’ union. lax in monitoring them. —AP INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 Hastert accuser to speak at sentencing

CHICAGO: The judge in Dennis Hastert’s ter of a now-deceased accuser. “Individual A” of extorting him on what 1981. They cite Individual A as saying the ered Hastert’s conduct with the victims, all hush-money case signaled yesterday that Hastert has pleaded guilty to breaking Hastert said was a bogus accusation of abuse occurred in a motel room when he boys 14 to 17 years old, so egregious that he will consider the former US House banking law to pay $3.5 million to ensure sexual abuse. was 14 and on the way home from they chose to pursue the banking charge Speaker’s lies to investigators that he was someone called “Individual A” in court Hastert, the judge said, was accusing wrestling camp. Hastert allegedly to ensure he faced some punishment. being extorted on a false claim of sexual papers stayed silent about being abused someone he victimized of “holding him touched others in a locker room after say- Defense lawyers have asked for the abuse at his sentencing hearing, where when he was 14 at a high school where up.” And he said that behavior, unlike the ing he would give them massages. Two judge to spare Hastert prison time and prosecutors say one person who says he Hastert coached wrestling until 1981. abuse allegations, wasn’t distant history. wrestlers said Hastert performed sex acts give him probation instead, citing his was abused will speak. Hastert’s couldn’t be charged with sex “That’s not conduct that’s 40 years old,” on them. Prosecutors also described a health and the steep price they say he’s Someone identified in court papers as abuse because the statute of limitations Durkin said. “That conduct is ... a year old.” recliner where Hastert often sat in the already paid in public shame. The statuto- “Individual D,” one of at least four former long since ran out. About Hastert’s false allegations against locker room with a direct view of the ry maximum for the banking violation is students who prosecutors say Hastert Judge Thomas M. Durkin made clear Individual A he added: “That’s a big one.” stalls where the boys showered. five years in prison, but sentencing guide- sexually abused, would be one of two wit- he is disturbed by prosecutors’ accounts Prosecutors say Hastert sexually The prosecutors have said they would lines suggest no more than a matter of nesses who want to make statements at that Hastert lied to federal agents investi- abused at least four members of the have preferred sex-abuse charges, but the months. Federal judges have enormous the April 27 sentencing, prosecutors said gating about why he was withdrawing wrestling team when he taught and statute of limitation on sexual abuse ran leeway, so Durkin will not be bound by at a hearing in Chicago. The other is a sis- large sums of cash by falsely accusing coached at Yorkville High from 1965 until out decades ago. Still, prosecutors consid- the guidelines. — AP Public wants Senate action on court, but interest is modest

WASHINGTON: Nearly 2 in 3 Americans back when it comes to backing candidates in Democrats’ demands that the Republican-run November, “That’s not going to be my only Senate hold hearings and a vote on President thing, like boom, I’m not going to vote for Barack Obama’s pick for the Supreme Court. them.” Garland, who has made courtesy calls But an Associated Press-GfK poll also sug- on a fourth of the Senate so far, was sched- gests that GOP defiance against considering uled to meet with additional senators the nominee may not hurt the party much Wednesday including Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., because too many people, the election-year who has a competitive re-election this fall fight is simply not a big deal. and has opposed considering his nomination. Just 1 in 5 in the survey released yesterday Hours after Justice Antonin Scalia’s death said they’ve been following the battle over in February, Senate Majority Leader Mitch Obama’s nomination of federal judge Merrick McConnell, R-Ky., said his chamber would not Garland extremely or very closely. consider an Obama nominee and would That included just 26 percent of instead wait until the president elected this Democrats and 22 percent of Republicans November makes a pick. With the remaining expressing intense interest, along with a justices split 4-4 between those leaning con- scant 8 percent of independents. That aligns servative or liberal, most GOP senators have with the political reading of the issue by lined up behind McConnell. many Republicans that while it motivates Democrats have been spewing outrage each side’s most committed partisans, people ever since. Along with liberal groups, they’ve in the middle consider it a yawner - making been using television ads, news conferences, the fight essentially a wash. public demonstrations and Senate speeches Another clue that voters not dedicated to to ratchet up pressure on GOP senators, espe- either party find the court fight tiresome: cially those facing re-election this fall in swing While just over half of Democrats and and Democratic-leaning states like Illinois, Republicans said the issue is extremely or New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and very important, only around a third of inde- Ohio. Democrats’ theory is that the public pendents said so. wants Republicans to end their obstruction and let the Senate do its job, forcing GOP sen- What the people are saying ators to relent on Garland or risk defeat in Among people overall, half said the nomi- November. The AP-GfK poll has some data nation battle is of top-tier importance. But 8 backing that up. in 10 said that about the economy, and 7 in The 64 percent who favor hearings and a 10 said so about health care and the threat vote this year on Garland include an over- posed by the Islamic State group. whelming proportion of Democrats and a siz- NEW ORLEANS: Tony Kirsch, right, an auto body technician, works with Montrel Stiebling, a former inmate at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Immigration and the US role in world affairs able minority of Republicans, 40 percent. Angola, and graduate of their work release training program, in the body shop of Toyota. — AP both attracted slightly more intensity of inter- Independents, who can be pivotal in closely est than the court battle. divided states, back action this year, 52 per- “It gets me irritated, the bickering and all cent to 36 percent. Murderers are mentors in prison that kind of stuff,” Julie Christopher, 49, a “I’d rather see at least deliberations, and Republican and flight attendant from Fort see Congress do its job,” said Marc Frigon, 33, Worth, Texas, said in a follow-up interview, a high-tech worker from Beverly, once notorious for violence describing her modest attention to the issue. Massachusetts, who leans Republican and Christopher said that while she agrees with wants the Senate to reject Garland’s confir- the GOP’s refusal to hold hearings on Garland, mation. —AP ‘This place is opposite from what I expected’

ANGOLA, LA: A maximum-security prison in have a GED diploma. Stagg said lessons about prison since the first was released in 2013 - what Louisiana once notorious for its violence is exper- morals and values are crucial to the program. Khey calls a “very promising” rate. Statewide, imenting with a novel way to keep criminals out “Their main job is to teach them to refocus their approximately 36 percent of Louisiana offenders of trouble: Murderers and other “lifers” are now life, to change their heart and mind,” he said. return to prison within 3 years, state corrections mentors, teaching job skills and morals to nonvi- Most states employ re-entry programs, drug figures show. olent offenders, preparing them for another shot courts and other specialty courts to reduce Defendants charged with sex offenses or fac- at freedom. recidivism rates. What makes the Angola pro- ing sentences longer than 10 years aren’t eligible. Since 2010, the pilot program at Louisiana gram unique, experts said, is the mentoring by Program graduates get five years of court-super- State Penitentiary at Angola has authorized sev- lifers and the courts’ role in selecting and moni- vised probation once released. eral state judges to sentence dozens of low-level toring participants from the beginning to the “This is not a free pass for anybody,” said offenders to at least two years at the prison - typ- end of their sentences. “I haven’t seen it operate Judge Scott Schlegel in greater New Orleans’ ically sparing them much longer terms behind in the US in this way at all,” said David Khey, a Jefferson Parish. “If you want to change, we are bars. Roughly 130 of these “short-timers” are criminal justice professor at the University of here to help you succeed.” Montrel Stiebling learning such trades as automotive repair, weld- Louisiana at Lafayette. entered Angola without a high-school degree or ing, horticulture and plumbing from inmates a trade after pleading guilty to an attempted serving life sentences. Each is assigned a social Who is authorized to participate firearm possession charge that could have meant mentor responsible for their moral rehabilitation, Only nine court jurisdictions, including in New a decade behind bars. amid hopes they won’t return to a life of crime Orleans and Baton Rouge, are currently author- The 25-year-old earned his GED diploma and once freed. ized to participate in Angola’s program and a passed two Automotive Service Excellence certi- Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in smaller companion program at a women’s prison. fication tests in prison. Six months ago, he land- the nation, yet some experts say its six-year-old But the state Supreme Court appointed a partici- ed a job at a New Orleans car dealership’s body re-entry court program could be a model for oth- pating judge to examine how the program could shop. “I don’t think anybody should spend a day er states trying to reduce recidivism rates - a be expanded elsewhere, with Khey’s input. up there, but I don’t regret it because it helped measure of how many prisoners relapse into So far, only one of 27 program graduates from me out a lot,” said Stiebling, who was freed in criminal activity after they’re released. one court jurisdiction alone has returned to 2012 but remains on probation. — AP Nearly 100 inmates already have graduated and left Angola. Most needed a job lined up out- side prison walls to qualify for release. Thomas Bush, 30, said he was wary when he was sen- Republicans befriend air tenced to the program for drug and firearm offenses. Save for the razor wire surrounding this passengers - up to a point prison beside the Mississippi River, the auto Graphic shows results of AP-GfK poll on attitudes toward the current Supreme Court repair shop looks like any other. Instructors and vacancy. — AP WASHINGTON: Republican leaders are laud- • Requiring airlines to refund any fees for students in grease-stained overalls work on ing an aviation policy bill before the Senate as services not delivered, such as advance seat prison employees’ cars using donated equip- the most passenger friendly in years, but there assignments that turn out to be unavailable or Melania Trump says husband ment. “I’ve been locked up other places,” Bush are limits to friendship. In an election year that early boarding that isn’t provided. said. “This place is completely, 180 degrees oppo- has thus far been defined by populist rage, • Making airlines inform passengers travel- knows the perils of Twitter site from what I expected. It’s almost like a col- Republicans are walking a fine line as they seek ing with children at the time of ticketing if they lege campus.” The shop is run by John Sheehan, a to respond to passengers angered at their are unable to seat them together. convicted murderer at Angola since 1988. NEW YORK: Melania Trump controls what Trump to put his phone away and rein in treatment by airlines without violating conser- The provisions were included at the behest Sheehan said one recent graduate is earning $20 vative tenets by imposing potentially costly of the Senate Commerce, Science and her 10-year-old son can do on social media his social media activity. per hour at a New Orleans area car dealership. - but her husband, Donald, is another mat- Donald Trump, who has 7.5 million regulations on a major industry. Transportation Committee’s senior Democrat, “I know there are some who think we Sen Bill Nelson of Florida, in negotiations with ter. The wife of the Republican presidential Twitter followers and nearly as many on How the prisoners feel front-runner says he is “an adult and he Facebook, boasted about his social media should go further and re-regulate the airline the chairman, Sen John Thune. Thune has “It makes me feel good to know that I’ve industry, but we know deregulation has repeatedly touted the consumer provisions as knows the consequences” of his prolific and prowess. But he acknowledged that it helped him,” he said. “I may be in prison, but I sometimes inflammatory Twitter use. She sometimes got him in trouble. He also helped make air travel more accessible and a reason for senators to support the bill. In a don’t want to think like a prisoner or act like a more affordable for families and business trav- video shot at Washington Reagan National said Tuesday at a CNN town hall in New revealed that he either writes or dictates prisoner.” The judges already see evidence the York City that she has tried and failed to get nearly all of his own tweets. — AP elers,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch Airport to promote the bill, he calls the meas- program is breaking a cycle of crime. And they McConnell of Kentucky. He defended the GOP ure “one of the most passenger-friendly avia- give mentors much credit. “Lifers have value,” said position in favor of some consumer reforms in tion bills in a generation.” Judge Laurie White, one of two New Orleans the bill but against proposals by Democrats to But when Sen Edward Markey, tried to go a judges who created the program. Justin add more teeth to them. step further by proposing to prohibit airlines Singleton, 13 years into a life sentence for a mur- Public complaints to the Transportation from setting unreasonable fees and to direct der conviction, said he feels like a father figure or Department about airlines jumped 34 percent the Transportation Department to establish big brother. last year to the highest level since 2000, even what is reasonable, his amendment was “And even though I’m not able to be there, though consumer advocates say many passen- defeated in committee last month on a party- these guys are able to go out there and do some- gers don’t know where to turn when they think line tie vote. And last week, Sen Chuck thing positive with their lives,” said Singleton, 36. they’ve been treated unfairly. Among the Schumer, tried to prohibit airlines from further “That’s more rewarding than anything that I’ve adopted pro-consumer provisions, part of a shrinking the size of seats and to direct the accomplished in my own life.” larger aviation bill to extend the Federal FAA to determine a minimum seat size. The Assistant warden Perry Stagg said prison offi- Aviation Administration’s programs and pow- Senate defeated his amendment with all but cials from Mississippi, Texas and other states have ers, are these: three Democrats voting in favor and all but visited Angola to see the program. In January, • Standardizing how airlines disclose fees for one Republican voting against. Attorney General Loretta Lynch attended a basic services like checked bags, ticket At least one Republican had second round-table discussion on it in New Orleans. changes or cancellations, and seat assign- thoughts. The day after the vote, Sen. Jeff Flake “She was very interested in how we do things,” ments so that consumers can more easily com- of Arizona tweeted a photo of himself jammed Stagg said. Angola’s short-timers share dormito- pare both fare and fee prices as they shop for into an airline seat, laptop on his lap. On the ries with their mentors but aren’t isolated from tickets. screen: a news website with the headline, “The some 6,300 other inmates. “I want them to be • Requiring that airlines refund fees for Senate just voted against airplane legroom CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA: This file photo taken on January 14, 2016 shows Donald exposed to the pressures and the temptations of checked bags that are delivered more than six standards.” “OK, so perhaps my vote against Trump’s wife Melania Trump (R), daughter Ivanka Trump (2R), and son’s Eric Trump prison,” Stagg said. “They need to be able to learn hours after a domestic flight has landed, and this bill was a tad impetuous,” tweeted the 6- (2ndL), and Donald Trump Jr. as they look on during the Republican Presidential how to fight those temptations off.” more than 12 hours after an international flight. foot-1 Flake. — AP debate at the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center. — AFP Short-timers get drug treatment and have to INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 EU privacy watchdogs raise concerns over US data pact

BRUSSELS: European privacy regulators ing a challenge spurred by revelations of which if massive and indiscriminate is not contracts establishing privacy protections merce transactions, or to target advertising said yesterday a new commercial data mass US government surveillance pro- acceptable.” She also said the regulators between groups, so-called standard con- based on customer preferences. Falque- transfer pact between the European Union grams. European data protection authori- had doubts about the effective powers tractual clauses and binding corporate Pierrotin welcomed improvements in the and the United States needed to provide ties on yesterday urged the European and independence of the US ombudsman rules. Privacy Shield compared with Safe Harbor, more reassurance over US surveillance Commission - which negotiated the frame- who will deal with EU complaints about US EU data protection law bars companies such as a clearer explanation of EU citizens’ practices and the independence of a new work - to address their concerns in order surveillance practices. from transferring personal data to coun- rights and means for redress. US privacy ombudsman. The EU-US for them to be able to establish that data “We don’t have enough security guar- tries deemed to have insufficient privacy The data protection authorities urged Privacy Shield, agreed in February after transferred to the United States is afforded antees in the status of the ombudsperson,” safeguards, of which the United States is the European Commission to review the two years of talks, is designed to help firms the same standard of protection as in Falque-Pierrotin said. While non-binding, one, unless they set up such contracts or Shield in two years when a stricter on both sides of the Atlantic to move Europe. the opinion from the regulators is impor- use a framework like the Privacy Shield. European data protection law comes into Europeans’ data to the United States with- Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, chair of the tant because they enforce data protection Cross-border data transfers are used in force. Member state representatives have out falling foul of strict EU data transfer group of 28 data protection authorities, law across the EU and can suspend specific many industries for sharing employee to approve the framework before it is for- rules. It will replace Safe Harbor, struck said an area of concern was “the possibility data transfers. However, companies can information, and consumer data is shared mally adopted, something the Commission down last year by the top EU court follow- that is left in the Shield for bulk collection still transfer data to the United States using to complete credit card, travel or e-com- hopes to do by June. — Reuters Russians worried about economy before Putin call-in show ‘Direct Line’ with Putin now in its 14th year

MOSCOW: Before President Vladimir Putin’s people can phone in, and Putin also takes ques- annual call-in show today, the Kremlin has been tions from Russians speaking over video links sifting through more than 1 million questions that have been set up at selected spots around from Russians across the country. the country. The highly choreographed event Chief among concerns this year are the rising often pushes four hours. cost of utilities - a perennial issue - and the state According to a recent survey from the inde- of Russia’s roads, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry pendent Levada Center, nearly half of Russians Peskov, adding that photographs of pock- would ask Putin about bread-and-butter econom- marked highways have come flooding in. Other ic issues such as income levels and price increas- major concerns include price increases and with- es. Only 12 percent of Russians said they would held salaries, the spokesman told journalists. ask the president about corruption, according to This “Direct Line” with Putin, now in its 14th the poll. Despite the release of leaked financial year, provides a way for the president to assess documents called the Panama Papers, Russians MUNICH, GERMANY: Firefighters and emergency doctors working at the scene of a the country’s mood, listen to direct appeals from have largely remained nonplussed about accusa- train accident near Bad Aibling. — AFP his constituency, and explain policies, both for- tions that Putin’s friends, particularly leading cel- eign and domestic. list Sergei Rodulgin, were engaged in an offshore scheme. Putin has publicly defended Rodulgin. German train crash The program’s plan The survey, which was conducted March 25-28 This year, more than in the past, the president MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin, among 1,600 people across Russia, highlights the claims 12th victim is likely to devote a good amount of time to listens during last year’s annual call-in show economic challenges Russia has been facing in world politics, said Dmitri Trenin, the director of on Russian television “Conversation With the past several years. the Carnegie Moscow Center. “Russia has been at Vladimir Putin”. — AP The Russian economy, which was already fac- BERLIN: The death toll from a German train played it for a long period until shortly war in the Middle East for a time now. It has ing stagnation, has been hard hit by falling oil crash rose to 12 yesterday, a day after a rail before the train collision.” been so far successful, but people are worried. directly to the czar to intervene to solve their prices and Western sanctions, levied in the wake dispatcher was arrested, accused of having “Apparently because of this distraction, People are also worried about what happens in problems. “In order not to be surprised, Mr. Putin of Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March 2014. been distracted by a mobile phone game the accused made... false assumptions, sent Ukraine next,” he said. is watching the popular mood very intently and A sharp depreciation in the ruble has con- shortly before the accident. the wrong signals to the trains and pressed Trenin said the message will be clear: “It’s a these press conferences are very important in tributed to high inflation and a rise in the cost of Two commuter trains crashed head-on the wrong radio key combinations in both difficult world, it’s a complicated situation - the that sense, so he gets a lot of first-hand informa- living, while employment opportunities have at high speed near the southern spa town emergency calls so that the drivers could West is against us, oil has gone down to the level tion about the people of the country,” Trenin told narrowed. Vladislav Zheleznov, a 20-year-old car of Bad Aibling early on February 9 in one of not receive them.” This meant his error was where we have not seen it for the past 12 years - The Associated Press. mechanic, said if he had a chance he would ask Germany’s deadliest accidents in years, not just a “momentary lapse” but represent- so it’s tough, but we need to rally around the The president has called this event one of the Putin to do more for Russia’s students. “I really which also left several dozen passengers ed a “serious breach of duty”, said the chief Kremlin.” The call-in show also gives Russians a most telling social surveys in the country. During want young people to have a job after they fin- injured. The latest victim was a 46-year-old prosecutor in the southern town of chance to feel like their concerns are being the week ahead of the show, Russians can sub- ish studying,” Zheleznov said. “I want them not to man who died of his injuries in a Munich Traunstein in a statement. heard, playing on a tradition dating back to mit questions via an online portal or through have the problem of searching for a job and I hospital more than two months after the The worker, who has several years of imperial Russia when peasants would appeal social networking sites. The day of the show, want for this job to be fairly paid.” — AP disaster, said Bavarian police. experience, had allowed two trains from A day earlier, a court ordered the arrest opposite directions, carrying about 150 pas- of the 39-year-old railway signaling worker sengers in total, to travel on a single track. on involuntary manslaughter and other They collided in a forest area about 60 kilo- Rich nations probe Panama charges. Prosecutors said the man had meters southeast of Munich, the Bavarian “turned on his mobile phone while on duty capital. The accused had admitted to playing on the morning of the disaster, launched the game but denied being distracted by it, an online computer game and actively said the prosecutor’s statement. — AFP Papers tax revelations

PARIS: Tax authorities from the world’s richest nations yesterday probed a mass of murky off- shore dealings revealed in the huge Panama Papers data leak, just hours after police raided the law firm at the center of the scandal. The leak of 11.5 million confidential offshore financial documents from Panamanian law office Mossack Fonseca offered international tax offi- cials meeting in Paris an unprecedented trove of data to delve into alleged wrongdoing, officials said. “We are basically trying to get the bigger picture,” Australian Tax Commissioner Chris Jordan, who proposed a joint investigation, told the Australian Financial Review business daily ahead of the gathering. “It has never been tried on this scale before,” Jordan added. “A number of countries have got slices or pieces of the data and that’s been very useful, but really, the start of the conversation is to work out who’s got what, how we can pool that infor- mation and start to work together.” Australia convened the closed-door meeting in the French capital as chair of the Joint International PIRAEUS, GREECE: Two boys place a fish in a plastic bag at the port of yesterday. —AP Tax Shelter Information and Collaboration Network, which seeks to crack down on cross- border tax cheats. Migrants clash again PANAMA CITY: Police stand guard outside the Mossack Fonseca law firm offices during a raid ‘First opportunity to act’ on Tuesday. — AFP with Macedonian The global network looking into tax havens is also owned offshore companies. And wealthy Paris put Panama back on its national list of an initiative of the Paris-headquartered 38- citizens in Australia, France, India, Mexico, Peru, uncooperative jurisdictions, after removing it police on Greek border nation advanced economies club, the Spain and elsewhere face probes over suspected in 2012, in the wake of the leaks. France is also Organization for Economic Cooperation and tax avoidance after their names figured in some urging the European Union and all OECD IDOMENI: More than 100 migrants engaged mass incursions into Macedonia in recent Development (OECD). of the documents. member states to follow suit. Such an interna- in running battles yesterday with weeks, trying to bypass the fence or break “The meeting at the OECD presents tax Panama has hit back at the apparent blemish tional designation would deal a heavy blow to Macedonian police on the other side of a through it. Alaeddin Mohamad, a 26-year-old administrations with a first opportunity to act on on its image. It has warned France of unspecified Panama’s vital financial services sector, which fence on Greece’s border with the country, in law student from Aleppo, Syria, who has lived the considerable body of information revealed diplomatic measures if France does not remove the government has been trying to make more clashes that sent clouds of tear gas wafting in the camp for a month, told The Associated by the Panama Papers release,” the OECD said in it from a blacklist of tax havens. transparent. —AFP over a crowded tent city of stranded refugees Press that the protest started with a peaceful a statement in the run-up to the one-day gather- and other migrants. sit-down in front of the fence, and ing. The tax officials gathered behind closed The violence stopped a planned tour of Macedonian police responded with tear gas. doors in Paris just hours after the Panamanian Call to investigate Nigerian the border fence in Macedonia by the visiting “We don’t want to clash. We want the bor- police’s organised crime police raided the head- presidents of Croatia and Slovenia. No injuries ders to open and get on with our lives,” quarters of Mossack Fonseca, which says its con- were reported from the clashes at the closed Mohamad said. “I want to continue my stud- fidential documents were stolen in a computer military killings of Shiites Idomeni crossing, while Greek riot police ies in Europe. I will stay here until the border hack. Prosecutors said the raids at Mossack LAGOS: Nigeria’s Kaduna state government has Zakzaky, said Shiite spokesman Ibrahim Musa. monitoring the stone-throwing migrants on opens. Otherwise, I will die here.” Fonseca’s headquarters in Panama City and oth- said it secretly buried hundreds of minority None has been brought to court though the law their side of the fence made no arrests, did lit- On Sunday, severe clashes between stone- er branches had taken place “with no incident or Shiite Muslims in a mass grave, after the victims requires that those arrested be charged within tle to intervene and retreated during the tear- throwing migrants and Macedonian police interference,” but gave no details on the results gas barrage. Macedonian police fired scores using tear gas, stun grenades, rubber bullets were killed in army raids that underline ongoing 48 hours. Some wounded Shiites have died in of the searches. The world’s business, political impunity despite President Muhammadu detention for lack of medical care, according to of tear gas canisters, stun grenades and rub- and a water cannon left scores injured. The and even sports elite have been thrown onto the ber bullets at the protesters, who had earlier violence increased friction between the two Buhari’s promises to end military abuses. Musa, who is in hiding, saying he is fearful he will defensive by the findings of a year-long probe Amnesty International is calling for an investi- be killed if caught. tried to scale the border fence using blankets Balkan neighbors - at odds for a quarter-cen- by a consortium of investigative journalists into issued by humanitarian groups to get over tury over Macedonia’s official name - with gation following what it called “horrific revela- “The horrific revelation by the Kaduna state leaked documents covering almost 40 years tions of the slaughter and secret burial.” Kaduna government that hundreds of Shiites were coils of razor wire. Many of the canisters were Macedonia accusing Greece of doing nothing from around 214,000 offshore entities. neutralized by blankets and earth thrown to stop the rioters and Athens denouncing state government secretary Balarabe Lawal told gunned down and dumped in mass graves is an over them by the protesters. Skopje’s heavy-handed response. a commission of inquiry on Monday that dozens important first step to bringing all those sus- ‘US plot’ claim of soldiers and state officials transported 347 pected of criminal responsibility for this atrocity On the Macedonian side of the border, the Although not illegal in themselves, offshore What triggered this presidents of Macedonia, Croatia and bodies from a mortuary and an army base to a to trial,” the Nigeria director of London-based financial transactions may be used to hide assets About 11,000 people have been living in Slovenia - whose countries have sent police bush site where they were buried after the Dec. Amnesty International, M.K. Ibrahim, said in a from tax authorities, launder the proceeds of the informal camp for weeks, since to help Macedonia guard its border - met in 12-14 military raids on Shiite compounds in statement on Tuesday. Iran, considered the inter- criminal activities or conceal misappropriated or Macedonia closed its border to transient the town of Gevgelija, a few kilometers from northern Zaria town. The Shiites say those killed national protector of Shiites, has protested the politically inconvenient wealth. refugees and other migrants hoping to move Idomeni. number closer to 1,000. killings and demanded compensation for victims north towards Europe’s prosperous heartland. Croatia’s Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic said the Iceland’s prime minister was forced to resign The military said it ordered the mid- and for bulldozed properties including Zakzaky’s Before the shutdown, which was triggered by European Union should clarify its immigra- after it emerged he owned shares in the coun- December raids after Shiites attempted to assas- home and a school. a similar move in Austria, further north on the tion policy and send a clear message to try’s banks through an offshore company during sinate Nigeria’s army chief - charges the Shiite “Kill Boko Haram! Stop killing Shia!” says graf- Islamic Movement in Nigeria denies. The killing migration corridor, about 850,000 people migrants stranded in Balkan countries who the financial crisis. Leaders in Britain and Ukraine fiti on a hospital wall in northern Kano city, refer- only stopped when the military captured and ring to the northeastern Islamic extremist insur- who had arrived in Greece on smugglers’ are hoping the old route will reopen. have faced questions over their taxes, while then shot several times Shiite leader Ibraheem gency that has killed some 20,000 people. boats from Turkey had entered Macedonia In comments to the press, she said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has sought to Zakzaky, leaving him near-blind, human rights Amnesty has charged that the military are from Idomeni. the wave of immigration will not stop divert attention from his entourage by claiming lawyer Femi Falana said this week after finally responsible for the deaths of about 8,000 of the The camp residents - mostly Syrian, Iraqi “until (migrants) got a clear message” on it is all a US plot against him. being allowed to see his client. deaths, all detainees killed extra-judicially or and Afghan refugees - have ignored repeated who is eligible for asylum. The clashes China has been censoring online forums and Nearly 1,000 Shiites are missing, including through torture, starvation and asphyxiation in calls from Greek authorities to relocate to prevented a planned visit to the closed media to stifle discussion of the papers, which scores held in illegal detention along with overcrowded cells. — AP organized camps, and attempted several border crossing. — AP showed relatives of eight of its political top brass

INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 Islamists behead two hostages in the Philippines

MANILA: Philippine militants that want to ally with belonged to an Islamic militant group that battled leaving more than 120,000 people dead. Efforts to 18 soldiers and more than two dozen Abu Sayyaf Islamic State jihadists have beheaded two local government forces for a week in February, leaving secure a peace deal with the largest rebel group, gunmen dead. The military said skirmishes were still hostages, police said yesterday. Police on the south- three soldiers dead and forcing 20,000 people to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), collapsed continuing with Abu Sayyaf fighters on yesterday, ern island of Mindanao recovered the decapitated flee their homes. after parliament failed to pass a law to create an and the toll of dead rebels had risen to 28. corpses of the two men on Tuesday, nine days after Police found black flags identical to those flown autonomous Muslim region in Mindanao. Among those killed were a Moroccan bomb they were taken, said the police chief of Lanao del by Islamic State jihadists in Iraq and Syria in the MILF leaders have warned the collapse of the expert called Mohammad Khattab, who the mili- Sur province. fighters’ hideout in the remote Mindanao town of peace deal could embolden hard line militants who tary said had been sent to build ties between “Salvador Hanobas and Jemark Hanobas were Butig. Duran said the group had also abducted six want to resume a violent separatist uprising. News local Muslim rebel groups and an international beheaded by their abductors,” Senior workers at a local sawmill on April 4, accusing them of the beheadings came after the Abu Sayyaf, jihadist network. Superintendent Rustom Duran told reporters by of being military informers. Four were freed another Islamic militant group, released a retired “Khattab planned to speak to all of them to unite telephone. “Locals brought the heads and the tor- unharmed on Monday. Italian priest held hostage for six months last week. and link them to the entire international terrorist sos to the mayor’s office.” It was unclear if the two A Muslim separatist insurgency has raged for A major firefight broke out afterwards on the network,” military spokesman Brigadier-General victims were related. Duran said the kidnappers more than four decades in the southern Philippines, remote southern island of Basilan on Friday, leaving Restituto Padilla told reporters. — AFP Bone fragments from WWII crashes returning from India ‘This is a sad duty, but it means a great deal’

NEW DELHI: The tiny bone fragments formally turned over to the US Wednesday carry a world of significance and perhaps closure for possibly a few American families who lost a loved one over the mountains of India in World War II. During a solemn ceremony Wednesday, US military members paid final respects to what they believe may be the remains of crew mem- bers from a B-24 bomber and a military trans- port plane that crashed on supply runs from India to China over the Himalayan Mountains.

Finally returning home CHANGSHA, CHINA: Sun Wenlin, left, and his partner Hu Mingliang hold hands as Eight people were killed in the B-24 crash, they arrive at the Furong District Court to argue in China’s first gay marriage case and a four-man Army Air Force crew was killed in yesterday. — AP a C-109 crash. It marks the first time the Defense Department’s POW/MIA Accounting Agency is Despite court ruling, China gay bringing home remains of missing military members from India. “This is a sad duty, but it rights movement makes gains means a great deal,” said Defense Secretary Ash Carter, who watched the ceremony. “Those guys ‘Entering the struggle’ whose remains are in those coffins would have wanted that, and would be proud and happy to NEW DELHI: US military members pay final respects to what they believe may be the remains be home, and their families too.” CHANGSHA, CHINA: For years, Chen Tiantian gender and sexuality, but awareness of les- of one to two crew members from a B-24 bomber that crashed during World War II at a cere- Speaking to reporters flying with him to the could only read about the gay rights move- bian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues is mony at the Palam airport yesterday. — AP ment in faraway places. She knew that there rising. Philippines, Carter said it also sends a message a lab in Hawaii for DNA testing. Only then will found other items associated with the crash but were activists in Beijing and a vibrant commu- China doesn’t legally recognize same-sex to those currently serving in warzone because it officials know if the fragments belong to one or no personal effects, such as dog tags or watches, nity in Shanghai, and that in San Francisco, a marriage, and officials with the central gov- shows them “what we would go through for two crew members. that could identify the crew. US Defense distant Mecca, gay pride parades took up ernment have said they do not see the law somebody who perished serving their country The B-24 crash site is one of many in the Secretary Ash Carter, who has been traveling in entire streets. changing soon. It also remains unclear how far today.” Two bone fragments - small enough to fit mountains where US aircraft went down as they India, watched as taps was played and the But on Wednesday, the 20-year-old English gay rights activism will be allowed to go inside a sandwich bag - along with some other tried to negotiate the harsh and jagged terrain. remains were placed in the caskets and loaded major sat on the steps of a courthouse and under the current political climate in China, artifacts from the B-24 flight were found during Teams have tried to excavate sites before, but in onto a C-17 aircraft for the flight home. spoke fervently about how the struggle for where lawyers groups and feminist activists a US excavation in the rugged mountain. Their 2008-2009 they found no remains. The Pentagon has restated its commitment to equality had arrived in her central Chinese have been jailed in recent months. But many discovery and return gives hope to families that This time, experts aided by mountaineering families of the thousands of servicemen still hometown - and how she planned to take gay rights activists in China say they feel pub- the remains of the estimated 350 US service adventurers identified four areas to search. Two unaccounted for from World War II and the part. “It’s hard to believe, but we’re right in the lic attitudes are shifting substantially given members still classified as missing in India may were in terrain that was too dangerous for crews Korean and Vietnam wars. Many of those fami- middle of this,” said Chen, who came with sev- the growing mainstream media coverage of someday find their way home. to work in because of possible landslides. High lies have, over the years, complained bitterly of eral friends to support a local couple who had LGBT issues. According to Gary Stark, the India desk officer on the steep mountains of Arunachal Predesh, delay and even neglect from the Pentagon challenged the city’s civil affairs bureau after In 2014, a Chinese court ruled that gay for the POW/MIA Accounting Agency, the B-24 - along India’s northeast border, the recovery agencies charged with finding, recovering and they were denied a marriage certificate. “It’s conversion treatments were illegal. Earlier this known as Hot As Hell - went missing with its team climbed more than 9,000 feet. identifying remains from overseas wars. like I’m finally entering the struggle myself.” week, a labor arbitration panel in the southern crew of eight in January 1944. The aircraft was According to Marine Capt. Greg Lynch, the Carter’s predecessor at the Pentagon, Chuck Though it was dismissed by the court in province of Guizhou heard China’s first trans- one of many that ran supplies from China to team hiked for three days to set up a base camp, Hagel, ordered the MIA accounting bureaucracy Changsha, China’s first legal challenge to a law gender job discrimination case and is expect- India, flying people and parts back and forth then climbed to the crash site every day, careful- to reorganize and consolidate as part of an effort limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples has ed to make a ruling in the coming weeks. over what they called the Hump. ly sifting through dirt to find remains. “It was to improve its performance, which also has galvanized many of the hundreds of young Ying Xin, the director of the Beijing LGBT The second set of remains was turned over to very physically grueling to go to this particular come under criticism in Congress. Chinese gay rights supporters who gathered Center, said there was a sharp uptick in aware- the POW/MIA agency by a third party and was area and to conduct this recovery,” said Lynch, a Under increased scrutiny, the POW/MIA office at the courthouse, some of them waving small ness of gay issues compared to 2009, when from the same region. team leader who was not on this project. He said has increased the number of remains that were rainbow flags. The hearing’s sizable public the group started doing street performance The Pentagon said the remains are “possibly” the team included 12 mainly military members, identified last year, to nearly 100, and expects to turnout and coverage by usually conservative art in Beijing. “This is a moment because of all related to a C-109 that crashed on July 17, 1945, along with another dozen or so contractors. exceed that number this year. No more excava- Chinese media appeared to reflect early signs the news coverage, and people are gaining traveling from India to China. After yesterday’s tions in India are planned for the fiscal year that of shifting social attitudes in China on the top- exposure,” Ying said, pointing out recent cov- ceremony at the airport in New Delhi, the What else did they find? ends on Sept. 30, and officials said they didn’t ic of sexual orientation. erage of LGBT issues and lawsuits in domestic remains, which were put in ceremonial boxes Along with the bone fragments, the team know the schedule for next year. — AP online and broadcast news outlets. and then into flag-draped caskets, will be sent to The Lawsuit The lawsuit that was dismissed was The television brought by 26-year-old Sun Wenlin against Central China Television, the state broad- China summons the civil affairs bureau for refusing to issue caster, has covered gay issues on several occa- him and his partner, Hu Mingliang, a marriage sions and sent a reporter yesterday to inter- G7 diplomats to registration certificate. The judge’s ruling view Sun after the court decision. As he left against the couple came down after a three- the courthouse amid applause and cries of protest S. China hour hearing - but that didn’t dampen the “Hero,” Sun, the plaintiff, told reporters and mood of many of the hundreds of young scores of supporters that he would continue Sea statement Chinese who gathered outside the court- to appeal until all of his legal options were house hoping for a chance to “witness history,” exhausted. BEIJING: Beijing summoned diplomats in the words of one supporter. “The bigger significance of this case is that from the Group of 7 industrialized countries Some supporters, who had traveled it will let more people know about their to protest a statement from their foreign overnight from neighboring provinces to line rights,” said Gou Gou, a Beijing-based lawyer ministers criticizing China’s island-building up at 5 a.m. to attend the hearing, said they from an informal group of legal professionals activities in the disputed South China Sea, felt energized because having a gay marriage called the Rainbow Lawyers network. “But the Foreign Ministry said yesterday. lawsuit argued in a Chinese court for the first young people are the most passionate. This Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China time was a small but significant victory in will hopefully direct them to become more “solemnly clarified” to the diplomats its itself. Unlike in most politically sensitive legal involved with the right training.” position on the issue. In an earlier state- cases, security outside the courthouse was For Chen, the English student, yesterday’s ment, Lu defended China’s land reclamation light and the atmosphere was relaxed. hearing seemed like an awakening. She attrib- work in the Spratly islands as within its terri- More seasoned activists said they too had uted the Internet to her knowledge of LGBT torial rights and accused the G-7 of diverg- reason to be optimistic given a pickup in legal issues, saying she had read voraciously about ing from its mission of safeguarding the challenges, even if successes in court everything from the battle over same-sex global economy. remained few and far between. Chinese socie- marriage in the United States winding its way “After this (G-7) statement was issued, ty and the government have generally to the Supreme Court to news of homophobic we indeed found some things were correct frowned on nontraditional expressions of attacks in Russia. — AP and some were incorrect,” Lu told reporters at a regularly scheduled news conference. “As part the ritual of the exchanges among Before defecting, North Korean countries, when we find something wrong, we will definitely clarify to the relevant waitresses shopped for backpacks country our opinion and stance.” NINGBO: Two days before they sought asy- acknowledgement of defections is unusual. Unconfirmed reports said China sum- lum in South Korea, the North Korean wait- It also said this week that two senior offi- moned the Japanese ambassador and the resses in the Chinese coastal city of Ningbo cials from the North had defected, but that No. 2 ranking diplomats from the other six on Tuesday. The statement issued by the shopped for backpacks at a nearby store they came over last year. The government KAZIRANGA, ASSAM, INDIA: Britain’s Prince William (C), Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, and paid relatively expensive full prices. “I denied the announcements were aimed at G-7 foreign ministers on Monday Duchess of Cambridge, feed baby elephants as a rhino calf looks on at the Center for Wildlife expressed strong opposition to any “intim- asked them ‘Are you going on a trip?’, and influencing voters in Wednesday’s parlia- Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) at Panbari reserve forest yesterday. — AFP they said yes,” said one of the workers at the mentary election. China has said a group of idating, coercive or provocative unilateral shop, who declined to give his name. “They 13 North Koreans used valid passports to actions that could alter the status quo and seemed happy.” Another shop worker, sur- leave the country normally on April 6, but British royals Will and Kate increase tensions.” named Gong, confirmed the story. did not say where they went. China is North China’s massive project to create islands Four waitresses from the Ryugyong Korea’s main ally and is known for sending tour rhino sanctuary in India by piling sand on coral reefs and topping Korean Restaurant visited the nearby store defectors back to the North. About 29,000 them with airfields and ports has been criti- on April 5 and bought three backpacks, people have fled North Korea and arrived in cized by the US and others as militarizing each for the listed 199 yuan (about $31), the South since the 1950-53 Korean War, KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK, INDIA: Britain’s about the problems faced in the park and anti- the region, an accusation China flatly rejects. even though they were often known to bar- including 1,276 last year, with numbers Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took a jeep poaching efforts. The statement, which didn’t mention China gain, the workers said. declining since a 2009 peak. safari on Wednesday through an Indian national The thick-skinned, one-horned Indian rhinoc- by name, also expressed concern about the Two days later, 12 of the restaurant’s park that is home to two-thirds of the world’s eros is one of five species in the world. Global East China Sea, where Japan and China both waitresses and one manager arrived in Secretive and a curiosity dwindling population of one-horned rhinos. conservation group WWF estimates that fewer claim a string of uninhabited islands. Seoul, the South Korean capital, in the In Ningbo, shopkeepers nearby consid- Prince William and wife Kate, on a week-long than 3,000 of the animals survive today. They Lu’s statement issued Tuesday and post- biggest mass defection case involving ered the North Korean restaurant and its tour of India and Bhutan, rode in an open- are found mostly in northeastern India, with a ed on the ministry’s website said the G-7 North Koreans in several years. How they pretty but secretive waitresses a curiosity. topped jeep through the Kaziranga National few hundred in neighboring Nepal. countries should have focused on global planned and executed their trip remains a The restaurant, now closed, sits on a newly Park in the northeastern state of Assam, spotting The rhinos in Kaziranga live in swamps, economy instead of “hyping up maritime mystery, but more details have quickly developed pedestrian street for tourists a pair of rhinos in a lagoon, as well as water buf- forests and tall thickets of elephant grass, where issues and fueling tensions in the region.” emerged of this defection than most others. that opened for business in late September falo and swamp deer. poachers hide before trapping them with poi- Yesterday, Lu complained that some media South Korea has said it has admitted 13 last year. Across the lane at a cosmetics The royal couple was keen to learn about son, or just shooting them dead. William and have not fully reported on China’s position defectors, North Korean restaurant workers shop, Jiang Jiang recalled the noisy, patriot- efforts to combat poachers and how the wildlife Kate have already visited the Indian capital, New and said China would not be pressured into who arrived on April 7, on humanitarian ic North Korean music sung by the wait- affects villagers living near the park, spread Delhi and the financial hub, Mumbai. They travel altering its policies on the South China Sea. grounds. The North has called it a “hideous” resses, a routine deployed at many of the across an area of 430 square km. “We felt good to the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan on China claims almost the entire strategically abduction of its workers by the South. The around 130 North Korean restaurants when the prince came to the park. We are lucky Thursday, before returning on Saturday to India’s vital waterway and its island groups as its South Korean government’s public around the world. — Reuters to interact with the prince,” said forest ranger Taj Mahal - famously visited alone by his late own territory. — AP Salim Ahmad, adding that William had asked mother, Princess Diana, in 1992. — Reuters NEWS THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

A Yemeni man looks at his mobile phone while riding a motorcycle in floodwaters on a rainy day in Sanaa yesterday. — AP

Saudi cabinet curbs powers of vice police Nod to higher power tariffs for expatriates...

Continued from Page 1 presence in many parts of the Saudi because there are so many people Continued from Page 1 opposed to any increase in charges because it will even- capital. that are for these changes,” she said, tually lead to raising prices of other commodities and In 2013, religious policemen were This is the latest effort to curb the expressing hope that any rogue offi- Electricity and Water Minister Ahmad Al-Jassar said goods, thus impacting the population. “Whenever the arrested after their patrol car crashed excesses of an agency which, accord- cers would be held to account. at Kuwait’s current consumption of 15,000 megawatts, government fails, it goes directly to the pockets of the into another vehicle during a chase ing to Saudi columnist Sajdi Al- Sheikh Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, a for- the government pays KD 2.660 billion in subsidies for people. We are a rich country with a small population ... that left two men dead. Mutawaa Rouqi, did not in the past hesitate to mer head of the holy city of Makkah’s electricity and water annually. He said that in 2035, the principle of hikes is rejected because there is no jus- members must be of “good conduct flog in public young men who did religious police, welcomed the new consumption would triple and subsidies would hit KD. tification,” Azemi said. MP Jamal Al-Omar admitted the and reputation” and must clearly dis- not know the time of prayer. In an regulations but said they perhaps 7.6 billion if nothing is done to cut overconsumption country is facing a crisis but insisted that it was caused play their identity cards, the new article published in local media last could have come sooner. “I believe and stop squandering of electricity and water. The aim not by the drop in oil prices alone, but also because of rules say. A five-member advisory month, Rouqi called on the agency’s it’s a very good change” for the of the government bill, which proposed higher tariffs, the government’s failure, describing the government as committee will provide suggestions members to improve its public roughly 5,000 Haia members, is to cut consumption by 30 percent and save billions “incapable” of managing the country. to the Mutawaa president - appoint- image and explain the “noble objec- Ghamdi told AFP. The agency has an of dinars that could be used to build houses, the min- The session included several clashes between MPs ed by King Salman - on holding offi- tives of their job”. “important message for the people” ister said. for various reasons, including between Azemi and cers to account for any violations or Other commentators have called but some of its members have mis- According to official statistics, Kuwaiti citizens Saadoun Hammad, who exchanged harsh words accus- abuse. for the Mutawaa’s abolition. In 2013, understood Islam which is a “very account for 40 percent of power and 43 percent of ing each other of robbery and bribery. MP Adel Al- Eman Al-Nafjan, a well-known cabinet removed from religious offi- kind” religion, he said. There was no water consumption, with expatriates consuming 20 per- Khorafi said the country will still face a crisis even if oil blogger on Saudi society, culture and cers the power to interrogate and immediate comment from the cent of power and 22 percent of water, the minister price rises to $50 a barrel, blaming the highly inflated women’s issues, praised the changes. press charges. But it maintained their Mutawaa and its website could not said. The rest goes to other activities. Jassar said that 68 civil servants’ salaries as part of the problem. He said he “It’s great. Finally!” she told AFP, right to arrest people using alcohol be accessed yesterday. In February, percent of citizens consume under 12,000 kW of elec- supports raising electricity charges but only after solv- adding that cabinet acted “because or drugs and committing certain Haia chief Abdul Rahman Al-Sanad tricity monthly and 57 percent of expats consume ing structural disorders in the economy. there have been so many cases” of other offences including witchcraft. was quoted as denying his agency under 2,000 kW per month. MP Yousef Al-Zalzalah warned of the serious eco- Mutawaa wrongdoing. Despite their Abuses allegedly continued, but harasses or punishes people. He said A majority of lawmakers expressed total opposition nomic situation and cautioned it could impact the value controversial reputation, the officers Nafjan said it felt like this time would it seeks simply to improve behavior, to the government’s plan to increase charges on citi- of the Kuwaiti dinar. “A day might come when we can’t do not have a particularly noticeable be different. “I’m very confident Arab News reported. — AFP zens, others called for smaller raises while a few MPs pay salaries,” Zalzalah warned. MP Mohammad Tana said also called to exempt expatriates from the raise. MP he totally rejects any measure to tax citizens in any way. Saleh Ashour described the proposed raise as “the “Apply these measures on merchants and spare citi- National guard to be deployed at oil sites biggest crime against citizens and expatriates”. zens,” he said. MPs said they will submit several amend- Islamist MP Hamdan Al-Azemi said he is totally ments for the second round of voting. Continued from Page 1 drop in production. A spokesman for Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) had said pro- The union did not say how long the walkout would duction and exports would not be affected by the last. Independent MP Mohammad Tana defended the strike, and a strategy was in place to deal with this Sisi on defensive over isles, student’s... employees’ demands and rejected any plan to cut their kind of action where extra staff will be used to run pay, saying that “benefits and incentives of the oil work- operations. Continued from Page 1 Egyptians’ chronic distrust of their leaders, saying it was pushing the country to “national suicide”. “You don’t ers should not be touched”. “We are faced with a strike Union chief Saif Al-Qahtani said Monday that “This is a country, not a school and those are two believe that there is a single patriotic man in the foreign that could paralyse the country and may result in huge workers presented alternatives during the meeting islands not two cheese sandwiches,” tweeted one com- ministry, the army or the intelligence agency? They are all losses,” Tana told parliament. Sources cited by Al-Rai with the minister but they had been rejected. The mentator, reflecting what some Egyptians see as the gov- bad people who are ready to sell off their country?” he said said Kuwait’s oil production of three million barrels per union is also protesting plans to privatize parts of ernment’s casual handling of a sovereignty issue. Though in a rhetorical question. day would drop by between 500,000 bpd and one mil- the oil sector. The other firms where workers plan to he appeared calm and adopted an avuncular tone, Sisi’s Cairo’s decision to transfer custody of the islands to lion bpd if the workers carry out their threat. join the strike are Kuwait Oil Company, Kuwait Oil choice of words suggested criticism had stung a leader Saudi Arabia was announced when Saudi King Salman vis- But the sources said exports and domestic sales Tanker company, Equate Petrochemical Industries once so popular bakeries sold cakes emblazoned with his ited Egypt earlier this week. During his stay, Salman would not be affected since reserves could cover any Company and Kuwait Gulf Oil Company. — Agencies face. Egypt’s government maintains that the islands of pledged billions of dollars in aid and investment to Egypt, Tiran and Sanafir at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba tempting critics to link the generous Saudi aid to the trans- belong to Saudi Arabia, which asked Egypt in 1950 to pro- fer of the islands. About two dozen activists staged a noisy tect them from Israel. Israel captured the islands in the protest over the islands’ case outside the journalists’ union Gates predicts end of polio 1967 Middle East war, but handed them back to Egypt in downtown Cairo, carrying banners that asserted under their 1979 peace treaty. “We did not surrender our Egyptian ownership of the islands. Others took to social DOHA: Bill Gates said yesterday that rights, but we restored the rights of others,” Sisi said in media networks to dismiss the president’s comments as “with any luck” polio will be eradicat- comments broadcast live. “Egypt did not relinquish even a unconvincing. ed by 2017 in the last two countries grain of sand. All the data and documents say nothing Some of the criticism in recent days has focused on Sisi, where it remains active, Pakistan and except that this particular right is theirs. Please let us not who acknowledged yesterday that negotiations with the Afghanistan. The Microsoft founder, talk about this subject again,” he added. “There is a parlia- Saudis over the fate of the islands were conducted in who has donated billions to fight ment that you elected which will debate the accord. It will secrecy to avoid unwanted media attention. Critics are global diseases, was speaking in either ratify or reject it.” calling for a referendum on the transfer, arguing that a Doha at the official announcement But the agreement to hand them over caused conster- legislature packed with Sisi’s supporters - who gave of a $50 million donation from Qatar nation among many Egyptians, who were taught in school Salman a tumultuous welcome when he addressed the to “The Lives and Livelihood Fund”. that the islands were theirs. Cartoons on social media chamber on Sunday, complete with standing ovations, This is a partnership fund between showed the Sphinx in a traditional Gulf Arab headdress chants of adulation and poems of praise - can hardly be the Bill and Melinda Gates while the front page of Al Maqal newspaper asked: “Are we expected to give the agreement serious consideration, let Foundation and the Islamic living the years of the Saudi Republic of Egypt?” Even the alone reject it. Al Masry Al Youm newspaper counted the Development Bank (IDB), who chairman of state-owned mass-circulation Al Ahram news- times lawmakers clapped in the 15 minutes the king was together have been working to try to paper condemned the government’s handling of the issue. in the house - 23. eradicate diseases, including polio, “Tiran and Sanafir... Egyptian forever,” wrote Ahmed Al- Sisi yesterday also denied that Egypt’s security agencies DOHA: Bill Gates (right), Microsoft founder and co-chairman of the Bill Naggar on his Facebook page on Tuesday night, adding were behind the killing of Giulio Regeni, the Italian scholar since 2012. and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Kuwari, that he would publish a column on the topic the next day. who disappeared on Jan 25. The day was the five-year “There’s very few cases left, just Director General of the Qatar Development Fund, sign documents The column did not appear in yesterday’s newspaper. anniversary of the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak two countries at this point, Pakistan during a ceremony yesterday. — AFP On Twitter, the hashtag “I feel like selling what to Saudi and police were out in force to prevent demonstrations. and Afghanistan, and with any luck Arabia” trended on Tuesday, with commentators suggest- Regeni’s body was found nine days later with signs of tor- either this year or next year we will launch of a $4 billion fund to help donated by Doha through the Qatar ing Egypt flog everything from self-serving lawmakers to ture. “As soon as the death of that young man was have the last cases of those,” Gates eradicate malaria, which he called Development Fund (QDF), a public Sisi himself. Egypt needs Gulf Arab money to keep itself announced, people among us said it was the work of said. Pakistan has already made it an the “world’s biggest killer”. body which distributes foreign aid. afloat and the controversial decision to hand back the Egyptian security agencies ... what happened is that evil official target to rid the country of The donation he received in Doha The head of the QDF, Khalifa bin islands should be seen in that context, said Amr Adly, non- folks in our midst did this,” he said. The president also polio - an infectious viral disease will go towards a fund seeking to Jassim Al-Kuwari, said Qatar was resident scholar at the Carnegie Middle East Center. “We blamed the Egyptian media’s handling of the case for the resulting in muscle damage - in 2016 provide affordable financing for the “very interested in poverty reduc- can expect things that are very desperate. And giving up crisis in Egypt’s “very distinguished” relations with Italy. though there have already been 30 least-wealthy countries among tion”. “We aim at launching several the islands is already very desperate,” he told Reuters. Sisi has in the past accused unidentified parties of seek- eight recorded cases so far this year. IDB members. It aims to ease the projects in the health sector, which But even Egyptians who were willing to accept the ing to isolate Egypt and undermine its government by Although these are the two coun- burden for some of the world’s poor- will improve the quality of life for islands as Saudi property were upset that Israel was con- engineering Regeni’s death. Italy is Egypt’s biggest trading tries where the disease remains est people through grants and millions of people across the Muslim sulted in advance - the islands are entangled in Egypt’s partner in the European Union and the two countries have endemic, the Global Polio sharia-compliant loans. Gates said world,” he said. 1979 peace deal with Israel -but the Egyptian people and been coordinating on their handling of the rise of Islamic Eradication Initiative calculates eight the injection of cash from Qatar will IDB president Ahmad Mohamed parliament were not. The announcement was buried at the militants in Libya, Egypt’s western neighbor and Italy’s for- countries are “vulnerable” to the enable the fund to begin its work. Ali Al Madani said help would go to bottom of a cabinet statement issued late on Saturday, giv- mer colony. Sisi said Egypt, whose economy has suffered virus, including Cameroon, South “This is a great milestone for helping those in war-torn regions, where ing the impression that the government had hoped no one from years of unrest, could have taken advantage of the would notice. “What hurts most is the phone call to Tel Aviv chaos in oil-rich Libya and invaded it to avenge the killing Sudan and Syria. The billionaire, who the poorest,” he said. “Qatar has possible. “We try as much as we can is the world’s richest-man according that came before everything, and these massive headlines there last year of 21 Egyptian Christians by Islamic State always been very generous as a to help the countries that suffer from in the most important newspaper in Egypt reassuring Israel militants. “We cannot invade our friends there and usurp to Forbes, is also well-known for his donor.” conflicts depending on conditions,” before explaining anything to the Egyptian people,” promi- their land. It could have happened, but we said ‘no,’” added work in trying to combat malaria. In total, the fund is trying to raise he said. “If the conditions allow us to nent journalist Yosri Fouda wrote on his Facbook page. Sisi. “That’s what my late mother had taught me: never Earlier this year he announced the $2.5 billion. The money has been work, the Bank works.” — AFP Sisi went on to complain over what he termed as the covet what belongs to others.” — Agencies THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 ANALYSIS

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Focus Closures, court cases leave Turkey media increasingly muzzled

By Humeyra Pamuk and Daren Butler

etin Yilmaz, editor-in-chief of the Sozcu newspa- per, one of the most outspoken critics of the gov- Mernment in the Turkish media, says he is weighing his words more carefully these days. Framed front pages adorn Sozcu’s office walls in testament to its status as a bastion of opposition to President Tayyip Erdogan and the Islamist-rooted AK Party. Red Turkish flags and pictures of the modern republic’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk cel- ebrate its secularist roots. But with the seizure or closure in recent months of sev- eral newspapers, broadcasters taken off air and a German TV comedian facing a Turkish legal complaint for insulting Erdogan, journalists like Yilmaz say they are having to think twice about the consequences of their work. “You wonder, ‘will a court case be opened if we say that?’,” In Libya, IS struggles to gain support Yilmaz told Reuters in his office in an Istanbul suburb. “Unfortunately we have reached the stage where if you write the ‘p’ of president, an investigation and court case is By Aidan Lewis and Ahmed Elumami he said, “don’t like ... external influences.” the head of Tripoli’s Special Deterrence Force, a brigade of more opened against you,” he said, looking over the shoulder of Islamic State entrenched itself in Sirte by early 2015. The city than 600 men whose focus has shifted from anti-vice operations a colleague working on the layout of the paper. acked into a battered car, a family of nine joined the steady had been neglected by Libya’s main factions since Gaddafi was to rooting out Islamic State militants. “Some individuals who sup- Erdogan rejects such claims. He says journalists are free flow of residents fleeing Islamic State’s Libyan stronghold of dragged from a drainpipe and shot there in 2011. Sirte mayor port Gaddafi joined to take revenge. But we can’t say it’s an organ- Sirte. They were heading to a nearby town to pick up essen- Mukhtar Khalifa al-Maadani, who left the city in August last year to criticise him - pointing to headlines that called him a P ization based on Gaddafi’s followers.” tials: cash, medicine and food. A few kilometres beyond the mili- as Islamic State escalated its crackdowns, said the group cleverly “murderer” or “thief”. Government officials also say no jour- tant group’s zone of control, the family gave an account of life in exploited the city’s existing rifts. “Sirte is a mix of many tribes, and Foreign Fighters? nalists are prosecuted for their work and that some are the city: young men murdered for refusing to pledge allegiance to they took advantage of this ... They have individuals from every Islamic State’s advance in Libya has been far from smooth. The detained on suspicion of membership of militant groups. Islamic State, public beatings for dress violations, property tribe in Sirte supporting them and they used this to tear apart its group has to compete with a complex web of established armed “Neither myself nor my government have ever done any- seizures and growing food shortages. “They’re there to occupy social structure.” The group has built the trappings of a rudimenta- factions, in a country without the Sunni-Shiite divide that Islamic thing to stop freedom of expression or freedom of the the city,” said the wife from behind her black veil, as her children ry state in the city. It collects taxes, directs religious education, State has exploited in Iraq and Syria. It has suffered military set- press,” Erdogan told CNN International on March 31 during glanced nervously from the rear of the vehicle one afternoon in broadcasts its messages on radio, and enforces its rule with backs. In the eastern city of Benghazi, it recently lost territory to a trip to Washington. “On the contrary, the press in Turkey late February. “They’re killing, kidnapping and torturing.” Sirte is a increasing brutality, Libyan officials say. It also makes money by the army, and in western Sabratha, it was chased out by local had been very critical of me and my government.” city upended. Once given favored treatment by former leader kidnapping, selling stolen property, smuggling drugs and possi- brigades in the wake of a US air strike in February. But he warned if journalists strayed into insults, they Muammar Gaddafi, who was born there, it now serves as a bly trafficking migrants. Sirte residents and Libyan officials say Islamic State is increas- would face prosecution in a country where insulting the Mediterranean base for the most important Islamic State branch One woman who left the city in January, five months after her ingly dominated by foreign fighters, a possible sign of a lack of president is a crime punishable by jail - though neither outside Syria and Iraq. That has left Western intelligence agencies husband was abducted by Islamic State fighters, described how traction amongst locals. In a rare admission of weakness, Abdul Erdogan nor the law has defined what constitutes such an struggling to figure out how far Islamic State can extend its influ- men accused of espionage have been crucified, with their bodies Qadr Al-Najdi, the Islamic State leader in Libya, said last month insult. Turkey’s record on press freedom has raised such ence across Libya - and how to stop the group. strung to poles for days; how suspected thieves have their hands that the group had found it hard to replicate its conquest of concern among some European Union politicians that Some Libyan and Western officials see Sirte as a foothold for chopped off in public; and how women are whipped when Sirte. “The number of factions and their disputes are one of the they question whether it is a suitable candidate for mem- further Islamic State expansion. From there the ultra-hardline caught flouting dress regulations by female members of Islamic reasons of failure and the rest of the cities in Libya are a living bership of the bloc. Ankara has requested that German Sunni group has ventured east along the coast, edging closer to State police. “People do not fight back because they are afraid,” example of this,” he said in an interview with Islamic State news- authorities prosecute comedian Jan Boehmermann for the major oil fields. It now controls a thin strip along about 250 km of said the woman, who fled when her teenage son was asked to paper Al-Naba. Below the surface in Sirte, opposition festers. crime of “offending foreign states’ organs and representa- Libya’s central coastline. report on people smoking or drinking alcohol. Last August, residents took up arms after an imam was killed for tives” after he recited a sexually crude satirical poem about Though Islamic State’s manpower in Libya is uncertain, mem- While teenage girls are made to wear full-face veils and black refusing to pledge allegiance to Islamic State. Dozens were Erdogan on TV. It comes at a sensitive time for Chancellor bership has been growing. Western intelligence agencies and the robes, boys have been conscripted as Islamic State “cubs.” A recent killed and the revolt was crushed. “Everyone left in Sirte is Angela Merkel, who has enlisted Erdogan’s help in tackling UN estimate its fighting force, which includes a growing number UN report cited the cases of two recruits, aged 10 and 14, who opposed to Islamic State but they can’t do anything to resist Europe’s migrant crisis. of foreigners, at between 3,000 and 6,000. “Their dream is to con- said they had been seized from their families by Islamic State then them,” said one resident who had travelled to Misrata to get Beyond headline-grabbing newspaper closures in trol the oil fields in the east and expand to the west to Tripoli and subjected to weeks of religious and military training, forced to medical treatment for his father. Turkey, some journalists, rights groups and Western allies Misrata,” said Mahmoud Zagal, head of the Misrata military opera- watch videos of beheadings and sexually abused. In Sirte and Libya’s ability to fight Islamic State has depended largely on worry that the space to express dissent appears to be tions room for local forces opposed to Islamic State.But much still beyond, recruits, including some migrants, have been offered the country’s two main loose military alliances, which are aligned shrinking rapidly. Mainstream outlets such as the Hurriyet hangs in the balance, and ISIS may struggle to control large salaries many times greater than the average wage, as well as with rival power bases, one in the west and one in the east. The newspaper or broadcaster CNN Turk, both owned by the swathes of the country. General David M Rodriguez, head of US enticements such as cars and brides, Libyan officials and residents groups occasionally announce plans to tackle Islamic State, but country’s leading media group Dogan, are increasingly Africa Command, told a news briefing in Washington on April 8 say. In Iraq the group drew heavily on former members of Saddam action is haphazard. In Libya’s “oil crescent” east of Sirte, the pressured to toe the government line in their coverage, that it will be difficult for Islamic State to seize huge swathes of Hussein’s regime. In Libya it has used former Gaddafi-era opera- Petroleum Facilities Guard has fended off attacks while complain- government critics say. Libya “because they don’t have the home-grown people that tives, but to a lesser extent. ing that the eastern army, to which it was allied in the past, was know as much about Libya like they did in Iraq and Syria.” Libyans, “The organization has its own presence,” said Abdulraouf Kara, providing no support. —Reuters ‘Compromise’ Hurriyet said last week it had added Abdulkadir Selvi, a prominent pro-government columnist, to its staff, while Brutal work abroad better than life in N Korea the Dogan Group last month closed the liberal leftist news website Radikal for what its editor said were financial rea- By Hyung-Jin Kim in Russia. Others work construction in the Middle East, or are in sons. “The group has taken certain steps to make a com- Africa building giant political statues, teaching taekwondo or promise with Erdogan ... it has made changes in content,” ne North Korean who worked abroad says that as a wait- providing health care. Their monthly average income was esti- said Mirgun Cabas, a former CNN Turk presenter critical of ress in China, she was forced to put up with male cus- mated at $120 to $150, according to the Asan Institute. the government. His show was terminated for what the Otomers who groped her and tried to get her drunk. Two The North usually sends relatively affluent, loyal citizens who company said were financial reasons. others recall the frozen bodies of their countrymen stored in it believes can be less affected by foreign cultures. The vast The Dogan Group, Hurriyet and CNN Turk declined to Russian logging camps. Another says he toiled for up to 16 majority are married men whose families must stay home, dis- comment on staff changes. Government officials have hours a day at a Kuwaiti construction site surrounded by wire couraging would-be defectors, analysts and activists specializ- denied putting pressure on media bosses. Dogan, whose fences. As difficult as those lives were, the four workers told AP, ing in North Korea said. Defections of North Korean workers interests range from media to real estate and energy, was it beat staying in the North. The jobs actually conveyed status abroad appear to be relatively uncommon, though statistics are slapped with a 3.8 billion lira ($1.3 billion) tax fine in 2009 back home, and were so coveted that people used bribes and not available. An exception occurred last week, when South while last month an Istanbul prosecutor submitted a case family connections to get them. Korea announced the defections of 13 North Koreans who had against its founder, Aydin Dogan, on charges of running a “I beat the odds of 1 in 12 to become a waitress ... People’s worked abroad together at a restaurant. fuel-smuggling ring - which he denies. The government views of jobs in North Korea are totally different from here,” said Lee was teaching literature to North Korean middle- and has repeatedly said neither case was politically motivated. Lee Soung Hee, 42, who worked at a North Korean-run restau- high-school students when she jumped at the chance to be a Since Erdogan became president in Aug 2014, 1,845 rant in the northeastern Chinese city of Dalian in the early waitress abroad. Lee said her father gave local officials up to court cases have been filed against individuals for insult- 2000s and now lives in South Korea. “Women in North Korea 15,000 won (about $70) to help her land the waitress job. ing him. “I believe this time will be remembered as a night- have a fantasy about an overseas waitress job.” Others chosen were fellow teachers, doctors and new college mare era,” Baris Ince, editor of the left-wing Birgun news- The stories of Lee and the other three workers, all of whom graduates. Lim used 20 bottles of high-quality liquor and 30 paper, told Reuters. He was sentenced last month to 21 have also defected to rival South Korea, speak volumes about packs of cigarettes as bribes. Kim Sae-gil, a truck driver at a months in jail for insulting Erdogan in an article about a how different life appears when viewed through a North Siberian logging camp, said a relative pulled some strings. 2013 investigation by prosecutors into corruption in gov- Korean lens. The country has sent tens of thousands of workers “When I was informed I would go abroad, I felt really, really hap- ernment. Erdogan said the investigation, which centred on abroad with a mission to bring in foreign currency. Human- py,” said Kim, 49, who worked in Siberia from 1995 to 1998. “It ministers and business people close to him, was orches- rights organizations have called those workers modern-day was a feeling that I’ve never experienced since then. It’s still trated by US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. He said follow- ers of the cleric - who denied the allegations - had infiltrat- slaves, while also decrying human-rights abuses North Koreans probably the best moment in my life.” ed the police and judiciary and were plotting a coup. The face back home. To the workers themselves, there is little Much of the workers’ actual experiences overseas, however, graft investigation was dropped after a year. “Nobody has debate about which plight is more favorable. was grim. Lee Soung Hee said she was given only one day off done a proper corruption story since ... Has bribery come The defectors, who worked overseas from the 1990s until per month and had to work even when she learned her mother the early 2000s, said they had to submit much of their salaries had died. She said secret police agents monitored waitresses to an end in Turkey? Obviously not,” said Ince, who has In this Dec 9, 2014 photo, North Korean defector Lim Il, to Pyongyang authorities and never received some of their and beat them for hiding tips. “There were customers who were appealed his sentence. — Reuters who worked at a Kuwait City construction site in the promised wages. But they said the money they did receive, touching our bodies, but we must not refuse that because our late 1990s, speaks during an interview in Seoul. — AP sometimes earned through moonlighting, still greatly exceeded mission was to curry favor with them as much as possible to what they had earned at home. They said they were also fed rel- They view it as a chance to get away from abysmal lives at make them spend all their money,” she said. atively well, placed under less strict surveillance and given a home,” said Go Myong-Hyun of the Seoul-based Asan Institute “When customers poured drinks for us, we had to drink All articles appearing on these rare chance to see the world and learn truths about their home- for Policy Studies, co-author of a 2014 research paper on North them all. But we could not get intoxicated or we would have pages are the personal opinion of land. Lee had expected her overseas experience to elevate her Korean workers. “The problem is that North Korea is making been criticized for failing to be loyal to the party.” She said col- social standing so that she could have a husband with a better bad use of this.” leagues who failed to earn target incomes had to go to motels the writers. Kuwait Times takes no job. The other three workers, all men, wanted to buy televisions, North Korea denies its workers suffer abuses, calling interna- to have sex with customers who would pay about 650 yuan responsibility for views expressed cassette players and refrigerators after their typical three years tional criticism a plot to undermine its system. South Korea’s ($100). Lee found some positives. She said she enjoyed fruits therein. Kuwait Times invites of service. “I had seen people who had returned home after for- spy agency says 50,000 to 60,000 North Korean workers are in she had never eaten before, including pineapples, prickly pears eign service smoking good cigarettes and going out for a beer,” about 50 countries, mostly Russia and China; some experts and longans. readers to voice their opinions. said Lim Il, who worked at a Kuwait City construction site in the believe the number of foreign workers is much higher. The Lim, a novelist, was a carpenter during his several months Please send submissions via email late 1990s. “For ordinary people, things like those were ‘rice cake Seoul-based North Korea Strategy Center said in a 2012 paper in Kuwait. He said he never received his promised $120-a- in a picture’,” a Korean expression equivalent to “pie in the sky”. that the country’s foreign workers earned the North between month salary, though he worked from dawn to midnight at a to: [email protected] or North Koreans working overseas more recently hold similar $150 million and $230 million annually. site surrounded by wire fences. He said he was frustrated via snail mail to PO Box 1301 views, according to South Korean experts and activists who when he learned Bangladesh and Indonesian workers nearby have interviewed current workers or defectors with recent for- Labor Exports earned at least $450 per month. Lim said he was allowed to Safat, Kuwait. The editor reserves eign service experience. The average monthly wage for ordi- There is consensus among outside experts that North Korea moonlight at other construction sites after promising North the right to edit any submission nary North Korean workers is less than $1, according to defec- is pushing to expand labor exports because long-running inter- Korean officials a cut of the extra income. Lee Yong-ho, a tors. Many North Korean families now make money via busi- national sanctions have left the country with few legitimate defector who was a truck driver at a Russian logging camp, as necessary. nesses in unauthorized markets. “From our viewpoint, it’s labor sources of foreign currency. They are employed in factories and said he often worked 12 to 14 hours per day but never exploitation. But for them, going abroad is a special benefit. restaurants in China; and logging camps and construction sites thought about his working conditions. —AP THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 SPORTS

Leicester trio Aston Villa scrap Paolini hit with on PFA shortlist player awards cocaine ban LONDON: Leicester City’s extraordinary rise to the top of the Premier League LONDON: Aston Villa have decided to scrap their player of the LAUSANNE: Italian cyclist Luca Paolini was yesterday banned for 18 months has been recognised with the inclusion of three Foxes stars-Jamie Vardy, Riyad season awards for the 2015/16 campaign, with the club on the after testing positive for cocaine at last year’s Tour de France, cycling’s ruling Mahrez and N’Golo Kante-on the shortlist for the Professional Footballers’ cusp of relegation from the Premier League. The Birmingham body the UCI announced. The suspension relates to the 39-year-old’s failed Association Players’ Player of the Year award. The Leicester trio make up 50 per- club, bottom of the table and 15 points adrift of safety, will be rel- dope test for the recreational drug on July 7 2015 which triggered his sack- cent of a six-strong panel that also includes Tottenham Hotspur’s 22-goal striker egated on Saturday if Norwich avoid defeat against Sunderland ing by Katusha. The UCI said Paolini was “guilty of a non-inten- Harry Kane, West Ham’s France star Dimitri Payet and Arsenal or if they themselves lose at Manchester United. Villa, currently tional” anti-doping rule violation. He was provisionally midfielder Mesut Ozil. They are all in the running to succeed without a manager, have won just three league games out of 33 banned three day after his failed test, so if the suspension is 2015 winner Eden Hazard, in an award which is voted for by this season and a club spokesman said Wednesday: “The club applied from that date he can return to the peloton in their peers. Kane is also a candidate to retain the Young will not be holding its annual Player of the Year Awards at the January 2017. The cyclist, who started his career in the Player of the Year award he won last year, with Spurs team- conclusion of this season. In the current circumstances, we are peloton in 2000 with Mapei-QuickStep, won one stage in mate Dele Alli, Everton’s Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley, sure our supporters will understand.” Villa have lost their last the 2013 Tour of Italy and another stage in the 2006 Tour of Stoke’s Jack Butland and Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho also eight games and former manager Remi Garde left last month, Spain. Paolini was the second Katusha team member to fail vying for the honour. Vardy is just one goal behind Kane in with Eric Black currently in caretaker charge. Last weekend’s 2-1 drug tests within a year. In February the Russian outfit the race to be the Premier League’s top-scorer this season, loss at home to Bournemouth sent Villa to the brink of dropping suspended Eduard Vorganov after he tested posi- while Algeria’s Mahrez has scored 16 goals, as well as pro- down into the second-tier Championship. Villa, whose US- tive for meldonium, which boosts oxygen supply to viding 11 assists. Meanwhile Kante, recently capped based owner Randy Lerner has been trying to sell the club, have the blood and tissues in the body. Despite those by France, has won plaudits for his role as a defen- been ever-present in the Premier League since its creation in cases the UCI said on February 8 that Katusha sive midfielder. —AFP 1992 and the former European champions were last relegated would not have their licence suspended. —AFP from the top flight in 1987. —AFP WADA opens way for athletes to avoid sanctions for meldonium

LONDON: In a dramatic change that could lead to numerous doping cases being thrown out, athletes who tested positive for meldonium may be able to avoid sanctions because of a lack of scientific evidence on how long the recently banned drug stays in the system. The World Anti-Doping Agency said Wednesday provisional suspensions can be lift- ed if it is determined that an athlete took meldo- nium before it was placed on the list of banned substances on Jan. 1. “It’s not an amnesty as such,” WADA President Craig Reedie told The Associated Press. WADA said 172 positive tests for meldonium have been recorded so far in various sports and countries - many in Russia - since the drug was prohibited. The highest profile case involves Maria Sharapova, who announced last month that she tested positive during the Australian Open in January. Some athletes who have tested positive have claimed meldonium remained in their sys- tems for months even though they stopped using it last year. Sharapova did not specify when she had last used meldonium. The Latvian-made drug, which is typically prescribed for heart conditions, was widely used as a supplement by athletes in Eastern European countries. The drug increases blood flow, which improves exercise capacity by carrying more oxygen to the muscles. LOS ANGELES: This is a Monday, March 7, 2016 file photo showing tennis star Maria Sharapova In a notice to national anti-doping agencies, speaking about her failed drug test at the Australia Open during a news conference in Los WADA acknowledged that “there is a lack of Angeles. The president of the Russian tennis federation says Maria Sharapova could have her clear scientific information” on how long it takes disciplinary hearing for doping in June. Sharapova has been provisionally suspended and for meldonium to clear the system. While several faces a possible ban of up to four years after testing positive for meldonium at the Australian studies are currently being carried out by WADA- Open in January, though a reduced punishment is possible if she can show she did not intend accredited laboratories, preliminary results show to cheat. —AP Bodybuilding competition that long-term excretion of meldonium can take weeks or months, it said. Olympic committee welcomed the WADA state- ITF spokesman Nick Imison told the AP yester- As a result, it is possible that athletes who ment, and the country’s officials suggested there day. “I have seen the statement from WADA and begins tomorrow took meldonium before Jan. 1 “could not reason- could be a mass amnesty of Russian athletes. obviously any ongoing cases will take that infor- ably have known or suspected” that the drug Russian tennis federation head Shamil mation from WADA, but it won’t affect the fact KUWAIT: Mr Olympia bodybuilding and Federation Raphael Sentega will be on would still be present in their bodies after that Tarpishchev told the R-Sport agency he hoped that there is an ongoing case.” physique competition will start Friday at hand besides the president of Arab and date, WADA said. that Sharapova would be able to play at the Sharapova’s lawyer said WADA’s statement the Mangaf Hilton resort with 350 par- Federations Dr Adel Faheem. “In these circumstances WADA considers that Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August, while the was “proof of how poorly” the agency handled ticipants who will go through the weigh- Meanwhile Rapporteur of Kuwait there may be grounds for no fault or negligence head of the Russian swimming federation sug- meldonium issues in 2015. ing process today at the Oxygen Body Building Committee Abdallah Al- on the part of the athlete,” the statement said. gested there could be a swift return to competi- “The notice underscores why so many legiti- Reedie said the notice was sent out to all nation- Institute in Adailiya. The preliminaries of Otaibi said Kuwait is ready to host the tion for suspended world champion Yulia mate questions have been raised concerning al anti-doping bodies on Tuesday. It was Efimova. WADA’s process in banning meldonium as well the competition will take place in the most important Mr Olympia contest due released first publicly by Russia’s anti-doping “In no way does this serve as an ‘amnesty’ for as the manner in which they notified players,” to the granting of four professional morning, while the finals will be in the agency yesterday before being posted on athletes that are asserted to have committed an attorney John Haggerty said in a statement. afternoon. cards. He said that the Higher WADA’s website. anti-doping rule violation,” WADA spokesman “This notice should have been widely distrib- The bodybuilding weights will be 75, Organization Committee chaired by “It is designed to explain the science that we Ben Nichols told the AP in an email. “Rather, it uted in 2015, when it would have made a differ- 80, 85, 90 and 95 kg, besides the open Deputy Chairman of Kuwait know,” Reedie told the AP in a telephone inter- serves as guidance for how anti-doping organi- ence in the lives of many athletes.” weight, meanwhile in the physique cate- Bodybuilding Committee Bader Bodai view. “The issue that it deals with is the time this zations should assess the particular circum- WADA said prosecution of meldonium cases gory participating heights will start from exerts tremendous efforts to bring out drug takes to come out of the system. It’s an stances of each individual case under their juris- can be “stayed” and provisional suspensions lift- 170, 174, 178, 182 besides the open the championship in a fitting fashion for attempt to clarify the many questions that we’ve diction.” ed if the concentration of the drug in the system height. Competitions will be supervised Kuwait and show its ability to organize been asked.” The meldonium cases have no bearing on the is between 1 and 15 micrograms per millileter by foreign referees approved by the such events. Kuwait National Team ongoing suspension of Russia’s track and field and the test was carried out before March 1, or if international federations, which gives coach Ahmad Askar said the champi- ANTI-DOPING RULE VIOLATION team following a WADA commission report into the level is below 1 microgram per millileter and great interest in the current Mr Olympia, onship is a great opportunity to prepare In a separate statement, WADA stressed that what it called state-sponsored doping. the doping control was conducted after March 1. specially that four professional cards will the physique team which is formed for meldonium remains a banned substance and Sharapova, a winner of five Grand Slam titles, In both cases, the drug could still be in the ath- be granted to participants and it is a the first time and world champions will athletes face the rule of strict liability whereby said she had been taking meldonium for med- letes’ system from before Jan 1. serious test for Kuwait’s ability to host be available. they are responsible for any prohibited drug ical reasons over a 10-year period and had not The agency said doping cases should be pur- professional World Championship which Askar promised Kuwait fans to make found in their body. seen a WADA notice last year that the drug sued, however, in the case of athletes who admit will be held next September. good results that will qualify Kuwaitis to “Meldonium is a particular substance, which would be banned starting in 2016. having taken meldonium on or after Jan 1. The President of the International participate in the professional events. has created an unprecedented situation and Sharapova was provisionally suspended by same applies to cases where the concentration therefore warranted additional guidance for the the International Tennis Federation pending a of the drug is above 15 micrograms per millileter anti-doping community,” Reedie said. disciplinary hearing. “We can confirm that the and where the level is between 1 and 15 and the The Russian sports ministry and national case is ongoing and that there will be a hearing,” drug test was after March 1. —AP Another payday for golden girl Kostova Hamilton looks to stop rot with China treble SHANGHAI: Formula One world champion a championship with more rounds than ever. before finishing third behind Kimi Raikkonen’s Lewis Hamilton faces a severe test of his mental But Hamilton has failed to win since securing Ferrari in Bahrain two weeks ago, despite start- FORDE: Bulgarian-born Boyanka switch allegiance to Azerbaijan, along strength in China this weekend as he tries to halt his third world championship in Texas last ing on pole for the second race in a row. Kostova won a gold medal for Azerbaijan with another top teenager, Valentin Nico Rosberg’s blistering start to the season. October, while German rival Rosberg, who has “Anything can happen.” at the European championships in Hristov. The Briton, who is chasing a third successive opened up a 17-point lead over his fierce rival, The 31-year-old knows, however, that failure Norway on Tuesday and is set to reap the The Azerbaijanis paid $550,000 to the victory in Shanghai, denies his Mercedes team- has now won the past five races dating back to to stop the rot in China could add weight to sug- financial rewards offered by her adopted Bulgarian federation. Hristov became mate has struck a psychological blow by win- last year. “I couldn’t care less if he’s won the last gestions that he has lost a little of his edge since nation. Azerbaijan’s first Olympic medallist in the ning the first two races, insisting the early skir- five,” sniffed Hamilton, who was rammed by the winning his third world title, a success he cele- Kostova, 22, won her third European sport when he won a bronze at London mishes count for little with 19 grands prix left in Williams of Valtteri Bottas at the first corner brated by partying long and hard. gold when she retained her women’s 2012, at the age of 18, but he has since Hamilton is still searching for the swashbuck- 58kg title, after comfortably beating her twice failed dope tests and faces a life- ling form that swept him to victory last year nearest rival, Irina Lepsa, of Romania. time ban. when he dominated in Shanghai, prompting a Poland’s Joanna Lochowska was third. Kostova will go to Brazil as favourite. tantrum from Rosberg. Worryingly also, “My training and preparation for this At the world championships in Houston, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has warned that the clutch problems that have sabotaged Hamilton’s championships went well and I was she broke the world record in the snatch starts, setting him back in the first two races, pleased today,” said Kostova, who was (112kg) and total (252kg), but she lifted might not be fixed in time for China. named female athlete of the year by the well within her capabilities in Forde. International Weightlifting Federation Her first snatch attempt at 95kg, CHINA CRISIS? after the world championships in which she made look ridiculously easy, Despite his problems, Hamilton is unlikely to November. was 2kg better than any of her nine rivals suffer a crisis of confidence nor will he be enlist- “If all goes well, and I am in my best but 14kg lower than her opening effort ing the help of sports psychologists as he form at the Olympics, maybe I will try for in Houston. attempts a fifth win in China, after recently dis- another world record.” Kostova said she Another Olympic hopeful, the improv- missing the practice of hiring driver coaches as a did not know how big her state-funded ing Daniyar Ismayilov, made it three “bunch of crap”. reward would be, but Azerbaijan often golds in three days for Turkey when he However, he will be anxious to avoid the kind pays huge sums to medallists at major won the men’s 69kg. of controversy he courted in Shanghai last year competitions. Two wrestlers who won Ismayilov was well clear of silver when he sprayed champagne in the face of a gold at London 2012 were paid $510,000 medallist Sergei Petrov, of Russia. Formula One hostess, triggering outrage on social media. Rosberg will be buzzing after a each. Azerbaijan offers fast-track nation- Because of so many failed lifts by medal superb drive at Bahrain’s desert circuit, and the alisation to athletes in a range of sports, contenders, the bronze went to a B German will know that victory in Shanghai could among them Russian gymnasts, Group lifter, David Sanchez Lopez, of put real pressure on Hamilton. American and Canadian ice skaters and Spain. Hungary’s Noel Nagy set a record SHANGHAI: This file photo taken on April 20, 2014 shows Mercedes AMG Petronas driver Raikkonen showed genuine pace in Bahrain the Bulgarian weightlifters. After Kostova when he made his international debut in Lewis Hamilton of Britain lifting the trophy after winning the Formula One Chinese Grand but Ferrari will be concerned about reliability won gold at the 2010 Youth Olympic the Men’s 77kg C Group. At 46, he is the Prix in Shanghai. Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton faces a severe test of his after Sebastian Vettel’s engine blew on the Games for her native Bulgaria, at the age oldest competitor in the history of the mental strength in China on April 17, 2016 as he tries to halt Nico Rosberg’s blistering start warm-up lap, the second successive race they of 17, she was offered the chance to championships. — Reuters to the season. — AFP have suffered mechanical failure.—AFP THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 SPORTS Fiji are ‘team to beat’ in Rio, says coach

SINGAPORE: Fiji are the “team to beat” at number one seeds... and we’re happy with record in three-day tournaments-the Rio stretched their championship lead to five houses, families that have lost their busi- the Rio Olympics, coach Ben Ryan said that favourites tag,” Ryan told AFP. format-after winning four out four in the points. “Confidence is high but we have to nesses. It’s been a tough time, we now yesterday as he eyed sealing back-to-back “I know the history of Olympic team past two years. “If another team suddenly make sure we don’t get over-confident... have food shortages and the cost of food victories in Singapore. Ryan said the sports often means that the number one smashes the next three tournaments then I’m keeping the pressure on the boys this has doubled,” he said. reigning world series champions had team in the world going into that that might change things,” the week,” Ryan said. For Ryan and his men, “It’s tough and the boys will go back been buoyed by last week’s Hong Kong Olympic sport often doesn’t win but we Englishman said. an Olympic gold medal will have added and do their bit and give their winnings Sevens win, but he also warned against still think we’re better off being number “But we’ve had four three-day tourna- significance given this year’s cyclone dis- to their families,” he added. “An Olympic overconfidence. Singapore is returning to one than number two. “We’ll put it out ments, the same as Rio, in the last two aster in the nation of 900,000 people. Fiji win will go beyond rugby. That will boost the world series this week as the eighth of there that we will be the team to beat. years and Fiji has won every single one of is still reeling from super cyclone Winston all our younger athletes to think that if 10 stops this year-and with rugby’s return Anyone that beats us will probably win them.” Fiji beat rivals New Zealand 21-7 in in February, which left 44 dead, 60,000 those 12 players from their villages can to the Olympics looming in August. “We the gold medal.” Sunday’s Hong Kong final as they sent out homeless and crippled infrastructure. go to the Olympic Games, then why can’t did want to go to the Olympic Games as Ryan said Fiji also took heart from their a message before the Olympics and “We’ve had players that have lost their they do it in other sports?” —AFP

Japan’s Ito to face Ding for Olympic bid

HONG KONG: Japanese teenager Ito Mima In the same tournament she also over- will face world number two Ding Ning in came Singapore’s Feng Tianwei, who was her bid for an Olympic spot after narrowly number two seed at the time and is now beating North Korea’s Kim Song I at Asia ranked world number seven. qualifiers yesterday. Ito said beating top players previously At just 15 years old, Ito is the youngest has given her confidence and that age female participant at the Rio 2016 qualify- doesn’t matter when it comes to playing ing tournament, and despite her young the game. Eleven men and 11 women will age she beat her North Korean opponent be selected at the Asia Olympic Qualifier in four games to three. Hong Kong, with 23 teams taking part, She brushed off nerves ahead of her including a star-studded line-up from match against one of China’s biggest China. Five men and five women will gain names, who is also 10 years her senior. “I places in the first stage as winners of their am not nervous,” she told AFP. respective regional zones-Central Asia, “I will try to do my best,” Ito added, say- West Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and ing her goal was to win at least two games. East Asia-with the qualifiers to be Coming up against some tough opponents announced Thursday. A second stage will is nothing new to Ito, who in 2015 eliminat- see six more places created. ed Germany’s Petrissa Solja to win the Also beating expectations at the event women’s singles title at the German Open was Hong Kong’s Doo Hoi-kem, 19, who and became the youngest ever winner in stunned China’s world number one Liu the history of the ITTF World Tour. Shiwen four games to two. — AFP

NHL’s ‘Ironmen’ ready to carry heavy load in playoffs

WASHINGTON: The real test of Kris Letang’s rankings, the Penguins defender does more relentless stamina doesn’t come in the than hover near the blue line on offense, MONACO: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic returns to Czech Republic’s Jiri Vesely during their Monte-Carlo ATP Masters Series tournament tennis Pittsburgh Penguins dressing room after a directing traffic and throwing the occasional match, yesterday in Monaco. — AFP long game. When he logs the kind of ice time puck at net. Letang plays a full 200 feet, that looks like a typo on the stat sheet, the emboldened by Sullivan to use his creativity big challenge comes the next morning, when to take responsible chances. “A lot of D-men Vesely stuns Djokovic in his young son Alex hops into bed ready for that play big minutes play an efficient game,” dad to get up and play. Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy said. Try explaining to a 3-year-old that, sorry, “They’re out there not playing a difficult style but daddy played 35 minutes against the of hockey. They’re being efficient. Kris opening-round clay upset Sabres. So Letang doesn’t even bother “That Letang’s game is not efficient. He’s out there doesn’t cut it,” Letang says, laughing. skating up and down the ice as fast as he pos- Besides, the truth is Letang’s not really that sibly can.” It’s that speed that gives Letang a MONTE CARLO: Novak Djokovic lost only his tired. Really. If he’s being honest, this is kind bit more leeway than his brethren. He can second match of the season as he fell to Czech of where he always expected to be: playing afford to take risks because his No. 58 jersey Jiri Vesely 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to exit the Monte Carlo the best hockey of his career (not to mention instantly becomes a blur when forced to race Masters yesterday. the most) for a team that heads into the post- back toward the Pittsburgh net. “This is a proof that nobody’s unbeatable. It season with its swagger and confidence “He’s kind of a freak, athletically,” said happens so many times in my career that I lose a restored thanks in large part to the smooth Rangers forward Tanner Glass, who played match. It’s not a first time,” Djokovic said. “It’s not skating defenseman that plays with the with Letang in Pittsburgh from 2012-14. “And easy to lose the match and accept it right after engine of a Ferrari while getting the mileage you pair that with he’s kind of got a bit of a exiting the court. of a Tesla. fire to him. So that helps him defensively. I “But I have to congratulate my opponent. I Barely two years removed from a stroke think he’s got that bite. He’s really proud. He think he played very solid. “He was serving very that threatened to blunt the arc of his blos- doesn’t want to be scored on. He drives the big. He was playing tactically good and aggres- soming career, Letang is one of several iron- team in a lot of ways.” Ditto Keith in Chicago, sive. “There are a very few things I could take men whose tireless legs serve as part of the who is more concerned with hearing out from today’s match as a positive-I was play- building blocks on which Stanley Cup dreams Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville bark his ing really, really bad.” are made. The 28-year-old Letang averaged name over and over during the course of the The second round loss in just over two hours, 26:57 minutes of ice time, fourth in the game than the minutes it adds up to at the Djokovic’s opening match of the tournament, league and nearly 7 minutes more than team- end of the night. “If you tell yourself you’re nonetheless left the Serbian with an impressive mate Sidney Crosby, the biggest gap tired, you’re probably going to play tired with 28-2 win-loss record in 2016. He was also beaten between first and second on any club in the less energy, so it comes down to the mental when he had to quit a Dubai quarter-final two NHL. Ryan Suter in Minnesota, Drew Doughty aspect of it,” Keith said. months ago with an eye infection. in Los Angeles, Roman Josi and Shea Weber in The reigning champion had not lost in 22 Nashville and Brent Burns in San Jose also fin- POWER PLAY Masters 1000 matches since going down in the ished in the top 10 in minutes, pillars at the And not all shifts are created equal. While 2015 Cincinnati final and had won his last 14 blue line who have grown accustomed to car- Letang admits he will peek at the box score matches on the ATP circuit heading into this rying the heaviest burden. It’s the same up occasionally, going for 35 minutes during an week. He last went out in an opening match two front for Crosby, Patrick Kane in Chicago and overtime game where the Penguins spend years ago in Madrid when he was beaten in the Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin. The offen- plenty of time quarterbacking the power play second round by Grigor Dimitrov. “It’s disap- sive powerhouses all average more than 20 against one team can be less draining than 25 pointing to lose the first match playing at home minutes a night in a sport that plays as a minutes of regulation time against another. in a way,” Djokovic said. “I practise here in these marathon disguised in a series of sprints. There are ways to save energy, particularly courts. While their respective coaches monitor on the power play. Washington coach Barry “I’ve lived here for the last eight, nine years. their workload, they don’t get too caught up Trotz has no problem double-shifting It’s definitely not something that I wished and in watching the clock. “Those guys who skate Ovechkin when the Capitals have the man not something that I wanted. But in sport you’ve that way, that have those types of engines advantage, knowing the league’s top goal got to accept it. “Time off will serve me well- don’t wear down, it’s not an issue,” San Jose scorer can set up in the left circle and wait for mentally mostly. It’s been a tough four or five coach Peter DeBoer said. “And I think (Burns) the puck to come to him for a one-timer - the months. I need time to kind of recharge.” actually thrives on it.” NHL’s answer to Stephen Curry letting fly Vesely was stunned by his first success in nine It’s much the same for Letang, whose from the top of the key. Trotz is more con- attempts against a top 10 player. “I fought for health scares over the years (including a cerned about how much Ovechkin plays at every point,” said the Czech. Djokovic saved a series of concussions) left him wondering at even strength. match point in the final game but it was not times if he would ever reach the apex of his Given the very real chance of games enough as Vesely earned two more and convert- immense potential. It finally happened over extending well beyond regulation over the ed on the first of those when the seed fired wide. the last four months, his breathtaking quick- next two months, coaches will emphasize the TRELAZE: The Netherlands’ Arantxa Rus returns the ball during a training session for the ness combined with coach Mike Sullivan’s “optional” in optional skates for weary legs. CONTRASTING FORM Federation Cup World Group second round semi final tennis match between France and the arrival in mid-December propelling Letang There’s also the army of nutritionists and ath- Stan Wawrinka and Rafael Nadal both booked Netherlands in Trelaze, northwestern France, yesterday. — AFP into the league’s elite. letic trainers whose job is to keep the best spots in the third round with the pair starting going. Not that Letang or the rest of the their spring seasons in contrasting form to DIFFICULT STYLE NHL’s workaholics are concerned about get- Djokovic. “I mean, it was a way for me to step up and ting worn out. If there’s one thing worse than French Open champion Wawrinka began per- Fear factor boost for Khan show what I’m capable of,” said Letang, who playing too much, it’s playing too little. “I haps the most important clay seasons of his finished with 16 goals and 51 assists in 71 mean the more you play, the more you’re career with a 7-6 (7/2) 7-5 defeat of Philipp ahead of Alvarez showdown games. “The coaching change was a big way into the game and you want to make a differ- Kohlschreiber. Nadal, the fifth-seeded Roland LOS ANGELES: British boxer Amir Khan be more focused. I know I can’t make mis- to improve myself and prove what kind of ence,” he said. “It’s kind of like that. I want to Garros king, emerged a 6-3, 6-3 winner over believes the fear factor could help him takes against this guy,” Khan said in a con- player I’m capable of being.” be part of the play and be whoever scores Briton Aljaz Bedene. score a shock victory next month when he ference call. “I’ve made mistakes in the past Unlike some of the more defensive-mind- that big goal and make that big play. I want Nadal will next play Austrian 12th seed steps up in class to face Mexico’s World at other weights because I thought I was ed players around Letang on the time-on-ice to be that guy.” — AP Dominic Thiem, who beat him in a February clay Boxing Council middleweight champion more gifted than them, I knew I was more semi-final in Buenos Aires. Thiem advanced in Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas. Khan, 29, skilled and a better fighter than them guys. Monte Carlo over Japan’s Taro Daniel 4-6, 6-2, 6- raised eyebrows across the boxing world They can be my worse opponents because I 0. “I’m happy for the victory, but I know I have to earlier this year after announcing his May 7 don’t really have that fear element. improve for tomorrow. But I have confidence fight at the T-Mobile Arena against Alvarez, “But when you’re fighting someone who because I have been practising very well these the hard-hitting 25-year-old from is tough, dangerous it is going to be a weeks,” Nadal said. “Let’s see if I am able to play Guadalajara. tough fight and that is what brings my ‘A’ the way that I was practising. It represents a risky move for Khan, who game out.” Khan is unbeaten in five fights, “Tomorrow is going to be a tough match has never previously fought above the wel- with the last of his three defeats a fourth against a difficult opponent.” Fourth seed terweight limit of 147 pounds (66.7 kilo- round technical knockout by Danny Garcia in Wawrinka, who won the Monaco title in 2014, grams). Alvarez is the overwhelming 2012. The Briton boxer said that being an will line up in the third round against 15th seed favorite with most oddsmakers. underdog against Alvarez will suit him, confi- Gilles Simon. Khan, however, who is now based in San dent that his hand speed and elusiveness can “He’s a really tough player,” Wawrinka said of Francisco with trainer Virgil Hunter, believes help against a naturally stronger opponent. the Frenchman. “It’s going to be a good test for facing an opponent as challenging as “I know I’m not going to be stronger than me to see where is my level.” Bosnian Damir Alvarez can bring out the best in him. him,” Khan said. “It’s the first fight I’m walking Dzumhur, ranked 99 in the world, pulled off an “Obviously we don’t want to walk into a into as the underdog and that’s good. upset over sixth seed Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-7 fight and get hurt,” said Khan, who is 31-3 Because I can prove to people that this is (1/7), 6-3. ‘ since turning professional after winning a where I belong.” Khan’s trainer Hunter mean- Canadian 10th seed Milos Raonic struggled silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics at while confessed he was reluctant to accept DALLAS: Marcus Johansson #90 of the Washington Capitals at American Airlines past Pablo Cuevas 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (7/5) with 11 aces the age of 17. “By me taking this fight, I will the bout when it was first made. —AFP Center yesterday in Dallas, Texas. — AFP and three breaks of serve. —AFP THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 SPORTS

JOHANNESBURG: A combination of picture created on April 13, 2016 shows the Wisden Almanack’s Five Cricketers of the Year 2016, (L-R) England’s Jonathan Bairstow at Lord’s cricket ground in London on May 17, 2013, Kane Williamson of New Zealand at Westpac Stadium on January 22, 2016, England’s bowler Ben Stokes at Wanderers cricket ground in Johannesburg on January 14, 2016, Australia’s Steven Smith at The Swalec Stadium in Cardiff, south Wales, on August 31, 2015 and Brendon McCullum captain of New Zealand in Christchurch on February 22, 2016. — AFP Wisden honour for McCullum, Williamson

LONDON: New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum when, despite his side being beaten 3-2 in and one-day cricket as well. Williamson and England for their revival after their embar- then-as if to make up for his tardiness-off 46. and Kane Williamson, as well as Australia cap- the Ashes, he emerged as the series’ leading McCullum were not the only New Zealanders rassingly early exit at the 2015 World Cup in “Stuart Broad took eight for 15 as Australia tain Steven Smith, have been chosen among run-scorer with a double century at Lord’s honoured by Wisden, with compatriot Suzie Australia and New Zealand. “There would be were demolished for 60 at Trent Bridge, then the Wisden Almanack’s Five Cricketers of the and 143 at The Oval in the visitors’ two wins. Bates chosen as the women’s Leading rapids down river, but the players were now six for 17 to skittle South Africa for 83 at Year announced yesterday. The quintet is The 2016 edition also saw New Zealand bats- Cricketer. Stokes was one of the stars of approaching them head on, not paddling Johannesburg. completed by the England duo of all-rounder man Williamson named as the Leading England’s Ashes success, while wicketkeep- round the edge, quoting the percentage The two most resonant national records Ben Stokes and Jonathan Bairstow. In the per- Cricketer in the World after his 2,692 interna- er/batsman Bairstow also played his part as chance of falling in,” he wrote. fell one after the other: in Antigua, Jimmy sonal gift of the editor of cricket’s ‘bible’, tional runs across the formats in 2015 - the well as helping Yorkshire win the County “Records fell like confetti. England passed Anderson overtook Ian Botham’s Test-wickets which has been published annually since third-highest annual aggregate ever. Championship. 400 for the first time in a one-day interna- haul, and went on past 400; at Leeds, 1864, a player can only be named as a McCullum, who retired this year, was includ- During England’s recent tour of South tional, and knocked off 350 in another. They Alastair Cook surpassed Graham Gooch’s ‘Cricketer of the Year’ once in his career. ed as much for his bold captaincy as his Africa, the pair shared a monumental stand made their highest one-day score overseas, Test-runs tally, and approached 10,000...It Generally, the award is decided on play- aggressive batting, with New Zealand’s of 399 which featured Stokes’s blistering 258 in Dubai (355 for five), then smashed it a few was the most uplifting story in international ers’ performances in the previous English dynamic approach widely reckoned to have and Bairstow’s maiden Test century. weeks later, in Bloemfontein (399 for nine). cricket all year, the more so for being utterly season and Australia’s Smith was included helped transform England’s play in both Test Wisden editor Lawrence Booth praised Jos Buttler scored a hundred off 66 balls, unexpected.”—AFP Goldschmidt homers to help D-backs beat Dodgers 4-2

LOS ANGELES: Paul Goldschmidt hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning and drove in another run, and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat Los Angeles 4-2 to spoil the Dodgers’ home opener Tuesday in Vin Scully’s final season. Goldschmidt gave the D-backs a 2-1 lead with his second homer of the season off Chris Hatcher (1-1), who then gave up a two-out double to Welington Castillo before issuing consecutive walks to Jake Lamb (intentional) and Yasmany Tomas that loaded the bases. Hatcher departed to boos. Arizona added two more runs in the ninth on Socrates Brito’s triple and Goldschmidt’s groundout to shortstop. Kenta Maeda allowed five hits over six scoreless innings, struck out four and walked one in becoming the second Japanese pitcher to start a Dodgers home open- er since Hideo Nomo in 1996 and 2004. Tyler KAPOLEI: (L-R) Hyo Joo Kim of South Korea, Lydia Ko of New Zealand, Michelle Wie, Clippard (2-0) gave up one hit in one inning Inbee Park of South Korea and Brooke Henderson of Canada pose together following and striking out one. Brad Ziegler pitched the a press conference ahead of the LPGA LOTTE Championship Presented By Hershey at ninth to earn his first save. The Los Angeles Ko Olina Golf Club on Tuesday in Kapolei, Hawaii. —AFP bullpen gave up three runs and Arizona rallied at Dodger Stadium. Nick Ahmed hit a solo home run off Pedro Baez to tie the score at 1 in the top of the seventh inning and Paul Danny Willett: Dedicated golfer, Goldschmidt put the Diamondbacks ahead for good in the eighth with a home run to left-cen- LOS ANGELES: Paul Goldschmidt #44 of the Arizona Diamondbacks hits a solo homerun in the family man, Masters winner ter field off Chris Hatcher. eighth inning against relief pitcher Chris Hatcher #41 of the Los Angeles Dodgers (not in pho- to) during the MLB game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday in Los Angeles, California. The MANCHESTER: Danny Willett’s journey miss school and taking him to the golf RAYS 5, INDIANS 1 Diamondbacks defeated the Dodgers 4-2. — AFP to the green jacket began 16 years ago course to let him play until late evening When it comes to winning strategies, the at-bat in the eighth inning Tuesday night and ROYALS 3, ASTROS 2 when he signed up with some of his as a teenager. Tampa Bay Rays are getting good at go-ahead eventually trotted home with the tie-breaking Kris Medlen turned early run support and his friends to an inner-city golf scheme, “He used to write the most appalling eighth-inning home runs. Both their wins this run on a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Martin Prado own resilient performance into a successful designed to get kids off the street and excuses for school,” Elisabet told the season had come that way, and on Tuesday as the Miami Marlins beat the New York Mets, 2- season debut, pitching the Kansas City Royals give them something constructive to BBC. The down-to-earth Willett remains night, it was second baseman Logan Forsythe 1, at Citi Field. The Marlins (3-3) have won the to a 3-2 win over the Houston Astros on do. Four thousand miles from the per- close to his parents. As recently as last who ripped a two-out, full-count, two-run home first two games of the three-game series. The Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park. Medlen (1- fectly manicured greens of Augusta year, when he was contending at the run to left field off starter Corey Kluber to spark Mets (2-5) have dropped four straight. 0) made a 3-0 first-inning lead stick by strand- National, these sessions took place amid British Open, he told reporters eager to the Rays to a 5-1 win over the Cleveland Indians ing five base runners over five innings. He was a gritty housing development in know more about him that he liked at Tropicana Field. ORIOLES 9, RED SOX 5 effective enough to deliver a lead to the Royals’ Sheffield, northern England, with run- nothing better than walking his dog J.J. Hardy hit a pair of two-run homer and vaunted bullpen, which followed with four down homes all around. It was a rough and having dinner at his parents’ house. TIGERS 8, PIRATES 2 drove in five runs and Mark Trumbo finished a scoreless innings. part of a city weighed down by the While Willett was putting together Justin Upton blasted his first home run for triple shy of the cycle as the Baltimore Orioles Detroit as part of a four-hit afternoon, lifting the decline of its steel industry. the round of his life on Sunday at the claimed their seventh straight win to start the RANGERS 8, MARINERS 0 Tigers to an 8-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Willett, about 12 at the time, had just Masters, his brother, Paul, was becom- season with a 9-5 rout of the Boston Red Sox on Texas slugger Adrian Beltre had a home run Pirates on Tuesday. Upton, who signed a six- Tuesday night at Fenway Park. Hardy’s blasts and five RBIs and Derek Holland shut down the been introduced to golf through his ing an unlikely star on Twitter and occa- year, $132.75 million contract as a free agent in father on a family trip to Wales. But it sionally giving some insight into his came in the fourth and seventh innings, marking Seattle bats, as the Rangers hammered the January, scored three runs and drove in two. His Mariners 8-0 on Tuesday night. Beltre’s three-run was on the municipal course at Birley relationship with his sibling. first-inning homer traveled an estimated 451 his 12th career multi-homer game, and Trumbo Wood where he would put in the hours “3 putt this & you might as well stay followed Monday’s three-run bomb with a two- homer in the third inning gave Texas (5-4) a 5-0 feet and landed in the camera well in straight- lead, then he added a two-run double in the sev- to really learn his future trade. in Augusta,” Paul tweeted, as Danny fin- run shot in the sixth. away center at Comerica Park. enth to put the Rangers ahead 8-0. Peter Ball, Willett’s first coach, told ished off his round. He had earlier post- GIANTS 7, ROCKIES 2 The Associated Press that the future ed: “If the boy does what he should, I NATIONALS 2, BRAVES 1 ANGELS 5, ATHLETICS 4 Masters champion became devoted to will be able to say ‘I’ve shared a bath Bryce Harper had a two-run double down the The Giants continued their slugging ways, Catcher Geovany Soto hit a two-run homer in the sport from a young age. “The most with a Masters winner’ - brilliant.” left field line off Eric O’Flaherty with two outs in and Jeff Samardzija gave his new team a strong the top of the ninth inning off closer Sean noticeable thing was in the winter when The tweets were shared widely, and the eighth as the Washington Nationals beat the start Tuesday night in San Francisco’s 7-2 win Doolittle, lifting the Los Angeles Angels to a 5-4 he was getting better, he’d stay there Paul Willett briefly became something Atlanta Braves 2-1 on Tuesday. The hit by Harper over the Colorado Rockies. Rookie Trevor Brown comeback victory against the Oakland A’s at the until it was absolutely pitch black, chip- of a celebrity. But it’s nothing on the bounced off the glove of a diving Jeff Francoeur, hit a pair of two-run homers and Hunter Pence Coliseum on Tuesday night. Oakland led 4-1 ping and putting under the lights of the scale of his brother’s fame. Danny who almost made a brilliant catch near the also hit a two-run shot as the Giants extended a through seven innings, but the Angels scored two club,” Ball said. “I’d said to him, ‘It’s pitch Willett is not just a major winner but stands. The Braves are now 0-7 this season and franchise record by homering in their first eight runs in the eighth off reliever Ryan Madson. Yunel black, freezing cold, you should really also a new dad. His son, Zachariah, was have lost their last 12 games at Nationals Park. games to start a season. In that span, the Giants Escobar and Daniel Nava had back-to-back sin- be going home.’ born shortly before the Masters started. Washington improved to 5-1 and is 25-9 against have 17 homers, tied with Colorado for the gles with one out. Albert Pujols lined a two-run, “His ability to work was incredible.” Speaking to reporters at Manchester air- Atlanta since June 21, 2014. major league lead. two-out double down the left field line.— Reuters Willett was one of hundreds of local kids port on Tuesday after flying in from New to come under the stewardship of Ball, York, Willett - still in the green jacket - PHILLIES 3, PADRES 0 Charlie Morton combined with three reliev- MLB results/standings but this youngster clearly had some- said he is looking forward to some fami- ers on a four-hit shutout as the Philadelphia thing special. Some four years later, ly time. “Get home, put the kettle on, Phillies beat the San Diego Padres 3-0 Tuesday Detroit 8, Pittsburgh 2; Arizona 4, La Dodgers 2; Washington 2, Atlanta 1; Philadelphia 3, San Diego 0; NY Yankees 3, Willett quit college after just a month and change some nappies,” Willett night. Odubel Herrera and Maikel Franco drove Toronto 2; Baltimore 9, Boston 5; Tampa Bay 5, Cleveland 1; Miami 2, NY Mets 1; San Francisco 7, Colorado 2. and headed to Jacksonville State explained of his immediate plans. “I’m in runs for Philadelphia, which won for the third National League University in the United States, where looking forward to spending time with American League time in four games. The other Phillies run came Eastern Division Eastern Division he dedicated his life to golf. (wife) Nicole and the little man. It’s been home on an eighth-inning error. San Diego (3- W L PCT GB Washington 5 1 .833 - On Tuesday, he was returning to a tough week, obviously, leaving him 5) lost for the second time in three games, Baltimore 7 0 1.000 - Miami 3 3 .500 2 Britain as the country’s latest sporting when he was only just born.” while Philadelphia (3-5) won for the third time NY Yankees 4 2 .667 2.5 Philadelphia 3 5 .375 3 superstar, having won the Masters for The Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Talib in four games. Boston 3 4 .429 4 NY Mets 2 5 .286 3.5 his first major championship title. “He’s a Hussain, said the city will hold a civic Tampa Bay 3 4 .429 4 Atlanta 0 7 0 5.5 nice, lively young man,” said Ball, who reception in Willett’s honor and will YANKEES 3, BLUE JAYS 2 Toronto 3 5 .375 4.5 Central Division Central Division spoke to Willett soon after he’d donned award him a star on Sheffield’s Brian McCann tied the score with a sixth- Chicago Cubs 6 1 .857 - Chicago White Sox 5 2 .714 - the green jacket in Butler Cabin on “Legends” walk of fame, on the pave- inning homer, Jacoby Ellsbury singled in the go- Cincinnati 5 2 .714 1 Kansas City 5 2 .714 - ahead run in the seventh and the New York Pittsburgh 5 3 .625 1.5 Sunday. “I’m very proud of what he ment outside the Town Hall. It will take Detroit 4 2 .667 0.5 Yankees defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on St. Louis 4 3 .571 2 achieved.” pride of place alongside other famous Cleveland 2 3 .400 2 Tuesday night. Jose Bautista hit a two-run dou- Ball remembers Willett having a “nice names from the city, including 2012 Minnesota 0 7 0 5 Milwaukee 3 4 .429 3 family around him,” and that family has Olympic heptathlon gold medalist ble in the third inning to give the Blue Jays (3-5) Western Division Western Division been thrust into the limelight in Britain Jessica Ennis-Hill. a 2-1 lead in the opener of the three-game series Texas 5 4 .556 - San Francisco 6 2 .750 - since Sunday. Willett’s father, Stephen, is “We are incredibly proud of Danny’s against the Yankees (4-2). LA Angels 4 4 .500 0.5 LA Dodgers 4 4 .500 2 a vicar and his mother, Elisabet, is a achievements, especially considering he Oakland 4 5 .444 1 Colorado 3 4 .429 2.5 MARLINS 2, METS 1 Arizona 3 5 .375 3 Swedish-born mathematics teacher. started his golfing career on one of our Houston 3 5 .375 1.5 Dee Gordon singled to cap an epic 16-pitch San Diego 3 5 .375 3 They have recalled allowing Danny to council golf courses,” Hussain said. — AP Seattle 2 6 .250 2.5 THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 SPORTS US judge to rule in days on FIFA trial date

NEW YORK: The US federal judge over- United States have pleaded not guilty and million pages. Under the government’s away from home and presumed innocent. Esquivel from Venezuela and Costas seeing the sweeping FIFA corruption extradition requests are pending for proposed schedule, evidence in the case “I will have an order out before the end Takkas, a dual British-Greek citizen. scandal said yesterday that he would rule another nine, Judge Raymond Dearie would be submitted to the court by June of the week,” he said, with reference to set- The court scheduled the next hearing within days whether to set a date for trial heard objections from defense lawyers 30. But prosecutors admitted Wednesday ting a trial date. Six of the eight defen- for August 3. In all, 40 officials and market- while evidence still pours in. during a 25-minute hearing Wednesday. that while they expected to turn over evi- dants attended the hearing, sitting in the ing executives accused of soliciting and US government prosecutors have pro- Lawyers for one defendant said the dence currently in their possession by jury box with other seats in court taken up receiving tens of millions of dollars in posed what they call an “aggressive but February date was “just not workable,” then, they expected more data to come in by the large number of lawyers. bribes and kickbacks in a case that has achievable” schedule that would work while another called for an accelerated before and after June 30. US marketing executive Aaron sparked an unprecedented crisis at FIFA. towards jury selection beginning on schedule. The legal team of Costa Rica’s Dearie said he had an obligation to Davidson and Paraguay’s Juan Angel Fifteen individuals have pleaded guilty February 27, 2017 in New York. Eduardo Li proposed at least a one-month move ahead when the eight defendants, Napout were absent. In court were Brazil’s and agreed to cooperate with US prosecu- But underscoring the enormity of the delay, estimating that the amount of data who are under house arrest in the United Jose Maria Marin, Li, Hector Trujillo and tors in exchange for a possible reduction case, in which eight defendants in the in the case ranged from 700 million to 900 States, were under “considerable restraint” Brayan Jimenez from Guatemala, Rafael in sentence. —AFP Italy to play Finland in pre-Euro 2016 friendly

MILAN: Italy will play Finland in a last- will face Scotland in a friendly in Malta on minute friendly before this summer’s Euro May 29. Two days later, on May 31, Conte 2016, the Italian football federation (FIGC) will confirm his 23-man Euro 2016 squad to announced yesterday. European football’s ruling body UEFA. Italy, trounced 4-0 by Spain the final four A week before their opening match of years ago, travel to France this summer Euro 2016, away to Belgium in Lyon, Italy looking for big improvements after limping will host Finland at the Marcantonio out of the 2014 World Cup at the first round Bentegodi stadium. for the second successive edition. The return to the venue, the home of The Azzurri, led by future Chelsea man- Serie A club Verona, comes 27 years after ager Antonio Conte, recently held 2010 Italy were held 1-1 by Uruguay in an April, world champions Spain to a 1-1 draw in 1989 friendly. Udine only to suffer a 4-1 thumping at the In previous games against Finland, Italy hands of current world champions have come out largely on top, claiming 10 Germany in Munich four days later. wins, one draw and losing just once, Italy, who will face Belgium, the although that defeat came at the 1912 Republic of Ireland and Sweden in Group E, Olympic Games. —AFP

Fans ‘with Mihajlovic’ as Berlusconi cops Milan flak

MILAN: Angry fans of seven-time Berlusconi his gratitude for “making the European champions AC Milan have dreams of Milan’s fans come true”. turned on club president Silvio But he was referring to the past, and Berlusconi for sacking Sinisa Mihajlovic hit out yesterday: “The problem isn’t the and appointing yet another coach with coach. With all the respect I have for no top level experience. president Berlusconi... we can’t go on “Mihajlovic is just the latest innocent like this. (coach) to pay for the mismanagement “ENOUGH, give the real Milan back to of the club, all with the complicit the fans.” In retrospect, Milan are paying approval of President Berlusconi,” a the price for the decision to sack prominent supporters group said on Massimiliano Allegri in January 2014, Wednesday. days after league minnows Sassuolo Mihajlovic, Milan’s fourth handler in overcame a three-goal deficit to stun the two seasons, was sacked on Tuesday and Serie A giants 4-3. replaced by youth team coach Cristian Milan brazenly appointed former SAN ANTONIO: San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives between Oklahoma City Thunder defenders Cameron Payne (22) and Brocchi after admitting he had failed in Milan favourite Clarence Seedorf as his Steven Adams (12) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 102-98 in overtime. — AP his mission to secure qualification to successor, despite him having no top lev- Europe’s premier club competition. el coaching experience. When the dap- The Champions League continues per Dutchman failed to make the grade, Leonard scores 26, helps Wednesday-but with no Italian teams in he was replaced by former Milan striker the competition, the pubs and cafes of Filippo Inzaghi six months later. the football-mad peninsula are conspicu- With no top level experience either, ously empty. the enthusiasm shown by Inzaghi-the Spurs beat Thunder in OT Milan, once the toast of Europe, last club’s former youth team coach-proved appeared in the competition in 2014 but insufficient. When Milan failed to qualify are now battling to even qualify for the for the Champions League in June 2015, SAN ANTONIO: Kawhi Leonard had 26 points as for-10 shooting from 3-point range. utes of the third quarter with a 17 6 run that Europa League. To do so directly, they he was shown the door. the San Antonio Spurs had to rally to beat the gave Indiana a 79-70 lead heading into the final need to finish fifth in Serie A or clinch Mihajlovic was appointed on the back short-handed Oklahoma City Thunder 102-98 in PACERS 102, KNICKS 90 period. New York (32-50) led at the end of the their ticket by beating Juventus in the of a solid campaign as coach of overtime Tuesday to finish 40-1 at home this sea- Paul George and George Hill each scored 19 first and second quarters before the Pacers ral- final of the Italian Cup on May 21. Sampdoria. But for the man whose sub- son, matching an NBA record. The Boston Celtics points as Indiana beat New York to win its final lied in the third quarter. Derrick Williams scored If Brocchi fails in either quest, Milan lime free kick skills were the bane of had the same record in 1985-86. San Antonio home game of the regular season.Trailing 64-62, 21 points for New York and Jerian Grant finished will have to secure sixth place in Serie A- rivals across Europe, failure to secure was lethargic coming off its first home loss of the the Pacers (44-37) finished the final seven min- with 18. —AP which will award the final Europa League Champions League football for next sea- season to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. spot because Juventus have already son proved decisive. The Spurs never led in the final quarter in that NBA Results/Standings loss and trailed throughout much of their home qualified for next season’s Champions Milan’s loss, ultimately, has been finale. Thunder coach Billy Donovan rested stars League. Meanwhile, Berlusconi’s shock Juventus’s gain. Allegri, in his first season Indiana 102, NY Knicks 90; Miami 99, Detroit 93; Toronto 122, Philadelphia 98; San Antonio 102, Oklahoma City 98 Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka (OT); LA Clippers 110, Memphis 84. decision to install Brocchi two days after in charge of the Turin giants following his in their regular-season finale while San Antonio a credible 2-1 home defeat to Juventus sacking, won the club’s fourth consecu- coach Gregg Popovich started his regular lineup. Eastern Conference Western Conference has blown up a storm. tive scudetto, secured their first league The Thunder were still able to force the first Atlantic Division Northwest Division A snap poll on the website of Gazzetta and Cup double in 20 years and steered overtime in San Antonio this season. Four play- W L PCT GB Oklahoma City 55 27 .671 - dello Sport revealed 92 % of the 13,000 them to the Champions League final, and ers finished with 17 points apiece for the Toronto 55 26 .679 - Portland 43 38 .531 11.5 fans who voted were against Berlusconi’s a subsequent 3-1 defeat to Barcelona. Thunder. Boston 47 34 .580 8 Utah 40 41 .494 14.5 NY Knicks 32 50 .390 23.5 Denver 33 48 .407 21.5 decision. The hashtag #IoStoConMiha Brocchi, a former defensive midfielder Brooklyn 21 60 .259 34 Minnesota 28 53 .346 26.5 (I’m with Mihajlovic) has been launched with Milan who made his most appear- CLIPPERS 110, GRIZZLIES 84 Philadelphia 10 71 .123 45 Pacific Division on the micro-blogging site Twitter. ances with league rivals Lazio, also has Chris Paul had 12 points and 13 assists as the Central Division no top level experience. Clippers extended Memphis’ freefall to the final Cleveland 57 24 .704 - Golden State 72 9 .889 - NO TOP LEVEL EXPERIENCE He will take charge ahead of this night of the NBA’s regular season, defeating the Indiana 44 37 .543 13 LA Clippers 53 28 .654 19 Sacramento 33 48 .407 39 Controversial right-wing politician weekend’s trip to Sampdoria with Milan Grizzlies. Losing for the ninth time in 10 games, Detroit 43 38 .531 14 Memphis dropped into a tie with the Dallas Chicago 41 40 .506 16 Phoenix 22 59 .272 50 Matteo Salvini, a fervent Milan supporter in sixth place, seven points behind fifth- Milwaukee 33 48 .407 24 LA Lakers 16 65 .198 56 and the leader of the Lega Nord party, placed Fiorentina and just one ahead of Mavericks for sixth place in the Western Conference. The Grizzlies finish the season Southeast Division Southwest Division has also stuck the boot in. He offered Sassuolo. —AFP Miami 48 33 .593 - San Antonio 66 15 .815 - Wednesday at Golden State, where the Warriors Atlanta 48 33 .593 - Dallas 42 39 .519 24 will be going for their NBA-record 73rd victory. Charlotte 47 34 .580 1 Memphis 42 39 .519 24 Dallas hosts San Antonio.Austin Rivers scored Washington 40 41 .494 8 Houston 40 41 .494 26 14 points for the Clippers, who shot 55 percent Orlando 35 46 .432 13 New Orleans 30 51 .370 36 and outscored Memphis 22-6 in fast-break points as they posted their 10th win in 11 games. Jeff Green scored 13 points and Blake Griffin added 12. DeAndre Jordan grabbed 12 rebounds. Zach Randolph scored 14 points and Jarrell Martin added 12 for the Grizzlies, who’ve lost three in a row.

HEAT 99, PISTONS 93 Dwyane Wade got off to his slowest start offensively in a decade but finished with 14 points to help the Miami Heat beat the Detroit Pistons 99-33. Miami will win the Southeast Division and earn home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs if it closes the regular season Wednesday night by beating Boston on the road. The Pistons’ loss sealed their spot as the eighth-seeded team in the Eastern Conference, setting up a matchup with top- seeded Cleveland. Wade didn’t score until there was 4:14 left in the first half. He had not been scoreless that long at the start of a game since March 17, 2006, against Charlotte, according to STATS. Wade broke his scoreless start with a three-point play and had seven points in a 50- second stretch.

RAPTORS 122, 76ERS 98 Rookie Norman Powell had 18 points while Jonas Valanciunas had 17 and 11 rebounds as Toronto beat Philadelphia for the 12th straight time. It gave Valanciunas a team-leading 22nd double-double of the season. Philadelphia last beat Toronto Jan. 18, 2013. With the Indiana Pacers’ win over New York and the Detroit Pistons’ loss to the Miami Heat, second-seeded Toronto is now locked into a playoff matchup MILAN: This file photo taken on August 29, 2015 shows AC Milan’s coach from Serbia with the seventh-seeded Pacers. Robert ISTANBUL: Galatasaray’s Semih Kaya heads the ball during the Turkish Spor Toto Super league Sinisa Mihajlovic leaving the pitch during the Italian Serie A football match between Covington had 24 points for Philadelphia on 6- football match between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce at TT arena stadium yesterday in AC Milan and Empoli at San Siro Stadium in Milan on August 29, 2015. —AFP Istanbul. — AFP THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 SPORTS PSG left haunted by familiar feeling of failure

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain have some moment”, in Bayern Munich and Blanc was in the firing line after aban- One of those was Monaco in 2004 Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the superstar serious soul-searching to do after once Barcelona, as well as Real Madrid. doning his usual 4-3-3 formation to play while the other was Lyon, semi-finalists of this PSG project, but the Swede is again coming up short in the Those three have become regulars in with three central defenders at kick-off in 2010. But while those two surprised now 34 and has always been associat- Champions League as they exited the the last four of Europe’s elite club com- against City. many by getting so far, there is pressure ed with failure in the Champions competition at the hands of Manchester petition in recent seasons and PSG It was a gamble that backfired and on PSG to reach the last four and even League, never having won it in his oth- City on Tuesday. aspire to join them, but they came up one that followed a disappointing per- win the Champions League. erwise glittering career. A 1-0 defeat in England saw PSG lose short against a City side enduring a dis- formance in the first leg at the Parc des The question now is, what does the Ibrahimovic’s deal expires in the sum- 3-2 on aggregate as they became the appointing season in England and Princes. “In the two matches they were future hold? “The future? We have a sea- mer, while Maxwell and Gregory van der first team to lose in the quarter-finals of appearing in their first ever Champions incapable of imposing the rhythm son to finish. We have a French Cup Wiel are out of contract at the end of the the Champions League in four consecu- League quarter-final. required. It was not enough to try to win semi-final to try to win and a League season too. The club have the means tive seasons. After losing twice to Having already wrapped up a fourth a match in the quarter-finals of the Cup final to win,” Blanc said. and the desire to sign a new superstar, Barcelona and once on away goals to successive French title, PSG are still on Champions League,” Jerome Rothen, a “I know that doesn’t have the same with Neymar apparently on their wish- Chelsea in the previous three cam- course to complete a clean sweep of the former PSG player who featured in the flavour, the same excitement as the list, and Al-Khelaifi will surely be tempt- paigns, this was supposed to be the year domestic honours for the second season 2004 final for Monaco and now working Champions League but we owe it to our- ed to add new faces while keeping the Paris went one further and reached the running, but it is in Europe where they as a pundit, said on beIN Sports. selves to win them for the club. We are likes of Angel di Maria, Thiago Silva and semi-finals for the first time since being are to be judged these days given the very disappointed but we will have to Marco Verratti. taken over by Qatar Sports Investments enormous sums of money invested by SQUAD CLEAR-OUT? get over it.” The other question mark surrounds in 2011. their owners. From a French viewpoint it is a famil- Once they have done that, the club Blanc, who has done a fine job overall Before last week’s first leg against “What a fiasco” screamed the front iar failing — 12 times in the last 13 sea- may be tempted to clear the decks and and has a contract until 2018 but has City, PSG coach Laurent Blanc had spo- page headline on sports daily L’Equipe sons a French side has appeared in the freshen up the squad. Now is perhaps now been to four Champions League ken of his relief at avoiding “the two on Wednesday, as the search for some- quarter-finals, and only twice have they the time, with several leading players quarter-finals as a coach and lost ogres of European football at the one to blame began. gone further. soon out of contract. them all. —AFP

Man City breakthrough shows Pellegrini still punching MANCHESTER: Manchester City’s symbolism-the other club buoyed by vast Champions League quarter-final success Middle Eastern wealth, already French over Paris Saint-Germain demonstrated champions and supposedly several devel- that reports of the team’s demise under opmental stages ahead of City, sent back to Manuel Pellegrini have been greatly exag- Paris with their tails between their legs. gerated. Pellegrini has been cast as a dead man KOMPANY, TOURE NOT MISSED walking ever since the announcement on In passing, City’s victory served to February 1 that Pep Guardiola will succeed debunk several commonly held truths him as manager at the season’s end and about their side. City, supposedly, were a City’s dwindling league form of three wins one-man team, but Sergio Aguero fluffed in eight games was held up as proof that his lines by missing a first-half penalty and his players had downed tools. it was left to De Bruyne to apply the coup Instead they pulled off the most eye- de grace with his 15th goal of an impres- catching European result since the club’s sive debut season. City were said to be too acquisition by super-rich Emirati owner dependent on a spine that has been largely Sheikh Mansour in 2008, giving Pellegrini a unchanged since 2011, but injured captain moment of sweet personal vindication. “I Vincent Kompany was, for once, not missed came to City because I had good perform- and nor was midfield colossus Yaya Toure, ances in Europe, so to leave this club with- who Pellegrini left on the bench despite out taking them to a new state would have his return to fitness after a knee problem. been a bad thing for me,” said the Chilean, Centre-backs Nicolas Otamendi and who succeeded Roberto Mancini in 2013. Eliaquim Mangala have both been “It is very important to me to be in the described as expensive failures, but even semi-finals because that is my job.” without Kompany’s steadying influence It is the third time Pellegrini, 62, has bro- they left Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson ken new ground for a club in the Cavani feeding on scraps. Goalkeeper Joe Champions League, having led Villarreal to Hart, meanwhile, produced a faultless dis- the semi-finals in 2006 and steered Malaga play, which included an alert late stop to the last eight in 2013. that prevented Cavani from giving PSG An urbane, understated figure, Pellegrini hope. “We criticised the back four, but has already brought one Premier League they were solid, as were Fernandinho and title and two League Cups to the Etihad Fernando,” said former England winger Stadium, but although it took the might of Chris Waddle, who was analysing the sec- PARIS: A picture taken yesterday shows the official Twitter account of Karim Benzema reading “unfortunately for me and for thosewho have Barcelona to oust City from the Champions ond leg for BBC radio. always backed me and supported me, I will not be selected for our Euro in France”. Embroiled in the Mathieu Valbuena sex-tape scandal, France League in his first two seasons, he has been “The Champions League suits Nicolas forward Karim Benzema will not be selected for Euro 2016, the player and the French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed yesterday. — AFP seen as something of a tactical ingenu. Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala. The Pellegrini, it was said, was too closely wed- Premier League is a hard league, it is end- ded to attacking football to achieve success to-end and tough. They played a European in Europe, but the manner of the triumph game (against PSG) and ground out a Benzema ruled out of Euro 2016 over PSG showed that City could play on result.” Friday’s semi-final draw will be the the front foot in the Champions League, latest staging post in a journey that has PARIS: Karim Benzema will not play for France at and prosper. City were sloppily defensively seen City emerge from the shadow of this year’s European Championship after his in the first leg, but scored opportunistic cross-town rivals Manchester United to national federation ruled against his return due to Dortmund blueprint serves away goals through Kevin De Bruyne and become a major European player. an ongoing legal case. Benzema is facing prelimi- Fernandinho, and their reward for refusing The strength of the opposition is formi- nary charges of conspiracy to blackmail, relating to to sit on their advantage in Tuesday’s return dable, but whatever comes to pass in the an extortion scam over a sex tape involving France Klopp in Liverpool rebuild leg was the 76th-minute De Bruyne strike next round, Pellegrini will walk away at the teammate Mathieu Valbuena. LONDON: It was perhaps inevitable that Jurgen at Bayer Leverkusen in August 2008, featuring in that sealed a 3-2 aggregate win. That PSG end of the season knowing that he has Benzema was suspended indefinitely in were their last-eight victims was rich in done his bit. —AFP Klopp’s Liverpool would produce their most the squad that faced Bayern Munich in the December pending the ongoing case, and the FFF Borussia Dortmund-like performance at the Champions League final five years later. said yesterday in a statement that “(federation home of his former club. president) Noel Graet and (coach) Didier In last week’s Europa League quarter-final first ‘High-intensity games’ Deschamps have decided that Benzema will not be leg at the Westfalenstadion, Klopp watched his He seems similarly determined to extract Mid-table Chelsea will able to play at Euro 2016.” Liverpool players press and harry like the every ounce of quality from the Liverpool players Leading politicians, such as Prime Minister Dortmund team he steered to the highest eche- at his disposal. The occasionally maligned cen- fight for trophies again Manuel Valls, said Benzema should not be select- lon of the European game. If historical prece- tre-back pairing of Mamadou Sakho and Dejan ed for the national team. Benzema, who has dents are to be believed, the 1-1 final score gives Lovren performed with sturdy resolve in the first LONDON: Chelsea will be fighting on all next season. “I think we will improve and scored 27 goals in 81 matches, misses a second Liverpool a 74 percent chance of progressing, leg, while Origi is flourishing after a difficult start fronts next season and will look to win their for Chelsea the only target is to win. For the major tournament after being left out of the 2010 and the nature of their display revealed the to his time at the club. “He always believed in me remaining Premier League games as a dis- big clubs, if you have one bad season World Cup squad. extent to which Klopp’s methods have taken and he believes in the group also,” said the 20- appointing campaign for the champions where you don’t win trophies, you have to “Unfortunately for me and for those who have hold. “I’m pretty sure a lot of people thought we year-old Belgian striker, who followed up his goal nears its end, defender Cesar Azpilicueta bounce back. We are in a big club here and always supported me ... I will not be selected for would lose 2-0, 3-0 or 4-0,” said Klopp, whose at Dortmund with a brace in Sunday’s 4-1 defeat has said. Despite losing just once in their we have to fight again for trophies next our Euro in France,” Benzema said on his Twitter side tackle Dortmund at Anfield in Thursday’s of Stoke City. last 16 league games, Chelsea’s early sea- season.” Chelsea host fourth-placed page. Deschamps will be without his leading scorer return leg. “But at some moments we had “The fact that I’m on the pitch gives me confi- son form under former manager Jose Manchester City at Stamford Bridge in the when Euro 2016 host France takes on Romania on Dortmund, and around our goal we were bril- dence and I just try to play my game and enjoy Mourinho, which saw them lose nine league on Saturday. — Reuters June 10 in the tournament opener at Stade de liant.” The sight of Klopp on the touchline- it.” Hard-working players like Adam Lallana, Emre games and dwell dangerously close to rele- France. Investigators charging him believed he was squawking at his players, pumping his fist in cel- Can and James Milner have also earned Klopp’s gation has cost them dearly. approached by a childhood friend to act as an ebration of Divock Origi’s first-half goal-will have trust and are striving to show that they can The Blues, who have already exited both intermediary and convince Valbuena to deal direct- been immediately familiar to Dortmund’s fans, become to him what hardy perennials like Mats European and domestic tournaments, are Matches on TV ly with blackmailers in possession of a sex tape fea- who granted him a touching send-off at the final Hummels, Marcel Schmelzer and Jakub turing the Lyon winger. 10th in the table with just six games left, (Local Timings) whistle. So too the tactics employed by his team, Blaszczykowski were at Dortmund. and Azpilicueta felt a club of Chelsea’s Although Benzema denies any wrongdoing, his whose aggressive, front-foot approach prevent- Milner, captain in the absence of the injured arguments were undermined when Valbuena stature should not be languishing in such a UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE ed the home side from settling into any kind of Jordan Henderson, is relishing the challenge of position. spoke about Benzema’s attempts to pressure him, rhythm and whose counter-attacks kept the playing teams like Dortmund and Tottenham “We have Premier League games to win Shakhtar Donetsk v Sporting Braga22:05 telling a French newspaper he was particularly Dortmund rearguard on constant alert. While Hotspur, held 1-1 at Anfield recently, who play and our motivation is to finish as high up beIN SPORTS 5 HD shocked by the way Benzema spoke about him Dortmund have become more of a possession- with a similar high-tempo approach. “It’s nice to the table as possible because for Chelsea AC Sparta v Villarreal CF 22:05 over the phone with one of the suspected black- based team under Klopp’s successor, Thomas keep getting the games,” Milner said of it’s not enough to be fighting in mid-table,” beIN SPORTS 4 HD mailers, joking that Valbuena would get “eaten by Tuchel-the legacy of the new status his seven- Liverpool’s busy schedule. “They have been high- the Spain international told the club’s web- Sevilla FC v Athletic de Bilbao 22:05 the piranhas.” year tenure left them with-Liverpool are exhibit- intensity games as well-Dortmund and Spurs site (www.chelseafc.com). beIN SPORTS 3 HD Benzema acknowledged that the tone of his ing the same underdog mentality upon which he play at a high tempo. “That’s good for us as it “We haven’t won any trophies this sea- Liverpool v Borussia Dortmund 22:05 conversation - after his phone had been tapped by built his success in the Ruhr valley. keeps us at that intensity we want to play at. We son but we want to win as many games as beIN SPORTS 2 HD police investigators - was uncalled for and apolo- Speaking earlier this season, former Liverpool know if we play at that intensity, that’s when we we can and prepare to lift trophies again gized to Valbuena and his family. In 2010, Benzema defender Mark Lawrenson said the team’s best have our best matches.” If Dortmund are to prove was handed preliminary charges for soliciting an performances were “reminiscent of Borussia themselves worthy favourites for the trophy, underage prostitute but was acquitted in a case Dortmund at their best under Jurgen Klopp”. Tuchel must find a way to withstand the red tide that lasted more than three years. Former France Klopp readily bestowed trust upon the players when the teams resume hostilities today. coach Raymond Domenech left him out of the he inherited at Dortmund, with seven of the 18 Dortmund’s supporters will know exactly what is 2010 World Cup squad. players he called up for his first game, a 3-2 win coming their way. —AFP A few hours before Wednesday’s verdict, Benzema reaffirmed his commitment to Les Bleus - the nickname for the national team - with a tweet saying “Quoi qu’il arrive, Bleu un jour, Bleu toujours” (Whatever happens, once a Blue, always a Blue). The 28-year-old Benzema has been in the best club form of his career this season, scoring 21 league goals in 22 games and four in seven Champions League games for Real Madrid. Although Deschamps is a big fan of Benzema, his importance to the national squad has been increasingly debated in recent weeks after some impressive attacking performances without him. France won 3-2 away to Netherlands and beat Russia 4-2 at home, having also beaten World Cup winner Germany 2-0 back in November. Earlier this week, Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery said he would consider coming out of international retire- ment in time for the Euro, but first wants to speak with Deschamps. Benzema’s No. 9 jersey with likely go to either PRAGUE: Villarreal’s players take part in a training session at the Generali Arena on LVIV: SC Braga players take part in a trainng session at the Arena Lviv Stadium in Lviv yester- Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud or Andre-Pierre the eve of the UEFA Europa League quarter-final second leg football match AC day on the eve of the UEFA Europa League quarter final second leg football match between FC Gignac, who plays for Mexican side Tigres. — AP Sparta Praha vs Villarreal yesterday in Prague. — AFP Shakhtar Donetsk and SC Braga. — AFP WADA opens way for Benzema ruled athletes to avoid out of Euro 2016 sanctions for meldonium

THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 15 19

Goldschmidt homers to help D-backs beat Dodgers 4-2 Page 17

MADRID: Barcelona’s midfielder Sergio Busquets (L) heads a ball next to Atletico Madrid’s Argentinian midfielder Augusto Fernandez (C) and Atletico Madrid’s French forward Antoine Griezmann (R) during the Champions League quarter-final second leg football match Club Atletico de Madrid VS FC Barcelona at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid yesterday. — AFP Griezmann double knocks out Barca

MADRID: Atletico Madrid dumped holders before the break as captain Gabi fired over the crossbar with Ter Stegen stranded. Barcelona out of the Champions League at before Griezmann placed his first big headed Griezmann had another chance to give the quarter-final stage for the second time in chance from Filipe Luis’s cross too close to Atletico a cushion but fired straight at Ter three seasons as Antoine Griezmann’s double Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Stegen on his weaker right foot at the end of a sealed a 2-0 win yesterday to progress 3-2 on Messi’s most significant involvement in the lightening counter-attack. aggregate. Griezmann put the hosts ahead on first 45 minutes saw him scurrying deep into However, Barca began to impose them- away goals with a fine first-half header before his own half to dispossess Yannick Carrasco in selves in the final half hour as Atletico tired converting from the penalty spot two minutes a sign of the five-time World Player of the and Suarez tested Oblak with a fierce effort from time after Andres Iniesta had handled Year’s desperation to get into the game. from inside the area that the Slovenian han- inside the area. Atletico made the all-important break- dled impressively. Barca, meanwhile, were left to rue referee through nine minutes before half-time when Suarez was lucky to escape a red card in Nicola Rizzoli’s decision to give a free-kick on Griezmann’s header was this time precise and the first leg after clashing with Juanfran and the edge of the box in injury time instead of a powerful enough to beat Ter Stegen from Saul Filipe Luis and got off lightly once more when penalty when Gabi appeared to be inside the Niguez’s brilliant cross. he was just shown a yellow card for elbowing area as he was penalised for handball. The goal awoke Barca sufficiently to force Uruguayan international teammate Diego Defeat is Barca’s third in four games after a Jan Oblak into his first save of the evening Godin. Neymar was also booked for kicking 39-match unbeaten run stretching back six from Neymar’s curling effort. out at Juanfran moments later as Barca began months and sees their quest to become the to lose their cool. first side to retain the competition in the LATE CONTROVERSY Iniesta was also lucky not to be sent-off for Champions League era come to an end. Ter Stegen ensured Barca went in at the denying a clear goalscoring opportunity as he Roared on by a vociferous 55,000-strong break just one goal down as he held a blocked Luis’s pass into Griezmann’s path for crowd at the Vicente Calderon, Atletico were Carrasco drive at the second attempt before the penalty. The French international kept his worthy winners as Barca’s star front three of Niguez could follow in for the rebound. head to slot home the resulting spot-kick. LISBON: Benfica and Munich players watch the ball during the Champions Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar were Atletico had two more chances to extend However, there was still time for late contro- League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between SL Benfica and limited to precious few clear-cut chances. their advantage early in the second period as versy as Rizzoli only awarded Barca a free-kick Bayern Munich at the Luz stadium in Lisbon yesterday. — AP Atletico will be joined by local rivals Real Koke’s cut-back was cut out by Gerard Pique on the edge of the box as Gabi handled. Madrid, Manchester City and Bayern Munich with Griezmann waiting for a tap in. Messi’s free-kick drifted inches over and Bayern see off Benfica in tomorrow’s semi-final draw. And then as Barca struggled to clear a cor- with it Barca’s chances of a second consecu- The home side were far the better team ner, Niguez’s looping header came back off tive treble were gone. — AFP to reach semi-finals LISBON: Bayern Munich came out on in Europe’s premier club competition Man United spoil top in an entertaining Champions since 1990. League last-eight clash with Benfica, Benfica were undisputed underdogs, West Ham party to reaching the semi-finals with a 3-2 and they started this match not just with reach FA Cup semis aggregate victory, after a second-leg 2-2 a deficit to overturn, but without three draw in Lisbon yesterday. key forwards. Top scorer Jonas, who has LONDON: Manchester United gate-crashed Pep Guardiola took his German cham- scored 32 goals this season, was ruled West Ham United’s FA Cup farewell party at pions to the Estadio Da Luz with a 1-0 out through suspension, while Nicolas Upton Park with an invigorating 2-1 victory first-leg lead thanks to Aruto Vidal’s early Gaitan and Greek Kostas Mitroglou failed yesterday to book a semi-final berth against strike at the Allianz Arena last week. After to recover from injuries. Everton. A sensational goal from teenager a slow start to the game, Benfica drew Roared on by the home crowd, the Marcus Rashford and Marouane Fellaini’s back onto level terms in the tie in the hosts started quickly and Bayern centre- close-range effort, both in the second half, 27th minute, as Raul Jimenez escaped back Joshua Kimmich did well to deflect settled the quarter-final replay after the the Bayern defence to nod past Manuel a free-kick behind. After Vidal headed sides drew the first game 1-1 at Old Trafford. Neuer. But Vidal smashed home his sec- tamely at Ederson Moraes, in the side The scene was set for a momentous ond goal of the quarter-final tie seven with regular goalkeeper Julio Cesar still 155th and final FA Cup tie at the Boleyn minutes before half-time to leave Rui sidelined, Benfica struck almost from Stadium which West Ham will soon swap for Vitoria’s Benfica needing two unan- nowhere. the Olympic Stadium but after a promising swered goals to progress. Eliseu skipped forward from left-back, start it was the visitors who rose to the occa- The tie appeared all but over shortly before chipping in a delicious cross sion. after the restart when Thomas Mueller which was headed home by Jimenez for Rashford deservedly put United in front pounced in trademark fashion. Benfica his third Champions League goal of the after 54 minutes with a pinpoint curler from did manage to create a grandstand finale campaign. the edge of the area and Fellaini bundled in of sorts through Talisca’s set-piece, but it Bayern were rocked and Jimenez Anthony Martial’s cross 13 minutes later. could have been more exciting had should have put Benfica in front on James Tomkins’s header set up a tumul- Bayern’s Javi Martinez been sent off for aggregate just a couple of minutes after tuous climax in which Andy Carroll headed the cynical foul that lead to the free-kick. opening the scoring. The former Atletico narrowly over and David de Gea made a Five-time winners Bayern progress Madrid man was given far too much LONDON: Manchester United’s English striker Marcus Rashford scores past West Ham sensational save from Emmanuel Emenike to the last four for the sixth time in the room inside the visitors’ penalty area, but United’s Irish goalkeeper Darren Randolph during the FA cup quarter final replay football as United hung on to keep alive their hopes last seven seasons, leaving their oppo- he stabbed a weak effort straight at match between West Ham United and Manchester United at the Boleyn ground in London of ending a disappointing season with a nents without a semi-final appearance Neuer. — AFP yesterday. — AFP trophy. — Reuters WB set to provide Egypt with $1 bn of $3 bn loan

Page 22 Business China’s steel glut - years in the making, years to resolve THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 Page 25 In homelessness crisis, Hawaii eyes Asia shares extend rally on China trade relief thatched ‘hale’ homes Page 24 Page 23

LONDON: The “Back Heathrow” campaign group pose with a man wearing a mask of British Prime Minister David Cameron as they stand outside the Houses of Parliament in central London yesterday. The group, made up of resi- dents of the Heathrow area, believe that a decision to expand Heathrow airport would create more jobs in the area. — AFP Luxury or bust for foreign automakers in Japan Mid-range foreign vehicles - a rare sight on Japanese streets

TOKYO: Tokyo businessman Randal eign automakers. Miki Kurosu, communications director for Furudera isn’t about to swap his German- US auto unions have blasted what they BMW Japan, which sold about 46,000 vehi- made BMW M5 for a “boring” Japanese car, say are non-tariff barriers that shut the door cles last year, along with 21,000 Minis. although he’ll give them some grudging on a sector already dominated by eight Japan’s luxury car market has remained respect for their ho-hum dependability. domestic carmakers, including Toyota, frothy despite a years-long downturn in the Deep-pocketed buyers like Furudera are Nissan and Honda. In 2013, former Ford boss economy, while a stock market rally in recent driving sales in Japan of high-end foreign Alan Mulally accused Tokyo of manipulating years has also helped buoy sales. Nissan con- brands, which dominate the niche sector in the yen’s sharp decline to gain a trade sidered selling its high-end Infiniti brand at a car market long seen as all but shuttered advantage for domestic firms, which sell mil- home, as Honda did with Acura. But those to overseas automakers. “Most Japanese cars lions of vehicles overseas, including top mar- plans were scrapped owing to foreign these days are sort of becoming moving kets China and the United States. automakers’ dominance in the market. appliances,” the 54-year-old said. “They’re Meanwhile, rival Toyota has struggled to very reliable, they’re good quality, they nev- ‘No Chevrolets in Tokyo’ score big with its Lexus in Japan, although er break and all that, but they’re not very The imbalance hasn’t gone unnoticed by sales have been on an upswing lately. “Lexus interesting to drive.” bombastic US Republican party frontrunner is a bit behind. They had great ambitions Mid-range foreign vehicles are a rare Donald Trump. “When did we beat Japan at when they launched the brand (at home) in sight on Japanese streets, but it isn’t hard to anything?” Trump said in a speech last sum- 2005, but have not achieved their goals,” said spot a Porsche zipping around the capital or mer to announce his run for the presidency. Yoshiaki Kawano, an auto analyst at IHS a nouveau riche billionaire behind the wheel “They send their cars over by the millions, Automotive. German brands have slick mar- of a half-a-million dollar Lamborghini. Sales and what do we do? When was the last time keting campaigns and a top-notch image in of the Italian sportscar in Japan doubled to you saw a Chevrolet in Tokyo? It doesn’t Japan, and rich drivers rarely switch brands about 300 vehicles in 2015 from a year earli- exist, folks.” Trump is not far off-Chevrolet so domestic automakers were late to the er. The jump comes as US car giant Ford and Cadillac maker General Motors sold a party. “There is quite a bit of prestige TOKYO: Tokyo businessman Randal Furudera poses in his BMW M5 at his home in Tokyo. — AFP announced in January it was quitting the puny 1,600 vehicles in Japan last year. attached to certainly the three main German country, blaming the “closed” market, after it But it’s a different story for prestige for- brands,” said Furudera. enjoying it more than the drivers-watching ence.” While he may consider buying a Lexus sold fewer than 5,000 cars in 2015. Less than eign brands, whose success didn’t come Foreign brands tend to focus on the driv- DVDs, getting a massage from their chairs- down the road, it’s not likely to happen any six percent of the more than five million without a fight. They had to “overcome ing experience, rather than just passenger but the driver is not enjoying it that much”, time soon. “I wouldn’t say never, but for now vehicles sold last year in Japan-the world’s stereotypes like Western cars break down comfort, added the car enthusiast. In Furudera said. “In a German car, the driver I think BMW still has the edge in terms of number three car market-were made by for- easily or they’re expensive to repair”, said Japanese cars, “(passengers) are probably gains the most-that’s kind of the big differ- driving experience.” — AFP Brexit vote would damage UK Cooling startup funding economy; BoE may cut rates chills the ‘unicorn’ herd WASHINGTON: Venture capital flows to startups tions in the market may not be warranted and are LONDON: A British vote to leave the European Union on June 23 growth forecast for Britain to 1.9 percent from 2.2 percent and said globally cooled further in the first quarter of 2016, stepping back from making any significant mega- would hurt the economy, an overwhelming majority of econo- the country could deal a damaging blow to the fragile world econ- in a fresh sign of caution over the so-called tech deals. Over the next few quarters, there will likely mists said in a Reuters poll, and could push the Bank of England to omy if it votes to leave the EU. The findings of the latest poll were “unicorns,” a survey showed yesterday. The report also be more scrutiny of existing unicorns.” The cut interest rates for the first time since the financial crisis. nearly identical to a Reuters poll of mainly UK-based economists by CB Insights and KPMG found venture funding report said the emerging companies will need to Conversely, if the outcome was to remain a member of the EU, taken about two months ago that showed an overwhelming view dropped to $25.5 billion in the first three months of show a path to profitability and improved control of those saying there would be a net positive economic boost and remaining in the UK would be best for the economy. the year, from $27.2 billion in the fourth quarter of expenses in order to attract fresh funding. those saying neutral were roughly split. “Both the UK and Europe If the vote does go in favor of the “In” campaign, Britain’s beat- 2015. It marked the second consecutive quarterly “Unicorns and late-stage companies will likely risk a fall into recession in the following quarters due to the en-down pound would rally 4 percent against the dollar in the decline, following an investment frenzy that fueled be challenged the most by current market realities,” increased uncertainty. One has to take into account that the UK is immediate aftermath, a separate Reuters poll of foreign exchange unprecedented growth in startups with a valuation the report said. “That’s because they’ve been able the second largest economy in the EU so this is a big deal,” said strategists found last week. While opinion polls on the referendum of over $1 billion, known in the tech industry as to raise previous funding rounds without the same Mikel Milhoj at Danske Bank. suggest the result could be very close, most have come marginally “unicorns.” level of scrutiny. “With new investor pressures, com- Britain’s economy could be one of the fastest growing among in favor of an “In” win and betting firms are also pricing that in. One “Caution defined the (venture capital) market panies will need to focus on the fundamentals. This developed nations, expanding 1.9 percent this year and 2.1 per- poll published Tuesday, however, showed the Leave campaign globally during the first quarter,” the report said. will require many companies to make hard choices cent next, the poll of economists based in the UK and across three points ahead. After public opinion polls failed to predict a Europe found - but that would be under threat from Brexit, as leav- Conservative Party victory in Britain’s 2015 parliamentary election “With numerous factors fostering uncertainty in the about how to achieve profitability, such as conduct- ing the EU is known. “Recessionary in the short-term,” said Philip there is a great deal of uncertainty around their accuracy. market and an ongoing skepticism of high valua- ing layoffs or making cuts to discretionary spend- Rush, UK economist at Nomura based in London, adding that What’s more certain is inflation won’t reach the Bank of tions, VC activity pulled back even further following ing.” Some unicorns have seen their value slashed “longer term effects (are) less clear-cut.” BayernLB economist England’s 2 percent target anytime soon. The latest Reuters survey a late fourth quarter dropoff in 2015.” The survey by investors aiming to put a fair market evaluation Manuel Andersch, based in Munich, was more emphatic: “Short- suggested it would be the second half of 2017 at least before it found only five new unicorn “births” in early 2016, on their holdings. Mutual fund company Fidelity term disaster, long-term damage.” even gets close. Low oil prices have meant most central banks lower than any quarter last year. The report under- last year marked down the value of its Snapchat Thirty-one of the 35 economists polled said the economic have struggled to get inflation to rise and the BoE won’t be lifting scored concerns about a bubble in tech startups, holdings by 25 percent. impact from Britain leaving the EU would be negative and four interest rates from a record low until early next year, a separate with investors scrambling to find fast-growing com- The new report showed North America gar- said it would have no effect. None said a Brexit would be positive Reuters poll found earlier this month. But a move from 0.5 percent, panies that could compete with the likes of Uber or nered the largest share of venture investment with for the economy. Roughly two-thirds of those who answered ques- which would be the first change in over seven years, could also be Facebook. $15.2 billion, up from $14.3 billion in the prior quar- tions on Brexit were UK-based, but there were no differences in swung by a Brexit vote. Seventeen of 26 economists in the poll “With high-profile companies failing to live up to ter. The biggest drop came in Asia, with $6.5 billion answers provided based on geography. The sample was the said if Britain decides to leave the Bank’s next move would likely their private valuations, existing and potential uni- compared to $9.8 billion. Funding in Europe rose monthly panel of forecasters on the British economy, at banks, be a cut. “If the UK votes to leave the EU, then the BoE is likely to corns are coming under more scrutiny than ever slightly to $3.5 billion from $3.2 billion. The overall fund management companies and independent research firms, cut interest rates to 0.25 percent, but also restart quantitative eas- before,” the report said. “Especially in the US, number of investment deals fell to 1,829 in a third who quite often disagree with each other. ing,” said Azad Zangana, London-based senior economist at asset investors are coming to believe that the high valua- consecutive decline. On Tuesday, the International Monetary Fund cut its 2016 management firm Schroders. — Reuters THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 BUSINESS World Bank set to provide Egypt with $1 billion of $3 billion loan Egypt keeps basic goods prices stable despite dollar crisis

CAIRO: The World Bank will provide the first $1 away from reduced prices to direct cash trans- been facing a dollar shortage since the popular billion tranche of a $3 billion loan to Egypt after fers for the poor. Egypt has delayed a number uprising in 2011 drove away tourists and for- parliament approves the government’s eco- of difficult reforms, from a VAT that would eign investors, major sources of hard currency. nomic program, World Bank vice president increase government revenues and a civil serv- The government has taken a series of meas- Hafez Ghanem said at a news conference late ice law that would trim the country’s public ures to keep the price of basic goods from ris- Tuesday. Parliament is expected to pass the workforce, to an ambitious plan to wean the ing, rolling out army trucks to distribute subsi- program in April. Egypt has been negotiating country off costly energy subsidies that has dized food items for its poorest and identifying billions of dollars in aid from various lenders to since been scaled back. Egypt’s economy is cur- key goods to monitor for price rises. A black help revive an economy battered by political rently growing at around 4.2 percent with a market for dollars has sucked up liquidity from upheaval since the 2011 revolt and ease a dol- budget deficit of about 11.5 percent, the prime the banking system while the central bank kept lar shortage that has crippled import activity minister said last month. the pound artificially strong and rationed dol- and hampered recovery. The lender had agreed Saudi Arabia, along with other Gulf oil pro- lars through weekly auctions, putting a strain to provide the first $1 billion in December but ducers, have pumped billions of dollars, includ- on foreign reserves. “The prices of basic goods is waiting for the government’s economic pro- ing grants, into Egypt’s flagging economy since will not increase no matter what happens to gram, which outlines the broad strokes of its the army toppled President Mohamed Morsi of the dollar, and nothing will happen,” Sisi said in reform plans, to be passed by parliament. the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013 after mass a speech. “The military and the government are The government presented a program to protests against his rule. But Egypt has said it responsible, it’s a promise.” parliament in late March that aimed to reduce would rely less on grants from its neighbors The Egyptian pound has weakened in the budget deficit while protecting the poor. moving forward and would focus instead on recent weeks on the black market with traders The World Bank told Reuters in December that attracting foreign investment that could on Tuesday giving a range of 10.25-10.28 per the first tranche was focused on “10 prior relaunch its dollar starved economy. Last week dollar. Egypt’s reserves more than halved to actions for policy and institutional reforms” it signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia to set $16.56 billion in March from around $36 billion already implemented. The second and third up a 60 billion Saudi riyal ($16 billion) invest- in 2011. In an attempt to close the gap tranches are linked to additional reforms the ment fund among other investment agree- between official and black market rates, the government plans. A long-delayed Value ments including an economic free-zone to central bank devalued the currency to 8.85 per Added Tax (VAT) that has yet to be implement- develop Egypt’s Sinai region. dollar from 7.7301 last month. It later strength- ed but was included in the government pro- ened it to 8.78 per dollar, while adopting a gram was one of the reforms agreed to as part Basic goods prices more flexible exchange-rate policy. The central of the first tranche, Ghanem said. Meanwhile, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah bank said it would move to a more flexible Ghanem said that there would not be specif- El-Sisi said yesterday he would make sure the exchange rate regime, in an effort to rebalance ic conditions placed on future tranches but price of basic goods does not increase regard- markets and ease a foreign exchange shortage highlighted certain changes the lender would less of what happens to the value of the curren- that had stifled business activity and hit confi- like to see, such as a shift in food subsidy policy cy. Egypt relies heavily on imports and has dence. —Agencies Turkish Airlines takes off on maiden flight to Paris The Official Airline Partner for EURO 2016

DUBAI: To celebrate EURO 2016 this summer, Turkish Airlines has unveiled an A330-300 passenger aircraft painted in the competi- tion’s livery. The plane undertook its maiden flight to Paris, the location of this year’s final on 10th July, and is just one component of Turkish Airlines’ drive to excite fans ahead of this year’s tournament. The livery was created by UEFA and Turkish Airlines as part of the airline’s part- nership with the competition and role as Official Airline Partner to Euro 2016. The sponsorship will also see the airline announc- ing a series of ticket giveaway competitions; unique EURO 2016 airport experiences for passengers; and a series of fanzones through- out the host French cities once the matches get underway in June. As Europe’s best air- line for the fifth consecutive year, Turkish Airlines takes an active interest in the conti- nent’s sporting competitions and cultural events. Football’s global appeal, and its unify- ing force, is reflective of the carrier’s position as the airline that flies to more countries than any other airline. Ahmet Olmustur, Turkish Airlines’ Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) said: “Football is a great connector of people, breaking down social and cultural barriers and uniting peo- ple around a mutual passion for the game. We are privileged to be able to connect peo- ple from all across the globe every day, and are delighted to be part of this year’s EUROS. This plane is one of the many things we will be doing to excite fans and our passengers in the lead up to this competition.” Guy-Laurent Epstein, Marketing Director, UEFA Events SA, said: “We are very excited to see our first-ever airline partner’s plans truly taking off. It will be fantastic to see the plane travelling across Europe, and bringing fans together to celebrate the best in European football, as we approach the kick-off of UEFA EURO 2016 on 10thJune.” The plane wrapped in the EURO 2016 colors will fly to a selected number of destinations across the Turkish Airlines’ network. The airline currently flies to more than 280 destinations. Fans of the plane and the competition can engage on social media with the hashtag#eurointhesky.

EXCHANGE RATES

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Sterling Pound 432.220 Chinese Yuan Renminbi 47.005 Japanese Yen 0.002687 0.002867 Canadian dollar 237.710 Thai Bhat 9.570 Kenyan Shilling 0.002983 0.002983 Turkish lira 107.180 CURRENCY BUY SELL Turkish Lira 107.365 Korean Won 0.000254 0.000269 Swiss Franc 317.320 ASIAN COUNTRIES Malaysian Ringgit 0.074325 0.080325 Australian Dollar 234.240 Japanese Yen 2.777 Nepalese Rupee 0.002880 0.003050 US Dollar Buying 301.050 Bahrain Exchange Company Indian Rupees 4.572 GOLD Pakistan Rupee 0.002665 0.002945 Pakistani Rupees 2.886 20 Gram 252.300 Philippine Peso 0.006464 0.006744 Srilankan Rupees 2.092 CURRENCY BUY SELL 10 Gram 129.070 Sierra Leone 0.000073 0.000079 Nepali Rupees 2.847 Europe 5 Gram 65.380 Singapore Dollar 0.221034 0.227034 Singapore Dollar 225.390 British Pound 0.423709 0.432709 South African Rand 0.014532 0.023032 Hongkong Dollar 38.975 Czech Korune 0.004674 0.016674 Bangladesh Taka 3.853 Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Danish Krone 0.042014 0.047014 Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001693 0.002273 Philippine Peso 6.581 Euro 0.0337591 0.0345591 Taiwan 0.009220 0.009400 Thai Baht 8.642 Norwegian Krone 0.032846 0.038046 Thai Baht 0.008300 0.008850 Rate for Transfer Selling Rate Romanian Leu 0.076572 0.076572 US Dollar 302.350 GCC COUNTRIES Slovakia 0.009000 0.019000 Canadian Dollar 236.400 Arab Saudi Riyal 80.643 Swedish Krona 0.033204 0.038204 Sterling Pound 431.575 Bahraini Dinar 0.795155 0.803155 Qatari Riyal 83.070 Swiss Franc 0.308738 0.318938 Euro 345.995 Egyptian Pound 0.030647 0.035765 Omani Riyal 785.473 Turkish Lira 0.101513 0.111813 Swiss Frank 299.540 Iranian Riyal 0.000084 0.000085 Bahraini Dinar 803.110 Bahrain Dinar 799.875 UAE Dirham 82.335 Australasia Iraqi Dinar 0.000191 0.000251 UAE Dirhams 82.560 Australian Dollar 0.223982 0.235482 Jordanian Dinar 0.422296 0.429796 Qatari Riyals 83.770 ARAB COUNTRIES New Zealand Dollar 0.203155 0.212655 Kuwaiti Dinar 1.000000 1.000000 Saudi Riyals 81.305 Egyptian Pound - Cash 33.675 Lebanese Pound 0.000150 0.000250 Jordanian Dinar 425.915 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 34.427 America Moroccan Dirhams 0.020600 0.044600 Egyptian Pound 33.951 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.411 Canadian Dollar 0.230955 0.239455 Sri Lankan Rupees 2.093 Nigerian Naira 0.001245 0.001880 Tunisian Dinar 151.430 US Dollars 0.298150 0.302650 Indian Rupees 4.540 Omani Riyal 0.778645 0.784325 Jordanian Dinar 426.090 US Dollars Mint 0.298650 0.302650 Pakistani Rupees 2.881 Qatar Riyal 0.082309 0.083522 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 2.015 Bangladesh Taka 3.846 Saudi Riyal 0.079713 0.080663 Syrian Lira 2.155 Asia Philippines Pesso 6.553 Morocco Dirham 31.883 Bangladesh Taka 0.003435 0.004009 Syrian Pound 0.001281 0.001501 Cyprus pound 575.880 Chinese Yuan 0.045252 0.048752 Tunisian Dinar 0.148266 0.156266 Japanese Yen 3.790 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES Hong Kong Dollar 0.036884 0.039634 Turkish Lira 0.101513 0.111813 Syrian Pound 2.375 US Dollar Transfer 302.250 Indian Rupee 0.004329 0.004719 UAE Dirhams 0.081310 0.082459 Nepalese Rupees 3.845 Euro 344.870 Indonesian Rupiah 0.000018 0.000024 Yemeni Riyal 0.001366 0.001446 Malaysian Ringgit 78.470 THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 BUSINESS Women-only car services fill a niche, but are they legal?

BOSTON: Ride-hailing companies cater- Fernando Mateo, who co-founded the says companies vary on whether women But spokeswoman Justine Lisser not- podcast, fears the idea could be a “slip- ing exclusively to women are cropping company with his wife, Stella, said the may request a female taxi driver. ed employers whose workers are inde- pery slope” to other forms of discrimina- up and raising thorny legal questions, company put the brakes on its planned “The safety issue is a really big deal,” pendent contractors, as is the case with tion. Stronger background checks on namely: Are they discriminatory? In launch in 2014 after spending “tens of said Rosabeth Moss Kanter, a professor Mateo and Pelletz’s companies, are gen- drivers and regular monitoring of current Massachusetts, Chariot for Women is thousands” on legal fees as activists and at the Harvard Business School. “But you erally outside the agency’s purview. On ones might be a better approach, he promising to launch a service featuring male drivers threatened to sue. The com- just can’t discriminate. You can’t turn the consumer side, Massachusetts and suggested. “There are likely passengers female drivers picking up only women pany settled one challenge, he said. “We people away.” On the employment side, many other states have anti-gender dis- who would feel more comfortable with and children. Drivers will even have to were accused of all sorts of things,” the federal Civil Rights Act bans gender- crimination laws governing “public drivers who are the same race or same say a “safe word” before a ride starts. Mateo said. “So we went back to the based hiring except when deemed accommodations” like transportation ethnicity, so where do we draw the line?” Michael Pelletz, a former Uber driver, drawing board.” essential. Courts have interpreted that services. But those too, have exceptions. Campbell said. said he started the company with his “bona fide occupational qualification” In Massachusetts, for example, women’s- Female ride-hailing users in the wife, Kelly, in response to instances of SheHails clause very narrowly, said Elizabeth only gyms won a special legislative Boston area interviewed by The drivers for ride-hailing services charged When the company re-launches as Brown, a business law professor at carve-out in 1998. Michelle Sicard, a Associated Press had mixed feelings. with assaulting female passengers. SheHails, men will be permitted as driv- Bentley University in Waltham, Granby, Massachusetts, resident who Ashley Barnett, a 24-year-old from Pelletz believes his business plan is legal, ers and passengers. It will be left to Massachusetts. recently signed up as a Chariot for Somerville, said it’s “well intended” but and he’s prepared to make his case in female drivers to accept male passen- Prisons, for example, have been per- Women driver, said she isn’t concerned avoids a larger societal problem - peo- court, if it comes to that. gers, and for female passengers to mitted to hire female guards in select sit- about the legal debate. ple’s attitudes toward women. “It’s a accept rides from male drivers. While uations, but the airline industry was solution to a problem that’s way big- SheRides taxis driven by and for women are com- famously ordered to end the practice of Women feel safe ger than transportation,” she said. “We believe that giving women and mon in Dubai and India, such businesses hiring only women as flight attendants “I don’t think it’s discriminating Carolina Quintanilla, a 22-year-old their loved ones peace of mind is not would likely run afoul of anti-discrimina- in a 1971 U.S. Supreme Court ruling. against anyone. It’s another way to make from Boston, said she’d consider using only a public policy imperative, but tion laws in the US, industry and legal Whether the 1964 civil rights law applies women feel safe,” said the 33-year-old the service at night. But even then, she serves an essential social interest,” Pelletz experts said. Major ride-hailing compa- is also an open question. The U.S. Equal postal worker. “I just think people over- said, there’s no guarantee of safety. said. “Our service is intended to protect nies Uber and Lyft don’t give users the Employment Opportunity Commission, think things and everything becomes a “There are crazy women out there, these fundamental liberties.” In New York option of requesting a driver based on which enforces the law, declined to com- battle of the sexes.” But Harry Campbell, too,” Quintanilla said. “You never really City, the owners of SheRides are also gender. The Taxicab, Limousine & ment on the legality of women-only an Uber and Lyft driver in Los Angeles know nobody’s intentions. You have to promising a reboot this summer. Paratransit Association, a trade group, ride-hailing services. who runs The Rideshare Guy, a blog and trust your instincts.” —AP

In homelessness crisis, Hawaii eyes the thatched ‘hale’ homes

HONOLULU: When Daniel Anthony spent containers Honolulu recently deployed to the night sleeping in a traditional Hawaiian shelter homeless people on Sand Island cost structure known as a “hale,” the sound of rain $9,117 per unit for a 72-square-foot room falling on the thatched roof made him feel for a couple, or $7,717 for a 49-square-foot like he was sleeping in the forest. “This is the room for singles, and each shipping contain- sound of aloha,” he said, recalling the experi- er holds two couple units or three singles ence. The hales, he said, are also a solution to units, according to the city. An apartment a crisis of homelessness in Hawaii, which has can cost more than $325 per square foot to the highest rate of homelessness per capita build, according to the Hawaii Public in the nation. Anthony, lawmakers and com- Housing Authority, or $195,000 for a 600- munity members are pushing to revive the square-foot apartment. Maui County was Hawaiian tradition of living in hale (pro- the first to include hale in its building code, nounced hah-lay), thatched homes made giving the structures a sense of parity with from local trees and plants as a way to pro- western buildings. vide more affordable housing. Hale builders gather ironwood, eucalyp- Though a bill to ease restrictions on build- tus or other trees for the frame and pili grass, ing hale died after critics brought up safety sugar cane or ti leaves for the thatched roofs concerns, advocates are trying to bring and walls. But while sleeping in hale is attention to a type of housing that celebrates allowed in some Hawaii counties, no cook- culture and uses environmentally sustain- ing, open flames, electricity, extension cords able techniques to house the homeless. “If or generators are permitted, and obtaining we can use invasive species, which we’re say- building a permit can be difficult. Sen J ing is out of control, to construct housing in Kalani English, who pushed Maui County to an area where they say we’re in a housing cri- adopt its hale building code, envisions sis, how is this not a solution?” Anthony said. updating those standards to a modern inter- Homes based on indigenous architecture are pretation of indigenous Hawaiian architec- found from Austin, Texas - where tipi style ture. He’s stayed in thatched homes in Tahiti homes are part of an affordable housing and throughout French Polynesia, some community - to Tahiti, where thatched with sliding glass windows and air condi- homes lure honeymooners. tioning, he said.

$325 per square foot Wi-Fi and internet In Hawaii, a revival of hale building led to “I’ve always envisioned a traditional style dozens of the structures throughout the structure - indigenous architecture - with Wi- DAKAR: Cuts of shark meat are washed and arranged on the beach of Mballing, South West of Dakar. Shark meat is sold and eaten islands, used for gatherings, canoe storage Fi and internet and TV and wall plugs and all locally as well as exported to Ghana. —AFP and teaching about cultural traditions. of that stuff plugged into it,” English said. Building a hale can cost from $30,000 for a English is hoping to encourage more people 180-square-foot structure to $95,000 for 600- in Hawaii to be trained in the art of hale build- square-feet, including labor and materials, ing, incorporating indigenous architecture Iran looks to shift funding depending on size and location, according to traditions from Samoa, Marshall Islands and rough estimates from Holani Hana, a non- other Pacific Islands. Francis Palani Sinenci, a profit that builds non-residential hale to pro- master hale builder who has constructed mote Hawaiian cultural values. Anthony more than 160 non-residential hale in Hawaii, needs to capital markets believes he could build a hale for less - about was hesitant to support widespread develop- $1,000 to buy parachute cord to secure the ment of the structures to address homeless- frame and thatching - using invasive species ness. “I cannot see hale everywhere, under Draft budget includes major sukuk issuance harvested from nature. the bridges,” Sinenci said. “One of them catch- By comparison, the converted shipping es fire, they’re going to ban all hales.” —AP TEHRAN: Iran’s government plans reliance on the sector. It now dormant debt markets because manfa’a, or usufruct sukuk, which is to shift part of its borrowing from needs to seek the capital markets.” they will be tradeable in the coun- based on the rights or future bene- local corporate investors to the Several efforts are under way: the try’s over-the-counter securities fits of an asset, said Pireh. For exam- capital markets, a move that could Securities and Exchange market, known as Fara Bourse. “You ple, while the state would be stimulate trading in debt securities Organization (SEO) has approved will be hearing a lot more of these unable to transfer assets of a high- and help the economy recover the use by the government of issuances, especially the ijara sukuk way project for use in ijara sukuk, it from years of economic sanctions. lease-based Islamic bonds, known type,” said Payam Afzali, vice-presi- could securitize future toll revenue The sanctions, imposed over Iran’s as ijara sukuk, which can be under- dent at Kardan Investment Bank, with manfa’a sukuk. “Within two to disputed nuclear program, hurt the pinned by creditor assets to help which is advising several local three months, the structure could government’s finances and settle state debts owed to local companies on their sukuk issuance be finalized,” said Pireh. As govern- prompted it to borrow heavily from firms. “This is aimed at diversifica- plans. “The mechanism is that the ment issuance expands, it will local firms and debt-laden banks, tion of available instruments for the papers are issued and the owner- deepen the debt market and create many of which are linked to the government and introduction of ship is transferred to the creditors - pricing benchmarks, making it easi- state through shareholdings and new tools for investors,” said Majid the secondary market is simultane- er for Iranian companies to issue managerial influence. Pireh, senior expert in Islamic ously created.” their own sukuk. In the wake of the lifting of sanc- finance at the SEO’s research Larger firms in the oil and mining tions in January, the government is department. New debt tools sectors could be the first to benefit laying plans to offer a range of debt A draft budget being discussed The government is barred by but smaller ones may be left out as instruments in the markets, where by parliament calls for issuance of law from transferring sovereign the issuance process remains costly they could be bought by institu- 150 trillion rials ($4.4 billion at the assets to the private sector, a com- and time-consuming, said Kalhor. tional and individual investors, free market exchange rate) of ijara mon practice in sukuk issues by The market also needs to develop a rather than placing debt directly sukuk, part of a proposed 275 tril- governments elsewhere in the wider range of maturities, since few with banks and corporations. At lion rials of debt issuance for the world. One way around this is to debt sales exceed six-month tenors, present, Iran’s banking sector pro- financial year which started in use private sector creditors’ assets said Kalhor, whose firm is advising a vides around 95 percent of all March. The draft budget also to underpin sovereign sukuk; the local company on plans to raise the financing, with only a tiny portion includes issuance of 75 trillion rials creditors accept this arrangement equivalent of $50 million through sourced from the debt capital mar- of Islamic treasury bills and 50 tril- because the government guaran- five-year ijara sukuk. Fara Bourse is kets, said Navid Kalhor, equity lion rials of musharaka sukuk, a tees it will pay the principal and studying the creation of a debt mar- HONOLULU: A restored hale that was originally on Kauai and used for sleep- research analyst at Agah Group, a form of investment partnership returns on the instruments. ket specifically for use by the coun- ing, stands in the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. —AP Tehran-based investment firm. which until now has been the main The government is also explor- try’s 700,000 small and medium- “The banking sector is out of sukuk structure used in Iran. ing additional debt tools. The SEO sized businesses, he added, money and out of capital, so the The treasury bills and ijara is working with the government to although there is no timeframe for government is looking to reduce its sukuk could spur activity in Iran’s introduce a new format known as the initiative. —Reuters Warba Bank launches Kaseb: a unique car financing program

KUWAIT: In line with its commitment to distin- goes perfectly in line with its strategic plan to on selected Toyota cars including new models. guish customers with topnotch promotions diversify its offerings while catering to customers’ Through this new partnership, Warba bank designed in accordance to Islamic Shariah, while needs and demands”. seeks to expand customers’ options in owning catering to their needs to unprecedented banking By using Kaseb, Warba’s customers will be their preferred Toyota cars. The bank continues to products marked with flexibility and easiness, enabled to own a Toyota car of their choice. The exert all needed efforts to provide unparalleled Warba, the fastest growing bank offering a wide contract from Warba bank includes complementary services and finance solutions. Warba’s prime aim spectrum of banking and investment products and maintenance services, a full 2 years insurance up to revolves around maintaining customers’ satisfac- services compatible with Shariah and matching 40 K Kilometers. In addition, Al Sayer will provide tion while offering them flexible promotions international levels, joined hands with Mohamed Kaseb customers the possibility to rebuy their cars designed to ease down their financial burdens. It’s Nasser Al Sayer Institution/ Toyota dealers and after two years versus a fair value reaching 75% of worth mentioning that the partnership between launched a unique cars’ financing program: Kaseb their initial value. Toyota cars available for Kaseb Warba bank and Mohamed Nasser Al Sayer institu- The new program endures for 5 years offering a customers are: Yars, Camri, Corolla, Rav 4, Fortuner, tion is yet another milestone achieved and to be new system to finance cars according to bargain Prado and Prios. Kaseb program is the second col- added to other partnerships being sealed recently contracts with flexible credits. Introducing the new laboration between Warba bank and Mohamed by Warba bank with leading international cars program, Warba resources said: “Warba bank is Nasser Al Sayer Institution. Both institutions teamed dealers in Kuwait through which the bank aims at HONOLULU: A canoe is stored inside a hale which stands at the University of committed to provide continuously the best bank- up in 2015 upon signing an agreement to provide offering customers a wide choice of new cars Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu. —AP ing products and services to its customers which Warba’s customers with special discount promotion matching their expectations. THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 BUSINESS Asia shares extend rally on China trade relief Rising energy stocks boost share markets, risk appetite

SYDNEY: Asian share markets extended early The early investor reaction was to take the Brent crude eased 27 cents at $44.432 barrel, Tuesday 0.94 percent firmer, while the having climbed from a near 18-month gains yesterday after upbeat Chinese trade improvement on trust and push up China-sen- while US crude lost 38 cents to $41.79. Prices S&P 500 gained 0.97 percent and the trough around 107.63 set on Monday. The data offered hope the economy was stabiliz- sitive assets such as the Australian dollar which had hit four-month highs overnight on reports Nasdaq 0.8 percent. The S&P 500 energy euro rose to 123.73 yen, putting further ing, underpinning both risk sentiment and climbed above 77 US cents. Shanghai stocks that Russia and Saudi Arabia may have reached sector jumped 2.8 percent. All 10 S&P sec- distance from a three-year low of 122.085 commodity prices. China reported exports rose gained 1.9 percent while Japan’s Nikkei rose consensus on an oil output cap. tors closed higher and the Dow industri- set last month. Against the dollar, the euro 18.7 percent in yuan terms in March, compared 2.4 percent to its highest in eight sessions. Analysts at Citi noted US crude finished als posted their best day in about a eased to $1.1375 after turning around to a year earlier, while imports dipped only a MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares above its 200-day moving average since its month. The lift in energy boosted the oil- from a six-month peak of $1.1465. That slight 1.7 percent. That was a huge improve- outside Japan added 1.4 percent and Australia long downtrend first started in 2014. “It sug- sensitive Canadian dollar to near a nine- helped the dollar index climb back above ment on February, even though data at this gained 1.1 percent. Oil prices pared some of gests that the low is in and higher levels month peak while nudging the safe-haven 94.141, from a near eight-month low of time of year tends to be distorted by the New their early losses, having run into profit-taking should continue to be seen in 2016,” wrote Citi. yen back from recent highs. Canada’s 93.627. In commodity markets, copper and Year holidays. after a barnstorming performance on Tuesday. A rally in energy stocks helped the Dow end loonie stood at C$1.2765 per USD, not far iron ore sat on large gains while gold held from the overnight top of C$1.2750 - a lev- firm at $1,253.55 an ounce, having climbed el last seen in July. to a three-week high of $1,262.60 on The greenback was up at 108.81 yen, Tuesday. —Reuters

BEIJING: Two couriers have lunch in a van along a street in Beijing yesterday. China’s growth slowed further in the first three months of this year. —AFP Oil prices fall amid producers concern

LONDON: Oil futures traded lower yes- for capacity growth elsewhere within terday on concerns that a producer OPEC are limited - indeed some of the meeting set for Sunday in Doha to dis- more peripheral producers are likely to cuss freezing output will do little to trim see output decline this year (Venezuela, oversupply as well as a strengthening Algeria, Ecuador).” dollar. Brent crude was down 41 cents at But Morgan Stanley analysts said the $44.28 per barrel at 1049 GMT. It hit a market may still be underestimating the four-month high in the previous session potential near-term headline upside risk before settling up $1.86. US crude of the Sunday meeting. “A deal not only declined by 56 cents to $41.61 a barrel seems likely - as leaks and prior after gaining $1.81 a day earlier. announcements have suggested - but Comments by Saudi oil minister Ali confirmation of the deal, greater clarity Al-Naimi in the Al-Hayat newspaper in about the freeze or hints of further OPEC which he confirmed his country’s posi- action could reinforce the bullish senti- tion that an outright production cut was ment,” the bank said yesterday. The out of the question weighed on prices, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting traders said. “Forget about this topic,” Al- Countries lowered its forecast of world Naimi told the paper, when asked about oil demand growth by 50,000 barrels per any possible reduction in his country’s day (bpd) and said in its monthly report crude output. Iranian Oil Minister Bijan yesterday that further downward revi- Zanganeh does not plan to attend the sions could follow. Doha meeting but Iran will be sending a OPEC pumped 32.25 million bpd in representative, an Iranian journalist from March, the group said citing secondary the Seda weekly wrote on his Twitter sources, up about 15,000 bpd from account on Wednesday. Iran has said it February. A firmer US dollar, which does not plan to participate in the freeze makes dollar-denominated commodities agreement as it seeks to boost its pro- more expensive for holders of other cur- duction in the post-sanctions era. rencies and concerns over rising US “We believe that any agreement to crude inventories also pressured prices. freeze output which excludes Iran would US crude stocks rose by 6.2 million bar- largely be an acknowledgement of exist- rels to 536.3 million last week, data from ing conditions at the main participants,” industry group the American Petroleum UBS said in a note yesterday. “Current Institute showed on Tuesday, an increase spare capacity is confined mainly to that was more than three times higher Saudi, and we believe that the prospects than analysts expected. —Reuters

Gold slips from 3-week high; dollar rebounds

LONDON: Gold fell 1 percent from 30 years in the three months to the previous day’s three-week high March, with the dollar on the back yesterday as European stocks jumped foot as investors scaled back expecta- after upbeat Chinese trade data tions of rate hikes by the Federal allayed concerns over the outlook for Reserve. The dollar has shed over 4 its economy and as the dollar percent versus a basket of currencies regained some poise. The US dollar this year. Fed policymakers signaled rose 0.7 percent against a currency in December that four hikes would basket, having slid to its lowest in probably be needed this year, but cut nearly 8 months in the previous ses- their view in March to two rate sion, while stocks jumped 2.1 percent. increases for 2016. Markets are factor- Spot gold was down 1.1 percent at ing in only one rate hike, but com- $1,241.80 an ounce by 1140 GMT, ments from two Fed officials on while US gold futures for June deliv- Tuesday added to the uncertainty. ery were down $17.60 an ounce at Among other precious metals, sil- $1,243.30. ver was down 0.7 percent at $16.04 Gold on Tuesday hit $1,262.60, its an ounce, after hitting a 5-1/2-month highest since March 18, as the dollar high of $16.21 on Tuesday. The slid, but struggled to maintain those gold/silver ratio, which measures the gains as the US currency rebounded number of silver ounces needed to and stock markets rose. “Stronger buy an ounce of gold, slid to a 3-1/2 equities and a relatively stronger dol- month low at 77.2 as silver outper- lar have put some pressure on gold, formed gold. “The gold/silver ratio as but it has still held nicely and we are suspected... did not go far and quickly bouncing back up a bit,” MKS’ head of eroded the 5-month uptrend at trading Afshin Nabavi said. “We have 78.88,” Commerzbank said in a note. some PPI news today out of the “We look for losses to the 200-day United States, so I guess we have to moving average at 76.56 and then the see how the dollar reacts to the num- 2012-2016 uptrend at 74.65. A close bers.” “But overall, we couldn’t break below here is required to confirm that $1,265 on the upside yesterday, and the market has topped.” Platinum, gold looks like a good buy around which hit a one-month high on $1,240, so I would say that that is the Tuesday at $1,001.88, was at $987.05 trading range. Physical (demand) con- an ounce, down 0.9 percent. tinues to be very, very slow.” Palladium was down 0.6 percent at Gold had its strongest quarter in $541.50 an ounce. —Reuters THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 BUSINESS

Chinese ‘moonlight’ generation puts tomorrow’s growth on credit Beijing has urged lenders to open taps for shoppers

BEIJING: China’s hopes that consumer spend- don’t do that then these things can be abused yuan a month in debt, more than she and her ing that the moonlight generation’s long-suf- yuan she ran up on plastic last year to fund ing can become its new growth engine have and create problems.” Relative to income lev- partner earn. Alibaba declined to comment for fering parents will probably bail them out what she called “a necessary expenditure” - taken a few dents in 2016, but a new genera- els, household debt has already reached nearly this story, while JD.com said it used big data to when things go wrong, as they did for 26- cosmetic surgery on her nose - so mum and tion of overspenders might give the economy 60 percent, up from 35 percent in 2007, target consumers who have the ability to year-old Ms Gong, a car saleswoman in dad stepped in. She has no regrets. “It was all a shot in the arm, even as they stretch their according to the Institute of International repay money quickly. The Chinese still spend Beijing. She couldn’t pay back the 20,000 worth it, and I look great.” —Reuters own resources to breaking point. A young, Finance. and borrow only about half the levels of US middle-class and tech-savvy cohort dubbed Tian Xue, 27, who works at a state-owned consumers relative to GDP, and the most the ‘moonlight generation’ - because their firm in Shanghai and considers herself part of recent World Bank figures show it is still the banks accounts are light at the end of the the moonlight demographic, can see prob- world’s third-most prolific nation of savers, but month - are turning their backs on the cau- lems building up for some of her peers. “I think things are changing fast. tious ways of their hard-saving parents and a lot of people end up spending more than Consumer borrowing hit nearly 20 trillion embracing credit. they can really afford, just without thinking yuan in February, a threefold rise since 2010, That is welcome news to Beijing policymak- about it,” she said. Tian, who lives with her par- and household debt relative to the economy ers, who last month urged lenders to open the ents, keeps her money online in digital “wal- has doubled since 2008 to nearly 40 percent. taps for shoppers after economic growth lets”, which typically have sister platforms offer- Such rapid growth in a system where regula- slipped to its slowest pace in 25 years, retailers ing credit. She said she often spends around tion is lax might pose risks that credit quality reported signs of stress and bloated industries 20-30,000 yuan ($3,100-4,600) in a month, well will suffer. Officials have already vowed to prepared for a wave of redundancies. It’s also above her income of around 6,000 yuan. crack down on unregulated lending into the good news for Simon Loong, founder and chief property market, for example, which is raising executive of online lending platform WeLab, Lax regulation household debt and the risk of a property which he said has 3.2 million users in China. A widening array of funding options are bubble. The China Banking Regulatory “The consumption behavior of millennials is available to young shoppers like Tian - tradi- Commission, which is responsible for financial quite different; they more are looking for instant tional credit cards, peer-to-peer loans and regulation, did not return requests for com- gratification,” he said, adding that longer-term credit platforms offered by e-commerce com- ment on potential risks. financial planning took a back seat. panies such as Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and The levels of consumer debt still pale in Policymakers are trying to deepen the level JD.com Inc. “When I use (Alibaba’s) Taobao, it comparison with total debt in the economy, of access to credit similar to what took place in just pops up, telling me that I can pay with Ant which hit 250 percent of GDP in 2015, domi- the United States 100 years ago, said China- Check Later,” said Pang Yu, a 25-year-old rail- nated by government and corporate debt. focused investment strategist Andy Rothman, way ticket inspector in Beijing. Economists say China’s high savings rate - referring to a US credit-driven consumption She uses the Alibaba-linked platform, around 46 percent of GDP last year, accord- boom in the 1900s. “These things are great, which allows shoppers to pay for purchases ing to the central bank governor - acts as a SHANGHAI: A man repairs a water pipe at a residential building in but need to be done in a careful and deliber- the following month, along with her credit natural buffer to systemic shocks from con- ate way, because we’ve seen in the US if you cards, to run up sometimes as much as 20,000 sumer credit. Which is an indirect way of say- Shanghai yesterday. —AFP

News in brief China’s steel glut - years in

Dubai’s Emirates orders two more Airbus A380s the making, years to resolve DUBAI: Dubai’s Emirates airline said yesterday it had ordered two more Airbus A380 planes, rais- ing the carrier’s total orders for the superjumbo Exports running at record pace; domestic demand weakens aircraft to 142. The two new planes will be deliv- ered in the fourth quarter of 2017, said a state- BEIJING: China is facing increasing international pressure to has warned that capacity would increase further this year. to quicken steps to tackle the surplus production. But the ment by Emirates, which already has 75 A380s tackle a steel supply glut that has flooded global markets “The government is understandably very nervous about how central government faces strong resistance from many local in service. “From now until the end of 2017, and left beleaguered overseas producers at risk of closure. exactly they’re going to do this,” said Geoffrey Crothall, com- governments. Dozens of “zombie” mills cling to life thanks to Emirates will retire 30 older aircraft from our China produces half the world’s steel but those hoping it will munications director at China Labor Bulletin. “I think eventual- the support of local governments terrified by the prospect of tackle its surplus capacity quickly will be disappointed, ly pressure will build and they will have to go ahead. But you mass unemployment and carrying the steel firms’ spiraling fleet,” the carrier’s president Tim Clark said in a despite rhetoric from Beijing. A steel production glut that really shouldn’t expect it to happen overnight.” debts. “You’re not just shutting down the steel plants, you’re statement. “To meet our growth expectations, has taken years in the making, will equally take years to shutting down their entire community,” said Crothall. “That’s we will receive delivery of 24 new Boeing 777, resolve. The economy is growing at its slowest pace in 25 Ingrained bad habits why it’s so difficult for the government just to put them out and 33 new A380 aircraft including these two years and labor unrest is on the rise, a worry for the ruling CISA’s Liu said existing mills are doing little to curb supply, of business.” additional A380 aircraft just ordered,” he said. Communist Party that fears the social unrest that millions of Emirates is the largest operator of both the laid off steel workers could bring. “Closures cannot be com- A380 and the Boeing 777. Clark called the A380 pleted overnight,” said a person with ties to China’s leader- “a big success for Emirates” and the statement ship. “Stability is the top priority.” China’s fading economic said the airline would soon be adding Prague, growth has exposed the huge surplus capacity in steel mak- Taipei and Vienna to destinations served by the ing, leaving many producers with heavy losses that are adding to already high debts. Many see the solution in superjumbo. exports, which rose to a record in 2015, a major factor drag- ging global prices down to decade lows. India’s Tata Steel has blamed a flood of cheap steel IMF is ‘encouraged’ by imports, including from China, for a decision to pull out of Pakistan airline reform Britain, putting 15,000 jobs at risk. On Monday, more than 40,000 German steel workers took to the streets to protest ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund is against dumping from China, among other issues such as encouraged that Pakistan will convert its cash- industry consolidation that they fear will cost them their jobs. strapped national airline into a limited company but Hillary Clinton, widely expected to be the Democrat candi- said yesterday it will see if the reforms go far enough date in US presidential elections this year, added her voice to in restructuring the company. Parliament adopted a the criticism, saying on Monday she would “impose conse- law on Monday to convert Pakistan International quences when China breaks the rules by dumping its cheap Airlines (PIA) into a limited company but it prevents products in our markets.” the government from giving up its management Vicious circle control. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had made the Official data shows China’s production capacity is just over privatization of the company a top goal when he 1.1 billion tons a year although analysts estimate another 100 came to power in 2013. The privatization of it and 67 million tons are produced illegally. Underlining the scale of other state-owned companies is also a major ele- problem facing Beijing, official figures suggest surplus capac- ment of a $6.7 billion IMF package that helped ity is some 300-400 million tons a year and exports in 2015 Pakistan stave off default in 2013. The IMF has con- reached a record 110 million tons - about 10 times the annual tinued to release loan installments despite missed steel output of Britain. targets. “We are encouraged that a consensus has Much of China’s production glut was sparked by the coun- been reached on corporatization of PIA,” Harald try’s debt-fuelled stimulus in 2009, when a government- directed 4 trillion yuan ($625 billion) was injected into the Finger, IMF mission chief for Pakistan, told Reuters in economy to ward off the global financial crisis. The stimulus QINGDAO: Trucks transport containers at a port in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong province. China’s an email. drove up steel demand by as much as 100 million tons in exports surged 11.5 percent year-on-year in March to $160.8 billion, authorities said yesterday, in a 2009 and encouraged producers to embark on a rapid capac- positive sign for the world’s second-largest economy. —AFP ity expansion using cheap credit. “The steel mills were Tesco rebounds into delighted - they didn’t need to die, breathed a sigh of relief noting they were trapped in a “vicious circle” in which they China’s bankruptcy mechanisms also present massive slender annual profit and also relaxed their vigilance towards overcapacity,” said ramp up production at the first sign of price improvements. challenges. Zhang Wuzong, chairman of Shiheng Special LONDON: British supermarket giant Tesco said Liu Zhenjiang, the vice secretary-general of the China Iron Many firms engage in “hostile competition”, raising produc- Steel Group, said China’s bankruptcy laws offer little protec- and Steel Association (CISA). “Those years created ingrained tion and slashing prices in a bid to outlast rivals, he said. tion for executives, who could find their personal assets get yesterday that it has rebounded into slender bad habits when it came to overcapacity.” Government policy initiatives have not always helped either. frozen. Xia Nong, head of the industry department of the annual net profits, after a vast property writedown China raised hope of a solution in February when it One target to consolidate 60 percent of capacity in the hands National Development and Reform Commission, the state and challenging home trade sparked a record loss pledged to shut 100-150 million tons of old production of the 10 biggest steel enterprises helped spur a fevered planner, said China’s “survival of the fittest” mechanism the previous year. Earnings after taxation stood at capacity in five years, but actual production is expected to round of expansions at mid-sized mills desperate to avoid remained inadequate. “The fit are not strong and the unfit are £138 million ($197 million, 172 million euros) in stay high as Beijing tries to minimize job losses and social dis- being swallowed up. not eliminated, and bad currency is still driving out good in the 52 weeks to the end of February, Tesco said in ruption. New plants have continued to come on line, and CISA Premier Li Keqiang reiterated on Monday Beijing intended the steel sector,” he said. —Reuters a results statement. That contrasted with a loss of £5.7 billion in the group’s prior 2014/2015 finan- cial year. Pre-tax profits meanwhile stood at £162 million after a loss of £6.3 billion a year earlier. KFH offers Gold Mezzan shareholders Tesco hailed the “significant progress” as it returned to full-year profits, and also revealed the approve distribution first quarter of sales growth for three years. Like- of 5% bonus shares for-like sales, which strips out the impact of new floor space, grew 0.9 percent in the group’s fourth Account online KUWAIT: Mezzan Holding KSCC, one of the largest manu- quarter. That was the first quarterly sales expan- facturers and distributors of food, beverage, FMCG and sion since 2013. pharmaceutical products in the Gulf, held its 15th Annual KUWAIT: Kuwait Finance House (KFH) has launched a new customer service. The “Gold Account” from KFH reflects General Meeting of Shareholders today. The AGM Eservice that allows clients to open Gold Account through KFH’s ceaseless efforts in innovating sharia-compliant approved the Board of Directors’ recommendation to dis- tribute 27.5 fils per share for a total dividend payout of KFH online application. This service also allows KFH clients financial services and products in a bid to offer clients the JPMorgan earnings KD8.15 million (27.5% of capital) for the year, plus 5% dip; trading slumps to conduct gold selling and purchasing transactions online opportunity to diversify their investments since it is a low- bonus shares. in an easy and secure manner, which confirms KFH’s keen- risk and a store of value product. Gold account is a good The Extraordinary General Meeting approved a 5% NEW YORK: JPMorgan Chase reported a dip in first- ness to optimally avail the technological development for investment vessel as it combines both saving and invest- quarter earnings yesterday as revenues in key trad- increase in the company’s authorized, issued and paid-up the sake of best serving clients as ment purposes. capital by KD1,482,500, from KD29,650,000 to KD31,132,500 ing categories fell and it set aside additional reserves per international standards. It is worth noting that each by issuing 14,825,000 bonus shares. Shareholders also vot- for loans in the slumping energy sector. Net income Innovating this, gold trading has gold biscuit weighs 100 grams ed in Mezzan’s new board members for a three-year term for the first quarter was $5.5 billion, down 6.7 per- become more streamlined and and has a purity value of 999.9, including Mohammad Jassim Mohammad Al Wazzan, cent from the year-ago period. Revenues dipped 3.0 easier than ever before. the purest form of gold. Each Abdel Rahman Jassim Mohammad Al Wazzan, Motasem percent to $24.1 billion. Earnings from corporate and This service that copes with gold biscuit is issued and certi- Jassim Mohammad Al Wazzan, Jamal Abdulhameed Al investment banking retreated on lower fees in some the latest technological develop- fied by KFH and the Ministry of Mutawa and Abdulwahab Ahmad Al Marzouq. Suleiman key investment banking categories and lower rev- ment in the banking sector reit- Commerce. KFH offer clients the Khaled Jassim Al Wazzan was voted in as a reserve member. enue from fixed income trading and other cate- erates KFH pioneering role in gold in competitive pricing and Mezzan Vice Chairman, Mohammad Jassim Mohammad gories. Revenues in markets and investor services offering unique Eservices, which in a flexible purchasing process. Al Wazzan said: “The board of directors is currently consider- dropped 13 percent to $5.7 billion. Consumer and constitutes a competitive advan- Gold is viewed as one of the ing new expansionary projects for the company’s core tage and meets clients’ aspira- most important investments in activities and those of its subsidiaries that will generate community banking earnings rose on higher deposit strong revenues and achieve company goals. I would like to balances and increases in credit card and auto lend- tions. The accelerating pace of the world. It is an important the demand of electronic bank- commodity for clients wishing thank the management and staff for their effort and to ing revenues. JPMorgan lifted its reserves set aside thank the shareholders for their trust as we continue to seek for bad loans by $713 million due to downgrades of ing transactions has become to diversify their saving and explicit and concrete which calls investment portfolios, yet new lucrative opportunities for the the medium and long $529 million in oil and gas and natural gas pipelines term for all stakeholders.” on going further in availing tech- achieving good returns when and $162 million in metals and mining. nology for the best interest of gold prices surge. BUSINESS THURSDAY, APRIL 14 2016 HTC’s new flagship: Sculpted to perfection

DUBAI: HTC yesterday unveiled what it has era, this smartphone delivers brilliantly any app you choose, whilst App Manager been working on behind closed doors for sharp, low light and high-resolution photos provides an instant fix for when an app isn’t the last 12 months, with the launch of its whether behind or in front of the lens. behaving. The HTC 10 also includes the lat- latest smartphone. With customer feedback With the camera designed to launch in est in-box quick charge 3.0 Rapid Charger an integral part of the development as little as 0.6 seconds, and a 2nd genera- with improved thermal management, so process, combined with an obsessive atten- tion laser autofocus that gives you focused the battery can be charged by up to 50% in tion to detail, the HTC 10 delivers every- shots faster, it’s quick enough to even work just 30 minutes - ideal for people who find thing that you would want from a flagship in burst mode. All the settings are also con- their phone running low on juice before device. Playing to the Power of 10 - symbol- veniently located at your fingertips with the end of the working day. izing greatness and independence but also Pro Mode still offering advanced options that the whole is greater than the sum of its for more experienced photographers, Controlled by You! parts - this newest addition to the HTC including RAW format functionality. By reducing the number of duplicative phone family combines a world class cam- Boasting a DxOMark score of 88, this is one and pre-loaded apps and bloatware, and era with gold standard audio, bold new of the highest camera quality scores of any integrating the best of both HTC and metal unibody design and unparalleled smartphone to date and is the result of tens Google, we have created a more stream- performance. of thousands of hours spent fine tuning lined phone that enables you to decide each element to deliver world-class photos what you want on your handset. With Designed to Perfection and videos. HTC’s specially created new Freestyle Inspired by light and sculpted to per- Layout, you no longer have an on-screen fection, the HTC 10 employs a new Best in sight, best in sound grid that dictates the layout. Instead you approach to design where bold contours But it’s not just the imaging that puts can get creative by dragging icons, stickers are carved out of solid metal. Capturing this smartphone at the top of its game - the and widgets anywhere you like. Layer them, the light beautifully, the chamfered edges HTC 10 combines vivid 4K video with the tortion than other devices on the market, right. With apps that launch twice as fast group them, link stickers to apps or get rid boast a slimmer, more slender look with world’s first stereo 24-bitHi-Res audio delivering an all round audio performance and that perform to the highest standard of screen icons altogether, the choice is its full glass front merging seamlessly into recording, capturing 256 times more detail that cannot be beaten. Everyone hears and a next generation quad HDdisplay that yours. The latest version of HTC Themes the metal body. Passionate about the than standard recordings, across twice the things differently, which is why the HTC 10’s is 30% more colourful, creating a true cine- also provides you with access to thousands small details, it’s not just the materials that frequency range and enabling you to bring all-new Personal Audio Profile system matic feel, and that is 50% more responsive of professional looking themes that each come under scrutiny when we create a enhances your audio experience even fur- to touch than its predecessor, even the come with their own icons, backgrounds new handset. With the HTC 10, our design ther. By creating a unique profile that is smallest and fastest of finger movements and sounds so you can customize your teams worked tirelessly to build a phone tuned to your individual hearing, it dynami- track perfectly. This attention to detail phone based on your own personal style. where the power button has been beauti- cally adjusts specific sound frequencies to doesn’t stop there! With security high on fully crafted, where the speakers deliver a each ear, allowing you to hear music the people’s agendas, we have created a finger- Accessories and availability sleeker look and better sound quality and way that the artist intended. print scanner, which unlocks in a lightening To further streamline your experience, where the fingerprint sensor recognizes Re-engineered HTC BoomSound Hi-Fi fast 0.2 seconds and which has been algo- the HTC 10offers an all-new Ice View case your finger from almost any angle. It is edition speakers feature the same separat- rithmically designed to recognise you faster with a semi-transparent and highly versatile also important that we got the build ed tweeter and woofer design as leading and more accurately over time. single front-cover case. So when that next absolutely right. Mercilessly engineered to acoustic systems and combine with a dedi- Engineered from the inside out to last call or message comes in, or when you need handle everyday knocks, bumps and cated amplifier on each speaker, adding to longer, the HTC 10 boasts the latest to skip a track, or snap that perfect shot, scratches, the HTC 10 was subjected to the experience and delivering sound clarity Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with you can do it without even opening your over 168 hours of extreme temperature unprecedented on a smartphone. Great enhanced 4G LTE. Each device also comes smartphone’s case. It’s simplicity, without tests, ranging from a freezing -20’C to a audio deserves great earphones so we with Boost+ which is designed to make sacrificing protection. The HTC 10 will come scorching 60’C, plus over 10,000 drop, have made sure that our flagship phone your phone faster, to consume less power in two variants with different Qualcomm bend, scratch and corrosion tests. comes with the best Hi-Res audio certified and to provide effective security and appli- Snapdragon processors to cater for different inbox earphones yet. Featuring an 8μm cations management features. This includes market needs. They will both offer the same World-class camera! to life your recorded content as if you were thin aerospace polymer diaphragm and smart boost, which automatically optimizes design, audio, camera and display, with a With HTC 10 we’ve delivered what we actually there in person. Built for audio- 70% oversized drivers, the listener is treat- your memory, a game battery booster, similar software experience and battery life. believe to be the best smartphone camera philes, the HTC 10 is certified for Hi-Res ed to richer sound and twice the frequency which uses less battery during gameplay, The HTC 10 comes in four stunning color available on the market today. With the audio and has been designed to make range, enabling you to enjoy the best audio and a new PowerBotics system, which auto combinations: Carbon Grey, Glacier Silver, world’s first optically stabilized,larger aper- music sound the way that the artist intend- experience right from the get go. detects and shuts down apps that use Topaz Gold and Camellia Red. This much- ture f/1.8 lenses on both the front and rear ed. A headphone amp that delivers two excessive power, improving battery life by awaited flagship smartphone is now offi- cameras, new larger sensors, 12 million of times the power of a conventional head- Performance at its Best 30% and delivering up to two days charge. cially launched in the Middle East, and will our new generation UltraPixels (1.55um per phone amp, the ability to upscale from 16- Whilst the HTC 10 nails it on the hard- Not only does Boost+ optimize per- be available at leading retailers from early pixel), faster laser autofocus powering the bit to 24-bit audio and high performance ware, we have also delivered what we formance, making it easier to launch apps, May 2016. The HTC 10 will have initial oper- main cameraand a wide angle lens and digital to analogue conversion combine believe to be best in class software by but its App Lock function also adds a new ator exclusivity with Etisalat in the UAE and screen flash on the front UltraSelfieTM cam- beautifully to produce ten times lower dis- focusing on getting the fundamentals layer of security by enabling you to lock STC(Saudi Telecom Company) in KSA.

Al Mazaya Holding achieves an 80% High-stakes oil and gas occupancy rate in Logistics project KUWAIT: Al Mazaya Holding outdo several rival projects due to Company has announced that it has fast completion and accurate exe- vote has Italy in a tizz achieved an 80% occupancy rate in cution. Al Sultan said that many its Mazaya Logistics project in major international and local firms Bahrain Investment Wharf, which have raced to book their lease consists of industrial units ready for units in the project. These compa- Debate pits environmentalists against, govt and big business lease with contemporary, flexible nies are known for their years-long designs at competitive prices. The commercial activity, which boosts RAVENNA: An offshore platform a stone’s throw from Democratic Party, has deepened a split within the Eni rig, shrouded in mist, with hundreds of gleam- project is designed to serve multiple the value of the project. Dante’s beach on Italy’s Adriatic coast has become the centre-left and is being seen as a key test for the ing mussels clinging to its red tubular legs. purposes including warehouses, In the same context, Al Sultan focus of a politically charged national referendum on PM ahead of a constitutional reforms referendum offices, industry and workshops. Abdallah Sultan indicated that Al Mazaya Holding’s the country’s oil and gas drilling concessions. The in October. The 41-year-old has bet his political Rising seas Eng. Abdulla Al Sultan, Chief of success in achieving this high debate pits environmentalists against the govern- career on the reforms and many see this vote as a Plucked from the platform by divers and Real Estate Project Management said: “The occupancy rate is the result of the company’s ment and big business, and revolves around a change pretext to attack his leadership. steamed in vats with tomatoes, onions and parsley, Mazaya Logistics project, which is a result of Al high potential, well-studied marketing plans in the law in January that ruled existing concessions Nine regions asked for and are affected by the freshly gathered molluscs are served up by support- Mazaya Holding’s entrance into one of the and quality product. This is in spite of the within 12 miles of the coast should last until the fields referendum, from Basilicata, to Calabria, Sardinia ers of the “No” camp in the port area of Marina di most important investment sectors, namely decline in oil prices, for logistics, transport and are depleted. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s centre- and the Veneto. Most observers say the result will Ravenna to raise support. Giovanni Fucci, president the logistics sector, comes in line with its storage services. The company’s projects are left party, keen to be seen as pro-business, has called have little effect on the government’s coffers either of a local mussels farming association, is fighting to extensive experience in real estate develop- usually managed by its property management ment, including the residential, commercial, team in a professional manner by providing on Italians not to vote on April 17. That has infuriated way: concessions within the 12-mile band brought restore the sector’s name after a Greenpeace report and medical sectors. Al Sultan pointed out infrastructure and security services, a modern ecologists who insist platforms near the shore present in a relatively modest 38 million euros ($43 million) last month asserted molluscs from Eni platforms that Al Mazaya Holding chose Bahrain to be communications network, maintenance, and health risks and devastate protected habitats, and in royalties in 2015, according to official data. At contained traces of heavy metals and hydrocar- the first destination for its Logistics project, cleaning, which is an added value of the com- should not be given an extra lease of life. the heart of the drama lies Ravenna, once the capi- bons. “Every 15 days health inspectors come out to with additional local, regional and internation- pany’s projects in general. From the threat to a prized mussels industry to tal city of the Western Roman Empire, and now the sea and take samples, they analyse them and rule al markets to follow, reflecting the company’s Al Sultan also pointed out that the Al fears coastal erosion will eventually see an hub for oil and gas across the country’s centre and them fit for human consumption. These mussels are vision to introduce superior projects that build Mazaya Logistics Project is one of the compa- encroaching tide swallow up nearby Ravenna, with north. Some 47 of the 92 platforms in question lie sought by the best Italian chefs for their taste and on its value in the real estate market. ny’s latest projects within the Logistics Sector, its Byzantine mosaics and the revered poet Dante here in the Emilia-Romagna region and the local quality,” he said, adding that the market is worth He added that the company’s success in specifically located in the Al Hadd area near Alighieri’s grave, the row has Italians in a tizz. A economy is inextricably tied to the sector’s fate. 126 million euros a year in Emilia-Romagna alone. attaining such a high occupancy rate on this Bahrain Airport on the highway leading to the “yes” vote to reverse the law “would send a clear According to the Filctem Cgil union, closing rigs Back on Dante beach, local campaigners rejoice project has not come out of the blue. The fea- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Al Mazaya Holding signal that Italy wants to embrace renewable ener- when the concessions expire would put at least that the referendum is drawing attention to sibility studies carried out by Al Mazaya developed a piece of 27,505 square-metre gy,” Giulio Kerschbaumer, 34, head of environmen- 2,500 jobs on platforms and in services at risk. A coastal erosion they claim is caused by nearby rigs, Holding prior to starting the construction of land and divided it into industrial units with talist lobby Legambiente in the Emilia-Romagna report this year by the Nomisma research founda- the closest of which lies just 1.5 kilometers off- the project revealed that there is a great need leasing spaces that exceed 15,250 square region said. Pointing to a recent scandal in Italy tion found there were some 140,000 people in the shore. Pine trees in a national nature reserve set in the Bahraini market for this type of project, metres in the Bahrain Investment Warf-an inte- that saw a top minister resign over alleged favors region whose jobs depend on oil and gas. Gianluigi back from the beach are dying, according to 74- guaranteeing its success. He emphasized that grated system divided into various sectors to French oil giant Total, Kerschbaumer said Bambini, who runs a maritime transport company, year old Pasquale Minichini, because “rising sea the Logistics project has become one of the aimed at serving industrialists and investors Legambiente believed the law had been changed said business had already been hit by stagnating water is killing them at the roots”-aggravating a most important income generating assets, alike. He also said that the project, character- “as a present to the oil companies”. output. phenomenon caused by global warming. He cites promising attractive and long-term returns to ized by flexible, secure, and well-maintained “We had 264 employees 18 months ago, now research that says Ravenna could return to its the company. He pointed out that Al Mazaya design concepts and quality infrastructure, Holding initiated the development of the proj- consists of 42 industrial units divided into dif- Split deepens we have 180, most of those let go are young,” he Roman-era state-small islands in a lagoon, like ect in May 2014 and systemically completed it ferent areas ranging from 250 - 500 m≤, and The vote, called by regions largely led by Renzi’s said as one of his crew boats pulled up next to an Venice-by 2100. — AFP seven months later in December 2014- a sig- includes areas that are suitable for a range of nificant accomplishment considering the scale uses such as workshops, industrial activities and aspirations of the project. This helped to and company offices. Gulf Bank’s Spend More, Win More Campaign - with even bigger prizes

KUWAIT: Following the success of its first cam- paign in February 2016, Gulf Bank has announced the launch of a new ‘Spend More, Win More with Gulf Rewards’ campaign for its credit card holders, with even bigger and more exciting prizes. The campaign started on 10 April and will last until 10 May 2016. All Gulf Bank credit cards holders are automatically enrolled in the Gulf Rewards pro- gram and have a chance of winning. This latest campaign is part of the Gulf Essar, SNN Builders Rewards program, the fastest and most generous loyalty points program in Kuwait. With Gulf ink real estate deal Rewards customers can collect Gulf Points for free flights and hotels accommodation, as well as MUMBAI: Essar and SNN Builders, Bangalore, Luxury residential project “. Mr. Agarwal added accessing “Gulf Bank Entertainer”, Kuwait’s first announced that they have signed an agreement “We are one of the few real estate companies whereby SNN will take over the upscale Water’s who are rated high for our finance capabilities geo-locator mobile application, which offers Edge residential project from Equinox Realty, and in house engineering team which plays a exclusive deals in Kuwait, UAE, and United Essar’s real estate arm. Water’s Edge is located in crucial role in helping us deliver projects on time Kingdom. Hebbal, Bangalore which has emerged as the to the satisfaction of our stake holders, investors There will be 32 lucky winners in total - 31 dai- hotels worldwide. Gulf Bank has created a dedi- pay for any Entertainer ‘Buy One, Get One Free’ new heart of North Bangalore with its easy and end-users”. ly winners, who will each receive 200,000 Gulf cated webpage on its website at www.e-gulf- offer, and save up to 10,000 KD annually and also access to schools, malls, hospitals, IT parks and Shah Sanjay, Managing Director of SNN Points, and one person will win the grand prize of bank.com/gulfpoints-en to ensure the redemp- earn Gulf Points on each of those transactions the airport. Adorned with lawns, landscaped Builders added that “We are extremely happy to 2 Million Gulf Points at a special draw on 25 May tion procedure is as straight forward as possible. and get more chances to win in the “Spend More, greens and water bodies, Water’s Edge project is acquire this project. With eight on-going projects 2016. Chances to the lucky draw are gained by Here, customers can view their points, check their Win More” campaign. located on the Outer Ring Road and overlooks and 5.5 million sq. ft. area already under devel- customers paying for goods or services with a balance, instantly redeem points online for flights The “Gulf Bank Entertainer” app is available the picturesque Nagawara Lake in Bangalore. opment in our portfolio and with the acquisition Gulf Bank credit card. For each 10 KD spent in and hotel stays, or benefit from frequent special FREE of charge for existing Gulf Bank credit card The 8-acre project is being built in three of Water’s Edge project, we now have a variety of Kuwait, one chance will be earned, and for each offers. holders to download from App Store for phases and will comprise five 40-storey towers assets to offer to our customer base.” Sanjay 10 KD spent internationally, three chances will be Customers can also earn additional chances to iOS/iPhone and the Google Play Store for amongst the tallest in Bangalore and house over Mehta, CEO of Equinox Realty said “Project earned. Gulf Points can be redeemed in a multi- win the Gulf Points draw by using the “Gulf Bank Android. Customers can also visit www.e-gulf- 400 plush 3, 4 and 5 BHK apartments. The Project Delivery and Customers are our main focus. In tude of ways. For example, 200,000 points can be Entertainer” app. This exclusive app offers instant bank.com/entertainer-en to receive an activation entails construction of 2 million sq ft and is likely SNN, we have found someone with an excellent exchanged for ten return flights to Dubai, or six deals through mobile phones which can be used code. To find out more about the Bank’s latest to generate potential revenues of Rs 1200 Crores. project delivery track record with high level of return flights to Beirut, or four return flights to at restaurants, hotels, spas, as well as on children’s Gulf Rewards campaign, customers can visit the Ramesh Agarwal, Managing Director, SNN customer focus. We are thankful to all our cus- Europe, or even two roundtrip flights to the USA. activities and interests at participating merchants bank’s bilingual website at www.e-gulfbank.com, Builders said “This transaction provided us a tomers for all their support and are confident In addition to flights, customers can also use Gulf much awaited entry into North Bangalore and that SNN will be taking this project forward and in Kuwait, UAE, and the United Kingdom. call the Customer Contact Center on 1805805, or Points to pay for hotel stays in one of 300,000 fits in to our strategy of launching an Ultra- meet our customers’ expectations.” Customers can use their Gulf Bank credit card to visit one of Gulf Bank’s 56 branches in Kuwait. THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 TECHNOLOGY Hashtag fail? #BringBackOurGirls two years on LAGOS: More than a week after 276 schoolgirls were broken ruin and Chibok is desperate for develop- enemies in the Muslim-majority north to derail his re- the majority of the tweets. Yet even here, the world’s kidnapped from the remote northeast Nigerian town ment. “There’s nothing to show for it,” said Yana election campaign. Outspoken government critics superpower has been unable to secure the girls’ of Chibok by Boko Haram on April 14, 2014, a lawyer Galang, whose daughter Rifkatu is one of the 219 such as the former education minister turned anti-cor- release, despite Boko Haram-related counter-terror- posted the first #BringBackOurGirls tweet. Ibrahim girls who haven’t been seen since they appeared in ruption activist Oby Ezekwesili and the popular tele- ism assistance totalling more than $400 million to Abdullahi’s hashtag would go on to become one of a Boko Haram video message released in May 2014. vangelist Tunde Bakare meanwhile promoted date. A month after the kidnapping, US President Africa’s most popular online campaigns and was Galang, who doesn’t have a Twitter account, said the #BringBackOurGirls. “They (Jonathan’s government Barack Obama sent some 80 military personnel to shared more than four million times over the next online outrage hasn’t helped her. “The only thing and supporters) thought the movement was fuelled by neighboring Chad to help locate and “support the month on Twitter. Social media heavyweights such as that matters now is for my daughter to be back,” she the opposition to discredit them, so the government safe return” of the schoolgirls. Kim Kardashian and Chris Brown endorsed it, while US said, as fellow parents prepared to meet at the criminalised the movement,” said Akpojivi. US and British surveillance experts reportedly First Lady Michelle Obama and British Prime Minister stricken school in Chibok on Thursday for a prayer One woman was arrested after meeting located some of the missing girls and passed on David Cameron both held up signs of the slogan. vigil. “This has been going on too long.” Jonathan’s wife, Patience, while the police moved to their findings to the Nigerians but they failed to fol- #BringBackOurGirls undoubtedly brought global ban daily protests by Ezekwesili and other low up. A Pentagon spokesman said the personnel attention to a brutal but largely ignored conflict that Complex Issues #BringBackOurGirls activists in Abuja. The Jonathan were redeployed because the Nigerian military had since 2009 has claimed at least 20,000 lives and Translating social media success into tangible administration’s alienation from the campaign - and stopped requesting their services. More direct made more than 2.6 million others homeless. It also change on the ground has always been a challenge an apparent reluctance or inability to find the girls - Western military assistance for the counter-insur- galvanised international support against Boko to online campaigns such as #BlackLivesMatter and highlighted the limits of well-meaning online pro- gency and finding the girls has been limited by con- Haram at a time when Nigeria’s military was floun- #OccupyWallStreet. #BringBackOurGirls was an ini- testers. “There is the misconception that embracing cerns about human rights abuses by Nigeria’s armed dering badly in the face of the better-armed rebels, tial success, bringing protesters out to the streets in social media or using new media technologies will forces. losing territory and vital public support. But two a country where mass public demonstrations are bring about the needed change,” Akpojivi said. Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, who leads the years on, #BringBackOurGirls risks becoming anoth- rare. But domestic politics in Nigeria trumped global “Retweeting doesn’t mean that the government will #BringBackOurGirls campaign in Washington, said er example of the limited influence of online protest, outrage, as the online protest became entangled in take action. We need to understand that there are she has struggled to get more funding for security according to Ufuoma Akpojivi, a media researcher at the complicated web of identity politics and parti- other political and economic issues at play.” assistance in Nigeria. “Too many people think it’s the University of the Witwatersrand in sanship, said Akpojivi. okay to limit their advocacy for this cause to tweet- Johannesburg, South Africa. Supporters of Goodluck Jonathan, a southern Limited Advocacy ing,” Wilson said, adding she is worried for the girls. “I On the ground, 219 of the 276 girls are still miss- Christian who was Nigeria’s president at the time of the Despite the original #BringBackOurGirls tweet pray they are still alive but the reality is that we don’t ing, their Government Girls Secondary School is a kidnapping, dismissed it as a fabrication by his political originating in Nigeria itself, US Twitter users posted know where they are or what they are doing.” — AFP Facebook: New ways to chat, stream video Tech giant brings ‘chatbots’ to Messenger

SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook on Tuesday extend- ed its reach beyond online socializing by build- ing artificial-intelligence powered “bots” into its Messenger application to allow businesses to have software engage in lifelike text exchanges. The move announced at the leading online social network’s annual developers conference in San Francisco came as the number of monthly users of Messenger topped 900 million and the HAWTHORNE, California: In this March 31, 2016 photo, Tesla Motors unveils the new Silicon Valley company works to stay in tune lower-priced Model 3 sedan at the Tesla Motors design studio. — AP with mobile Internet lifestyles. “We think you should be able to text message a business like you would a friend, and get a Wild demand for Tesla, quick response,” Facebook co-founder and chief Mark Zuckerberg said as he announced that but limited to tech fans developers can build bots that could even be better than real people at natural language text DETROIT: Demand for Tesla’s new Model 3 expect similar demand for the Bolt, which is conversations. Bots are software infused with has been eye-popping, with consumers pre- due to hit showrooms late this year. Chevy the ability to “learn” from conversations, getting ordering about $13.7 billion worth of the elec- won’t comment on the Tesla orders, and it isn’t better at figuring out what people are telling tric sedans nearly two years before they go on taking advance orders for the Bolt. Instead, it them and how best to respond. sale. Yet experts aren’t yet ready to proclaim will rely on GM’s vast dealer network, high The bots could help Facebook over time it’s a tipping point with mainstream America owner satisfaction with the Volt plug-in monetize its messaging applications and get a moving from burning gasoline to charging hybrid, and Internet connectivity to drum up start on what some see as a new way of interact- batteries. The reason? Most of the 325,000 Bolt sales, a spokeswoman said. ing with the digital world, potentially shortcut- SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg points to a drone flying behind him during people worldwide who put down $1,000 That may not work well, however. UC Davis ting mobile applications and sidestepping his keynote address at the F8 Facebook Developer Conference on Tuesday. — AP deposits are tech-savvy, environmentally con- research shows that when asked to name search. “Our goal with artificial intelligence is to scious early adopters who see Tesla as an rechargeable cars, “hardly anybody can name build systems that are better than people at per- self-learning bots,” along with ways for them to en age of video,” Zuckerberg said. Facebook innovative brand that meets their needs. The a Volt, but they can name a Tesla,” Turrentine ception - seeing, hearing, language and so on,” be brought to people’s attention at Messenger, opened its Live platform to allow developers to $35,000 price tag and the Model 3’s 215-mile said. Surveys also show that GM and other Zuckerberg said while laying out a long-term Marcus said. “If you want to build more complex stream video content from their applications to range are important, but the brand’s tech automakers don’t have the tech panache of vision for Facebook. bots, you can now use our bot engine,” Marcus audiences at the social network. Zuckerberg image and CEO Elon Musk’s success in cars, Tesla. “I just do not believe when you’re a large A look at the number and types of services told a packed audience of developers. “You feed demonstrated with a drone that flew over those rockets and solar panels are the main drivers. automaker, you’re necessarily going to solve that titans such as Facebook, Google and Apple it samples of conversation, and it’s better over seated, streaming live video to Facebook while “We’re tech people. I want integration with for that,” says Butler. have rolled out in the last couple of years, it time. You can build your bot today.” he spoke. my phone,” says Charles Butler, a 40-year-old appears the companies are “trying to dominate The list of partners launching Messenger bots Messenger and Live will be built out further manager with a cloud computing company in Competition the customers’ mobile moments,” Forrester ana- included Business Insider, which said it will use in coming years, along with virtual reality tech- Austin, Texas, who was among the first to Yet Tesla is about to face more competition. lyst Julie Ask told AFP. the technology to deliver news stories to people nology at Facebook-owned Oculus, according to make an order. “Musk and Tesla, that’s what Sam Abuelsamid, senior analyst for the in real-time. “We are excited about this new Zuckerberg. When his daughter takes her first they do with their customer experience.” Navigant research firm, said other automakers Getting Smarter offering because we know that messaging apps steps, Zuckerberg said he planned to record it in Researchers say other automakers’ electric are scrambling to unveil 200-mile electric cars Artificial intelligence is already used in are exploding in popularity,” Business Insider 360-degree video so family and friends can cars haven’t caught on because their range is in the same price range. More established Messenger to recognize faces in pictures, sug- said in a story at its website announcing the experience it in virtual reality as if they were limited to around 100 miles. And even General automakers likely will have a reliability advan- gesting recipients for messages and for filtering move. Cloud computing star Salesforce planned there for the moment. At one point, Motors’ Chevrolet Bolt, which will go more tage over Tesla, which has struggled with quali- out spam texts. “Soon, we are going to be able to use the platform to help businesses have Zuckerberg’s comments took on a political tone, than 200 miles per charge and is priced simi- ty problems on its current models, he said. Still, to do even more,” Zuckerberg said. He promised “deeper, more personalized and one-to-one cus- with the Facebook chief maintaining that the larly to the Model 3, won’t attract a frenzy of all automakers face a “chasm” that must be a future in which Facebook AI would be able to tomer journeys within the chat experience,” said mission to connect the world is more important buyers because Chevy doesn’t have Tesla’s bridged between early adopters and the public understand what is in pictures, video or news Salesforce president and chief product officer than ever given rhetoric about building walls tech image, they say. for electric cars to be in every driveway, articles and use insights to recommend content Alex Dayon. and fearing those who are different. Surveys by the University of California Turrentine said. It will take years of influence members of the social network might like. “If the world starts to turn inward, then our Davis Institute of Transportation Studies and from early buyers to change a country in which Bot-building capabilities will be in a test mode Bridges, Not Walls community will have to work even harder to by Carnegie Mellon University show that gas-powered pickup trucks are the top-selling with Facebook approving creations before they Zuckerberg laid out a future for Facebook bring people together,” Zuckerberg said. “Instead Butler is a pretty typical Tesla buyer. The brand vehicles, he said. Also needed will be more bat- are released, according to vice president of mes- that, aside from Messenger, included ramping of building walls, we can build bridges,” he is well-known in the US, even among those tery breakthroughs for lower costs, and contin- saging products David Marcus. Some of the latest up live video streaming and diving into virtual added, in an apparent reference to the fiery rhet- who don’t plan to buy electrics. Tesla buyers ued government incentives, he said. tools include one for the creation of “high-end, reality. “We think we are at the edge of the gold- oric of Donald Trump. — AFP always have rated cutting-edge features - There are other problems that could make huge touch screens, freeway autopilot and it hard for Musk to satisfy his orders. The vol- over-the-air software updates - as paramount, ume - which surprised even Musk - will be dif- Latest Kindle mostly wants to disappear said Tom Turrentine, director of electric and ficult for Tesla to produce. The company has hybrid vehicle research at UC Davis. been a niche manufacturer, selling just NEW YORK: Will loyal fans of e- devices, including its Kindle Fire Kindle Direct Publishing. They can a book, eventually that may trans- Early electric cars didn’t have those fea- 110,000 cars since it started manufacturing at books be willing to pay tablet tablets, Fire TV streaming stick and also serve as a gateway drug that late into watching Prime instant tures, although the new Bolt will have some of a California plant in 2008. Even Musk seems to prices for dedicated e-readers? set top box, and the Echo smart helps draw people to other goods videos, joining Prime, or buying a them. “There’s a big overlap in people who be wondering. On Twitter, he said he may Amazon is about to find out. The e- speaker. But dedicated e-readers and deals on Amazon, including its physical book,” said R W Baird ana- think about the future and green technology,” have to rethink production plans and open a commerce giant’s latest Kindle is its help drive e-book sales at Amazon, Prime membership program. lyst Colin Sebastian. Like previous Turrentine said. “Tesla is really sitting right on factory in Europe. smallest and lightest yet. But it’s which publishes many itself via “If you pick up a Kindle and read Kindles, the Oasis features a black- that.” Surveys by Carnegie Mellon show that Tesla also has a history of missing dead- also the most expensive, at $290 - and-white screen designed to make getting from the tech savvy to regular folks lines for previous models, and delays could almost a hundred bucks more than reading easier. It features two bat- will take a lot. Most US consumers don’t even turn away some buyers. Last week, the com- the current champ, the $200 Kindle teries - one in the e-reader and know what an electric car does, said Jeremy pany blamed parts shortages from a supply Voyager. Now the company is bet- another in its cover - which togeth- Michalek, a professor of engineering and pub- company for production shortfalls with the ting that its sleek frame and a cover er stretch the battery life to 9 weeks lic policy. Electric cars currently are only 1 per- new Model X SUV and pledged to make sure that doubles as a rechargeable bat- of “regular” reading (30 minutes a cent of US sales. the same thing doesn’t happen with the tery will attract dedicated e-book day by Amazon’s definition) or “Winning over the enthusiast is just funda- Model S. “After a while you have a pattern that users to its eighth generation months on standby. The Oasis and mentally different from winning over main- things get delayed,” said Standard & Poor’s device, called the Kindle Oasis. its cover charge simultaneously via stream consumers,” he said. Turrentine doesn’t analyst Efraim Levy. — AP Amazon says the new Kindle is one port. 30 percent thinner and 20 percent You might wonder why Amazon lighter than previous Kindles. It’s keeps making more expensive also asymmetrical, with a grip on Kindles, given that they do a lot less Uber starts motorbike one side for one-handed reading. than the average tablet. In essence, (Lefties can just flip the device they’re intended to keep a taxi service in Jakarta over.) The company’s goal? “To demanding bunch happy. E-reader make the device disappear,” said users are on their devices 4 to 5 JAKARTA: Ride-hailing app Uber yester- biggest provider of motorbike taxi rides Neal Lindsay, vice president of hours a week on average, said Peter day launched a motorbike taxi service in in Indonesia. The popularity of motor- Amazon Devices, so that people Hildrick-Smith, president of the the Indonesian capital where Southeast bikes and regular taxis ordered from a can read without distraction. consulting firm Codex. They’re far Asian rivals Go-Jek and Grab are already smartphone has provoked a backlash in The e-reader landscape has more dedicated than tablet read- battling for dominance. Jakarta is one of the taxi industry. experienced a few plot twists since ers, who only manage about an the world’s most congested cities and Thousands of taxi drivers caused traffic Amazon introduced the first Kindle hour a week. motorbike taxis ordered from a smart- chaos in Jakarta last month in a violent in 2007. Sales surged for a few With e-readers like the Oasis, phone app have exploded in popularity protest against what they believe is unfair years, but started leveling off Amazon is “looking to keep their e- in the past 18 months as a way to beat competition. Drivers say the apps, which around 2012 as e-readers grew reading on the cutting edge,” snarled traffic. Uber said that its are using funding from venture capitalists more commonplace. They even Hildrick-Smith said. “UberMotor” service would provide cheap to offer heavily discounted fares, have dipped slightly in 2013 but then “What it’s not doing is appealing and reliable transportation for hundreds severely reduced their income. The app rose 3.8 percent to $3.37 billion to people who aren’t already read- of thousands of people. companies say the transport industry dollars in 2014, according to the ing e-books.” Global preorders for The company used a local social media should adapt to new technology. The most recent stats available from the the Oasis started yesterday; the and YouTube star Arief Muhammad to Indonesian government is drawing up Association of American Publishers. device will ship on April 27. launch its service, saying he was the first new regulations to govern transport apps Although the market has Amazon is still selling its basic Kindle person in Jakarta to use an Uber motorcy- but has so far resisted calls to ban Uber matured, it’s still a growing catego- for $80, the Kindle Paperwhite with cle taxi. Both Go-Jek, an Indonesian start- and similar services. Officials estimate ry for Amazon year-over-year, the a high resolution display and Amazon says the new Kindle is 30 percent thinner and 20 percent up, and Grab, which operates in several Jakarta’s traffic jams cause economic loss- company says. (It doesn’t, though, adjustable front light for $120, and lighter than previous Kindles. It’s also asymmetrical, with a grip on Southeast Asian countries, claim to be the es of about $3 billion a year. — AP release sales figures.) Meanwhile, the Kindle Voyage with page press Amazon has launched several other one side for one-handed reading. — AP buttons for $200. — AP THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 HEALTH & SCIENCE Human genetic research with Chinese characteristics

BEIJING: Chinese genetic scientists must more than anecdotal evidence that important is that we diligently complete own standards and regulations, the not viable for fertility treatment, and had not be put off sensitive research by ethi- (CRISPR) works in human embryos, our research and stick to the path we Global Times cited him as saying. been approved by the university’s ethics cal concerns, the team behind a contro- which we already knew,” George Daley, a believe in, acquiring independent intel- committee. Four out of the 26 embryos versial study on modified human stem-cell biologist at Children’s Hospital lectual property rights... so that we do Ethics committee were successfully modified, while a num- embryos said yesterday as debate erupt- Boston, told the prominent science jour- not have to defer to others.” Such perse- China is quickly cementing a reputa- ber exhibited unexpected mutations. All ed over the paper. Researchers from nal Nature. verance, they said will ensure “our own tion as a leader in the fields of genetic of them were destroyed three days later. Guangzhou Medical University said they It demonstrated that “the science is position in the international community”, research and cloning, showing a willing- “The purpose of this study was to used a gene-editing technique known as going forward before there’s been the adding: “The future market for the treat- ness to forge ahead even as others hesi- evaluate the technology and establish CRISPR to artificially induce a mutation general consensus after deliberation that ment of diseases through gene editing is tate over ethical issues. The world’s principles for the introduction of precise in human cells and make them resistant such an approach is medically warranted”, incalculable.” biggest cloning factory is under con- genetic modifications in early human to HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Their he added. Tetsuya Ishii, a bioethicist at Speaking to China’s state-run Global struction in the northern port of Tianjin, embryos,” the Journal of Assisted paper, which appeared last week in the Japan’s Hokkaido University, denounced Times newspaper, the paper’s lead with plans to churn out everything from Reproduction and Genetics paper read. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and the research as “just playing with human author Fan Yong said: “It is the pioneers pets to premium beef cattle. The chief The legality of human embryo research Genetics, is only the world’s second pub- embryos”, Nature said. In a statement that will make the rules in this field.” Han executive of Boyalife Group, the Chinese varies by country, and there is no inter- lished account of gene editing in human issued by the hospital where they carried Bin, the director of China’s National firm behind it, told AFP his company had national consensus on what ought to be embryos. out their research, the Guangzhou team Center for Gene Research, told the technology advanced enough to repli- allowed. In the US, the influential Critics said the study-intended as a brushed aside such concerns, focusing paper-which often takes a nationalistic cate humans. National Institutes of Health are banned proof-of-principle exercise-was unneces- instead on the “incalculable” size of the tone-that the technology’s potential The head of its South Korean partner from funding such studies, while sary and lacked medical justification, and future market for disease treatments. therapeutic benefits for all diseases has been quoted as saying it preferred Britain’s independent fertility regulator strongly cautioned against the broader “The assessments of those outside caused by inherited variation, including mainland locations to avoid bioethics only issued its first licence for human ethical implications of the slippery slope the field are not authoritative, and the cancer, should outweigh any qualms. laws elsewhere that would ban the use embryo modification research in of human genome modification. “This research environment will continue to Instead of following other countries’ eth- of human eggs. The Guangzhou Medical February, for a study on infertility and paper doesn’t look like it offers much evolve,” they said. “For us what is most ical stances, China should formulate its University study used flawed embryos miscarriages. —AFP Vegetable fat not the route to healthy heart, study says Researchers poking holes in ‘fat is bad’ hypothesis

PARIS: Replacing animal fat in the human diet garines and cooking oils. But in the past few polyunsaturated fat over saturated fat seem a lit- with vegetable oil seems not to lower heart dis- years, researchers have started poking holes in tle less certain than we thought,” Lennert ease risk, and might even boost it, according to a the “fat is bad” hypothesis. The new study, led by Veerman, a lecturer at the University of study published yesterday that challenges a cor- Christopher Ramsden at the National Institutes of Queensland School of Public Health commented nerstone of dietary advice. Switching from satu- Health, re-analysed data from a randomized con- on the study. Further research is needed, he rated to unsaturated Omega-6 fats did result in trolled trial conducted 45 years ago with 9,423 added, to determine whether all Omega-6 type lower blood cholesterol in a trial with nearly residents of state mental hospitals and nursing fats provide similar results. “While we wait for fur- 10,000 participants, it said, but not the expected home in Minnesota. This is a type of experiment- ther clarification, we should continue to eat more reduction in heart disease deaths. generally considered highly reliable-in which fish, fruits, vegetables and whole grains,” In fact, those with a greater reduction in cho- people are randomly divided into groups to Veerman wrote. lesterol “had a higher rather than a lower risk of receive, or not, the treatment being studied. In January, updated US dietary guidelines reit- death,” according to the research published by erated that saturated fats should make up less The medical journal BMJ. For 50-odd years, animal ‘Less certain than we thought’ than 10 percent of a day’s food intake-a recom- fat in meat, butter, cheese and cream has been Part of the Minnesota group had their intake mendation that now “will be under increased the bad boy of the diet world-blamed for boost- of saturated fat replaced with corn oil, while the scrutiny”, according to Veerman. “If blood choles- ing artery-clogging cholesterol linked to heart rest ate a diet high in animal fat. “As expected, the terol values are not a reliable indicator of risk of disease and stroke. In 1961, the American Heart diet enriched with linoleic acid (a fatty acid found cardiovascular disease, then a careful review of CAMPINA GRANDE: Photo shows two-week-old Sophia, born with micro- Association recommended vegetable oils replace in plant oils) lowered cholesterol levels,” said a the evidence that underpins dietary recommen- cephaly, during a physical therapy session at the Pedro I hospital in Campina saturated fats-a position it still holds even as statement by The BMJ. But “this did not translate dations is warranted,” he wrote in The BMJ. Other Grande, Brazil. —AP some research has started to challenge that to improved survival. In fact, participants who experts stressed there was an established link hypothesis. The World Health Organization also had greater reduction in blood cholesterol had between high cholesterol and the risk of heart advises that saturated fats should comprise less higher, rather than lower, risk of death.” attack or stroke. “More research and longer stud- than 10 percent of total energy intake. The team also looked at other randomized ies are needed to assesses whether or not eating Rio’s Zika outbreak For decades now, the world has viewed full-fat controlled trials, and found no evidence any- less saturated fat can reduce your risk of cardio- milk and bacon with suspicion and replaced pork where to support the hypothesis that vegetable vascular death,” said Jeremy Pearson of the British with chicken, and butter with plant-based mar- oils curb heart disease. “The benefits of choosing Heart Foundation. —AFP matches Asian virus

MIAMI: The mosquito-borne Zika virus study was evidence of cases in Rio de behind last year’s outbreak in Rio de Janeiro-the first city with a high pro- US Congress approves bill Janeiro closely resembles another strain portion of cases confirmed by molecu- from Asia and may have been introduced lar diagnosis-as early as January 2015. by Pacific Island athletes, researchers said Brazilian officials first notified the pub- Tuesday. Their report in the journal PLOS lic of the Zika virus in May 2015. “Our on Zika drug development Neglected Tropical Diseases offers the first findings have demonstrated that Zika detailed analysis of the outbreak in a Latin virus was circulating in Rio de Janeiro American city, and gives further weight to at least five months before its detection WASHINGTON: US lawmakers on the hypothesis that Zika may have been was announced by the health authori- Tuesday approved a bill to provide brought to Brazil by foreign visitors who ties,” said the study, led by Patricia financial incentives to companies came to compete in a canoeing champi- Brasil of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation developing treatments for the Zika onship in late 2014. The researchers also in Rio de Janeiro. virus, and the White House said raised new concerns about the potential The study is based on a total of 364 President Barack Obama was expect- for an even worse Zika outbreak during patients who suffered an acute skin rash ed to sign the legislation although it is this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio, say- from January through July 2015. Since insufficient to meet the challenge. The ing many of those studied did not remem- Zika is related to viruses that cause measure allows the Food and Drug ber being bitten by mosquitoes and that dengue fever and chikungunya, and some Administration to include Zika drug transmission of Zika infection in clusters of symptoms can be similar, researchers developers in the agency’s priority people appeared to be commonplace. relied on blood samples available from review voucher program. The program “At this point, health services must be 262 of the patients to test for the virus. encourages manufacturers to study alerted to the potential for an even larger They confirmed Zika in 119 of the sam- treatments for diseases that might not epidemic during the summer of 2015-2016 ples. None of those tested had traveled be profitable by expediting the regu- spreading to additional locations and recently, confirming that the infections latory review of a more lucrative drug affecting the susceptible proportion of the had been caught locally. Eleven percent in their research pipeline. population that was not exposed during of the cases were diagnosed prior to May The House of Representatives the last transmission season,” the study 2015, when the virus was first reported in passed the bill on a voice vote, with- warned. Zika virus is strongly suspected to northeast Brazil. That challenges the theo- out a roll call, weeks after the same be behind a surge in microcephaly, a birth ry that the virus entered Brazil from the measure was approved by the Senate. defect in which babies are born with northeast before spreading to the rest of White House spokeswoman Katie Hill unusually small heads, although a defini- the country, researchers said. said Obama was expected to sign the tive link between microcephaly and Zika bill, which she called a “small step” has not yet been proven. Brazil has seen Itchy symptoms that could encourage the private sec- thousands of suspected cases. Itchy skin was the second most com- tor to tackle Zika. “But it contains no monly reported symptom-present in 79 funding and is ultimately insufficient ‘Northeast’ theory percent of patients with a confirmed Zika on its own, since it doesn’t provide While still “speculative,” 10 randomly infection-and the problem lasted for sev- the $1.9 billion in funding that our selected samples were “clustered within eral days. Currently, itchiness is not listed public health experts have said is WASHINGTON: Dr Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the Center for Disease Control, the Asian genotype,” suggesting the virus among the official symptoms of Zika, but needed right now to prepare left, and Dr Anthony Fauci, Director of NIH/NIAID, answers questions about the Zika virus dur- “was possibly introduced to Rio de it should be added by the Pan American Janeiro during the VI World Sprint Health Organization (PAHO), researchers Americans for the imminent local ing a news briefing at the White House in Washington. —AP transmission of Zika in this country,” Championship canoe race in August urged. While fever and rash are formally she said in a statement. the mother. Drugmakers who are work- mer. A pharmaceutical company may shows a significant improvement in 2014,” the study said. The race included considered symptoms of Zika, only about Democrats and administration offi- ing on Zika-related drugs, or consider- be given a priority review voucher to safety or effectiveness over existing teams from the Pacific countries of French one third of confirmed patients recalled cials are urging the Republican-con- ing such research, include Sanofi SA, develop a drug for an infectious dis- treatments is eligible to be reviewed in Polynesia, New Caledonia, Cook Islands experiencing a brief fever at the start of trolled Congress to grant nearly $1.9 GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Inovio ease, in this case Zika, which may not six months, at least four months faster and Easter Island, where the virus was their infection. billion in emergency funds to combat Pharmaceuticals Inc and Takeda generate much profit for the manu- than usual. present in 2014. Researchers have yet to Nearly all the patients had a rash. the spread of Zika. In a temporary fix, Pharmaceutical Co Ltd. Zika was first facturer. The voucher gives the com- A priority review voucher gives a confirm the exact route and timeline for Other frequent symptoms were exhaus- the White House said last week that it detected in Brazil last year and is pany the right to an accelerated company the right to a six-month Zika’s entry into Latin America. A separate tion, headache and joint pain. Although would redirect $589 million in allocat- spreading through the Americas. The review by the FDA of any other, more review on any product, regardless of study published last month in the journal experts say Zika is primarily transmitted ed funds to prepare for the mosquito World Health Organization had lucrative, drug in its pipeline. whether it meets the conditions nor- Science sequenced the genomes of seven by mosquitoes, just 38 percent of patients that carries the disease to emerge in declared a global health emergency Developing a new drug can take mally required to receive an accelerat- Brazilian Zika samples, taken from March remembered having been bitten. One the continental United States. due to the virus’s possible link to micro- years and cost millions of dollars. A ed review. It also gives the company to November 2015, and suggested that quarter of confirmed cases came from According to the World Health cephaly in babies and Guillain-Barre standard FDA review takes at least 10 the right to sell the voucher to another Zika may have arrived even earlier, per- households where more than one person Organization, there is a strong scientif- syndrome, a rare neurological disorder, months to complete - longer if the company. The law currently makes any haps between May and December 2013, was infected, suggesting that either mos- ic consensus that the Zika virus can in adults. agency requires additional informa- company eligible for a priority review on an inbound flight from French quito density was very high, or that the cause the rare birth defect micro- On Monday, top health officials tion. Being able to shave time off that voucher that is developing a drug for Polynesia or Southeast Asia. virus was passing from person to person, cephaly in newborns. But the link said the mosquito that spreads the process and get a profitable drug onto one of more than 20 tropical diseases Another key finding from the PLOS perhaps via sexual contact.—AFP between the virus and the birth virus is now present in about 30 US the market faster can be worth mil- listed under the voucher program. defects has not been scientifically states, making local outbreaks a pos- lions of dollars to a manufacturer. These include malaria, cholera, leprosy, established. sibility. They have also predicted hun- Under the agency’s priority review dengue, tuberculosis, and Ebola. The On Tuesday, Brazil confirmed 1,113 dreds of thousands of people would program, companies who submit a FDA has the authority to add other cases of microcephaly and considers be infected in Puerto Rico when the drug for review that is intended to infectious diseases to the list which pri- most to be related to Zika infections in mosquito season kicks in this sum- treat serious conditions or whose drug marily affects poor countries. —Reuters Institutional investors warn against antibiotics in meat LONDON: A group of institutional investors man- irresponsible antibiotics practices are leading the ents in the portfolios of most of our pensions and aging a combined $1 trillion on Tuesday called on world towards a ‘post-antibiotic era’ where routine savings - thus it is a case of proper risk manage- restaurant chains to end the systematic use of operations will no longer be possible and many ment to ask them to work out how they will meet antibiotics in their meat and poultry supply infections no longer treatable,” they said in a state- this challenge,” Jeremy Coller of Coller Capital, one chains. The companies targeted by the group of ment. The investors, brought together by the Farm of the signatories, said in the statement. Investors 54 investors include J D Wetherspoon, McDonald’s Animal Investment Risk & Return (FAIRR) initiative, fear the cost of expected tighter regulation from CALI: Photo shows an Aedes Aegypti mosquito photographed on human and Domino’s Pizza. The investors said the use of said none of the companies targeted had any governments in the face of antbiotics overuse, but skin in a laboratory of the International Training and Medical Research antibiotics in livestock causes resistant bacteria to comprehensive policy of tackling the overuse of also warned that the reputation of restaurant Training Center (CIDEIM) in Cali, Colombia. The mosquito-borne Zika virus develop, which in turn can spread to humans. antibiotics and this posed “a significant risk to their chains stands to suffer as they are “contributing to behind last year’s outbreak in Rio de Janeiro closely resembles another “The investors are responding to warnings investment”, they said. a global threat to human health which currently strain from Asia and may have been introduced by Pacific Island athletes, from the World Health Organization (WHO) that “These large food companies are key ingredi- kills an estimated 700,000 people per year”. —AFP researchers said. —AFP THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 HEALTH & SCIENCE The cost of saving lives? Under $5 per person

PARIS: The lives of millions of women and children “Many of these deaths could be prevented if year by reaching 90 percent of those in need with deaths, 440,000 newborn deaths, 473,000 child can be saved every year with an investment of high-impact and affordable solutions reached the basic services such as pregnancy and delivery care, deaths and 564,000 stillbirths, they estimated. The under $5 per person on basic healthcare and con- populations that needed them most,” study leader childhood nutrition, and treatment for infectious cost would be $6.2 billion (5.4 billion euros) in low- traception, a study into pregnancy-related deaths Robert Black of John Hopkins University’s diseases like pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria, income countries, or $6.7 per person who needs it. showed. Nearly six million children younger than Bloomberg School of Public Health said in a state- said the team. In lower middle-income countries, the required five and 300,000 women died in 2015, according to ment. “Our analysis shows that expanding access to This was broken down into 1.5 million newborn amount is $12.4 billion or $4.70 per person, and in research in The Lancet medical journal. Ninety-five care to keep more mothers and children alive and deaths, 1.5 million child deaths, 149,000 newborn middle-income countries $8 billion or $3.90 per per- percent of maternal and child deaths occur in 74 healthy is feasible, and a highly cost-effective deaths and almost 850,000 stillbirths. Access to con- son. Overall, the cost per head would be $4.70, the low- and middle-income countries. investment.” Four million lives could be saved each traception on its own, could reduce 67,000 maternal team said. —AFP Germs, not true love, make humans mate for life: Study Why did humans become monogamous?

PARIS: Why did humans become monoga- how growing STI disease burden in larger resi- with the advent of agriculture and larger resi- mous, apparently rejecting the promiscuity dential group sizes can foster the emergence dential groups,” said the paper. That riddle that is natural to most animals? Was it morality? of socially imposed monogamy in human mat- may now be solved. The research showed that Religion? Maybe love? The answer is germs, ing.” In small groups of no more than 30 indi- our natural environment, with factors such as researchers said Tuesday, arguing that the hav- viduals, with no chance for epidemic spread, disease spread, “can strongly influence the oc caused by sexually transmitted diseases STI outbreaks are generally short-lived, the development of social norms, and in particular (STIs) convinced our ancestors it would be bet- team said. The reduced risk may explain why our group-oriented judgments,” study author ter to mate for life. A research duo from Canada small groups, both among early humans and Chris Bauch of the University of Waterloo in and Germany observed that STIs flourished today, are often polygynous (when men have Canada said. NEW YORK: A Weed World Candies truck sits parked on lower Broadway in among large groups of people living in the vil- more than one partner). But this did not necessarily mean that New York City. The truck, which is covered in close-ups of marijuana plants lages, towns and cities that arose after prehis- humans would become wildly promiscuous if and lollipops with funky names, sells what they purport to be “edible mari- toric hunter-gatherers settled down to farm. ‘Evolutionary puzzle’ drugs were to make STIs a thing of the past, he juana candy” that contain some amount of THC and claim to taste like mari- Left unchecked, spreading diseases can Socially-imposed human monogamy has added. “Modern societies are more complicat- juana. Weed World Candies operates trucks in New York, Los Angeles, and affect individual fertility and a group’s overall long been considered an “evolutionary puzzle”, ed... and there is probably more than one rea- Chicago. With amounts of THC so small or negligible, authorities have gen- reproduction rate. Falling population numbers according to the research duo. It requires soci- son that explains socially imposed monogamy,” erally ignored the operation. —AFP would force a rethink of sexual behavior-which eties to put in place checks and structures-a Bauch said by email. “I think it is premature to in turn gives rise to social mores. The police and court system, for example-to speculate that marriage will disappear, or that researchers developed a mathematical model uphold societal mores. “Yet, many larger polygyny will return, if we solve the problem of of hunter-gatherer demographics and likely STI human societies transitioned from polygyny STIs.” The research was published in the journal Legalized pot spots spread among them. They used it “to show to socially imposed monogamy beginning Nature Communications. —AFP

PARIS: The debate over legalizing marijuana of marijuana in iconic coffee shops since fired back up in France on Tuesday after a min- 1976. Cultivation and bulk sale of the drug Iranian drink ister said cannabis should be decriminalized. remain illegal however, and are still con- Brain injury in 43 percent Here are places where marijuana is already trolled by criminal organizations. driver numbers allowed for recreational or medical reasons. Spain of US ex-football players ‘alarming’ Uruguay Spanish law allows for the private pro- The South American nation became in duction and consumption of cannabis by MIAMI: Some 43 percent of retired American football The advanced MRI scans measured the movement TEHRAN: Police in Tehran arrested 2013 the first country in the world to legal- adults, though its sale is still illegal. players studied show signs of traumatic brain injury, of water molecules in the brain’s white matter-which 2,900 drink drivers last year, a top offi- ize marijuana, with a plan to distribute it raising new concerns about the long-term effects of controls how the brain functions-to determine the cial said Tuesday, describing the fig- through pharmacies for $1.40 (1.20 euros) a United States hitting and tackling, researchers said. The study amount of damage. “Seventeen players, or 43 percent, ures, which come despite the Islamic gram. Under Uruguayan law, citizens and Four western US states-Alaska, Colorado, involved 40 retired National Football League (NFL) had levels of movement 2.5 standard deviations below republic’s official prohibition of alco- residents can buy up to 40 grams (1.4 Oregon, Washington-along with the nation’s players, who underwent thinking and memory tests those of healthy people of the same age, which is con- hol, as “alarming”. The offenders were ounces) of pot a month from the pharma- capital Washington DC have legalized mari- as well as brain scans. “This is one of the largest stud- sidered evidence of traumatic brain injury with a less detained in the 12 months up to cies, grow it themselves at home, or join juana for recreational use. Colorado and ies to date in living retired NFL players and one of the than one percent error rate,” the study said. “On the tests March 2016, the Iranian capital’s prose- cannabis clubs where members jointly Washington led the way in 2012, but cannabis first to demonstrate significant objective evidence for of thinking skills, about 50 percent had significant prob- cutor general Abbas Jafarabadi said, tend to the plants. The government has is still illegal under federal law. Another 19 traumatic brain injury in these former players,” said lems on executive function, 45 percent on learning or according to the judiciary’s official licensed two private companies to produce states have legalized marijuana for medical study author Francis Conidi of the Florida State memory, 42 percent on attention and concentration.” news service. Alcohol has been and distribute marijuana. use. In 2015, Colorado earned $135 million in University College of Medicine. “The rate of traumatic Longer careers tended to put players at higher risk banned in Iran since the revolution in taxes and licensing fees on nearly $1 billion in brain injury was significantly higher in the players of TBI, but researchers established no link between 1979 and those who break the law can The Netherlands pot sales, according to The Denver Post. The than that found in the general population.” higher concussion numbers and brain injury. The find- be fined, lashed or serve prison time. Long the historic destination for those state of Washington took in $70 million on The players ranged in age from 27 to 56 and ings could help scientists better understand the brain Only the country’s Christian minority looking to score some weed, the statewide pot revenue totaling $257 million, a played an average of seven years in the league. Most condition known as chronic traumatic encephalopa- has the right to produce wine for reli- Netherlands in general, and Amsterdam in number that fell below expectations owing to had been out of the NFL for fewer than five years. thy, which is associated with aggression, dementia, gious purposes. particular have tolerated the sale and use a supply shortage. —AFP They reported an average of eight concussions. depression and suicide. “This research in living players However, demand for all types of Around a third of the players said they had sustained sheds light on the possible pathological changes con- drink fuels smuggling from neighbor- several hits that were not strong enough to be diag- sistent with chronic traumatic encephalopathy that ing Iraq and Turkey. The inflated nosed as concussions. The findings, based on sensi- may be taking place,” Conidi said. The latest evidence prices charged by illegal networks tive MRI scans called diffusion tensor imaging, were of widespread brain injury among football players, has also spurred cheaper locally pro- released ahead of a presentation at the American the findings may increase pressure on the NFL, which duced beer, wine and spirits. Academy of Neurology’s 68th Annual Meeting in has long been under fire for downplaying the effects According to official figures, there are Vancouver, Canada. of concussions in the most popular US sport. —AFP 200,000 alcoholics in Iran among the 79 million population. Some experts believe that more than one million Aspirin prevents heart disease, colon cancer Iranians regularly consume alcohol. In recent years police have used WASHINGTON: A panel of US experts has recommend- ing aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular dis- breath tests in roadside checks, ed taking a daily aspirin as a strategy for preventing heart ease and colorectal cancer,” said the guidelines published recognising the magnitude of the disease and colorectal cancer in certain people in their in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The decision should be problem. The fine for offenders has LAKEWOOD: Fifteen-year-old son, Jack Linn wears a medical marijuana 50s and 60s. The guidelines issued by the US Preventive made with a doctor, they said. Low-dose aspirin might be also been doubled from 2,000,000 patch on his arm in Lakewood, Colo. Jack, who has cerebral palsy, is not Services Task Force are specifically aimed at people who a helpful therapy for people beginning in their 50s “who rials (around $60) to 4,000,000 rials. allowed to wear a skin patch delivering a cannabis-derived treatment to face an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, but who have a 10 percent or greater 10-year cardiovascular dis- The report that quoted Jafarabadi did school. A new Colorado law allowing medical marijuana use at public do not have elevated risks of bleeding, which can be a ease risk, are not at increased risk for bleeding, have a life not detail any nationwide drink driv- schools will be looked at by state lawmakers because no school districts are dangerous side effect of aspirin. expectancy of at least 10 years, and are willing to take low- ing arrest statistics. —AFP allowing it even though the law says they can. —AP This group of people, aged 50-69, should “consider tak- dose aspirin daily for at least 10 years.” WHAT’S ON THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

‘Al-Mulla Exchange Champions Trophy 2016’ has a trail blazing finish

he first edition of ‘Al-Mulla Exchange Champions Trophy 2016’ ended on Thursday with Team Abbassiya lifting the coveted winner’s trophy. The tourna- Tment spanning over a period of 2 and half months had 32 teams participating to take away the top prize money of KD 750 besides the coveted trophy and medals to each player. This is one of the biggest prize money ever given for a cricket tourna- ment in Kuwait. In a nail biting final at TACK Entertainment City Cricket Ground in Doha, Team Abbasiya defeated tournament favorites Friends Kuwait by 6 wickets to clinch the 1st Edition of Al-Mulla Exchange Champions Trophy. Rajesh Gairola , Divisional General Manager, Al-Mulla Exchanges handed over the trophies to the win- ners and runners up team in the presence of high number of spectators and other Al- Mulla Exchange officials. Speaking at the event, Rajesh Gairola said “ Cricket epito- mizes the dreams and aspirations especially of the Indian sub-continent at large. Al- Mulla Exchange by conducting this tournament has provided a good platform for players to exhibit their skills and take the game to the next level. We wish the winners and all who participated in this tournament the very best”. The tournament was organized by Al-Mulla International Exchange Kuwait without any participation amount being paid by any team. Al-Mulla International Exchange Kuwait has always believed in giving back to the society at large and organization of a sport event has only added one more to the long list of such activities that are carried out by the company as a part of its Corporate Responsibility.

ESF in London for England experience

he English School Fahaheel recently took Students also took a leisurely boat cruise along England Experience. Secondary students on a Cultural trip to the River Thames, passing London’s many Don’t think the 5 Star treatment stopped TEngland on the 24th - 29th March 2016, famous landmarks. here. The students also stayed at the same Hilton where they had an unforgettable experience The highlight of the trip was the England Hotel where England’s Football Team live tem- staying in the West End right next to the Natural Experience. From the moment the students porarily and they had access to the world class History Museum and Victorian Albert Museum. arrive at England’s training home (Burton on facilities at the Hilton hotel . To wrap up the The fun filled trip included a shopping trip to Trent which is just outside London), they were unforgettable experience students watched a Harrods and a photo stop at Bucking ham treated like a professional. A FA Licensed Coach professional football match which was televised Palace, a haunting experience beneath London took them to the outstanding full size pitch for live. The English School Fahaheel would like to Bridge which required students to put on their an hour’s training on the same surface used by thank teachers, students and parents for making brave face as they journeyed through the the England teams. They were also whisked off the England trip a great success. London Tombs hearing the horrible stories that for a behind-the-scenes football tour of St. took place including the fate of William Wallace. George’s Park to complete an unforgettable

ACK hosts ‘Eloquence Unplugged’ annual contests

rom 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Australian humble beginnings in 1924 at the base- college/ of Kuwait (ACK), Toastmasters ment of Young Men’s Christian Association Fwho have conquered fear of public (YMCA) in California, USA. Ralph C Smedley speaking will be in action vying for the best held the first meeting of what would even- speaker title in four different categories in tually become Toastmasters International Toastmasters Area 19 annual contests, aptly (TMI) the date was October22, 1924. titled ‘Eloquence Unplugged.’ TMI has grown to become a world Area 19 Toastmasters, comprises of 4 leader in helping people become more clubs, namely, ACK, Arifjaan Articulators, competent and comfortable in front of a Timbre Talkers and Kuwait Mentors and crowd/ audience. Survey after survey Coaches have more than 100 members. shows that presentation skills are crucial for Two contestants from each of the four success in the workplace. Many people pay clubs will compete in four categories, high fees for seminars to gain the skills and namely, International, Humorous, Table confidence necessary to face an audience. Topics and Evaluation speeches. Two best Toastmasters, being a non-profit organi- speakers from each category will be select- zation, provides a self-phased learning ed by an eminent panel of judges and will environment at a very negligible cost, for move on to contest in the Division Level people to hone their skills through feed- which will be held on the 29th of April backs and encouragement and without the 2016. fear of failure. The qualifications earned at Area 19 Director Alifiya Lakdawala mak- Toastmasters are held in high regard in ing arrangements for the event along with business circles. her team of leaders said “Toastmasters con- There are around 50 English and Arabic tests provide a great opportunity to wit- speaking clubs in Kuwait. More than 500 ness creativity at its best, for all those who people enjoy their journey as a toastmaster want to improve their communication and in Kuwait. For more information log on to leadership skills. We extend a warm wel- www.toastmasters.org. Membership come to one and all to the Eloquence enquiries can be made to 9955 9684. Unplugged event. Toastmasters movement started from WHAT’S ON THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

Al-Sanabel Al-Thahabiya and Sebamed representatives explain ways to ave Sebamed is honored by Kuwait University. Dr Ghalia Al-Mutairi vists Sebamed’s booth. proper skincare. ‘Beat Diabetes’ stops by College of Social Sciences

eat Diabetes,’ a Health Awareness Campaign event held recently at Kuwait University’s College of Several Health Ministry departments as well as private good health in general and how to deal with diabetes in held in Kuwait in celebration of the World Social Sciences. The event is organized by Health establishments and companies were on hand. Health particular. Head of MOH’s Health Media Office Dr Ghalia ‘BHealth Day, continued its activities with an Promotion Department at the Ministry of Health (MOH). officials gave advice to the public on how to maintain Al-Mutairi was on hand and followed up with activities.

The Ministry of Health’s Media Officeís booth. The booth of the ‘Prevention is a Goal’ voluntary team. Kuwait Diabetes Society’s mobile clinic was on hand.

Palms Beach Hotel & Spa main sponsor of Autism Walkathon

elieving in the effective role of Autism The aim of the walkathon was to raise a pos- Kuwait Scientific Center until Marina The walkathon succeed in to achieve cer- ness of autism cause. Awareness, The Palms Beach Hotel itive message that expresses the serious- Crescent under the patronage of manage- tain goals started by the great participation At the end of the event, the attendees of Band Spa is proud to sponsor the ness of Autism and the importance of the ment and employees of Palms Beach Hotel for number of civil society institutions and the hotel team are expressed their satisfac- Autism Walkathon, which is recognized as a social and voluntary activities to increase and Spa, headed by Managing Director specialists, also the event success in focus- tion while participated in the event and voluntary act on the World Autism Day, the awareness of autism. Ghosson Al-Khaled along with General ing on the importance of promoting volun- being positive part of the event success. which is organized by Autism Partnership. The Autism walkathon took place from Manager Rabie Al-Sukhon. tary work in society and raised the aware-

Lieutenant General Yousuf Al-Ansari, Director General of the Kuwait Fire Services Directorate (KFSD) honored KFSD’s sports committee mem- bers for winning several trophies during tournaments held recently for teams representing ministries and state departments. Colonel Khalil Al- Amir, Public Relations Director, Brigadier Mohammad Al-Muhaimeed, Acting Director for Firefighting Affairs and other KFSD officials attended the ceremony.

FSI delegates visit Center of AOU committed to apply accreditation Continuing Education at AUK requirements and quality standards Delegates from the Foreign Service which is customized to enhance their Institute (FSI) visited the Center of professional and practical communica- rofessor Moudi Al- the Open and Distant Learning ment and examination, and cri- Continuing Education (CCE) at the tion, and aims to develop the partici- Humoud, President of the Institutions recently held in teria of research papers, projects American University of Kuwait (AUK) to pants’ Arabic language proficiency. The PArab Open University Jordan, Humoud pointed out, and assignments in addition to review the progress of the Intensive course content includes one-on-one (AOU), emphasized AOU’s com- “AOU takes pride of its achieve- abide by governance systems Arabic Language Program, a language conversations with the instructor, field mitment to apply accreditation ments and its keenness to be a and requirements of higher training course created for the US State trips, and presentations, among other requirements and quality stan- pioneering in the blended education ministries in each Department employees in Kuwait. Dr dynamic and interactive lessons. “We are dards to offer highly qualitative learning approach, which is country in order to ensure David Red, Director of Near East, Central pleased to continue offering this inten- education, which is consistent offered in its eight branches accountability and transparen- and South Asian Languages - FSI sive program to FSI participants. The with laws and regulations appli- operating in a number of Arab cy. The meeting also recom- Washington - USA, and Hani Alam, Arabic training methodology used in the cable in the Arab world and countries, including Kuwait.” mended to strengthen the con- Regional Language Training Coordinator Program offers a highly customized keeps up with all international The meeting recommended cept of open and distant learn- - US Embassy Rabat - Morocco, met with approach, with course content tailored accelerated technological and to strive to establish an Arab ing in Arab communities and Buthaina Al-Khubaizi, Director of CCE to individual participants. This year, we scientific developments. accreditation and quality body disseminate its requirements and AUK President, Professor Nizar have a number of participants enrolled In a press statement on the for open and distant learning through available channels. Hamzeh. in the Program and we are expected to sidelines of the conclusion of and emphasize the academic CCE began collaborating with FSI in complete the course requirements by the 1st Coordination Meeting of commitment to ways of assess- Professor Moudi Al-Humoud 2012 to create and offer the program, June 2016,” said Khubaizi. p32_Layout 1 4/13/16 8:33 PM Page 1

THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 TV PROGRAMS

14:30 Dialogue 12:38 Mythbusters Spaces 21:00 Hot In Cleveland 15:00 News Update 13:23 Through The Wormhole 01:50 Top Tables, Top Cities 21:30 Breaking In 15:15 China 24 With Morgan Freeman 02:15 Sara’s New Nordic Kitchen 22:00 It’s Always Sunny In 16:00 News Update 14:10 How The Earth Works 02:40 Tom’s Istanbul Delight Philadelphia 00:15 Dracula 2000 16:15 Global Business 14:57 Food Factory 03:05 Glamour Puds 22:30 The Big C 01:55 Order Of The Black Eagle 17:00 News Update 15:20 Food Factory 03:30 Glamour Puds 23:00 Web Therapy 03:30 Assassination Tango 17:15 World InSight 15:44 Moon Machines 03:55 David Rocco’s Dolce India 23:30 Late Night With Seth Meyers 05:25 True Heart 18:00 Asia Today 16:31 Nyc: Inside Out 04:20 Maximum Foodie 06:55 Bound For Glory 18:30 Culture Express 17:18 How The Earth Works 04:45 Maximum Foodie 09:20 Apache 19:00 News Update 18:05 Mythbusters 05:10 East Bites West 10:50 Separate Tables 19:30 The Heat 18:50 Secret Space Escapes 05:35 Lee Chan’s World Food Tour 12:30 The Beast Of Hollow 20:00 Africa Live 19:40 Moon Machines 06:00 Lee Chan’s World Food Tour 00:00 Once Upon A Time Mountain 21:00 Global Business 20:25 Through The Wormhole 06:25 Carnival Eats 01:00 Marvel’s Agents Of 13:50 Big Screen 21:30 Dialogue With Morgan Freeman 06:50 George Clarke’s Amazing S.H.I.E.L.D. 14:05 Death Rides A Horse 22:00 News Update 21:15 How The Earth Works Spaces 02:00 The Flash 16:00 The Beautiful Country 22:15 China 24 22:00 Secret Space Escapes 07:40 Top Tables, Top Cities 03:00 DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow 18:00 Saved! 23:00 News Update 22:45 Moon Machines 08:05 Sara’s New Nordic Kitchen 04:00 Good Morning America 19:30 The Crocodile Hunter: 23:15 World InSight 23:35 Mythbusters 08:30 Tom’s Istanbul Delight 06:00 Once Upon A Time Collision Course 08:55 Glamour Puds 07:00 24 21:00 Breaking Bad 09:20 Glamour Puds 08:00 Prison Break 09:45 David Rocco’s Dolce India 09:00 The Voice 10:10 Maximum Foodie 11:00 24 10:35 Maximum Foodie 12:00 Prison Break 11:00 East Bites West 13:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 11:25 Lee Chan’s World Food Tour 00:00 Violetta 14:00 Live Good Morning America 00:45 Mountain Monsters 11:50 Lee Chan’s World Food Tour 16:00 Marvel’s Agents Of 00:00 Japan Remembers 00:45 The Hive 12:15 Carnival Eats 01:40 Australia Doesn’t Just Want 00:50 Sabrina Secrets Of A S.H.I.E.L.D. To Kill You 00:30 Access: Middle East 12:40 George Clarke’s Amazing 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 01:00 U.S. Squawk Alley Teenage Witch Spaces 02:35 Tanked 01:15 Sabrina Secrets Of A 18:00 Prison Break 03:25 Mutant Planet 02:00 Asia Squawk Box 13:35 Top Tables, Top Cities 19:00 The Voice 05:00 Asia Street Signs Teenage Witch 14:00 Sara’s New Nordic Kitchen 04:15 Gator Boys 01:40 Hank Zipzer 20:00 The Flash 05:02 Treehouse Masters 07:00 Capital Connection 14:30 Tom’s Istanbul Delight 21:00 Blindspot 08:00 Squawk Box Europe 02:05 Binny And The Ghost 14:55 Glamour Puds 05:49 Australia Doesn’t Just Want 02:30 Violetta 22:00 Empire To Kill You 11:00 Europe Street Signs 15:25 Glamour Puds 23:00 Mr. Robot 12:00 Worldwide Exchange 03:15 The Hive 15:50 David Rocco’s Dolce India 06:36 Swamp Brothers 03:20 Sabrina Secrets Of A 07:00 Swamp Brothers 13:00 U.S. Squawk Box 16:20 Maximum Foodie 16:00 Squawk On The Street Teenage Witch 16:45 Maximum Foodie 07:25 My Cat From Hell 03:45 Sabrina Secrets Of A 08:15 Australia Doesn’t Just Want 18:00 U.S. Squawk Alley 17:15 East Bites West 19:00 Fast Money: Half Time Teenage Witch 17:40 Lee Chan’s World Food Tour To Kill You 04:10 Hank Zipzer 09:10 Treehouse Masters Report 18:10 Lee Chan’s World Food Tour 00:30 Combustion 20:00 U.S. Power Lunch 04:35 Binny And The Ghost 18:35 Carnival Eats 10:05 Tanked 05:00 Violetta 02:30 Metro 11:00 My Cat From Hell 22:00 U.S. Closing Bell 19:05 Glamour Puds 04:30 Destruction: Las Vegas 05:45 The Hive 19:30 Glamour Puds 11:55 Bondi Vet 05:50 Mouk 06:00 Need For Speed 12:25 Bondi Vet 20:00 David Rocco’s Dolce India 08:15 The Malay Chronicles: 06:00 Lolirock 20:25 Maximum Foodie 12:50 Australia Doesn’t Just Want 06:25 Sofia The First Bloodlines To Kill You 20:50 Maximum Foodie 10:15 Abandoned Mine 06:50 Gravity Falls 21:15 East Bites West 13:45 Gator Boys 07:15 Miraculous Tales Of 12:00 Batman Unlimited: Animal 14:40 Treehouse Masters 21:40 Lee Chan’s World Food Tour Instincts Ladybug And Cat Noir 22:05 Lee Chan’s World Food Tour 15:35 Tanked 07:40 Jessie 13:30 Need For Speed 16:30 Mutant Planet 00:00 I Escaped My Killer 22:30 Carnival Eats 15:45 The Malay Chronicles: 08:05 Shake It Up 22:55 George Clarke’s Amazing 17:25 River Monsters 01:00 The Haunting Of... 08:30 Shake It Up Bloodlines 18:20 Ten Deadliest Snakes With 02:00 The Haunting Of... Spaces 17:45 Hercules 08:55 Hannah Montana 23:45 Top Tables, Top Cities Nigel Marven 03:00 Cursed: The Bell Witch 09:20 Hannah Montana 19:45 Dragon Blade 19:15 Tanked 04:00 I Escaped My Killer 09:45 Girl Meets World 22:00 Sabotage 20:10 Animal Cops South Africa 05:00 The Haunting Of... 10:10 Girl Meets World 21:05 Treehouse Masters 06:00 Martina Cole’s Lady Killers 10:35 A.N.T. Farm 22:00 Ten Deadliest Snakes With 07:00 Britain’s Biggest Heists 11:00 A.N.T. Farm Nigel Marven 08:00 Crime Stories 11:25 Jessie 22:55 Gator Boys 09:00 Surveillance Oz 00:20 Deadly Instincts 11:50 Jessie 01:10 Wild 24 23:50 River Monsters 09:30 Private Crimes 12:15 Whisker Haven Tales With 00:00 Three Night Stand 10:00 Fred Dinenage: Murder 02:00 Monster Fish The Palace Pets 02:50 Africa’s Creative Killers 02:00 500 Days Of Summer Casebook 12:20 Miraculous Tales Of 04:00 Serial (Bad) Weddings 11:00 After The First 48 03:45 I, Predator Ladybug And Cat Noir 04:40 Cameramen Who Dare 06:00 Dunston Checks In 12:00 The FBI Files 12:45 Fish Hooks 08:00 The Preacher’s Wife 13:00 I Killed My BFF 05:35 Africa’s Creative Killers 00:10 Eastenders 13:10 Austin & Ally 06:30 I, Predator 10:15 Serial (Bad) Weddings 14:00 Crime Stories 13:35 Austin & Ally 12:00 500 Days Of Summer 00:40 New Tricks 15:00 Fred Dinenage: Murder THIS IS 40 ON OSN MOVIES HD COMEDY 07:25 Caught In The Act 01:35 New Tricks 14:00 Liv And Maddie 08:20 Cameramen Who Dare 13:45 Blues Brothers 2000 Casebook 14:25 Cars Toons 16:00 The Preacher’s Wife 02:30 Silent Witness 16:00 Britain’s Biggest Heists 09:15 Race Of Life 03:25 Doctors 14:30 Liv And Maddie 14:40 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 20:00 Keeping Up With The 07:30 Murdoch Mysteries 09:40 Race Of Life 18:15 Hope Springs 17:00 After The First 48 14:55 Dog With A Blog 15:10 Miles From Tomorrow Kardashians 08:25 Murdoch Mysteries 20:00 Laggies 04:00 Eastenders 18:00 The FBI Files 10:10 America’s National Parks 04:30 Doctor Who 15:20 Dog With A Blog 15:35 Jake And The Never Land 21:00 Dash Dolls 09:20 Keep It In The Family 11:05 Animals Gone Wild 21:45 This Is 40 19:00 I Killed My BFF 15:45 Miraculous Tales Of Pirates 22:00 E! News 10:15 The Chase: Celebrity 05:15 Father Brown 20:00 Crime Stories 12:00 Monster Fish 06:00 Doctors Ladybug And Cat Noir 16:00 Sofia The First 23:00 WAGs Specials 12:55 Africa’s Creative Killers 21:00 Fred Dinenage: Murder 16:10 Violetta 16:25 Jungle Cubs 11:05 Eggheads 06:30 Doctors Casebook 13:50 I, Predator 07:00 Eastenders 17:00 The Next Step 16:50 Aladdin 11:35 Royalty Close Up 14:45 Caught In The Act 22:00 50 Ways To Kill Your Lover 17:25 Alex And Co 17:15 Gummi Bears 12:30 Who’s Doing The Dishes? 07:30 Stella 23:00 My Crazy Ex 15:40 Man-Eater Of The Congo 08:20 The Paradise 17:50 Dog With A Blog 17:40 Goldie & Bear 13:25 Emmerdale 16:35 Race Of Life 09:15 Doctor Who 18:15 Best Friends Whenever 18:05 Miles From Tomorrow 13:50 Eggheads 17:00 Race Of Life 01:30 Inch’allah 10:05 Doctors 18:40 Gravity Falls 18:30 Sofia The First 14:20 Coronation Street 17:30 America’s National Parks 03:15 Medicine Man 10:40 Eastenders 19:05 Evermoor Chronciles 19:00 Jake And The Never Land 00:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 14:45 Keep It In The Family 18:25 Animals Gone Wild 05:00 The Color Of Money 11:10 Father Brown 19:30 Violetta Pirates 00:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 15:35 Prince Philip: The Plot To 19:20 Caught In The Act 07:00 A Civil Action 12:00 Stella 20:20 The Next Step 19:30 Miles From Tomorrow 01:00 Chopped Make A King 20:10 Man-Eater Of The Congo 09:00 Vanity Fair 12:45 The Paradise 20:45 Good Luck Charlie 20:00 Goldie & Bear 02:00 Cutthroat Kitchen 16:30 Black Work 21:00 Race Of Life 11:45 The Apostle 13:45 Doctor Who 21:10 Good Luck Charlie 20:30 Sofia The First 03:00 Man Fire Food 17:25 The Jonathan Ross Show 21:25 Race Of Life 14:15 Happiness 00:20 Fast N’ Loud 14:35 Doctors 21:35 H2O 21:00 Jungle Cubs 03:30 Man Fire Food 18:20 Emmerdale 21:50 America’s National Parks 16:15 Vanity Fair 01:10 You Have Been Warned 15:05 Eastenders 22:00 Binny And The Ghost 21:25 Aladdin 04:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 18:45 Coach Trip 22:40 Animals Gone Wild 19:00 Gattaca 02:00 Troy 15:35 Stella 22:25 Sabrina Secrets Of A 21:50 Gummi Bears 04:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 19:10 Coronation Street 23:30 Monster Fish 21:00 Siberian Education 02:50 Superhuman Science 16:25 Dickensian Teenage Witch 22:20 Lilo And Stitch 05:00 Iron Chef America 19:35 Prince Philip: The Plot To 23:00 Breaking And Entering 03:15 Superhuman Science 17:10 Doctor Who 22:50 Sabrina Secrets Of A 22:50 Zou 06:00 Chopped Make A King 03:40 Extreme Collectors 18:00 Doctors Teenage Witch 23:05 Henry Hugglemonster 07:00 Man Fire Food 20:30 Black Work 04:05 Storage Wars Canada 18:30 Eastenders 23:10 Hank Zipzer 23:20 Calimero 07:30 Man Fire Food 21:25 The Jonathan Ross Show 04:30 Auction Hunters 19:05 Death In Paradise 23:35 Binny And The Ghost 23:35 Zou 08:00 Chopped 22:20 Coronation Street 05:00 How Do They Do It? 20:00 Holby City 23:50 Loopdidoo 09:00 Barefoot Contessa: Back To 22:50 Emmerdale 01:00 You’re Not You 05:30 Fifth Gear Basics 23:15 Who’s Doing The Dishes? 03:00 Boychoir 06:00 Outback Truckers 09:30 Barefoot Contessa: Back To 00:30 Hot In Cleveland 05:00 The Mark 06:50 Wheeler Dealers Basics 01:00 The Nightly Show With Larry 07:00 Penthouse North 07:40 Fast N’ Loud 10:00 The Kitchen Wilmore 09:00 Boychoir 08:30 Extreme Collectors 11:00 Anna Olson: Bake 01:30 It’s Always Sunny In 10:45 Interstellar 00:05 Art Attack Philadelphia 08:55 Storage Wars Canada 06:00 Boyster 11:30 Anna Olson: Bake 13:30 Batman: Assault On Arkham 00:00 Charlie Rose 00:30 Henry Hugglemonster 02:00 The Big C 09:20 Auction Hunters 06:10 Super Matrak 12:00 Chopped 15:00 The Good Lie 01:00 Bloomberg West 00:45 Calimero 02:30 Web Therapy 09:45 How Do They Do It? 06:35 Super Matrak 13:00 The Pioneer Woman 17:00 Project Almanac 02:00 First Up With Angie Lau 01:00 Zou 00:10 Brain Games 03:00 The Carmichael Show 10:10 Fifth Gear 07:00 Star vs The Forces Of Evil 13:30 The Pioneer Woman 18:45 Kingsman: The Secret 03:00 First Up With Angie Lau 01:15 Loopdidoo 01:00 Cesar Millan: Doggie 03:30 Living With Fran 10:35 You Have Been Warned 07:25 K.C. Undercover 14:00 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives Service 04:00 Trending Business 01:30 Art Attack Nightmares 04:00 Two And A Half Men 11:25 Troy 07:50 Supa Strikas 14:30 Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives 21:00 Focus 05:00 Trending Business 01:55 Henry Hugglemonster 02:00 Supercar Megabuild 04:30 The Tonight Show Starring 12:15 The Carbonaro Effect 08:15 Annedroids 15:00 Man Fire Food 23:00 Fast & Furious 7 06:00 Asia Edge 02:05 Calimero 02:55 Access 360 World Heritage Jimmy Fallon 12:40 Superhuman Science 08:40 Lab Rats 15:30 Man Fire Food 07:00 Bloomberg West 02:20 Zou 03:50 Brain Games 05:30 Suburgatory 13:05 Extreme Collectors 09:10 Kirby Buckets 16:00 Chopped 04:45 24 Hours In A&E 06:00 The Bernie Mac Show 09:35 Guardians Of The Galaxy 17:00 The Kitchen 05:40 Filthy Riches 06:30 Your Family Or Mine 10:00 Rocket Monkeys 18:00 Anna Olson: Bake 06:35 Megastructures 07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 10:25 Ultimate Spider-Man Web 18:30 Anna Olson: Bake 07:30 Cesar To The Rescue 08:00 Two And A Half Men 03:30 Top 14 Highlights Warriors 19:00 Chopped 08:25 Building Wild 08:30 Suburgatory 04:00 Inside The PGA Tour 10:50 Boyster 20:00 Iron Chef America 09:20 24 Hours In A&E 09:00 The Carmichael Show 04:30 Live NHL 11:20 Boyster 21:00 Private Chef 10:15 Supercar Megabuild 09:30 The Last Man On Earth 07:30 Golfing World 11:45 Pair Of Kings 21:30 Private Chef 11:10 The Yard 10:00 Playing House 08:30 Premier League Darts 12:10 Pair Of Kings 22:00 Valerie’s Home Cooking 12:05 Dirty Rotten Survival 10:30 Your Family Or Mine 12:00 European Tour Weekly 12:35 Lab Rats 22:30 Valerie’s Home Cooking 13:00 Building Wild 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring 12:30 Golfing World 13:00 Lab Rats 23:00 Kitchen Casino 14:00 Cesar To The Rescue Jimmy Fallon 13:30 Live PGA European Tour 13:30 Phineas And Ferb 15:00 Mega Factories 12:00 The Bernie Mac Show 15:30 Inside The PGA Tour 13:55 Phineas And Ferb 16:00 Supercar Megabuild 12:30 Two And A Half Men 16:00 European Tour Weekly 14:20 Kickin’ It 17:00 The Yard 13:00 Suburgatory 16:30 NRL Full Time 14:45 Kickin’ It 18:00 Dirty Rotten Survival 13:30 Your Family Or Mine 17:00 Inside The PGA Tour 15:10 Guardians Of The Galaxy 19:00 Mine Kings 14:00 Living With Fran 17:30 Live PGA European Tour 15:15 Rocket Monkeys 20:00 Supercar Megabuild 14:30 The Last Man On Earth 20:30 HSBC World Rugby Sevens 15:40 Guardians Of The Galaxy 20:50 The Yard 15:00 Playing House Highlights 16:05 Star vs The Forces Of Evil 00:20 Shipping Wars 21:40 Dirty Rotten Survival 15:30 Hot In Cleveland 21:00 Live Premier League Darts 16:30 Kirby Buckets 00:45 Shipping Wars 22:30 Mega Factories 16:00 The Nightly Show With Larry 16:55 Gamers Guide To Pretty 01:10 Ice Road Truckers 23:20 Filthy Riches Wilmore Much Everything 02:00 Ice Road Truckers 16:30 The Bernie Mac Show 17:25 K.C. Undercover 02:50 Ax Men 17:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 17:50 Supa Strikas 03:40 American Restoration 18:00 Community 00:00 Welsh Open Snooker 18:15 Lab Rats 04:05 American Restoration 18:30 Living With Fran 01:30 Inside The PGA Tour 18:40 K.C. Undercover 04:30 Pawn Stars 19:30 Playing House 19:05 Cars Toons 02:00 Trans World Sport 05:00 Lost Worlds 20:00 The Tonight Show Starring 19:10 Annedroids 03:00 Live NHL 06:00 Mountain Men 00:10 Dream Cruises Jimmy Fallon 19:35 Phineas And Ferb 01:00 George Clarke’s Amazing 06:00 NRL Full Time 06:50 Swamp People 06:30 European Tour Weekly 20:00 Kirby Buckets 07:40 Ax Men 20:25 Gamers Guide To Pretty 08:30 Shipping Wars 07:00 Welsh Open Snooker DRAGON BALDE ON OSN MOVIES HD ACTION Much Everything 08:55 American Restoration 08:30 Gillette World Sport 20:55 K.C. Undercover 09:20 American Restoration 09:00 AFL Premiership Highlights 08:00 Countdown 13:30 Storage Wars Canada 21:20 Pickle And Peanut 09:45 Banger Boys 10:00 Golfing World 02:30 Loopdidoo 21:45 Lab Rats 09:00 Countdown 13:55 Auction Hunters 02:45 Art Attack 10:35 Counting Cars 11:00 Super Rugby Highlights 09:30 On The Move 14:20 Outback Truckers 22:10 Mighty Med 11:00 Counting Cars 11:30 Super Rugby Highlights 03:10 Henry Hugglemonster 22:40 Disney Mickey Mouse 10:00 On The Move 15:10 Wheeler Dealers 03:20 Calimero 11:25 Lost Worlds 12:20 NRL Full Time 11:00 The Pulse 16:00 Fast N’ Loud 23:00 Programmes Start At 12:15 American Pickers 03:35 Zou 6:00am KSA 12:47 Live NRL Premiership 12:00 Bloomberg Surveillance 16:50 Fifth Gear 03:45 Loopdidoo 13:05 Storage Wars 15:00 Gillette World Sport 13:00 Bloomberg Surveillance 17:15 How Do They Do It? 04:00 Art Attack 13:30 Storage Wars 15:30 WWE Vintage 14:00 Bloomberg Go 17:40 Salvage Hunters 13:55 Fifth Gear 04:25 Henry Hugglemonster 16:30 WWE Raw 15:00 Bloomberg Go 18:30 Redwood Kings 04:35 Calimero 14:45 Shipping Wars 16:00 Bloomberg Go 19:20 Catching Monsters 15:10 Shipping Wars 19:00 WWE NXT 04:50 Zou 20:00 WWE Smackdown 17:00 Bloomberg Markets 20:10 Storage Wars Canada 05:00 Loopdidoo 15:35 Shipping Wars 18:00 Bloomberg Markets: 20:35 Auction Hunters 05:15 Art Attack 16:00 Mountain Men 22:00 Live PGA Tour European Close 21:00 Salvage Hunters 05:35 Henry Hugglemonster 00:00 Keeping Up With The 16:50 Swamp People 19:00 Bloomberg Markets 21:50 Redwood Kings 05:50 Calimero Kardashians 17:40 Ice Road Truckers 20:00 Bloomberg Markets 22:40 Ed Stafford: Into The 06:00 Zou 00:55 The Grace Helbig Show 18:30 Lost Worlds Unknown 01:25 Keeping Up With The 19:20 American Pickers 21:00 Bloomberg Markets 06:20 Loopdidoo 00:00 The Weber Cup 22:00 Bloomberg Markets Kardashians 20:10 Pawn Stars 06:35 Art Attack 01:00 Ping Pong World 23:00 What’d You Miss? 07:00 The Hive 02:20 E! News 20:35 Pawn Stars 03:15 Christina Milian Turned Up 21:00 Duck Dynasty Championship 07:10 Zou 02:00 AFL Premiership Highlights 07:25 Loopdidoo 04:10 Christina Milian Turned Up 21:25 Duck Dynasty 03:00 Inside The PGA Tour 07:40 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 05:05 Christina Milian Turned Up 21:50 Pawn Stars 08:05 Sofia The First 06:00 Keeping Up With The 22:15 Pawn Stars Australia 03:30 European Tour Weekly Kardashians 04:00 Trans World Sport 00:20 Through The Wormhole 08:30 Goldie & Bear 22:40 Grave Trade 06:55 Keeping Up With The 00:00 News Update With Morgan Freeman 08:45 Jake And The Never Land 23:30 Duck Dynasty 05:00 Super League Kardashians 00:30 Dialogue 01:08 Invent It Rich Pirates 23:55 Duck Dynasty 07:00 NRL Full Time 07:50 Style Star 01:00 News Update 01:55 Moon Machines 09:10 Sheriff Callie’s Wild West 07:30 Trans World Sport 08:20 E! News 01:15 China 24 02:42 How The Earth Works 09:35 Doc McStuffins 08:30 Golfing World 09:15 Giuliana & Bill 02:00 The Heat 03:29 Mythbusters 10:00 Sofia The First 09:30 Inside The PGA Tour 10:15 Giuliana & Bill 02:30 News Update 04:16 Invent It Rich 10:30 Goldie & Bear 10:00 The Weber Cup 11:10 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 03:00 Global Business 05:03 Moon Machines 10:55 Minnie’s Bow-Toons 11:00 Ping Pong World 11:35 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 04:00 News Update 05:50 Nyc: Inside Out 11:00 Miles From Tomorrow Championship 12:05 E! News 00:10 The Chase: Celebrity 05:00 News Update 06:37 How Do They Do It? 11:25 Special Agent Oso 13:05 WAGs Specials 12:00 Welsh Open Snooker 06:30 Dialogue 07:00 How Do They Do It? 11:40 The Hive 14:05 Botched 01:05 Emmerdale 13:30 European Tour Weekly 07:00 News Hour 07:23 Mythbusters 11:50 Handy Manny 15:00 Keeping Up With The 01:30 Eggheads 14:00 Premier League Darts 08:00 Global Business 08:08 How The Earth Works 12:15 Jungle Junction Kardashians 02:00 Coronation Street 17:30 NRL Premiership 09:00 News Update 08:53 Nyc: Inside Out 12:30 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 16:00 Keeping Up With The 02:30 Keep It In The Family 19:30 Golfing World 10:30 Sports Scene 09:38 Through The Wormhole 13:00 Sofia The First Kardashians 03:25 Murdoch Mysteries 20:30 Gillette World Sport 11:00 Global Business With Morgan Freeman 13:25 Miles From Tomorrow 17:00 Fashion Bloggers 04:20 Murdoch Mysteries 21:00 HSBC World Rugby Sevens 12:00 News Update 10:23 Invent It Rich 13:50 Jake And The Never Land 05:15 Royalty Close Up 17:30 Fashion Bloggers Highlights 12:30 Culture Express 11:08 Moon Machines Pirates 18:00 E! News 06:10 Who’s Doing The Dishes? 13:00 Africa Live 11:53 Nyc: Inside Out 14:15 Sheriff Callie’s Wild West 07:00 Eggheads 21:30 NRL Full Time 14:00 News Update 19:00 Fashion Police FOCUS MOVE ON OSN MOVIES HD 22:00 Live Super League Classifieds

THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

` Kuwait KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (14/04/2016 TO 20/04/2016)

SHARQIA-1 FAN- Hindi 2:45 PM KUNG FU PANDA 3 3:30 PM BEFORE I WAKE 12:45 PM FAN- Hindi 5:45 PM MA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 5:45 PM CRIMINAL 3:00 PM FAN- Hindi 8:45 PM MA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 8:00 PM BEFORE I WAKE 5:15 PM FAN- Hindi 11:45 PM MA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 10:15 PM MA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 7:30 PM MA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 12:30 AM CRIMINAL 9:45 PM FANAR-3 BEFORE I WAKE 12:05 AM CRIMINAL 12:45 PM AVENUES-3 THE AMERICAN SIDE 3:15 PM MR. RIGHT 11:45 AM SHARQIA-2 CRIMINAL 5:30 PM OBSERVANCE 2:00 PM THE JUNGLE BOOK 1:00 PM OBSERVANCE 7:45 PM MR. RIGHT 4:30 PM THE JUNGLE BOOK 3:15 PM THE AMERICAN SIDE 9:45 PM THERI-TAMIL 6:30 PM THE JUNGLE BOOK 5:30 PM CRIMINAL 12:05 AM JU ON: THE GRUDGE 3 9:30 PM THE JUNGLE BOOK 7:45 PM OBSERVANCE 11:30 PM THE JUNGLE BOOK 10:00 PM FANAR-4 OBSERVANCE 1:15 AM MA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 12:15 AM THE JUNGLE BOOK (3D) 1:00 PM THE JUNGLE BOOK 3:15 PM AVENUES-4 SHARQIA-3 THE JUNGLE BOOK (3D) 5:30 PM CRIMINAL 11:30 AM FAN- Hindi 12:30 PM THE JUNGLE BOOK 7:45 PM FAN- Hindi 2:15 PM KUNG FU PANDA 3 1:30 PM THE JUNGLE BOOK (3D) 10:00 PM FAN- Hindi 5:15 PM FAN- Hindi 3:30 PM BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE 12:15 AM NO THU+FRI FAN- Hindi 6:30 PM Special Show “THE JUNGLE BOOK” 5:15 PM FAN- Hindi 9:30 PM FANAR-5 THU+FRI CRIMINAL 12:30 AM FAN- Hindi 1:15 PM FAN- Hindi 8:15 PM TOP CAT BEGINS 2:00 PM FAN- Hindi 11:15 PM MUHALAB-1 TOP CAT BEGINS 4:00 PM BEFORE I WAKE 11:30 AM TOP CAT BEGINS 6:00 PM AVENUES-5 CRIMINAL 1:30 PM FAN- Hindi 8:00 PM THE JUNGLE BOOK 11:45 AM CRIMINAL 3:45 PM FAN- Hindi 11:00 PM THE JUNGLE BOOK -3D 2:00 PM SITUATION WANTED BEFORE I WAKE 6:00 PM THE JUNGLE BOOK 4:15 PM THE AMERICAN SIDE 8:00 PM MARINA-1 THE JUNGLE BOOK -3D 6:30 PM M.Com sixteen years expe- CRIMINAL 10:15 PM BEFORE I WAKE 1:00 PM THE JUNGLE BOOK 8:45 PM rience in independently CRIMINAL 12:30 AM KUNG FU PANDA 3 3:00 PM NO THU+SUN handling accounts of medi- FRI+SAT Special Show “THE JUNGLE BOOK” 8:45 PM um sized companies upto MUHALAB-2 BEFORE I WAKE 3:00 PM THU+SUN finalization, familiar with FAN- Hindi 11:30 AM NO FRI+SAT THE JUNGLE BOOK 11:00 PM FAN- Hindi 2:30 PM BEFORE I WAKE 5:00 PM accounting systems, at FAN- Hindi 5:30 PM BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE 7:00 PM AVENUES-6 present working in hospital, FAN- Hindi 8:30 PM BEFORE I WAKE 10:00 PM FAN- Hindi 12:00 PM seeking suitable position. FAN- Hindi 11:30 PM BEFORE I WAKE 12:05 AM FAN- Hindi 3:00 PM Mobile: 66019422. (C 5161) FAN- Hindi 6:00 PM 14-4-2016 MUHALAB-3 MARINA-2 FAN- Hindi 9:00 PM THE JUNGLE BOOK 11:45 AM THE JUNGLE BOOK 11:30 AM FAN- Hindi 12:05 AM Sri Lankan maid looking THE JUNGLE BOOK 2:00 PM THE JUNGLE BOOK 1:45 PM for a part time job, our hon- THE JUNGLE BOOK 4:15 PM THE JUNGLE BOOK 4:00 PM 360º- 1 est, trustworthy and hard dition, required KD 3000 THE JUNGLE BOOK 6:30 PM THE JUNGLE BOOK 6:15 PM THE JUNGLE BOOK -3D 1:15 PM working, preferably with a cash, installments also pos- THE JUNGLE BOOK 8:45 PM THE JUNGLE BOOK 8:30 PM THE JUNGLE BOOK 3:30 PM sible. Please call 66047733. BEFORE I WAKE 11:00 PM THE JUNGLE BOOK 10:45 PM THE JUNGLE BOOK -3D 5:45 PM European family. She has BEFORE I WAKE 1:00 AM MA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 1:00 AM THE JUNGLE BOOK 8:00 PM been working with us for (C 5160) THE JUNGLE BOOK 10:15 PM several years and we can 13-4-2016 FANAR-1 MARINA-3 MA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 12:30 AM recommend her to every- BEFORE I WAKE 12:30 PM FAN- Hindi 12:00 PM one. Contact: 55206281. 2008 Suv Audi Q7, black, BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE 3:00 PM FAN- Hindi 3:00 PM 360º- 2 (C 5159) MA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 6:15 PM CRIMINAL 6:00 PM BEFORE I WAKE 12:45 PM 12-4-2016 full option, very good con- BEFORE I WAKE 8:15 PM CRIMINAL 8:15 PM BEFORE I WAKE 3:00 PM dition. KD 3900. Contact: MA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 10:30 PM MA3 AL KHATAR (Kuwaiti Film) 10:30 PM BEFORE I WAKE 5:15 PM 90905788. (C 5158) BEFORE I WAKE 12:45 AM CRIMINAL 12:45 AM BEFORE I WAKE 7:30 PM FOR SALE BEFORE I WAKE 9:45 PM FANAR-2 AVENUES-1 BEFORE I WAKE 12:05 AM Nissan Sentra 2014 model, FAN- Hindi 11:45 AM KUNG FU PANDA 3 1:15 PM black color, very good con- 112

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

Arrival Flights on Thursday 14/4/2016 GFA 221 Bahrain 14:20 Departure Flights on Thursday 14/4/2016 UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 Airlines Flt Route Time SVA 500 Jeddah 14:30 Airlines Flt Route Time PAL 669 Dubai/Manila 14:45 THY 772 Istanbul 00:10 KNE 529 Jeddah 14:55 AIC 976 Goa/Chennai 00:05 KAC 773 Riyadh 15:00 MSC 415 Sohag 00:10 KAC 742 Dammam 14:55 BBC 044 Dhaka 00:10 KAC 673 Dubai 15:05 JZR 267 Beirut 00:30 KAC 788 Jeddah 15:00 JAI 574 Mumbai 00:25 GFA 222 Bahrain 15:05 FDB 069 Dubai 00:55 SYR 341 Damascus 15:00 MSR 615 Cairo 00:30 FDB 058 Dubai 15:05 KKK 6506 Istanbul 00:55 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 15:10 FDB 072 Dubai 00:30 AXB 394 Kozhikode 15:10 DLH 635 Doha 01:00 OMA 645 Muscat 15:10 MSC 404 Asyut 00:55 KNE 381 Taif 15:10 QTR 1086 Doha 01:15 ABY 127 Sharjah 15:35 KLM 411 Amsterdam 00:55 KAC 617 Doha 15:15 JZR 539 Cairo 01:20 UAE 857 Dubai 15:45 MSC 416 Sohag 01:05 QTR 1079 Doha 15:15 SAI 441 Lahore 01:30 JAD 301 Amman 15:55 JZR 502 Luxor 01:15 JZR 189 Dubai 15:50 PGT 858 Istanbul 01:40 RJA 640 Amman 16:00 THY 773 Istanbul 01:40 KNE 530 Jeddah 15:55 RJA 642 Amman 01:45 KNE 531 Jeddah 16:05 DLH 635 Frankfurt 02:00 KAC 613 Bahrain 16:00 ETH 620 Addis Ababa 01:45 FDB 051 Dubai 16:10 SAI 442 Lahore 02:30 SYR 342 Damascus 16:00 JZR 552 Alexandria 01:50 QTR 1072 Doha 16:15 THY 765 Istanbul 02:45 SVA 505 Jeddah 16:00 GFA 211 Bahrain 02:15 JZR 535 Cairo 16:20 ETH 621 Addis Ababa 02:45 OMA 646 Muscat 16:10 UAE 853 Dubai 02:25 KAC 118 New York 16:30 PGT 859 Istanbul 02:55 ABY 128 Sharjah 16:15 OMA 643 Muscat 03:05 JZR 787 Riyadh 16:45 UAE 854 Dubai 03:45 ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 16:20 FDB 067 Dubai 03:15 NIA 251 Alexandria 16:50 OMA 644 Muscat 04:00 JAD 302 Amman 16:35 MSR 612 Cairo 03:15 KAC 562 Amman 16:55 KKK 6505 Istanbul 04:05 RJA 641 Amman 16:55 ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 03:15 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 FDB 068 Dubai 04:05 KNE 532 Jeddah 16:55 QTR 1076 Doha 03:25 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:10 KAC 675 Dubai 17:00 KAC 544 Cairo 03:40 JZR 177 Dubai 17:45 MSR 613 Cairo 04:15 FDB 052 Dubai 17:00 LMU 510 Cairo 04:00 KAC 678 Muscat/Abu Dhabi 17:50 QTR 1077 Doha 04:35 JZR 266 Beirut 17:10 QTR 8511 Doha 04:30 JZR 777 Jeddah 17:50 JZR 560 Sohag 05:00 QTR 1073 Doha 17:25 DHX 170 Bahrain 05:10 QTR 1080 Doha 17:55 LMU 511 Cairo 05:00 UAE 858 Dubai 17:40 THY 770 Istanbul 05:15 JZR 483 Istanbul 18:20 QTR 8512 Doha 06:00 NIA 252 Alexandria 17:50 JZR 529 Asyut 06:00 KAC 176 Geneva/Frankfurt 18:20 RJA 643 Amman 06:25 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15 KAC 412 Bangkok/Manila 06:15 MSR 620 Cairo 18:30 QTR 1087 Doha 06:30 GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 PAL 668 Manila/Dubai 06:25 KAC 774 Riyadh 18:35 THY 771 Istanbul 06:45 JZR 184 Dubai 18:20 BAW 157 London 06:40 KAC 786 Jeddah 18:35 GFA 212 Bahrain 06:50 JZR 538 Cairo 18:30 IRA 673 Ahwaz 07:15 KAC 502 Beirut 18:35 JZR 240 Amman 06:55 JZR 554 Alexandria 18:50 FDB 5061 Dubai 07:15 KAC 618 Doha 18:55 FDB 070 Dubai 07:05 KAC 563 Amman 19:00 JZR 503 Luxor 07:25 KAC 542 Cairo 18:55 JZR 164 Dubai 07:15 QTR 1081 Doha 19:05 KAC 382 Delhi 07:30 KAC 104 London 19:00 FDB 5062 Dubai 07:55 JZR 238 Amman 19:15 KAC 346 Ahmedabad 07:35 UAE 875 Dubai 19:05 IRA 672 Ahwaz 08:15 JZR 124 Bahrain 19:20 KAC 206 Islamabad 07:40 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:05 BAW 156 London 08:25 MSR 621 Cairo 19:30 KAC 204 Lahore 07:40 KAC 614 Bahrain 19:10 JZR 778 Jeddah 08:30 GFA 218 Bahrain 19:50 KAC 302 Mumbai 07:50 FDB 063 Dubai 19:10 FDB 054 Dubai 08:30 FDB 064 Dubai 19:50 ABY 123 Sharjah 19:15 SVA 512 Riyadh 07:50 SVA 513 Riyadh 08:50 ABY 124 Sharjah 19:55 JAI 572 Mumbai 19:35 FDB 053 Dubai 07:50 JZR 534 Cairo 09:25 FDB 060 Dubai 20:30 KAC 674 Dubai 19:45 KAC 332 Trivandrum 08:15 KAC 787 Jeddah 09:30 KAC 283 Dhaka 20:30 KAC 154 Istanbul 19:45 KAC 344 Chennai 08:15 KAC 619 Doha 09:30 UAE 876 Dubai 20:35 FDB 059 Dubai 19:50 KAC 352 Kochi 08:20 KAC 671 Dubai 09:30 JAI 571 Mumbai 20:35 DLH 634 Frankfurt 20:05 KAC 362 Colombo 08:20 JZR 482 Istanbul 09:45 KAC 331 Trivandrum 20:45 KNE 382 Taif 20:10 UAE 855 Dubai 08:25 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:45 DLH 634 Doha 20:50 ABY 121 Sharjah 20:10 KAC 284 Dhaka 09:00 UAE 856 Dubai 09:50 ABY 122 Sharjah 20:50 MEA 402 Beirut 20:15 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:05 KAC 101 London/New York 10:00 KAC 351 Kochi 20:50 OMA 647 Muscat 20:20 ABY 125 Sharjah 09:05 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:00 JZR 189 Dubai 20:25 KAC 353 BLR 20:55 IRA 667 Esfahan 09:05 MSR 618 Alexandria 20:30 IRA 668 Mashhad 10:05 KAC 343 Chennai 20:55 QTR 1070 Doha 09:30 QTR 1088 Doha 20:35 FDB 056 Dubai 10:40 KAC 543 Cairo 21:00 FDB 055 Dubai 09:40 FDB 5053 Dubai 20:55 QTR 1071 Doha 10:45 KNE 234 Riyadh 21:10 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:05 KAC 677 Muscat/Abu Dhabi 10:50 MEA 403 Beirut 21:15 UAE 873 Dubai 10:40 UAE 859 Dubai 21:15 KAC 501 Beirut 11:00 OMA 648 Muscat 21:15 MEA 404 Beirut 11:00 ALK 229 Colombo 21:20 KAC 153 Istanbul 11:00 MSR 619 Alexandria 21:30 JZR 561 Sohag 11:25 KLM 417 Amsterdam 21:25 KAC 561 Amman 11:20 QTR 1089 Doha 21:45 RBG 553 Alexandria 11:30 KAC 676 Dubai 21:35 KAC 165 Rome/Paris 11:25 DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50 JZR 165 Dubai 11:50 QTR 1082 Doha 21:55 KAC 741 Dammam 11:35 FDB 5054 Dubai 21:55 NIA 151 Cairo 12:20 GFA 219 Bahrain 22:00 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:35 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 21:55 FDB 075 Dubai 12:25 ETD 309 Abu Dhabi 22:10 MEA 405 Beirut 12:00 ALK 230 Colombo 22:20 JZR 241 Amman 12:30 JZR 125 Bahrain 22:15 KAC 541 Cairo 12:05 UAE 860 Dubai 22:25 UAE 871 Dubai 12:45 AIC 981 Chennai/Ahmedabad 22:25 UAE 874 Dubai 12:10 KLM 417 Dammam/Amsterdam 22:25 MSR 610 Cairo 13:00 MSC 501 Alexandria 22:30 RBG 554 Alexandria 12:10 KAC 381 Delhi 22:25 KAC 620 Doha 13:10 JZR 185 Dubai 22:55 JZR 776 Jeddah 12:15 KAC 301 Mumbai 22:30 QTR 1078 Doha 14:05 THY 764 Istanbul 22:55 KAC 785 Jeddah 13:00 GFA 220 Bahrain 23:00 JZR 779 Jeddah 14:05 MSC 403 Asyut 23:00 JZR 176 Dubai 13:10 KAC 205 Islamabad 23:00 KAC 672 Dubai 14:05 JAI 574 Mumbai 23:20 FDB 076 Dubai 13:10 ETD 310 Abu Dhabi 23:05 KNE 231 Riyadh 14:10 MSR 614 Cairo 23:30 JZR 786 Riyadh 13:20 QTR 1083 Doha 23:20 AXB 393 Kozhikode 14:10 FDB 071 Dubai 23:35 NIA 152 Cairo 13:20 KAC 411 Bangkok/Manila 23:25 FDB 057 Dubai 14:20 PIA 205 Lahore 23:40 MSR 611 Cairo 14:00 MSC 502 Alexandria 23:30 DIAL161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION p34_p34 stars 4/13/16 9:50 PM Page 1

stars34 THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

CROSSWORD 1226 STAR TRACK

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

You had few challenges last month. This has been more of a personal A lack of information could hold you back-educate yourself as to what is growth time. Someone else has the upper hand in the workplace but you happening around you. You may find yourself feeling blocked. One step at a time you are will be happy to know that life will be going your way soon. You will gain the recognition able to accomplish anything. Fresh challenges and initiatives light your fires as a new you have been wanting. You have many followers that appreciate the way you present cycle begins in your life; again . . . Take it one step at a time. You have lots of drive to help yourself and handle business. You teach that challenges are just steppingstones to growth you accomplish many things as well as a powerful urge to be first or come out on top. Any and knowledge. You, in fact, realize that it is the challenges that motivate you. Your taste in competition you can find to strengthen or enhance your skills is thrilling to undertake. art and appreciation of art are heightened. You think about whether this evening may be This could mean best sales executive or best whitewater-rafting guide, or both. In any a good time for shopping. Probably better move toward home-this evening will present case, you are appreciative of all your opportunities and achievements. Tonight you may some fun times to enjoy yourself, your friends and family. feel like treating a loved one to dinner in a new restaurant.

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

Full speed ahead is your motto! Your humor and inventiveness pay off as Think seriously about your work and what you have learned in the business you express your ideas in a group setting! Take plenty of breaks and try to concentrate on for which you work. Think about how much further you might want to grow. If you want to the task at hand. There are financial opportunities this afternoon and you may be check- stay, do not hesitate to present your ideas to higher-ups. If you want to move forward in ing out the risks with some of your professional friends. As the workday comes to an end your profession, write down-for your eyes only-just where you really want to go. You may you will find yourself on the phone setting up appointments with repair people or plan- decide it is time to further your education. Your capabilities may not match your present ning a trip to the hardware store. You want to make your home safe and you look for ways status. You may hold back when it is time to take chances with a new job position. in which to repair or secure items around the house. Laughter is the prescription for this Whatever you decide, now is the time to get to business with your plans. You have created evening. Create a fun evening-perhaps everyone can take their turn to tell about a recent a new recipe, musical tune, mathematical puzzle or any number of other unique items. book, movie or other subject that has come to his or her attention. Live life enthusiastically.

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

This is a good time, when your efforts really pay off and things seem to run Your financial situation is improving now-continue to invest or save for the smoothly. You have gained the ability to work for long periods of time without interrup- future. Avoid high risks or frivolous spending. Willingness to cooperate with tions. You coordinate and organize like never before. You may be able to complete some higher-ups now will have its rewards. You may be moved toward the limelight, especially difficult task that you have been putting off for a long time. Health and work goals take on with superiors. You may find that you enjoy your job but there are more responsibilities ACROSS 7. A Bantu language closely related to Zulu. a greater importance this afternoon. You are interested in increasing your stamina and than usual. Because of your management techniques, you can transform these additional 1. A fastener for a door or lid. 8. Any of a group of hard crystalline minerals may partake in an activity like indoor mountain climbing or long-distance swimming. This responsibilities before they multiply. Think on this matter today but do not act just now. 5. Having six units or components. that consist of aluminum silicates of evening, you may be able to bring a group together with words or ideas that encourage You have all the drive you could want for whatever needs your attention. It should be easy 12. (of securities) Not quoted on a stock potassium or sodium or calcium or bari- others. Art may be possible. Your whole world may seem trancelike or dreamy. Movies, to channel this energy. You may enjoy getting away from your usual routine to find a little exchange. um. books and all other forms of escape could prove enjoyable. unusual project for yourself. 15. Any culture medium that uses agar as the 9. A severe or trying experience. gelling agent. 10. A statement that deviates from or perverts 16. Small genus of shrubs and small trees of the truth. New Zealand. 11. Any of a group of Indic languages spoken Cancer (June 21-July 22) 17. An enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of in Kashmir and eastern Afghanistan and Capricorn (December 22-January 19) many body compounds (e.g., epinephrine northern Pakistan. You could feel that you lack depth and feeling when it comes to communi- and norepinephrine and serotonin). 12. A member of the Siouan people formerly cation skills. This is temporary of course-your ideas can be most intuitive. It may take a little You may not appreciate being corrected today and you really do not feel 18. The wood of the sabicu which resembles living in the Missouri river valley in NE work to get into the routine of work but you gain momentum as you go. You might try right in saying anything to the person that is correcting you-perhaps because of status or rank. It may be wise to avoid this person until you have a handle on how this person mahogany. Nebraska. writing and keeping track of your thoughts by dividing the subject matter into categories. relates to everyone. You could be the one to help sooth the ruffles that disturb this person, 19. Advanced in years. 13. A sock with a separation for the big toe. Your ideas will find the support needed and others will add to your ideas. You are able to 20. A loose sleeveless outer garment made 14. Fossil fuel consisting of carbonized veg- perhaps-patience. This afternoon, when you get home from work, or when you can take a form your thoughts into just what is needed to accomplish the work that is set before you moment of time to yourself, prop your feet up and relax with your head back. Soak a cloth from aba cloth. etable matter deposited in the today. Obstacles that have previously been confounding should find easy explanation 21. (Islam) The man who leads prayers in a Carboniferous period. with cool water or perhaps some chamomile or peppermint tea and place across your under your keen examination. After work you find the opportunity to visit with friends and eyes-relax. You may be receiving a gift of money before this week is complete. Trust your mosque. 23. The eleventh month of the civil year. laugh over a few jokes. This evening you can relax. 22. A shot in billiards made by hitting the cue 25. Walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or intuition. A book on tape may bring many enjoyable hours. ball with the cue held nearly vertically. through mud. 24. A British doctorate. 27. Not only so, but. 26. The longer of the two telegraphic signals 28. The United Nations agency concerned Aquarius (January 20- February 18) used in Morse code. with atomic energy. Leo (July 23-August 22) 29. A white soft metallic element that tarnish- 30. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike Take time to smell the roses, as there could be pressures in domestic, es readily. part of an organism. property or community matters. Financial matters may have your attention as well, but You may be especially dynamic and assertive. You have a desire to get things done quickly; however, you should not be impulsive or too quick to act. Some of 31. The mission in San Antonio where in 1836 32. An independent group of closely related the news is all good and the prospects look good for gain. Obtain advice from two other the projects that you attempt to work on today need your full concentration. This after- Mexican forces under Santa Anna Chadic languages spoken in the area reputable places regarding an investment prospect and you will be pleased with the noon there are temptations to purchase high-value items because the neighbor has a sim- besieged and massacred American rebels between the Biu-Mandara and East results. A dialogue with an older person may take place today and you may be quite inter- who were fighting to make Texas inde- Chadic languages. ilar product. You should, however, avoid material status symbols at this time. Be attentive ested in what this person has to say. You may find yourself in discussions surrounding to your responsibilities, since they cannot be ignored. This is a most beneficial time to pendent of Mexico. 33. Hairlike projection from the surface of a technology or find yourself using your expertise to repair equipment. You could be most 35. Sluggish tailless Australian arboreal mar- cell. exchange ideas and seek out new projects or ventures. There is a temptation to bring your persuasive with others and eloquent in your communication. The state of affairs is positive work home-do not make this a habit. This evening, you will be pleased with the results of supial with gray furry ears and coat. 34. (Greek mythology) One of the three and there are several openings to make headway with others on a plan. 40. King of England who was renounced by Graces. your efforts in guiding a young person. Northumbria in favor of his brother Edgar 36. Of time long past. (died in 959). 37. Jordan's port. 42. Hypothetical universal solvent once 38. Of southern Europe. Virgo (August 23-September 22) sought by alchemists. 39. Essential oil or perfume obtained from Pisces (February 19-March 20) 45. An extension at the end and at right flowers. Your creative self-expression blooms when professional people from your angles to the main building. 41. Physically and mentally fatigued. Solid, secure and comfortable situations can be expected in most avenues office request your expertise, perhaps regarding a conference, convention or in hosting of your life now. This is a great time to be with others and to work together. 46. A federal agency established to regulate 43. (Akkadian) God of wisdom. visitors from afar. Your expertise in showing an interest to each individual creates many the release of new foods and health-relat- 44. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind. Others may require your presence for a particular job. You are productive. There may be opportunities to involve almost anyone in talking about himself or herself; sales and good some serious decisions made about the future of a project, investment or term of employ- ed products. 48. An agency of the United Nations affiliated business are the results. At the noon break, you may be chatting with a co-worker that has 47. Any of various small plant-sucking insects. with the World Bank. ment with your business at this time. This change will work in your favor. Your manage- arranged a summer vacation place. He or she makes the same amount of money that you ment and directional abilities are in high focus. A feeling of being at peace and stable on 49. A genus of Platalea. 50. French biochemist who (with Jacques make and you wonder how it can be that he or she is able to take such a trip. What you 51. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a Monod) studied regulatory processes in the emotional level comes into influence at this time. Of all the horoscope combinations may discover is a new way of thinking about how to visit different places. You may decide and signs, yours is the most successful at living as a single person. Consider this when you skewer usually with vegetables. cells (born in 1920). not to partake in the same method but you gain good ideas. 53. (Old Testament) In Judeo-Christian 52. An ancient kingdom in northern are feeling lonely. Work at building a variety of friends. mythology. Mesopotamia which is in present-day 54. Wild sheep of northern Africa. Iraq. 55. Type genus of the Anatidae. 56. The syllable naming the fourth (subdomi- Word Search Yesterday Solution 58. (classical architecture) A molding for a cor- nant) note of the diatonic scale in nice. solmization. 59. The second largest city in Tunisia. 57. An edge tool with a heavy bladed head 62. African mahogany trees. mounted across a handle. 68. Any of numerous local fertility and nature 60. The United Nations agency concerned deities worshipped by ancient Semitic with the international organization of peoples. food and agriculture. 72. Not wide. 61. Either of two Welsh breeds of long-bodied 74. Remote and separate physically or socially. short-legged dogs with erect ears and a 76. A city in the European part of Russia. fox-like head. 77. (prefix) Opposite or opposing or neutraliz- 63. A Loloish language. ing. 64. Studies intended to provide general 78. Put into a proper or systematic order. knowledge and intellectual skills (rather 80. The most common computer memory than occupational or professional skills). which can be used by programs to per- 65. A chordophone that has a triangular frame form necessary tasks while the computer consisting of a sounding board and a pil- is on. lar and a curved neck. 81. A city in Tuscany. 66. Large elliptical brightly colored deep-sea 82. Minute freshwater crustacean having a fish of Atlantic and Pacific and round body enclosed in a transparent Mediterranean. shell. 67. United States educator who introduced 83. A constellation in the southern hemi- reforms that significantly altered the sys- sphere near Telescopium and Norma. tem of public education (1796-1859). 69. A sensation (as of a cold breeze or bright DOWN light) that precedes the onset of certain 1. Member of a Jewish sect that observes a disorders such as a migraine attack or form of strict Orthodox Judaism. epileptic seizure. 2. Small terrestrial lizard of warm regions of 70. (old-fashioned) At or from or to a great dis- the Old World. tance. 3. A region of Malaysia in northeastern 71. A Tibetan or Mongolian priest of Lamaism. Borneo. 73. (often followed by `of') A large number or 4. Affectedly dainty or refined. amount or extent. 5. A shrub or tree of the genus Rhus (usually 75. A beverage made by steeping tea leaves in limited to the non-poisonous members of water. the genus). 79. An intensely radioactive metallic element 6. (Greek mythology) A maiden seduced by that occurs in minute amounts in urani- Zeus. um ores. Yesterday’s Solution

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Ireland (UK) 0044 Chile 0056 North Korea 00850 Bneid Al-Gar 22531908 China 0086 Norway 0047 Shaab 22518752 Colombia 0057 Oman 00968 Comoros 00269 Pakistan 0092 Qibla 22459381 Congo 00242 Palau 00680 Ayoun Al-Qibla 22451082 Cook Islands 00682 Panama 00507 Costa Rica 00506 Papua New Guinea 00675 Mirqab 22456536 Croatia 00385 Paraguay 00595 Sharq 22465401 Cuba 0053 Peru 0051 Cyprus 00357 Philippines 0063 Salmiya 25746401 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Poland 0048 Jabriya 25316254 Czech Republic 00420 Portugal 00351 Maidan Hawally 25623444 Denmark 0045 Puerto Rico 001787 Diego Garcia 00246 Qatar 00974 Bayan 25388462 Djibouti 00253 Romania 0040 Mishref 25381200 Dominica 001767 Russian Federation 007 Dominican Republic 001809 Rwanda 00250 W Hawally 22630786 Ecuador 00593 Saint Helena 00290 Sabah 24810221 Egypt 0020 Saint Kitts 001869 El Salvador 00503 Saint Lucia 001758 Jahra 24770319 England (UK) 0044 Saint Pierre 00508 New Jahra 24575755 Equatorial Guinea 00240 Saint Vincent 001784 Eritrea 00291 Samoa US 00684 West Jahra 24772608 Estonia 00372 Samoa West 00685 South Jahra 24775066 Ethiopia 00251 San Marino 00378 Falkland Islands 00500 Sao Tone 00239 North Jahra 24775992 Faroe Islands 00298 Saudi Arabia 00966 North Jleeb 24311795 Fiji 00679 Scotland (UK) 0044 Finland 00358 Senegal 00221 Ardhiya 24884079 France 0033 Seychelles 00284 Firdous 24892674 French Guiana 00594 Sierra Leone 00232 French Polynesia 00689 Singapore 0065 Omariya 24719048 Gabon 00241 Slovakia 00421 N Khaitan 24710044 Gambia 00220 Slovenia 00386 Fintas 23900322 Georgia 00995 Solomon Islands 00677 Germany 0049 Somalia 00252 Ghana 00233 South Africa 0027 Gibraltar 00350 South Korea 0082 Greece 0030 Spain 0034 Greenland 00299 Sri Lanka 0094 PRIVATE CLINICS Grenada 001473 Sudan 00249 Guadeloupe 00590 Suriname 00597 Guam 001671 Swaziland 00268 Guatemala 00502 Sweden 0046 Paediatricians Ophthalmologists Plastic Surgeons Endocrinologist Guinea 00224 Switzerland 0041 Dr. Khaled Hamadi 25665898 Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf 22547272 Guyana 00592 Syria 00963 Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman 25339330 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari 22617700 Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed 25340300 Haiti 00509 Serbia 00381 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Abdel Quttainah 25625030/60 Dr. Zahra Qabazard 25710444 Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Taiwan 00886 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Family Doctor Dr. Sohail Qamar 22621099 Honduras 00504 Tanzania 00255 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Dr Divya Damodar 23729596/23729581 Dr. Snaa Maaroof 25713514 Hong Kong 00852 Thailand 0066 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Physiotherapists & VD Psychiatrists Dr. Pradip Gujare 23713100 Hungary 0036 Togo 00228 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Dr. Zacharias Mathew 24334282 Dr. Deyaa Shehab 25722291 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Tonga 00676 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Esam Al-Ansari 22635047 Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr Eisa M. 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Gossip

Khloe on wearing make-up to the gym

hloe Kardashian “always” wears jewelry and cara, why should anybody else care?” However, the out.” The ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ TV person- make-up to the gym. The 31-year-old ‘Kocktails ‘Strong Looks Better Naked’ author has admitted that ality has returned to her active lifestyle and undergoes Kwith Khloe’ host has admitted she feels bare her estranged husband Lamar Odom was the catalyst weekly workouts with her sister Kourtney, as well as without a pair of hoop earrings and a made up face to encourage her to train, although he was also the rea- with her personal trainer Gunnar Peterson. Meanwhile, when she exercises, because she likes feeling “cuter” son she avoided the gym for a brief spell. She Khloe - who has dropped 35 pounds in recent months - when she dresses up for her work out sessions. explained: “When Lamar and I broke up [in 2013], I had has admitted that regardless of her weight loss she has Speaking to Shape magazine about her gym attire, the all these emotions that I didn’t know what to do with. always been happy with her figure in its varying incar- May cover star said: “I always wear hoop earrings; Some people suggested therapy, but instead I joined nations. She said: “I love my shape because I’ve earned they’re like my security blanket. People laugh at me, my local Equinox gym, where I’d get on an elliptical and every curve. I work hard in the gym to get it. But I also but why not? They make me feel more dressed up. “I watch bad reality TV. As a result, I started losing weight. loved my shape before, when I was even curvier.” also wear make-up when I work out. I put on a tinted “When Lamar was in the hospital, I stopped doing the moisturizer, mascara, and cherry lip balm, and fill in my one thing I really needed: exercise. The gym takes all eyebrows. If I feel cuter with a little lip color and mas- the anxiety away when I’m overwhelmed or stressed

Victoria Beckham: David is the best partner

ictoria Beckham says her husband year-old brunette doesn’t bring her work David Beckham is the “best partner home with her. When relaxing with David, Vanybody can have”. The Spice Girls 40, and their four children - Brooklyn, 17, singer turned fashion designer says she Romeo,13, Cruz, 11, and Harper, four - and her retired soccer superstar spouse Victoria prefers to learn what everyone has like to share every aspect of their lives and done with her day but if she wanted to she loves the fact that David supports her talk shop then the former England captain in her career. Speaking to would be happy to oblige. She said: “I tend Hashtaglegend.com, Victoria said: “David not to talk too much about (work) when I comes to my shows and David is my busi- get home because I’ve been working on it ness partner. Everything we do, we do all day and there’s so many other things to Tyga’s Lamborghini everything together. We really support catch up with regards to the children and each other ... He’s the best partner any- what he’s doing.” body can have.” Although Victoria is is in danger of being obsessed with making her self-titled fash- ion label as successful as it can be, the 41- repossessed he ‘Rack City’ hitmaker reportedly owes Choice Motor Credit $357,350.77 for not making payments on his 2013 TLamborghini Aventador and the company now want to take back the luxury sports car, TMZ reports. And this isn’t the firm’s first dealings with the rapper, as CMC also repossessed his 2014 Chung’s memorable Bentley Mulsanne in February. Though the firm sold the car, Tyga still owes over $91,000. This isn’t the first money problem the star has encountered recently. It was previously revealed he had failed Marks & Spencer range to close on the purchase of his new home three times. The ‘Ayo’ hit- lexa Chung’s Marks & jumpers I used to wear to ride my maker has been in escrow on a $10 million, eight-bedroom prop- Spencer range is inspired by pony. “When I shop I buy the erty in the Calabasas home close to where girlfriend Kylie Jenner memories of her dad wear- checked shirt, the Breton top. All and various members of her family live, but has reportedly come A ing the high street chain’s clothes. the things I am drawn to I have up with excuses every time the deal has been due to complete. The 32-year-old model has come to realize I had a version of as The 26-year-old star had blamed being on the road or not getting launched her Archive by Alexa a child. I am looking for things I paid for not having the cash to finalize the transaction but the clothing line for the British retailer, have had already, but maybe with news came just a few weeks after Tyga was reprimanded by a which is available in stores from small tweaks.” Alexa - who is a judge for not paying a settlement agreed with one of his dancers. Wednesday and is comprised of 30 Contributing Editor for British Allison Brown sued the rapper for sexual battery as she claimed pieces historically associated with Vogue - has previously admitted to she was plied with alcohol and coerced to remove her top during a the company. When she sat down buying her first bra from the store shoot on one of his music videos and alleged a man on the set to create her range, Alexa found her and her motivation to bring a groped one of her breasts. She and Tyga - who was the target of mind wondering back to when her younger audience to the company the action because he was in charge - settled for around $50,000 dad Phillip Chung would wrap her that began selling clothes in the but he only paid half so a judge then ordered him to pay the out- up in his woollen jumpers when 1920s. The star - who signed to standing $25,000, plus $16,000 in lawyers fees. In addition, the she was a child and the school uni- Storm modeling agency at the age rapper has an outstanding tax lien of over $19,000 and owes his forms she wore from M&S. of 16 - explained: “I want to high- landlord $70,000 in back rent. Speaking to The Times newspaper light to a new demographic, to about her clothing line, she said: younger people who didn’t grow “I’m M&S man! I wanted this collec- up in the 1980s, all the dependable, tion to reflect my personal interac- classic, practical things that first tion with the brand since child- took me to M&S. It’s a fresh take on hood. My school cardigan and what they are famous for.” Kesha to sing at Dylan’s 75th birthday concert pleated skirt, my thermals, my dad’s

esha will sing at ‘Dylan Fest: A Celebration of which takes place from Friday to April 24. A source Bob Dylan’s 75th Birthday’ in what will be her told X17 Online: “Kesha is beginning to realize that Kfirst performance since her claims of sexual she needs to take her career into her own hands, and abuse against Dr Luke were dismissed. The 29-year- this is her way of doing just that.” Prior to her court Christian Louboutin has old star has been booked for the two-night music drama, Kesha teased fans that she was working on extravaganza, which is set to pay tribute to the folk “weird country” music and was busy making the fol- icon’s diamond jubilee, on May 23-24 at Nashville’s low-up to her 2012 album ‘Warrior’ which was set to launched new handbag Ryman Auditorium. The occasion also marks the include some wacky country tracks. She said: “I’ve he 53-year-old French lux- and their children. 50th anniversary of the release of Dylan’s first album been working on music for like, months now, obsess- ury footwear designer - Demonstrating inventiveness ‘Just Like a Woman’and Kesha will be joined by 30 ing in the studio all night, so I’ve got a lot of new Twho is recognized for his combined with instinctive artis- stars of the country music and folk world, including music but it’s been so all over the place. Some of it’s signature red patent sole tic flair, the hand-embroidered ‘Biscuits’ singer Kacey Musgraves. The star hasn’t per- like weird country, then I have love songs, so it’s all footwear- has joined forces with work of the women of La formed since she filed allegations of unproven seri- over the place so I’m still kind of compiling my his friend to ValÈrie Maison Rose is fused with the ous sexual assault against her former producer and record.” Schlumberger and the French skill of the house of Christian mentor, and recently had her attempts to get out of charity La Maison Rose to Louboutin to create this vivid her Sony contact denied by a judge. But the ‘Tik Tok’ launch the “magic” oversized and distinctive day bag. (sic)” hitmaker could be returning to the stage sooner accessory called Africaba, which Christian’s soft-bodied shopper than May as she is rumored to be performing at the will see 10 per cent of proceeds features a bold African design, upcoming Coachella festival in Indio, California, go to aid Senegalese women complete with short red leather and children. The fashion mogul handles, as well as an extended shared two pop-art styled shoulder strap for a cross-body videos on Instagram to show- or over the arm carrier. The Delevingne Rimmel London case his latest creation. The envelope tote is decorated with is the new face of first post read: “Our latest col- beads and spikes, in keeping laboration is a story of friend- with his iconic designs, as well he 23-year-old supermodel - who has marketing officer of color cosmetics - said: “I ship, creativity and reinvention. as the designers initials returned to the fashion business after a sev- think it’s so rare for a beauty brand to find such a Meet Africaba, the versatile day engraved, as well as an large en-month hiatus - has been announced as natural face as an ambassador. “We are very for- T bag made in partnership with embroidered logo, which retails the latest ambassador for the beauty brand tunate to have Kate Moss but Cara is also a fan- French charity #LaMaisonRose. at £795 online. today . Speaking to WWD.com about her first tastic fit. We pick people who don’t need any With each purchase, a portion memory of Rimmel - which is owned by Coty Inc. customization and I think that is one of the key of proceeds provide aid relief to - the blonde beauty said: “My first memory of points. Cara Delevingne is a true British woman Senegalese women and chil- Rimmel, was watching the adverts with Kate and she has true British style - a classic beauty [Moss]. “I was very much a tomboy growing up and she also has this imitable attitude. She has dren. (sic)” Whilst his second so I never really wore makeup but I was always had a very fast rise to stardom, it’s been meteoric graphic comic-esque upload fascinated by how edgy and captivating the and she is extremely compelling and loved by read: “True magic! Africaba is brand and its ambassadors were. It’s such an the younger generation, which is a key, core tar- the result of a collaboration iconic cosmetic brand that represents the get for the brand. She has this quite unique look between Christian Louboutin, London girl. It was a natural partnership. The because it’s always bold, very trendsetting and his dear friend ValÈrie brand philosophy and core brand identity is in very personal.” Cara will be seen in DC Comics Schlumberger, and the women line with my own style and attitude. I am proud film ‘Suicide Squad’ later this year and is currently of La Maison Rose. A beautiful to be English and jumped at the opportunity to shooting science-fiction film ‘Valerian and the pink house in Dakar, La Maison collaborate with such an iconic English brand.” City of a Thousand Planets’ alongside Rihanna, Rose is much more than a The cosmetic brand, which has seen Kate Moss Clive Owen and Ethan Hawke, which is set for house; it is a place of hope and and Georgia May Jagger coin the phrase “Get the release next year. safety for vulnerable and mar- London look”, will see the British ‘Paper Towns’ ginalized women of Senegal actress feature in her first campaign later this year. Meanwhile, Johanna Businelli - Coty’s chief lifestyle THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

Music & Movies In ‘Green Room’ a punk band faces the truly hardcore lay your early stuff,” is the advice given to the punk maker who can crisply craft John Carpenter-style atmosphere, band The Ain’t Rights when their dirt-broke, gas- mete out unnervingly merciless pain for his characters, and “Psiphoning tour lands a last-minute gig at an assemble robust, earthy thrillers with relatively meager Oregon backwoods roadhouse in Jeremy Saulnier’s brisk and means. brutal genre exercise “Green Room.” The tip from the spikey- haired ‘zine reporter who’s set up the show (an excellent David Gruesome and protracted battle W. Thompson, from “Win Win”) isn’t because the crowd will be I like the early scenes of “Green Room” best. In brief expecting the band’s nonexistent “hits,” but because he knows glimpses, Saulnier fully captures the experience of a strug- the angriest, heaviest tunes will go down best. They’ll be play- gling band on the road: waking up somewhere different each ing for skinheads. night, debating favorite music, making fart jokes in the van. The band, a grimy group of punks (Anton Yelchin, Alia It’s not very hardcore of me to say this, but I wish it continued Shawkat, Joe Cole, and Callum Turner) from Virginia limping on this plane, rather than settle into a gruesome and protract- across the country, shrug. They’ve had Neo-Nazis at their ed battle - as well-executed as the carnage is. Once it enters shows before. When they drive along a remote dirt road in the grindhouse, it stays there. their beat-up van, they’re still not intimidated by the swastikas But you can’t have a siege thriller without a siege, and and Confederate flags around them. They provocatively open “Green Room” is certainly among the genre’s finest examples. with the Dead Kennedys’ “Nazi Punks F—- Off.” The trouble Guns are employed, but the most chilling violence comes doesn’t come then, but after the show backstage, where the from teeth and blades on split-open flesh. It’s not pleasant, band returns to the green room to find a girl on the ground nor is it meant to be. In such moments, the earlier boasts of with a knife in her head. Things go south quickly, and the the band about their lack of social media presence - “When band is confronted with something far more hardcore than you take it all virtual, you lose the texture” - have come back to anything in their record collection. haunt them. You want texture? “Green Room” has it. “Green The road movie that “Green Room” started out to be veers Room,” an A24 release, is rated R by the Motion Picture abruptly into a siege film as the head Neo-Nazi (Patrick Association of America for “strong brutal graphic violence, Stewart, using his refined cordiality for menace) sends waves gory images, language and some drug content.” Running of “true believers” into the roadhouse to dispatch the witness- time: 95 minutes. Three stars out of four. — AP es. “Green Room” is Saulnier’s follow-up to his self-financed breakthrough “Blue Ruin,” a lean and riveting revenge tale also acted out by a novice in violence (Macon Blair, who pops here, too). The writer-director’s latest confirms him as a rising film- This image released by A24 Films shows, from left, Callum Turner, Joe Cole, Alia Shawkat and Anton Yelchin in a scene from, ‘Green Room.’ — AP It’s worth stopping into ‘Barbershop: The Next Cut’ hen you come back to a beloved to get on board. But as a tenuous peace takes place after many years, sometimes hold outside, drama continues inside the Wyou find all the faces have changed shop as Draya makes a play for Rashad and and the vibe is completely different. Not so Calvin considers moving his family to a safer with Ice Cube’s “Barbershop.” Though the third part of town. film in the franchise comes a dozen years after part two, “Barbershop: The Next Cut” is Cube and Cedric as colorful and clever as its predecessors. Minaj is a riot as a sassy flirt whose work There are some new faces (including uniform is a skimpy bra and skin-tight leg- Common and Nicki Minaj) and new elements gings. Common brings the smolder as a mod- (an attached beauty shop), but the warm ern man who supports his wife’s career but energy, subtle social commentary and big- feels frustrated at her lack of effort in the rela- hearted laughs are the same. tionship. Morris is a comic highlight, as is Ben Affleck, left, and Amy Adams, cast members in the Cube returns as Calvin, proprietor of a Deon Cole, who plays Dante, a guy who film ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,’ address the barbershop on Chicago’s South Side, where hangs out at the barbershop dishing one-lin- audience during the Warner Bros presentation at he oversees a motley crew of haircutters ers. As in past trips to the “Barbershop,” Cube CinemaCon 2016. — AP who spend as much time boasting and ban- and Cedric the Entertainer are the heart of tering as they do snipping and styling. the story. Affleck to direct Batman film, Perpetual scene-stealer Cedric the “The Next Cut” manages to address Entertainer returns as outspoken old-timer racism, sexism, police brutality and gang vio- Warner Bros chief says Eddie, and Eve is back as sharp-tongued lence in a thoughtful way without being Terri, once the shop’s lone female hairdress- heavy-handed. It’s a call for community en Affleck will direct a stand-alone “Batman” movie, says er. But you don’t need any background to be activism balanced with plenty of playful Warner Bros chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara. Affleck por- charmed by the chatter at this community laughs. There’s also the bonus of seeing Cube Btrayed the caped crusader in this year’s “Batman v hangout, where the staff has grown to In this image released by Warner Bros., Cedric The Entertainer, from left, Nicki Minaj and bust out some dance moves and Common do Superman: Dawn of Justice” and had been rumored to be the stu- include a bunch of new barbers and beauti- Ice Cube appear in a scene from ‘Barbershop: The Next Cut.’—AP an old-fashioned backspin. The two rappers dio’s top choice to helm the film. Tsujihara confirmed they were cians and the discussion subjects range from also wrote a song for the film, “Real People,” moving forward with him in the director’s seat Tuesday at Kim Kardashian to President Obama. ‘The streets are talking’ have been killed there so far this year. which plays over the closing credits. So CinemaCon, an annual gathering of theater owners in Las Vegas. The crew includes Terri’s husband and Director Malcolm D Lee and writers Kenya Calvin worries about how the surge in vio- whether it’s your first trip to Calvin’s or you’ve The stand-alone Batman feature is part of Warner Bros. plans for Calvin’s friend Rashad (Common), opinionat- Barris and Tracy Oliver develop each of these lence is affecting his 14-year-old son, Jalen got a standing appointment, it’s worth stop- an expanded DC Comics cinematic universe, similar to that of the ed Raja (Utkarsh Ambudkar), neurotic Jerrod characters enough to deliver a winning (Michael Rainey Jr), who’s getting into fights ping in for “The Next Cut.” “Barbershop: The Disney and Marvel collaboration. Warner Bros. has at least 10 fea- (Lemorne Morris, even funnier here than on ensemble comedy with multiple story lines at school and considering joining a gang. Next Cut,” a Warner Bros release, is rated PG- tures in the works, including “Suicide Squad,” “Wonder Woman” TV’s “New Girl”), and man-of-many-hustles and just the right dose of realistic drama. Set Calvin is also concerned about the effects on 13 by the Motion Picture Association of and “Justice League.” Unsurprisingly, those films comprised a One-Stop (JB Smoove), who offers haircuts, in present-day Chicago, the film opens with his business, especially when former barber America for “sexual material and language.” major portion of Warner Bros’ presentation, signaling that the stu- health exams, fake IDs and other services Calvin’s voiceover about the explosion of vio- and now mayoral aide Jimmy (Sean Patrick Running time: 111 minutes. Three stars out of dio is moving forward energetically with its original plans despite from his barber chair. They share the shop lence in the city. “The streets are talking,” he Thomas) tells him about a proposal to stem four. — AP reports that perhaps “Batman v Superman” is not performing as with a new business partner, Angie (Regina says. “They’re tired. They’re angry.” Chicago South Side violence by building a wall around well at the box office as the studio would have liked. Hall), and her team of stylists, including span- had the most homicides of any US city last the neighborhood. The shop responds by Affleck, who is also directing “Live By Night” for the studio, dex-clad Draya (Minaj) and unlucky-in-love year, and it’s on track to earn that sad distinc- sponsoring a 48-hour cease-fire. They con- made an appearance with Amy Adams, who plays Lois Lane. He Bree (Margot Bingham). tion again in 2016. More than 140 people vince two rival gang leaders, both customers, confirmed that both would be joining Zack Snyder’s “Justice League,” which is currently in production in London. “Suicide Squad” director David Ayer and stars Will Smith and Margot Robbie were on hand as well to hype the supervillains gone straight pic, which launches on Aug 5 with intense footage focus- Doherty kicks off post-attack David Gest ing heavily on Robbie’s Harley Quinn. Music producer Warner Bros also trotted out stars and footage from a number of their upcoming films including the Harry Potter spinoff Bataclan concert schedule dies in London at 62 “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” “The Lego Batman eter Doherty will headline the first show avid Gest, a music producer, reality TV manent injuries. Minnelli struck back with a $2 Movie,” the Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling comedy “The Nice at the Bataclan, the Paris concert venue Guys,” and the Emilia Clarke romantic drama “Me Before You.” But which was hit by a terror attack on Nov star and former husband of Liza million suit claiming Gest had stolen money P Minnelli, was found dead Tuesday at a from her. The pair ended their dispute in 2007 beyond the individual films, a big focus was the studio’s ongoing 13, when it reopens next Fall. Although the D commitment to its filmmakers and the specialness of theatrical Bataclan has not yet announced the day of its London hotel. He was 62. Gest’s friend Imad when their lawyers filed court papers saying presentation. The threat of The Screening Room, a proposed at- official reopening, Peter Doherty’s concert has Handi confirmed his death, remembering they had settled their differences and agreed home viewing experience of first-run movies, has loomed large been scheduled for Nov 16, three days after Gest as “a natural star and a genuine celebrity.” to divorce without fault. over the annual conference where theater owners come not just the anniversary of last year’s tragedy. Doherty, “David was truly larger than life. He was not Gest remained a friend of Jackson and to check out the new studio slates and mingle with stars, but to the Libertines co-frontman, is expected to just a huge talent and a dear friend but a after the singer’s death in 2009 produced a see the latest technologies that promise to enhance the theatrical release his second solo album this year and showbiz icon,” Handi said. The Metropolitan documentary, “Michael Jackson: The Life of an experience for audiences. Major filmmakers like Steven Spielberg will kick off his solo tour on May 11. The rebel- Police force said officers were called to Icon.” Gest gained a following in Britain with and Peter Jackson have come out in support of the service, but lious British musician previously performed at “reports of an unexplained death of a man in appearances on reality TV shows including the industry on the whole remains divided. the Bataclan in 2009 to rave reviews. his 60s” at the Four Seasons Hotel in London’s “I’m a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here” in 2006 “I assure you we are not going to let a third party or middle The Bataclan’s first slate of concerts also Canary Wharf on Tuesday morning. and “Celebrity Big Brother” earlier this year. He man come between us,” Tsujihara told the audience of exhibitors. include Youssou N’Dour and the Super Etoile The force said an autopsy would take place had to leave that show in January after two “When there are new technologies ... we will explore them with de Dakar on Nov 18, Nada Surf on Dec 2 and “in due course” to determine the cause of weeks on medical grounds. His upbeat per- each of you. We know the status quo is not an option.” Not every MZ on Dec 3. The Bataclan said the renova- death, but it was not being treated as suspi- sonality and frankness endeared him to British viewers. Gest told a British TV show he regret- studio has taken a hard stand. On Monday, “Star Wars: The Force tions will not change the set up of the famed Peter Doherty cious. Born in 1953, Gest was raised in south- ern California, where he became friends with ted having plastic surgery in the 1980s, from Awakens” director JJ Abrams - a Screening Room backer - urged concert hall. “We wish to preserve the warmth during a concert by the Eagles of Death Metal. the conference to be open-minded about innovations. and conviviality, maintain the popular and fes- Michael Jackson and his family. He worked as the same doctor as Michael Jackson. “What an Eagles of Death Metal’s Jesse Hughes had said a music promoter and television producer, idiot I was. ... It’s the stupidest thing in the “Hangover” director Todd Phillips on Tuesday, however, came tive spirit which has always defined (The EODM would be the first band to perform at out strongly against the idea of the Screening Room without Bataclan),” said the venue’s management. and was introduced to Minnelli by Jackson world,” he said. the Bataclan upon its reopening but that plan when Gest produced the King of Pop’s 30th He settled far from the bright lights of mentioning it directly while promoting his new Jonah Hill and Further concerts and shows will be unveiled in seemed compromised after he hinted that Miles Teller comedy “War Dogs.” “Why are we in such a rush to turn the coming days. anniversary tribute concert for television in showbiz, buying a house in the northern Bataclan security knew of the attacks in an 2001. English city of York. He told the Yorkshire Post movies into television? It doesn’t make sense to me. Movies are While announcing their first roster of con- interview published last month. — Reuters special,” Phillips said. “We need to do everything we can to protect certs, Bataclan’s management also paid hom- The couple married in 2002, at a celebrity- newspaper in 2014 that he loved the city’s that part of the experience.”— AP age to 89 victims who were killed on Nov. 13 studded ceremony with Jackson as best man cathedral, cobblestone streets, Viking history and Elizabeth Taylor as maid of honor. They and famous York Hog Roast.—AP separated in a burst of headline-grabbing acrimony in 2003. Gest sued Minnelli for $10 million, alleging that she beat him so badly Bataclan announces first concerts during alcoholic rages that he suffered per- since Paris attacks in November

he team running the Paris concert group Nada Surf and the French group MZ hall where 90 people were killed in have also been booked to play the concert Tlast year’s jihadist attacks announced hall in the east of Paris in December, the yesterday a series of concerts would be statement added. “We want to preserve the held at the venue in November. British (Bataclan’s) warmth and friendliness and singer Pete Doherty and the Senegalese maintain its popular, festive spirit,” the man- star Youssou N’Dour and his Super Etoile de agement team said. The California group Dakar band will play the Bataclan on Eagles of Death Metal, who were on stage November 16 and 18 respectively, the man- when jihadist gunmen burst in opening fire agers said in a statement. They said work on concertgoers on November 13, have had begun on repairing the interior of the repeatedly said they want to return to play building but “no exact reopening date has the venue. — AFP as yet been fixed”. File photo shows US music pro- File photo shows Liza Minnelli, right, and her hus- ducer David Gest poses with band David Gest, left, pose for photographers upon This file photo shows people walking by employees work- The choice of N’Dour, a Muslim, who has some of his collection of enter- their arrival at the musical theatre “Neue Flora” in ing to set the letter reading ‘Eagles of Death Metal’ on the often spoken out in support of dialogue between the world’s major religions, is like- tainment memorabilia at an Hamburg, northern Germany.— AP photos facade of the Olympia concert hall, on February 16, 2016 auction house in London. in Paris, ahead of the band’s concert. — AFP ly to be seen highly significant. The US rock lifestyle THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

Features

File photo shows with the world’s tallest tower, Burj Khalifa, in backdrop, a man enjoys an urban zip line attraction in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. — AP photos File photo shows with the worldís tallest tower, Burj Khalifa, in background, a man enjoys an urban zip line attraction in Dubai. In air travel hub of Dubai, zip line offers new way to fly n the air travel hub of Dubai, there’s a new many residential towers surrounding the Burj way to fly: A zip line run by extreme sports Khalifa, taking an elevator up to the 25th floor Icompany XDubai. XDubai, which began its and walking up a utility staircase to the roof. operations in 2015, is associated with the There, XDubai workers helped me into a zip- crown prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin line harness that has a small satchel attached Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, known to hold riders’ personal belongings. I waited by millions for his Instagram exploits. The zip on a metal staircase, watching those before line fits into the extreme-sports aesthetic of me screech, squeal and shout as they went this city-state, already a popular skydiving over the edge. When my turn came, XDubai destination where parachutes deploy daily staff strapped me in and told me to keep my among its skyscrapers. feet up going over the edge. Other than that, The view from the start of the zip line is it was a quick one-two-three count before I just as breathtaking. The Burj Khalifa, the too got pushed out into the open air. world’s tallest building at 828 meters (2,716 The air whipped around my face on the feet), looms to your left, along with the 45-second ride 90 meters (300 feet) in the air, under-construction, ship-shaped Dubai the blue waters of the Dubai fountain Opera. Directly ahead lies the massive Dubai beneath me as I hollered as well despite Mall and the dancing Dubai Fountain, whose myself. Just as my feet reach the mall, the line nightly music-and-light shows see water caught, throwing my feet up in front of me. sprayed 140 meters (460 feet) into the air. The Halted, hanging in the air, an XDubai worker Address Downtown Dubai hotel, draped in asked me if I had a good time. I definitely tarps since catching fire on New Year’s Eve, is had. —AP on your right. To reach the zip line, I entered one of the A woman enjoys an urban zip line attraction in Dubai. A man enjoys an urban zip line attraction in Dubai. Thai new year festival kicks off despite junta call to water down hais and tourists took to the streets yesterday to drench but also threats from authorities to arrest scantily clad women be people of all ages joining in,” added the junta chief, whose Thailand’s junta has also ramped up a campaign this year to each other in the mass water fight that marks the coun- and ban alcohol from the raucous street bashes in an effort to administration has launched a streak of public morality cam- crack down on drunk driving, which soars during the Ttry’s new year festival Songkran, as authorities attempt- return the festival to its traditional roots. paigns since seizing power in a 2014 coup. Authorities have Songkran week and sees hundreds killed every year. ed to crack down on alcohol, topless dancers and other “inde- Police in recent days have warned that they will block the also urged revelers to spray water more sparingly this year, as It is one of two periods dubbed the “Seven Deadly Days” by cencies”. The three-day festival is traditionally celebrated by trucks carrying topless dancers-female and transgender-that the country is currently in the grip of the worst drought in the Thai government and press-the other being western New paying respect to elders and visiting temples to sprinkle water have become a regular feature of Songkran street parties. “It is decades. Year. The past two days alone have seen 116 people killed and over Buddha figures. But the holiday, which takes place at the also essential that we maintain our cultural heritage through But police efforts to block the deluge appeared fruitless by nearly 1,000 injured in road accidents, according to govern- peak of Thailand’s sweltering dry season, is also known as one genuine traditional activities, such as pouring water on midday, with water-soaked street parties in full swing across ment officials. The junta said yesterday that authorities had of the world’s biggest water fights. Buddha statues,” the country’s military leader, Prayut Chan-O- Bangkok with people unleashing brightly-coloured plastic arrested more than 20,000 motorists accused of drunk driving Every year massive crowds of revelers descend on the Cha, said in his weekly televised address ahead of the holiday water guns. Hoses and buckets were also out in neighboring since Saturday. — AFP streets to battle each other with water guns and douse week. Myanmar, one of several other Buddhist countries in the passers-by. This time partygoers are bracing not only for the “There are laws governing indecent exposure, which will region to celebrate the festival, despite similar calls to curb sudden splashes of water that can come from any direction, be enforced. You should celebrate in a polite way as there will water waste and return to more traditional celebrations.

People take part in water battles.—AFP Photos People sit by a wall covered by a poster as they rest during water battles. lifestyle THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

Features High hopes for Indonesian author vying for Man Booker glory lready compared to literary heavyweights Gabriel Garcia home, let alone on the world stage. Many do not have the means extended to his circle of close friends. It took a decade before it Marquez and Haruki Murakami, great expectations weigh to translate their books into other languages and attract publish- was translated into English and on bookshelves overseas. Aon Eka Kurniawan, the first Indonesian ever nominated for ers and readers abroad. Yet their is a passionate desire to share The respected Southeast Asian scholar, Benedict Anderson a Man Booker International Prize. The 40-year-old is up against their stories and the profession has flourished since Indonesia stumbled on Kurniawan’s work and, impressed, urged him to revered writers like Orhan Pamuk and Kenzaburo Oe, both past embraced democracy. Kurniawan, who is now married with a translate his works and meet with a UK publisher later describing recipients of the Nobel Prize in Literature, but there is a growing young daughter, participated in the student protests that toppled him as “Indonesia’s most original living writer of novels and short buzz about the works of this little known author. At home, titles of the authoritarian regime in 1998. He says the wave of openness stories”. For many writers - language is a challenge. Indonesian is Kurniawan’s novels splashed across the back of trucks, while news- that followed the end of Suharto’s three-decade rule had an “enor- often second choice after local dialects. This limits exposure in a papers and magazines hail him Indonesia’s most exciting writer mous” influence on Indonesia’s literary evolution. country where only 1 in 1,000 spends time reading, according to for a generation. “I feel Indonesia is more open,” Kurniawan explains. “We can research by UNESCO. “My friends sent me pictures of the back of trucks bearing the speak practically about many things, including politics, religion Publishing in English is the only avenue for global recognition titles of my books - these (trucks and the lives of the drivers) were and other taboos like sex.”Kurniawan’s own work is no exception: and readership but for many the cost of quality translation an inspiration for one of my novels-and the fact my books are “Man Tiger” is a grisly, murderous tale, while “Beauty is a Wound” remains too high, ensuring they remain off the radar of major emblazoned there brought me to a state of euphoria, I got goose- revolves around the communist massacres across Indonesia in the international publishers. But interest is growing-last year bumps,” he tells AFP. Internationally, demand is such that he’s 1960s, a politically-sensitive topic to this day. The vein of magic Indonesia was guest of honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair, an already attended the acclaimed Frankfurt and Melbourne Book realism throughout his work has earned Kurniawan comparisons opportunity to showcase the literary culture and traditions at the Fairs. Despite this, Kurniawan says his inclusion on the longlist for to legendary Colombian novelist Marquez, while others tout him largest publishing event in the world. the prestigious award, for “Man Tiger”-the story of a young man as successor to Pramoedya Ananta Toer. There’s a sense Kurniawan could encourage further interest. who gnaws his elderly neighbor to death-came as a “surprise”. Pramoedya, who died a decade ago this month, is considered Barbara Epler, the head of his US publisher New Directions, pre- He will find out Thursday if he has made the final six. The win- Indonesia’s greatest-ever writer. His legendary “Buru Quartet”- dicted that if Kurniawan took off overseas he would be a “prime ning author and translator will also share 50,000 pounds which he wrote behind bars during the Suharto years-earned him force” in getting more publishers interested in Indonesia, a sen- (USD$71,000) in prizemoney, while all the finalists receive 1,000 several nominations for a Nobel Prize for Literature, and acclaim timent echoed in his homeland. “I hope he wins so that authors pounds. A shortlist nomination-or better still, a victory-will likely overseas. will rush to translate their books into other languages, promot- provide a much-needed international profile boost not just for ing them to the world,” respected Indonesian poet Sapardi Kurniawan, but for the nation’s literary scene. “I hope this is the Fuel global interest Djoko Damono told AFP. The shortlist for the Man Booker case that Indonesian literature is really on the rise, because in the For all the high praise directed at Kurniawan, who is from West International Prize will be announced Thursday and the winner past 10 years I can feel the excitement,” he adds. Java but now lives in Jakarta, it has been slow crawl from aspiring on May 16. — AFP writer to Booker nominee. He worked as a graphic designer and This picture shows author Eka Kurniawan showing off ‘Free from taboos’ jobbing writer, but when “Man Tiger” was first published in his book ‘Man Tiger’ during an interview with AFP in Indonesian writers have long struggled for appreciation at Indonesian in 2004 — he concedes the readership really only Jakarta. — AFP At Disney, running a race is all about the costume t Walt Disney World, you might find Darrell Saria, a federal government Darth Vader, Tinker Bell or a classic employee in Winnipeg, Canada, said he under- ADisney princess running alongside half- stands the need for safety and believes it marathon participants. These events are no pushes people to be more creative. He has run ordinary races, and the trips that participants as a mashup of Goofy and Darth Vader, and take are no ordinary Disney visits. Few care another time combining the Muppets’ Animal about race times, particularly with opportuni- and Boba Fett. He said the races turn into a ties to pose with costumed characters such as social gathering. “I’ve met a lot of people,” he Donald Duck and Boba Fett. Racing is mostly said. “People who do make their own cos- about getting to the photo ops before lines tumes give each other praises, and they inter- get too long. mingle. People will dress up just to have fun Art student Eliya Nikki Cohen covering gravestones in Camperdown Art student Eliya Nikki Cohen covering gravestones in Camperdown Disney has races to honor classic Disney with it and make people smile.” Cemetery in Sydney with custom made white cloth in an installation for Cemetery in Sydney.— AFP photos and Pixar characters (January and September), the city’s 20th Biennale, Australia’s largest contemporary arts festival. princesses (February), Tinker Bell (May) and Various races superheroes from Disney’s Marvel comic And hey, if you’re going to Disney for a books (November). There’s also one at race, why not do two, three or even four on Disneyland Paris in September. On April 14-17, consecutive days? Finish multiple races for the Florida theme park hosts its first Star Wars bonus medals featuring Dopey, Goofy and Half Marathon - The Dark Side, following last Dumbo (get it?). Wear them all as you visit the No dead end art for graveyard Sydney Biennale year’s debut of The Light Side race at theme parks afterward and take pride as they Disneyland in California. Another Light Side clink and clank against each other. You also n historic Australian graveyard which work must respect the historic nature of the ceme- to become matron of the Sydney Infirmary, has a half marathon is scheduled for January 2017, get bonus medals for running Disney races on includes the final resting place of a one-time tery, meaning some graves are off limits, and the memorial in the grounds as does Eliza with registration opening this June. The races multiple weekends. Those doing the “Star harpist to Napoleon and prominent figures artists are careful not to hasten the deterioration of Donnithorne, a recluse and eccentric who was jilt- combine two of the world’s biggest franchises, Wars” races on both coasts this year get a A while capitalizing on Disney’s $4 billion pur- Millennium Falcon medal. from the nation’s colonial era has become the site the memorials, some of which are crumbling or ed at the altar in 1856 and is claimed by some in of an art installation with an enduring message. broken. “They are bringing a lot to the work as Australia as the inspiration for Charles Dickens’ chase of Lucasfilm in 2012. Disney “figured out that if you’re going to Swedish artist Bo Christian Larsson had never visit- well,” Larsson says. As part of the installation, he character Miss Havisham. come down, especially if you’re traveling from ed Sydney, let alone seen Camperdown Cemetery, has the women work out of a shipping container-a Sydney artist Katy Plummer, one of the women Minimize disruptions out of town, you might as well maximize your when he agreed to work among its weathered nod to globalization and the often invisible labor of working on the installation, said the exhibition has Many runners come for the weekend or time out there and maximize your fun,” said graves as part of the city’s 20th Biennale, Australia’s women in garment making. forced her to think about the people who were even the week, turning the trip into a “runca- Mike Czernec, a software engineer who lives largest contemporary visual arts festival. Larsson, whose often dark works can incorpo- buried here. “There is a family over there where a tion” as they bring family to ride the rides and, about an hour away in Melbourne, Florida, yet Dog-walkers and visitors make their way rate drawing, sculpture and performance and 29-year-old woman died and then 21 days later her for adults, drink the drinks at Epcot’s World stays at a Disney World hotel for the weekend. through the tree-filled space where some of the reflects his interest in symbols, rituals and social infant son died and it’s just the saddest thing. Showcase. It becomes less of a test of Mark Wietbrock, a security-technology sales- graves have been fitted in white cloths for his work conventions, says the installation is on the theme There’s his little name, aged 21 days,” she says. “I endurance than a challenge to get up early man in Lake St. Louis, Missouri, does a Disney “Fade Away, Fade Away, Fade Away”. The covers are of fading away, because even in life “you are slowly also think about the individuals whose names you after full days at the parks - races start before World race - or consecutive races - every other designed to strip away the hierarchy of social class fading away”. “You get buried and you are slowly can’t read any more, that’s really interesting,” she dawn to minimize disruptions. Costumes are a year. His wife and two younger kids, 6 and 8, that dictated life when the cemetery-which dates fading away. The stones are actually fading away. adds. must for many participants. “I have a thing have done various races with him. He said the from 1848 and was considered full within decades- Although as a human you think that stone will last Larsson says wandering the cemetery in the about princesses,” said Brooke Laing, who trips are also a chance for him and his wife to was founded. “What I am interested in is actually to forever but it doesn’t obviously,” he explains. grounds of St Stephen’s Anglican Church in a busy works at an investment bank in New York. “I return to where they started dating in 2000. get rid of the history on each stone because I have pocket of Sydney’s inner-west Newtown suburb at wanted to dress up and have that all-girls “It’s the best of both worlds to get to run seen the record of this cemetery-the more money ‘Kind of scary’ night can be “kind of scary actually”. He says: “It weekend, getting to put on a tiara and have and get to enjoy the parks,” he said. For many you had, the better stone you could get of course, Larsson says Camperdown Cemetery-which becomes very much like a playground for the dead that childish experience.” runners, vacation time and money are the lim- and the more important place and bigger grave closed in 1942 — was the right place for the instal- people somehow. “I like it a lot. Because the You can even ride a roller coaster near the iting factors. Disney races tend to be more and so on,” Larsson says. lation given his interest “in the mysterious and the stones in the twilight when the sun goes down, the halfway point of a full marathon in January - expensive than hometown races, and multi- “It is about the stones itself as a sort of blank life after death”. Among the thousands buried there covers become really bright, a little bit like ghosts.” though if you run too fast in an early-morning race challenges are even more so - pricier than page and that you don’t know who is buried lie Nicolas-Charles Bochsa, who was forced to leave The Sydney Biennale runs until early June. — AFP event, you may find the ride not yet open. signing up for the races individually. Collecting underneath.” Creating the cloth covers are a group France where he had once been Napoleon’s harpist “Disney usually puts on a pretty good show 11 medals from seven races in January cost of seamstresses, Sydney artists recruited for the after being accused of forgery, and explorer and for anything you go to,” said Misty Hayes, a Fort more than $1,000 in registration fees, not to installation, who choose the stones they want to New South Wales Surveyor-General Sir Thomas Worth, Texas, police officer. “How many have mention airfare and hotels. Though there’s no cover and then tailor a piece for each one. The Mitchell. Bathsheba Ghost, a convict who went on the option of jumping on the roller coaster? It admission fee to run through the parks, the was pretty awesome.” The Disney races aren’t finish is in the parking lot, so you have to pay free of gripe, though. They have gotten very to re-enter. Rob Biggar, a software program- popular in recent years, and many sell out mer in Setauket, New York, said Disney’s multi- within an hour of registration. Spouses and race challenges become “much more a test of friends have been shut out for waiting too your wallet than your stamina.”— AP long. And this year, new policies put a cramp on costumes. No more face masks such as Chewbacca. Princess Leia robes and Darth Vader capes also can’t be too long.

This March 14, 1946 file photo shows Museum visitors examine a 1927 photograph A museum visitor, left, walks past a photo- author Ernest Hemingway with his new that shows Ernest Hemingway, center, at a graph of Ernest Hemingway in the exhibit: wife, Mary Welsh, after their wedding in bullfight in Pamplona Spain in the exhibit: ‘Ernest Hemingway: Between Two Wars’. Havana, Cuba. ‘Ernest Hemingway: Between Two Wars’ at the — AP photos John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Manuscripts among rare Hemingway

items shown at JFK library File photo shows runners in a half-marathon at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. rnest Hemingway penned 47 possible endings collection is one of the library’s “greatest treasures,” Adams story, written on Red Cross stationary at an to A Farewell to Arms, eight of which are on said curator Stacey Bredhoff. Italian hospital where Hemingway was recovering Edisplay at a new exhibition on the famed from wounds suffered while serving as an ambulance American writer at the John F Kennedy presidential ‘Grace under pressure’ driver during World War I; correspondence with other library - along with the one that actually concluded “Ernest Hemingway: Between Two Wars,” includes literary figures from his time as a member of the so- the classic World War I novel. “If a person wants to material rarely displayed in public. It enjoyed an earlier called “lost generation” in Paris; and ticket stubs from make their mark as a writer they have to work very run at the Morgan Library & Museum in New York City some of the many bullfights he attended. hard, and this exhibit really shows how hard he last fall. Hemingway and Kennedy never met, but the “I am very pleased that they were able to put worked,” said Patrick Hemingway, the author’s only late president was clearly an admirer. Kennedy wrote together in my lifetime a very comprehensive picture surviving child who on Tuesday toured the exhibi- Hemingway for permission to use his oft-quoted of a person who really represented very well the first tion that opened Monday in Boston and runs phrase “grace under pressure” in the opening to half of the 20th century,” said Patrick Hemingway. The through Dec 31. Kennedy’s own Profiles in Courage. Hemingway was story of how Hemingway’s papers ended up at the “He always felt responsible for being where the too ill to accept an invitation to JFK’s January 1961 Kennedy library carries overtones of modern-day action was,” said the 87-year-old Hemingway. “A lot of inauguration, and would commit suicide later that developments in the long and complex relationship writers just retire to their rooms and describe their year. between the US and Cuba. —AP childhood. He didn’t do that.” The Kennedy library, Along with the multiple proposed endings to A which opened in 1979, is a repository for the world’s Farewell to Arms, highlights of the exhibit include This undated photo provided by Walt Disney World shows costumed runners partic- largest collection of documents, photographs and Hemingway’s first short story, published in 1917 in a ipating in a race at the theme park in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. — AP personal mementos belonging to the literary icon. The high school literary magazine; a draft of his first Nick High hopes for Indonesian author vying for Man Booker glory

THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 39

A Bangladeshi Dhaka University Art Institute student displays masks to sell as a part of Bengali New Year preparations in Dhaka on April 11, 2016. The Bengali calendar is solar, with the year beginning on Pohela Boishakh, which this year falls today, in Bangladesh. — AFP Syrian actors board ‘Love Boat’ for Europe ix Syrian actors with stories to tell are huddled in a small vessel headed for Europe on a “Love Boat” journey to Sescape the conflict that has ravaged their homeland. The vessel, a prop mounted on a stage in the Jordanian capital, is the centerpiece of a one-act tragicomedy to celebrate life and break whatits director calls the “three biggest taboos in Arab society: religion, sex and politics”. It tells of the five-year conflict that has killed more than 270,000 people, forever maimed many others and forced mil- lions to flee their homes, often on perilous trips across the Mediterranean. With their theatre company back home decimat- ed by the bloodshed, the actors who survived are reunited in their flight and by a determination to restart their broken lives. They act under their own names, and some drew from personal experiences. Iman, one of the two women, plays a teenager hit by shrapnel in the southern province of Daraa who had a leg amputated-a role not far from her own real-life trauma of losing her right leg due to shrapnel wounds. Haya, a25-year-old, created a character who spent 227 days in regime jails where she was raped daily, rendering homage to the many Syrian women who lived such a nightmare. Among the men are Mohammed who plays a fictional singer who lost a hand in the war and Adnan whose character was jailed for tak- ing part in anti-regime protests-as Adnan was in real life. Mahmud, meanwhile, plays a man trapped in the besieged Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmuk near Damascus-the very camp from which the real-life Mahmud fled to Jordan. In the play, the actors set off across the Mediterranean first premiere. “These people boarded makeshift boats to undertake reserved for Cervantes and his masterpiece “Don Quixote”, who In that scene, an actor swiftly changes costume to appear to Greece, then Italy, Spain, France, Britain and Germany, with a perilous voyage because of their love of life,” said Bulbul. set out on adventures to defend the helpless and fight evil aided bearded and in a flowing robe like IS’s self-styled caliph Abu Bakr only a map of Europe and a telescope, hoping one of those by his servant and companion Sancho Panza. al-Baghdadi. The sea journey ends with a tragedy, Shakespeare’s countries will take them in. As each country appears on the hori- King Lear’s Storm Bulbul revisited a scene in which Don Quixote comes across “King Lear”, as the raging storm sinks the boat, taking to the zon, the actors perform a scene from classical plays written by Last year, he directed Syrian refugee children in a version of a group of shackled prisoners and asks his friend why these depths more victims of Syria’s war. More than 110,000 migrants Aristophanes, Goldoni, Cervantes, Moliere and Shakespeare. The Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” and the year before he pro- “wretched people” are being held in chains. have crossed the Mediterranean to Greece and Italy so far this texts are carefully chosen to mirror life in conflict-plagued Syria, duced “King Lear”, also with child actors from Zaatari camp in “Because I am in love,” shouts one actor. “Because I listen to year, and 413 have drowned trying, the International with its slew of armed forces, including the Islamic State (IS) northern Jordan. In “Love Boat”, Bulbul borrows from the grand music,” says another, apparently referring to prohibitions Organisation for Migration said in February. Last year, 3,770 peo- jihadist group, as well as the taboos of Arab society. masters of European drama to send out his message. Off the enforced by Sunni Muslim extremists such as IS. As the boat ple lost their lives, including many children, trying to reach “I wanted through this play to pay tribute to those who have Greek coast, the actors deliver lines from Aristophanes’s “The reaches the French coast, the actors deliver lines from Moliere’s Europe. — AFP died at sea, those forced to flee their country because of the war Knight”, a satire on social and political life, and then from Carlo “Tartuffe” or “The Impostor”, the story of a self-declared holy man and the destruction,” director Nawar Bulbul said at the Amman Goldoni’s “Servant of Two Masters” as they near Italy. Spain is who uses religion to sate his sexual desires.

Syrian refugee actors perform the tragicomedy play ‘Love Boat’ at a theatre in the Jordanian capital Amman. — AFP photos