Amir Receives a Warm Welcome

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SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 JAMADA ALAWWAL 14, 1435 AH No: 16105 Lebanese President Suleiman optimistic 4 150 Fils Amir receives a Egyptian fugitive a warm welcome teacher in Kuwait? Mystery surrounds Qabouti’s visa KUWAIT: An alleged Muslim Brotherhood mem- Jarida daily said that Qabouti entered Kuwait ber arrested in Kuwait recently has been living in with a ‘commercial visit visa’ issued by a private the Gulf state since October last year, and was in school “which matches his occupation as a the process of obtaining a work visa as a teacher, teacher (as stated in his passport)”. “The school according to security sources. The Egyptian recently launched preparations to transfer his national, Mohammed El-Qabouti was reportedly visa to a work permit after renewing it more than detained in Mangaf last week after local authori- five times,” said security sources quoted in the ties received information from the Interpol of his report. whereabouts and an arrest warrant issued in his The man was able to enter Kuwait without home country. problems until he was listed as a fugitive a week The circumstances behind his arrival in before his arrest based on the Interpol’s letter. Kuwait remain a mystery, but sources quoted by “Qabouti remains in Kuwait authority’s custody Al-Qabas daily yesterday hinted that he had as he awaits Egyptian security operatives who entered legally with a visa issued with help of an will take him to Egypt,” the sources added. official in the Islamic Constitutional Movement - Meanwhile, Al-Rai daily reported that the man the Muslim Brotherhood’s tacit political arm in was not likely to be a senior Muslim Brotherhood Kuwait. The sources who spoke on the condition official. of anonymity also indicated that other suspects “Qabouti, who was born in 1971 and arrived could be arrested for their involvement with to Kuwait on October 16, 2013, used different Qabouti visa- who according to the Egyptian means of transportations and changed his phone authorities is involved in the Port Saied prison number several times during his one-week moni- KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, accompa- riots last summer. toring period,” said a security source quoted in nied by deputy head of the National Guard Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Qabouti reportedly denied accusations of the report. News about Qabouti’s arrest drew Sabah, returned home yesterday evening after he underwent a minor successful sur- Muslim Brotherhood membership, which is reactions in the parliament as MP Nabeel Al- gery in the US. The Amir was received at the airport by His Highness the Crown Prince banned in his home country. He provided police Fadhl sent inquiries to Deputy Prime Minister and Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Parliament Speaker Marzouq Ali Al- with official documents issued from Egypt Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khalid Al- Ghanem, Head of the National Guard His Highness Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah, His before he arrived in Kuwait as well as his visa Sabah about the circumstances of his entrance Highness Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime transfer papers, according to the sources. Al- and the identity of his sponsor. — Agencies Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Minister of the Amiri Diwan Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Ministers, Governors and other senior officials.— KUNA US plane tire bursts

PHILADELPHIA: A tire blew out on a US Airways incident on Flight 1702 bound for Fort PAGE plane with 154 passengers and crew on board as Lauderdale, Florida. But Philadelphia Fire Saudi fighters join it was speeding down the runway at Philadelphia Commissioner Lloyd Ayers said two passengers International Airport on Thursday, prompting the were hospitalized, one with a minor injury and Al-Qaeda in Yemen pilot to abort the takeoff, officials said. There were one with a minor illness. no reports of serious injuries in the early evening Continued on Page 13 Bin Laden son-in-law admits Al-Qaeda link

NEW YORK: Suleiman Abu Ghaith admitted attacks. Abu Ghaith, a Kuwaiti cleric who later that months before Al-Qaeda’s 2001 hijacked became a son-in-law to Bin Laden, is accused jet attacks on the World Trade Center and the of conspiring to kill Americans. Prosecutors Pentagon, he promised Osama Bin Laden he say he was a key Al-Qaeda recruiter and would be a spokesman for the group, an FBI spokesman after the 9/11 attacks. They have agent testified on Thursday in a US court. At shown jurors in Abu Ghaith’s trial videos from Abu Ghaith’s trial on terrorism charges, agent October 2001 in which Abu Ghaith warned, Michael Butsch said he interviewed the sus- “The storm of airplanes will not stop.” pect for several hours after his arrest in Lawyers for Abu Ghaith have said the gov- February, 2013. Butsch said Abu Ghaith told ernment cannot prove he was aware of any him then that Bin Laden invited him in July plots against the United States. Abu Ghaith, 2001 to join Al- Qaeda. 48, one of the highest-ranking Al-Qaeda- Butsch said Abu Ghaith recalled that he linked figures to go on trial in the United told Bin Laden he was not a soldier, but a reli- States for crimes related to the 9/11 attacks, gious “scholar and an orator,” and agreed to faces life in prison if convicted. He has plead- PHILADELPHIA: Passengers evacuate US Airways Flight 1702 after the pilot was forced to serve as Al-Qaeda’s spokesman. At the time, ed not guilty. abort takeoff after a tire on the plane’s front landing gear blew out on Thursday, March Al-Qaeda was preparing to carry out the 9/11 Continued on Page 13 13, 2014. — AP

LOCAL SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 KAC forms panel to probe technical problem KUWAIT: Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC) tive sign from the indicator of the undercar- good conduct and cooperation which con- enforced the necessary emergency measures said it will form a panel to probe the Airbus (A- riage which prompted the airport authorities tributed to the safe landing of the aircraft, and including redirecting four flights coming from 310) after its flight KU-618 faced a technical to enforce the necessary emergency measures. thanked the passengers for their understand- Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, Chairman of the problem Thursday evening. The plane circled several times over Kuwait ing. Directorate General of Civil Aviation Fawwaz The plane left Doha International Airport at airport until the pilot made sure that the land- The KAC flight KU-618, coming from Doha, Al-Faraj said. 17:46 heading for Kuwait International Airport ing gear is working properly and was allowed landed safely at Kuwait International Airport The landing gear of the plane proved to be with 121 passengers and 10-member crew on to land, the statement said. Thursday evening after its pilot reported that working soundly but its indicator malfunc- board, KAC said in a statement. KAC expressed appreciation to the pilot, he receive negative sign from the indicator of tions and the plane landed safely at 7:40 pm The plane arrived at Kuwait airport 19:03 the other crew members and the Directorate the undercarriage. local time, Al-Faraj said, affirming that all pas- after its pilot reported that he received nega- General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for their The airport authorities were alerted and sengers are sound and safe. —KUNA Kuwait, San Marino establish ties

NEW YORK: The State of Kuwait and the Republic of San Marino have tentatively established relations at the ambassa- dorial level. This diplomatic event occurred late on Thursday when Kuwait’s Permanent Delegate at the United Nations Ambassador Mansour Ayyad Al-Otaibi signed a treaty with his counterpart of San Marino, Daniele Bodini, stipulating establishment of the bilateral relations. The treaty comes in line with the desire of the two govern- ments to promote relations of friendship and cooperation between the two peoples in political, economic and cultural domains. Excerpts of the accord stipulate that the relations have been established in accordance with objectives, principles and charter of the United Nations, relevant international laws, particularly those related to boosting international peace and security, safeguarding territorial sanctity of regional nations, equality among nations, non-intervention in states’ domestic affairs and free practice of the right to self determination of nations’ des- tiny. The treaty is due to take effect once the Government of Kuwait is notified by the republic as to the latter’s completion of necessary relevant measures, namely parliamentary endorsement of the diplomatic agreement. In remarks after signing the accord, Ambassador Al-Otaibi said, “there has been a good relationship bonding the two countries since San Marino joined the United Nations in 1992. “It has adopted independent policies, stood on side of poor states, has been keen on aiding these countries to make their voices heard at the United Nations, their interests be respected and taken into account, namely with respect of representation or decision making that affect their independence and stability.” He noted further that these developing countries, estimated at 100, are the majority at the UN. Moreover, they contribute significantly to the UN activities, namely in the sectors of international peace and security, economic, development, social and cultural domains.” “We as small countries cooperate at the United Nations within limited groups and we support each other in nominations, considering that we share joint preoccupations in this respect,” the Kuwaiti diplomat stated. Ambassador Al-Otaibi praised San Marino for being among the states that call for expansion of the Security Council membership. Meanwhile, Ambassador Bodini said following the signing ceremony that it is a “great” event for San Marino to sign the agreement with Kuwait. “As a Government and a country, we are happy for this new rapprochement with such a great country like Kuwait.” He said this agreement will help boost economic cooperation, mainly in tourism, noting that both countries are full of economic opportunities. “I see a transfer of ideas and cultural exchange,” he stated. San Marino is an enclaved microstate surrounded by Italy, situated on the Italian Peninsula on the north-eastern side of the Apennine Mountains. Its size is just over 61-sq-km (24 sq miles) with an estimated population of over 30,000, the smallest population of all the members of the Council of Europe. The country’s economy relies mainly on finance, industry and tourism. It is one of the wealthiest countries in the world in terms of GDP per capita, with a figure comparable to the most developed European regions. San Marino is considered to have a highly stable economy, with one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe, a budget surplus and no national debt. —KUNA LOCAL SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

President Michel Suleiman and Yousif Khaled Al-Marzouq surrounded by Adnan Al-Rashid, Mohammed Al-Husseini, Omar Habanjar and Dawood Rammal. Saudi - Iranian understanding pivotal for ending region’s issues Lebanese President Suleiman optimistic

KUWAIT: Lebanese President Michel Suleiman Q: How optimistic are you about the Arab Summit to of accord and convergence. Of course, we cannot play a expressed optimism in the ability of His Highness the be hosted in Kuwait on March 25 and 26? big role as Kuwait due to our issues, but we will do Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah in achieving rec- A: I will be in Kuwait, and I am optimistic in Kuwait’s ability everything we can on that regard. Nevertheless, we onciliation between conflicting Arab states during the to resolve Arab conflicts as it usually does. We rely on surely will support HH the Amir in all of his efforts. upcoming Arab Summit. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- In an interview with Al-Anba daily, President Sabah for his pivotal roles in reconciliation efforts. Q: What proposals can Lebanon present during the Suleiman spoke about the strong Kuwaiti - Lebanese summit? ties and urged Gulf nationals to return to his home Q: We have noticed that Gulf nationals are no longer A: Regarding the situation in Lebanon, the Syrian refugees country. coming to Lebanon in large numbers as they used to issue has become a source of several problems to On the Syrian issue, President Suleiman said that the because of the present situations. What do you have Lebanon. The number of refugees is too large for a influx of refugees has become a threat to Lebanon for to say about this? country of Lebanon’s size and modest economic capa- different reasons, and urged Arab states to ‘share the A: Gulf nationals can come back to Lebanon now. Yes, bilities to take. The Arab Summit must take that into burden’. He also reiterated the need for cooperation there was a time in which Lebanon was affected by consideration, and we have prepared something on between Arab countries to “thwart the risk of terror- political and security tensions, but the situation has that regard based on the idea of sharing responsibility ism,” and acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s gift to the calmed down now. And we are seeking efforts to over the very serious issue that should never be left for Lebanese Army. He also described achieving under- improve the situation even more. one or two Arab states to handle. The seriousness of standing between Saudi Arabia and Iran as “extremely the issue stems from the fact that when terrorist threats important”. Q: Will you have a role in converging views of Arab reach one Arab country, it will soon move to other Arab These topics and others were discussed during the leaders during the summit? states. No country can claim that terrorism will not following question and answer session that Kuwait A: We hope to take those efforts, which is something that reach its borders, terrorism will move to any country Times publishes simultaneously with Al-Anba: Lebanon and Kuwait share, and is based on principles the same way it moved to Lebanon. Therefore, we have LOCAL SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

to cooperate in order to thwart terrorism. Another issue the other hand, the more time a president remains in not adopt that direction. I have my personal judgment is the international support group for Lebanon which office, the more opponents will line up openly against to make my own decision on what I see is right or took place in New York and Paris. We need a strong him. Therefore, I believe that enforcing the constitution wrong. The March 14 Alliance used to say that I sided Arab role in this group, and we might ask Arab coun- is what serves Lebanon’s interest the best. I had previ- with March 8 Alliance, and vice versa. This has never tries to host future meetings. Lebanon is also con- ously said that renewing the presidential term was meant much to me, even when the same thing hap- cerned about strengthening its institutions and army. unconstitutional, in the sense that the parliament, pened to me during my time as Chief Commander of On that regard, initiatives from Arab states such as which elects a president for six years, has recently the army. Later, those parties stood by my election, so Saudi Arabia’s exceptional financial support to the renewed its term and can later renew the presidential what has changed? I try to support what’s right as Lebanese army would be beneficial. As for Kuwait, they term. This is not a correct situation. I prefer presidential much as I can. Whoever does not like what I say, then have always been supportive to us through the Kuwait elections, and plan to invite world leaders to the they have to return to themselves and see what they Fund for Arab Economic Development. Republican Palace to attend the handover ceremony. did wrong to their nations and the principles that we This would be the first time in 48 years in which presi- have walked by. Q: Are you going to bring that up during the summit? dency is handed over during a proper ceremony in A: I will do it during bilateral meetings. I will also focus on Lebanon, which is something that opens the door for Q: We come now to the arming of the Lebanese army urging Arab states to support the international support new hope for tourism and investment. issue which you have backed with Custodian of the group. Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Q: During the early term of your presidency, you were Saud of Saudi Arabia. There has been talks about Q: Would you support renewing your presidential term more linked to the March 8 Alliance. Today, you are ‘deals’ or things that question the motives behind if that option would be best serve the Lebanese linked more towards the March 14 Alliance. What the project. How accurate are those allegations? interest? can you say about your experience with the two A: If we wanted to put the project on hold, this is some- A: We cannot say for certain whether renewing the presi- teams? Is it time for the state of polarization in thing that we can easily do. If they tell to stop arming dential term does or does not serve Lebanon best. Lebanon to end? the army, I will do that in a minute. Today they say that Maybe a new president is what serves Lebanon best, A: The truth is that politicians take things in accordance the French Army Chief of Staff is taking a commission. taking advantage of public intolerance and support with what serves their personal interest. As for the The truth is that we cannot accuse anyone. There are that usually accompanies a president during the early President of the Republic, and especially in my case, he sources in France who say a lot of things, and we have stages of his presidency, thus giving a new hope. On does not belong to a political army, and therefore does nothing to do with what is going on between them.

President Suleiman meeting with Anbaa editor-in-chief, Yousif Khaled Al-Marzouq, his deputy, Adnan Al-Rashid and editorial manager, Mohammed Al-Husseini . LOCAL SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

There has been a lot of rumors surrounding the opera- lack of revenues and need, citizens are more tion since it was approved. They claimed that I attached to their leaders. Whereas those abroad are approved it to have by presidency renewed. I told them not affiliated to any of the rivals at home. I feel that ‘is it logical that Saudi Arabia gives us money and then they like and support me. I have been criticized for the parliament would renew my term to accept that travelling abroad but these trips brought us billions gift?’ They also said that the gift was a ‘price’ to form a from Kuwait, KSA and others to help Lebanon where- certain government, but it was later discovered that the as others’ trips had cost Lebanon so much without gift was announced during the caretaker government any reward. They have been kept by trivialities and of [former prime minister] Najib Mikati and before the fought achievement. My position is much better current government was formed. because I brought three billions to the army towards the end of my tenure and the army will not even start Q: What implications do the Saudi - Iranian relations receiving a single piece of weapons during my presi- have on the situation in Lebanon? dency. It was a dream to me to arm the army and, A: It is extremely important if Saudi Arabia and Iran reach thanks to the Saudi grant, much of it has been understanding, which is something pivotal for both achieved. And we will take similar steps with other Arab and Islamic Worlds to move forward given its friendly countries to give the army what it deserves. importance from the geographical, strategic, political, religious, moral and human values dimensions. Q: Has the army ever received such a big grant? A: Never. This grant is symbolic because it came through Q: Is your relationship with the March 8 Alliance still the president and thanks to God, it did not come to Lebanon directly. strong? A: I have never severed my ties with anyone. I have fin- Q: Will you possibly call for a national dialogue? ished the Baabda Declaration, and sent invitations to A: I will never rest until I call the national dialogue authori- the parliament speaker, prime minister, as well as forty to hold a session or two before the end of my tenure. mer premiers and leaders in the state. After all have Godís willing, when the cabinet wins the parliamentís came to the Republican Palace and agreed on the trust, I plan to call for a session to discuss our defense strategy, which is a project to protect Lebanon, its soil, declaration, they later deemed it useless. Not only army and resistance because assaults on Lebanon are that, but they later scorned it.If they do not under- against the state. When resistance elements went to stand that they have hurt others by their statements, Syria, this undermined those three partiesí solidarity. they have to pay attention because they have hurt the president a lot. If they had came to me and said Q: What are the reasons of disagreement about Baabda that something has came up and they no longer can Declaration? A: continue with the declaration, I would have described When extremists started going to Syria and we sized the Lotfallah 2 boat, I made a tour in the GCC states telling that as political opinion. After all, politics is changing Lebanese President Michel Suleiman the leaders there that Lebanon cannot allow a passage subject to circumstances. But what happened libel to of weapons because this would cause a Sunni-Shiite what has been achieved at the Republic’s presidency. the Saudis, I told them.” The army studied the matter conflict. So I called for dialogue and the Baabda declara- I urge them to keep the issue away from resistance. and decided not to consume the whole grant on pur- tion was issued. And this place, the presidency, it is not mine. It is for chasing the Crotale because we need many other the Lebanese people and is not subject to my person- things. So we opted to the Mistral. However, when I Q: Lebanon was affected by the Syrian crisis and tried to handle its consequences through efforts to release al interest. If that was the case, then I would have was in France, someone advised me to get the previous generation of the Crotale missiles, which will be a the hostages and the army response to Syrian viola- done something about many who do not deserve to tions. How can this be contained? lot cheaper. So, I suggested this to president Holland be here. I am not talking about the resistance here, A: These were addressed by the Baabda declaration that and told him that if the Crotale was cheaper we can but others. However, this is the Republic’s house, and calls for all insurgents to go back home. The army must I am responsible for it in accordance with my oath. combine it with our air defence system. I also asked be supported to defend our borders against attacks The time for talk is over, and now is the time for him to accept changes to the Army orders at any without interfering in Syria, and that applies to all par- action. We have to enforce the Ministerial Statement time, which he agreed to and finally I told the French ties including the media. after people have been exhausted for 10 months, that they will hear from our army. Q: Do have any communication channels with the after which we return to the 8-8-8 cabinet that I have Q: What about marine boat demands that were Syrian leadership? proposed since day one. During that 10-month peri- A: rejected by the French? We have that at the ministersí level and this must contin- od, the two sides made a mistake when they refused ue to go on. to negotiate with each other, and again during the A: That is not true. The French wanted to give us 80- cabinet formation. The two sides played with peo- meter long boats and Brig Emad Qahawgi said we did Q: Your Excellency, are you optimistic about holding ple’s nerves and they are now playing with the not need those and that we only need 40-meter long the Geneva 3 Conference? A: Ministerial Statement. They said that they do not ones and it was agreed upon. I asked that question to Al-Ibrahimi and he stressed that want the Baabda Declaration included in the further meetings would be held to reach a political solution. Ministerial Statement, despite the fact that it was Q: What about tanks, namely Le Carre’? A approved by the United Nations, Arab League and : They are not ready for the moment. Furthermore, the Q: What is the exact number of Syrian refugees in European Union. Nothing is going to change during Saudis advised us that theses tanks were not fit for Lebanon? this period, unless they think that Lebanon is going our climate, which was seconded by the army. I am A: Around 1.2 million. towards having presidential void while the govern- not a military man anymore. I am not a philosopher, ment continues. I hope that this is not the case, oth- either. There are many civil and military philosophers Q: Will you establish refugee camps for the Syrians like in the country. Though I have taken off my military those of the Palestinians? erwise it would be too dangerous for the state. A : uniform long ago, I still have the military manners. Lebanon would never do that. We are actually divided over refugees because of the bad economic and social Q: What kind of weapons will the Lebanese Army get So, the upper word now is for Brig Qahwagi and his consequences on Lebanese. from France? staff and I do trust this man. A: Well, the French talked about Crotale and Mistral mis- Q: What do you say about the current army comman- siles. The Crotale has a longer range. However, we Q: Were you to thank for giving the army this grant? derís presidential ambition? need to study our needs in view of defensive plans A: This deal is spiritual push more than it is a process of A: I do not mind. It is ridiculous to differentiate between a because, according to the French, if we want to build armament. The army needs to feel our trust for moral civilian and a military. Yet, we need to do some constitutional amendments to do so. an effective Crotale defence system, this will cost purposes. more than two thirds of the Saudi grant. I did not Q: Finally, do you have a message for your brothers in meet with the French alone, the Army’s concerned Q: Lebanese abroad like you and you have to listen to the Gulf? them, especially concerning the renewal of your committee was also there to technically discuss the A: My message is that Lebanon needs your feelings, as I matter and decide on their needs. “We need to check tenure. have always told the Amir of Kuwait and King Abdullah. the prices and once this is done, just prepare your A: Luckily, Lebanese abroad have a better image of home You have to advise the GCC not make any decisions budget if you want to purchase only the Crotale mis- and their attachment is not built on interests affected against Lebanon. No one is to be branded unless he by local incidents. Domestically, and in view of the commits violent acts because Lebanese people love the siles, I’m with you and will discuss it with Holland and GCC citizens. LOCAL SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

KUWAIT: The Emergency Medical Services Department at the Ministry of Health organized a training course for emergency operators on giving first aid. The four-day course was held in cooperation with the International Academies for Emergency Dispatch in the United States. — By Hanan Al-Saadoun

Tunisian PM lauds Youth held in Hawally for Kuwait policy molesting five children TUNIS: Tunisian Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa lauded here yesterday Kuwait’s wise and balanced policy under the Runaway maids used as sex slaves leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, which has contributed to pro- KUWAIT: Hawally detectives arrested a child rapist who admitted of She was placed under arrest after returning to Kuwait on Thursday, moting world peace, stability and development efforts. molesting five children at different areas around the governorate. and taken for questioning during which she confessed of planning Speaking ahead of a planned visit by Jomaa to Kuwait as The arrest took place Thursday following investigations based on the whole thing at least two months before, by taking an annual part of a Gulf tour, he said Kuwait and Tunisia are tied with information that Hawally police received about a previous drug leave and buying tickets. close and distinguished relations which have been rein- offender who is involved in child rape cases. The Kuwaiti young man forced by Kuwaiti backing to Tunisia and its people’s admitted during questioning of being responsible for three child Cafe fight option. He appreciated Kuwait’s participation in the cele- rape cases reported in the governorate, in addition to two others in A fight was reported at a Salmiya cafe recently between three bration of the first and second anniversaries of Tunisia’s which families of the victims have failed to report the case. The man women, including one who accused the other of stealing her revolution, and National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al- explained during questioning that he used candy to lure children to boyfriend. According to the police report, a Kuwaiti woman had Ghanem’s and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh roofs of buildings where he committed his crimes. These circum- entered the cafe and stumbled upon two Arab women, including Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah’s attendance of this stances are similar to the ‘Hawally Monster’ involving a child rapist one who she identified as a person that her ex-boyfriend started North African country’s constitution adoption ceremony. who was hanged last year after being convicted in multiple child dating after leaving her. Police arrived at the scene in response to an On the Gulf tour which he begins today, he said it is part rape cases reported between 2006 and 2007. The arrest also hap- emergency call and arrested the three women who had exchanged of efforts to promote the real image of a new Tunisia fol- pened less than two weeks after Farwaniya police arrested a man verbal and physical assault. The women were taken to the area’s lowing recent achievements and gains, primarily the consti- who admitted of molesting at least two children by luring them police station but was later released after they agreed not to press tution and consensus on the current government. Jomaa with candy into his apartment. charges, and after the cafÈ owner also agreed not to press charges added that Tunisia and Kuwait enjoy significant potential to for property damage. further develop bilateral cooperative relations and to build Sex slaves a genuine integrated partnership. Hawally detectives arrested a man accused of using runaway The Tunisian prime minister also acclaimed the role of maids as sex slaves. An official from the Philippines’ embassy had the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) approached local officers and gave the identity of 45-year-old Palestinian award in Tunisia since the 1960s in the development of agricultur- Kuwaiti man that he accused of forcing Filipina women on prostitu- al, transport, communication, energy, industrial, water and tion. The man was arrested following investigations which con- for Al-Babtain sanitary projects. firmed the accusations, and revealed that he would encourage domestic helpers to escape from their employer’s house by offering Jomaa is set to begin a Gulf tour tomorrow involving the AMMAN: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas granted money before forcing them on prostitution. Detectives also discov- UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman, apart from here on Thursday the Palestine Order of Merit for culture, ered that the suspect was a regular at several cafes to look for ‘cus- Kuwait. — KUNA sciences and arts to Kuwaiti poet and literary man tomers’. Police freed eight women during the operation to arrest Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain, President of the Foundation of the man. The suspect as well as the eight women were taken to the Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain’s Prize for Poetic Creativity. Criminal Investigations Department for further investigations. The order of merit is an appreciation to Al-Babtain’s Zakat House activities fine poetic creativities, as well as his initiatives which con- Maid arrested tributed in enrichment of the Arabic culture and his phil- Farwaniya police arrested a domestic helper on Thursday two anthropic contributions to Palestine, his support of the continue in Turkey days after she attacked her female employer with a cleaver and left Palestinian people and their case, President Abbas said. her critically wounded. The Ethiopian national reportedly disap- The Palestinian people will not forget what the Amir ISTANBUL: Kuwait Zakat House’s 22nd symposium on contem- peared after the incident took place inside a Ferdous house where and people of Kuwait provided to them, he indicated, porary alms issues continued for the second day here on she lived with her Kuwaiti employer. The woman was reportedly expressing Palestinian people’s pride of Kuwait. Thursday, which is organized in collaboration with the Presidency found in Fahad Al-Ahmad area and taken to the area’s police sta- For his part, Al-Babtain expressed his pride for receiv- of Religious Affairs in Turkey.Head of the Zakat House media dept. tion, where Ferdous police station officers soon arrived and put her ing the Palestine order of merit and dedicated it to His Hamad Salem Al-Marri said that the symposium discussed several under arrest. She explained during questioning that she was pre- Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- alms issues from all contemporary aspects as it addressed many scribed a medication soon after she arrived in Kuwait two months Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf modern technologies in collecting alms and goods, as well as ago, but stopped taking the medication after suspecting that her Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah who hosted the Palestinian ways of enhancing its sources, diversify spending services for alms employer had put poison in the bottle. On the day of the incident, Liberation Organization (PLO) since its establishment in sources, and increase capability of institutional performance. the employer, who is in her seventies, tried convincing the maid to Kuwait during the 1960s. Furthermore, Al-Marri lauded Kuwait’s major humanitarian take her medication, but the maid got angry and attacked her In addition, Al-Babtain lauded President Abbas’ role role, as well as its interior and exterior projects of supporting poor employer with a cleaver, according to investigations. The maid was and cooperation with the Foundation of Abdulaziz Saud and needy people from all around the world, indicating also that taken to the Public Prosecution to face attempted murder charges. Kuwait continues to be a pioneer among Arab and Islamic coun- Al-Babtain’s Prize for Poetic Creativity, affirming at the same time that supporting the Palestinian people and tries in the field of philanthropic and relief action through govern- ‘Kidnapped’ wife cause will always remain Kuwait’s duty and loyalty to the ment and public organizations and institutions which extend A nurse whose husband had recently reported her kidnapped Palestinian case. helping hand and assistance to other people from various ethnical confessed to police that she had fabricated the whole story in order The decoration ceremony was attended by Kuwaiti backgrounds. to travel with her male coworker. Husband of the 23-year-old Syrian The Zakat House conducts international symposiums once a Ambassador to Jordan Dr. Hamad Al-Duaij, woman had told local police that he had received a phone call from year in several Islamic countries, aiming to cooperate and coordi- Spokesman for the Palestinian Presidency Nabil Abu his wife saying that she was kidnapped outside the Jahra Hospital. nate with alms institutions in the Islamic world, strengthen coop- Radina, and Palestinian Ambassador to Jordan Investigations later revealed that the woman traveled to Iran hours eration aspects among all Islamic countries, and give Zakat issue Attallah Khairi. —- KUNA before she informed her husband about the alleged kidnapping. required dimension and media coverage. — KUNA LOCAL SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 Drug trader arrested at traffic checkpoint Birds missing from zoo

By Hanan Al-Saadoun the possession of chemical drugs, said hand over their wallets. A case was filed. security sources noting that the suspect KUWAIT: A citizen was recently arrested tried to escape arrest and that he was Hawally arrest with the possession of 2 kg of ICE, said chased by a police patrol along the Gulf A citizen was arrested in Hawally with security sources. Case papers indicate Road. On stopping him, he had no dri- the possession of a gun and ICE, said that narcotics detectives had been ver’s license and his vehicle was thor- security sources. tipped off concerning the suspect’s oughly searched and the drugs were SHARJAH: Sultan bin Ahmed Al-Qassimi and Osama Illicit liquor activity in trading in drugs. special inves- found. Samra with the Tunisian musician and singer Lofti tigations were conducted and the sus- Two Asians were arrested while trad- Buchanak during the recordings of the global orato- pect was arrested at a traffic checkpoint Drug addict ing home-made liquor in Hawally, said where his vehicle was searched and the A citizen was arrested in Shamiya security sources noting that a patrol rio “The Clusters of Light”. police found the drugs. He confessed of while high on drugs, said security team had spotted the two suspects possessing the drugs for trading. sources noting that on searching his exchanging bags and on approaching vehicle, detectives found a gun, two them, they both tried to flee on foot. A peaceful Birds missing magazines, four bullets and a variety of In a strange incident, an official at drugs. Road accidents Kuwait Zoo reported that two falcons, Four people were injured when two message an owl and a lion’s cub were found miss- Asians assaulted vehicles collided at the intersection ing when checking on the animals. Two Asians were shot at outside an between Khaifan and Khaldiya, said According to the zoo guards, the miss- under construction house one of them security sources noting that four ambu- to world ing animals were present by the end of was guarding in Abdullah Al-Mubarak lances were dispatched to the scene and the previous day working hours and that area, said security sources noting that the injured were rushed to the Amiri SHARJAH: Legendary Tunisian musician and singer Lofti Buchanak the robbers, most probably, climbed one of them was shot on the foot. The hospital including one with serious started his preparations in Sharjah for his much anticipated per- into the zoo at dawn. A case was filed injured man said that a vehicle had injuries who was admitted to the ICU. formance in “The Clusters of Light”, the global oratorio which will and further investigations are in stopped outside the site he was guard- Meanwhile, a 25-year-old Egyptian mark Sharjah’s inauguration as the capital of Islamic culture 2014. progress. ing when a friend was visiting him and injured her left hand when she lost con- Buchanak said he will be staying in Sharjah to perform his part asked for their wallets claiming to be trol over her vehicle along the Fahaheel in the oratorio, which will first be performed on March 25. Drugs found police detectives. He added that the sus- Expressway and collided into another Renowned for the brilliance of his oud playing and vocal harmoniz- A Syrian was recently arrested with pects shot at them when they refused to vehicle, said security sources. ing, he will take part in five performances of “The Clusters of Light” on Al-Majaz island. Speaking from Sharjah, Buchanak said: “I am thrilled to be able to play a part in the celebrations to mark Sharjah’s inauguration as the capital of Islamic Culture and to be able to perform in this great play”. “The Clusters of Light” is a very important theatrical work, one that imaginatively challenges perceptions of art through a skilful retelling of the life and times of our great Prophet (PBUH) and the origins of Islam. Buchanak added: “ Sharjah is a great city with a proud tradition of championing the arts across all disciplines and it is an honour to have been invited to perform here. I very much look forward to taking part in this project. In particular, its scope and subject matter represents the ultimate ambition for many musicians”. Considerable preparations have been made towards staging “The Clusters of Light” in Sharjah. The region’s best Islamic scholars, historical experts and finest musicians have all been consulted to ensure the performance is a truly exceptional one. More than 200 performers will take to the stage during the production of the play. World famous composer Bahraini Khalid Sheikh has overseen the creation of the musical score. Al Majaz island’s semicircular open theatre is the official venue for Sharjah’s Capital of Islamic Culture celebrations and is equipped with cutting edge sound and lighting systems - making this performance of “The Clusters of Light” a powerful sensory experience. The outdoor venue, built over an area of 7,238 square meters, emulates the style of ancient Roman theatres. It features a vast viewing platform through which artists can ascend, and is KUWAIT: On conclusion of the GCC Traffic Week activities, a special ceremony was held Thursday at the equipped with a high-quality and accuracy-advanced audio sys- Ministry of Interior headquarters to honor the participating Gulf delegations. The ceremony was held under tem that has never before been used in the region. the auspices of MOI’s Assistant Undersecretary for Traffic Affairs, Maj Gen Abdul Fattah Al-Ali. ‘Clusters of Light’ has been inspired by the desire for a high- ranking artistic work providing a true picture about Islam - the human values and message that promote peace, justice, tolerance and love - to be recorded by history and engraved in the memory KOTC names two new tankers of future generations. More than 300 actors will participle in the performance of the KUWAIT: Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC) senior KOTC officials. adding that the revamping process of its fleet ‘Clusters of Light’, from Arab and foreign countries, including the said its Chief Executive Officer Sheikh Talal Al- The KOTC will get delivery of Dasma from had begun with the first phase in 2003, when United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, and many oth- Khaled Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah has named its South Korean company Daewoo the lifespan of the fleet was 16 years. ers. The display will last 1 hour and 42 minutes, with the entire new oil tankers expected to be delivered in Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME), Once the first, second and third stages of team - including actors, musicians, composers, directors, produc- April and May as Dasma and Boubyan. and of Bobyan from Hyundai Mipo. the revamping process are completed, the ers, designers and innovators - comprising some 750 people. This The company, which is a subsidiary of The naming of the two new tankers is part lifespan of KOTC’s fleet will be reaching six global epic has been fully composed by the esteemed Bahraini Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), said in a of the company’s plan to fulfill the third and a half years, it added. artist Khalid Al Sheikh, and more than 70 musicians from the statement that Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled had phase inaugurated by the company toward Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC) is renowned German Film Orchestra have recorded the sound track. named the two new oil tankers in a ceremony the acquisition of a new fleet, it said in the mainly involved in the ownership and man- Among the participants in this landmark work are creative minds that was held in South Korea on Thursday statement. agement of tankers engaged in the transport from all across the Middle East, including the Emirati artist Hussein and attended by Kuwaiti Ambassador to With the addition of the two new tankers, of crude oil, refined petroleum products and Al-Jasmi, the Tunisian singer Lutfi Bushnaq, the young Palestinian South Korea Jassem Al-Bedeiwi and several KOTC’s total fleet size will be 25, it said, liquefied petroleum gases (LPG). —KUNA artist Mohammed Assaf, and Egyptian artist Ali Hajjar. SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 UK’s socialist stalwart Wanted Islamist ‘Red Mumbai building Tony Benn dies at 88 10 Beard’ killed in Mali 11 collapse kills six 12

Perak Island is seen from a Malaysian Air Force CN235 aircraft during a search and rescue (SAR) operation to find the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 plane over the Strait of Malacca yesterday. — AFP Malaysia expand fruitless jet search Investigators focus on foul play behind missing plane

KUALA LUMPUR: An investigation into the disappearance of a rents could shift any surface debris tens of nautical miles within in that part of the country, a fourth source familiar with the investi- Malaysia Airlines jetliner is focusing more on a suspicion of foul play, hours, dramatically widening the search area with each passing day. gation said. Malaysia says it has asked neighboring countries for as evidence suggests it was diverted hundreds of miles off course, “Ships alone are not going to get you that coverage, helicopters are their radar data, but has not confirmed receiving the information. sources familiar with the Malaysian probe said. In a far more detailed barely going to make a dent in it and only a few countries fly P-3s Indonesian and Thai authorities said yesterday they had not description of military radar plotting than has been publicly (long-range search aircraft),” William Marks, spokesman for the U.S. received an official request for such data from Malaysia. The fact that revealed, two sources told Reuters an unidentified aircraft that Seventh Fleet said. “So this massive expanse of water space will be the plane - if it was MH370 - had lost contact with air traffic control investigators suspect was missing Flight MH370 appeared to be fol- the biggest challenge.” The US Navy was sending an advanced P-8A and was invisible to civilian radar suggested someone on board had lowing a commonly used navigational route when it was last spot- Poseidon plane to help search the Strait of Malacca, a busy sealane turned off its communication systems, the first two sources said. ted early on Saturday, northwest of Malaysia. That course - headed separating the Malay Peninsula from the Indonesian island of They also gave new details on the direction in which the unidenti- into the Andaman Sea and towards the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Sumatra. It had already deployed a Navy P-3 Orion aircraft to those fied aircraft was heading - following aviation corridors identified on Ocean - could only have been set deliberately, either by flying the waters. US defense officials told Reuters that the US Navy guided- maps used by pilots as N571 and P628 - routes taken by commercial Boeing 777-200ER jet manually or by programming the auto-pilot. missile destroyer, USS Kidd, was heading to the Strait of Malacca, planes flying from Southeast Asia to the Middle East or Europe. A third investigative source said inquiries were focusing more on answering a request from the Malaysian government. The Kidd had Hishammuddin said it remained unclear if that aircraft was MH370. the theory that someone who knew how to fly a plane deliberately been searching the areas south of the Gulf of Thailand, along with “We need to get verification and we are working very closely with diverted the flight hundreds of miles off its scheduled course from the destroyer USS Pinckney. “It’s my understanding that based on the experts,” he said. Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. “What we can say is we are looking at sabo- some new information that’s not necessarily conclusive - but new tage, with hijack still on the cards,” said the source, a senior information - an additional search area may be opened in the Indian Military deployment Malaysian police official. One of the most baffling mysteries in the Ocean,” White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters in Ships and aircraft are now combing a vast area that had already history of modern aviation remains unsolved after nearly a week. Washington. been widened to cover both sides of the Malay Peninsula and the The latest radar evidence is consistent with the expansion of the Carney did not specify the nature of the new information. Andaman Sea. An already difficult search task has been complicated search for the aircraft to the west of Malaysia, possibly as far as the Satellites picked up faint electronic pulses from the aircraft after it in some areas by a choking haze caused by burning forest and farm- Indian Ocean. There has been no trace of the plane nor any sign of went missing on Saturday, but the signals gave no immediate infor- land that has enveloped much of Malaysia and spilled into the Strait wreckage as the navies and military aircraft of more than a dozen mation about where the jet was heading and little else about its of Malacca. The haze, exacerbated by a prolonged dry spell, has countries scour the seas across Southeast Asia. fate, two sources close to the investigation said on Thursday. US reached hazardous levels in several spots. “The haze will affect the Malaysian Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said he experts are still examining the data to see if any information about search and rescue operations for sure. The visibility at the ground could not confirm the last heading of the plane or if investigators its last location could be extracted, a source close to the investiga- level has dropped to less than 3 km,” Amirzudi Hashim, a senior were focusing on sabotage. “A normal investigation becomes nar- tion said. Malaysia’s civil aviation chief confirmed yesterday the gov- meteorologist at the National Weather Center, told Reuters. India rower with time ... as new information focuses the search, but this is ernment was working with US investigators to establish if there was had deployed ships, planes and helicopters from the remote not a normal investigation,” he told a news conference. “In this case, any satellite information that could help locate the airliner. Andaman and Nicobar Islands, at the juncture of the Bay of Bengal the information has forced us to look further and further afield.” and the Andaman Sea, an Indian military spokesman, Harmeet Investigators were still looking at “four or five” possibilities, including Last radar sighting Singh, said yesterday. a diversion that was intentional or under duress, or an explosion, he The last sighting of the aircraft on civilian radar screens came Two Dornier aircraft were searching the land mass of the said. Police would search the pilot’s home if necessary and were still shortly before 1:30 am on Saturday, less than an hour after take-off. Andaman and Nicobar islands, a total area of 720 km by 52 km, investigating all 239 passengers and crew on the plane, he added. It was flying as scheduled across the mouth of the Gulf of Thailand Singh said. China, which had more than 150 citizens on board the on the eastern side of peninsular Malaysia, heading towards Beijing. missing plane, has deployed four warships, four coastguard vessels, Biggest challenge However, Malaysia’s air force chief said on Wednesday that an air- eight aircraft and trained 10 satellites on a wide search area. If the jetliner did stray into the Indian Ocean, a vast expanse with craft that could have been the missing plane was plotted on military Chinese media have described the ship deployment as the largest depths of more than 7,000 meters (23,000 feet), the task faced by radar at 2:15 am, 200 miles northwest of Penang Island off Malaysia’s Chinese rescue fleet ever assembled. The Boeing 777 has one of the searchers would become dramatically more difficult. Winds and cur- west coast. This position marks the limit of Malaysia’s military radar best safety records of any commercial aircraft in service.—Reuters INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

Youth gangs watch over Branded as witches, cleft lip violence-ridden Bangui kids now see hope in Africa BANGUI: Small bands of youths have taken up stations on the roads into their home districts of the violence-ridden Central African capital Bangui, ready to warn residents of the Mother flees after giving birth to ‘cursed child’ arrival of looters and armed gangs. The young men are unarmed and accept the authority of community leaders in a OUAGADOUGOU: Accused of witchcraft or sorcery, children with deformed children mostly silent as they wait for their operation. city largely devoid of functioning security forces. Looting has cleft lips or palates are often driven into hiding in several African “Most families think they are cursed,” said Loic Koffi, a social long been an almost daily plague, along with brutal ethno- countries, forced to live as outcasts unless they receive an early oper- assistant at the clinic. In rural areas, these infants are often treat- religious killings that have driven scores of thousands to flee. ation. In the Suka clinic in the Burkina Faso capital Ouagadougou, a ed as witches or sorcerers. The pressure on parents often leads The latest “self-defense groups” drawn from the population volunteer recounts the story of one young mother made to flee her to divorces or the banishment of the family from the village, itself have spread rapidly from one district to the next, each village after giving birth to a “cursed child”. “She was forced to hide in said Koffi. “This deformity ... causes so much stigma,” said consisting of volunteers, mostly unemployed and ready to do the bush, like an animal, and live off what she found there,” he said. Nkeiruka Obi, from another charity, New York-based Smile Train. any odd jobs in exchange for their next meal. Each member “A traveler ran into her, took pity and brought her to Ouagadougou.” “And to think that the problem can be fixed in 45 minutes at receives a little pay and is ordered to alert their part of town Many parents hide such children-fearing they will be taunted or a cost of $250, and forever change the life of a child,” said Obi, to a range of threats, including armed bandits, thieves and made into pariahs-due to the lack of available medical care. “When who runs the charity’s western Africa program. Smile Train says the mainly Christian “anti-balaka” militia that emerged to he was born I was so sad that I could no longer eat,” said Habibatou that since its foundation in 1999 it has carried out nearly one wreak revenge for attacks by the mostly Muslim fighters of Saaba, whose 18-month-old son Zidan was born with a cleft lip. But million procedures-”that’s roughly 340 surgeries every day and the Seleka alliance that seized power for 10 months in March Zidan has been given a second chance by the doctors at the Suka 125,000 every year”. The charity, which partners with Mission last year. Foreign soldiers deployed to the perennially unsta- clinic, who are funded by Canadian charity Mission Sourires d’Afrique Sourires d’Afrique, pays doctors $400 dollars per surgery. It also ble Central African Republic are seeking to disarm the rival (Smiles of Africa). helps train local surgeons. forces, but numerous weapons are still at large in Bangui, His entire future is at stake, said Saaba as she paced the corridor In Ouagadougou, two medical teams take turns in the oper- including assault rifles and hand grenades as well as knives of the clinic, waiting for the operation to finish. She said she wants ating theatre. “It’s an operation that is not easy to do well,” and machetes. him to be a nurse when he grows up, like the staff at the clinic. “Until Docteur Jean-Martin Laberge explains as he reconstructs the The watchmen choose hiding places to keep a lookout for today she has been hiding her son,” said her sister-in-law, who was mouth of six-year-old Safiatou. “But the tissue is there, so all we danger and seek to do their job by dissuasive tactics if trouble also at the clinic. “I asked her why she would do that and she said she need is put it in place.” “Cupid’s bow is perfect,” he adds once arrives. They have strong support from district chiefs, the had been asked too many questions. Grown-ups would just stare at the operation is finished, referring to the double curve of her mayors of the city’s different precincts and prominent local him.” In the West, children with the condition generally receive an upper lip. At his side, his wife Louise, also a surgeon, is giving figures. “I must tell you that those these youngsters, who operation within three months of being born, but specialized care of tips to a trainee from Niger. Safiatou, like the 65 other children have only their wits and their courage for weapons, have this nature remains rare across Africa, even though the operation whose lives Laberge has improved, has been transformed from saved lives and property, enabling international forces or costs only $250 (180 euros). the disfigured little girl she was less than an hour before. Central African ones to take over. I narrowly escaped a hold- “Yesterday a mother told us she would return to her village with up thanks to them. They confronted a group of robbers who ‘So much stigma’ her daughter in their Sunday best and show her off,” said a wanted to take my motorbike,” said Hugues Siapa, who works The clinic waiting room is a tense place, with long lines of beaming Laberge. — AFP in information technology in the 8th precinct. Recently, a gendarmerie policeman in the Petevo district was less fortunate when he refused to surrender his motorcycle at gun- point. Armed men shot him dead and made off with the bike. UK socialist stalwart

‘Our bare hands’ Tony Benn dies at 88 “We have no weapons,” said Germain Kossi, a member of a lookout team in the 5th precinct. “We organise ourselves into LONDON: Tony Benn, the totem of the British left who spearheaded small groups of between five and 10 people. Hidden by the the movement against the Iraq war, died yesterday at the age of 88, corners of houses or behind tree trunks, we survey all the his family said. A Labor cabinet minister in the 1960s and 1970s, Benn ways in and out of the district. As soon as we see suspects, we was a widely respected orator who clashed with his party’s leadership cautiously advance to isolate them as much as we can.” over its drift away from the radical socialism he espoused. Benn also “Even if some of them enjoy getting drunk, which is dan- forced a change in the law allowing hereditary members of parlia- gerous for their safety, in any event many of them feel the ment’s upper House of Lords to renounce their titles, after he was dis- need for very little. Sometimes they’re happy just to eat qualified from his seat in the elected lower House of Commons upon breakfast or share a meal together,” trader Gertrude Monyado inheriting his father’s Viscount Stansgate title in 1960. said in the Miskine district. “We take care to keep in touch by He died at his west London home surrounded by his family, his telephone, to warn others when the suspects are armed. four children said in a statement. “We are comforted by the memory Sometimes it happens that we call for help from the interna- of his long, full and inspiring life and so proud of his devotion to help- tional forces,” said Aaron Nguenza of the 8th precinct, refer- ing others as he sought to change the world for the better,” they said. ring to French and African Union troops deployed in the cri- In one of his final interviews, given a few weeks ago to BBC radio, sis-wracked country. “But they rarely come at night, so we’re Benn said: “I think it has been a very satisfying life. “I made every mis- obliged to defend ourselves with our bare hands.” “By night, take in the book but making mistakes is how you learn. members of the self-defense group in the Gremboutou dis- “But as long as you say what you believe and believe what you trict arrested two individuals who were probably on their way say, that’s the test of authenticity.” The well-spoken politician was typ- back from a hold-up and led them to the chief. After checking ically pictured puffing on his pipe and drinking from a huge mug of them out, they were handed over to the paramilitary police,” tea. Prime Minister David Cameron said Benn was a magnificent local resident Serge Wazo said. “If everybody could give these writer, speaker and campaigner, with a strong record of public and children whatever they can, it’s for a good cause. They at least political service. The Conservative leader said: “There was never a dull take the risk of watching over our districts at night-while the moment listening to him, even when you disagreed with everything international forces are on the broad avenues searching for he said.” streetwalkers,” said Alain Pangha, who sells cellphone charg- Labor leader Ed Miliband, who at 16 got an early taste of politics ers. doing work experience with Benn, paid tribute to an “iconic figure of our age”. “He will be remembered as a champion of the powerless, a ‘End impunity’ great parliamentarian and a conviction politician,” he said. “I saw him Until now, the transitional government formed by interim for the last time a couple of weeks ago in hospital. He may have been President Catherine Panza Samba has regarded the district ailing in body but was as sharp as ever in mind. As I left he said to me: watch with benevolent eyes, yet no arrests have been made ‘Well, old son-let’s have a proper talk when you have more time’.” for countless crimes and atrocities committed in recent Born into a political dynasty in 1925, both Anthony Wedgwood months. “The defense of people and property is a matter for Benn’s grandfathers were Liberal MPs, as was his father before switch- the competence of the defense and security forces,” Public ing to Labour. Security Minister Denis Wangao Kizimale said. “But given the He was a first cousin once removed of the Oscar-winning actress current state of affairs and while we wait for order to be Margaret Rutherford. His father served as Britain’s India secretary- restored, we make do with what we have.” “However,” the allowing the young Tony Benn to meet Mahatma Gandhi in 1931 - minister warned, “this is no way suggests that the govern- and was later given a hereditary seat in the Lords. Educated at Oxford ment would recommend self-defense committees as a solu- University, Benn served as a pilot in southern Africa during World War tion. The French forces of Operation Sangaris, the (AU mis- II. First elected in 1950, he spent more than half a century in parlia- sion) MISCA, gendarmerie units and the police are working on ment, serving in cabinets under Labor prime ministers Harold Wilson restoring security and peace. It is still hard, but we’re heading and James Callaghan. But he spent three years in the political wilder- in the right direction.”—AFP ness after becoming Viscount Stansgate, before the Peerage Act 1963 Veteran former Labor MP Tony Benn allowed him to return to the Commons.—AFP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

Spain, Morocco, nab 7 suspects of jihadist cell

MADRID: Security forces have broken up a Spanish not immediately available. frequently in their statements to “Al Andalus” in ref- and Moroccan network suspected of sending jihadist Spanish security forces fear battle-hardened erence to Spain, he said. fighters to battle Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s Islamist fighters may return from Syria to Spain “Clearly Spain forms part of the strategic objec- regime, arresting seven suspects, Madrid said yester- while still under the influence of Al-Qaeda-inspired tives of global jihad. We are not the only ones but we day. Spain’s government said it was the “most impor- groups, presenting a grave threat. Just three days are in their sights obviously,” Fernandez Diaz said. tant” cell it had detected sending jihadists to Syria before the latest arrests, Spain marked the 10th Since the Madrid train bombings, 472 suspected and other conflict zones. “The operation is still ongo- anniversary of an Al-Qaeda-inspired bombing of Islamic extremists have been arrested in Spain, he ing,” Spain’s interior ministry said in a statement. four packed commuter trains in Madrid, which said. Some 1,800 Spanish police and counter-terrorist Security forces arrested four of the suspects in Spain, killed 191 people. Spain’s Interior Minister Jorge security forces, in addition to the intelligence service, including the head of the network, and another three Fernandez Diaz warned on the eve of the anniver- are now grappling with the threat of a new attack, in Morocco, the ministry said. Of the suspects caught sary that Islamist extremists remained a threat. Al- the minister said. The Spanish counter-terrorist ser- in Spain, one was snatched in Malaga and the other Qaeda’s leaders and its affiliates, including the vice’s alert system is at its second-highest level, signi- three in Melilla, one of two Spanish-held cities on the north African group Al-Qaeda in the Islamic fying “a likely risk of attack”, a level that has not northern Morocco coast, it said. Further details were Maghreb and armed Islamists fighting in Syria, refer changed in recent years.— AFP Wanted Islamist ‘Red Beard’ killed in Mali Hamaha involved in the abduction of foreigners

BAMAKO: French air strikes in the mountains of Department’s ‘Rewards for Justice’ program, northern Mali have killed Islamist militant Oumar Hamaha had participated in the kidnapping and Ould Hamaha, a jihadist with a $3 million US gov- ransom of several foreigners, including Canadian ernment bounty on his head, a Malian military diplomat Robert Fowler from Niger in 2008. During source said yesterday. Hamaha, known as ‘Red the Islamists’ 10-month rule over northern Mali, Beard’ because of his henna-dyed whiskers, Hamaha became a spokesman for the Movement became a leading figure in the Islamist coalition for Unity and Jihad in the Islamic Maghreb that seized control of northern Mali in April 2012 (MUJWA) that imposed strict sharia law in his after drifting among armed Muslim groups in the hometown of Timbuktu. Militants there cut the Sahara over the last decade. hands off thieves and flogged women for dressing A French-led military offensive launched in immodestly. January 2013 broke the grip of the Al-Qaeda-linked He vocally defended the Islamists’ destruction militants over northern Mali, but small pockets of of the ancient caravan town’s historic mausoleums, GAZA: Palestinians inspect the damage following Israeli air strikes on smuggling tunnels in Islamists have continued to operate in the vast sacred to followers of Sufi Islam and part of a Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip yesterday. — AFP desert region. The Malian military source said UNESCO World Heritage site. France is winding Hamaha was reported killed in the Tigharghar down its troop presence in Mali as a 12,000-strong mountains in northeastern Mali near the remote UN mission slowly comes up to full strength. Paris Gaza truce firms up town of Kidal. “This is what intelligence services still has about 1,600 troops in Mali trying to mop up told us yesterday. He was killed by French air strikes Islamist cells in the north. It has said it will redeploy in the Tigharghar,” the source said. its forces across the region to counter Islamist mili- after 2-day flare-up Hamaha was a long-standing member of Al- tancy. Paris said last week its forces had killed 10 Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the group’s suspected Islamist fighters in the northern Adrar North African arm, and a close associate of veteran des Ifoghas mountains, after the group was spot- JERUSALEM: A truce declared by Gaza militants ets hit Israel and Israeli warplanes pounded Gaza Algerian jihadist Mokhtar Belmokhtar. According to ted by a US-made Reaper surveillance drone appeared to be largely holding yesterday with in response, in the worst violence around the ter- the bounty offered under the US State acquired by the French military last year. — Reuters the Israeli military reporting a single rocket fired ritory since an eight-day conflict between Israel after two days of tit-for-tat violence. “Moments and Hamas in November 2012. ago an additional rocket hit,” an army statement Neither side reported any casualties. The lat- said at 11:47 am (0947 GMT). A spokeswoman est flare-up began on Tuesday when Islamic Israel’s insistence on Jewish told AFP it was the first to strike Israel in more Jihad militants fired a mortar round at Israeli than 12 hours. It was the sixth to hit since Islamic troops allegedly trying to enter southern Gaza, Jihad declared on Thursday that an Egyptian- prompting a retaliatory air strike that killed three state declaration a ‘mistake’ brokered truce on the Israel-Gaza border had of them. In revenge, Islamic Jihad’s armed wing, been restored after Israeli warplanes pounded the Al-Quds Brigades, launched a coordinated WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State John lowed by what it said was a recording of the territory in response to a barrage of rocket barrage of rockets at southern Israel on Kerry has criticized Israel’s insistence that the Arafat commenting on a 1988 decision by the fire by its militants. Wednesday that continued into the night, with Palestinians publicly declare Israel to be a Palestinian National Council, the Palestine The truce, which was to have taken effect at the group putting the number at 130. Israel Jewish state. Kerry said Thursday that recogni- Liberation Organization’s parliament-in-exile 1200 GMT on Thursday, was tested when the responded by hitting 29 targets across Gaza that tion had already been made in UN resolutions at the time. “The PNC had accepted two Israeli military reported further rocket fire from night, including Islamic Jihad and Hamas bases. and by the late Palestinian president Yasser states, a Palestine state and Jewish state,” Gaza hours later and launched retaliatory air Another seven air strikes followed on Thursday Arafat and it is a mistake for Israel to keep Arafat says in English. strikes for a second night. “Israel Air Force aircraft morning with seven more around midnight. insisting on it as the two sides work towards a There was no official Israeli response to targeted four terror sites in the southern Gaza two-state peace agreement. “‘Jewish state’ Kerry’s comments, but the radio quoted an Strip and three additional terror sites in the ‘Nothing has really ended’ was resolved in 1947 in (UN) Resolution 181 unidentified political source as saying that it northern Gaza Strip,” a military statement Analysts said Israel was not interested in a where there are more than 40— 30 mentions was “easier for the Americans to pressure released around midnight (2200 GMT) said. major confrontation, but some predicted the of ‘Jewish state,’” Kerry testified at a Israel to give up on the demand for recogni- Witnesses and Palestinian security officials said next flare-up would only be a matter of time. “A Congressional hearing. tion of a Jewish state than to deal with the the targets included facilities near Gaza City used barrage of dozens of rockets and mortar shells is “In addition, chairman Arafat in 1988 and Palestinians.” Israel and the Palestinians have by the military wing of Gaza’s ruling Hamas an irregular occurrence,” wrote defence analyst again in 2004 confirmed that he agreed it been locked in talks that US Secretary of State movement. Alex Fishman in Yediot Aharonot daily. “What would be a Jewish state. And there are any John Kerry fought hard to kick-start in July Israeli aircraft also struck a base of the hard- started as a campaign of revenge and deter- other number of mentions,” he added. “I think after a three-year hiatus, but the negotiations line Popular Resistance Committees in the south- rence evolved into a dangerous attempt by the it’s a mistake for some people to be raising it have faltered over key issues. After a meeting ern town of Rafah. The army said five rockets hit leaders of Islamic Jihad to set a red line, mean- again and again as the critical decider of their chaired by Palestinian president Mahmud Israeli territory on Thursday evening. Another ing that every assassination of a terrorist opera- attitude toward the possibility of a state and Abbas on Wednesday, the PLO Executive two were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome air tive will be met with fire from now on. “This is a peace, and we’ve obviously made that clear,” Committee blasted “attempts to extract defense system. Three rockets had struck during formula that could be put to the test very soon, Kerry said in a session of testimony on the recognition of the Jewishness of the State of the morning, before the announcement of the perhaps even next week, and so nothing has State Department budget. Israeli public radio Israel in order to erase Palestinian history and renewed truce. On Wednesday, at least 60 rock- really ended.”—AFP yesterday broadcast Kerry’s comments, fol- rights in one sentence”.— AFP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

Jakarta’s gov named as 6 die in knife attack presidential candidate Chinese officials rule out terrorism JAKARTA: Indonesia’s main opposition PDI-P party named Jakarta governor Joko Widodo as its presidential candidate yes- BEIJING: Attackers armed with knives killed six people in China with their faces covered-were shot dead at the scene. One terday, the man widely seen as a shoe-in to be next leader of yesterday, an official said, ruling out terrorism two weeks after a woman was detained on site and three others were arrested the world’s third-largest democracy. By choosing him, former mass stabbing blamed on Xinjiang militants left 29 people dead separately. Authorities condemned the event as terrorism president and party chief Megawati Sukarnoputri has also likely and stunned the nation. “Six people died,” an official in Changsha, and blamed it on militants from the restive Xinjiang region, given a significant boost to her Indonesian Democratic Party’s the capital of central Hunan province, told AFP by phone. “I can where China’s mainly Muslim Uighur ethnic minority is con- (PDI-P) chances in the April 9 parliamentary election. The presi- assure you it’s not a terror attack. It happened in a market due to centrated. dential election is on July 9. some dispute.” After an argument between two vendors from Knife and bomb attacks by Uighurs are periodically reported in She has kept the country on tenterhooks for weeks over China’s far-west Xinjiang region, one man stabbed the second, Xinjiang-usually targeting police or government officials and whether she would put aside her own ambitions to return to then attacked other people, killing bystanders and seriously labeled by authorities as terrorist attacks-but they rarely occur the presidential palace or back the governor, popularly known wounding two more before running away, the Hunan Evening outside the remote region. Beijing says it faces a violent separatist as Jokowi. “I got a mandate from the chair of PDI-P Ibu News reported. movement driven by religious extremism, but critics accuse it of Megawati to become the presidential candidate for the party. Another assailant was shot dead by police, and two more peo- exaggerating that threat to justify hard-line measures. Rights In the name of God I’m ready to carry it out,” Jokowi told ple-including one woman-have been detained, the paper added. groups accuse the authorities of cultural and religious repression reporters before kissing the red and white national flag. Two One of the victims was an elderly woman in her 80s who had just that feeds dissent, while China counters it has invested heavily in days earlier, he had accompanied Megawati to pray at the walked onto the street, a Hunan radio station said, adding that economic development in the region, which covers a sixth of the grave of her father Sukarno, the country’s first president, and the attacker ran a bakery. Some people were killed, it said on its country’s territory and is rich in natural resources. taken by many as a sign that Jokowi had clinched the nomina- account on Sina Weibo, a Chinese version of Twitter, citing police. Much of the economic gain has benefited an influx of ethnic tion. Photos posted on Sina Weibo-whose authenticity could not be majority Han Chinese, and tension between Han and Uighurs Signaling the Sukarno family hold over the PDI-P party, the verified-appeared to show the bloodied bodies of men on the boiled over into riots in 2009 that left around 200 people dead. In announcement of Jokowi’s candidacy was made by Megawati’s ground, with armed police and bystanders nearby. Another October last year China experienced its first high-profile incident daughter. His nomination comes with huge expectations that showed a man being taken away by officers. outside Xinjiang pinned on residents from the remote region-in he might finally be the leader who can fix Southeast Asia’s Beijing’s central Tiananmen Square, the symbolic heart of the biggest economy which has repeatedly fallen short of its prom- Periodic unrest Chinese state. Three family members drove quickly into the popu- ise in the face of rampant graft, confusing policy and weak lead- The incident came after a group of attackers went on a lar tourist area and set their car ablaze, killing themselves and two ership. “This is excellent news ... I’m very hopeful about business stabbing spree at a railway station in the southwestern city bystanders. Within a day police arrested five suspects, all from sentiment going forward because this also means PDI-P will be of Kunming in Yunnan province late on March 1, leaving 29 Xinjiang. Information about such events is restricted to reports very big in parliament and that’s going to be a stabilizing fac- people dead and 143 injured in what domestic media have by authorities and state media, which are often limited in detail tor,” said Jakob Friis Sorensen, head of EuroCham in Jakarta. dubbed China’s “9/11”. Four assailants-some wearing black and hard to verify independently. — Agencies The main Jakarta stock index rose more than 3 percent after the announcement.

Boost to confidence “Jokowi’s nomination will be a big boost to confidence and markets. His achievement in Solo (a city where he was previously mayor) speaks for itself, where he improved services and revenue. He is seen as pragmatic and clean,” said Hak Bin Chua, economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Singapore. Opinion polls already predict that the party will win the most seats in April’s general election. Parties need to win 20 percent of the seats in parliament or 25 per of the national vote to be allowed to nominate a candidate in the presidential election three months later. In just over a year as governor of the Indonesian capital, he has won widespread national popularity for his straightforward style. Though his appeal cuts across social classes, he has won particularly strong following among the poor and fast emerging middle class. In what would only be Indonesia’s third direct presidential election, Jokowi represents a new generation of hands-on leaders in the world’s largest Muslim population. He has a huge lead in polls over more old-style rivals like former general Prabowo Subianto and tycoon Aburizal Bakrie in the race to the presidential palace in the capital. He swept to national prominence after winning the Jakarta gubernatorial election in late 2012. His popularity has since skyrocketed, with almost daily media coverage of his “blusukan” or spontaneous trips to the city’s low-income neighborhoods. The slightly built Jokowi, 52, grew up in a riverbank slum in the central Javanese town of Surakarta, also known as Solo, and went on to own a small furniture business before becoming mayor of his city. He has MUMBAI: Rescue workers carry the body of a victim out of the debris of a building that collapsed in Mumbai, India yes- struck a chord with the average Indonesian voter. A victory for terday. — AP the rags-to-riches governor would mark a significant departure from the political norm in Indonesia, which has only ever seen Mumbai building collapse kills six the rule of members of the military and established political elite. Indonesia spent its first half a century of independence MUMBAI: An apartment block collapsed in the Indian financial hub Disaster Response Force said. “Two teams from National Disaster under autocratic rule which finally came to an end amid social Mumbai yesterday, killing six people and injuring three others in Response Force, amounting to 65 personnel, are on the spot and and financial chaos in 1998. the latest of a series of deadly building cave-ins, authorities said. will continue the operation til we are sure everything is clear,” he The focus will now likely shift to who PDI-P will pick as Dozens of rescuers scoured the site in search of anyone trapped said. Police initially thought no-one was in the building as it had Jokowi’s running mate. It has a large array to pick from but under the wreckage of the building, located in a densely populated been cleared of tenants after being declared uninhabitable by some in his party are looking to widely respected ex-vice presi- area of the city and surrounded by other structures which were hit municipal authorities who had served a demolition notice. dent Jusuf Kalla. But one economist warned that the excite- with debris. “There have been six deaths, of which we can confirm But in teeming Mumbai, where housing is in huge demand ment might be overdone, noting that PDI-P was not known as two are women. Three persons have also been injured,” a munici- and extremely costly, the demolition order had been challenged pro-market. “He is a new breed of politician for Indonesia, and pal official told AFP, asking not to be named. Rescuers were using by the tenants, local residents told news channel NDTV. “This that freshness I can understand,” wrote Robert Prior- heavy equipment to comb through the collapsed building to see if tragedy could have been avoided. We need laws that give more Wandesforde, an economist at Credit Suisse in Singapore. “But there were other victims, he said. “We do not yet know the exact powers to the municipal corporation for acting in time against if (we) delve deeper, it seems to me that some caution is war- number of people who might be trapped,” he said. such structures,” Mumbai mayor Sunil Prabhu told NDTV. Last ranted, in the sense that I don’t see him coming in and revolu- On official from India’s emergency response agency said how- September, a rundown residential block in Mumbai collapsed, tionizing the macro-economic performance of the economy, ever that he believed the toll of dead and injured would not killing 60 people. Another building collapse on the outskirts of introducing all sorts of business and market friendly, centre- increase significantly. “Information indicates two families were the city in April last year killed 74. Some of the tragedies have right type economic policies.”— Reuters caught in the collapse. So we are hoping the numbers will not rise underlined shoddy construction standards and lax building code sharply from here,” Commandant Alok Avasthy of the National enforcement. — AFP NEWS SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 Bin Laden son-in-law... New law paves way for Assad’s reelection Continued from Page 1 DAMASCUS: Syria’s exiled opposition will be barred from a presiden- and no connection to the rebels battling to overthrow Assad. The tial election to be held before July, virtually ensuring Bashar Al-Assad’s election must be called 60 to 90 days before the end of Assad’s term His interrogation occurred aboard a Gulfstream jet bound for reelection three years into an uprising against his family’s four-decade on July 17. Previous elections in Syria have been referendums to con- New York soon after he was handed over to US officials in Jordan, rule. Today marks the third anniversary of Syria’s revolt, which began firm the candidate chosen by the ruling Baath party, whose power according to court documents. Butsch, who led the interrogation, as a series of mass protests calling for democratic change but deterio- was entrenched in a 1973 constitution. Hafez al-Assad came to power said that Abu Ghaith waived his right to remain silent and have a rated into an insurgency and then a civil war after the regime in 1970, and when he died in 2000 his son Bashar took over. lawyer present. The agent said Abu Ghaith told him, “You will hear launched a brutal crackdown on dissent. Both Syria’s opposition and international mediators have rejected things of Al-Qaeda that you never imagined.” Assad has remained in power despite fighting that has killed more plans to hold a presidential election in the middle of a civil war, warn- Abu Ghaith’s lawyers sought to suppress the statements made than 140,000 people and driven millions from their homes, as rebels ing that doing so could deal a further blow to already faltering peace on the plane, saying he cooperated “out of a combination of dis- have seized large swathes of the country and entire neighborhoods negotiations. “If there is an election, my suspicion is the opposition, all orientation, fear, isolation, fatigue and sensory deprivation.” But have been reduced to rubble. The opposition has repeatedly insisted the oppositions, will probably not be interested in talking to the gov- US District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who is presiding over the trial, Assad must step down as part of any peace agreement, most recently ernment,” said UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi in a briefing to denied that request. Butsch described the interrogation as “a in two rounds of failed talks held earlier this year. In keeping with a the Security Council. Syria’s regime has long portrayed the rebels as respectful, relaxed conversation,” during which Abu Ghaith was new constitution adopted in 2012, the elections will for the first time “terrorists” backed by foreign powers, insisting it has been able to sur- allowed breaks to pray and rest. The agent testified that over the be open to multiple candidates, including from outside the Baath vive the conflict because it has the support of the people. roughly 14 hour flight, Abu Ghaith said he traveled to Afghanistan Party of Assad, who has not announced his candidacy but is widely But the Assad government has been accused of wide-ranging a few months before 9/11 because he was interested in the move- expected to seek another seven-year term. atrocities, from the jailing and torture of thousands of people to drop- ments of Islamic fighters and wanted to observe the Taliban’s rule. But a new electoral law approved by parliament Thursday says any ping so-called barrel bombs filled with TNT from the air, a tactic rights Butsch testified that Abu Ghaith said that after arriving in candidate must have lived in Syria for the past 10 years and not hold groups say fails to discriminate between fighters and civilians. The Afghanistan, he was summoned to meet bin Laden, who had any other nationality, in effect barring any member of the National rebels-particularly the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant-have known of Abu Ghaith and “took a liking to him,” Butsch said. While Coalition, an umbrella opposition group based in Istanbul. The only also been accused of human rights violations. Syria’s civil war has Abu Ghaith declined to join Al-Qaeda, he said he agreed to a opposition candidates who appear eligible would be those from the forced more than nine million people from their homes, creating the “mini-bayat,” or partial pledge to bin Laden, which involved tolerated opposition in Damascus, who have little popular support world’s largest displaced population, the UN said yesterday. — AFP recording propaganda videos, Butsch testified. Butsch said Abu Ghaith told him that he crafted a speech on Sept 12 around bullet points bin Laden provided. Jurors viewed the video in which Abu US plane tire bursts Ghaith said: “The American people must know that they bear full responsibility” for the attacks. Continued from Page 1 Philadelphia Fire Department Deputy Chief Gary Loesch said. The Under questioning from Zoe Dolan, a lawyer for Abu Ghaith, mishap halted take-offs and landings on all four runways at the Butsch said he addressed Abu Ghaith as “Sheikh,” a respectful Initial indications are that the plane, an Airbus A320, was just Philadelphia airport for a time, officials said. Three of four runways term, and at one point complimented him on his muscular biceps, beginning to lift off when the tire blew, and soon afterward the later resumed normal operations, and the tilted US Airways plane calling them “nice pipes.” “He said, ‘I got that from doing a lot of nose gear collapsed, according to airport spokeswoman Victoria was set to be towed away at about 1 am local time yesterday, push-ups,’” Butsch said. Dolan, who speaks Arabic, focused many Lupica. The pilot then elected to abort takeoff, said US Airways allowing the fourth runway to return to normal operations early of her questions on the translation of Abu Ghaith’s statements spokesman William McGlashen. The pilot appears to have done a in the morning, she said. aboard the flight, asking Butsch if he knew whether every word good job handling the situation, Joe Taney, vice president of The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the was interpreted accurately. operations for American/US Airways, told reporters. incident, McGlashen said. The passengers were bused back to an Butsch, who does not speak Arabic, said he did not know. “Do “We assume he did, based on the fact that everyone is safe airport terminal and arrangements were made to fly them to Fort you know whether there’s a word in Arabic that means ‘mini,’”? and everyone got down safe and evacuated safely and everyone Lauderdale on another aircraft, officials said. “Morning operations Dolan asked, referring to the “mini-bayat” reference and eliciting was well taken care of, so I assume our captain did a great job on are not impacted and we do not plan on them being impacted,” laughs from some in the courtroom. “I don’t know, ma’am,” the aircraft and he should be commended.” The jet’s five crew the airport said in a Twitter message in response to a passenger’s Butsch said. Dolan sought to undermine the government’s con- members evacuated the 149 passengers by having them slide questions about flight delays. tention that Abu Ghaith was a top-tier member of Al-Qaeda fol- down emergency chutes after the incident which took place at Hannah Udren, 18, told the Philadelphia Inquirer she was tak- lowing 9/11. “Didn’t Suleiman Abu Ghaith tell you he was close to about 6:05 p.m. EDT (2205 GMT), said McGlashen. ing the plane to visit family in Florida. “We were just entering the Osama Bin Laden, but not a member of Al-Qaeda?” she asked. “He Firefighters sprayed foam around the plane as a precaution to air and the front of the plane went down and hit the runway, and did, ma’am,” Butsch said. The case is US v Abu Ghayth, US District prevent any flare-up, and although smoke wafted from one then popped back up and hit it again.” US Airways is owned by Court, Southern District of New York, No 98-cr-01023. — Reuters engine, there was no fuel leak and no open flames were seen, American Airlines Group Inc. — Reuters INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

Hardened Saudis join Al-Qaeda in Yemen

SANAA: Dozens of Saudi Islamist militants have left more than a decade. AQAP is not short of bomb- broadcast by state media, caused outrage in the battlefields of Syria and Iraq for Yemen, where making expertise itself, as it has shown in bomb Yemen, where US drone strikes had previously their experience appears to have contributed to a plots against Saudi and Western targets. gained some sympathy for AQAP. The security offi- spate of lethal Al-Qaeda attacks, a senior Yemeni These include an attempt by a Nigerian to blow cial said some Saudi militants who had come to security official said. The influx detected in the last up a Detroit-bound airliner in 2009 with a bomb Yemen from Syria were on trial after being captured few months is worrying for Yemen, a turbulent concealed in his underwear and a foiled plot to and that some Saudis involved in the hospital country where several hundred Saudi militants are send two air freight packages containing bombs to assault had fought in Iraq. Abdulrazzaq Al-Jamal, a already thought to be fighting alongside their the United States in 2010. Al-Qaeda militants Yemeni journalist who has interviewed AQAP mem- Yemeni counterparts in Al-Qaeda in the Arabian exploited political chaos in Yemen after the 2011 bers, said the group was imitating the Islamic State Peninsula (AQAP). uprising that eventually unseated veteran President in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which operates in Iraq The initial core of Saudis fled to Yemen after the Ali Abdullah Saleh to seize control of several south- and Syria, in how it selects its targets and tactics. kingdom defeated a violent Al-Qaeda campaign ern towns. “AQAP used to execute its operations using road- between 2003 and 2006, helping to create AQAP Despite losing that territorial base after a military side bombs. Now it has started ... storming into with their Yemeni comrades in 2009. “Now the offensive backed by US drones in 2012, they have facilities,” he said. Saudi who comes here is an experienced fighter regrouped, staging a series of attacks across Yemen On Feb 13, seven people were killed in a bomb, from the war in Iraq or Syria and is ready to be ‘mar- in the past few months, some of which are thought grenade and gun assault on the main prison in tyred’,” said the Yemeni security official, who asked to be the work of Saudis. A Yemeni government Sanaa and 19 people jailed for terrorism-related not to be named. “They know how to build inquiry said most of the perpetrators of a Dec 5 raid crimes escaped in the chaos. Black-clad militants weapons and bombs, and they are teaching others.” on a Defense Ministry hospital in Sanaa, in which at appeared in an AQAP video posted online last Foreign militants have flocked to Syria to join least 52 people were killed, were Saudi citizens. month that documented four attacks, including the Islamist rebels battling President Bashar Al-Assad in one on the Defence Ministry hospital. They were the last two years. Iraq had previously served as a Al-Qaeda apology seen training in the desert, preparing for action and magnet for global jihadis eager to fight US forces It was the single bloodiest incident in Yemen in making speeches beforehand. Nine of the 14 men and the Shiite-led authorities which came to power 18 months and even AQAP appeared embarrassed, shown had Saudi accents or names such as Abu after the 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam blaming a renegade fighter for slaughtering Khaled Al-Makki and Abu Naser Al-Najdi, suggesting Hussein. Yemen is also a jihadi battleground where unarmed medics and patients at the hospital. The they hail from the Saudi city of Makkah or the king- US drone strikes have targeted Al-Qaeda leaders for killings, captured on closed-circuit television and dom’s Najd region.—Reuters From his Pakistan’s hideout, Uighur leader vows revenge Fighters vow to avenge deaths of comrades

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Entrenched in secret mountain bases gents, particularly Uzbeks, who speak a similar language. In on Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan, Uighur fighters are Afghanistan, two security reports sent to expatriates work- gearing up for retribution against China to avenge the ing there this year warned of attacks on a Chinese hotel, deaths of comrades in Beijing’s crackdown on a separatist Chinese companies and other targets in Kabul. There have movement, their leader said. China, Pakistan’s only major been no attacks so far. ally in the region, has long urged Islamabad to weed out According to Afghan Taleban sources, there are about what it says are militants from its western region of Xinjiang, 250 Uighur militants in Afghanistan’s Nuristan and Kunar who are holed up in a lawless tribal belt, home to a lethal provinces. “They live here with us but are always concerned mix of militant groups, including the Taleban and Al-Qaeda. about their people and mission in China. They are nice peo- ANKARA: Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech A mass stabbing at a train station in the Chinese city of ple, good Muslims and the best fighters,” a senior Taleban in Ankara. — AFP Kunming two weeks ago, in which at least 29 people were commander said. He added that Uighur militants were not killed, has put a new spotlight on the largely Muslim Uighur fond of guns, and resorted mostly to knives and daggers. Leaked documents reveal ethnic minority from Xinjiang, where Beijing says armed China has stepped up security in Xinjiang after a vehicle groups seek to establish an independent state called East ploughed into tourists on the edge of Beijing’s Tiananmen Turkish graft allegations Turkestan. Beijing has called the Kunming bloodshed a “ter- Square in October, killing the three people in the car and rorist attack” carried out by militants, and says separatists two bystanders. China labelled it a suicide attack by militants ISTANBUL: A Twitter account behind a His government has reassigned thou- operate training camps across the rugged border which from the region. Mansour released a Uighur-language video string of leaks in a Turkish corruption sands of police officers and hundreds of abuts Pakistan and Afghanistan. weeks after the Tiananmen incident, calling it a “jihadi oper- scandal posted late on Thursday what it prosecutors, including some of those In a rare but brief interview, Abdullah Mansour, leader of ation” by its holy warriors. presented as police files detailing graft involved in the Dec 17 investigation, the rebel Turkestan Islamic Party, said it was his holy duty to allegations against four former ministers, moves which his opponents say are fight the Chinese. “The fight against China is our Islamic Crucial ally dealing a further blow to Prime Minister aimed at blocking the inquiry. Erdogan’s responsibility and we have to fulfil it,” he said from an undis- For Pakistan, China is a valued friend in a region it views Tayyip Erdogan weeks before elections. aides have dismissed such claims, saying closed location. “China is not only our enemy, but it is the as potentially hostile. It is keen to demonstrate a commit- The Twitter account using the pseudo- the new prosecutors would carry out enemy of all Muslims ... We have plans for many attacks in ment to weeding out what Beijing calls separatists, but its nym @HARAMZADELER333 posted links their own investigations, draw up their China,” he said, speaking in the Uighur language through an security forces are already stretched fighting Pakistani to a 299-page document and a 32-page own arguments and push ahead with interpreter. “We have a message to China that East Taleban militants. Rehman Malik, Pakistan’s former interior document presented as police files from the cases. One of those new prosecutors Turkestan people and other Muslims have woken up. They minister, said that about 20 Uighur militants were captured an investigation that became public on has completed an indictment regarding cannot suppress us and Islam any more. Muslims will take and handed over to China on his watch in 2008-2013. Dec. 17 with a series of dawn raids. the Dec. 17 case, according to Hasan revenge.” Mansour spoke on a crackly line using a mobile “Pakistan and China are great friends. There are no secrets Reuters could not verify the authenticity Sozen, a deputy chief prosecutor in phone with an Afghan SIM card in a brief statement which between us. When I took over as interior minister, I took on of the documents. Istanbul. Sozen told Reuters it would be gave Reuters no chance to ask about the Kunming attack. this subject in close association with my partners in China,” The former ministers have denied any sent to the relevant court once it had The separatists hide mainly in the troubled North he said. “The present government is also aware of the whole wrongdoing. Former interior minister been formally approved. Waziristan region, where they are treated by their Pakistani thing.” Muammer Guler, former economy minis- Guler and Caglayan echoed Erdogan Taleban hosts as guests of honor, militant and Pakistani Many Uighurs in the energy-rich Xinjiang region which ter Zafer Caglayan and former environ- in depicting the corruption inquiry as intelligence sources say. The Turkestan Islamic Party, which borders ex-Soviet Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and ment minister Erdogan Bayraktar each baseless and a conspiracy when they China equates with the East Turkestan Islamic Movement India, accuse Han Chinese of stifling their culture and reli- saw a son detained on Dec 17 as police resigned, but Bayraktar turned against (ETIM), keeps a low profile in Pakistan. Unlike the Taleban, it gion. More than 100 people there have been killed in unrest went public with their long-running cor- the prime minister, calling at the time for almost never posts videos promoting its activities or ideolo- in the past year, according to Chinese state media reports. ruption inquiry. All three resigned just him, too, to quit. Police files on the four gy. Its exact size is unknown and some experts dispute its But the Chinese government has provided little evidence over a week later. Former EU minister ex-ministers were sent to parliament in ability to orchestrate attacks in China, or that is exists at all as that the Kunming killings or any other incidents that Beijing Egemen Bagis was replaced in a reshuf- late February, where a summary would a cohesive group. Getting hold of leaders such as Mansour is has labelled terrorist attacks have been linked to outside fle. The corruption scandal has grown usually be read aloud to deputies. almost impossible and interviews are usually very brief and forces. Some experts have suggested that the low-tech into one of the biggest challenges of However, the assembly went into recess conducted from undisclosed locations through a Pashto- nature of the weapons the assailants used in Kunming and Erdogan’s 11-year rule and comes as his for the election campaign period shortly speaking translator. Pakistani intelligence sources say they the location of the attack point to a lack of external backing AK Party is campaigning for pivotal afterwards and the files have been kept number about 400 fighters, and are clustered around the and weakly organized revenge killings as opposed to coordi- municipal elections on March 30. under lock and key ever since. —Reuters remote Mir Ali area, sharing bases with other foreign insur- nated international terrorism.—Reuters Al-Babtain Group grant to IEA raises 2014 oil 16 17US producer prices fall 18 Businesshelp ‘Rebuild Philippines’ demand forecast SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 India inflation touches 9-month low in Feb 19

This photo taken Thursday shows the Aqua Luna, one of Hong Kong’s last remaining traditional Chinese junks, sailing past Hong Kong’s skyline. Hong Kong’s economy is expected to expand at its fastest pace in three years in 2014, the government said on February 26, while slashing public welfare spending as it cautioned over global economic headwinds and projected a narrowing budget surplus. —AFP Moody’s affirms Kuwait’s Aa2 rating Government bond rating outlook remains stable

KUWAIT: The leading global credit rating provider about 26,800 barrels per capita. account surpluses averaged 35 percent of GDP over the Moody’s Investors Service affirmed yesterday Kuwait’s “Moreover, at the current rate of production, proven past 10 years, which helped to build up significant government bond rating at Aa2 with a stable outlook. oil reserves would last 89 years, similar to the United reserves, predominantly managed by the Kuwait According to Moody’s press release, Kuwait’s country Arab Emirates (Aa2 stable) and higher than oil producers Investment Authority, and reflected in a strong net asset ceilings were affirmed as well. It also pointed out that in the Commonwealth of Independent States.” international investment position of 51.5 percent of GDP the long-term local currency country risk ceilings remain Moody’s noted that the monetization of hydrocarbon as of end-2012.” at Aa2, the same level as the long-term foreign currency reserves has strengthened government finances to a It concluded that the constraints to the rating come debt and bank deposit ceilings. very high degree. from institutional factors and long-standing regional “The short-term foreign currency ceilings are P-1. geopolitical event risks. These ceilings act as a cap on ratings that can be Fiscal surplus The agency has referred to two reasons for the pro- assigned to the foreign and local-currency obligations of “Kuwait has recorded fiscal surpluses of 30 percent of jected stable outlook for Kuwait. entities domiciled in the country,” reads the press GDP on average over the past 10 years, which have “The stable rating outlook balances Kuwait’s very release. The rating agency explained that “Kuwait’s Aa2 remained large despite increases in spending since strong government financial and external position rating is primarily underpinned by its substantial hydro- 2010. Kuwait also has the lowest fiscal breakeven oil against the following challenges: carbon resource base, which is reflected by its position price (which the IMF estimates at $52 per barrel in 2014, (1) Slow progress with regard to economic diversifica- as the eighth-largest oil producer globally, with produc- including investment income) in the Gulf Cooperation tion away from the hydrocarbon sector; and tion of oil reaching 3.1 million barrels per day (bpd) in Council. As a result, government debt is very low and (2) A domestic political situation characterized by a 2012.” falling, both in nominal terms and as share of GDP.” confrontational relationship between parliament and It argued that although production began in the It asserted that Kuwait’s very strong external pay- government. “However, Moody’s notes that these chal- 1940s, hydrocarbon reserves remain plentiful and ments position reduces its vulnerability to external lenges do not pose an immediate threat to Kuwait’s Kuwait ranks first globally in per capita terms, with financial and economic risks to a very low level. “Current creditworthiness.” —KUNA BUSINESS SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 Al-Babtain Group grant to help ‘Rebuild Philippines’

‘Super Typhoon Haiyan’ one of the most powerful storms ever donations received from Babtain employees generously recorded that hit central Philippines last November 2013. matched by Al-Babtain to encourage and support employee More than a million families have been displaced and affected. philanthropy. Most now live in evacuation centers, some live near the rub- The CEO of Al-Babtain Group, Saleh Al-Babtain was quoted bles of what used to be their homes, while others still take on his thoughts about the Fund Raising Outcome, saying: “I refuge in their relatives’ or friends’ houses. would like to commend this humanitarian gesture by the staff of Al -Babtain to have collected money for the victims of the Philippines. This is not the first time our team has united to lend a helping hand; we continuously constitute our humanitarian effort as an integral part of our corporate social respon- HYDERABAD: Indian visitors look at models of Airbus sibility program-which we are committed to implement.” series aircraft on display in an exhibitors venue at the Al-Babtain also have a number of employees from the India Aviation 2014 airshow at Begumpet Airport in Philippines, and the company have a deep heartfelt empathy with and support for their concern for family, friends and com- Hyderabad yesterday. —AFP patriots, affected by this natural disaster. The company believes that all contributions, no matter how big or small, make a difference in helping to restore some Oil steady above $107 basic living conditions. “We thank the staff of Al-Babtain Group on this humanitarian gesture for the relief of their on Ukraine tension In this light, Al-Babtain Group of Companies is making a brothers in humanity in Philippines in times of adversity they LONDON: Brent crude oil steadied above $107 a barrel yes- grant to a Non Profit Organization in the Philippines to sup- are going through and that devastated the lives of thousands , terday, on track for a third weekly loss amid worries over port its “RE-BUILD PHILIPPINES” program that aims to repair and damaged homes of hundreds of them who are in desper- Chinese economic growth and rising US stockpiles, although damaged houses and build core house units for the disaster ate need of support. Our thoughts are with the people hit by tension in Ukraine heightened worries over Russian oil sup- victims. the disaster in the Philippines” said Saleh Al-Babtain, CEO Al- The donation by Al-Babtain Group is a collective effort of Babtain Group of Companies. plies. Russia launched new military exercises near its border with Ukraine, showing no sign of backing down on plans to annex its neighbor’s Crimea region despite a stronger than expected drive for sanctions from the EU and United States. The conflict has provided support for global oil markets as traders worry it could lead to a disruption of oil supplies from Russia, one of the world’s biggest oil producers. “Poor economic data from China and the referendum in the Crimea on Sunday are ensuring continued high levels of risk aversion on the markets,” said Carsten Fritsch, senior oil analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt. Brent crude oil was unchanged at $107.39 a barrel at 1000 GMT after settling 63 cents lower on Thursday. US crude was trading 11 cents higher at $98.31 a barrel, having closed 21 Malabar Gold & Diamonds offers free cents higher. The International Energy Agency said yesterday a surge in educational scholarships in Kuwait supply from Iraq and other oil producers should be more than sufficient to meet growing demand this year. The IEA Malabar Gold & Diamonds, the leading for the academic year 2013 - 2014. The in this noble cause & we thank Indian said Iraq’s oil output surged by 530,000 barrels per day in jewellery retailer in the Middle East offers scholarships were distributed in an award Community School for helping us to make February to 3.62 million bpd, the highest since 1979. free Educational Scholarships to the 10 ceremony conducted on 11 March 2014 at this event successful.” Slowing Chinese economic growth has raised concerns eligible students of Indian Community Indian Community School, Khaitan. The Malabar Gold and Diamonds is a lead- over oil demand in the world’s second largest consumer. School, Kuwait. As a part of group’s CSR scholarships were distributed by Adv/Dr ing jewellery group with over 111 retail Solid US retail sales and labor market data raised optimism Initiatives, the scholarships focus on Eisa Hameed Al-Anazi -Member of Human outlets across India and the Middle East. about the global economy, and also reinforced expectations strengthening educational systems and Rights Commission, in the presence of Mr. CSR activities are an important part of their that the US Federal Reserve would stick to its plan of gradu- also to ensure that all the young people Afsal Khan - Zonal Head, Malabar Gold & organization philosophy right from their ally withdrawing its asset-buying stimulus. Still, US crude has receive the education in the region. The Diamonds, LukmanAlavi - Branch Head, inception since 1993 and they are commit- lost 4.3 percent for the week, its steepest fall since early scholarships were offered to those stu- Malabar Gold & Diamonds. ted to making a real difference in the socie- dents of Indian Community in Kuwait, Commenting on the initiative, Afsal ty. The group allocates 10 percent of its January, after the US government surprised markets on who cannot meet the educational Khan - Zonal Head, Malabar Gold & profits for the benefit of the needy Wednesday by announcing a test release from its strategic expenses. Diamonds said “Malabar Gold & Diamonds through several new CSR projects. They are petroleum reserve. The 10 eligible students have been cho- has always been in forefront when it focusing on making significant difference The United States offered a modest 5 million barrels in sen from various branches of Indian comes to supporting the needy in the soci- in five priority areas such as housing, envi- what some observers saw as a message from the Obama Community School, Kuwait. The educa- ety. Our CSR initiatives are aimed at achiev- ronment, women empowerment as well as administration to Russia, whose intervention in Ukraine may tional scholarship covers the tuition fees ing the same. We are pleased to participate the medical and educational sectors. disrupt oil supplies from the major producer. —Reuters

Japan’s JX slashes 2014 Iran crude import 27%

TOKYO: Japan’s biggest refiner JX Nippon China and India outweighing on-year for crude from Iran to 53,000 bpd, from JX is likely to reduce crude processing by Oil & Energy has cut its annual crude con- reductions from Japan and South Korea. 73,000 bpd last year, said a source familiar about 3 percent this year, so I think JX cut tract with Iran by 27 percent, an industry Indian government sources said this week with the matter who declined to be identi- Iran volumes considering those factors,” source said, a move that will likely keep at that refiners there will have to cut their oil fied. The cut was in keeping with reduc- said Osamu Fujisawa, an independent oil bay any potential US pressure over oil ship- purchases by nearly two-thirds from first- tions to contracts from other crude suppli- economist. The reduction amounts to an ments from the Islamic republic. Under the quarter levels after a US energy official ers such as Saudi Arabia that come as annual loss of around $800 million for Iran November deal that eased some of the reminded them that Iranian import vol- Japan’s domestic demand weakens and at current prices, according to Reuters cal- sanctions directed at Tehran’s nuclear pro- umes were not to rise. That was the first refiners close down crude units, said the culations. The cuts of 20,000 bpd were gram, top oil clients China, India, Japan and clear sign of US intolerance to higher source. slightly more than expected, with the South Korea were to keep their imports exports from Iran, and came after India’s JX has cut its refining capacity nearly source saying in September that JX would near end-2013 levels of an aggregate January intake of Iranian crude doubled to 600,000 bpd over the last five years due to cuts its 2014 imports from Iran to around 936,000 barrels per day (bpd). 412,000 bpd from the previous month. Japan’s shrinking home market and a gov- 60,000 bpd. JX spokesmen declined to Together, though, the four took 1.25 JX Nippon Oil & Energy, a unit of JX ernment efficiency mandate. comment, citing confidentiality agree- million bpd in January, with increases in Holdings Inc, opted to cut its 2014 contract “Iran crude is relatively expensive and ments with Iran. —Reuters BUSINESS SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 IEA raises 2014 oil demand forecast World economic outlook improves

PARIS: Global oil demand will rise faster breached the 30 million barrels a day seen falling as the country continues to than expected as the world economic mark for the first time in five months as lower its dependence on oil. outlook improves, the International Iraqi output surged to 35-year highs. Easing industrial growth in China is Energy Agency said yesterday, warning Iraqi output had helped offset the also having an impact on demand. But ADDIS ABABA: Part of the Addis Ababa light railway that the crisis in Ukraine can still drag ebbing supplies from Libya, where Russia and Brazil are seen requiring under construction in Addis Ababa. Above Addis down overall consumption. The latest rebels are blockading oil terminals in more oil, with growth for Russia now Ababa’s concrete skyline, cranes tower high amid demand estimate of 92.7 million barrels the east. Non-OPEC supplies are also forecast at 3.0 percent for the year blasts from nearby drills and diggers. At the feet of per day is an increase of 95,000 barrels a expected to rise in 2014 by 1.7 million instead of 2.7 percent. Brazilian growth buildings shrouded in bamboo scaffolding, excava- day above last month’s forecast, with barrels per day-the highest rate of demand has also been raised to 2.8 per- tors dig up dirt tracks, to be replaced by paved emerging markets expected to provide growth since at least the early 1990s, cent from 2.7 percent previously. most of the gain, the International driven mainly by the United States and “Brazilian transportation fuel gains have roads and a modern railway. —AFP Energy Agency said. Canada. Meanwhile, non-OPEC produc- themselves been underpinned by the It is also the fourth straight month tion also rose, up 100,000 barrels per resilient, and seemingly now strength- Sudan isolation mounts that the agency is raising its demand day to 55.9 million barrels per day in ening, consumer sector, as the outlook. “Growth momentum is expect- February, led by higher output in North Confederacao Nacional da Industria’s as Europe, Saudi ed to benefit from a more robust global America. consumer confidence indicator depicted economic backdrop,” said the IEA in its However, demand in the United sentiment rising to an eight-month high banks stop dealings monthly oil market report. “The pace of States-the world’s biggest consumer-is of 113.9 in January,” the IEA said. —AFP growth will likely build through the KHARTOUM: Major European and Saudi banks have stopped year, as underlying macroeconomic dealing with Sudan, diplomatic and other sources say, adding to conditions improve, but the standoff in the sanctions-hit country’s isolation and further straining its Ukraine has increased downside risk to indebted, cash-starved economy. While Khartoum blames the forecast,” it added. increased “pressure” from a US trade embargo first imposed 17 Apart from a jump in prices on March years ago, a US official said there had been no change in policy 3, oil markets have been relatively calm from Washington. despite the standoff between the West The move by the European banks appears to reflect an increas- and Russia over Ukraine since February ingly cautious attitude by financial institutions which do not want 22, when a wave of street protests end- to risk being found in violation of US sanctions, a Western diplo- ed up ousting Ukraine’s pro-Kremlin mat said. “I think this is something actually mushrooming,” he said president Viktor Yanukovych. Since of the risk aversion. Germany’s Commerzbank was the latest to then, Russian troops have seized control sever its Sudan connection, according to diplomats. The bank had of Crimea, a small peninsula home to a no comment when reached by AFP. In 2012, the British banks mainly ethnic Russian population. The HSBC and Standard Chartered were fined $1.92 billion and $667 region will hold a referendum tomorrow million respectively for violations that included sanction breaches to decide if it will join Russia or remain with Iran and Sudan. in Ukraine. That same year, Dutch bank ING agreed to pay $619 million to The IEA said “one factor ... is almost settle US government accusations that it conducted banned certainly the fact that Ukraine is not a transactions involving Sudan and other countries. major transit country for Russian-origin In the latest investigation, US authorities are probing the oil sold to the West”. It added that both French banks Societe Generale, BNP Paribas and Credit Agricole parties are “closely linked in a con- for alleged embezzlement and violation of sanctions against sumer-producer relationship that HYDERABAD: Regional Executive India and South Asia of Sikorsky, AJS countries like Iran and Sudan, a source close to the matter said last remains very important to both parties”. Walia poses beside a model of Sikorsky S-92 helicopter on display in an week. The European Union itself has no embargo against Sudan, In 2013, Europe received over a third whose government seized power 25 years ago in an Islamist- (36 percent) of its net crude imports exhibitors venue at the India Aviation 2014 airshow at Begumpet backed coup. But European banks with US branches or business from Russia, which in turn relied on Airport in Hyderabad yesterday. The fourth edition of India Aviation, a “are closing any Sudanese accounts and won’t even process pay- Europe for 71 percent of its crude five day event scheduled to run from March 12-16, more than 250 ments from Sudan”, the diplomat said. exports. An improving supply outlook exhibitors will showcase the latest global aerospace technology offer- This affects private and government transactions. A local has also offset fears of a disruption. In ing business opportunities in India. —AFP banker, who asked not to be identified, said that starting this February, crude supplies from OPEC month Saudi banks too had stopped dealing with the African nation. This is economically far more significant for Sudan than the European move. “Most of the accounts or money going out of Sudan, it’s completely frozen,” the banker said. Iran’s Abadan refinery More pressure Sudan says hundreds of thousands of its nationals work in repairs to end mid-April Saudi Arabia, earning money to send home. The kingdom is also a key exporter to Sudan. The banker said that although sanctions have long been in place, they are being more strictly implement- SINGAPORE: Iran’s largest refinery in tonnes a month during this period, bunker fuel is currently more expen- ed now. “So they are putting more pressure,” he said. The United Abadan has started its scheduled the source added. sive than that in Singapore by about States imposed a trade embargo on Sudan in 1997 over accusa- maintenance this month and will be The National Iranian Oil Refining $2-$5 a ton, trade sources said. The tions that included human rights violations. Sanctions exemptions back online around mid-April, a and Distribution Company and the trend was last reversed around the are possible in some cases such as non-commercial personal source at the National Iranian Oil Abadan Oil Refining Company, units fourth quarter of last year, when Iran remittances or agricultural equipment. Company (NIOC) said. of NIOC, were not immediately avail- said it would slash exports to a third of For Saudi Arabia, strained political relations over Iran could be The refinery, which has a crude able for comment. The tighter supply previous levels, diverting production a factor in the banks’ decision, the Western diplomat said. While processing capacity of about 360,000 of Iranian fuel oil-favored for its low- to domestic power plants over winter. Riyadh has cool relations with Tehran, Khartoum has tried to bal- barrels per day, was shut on March 10 density quality - in recent months has Iranian fuel oil exports can be used ance ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran. and is expected to be back up around raised premiums for bunker fuel from for blending with lower quality fuel to The ending of dealings with Sudanese banks by some April 10, in a month-long mainte- United Arab Emirates’ Fujairah port, produce suitable specifications for European and Saudi financial institutions related to their own nance that will reduce fuel oil exports trade sources said. marine vessel use. Iran, while still “internal procedures”, the Central Bank of Sudan said in a state- by “at least 50 percent”, the source Bunker fuel from the Middle under sanctions, has won some relief ment carried by the official SUNA news agency. Information said, declining to be named as he was Eastern port, which usually trades at after it halted its most sensitive Minister Ahmed Bilal Osman denied any political reason for the not authorized to speak with the discounts to Singapore’s market, has nuclear operations under a prelimi- Saudi action, but said American pressure “is also toward the media. Iranian fuel oil exports are frequently reversed trend since the nary deal with world powers reached banks” now. —AFP anticipated to be almost 200,000 second-half of last year. Fujairah last November. —Reuters BUSINESS SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

Russia CB vows to US producer prices fall defend fiscal stability Little pressure on Fed to raise interest rates MOSCOW: Russia’s central bank yesterday kept lending rates on hold after raising them two weeks ago and said WASHINGTON: US producer prices fell in February, reinforcing of the report. Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast a slight it would fight for financial stability after the standoff with the view that minimal inflation pressures could keep the Federal increase in prices received last month by businesses such as fac- the West over Crimea, which has sent the ruble and Reserve from raising interest rates for quite some time. The tories, retailers and wholesalers. The price index had risen 0.2 stocks tumbling. The bank took the emergency step on Labor Department said yesterday its seasonally adjusted produc- percent in January. March 3 of raising its key rate by 150 basis points to 7 er price index for final demand dropped 0.1 percent last month. The renamed index was recently expanded to include servic- percent to stem capital flight after President Vladimir The data gives little reason for Fed officials to worry their easy es and construction. It was previously known as PPI for finished Putin said Russia had the right to invade Ukraine. Russian money policies are stoking inflation, and could make policymak- goods. PPI now covers about 72 percent of services, which along troops have already effectively taken control of Ukraine’s ers feel more comfortable holding interest rates near zero for with other factors will see it likely tracking closely the Consumer Crimea region, which is expected to vote to become part many more months. Price Index with the passage of time, according to economists. of Russia in a referendum on Sunday that the West says is “There is nothing in this report that raises any concerns about Final demand for goods rose 0.4 percent in February. Final illegal. inflation,” said John Canally, economist and investment strate- demand for services dropped 0.3 percent. The Labor The Russian central bank said there would be no eas- gist at LPL Financial in Boston. “The economy is running too far Department said about 80 percent of the decline in its services ing of rates in the months ahead, suggesting it expects below capacity for that to happen. US inflation has held at a very index was due to lower margins for retailers of apparel, footwear more tough times ahead for the ruble and for stocks, low level in recent years because of a persistently high unem- and accessories. which have lost about a quarter of their value since mid- ployment rate. In the 12 months through February, producer prices February. “Stabilizing capital flows is clearly the central The value of the US dollar slipped against the yen following increased 0.9 percent, the smallest one-year gain since May bank’s number one priority,” said Neil Shearing, chief the data’s publication, suggesting investors felt the report but- 2013. Producer prices excluding volatile food and energy costs emerging markets economist at Capital Economics in tressed the view that the Fed would hold interest rates extreme- fell 0.2 percent. Another gauge of core producer prices - final London. ly low into next year. Prices for US government debt and US demand less foods, energy, and trade services - nudged up 0.1 “The tightening of the policy may be more permanent stock index futures were little changed following the publication percent. — Reuters than many seemed to expect. My sense is that unless capital flight eases, a further rate hike is possible.” Analysts widely expect capital flight to reach $50-$55 billion in the first quarter alone, compared with $63 billion in the whole of 2013. The East-West standoff over Ukraine and the Crimea referendum have hit Russian assets hard. The central bank has been forced to put on hold a long-promised shift towards inflation targeting, and this risks tipping the economy into recession as it tries to ensure financial market stability. “The Bank of Russia’s priority is to contain the effect of (the ruble’s) exchange rate dynamics on inflation and to maintain financial stability,” the central bank said yesterday. The ruble is down 11 percent against the dollar this year , adding pressure on consumer price inflation. The central bank has spent at least $16 billion this month to keep it from falling too fast. Russian stocks have tumbled since Putin’s declaration on the right to invade Ukraine, and the capitalization of the MICEX index is down $66 billion since March 3, not including the 2.0 percent slide in stocks seen yesterday. Analysts had said they expected the central bank to keep its rates on hold this time, and many do not see any monetary easing until at least a presidential election due in Ukraine on May 25.

Tough times ahead The full response of the West and markets to the MIAMI: Andy Hines, Linh Nyugen loads live lobsters into a cargo truck for delivery to local cafes after leaving the Miami airport. Crimea referendum is far from certain. “We believe (the The Labor Department released the Producer Price Index for February yesterday. — AP referendum) might lead to a limited ratcheting-up of sanctions on Russia, but with little direct economic impact,” analysts at Renaissance Capital said in a note Spanish public debt yesterday. “However, plenty of negative headlines and second-round effects are likely to emerge.” Shearing, at Capital Economics, said nervous anticipation over the sanctions might be having a bigger effect on markets hits new record in 2013 than any sanctions themselves would. But, he said, there was still “no end in sight to the crisis.” MADRID: Spain reported yesterday its public debt soared to a ments more in interest payments, leaving them less money to Whatever the response, a further slide on Russian new record high in 2013 despite a slew of budget-cutting spend on public services. If a state’s public debt spirals out of markets and more pressure on the ruble are expected, measures, ballooning to nearly 94 percent of the economy’s control, investors fear not being repaid. That can push interest meaning the central bank will remain in crisis mode. “It is entire annual output. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s conser- rates so high that it becomes impossible for the state to bor- clear that keeping rates at current levels over the long vative government has raised taxes, frozen public salaries and row to finance even its day-to-day activities, leading to finan- term contributes, first of all, to the (preserving of) finan- curbed spending on items such as education and health so as cial collapse. cial stability rather than combating inflation,” said to rein in bulging annual budget deficits and the fast-accumu- Spain’s borrowing costs have fallen sharply, however, since Alexander Morozov, chief economist for Russia at HSBC lating state debt. The austerity drive sparked mass street the country was pushed to the edge of financial catastrophe in in Moscow. protests. Despite those efforts, however, public debt in the mid-2012 with interest rates on benchmark 10-year bonds Annual inflation stood at 6.2 percent in February. The euro-zone’s fourth-largest economy leapt to 960.6 billion topping 7.0 percent at one point. At a bond auction last week, central bank’s goal has been to bring it down to 5 per- euros ($1.33 trillion) at the end of 2013, the equivalent of 93.9 Spanish 10-year bonds yields eased to just 3.344 percent. cent by year-end. Yesterday, it said risks to that target percent of gross domestic product for the year, the Bank of Though Spain avoided a full-blown bailout in 2012, it never- remain. “Inflation rates are unlikely to fall until mid-2014 Spain said. theless tapped its euro-zone partners for an emergency loan due to the observed ruble depreciation,” it said. It did not That was up sharply from 884.7 billion euros, or 86.0 per- of more than 40 billion euros to bail out banks struggling with say how much the currency’s weakening may contribute cent of GDP in 2012, the bank said. In 2007, the year before a bad loans built up during a decade-long property boom that to inflation or what the impact will be on economic property crash plunged Spain’s economy into a five-year, dou- imploded in 2008. Despite emerging gingerly from a recession growth. ble-dip recession that destroyed millions of jobs, Spanish pub- in the second half of 2013, Spanish economic growth is slow Vladimir Miklashevsky, an analyst at Danske Bank in lic debt represented just 36.3 percent of gross domestic prod- and the unemployment rate remains stubbornly above 26 per- Copenhagen, called the central bank’s decision on Friday uct. The public debt for 2013 is nevertheless within the gov- cent. a de-facto tightening of monetary policy. “These are ernment’s forecast of 94.21 percent of GDP. A breakdown of the 2013 debt report showed that the east- extremely negative actions for the Russian economy,” he Spain’s government expects the public deficit to top 100 ern Valencia region was deepest in the red among the regions, said. “The probability of a recession has grown signifi- percent of GDP in 2015 before stabilizing at about 101 percent with liabilities equal to 32.9 of its economic output. Spain’s cantly.” — Reuters in 2016; a figure well above the European Union-agreed ceil- powerful regions are responsible for education and health ing of 60 percent of GDP. High public debt levels cost govern- spending. — AFP BUSINESS SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

Gold touches 6-month highs on Ukraine fears

LONDON: Gold rose to six-month highs yesterday and futures rose by more than 1 percent to their 5-1/2 term that will reinstate the downside risk to gold.” was headed for its biggest weekly gain in four buoyed month high of $1,364.10 an ounce, before trading at European equity markets fell to five-week lows on by lower equity markets on mounting tensions $1,356.70, up 0.7 percent. heightened tensions ahead of Ukraine’s weekend refer- between Russia and the West over Ukraine and worries “Gold’s upside has been helped by quite a lot of endum in Crimea. Russia launched new military exercis- of an economic slowdown in China. The metal has things happening at the same time, the U.S. and China es near its border with Ukraine on Thursday, showing gained more than 2 percent this week so far, in what and Ukraine,” Deutsche Bank analyst Michael Lewis no sign of backing down on plans to annex its neigh- would mark its sixth straight weekly rise, as investors’ said. “As for Ukraine, the impact on gold could fade bor’s Crimea region despite a stronger-than-expected appetite for risk diminished in view of increasing politi- quickly (once a diplomatic solution is found), whereas if drive for sanctions from the EU and United States. cal tensions and economic troubles, which benefit structural changes happen in China the effect on gold Another element of support for gold is related to gold. Spot gold rose 0.1 percent to $1,370.95 an ounce could last longer,” he added. worries over China’s economy. Data on Thursday by 1110 GMT, after hitting its highest since Sep.10 at “But we still view the US labor market and the Fed showed growth slowed in the first two months of the $1,376.02. The metal is up 14 percent this year. US gold policy as the predominant driver and ... in the longer year.—Reuters China fears continue to drive markets

LONDON: Concerns over the Chinese economy “With a host of geopolitical considerations to be and the ongoing tensions in Ukraine continued to made, there’s still scope for more selling into the drive stock markets around the world lower yester- weekend break,” said Patrick Latchford at day. The twin worries have had a firm grip over Valutrades. financial markets all week, especially as there’s Earlier, Asian stocks had a torrid session. China been a relative dearth of market-moving econom- has been the main driver in markets there this ic news in the US and Europe. week as investors have grown increasingly cau- With traders monitoring discussions yesterday tious about the outlook for the world’s No. 2 econ- between US Secretary of State John Kerry and omy following a raft of disappointing economic Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the run-up news. to Sunday’s referendum in the Ukraine region of Japan’s Nikkei 225 stock had a particularly bad Crimea over joining Russia, analysts said there’s session, falling 3.3 percent to 14,327.66. As a result, unlikely to be a turnaround in sentiment. the index ended the week 6.2 percent lower. As “At the end of the week, investors will likely well as fretting over the fallout from China, want to sit on their hands and monitor the out- Japanese investors have been responding to the come of US-Russian talks on the Ukraine today and recent rise in the value of the yen in light of its sta- the outcome and aftermath of the Crimean refer- tus as a safe haven asset in times of market stress. HYDERABAD: Indian laborers carry onion bags towards waiting transport vehicles at a whole- endum,” said Neil MacKinnon, global macro strate- The appreciating yen can make the country’s sale market yard in Hyderabad. India’s inflation hit a nine-month low in February, data gist at VTB Capital. exports less competitive in export markets. showed yesterday, but analysts saw little chance of any immediate cut in interest rates. — AFP In Europe, the FTSE 100 index of leading British The dollar was down a further 0.2 percent at shares was down 0.2 percent at 6,659 while 101.53 yen. At the start of the week, the dollar was Germany’s DAX fell 0.3 percent to 8,892. The CAC- trading above the 103 yen mark. Elsewhere in Asia, India inflation touches 40 in France was 0.6 percent lower at 4,224. The Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 1 percent to end biggest casualty was Russia’s main RTS index, at 21,539.49 and China’s Shanghai Composite fell nine-month low in Feb which was trading around 3 percent lower. 0.5 percent to 2,004.34. In other financial markets, Wall Street was poised to recover some of the mood was similarly subdued. The euro was up Thursday’s losses. Dow futures and the broader 0.2 percent at $1.3892 while a barrel of benchmark Immediate rate cuts looks unlikely S&P 500 futures were both 0.2 percent lower. New York crude rose 0.1 percent to $98.31. — AP NEW DELHI: India’s inflation hit a nine-month low poor supporters. It also wants to revive the econo- in February, data showed yesterday, but analysts my as it seeks a third term. saw little chance of any immediate interest rate cut. Growth slackened last year to a decade-low of Slowing inflation may also have come too late for 4.5 percent and the government expects 4.9 per- the embattled Congress-led government which cent expansion in this fiscal year to March. India’s faces elections next month and trails in opinion nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, seen by business polls.Inflation measured by the Wholesale Price as better able to get the economy back on track, is Index, the closest watched cost-of-living monitor, tipped to win the elections due in April-May. eased to 4.68 percent in February from a year ago Business has clamored for a cut in the benchmark from 5.05 percent a month earlier. lending rate, now at a hefty eight percent. The figures assume importance as they are the “This easing of inflation will hopefully create last before the central bank meets on April 1 for its some space for monetary policy easing,” said regular monetary policy-setting meeting. But while Sidharth Birla, president of the Federation of Indian inflation is moving in the right direction, chances of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The near-term rate cuts to boost sluggish growth bank has hiked rates three times since September remain slim with the hawkish bank likely to go into and Birla said 71 percent of chief executives in a a wait-and-watch mode, economists said. The bank FICCI survey called high credit costs “a key factor “is unlikely to entertain the notion of rate cuts just holding back fresh investments” to spur the econo- yet”, said Capital Economist’s India analyst Miguel my. Chanco. But the central bank fears economic damage The Wholesale Price Index drop takes inflation from stubborn inflation and says prices must be below the central bank’s five percent “comfort” lev- decisively tamed to achieve the near double-digit el and beat market forecasts. The figure comes growth required to create jobs and reduce poverty. after consumer inflation, compiled from a smaller The latest inflation drop was driven by falling goods basket, fell to a 25-month low in February- food costs. However, heavy rains have hurt crops still unacceptably high for the central bank, econo- which could cause food prices to resurge, analysts mists said. say. In another worrying sign, core inflation-which strips out volatile food and fuel prices-has acceler- ‘Not too comforting’ ated. These developments are “not too comfort- The bank will not want to risk undermining its ing”, said Indranil Pan, chief economist at India’s inflation achievements “by jumping the gun on Kotak Mahindra Bank, predicting rates will remain TOKYO: A man walks past an electric quotation board showing stock market indexes of Tokyo interest rate cuts”, said Chanco, forecasting unchanged in April. and New York in front of a securities company in Tokyo yesterday. Tokyo stocks tumbled 3.30 unchanged rates in April. Fearing a voter backlash, In fact, some analysts say the central bank may percent yesterday following sharp falls on Wall Street and a rise in the yen as investors fret the government has been desperate to tame infla- be forced to hike rates again in the next fiscal year about the Ukraine crisis and China’s economy. — AFP tion, which causes huge suffering to its legions of to restrain inflation. — AFP BUSINESS SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 Draghi holds course in face of deflation threat ECB policy options limited by high barriers

FRANKFURT/WASHINGTON: Meeting students Bank of England policymaker who now runs the Christian Noyer said on Monday, adding that of a structural malaise such as an ageing popula- at the University of Amsterdam in April last year, influential Peterson Institute for International “permanent and deep forces” were weighing on tion. It also held doubts on whether flooding European Central Bank President Mario Draghi Economics in Washington, also says the ECB inflation in the euro-zone and wider world. Other markets with cash would push up prices, a suspi- extolled the virtues of courage, recalling a story his should do more. “Deflation ... doesn’t move very ECB officials share Noyer’s concerns and would cion still shared by some central bankers, includ- father had told him: much. When it gets low, it will stay low. We can prefer a lower exchange rate. Spanish central ing those at the ECB. The foot-dragging took its “In between the wars, he saw an inscription on see now how hard it is for Japan to move (infla- bank chief Luis Maria Linde said on Wednesday: toll. a German monument, a German statue saying tion) up just a couple of percentage points. So the “If the euro keeps appreciating against the dollar, A prolonged period of sticky deflation sapped that ‘if you lose your money you’ve lost nothing, ECB is accepting too much risk of them getting that could lead to additional measures.” Japan’s economic strength by encouraging com- because with a good business you will take it stuck at where they are now,” he told Reuters. panies and households to hold on to cash rather back; if you lose honor, you’ve lost a lot, but with Policy puzzle than invest. Japanese firms are still sitting on 230 good heroic action you can get it back; but if Danger zone ECB policymakers insist they still have policy trillion yen ($2.25 trillion) in cash, nearly half the you’ve lost courage, you’ve lost everything.’” Draghi himself has warned of the risk of infla- tools available if they see a risk of inflation expec- size of the country’s economy. Draghi showed his steeliness at the height of tion becoming stuck in a “danger zone” below 1 tations veering off track. But the realistic range of Cyclical booms in the economy didn’t last the euro-zone crisis, vowing to do “whatever it percent. ECB staff forecasts released last week options is limited, as is their potential impact. The long enough to change the public’s perception takes” to save the currency. Now investors would showed euro-zone inflation quickening from 0.8 ECB’s main interest rate is already at a record low that prices would continue to fall, making defla- like him to show the same mettle again and take percent last month to 1.5 percent in 2016, when it of 0.25 percent, and the deposit rate it pays banks tion self-fulfilling. “The ECB is wrong, making bold policy action to buoy the euro-zone econo- would hit 1.7 percent in the final quarter. for holding their money overnight is at zero. much the same mistake the BOJ used to make, my and steer it away from the economic quick- That would see inflation just about hit the A cut in the main rate would likely mean push- which is to assume that everything is a structural sand of deflation. With no ‘shock and awe’ policy ECB’s target of “close to but below 2 percent” ing the deposit rate into negative territory, which problem, that nothing is cyclical and that you’re move in sight, they may be disappointed. within its policy-relevant medium-term horizon. would mean charging banks for parking their doomed to low growth and therefore any mone- Draghi has shelved one bite-sized measure the But inflation is notoriously difficult to forecast over deposits at the ECB in the hope they would tary expansion will be rapidly inflationary,” said ECB had discussed, essentially thinning its armory longer periods. “The experience of Japan is sober- instead lend some of the money to firms and Posen. Japanese officials are dispensing advice to a “big bazooka” - US-style quantitative easing consumers. Some policymakers have reserva- on how to counter deflation. Finance Minister that would be difficult for some ECB policymakers tions about this scenario as banks could respond Taro Aso shared Japan’s experience with his to stomach - or nothing. The risk is that the ECB by cutting the interest they pay savers. It could peers at last month’s G20 finance leaders’ meet- fails to act early and aggressively enough, and that also potentially disrupt the interbank lending ing in Sydney. a cocktail of downward cost pressures sucks the market. A more “bite-sized” option would be for “I told them it’s very important to take aggres- economy into a quagmire of falling prices. the ECB to stop operations to soak up money sive macro-policy steps to prevent slipping into So far, the ECB insists inflation expectations are spent on Greek and other countries’ bonds at the deflation,” he said. The IMF is also studying what sound, or “anchored” in central bank parlance, height of the euro crisis. This would release some lessons can be drawn from Japan’s deflation and there is no risk of deflation, which would lead 175 billion euros ($245 billion) into the financial experience to help the euro-zone. households to defer purchases, crimping demand system. Reza Moghadam, the head of the IMF’s and entrenching a downward price spiral. However, Draghi last week played down the European Department said in a recent blog that But the situation is fragile and could change benefits of this technical option for loosening very low inflation “is working to the detriment of quickly. “You should not be over-reassured by the lending conditions, suggesting the ECB will either recovery in the euro area, especially in the more fact that expectations are still anchored, and I do nothing or else take bold policy action should fragile countries, where it is thwarting efforts to would add that when you find out that they are the outlook deteriorate. Quantitative easing (QE) - reduce debt, regain competitiveness and tackle not anchored any more it may be too late,” said printing money to buy assets - would be such unemployment”. Francesco Papadia, a former director general for bold action, and it is a measure some ECB policy- market operations at the ECB. makers have mentioned as an option. Tokyo on the Tiber? The example of Japan, which has been mired However, hawkish members of the 24-mem- The deflation debate is particularly relevant to in deflation for 15 years, offers a frightening prece- ber Governing Council believe the barriers to countries on the euro-zone periphery that are dent. Price declines there were so mild to start embarking on QE are particularly high. Others struggling to reduce their debts. Greece is already with it took a long time for the Bank of Japan to are content with the existing policy stance and running a negative inflation rate. But the problem acknowledge that deflation had set in and that it see QE as a major shift they would need to look is perhaps biggest for Italy, the euro-zone’s third- was dangerous enough to require a strong policy ECB President Mario Draghi long and hard at before pulling the trigger. largest economy, which is saddled with 2 trillion response. On a more technical level, some officials also euros ($2.8 trillion) of public debt and is strug- ing here because nobody expected that Japan ask whether US-style QE would have the same gling with the competing need both to cut costs Japan’s ‘lost decades’ would have some 15 years of inflation bordering impact in the euro zone, where they see less evi- and spark growth. Deflation risk is “linked at the There are striking parallels between 1990s with deflation: our ability to forecast inflation over dence of a link between interest rates on sover- hip to debt sustainability”, said Pimco’s Japan and the euro-zone’s plight now: weak bank the medium-run is poor,” said Papadia. eign bonds and lending to the private sector. For Bosomworth, adding: “Italy is in a much better lending, fragile economic growth, a rising Andrew Bosomworth, a portfolio manager at now, the ECB argues its ‘forward guidance’ on position than Japan, but it’s got Japan-style exchange rate, and the central bank’s insistence Pimco, the world’s largest bond fund, says a rates remaining low for an extended period cre- demographics and debt dynamics evolving in that deflation is not on the horizon. ECB Executive shock to the euro-zone economy could easily ates a de facto loosening of its policy stance as an slow motion.” Board member Benoit Coeure, who speaks blow the bloc’s fragile recovery off course and expected pick-up in inflation would bring down The European Commission expects Italy’s Japanese and knows the country well, warned on send it towards deflation. “Another negative real interest rates. debt to hit 134 percent of gross domestic prod- Thursday about banks rolling over bad loans, external shock would certainly tip the scales,” he Draghi struck a more dovish tone on uct (GDP) this year. The attached graphic shows what he called “zombie lending”, as they had said. That certainly happened in Japan in 1997, Thursday, saying the ECB would counter any that even with a solid recovery and higher infla- done in Japan. “We’ve seen a risk of Japanification when a toxic mix of tighter fiscal policy and the material risk of inflation expectations becoming tion, Italy will take years to cut its debt to 100 per- of the euro-zone,” he said in Paris. There are some Asian financial crisis plunged the economy into unanchored with fresh policy measures, which he cent of GDP, let alone reach an EU target of 60 differences between the economies: with an ECB- recession and pushed it deeper into deflation. said the bank had been preparing. But he percent. led health check of its banking sector, the euro- Emerging market turmoil poses the biggest such described deflation risks as “quite limited”. Downward pressure on wages risks lowering zone is being more proactive than Japan in clean- risk for the ECB, with Draghi saying last week that inflation, slowing the erosion of Italy’s debt pile. ing up its banks. And there is no sign yet of tensions over Ukraine “could quickly become Japanese lessons “If Italy does the same sort of internal devalua- European consumers deferring purchases. “The substantial and generate developments that are The Japanese experience shows that a defen- tion that Spain, Ireland, Greece and Portugal situation in the euro area is different because infla- unforeseeable and, potentially, of great conse- sive approach to deflation risks can see a major have done, then euro-zone aggregate inflation tion expectations are firmly anchored, whereas quence”. economy come unstuck. Consumer prices in is going lower,” said Bosomworth. “Europe is they were not in Japan,” Draghi explained after Such turbulence, coupled with policy inaction Japan began to slip in 1999, by 0.3 percent, fol- very much on a knife edge.” The risk is that infla- the ECB’s March 6 policy meeting in response to a from the ECB, risks further boosting the euro, lowed by a 0.7 percent fall in 2000, but it took tion expectations swing lower and consumers question from Reuters. which hit a 2-1/2 year high against the dollar after until 2001 for the central bank to deploy quanti- start deferring purchases. Draghi’s predecessor The International Monetary Fund is more con- the ECB last week left interest rates on hold and tative easing. as ECB president, Jean-Claude Trichet, said that cerned and has urged the Frankfurt-based central unveiled no other policy measures. “The recent Prices fell 4.1 percent in the 15 years to 2012, is not happening. “But this does not mean that bank to take action such as an interest rate cut or appreciation of the euro has had indeed a strong an average of 0.3 percent a year. The BOJ has you do not have to be very careful,” Trichet even quantitative easing. Adam Posen, a former disinflationary impact,” Bank of France chief long argued that deflation was only a symptom added. —Reuters 15, 2014 SATURDAY, MARCH MARCH SATURDAY, www.kuwaittimes.net

Enrique Iglesias doesn’t want to marry Anna Kournikova PAGE 22

A cosplayer looks into the camera yesterday at the Leipzig Book Fair in Leipzig, Germany. The book fair runs until tomorrow. —AFP

BobBob Thomas,Thomas, deandean ofof HollywoodHollywood reporters,reporters, diesdies PAGE 25 SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 Oprah Winfrey is releasing a new book he media mogul will publish a collection of essays, Tentitled ‘What I Know For Sure’, which will be compiled from the monthly piece she has published in O, the Oprah Winfrey Magazine for the last 14 years on September 2. The essays will be grouped in the book by theme, with topics covered including gratitude, joy, awe and possibility, and the tome will “offer a rare, powerful and intimate glimpse into Oprah’s inner life - her thoughts, struggles and dreams - while providing readers a guide to becoming their best selves.” Meanwhile, Oprah - who has previously published two weight loss manuals and a behind-the-scenes guide to the making of 1998 movie ‘Beloved’ - has paid tribute to her best friend Gayle King. The 60-year-old talk show host has been close to her pal for almost 40 years after they bonded over bad weather which led to Oprah lending Gayle some underwear. She is quoted by the New York Post newspaper as saying: “I want to say officially how proud I am of my friend Gayle King. “Back a lifetime ago, 1976, Baltimore. We were both on a local TV station. She was a production assistant. I was an anchor. We became friends, especially after a big snow storm. When she couldn’t go out, get home and didn’t have enough clothes, I said, ‘OK, you can have my underwear.’ But then I added, ‘And don’t return it.’ “When time came and things happened to me, I asked her to quit her job and come to know how much she loved it. “And now she’s doing so well, my new Oprah magazine to help me. But the truth is, the and I’m thrilled for her. Mostly because at least she can Enrique Iglesias whole time I felt guilty taking her away from TV because I have her own underwear.” doesn’t want to marry Anna Kournikova Emma Watson is jealous he 38-year-old singer doesn’t see the point in tying the knot with the former professional ten- T mma Watson nis player, whom he has been dating on/off since is “so jealous” of 2001, because he doesn’t think it will better their rela- Eactresses who didn’t grow up in the tionship. Speaking in an interview with ‘CBS Sunday spotlight. The 23-year-old star shot Morning’, which will air on March 16, he said: “I’m not to fame at the age of nine when she was against marriage, not at all, but when you’ve been cast as Hermione Granger in the ‘Harry with someone for such a long time, I don’t think it’s Potter’ franchise, but she sometimes wish- going to bring us closer together. I don’t think it’s es she had hit Hollywood at an older age. going to make us any happier.” The couple met when She said: “There are all these actresses Anna, 32, appeared in Enrique’s ‘Escape’ music video who have emerged in the last year or two, back in 2001, and the hunky star admits he knew they and they get to emerge as this complete would end up together because they got on so well. human being. And I’m so jealous!” He recalled the first time they met: “She was just the However, the stunning actress - who is coolest girl in the world to me and we just, we got currently studying English at Brown along.” However, Enrique’s thoughts on marriage may University in Providence, Rhode Island - not go down well with Anna as it was reported in admits she’s trying her best to keep her October that she was becoming increasingly frustrat- work separate from her personal life, after ed with his reluctance to marry her. A source said at being inspired by something Elizabeth the time: “[They’re] on the rocks. Anna is getting tired Taylor once said. She explained in the of waiting for him to decide if he wants to marry her or April edition of Elle Magazine: “I remember on a movie set. It really struck me. I don’t “That my first kiss could be in somebody not. They’ve been together for so long, she feels like reading this thing that Elizabeth Taylor know how or why, but I had this sense that else’s clothes. And my experiences could it’s never going to happen. She is ready to move on.” wrote. She had her first kiss in character, if I wasn’t really careful, that could be me. all belong to someone else.” Khloe Kardashian doesn’t believe in dieting he 29-year-old reality TV When I really need to kick it up, T star, who has recently then I’ll do low carbs, like Atkins sported a trimmer figure, diet. “And then I think it’s just claims she doesn’t agree with trying to stay consistent, chang- limiting herself to certain foods ing the way you eat. Especially and prefers to lose weight by after having a baby, it’s really training harder at the gym. She hard. You’re body totally said: “I don’t believe in diets. I changes. And I think you have to believe in working out and hard work out.” Following North’s work and consistency.” birth, the brunette beauty However, her sister Kim, who embarked on a strict diet and has eight-month-old daughter weight loss regime, but admits North with her fiancÈ Kanye she still has a soft spot for her West - admits she has to restrict favorite sweet treat. When asked her calorie intake otherwise what she struggles to stay away she’d end up eating “anything”. from when on a diet, she said She explained to E! News: “See, I previously: “Krispy Kreme believe in diets or I will eat any- donughts....don’t tempt me, I’m thing ... Pretty much anything. doing good right now lol (sic).” SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 Kelly Osbourne sells Hollywood Hills Zoe Saldana home for $1.3m has stopped working out he ‘Fashion Police’ star, who Tsplit from her fiancÈ Matthew Mosshart earlier this year, off- he 35-year-old actress has always been an active person, but loaded her one bedroom cottage she admits she’s been “lazy” over the past year and has been in California for the generous sum. T enjoying gorging on high-calorie foods. She said: “I’ve been an The 29-year-old beauty bought the active person my whole life. The past year has been the only time in property back in 2005 for $1.195 my life that I haven’t been to the gym. I’ve been lazy instead of train- million, but hasn’t lived in it for ing for something and pushing myself.” The ‘Guardians of the almost a year, and has been rent- Galaxy’ star insists she was never “trying to be skinny”, but trained ing it out for a reported sum of regularly to keep her fitness levels up. She explained: “I just like to $4,600 a month. The stunning pad, know how much endurance I have. But this past year I’ve let which was built in 1952 by famed myself go. I’ve been eating a lot of Chinese, pasta, rice, beans...” architect Robert Byrd, has recently Meanwhile, the brunette beauty secretly tied the knot with been updated and is complete her beau Marco Perego last summer in England after a with a stylish bar, a spacious office and two bathrooms. The month of dating, but she admits the wedding felt “right” kitchen has been kitted out with top of the range appliances for them both. She explained to Net-a-porter magazine: and the adjacent living room opens out on to the private gar- “I’m not a private person, but I am discreet, so it felt den, which boasts stunning views of the city below. Although right.” Zoe previously dated Bradley Cooper until the cute cottage doesn’t come with an outdoor pool, there is March 2012, and had an 11-year relationship with designated areas within the 1,250 sq ft home that have been Keith Britton until 2011. laid out especially for entertaining. Meanwhile, Kelly reportedly moved into a three bedroom house in Beverly Hills, formerly rented by Lindsay Lohan, back in April last year with Matthew, whom she met in 2011. However, it is now believed she’s on the lookout for a bigger place and one that doesn’t hold memories of her ex-lover. — Bangshowbiz

Scarlett Johansson isn’t planning her wedding

Jessica Simpson to tie the knot in California he singer and her fiancÈ Eric Johnson were planning to Tget married on the Italian island of Capri this summer, but they’ve now decided to tie the knot closer to home in California. The couple, who have daughter Maxwell, 22 months, and eight-month-old son Ace together, “decided to keep it [their wedding] simple” as they thought it would be “too much” to ask their guests to fly to Europe for the ceremony, a source told Us Magazine. The 33-year-old star had her he 29-year-old actress has been engaged to Romain reduce for a little while, so I was like, ‘Let’s go build a snow- eye on Capri after falling in love with the place during a holi- Duariac for six months and is expecting her first child man while we wait.’ I got a little carried away ... Three hours day with Eric, 34, in 2010, and the pair flew out to Italy again T with him, but she’s not rushing to tie the knot and later, I was like, ‘Oh no, the chili!’ I went back inside and the last October to look at possible venues. Meanwhile, Jessica - thinks she’ll probably just “wing it”. She told Access house was covered in smoke. A pro would have not made who is a spokesperson for Weight Watchers - has recently Hollywood: “I don’t plan anything. I’m terrible at planning. that mistake. Make sure to check every five minutes if you shed 50lbs of her baby weight and is determined to stay in Yeah, I’m not gonna plan anything - I like to wing it!” are reducing something!” However, Scarlett, who was previ- shape for her big day. She said previously: “Knowing that I Meanwhile, the ‘Don Jon’ star, who recently moved to Paris, ously engaged to Ryan Reynolds, believes she has a knack have the wedding coming up is an incentive to stay on France, with Romain, is already enjoying domestic bliss and for cooking up delicious treats, and claims her tasty muffins Weight Watchers, count my points and stay in the gym. I loves cooking at home, but admits she still needs to work send men into a frenzy. She said: “My signature baked good mean, when you see my dress, you’ll know.” The blonde beau- on her culinary skills. She said previously: “I cook, but I’m no is a vegan banana chocolate chip muffin ... I can modestly ty, who resides in Los Angeles, has set a date for her wedding, pro. I was making a white chicken chili and I had to let it say I have had marriage proposals from those!” but is remaining tight-lipped on the exact details. SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 Paraguay group turns garbage into sweet melodies

arents all over the world often complain train the 22 youths chosen to open for about their children’s music being Metallica, and prepare the 18 others that will Pgarbage. For one group of poor kids in travel either as substitutes or support person- Paraguay, however, who have found interna- nel. He also supervises practice at the site, tional fame by forming an orchestra which known as Vy’a Renda-Paradise, in the native uses instruments built from trash, it is quite Guarani language-for 150 other students who literally true. The Orchestra of Recycled endure the stench from the garbage dump to Instruments of Cateura will mark another learn how to play on their recycled instru- notable chapter in their history this week ments. It all started when Chavez, who plays when they will be the opening act for US the guitar, brought his group from his home- heavy metal band Metallica on a six-nation South American tour. “It was a surprise for us,” said orchestra director Favio Chavez. “We were not expecting that such a famous rock band would show interest in having us as the opening act for their concerts.” The orchestra is made up of 40 teenage boys and girls born and raised near Cateura, the main garbage dump serving Paraguay’s capital Asuncion. Their violins, flutes, saxophones, and other instruments are assembled from bits and pieces of detritus scavenged from the dump. from the remains of oil cans and used wood,” garbage dump. “It gets children and youths The Cateura teens perform an array of said Thomas Lecourt, a French instrument away from crime and drugs, and teaches music, from Mozart, Vivaldi and Beethoven to maker from Strasbourg who has been helping them to believe in themselves,” he said. “With the Beatles, Frank Sinatra and Edith Piaf. The the group for the past two years. “Nobody dedication and effort opportunities will make kids are based in a modest school in a shanty charges anyone a cent,” Lecourt said. Andres themselves available.” town called “Southern Bath of the Paraguay Riveros, 17, says that he is enamored with his Chavez says that many people, especially River,” a slum that gets its name from the riv- junkyard saxophone. “This is proof that it is foreigners, have offered to buy the unique er’s constant flooding. The town has a popu- possible to get ahead despite adversities,” he instruments. Instead, “we give the instru- lation of some 25,000, but since it is a squatter said. His instrument is made from a rooftop ments away to people who have a lot of settlement and has no official recognition, Musicians from a Paraguayan juvenile rain drainage pipe, with keys fashioned from meaning to us,” he said. One lucky person was there is no government investment no elec- symphonic orchestra play their musical bits cut from cans and local coins. Queen Sofia of Spain. “She has a violin,” said tricity, no paved roads, no drinking water. instruments made out of recycled trash Tin can violins -Ada Rios, 15, is a violin Chavez. “Princess Beatrix of Holland has during a rehearsal in Asuncion. — AFP player. The top of her instrument is part of an another.” One was donated to a museum in Extreme poverty photos old paint can, while the body is an aluminum Arizona, in the southwestern United States, Paraguay is one of the poorest countries in tray once used to bake bread. A fork holds and another was given to former US president the Western hemisphere. Forty percent of its town of Carapegua, located 90 kilometers (55 down the chords, and the neck is fashioned Jimmy Carter. And to famed Cuban singer 6.7 million inhabitants live below the poverty miles) southeast of Asuncion, to the school for from scavenged wooden crate parts. The only Silvio Rodriguez “I gave my guitar,” he said. line, and of those half live in extreme poverty, daily meetings with the garbage scavengers. thing new are the chords. “My principal moti- How about getting real instruments for the according to government figures. The orches- “Many of the children had never seen an vation is to learn as part of a group,” said Rios. teens? “As long as the kids are poor and live in tra was organized in 2006 by Chavez, who instrument or experienced music up close,” “I never thought that we could leave our these conditions, it is impossible to buy them came to the area as the garbage dump’s envi- he said. Since then they built guitars from anonymity behind in this way.” Lecourt, 26, is professional instruments that cost more than ronmental technician. His current task is to large cans, and “cellos and saxophones made thrilled by his work in the Paraguayan their homes,” he said. — AFP Toledo welcomes back painter Greco 400 years on

he Spanish city of Toledo yesterday wel- Modernism. painter who enjoyed painting beautiful things, Magdalene in a blue cloak, painted in 1576 and on comed back the master painter El Greco, His piercing colors and distinctive elongated in a highly beautiful way... not gaunt and ema- loan from Barcelona. There is also a post-crucifixion Twhose vivid works have returned from human figures verge on the disturbing, but the ciated figures,” he said. scene, “La Piedad”, from the same year, on loan around the world to adorn his adoptive city 400 curator of the Toledo show, Fernando Marias, from New York. years after his death. Organizers billed it as “one said there is a brighter side to El Greco. The new Color, space, beauty Those two works will hang in the gothic hospi- of the most important” shows ever curated of exhibition aims to give a modern view of “a Visiting works include a portrait of Saint Mary tal of Santa Cruz in Toledo. Restorers have removed the Greek-born painter who made the Spanish layers of varnish and dirt from some works, offering city his home. He is known for stirring religious a fresh view of El Greco, “whose colors consume us scenes such as “The Burial of the Count of with their intensity”, Marias said. Another site to Orgaz”-a particular gem that cannot leave the open its doors is the private chapel of San Jose. Santo Tome church in Toledo since it is too big. There, two canvases form a gilded altarpiece deco- But 64 other paintings from 31 cities are on rated with cherubs and sculptures designed by El loan until June 14 to the city, where they will Greco-a little-known facet of his work. hang in six venues, close to where El Greco “He planned his works to be incorporated into intended them to be displayed. Added to the the space,” so it is important “to see these paint- dozens of works still kept in the historical city, ings in their original setting,” said the director-gen- they form around a third of the 300 paintings eral of the foundation, Jesus Carrobles. “Some of the old master created before his death on April them were meant to be hung high up, in which 7, 1614. Presenting the exhibition ahead of case the figures do not look so disproportionately Friday’s public opening, the head of the El Greco elongated,” he explained. El Greco’s distinctive 2014 Foundation, Gregorio Maranon, said it was long-limbed saints and characters were not due, as “the most important ever” show of the artist’s some have suggested, “to poor eyesight, but to a paintings. deliberate effect to represent his personal ideal of Born Domenikos Theotokopoulos in Crete in beauty”, Carrobles added. 1541, El Greco moved to Toledo at the age of 36 In his studio, flooded with southern light, the after being rejected by the court of Spain’s King artist hung groups of clay figurines from the ceiling Philip II. He was forced to accept all kinds of to paint them as angels in heaven, as seen in “The commissions to pay off his debts, producing Adoration of the Shepherds”. numerous portraits and religious images in his That painting is also thought to contain El workshop in Toledo. Greco’s self-portrait. Kicking off a year of El His works languished in obscurity until they Greco commemorations, the Toledo exhibition were brought to the attention of collectors in is followed by another in Madrid’s El Prado the late 19th century. They transformed him into museum from June 24 to October 5, which will one of the most important figures in the history A man looks at a painting by Greek painter Domenikos Theotokopoulos known as “El examine his influence on 19th- and 20th-centu- of art, considered by some to be a forerunner of Greco” during an exhibition at the Santa Cruz museum in Toledo. — AFP ry painting. — AFP SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

In this Oct 6, 1954 file photo, Associated Press reporter Bob Thomas (center) and other media wait outside the Beverly Hills house of Marilyn Monroe, after In this June reports that the movie 1950 file star’s marriage to photo, Bob baseball star Joe Thomas DiMaggio was breaking accompanies up. — AP photos Lucille Ball as she practices the part of a door-to-door saleswoman Bob Thomas, in Los Angles. dean of Hollywood reporters, dies

ob Thomas, the longtime Associated Press writer and dean of table to table at the Polo Lounge, Musso and Frank and other Hollywood reporters who covered a record 66 Oscar cere- favored Hollywood hangouts of the day. The gentlemanly, soft-spo- Bmonies, reported on the biggest stars, from Clark Gable to ken reporter with the wry sense of humor rarely had trouble getting Tom Cruise, and filed AP’s bulletin that Robert F Kennedy had been people to talk to him and enjoyed access to the stars that modern shot, died Friday. He was 92. Thomas, a last link to Hollywood’s stu- journalists rarely attain, whether visiting with Nicholson at his home dio age who retired in 2010, died of age-related illnesses at his long- or chatting on the set with Tracy and Hepburn. time Encino, Calif, home, his daughter Janet Thomas said. Although he insisted he never became friends with the people A room filled with his interview subjects would have made for he covered, Thomas did strike up close, long-lasting acquaintance- the most glittering of ceremonies: Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn ships with many, and he had the anecdotes to prove it. There was Monroe, Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, Groucho Marx and the time he tried, unsuccessfully, to match the hard-drinking Richard Marlon Brando, Walt Disney and Fred Astaire. He interviewed rising Burton drink for drink on the set of the 1964 film “Night of the stars (James Dean), middle-aged legends (Humphrey Bogart, Jack Iguana.” Nicholson) and elder institutions (Bob Hope). Thomas’ career began in 1944, Measuring success when Hollywood was still a small, cen- Another time, he showed up for an interview with Betty Grable tralized community, tightly controlled armed with a tape measure. He had been sent, he told the actress, to by a handful of studios, and contin- determine if her figure had suffered during her recent pregnancy. ued well into the 21st century. During Grable good naturedly let him measure her. “Can you imagine doing his nearly seven decades writing for that with Michelle Pfeiffer today?” he once asked. “In those days, it the AP, Thomas reviewed hundreds of really seemed like a playground.” films and television shows, compiled In this 1945 file photo, actress Hedy Lamarr shoots pinball Thomas even received fan mail from the stars. Soon after her hundreds of celebrity obituaries and accompanied by Bob Thomas. marriage to actor John Agar in 1950, Shirley Temple wrote: “John wrote numerous retrospective pieces and I want you to know that we are very grateful to you for the man- on Hollywood and how it had recalled. “I jumped onto a pile of ner in which you handled the story on our wedding.” Some sent changed. kitchen trays and saw Kennedy lying telegrams: “Thanks for sending the article to me; I got a kick out of He was the author of nearly three on the floor, his head bloody.” He ran reading it,” Jimmy Durante wrote via Western Union in 1951. “Boy, dozen books, including biographies to a phone and delivered the bulletin you’re great.” But Thomas also had his share of run-ins. Doris Day of Disney, Brando and Crawford and to The Associated Press. As the son of and Frank Sinatra went months without talking to him after he In this Feb 22, 2009 file an acclaimed portrait of studio mogul a newspaper editor turned Hollywood quoted them candidly in stories, and Tracy cut off contact for years photo, Bob Thomas Harry Cohn, “King Cohn.” He wrote, press agent, Robert Joseph Thomas when something Thomas said about him offended the Oscar-win- attends the 81st produced and appeared in a handful seemed destined to become an enter- ning actor. The fiercely private Brando never spoke with him again Academy Awards in of television specials on the Academy tainment writer from his earliest days. after Thomas published the biography “Marlon.” the Hollywood section Awards and was a guest on numer- In junior high school and high school His encyclopedic knowledge of the industry was well appreciat- of Los Angeles. ous television programs including he wrote entertainment columns for ed by his colleagues. A former AP editor, Jim Lagier, would recall “The Tonight Show,” “Good Morning the campus newspaper, and in col- that Thomas had a filing system at his home that rivaled that of any America” and “Nightline.” His biographies of reclusive billionaire lege his favorite reading was the news bureau. “Because if you call Bob Thomas at two o’clock in the Howard Hughes and the comedy team of Abbott and Costello were industry trade paper Daily Variety. But morning and say, ‘Bob, Mary Smith has died,’ he would say, ‘Mary made into television movies. He is listed twice in Guinness World when he joined the AP in Los Angeles Smith,’ and then, suddenly you could hear the filing cabinets were Records, for most consecutive Academy Awards shows covered by in 1943, it was with aspirations of opening. He would start dictating the lead,” Lagier told the AP in an entertainment reporter and for longest career as an entertain- becoming a war correspondent. 2008 during an oral history interview. ment reporter (1944-2010). Instead, the wire service named him Kathleen Carroll, executive editor of the AP, worked with Thomas its Fresno, Calif, correspondent, a job in the Los Angeles bureau in the early 1980s. “Bob was an old-fash- In this 1945 file photo, ‘So damn hot in Fresno’ he gave up after little more than a ioned Hollywood reporter and he knew absolutely everyone,” she Bob Thomas measures In 1988, he became the first reporter-author awarded a star on year. “It gets so damn hot in Fresno in said. “He had a double-helping of impish charm with the stars, but the waist of legendary Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. But one of his biggest stories had noth- the summer and nothing much ever back at the office, he was the quiet guy who slipped into a desk at pinup queen Betty ing to do with entertainment. Helping out during the 1968 presi- happens there,” he once told a col- the back and poked at the keyboard for a while, then handed in a Grable. dential election, Thomas had been assigned to cover Sen Kennedy league. He returned to the AP’s LA crisp and knowing story soon delivered to movie fans around the on the night the New York Democrat won the California primary. bureau in 1944 and was soon named world. “Some days, you’d even get a smile out of him before he head- Minutes after declaring victory, Kennedy was shot to death in the its entertainment reporter. He was also told that the byline he’d ed out the door again.” Through the years, Thomas’ enthusiasm for kitchen of Los Angeles’ Ambassador Hotel. been using - Robert J Thomas - had to go. “Too formal for a young his profession never waned. “I get to interview some of the most “I was waiting in the press room for Kennedy to arrive when I guy who’s going to work the Hollywood beat,” he said the AP’s beautiful people in the world,” he said in 1999. “It’s what I always heard what sounded like the popping of balloons in the hotel bureau chief told him. “From now on your byline is ‘Bob Thomas.’” wanted to do, and I just can’t stop doing it.” Thomas is survived by his kitchen,” Thomas would recount years later. “I rushed into the Soon he would become a ubiquitous presence in Hollywood, wife of 67 years, Patricia; daughters Nancy Thomas, Janet Thomas kitchen where men were screaming and women sobbing,” he attending awards shows, wandering studio back lots or going from and Caroline Thomas; and three grandchildren. — AP SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

In this image, Ron Perlman portrays Hellboy in a scene from, “Hellboy II: This image shows “Hellboy: The First 20 Years,” by This image released by Dark Horse Comics shows The Golden Army.” — AP photos Mike Mignola. the character Hellboy by artist Mike Mignola. Celebrating the depths of Hellboy at 20 years

t has been two decades since Mike Mignola (Min-YO-la) cre- formed into animation and spawned a pair of films starring an international celebration March 22 of the character with Iated a horned, red-hued devilish beast with a penchant for Ron Perlman as Hellboy. Mignola thinks the character’s appeal signings and appearances by artists and others. — AP cigars and a big gun. Since that first appearance in Dark is that he talks like an everyman and that even though the sto- Horse Comics’ “San Diego Comic-Con Comics” No. 2, his cre- ries are replete with monsters and more, it’s not a classic ation has become a top-seller for the publisher, been trans- super-hero style. To mark the anniversary, Dark Horse will hold Film set legend Abby Singer dies in California bby Singer, a famed production manager whose name received five prime-time Emmy nominations. Singer once told the Abecame synonymous for the next-to-last shot of the day, died DGA that he suspected his name became shorthand for the second- Thursday. He was 96. The Harlem-born Abner E Singer was a to-last shot in 1957, while working on the western series “Wagon longtime production manager and assistant director who worked pri- Train.” Before he knew it, “the Abby Singer shot” caught on, he said, marily in television from the 1950s through the ‘90s. He became “like lightning.” famous for his efficient habit of preparing a crew of an impending “Working in TV we made many moves per day - from the back lot move to the next scene by calling out the second-to-last shot. to the stage, or from one stage to another,” said Singer. “I’d say to the Since the late ‘50s, it’s been routine on sets for the penultimate guys, ‘One more shot and then we’re moving,’ so when we moved, shot of the day to be announced as “the Abby Singer” or “the Abby.” they were all prepared. The time saved could add up to a full hour of (The final shot is nicknamed the “Martini.”) His daughter, Jo Ann shooting for the director.” Singer served actively in the guild, which in Singer, confirmed Singer died in Los Angeles. She said cancer of an 1985 honored him with the Frank Capra Achievement Award, a career unknown origin was recently discovered. “Abby Singer was achievement tribute for assistant director and production managers. renowned for working consistently, enthusiastically and most impor- “Next to my wife and children, the film business is everything I ever tantly - efficiently,” said Directors Guild of America President Paris wanted,” he once told DGA Quarterly. Singer is survived by his wife, Barclay. “It was this efficiency that led to the coining of a phrase Lotte Singer, two daughters, stepdaughter and three granddaugh- known throughout the entertainment industry and around the world ters. — AP as the ‘Abby Singer shot’ - the next to last shot of the day.” In his lengthy career, Singer worked on shows such as “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Hill Street Blues” and “St Elsewhere,” for which he Abner Singer. ‘Batman vs Superman’ and Marvel headed for collision atman vs Superman” and one of Marvel’s next super- first snagged the release date of May 6, 2016 way back in 2013, said beating a retreat for a more hospitable premiere date, occasionally “Bhero movies are gearing up for a head on collision at the it has no intention of backing down. “We’re certainly keeping the a battle does take place. Last Memorial Day, for instance, “Fast & summer 2016 box office. Typically, studios select pre- date there and we’ll announce what that movie is, I assume, in the Furious 6 and “The Hangover Part III” went head to head despite miere dates years in advance in order to maximize the potential next few months,” Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige told the fact that both films targeted teenage boys. The overall box audience for their films and to plant a flag in the calendar as a SlashFilm.com at a press day for “Captain America: The Winter office was a record-breaker, but “Fast & Furious 6 likely took a warning to rival pictures that cater to similar demographics. Both of Soldier.” A spokesman for Marvel declined additional comment and chunk out of “The Hangover Part III”s’ gross, with the comedy these would-be blockbusters are pitched toward the fanboy set spokespeople for Marvel did not immediately offer comment. sequel racking up a disappointing $41.6 million opening weekend. and a confrontation might have been avoided had Warner Bros, The weekend in question is a highly coveted one. It’s the first full That was half what the second film in the bacchanalian franchise which is distributing “Batman vs Superman,” not pushed the film’s weekend in May and traditionally signals the start of summer scored in its debut weekend.—Reuters release back 10 months in order to allow for more production time. blockbuster movie season to audiences. Films like “The Amazing “Usually one side blinks,” BoxOffice.com Vice-President and Spider-Man 2 and “The Avengers” sequel both plan to use the same Chief Analyst Phil Contrino told TheWrap. “You always want to weekend as launching spots in the summers of 2014 and 2015, avoid this. It’s not good for either movie.” For its part, Marvel, which respectively. Although, these match-ups often end with one side SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

Kaidon Ho waits in line for the Lady Gaga show at Stubb’s. Lady Gaga performs at Stubb’s in Austin, Texas, during the South by Southwest Music Festival. — AP Lady Gaga at SXSW: Gagging on inspiration

ady Gaga kicked off 24 hours in the spotlight at South By Stubb’s a little after 10, she’d stripped down to a black bikini on that stained the singer’s skin throughout the performance. The LSouthwest in typically memorable fashion. The pop provo- an unusually chilly night at the outdoor venue and wore long entire show wasn’t meant to titillate, however. There were cateur began her appearance at Stubb’s BBQ on Thursday blonde dreadlock extensions. She is set to give the conference’s moments aimed at inspiration. “I love my fans because they night during the annual music festival and conference by roasting keynote speech. Gaga’s set began with an attractive woman eat- always let me be myself and they don’t care what anybody says,” herself on a spit as her dancers basted her with barbecue brushes ing barbecued meat in a provocative manner. Soon after com- Gaga told the crowd. A little while later she set up her somber - and then things got really weird. Part S&M sex club homage, part pleting the smoked meats portion of her hourlong show. Brown, a song “Dope” with a self-reflective moment. “It’s so much easier to affirmational session, the show sponsored by Doritos to benefit “vomit painter,” proceeded to drink a full bottle of neon green liq- be yourself than it is to be somebody else,” she told the crowd as her Born This Way Foundation included moments meant to pro- uid before forcing herself to throw up on the singer as she played she played melancholy notes on the piano. “Because then you voke and others meant to inspire. drums. have to pretend to be someone else and like things that you don’t Gaga began the evening by taping a segment on “Jimmy The pair then climbed aboard a mechanical bull equipped like and do stuff that you don’t want to do.” — AP Kimmel Live” in which she wore a puffy white dress complete with a ball gag and a keyboard. Gaga played the keys as they with a huge hat that mostly obscured her face. By the time she hit bucked in circles. Brown then painted Gaga with a black liquid Soundgarden revisits biggest LP at SXSW oundgarden plans to play its break- done.”The archetypal Seattle grunge band is Sthrough album “Superunknown” front to making its first appearance at the annual music back for the first time Thursday night dur- festival and conference to launch its 20th ing the iTunes Festival at South By Southwest. anniversary celebration of “Superunknown,” the There’s just one problem. “To be honest, we multiplatinum album that pushed Soundgarden haven’t actually really done it yet,” singer-gui- to an elite level after its March 8, 1994, release. The group will release an expanded edition of the album on June 3 and plans a world tour in support. The album debuted at No. 1, sold 5 million copies in the US alone on the strength of hits like “Black Hole Sun,” “Fell on Black Days” and “Spoonman” and earned the band two Grammy Awards. It also changed everything for members Cornell, Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron and Ben Shepherd, and left them with a lot to process. They suddenly found themselves playing arenas all over the world and living in a realm recently occupied by hair metal bands. “I can’t say that it was not ultimately a great thing, but it was mixed blessings in a lot of ways,” Cornell said. “And some of it was just the self-conscious nature of just being a group of musicians mostly from the post-punk indie scene that are now commercial, kind of almost middle of the road. Does that make us Poison or Whitesnake or are we The Who? It was confusing and you’re at an age where that stuff kind of seems like it still maybe matters. There was a lot Soundgarden drummer Matt tarist Chris Cornell said about six hours before of that: ‘Did we do something wrong?’” — AP Cameron performs at the set time. “We’re rehearsing it, but rehearsals are iTunes Festival showcase different. I think we did try to play it in order the during the SXSW Music other day, but then we’d stop on a song and Festival. — AP photos sort of go through the different parts of it, and play it over again. So actually just going through the whole set without stopping, we’ve never Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell performs. SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

In this photo, store co-owner, Janene Zakrajsek feeds a dog a gourmet meal at This file photo shows leather dog collars displayed at the Pet Lifestyle Center the Pet Lifestyle Center store in Beverly Hills, Calif. store in Beverly Hills, Calif. — AP photos Spending on pets at all-time high

ogs and cats have become part of the - a lot of it more expensive, healthier grub. In thing. It’s nice to see people care as deeply as said. It can only get better, Bolen added, as American family’s inner circle over the 1996, total pet spending was just $21 billion. they do.” people discover all the healthy benefits of Dpast 20 years, sleeping in their own Adjusted for inflation, that’s $31.3 billion. People have always spent more on food owning pets. Other spending last year includ- beds or yours, eating food bought specially to The humanization of our pets started than any other pet spending category, and ed $14.4 billion for veterinary care; $13.1 bil- help their digestive tracts, drinking purified about 20 years ago, Vetere said in a telephone pet food trends follow human food and diet lion for supplies and over-the-counter medi- water and cuddling up in chairs on heated interview. As pets accepted their new perch in trends, according to Vetere. That means if you cines; $2.2 billion for live animal purchases; pads made to fend off arthritis. In addition to the family, manufacturers introduced prod- are on a health kick, chances are your pet is and $4.4 billion for other services. veterinarians, some pets have their own ucts that helped animals move from the back- too. “Food choices are extraordinarily confus- How much did Americans spend on other groomers, trainers, sitters and occasional yard to the front room. “What is feeding a ing,” Vogelsang said. “I think people spend popular industries? They spent just under $44 walkers. All this suggests a bright future for an large part of the growth now are the baby more time in the dog food aisle than they do billion on carbonated soft drinks in 2012, industry that has grown alongside the popu- boomers who have become empty-nesters in the rest of the store.” based on the latest year of data available, the larity of pets, expanding at a steady 4 percent and are looking for some other ways to find Mintel Group said. In 2013, Americans spent to 6 percent a year since the American Pet the love and affection they used to get from Health benefits of owning Rover $83 billion on beer, Mintel said, although Beer Products Association started record-keeping their kids,” Vetere said. Sales numbers show owners are buying in 1996. “In the past, children were a reflection of more age-specific, breed-specific, vitamin- Americans spent an all-time high $55.7 bil- us, and people are now extending that to infused or additive-enhanced foods, Vetere lion on their pets last year, and spending will their pets,” said Dr Jessica Vogelsang, a San said. Dave Bolen is president and CEO of Pet creep close to $60 billion this year, association Diego veterinarian who owns the website Supplies Plus, a chain of 294 specialty stores president and CEO Bob Vetere told buyers pawcurious.com. People don’t bring their in 24 eastern states. His 25-years-old business and exhibitors at the Global Pet Expo in pets in just for health reasons anymore - they has expanded every year - it opened eight Orlando, Fla., on Thursday. The biggest chunk also want them to look good and smell good, stores in 2013 and plans to open 30 this year. of 2013 spending, $21.6 billion, went for food she said. “From my perspective, it’s a good “We are bullish about pet ownership,” he

Runners with their dog jog the Mount Vernon Trail, near Alexandria, Virginia.

Marketer’s Insights set sales at just over $100 billion. Other pet industry spending last year included $14.4 billion for veterinary care; $13.1 billion for supplies and over-the- counter medicines; $2.2 billion for live animal purchases; and $4.4 billion for other services. Those services include grooming, board- ing, training and pet-sitting and grew by the largest percentage last year - 6.1 percent. Health and wellness products, supplies and over-the-counter medications - which grew by 7.4 percent in 2012 - grew only 3.9 percent in 2013, Vetere said. Sales of live animals - everything except dogs and cats - has fallen off in the past few years, Vetere said. He expects it to drop off another 2 percent this year. American pets include an estimated 95.6 million cats and 83.3 million dogs, the APPA said. There are also 20.6 million birds, 8.3 million horses, 145 million freshwater fish, 13.6 million saltwater fish, 11.6 million reptiles and This photo shows three dogs waiting for their owner to take them home on his battery-powered scooter in Beijing. — AFP 18.1 million small animals. — AP SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

Models showcase creations by Indian designers Gaurav Gupta and Mawi on the third day of the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) summer/resort 2014 in Mumbai on March 13, 2014. — AFP photos

Models showcase creations by Sailex. Lakme India Fashion Week

Bollywood film actress Kangana Ranaut showcases a creation by Jabong. TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

Review: Google cameras on rafting Asus Chromebox efficient as a trip at the Grand Canyon streaming device Project aims to educate public on endangered waterway NEW YORK: Devices that let you watch Netflix and other streaming video services on a big TV screen FLAGSTAFF: Google has taken its all-see- are popular, but there are limits to what you can ing eyes on a trip that few experience: the watch. NBC, for instance, didn’t make its Olympics Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. apps compatible with Roku, Apple TV and The search giant partnered with the advo- Google’s Chromecast. With HBO Go, Comcast sub- cacy group American Rivers to showcase scribers can use Apple TV but not Roku, while it’s views of nearly 300 miles of whitewater the other way around for Charter’s customers. And rapids, towering red canyon walls, and rich with all of these devices, geologic history. you need an $8-a-month The 360-degree views that went live Hulu subscription to watch Thursday in Google’s Street View map what you can get for free option once were reserved largely for rafters using desktop computers. who were lucky enough to board a private The Internet is the trip through the remote canyon, or those Internet. It shouldn’t mat- willing to pay big bucks to navigate its ter what gadget you’re whitewater rapids. Google project lead Karin using. But content Tuxen-Bettman hopes the images educate providers worry that if they the public about the US waterway that make the video streaming experience too much American Rivers listed as the most endan- like regular TV, they’ll discourage people from gered in 2013 due to drought and overuse. watching old-fashioned commercial and pay TV. “We hope this inspires viewers to take So I’m pleased to find a legal way around these an active interest in preserving it,” she restrictions with a new device called the said. Federal officials and environmental- Chromebox. ists have been raising alarms recently AsusTek Computer Inc will start selling it March about demand outstripping supply on the 28 at a starting price of $179. A version with a faster river serving some 40 million people in processor and support for ultra-high-definition seven Western states. The imagery Google video, also known as 4K, will be available in April for captured from Lees Ferry south of Page to Pearce Ferry shows signs of drought in a $369. That model includes a wireless keyboard and FLAGSTAFF: This photo illustration provided by Google shows a frame from a mov- mouse; otherwise, the package is sold separately bathtub ring around Lake Mead, and the impacts of damming the river. ing time-lapse sequence of images, as Internet viewers would see it, of rafters on for $50. To call the Chromebox a streaming device the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park, Ariz. — AP does it injustice. It’s a full-powered desktop com- “It’s just a valuable snapshot in time of puter running Google’s Chrome OS system. I’ll get what the river is like right now,” said Amy dollars to $3,000 a person, depending on pack only what they need. into the pros and cons of that later. You can con- Kober of American Rivers. Google used the length and whether they are private or Rich Harter went on his first commercial nect the Chromebox to a standard monitor just like two rosettes of cameras mounted on two commercial trips. trip in 1997 and has returned for rafting any other desktop. Like other newer desktops, the rafts to capture the imagery in August and Grand Canyon National Park limits the trips six times since. He generally directs Chromebox also has an HDMI port to connect to then stitched it together. The crew of near- number of people who can go on self- new visitors to the Internet to check out high-definition TVs. That makes it tempting to turn ly 20 people, including guides, spent eight guided trips through a highly competitive videos of rafts flipping over on the river the Chromebox into a streaming device. With most mostly sunny days on the river, but got lottery system and has an annual cap on and the commotion that goes along with streaming devices, you need apps for individual drenched by rain two of those days. the number of commercial, motorized it. He said he’ll now use Google’s Street services such as Netflix and HBO Go. If there’s no The company said the river views are trips. One of the first things virtual visitors View of the Colorado River as another app for that service, you can’t watch it on the big the first it has published on Street View might notice is the remoteness of the introduction to something that often is screen for the most part. That’s one of the big from the United States. In 2011, Google canyon where rafters spend a few days or indescribable. “The scale is so immense shortcomings with Google’s Chromecast streaming mounted its Street View trike on a boat nearly a month navigating whitewater and the geology is so varied, and the time and went up the Rio Negro, a tributary of device. Even though it’s just $35, the list of services rapids, hiking side canyons, snapping pho- frame over which the canyon formed is the Amazon, Tuxen-Bettman said. For visi- tos of waterfalls and endangered species, just so long,” he said. “How do you it supports is paltry. tors, rafting trips on the Colorado River and savoring the solitude. It’s a place describe these things to people that By contrast, Chromebox works just like any oth- can cost anywhere from several hundred where cellphones don’t work and rafters haven’t seen them? You can’t.”— AP er computer. As long as you can watch something in a Web browser, you can watch it on the big screen. You can technically do that with any desktop computer if it has an HDMI port or if you get Will Google bring good an adapter. Mac computers also have a feature called AirPlay to mirror the display through an Apple TV and your Wi-Fi network. fortune to Credit Karma? Chromebox has four USB 3.0 ports SAN FRANCISCO: Google is betting that good things will happen to provided when people apply for a loan or sign up for other financial But those computers typically cost hundreds or Credit Karma, an online service that provides consumers with free services that eventually charge fees. even thousands of dollars. The Chromebox is just copies of the credit scores that define their financial reputations. Everyone who sets up an account at Credit Karma can get free $80 more than a Roku 3 or an Apple TV, and it lets Credit Karma is getting Google Inc’s endorsement and expertise as looks at their credit scores once a week. Credit Karma obtains its you watch -and do- much more. I’ve managed to part of an $85 million investment announced Wednesday. main credit score through TransUnion, one of the three major U.S. use the Chromebox to watch plenty of free Hulu About half of the money is coming from Google Capital, the credit-rating agencies along with Experian and Equifax. The service offerings, replays of Olympics figure skating and Internet company’s recently created vehicle for investing in matur- also lists a score based on another formula used by all three agen- some shows from ABC Family, a channel otherwise ing startups. The remaining funds are being provided by Tiger cies and another number that most auto and home insurers rely unavailable on streaming devices. Video is some- Global and two of Credit Karma’s earlier investors - Ribbit Capital upon to evaluate how likely their prospective policyholders are to times jerky and the audio sometimes out of sync, and Susquehanna Growth Equity. With the latest infusion, Credit file a claim. but that’s something I get on other devices, too. Karma has now raised $118.5 million since the San Francisco startup The free insights are attracting a steadily growing audience. As I mentioned earlier, Chromebox is much launched its service in 2008. Nearly 21 million people have set up free accounts on Credit Karma, more than a streaming device. Because it runs Credit Karma plans to use the incoming money to more than up from about 9 million a year ago, Lin said. Credit Karma doesn’t Google’s Chrome OS, it comes with a Google’s double its current workforce of 110 employees and introduce more store the Social Security numbers required to open an account, but Chrome Web browser and numerous apps for products “that are going to be disruptive,” CEO Ken Lin said. it does create financial profiles of its users to tailor the marketing Google services, including Gmail, Google Maps, Without providing specifics, Lin said Credit Karma’s next product pitches that bring in most of its revenue. Virtually all the ads are for YouTube and Hangouts chats. You can get apps will be unveiled in about two months and will offer free access to a credit cards, loans and other financial services. for non-Google services, too, but not as many as service that consumers traditionally have had to pay to get. Google also analyzes personal data to determine which ads to you’d find for Windows and Mac computers. Credit Karma already has made it easier to obtain a free snapshot show users of its services, but Lin said Credit Karma isn’t sharing any Chrome OS is ideal for those who use a lot of of the personal credit scores that determine loan rates and borrow- information about its members with Google. Credit Karma plans to Google services or can otherwise get what they ing limits. The scores, based on the loan-payment histories com- draw upon Google’s knowledge about marketing and expanding need over a Web browser. —AP piled by major credit-rating agencies, traditionally have been only online services to accommodate larger audiences. —AP TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

Zuckerberg voices frustration with Obama over NSA NEW YORK: Facebook CEO Mark curate.” “NSA uses its technical capabilities The ongoing strife over surveillance dent’s speech as a step in the right direc- Zuckerberg says he has called President only to support lawful and appropriate could threaten what’s been a cordial relation, but said that more is needed to pro- Barack Obama to express his frustration foreign intelligence operations, all of tionship between Silicon Valley and the tect people’s privacy - along with the eco- over what he says is long-lasting damage which must be carried out in strict accor- president. The region has voted over- nomic interests of US companies that gen- caused by the US government’s surveil- dance with its authorities,” the agency said whelmingly for Obama in both of the past erate most of their revenue overseas. lance programs. Posting on his Facebook in a statement. two presidential elections. Nearly 70 per- US Internet companies are worried that page Thursday, Zuckerberg wrote that White House spokeswoman Caitlin cent of Santa Clara County, which is home people, especially those living overseas, he’s been “confused and frustrated by the Hayden confirmed that the president to Facebook, Google, Yahoo and a slew of won’t trust them with personal informa- repeated reports of the behavior of the US spoke with Zuckerberg Wednesday night other tech giants, sided with the president tion if they believe such data is being col- government. When our engineers work regarding “recent reports in the press in the 2012 elections. lected by the US government. “The US tirelessly to improve security, we imagine about alleged activities by the US intelli- In Thursday’s post, Zuckerberg called government should be the champion for we’re protecting you against criminals, not gence community.” She gave no further on the government to be more transpar- the Internet, not a threat. our own government.” comment. Technology companies includ- ent, but added that, unfortunately, “it They need to be much more transpar- Though Zuckerberg does not name the ing Facebook, Google Inc, Microsoft Corp, seems like it will take a very long time for ent about what they’re doing, or other- National Security Agency, the post comes have been increasingly vocal about frus- true full reform.” In January, Obama wise people will believe the worst,” a day after the news site Intercept report- trations over the US government’s spying ordered a series of changes to mass sur- Zuckerberg wrote. Obama held a ed that the agency has impersonated a programs. Last month, top executives veillance programs that included ending Facebook “town hall” meeting at the Facebook server to infect surveillance tar- from the companies, along with others the government’s control of phone data company’s headquarters in April 2011 gets’ computers and get files from a hard from Yahoo, Twitter, AOL and LinkedIn, from hundreds of millions of Americans and earlier that year had dinner with a drive. The report is based on documents called for changes that would include a and ordered intelligence agencies to get a group of tech leaders that included leaked by former NSA contractor Edward government agreement not to collect bulk court’s permission before accessing such Zuckerberg, Google’s then-CEO Eric Snowden. The NSA called the report “inac- data from Internet communications. records. Tech companies took the presi- Schmidt and others. — AP Mind your wallet: Why the underworld loves bitcoin Easier to steal than real money

SINGAPORE: Criminals may already have made off with up to $500 million worth of bitcoins since the virtual currency launched in 2009 - and you can double that if it turns out they emptied Mt Gox. Internet criminals, security experts say, are attracted to bitcoin because of its stratos- pheric rise in value, because it’s easier to SUSAK: A file picture shows teacher Barbara Busic-Ribaric steal than real money, and because it’s (left) helping pupils Dominik Malovic and Ivan Macic easier to trade with other criminal ele- (right) at their school on the small remote island of Susak ments. But, they add, bitcoin will survive in Croatia’s northern Adriatic. — AFP the damage. “It’s just growing pains,” says Keith Croatian island kids Jarvis, a security researcher at Dell SecureWorks. “Bitcoin is large enough and has enough momentum behind it to sur- make the connect vive any public relations damage from this (Mt Gox) case or anything else.” The fall of with online learning Mt Gox, the Tokyo-based exchange which filed for bankruptcy last month after say- SUSAK ISLAND: For Croatia, making sure the five children on the ing it lost some 850,000 bitcoins to hack- tiny island of Susak get good schooling is not only a civic respon- ers, is certainly the virtual currency’s sibility, it’s a way of ensuring the viability of its sparsely populat- biggest crisis. ed Adriatic islands. “Schools give life to small islands,” said Olivela But data collated by Reuters from spe- Franko, the elementary school principal on the larger Losinj cialist bitcoin industry websites and inter- island who coordinates an “e-learning” network that links island net forums shows that more than 730,000 TOKYO: This file photo shows a man looking at the bitcoin exchange website schools in the area. bitcoins were already missing to theft, of MtGox in Tokyo. — AFP “There are not that many children but we will not allow them hacking, cyber-ransom payments and oth- steal bitcoins from wallets - programs that over the mining of bitcoin through bot- to disappear. We try everything so they don’t feel like they are er apparently criminal pursuits before Mt hold bitcoins on user’s computers or nets and bring the whole currency crash- living at the end of the world,” she said. In all, 66 of the Balkan Gox’s collapse. That’s nearly 6 percent of smartphones. Of the 140 types of such ing down. state’s 1,200 islands, islets and rocks off its Adriatic coast are all bitcoins, and doesn’t include dozens, software more than 100 appeared in the But as bitcoins become harder to mine today inhabited, and home to 20 or so working schools. possibly hundreds, of unreported cases of past year. Writing such viruses, says - according to an algorithm that slows Though isolated in the winter, they are a tourist magnet in the individuals who have lost bitcoins from Stewart, is easy. “There’s no sophistication down their production the more people summer when visitors flock to enjoy their unspoiled nature, blue their computers or online exchanges to involved in the storage of bitcoin in wal- try to create them - this approach has harbors and cheaper rates than inside the euro-zone. Though hackers. For sure, there’s no way of telling lets. As for malware, it’s some of the easi- proven less profitable. In 2012-13, says many of the islands once thrived on wine-making they emptied who has these missing bitcoins, or est stuff to write.” Danny Huang, another researcher at the out in the last century. Residents left to find work after disease whether they were converted to real mon- Indeed, this cyber-pocket picking University of California, San Diego, they devastated vineyards, others fled the old Yugoslav communist ey when the price was much lower. And of wasn’t criminals’ first foray into bitcoins. earned at least 4,500 bitcoins, a relatively regime-most emigrating to the United States. course some bitcoins may have been Initially, they focused on using their con- small sum compared with the total pro- Susak was typical. In its mid-20th century heyday, it counted counted twice if criminals stole them from trol of large networks of infected comput- duced. “Few botnets are mining bitcoins 2,000 inhabitants, with more than 100 pupils and up to six teach- each other or they were put back into cir- ers - called botnets - to make their own now,” he said. ers. Today, only 150 people-including the five children — live culation and stolen again. But there’s no bitcoins. Bitcoins are created through a Instead, they’ve turned to stealing them year-round on this car-free bit of land three kilometers (two question that bitcoins have attracted the ‘mining’ process where a computer’s from wallets, or, more lucratively, from miles) long and 1.5 kilometers wide in the northern Adriatic. attention of cyber-criminals - as a currency resources are used to perform millions of exchanges. According to data compiled Most are elderly, living off their pensions or from fishing, farm- and an asset worth stealing. calculations. For a while, says Kirill last year by academics Tyler Moore and ing or the critical tourism sector. A regular ferry is the only link Levchenko, a researcher at the University Nicholas Christin, of 40 exchanges tracked with nearby Losinj and the mainland and often unable to dock in Beware malware of California, San Diego, criminals added 18 had closed, with customer balances winter because of bad weather. On Susak, as in most island A study by Pat Litke and Joe Stewart of malware to their botnets to turn infected wiped out in many cases - not always, they schools, a single teacher is in charge of compulsory primary edu- Dell SecureWorks showed that as the price computers into bitcoin miners. point out, due to fraud. Since then, accord- cation, until children move to Losinj or the mainland for second- of bitcoin soared beyond $1,000 last year, This triggered predictions of doom for ing to public reports, more than a dozen ary school. —AFP so did the number of viruses designed to bitcoin - that the criminals would take others have been hacked. —Reuters TV listings SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

08:40 Mythbusters 09:40 Food Factory 12:35 Dog With A Blog Takeaway 21:00 Helix 09:30 Manhunt 10:05 Tech Toys 360 13:00 A.N.T. Farm 11:30 The Hungry Sailors 22:00 Banshee 10:20 Survive That! 10:30 Test Case 13:25 Jessie 12:25 William And Kate: The First Year 23:00 The Americans 11:10 Yukon Men 10:55 Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger 13:45 Austin & Ally 13:20 Please Marry My Boy 12:00 Fast N’ Loud 11:25 Test Case 14:10 Good Luck Charlie 14:10 The Jonathan Ross Show 00:20 Doctors 12:50 Fast N’ Loud 11:50 Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger 14:35 Mako Mermaids 15:00 White Van Man 00:50 Casualty 13:40 Fast N’ Loud 12:20 Test Case 15:00 Phineas & Ferb: Across The 15:30 How To Find Love Online 01:40 Walk On The Wild Side 14:30 Fast N’ Loud 12:45 Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger Second Dimension 16:25 Dancing On Ice 02:10 Afterlife 15:20 Fast N’ Loud 13:10 Test Case 16:10 Austin & Ally 18:10 Four Weddings UK 03:00 Last Man Standing 16:10 Fast N’ Loud 13:35 Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger 16:35 A.N.T. Farm 19:00 Paul O’grady: For The Love Of 03:50 Friday Night Dinner 17:00 Gold Rush 14:00 Test Case 17:00 Shake It Up Dogs 03:00 Nip/Tuck 04:15 The Weakest Link 17:50 Alaska Gold Diggers 14:25 Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger 17:20 Jessie 19:30 How To Find Love Online 04:00 Rescue Me 05:00 Mr Bloom’s Nursery 18:40 Gold Divers: Under The Ice 14:50 Bang Goes The Theory 17:45 Dog With A Blog 20:25 Please Marry My Boy 05:00 Good Morning America 05:20 Balamory 19:30 Manhunt 18:10 Gravity Falls 21:25 Four Weddings UK 07:00 The Bachelor 05:40 Nina And The Neurons 20:20 Survive That! 18:30 Prank Stars 22:20 The Jonathan Ross Show 08:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 05:55 Little Prairie Dogs 21:10 Yukon Men 18:55 Good Luck Charlie 23:15 Coronation Street 09:00 24 06:05 The Large Family 22:00 Dallas Car Sharks 19:20 Mako Mermaids 10:00 The Bachelor 06:15 Mr Bloom’s Nursery 22:25 Dallas Car Sharks 19:40 Jessie 12:00 Castle 06:35 Balamory 22:50 Dallas Car Sharks 20:05 Austin & Ally 13:00 24 06:55 Nina And The Neurons 03:00 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 23:15 Dallas Car Sharks 20:30 Good Luck Charlie 14:00 Fairly Legal 07:05 Little Prairie Dogs 03:20 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 23:40 Dallas Car Sharks 20:50 Dog With A Blog 15:00 C.S.I. New York 07:15 The Weakest Link 03:45 Sonny With A Chance 21:15 Gravity Falls 16:00 Live Good Morning America 08:00 Tough Guy Or Chicken? 04:05 Sonny With A Chance 21:40 Shake It Up 17:00 Castle 08:55 Little Britain 04:30 Suite Life On Deck 22:00 Austin & Ally 03:15 THS 18:00 Fairly Legal 09:25 Friday Night Dinner 04:50 Suite Life On Deck 22:25 A.N.T. Farm 04:10 E!ES 19:00 24 09:45 The Omid Djalili Show 05:15 Wizards Of Waverly Place 22:50 Good Luck Charlie 05:05 Extreme Close-Up 20:00 Castle 10:15 Extras 05:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place 21:00 Fairly Legal 06:00 Austin & Ally 23:10 Wizards Of Waverly Place 05:30 Extreme Close-Up 10:45 A Farmer’s Life For Me 06:00 THS 22:00 Rescue Me 00:40 Ten Ways 06:25 Dog With A Blog 23:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place 11:35 The Vicar Of Dibley 07:50 Style Star 23:00 Nip/Tuck 01:30 Bang Goes The Theory 06:45 Suite Life On Deck 12:05 Tough Guy Or Chicken? 08:20 E! News 02:00 Food Factory 07:10 A.N.T. Farm 13:00 Casualty 09:15 Fashion Police 02:25 Tech Toys 360 07:35 That’s So Raven 13:50 Eastenders 10:15 THS 02:50 Eco-Tech 07:55 Shake It Up 14:20 Eastenders 11:10 THS 03:45 Building The Future 08:20 Good Luck Charlie 14:50 Eastenders 12:05 E! News 04:35 Thunder Races 08:45 Dog With A Blog 15:15 Eastenders 13:05 The Drama Queen 05:25 Through The Wormhole With 09:05 Mako Mermaids 15:45 The Vicar Of Dibley 14:05 The Drama Queen Morgan Freeman 09:30 Jessie 05:00 Coronation Street 16:15 The Vicar Of Dibley 15:00 Giuliana & Bill 00:00 Heebie Jeebies-PG15 06:15 Food Factory 09:55 Austin & Ally 07:05 How To Find Love Online 16:45 The Vicar Of Dibley 16:00 Giuliana & Bill 02:00 In The Name Of The King: Two 06:40 Tech Toys 360 10:15 A.N.T. Farm 08:00 Paul Ogrady: For The Love Of 17:15 A Farmer’s Life For Me 17:00 Eric And Jessie: Game On Worlds-PG15 07:05 Engineered 10:40 The Haunted Mansion Dogs 18:10 Tough Guy Or Chicken? 17:30 Eric And Jessie: Game On 03:45 Mission: Impossible - Ghost 08:00 Storm Chasers 12:05 Prank Stars 08:25 Agatha Christie’s Poirot 19:00 Live At The Apollo 18:00 E! News Protocol-PG15 08:50 Alien Encounters 12:15 That’s So Raven 10:15 Ant And Decs Saturday Night 19:45 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 19:00 The E! True Hollywood Story 06:00 Pizza Man-PG 20:30 DCI Banks 20:00 Married To Jonas 07:45 Crimson Tide-PG15 21:20 Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle 20:30 Keeping Up With The 09:45 Prometheus-PG15 21:50 Pramface Kardashians 12:00 Men In Black 3-PG 22:20 The Vicar Of Dibley 21:30 Fashion Police 14:00 Crimson Tide-PG15 22:50 Last Man Standing 22:30 E! News 16:00 F/X-PG15 23:40 Tough Guy Or Chicken? 23:30 Chelsea Lately 18:00 Men In Black 3-PG 20:00 My Soul To Take-PG15 22:00 Miami Vice-18

00:00 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 00:00 That’s My Boy-R 00:50 Extreme Makeover: Home 04:00 Seinfeld 02:00 American Reunion-18 Edition 04:30 The Tonight Show Starring 04:00 Back To The Future-PG15 01:35 Come Dine With Me Jimmy Fallon 06:00 The Little Rascals-PG 02:25 MasterChef 05:30 Seinfeld 08:00 Rookie Of The Year-PG 03:20 Cash In The Attic 06:00 Two And A Half Men 09:45 The Holiday-PG15 04:05 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 06:30 Friends 12:00 Back To The Future-PG15 04:50 Extreme Makeover: Home 07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 14:00 Toys-PG Edition 08:00 Seinfeld 16:00 The Holiday-PG15 05:35 Bargain Hunt 08:30 Seinfeld 18:15 The Longest Yard-PG15 06:20 Come Dine With Me: South 09:30 Wilfred 20:15 The Dukes Of Hazzard-18 Africa 10:00 Hot In Cleveland 22:15 That’s My Boy-R 07:15 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 10:30 Friends 08:00 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring 08:50 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent Jimmy Fallon 09:40 Antiques Roadshow 12:00 The War At Home 10:30 The Roux Legacy 12:30 Seinfeld 11:05 The Roux Legacy 13:00 Seinfeld 11:40 Raymond Blanc’s Kitchen 13:30 Friends 03:00 The Iron Lady-PG15 Secrets 14:30 Wilfred 05:00 StreetDance 2-PG15 12:10 Raymond Blanc’s Kitchen 15:00 Hot In Cleveland 07:00 Arbitrage-PG15 Secrets 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon 09:00 The Words-PG15 12:40 The Hairy Bikers USA Stewart 11:00 Hyde Park On Hudson-PG15 13:05 Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen 16:00 The Colbert Report 13:00 The Woman In The Fifth-PG15 Notebook: London 16:30 The War At Home 15:00 Arctic Blast-PG15 13:30 Come Dine With Me: South 17:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 17:00 Resistance-PG15 Africa 18:00 1600 Penn 18:45 The Host-PG15 14:25 Antiques Roadshow 18:30 1600 Penn 21:00 360-18 15:20 Cash In The Attic 19:00 Cougar Town 23:00 Lawless-18 16:05 Cash In The Attic 19:30 Two And A Half Men 16:50 Cash In The Attic 20:00 The Tonight Show Starring 17:35 Cash In The Attic Jimmy Fallon 18:20 Cash In The Attic 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon 19:05 Cash In The Attic Stewart 19:50 The Hairy Bikers: Mums Know 21:30 The Colbert Report Best 22:00 Saturday Night Live 20:40 Come Dine With Me: Supersized 23:00 Enlightened 01:30 Suicide Shop-PG15 22:15 Antiques Roadshow 23:30 Late Night With Seth Meyers 03:00 Life Happens-PG15 23:05 Bargain Hunt 05:00 Sparkle-PG15 23:50 Cash In The Attic 07:00 Blue Lagoon: The Awakening- PG15 09:00 My Own Love Song-PG15 11:00 The Wild Girl-PG15 04:00 American Idol 13:00 New York Stories-PG15 05:00 Survivor: Brawn vs. Brain vs. 15:15 Kathmandu Lullaby-PG15 Beauty 17:00 The Perfect Man-PG 00:30 Fast N’ Loud 07:00 Parenthood 18:45 Memoirs Of A Geisha-18 01:20 Classic Car Rescue 08:00 Switched At Birth 21:15 Margot At The Wedding-PG15 02:10 Overhaulin’ 2013 09:00 Glee 23:00 All The King’s Men-PG15 03:00 You Have Been Warned 10:00 American Idol 03:50 Border Security 11:00 Graceland 04:15 Auction Kings 12:00 Parenthood 04:40 Dallas Car Sharks 13:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 05:05 How Do They Do It? 14:00 Switched At Birth 05:30 How It’s Made 15:00 Warehouse 13 06:00 Sons Of Guns 16:00 Parenthood 03:00 Gnomeo & Juliet-PG 07:00 The Big Brain Theory 17:00 American Idol 05:00 Bernie-PG15 07:50 Dynamo: Magician Impossible 19:00 Bones 07:00 Beastly-PG15 MY SOUL TO TAKE ON OSN MOVIES HD ACTION 20:00 Almost Human 09:00 Hotel Transylvania-PG TV listings SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

10:45 Jack Reacher-PG15 13:00 Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted-PG 15:00 Like Crazy-PG15 17:00 Hotel Transylvania-PG 03:00 Shipping Wars Aaron Paul goes 19:00 Beautiful Creatures-PG15 0:30 ICC Cricket 360 03:30 Shipping Wars 21:00 Django Unchained-18 01:00 Pakistan v Sri Lanka ODI 04:00 American Pickers 23:45 Resident Evil: Retribution-18 Highlights 05:00 Duck Dynasty 02:00 Pakistan v Sri Lanka ODI 05:30 Duck Dynasty for fun after Highlights 06:00 Pawn Stars 03:00 Pakistan v Sri Lanka ODI 06:30 Pawn Stars Highlights 07:00 Storage Wars 04:00 The Odd Life Of Timothy Green- 04:00 Champions League T20 07:30 Storage Wars ‘Breaking Bad’ role PG Highlights 08:00 Duck Dynasty 06:00 Three Investigators And The 04:30 ICC Cricket 360 08:30 Duck Dynasty Secret Of Terror...-PG 05:00 India v Australia ODI Highlights 09:00 Pawn Stars 08:00 The Cold Light Of Day-PG15 06:00 New Zealand v West Indies ODI 09:30 Pawn Stars hen Aaron Paul received the Steve McQueen style of filmmaking 10:00 Pawn Stars 10:00 The Legend Of Sarila-PG Highlights script for “Need for Speed,” he Paul did many of his own stunts, but 11:45 Oz The Great And Powerful-PG 07:00 Australia v England T20I 10:30 Pawn Stars 14:00 Interview With A Hitman-PG15 08:00 Big Bash League Highlights 11:00 Storage Wars had very little interest in even said professionals were brought in for 11:30 Storage Wars W 16:00 The Cold Light Of Day-PG15 09:00 Big Bash League Highlights reading the story, let alone taking a star- “the real heavy lifting” and Paul was 18:00 You Will Meet A Tall Dark 10:00 Big Bash League Highlights 12:00 Storage Wars Stranger-PG15 11:00 ICC Cricket 360 12:30 Storage Wars ring a role in the movie. He saw the title only in scenes where the driving didn’t 20:00 Small Apartments-18 11:30 Australia v England ODI 13:00 Pawn Stars and immediately envisioned another exceed 130 mph. Scott Waugh, the for- 22:00 The Sweeney-18 Highlights 13:30 Pawn Stars 12:30 Australia v England ODI 14:00 Pawn Stars poorly done video game adaptation. Or mer stunt man-turned-director, insisted Highlights 14:30 Pawn Stars worse, a car film desperately trying to that all the action sequences and wrecks 15:00 Shipping Wars 13:30 Australia v England ODI become a franchise. “When I saw ‘Need be done live and did not rely on the use Highlights 15:30 Shipping Wars 14:30 Australia v England ODI 16:00 Storage Wars Texas for Speed,’ I just instantly thought this is of CGI or a green screen. Both Paul and 02:00 Total Rugby 16:30 Storage Wars Texas 02:30 Super Rugby Highlights a ‘Fast & Furious’ rip-off. This is going to Waugh bill “Need for Speed” as an hom- 15:30 Australia v England ODI 17:00 Storage Wars Texas 04:30 Super Rugby Highlights 17:30 Storage Wars Texas be God awful,” Paul said in an interview age to classic car flicks. They cite “Bullitt” 06:30 Live Super Rugby 16:30 ICC Cricket 360 18:00 Counting Cars with The Associated Press. “Let’s be hon- and “Vanishing Point” and even 08:30 Total Rugby 17:00 Australia v England T20I 18:30 Counting Cars 09:00 Futbol Mundial 18:00 ICC Under 19 World Cup 2014 19:00 The Legend Of Shelby The est - everyone going into this movie is “Smokey & The Bandit” as inspirations. 09:35 Live Super Rugby Highlights Swamp Man going to expect to see something similar So Waugh went into the film trying to 19:30 The Legend Of Shelby The 11:40 Live Super Rugby 19:00 ICC Under 19 World Cup 2014 to ‘Fast & Furious.’ That’s fine, the ‘Fast & give it a “Steve McQueen style of film- 13:30 Total Rugby Highlights Swamp Man 20:00 Shipping Wars 14:00 Super Rugby 20:00 ICC Under 19 World Cup 2014 Furious’ movies, they’ve made six of making,” as in when a camera would 20:30 Shipping Wars 16:00 Live Super Rugby Highlights 21:00 Duck Dynasty them, they are on the seventh, they are pull up right next to a car in a McQueen 21:00 ICC Cricket 360 18:05 Live Super Rugby 21:30 Duck Dynasty 21:30 Australia v England T20I fun to watch, they are popcorn movies film so the audience could see the actor 20:00 Total Rugby 22:00 Storage Wars Texas 20:30 Inside The PGA Tour 22:30 Australia v England T20I 22:30 Storage Wars Texas and I have nothing against them. “But I in the driver’s seat. That was in his mind 21:00 Live PGA Tour 23:30 Australia v England T20I 23:00 The Men Who Built America didn’t want to jump into something like during casting when he first heard that.” Paul ultimately decided to read Paul’s name. the script, which is based on the popular Waugh had never seen “Breaking EA Entertainment racing game, and Bad” and was unfamiliar with Paul, a found himself surprisingly intrigued by two-time Emmy winner for his role as the story of a street racer framed for a Pinkman. But Paul was suggested to crime he didn’t commit. He seeks his Waugh to play the villain, so he took a revenge while taking a cross-country trip look. “I didn’t even know who Aaron in a custom-built Ford Mustang, which Paul was and everyone thought I was an he hopes to enter in underground and alien on earth,” Waugh said. “Then I saw illegal street race called the De Leon. the tape of him and was so blown away, Paul was hooked and signed on for he was the obvious choice for the bad the project in 2012, as he was preparing guy. But the more interesting choice for his final season as Jesse Pinkman in and the one that would define the “Breaking Bad.” “I just had such a fun movie was the lead, and having him as time reading this film, just flipping the the lead was the edgier choice. He’s not pages,” he said. “It was just a fun ride just a beautiful person, he’s so much and after doing a show for so long that I more of an actor than that.” was so proud to be a part of, but it was So much so that Waugh sees Paul as also emotionally exhausting, just so a present-day McQueen. “Aaron has this heavy every single day. I wanted to do uncanny ability of portraying edge, something that was a little bit lighter mixed with charisma, mixed with hum- and this was that.” ble and likability and Steve really had Paul got his wish in a campy film with that,” Waugh said. “Steve was such a cliche-filled dialogue and a predictable man’s man and he was also a ladies’ plot. But the movie also features several man. I remember seeing Steve at European super cars - a Swedish motocross, his hair would be Koenigsegg Agera R, Lamborghini, GTA disheveled, mud all over him, and he Spano, Bugatti and McLaren P1, all of didn’t care who was looking at him. It’s which are featured in the video game, as that ego-less attitude that Steve had well as a Saleen S7 - and Paul got to do that Aaron really has in his natural life.” most of his own driving. He trained at Paul, who has several other projects due Willow Springs International Raceway, out this year and said he would consider driving from Los Angeles before dawn a spot in the Bad-prequel “Better Call for lessons that lasted up to 10 hours a Saul,” isn’t sold on the McQueen com- day. “From the moment the sun starts parisons. peeking up, I am there all day long, “I don’t know how that makes me learning how to maneuver these cars,” feel,” he laughed. “I love Steve Paul said. “It started out learning how to McQueen and that’s very nice of get out of problematic situations, and (Waugh) to say, but I grew up loving then I got to learn how to do all the fun and watching “Bullitt” and I remember stuff: driving the car backward at really my dad showing me “Bullitt” when I high speeds, flipping the car around in a was a kid and Steve McQueen was just reverse 180 and going through stunt a bad-a**. If our director thinks that, I courses. It was so much fun, I loved every thank him. But I am definitely not claim- minute of it, it never felt dangerous.” ing to be that.” — AP AMERICAN REUNION ON OSN MOVIES COMEDY WHAT’S ON SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

Announcements Book release function at KISR on March 27 r Naji Al-Mutairi, Director available in this book will be useful for CRYcket 2014 DGeneral of Kuwait Institute for all construction companies for the esti- Scientific Research (KISR), will mation of design wind forces, which is tournament be releasing a book titled “Extreme needed for the optimal design of any riends of CRY Club (FOCC) will hold 17th CRY (Child Rights Wind Atlas for Kuwait” authored by Dr high rise structures either on the land F& You) cricket tournament for children will be held at the S Neelamani, L Al-Awadi, F Al-Shatti, area of Kuwait or over the Kuwaiti terri- GC grounds at Fahaheel Sports Club on Friday, 27th March Meshal Abdulla, M Hussain, A Al- torial waters. 2014 from 6:30 am to 6 pm. Othman from Kuwait Institute for KISR has already collected the details The one day “CRYcket” tournament participated by children under 14 (born on or after 01.01.2000), is a very popular annual Scientific Research and Essa Ramadan of stakeholders, who will attend this family event. The children are grouped into teams in two age and Dr Hassan Al-Dashti from function and get a complimentary copy categories and play softball cricket while spectators, parents and Meteorological Department, of the book. Invitations will be sent to well-wishers enjoy a carnival atmosphere. 12 teams each are set Directorate General of Civil Aviation, to them. Additional Stakeholders/engi- to participate in the Under-12 and Under-14 divisions initially in the stakeholders in Kuwait on 27 March neers from different construction com- four groups in round robin fashion leading to 4 winners who will clash in the semifinals. The 7-over matches will be played simul- 2014, Thursday at 9.40 am. The func- panies/designers of high rise buildings taneously on two playgrounds. Apart from the winners’ tro- tion will be held at Kuwait Institute for are requested to contact Dr. S. phies, medals and certificates from CRY-India will be given to Scientific Research, Al-Jaheth St, Neelamani (email: each player. Experienced umpires will control the games assist- Shuwaikh. The venue is Al-Manhall Hall [email protected]; ed by official scorers. The teams will play in recognition of a inside KISR. mobile:99278411), for registration or for much felt need among less fortunate children in the Indian sub- continent and will carry the message of compassion towards The knowledge and information any scientific details of this book. them. They will spread awareness of the work done by CRY, an international organization, that believes that every child is enti- tled to basic rights of survival, protection, development, education and participation. For details & game rules, visit the FOCC website http://www.focckwt.org or contact: Kuwait City 22437684 Abu Halifa: 66204295 Hawalli: 99300257 Fahaheel: 99364073 Ahmadi: 23985216 / 99578073 Jleeb Shuyoukh - 97226589 Salmiya: 66810338. Korea scholarship announcement he National Institute for International Education (NIIED) Tunder the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea offers “2014 Global Korea Scholarship: Korean Government Scholarship Program for International Students for Graduate Courses (2014 Graduate GKS) to be conducted in Korea. This scholarship is for Master’s degree or PhD degree. As part of the 2014 Graduate GKS, the participants are provided with round-trip airfare, monthly stipend, tuition, medical insurance, settlement and repatriation allowances, etc. Applicants have until March 28, 2014 to submit their application. Please feel free to contact Chung (Consul of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the State of Kuwait) at 2537-8621/2/3/4/5 or send an email to [email protected] for more information about the scholarships. NPIS achieves outstanding position in Quran contest SEND US YOUR ew Pakistan International School achieved outstanding position in the Quran competition organized by the Ministry of INSTAGRAM PICS NPrivate Education. The students from different foreign schools participated in the event. Our eight students got first position, namely Abdullah Syed Rizwan, Abdulaziz Ahmed, Ahmed Mohammad Abdul Hakim, Abdulrehman Sharif, Sousan Ibrahim, Ahmed Mohammed Fawad, Omar Yousef Al-Samad and Zunaira Tariq whereas four students secured second position hat’s more fun than clicking a beautiful in the event. They are Momin Omar, Sahira Tariq, Ibrahim Ghazi and Noor Khalid. The Director of the School, Anita Bukharey Wpicture? Sharing it with others! Let other appreciated the efforts of the participants. people see the way you see Kuwait - through your lens. Friday Times will feature snap- Indian embassy to issue non-relation certificate shots of Kuwait through Instagram feeds. If you want to share your Instagram photos, email us at For the past few years or so the Indian wife who are holding valid Indian pass- cate would have to be typewritten and [email protected] nationals have been facing difficulty in ports for further obtaining Non- submitted by the applicant sponsoring obtaining Non-Relationship Certificate Relationship bilingual certificate from the domestic worker from India along with required attestation from India the embassy. In this connection, appli- with (a) prescribed application-cum- which are to be submitted with cants are required to use revised form 15 undertaking and (b) affidavit in original embassy’s further attestation to the B of the Embassy in English only. The executed earlier at the Embassy or the Kuwait authorities for obtaining Visa for applicable fee for affidavit executed by Non-Relationship Certificate/Affidavit Write to us their intended domestic worker of Indian the spouses at the Embassy is KD 6.500 obtained from India. The applicable fees nationality. The Kuwait authorities accept plus ICWF charges. is KD 6.250 plus ICWF charges. this certificate after legal translation to Those who are able to bring properly The formats of the Affidavit, Bilingual Send to What’s On Arabic and attestation by Ministry of attested Non-Relationship Certificate/ Non-Relationship Certificate and the Justice in Kuwait. Affidavit from India would not be application-cum-undertaking with upcoming events, birthdays or The Embassy, apart from accepting required to execute affidavit at the instructions are attached. Indian celebrations by email: duly attested Non-Relationship embassy. Nationals are free to prepare these type Certificate/ Affidavit brought from India, To enable the embassy to issue a bilin- written on their own. The ‘Facilitation [email protected] would also accept typewritten Affidavit gual “Non-Relationship” Certificate for Centre’ at the Embassy would also be Fax: 24835619 / 20 in English language executed at the submission to the Government of Kuwait, offering the typewriting of these services Indian Embassy both by the husband and a format has been devised. The certifi- shortly. WHAT’S ON SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

ICSK Junior holds ‘Super Kid 2014’ ceremony

ednesday, the 19th of February, 2014, was a memo- tative to the board, other PAC members, and parents along incorporate 39 winners along with their teacher in-charge, Wrable day for the Indian Community School Kuwait, with tiny tots of the school enjoyed the fun-filled event with accompanied by parents. The Super Kids were adorned with Junior branch. The debut event of crowning the dance and poetry recitation. crowns, sash and memento along with certificates. The finale Super Kids in all sections of LKG and UKG on the premises Principal Incharge Sherly Dennis gave the welcome of the event was a hearty vote of thanks delivered by the Vice- enthralled the audience beyond expectation. The chief guest address. She defined the objectives of the benchmark event Principal Gomathy Murthy. This was followed by the Indian for the function Dr Amir Ahmed, President of Indian Doctors that comprised a weeklong competition for students. The offi- national anthem. The little children on the premises were Forum, Chairman Ashok Kalra, George Mathew, PAC represen- cial function of prize distribution was done in five segments to charged and well motivated. HEALTH SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

Coffee unites war-torn ‘Japanese cell study Colombian community SERRANIA DE PERIJA: After enduring eight hours of machine-gunfire and bombs between leftist rebels and right-wing paramilitaries, Maura should be quashed’ Leonor Vega and her husband fled their home of four decades in Colombia’s Andes for the shelter of the nearest town. They joined droves of small-scale farmers who left the Perija mountains from Huge blow to game-changing discovery around 2004 as paramilitaries ransacked, burned or occupied their homes while pursuing Marxist FARC guerrillas fighting the government TOKYO: A Japanese research institute toral dissertation in 2011. would amount to a serious professional since the mid-1960s. said yesterday that a study which prom- “I apologise that the papers which embarrassment and deflate hopes of a “We lost farm tools, hens, a donkey and our furniture,” said Vega, 60, ised a revolutionary way to create stem Riken researchers recently announced in major advance in the field. describing how the couple fled and how the paramilitaries then cells should be quashed after claims its Nature caused an incident that could But a joint statement signed by moved in. “And we lost the coffee harvest.” Coffee has for long been an data was faulty, dealing a huge blow to hurt the credibility of the scientific com- Obokata and two other researchers, important source of income for farmers in Perija and it has been crucial what was touted as a game-changing munity,” Noyori told a press briefing. released by Riken yesterday, only said in helping Vega and her neighbors rebuild their lives since they began discovery. Riken institute head, Ryoji “This immature researcher handled the trio were “considering a possible a cautious return in 2007 to an area made safe by the permanent sta- Noyori, who jointly won the Nobel Prize and collected enormous amounts of retraction”. tioning of army troops. The Perija mountain range, about 50 km (30 for chemistry in 2001, also heaped criti- research data, and handled it with slop- The study had been billed as the miles) from Venezuela, is one of the remote coffee-growing regions hit cism on lead researcher Haruko Obokata piness... This must never happen.” third great advance in stem cells-a field hardest by the political violence which has uprooted an estimated 5 for her “sloppiness” and warned the Riken did not offer an opinion on that aims to reverse Alzheimer’s, cancer million people nationwide and claimed about 220,000 lives over five controversy could shake the public’s whether the results of the study were and other crippling or lethal diseases. decades. faith in research. valid, citing a continuing probe. But the A mainly foreign-funded project run by Colombia’s Coffee The findings, published by 30-year- institute itself cannot unilaterally retract Hard to believe Federation has helped 600 Perija families, including now-widowed old Obokata along with other Japanese the paper. It took a big hit earlier this week after Vega, fix their homes, replant overgrown fields and boost earnings by researchers and a US-based scientist in “I have judged that what is most Teruhiko Wakayama, a Yamanashi imparting the skills needed to produce specialty coffees. It has the January edition of British journal important was for the paper to be swift- University professor who co-authored deployed agronomists to raise farming standards and social workers to the article, called for a retraction. sow the seeds of community in these hills haunted by the memory of “It’s hard to believe the findings any violence. Tackling rural poverty can yield powerful results in Colombia, more after so many mistakes in the deterring the cultivation of coca - the raw material for cocaine - and data,” he told broadcaster Nippon making it less likely young people will join the rebels for lack of oppor- Television. tunity. The government says the FARC is an important player in drug However, another co-author, Charles trafficking, a claim the rebels deny. Vacanti, a tissue engineer at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Starting from scratch Women’s Hospital in Boston, has stuck While the project won’t make these small scale farmers wealthy, it by the results. has given them a valuable foot-up in rebuilding their livelihoods they “It would be very sad to have such an had lost. “Now there’s tranquility and peace. We have new coffee trees important paper retracted as a result of and the harvest is good,” said farmer and project participant Eliecer peer pressure, when indeed the data Vargas, 40, now back with his wife and two children on the 12 hectare and conclusions are honest and valid,” farm he grew up on and inherited. He has repaired his house with the he told the Wall Street Journal this week. help from the project after “coming home to nothing” and finding Nature has said it has launched its donkeys taking shelter inside, entering through doors that had been own investigation. smashed in. He also renewed his plantation with free seeds from the Stem cells are primitive cells that, as project. “Now we’re ready to take advantage of the higher coffee they grow, become differentiated price,” he said, referring to the near doubling in the price of arabica into the various specialised cells that beans on the international market in just four months as drought and make up the brain, heart, kidneys and fungus ravage crops in other major coffee countries. Colombia’s right- other organs. wing paramilitaries mushroomed out of vigilante groups paid by The goal is to create stem cells in the wealthy landowners to protect them from extortion by guerrillas or the TOKYO: Riken president Ryoji Noyori leaves after a press conference in lab and nudge them to grow into these snatching of their land, but like their rebel enemies, they too joined the differentiated cells, thus replenishing cocaine trade. Rights groups say there were army troops among the Tokyo on March 14, 2014. A Japanese research institute said March 14 ranks of the paramilitaries and they committed some of the conflict’s it may retract a study that promised a revolutionary way to create stem organs damaged by disease or accident. The researchers’ groundbreaking most horrific human rights abuses, murdering farmers and other resi- cells after claims its data was faulty, dealing a huge blow to what was findings said that white blood cells in dents on mere suspicion they were rebel sympathisers. touted as a game-changing discovery. —AFP newborn mice were returned to a versa- Political violence has uprooted around 5 million people in tile state through a relatively simple Colombia, according to the Geneva-based Internal Displacement “Nature”, outlined a relatively simple ly retracted and to conduct the research process that involved incubating them Monitoring Center, by far the highest in the world. Colombia’s way to grow transplant tissue in the lab. again. I have suggested that to the in a weakly acidic solution for 25 min- Universidad de los Andes and the UniversitÈ Libre de Bruxelles show But it faced hard questions as the authors,” said Masatoshi Takeichi, direc- utes, followed by a five-minute spin in a that when coffee growing is profitable it makes villager recruitment respected institute, which sponsored tor of Riken’s Centre for Developmental centrifuge and week-long immersion in into the guerrillas less likely and also deters cultivation of coca for the study, launched an inquiry last Biology. a growth culture. cocaine that funds fighting. About half the farmers participating in the month over the credibility of its data “However, retraction of the paper is Riken’s research held major promise project now earn a premium for their coffee by meeting the social and used in the explosive findings. left to the Nature magazine, upon a full as the next advance in the field after ecological standards required to earn the ‘UTZ Certified’ Label from the agreement of all of the core authors earlier work had come under fire for Dutch-based foundation promoting sustainable farming since 2002. Key concerns involved.” various reasons, including the use of The government says improving rural livelihoods is critical to foster Among key concerns was that Japanese media reports yesterday embryonic stem cells. That method peace as it enters its second year of negotiations with the FARC in the researchers used erroneous images-cru- had said Obokata-who was not at the entails destroying the embryo, some- Cuban capital Havana to develop a five-point peace plan that will be cial to supporting the study-which press briefing-had agreed that the thing opposed by religious conserva- put to referendum if completed. resembled those used in Obokata’s doc- research should be pulled back, in what tives and others. —AFP Safety in numbers A more than decade-long US-backed military offensive has roughly halved guerrilla ranks and driven them deeper into the jungle. But regu- Move to replace Pap smear with HPV test lar combat with the armed forces and attacks on energy industry infra- LOS ANGELES: US health experts recommended that a test for studies directly comparing the regimens. “I think this is a structure shows they remain a threat. The stationing of a permanent cancer-causing strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) be good thing, but the question is it the best thing,” said Dr army battalion gave farmers enough reassurance to make their nervous approved to replace Pap smears in screening most women for David Chelmow, who led development of the American return home after struggling to make a living in the nearest town, cervical cancer, but the plan met with some skepticism within College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ screening guide- Codazzi, many as street vendors. Husbands and fathers often went first the medical community. Roche Holding AG is seeking Food and lines. “The preferred method of screening right now is Pap to make their homes livable before wives and children followed. Drug Administration approval to market its cobas HPV test, tests and HPV together. It’s not clear which way is better.” Farmers believe the nearest guerrilla presence on the border with which detects the DNA of 14 strains of the sexually-transmitted Roche presented data on Wednesday showing that with its Venezuela. “Getting confidence back ... and getting people to laugh virus, as a stand-alone tool to screen for cervical cancer risk in assay, women who test positive for HPV 16 or 18, the two most again is very complicated,” said Agustin Giraldo, the Coffee women age 25 and older. common strains of the virus, would then undergo a more inva- Federation’s chief representative for Cesar province where Codazzi is But experts said it will be tough to convince doctors to sive test known as colposcopy. Women who test positive for located and neighboring La Guajira province. The project’s budget of move from the current testing guidelines, which call for the other high-risk HPV strains would be given Pap tests as initial fol- nearly 4 million euros ($5.41 million) has been provided by the Dutch use of both Pap tests and HPV tests, since there have been no low up. —Reuters embassy, Dutch-based Douwe Egberts Foundation, the local government of Cesar province and the growers’ Federation. —Reuters HEALTH SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 Kuwait KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (13/03/2014 TO 19/03/2014)

SHARQIA-1 RED SKY (DIG) 1:00 PM MARINA-1 AL-KOUT.1 LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) 3:30 PM RED SKY (DIG) 1:45 PM MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) 2:00 PM RED SKY (DIG) 5:30 PM RED SKY (DIG) 4:00 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 4:00 PM LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) 7:45 PM RED SKY (DIG) 6:15 PM MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) 6:00 PM LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) 9:45 PM LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) 8:30 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 8:00 PM RED SKY (DIG) 11:45 PM LAMO AKHZA (DIG) (Arabic) 10:30 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 10:00 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED RED SKY (DIG) 12:30 AM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 12:05 AM NO SUN+TUE+WED NO SUN+TUE+WED SHARQIA-2 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG-3D) 12:45 PM MARINA-2 AL-KOUT.2 MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) 2:45 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 1:30 PM RED SKY (DIG) 1:45 PM MR. 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In case you are not travelling, your proper cancellation of bookings will help other passengers use seats

Arrival Flights on Saturday 15/3/2014 ABY 127 Sharjah 17:25 QTR 1071 Doha 10:55 Airlines Flt Route Time GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 KAC 501 Beirut 11:10 JAI 574 Mumbai 00:10 JZR 777 Jeddah 17:55 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:25 KLM 413 Amsterdam/Dammam 00:30 JZR 135 Bahrain 18:00 KAC 541 Cairo 11:30 JZR 539 Cairo 00:40 KAC 542 Cairo 18:05 IRM 1185 Shiraz 11:35 THY 772 Istanbul 00:45 JZR 177 Dubai 18:20 KAC 165 Rome/Paris 11:50 QTR 1084 Doha 00:55 IZG 4167 Mashhad 18:35 IAW 158 Baghdad/Al Najaf 12:00 DLH 637 Dammam 01:10 QTR 1080 Doha 18:40 MSC 402 Alexandria 12:20 PGT 858 Istanbul 01:30 KAC 774 Riyadh 18:45 JZR 776 Jeddah 12:25 SAI 441 Lahore 01:30 FDB 063 Dubai 18:45 IZG 4162 Mashhad 12:35 GFA 211 Bahrain 02:10 KAC 502 Beirut 18:50 SYR 342 Damascus 13:30 THY 764 Istanbul 02:15 KAC 618 Doha 19:00 JZR 786 Riyadh 13:35 JZR 267 Beirut 02:30 KAC 176 Geneva/Frankfurt 19:15 TMA 223 Dubai/Beirut 13:45 UAE 853 Dubai 02:35 KAC 674 Dubai 19:25 JZR 176 Dubai 13:45 ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 02:45 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:30 MSR 580 Sohag 13:50 JAI 576 Kochi/Abu Dhabi 02:50 KAC 104 London 19:35 MSR 611 Cairo 14:00 PIA 239 Lahore 03:05 KAC 790 Madinah 19:45 IRM 1189 Mashhad 14:05 OMA 643 Muscat 03:05 IRA 607 Mashhad 19:50 UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 MSR 612 Cairo 03:10 OMA 647 Muscat 19:55 FDB 058 Dubai 14:30 MSC 401 Alexandria 03:45 TBZ 5483 Mashhad 20:00 QTR 1079 Doha 14:55 QTR 1076 Doha 03:45 KNE 474 Jeddah 20:00 MSR 576 Sharm el-Sheikh 15:00 FDB 067 Dubai 04:20 MSR 618 Alexandria 20:05 JZR 134 Bahrain 15:00 THY 770 Istanbul 05:35 JAI 572 Mumbai 20:10 KAC 673 Dubai 15:05 DHX 170 Bahrain 05:40 JZR 189 Dubai 20:15 KAC 773 Riyadh 15:20 JZR 503 Luxor 05:50 ABY 129 Sharjah 20:20 KAC 789 Madinah 15:20 JZR 529 Asyut 06:20 AXB 489 Kochi/Mangalore 20:35 KNE 473 Jeddah 15:30 KAC 416 Jakarta/Kuala Lumpur 06:25 DLH 636 Frankfurt 20:55 KAC 617 Doha 15:30 BAW 157 London 06:40 FDB 071 Dubai 21:05 IRC 6693 Mashhad 15:35 KAC 412 Manila/Bangkok 06:45 ALK 229 Colombo 21:10 JZR 188 Dubai 15:40 KAC 206 Islamabad 07:40 MEA 402 Beirut 21:20 GFA 222 Bahrain 15:45 FDB 053 Dubai 07:50 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:35 SVA 505 Jeddah 16:00 QTR 1086 Doha 07:50 UAE 859 Dubai 21:40 IRM 1187 Tehran 16:30 KAC 302 Mumbai 07:55 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45 KNE 471 Jeddah 16:30 KAC 382 Delhi 07:55 KNE 480 Taif 21:45 KNE 463 Madinah 16:35 KAC 352 Kochi 08:10 FDB 059 Dubai 22:00 KNE 481 Taif 16:45 KAC 344 Chennai 08:35 QTR 1074 Doha 22:00 NIA 252 Alexandria 16:50 UAE 855 Dubai 08:40 KLM 415 Amsterdam 22:05 JZR 238 Amman 16:55 KAC 362 Colombo 08:45 UAL 981 Bahrain 22:10 KAC 785 Jeddah 17:00 KAC 284 Dhaka 08:50 JZR 239 Amman 22:20 JAV 622 Amman 17:15 ABY 125 Sharjah 09:00 JZR 181 Dubai 22:25 ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 17:35 AIC 975 Chennai/Goa 22:30 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:20 QTR 1073 Doha 17:40 KAC 786 Jeddah 22:45 FDB 055 Dubai 09:40 JZR 180 Dubai 17:40 QTR 1070 Doha 09:55 KAC 614 Bahrain 23:00 UAE 858 Dubai 17:50 IRM 1186 Tehran 10:15 JZR 185 Dubai 23:20 JZR 538 Cairo 17:50 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 RJA 641 Amman 17:55 IAW 157 Al Najaf/Baghdad 11:00 Departure Flights on Saturday 15/3/2014 ABY 128 Sharjah 18:05 IZG 4161 Mashhad 11:05 Airlines Flt Route Time SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15 MSC 405 Sohag 11:20 AIC 976 Goa/Chennai 00:05 UAL 982 Bahrain 18:20 JZR 165 Dubai 11:30 JAI 573 Mumbai 01:10 GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 TMA 213 Beirut 12:10 KLM 413 Amsterdam 01:45 JZR 184 Dubai 18:40 SYR 341 Damascus 12:30 DLH 637 Frankfurt 02:10 JZR 266 Beirut 18:50 IRM 1188 Mashhad 12:40 SAI 442 Lahore 02:30 FDB 064 Dubai 19:25 JZR 241 Amman 12:45 THY 773 Istanbul 02:55 IZG 4168 Mashhad 19:35 UAE 871 Dubai 12:50 PGT 859 Istanbul 03:20 JZR 325 Al Najaf 12:55 UAE 854 Dubai 03:50 QTR 1081 Doha 19:40 MSR 610 Cairo 13:00 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:00 KAC 613 Bahrain 20:00 MSR 579 Sohag 13:05 OMA 644 Muscat 04:05 GFA 218 Bahrain 20:15 KAC 522 Al Najaf 13:45 MSR 613 Cairo 04:10 KAC 283 Dhaka 20:30 FDB 057 Dubai 13:50 QTR 1085 Doha 04:15 KNE 475 Jeddah 20:45 QTR 1078 Doha 13:55 PIA 240 Sialkot/Islamabad 04:35 TBZ 5484 Mashhad 20:45 KAC 672 Dubai 14:00 MSC 406 Sohag 04:45 IRA 604 Esfahan 20:50 JZR 778 Jeddah 14:10 FDB 068 Dubai 05:00 OMA 648 Muscat 20:55 MSR 575 Sharm el-Sheikh 14:15 QTR 1077 Doha 05:15 KAC 331 Trivandrum 20:55 SVA 500 Jeddah 14:30 JAI 575 Abu Dhabi/Kochi 06:45 ABY 120 Sharjah 21:00 KNE 472 Jeddah 14:35 JZR 164 Dubai 06:55 KAC 361 Colombo 21:00 IRC 6692 Mashhad 14:40 THY 765 Istanbul 07:05 MSR 607 Luxor 21:05 KAC 562 Amman 14:50 GFA 212 Bahrain 07:15 JAI 571 Mumbai 21:10 GFA 221 Bahrain 15:00 JZR 240 Amman 07:20 KAC 351 Kochi 21:10 KAC 788 Jeddah 15:10 THY 771 Istanbul 07:30 DLH 636 Dammam 21:35 IRM 1184 Shiraz 15:15 FDB 054 Dubai 08:30 KAC 543 Cairo 21:40 KNE 470 Jeddah 15:35 JZR 779 Jeddah 08:40 FDB 072 Dubai 21:45 KNE 462 Madinah 15:45 BAW 156 London 08:45 DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50 NIA 251 Alexandria 15:50 QTR 1087 Doha 08:50 ALK 230 Colombo 22:10 JZR 535 Cairo 15:50 JZR 534 Cairo 09:00 MEA 403 Beirut 22:20 JAV 621 Amman 15:55 KAC 537 Sohag/Sharm el-Sheikh 09:05 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:20 KNE 460 Riyadh 16:00 KAC 787 Jeddah 09:25 KNE 461 Riyadh 22:30 KAC 118 New York 16:35 KAC 561 Amman 09:25 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:30 QTR 1072 Doha 16:40 KAC 671 Dubai 09:30 KAC 301 Mumbai 22:35 UAE 857 Dubai 16:40 JZR 324 Al Najaf 09:35 FDB 060 Dubai 22:40 JZR 357 Mashhad 16:45 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:40 UAE 860 Dubai 22:50 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 16:50 KAC 101 London/New York 09:50 KAC 381 Delhi 22:50 RJA 640 Amman 16:55 UAE 856 Dubai 09:55 KAC 205 Islamabad 22:55 JZR 787 Riyadh 17:00 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:05 JZR 552 Alexandria 23:00 UAL 982 IAD 17:05 KAC 521 Al Najaf 10:05 KLM 415 Dammam/Amsterdam 23:05 KAC 538 Sohag/Sharm el-Sheikh 17:05 FDB 056 Dubai 10:20 QTR 1075 Doha 23:10 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 JZR 356 Mashhad 10:45 KAC 411 Bangkok/Manila 23:55 Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw) SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

33. (informal) Exceptionally good. 12. A characteristic (habitual or relatively tempo- CROSSWORD487 34. Expel, as of gases and odors. rary) state of feeling. 38. An ugly evil-looking old woman. 13. A slender double-reed instrument. 40. A very light colorless element that is one of the 14. Capital and largest city and economic center of six inert gasses. Peru. 41. Antibacterial drug (trade name Nydrazid) used 21. Fully developed or matured and ready to be to treat tuberculosis. eaten or used. 42. A unit of energy equal to the work done by an 23. (Hinduism) An ascetic holy man. electron accelerated through a potential differ- 25. A desert in southern Israel. ence of 1 volt. 28. A white soft metallic element that tarnishes 46. Leave voluntarily. readily. 49. A Loloish language. 31. A crane-like device (usually one of a pair) for 51. The brightest star in Cygnus. suspending or lowering equipment (as a lifeboat). 54. A homeless child who has been abandoned 35. A member of the extinct Algonquian people and roams the streets. formerly living in northern Indiana and southern 55. A linear unit of measurement (equal to 6 feet) Michigan. for water depth. 36. The innermost membrane of an organ (espe- 56. A location other than here. cially the inner lining of an artery or vein or lym- 57. (Jungian psychology) The inner self (not the phatic vessel). external persona) that is in touch with the uncon- 37. Of or relating to the palm of the hand or to the scious. area at the base of the thumb. 58. The compass point that is one point south of 39. German mystic and theosophist who founded due east. modern theosophy. 60. A family of languages spoken by people scat- 43. Small flat ring-shaped cake or cookie. tered throughout central India. 44. An insecticide that is also toxic to animals and 62. A silvery ductile metallic element found prima- humans. rily in bauxite. 45. The capital of Switzerland. 63. Muslim name for God. 47. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in 65. Delivered from danger. Turkey). 68. Italian architect (1508-1580). 48. The basic unit of luminous intensity adopted 71. A region of central Europe rich in deposits of under the System International d'Unites. coal and iron ore. 50. The heavy fire of artillery to saturate an area 74. The 21st letter of the Greek alphabet. rather than hit a specific target. 75. The main meal of the day served in the 52. Of or relating to neurons. evening or at midday. 53. Any of several plants of the genus Galium. 77. An indehiscent fruit derived from a single 59. Spectacles that are darkened or polarized to ovary having one or many seeds within a fleshy protect the eyes from the glare of the sun. wall or pericarp. 61. A radioactive element of the actinide series. 78. A local computer network for communication 64. An avalanche volcanic water and mud down between computers. the slopes of a volcano. 79. A wild and exciting undertaking (not necessari- 66. A member of a Turkic people of Uzbekistan ly lawful). and neighboring areas. ACROSS 81. A rotating disk shaped to convert circular into 67. The capital and largest city of Bangladesh. 1. (Akkadian) Father of the gods and consort of linear motion. 69. Sound recording consisting of a disc with con- Challenge Maze Tiamat. 82. A cgs unit of work or energy. tinuous grooves. 5. Any of several bushy-tailed rodents of the genus 83. White Southerner supporting Reconstruction 70. A ruler of the Inca Empire (or a member of his Neotoma of western North America. policies after the Civil War usually for self-interest. family). 12. The molecular weight of a substance 84. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from 72. Someone who works (or provides workers) expressed in grams. aba cloth. during a strike. 15. Any of various edible seeds of plants of the DOWN 73. God of love and erotic desire. family Leguminosae. 1. A bachelor's degree in library science. 76. A federal agency established to coordinate 16. A city in southern California (southeast of Los 2. The short weak cry of a young bird. programs aimed at reducing pollution and pro- Angeles). 3. Someone who saves something from danger or tecting the environment. 17. A religious belief of African origin involving violence. 80. An official prosecutor for a judicial district. witchcraft and sorcery. 4. An agency of the United Nations responsible for 18. (New Testament) Disciple of Jesus. programs to aid education and the health of chil- Yesterday’s Solution 19. A wealthy man (who made his fortune in the dren and mothers in developing countries. Orient). 5. Cooking utensil consisting of a wide metal ves- 20. Make a loud, roaring sound, as of a car engine, sel. while moving. 6. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods. 22. Optical instrument consisting of a pair of lens- 7. Alternatively, a member of the family es for correcting defective vision. Nymphaeaceae. 24. Welsh industrialist and social reformer who 8. A Dardic language spoken in northwestern founded cooperative communities (1771-1858). Pakistan. 26. The content of cognition. 9. (Old Testament) Wife of Isaac and mother of 27. Being or occurring in fact or actuality. Jacob and Esau. 29. The way in which someone or something is 10. The branch of computer science that deal with composed. writing computer programs that can solve prob- 30. A state in north central United States. lems creatively. 32. A federal agency established to regulate the 11. The widely studied plant virus that causes release of new foods and health-related products. tobacco mosaic.

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution Yesterday’s Solution Yesterday’s SPORTS SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

Lotus fume in garage after dismal opening day

MELBOURNE: Lotus had braced for a tough start to issues today,” Lotus technical director Nick Chester further pressure on the French manufacturer. the Formula One season after troubled winter testing said. but were left mortified after yesterday’s opening day “We were delayed getting Romain’s car out in the Testing time at the Australian Grand Prix. first session due to a gearbox fluid leak whilst Pastor Renault Sport F1’s deputy managing director Rob Neither French driver Romain Grosjean nor his had an electrical problem.” Only lowly Caterham fared White visibly squirmed in his chair as he tried to grasp Venezuelan team mate Pastor Maldonado troubled worse than Lotus, with both Swede Marcus Ericsson for positives. “The first race weekend is always a test- the timesheets in the first practice session due to reli- and Japanese team mate Kamui Kobayashi unable to ing time and of course this year we’re feeling particu- ability problems on a sunny day at Albert Park. register a lap time in either session. larly anxious because we’re not as well prepared as Grosjean finally posted a time after emerging deep Along with Red Bull and Toro Rosso, Lotus and we would have liked to have been,” he told reporters. into the second session but his best from just 12 laps Caterham are powered by Renault engines which per- “Once again we’re behind where we’d like to be of the street circuit was more than four seconds adrift formed abjectly during winter testing. and the task now is to try and gain ground. “If we take of Mercedes pace-setter Lewis Hamilton. Red Bull breathed a sigh of relief yesterday as a step back and look at the kind of troubles that have It was also 18th out of the 19 cars that posted lap reigning champion Sebastian Vettel and Daniel befallen us and our teams, we’re behind where we times, with only Briton Max Chilton coming in lower Ricciardo emerged from yesterday’s practice largely should be in terms of times and in terms of our inter- for strugglers Marussia. “We experienced quite a few unscathed, but Lotus’s continued struggles will place nal objectives. —Reuters

Red Bull see glimpses of hope in Australia MELBOURNE: Red Bull team principal Christian Horner hailed an “extremely encouraging” yesterday for the Formula One champions at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix after they banished some winter testing demons with a strong showing in practice. Red Bull’s pre-season was abysmal, with neither quadruple champion Sebastian Vettel nor team mate Daniel Ricciardo able to complete a race simulation due to reliability problems, but the pair clocked up ample mileage on a sunny day at Albert Park. Vettel completed 51 laps and finished fourth on the timesheets in the second practice session, only 0.756 seconds adrift of Mercedes’ pace-setting Lewis Hamilton. His new Australian team mate Ricciardo lapped the Albert Park circuit 64 times for the day and finished sixth fastest in the second session. “I think Sebastian today has covered a third of the mileage of his total winter,” Horner told reporters. “Obviously Daniel has done pretty much a race distance today so that’s extremely encouraging for our guys and the guys back in Paris at Renault. “Hopefully it bodes well on the weekend. The most important thing is to see the chequered flag on Sunday, and that, in itself, is an enormous challenge.” MELBOURNE: Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso of Spain powers through a corner during the second practice All of the teams have struggled to come to terms with the session of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne yesterday. —AFP new turbocharged hybrid engines, but Red Bull’s preparations were particularly blighted by their troubled Renault power unit. Friday was not all smooth sailing, with Vettel forced to Hamilton and Rosberg return to pit with a heat problem during the first practice. The 26-year-old German, bidding for a 10th straight race win on Sunday, also took a skid onto the grass in the second session, set pace for Mercedes one of a number of drivers that struggled with the new V6 engines increased torque and reduced downforce. Horner was under no illusions that the team still faced a MELBOURNE: Lewis Hamilton and Nico new, quieter turbocharged engines and brings,” said Vettel, who carried the initials of battle to catch up. “We still have an awful lot of work to do,” Rosberg set the pace in practice for the energy recovery systems, took to the stricken great Michael Schumacher on his he said. “We can still see that there’s quite a gap to certainly Australian Grand Prix yesterday as Mercedes Melbourne circuit for the first time. helmet visor. Mercedes and Ferrari but we’re starting to realise what that shaped as the team to beat at the much Hamilton and Rosberg have been tipped to “At the end of yesterday times are not gap is. By the end of this weekend, we should hope to have a awaited season-opener. fight it out in Sunday’s race, given Mercedes’ worth a lot but it is better to be closer to the bit more clarity. “But the way the team has responded to the With teams adapting to a raft of technical superior pre-season testing and adjustment top rather than somewhere lost in the back. challenge has been fantastic. There’s a real desire and inner changes in Formula One, Hamilton overcame to the technical changes, which also include “In terms of speed we know there is a lot strength within the team. “This is where we’d have dearly mechanical problems in the first session to a fuel limit. Hamilton put in a scorching lap more to come but so far it feels very good.” liked to have been at the first test but that wasn’t the case and time quickest in the second run-out ahead of on soft tyres to post a best time of one Earlier Hamilton had an inauspicious start we’ve got some ground to make up.” —Reuters his team-mate. minute 29.625, some 0.157secs ahead of to his 2014 season when his Mercedes Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso was third Germany’s Rosberg (1:29.782). The Mercedes stopped on its first lap of the first practice fastest while four-time defending world duo were the only drivers to go below 1:30, session, with smoke coming from the rear of champion Sebastian Vettel, who endured demonstrating an early edge over the rest of the car. endless problems in pre-season testing, the field ahead of today’s qualifying for grid The Briton got out and the car was towed placed an encouraging fourth. positions. back to the team garage, in a setback for the “We got a nice foundation for the week- Ferrari’s Alonso backed up from topping Mercedes team. Hamilton, one of the sport’s end in the second session today so hopefully first practice with the third best time of best known drivers, also had the indignity of we can build on that in P3 (free practice 1:30.132, just over a half-second slower than having his pass checked by security as he three) tomorrow afternoon and then see Hamilton. Defending world champion Vettel returned to the paddock still wearing his race where we are in qualifying,” said Hamilton, was fourth quickest in his Red Bull in helmet. Mercedes reported that an oil pres- the 2008 world champion. 1:30.381, 0.756secs down on Hamilton but sure alarm had led to a precautionary shut- “While it was disappointing to not get any delighted to have completed 41 laps in his down in his car and Hamilton showed no track time this morning, we got up to pace troubled car. problems in the second session. MELBOURNE: Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of quite quickly in P2 and found the balance rel- McLaren’s former world champion Germany speeds from the pits during the second atively fast. Inauspicious start Jenson Button had a promising day, finishing practice session at the Formula One Australian “I feel quite comfortable in the car so “I’m quite surprised today, both Dan high in both practice sessions and clocking Grand Prix at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne overall it’s a positive start.” The sessions were (Ricciardo) and I did a lot of laps so that’s very the fifth best time of 1:30.510 in the second yesterday. —AFP closely watched as the revamped cars, with good news, so let’s see what tomorrow run. —AFP SPORTS SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 Federer books semi-final clash with Dolgopolov INDIAN WELLS: Roger Federer beat Kevin Simona Halep meet in the other semifinal Anderson 7-5, 6-1 Thursday night in the Friday. Li rallied from a 5-1 deficit in the sec- quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open, ond set to close to 5-4 before Cibulkova where the Swiss star has yet to drop a set in called for her coach. After they huddled, the four matches. Slovak player held to even the match at a set Anderson failed to break Federer’s serve apiece. They traded breaks to open the in the match that lasted just over an hour. third. Cibulkova survived a service game He had 21 unforced errors while Federer hit that went to deuce seven times and staved 17 winners and won 79 percent of his first off four break points to tie it up 2-2. serve points. “I’m disappointed I didn’t win because I A four-time Indian Wells champion, had my chances. These are chances you Federer will play Alexandr Dolgopolov in the have to take with such a player,” Cibulkova semifinals. Dolgopolov beat Milos Raonic 6- said. “My serve was just not there. Maybe I 3, 6-4. On the women’s side, top-seeded Li tried to go for too much. Her serve was Na beat Dominika Cibulkova 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in much better than mine.” a rematch of their Australian Open final and Li’s ace gave her a 4-3 lead as she swept advanced to a semifinal against Flavia to the final three games and the victory. Pennetta, who defeated Sloane Stephens 6- Stephens was the lone American woman 4, 5-7, 6-4. left in the tournament, enjoying her best Federer cooled off Anderson, who ended showing of the year so far. She appeared Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka’s poised to move on after winning six straight 13-match winning streak in the fourth INDIAN WELLS: Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a shot to Kevin Anderson games over the end of the second set and round. Federer earned the only break in the of South Africa during the BNP Parabas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden start of the third. She took a 3-0 lead with an first set in the last game, when Anderson yesterday in Indian Wells, California. — AFP early break of Pennetta. netted a backhand volley. “The wind was blowing sideways and in “It was big to win the set and then to go moving up 26 spots since the end of last Dolgopolov in their first meeting. a circle,” Stephens said. “It was really compli- on to break early in the second,” Federer year to No. 31 before the tournament cated.” The Italian, who at 32 is 12 years old- said. “Then double break was like a bonus. began. “Obviously if you’re ranked 20, 30, 40 Victorious er than Stephens, won six of the final seven From then on I was home, basically. It was a you’re a good enough player. To get in the Li, who beat Cibulkova to win her second games, breaking the American at love in one really good match for me.” top 10 you just need all those small things Grand Slam title in January, dropped her of those games. Pennetta served out the 2- By then, Federer was on his way to win- to be together and to be solid,” he said. “It’s first set in four matches while improving to plus-hour match, winning on her fifth match ning 13 straight points. He broke Anderson really small differences from the players that 15-1 this year. Li is playing her first major point when Stephens sprayed a backhand twice in taking a 4-0 lead in the second set, are top 10 and top 50. I don’t think I tournament as the No. 1 seed. wide. “I was trying to play in the middle of having won seven consecutive games over changed a lot and it’s working good; I’m “Not like before if I come here, maybe the court, but there was no one ball was in both sets. Anderson did his best to trade staying healthy; I’m doing all the things I did like No. 6 or No. 7 seed,” she said. “But I think the middle, was always right or left,” groundstrokes with Federer while looking but a little bit better.” I am handling very well, so just continue.” Pennetta said. “I had the first match point for an opening to rush the net, but the Dolgopolov improved to 6-2 against top- Pennetta emerged victorious after a and I completely lost the ball when I touch it South African’s repeated errors spoiled his 20 opponents this year, including his third- wildly uneven match affected by swirling with the forehand. You try to do what’s nor- game plan. Dolgopolov’s win assured the round win over top-ranked Rafael Nadal. winds in the third set from a dust storm out- mally very easy for you, and everything Ukrainian of rising to a projected No. 23 in Raonic took out fourth-ranked Andy side the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. “The seems so difficult.” One point during the next week’s ATP Tour rankings. Already, he Murray in three sets in the fourth round, but third was a disaster for both of us,” Pennetta final game had to be replayed after a paper has made the biggest jump in the top 50, he couldn’t follow it up win a win over said. No. 2 seed Agnieszka Radwanska and napkin blew across the court. — AP

NBK’s 20th annual Police stole watch, bungled Walkathon today evidence at Pistorius home KUWAIT: Thousands of participants - men, women and children from across Kuwait - will PRETORIA: An ex-police officer told Oscar gather today in Salmiya for National Bank of Pistorius’s murder trial yesterday that his col- Kuwait’s (NBK) 20th Annual Walkathon. leagues were clumsy with evidence and even Participants will walk the scenic Gulf Road, stole a luxury watch from the crime scene. men starting at the Scientific Center and Former station chief Giliam van Rensburg, women taking off from Marina Crescent. They who was among the first on the scene of the will be monitored and assisted by NBK staff Valentine’s Day 2013 killing and the one who and volunteers and cheered on by fans, friends arrested Pistorius, retired from the police last and relatives. year. He testified that an officer handled Pistorius’s gun without gloves and that a watch “Everyone can join today’s festivities, and worth as much as $10,000 (7,000 euros) went get the chance to enjoy the celebrations” NBK missing, calling into question the police’s broad- Public Relations Manager, Abdul Mohsen Al er handling of the investigation. Rushaid explained, “We welcome everyone to The police officers’ conduct could have a join in and participate in the biggest health strong bearing on the outcome of the trial, if awareness program in Kuwait.” Judge Thokozile Masipa believes vital forensic “For those who cannot take part in the evidence was so tainted as to be inadmissable. Walkathon, you can check out NBK Official’s Van Rensburg walked the court through photos taken shortly after Reeva Steenkamp was Page on Facebook, our Twitter account and shot in the early hours of February 14, 2013. Youtube for live reports of the event, which They included nightmare images of the 29-year- PRETORIA: An image taken from the court pool TV via AP showing on screen a police will start from 10 am with the Zeina race at the old model’s fatal head wound and photos of a photograph of Oscar Pistorius standing on his blood-stained prosthetic legs and Green Island,” Al Rushaid added. shirtless Pistorius covered in blood shortly after During the closing ceremony of the the shooting. wearing shorts covered in blood, taken shortly after the athlete fatally shot his girl- Walkathon, NBK will award many of the partici- In several images the athlete is seen standing friend, which was shown to the court in Pretoria, at his murder trial yesterday. — AP pants with cash and other valuable prizes. 120 in his garage, expressionless and staring straight “I saw those watches and I said this is tempt- that was used to kill Steenkamp and was left on participants will be awarded with valuable at the camera, wearing blue blood-soaked shorts ing for any person because this is expensive the blood-soaked bathroom mat. prizes in addition to giving away three brand and with dried blood on his left arm. watches,” he told the court. Van Rensburg “At that particular moment the ballistics Other pictures showed the blood-drenched new Citreon cars C-Elysee as the grand prize described his reaction when he was later told a expert was handling the firearm without gloves,” toilet stall where Steenkamp was shot, as well as watch was gone. Van Rensburg told the court, adding that the alongside the ten winners in the first draw of bullet marks on the wall. “I said, ‘I can’t believe it. We were just there. policeman had already removed the magazine. NBK’s campaign to win a trip for two to attend ‘I was furious’ How can this watch be gone?’” Body and vehicle Under cross-examination Van Rensburg fur- one of the 2014 FIFA World Cup(tm) matches The former officer testified that experts searches failed to turn up the missing watch and ther conceded several contradictions between in Brazil in association with Visa that will be examined a blood-splattered box containing a theft docket was opened, he said, adding: “I his statements and those of other officers at the announced live during the Walkathon. eight timepieces and that one went missing was furious.” Van Rensburg said he later found scene, saying some of his colleagues had sub- even after he warned his officers against theft. another policeman mishandling the 9mm pistol mitted hearsay evidence. —AFP SPORTS SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 Al-Otaibi Sabah Al-Ahmed Olympic Ranges readiness

By Sherif Ismail match the aspirations of the prime supporter of shooting and sports in general, HH the Amir. KUWAIT: The president of Kuwait and the Arab Shooting Federations, Engineer, Duaij Al- In this regard, Al-Duaij recently visited the sporting shooting ranges at Sabah Al-Ahmed Otaibi stressed the importance of exerting more efforts to develop the shooting sport to Olympic Shooting Complex to check on the competitions currently going on there.

A competitor aims during the shooting tournament held at Sabah Al-Ahmed Olympic Shooting Complex. (Inset) Eng Duaij Al-Otaibi. —Photos by Sherif Ismail

Adel Mohammed Abd-Al-Rehman with his son Abdullah Al-Rashidi instructs his team. Hamad Al-Rouisan (left), head of shotgun referees Mahammed and daughter.

Standings of HH the Amir’s 3rd Standings of the international shooting Championship 7th Asian Air Gun Competition

Country Gold Silver Bronze Total Country Gold Silver Bronze Total Kuwait 2 2 3 7 China 11 8 6 25 India 5 6 8 19 Qatar 1 - - 1 Mongolia 2 1 3 6 Egypt 1 - - 1 South Korea 2 1 1 4 North Korea 1 - - 1 Iran 1 2 2 5 Slovenia 1 - 1 1 Thailand 1 1 - 2 Switzerland - 1 - 1 Uzbekistan 1 - 1 2 Singapore 1 - - 1 Scotland - 1 - 1 Taiwan - 1 1 2 Thailand - - 1 1 Malaysia - 1 - 1 Lebanon - - 1 1 Saudi Arabia - - 1 1 SPORTS SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 Gatland tells Wales to finish with a flourish LONDON: Wales coach Warren Gatland Murrayfield. And an admiring Gatland said: enough tomorrow, and in terms of counter- time.” For Scotland, Edinburgh wing Dougie insists there is a “lot at stake” for both his “They are gaining a bit of confidence after attacking more, we wanted to play through Fife is set to make his Test debut with the side and opponents Scotland even though being under the pump and winning against phases but there were too many turnovers 23-year-old drafted in after Tommy Seymour they risk being the unappetising filling in Italy, and doing reasonably well against and we did not keep the ball for long (ankle) was ruled out following his try-scor- today’s final day Six Nations ‘sandwich’. France. “They will have been disappointed enough periods,” the coach of last year’s vic- ing heroics against France. Neither of the Celtic nations can win the at not winning that game. They have asked torious British and Irish Lions in Australia Max Evans replaces veteran flyer Sean title, which will be decided by a combina- for the (Millennium) roof to be shut, which is added. Lamont (knee) on the other wing while Ryan tion of the results in the early kick-off in good, and shows they are coming with an Wilson comes in for back row Johnnie Rome between Italy and England and the attitude to play rugby. ‘Competitor and a warrior’ Beattie, who suffered an ankle injury against concluding fixture of the 23014 “There is a lot at stake for both teams, There is also a new-look front row with the French. Championship in Paris where France face and we want to finish the campaign on a Ken Owens replacing hooker Richard Saturday’s match will be former Wales leaders Ireland. high and go into the summer with some Hibbard and Rhodri Jones in for prop Adam coach Scott Johnson’s final Test in charge of In between comes the Wales-Scotland confidence.” Gatland has made six changes Jones. But Gatland has retained prop Gethin Scotland before the Australian hands over clash at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium with to the starting side that lost at Twickenham, Jenkins, set to surpass retired fly-half to New Zealander Vern Cotter to concen- the Welsh licking their wounds after a 29-18 with Liam Williams and Mike Phillips replac- Stephen Jones’ Welsh appearance record by trate solely on his role as director of rugby at loss away to England last time out ended ing the injured duo of full-back Leigh winning his 105th cap. the Scottish Rugby Union. their hopes of an unprecedented third suc- Halfpenny, out for four months with a shoul- Jenkins has been yellow-carded in both Johnson, who has overseen just five wins cessive outright Six Nations Championship der problem, and scrum-half Rhys Webb his last two Tests for scrummaging offences from 15 Tests in charge of the Scots, said: title. Scotland, who’ve won just once this (ankle) respectively. but Gatland said: “We’ve got to stick with “It’s not about me. I did it for what I feel is Championship and that a last-gasp 21-20 Meanwhile fly-half Dan Biggar starts in him and give him the faith. We’ve worked the right fit for Scotland and I’ll take up a dif- victory away to bottom of the table Italy, place of Rhys Priestland, who kicked away hard on getting the scrummaging right and ferent role and I’ll enjoy that-but I’m really have lost their last six matches against the far too much possession against England, improving that. proud to say I’ve been a part of it.” He Welsh and haven’t won in Cardiff for 12 while fit-again lock Luke Charteris comes in “As a competitor and a warrior, you don’t added: “I think the last couple of weeks have years. Nevertheless, last Sunday they came for Jake Ball. “We have identified things we get anyone tougher than Gethin. It is a been encouraging. I think there are agonisingly close to beating title contenders need to improve,” Gatland said. “Some of great milestone for him in terms of him glimpses here. Last weekend against France France before going down 19-17 at our kicking strategy was not executed well being the leading Welsh cap player of all- we showed great resolve.” — AP Maple Leafs beat Kings 3-2, snap LA’s 8-game roll

LOS ANGELES: Mason Raymond broke a tie with a cheered as right winger Ryan Callahan got his first short-handed goal early in the third period and the goal with the Lightning after joining the team from Toronto Maple Leafs snapped the Los Angeles the New York Rangers last week. The two teams Kings’ eight-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory combined for four goals in the first nine minutes, Thursday night. needing less than two minutes to get the scoring James Reimer made 31 saves in the final two started. Tampa Bay (35-24-7) shook off their recent periods after replacing the injured Jonathan Bernier penchant for losing late leads, while Florida (24-35- for the Leafs, who have won four of five. Captain 7) allowed three-plus goals for the seventh time in Dion Phaneuf and Carl Gunnarsson also scored as eight games since the Olympic break. Toronto beat both Southern California NHL clubs in a four-day span. Hurricanes 4, Sabres 2 Marian Gaborik had an early goal and an assist Alexander Semin and Jiri Tlusty scored less than in his home debut with the Kings, who fell just short two minutes apart late in the third period to spoil a of matching the longest winning streak in franchise stellar goaltending effort by Buffalo’s Michal history. Anze Kopitar had a power-play goal and Neuvirth, and the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Jonathan Quick stopped 26 shots in his first loss Sabres 4-2. since Feb. 3. Neuvirth, acquired from the Washington Capitals at the trade deadline, stopped a career- Bruins 2, Coyotes 1 best 51 shots in the loss. The Hurricanes are still The Boston Bruins won their seventh straight holding out hope for a late playoff surge at 29-28-9. game and moved back into first place in the Eastern Buffalo (19-39-8) dropped their fourth consecutive LOS ANGELES: James van Riemsdyk #21 of the Toronto Maple Leafs jumps out of the way Conference with a 2-1 win over the Phoenix game. of a shot as Jonathan Quick #32 of the Los Angeles Kings plays goal during the third peri- Coyotes. Defenseman Zdeno Chara scored his 16th od at Staples Center on Thursday in Los Angeles, California. The Leafs won 3-2. — AFP goal of the season and Jarome Iginla got his 21st, Blues 6, Oilers 2 both in the first period, for the Bruins. Playing for the first time since Jan. 31, center Coyotes (31-25-11) winger Lauri Korpikoski Vladimir Sobotka scored a goal and assisted on two scored a deflected goal with 11:46 remaining, his more, including the winner by Alex Pietrangelo, for NHL results/standings ninth of the season, to break up Boston goaltender his first three-point game of the season as the St. Tuukka Rask’s shutout bid. The Bruins (44-17-5) Louis Blues beat the Edmonton Oilers 6-2. were a perfect five-of-five on the penalty kill, includ- Sobotka was back after missing 12 games with a Boston 2, Phoenix 1; Carolina 4, Buffalo 2; San Jose 4, Columbus 3 (SO); Tampa Bay 5, Florida ing a first-period double minor, and have killed all broken kneecap. St. Louis (45-14-7) extended their 4; St. Louis 6, Edmonton 2; Minnesota 2, NY Rangers 1; Toronto 3, Los Angeles 2. 16 they faced in the last six games. unbeaten streak to seven games and leads the NHL Western Conference Eastern Conference with 97 points. T.J. Oshie also had a goal and two Pacific Division Atlantic Division Sharks 4, Blue Jackets 3 (SO) assists, Jaden Schwartz lit the red lamp twice, his W L OTL GF GA PTS Boston 44 17 5 210 145 93 Joe Pavelski had the only goal for either team in 20th and 21st goals this season, while fellow sec- Toronto 36 24 8 201 207 80 the shootout, leading the San Jose Sharks to their ond-year player Vladimir Tarasenko also scored his Anaheim 43 16 7 210 167 93 Tampa Bay 35 24 7 191 175 77 fourth straight win, a 4-3 victory over the Columbus 20th. The Oilers (23-36-8) lost in regulation for only San Jose 43 17 7 209 162 93 Montreal 35 25 7 167 170 77 Blue Jackets. Sharks goaltender Alex Stalock, who the third time in 10 games but they long ago fell Los Angeles 38 23 6 164 142 82 Detroit 29 23 13 172 183 71 had 35 saves in regulation, stopped Mark Letestu, out of the playoff hunt. Phoenix 31 25 11 185 191 73 Ottawa 28 25 12 185 213 68 Ryan Johansen and Cam Atkinson in the shootout. Wild 2, Rangers 1 Florida 24 35 7 161 214 55 Patrick Marleau had two goals for the Sharks The New York Rangers made an uncharacteristic Vancouver 30 28 10 160 183 70 Buffalo 19 39 8 131 196 46 (43-17-7), giving him 28 on the season, and Matt defensive mistake by leaving Minnesota Wild Calgary 26 33 7 159 196 59 Metropolitan Division Nieto also scored. The Blue Jackets (34-26-6) got winger Zach Parise alone in front of their goalie and Edmonton 23 36 8 168 221 54 Pittsburgh 44 17 4 206 159 92 goals from defenseman James Wisniewski, Ryan the error proved costly. Parise took advantage, scor- Central Division Columbus 34 26 6 193 183 74 Johansen and R.J. Umberger. ing the game-winner early in the third period as the NY Rangers 35 28 4 173 167 74 St. Louis 45 14 7 219 150 97 Wild snapped a three-game losing streak with a 2-1 Philadelphia 33 25 7 184 190 73 Lightning 5, Panthers 4 victory. Nino Niederreiter also scored for the Wild Colorado 43 18 5 202 174 91 New Jersey 29 24 13 163 168 71 The Tampa Bay Lightning ended a five-game and goalie Darcy Kuemper had 29 saves for his 12th Chicago 38 14 14 225 175 90 Washington 30 27 10 193 202 70 losing streak and savored two celebrated first win of the season, a franchise record for a rookie Carolina 29 28 9 167 187 67 goals, overcoming a rough start and then holding netminder. It was the first win for the Wild (35-22-9) Minnesota 35 22 9 163 162 79 Dallas 32 23 10 188 181 74 NY Islanders 25 33 9 188 228 59 on for a 5-4 win over the Florida Panthers. since last week’s NHL trade deadline. Derek Stepan Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one Lightning center Steven Stamkos scored his first scored for the Rangers (35-28-4) during a second- Winnipeg 30 28 9 184 195 69 point in the standings and are not included in goal since returning from a four-month absence period power play as New York lost their second Nashville 28 28 10 160 195 66 the loss column (L). with a broken leg, and the home crowd also game in a row. — Reuters SPORTS SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

Five all-rounders to watch out for in World Twenty20

DHAKA: The fifth edition of cricket’s World Twenty20, ment in the last edition of the World Twenty20 in Sri World Cup victory in 2007 and was the player of the featuring 16 teams, will start in Bangladesh tomorrow. Lanka, Watson has the power to pummel any opposi- tournament during the home triumph in the 50-over Following is a factbox on the all-rounders to watch out tion attack and is particularly harsh against the spin- format in 2011. for during the tournament: ners. The burly all-rounder’s ability of hit the spinners One of the hardest hitters of the cricket ball, as out of the ground will make sure Australia do not get England’s Stuart Broad found out when he was hit for Shahid Afridi, Pakistan tied down in the middle overs against the slow bowlers. six consecutive sixes in an over In 2007, Yuvraj can An aura of unpredictability always hangs around Watson’s tight line and length is an added bonus for change the complexion of a match in the spate of a few Shahid Afridi when he takes the cricket field. the team and he often reposes that faith by picking up deliveries. A crowd favourite, more so after his success- His swashbuckling batting and fiery legspin make vital wickets. ful battle against cancer, Yuvraj’s gentle left-arm can him an exciting player in the shortest format of the also be very effective on the slow surfaces in game but there is always a chance for him to self- Marlon Samuels, West Indies Bangladesh. destruct, by throwing away his wicket at a crucial junc- Samuels has already proved his worth by digging ture or by means of wayward bowling. West Indies out of a hole to the World Twenty20 title Corey Anderson, New Zealand On his day, however, the 34-year-old former captain with a brilliant half-century against hosts Sri Lanka in The new kid on the block, Anderson grabbed eye- can win a match single-handedly and Pakistan will Colombo in 2012. The classy stroke-player can play all balls when he broke the record for the fastest century hope that he can continue his Asia Cup form into the the shots in the book and is almost unstoppable when in international cricket with his 36-ball hundred against World Twenty20. Afridi who hurt his hamstring during he is on song with the bat. A part-time off-spinner who West Indies on the first day of 2014. the 50-over tournament in Bangladesh, was at his can fire in deliveries in the block hole, Samuels has The 23-year-old has played just eight Twenty20 adventurous best when he took Pakistan to the Asia great control in varying the pace of his deliveries and matches for New Zealand but the left-hander’s big- Cup final with close wins against arch-rivals India and could be a vital weapon for the defending champions hitting ability is tailor-made for the format. He has a hosts Bangladesh. on the low and slow Bangladesh wickets. five-wicket haul with his left-arm medium pace bowling in the 50-over format and will be a decent bowl- Shane Watson, Australia Yuvraj Singh, India ing option for captain Brendon McCullum in The highest run-scorer and player of the tourna- The left-hander was the hero of India’s Twenty20 Bangladesh. — Reuters Australia, Sri Lanka eye elusive Twenty20 title

DHAKA: Cricket will shed all pretensions of being a lazy, Lanka have two batsmen who can clear the boundary nuanced game and reward brute force when top teams almost at will, fortified by the presence of contemporary brawl in Bangladesh over the next three weeks for the cricket’s two premier bailout specialists - Kumar biggest crown of the game’s shortest and most unabashed Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. The presence of two format at the ICC World Twenty20. enigmatic bowlers in Lasith Malinga and Ajantha Mendis Mostly young, brawny men will walk out wielding means outscoring Sri Lanka, also a formidable fielding side, heavy, modern bats with the sole aim of whacking the ball will be doubly difficult for any side. into the orbit in front of a largely young crowd with insa- Their recent Asia Cup victory also means they know the tiable appetite for the crash-bang format. conditions in Bangladesh better than any other team There will invariably be a Sunil Narine or a Saeed Ajmal, except the hosts. Neighbours India have opted for a blend refusing to be just cannon-fodder, conning batsman with of youth and experience, having recalled Yuvraj Singh, their guile and variation to prove that smart, slow bowlers hero of their triumph in the inaugural World Twenty20 in LAHORE: This photograph taken on February 14, 2014 shows visually can also coexist in this format. The tournament is still likely 2007 and the 50-over World Cup four years later, to the impaired Pakistan cricketers as they take part in a practice session at the to be a mind-boggling batting exhibition over 35 matches squad. In a team teeming with strokemakers, skipper Bagh-e-Jinnah cricket ground in Lahore. — AFP at three venues culminating with the April 6 final at Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s major worry will be India’s bowl- Mirpur’s Shere Bangla National Stadium. ing frailty which has recently been laid bare in other for- Much of it is expected from the Australians who will mats. For Pakistan’s blind, land eyeing the only major cricket silverware missing from their trophy cabinet. For a batting line up boasting the likes Unpredictable Pakistan of David Warner, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson and captain For the talented Pakistan team, the challenge essential- cricket offers hope George Bailey, few teams can match Australia’s firepower. ly will be to curb their tendency to implode if they are to Complementing them will be a bowling attack spear- repeat their 2009 triumph. LAHORE: Pakistan’s blind cricket captain tion and personality development suffers. headed by the redoubtable Mitchell Johnson, who is nurs- In Shahid Afridi and Ajmal, Pakistan have two game- Zeeshan Abbasi was once a shy and awk- Abbasi recalls how as a child he was ing a toe infection and might arrive late for the tourna- changers and they are familiar with the conditions too, ward child who relied on his family and punished for not being able to keep up at ment. “We’ve got the most balanced side and balanced having reached the Asia Cup final last week. friends to get by in a country where dis- his first school. “My teachers did not know squad I’ve ever been involved in,” Watson declared earlier Defending champions West Indies will rely on Chris ability is a major stigma. Growing up in how to teach me,” he says. Realising the this week. “We really do have firepower in our batting Gayle’s power-hitting and Marlon Samuels’ street-smart the mountainous northern Ayubia district, youngster’s difficulties, his uncle arranged order, all the way down to number 10. cricket to see them through, but they will miss Kieron his earliest memories are of clutching his his admission in a school for blind children “We’ve got high-quality opening bowlers, death Pollard’s all-rounder service after the Trinidad player hurt mother’s hand as they climbed a winding in the city of Rawalpindi, where he was bowlers and spinners. We have versatility. In all conditions, his knee. England look even more depleted, yet to settle path to a school where he was never fully introduced to cricket. “I started playing at against any opposition we can match up really well. down after the unceremonious axing of Kevin Pietersen, accepted. the age of 10. Later, myself and a group of “Twenty20 cricket is certainly fickle, but if you have a lot of who was adjudged player of the tournament in their 2010 But having recently led his team to the friends founded the first ever Islamabad match-winners in your team then you’ve got more of a triumph in West Indies. final of the World Cup and triumph in a blind cricket club. We used to spend our chance of it being someone’s day. We certainly got that in To make it worse, Joe Root has been ruled out with a series over traditional foe India, he credits pocket money to buy the cricket gear,” he our squad for sure.” thumb injury and captain Stuart Broad is also nursing a cricket with turning his life around. “If I recalls. Eyes will also be on Brad Hogg, 43, and Brad Hodge, 39, knee problem. Bangladesh take on Afghanistan on Sunday didn’t play cricket, I would have not Even then Abbasi initially faced oppo- as they challenge the popular perception that Twenty20 is in the first match of the qualifying stage which culminates enjoyed this status as a national celebrity. sition by his family. “I was beaten by my essentially a young man’s game. with two of the eight smaller teams joining the top eight My blind friends are unable to do any- parents several times for playing cricket teams in the Super 10 stage starting from March 21. thing and have become a burden for their because they thought I was wasting my Lankan agony Comprising players who learned the game in refugee families,” the 30-year-old said. Pakistan is time and I should study for a better On a similar mission will be the Sri Lankans who are fully camps, Afghanistan continued their fairytale rise in interna- home to almost two million blind people, future,” he said. “Once while practising aware what victory means for their passionate fans who tional cricket when they beat Bangladesh in the recent Asia according to the Fred Hollows with normal cricketers, the ball struck my have endured the agony of watching their team falter in Cup and the muted celebration that followed was a state- Foundation, with more than half afflicted left eye and I lost the little sight I had,” he the final of four World Cups - both 50 and 20-over - since ment of their growing self-expectations. due to preventable diseases like cataracts. said, adding his right arm was fractured 2007. Last week, the cricketers got a hero’s welcome and “We were expecting this,” chief executive of the war- They are often forced to deal with soci- six times while playing. were given an open-top bus ride in Colombo after they ravaged country’s cricket board, Noor Muhammad Murad, etal taboos surrounding disability and Abbasi persevered, finally making his won the Asia Cup in Bangladesh. There could be an encore told Reuters after the team’s first victory against a test play- have little by the way of government facil- debut as an 18-year-old against South next month if Sri Lanka’s enviable balance translates into ing nation. “Whenever I spoke to the team, they told me ities to aid them in public spaces. Africa in 2000 and later becoming captain performance. they were confident of at least beating the lower-ranked Neglected by their families, their educa- in 2011.—AFP In Tillakaratne Dilshan and captain Angelo Mathews, Sri full members.” — Reuters SPORTS SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014

Everton can still make top four, says Martinez

LIVERPOOL: Everton manager Roberto Martinez “We have 48 points and that is a good return. Everton have not hosted the south Wales side in is still setting his sights on the Champions Can we get top four? the league since 1962, when they won 8-3. League places ahead of Cardiff’s visit to Mathematically we can,” Martinez said. “You The Bluebirds currently lie in the drop zone in Goodison Park today. While Everton were losing look at the points tally you might need to get in 18th position and have just eight more games to 4-1 to Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-finals last those positions and that is still achievable. “It avoid relegation following the visit to Goodison weekend, Martinez’s team slipped to seventh in would depend as well on how the other clubs Park. the Premier League following Manchester react to being-or not being-in Europe. Yet Cardiff striker Craig Bellamy believes he United’s 3-0 win at West Bromwich Albion. “Many aspects are going to affect the points can make a vital difference in the club’s fight to The Toffees are now nine points behind tally needed to be in the top four. After that you beat the drop. Bellamy insists he is ready, and rar- fourth-placed Manchester City with 11 matches have the Europa League to fight for. “The Europa ing to go after overcoming fitness issues in the left, leaving them facing an uphill task to qualify League wouldn’t be a hindrance, not at all. middle part of the season, to help Ole Gunnar for Europe’s elite club competition. “Qualifying for Europe for us would be a mas- Solskjaer’s side in their scrap for survival. Martinez has won plaudits for his work since sive step forward because it “I sense I’m able to change games whereas at replacing David Moyes, who joined Manchester would bring massive football occasions that I the start of the season maybe I couldn’t,” Bellamy United last summer. But Everton have lost four of feel we need to be able to develop into the type said. their last seven matches in all competitions since of team we want to be.” “I’ve got a better chance of deciding games the end of January. Everton captain Phil Jagielka remains a doubt these days than I did at the start of the season. Their home form remains strong however, with a hamstring problem that kept him out of The way we set up suits me. “I’m fit, my energy is with nine wins and just one defeat from their 13 the defeat at Arsenal, while South African Steven back, I’m sharp. I’m probably in the best condi- league matches at Goodison this season. Pienaar could also miss out after coming off with tion I have been in during my time at this club. And Martinez maintains that the top four is a knock in the same game. “I’m in a position to do something about my still the target, with Arsenal and City’s reactions Striker Arouna Kone, midfielder Darron personal performances. I believe we can keep to being knocked out of the Champions League Gibson, left-back Bryan Oviedo and on-loan our place in the Premier League. “There are still in midweek potentially having a big effect on the Monaco forward Lacina Traore are all long-term enough points out there against teams we are run-in. absentees. Having drawn 0-0 at Cardiff in August, capable of beating.” —AFP

Bayern Munich soccer Samuel Eto’o to lead Chelsea’s chief Hoeness quits title charge MUNICH: Uli Hoeness said yesterday he incomplete and therefore did not meet a vital His case profoundly shocked Germany, BIRMINGHAM: Samuel Eto’o is expected to be handed would accept a 3-1/2-year prison term for requirement of amnesty laws designed to where tax evasion is considered a serious responsibility for spearheading Chelsea’s Premier evading 27 million euros ($37.6 million) in tax- encourage tax dodgers to come clean. crime, and prompted thousands of tax League title challenge when the leaders travel to es and resigned as president and chairman of Hoeness, a former star footballer adored dodgers to turn themselves in. It caused struggling Aston Villa today. Bayern Munich, the club he made into one of by Bayern Munich fans, had been a popular deeper shock than when Peter Graf, the late Eto’o inspired the Blues’ rout of Tottenham last the world’s most successful football dynas- TV talk show guest and ironically had spoken father of former tennis champion Steffi Graf, weekend after being drafted into the starting line-up ties. out for higher taxes and railed against tax was exposed as a tax cheat during the height at the last minute when Fernando Torres pulled up Hoeness, 62, a household name in his evasion. of her career. He was sentenced in 1997 to with a groin injury in the warm up. country and friend of Chancellor Angela “The chancellor respects the decision Mr three years and nine months for evading 12.3 Torres is hoping to return for the second leg of the Merkel, had admitted evading taxes on Hoeness took today,” Merkel’s spokesman million marks (6.3 million euros) and released Champions League clash with Galatasaray at Stamford income earned in secret Swiss bank accounts Steffen Seibert said. He declined to give after 25 months. Bridge next week. But in the meantime, Cameroon for- ‘Life’s work’ ward Eto’o, who turned 33 this week, should get another chance to demonstrate his continuing impor- Germany’s centre-left deputy chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, said the sentence for tance to Jose Mourinho’s squad six days after he cele- Hoeness showed “justice has been done”. He brated his goal against Spurs with a celebration pok- called for the directors of Swiss banks that ing fun at recent comments from the Blues boss about hide such funds to be hauled before the his age. courts. Eto’o’s performance will be crucial as Chelsea aim Hoeness was first charged with evading to capitalise on their free week by maintaining their 3.5 million euros in taxes. But when the trial seven-point advantage over second placed Liverpool began on Monday he stunned the court by and third placed Arsenal. admitting he had actually evaded five times While Mourinho’s players have enjoyed a six-day that amount - or 18.5 million euros. rest between games, Arsenal and Manchester City-cur- That figure was subsequently raised fur- rently fourth, nine points off top but with three games ther to 28.5 million euros - a figure acknowl- in hand-have both suffered the draining experience of edged by Hoeness’s defence team. Hoeness exiting the Champions League at the hands of Bayern said he would leave his posts with the club in Munich and Barcelona respectively. order to spare Bayern Munich, a team which With the title race approaching its climax, the last year won the Champions League and demands on all the competing squads will grow more MUNICH: A photo taken on November 24, 2012 shows German Football which dominates the German Bundesliga, intense and Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech believes his club’s strength in depth could prove vital. Club Bayern Munich’s President Uli Hoeness arriving prior the German first any damage. “Bayern Munich is my life’s work and will also remain so,” he said. The Demba Ba has been little more than a fringe player division Bundesliga football match FC Bayern Munich vs Hanover 96 in club’s earnings have soared under his stew- this season, but the former Newcastle striker scored Munich, southern Germany. German football legend Uli Hoeness said yes- ardship, which has lasted 35 years in various twice after replacing Eto’o as a late substitute against terday he won’t appeal a tax fraud jail term and resigned from his post as posts. It has more than 220,000 club mem- Spurs to provide a reminder of his goal threat. “You president and board chairman of powerhouse club Bayern Munich. —AFP bers, many of them fans, who have a vote at need everybody because you never know what can annual Bayern Munich policy meetings. happen,” Cech said. but hoped for leniency in one of the most details of a lunch between the chancellor and FC Bayern Munich AG is privately owned. “Two seasons ago when we played the Champions scrutinised cases of its kind ever in Germany. Hoeness that took place the day before Major German companies Adidas AG League final, we suddenly had all our central defend- “After discussions with my family I have Hoeness decided to turn himself in - a meet- ADSGn.DE, Allianz ALVG.DE and Audi AG ers injured and one banned and needed everybody to decided to accept the ruling of the Munich ing that has been the subject of media specu- VOWG_p.DE, all of which are based in the fill in and play. “It’s credit to the guys like Demba who court on my tax affairs. This befits my under- lation. state of Bavaria, each have an 8.3 percent aren’t playing much because you can see that any- standing of decency, dignity and personal The case hinged on the question of stake in the club. Deutsche Telekom AG thing might happen and we need everyone in the responsibility,” he wrote in a statement pub- whether Hoeness, who as a player helped DTEGn.DE is the club’s main advertising team to be ready. lished on the Bayern website. “Tax evasion West Germany win the 1974 World Cup, coop- sponsor. Bayern Munich named Herbert “Samuel came in just before the kick-off for was the biggest mistake of my life.” erated fully with his voluntary disclosure. The Hainer, the CEO of Adidas, to replace Fernando and then Demba came on with 15 minutes Judge Rupert Heindl ruled on Thursday court decided he took too long to provide Hoeness as chairman of the supervisory to go and they both did really well.” —AFP that Hoeness’s voluntary disclosure was information, and it was riddled with errors. board and vice president. —Reuters SPORTS SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 Penitent Pardew seeks help after headbutt ban

LONDON: Newcastle United manager “Everyone makes mistakes, it’s just outside football who comes in, some- think, for three games and Debuchy for Alan Pardew will seek “management that mine was played out before mil- one with a business background and maybe even longer than that, so we counselling” as he starts his Premier lions of people on TV,” he said. “I’ve spo- therefore with a different perspective.” will have to make changes.” League-record seven-game ban for ken to a few chief executive officers at Fulham’s plight is increasingly des- headbutting an opposition player. various firms who themselves have Remy, Debuchy sidelined perate, with the club rooted to the foot Pardew is barred from the stadium management counselling in terms of Pardew will follow this weekend’s of the table, four points adrift of safety for the next three fixtures, starting with how they do their job better and I think game at Craven Cottage from a nearby and with just nine games to turn things Saturday’s trip to Fulham, and will then that’s an avenue that might work for London hotel, with a member of the around. The arrival of Felix Magath, serve a four-game touchline ban as me. club’s team of analysts on hand to pro- their third manager of the season, has punishment for his clash with Hull City’s “I’ve spoken to Richard Bevan (chief vide instant-feedback data. not acted as the catalyst for an immedi- David Meyler. of the League Managers’ Association), Newcastle have won four of their ate upturn in form, but centre back Speaking in public for the first time who has been a great help in terms of last five league games in London, but Brede Hangeland insists Fulham can since the punishment was handed finding someone who is going to work their preparations have been ham- stay up. down by the Football Association, for me, someone I can just bounce ideas pered by injuries to influential French “Home games are going to be vital, Pardew revealed that he had sent a let- off. duo Loic Remy and Mathieu Debuchy. but every game is going to be vital, and ter of apology to Meyler over the inci- “That’s not just necessarily about Remy, their 13-goal top scorer, will we’re looking first and foremost to dent, which occurred during what happens on the touchline, but miss at least three matches with a calf Newcastle on Saturday and looking to Newcastle’s 4-1 win at the KC Stadium with the pressures of the job I’m under. strain, while right back Debuchy is set take three points from that,” he said. earlier this month. “The big question for me when this inci- to be out for at least four games with a “It’s a very tough time for everyone Pardew was also fined £60,000 dent happened is, ‘How am I going to groin problem. Fellow-Frenchman at the club, there’s no hiding from that. ($100,000, 72,000 euros) by the FA, in be a better manager out of it?’ I don’t Hatem Ben Arfa is also unavailable after We just need to win games as soon as addition to a £100,000 fine from his club want to lose that drive and passion that missing training due to a family issue. possible and Newcastle is a chance to and, having previously fallen foul of the I have, but I want to channel it a bit bet- Newcastle retain outside hopes of do that. “It’s one we’re looking forward authorities for similar offences, he is ter. securing a Europa League spot in May, to and we need the three points. That’s determined to change his ways. “It may be that it’s someone from and Pardew added: “We’ve lost Loic, we the story.” —AFP

Matches on TV Nasri backs City to (Local Timings)

English Premier League recover from Euro exit Hull City v Man City 15:45 beIN SPORTS 1 HD KINGSTON UPON HULL: Samir Nasri insists half-time and is likely to miss the match Premier League points their priority. “We’re beIN SPORTS 11 HD Manchester City will get their season back on against the Tigers. Pellegrini also has doubts hoping we can be safe before the semi-final, Everton v Cardiff City 18:00 track at Hull today after crashing out of the over striker Stevan Jovetic and defender but it’s a tough game against Man City first,” FA Cup and the Champions League in the Matija Nastasic, who have been out with Meyler said. beIN SPORTS 1 HD space of four days. respective hamstring and knee injuries. “Then we’ve got to play a lot of the sides beIN SPORTS 11 HD Manuel Pellegrini’s side are nine points Centre-back Martin Demichelis could near us in the table. That’s our bread and behind Premier League leaders Chelsea return to the team after missing the trip to butter. We can’t look beyond that.” Hull were Italian Calcio League going into the weekend, although they have Barcelona through suspension. Meanwhile, beaten at Eastlands in August but Steve Hellas Verona v Internazionale 22:45 three games in hand and a superior goal dif- Hull midfielder David Meyler hopes his team Bruce’s side gave a good account of them- beIN SPORTS 3 HD ference. can secure safety in the Premier League in selves in the 2-0 defeat. City’s European adventure concluded with time for the club’s first FA Cup semi-final Meyler said Hull would aim to repeat their Spanish League a 4-1 aggregate defeat against Barcelona on since 1930. effort in a bid to derail the title-chasers. Levante v Celta de Vigo 18:00 Wednesday, a widely expected result follow- The Tigers are looking forward to facing “They’ll have seen what a difficult lot we are ing their 2-0 defeat in the first leg, but they fellow Yorkshire club Sheffield United at when we played there at the start of the sea- beIN SPORTS 2 HD were also shocked by a 2-1 home defeat in Wembley on April 12, but still have the task son,” he said. Rayo Vallecano v UD Almeria 20:00 the FA Cup quarter-finals against of booking their place in the top flight for “We gave them a good, hard game and beIN SPORTS 2 HD Championship side Wigan last weekend. next season. we’ll be looking to do it again. “Teams Malaga v Real Madrid 22:00 Such has been City’s involvement in the The visit of City is the first of five league come here and they don’t really fancy it beIN SPORTS 2 HD cups that only seven of their 17 matches matches for Hull before the semi-final and because we play football and work our beIN SPORTS 12 HD since the turn of the year have been in the Irishman Meyler says the team must make socks off.” —AFP Sunday 16 Mar Premier League. The 1-0 win over Stoke on Atletico de Madrid v Espanyol 0:00 February 22 was their only league match in their last six games but after a frustrating beIN SPORTS 2 HD week, the League Cup winners now have only one thing left to concentrate on as they German Bundesliga look for a second Premier League title in Dortmund v Monchengladbach17:30 three years. Dubai Sports French midfielder Nasri took heart from Werder Bremen v Stuttgart 17:30 the performance in the 2-1 defeat in Barcelona on Wednesday. And despite push- Dubai Sports Hoffenheim v Mainz 05 17:30 ing so hard in four competitions for so long, he maintains that winning the league and Dubai Sports the League Cup would prove to be a success- Hertha Berlin v Hannover 96 17:30 ful campaign. Dubai Sports “We can’t fear anyone. We saw that when Braunschweig v Wolfsburg 17:30 we play we can compete with any team in Dubai Sports the world,” Nasri said. “It’s good for the confi- Bayern Munich Leverkusen 20:30 dence to know that when we play we can be on top and next year it’ll be important to Dubai Sports know that.

French League Injuries Lille OSC v Nantes 18:30 “It’ll be important to win the league beIN SPORTS 5 HD because if we can finish with two trophies it OGC Nice v Bastia 22:00 will be a great season for us.” City attempted PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain’s French defender Zoumana Camara (L) speaks to play down the severity of a muscle injury beIN SPORTS 5 HD Paris Saint-Germain’s Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (R) during a training Stade Rennes v Toulouse 22:00 sustained by Sergio Aguero in the early stages of the match at the Nou Camp. session yesterday at the Camp des Loges, in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, west of beIN SPORTS 8 HD But the Argentina striker was forced off at Paris. —AFP Bayern Munich soccer chief SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 SATURDAY, SportsSports Hoeness quits46

CHICAGO: Jimmy Butler #21 of the Chicago Bulls shoots between (L-R) Jeremy Lin #7, Jordan Hamilton #5 and Patrick Beverly #2 of the Houston Rockets at the United Center on Thursday in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Rockets 111-87. — AFP Bulls’ swingman returns with vengeance Westbrook, Durant lead Thunder past Lakers

CHICAGO: Mike Dunleavy shook off a cruel elbow getting blood everywhere,” said Dunleavy. The points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for Chicago, Antonio for the top record in the Western in the second quarter that left him bloodied and incident took place with just under eight minutes which won for the 12th time in the last 16 games. Conference. Lakers guard Jodie Meeks, who scored bruised before returning in the third to take down left before halftime. “It feels alright,” Dunleavy Kirk Hinrich scored 19, Carlos Boozer 18 and D.J. a career-high 42 points on Sunday, was held to 19 Houston with a superb offensive performance. said. “I got hit with an elbow trying to take a Augustin 13 for the Bulls. Chicago held Houston on 6-for-15 shooting. Kent Bazemore scored 16 The 33-year-old Chicago Bulls swingman needed charge. “It happens. You hang around this league star James Harden to a season-low tying eight points and Pau Gasol added 14 for the Lakers. 10 stitches at halftime to close a nasty gash over enough and you are going to get hit. They did a points. The Rockets have lost two consecutive con- his right eye after being floored by a cruel elbow good job of stitching me up and I was able to get tests following a five-game winning streak. It’s the HAWKS 102, BUCKS 97 from the Rockets’ Chandler Parsons. Rather than back in quick enough.” first time Houston has lost back to back games Kyle Korver scored 12 of his 15 points in the let it end his night, Dunleavy scored 18 of his 21 Dunleavy returned to the court to start the since January 24-25. Jeremy Lin paced their attack fourth quarter to help Atlanta beat Milwaukee for points in the third quarter to lift Chicago to a 111- third and came out with vengeance. He scored 10 with 21 points. They also got 12 points, 10 its first back-to-back victories in nearly six weeks. 87 win over Houston Thursday night at the United points during Chicago’s 20-2 run to open the peri- rebounds and four blocks from Dwight Howard. Jeff Teague added 22 points, including eight in the Center arena. “The doctor said I had thick skin,” od that extended their lead to 70-44 halfway final period when the struggling teams traded the said Dunleavy, who is the son of former NBA star through the quarter. Dunleavy went seven-of-11 Thunder 131, Lakers102 lead several times. The Hawks went ahead for and NBA head coach Mike Dunleavy Sr. from the field in the third, including three-of-four Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant scored 29 good when Korver’s 3-pointer gave them a 90-89 Parsons drove to the basket, leading with his from three point range. “The hit knocked a little points apiece, and the Oklahoma City Thunder edge with 2:15 left. Both teams entered the con- left elbow that smashed into the face of Dunleavy. sense into me, I guess,” Dunleavy said. Joking avenged Sunday’s surprising loss to the Los Angeles test having lost 14 of their previous 16 games. The Parsons was slapped with an offensive foul on the aside, Dunleavy said besides the deep cut he also Lakers by rolling past them 131-102 Thursday night. Hawks (28-35) have plummeted to the No 8 spot play. Dunleavy said he was just holding his suffered a sore neck due to the whiplash motion Westbrook shot poorly against Lakers on Sunday, in the Eastern Conference. They lead the surging ground and didn’t see the elbow coming. His face, of being hit. “I think it inspired the team,” said but he made 9 of 17 shots and had nine assists in 23 Knicks (26-40), who have won five in a row, by though, ended up as a bloody mess. He got up off Joakim Noah. “He had a huge knot on his head, minutes in the rematch. Serge Ibaka added 15 31/2 games for the final playoff spot. Brandon the ground and rushed to the locker room while a looking like (Evander) Holyfield, the white version points, 13 rebounds and a season-high seven Knight and Ersan Ilyasova scored 20 points each trainer held a towel up to try and stop the bleed- ... It was good for Duke’s street credibility.” blocks for the Thunder, who won their second for Milwaukee (13-52), which has the worst record ing. “No point in hanging around the court and Noah narrowly missed a triple-double with 13 straight and climbed within half a game of San in the NBA. — Agencies