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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 JAMADA ALAWWAL 11, 1435 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Companies law US Senate Iranian coffee Costa propels amendment intel chief lovers flock Atletico to help boost accuses CIA to new wave into q-finals local economy3 of13 spying of40 cafes 20 Will court ruling open Max 29º Min 18º welfare for expatriates? High Tide 10:20 & 20:18 Low Tide Implications of healthcare decision abound 03:53 & 14:52 40 PAGES NO: 16102 150 FILS

By Ben Garcia ment available to Kuwaitis. In fact, a recent trend in Kuwait has seen government serv- KUWAIT: In a landmark decision, a court in ices increasingly denied or limited to expa- Kuwait ordered the Ministry of Health to triates or provided on a less-than-equal provide life saving medicines to a Syrian basis. In one glaring example, foreigners child born in Kuwait. The child, diagnosed may only visit hospitals and health clinics with the rare Gaucher’s disease, reportedly in Jahra governorate in the afternoon. needs to take Cerezyme 400. The health Morning hours are reserved for citizens. ministry refused to provide the child with The court based its decision on Article this prescription, which it argues costs 10 of the Kuwait constitution which stipu- nearly KD 66,000 annually. lates “The State cares for the young and The government of Kuwait provides protects them from exploitation and from free healthcare to all citizens but foreigners moral, physical and spiritual neglect” and are required to obtain health insurance as Article 24 of the UNICEF Convention on the part of their visa applications. The health Rights of the Child which indicates that insurance, however, does not cover all the “Children have the same health services, medicines and treat- Continued on Page 13 Sisi in UAE for joint military exercises ABU DHABI: Egyptian military chief Abdel details on Sisi’s plans or the length of his stay. Fattah Al-Sisi arrived yesterday in the United The Emirates have given Egypt $4.9 billion Arab Emirates, a strong supporter of his July in financial aid since Morsi’s ouster, as well as ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, deposited $2 billion in the Egyptian central the WAM news agency reported. Field bank, interest free. Last week, the UAE joined Marshal Sisi, who is Egypt’s defence minister Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in recalling their and deputy premier, travelled to the UAE to ambassadors from fellow Gulf Cooperation attend the closure of joint military exercises Council member Qatar over its support for there. He was met by UAE deputy army chief Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood. As a sign of sup- SEPANG, Malaysia: Pictures of the two men identified as Pouria Nourmohammadi (right) and Seyed Mohammed Reza Delavar, who Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahayan. The port for the military-installed government in boarded the now missing Malaysia Airlines jet MH370 with stolen passports, are held up by a Malaysian policewoman during a two men noted the “fraternal and solid rela- Cairo, the UAE’s Arabtec contractor signed a press conference yesterday. — AP tions linking the two countries and their peo- memorandum of understanding Sunday to ples,” and their wish to “consolidate bilateral develop a $40 billion project to build one mil- No sign of missing plane cooperation,” WAM added, without giving lion housing units in Egypt. — AFP Iranians using stolen passports named KUALA LUMPUR: Two suspect men who radius to 100 nautical miles (equivalent to flight to do business in Beijing for an oil flew on a missing Malaysian airliner appear 185 km) around the point where the Boeing company. “My three-year-old grandson is to have been Iranian illegal immigrants, offi- 777 disappeared from radar over the South asking: ‘Where is Dad?’ We tell him father has cials said yesterday, lessening fears of terror- China Sea early Saturday, en route from gone to buy sweets for you,” Gurusamy, 60, ism but shedding no light on the fate of the Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. “We are intensify- said as he broke down in tears. “Please bring plane’s 239 passengers and crew. On the ing our search and rescue, and hoping back my son. I am praying for divine inter- fourth day of a multinational search at sea against hope there is still an opportunity for vention. That is the only hope we have.” and on land, relatives desperate for news of us to rescue (those on board),” Malaysian Malaysia had opened a terror probe, loved ones aboard Malaysia Airlines MH370 Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein joined by FBI agents from the United States. said their hopes for a miracle were ebbing told reporters. But the revelation of the identities of two ABU DHABI: Egyptian Defense Minister Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi salutes as he is away. The 34-year-old son of Malaysian security men who boarded the flight using stolen welcomed by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahayan, Crown Prince of Abu Authorities have doubled the search guard Subramaniam Gurusamy was on the Continued on Page 13 Dhabi, upon his arrival yesterday. — AFP Debtors fund reopened for three months By B Izzak

KUWAIT: In an unusually quiet session, the National Assembly yesterday approved a law calling for the gov- ernment’s debtors fund, established about a year ago, to reopen for three more months to accept more cases. The fund was established through legislation accepted by both the government and Assembly to help Kuwaiti citizens who had taken bank loans and were unable to repay them. The fund had admitted over 18,000 debtors before closing its doors. Finance Minister Anas Al-Saleh said that the fund has paid over KD 122 million to banks in settlement of citizens’ debts. Under the law, debtors considered defaulters get their debt paid by the gov- ernment to banks and the repayment is rescheduled after waiving the remaining interest. The new amend- ment will enable debtors who refused to join the fund in the past to register to benefit from it. The Assembly also refused by a narrow margin of just one vote to lift the immunity of Communications and Municipality Minister Essa Al-Kandari so he can appear in court over a lawsuit. Seventeen MPs voted against lifting the immunity while 16 voted for it. Kandari denied after the vote the accusations made against him in the lawsuit and insisted that it was not him but Kuwait Airways that scrapped a deal to purchase five used Airbus planes from India’s Jet Airways. Kandari had sacked formed KAC chairman Sami Al-Nisf over the deal, who later sued the minister in court. But the Assembly agreed with a comfortable margin to a request by the public prosecution to lift the immu- nity of MP Nabeel Al-Fadhl to appear in court in connec- tion with a defamation lawsuit filed by former Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Al-Thani. Fadhl was accused of slander in an article he wrote in Al-Watan newspaper, where he writes a daily column. Continued on Page 13 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 LOCAL

KUWAIT: The National Project for Sustainable Development hosted a graduation ceremony for participants in the ‘Thukhur Program for Leadership and Institutional Innovation’, which was held recently in cooperation with Cornell University, Monitor Deloitte Middle East and sponsored by South Korea’s SK Holding Company. Hind Al-Subaih, the Minister of Social Affairs and Minister of State for Planning and Development Affairs, as well as Sheikha Al-Zain Al- Sabah, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Youth Affairs, attended the event at the Sahara Resort. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat Five-year development plan underway

KUWAIT: Minister of Social Affairs and Labour the Brunei’s Crown Prince and Senior Minister in Committee of the Supreme Council for sector is holding meetings with the private sec- Secretariat of Planning, indicating that the and Minister of State for Planning and the Prime Minister’s Office Al-Muhtadee Billah Planning, which in turn agreed to choose one tor and non-profit organizations, academics, Council of Ministers called for involving the Development Hind Al-Sabeeh unveiled here accompanied by State Minister for Housing of the alternatives, indicating that “the plan is professionals and young people to domesticate Supreme Council for Planning in the prepara- yesterday that the ministry is in the process of Affairs yasser Abul at the Ministry of Planning measured in hours, rather than days.” their opinion on the plan. tion of the plan. preparing the next five year plan to be forward- and Development. She stated that the plan will be forwarded at Al-Sabeeh stressed the ministry’s keenness The minister hoped that the five-year devel- ed to the National Assembly early next June for The minister added that the ministry is the beginning of June to the National Assembly on taking into account all the aspirations of the opment plan would be “closer to reality” with- approval. This came in a statement to the press working on the preparation of the develop- in order to grant a period of more than six community and highlight them in the policies out giving the community promises that can- made by the Minister after her meeting with ment plan which was presented to the Policies months for approval, noting that the planning plan, which will be presented to the General not be implemented on the ground. —KUNA Compensation for man jailed wrongly Ministry ordered to pay KD 250,000

By A Saleh time of his arrest. The man reportedly managed to He was released on parole after escape before police could put him KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti man was awarded serving one year in prison, during under arrest. The impersonator was KD 250,000 by the appeals court as a which he memorized the Holy Quran, reportedly hospitalized after he was compensation after he served one which helped him get early release. beaten up severely by four brothers, year in prison over crimes he never But while finishing his release pro- who had busted him inside their sis- committed. The man was reportedly cedures, the man was handed over his ter’s house. arrested on July 2001 on drug-related passport which he had lost before After discovering what actually cases and other charges including going to jail. He then discovered that happened, the man hired a lawyer Zain sponsors LOYAC Youth evading arrest, and was told that he the passport was forged, and that his and filed a case against the Interior had already been convicted in absen- picture was replaced by that of a Ministry for a procedural error which Program for over 10 years tia and sentenced to five years in strange man. made him spend one year in jail for a prison. It was later revealed that the forger crime he never committed, and KUWAIT: Zain, the leading telecom- and encouraging methods of learn- the future”. Al-Khashti went on to The only issue was that the man had impersonated the man and com- allowed the true criminal to avoid munications company in Kuwait, ing. Waleed Al-Khashti, Zain’s note that Zain’s sponsorship of this had never heard of those cases mitted the crimes he was convicted punishment. renewed its sponsorship of the LOYAC Corporate Communications and program for over 10 years sprung before, according to his attorney for. According to the sentence in 1999, The case was reopened and in Program for over 10 consecutive Relations Manager said: “A core ele- from its core belief and long-term Mohammad Al-Majedi. He could not the suspect was admitted at the Adan 2007, the criminal court sentenced years. LOYAC, a non-profit initiative, ment of Zain’s Corporate Social strategy that the younger generation appeal the sentence at the time Hospital where blood and urine sam- the real offender to five years in jail aims at developing youth’s creativity Responsibility agenda is towards are in utmost need of support, to because the deadline to file the ple tests came positive for hashish over the previous cases, in addition to and skills to ultimately serve the pur- encouraging youth initiatives. We are eventually grow and prosper their appeal had already expired at the and morphine. five more years for forgery. pose of enriching Kuwait’s economy. proud to have trained a large number skills and capabilities within a com- During a press conference of Kuwait University students over the munity that holds unlimited poten- announcing the 2014 LOYAC Summer years, as well as training over 90 stu- tial. The company will continue to Program, Zain acknowledged that this dents from different universities in support similar programs that ensure program is one of the most valuable the company’s different divisions and the implementation of its various youth-related programs in the coun- departments during 2013, while social commitments and at the same try due to its tremendous contribu- offering monetary rewards to stimu- time ensures strengthens its relation- tions in training and coaching hun- late the real business world environ- ship with several institutions and dreds of students from different age ment to the students and encourage agencies which organize notable groups through the use of interactive them to work in the private sector in national initiatives.

KUWAIT: Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and his accompanying delegation leaving Kuwait yesterday for Morocco. ‘Arab nations passing through critical period’

KUWAIT: Deputy Prime Minister, face the latest developments and ized committee’s reports, as well as Minister of Interior Sheikh their impact on the region.” tackling the activities of Arab Police Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al- The participants will discuss a Sports Federation, Naif Arab Sabah headed to Morocco yesterday number of issues including enhance- University For Security Sciences, to take part in the 31st Arab interior ment of security cooperation besides looking at the efforts exerted ministers conference to be held in between the Arab countries’ ministries by the Arab Security Information Marrakesh. of interior by activating united securi- Office. They will also discuss the annu- The minister said that the Arab ty strategies which include fighting al reports on Arab strategies in facing nations are witnessing “a critical peri- terrorism, traffic safety, civil protec- electronic and economic crimes, vio- od which requires boosting coopera- tion, civil defense, fighting organized lence against women, illegal usage of tion and coordination between Arab crime, besides intellectual security. drugs, immigration, besides many states in various security fields to best They will also listen to the special- other topics. — KUNA Kuwait stresses significance of housing

GENEVA: The State of Kuwait has used by the states to provide ade- which all are individual rights with a underscored before the 25th session quate housing as a component of the social function regulated by law. of the UN Council for Human Rights, right to adequate standard of living Al-Dawwas pointed to Law No. 30 the importance of the housing issue and the right to non-discrimination in issued in 1965, pertinent to the estab- because of its role in maintaining this context. lishment of the Credit and Savings Bank human dignity and stability of society. She pointed out that the Kuwaiti to facilitate the social credit for citizens, Diplomatic Researcher at the Constitution laid the foundations of in addition to Law No. 41 of 1993 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait individual property and the right of regarding residential care. She stressed Amina Jamal Al-Dawwas praised, in the individual to property through conviction of Kuwait to individual’s Kuwait’s speech during the debate on Article 16, which provides that prop- right to live safely and decently and to the report of the Council on the right erty, capital and labor are fundamen- maintain his or her ownership as rights to housing, the guiding principles tal constituents of the social structure guaranteed by the Constitution contained in the report, which can be of the state and the national wealth through Article 18. —KUNA LOCAL WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014

Govt mulls allowance increase for maximum four children KUWAIT: The government could approve a limited increase to the children allowance as an alternative to MPs’ proposals which calls for raising financial supports that Kuwaitis receive to cope up with increasing living costs. MPs had proposed increasing the child allowance from KD50 per child to KD75, but the government said that the state’s budget cannot handle extra burdens as a result of approving such proposals. But in what could be described as an attempt to contain voices in the parliament which heavily back the proposal, the government leans towards KUWAIT: Abdulrahman Al-Barrak, Dr Mansour Al-Saeid, and Luai Al-Kharafi A group photo of some participants and attendees. — Photos by Joseph Shagra approving the aforementioned raise for the first four children, while a Kuwaiti man would receive KD50 per month for every child starting from his Companies law amendment fifth, according to a parliamentary source. “A recommendation containing this proposal is expected to be viewed during the parliament’s ses- sion allocated to discuss the issue next month,” said helps boost local economy the source who was quoted by Al-Rai yesterday. Foreign aid In other news, MP Anas Al-Saleh clarified that Experts shed light on new rules Kuwait paid around KD2 billion in foreign aid dur- ing a 13-year period starting from the fiscal year By Nawara Fattahova business entity formed by two or more professionals interested in the private sector as it activates the devel- 2000/2001 to 2012/2013. such as accountants, doctors or lawyers who provide opment process and supports localizing the national The minister’s announcement which was pub- KUWAIT: The new companies law that was issued in professional services to the public. capital and to attract international investment through lished by Al-Qabas yesterday came in response to 2012 and amended in 2013 brought many new changes The new law obliges existing companies to readjust ensuring a suitable investment environment, both leg- inquiries made by MP Hmoud Al-Hamdan about the to the legal status and regulation of businesses in their status by Oct 1, 2014. “It’s important to clarify the islative and executive,” stressed Saeid. value of funds that Kuwait paid as foreign aid. The Kuwait. To highlight the most important changes, the new amendments of the companies law with all the The law has brought many important changes. “For minister explained that the funds were paid to Luai Al-Kharafi law firm held a three-day conference changes it brought through discussions with experts the first time, it’s allowed to establish a civil nonprofit ‘national bodies’ for humanitarian or cultural rea- from March 10-12 at the Arraya Ballroom. from the legal field,” Kharafi added. company. The new law also established a new system to sons, as well as to Arab, Islamic and Western coun- The development of economic life during the past Dr Mansour Al-Saeid, Undersecretary of the Ministry finalize the paperwork of establishing a company or tries as disaster relief. few years was behind the amendment of the compa- of Commerce for Legal Affairs, noted that the company readjusting its contracts through a new department According to the report, the percentage of for- nies law. “This amendment is an important step for eco- law was issued in 1960 and no longer worked for the called ‘Unified Window’, which includes representatives eign aid compared to budget expenses reached nomic development and to transform Kuwait into an modern development of trade and business. “The new from all public institutions in charge. In addition, the 2.93 percent in the 2012/2013 budget, up from 0.94 international financial and economic center. The new amendment is encouraging foreign capital to enter law set a sharia inspection body for the companies that law includes many new rules and new forms of compa- Kuwait as it included the law of foreign companies. This work according to Islamic sharia,” he added. percent in 2000/2001. nies such as the one-person company, professional amendment corrected the negativities of the old law, Abdulrahman Al-Barrak, Deputy Chairman of the partnerships and special-purpose companies like non- and the ministry played a great role in this amendment Kuwait Bar Association, stated that the old law no. State dues profits,” said attorney Luai Al-Kharafi during the confer- to overcome its problems. This is the first time the law 15/1960 was no longer suitable for the present era with Separately, the finance ministry launched proce- ence. includes an executive list and clear articles were added, all the political, economic and social changes that took dures to take legal actions against companies who A one-man company is a business entity established which saves judges’ efforts in resolving disputes,” he place. “The development in this field was fast and huge still owe the state KD2.1 billion in unpaid services by solely one person without partners. Such a company pointed out. during the past few years, which demanded urgent law fees such as electricity, water and phone bills. This acquires a legal personality and a patrimony separate Kuwait’s economy is a free economy that combines amendment that was realized with the new law no. was reported by Annahar daily yesterday quoting from that of its owner. A professional partnership is a both the private and public sectors. “The government is 25/2012,” he explained. ministry insiders. Maid stabs elderly woman

KUWAIT: An elderly citizen was rushed the man was rushed to Mubarak hospital’s to Farwaniya hospital in a critical condi- ICU in a critical condition. tion after her Ethiopian housemaid • Two 18-year-old Kuwaiti girls were allegedly stabbed her several times, said injured when their vehicle collided into security sources. Case papers indicate that another along the Gulf Road, said security the citizen’s son reported to Sabah Al- sources, noting that one of the girl broke Nasser police station accusing his moth- her thigh while the other sustained a er’s housemaid of stabbing her several head injury. times and fleeing the house. An attempt- In a strange incident, a 24-year-old ed murder case was filed and a search is • on for the suspected housemaid. Ethiopian woman was rushed to Adan • Two Arab construction workers were hospital’s ICU with abdominal pain and killed and a third was critically injured blood-stained vomiting after a horse when they fell into a manhole in Jaber Al- kicked her. Ahmed. • A 30-year-old citizen was rushed to • An 81-year-Egyptian sustained sever- Sabah hospital with mild injuries after his al injuries in a car collision below Salwa vehicle collided with another in Riggae. KUWAIT: Livestock breeders staged a sit-in outside the parliament’s building yesterday demanding an increase to governmental subsi- flyover. • A 25-year-old Egyptian hurt his back dies for cattlefeed, which they argue is low compared to subsidies that farmers in other Gulf states receive. They also complained • A 30-year-old Ethiopian injured his in a car collision in Jahra and was rushed against reduced grazing areas after large spaces in the Kuwaiti deserts were closed in recent years for environmental reasons. back and sustained a skull injury when he to hospital with suspected spinal injury. — Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh lost balance at the Friday market and fell, • A 46-year-old Egyptian was rushed to said security sources, noting that the man Farwaniya hospital with several injuries he was rushed to Sabah hospital for treat- sustained when he was stabbed in a fight ment. with others. • A 29-year-old citizen recently sus- • A 26-year-old bedoon was rushed to Kuwait-UK ties in focus tained serious head injuries when he lost Sabah hospital’s ICU with serious head control over his bike along the Fifth Ring injuries he sustained in a car collision in at ‘Great British Week’ Road, said security sources, noting that Shuwaikh.

KUWAIT: British Ambassador to Kuwait Frank brate the ties that bind our two countries doing. So please get online, using the hash- Private school fees to Baker emphasized the historical links together.” tag #greatweekQ8 and let us know what you between the two countries as he spoke about Baker said the event is based on the UK’s think,” he added. the forthcoming Great British Week late ‘GREAT’ campaign, which aims to promote Tom Shepherd, Head of the Political be redefined soon Monday at the British Embassy. “As British what the UK has to offer in terms of tourism, Section, then spoke about the program in ambassador, it’s always a pleasure to host education, business, investment, culture and detail, specifically mentioning a lecture by KUWAIT: Director of the Education versial and the ministry has been people in this fabulous old building. There’s a “many other strengths that we are proud of”. former prime minister Sir John Major. James Ministry’s private education depart- torn between school owners and plaque on the front that says this residence Kuwait will see an exciting schedule of Berry, Public Diplomacy Officer, spoke about ment Abdullah Al-Bassri announced parents - this must come to an end,” stands as a testament to the UK-Kuwait rela- events, including a celebrity chef, a leading cooperation with local NGOs and working conducting a study to reevaluate pri- he said, pointing out that the com- tionship. This is absolutely true,” he said. “It’s a fashion designer, a former prime minister and with Loyac and Bayt Lothan. Lastly, Mais vate school fees and that the fees pany entrusted with the private fitting place then to talk about Great British the fastest car in the world. Moataz, Assistant Director of Partnerships & would be subject to certain condi- school evaluation project had Week in Kuwait. This will be a week - which “It’s the largest show the embassy has Marketing, British Council, spoke about the tions and regulations related to the recently completed its report about has actually ended up as two weeks, March every organised, and we’re very, very excited,” parallel programs held by the council, like the quality of the educational services foreign private schools and that it 20 to April 3 - of events that will showcase gushed Baker. “We’d like to get Kuwait Cambridge Young Learners Workshop and they provide. would be submitted to minister Al- the very best the UK has to offer, and cele- buzzing, online and offline, with what we’re street art at the Marina Crescent. Speaking on the sidelines of the Mulaifi soon pending his instruc- ‘Sports Challenge Day Walkathon’ tions. Bassri said that once a decision held at the Green Island, Bassri said was made, concerned private that the study would include Arabic, schools would be notified and given Indian, Pakistani and Filipino schools. one year to deal with the remarks “School fees has been always contro- given, if any. Awqaf to highlight role of Islamic pioneers

KUWAIT: Minister of Justice and the spark of discord, disruption and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Dr rivalry.” Nayef Al-Ajmi said here yesterday that He said that the present generation the ministry aims to highlight and dis- of Muslims bear serious religious and seminate the heritage of Prophet cultural responsibility towards future Mohammad’s (PBUH) family members generations of emerging and young and companions to promote the cul- people, a responsibility requires that ture of tolerance and coexistence. wise men contribute to drawing a bal- This came in an opening speech of anced approach in dealing with the the 3rd conference dubbed (Pioneers legacy of pioneers of Islam in the old of Islam and their standing among days because the challenges ahead are Muslims), which is held over two days the “challenges of existence” where under the auspices of His Highness the negative thoughts could weaken the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber existence of the nation and its regional Al-Sabah. and global presence in the fields of cul- The minister added that the most tural values. important goal of the conference is to He said that His Highness the Amir’s KUWAIT: On the occasion of celebrating the International Women’s Day, the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters Assistant devise a set of values “to guide the patronage of this conference stems Secretary General for Theater Affairs, Mohammed Al-Assoussi recently opened the ‘Eve’s Colors’ art exhibition at the Modern Art nation today amidst the tempestuous from his far-sighted vision towards the Museum. The exhibition displays works of 29 Kuwaiti female artists. The opening ceremony was also attended by art lovers and mem- sea of crises, conflicts and grudges as importance of the topics discussed in bers of the media. successors had managed to contain this gathering. —KUNA WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013 LOCAL

In my view In my view Middle East Freedom in peace process Ukraine

By Hassan Barari

he most recent statements by US President Barack Obama suggest that he is not optimistic about the possi- Tbility of peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians in the coming months. In an interview given to an American jour- By Labeed Abdal nalist Jeffery Goldberg, President Obama made it perfectly clear that time was running out for Israel to reach a peace deal with the Palestinians. He added that if Netanyahu thought that peace with the Palestinian Authority is a remote possibility then Netanyahu should think of an alternative plan. All along US Secretary of State Kerry’s wheeling and dealing to have the Palestinians and the Israelis agree on a framework [email protected] agreement, Obama has not shown presidential investment in the process. For Kerry to exercise pressure on both sides, he tensions in Ukraine, which escalated recently Obama should have demonstrated more interest in the amid reports about foreign military interventions, process. Long time observers to the Israeli politics observe that Obama’s perceived lack of interest in the process has weakened Traise the call for peacekeeping and avoiding Kerry’s effort. involvement in military struggle. I believe that no coun- It seems that Obama does not want to associate himself try would like to see a split happen in Ukraine, as much with a possible failure. He seems to learn from his own experi- as all nations agree on the importance of protecting ence. From the start of his first term, Obama approached the Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and the right of its Arab-Israeli conflict in a bold manner. He exerted immense people. pressure on the Israeli government asking it to freeze settle- kuwait digest Having minorities or ethnic groups with Muslim or ments. He failed to compel the Israeli government to offer the Christian majorities, or those with Russian or local necessary concessions to make peace possible. Later, Obama speaking majorities should never be used as a reason to realized that he had exaggerated his ability to make a differ- ence. That said, Obama has always said the right things. No makeup, no changes say that Ukraine cannot remain united under one ban- The American administration has yet to play the role of an ner of pluralism, equality and democracy. honest broker. A few months ago, Prof. Rashid Khalidi pub- A former member of the Soviet Union that dissolved lished a book about what he called “Brokers of Deceit.” Khalidi’s By Dr Ebtihal Al-Khateeb in 1991, Ukraine had the third largest strategic nuclear main argument is that successive American administrations weapons arsenal in the world at that time. After that, have always taken the Israeli side. It remains to be seen ike there is still no answer to the dilemma of what came and is still dealing with Arab revolutions? From Syria to Ukraine gradually sent all nuclear weapons to Russia for whether Kerry will stray from that course. Thus far, all leakages first, the chicken or the egg, we will probably never Bahrain, going around the Arabian peninsula and west dismantling as part of the 1994 Budapest about Kerry’s framework proposal indicate that he is only get- Lknow which is more true: The Arab media lies to the towards the Maghreb, the rebels are depicted as ‘traitors’, Memorandum on Security Assurances singed between ting closer to the Israeli positions. people, or the people that are only pleased by media lies. and governments as having no other choice but to beat Ukraine, the United States of America, Russia, and the Daniel Kurtzer, a former US ambassador to Egypt and Israel Surely, lying is not an exclusive characteristic of the Arab those ‘savages’ in order to put them in their places and and currently teaching at Princeton University, says, “One criti- United Kingdom. In return for giving up its nuclear media. Hiding, falsifying and changing facts is something restore order. The problem is that live video footages and cism of Kerry’s diplomacy is that he may be bending over so far weapons, Russia, US and UK pledged to respect to address Israeli concerns that he may not be able to meet the that media outlets around the world have in common. It is pictures come to us today directly from the scene. As we wit- Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Palestinians concerns.”Undoubtedly, Kerry has spent time and perhaps a reflection of human nature that is manifested in all ness the events as they happen on the ground, the media Now 20 years after the memorandum was signed, effort in painstaking negotiations. Unfortunately, he has drawn of its wickedness, naivety and greed through what we write continues to make it seem like everything is going just fine. the countries mentioned above are asked more than close to the Israeli perspective. With the deadline nearing, it is and broadcast. The tragic part about this is that there are people who still any other time to respect the international commit- not clear how Kerry could convince the Palestinian leader to But the amount of lies in the Arab media remains almost believe and follow these media outlets. ments that the memorandum mentions. Those commit- accept his ideas when there is a near Arab consensus that the equal to that found in the rest of the world combined. The But I believe that the Egyptian media takes the cake ments include respecting people’s right of self determi- Western media lies of course, and often makes up big fat lies, today when it comes to media foolishness. Yesterday’s rebels Jewishness of the Israeli state is a non-starter! Again, I agree nation and avoiding any actions that open the door for with Khalidi that America cannot play a constructive role in but it still takes the recipients’ intelligence into account, and have become today’s rulers, but the media is still the same, solving the conflict. Furthermore, it is not clear whether the does not depend on their naivety. It reports the news with with all of its naive lies, horrible exaggerations and weak dis- unjustified international conflicts. Israeli government takes Kerry seriously. In the absence of pres- makeup that covers its true shape, color and features. tortion of facts. The Egyptian media exposed its inadequacy Countries around the world, especially superpowers, idential involvement in the process, various Israeli politicians On the other hand, the media in the Arab world is very by pretending that the entire nation is behind Field Marshal are required to bear their responsibilities when it comes are not expected to budge. clear. Even when it lies, it does so very clearly and boldly. No Al-Sisi, and that people in Egypt are divided between Sisi to peacekeeping and honoring the rights of nations, Put differently, Obama should send an unequivocal mes- makeup, no changes. Direct lies made explicitly and with supporters and ‘traitors’. All we’re asking for is a little bit of including elected governments and people, to plan sage that peacemaking in the Middle East is an American prior- ease. Maybe that explains the drop in Kuwait TV viewers, neutrality that we can at least show to the West after grow- their future without foreign intervention. ity. He needs to put the Palestinian-Israeli track on the front despite the fact that there are people who still look for its ing confident that people here have become too blind to see burner. In a week or so, Obama will meet the Palestinian leader naive assurances. We no longer can rely on Kuwait TV, which through their lies. It is a media that can be modeled in any Mahmoud Abbas. Will Obama succeed in convincing Abbas to is the state’s official station, for breaking or credible news. way the liars want, as the lies are never questioned no matter sign on to Kerry’s framework? Can Abbas say no? What will be Not only because it ignores facts, but because it fails to take how naive or insolent they are. Even if you express criticism the price for Abbas? Given the risks involved, these questions In my view are difficult to answer. Only time can help us understand the the slightest efforts to make ignoring facts or changing them or raise questions, you are strongly scolded to the point that depth of the quandary that faces all parties involved. In order more believable. you wouldn’t be able to remember your last name after it. not to lose the bigger picture, Obama has yet to back Kerry in Can we forget how official state media was singing the The recent announcement about the medical invention Thinking beyond the latter’s ambition to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. A praises of national unity during the elections amid the strug- that cures all diseases, and which Egypt refuses to sell or likely failure will further undercut the US influence in the gle between boycotters and participants? Can we forget even reveal over fear of theft, is the cherry on top of the Arab making money region. Not while ago, Obama told the New Yorker that he statements like the ‘original nationalities of 67,000 have been media insolence cake. I was hoping that this story would be seeks to create what he called geopolitical equilibrium in the revealed’, which is more like a morphine given to people but the straw that breaks the camel back, and to see a revolution Middle East. Such balancing act, according to Obama, can soon disappears leaving its effect behind? that forces the media to start reporting news professionally. By Saad Dosari bring stability in the otherwise tumultuous region. Perhaps, it is The same story is repeated everywhere in the Arab world. But it seems that people in the Arab world keep following just about time that Obama needs to realize that short of solv- Perhaps the closest example to Kuwait’s is the ‘celebrations’ illusions wherever they are. We no longer know who’s to n the world of business there is a never-ending debate revolv- ing the Arab-Israeli conflict, his balancing act will be in trouble. broadcasted by Gulf media over the Gulf security agreement blame, the media or people? ing around the ultimate question, the heart and soul of any Chances are high that American’s influence will further dimin- which ended with disagreements and ultimately ambassa- Is it the liar’s fault, or the naive ones who fell for it? Is it Istrategy, i.e. why are we doing this? ish in the region. dors’ withdrawals. And can we ignore how the media dealt the egg or the chicken? — Al-Jarida Every organization or business concern pursues a purpose by launching its products in the market or by offering various services to its clients. What is that purpose? The first answer that comes to one’s mind is: Profit. As a matter of fact, profit is In my view the crucial factor that justifies investment of efforts and resources. And naturally, the outcome of those efforts should be attractive enough to the owners or investors to continue Has GCC gone with whatever they are doing. Profit may be one of the goals of any business concern or with the wind? organization but not the sole purpose. If we study the history of huge companies or organizations, we would find that mon- ey alone was never the driving force behind them that helped By Dr Ghanim Al-Najjar them transform into great and unique and more than prof- itable concerns.At the beginning of this month, Tim Cook, nless we consider the mere existence of an Apple CEO, demonstrated an example of what truly makes a Arab organization an achievement, com- company unique and special. During the company’s annual Upared to ones that were devastated and have stockholder meeting, Cook, the otherwise cool and soft-spo- gone with the wind like the Gulf Cooperation ken person lost his temper during the Q&A session of the Council, I have never, and still haven’t, taken the GCC event. A think tank known as the National Center for Public seriously enough even when it comes to the security Policy Research (NCPPR) was pushing for a shareholder’s pro- agreement. I never considered it a serious one posal that would have dictated Apple to disclose costs associ- ated with its sustainability and green programs and to be trans- reached after meticulous study of the GCC behav- parent about its participation in what NCPPR called “certain ioral system. trade associations and business organizations promoting the Today’s dispute, which has accelerated to the amorphous concept of environmental sustainability.” extent of recalling the ambassadors of three mem- During the session, the NCPPR representative challenged ber states from another member state, actually sub- Apple’s sustainability projects, such as covering 100 percent of stantiates facts that have dominated the GCC since the company’s power needs using green sources, and ques- its inception. The only difference is in the form. tioned the effects of such programs on the company’s bottom Compared to the wish to demonstrate its nominal line. What came next, according to many commentators, was a integrity and solidarity to face international and rare occasion of seeing Cook getting angry and losing his usual composed and quite manner in answering questions, “When regional challenges, the cost of the GCC continuity is we work on making our devices accessible by the blind,” he not much. said, “I don’t consider the **** ROI (return on investment).” Real disagreements lie in the sense of insecurity Cook did not stop there; he directly looked at the represen- within the organization, chronic border disputes tative and announced, “If you want me to do things only for ROI and regional and international alliances that have reasons, you should get out of this stock.” It is not only money grown more important than GCC solidarity, which, and return on investment that make companies great, and of course, resulted in a severe state of lack of trust Apple is definitely one of them. They have a purpose, a mission amongst member states. and responsibility toward the world they live in, a message that What probably made some GCC states act out of goes deep in their structures, instilled in everything they do, a soul that dictates their decisions and actions. That does not GCC norms and recall their ambassadors is probably mean, in anyway, that pursuing profits and surpluses in the their individual decision to play a more effective bottom lines is not on these big companies’ agendas but along regional and, possibly, international role. They have their journeys to earn those profits, they have an eye on what gone way beyond diplomacy and got involved in goes beyond the financial statements. violence, supporting ‘violent’ organizations, financ- One cannot help but wonder if there is any Arab company ing and even arming them. that is operating under such beliefs and values. Of course, web- They even took part in toppling regimes by hav- sites and annual reports of most companies are filled with all ing their troops involved in violent acts of varied kinds of shiny mission statements and warmly written objec- tives, but when it comes to reality, when you go a little deeper and multiple consequences, especially when mem- into the way they manage their work and execute their strate- ber states are separately concerned with building gies, the language of money is the language ruling the scene, up their individual militaries, which is doomed, as it dictating the show. To take general examples, look at the has already happened, to develop into conflicts strategies of most of the companies operating today. For a amongst brothers, cousins and fellow tribesmen. strong and expanding economy, you would assume that most Looking for specific reasons, that might actually of the companies are expanding, booming, acquiring, and exist, to blame for the ‘ambassadors battle’ might catching up with the latest trends and business models, the seem absurd because what happened is the result reality is that most of them are on a cost-cutting mission and of a state of structural inconsistency that requires outsourcing their operations to cheap and lousy operators. That is all happening in the name of contributing to the bot- serious reconsideration. If those responsible for the tom line, forgetting along the way the impact they are leaving GCC wish to maintain the form, they need to recon- behind because of those decisions; underdeveloped and sider fear and lack of trust member states have unmotivated human resources, lousy customer services, low towards each other. They should brotherly and fairly standards of productions and total disregard to the environ- settle border issues, launch intensified trust-building ment. The only concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs and then collectively work on achieving most of our companies are aware of is to hold seasonal charita- joint security through enhancing and developing ble events and public affairs sponsorships! open and people-attached regimes. One is yet to see an Arab company that confronts the Otherwise, the whole issue would be nothing norms, coming up with an innovative or daring project in order to impact the world of its customers, or its environment, the more than digits that make no difference whether way Apple or other great companies do. It is not strange for the council remains or goes with wind; whether Tim Cook to say about Apple, “We want to leave the world bet- Qatar quits or the council shrinks to three members. ter than we found it.” He was simply following same the path The GCC has experienced this state of worry for over left by his predecessor, Steve Jobs, when he said, “We’re here to 30 years and it would do it no harm to similarly go put a dent in the universe.” on for a few more years! — Al-Jarida That is how great companies operate ... it is not all about the money! WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 LOCAL Kuwait ‘a role model’ in women empowerment A top priority for govt

NEW YORK: The Kuwaiti government has been across the world. to women status in their countries. The fifty-eighth pioneering in promoting gender equality and Undersecretary and Coordinator of Fatwa and session of the Commission on the Status of Women women empowerment, said Deputy Chairperson Legislation Subcommittee at Kuwaiti Cabinet’s is held at the United Nations headquarters in New ‘Let’s Go Forward’ marathon of the Cabinet’s Women Affairs Committee Sheikha Women Affairs Committee Huda Al-Shaiji said that York from March 10 to 21. Representatives of mem- Hessah Al-Saad Al-Sabah. “Kuwaiti government has a high-caliber Kuwaiti delegation headed by ber states, UN entities, and ECOSOC-accredited aims to promote fitness ensured equality between women and men in all Sheikha Latifa Al-Fahad Al-Salem Al-Sabah has rep- non-governmental organizations from all regions rights,” Sheikha Hessah said on the sidelines of her resented Kuwait in the opening meeting of the of the world attend the session. KUWAIT: “Let’s Go Forward” 240 der. But the marathon officially participation in the opening meeting of the 58th 58th Session of Women Commission. Priority theme of the session: Challenges and km-long marathon, which con- concludes in Salmiya district, Session of Women Commission at the UN head- She stated that the UN Secretary General Ban achievements in the implementation of the quarters in New York late Monday. Ki-moon has delivered the inaugural speech of the Millennium Development Goals for women and cluded late Monday, was meant to Hawally Governorate. “All countries are aware of the success achieved session. In his speech, the UN Chief underlined the girls. Review theme: Access and participation of encourage people to join sports to When runners of the 240 km- by Kuwaiti women in all domains with the help of importance of the issues to be tackled during the women and girls to education, training, science encompass health, fitness and marathon reached Salmiya area, a the government.” meeting, she said. and technology, including for the promotion of wellbeing, the marathon organiz- 10 km-race was held for the same She added that empowering women and boost- Al-Shaiji noted that Ban has also called for more women’s equal access to full employment and er, runner Yousef Al-Qanai said. purpose, Al-Qanai said. ing their contribution to different domains are a efforts to ensure women empowerment in differ- decent work, from the 54th session of the CSW. “In addition to raising the He stated that the 10 km-race top priority for Kuwaiti government. ent domains particularly in policy and law-making The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) awareness about importance of started and finished at the “Kuwait is one of a few countries where women as well as to address educational, health challenges is the principal global intergovernmental body sports for the health of people, Scientific Center in Salmiya as run- have got all their rights.” facing women across the globe. exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender “Kuwaiti women have become MPs and minis- She added that the Kuwaiti delegation later equality and the empowerment of women. A func- the marathon has also raised ners went for 5 km and turned ters. God willing, a Kuwaiti woman will be a speak- joined a roundtable discussion on the main theme tional commission of the Economic and Social donations for children with dis- back to the starting point com- er of the National Assembly,” she said. ”Kuwait will of the session; “Challenges and achievements in Council (ECOSOC), it was established by Council abilities,” Al-Qanai said yesterday. pleting the running distance of 10 be always pioneering in efforts to boost women the implementation of the Millennium resolution 11(II) of June 21, 1946. The CSW is instru- He pointed out the participants km. status in all domains.” Development Goals for women and girls”. mental in promoting women’s rights, documenting ran through the whole state of “Let’s Go Forward” is a sport She pointed out that the speeches in the open- Al-Shaiji said that during the roundtable, repre- the reality of women’s lives throughout the world, Kuwait, from its northern part to running event that empowers its ing session have tackled various educational, sentatives of several countries have talked about and shaping global standards on gender equality its southern borders over the past participants who have society’s health, cultural and other problems facing women the main achievements and big challenges related and the empowerment of women. —KUNA five days. wellbeing at heart. The event not The distance starts from the only entertains the athletic crowd Abdali gate in the northern border but also facilitates channels for VIVA thanks Interior efforts of Kuwait, runs through the whole people to contribute and give- country until they reach the back to the world nurturing their in spreading awareness Nuwaiseeb gate in southern bor- sense of purpose. — KUNA

KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s fastest-growing telecom oper- ator, thanked the Ministry of Interior and in particular Maj Gen Abdel Fattah Al-Ali, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Traffic and all of the min- istry’s employees for their role in raising awareness about the importance of traffic rules and safe driving practices. During the Unified Gulf Traffic Week entitled “Your Safety is our Goal” that was held from March 5 to 7, Maj Gen Al-Ali expressed his gratitude to VIVA for its contri- bution and support, and stressed on the importance of the private sector’s role in supporting these initiatives that enhance their social role in the community. Maj Gen Al-Ali highlighted VIVA’s role through its traffic awareness multimedia campaign launched last year which targeted the youth, and highlighted the dangers of using mobile phones while driving. The campaign featured three adverts aired on television stations, as well as supporting advertisements on VIVA’s social media channels. VIVA will continue to spread awareness, and sup- port the development of educational programs increasing its active social role for the benefit of society and its various segments. The Unified Gulf Traffic is a yearly event organized by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Ministries of Interior and related traffic departments with an aim of spreading road safety awareness among drivers, to KUWAIT: Maj Gen Al-Ali with VIVA executives. protect their lives and ensure public safety. LOCAL WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014

SHARJAH: Images from Al-Majaz Sharjah amphitheater in late stages. Sharjah amphitheatre gets ready for ‘Clusters of Light’

SHARJAH: Sharjah Media Centre announced yesterday accuracy-advanced audio system that has never before ue for future artistic, cultural and tourism movements in of the ‘Clusters of Light’, from Arab and foreign countries, that the construction work at Al-Majaz Amphitheatre - been used in the region. the UAE in general and Sharjah in particular. It will also including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Lebanon, which will stage the epic oratorio ‘Clusters of Light’ on Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al-Qassimi, Chairman of contribute to securing infrastructure that promotes the Morocco, and many others. The display will last 1 hour and March 26 - has exceeded 90 percent completion. Sharjah Media Centre and Chairman of the Executive global theater movement, which will entrench the posi- 42 minutes, with the entire team - including actors, musi- The cost of the theatre and the bridge leading to it Committee for the Sharjah Capital of Islamic Culture 2014 tion of the UAE and the cians, composers, directors, producers, designers and inno- exceeded 140 million dirhams. Its use of state of the art Celebrations, said, “The Al-Majaz Island Project’s many Emirate of Sharjah as a hub for international tourism. It vators - comprising some 750 people. This global epic has technology is unprecedented in the Middle East, blending luxurious facilities, which include VIP Conference Rooms, will be a tourist destination that is culturally integrated,” been fully composed by the esteemed Bahraini artist Khalid sound, lighting, and music in a spectacular fashion, with galleries, and a number of shops, restaurants and green Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al-Qasimi added. ‘Clusters of Al-Shaikh, and more than 70 musicians from the renowned more than 400 animated lights, 120 sound speakers, and spaces, combine to make a truly spectacular destination. Light’ has been inspired by the desire for a high-ranking German Film Orchestra have recorded the sound track. 21 projectors creating a unique effect. The venue - an open-air semi-circular theatre that can artistic work providing a true picture about Islam - the Among the participants in this landmark work are creative The outdoor venue, built over an area of 7,238 square accommodate up to 4500 spectators - is the ideal stage human values and message that promote peace, justice, minds from all across the Middle East, including the Emirati meters, emulates the style of the ancient Roman theatre. from which to present such a landmark performance. “ tolerance and love - to be recorded by history and artist Hussein Al-Jasmi, the Tunisian singer Lutfi Bushnaq, It features a vast viewing platform through which artists “The project aims to ensure Al-Majaz Island remains a engraved in the memory of future generations. the young Palestinian artist Mohammed Assaf, and can ascend, and is equipped with a high-quality and prominent tourism site, as well as providing an ideal ven- More than 300 actors will participle in the performance Egyptian artist Ali Hajjar. PAAET hails Al-Babtain support Attempt to assault police KUWAIT: Public Authority for Applied Education and Training behalf of PAAET. He expressed his gratitude for their gesture of (PAAET), Sabah Al-Salem Automotive Division head and his team donating valuable training kits like CVT of Altima, Transaxle at Taima bedoon demo recently visited Al-Babtain headquarters to offer their token of assembly of Juke, Transmission of Urvan, Rear axle assembly etc. appreciation to the group for the support extended towards the to the Automotive Engineering department. He remarked that “Al- cause of nationalization of Kuwait’s skilled manpower. Babtain Group has always been committed to the development and advancement of Kuwait’s national work force through educa- Child run over in Fahaheel tion and training.” Speaking on the occasion, Saleh Al-Babtain offered his warm thanks for the visit and memento and reaffirmed the desire of Al- KUWAIT: Search is on for a man who attempted to run over a sent to the Fahaheel police station for further action. Babtain Group to form valuable partnerships with Kuwait’s educa- police officer during a bedoon demonstration Sunday, where- tion establishments to support the development of Kuwaiti as police arrested a man who allowed him and two others to Fugitive at large youth. Mohamed Shalaby said, “We are strong supporters of the escape. The incident took place near Taima’s police station Investigations are ongoing in search for a man accused of vision and efforts by PAAET to prepare a highly qualified and where officers advanced to arrest a driver who drove recklessly offending police officers on duty before escaping from the motivated workforce and to welcoming future graduates to the with a car that carried no license plates. The suspect reportedly Mubarak Al-Kabeer police station. The Jordanian man was Al-Babtain team.” threw rocks at police before the chase ensued. The man was reportedly summoned for questioning in a battery assault Victor Birman, Group GM - HR and Personnel commented, “ We slowed down when his vehicle broke down during the chase. case filed by the owner of an apartment’s building where the are always looking for ways to support nationalization and to When police reached him, they found another car whose driver accused lives. According to the police report, the man verbally improve the skills of the emerging Kuwaiti workforce. Everybody stands to benefit in the long term.” was trying to help the suspect escape. They surrounded the assaulted officers during questioning, and snapped pictures Dr Mahendhran conveyed his thanks to PAAET and reiterated suspects, but another car soon arrived and attempted to run with his cell phone before he was able to run away while leav- Mazen Al-Furaih, Head of the Automotive Engineering depart- the willingness of the Learning and Development division to one officer over. The distraction allowed the three men to ing his civil ID behind. The circumstances behind the man’s ment - Sabah Al-Salem Industrial Training Institute (ITI), PAAET cooperate in future training collaborations.Continuous support escape, whereas police managed to arrest a fourth driver who escape and details of his dispute with the Kuwaiti owner were gave mementos to Saleh Al-Babtain, CEO - Al-Babtain Group, for Kuwaiti’s education by training staff and students of local blocked a special task force patrol vehicle at the scene. not specified in the news report. The man’s identity was circu- Mohamed Shalaby, COO - Al-Babtain Group and Dr M. institutes and support them by providing latest automotive Investigations are ongoing in search for the suspects. lated to patrol police and border checkpoints to put him Mahendhran, Group Manager - Learning and Development on training kits. under arrest. Assault case Jahra police arrested a man accused of attacking three Apartment raided people with two others who remain at large. The three Hawally police are looking to identify and arrest a person bedoon men gave officers at the Taima police station the who broke into an editor’s apartment to search for documents identity of the 25-year-old Saudi suspect who they said had about a newspaper report published three months ago, attacked them with two others after they told him to put according to a case filed at one of the governorate’s areas. In down the volume in his car’s radio at a street in the area. The, her statements to police, the journalist said that she started two in their twenties and one 17-year-old, provided medical receiving phone calls from an anonymous woman shortly reports from the Jahra Hospital showing that they suffered after her investigative report was published, adding that the stab wounds and bruises during the assault. Police were able woman demanded documents related to a person addressed to identify and arrest the man based on the information pro- in the report. The woman, who only said that she was related vided, and investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest to the man in the report, threatened the journalist with harm his accomplices. if she refuses to cooperate, according to the case. The editor called police after returning from work recently and discover- Road accident ing that someone had broken inside. Criminal investigators A child died after he was ran over in Fahaheel by a taxi. The lifted fingerprints from the scene, and also found remains of a driver of the taxi turned himself in to local police soon. candy bar that the suspect likely left on the dining table. The Paramedics had arrived at the scene shortly after the accident journalist later told police that the same woman called her was reported, but discovered that the five-year-old boy had again following the incident using a smart phone app, and already succumbed to his injuries. The body was taken to the confirmed that the suspect was only looking for the docu- forensic department, while the Bangladeshi taxi driver was ments that she asked. Investigations are ongoing. Warba Bank launches Career Web portal to support recruitment

KUWAIT: Warba Bank today announced Bouresli added: “The development of the launch of its Career Web portal target- the Electronic gate comes as a step for- ing those seeking job opportunities within ward for the human resources department the bank. The gate, which has been initiat- in keeping up with the latest technologies ed by the bank’s HR department, aims to to bridge the gap between Warba Bank make the recruitment process easier and and those who are interested in working more efficient for the bank and its poten- with us.” tial employees. Using this portal, to those Warba Bank, an Islamic Bank estab- who are looking for work within the bank lished by virtue of an Amiri Decree, was will be able to view job opportunities and officially registered in the Central Bank of apply for positions with privacy and ease. Kuwait’s register of Islamic Banks on April Ahmad Bouresli, Senior Manager 5th, 2010. The State of Kuwait, represented Human Resources Group at Warba Bank by Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), said: “Warba Bank is always keen to attract owns 24% of the bank’s total shares, while the best caliber in the market and this the remaining 76% of shares, fully sub- page has been specially developed to scribed by the government, has been equally allocated to all Kuwaiti nationals. make job hunting easier and more flexible Ahmad Bouresli for potential employees.” Warba Bank offers a range of customized He continued: “Those who wish to join the following link: careers.warbabank.com Sharia compliant services and solutions Warba Bank family will be able to search And all candidates who have previously which are available through the banks and apply for jobs, as well as create a per- applied, they will receive an email to three divisions of Retail Banking Group, sonal account, in order to be updated with update their data in the new portal, and Corporate Banking Group, and Investment the latest vacancies and have constant we will update the suitable CV’s with rela- and Treasury Group. Branching out in 6 feedback regarding their job applications. tion to the bank’s vacancies throw the can- strategic locations, Warba Bank has over All they need to do is visit and register at didate careers personal account” 250 employees. Kuwaiti lawmakers inspect Tokyo subway system TOKYO: The visiting Kuwaiti parliamentary friendship group subways in the Japanese capital began back in 1927 and led by MP Dr Khalil Abdullah visited an integrated control cen- Tokyo Metro takes advantage of the expertise on subway ter for Tokyo subway network on Tuesday where the members construction, management, and maintenance it has built up were briefed on its management and control systems. since then. As one of the largest subway operators in Asia, According to Tokyo Metro Co., its integrated control cen- the company currently runs nine subway lines covering ter serves as a core for managing operations with five con- 195.1 km of track in and around central Tokyo with over trol functions, such as traffic control and real-time informa- 2,700 cars, carrying 6.4 million passengers each day and tion, are all gathered on one floor. making a daily ticket revenue of about $8 million. Explaining about Kuwait’s traffic situation at the meeting As for disaster prevention measures, Tokyo Metro has with Tokyo Metro directors, Dr Abdullah said, “We are inter- installed a wide range of disaster prevention equipment in ested to learn Japan’s unique know-how and cutting-edge stations in preparation in case of emergency like a fire and technology for subway operations that could help ease traf- earthquake. International Affairs Director Naoto Kimura told fic congestion in our country.” Dr Abdullah and other mem- the Kuwaiti team that the firm has installed a seismic alert bers of the Kuwait-Japan Parliamentary Friendship League system utilizing an earthquake early warning system, gave a series of questions to the Japanese side, including its adding that the operation of the trains was automatically safety performance, operating system, profitability, emer- suspended immediately after the March 2011 massive gency and earthquake counter-measures. The history of earthquake struck the country’s northeast. —KUNA WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014

US states wrestling to India’s Modi attracts regional allies, Congress defectors make, restrict drones

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ISTANBUL: Protesters carry the coffin of Berkin Elvan in Istanbul. Berkin Elvan, who has been in a coma since June 2013 after being struck in the head by a gas canister during a police crackdown on protesters, died yesterday, his fam- ily announced via Twitter. — AFP Death of Turkish boy triggers fresh unrest Thousands protest in Ankara and Istanbul ISTANBUL: Police and protesters clashed in Turkey’s two Up to 1,000 people gathered outside a ‘cemevi’, an Aegean city of Izmir, where school children and universi- the hospital where he lay in intensive care. No police biggest cities yesterday following the death of a 15- Alevi place of worship, where Elvan’s body was to be tak- ty students also staged sit-ins. officer has been prosecuted in connection with the year-old boy who suffered a head injury during anti- en after an autopsy. Alevis are a religious minority in Elvan case. “To our people: We lost Berkin Elvan today at government demonstrations last summer. Berkin Elvan, mainly Sunni Muslim Turkey who espouse a liberal ver- Rallying point 7 am. Condolences to us all,” his family said in a message then aged 14, got caught up in street battles in Istanbul sion of Islam and have often been at odds with Prime Istanbul and Ankara have both seen protests in on Twitter. between police and protesters on June 16 after going Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s Islamist-rooted government. recent weeks against what demonstrators see as author- Elvan was the sixth person to die in violence sur- out to buy bread for his family. He was struck in the The crowd outside the cemevi chanted: “Murderer state”, itarian measures by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s gov- rounding nationwide protests in late May and June over head by a tear-gas canister and went into a coma. Police “Berkin is everywhere, resistance is everywhere” and ernment, including tightening government control of Erdogan’s plans to tear down a park in central Istanbul. fired tear gas and water cannon in the capital Ankara to “Shoulder to shoulder against fascism”. “We have come the Internet and courts, as it battles a corruption scan- Those protests quickly turned into Turkey’s biggest anti- disperse more than 2,000 people, mainly students from here because of the murderer police. They will be held dal. government demonstration in years amid unhappiness the Middle East Technical University (ODTU), who to account. Berkin Elvan’s blood will not be left on the There were calls on social media for further protests with Erdogan’s 11-year rule. President Abdullah Gul, the blocked a main highway to protest against the teenag- ground,” said Ahmet Ekinci, one of those among the ahead of municipal elections on March 30, although the first senior politician to comment on Elvan’s death, sent er’s death. Police also used tear gas in Istanbul after a crowd. “If you kill a 15-year old youth, a sapling, you will unrest has so far been nowhere near the scale of last his condolences to his family. “I was saddened to hear of crowd outside the hospital where Elvan died began pelt- be held to account,” he said. summer. Elvan had become a rallying point for critics of Berkin Elvan’s death. When it comes down to it, he was ing a police minibus with objects. Local media said there were also protests in the Erdogan’s government and they held regular vigils at just a boy,” Gul told reporters. — Reuters Japan marks 3rd anniversary of quake-tsunami disaster

NAMIE: Japan observed a moment of silence yester- A national moment of silence followed the cry of Human remains are sometimes still found years later. day to mark the third anniversary of the quake- tsunami alarm sirens which were set off at 2:46 pm In the shattered town of Namie, just eight kilo- tsunami disaster which swept away thousands of (0546 GMT), the moment a 9.0-magnitude undersea meters from the stricken plant, about 200 former victims, destroyed coastal communities, and quake hit. Its raw force unleashed a towering wall of residents, police and firefighters searched for sparked the nuclear emergency that forced a re- water that travelled at the speed of a jet plane to the remains. They raked a beach where broken timber think on atomic power. Survivors bowed deeply and coast. Within minutes, communities were turned to and cars pulled by the waves once lay half buried. joined hands at remembrance ceremonies in towns matchwood, and whole families drowned. Giant “Our parents are still missing,” said 25-year-old for- and cities around the disaster zone and in Tokyo, waves also crashed into the Fukushima nuclear plant, mer resident Miho Suzuki, joined by her sister. “I where Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko led sparking reactor meltdowns and explosions, and set- don’t think we’ll ever find them, but we came here tributes to those who died in Japan’s worst peace- ting off the worst atomic crisis in a generation. to take part because we felt like doing something to time disaster. The crippled plant remains volatile and the com- help.” For another former Namie resident, Morihisa plicated decommissioning process is Kadoya, returning to a town that remains uninhabit- expected to last for decades, as fears per- able due to health concerns seems like a distant sist over the health effects of leaked radi- dream. “It’s impossible to come back-the decommis- ation. Tens of thousands were evacuated sioning at the plant is going to take years,” he said. from the stricken area. As night fell, an Despite the government pledging billions of dol- event in a Fukushima park saw about lars in reconstruction aid, progress in disaster-hit 2,000 lit candles arranged to read regions has been slow, some communities remain “Fukushima 3/11”. “We must sincerely ghost towns, and thousands of disaster refugees regret the accident and tackle the recon- struggle to cope. Among almost 270,000 evacuees struction by keeping the hardships faced from the tsunami and Fukushima, about 100,000 are by Fukushima people in mind,” Naomi in temporary housing while others found shelter in Hirose, head of embattled plant operator new cities or with relatives. Japan has so far built Tokyo Electric Power, told employees at only 3.5 percent of the new homes promised to dis- the wrecked site. aster refugees in heavily affected Iwate and Miyagi prefectures. “I’m determined to accelerate the recov- Gone forever ery and not let this disaster fade from memory,” In Tokyo, Emperor Akihito paid tribute Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told parliament Monday. to victims killed in the tragedy, and those “Japan’s revival won’t come without the restoration struggling in its aftermath. “Many still lead of devastated areas.” difficult lives in devastated areas and On Sunday, tens of thousands came to an anti- places that were evacuated,” he said. “I nuclear rally in Tokyo, voicing anger at Abe’s plan to pray for a return of peaceful times.” switch on shuttered nuclear reactors, which had Although no one died as a direct result of supplied more than a quarter of the resource-poor Fukushima, about 1,650 area residents nation’s power. “Prime Minister Abe and the nuclear passed away from complications related industry are hoping the Japanese people and the to stress and other problems following the world will forget the victims and the terrible lessons accident. A total of 15,884 people are con- of Fukushima, hoping that they will allow the restart firmed to have died in the tsunami with of old, risky reactors,” said Junichi Sato, executive another 2,633 still listed as missing. director of Greenpeace Japan. — AFP WEDNES DAY, MARCH 12, 2014 INTERNATIONAL Modi attracts regional allies, Congress defectors NEW DELHI: Opposition challenger gaining momentum, with regional politi- with a tie-up in the eastern battleground increasingly concentrating its efforts. Modi will, though, have to strike a bal- Narendra Modi’s hunt for allies to cians flocking to team up with his Hindu state of Bihar has grown to a rush since “The next few days are going to be ance between promising seats and cabi- emerge from India’s April-May election nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). the weekend. “Foes flock to Pied Piper extremely important in terms of the BJP net posts to allies, and his personal with a coalition large enough to rule is A trickle of electoral pacts that began Modi,” read a headline in the Mail Today and NDA consolidating on the present ambition to become premier. newspaper yesterday. “This is a sign of situation,” said Arun Jaitley, the BJP’s A strong showing by the BJP could forming confidence,” said Sanjay Kumar opposition leader in the upper house of dash the ambitions of regional leaders of the CSDS polling group, who sees the parliament. who hope a loose alliance of smaller BJP’s candidate for prime minister as the parties - known as a “Third Front” - will clear frontrunner heading into the five- Big tent politics end up holding the balance of parlia- week-long election that starts on April The last time a political party won mentary power. But some may be pre- 7. Modi wants control over at least 272 outright control over India’s lower house pared to go with Modi’s alliance if they of the 543 lower house seats at stake to was in 1984, when the Congress party can exact a price. In a campaign stop on form a majority government, a feat the won a huge majority following the Monday, Modi mocked the Third Front. BJP has never achieved on its own assassination of Prime Minister Indira “They all dream of being prime minis- because its mainly Hindu constituency Gandhi. Coalition politics has been the ters,” he said. “The Third Front only is not spread evenly across the world’s rule since then, including during a BJP- comes together at election time.” largest democracy. Pollsters estimate his led government in power from 1998 to Building a broad pre-poll alliance would party and core allies in the National 2004. Modi is however hobbled by alle- increase the chances that the country’s Democratic Alliance (NDA) may win gations that, as leader of the Western president would call on the BJP to form about 230 seats. That means he needs state of Gujarat, he failed to prevent reli- a government after votes are counted to woo further partners, including gious riots in 2002 in which more than on May 16. But it would increase risks of defectors from the Congress party’s rul- 1,000, mostly Muslim, people were coalition strife. “These are highly ing coalition, to build a working majori- killed. He has denied wrongdoing. The radioactive materials,” said Vinod ty. He is doing just that, with all-news TV BJP became isolated as a result. Its Sharma, political editor of the channels breathlessly reporting deals progress now in winning the support of Hindustan Times, of the Third Front HYDERABAD: Indian workers give the final touches to election campaign vehi- struck from Assam and Darjeeling in the regional and minority groups has “bro- leaders. “Any kind of radioactivity in a cles of various parties in Hyderabad, ahead of the forthcoming national elec- northeast to Andhra Pradesh and Tamil ken the myth” that it cannot build a coalition is cancerous as it destroys the tions. —AFP Nadu in the south, where the BJP is broad government, said pollster Kumar. health of the government.”—Reuters Kenyan cleric, the face of homegrown radical Islam

MOMBASA: When Islamist gunmen in an interview with AFP in his austere ‘True Islam’ stormed Nairobi’s Westgate shopping Mombasa office, seizing on Shebab’s In August 2012, the Musa mosque’s mall on a busy Saturday in September, justification for the mall attack-Kenya’s radical preacher, Aboud Rogo the ensuing carnage also intensified military presence in southern Somalia. Mohammed, was gunned down, and fears that Kenya’s homegrown “The KDF (Kenyan army) is doing the in October last year his successor, Islamists were on the rise. Although same thing and worse in Somalia than Sheikh Ibrahim Ismail, met the same the attackers were from Somalia’s Al- what happened at Westgate. So as per fate on a road near Mombasa, again Qaeda-inspired Shebab rebels, the the Islamic religion, they had every sparking riots. Most believe the group’s ability to infiltrate and operate right to avenge whatever the KDF is Kenyan authorities were behind the in Kenya, as well as find a stream of doing in Somalia.” killings. Last month the mosque was willing recruits, has focused attention Makaburi asserted that no real yet again the scene of violence when on radical Islamists based down the Muslims died in the upmarket, part- armed police launched a massive raid coast in the Kenyan port city of Israeli-owned mall. “How come a to put an end to what officials said Mombasa. At the heart of the steamy Muslim is at a shopping mall instead was a “jihadist convention” and a port hub sits the Musa mosque, seen of being at a mosque?” he said, Shebab recruitment exercise taking by Kenyan authorities as the epicenter adding that the “Americans and the place inside. Makaburi, who is in his of a new terrorist threat. Its key figure, Western governments are killing inno- 50s, is currently subject to UN sanc- Abubaker Shariff Ahmed, better cent people all over the world every- tions-a travel ban, assets freeze and known as Makaburi, does little to hide day, they’re bombing weddings, targeted arms embargo-for being a his firebrand leanings. funerals.” The real “terrorists”, Makaburi “leading facilitator and recruiter of “It’s our innocents for your inno- argued, were the military personnel young Kenyan Muslims for violent mil- cents. It was justified. As per the operating drones. “How come the itant activity in Somalia”, and for hav- Koran, as per the religion of Islam, pilots of the drones are not labeled as ing “strong ties with senior Al-Shebab Westgate was 100 percent justified,” terrorists? How come when we members.” the Muslim cleric said of the attack Muslims are being killed by the “I do not support Al-Shebab, I do MADRID: A woman cries during a commemoration ceremony held in the Remembrance Garden of Madrid’s Retiro that left at least 67 dead, among them Americans using drones, by the not know Al-Shebab. I support the Park yesterday for the victims of the Madrid train bombings marking the 10th year anniversary of the attacks that women and children cut down by British, by whoever, by the West, it’s implementation of Sharia Law any- claimed 191 lives and injured more than 1800 others. — AFP machine gun fire or grenades. “Are the nothing, but when you have a single where in the world,” Makaburi insisted ones being killed and raped in non-Muslim killed by a Muslim, it’s ter- in the interview. “These are just accu- Somalia not innocent?” Makaburi said rorism?” sations.—AFP Madrid train bombing stirs painful memories Spain mourns bomb victims, 10 years on MADRID: Dressed in mourning black, were willing to kill innocent people,” bers refer often in their statements to Spaniards commemorated yesterday he said. After the attacks, however, “Al Andalus”, in reference to Spain. their country’s deadliest peace-time “love triumphed over hate and life “Clearly Spain forms part of the strate- attack, a decade to the day since Al- over death,”, as Spain rallied round to gic objectives of global jihad. We are Qaeda-inspired bombers blew up four help the victims, he added. not the only ones but we are in their packed commuter trains and killed sights.” The Madrid train bombing 191 people. Relatives of people killed Physical, mental scars changed the immediate course of on the trains, which were carrying A series of shrapnel-filled bombs Spanish politics. The then prime min- rush hour passengers from Madrid’s detonated around 7:40 am on March ister Jose Maria Aznar’s conservative suburbs when they exploded on 11, 2004, in packed trains headed to government immediately blamed the March 11, 2004, filled the pews in the Madrid’s main Atocha station, mas- armed Basque separatist group ETA. city’s Almudena Cathedral for a sacring 191 people, wounding about But Al-Qaeda soon claimed responsi- solemn memorial mass. 2,000 and leaving many mentally bility, saying the attacks were punish- A single bouquet of red and yellow scarred to this day. Antonio Gomez, a ment for Spain’s role, under Aznar, in flowers lay before the altar as 1,000 48-year-old bank computer specialist, the US-led invasion of Iraq. mourners took their seats, including was in a train at Atocha when bombs In a general election three days relatives in black and members of the detonated, leaving him with a broken after the bombings, voters punished emergency services in their green and left leg. “There were mutilated people, Aznar, handing an unforeseen victory yellow uniforms. King Juan Carlos and people thrown on the ground, people to Socialist Jose Luis Rodriguez Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy joined in a very bad state. I was one of the Zapatero. Since the day of the bomb- in the solemn ceremony, leading the better off.” These days Gomez switches ings, 472 suspected Islamic extremists mourning by a nation still wary of vio- the channel when he sees television have been arrested in Spain, lent Islamist radicals and “lone wolves” reports of the attack. “On the 11th I Fernandez Diaz said. The Spanish lured to their cause. Juan Carlos, lean- will probably go to the cinema or counter-terrorist service’s alert level is ing on a walking stick after recent hip watch the Disney Channel,” he said. at its second-highest category, signi- surgery, and his wife Queen Sofia Spanish courts eventually sentenced fying “a likely risk of attack”, he said. embraced leaders of victims’ associa- 18 people for the bomb attacks. The Bunches of white and red flowers tions at the door of the cathedral seven chief suspects committed sui- hung on the railings in a street by the before entering to doleful organ cide weeks after the attack, by blow- rail track near where one of the music and incense smoke. ing themselves up in an apartment bombs exploded. A man living near- The archbishop of Madrid, Antonio near Madrid, also killing a policeman. by, Evaristo Ruiz, 47, recalled seeing Maria Rouco Varela, leading the mass, the street covered in medics’ tents. “It remembered the victims in a homily. ‘We’re in their sights’ was traumatic for Madrid, and for “They died and suffered, and we suf- On the eve of the 10th anniversary, Spain, and for this neighborhood in fer, because there were some who Spain’s Interior Minister Jorge particular,” he told AFP. “It was 10 years with blood-curdling premeditation Fernandez Diaz said Al-Qaeda mem- ago, but it wasn’t far away.”—AFP As Syrian war enters 4th year, regime eyes victory

BEIRUT: As Syria’s conflict enters its than 140,000 lives and displaced near- north and south and key roads. The fourth year, ravaging the country and ly half Syria’s population, many of opposition now controls more territo- creating a massive humanitarian crisis, them now refugees. The conflict ry than the regime, but the regime President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime is began in March 2011, with peaceful controls the more densely populated on the offensive to regain territory anti-government protests that were regions of the country. from a divided opposition. Diplomatic brutally repressed. The opposition It is advancing on three fronts, efforts by Russia and the United States took up arms and the insurrection south of the capital Damascus, in the are all but on hold with the two pow- developed into a full-blown war by strategic Qalamun region near the ers now divided over the crisis in February 2012 with the regime’s bom- Lebanese border, and in the city of Ukraine, while the fighting continues bardment of central Homs. Aleppo in the country’s north. Near on the ground in Syria. “Without After watching its territory shrink, the capital, it has negotiated limited Western intervention, the war will the regime launched a counter-offen- ceasefires with neighborhoods under continue for many years more and sive in the spring of 2013, shored up army sieges, where populations have such an intervention is very unlikely by Lebanon’s Shiite Hezbollah and suffered from dwindling food and while (US President Barack) Obama is Iraqi Shiite fighters trained by Iran’s medical supplies. In Qalamun, after a in the White House,” said Thomas Revolutionary Guards. It was bol- string of victories last year it has encir- Pierret, a Syria specialist at the stered by having avoided threatened cled Yabrud, the last rebel stronghold University of Edinburgh. Western military action in the wake of in the region. And in Aleppo, it has “Things could change after 2016,” a deadly chemical weapons attack in retained its grip on the western side after elections to choose Obama’s suc- August 2013 that activists blamed on of the city, while advancing around cessor, he said. For now, neither side the government. And its strategy now the outskirts of the rebel-held east as seems to have the means to win deci- has become to protect “useful Syria”: well as securing and reopening the sively a conflict that has cost more the coast, the major towns of the nearby airport.—AFP WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 INTERNATIONAL Obama, Clinton circles overlap in Dem fundraising WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama strong as possible if Hillary should January. is bolstering his party’s campaign cof- decide to run in 2016 and, for that mat- If Clinton runs and wins the party’s fers, joining an ally of former Secretary ter, if any other good candidate appears nomination in 2016, the DNC would of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to help on the scene if she decides not to be in serve as a platform of continuity the Democratic National Committee the race,” Patricof wrote in the email, first between the Obama White House and a climb out of a worrisome deficit. It’s the reported by Politico. future Clinton campaign. Party leaders latest alignment of the Obama and He called the fundraiser with Obama recently outlined plans to build upon its Clinton orbits, as the former first lady a “fireside chat” that would include 13 technological advantage over considers a White House bid in 2016. couples - 26 people - paying $32,500 per Republicans and expand its voter regis- Obama traveled to New York yesterday person. The DNC has been trying to pare tration and protection work in key to raise money for the party at two down millions of dollars in debt accumu- states, steps that will help Obama’s suc- events, including a high-dollar fundrais- lated during Obama’s re-election cam- cessor. The DNC already has plenty of er at the home of Alan Patricof, the paign; through the end of January the Clinton connections. Committee mem- founder of a New York venture capital DNC owed more than $15 million. bers include Harold Ickes and Minyon fund. Obama, who will also raise money at a Moore, both longtime advisers to Patricof is a longtime Clinton friend Democratic Senatorial Campaign Clinton and her husband, former and financial bundler for her Senate and Committee fundraiser while in New York, President Bill Clinton. One of its top presidential campaigns. The event illus- has been making a sober fundraising fundraisers is Michael Kempner, a New trates the overlapping fundraising draw pitch of late, warning that Democrats Jersey public relations executive who that Obama and the former first lady, run the risk of losing control of the served as co-chairman of Hillary senator and secretary of state represent Senate if the party doesn’t have the Clinton’s 2008 national finance commit- for the party at a crucial time for the resources to motivate voters this tee and was a top bundler for Obama in WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama cash-strapped DNC. It also helps bridge November. 2012. arrive at the White House in Washington upon their return from a weekend in some internal party tensions between The president’s cash-raising comes For many Clinton backers, the DNC is Florida. — AFP donors who are merely interested in amid tensions with Russia over Ukraine a natural place to offer help while the presidential politics and the Democrats’ and a fast-approaching health care sign- former New York senator mulls her Democratic super PAC Priorities USA Stewart. In Iowa, which traditionally needs during this year’s midterm elec- up deadline that have been preoccupy- future. “It’s a clear signal that the Action recently brought on board Jim holds the nation’s first presidential cau- tions. ing the White House, underscoring the Clinton faction of the party is seeking Messina, Obama’s 2012 campaign man- cus, the super PAC dispatched 250 vol- Patricof wrote in a February email to competing demands on Obama. It also to help the president any way possible,” ager, to lead the group. It made clear unteers last weekend to sign up new contributors that he and his wife, Susan, comes as Obama is struggling with tepid said Hank Sheinkopf, a New York-based that it will back Clinton if she seeks the members at county Democratic con- had been “relatively quiet on the politi- approval ratings. Recent Gallup and Democratic strategist who advised Bill nomination. The super PAC’s executive ventions. The group covered 84 of the cal front” following Clinton’s loss to CNN/Opinion Research polls place his Clinton’s campaigns. “Money is still the director is Buffy Wicks, a former top state’s 99 counties. Patricof is managing Obama in the 2008 Democratic primary. job approval at 45 and 43 percent mother’s milk of American politics.” The Obama campaign staffer. Ready for director of Greycroft LLC, a venture cap- “The most effective way that we all can respectively. Over the past year, Obama’s fundraiser is the latest in a series of Hillary, a grassroots group aiming to lay ital firm he founded in 2006. In be helpful to Hillary, and the Democratic approval ratings as measured by Gallup steps that have helped bring together the groundwork for a Clinton cam- November, Obama appointed him to Party in general, is to make sure that the have fluctuated between a high of 51 the Obama and Clinton camps after the paign, is advised by former Obama the President’s Global Development Democratic National Committee is as percent last April and 39 percent in bitterness of the 2008 primary fight. campaign aides Jeremy Bird and Mitch Council.—AP US states wrestling to make, restrict drones Government agencies itching to use drones

BRIGHAM CITY: Law enforcement, government agencies and others are itching to use drones for everything from finding lost hikers to tracking shift- ing wildfires. But privacy watchdogs are urging state legislatures to step in and head off any potential pri- vacy violations. That tension is on display as more than 35 states consider drone legislation this year, according to the National Conference of State LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles Police detectives work at a crime scene where a severed Legislatures. The bills include ways to attract an human head was discovered off a trail in Griffith Park in Los Angeles. — AP industry that could generate billions and restrictions on drone use and data collection. “It’s in its nascent LA man charged in form now, but it’s growing and will be growing in the future,” Steve Erickson, who leads a privacy watchdog group called Citizens Education Project, told Utah severed head case lawmakers recently. The proposed legislation comes as states are LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles County prosecu- Medellin was a retired Mexicana Airlines ticket awaiting clear federal guidance on drones. Many tors have charged a man with murdering his counter worker who had been living on a pen- states have taken additional steps to lure the live-in boyfriend and dumping his severed sion when he disappeared. His close friends unmanned aircraft industry, such as trying to become a federal testing site, with hopes it will be a head, hands and feet near the Hollywood sign had grown concerned after being unable to UTAH: Jon McBride, who designs and builds drones with Digital Defense Surveillance, flies a two years ago. Police announced the arrest of reach him for days and requested Los Angeles financial boon. The balancing act is playing out in stark relief in Utah, where there’s a long history of training drone for members of the Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office search and rescue team, Gabriel Campos-Martinez, 38, on suspicion of police conduct a welfare check at his apart- during a demonstration in Brigham City, Utah. — AP killing Hervey Coronado Medellin, 66, of Los ment. After officers stopped by on Jan. 16, suspicion at government intrusion and where drones Angeles. Campos-Martinez was arrested in San 2012, Campos-Martinez made the missing per- are ideally suited to help authorities patrol largely Yeates said he’s cognizant of the privacy concerns, restrictions. Government use of the technology is a Antonio, Texas, on Sunday with the help of sons report, Grace said. The two men met in rural, unforgiving terrain. State Sen Howard but said a $7,000 multirotor drone his department big driver for industry growth, said Vincent Mikolay local authorities and was being held on $1 mil- March 2011 and moved into an apartment Stephenson is warning that the state needs to set has is solely for search and rescue and fire spotting. at the Utah governor’s economic development lion bail pending an extradition hearing. together roughly six months before Medellin ground rules about law enforcement use of drones The black aircraft, about 20 inches long, buzzes like a office. Mikolay said unmanned systems are expected Campos-Martinez was charged on Monday went missing, Grace said. before they become more widespread. To convince swarm of bees and can travel up to 2 miles in any to be a billion-dollar industry in the US over the next with one felony count of murder with malice Campos-Martinez moved to San Antonio his colleagues, he played a video clip of George direction. three years, and if states like Utah can land a portion aforethought in the slaying of Medellin, who later in 2012 to work for a catering company Orwell’s “1984” in which a drone hovers and peers It’s equipped with GPS and a camera that sends a of that, they’ll see big economic gains. Legislators in had been dating Campos-Martinez and was but remained in touch with detectives investi- into windows. “I don’t think we want that type of live high-definition feed to Yeates and his team. Utah and elsewhere aren’t waiting for judges to living with him at the time of his disappear- gating the case, Grace said. Campos-Martinez’s thing happening in our society,” he said. “It’s a very Yeates said it can be used to find hikers and others determine whether the Fourth Amendment’s consti- ance, Deputy District Attorney Bobby Grace inconsistent comments and suspicious state- frightening thing.” His legislation would restrict law who get lost in the nearby steep, winding canyons tutional protections against unlawful searches are said. It wasn’t clear if Campos Martinez was ments turned the investigation’s focus onto enforcement from collecting or using data from a and crevices every year. He said the device will not sufficient to protect citizens, and are instead diving in represented by an attorney. A felony complaint him. “The suspect had the most information drone without a warrant. It also restricts the collect- only save hours when trying to rescue people, but it with specific rules. In Rhode Island this year, lawmak- alleges Medellin was killed on or around Dec and the last contact with the victim,” Grace ing and saving of any unrelated images captured by will be less dangerous for his all-volunteer rescue ers are considering legislation that requires law 27, 2011. A coroner’s report found that he had said. “So the investigation centered on him.” the drones, and prohibits nongovernment agencies team. “You can’t put a price on it,” he said. Troy May, enforcement to hold public hearings before acquir- died of asphyxiation and ruled it a homicide. More than 120 police officers, firefighters and or individuals from sharing drone images with law whose Ogden-based company Digital Defense ing a drone. They’d need approval from local leaders Two women discovered Medellin’s head while Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies took enforcement, except in emergencies. Surveillance sells and offers training on drones that or the governor, and would need to consult the state walking dogs on a trail in Griffith Park on Jan part in a two-day search of 7 acres of the park The restrictions, which are similar to those adopt- can cost up to $50,000, supports the restrictions on attorney general and a judge before using it. 17, 2012. One of the dogs, which was off its after Medellin’s head was discovered. A cadav- ed in other states, also come with an olive branch - an industry that already is generating interest in a California legislators are considering measures that leash, had started to play with a plastic bag. er dog helped investigators find more body the legislation notes lawmakers do not want to ham- wide swath of the public, from police to surveyors. would require police to obtain a warrant when using When the dog shook the bag, the head fell out. parts, including hands and feet, near the same per the industry and research and cites the expected “It’s going all kinds of different directions,” he said of drones and notify the public when they intend to use Campos-Martinez had filed a missing per- area where the severed head was discovered. If benefits the devices will bring to society. About an the industry. them. It also requires any data collected to be sons report at Hollywood station the day prior convicted, Campos-Martinez faces 25 years to hour north in Brigham City, nestled against the That’s precisely the point economic development destroyed within six months and bars public agen- to the gruesome Griffith Park discovery. life in prison.— AP Wasatch Mountains, Box Elder County Sheriff J Lynn officials are trying to make as lawmakers consider cies from arming the devices.— AP Creativity on display in Venezuelan unrest Chilean is first foreign fatality

CARACAS: Fashion is not foreign to the dead while clearing a barricade put up by young demonstrators who skirmish nearly anti-government protesters, the first for- nightly with security forces at the barri- eign fatality during a month of civil unrest cades in the Venezuelan capital’s upper- in Venezuela, authorities said on Monday. class Chacao district. Nor is improvisation The deaths of Gisela Rubilar, 47, who was absent in the gear that protects their eyes studying in the western Venezuelan city of and throats from government tear gas. An Merida, and of a protester shot in the bor- eye-catching transparent mask made from der state of Tachira, brought to at least 22 a large plastic water bottle is now so popu- the number of fatalities in five weeks of lar that several videos demonstrating its unrest. assembly are circulating online. Some pro- “She was ambushed by extreme right- testers have military-grade gas masks, wing groups ... She was vilely murdered many predating their owners by decades. with a shot in the eye,” Alexis Ramirez, the Painter and dust masks are also com- governor of Merida state, told reporters, mon, as are ski, scuba and swim goggles. blaming the killing of Rubilar on unidenti- As the protests against Venezuela’s social- fied demonstrators in the Andean city. ist-led government move into their second Students and militant opponents of month, front-line head gear includes skate, President Nicolas Maduro have been main- bicycle and motorcycle helmets but encom- taining street barricades in various cities passes the more whimsical, too. Identities since last month, demanding the presi- are hidden by the mustachioed Guy Fawkes dent’s resignation and solutions to prob- mask, often painted in the red, blue and lems of rampant crime and economic short- yellow of the Venezuelan flag, or by sparkly ages. The barriers have become frequent Carnival masks or simply a cloth wrapped flashpoints for violence between protesters, around the face. For extra protection from police and government supporters. People the sting of tear gas, some protesters coat from both sides of the political divide, as their faces in toothpaste or spray a water- well as members of the security forces, based Maalox solution in their eyes. have been among the victims of the coun- Meanwhile, a Chilean woman was shot try’s worst unrest in a decade.—Agencies INTERNATIONAL WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 Bosnia divided over assassination that triggers WWI Anniversary coincides with renewed tension between world powers

SARAJEVO: The woman paused before a photo- attempted just that eight decades later. Sarajevo issue of whether Princip was terrorist or hero. The Yugoslavia ... over the past quarter of a century,” he graph of a young man with dark eyes and a tightly mayor Ivo Komsic, a Bosnian Croat, noted the city’s centerpiece will be a concert of the Vienna said. “We’ve had many Gavrilo Princips in our recent trimmed moustache. “That’s that Serb terrorist those role in the two wars that framed the last century Philharmonic in the city’s much-loved Vijecnica, past.” The demands of each side in Bosnia have Chetniks (Serb nationalists) are praising,” she said to when unveiling plans for the centenary last month. Sarajevo’s city hall-turned-National Library that changed little since its war - while the Bosniaks want a journalist inspecting the image. “He started that “The eyes of the world will be focused on Sarajevo burned down at the start of the 43-month Bosnian a more centralized, unified state, the Croats say they war. They started all the wars.” Gavrilo Princip stared once more and it is important that we send mes- Serb siege of the city. The concert will mark its need their own entity like the Serbs. Serb leaders, down from the outer wall of a museum at the river- sages completely different from the messages of reopening. meanwhile, look east to Serbia, saying they have lit- side spot in Sarajevo where on a summer’s morning war sent in 1914 and 1992,” he said. On June 27, French philosopher Bernard Henri- tle need for Bosnia at all, much as pro-Moscow in 1914 he opened fire on the heir to the Austro- Levy, who supported the Bosniak call for Western forces now in Crimea are looking to Russia and Hungarian throne. Rival events intervention to halt the war in Bosnia, will premiere rejecting Ukraine. The killing of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his Such comparisons have riled Serbs in Bosnia and his latest play in Sarajevo, which deals specifically The political system put in place in Bosnia by a wife, Sophie, lit the fuse for World War One, turning neighboring Serbia, for whom Princip is a pan-Slavic with the 1992-95 conflict. Bosnia’s autonomous Serb US-brokered peace deal in 1995 divvied up power out the lights on an age of European peace and hero, the shot he fired marking the death knell for Republic has refused to participate, except in a leg along ethnic lines, fuelling corruption, stifling devel- progress. Empires crumbled and more than 10 mil- centuries of foreign occupation over Serbs, Croats of the Tour de France cycling race in the capital on opment and triggering unrest last month unprece- lion soldiers died. The world order was rewritten. Yet and Bosniaks alike. This was the official narrative for June 20-23. Instead, the Serbs plan their own cere- dented since the war. 100 years on, in Princip’s native Bosnia, time, in many decades in socialist Yugoslavia, when Princip was mony in Visegrad, a town made famous by Ivo The historian Katz, her office unheated since the ways, has stood still. A hero to some, a harbinger of venerated as a freedom fighter for all the nations Andric’s 1945 novel ‘Bridge on the Drina’, and infa- war because the state History Institute can’t afford destruction to others, the assassin is being fought and faiths gathered together by Josip Broz Tito. mous by Serb paramilitaries who tossed their vic- the bills, said all the centenary plans were inappro- over anew as Sarajevo prepares to mark the June 28 Schools and roads took the assassin’s name. His foot- tims from the Ottoman bridge in 1992 as the first priate given the far more pressing economic and centenary of his act. prints were enshrined in the pavement at the spot waves of the war washed through eastern Bosnia. political problems facing Bosnia. “It’s like putting on Two rival sets of events are being planned, and from which he fired. makeup when you haven’t even had a bath,” she accusations of ‘revisionism’ are flying at a time of In his native mountain region of Bosansko We build and we destroy said. Princip’s house is one of hundreds of gutted renewed Cold War-style tensions between East and Grahovo, a plaque erected in 1949 still stands above The Serb events will be choreographed by film- homes scarring the bleak plateau, untouched since West. The row goes to the heart of Bosnia today, a the doors to the local school, hailing Princip’s “fear- maker Emir Kusturica, a Sarajevan born into a they were sacked by Croat forces on the heels of country still affected by big-power divisions and still less” fight for the “national freedom of our peoples”. Bosniak family but who later took on the Serbian fleeing Serbs at the end of the Bosnian war. The arguing about the past, divided by the present and Today, the plaque is blackened, licked by the flames Orthodox faith, who plans to stage an opera about Sarajevo footprints have gone. uncertain about the future. “We haven’t moved on,” that razed the school in 1995 as Yugoslavia crum- the assassination and show a documentary about Spared the death sentence because he was not said Bosnian historian Vera Katz. “It’s like we’re 100 bled. Sarajevo, now inhabited largely by Bosniaks, Princip. Authorities in Serb-controlled East Sarajevo yet 20, Princip died of tuberculosis in his jail cell in years before 1914, not 100 years after.” Sarajevo plans to mark the centenary of the assassination say plans are in the pipeline for a statue of the assas- 1918. The turbulent century that he set in chain scat- bookended the 20th century, opening with Princip’s with a series of cultural events sponsored in large sin. “We once all lived in one state (Yugoslavia), and tered his relatives around the globe. But one who Browning revolver and closing with the sniper rifles part by France and also with the help of Austria and we never looked on it as any kind of terrorist act, as was given his name, Gavrilo, still resides in East and mortars of his ethnic kin besieging the city from possibly the European Union. some historians try to present it today,” said Nenad Sarajevo, where he runs a hotel. the hills during Bosnia’s 1992-95 war. It will take place at a sensitive time in internation- Samardzija, the Serb mayor of East Sarajevo. “We Serbs who fled Princip’s native region are collect- To some, like the woman at the museum, the two al relations, with Western nations accusing Serb big looked on it as a movement of young people who ing money to rebuild the family home in time for the events were part of the same arc of Serb national- power backer Russia of preparing to annex Crimea wanted to liberate themselves from colonial slavery.” centenary. The house was razed three times, during ism. According to that narrative, Princip was a ‘terror- from Ukraine and Moscow arguing it is defending The contradictions are inevitable, said sociology the two world wars and again in 1995. They’re wast- ist’ bent on uniting Orthodox Serb lands at the Russians from Western stooges in Kiev. Organizers of professor Slavo Kukic. “Through no fault of his own, ing their time, said Gavrilo. “It will be burned down expense of Bosnia’s Muslim Bosniaks and Catholic the Sarajevo commemoration, who are hoping to Gavrilo Princip is the result of all those political con- and destroyed again,” he said. “We build and then we Croats. Bosnian Serb forces under Ratko Mladic get funding from the EU, say it will steer clear of the flicts and differences on the territory of the former destroy. That’s how things are in Bosnia.” — Reuters

News Wartime ghosts haunt in brief

Maoist rebels kill 16 BHUBANESWAR: Maoist rebels ambushed police Ukraine; crisis deepens and killed 16 involved in a mine clearing operation in a remote part of eastern India region yesterday, police said, as the insurgents demonstrated their strength ahead of a general election next month. The victims were clearing mines laid by rebels on a Criticism boomerangs on Moscow road through a densely forested area in resource- rich Chhattisgarh state when the rebels attacked KIEV: Seven decades after the end of World War Two, the from all sides, according to a senior home ministry ghosts of that conflict are being evoked in an ideological as official. The head of anti-Maoist operations in the well as geopolitical battle over the future of Ukraine. In a state police force told Reuters one civilian was country that was occupied by Nazi Germany and suffered among the dead. “Total death 16 ... including one decades of repressive Soviet rule, the words “communist” and civilian,” RK Vij said in a text message sent from a “fascist” can still conjure up horror and terror. Fascism in par- helicopter after the attack. However, there were ticular is not usually a word that is used lightly. This has conflicting accounts of the death toll, with other changed during three months of crisis in Ukraine and as it officers telling local media at least 20 died. tries to hold on to the Crimea region, where power now lies in Television images from the site showed a heavy the hands of Russian separatists and Russian forces. truck smouldering with its tires burning. The rebels The label “fascist” is being bandied about so often, by have operated for decades across a wide swathe of politicians and protesters, that it risks becoming an everyday central and eastern India, and grew in strength dur- part of the political lexicon deprived of its original meaning. It ing recent times in areas where poor, tribal vil- has mainly been used by Russia, against the new pro-Western lagers came into conflict with mining companies leadership in Kiev and the Ukrainians who protested for three seeking resources for industrialization. The Maoists months until they deposed Moscow-backed Viktor Yanukovich seek the violent overthrow of the Indian state but as president on Feb 22. Russia’s aim is to discredit Kiev’s new have so far not managed to spread significantly rulers and provide a justification for possible military interven- into urban areas. tion. The logic goes that in the process Moscow might be able to take control of parts of a country it has long regarded as Egypt crash kills 24 part of its sphere of influence. CAIRO: At least 24 people were killed in Egypt yes- But some critics of Vladimir Putin have made comparisons terday when a bus ploughed into a truck parked on between the Russian president and Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. the side of a road, police and medics said. The acci- Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had to explain her dent occurred near the entrance to the Sinai penin- choice of words when she likened Russia’s action in Crimea sula, home to beach resorts that attract tourists and now and Germany’s in Austria and Czechoslovakia in 1938. In workers from the mainland. All those killed were Ukraine itself, opinions differ about how to interpret World Egyptians, the officials said. Police said the bus car- War Two. For many Ukrainians it was a choice between two rying 50 people appeared to have been speeding evils - Hitler’s Germany or Josef Stalin’s Soviet Union. “There is within Ukraine a real divide about the meaning of the war, and that the accident occurred at a time when road which was sometimes used for political advantage within the visibility was poor. Traffic accidents are common in country. What Russia is doing now is attempting to exploit this SEVASTOPOL: People walk past a poster in Sevastopol yesterday reading “On March 16 we will choose either... Egypt, where roads are often poorly maintained for its own purposes,” said Timothy Snyder, a historian and or...”, depicting Crimea in red with a swastika and covered in barbed wire (left) and Crimea with the colors of the and traffic regulations are laxly enforced. On author on Stalin and Hitler. Russian flag. — AFP Monday, 16 people were killed when two passenger Ukraine’s ultra-nationalist Right Sector movement coming to footage of great victories to stir patriotism and loyalty, if not mini-buses collided south of Cairo. Giant posters power. Yet another suggested the referendum was a way of to communism then against a common enemy. But it is less It is impossible now to avoid talk or images of what the staving off the UPA, a reference to the Ukrainian Insurgent the glory of great battles that is being evoked now than the Drone crashes in Gaza Soviet Union called the Great Patriotic War in Ukraine. In the Army that fought in and after World War Two against the ignominy of betrayal and defeat. The worst insult of all is to JERUSALEM: An unmanned aircraft of the sort Crimean port city of Simferopol, home of Russia’s Black Sea Soviet Union and at times collaborated with the Nazis. The call a rival a “Banderovets”, a reference to Stepan Bandera, Israel uses for surveillance and missile strikes in Fleet and Ukraine’s navy, huge billboards have appeared urg- language echoes that of Yanukovich, who said in a television leader of the Ukrainian nationalist movement that was built in Gaza crashed in the south of the territory yesterday, ing people to vote in a referendum on Sunday on unification interview after being deposed: “We are witnessing the return western Ukraine and is accused by Russians of siding with the sources on both sides said. “A Sky Rider drone with Russia. One shows two maps of Crimea, the first covered of the Nazis, the time when in the 1930s the Nazis came to Nazis. “According to the Russian version of events, a battle is crashed in the southern Gaza Strip due to a techni- in a Russian flag, the other with a giant black Swastika embla- power in Germany and Austria. It is the same now.” It is com- under way between good and fascism-Banderovism. So cal malfunction,” an Israeli army spokeswoman said. zoned across it, telling voters that the choice is between those ments such as this that ensure the war is rarely far from peo- ‘Banderovets’ will enter the English language,” said Taras “An investigation is under way.” The Al-Rai news two visions of the peninsula. Another urged people to vote to ple’s minds. Berezovets of the Berta communications political consultancy agency, run by the territory’s Islamist rulers, Hamas, stop fascism, suggesting the vote was a way of stopping In Soviet times, state television often showed war films and in Kiev. —Reuters said the drone came down east of the southern city of Khan Yunis. Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, said its fighters had retrieved West dilemma: Giving Putin Crimea to save Ukraine the drone. The incident was followed by an Israeli air strike, also east of Khan Yunis, which killed three KIEV: It is the ugly solution to the Ukrainian hope this sates his ambition of being remem- ment strategy may not sit well with domestic there is an annexation of Crimea, a referen- Islamic Jihad fighters, the militant group said. It was crisis world leaders will never acknowledge bered as the omnipotent leader who restored critics of US President Barack Obama or for- dum that moves Crimea from Ukraine to unclear if the two incidents were related. but grudgingly may have to accept. Give Moscow’s post-Soviet might enough to leave mer Soviet satellites in Eastern Europe that Russia, we won’t recognize it,” US deputy Russian President Vladimir Putin Crimea-and the rest of Ukraine alone. Such an appease- fear for their safety in the face of Putin’s bel- national security adviser Tony Blinken told US drone kills 4 ligerence. But no big nation seems willing to CNN. And German Chancellor Angela Merkel- SANAA: A US drone strike in northeast Yemen has wage war against Putin’s nuclear power in one of Western Europe’s more cautious lead- killed four suspected Al-Qaeda members, a tribal defense of Crimea-a Russian-speaking penin- ers when it comes to imposing punitive source said yesterday. Two missiles struck two vehi- sula Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev gave to measures on Russia-bluntly told Putin that cles late Monday in the Wadi Abida area, east of Ukraine as a “gift” in 1954. Crimea’s March 16 referendum on joining Sanaa, killing the occupants “who were all Al- And all would like to pull the rest of Russia was “illegal”. The tiny Baltic nations that Qaeda members,” the source said. Obad Mubarak Ukraine out of the Kremlin’s orbit and have a the Soviet Union claimed during World War II Al-Shabwani and Jaafar Al-Shabwani, “both local friendly power on Russia’s western edge. “The are particularly anxious. Lithuanian President chiefs of Al-Qaeda,” were among the passengers, he West might decide to hold its nose and look Dalia Grybauskaite urged EU leaders attend- said. The United States military operates all drones the other way with respect to the occupation, ing an emergency summit in Brussels to “real- flying over Yemen in support of Sanaa’s campaign but only if Putin were to recognize the cur- ize that what Russia is doing now is an rent Ukrainian government,” said Rutgers attempt to redraw the post-war map and bor- against Al-Qaeda and has killed dozens of militants University-Newark professor Alexander Motyl. ders”. But some analysts believe Putin’s main in a sharply intensified campaign in the past year. “He would have to provide very explicit guar- goal is to “punish” Ukraine’s new leaders while Drone strikes have triggered criticism from rights antees and the West would have to specify at the same time preserving some semblance activists, who say they have claimed the lives of just what consequences his violations of such of working relations with the West. “For Russia many innocent civilians. The United Nations said 16 an agreement would have,” said the Ukrainian to lose influence over Ukraine may be one civilians were killed and at least 10 wounded when expert. “Unfortunately, there is nothing in thing, but losing its grip on Crimea and hence two separate wedding processions were targeted Putin’s rhetoric or actions to suggest that he sufficient access to one of its two major fleets by drones in early December. The victims had been will stop at Crimea.” But James Nixey of is one entirely different ball game and, it mistakenly identified as members of Al-Qaeda, the London-based Chatham House countered seems, just too much to stomach,” said Erik UN quoted local security officials as saying at the that Putin “will not go any further-that is Nielsen of Italy’s UniCredit global bank group. time. Following the deaths, Yemen’s parliament highly unlikely — (because) he has achieved Nielsen suggested Putin wanted to “punish voted for a ban on drone strikes, but analysts say what he wanted to achieve.” “Crimea is lost,” Ukraine as a whole for its Western leaning- lawmakers have limited powers and are unlikely to Nixey told CNBC. “Crimea is gone.” but, importantly, all to an extent and in a way have an impact on Washington’s campaign. that would not escalate the inevitable ten- Washington says that drones are an essential part ‘Redrawing post-war map’ sions with the West beyond politically and of its “war on terror”. SEVASTOPOL: Seamen stand aboard the Turbinist Russian navy minesweeper at the This is not the West’s public stance. “If economically acceptable levels.” —AFP harbor of Sevastopol. — AFP

INTERNATIONAL WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 Front companies, embassies mask N Korea weapons trade

Pyongyang develops sophisticated ways to circumvent sanctions

SEOUL: North Korea has developed sophisticated said. Chinpo Shipping, a firm that the report said and missile programs. The importation of some lux- ways to circumvent UN sanctions, including the was “co-located” with the North Korean embassy in ury goods is also banned, along with the illicit trans- suspected use of its embassies to facilitate an ille- Singapore, acted as the agent for a Pyongyang- fer of bulk cash. gal trade in weapons, a United Nations report based company that operated the vessel, and North issued yesterday said. It said North Korea was also Korean diplomatic personnel in Cuba arranged the Financial countermeasures making use of more complicated financial counter- shipping of the concealed cargo. A North Korean North Korea has fostered a complicated corporate measures and techniques “pioneered by drug-traf- embassy official, reached by telephone, denied the network outside the international financial system ficking organizations” that made tracking the iso- Singapore mission had engaged in any wrongdo- that it uses to buy both banned and permitted goods, lated state’s purchase of prohibited goods more ing. The embassy had recently moved from the the report added. The panel cited an example of an difficult. address listed in the report, added the official, who “unusually complex” transaction involving a contract The report, compiled by a panel of eight UN declined to give his name. A Reuters reporter who by Air Koryo, the national carrier, to purchase new air- experts, is part of an annual accounting of North went to the address could not find the embassy, craft in 2012. It said 109 payments were structured Korea’s compliance with layers of UN sanctions just Chinpo Shipping. A receptionist said the firm’s through eight Hong Kong-registered companies imposed in response to Pyongyang’s banned head was not available to comment. Singapore’s which asserted they were trading partners of Air nuclear weapons and missile programs. The panel Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a Koryo and were wiring funds they owed it. The pur- reports to the UN Security Council. “From the inci- request for comment, but the government’s stated chase of civilian aircraft is not prohibited under UN BEIJING: Zhou Qiang (center), President of the Supreme People’s Court of China, dents analyzed in the period under review, the policy is to enforce UN sanctions. sanctions, but some of the companies appeared to delivers his work report to the 12th National People’s Congress (NPC) in the Great panel has found that (North Korea) makes increas- It was after work hours in Cuba when the report have been recently formed shell entities, the report Hall of the People in Beijing. — AFP ing use of multiple and tiered circumvention tech- was released. North Korea has gone to great said, and suggested such activity could be used as a niques,” a summary of the 127-page report said. lengths to mask the origin of its merchant shipping test-run for illegal transactions. North Korea is also still ‘Staged’ questions raise China, North Korea’s main trading partner and fleet by reflagging and renaming ships, the report dependent on foreign suppliers for its missile pro- diplomatically, appeared to have complied with said, particularly after the introduction of tightened grams, the report said, referring to a long-range rock- most of the panel’s requests for information. UN sanctions in early 2013 that followed the coun- et salvaged by South Korea that contained parts origi- hackles at China summit Some independent experts and Western coun- try’s third nuclear test. Most of the registered own- nating from China, the United States, the former tries question how far Beijing has gone in imple- ers of the ships are small companies that rarely own Soviet Union, South Korea, the United Kingdom and BEIJING: Officials at China’s rubber-stamp divorce in order to avoid paying taxes on menting sanctions, although the report did not more than five vessels, meaning Pyongyang is able Switzerland. The rocket was fired out to sea in parliament are calling on seemingly planted their second home. It is the second time in specifically address that issue. China has said it to keep its fleet running if a ship or shipping com- December 2012. A shipment of missile components foreign journalists to ask soft questions in three years that Chinese authorities’ use of wants sanctions enforced. Much of the report pany is seized or has its assets frozen. Under the sent from China and seized by South Korea in 2012 an apparent bid to appear open to inde- foreigners at major political gatherings has focused on North Korea’s overseas trade networks, myriad UN sanctions, North Korea is banned from was destined for Syria, an investigation by the panel pendent scrutiny, provoking grumbles after drawn controversy, with the reporters cho- rather than its relationship with China. Indeed, the shipping and receiving cargo related to its nuclear also showed. —Reuters a similar controversy two years ago. At a sen to ask questions employed by the same panel said it found a relatively complex “corporate press conference on the sidelines of the ultimately Chinese-owned company. Global ecosystem” of foreign-based firms and individuals National People’s Congress yesterday fea- CAMG Media Group has an office in that helped North Korea evade scrutiny of its assets Swedish-British journalist turing China’s central bank governor Zhou Melbourne but is majority-owned from as well as its financial and trade dealings. Xiaochuan and other top officials, the mod- Beijing and has close ties to Chinese state- erator called on Louise Kenney, who said run media. Its website lists a main address Embassies under scrutiny shot dead in Afghanistan she was a reporter from “Australia’s Global and telephone number in Beijing. An North Korea’s embassies abroad play a key role CAMG”. Rather than address uncomfortable employee at its office in Beijing confirmed in aiding and abetting these shadowy companies, KABUL: A gunman shot dead a Swedish-British perhaps in their 20s and security guards chased issues such as China’s slowing growth, vast to AFP that Kenney works for the company the report said, confirming long-held suspicions by journalist in central Kabul yesterday, officials them as they ran away,” the witness told AFP on shadow banking sector, or corruption, she but said that she is based in Australia, not the international community. In some of the most said, a rare daylight murder of a foreigner in a condition of anonymity. asked about government policy on allow- China. comprehensive evidence presented publicly city often hit by Taleban suicide attacks. The ing more foreign companies to enter the State-run broadcaster China Radio against Pyongyang’s embassies, the report said the Taleban denied responsibility for the killing, Experienced reporter country’s agricultural insurance market. International (CRI) — which is listed on missions in Cuba and Singapore were suspected of which came in an upmarket district of the Security forces rushed to the scene and cor- In response another foreign reporter CAMG’s website as among its partner organizing an illegal shipment of Cuban fighter jets Afghan capital close to a Lebanese restaurant doned off the street, where blood was visible on shouted out in Chinese: “Call on a real for- organizations-currently features a video and missile parts that were seized on a North where the militants launched a suicide attack the ground. Horner was hired by Sveriges Radio in eign journalist, not a fake one,” to applause interview with Kenney and another foreign Korean container ship in Panama last July. It includ- that killed 21 people, including 13 foreigners, in 2001. An experienced reporter, he was in and laughter from the room. Foreign “star reporter” on its website. CRI also this ed secret North Korean documents addressed to January. The Swedish ambassador to Afghanistan to witness the fall of the Taleban in reporters are rarely called on to ask ques- week ran a long photo essay documenting the ship’s captain which offered detailed instruc- Afghanistan Peter Semneby identified the dead 2001 and in Iraq during the war in 2003. He also man as radio journalist Nils Horner, 51. covered the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. “This is tions at the annual rubber-stamp parlia- the pair’s activities at the NPC. Another tions on how to load and conceal the illegal “Unfortunately we just have received confir- one of the worst days in the history of Sveriges ment, where most “press conferences” are CAMG employee, Andrea Yu, raised eye- weapons shipment, and make a false declaration to mation that Nils Horner, who was correspondent Radio,” said CEO Cilla Benko. “Nils was one of our little more than scripted exchanges brows at the five-yearly Communist Party customs officers in Panama. for Swedish national radio, was shot and killed in absolutely best and most experienced correspon- between Chinese state media reporters and Congress in 2012 - when she was called Panama seized the Chong Chon Gang ship for Kabul this morning,” Semneby said. “We under- dents and what happened to him today is terrible.” officials who appear well-prepared to upon by moderators at least four separate smuggling Soviet-era arms, including two MiG-21 stand he had British nationality in addition to his According to journalists in Kabul, Hong Kong- answer their soft-hitting queries. Even when times. Yu later acknowledged in an inter- jet fighters, under thousands of tons of sugar. After Swedish nationality. His family has been based Horner arrived in the city on Sunday and mainstream foreign media organizations view with Australian Broadcasting the discovery, Cuba acknowledged it was sending informed.”A witness at the scene described hear- had planned to stay about a week or ten days. ask questions, they are discussed with offi- Corporation that the company’s majority “obsolete” Soviet-era weapons to be repaired in ing a single gunshot before seeing the victim fall “He was known among foreign reporters to be cials beforehand. shareholding is from China. “I am aware that North Korea and returned to Cuba. “Load the con- to the ground, and a doctor at Kabul’s emer- the kind of reporter who goes from one hotel to Kenney was also called to ask a question I can’t ask the hard questions that I may per- tainers first and load the 10,000 tons of sugar (at the gency hospital said he was dead on arrival. another,” Johan Nylander, a Swedish freelance at a finance minister’s press conference last sonally be interested in asking because of next port) over them so that the containers cannot “There were two guys who ran away. They were journalist based in Hong Kong said. week, when she asked about couples who who I’m representing,” she said. — AFP be seen,” the document, translated from Korean, NEWS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014

US Senate intel chief accuses CIA of spying

WASHINGTON: A bitter dispute had conducted a “search” of committee between the CIA and the US Senate computers. committee that oversees it burst into the Brennan yesterday denied the allega- open yesterday when a top senator tions on computer hacking. “Nothing accused the agency of spying on could be further from the truth. We Congress and possibly breaking the law. wouldn’t do that,” he said in a speech at Senator Dianne Feinstein delivered a the Council on Foreign Relations think scathing critique of the CIA’s handling of tank. He also denied the agency was try- her intelligence committee’s investiga- ing to thwart the release of the panel’s tion into a Bush-era interrogation and report. “We are not trying at all to pre- detention program that began after the vent its release,” he said. Feinstein’s com- Sept 11, 2001, attacks but was only ments were the latest salvo in a long- made public in 2006. running dispute between the intelli- “I have grave concerns that the CIA’s gence committee and CIA over the NABLUS: Palestinians carry the body of Raed Zeiter, 38, during his funeral in this northern West Bank city yesterday, a day after he was search may well have violated the sepa- agency’s detention and interrogation of shot dead by the Israeli military. — AFP ration of powers principles embodied in terrorism suspects, a program that was the Constitution,” Feinstein said in a phased out when inmates were trans- highly critical speech on the Senate floor ferred to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in by a traditionally strong ally of US intelli- Cuba. The Senate Intelligence Israel ‘regrets’ killing judge gence agencies. Feinstein, chairwoman Committee’s own 6,300-page report crit- of the Senate Intelligence Committee, icized some of the harsh interrogation JERUSALEM: Israel expressed “regret” Tuesday over the shooting of The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights disputed the army’s said the CIA searched the panel’s com- measures used by the CIA, and Feinstein a Jordanian judge at a border crossing, but its army insisted he had account, saying one of the soldiers pushed Zeiter after he had dis- puters to find out how staff obtained an has been pushing to make its findings attacked soldiers and tried to grab a gun. The shooting on Monday embarked from a bus with other passengers so that Israeli soldiers internal agency review that was more public. set off a diplomatic row between Israel and Amman - which signed a could search it. Zeiter responded in kind and other soldiers joined critical of the interrogation program Feinstein said the internal CIA review peace treaty 20 years ago - with Jordan’s prime minister saying Israel the scuffle, with one of them firing three rounds at his chest, the than the official CIA report. mirrored some of the same concerns is “completely responsible” and demanding an apology for the PCHR said, citing “a witness.” He was left bleeding for 30 minutes She said the Central Intelligence outlined in her staff’s report, unlike the “hideous” shooting. without any medical help before an Israeli ambulance came to Agency’s search may have also violated official CIA assessment of the program. The Israeli army said 38-year-old Raed Zeiter, a Palestinian with retrieve the body, the group said. “PCHR condemns the killing of the Fourth Amendment, the Computer However, as the panel moved close to Jordanian citizenship who worked as a judge in Amman, had Zeiter in cold blood... and urges the international community to Fraud and Abuse Act and an executive declassifying some of the information - a charged at the soldiers with a metal pole while shouting “Allahu act immediately to stop the crimes of the (Israeli) occupation order that prohibits the CIA from con- move she said was backed by the White Akbar” (God is greatest), prompting them to fire at his legs. “The sus- forces,” it said. ducting domestic searches or surveil- House - the CIA acting general counsel pect then began to strangle a soldier and the force resorted to using Hundreds of Palestinians turned out yesterdaty for the funeral of lance. Feinstein described an emergency went to the Justice Department to com- live fire once again,” killing the man, the army said. It said its prelimi- Zeiter, accompanying the body - which was wrapped in a Palestinian meeting on Jan 15 with Senator Saxby plain about committee staff. “I view the nary findings were based on extensive questioning of witnesses to flag - to its burial place in his family’s northern West Bank hometown Chambliss of Georgia, the top acting general counsel’s referral as a the event - which took place at the Allenby Bridge crossing between of Nablus. “They killed my only son in cold blood,” said Zeiter’s father Republican on the committee, where potential effort to intimidate this staff - the occupied West Bank and Jordan - and that a military police Alaa, who had travelled from Amman. “My son was unarmed; he John Brennan, the agency’s director, told and I am not taking it lightly,” Feinstein investigation was ongoing. wouldn’t even know how to use a weapon.” — AFP the two committee leaders the agency said. — Agencies

No sign of missing plane Debtors fund reopened for three months Continued from Page 1 appeared to be an illegal immigrant. His mother was Continued from Page 1 Oil Minister Ali Al-Omair said the Audit Bureau waiting for him in Frankfurt and had been in contact made a comment on the Shell contract and the gov- European passports suggested they were young with authorities, he said. “We believe he is not likely to Iranian migrants seeking a new life overseas. Interpol be a member of any terrorist group, and we believe he The Assembly agreed to extend for two more ernment referred it to the public prosecution and it is named the pair as Pouria Nourmohammadi, 18, who was was trying to migrate to Germany,” Khalid said. Asked if months the period of two investigations by the Audit still there. But the minister insisted that the contract booked to fly on to Germany, and Seyed Mohammed that meant he ruled out a hijack, Khalid said:“(We are Bureau on smuggled diesel and a contract awarded has produced quantities of crude and natural gas and Reza Delavar, 29, who was ticketed through to Denmark. giving) same weightage to all (possibilities) until we by Kuwait Oil Co to international oil major Shell. MP its aim is to transfer technology. Omair also promised Delavar’s ultimate destination was Sweden, where he complete our investigations.” Abdullah Al-Tameemi said there “was a foul smell” MPs that he will implement court rulings to scrap the intended to apply for political asylum, according to The vastness of the search zone reflects authorities’ emanating from the Shell contract which has not ben- government’s decision to sack three top oil execu- Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet. The two travelled to bafflement over the plane’s disappearance. The opera- efited KOC for anything, and accordingly there must tives, saying that the government will implement the Kuala Lumpur from Doha on their real Iranian passports, tion has grown to involve 42 ships and 35 aircraft from be strong action over squandering public funds. judgments. and their identification was helped by relatives in Europe Southeast Asian countries, Australia, China, New who reported them missing, officials said. Zealand and the United States. The plane’s last con- “It is part of a human-smuggling issue and not a part firmed radar sighting was off Vietnam’s southern coast. Will court ruling open welfare for... of a terrorist issue,” Interpol chief Ronald Noble told “In terms of our assessments and predictions - we have Continued from Page 1 the convention on the rights of children but it has to be reporters in France, adding that the international little hope of a positive outcome,” Pham Quy Tieu, based on reciprocity and fair treatment principles. If a agency was more and more “certain that these individu- Vietnamese deputy minister of transport, said. right to good quality healthcare”. “Childhood is the basis country like Spain, for example, provides free education for als are probably not terrorists.” However, the head of The search sphere now includes land on the for the construction of families and societies, whose devel- our children who are in Spain, then its children must be the US Central Intelligence Agency yesterday said that Malaysian peninsula itself, the waters off its west coast, opment require childhood care,” the court said in the writ- given free education in Kuwait as well,” he said. terrorism could not be ruled out. “Clearly this is still a and an area to the north of the Indonesian island of ten judgment. “As a result, nations give importance to “But everyone knows this is not the case in many other mystery,” said CIA Director John Brennan, stressing it Sumatra. That covers an area far removed from the childhood care out of realization that a child is of maxi- countries. The truth is Kuwait will not be able to provide was too early to draw any conclusions. Iran has offered scheduled route of flight MH370, which officials say mum importance for his family and the whole nation,” the free education to tens of thousands of expatriate children its assistance to the Malaysian investigation, pledging may have inexplicably turned back towards Kuala ruling reads. “Therefore, constitutions around the world are because Kuwait’s population is very small and would not to provide “any information on the Iranians and their Lumpur. China, which had 153 of its nationals on board keen on protecting children’s rights, and on top of that receive the reciprocity of educating our children abroad in status as soon as it is available”. the plane, said it would harness 10 satellites equipped comes the right of treatment.” the same numbers. So how would it be fair?” Abdal asked. Police in Southeast Asia agreed that people-smug- with high-resolution imaging to help in the search. The Health Ministry plans to appeal the ruling but the He said the way to regulate and implement the convention gling was emerging as the likeliest explanation for the Boeing said it was joining a US government team to try judgment raises questions about other rules that discrimi- is to check whether each country provides the same quali- identity fraud. The two passports - one Italian and one to unravel the mystery of what happened to its 777- nate between locals and expatriates when it comes to state ty of education Kuwait is providing to its children. “We Austrian - were stolen over the past two years in 200 plane. services and subsidies. Article 28 of the UNICEF convention must be realistic, and the reality is that no, we cannot com- Thailand, where police have long been battling a thriv- Conflicting information has deepened the anguish also states “All children have the right to a primary educa- pare education to other countries,” he added. ing trade in Western documents used by criminal gangs. of relatives, with tests on oil slicks in the South China tion and it should be free of charge.” So does that mean Abdal declined to comment on the recent court ruling, “We believe that these two passports were stolen by a Sea showing they were not from the missing jet and Kuwait should provide primary education free of charge to but suggested that the Ministry of Health should send the human-smuggling gang who send people to work in reports of possible debris from the flight also proving foreign children? This used to be the case in the country matter to the constitutional court for clarification. “Let the third countries, especially European countries,” to be false alarms. At a hotel in Beijing where relatives until the 1990-1991 Iraqi invasion and occupation. constitutional court give a meaningful justification on the Lieutenant General Panya Maman, commander of are gathered, a man in his 20s surnamed Su said: “I An expatriate asked he could file a case against the court of first instance’s ruling. especially to explain to us Thailand’s southern police region, told AFP. hope it is a hijacking, then there will be some hope Ministry of Education for not allowing his child to study in the real meaning of Article 10 of the Kuwaiti constitution. Malaysia’s national police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said that my young cousin has survived. “My uncle and Kuwaiti public schools. Kuwait does not provide free edu- Care for a child should not be based on their nationalities his officers were not ruling anything out but were now aunt had an emotional breakdown, they are not eat- cation to children of expatriates except in rare cases where or discrimination,” he said. focusing on theories including a hijacking, sabotage or ing, drinking and sleeping.” A total of 17 Chinese rela- the parent works as a teacher in a public school. “As a lawyer, I also want this case to be interpreted in a According to Labeed Abdal, a local attorney, the article manner that everyone of us can understand. Even Kuwaitis psychological problems among passengers or crew. tives have so far taken up an offer from Malaysia in the UNICEF convention is correct, but it has to be sometimes face difficulties in understanding the laws and Flight MH370, captained by a veteran pilot, had relayed Airlines to fly to Kuala Lumpur to be closer to the oper- applied fairly and must be based on the principle of give laws on medical care. It’s a rare case and a rare situation, so no indications of distress, and weather at the time was ation, and more are expected in the coming days, the and take. “It’s the responsibility of every country to follow we all deserve a clearer explanation,” he concluded. said to be good. Khalid said the younger Iranian man airline said. — Agencies ANALYSIS14 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014

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FOCUS Discourse to support Venezuela

his document complements the report “Establishment of a great international movement Tin support of Chavism”. This argumentative docu- ment does not avoid tough issues such as the current economic situation or the lack of safety. We cannot pre- tend that Chavista Venezuela is paradise on Earth. Likewise, spaces are offered for discussing the con- tentious issues of these days, namely the casualties recorded, the arrest of Leopoldo Lopez or the halt to the Qaeda hijacks spirit of Syria revolt transmission of NTN24, that can be certainly addressed in an interview or an open debate. This argument is also liable to be used in the internal Three years on, emboldened Assad is still in power debate of Venezuela by affinity people and groups. It is recommended to be discreet with the use and forwarding By Samia Nakhoul of this document. Its leaking by the opposition’s media or through social networks would be a blow to the credibili- yrian refugees in this border outpost ty of the discourse of the supporters of Chavism. were delighted to hear their home town of Azaz had been liberated - not Arguments S • Venezuela, as any other country, has problems, within from Bashar Al-Assad’s troops but from Al- a context of legitimate expression of discrepancies and Qaeda fighters who subjected them to a protests. regime that included torture and public • The demonstrations we have seen in recent days are beheadings. For Syrians who three years ago the proof that in Venezuela there is full democracy and rose up against 43 years of Assad family rule, respect for the right to protest and dissent. In fact, the living under the hard-line Sunni jihadists who opposition has been duly authorised for every march it said they had come to save them from the has wanted to organise. president’s atrocities was even worse than • In Venezuela, the right to protest is enshrined, accord- Assad himself. ing to our Constitution whose Article 68 is about peaceful While neither Assad nor the rebels have protest. However, it should be noted that, during demon- the upper hand, there is a growing sense strations on 12 February and the following days, twelve among his foreign opponents that the battle people were found with firearms and many other types of for Syria has become a twin-track operation, weapons such as knives, explosives, projectiles, Molotov with defeating the jihadists as important as cocktails among others, which calls into question the ousting Assad. In interviews with Reuters, purely peaceful nature of the opposition demonstrations. Syrians who have escaped areas that have • For the vast majority of demonstrations, no authori- fallen under the control of Al-Qaeda-linked sation has been requested. A group of people gather, groups have spoken of the way the jihadists block streets and highways, set up barricades with tires, have imposed their harsh and often violent and burn garbage. To such situations, police forces have version of Islam on their fellow Muslims. carried out containment operations. Please, note the dif- When the uprising started in March 2011 - ference by observing the images taken in Europe or in the part of the wave of Arab Spring revolts - United States, where police forces beat brutally at the many Syrians had hoped either for reform or slightest protest. Demonstrators have not taken the pic- a quick end for Assad. Three years on, Assad is ture they were looking for in order to show police officers still in power, while his subjects have been breaking the heads of defenceless young people. gassed, starved, exiled and bombed with • As to the alleged lack of freedom of expression, we impunity. Many of those who initially suc- have to go to the websites of various media such as El ceeded in liberating large parts of northern Universal, El Nacional, Tal Cual or Globovision to find arti- Syria from government control soon found cles that not only dissent from the government, but also themselves under the yoke of foreign contain direct insults and threats. As Eduardo Galeano jihadists. Rebels stand on the back of a pick-up truck driving through the eastern Syrian town of Deir Ezzor on Monday. — AFP used to say, it is strange to use freedom of speech to com- Syria’s conflict has drawn in foreign fight- plain that there is no freedom of speech. and “accelerate the exit of Assad”, he said. Al-Baghdadi, tried to take over Nusra, led by Abu Thaer, a 25-year-old computer sci- ers who, while ostensibly rallying to the cause • Some of the usual comments that have been made in Abu Mohammed Al-Golani, but was rebuffed ence student and media activist, who was the Venezuelan media would constitute a crime in most of of their Muslim brothers against Assad, have Foreign Jihadis by Ayman Zawahiri, successor to Osama bin held by ISIL with FSA fighters and NGO work- democratic countries: callings for a coup d’etat, requests turned their guns on rival rebel groups. They While hard information is scarce, one Laden as the head of Al-Qaeda. The Syrian ers, said “every day that passed there I for the army to revolt... Can anybody imagine The New accuse them of apostasy for not following expert estimates Al-Qaeda has 25,000 fight- fighters stayed with Golani and the Nusra wished for death”. “They used to come into York Times, The Times, El Pais, II Corriere de la Sera, Le their austere version of Islam, which rebel ers in Syria. Foreigners number 10,000, of Front, they said, but Azaz ended up under our cell with the sword, they would tell us Monde or Frankfurter Zeitung Allgemeine asking, on their veterans insisted was alien to Syria’s tradi- which 2,000 are from Europe. Inside Syria, res- ISIL, known colloquially as Daesh. That was ‘you are infidels, we will cut your throat’. They front page, the army to taking up arms in order to over- tions. The priority of the Al-Qaeda inspired idents speak of lawlessness and terror, a state when local people learned what the black started torturing the FSA fighters: One day throw an elected government? Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), as of chaos and implosion of state authority. flags of the Caliphate Jihadis meant. they would cut a finger, another day a slice • In Venezuela, we have seen in the front page of a one of its fighters told Reuters, is to set up an Assad controls most territory from Damascus “They went into a pre-school to segregate of their ear and let them bleed.” Abu Alaa, 25, newspaper (named Tal Cual) the image of then-Head of Islamic Caliphate in the Middle East and on to the Mediterranean coast, home to his the boys from the girls,” said Mahmoud is a defector from ISIL now living in Killis. State President Hugo Chavez caricatured as a pig. In any the doorstep of Europe, rather than fight the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiism, and other Osman, 27, an activist from Aleppo. “They Formerly in the FSA, he fought for six democratic country, any insult to its head of state is pun- Assads. minorities. To the north, moderate Sunni started going to schools to check whether months with the veteran jihadi who uses the ished by law. For example, in Spain, certain publications rebels are in control near the border with the girls were wearing the head-to-toe black nom de guerre Abu Omar Al-Shishani (the containing satirical cartoons about the king have been Tangled Situation Turkey while ISIL has tightened its grip along chador and they started asking girls to marry Chechen), the Daesh commander who cap- eliminated, and the perpetrators have been tried and con- The situation in north and eastern Syria is the Euphrates towards Iraq, linking up with them. Parents stopped sending their daugh- tured a government airbase near Aleppo last victed. In Venezuela, the newspaper Tel Cual is still sold on chaotic, with scores of front lines where rebel Al-Qaeda in Iraq. ters to school,” he said. summer. Abu Alaa was jailed and then the newsstands every day. fighters face either government forces or In Syria’s northeast, Kurds have estab- escaped after trying to help friends who • In this argumentative document, we must contextu- jihadist extremists. The internationally recog- lished a form of self-government similar to Assad Not a Priority were being rounded up, tortured and exe- alise the halt to the transmission of NTN24. No democratic nised Syrian opposition in exile has lost credi- the Iraqi Kurds in northern Iraq. In the south, Al-Qaeda banned smoking, music and any cuted. “They were torturing the prisoners country would have allowed a media outlet to be used to bility with fighters on the ground, who dis- Sunni rebels have seized areas from Deraa, mingling between men and women unless with electricity and beatings” says Abu Alaa. make calls for a coup d’etat. In this sense, it is necessary to miss them as five-star hotel revolutionaries, near Jordan, to Quneitra in the foothills of the they were closely related. They forced “They liquidated many on the grounds they recall the role played by the media in the coup of 2002. squabbling at inconsequential meetings Golan Heights. While that oversimplifies the Christians to pay protection taxes, activists are allies with the west.” (We must use this argument only if the issue of the halt of from Istanbul to Geneva. At the same time, fragmentation of Syria, in which power said. They beheaded men in public squares Abu Khaled, a former Syrian soldier and NTN24 arises in the discussion or the interview. In no case there has been a pushback against ISIL - changes from neighbourhood to neighbour- because they fought for the mainstream now an ISIL officer, made little effort to con- should this issue be brought up by a spokesman. which has withdrawn to its strongholds bor- hood, street to street, checkpoint to check- rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA). “We used to tradict these chilling accounts. Reached by Moreover, NTN24 is not a open-signal channel; it is a sub- dering Iraq - not only from moderate and point, the overriding reality is that neither hear about them or see them in movies but Skype in northern Syria, he spoke of a net- scription channel). mainstream Islamist rebels but from rival Al- Assad nor the rebels have the upper hand. now we see them for real,” Osman added. work of contacts abroad including in France • Several media and social networks are full of oppo- Qaeda forces such as the Nusra Front, which and Britain, operating through mosques, but nents who express their disagreement. This fact alone After local Islamic scholars pronounced it is more Syrian in its make-up and its focus on Blighted Lives legitimate to fight Daesh, Azaz residents say, also using social media and the Internet. “We confirms that in Venezuela there is freedom of expression. fighting the government. • The nature of these protests is clearly political -in The influx of jihadis appeared to signal a ISIL pulled back to its stronghold of Raqqa in don’t have a problem getting fighters, and To further complicate matters, Iran, the shift against Assad, but in reality it has blight- the east. we have been able to get them into Syria. We every sense of the word- and partisan. It is not true that main Shiite power, and Saudi Arabia, its Sunni they are due to the economic situation or the lack of safe- ed the lives of Syrians in rebel areas and While Daesh held territory, the govern- are receiving jihadis from all over the world, rival wedded to the Wahhabi puritanism that ty. From the very first moment, these protesters have besmirched their cause, by associating it with ment left the towns unmolested, activists from Chechnya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi inspires jihadis, see Syria as the front line in called for the resignation of President Maduro. terror. The testimony of those who lived it is said. Only when they left did government Arabia, Libya, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, Yemen, their Shiite-Sunni war for supremacy in the harrowing. Abdallah Khalil, a 25-year-old forces drop barrel bombs - proof, they say, Turkey, Britain and France. ISIL has some Arab world. Syrians, according to the UN, are activist and student of Sharia law, recalls the that Assad wants the most hardline Islamists 6,000 fighters,” he said. about to replace Afghans as the world’s joy of liberating Azaz in 2011. “Life was OK to prevail in rebel areas so he can portray his ISIL ranks were swelled by 500 jihadis All articles appearing on these pages largest refugee population. So far 2.4 million but then these jihadis started arriving. They fight as a battle with Al-Qaeda. Assad has broken out of Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, are the personal opinion of the writers. have fled a conflict that has killed 140,000 set up a military training camp, run by a jihadi repeatedly referred to his enemies as terror- and a further 700 freed from Sednaya mili- Kuwait Times takes no responsibility people. from Egypt known as Abu Obeida Al- ists. tary jail near Damascus in what was seen in for views expressed therein. Kuwait “We’re following in the footsteps of Muhajer. First he told us it is banned to clap Khaled Ibrahim, 30, who worked in adver- rebel and western circles as an attempt by Bosnia,” said Sarkis Naoum, a Lebanese or sing in protests, then they killed the men- tising before the war and is from Raqqa, Assad to boost jihadi forces in Syria at the Times invites readers to voice their columnist and expert on Syria. “This war will tor of the revolution, Sheikh Youssef, a mod- describes his home as an ISIL province, ruled expense of mainstream rebels. “The aim of opinions. Please send submissions via take its time, it might last 7, 8 or 10 years until erate Muslim. They told us: ‘you are infidels by terror. He said every Friday they executed the ISIL is to set up an Islamic caliphate that email to: [email protected] or world powers decide to resolve it.” A Gulf offi- who want to sin, you don’t want to apply activists, Free Syrian Army fighters and also will attract Muslims from all over the world. via snail mail to PO Box 1301 Safat, cial said world powers now realised that inac- sharia’,” said Khalil. “Islam is strongly present in looters in the public square, either by the Our aim is to fight the infidels whether it is tion had been a mistake, increasing the num- Syria but not this kind of Islam. They disfig- sword or by gunfire. He and others said that Bashar Al-Assad or the Free Syrian Army,” he Kuwait. The editor reserves the right to bers of potential terrorists who are a threat to ured the religion and the revolution.” anybody who worked for a foreign NGO or a told Reuters. “Any apostate should be edit any submission as necessary. the region and beyond. There were now two Activists described a feud inside Al-Qaeda media outlet was considered an “infidel beheaded and women must follow the objectives in Syria - to defeat these “terrorists” whereby ISIL, led by Iraqi veteran Abu Bakr agent”. sharia,” he said. — Reuters WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 SPORTS

Harris: I’m not done yet Obama honors Charlton sack manager Powell SYDNEY: Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris, who bowled his country to a series victory LONDON: Struggling Charlton Athletic have sacked manager Chris Powell following their in South Africa last week, is hoping knee surgery will prolong his test career through the college athletes FA Cup quarter-final defeat by Sheffield United at the weekend, the London club said yes- 2015 Ashes at least. terday. “Chris Powell has been relieved of his position as first-team manager at Charlton The 34-year-old has been plagued by injuries since his debut in 2010 but was able WASHINGTON: There were plenty of college athletes at the White House Athletic with immediate effect,” the Championship (second tier) club’s website said. to put together a run of 12 consecutive tests over the last seven months to help on Monday, but none of the usual NFL or NBA-bound football and basket- Powell, 44, made more than 200 appearances for Charlton as a player and was appoint- Australia wrest back the Ashes and beat South Africa 2-1 in an away series. ball players. ed manager in 2011. His sacking means Norwich City’s Harris played through the pain to give Australia the victory on a dramatic final day Instead, President Barack Obama recognized the achievements of col- Chris Hughton is now the only black manager working of the third test against South Africa at Newlands last week before returning home for lege athletes not in the big-money pursuits of football and basketball, but in England’s top four divisions. surgery. in a range of other sports like riflery, field hockey, water polo, tennis, track Charlton are four points adrift of safety at the “The 2015 Ashes and the series after that back in and field, soccer, lacrosse and hockey. foot of the Championship table. The club’s Belgian Australia are the goals for me if I’m bowling well enough “It is nice to be outside for a change, and spring break is underway for a owner Roland Duchatelet blamed a breakdown in and still in form,” Harris told Melbourne’s SEN radio. contract talks for Powell’s departure. “There’s World Cup in between and I’d love to force lot of schools, so we thought this was the perfect time to invite a bunch of “We have been working with Chris Powell and my way back into that team as well. “I’ve read a few little college kids over to wreak havoc on the White House,” said Obama, just a comments here and there in papers that it could be the week after a snowstorm paralyzed the US capital. “What could go wrong?” his representatives for a couple of weeks to try and end of me, but I’m not done yet. I’ll be back.” While none There was no reason for him to worry, as the athletes were uniformly agree a contract extension which would have has doubted Harris’s ability as a bowler, his injuries had well-behaved, many taking “selfies” - photos of themselves - at the breezy, seen us continue to work together,” he said. restricted him to just 12 tests in three years until he got seasonable South Lawn event. “There was good progress, but we could on the plane for the opening Ashes series of 2013. Three schools had two national championship teams present: Princeton not reach an agreement over the club’s foot- He played four of five tests in that series in University (fencing and field hockey); the University of North Carolina ball strategy going forward. “The situa- tion put a strain on the working England, all five tests in the 5-0 triumph in the (women’s lacrosse and women’s soccer); and the University of Southern relationship between Chris and return Ashes series and all three tests against California (men’s and women’s water polo).—Reuters the Proteas.—Reuters the board. —Reuters NHL results/standings Penguins down Capitals Pittsburgh 3, Washington 2; Nashville 4, Ottawa 3 (OT); Phoenix 4, Tampa Bay 3 (So); Colorado 3, Winnipeg 2 (OT); Los Angeles 3, Calgary 2; NY Islanders 7, Vancouver 4; WASHINGTON: Sidney Crosby had a hand in both early Toronto 3, Anaheim 1. goals and Chris Kunitz scored twice as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat Alex Ovechkin’s struggling Washington Capitals 3-2 Monday. Western Conference Crosby finished with his 30th goal and two assists to Pacific Division raise his NHL-leading point total to 87, matching his uni- W L OTL GF GA PTS form number. The Penguins beat Washington for the sev- enth consecutive time and overtook idle Boston for the Anaheim 43 15 7 208 160 93 Eastern Conference’s best record. San Jose 41 17 7 199 157 89 The Capitals, who began the day outside of the playoff Los Angeles 38 22 6 162 139 82 picture in 10th place in the East, have lost four of their past Phoenix 30 24 11 181 188 71 five games. The teams play each other again Tuesday at Pittsburgh. Vancouver 29 28 10 157 181 68 Monday’s game featured the largely uneventful NHL Calgary 25 33 7 152 194 57 debut of a player Capitals general manager George Edmonton 22 35 8 162 212 52 McPhee likened to the Loch Ness Monster - “We’ve heard of you, but we haven’t seen you” - Russian forward Evgeny Kuznetsov. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound winger was a first- Central Division round draft pick in 2010, but has been playing in Russia St. Louis 44 14 6 211 145 94 until now. Chicago 38 13 14 223 172 90 KINGS 3, FLAMES 2 Colorado 42 18 5 199 172 89 Anze Kopitar had a goal and an assist to lead Los Minnesota 34 22 8 158 157 76 Angeles to its eighth straight win. Justin Williams and Dallas 31 23 10 185 179 72 Trevor Lewis also scored for the Kings. Mike Cammalleri and Brian McGrattan scored for the Winnipeg 30 28 8 182 192 68 Flames, who lost for just the second time in their past nine Nashville 27 28 10 156 194 64 games at the Saddledome. Playing in his fourth straight game, rookie Calgary goalie Joni Ortio made 20 saves. Martin Jones stopped 24 Eastern Conference of 26 shots he faced to improve his record in his rookie sea- Atlantic Division son with the Kings to 10-4. Boston 42 17 5 204 143 89 ISLANDERS 7, CANUCKS 4 Toronto 35 23 8 196 199 78 Matt Martin scored the winner in the Islanders’ seven- Montreal 35 24 7 166 166 77 goal third period, and New York erased a three-goal deficit WASHINGTON: Matt Niskanen No. 2 of the Pittsburgh Penguins moves the puck in front of Troy Brouwer No. 20 of the Tampa Bay 34 24 7 186 171 75 in the final frame to beat Vancouver. Washington Capitals during the third period of the Penguins 3-2 win at Verizon Center. — AFP Martin made it 5-4 at 10:04 for the third for the Detroit 29 22 13 171 179 71 Islanders, who reversed a recent trend and rallied late Ottawa 28 25 12 185 213 68 instead of squandering a lead. Florida 24 33 7 156 206 55 Josh Bailey, Ryan Strome, Calvin de Haan, Frans Nielsen, Buffalo 19 37 8 128 188 46 Anders Lee and Cal Clutterbuck also scored for the OSN brings viewers live Islanders, who scored four times in the first 6:22 of the third. Metropolitan Division The Islanders tied their team record for goals in a peri- and exclusive coverage of Pittsburgh 43 17 4 204 159 90 od, matching the mark set in the second period of a 9-4 win over the New York Rangers on Dec. 23, 1978. Chris NY Rangers 35 26 4 171 162 74 Higgins, Henrik Sedin, Ryan Kesler and Chris Tanev scored Philadelphia 33 24 7 183 188 73 for the Canucks, who lost for the 12th time in 14 games. T-20 in high definition Columbus 33 26 5 186 178 71 Evgeni Nabokov made 20 saves in the win. Eddie Lack stopped 21 shots for the Canucks. Washington 30 26 10 193 200 70 DUBAI: OSN, the region’s lead- broadcast live from the OSN’s World Twenty20 is one of the ing pay-TV network and the studios in Dubai Media City. biggest tournaments in world New Jersey 28 24 13 161 167 69 AVALANCHE 3, JETS 2 undisputed ‘home of cricket’ will OSN’s live studio panel sport and cricket fans in the Carolina 27 28 9 160 184 63 Matt Duchene scored 2:33 into overtime, and Semyon bring sports fans live and exclu- includes cricketing legends VVS region can look forward to three Varlamov stopped 33 shots to lift Colorado over Winnipeg. NY Islanders 25 33 9 188 228 59 sive coverage of the highly Laxman, Waqar Younis, Adam weeks of excitement and enter- John Mitchell and Andre Benoit also scored for the anticipated ICC World Twenty20, Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan, tainment. The OSN Cricket stu- Avalanche, who have won five of six. which takes place in Bangladesh who have represented the dio team of Laxman, Younis, Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the Dustin Byfuglien scored both goals for the Jets. from March to April 2014, in national teams of India, Pakistan, Gilchrist and Vaughan is pure standings and are not included in the loss column (L). Duchene knocked in the winner on a scramble in front of stunning High Definition. Australia and England, respec- box office and will be giving the net. Defenseman Tobias Enstrom tried to punch the Adding to the excitement and tively. Jim Rosenthal will play their views on the tournament puck into the corner, but it hit Duchene in the shin and marking a regional first, OSN the role of anchor as the panel from the OSN Studios in Dubai” dropped down to his stick. From there, Duchene lifted it also unveiled its first cricket pan- bring their views to the region. VVS Laxman, former Indian over backup goalie Al Montoya. Duchene has a career-best el comprising a world class team Andy Warkman, OSN’s VP batsman and captain of the NBK brings Visa eight-game point streak. of cricketing greats who will Sport & Production, said: The ICC Deccan Chargers in the IPL, is one of India’s most celebrated crick- MAPLE LEAFS 3, DUCKS 1 eters, was also one of the few World Cup Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak each had a goal and two cricketers to receive the Padma assists, and Toronto celebrated coach Randy Carlyle’s Shri award, the Government of return to Anaheim with a victory. India’s civilian honor. Waqar excitement to Paul Ranger scored and Jonathan Bernier made 43 Younis is regarded as one of the saves as the Maple Leafs opened a five-game trip with greatest fast bowlers of all time its customers their third consecutive victory, leapfrogging Montreal into and holds the record of being the second place in the Atlantic Division. youngest Pakistani Test captain, Carlyle was back at Honda Center for the first time since and the third youngest Test cap- KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) introduced the the Ducks fired the only coach to lead the franchise to a tain in the history of the industry new FIFA World Cup VISA Prepaid Card in Kuwait bring- Stanley Cup title. He got a standing ovation in the first peri- and last year was inducted into ing the 2014 FIFA World Cup excitement to its enthusi- od during a video tribute on the scoreboard. the ICC Hall of Fame. Corey Perry scored his 35th goal and Frederik Andersen astic football customers. NBK is the official non-host Adam Gilchrist holds the stopped 20 shots in the Ducks’ third straight loss to playoff- retail banking partner of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in world record for the most dis- bound Eastern Conference teams. Kuwait, in association with Visa, the official FIFA partner. missals by a wicket keeper in One Day International cricket, NBK’S FIFA World Cup VISA Prepaid Cardholders will PREDATORS 4, SENATORS 3 and the most by an Australian in enjoy the thrill of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, getting one Seth Jones scored at 3:49 of overtime as Nashville test cricket, and was also induct- chance to enter draws for every cumulative KD 20 spent defeated Ottawa. Ryan Ellis broke in alone on goaltender ed into the ICC Hall of Fame last locally using the card on all purchases. The cardholders Robin Lehner and Jones was there to bang home the loose puck. year. Michael Vaughan was can win one of 32 trips for two to attend one of the ranked as one of the world’s best World Cup matches in Brazil this year including the final The win allowed the Predators to snap a four-game los- ing streak. Nick Spaling, Craig Smith and Eric Nystrom also batsmen following the match in association with Visa. NBK FIFA World Cup VISA scored for Nashville. Jared Cowen, Marc Methot and Jason 2002/2003 Ashes, in which he Prepaid Cardholders can also triple their chances to win Spezza scored for the Senators. Craig Anderson allowed scored 633 runs, including three for every cumulative KD 20 spent outside Kuwait or on three goals on 29 shots before leaving the game early in centuries and famously lifted in international websites. the third. Lehner faced 13 shots in relief. Ashes in 2005. The new NBK FIFA World Cup VISA Prepaid Card is the This year, 16 teams will go better alternative to cash for making purchases, and is COYOTES 4, LIGHTNING 3 head to head in 35 matches to take home the ICC World safe to use for online shopping. The card is accepted Radim Vrbata scored the lone shootout goal to lead Twenty20 trophy. In addition to locally and worldwide, easy to use, re-loadable and pro- Phoenix past Tampa Bay. Vrbata beat Ben Bishop with a backhand. Mike Smith stopped all three Lightning the UAE, which makes its debut vides NBK customers with a variety of features and shootout shots. at this year’s ICC World T20 exclusive benefits that include free travel insurance cov- Ondrej Palat got the Lightning even at 3-all on his sec- World and are sponsored by erage up to USD 100,000. ond goal of the game, coming from the low slot with the OSN, participating teams NBK Cards provide an array of benefits that cater to Tampa Bay net empty and 37.2 seconds left in regulation. include Afghanistan, Australia, your lifestyle needs, offering special services locally and Palat also had an assist. Bangladesh, England, Hong globally, so that customers can enjoy convenience and Brandon McMillan, Martin Erat and Mikkel Boedker Kong, India, Ireland, Nepal, peace of mind whether they’re in Kuwait or abroad. scored for the Coyotes, who trailed eighth-place Dallas by Netherlands, New Zealand, NBK Cards are the safest, most convenient and reward- one point in the Western Conference. Tampa Bay, 1-4-2 Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka since the Olympic break ended, also got a goal from Tyler and West Indies. ing way to pay. Johnson. — AP WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 SPORTS NBA results/standings Knicks pound 76ers Charlotte 105, Denver 98; Brooklyn 101, Toronto 97; Miami 99, Washington 90; NY Knicks 123, Philadelphia 110; Milwaukee 105, Orlando 98; Atlanta 112, Utah 110; NEW YORK: Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 28 points as the BUCKS 105, MAGIC 98 Toronto in the Atlantic. Kyle Lowry scored 21 points to LA Clippers 112, Phoenix 105. New York Knicks defeated Philadelphia 123-110 on Brandon Knight scored 24 points and sparked lead Toronto, which had won nine of its previous 11. The Monday, sending the 76ers to their 17th straight loss. Milwaukee’s rousing rally from an 18-point deficit with a Nets trailed 94-92 after Lowry split the defense in the lane Amare Stoudemire added 23 points, and J.R. Smith dunk. Knight confounded Orlando with a quick first step for a lay-up with 2:15 left. Eastern Conference and Carmelo Anthony each had 22 as the Knicks won and threw down a dunk for a 74-71 lead with 10:57 left Brooklyn then answered with five straight points as Atlantic Division their fourth game in a row. after Ramon Sessions went high for an outlet pass in the Andray Blatche’s reverse lay-up tied the score at 94 and W L PCT GB Michael Carter-Williams recorded a triple-double with lane and patted the ball back to his driving backcourt Pierce followed with a 3-pointer. Toronto 35 27 .565 - 23 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, while Tony Wroten mate. also had 23 points for the struggling 76ers. The Knicks, The lead swelled to 95-81 with 2:49 left before Orlando Brooklyn 32 30 .516 3 HAWKS 112, JAZZ 110 who trailed by 12 points in the first quarter, took their mounted its own late charge to get within three off a 3 Kyle Korver scored 26 points and Paul Millsap added NY Knicks 25 40 .385 11.5 biggest lead of the game, 110-89, on the fourth of from Jameer Nelson with 35 seconds left. 23 to help Atlanta outlast Utah to snap a six-game losing Boston 22 41 .349 13.5 Hardaway Jr’s five 3-pointers with 7:37 left and never led But the Bucks hit their foul shots late and Orlando was streak. Jeff Teague had 14 points and the Hawks used a Philadelphia 15 48 .238 20.5 by less than 12 the rest of the way.

Central Division HEAT 99, WIZARDS 90 Dwyane Wade scored 13 of his 22 points in the fourth Indiana 46 17 .730 - quarter and LeBron James led all scorers with 23 points Chicago 35 28 .556 11 and Miami clinched a playoff spot. Detroit 24 39 .381 22 Chris Bosh scored 22 for the Heat, who snapped a Cleveland 24 40 .375 22.5 three-game slide and moved within one game of Indiana Milwaukee 13 50 .206 33 in the race for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Ray Allen added 13 for Miami, which was down one midway through the fourth before Wade sparked a 12-0 Southeast Division run with five points, three assists and a block at the rim. Miami 44 17 .721 - The Heat never trailed again, and avoided their first four- Washington 33 30 .524 12 game slide since 2011. Bradley Beal scored 18 points, Charlotte 30 34 .469 15.5 Martell Webster added 17 and Drew Gooden scored 15 Atlanta 27 35 .435 17.5 for the Wizards. Orlando 19 46 .292 27 CLIPPERS 112, SUNS 105 Blake Griffin scored 22 of his 37 points in the first quar- Western Conference ter and made 14 of 16 shots before fouling out as the Northwest Division Clippers won their eighth straight. Oklahoma City 46 17 .730 - Darren Collison scored 20 points and Chris Paul added Portland 42 21 .667 4 17 points and 11 assists for the Pacific Division leaders, Minnesota 31 31 .500 14.5 who were 55.1 percent from the field and improved to 23-1 when shooting at least 50 percent. Goran Dragic had Denver 27 36 .429 19 23 points and five assists during a foul-plagued 33 min- Utah 22 42 .344 24.5 utes for the Suns, who slipped a half-game behind idle Memphis for the eighth and final Western Conference Pacific division playoff spot and are 1 1-2 behind Dallas. Phoenix hasn’t LA Clippers 45 20 .692 - made the postseason since 2010 under coach Alvin Golden State 40 24 .625 4.5 Gentry, now a Clippers associate head coach. Phoenix 36 27 .571 8 NEW YORK: Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony (7) defends Philadelphia 76ers’ Thaddeus Young (21) during the second half BOBCATS 105, NUGGETS 98 of an NBA basketball game. — AP Sacramento 22 41 .349 22 Al Jefferson scored 26 points and Kemba Walker added LA Lakers 22 42 .344 22.5 24 as Charlotte won its seventh straight at home. hurt after Nikola Vucevic was whistled for an offensive late 16-4 run to end a 10-game road skid and salvage a Jefferson made 10 of his first 14 field-goal attempts and foul with 22 seconds left. win at the end of a gloomy six-game road trip. Southwest Division also had a game-high 12 rebounds. Walker added seven The Jazz led 96-93 after Trey Burke’s 3-pointer, but assists for the Bobcats, who also received a big boost Korver started an 8-0 run with a 3-pointer and then a con- San Antonio 46 16 .742 - NETS 101, RAPTORS 97 from Gary Neal off the bench. Neal made his first six field- Deron Williams and Shaun Livingston each scored 18 tested jumper to beat the shot clock. Trey Burke made a Houston 44 19 .698 2.5 goal tries, including three 3-pointers, and ended up with points and an ailing Paul Pierce hit a 3-pointer with 1:14 layup before Millsap countered with two free throws and Dallas 38 26 .594 9 19 points. Josh McRoberts added 15 points for Charlotte, remaining to lead Brooklyn past Atlantic Division-leading Korver added two of his own. Trailing 109-100 with 26 Memphis 36 26 .581 10 including a key 3-pointer with 6:15 left at the shot-clock Toronto. seconds left, the Jazz made it interesting with 10 points New Orleans 26 37 .413 20.5 buzzer to extend Charlotte’s lead to 90-82 after Denver Pierce finished with 15 points and Joe Johnson added in the last 16 seconds. Burke scored 23 points and Marvin had cut it to five at 87-82. Ty Lawson scored 24 points to 14 for the Nets, who won their season-high eighth Williams had 18 for the Jazz, who have lost six of their last lead the Nuggets. straight at home. Brooklyn moved three games behind seven. — AP ABK announces winner of the first draw for the ‘Watch it Live in Brazil with Visa’

KUWAIT: Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait’s Cardholder, Haitham and get the chance to enter 2 draws to win quarter-final Hussein, is the lucky winner who will be flying to Brazil for and semi-final package (each for two persons) that include the 2014 FIFA World Cup courtesy of Visa International; this air-tickets to Brazil, hotel accommodation and match-tick- offer comes as part of ABK’s commitment to offer exciting ets. In addition, cardholders also earn Emirates Skywards rewards to its valued customers. Miles for every 1 KD spent locally or overseas on the card, Haitham Hussein won the first draw event that was held exclusively with ABK. on the 10th of March, his prize consist of a 2014 FIFA World Stewart Lockie, GM Retail Banking stated, Cup Brazil Quarter-final Package for two. The draw was “Congratulations to our lucky winner, the promotion con- conducted by ABK under the supervision of the Ministry of tinues till the April 30, with lucky winners to be drawn Commerce and Industry. every month. To those who were not lucky I say, keep The ABK 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil promotion is still spending as you still have a lot of time, and many chances running, where customers get the chance to win a trip to in the coming draws. Several opportunities remain to win Brazil. With the special FIFA World Cup edition Visa Gold those amazing packages courtesy of Visa International, and Prepaid Travel card, ABK customers will get the exclusive get a chance to watch it live in Brazil” chance to travel to Brazil and attend the quarter-final or So go ahead, use your ABK special FIFA World Cup edi- semi-final match courtesy of Visa. tion Visa Gold Prepaid Travel card and win packages to All the cardholder has to do to win is spend on the card watch the matches live in Brazil.

Odyssey Sims W Virginia falls short Mercedes Trophy to kick off at Sahara Golf and Country Club in Big 12 title game Three finalists to compete at the World Finals in Germany

OKLAHOMA CITY: Everything seemed to be going West remaining, then West Virginia quickly fouled. Johnson KUWAIT: Once again pitting the nation’s best ama- MercedesTrophy tournaments all over the world. Virginia’s way. Baylor superstar Odyssey Sims was hobbled made two more free throws with 4.7 seconds to play to put teur golfers against one another to compete for a All participants get the unique chance to win a by a left ankle injury and the Lady Bears’ emerging star, Baylor up by three. Stepney missed a 3-pointer at the Nina Davis, played with foul trouble through much of the buzzer, and Baylor celebrated. place at the MercedesTrophy World Finals 2014, spot in the ‘Monday After Event’ of The Open Big 12 championship game. Sims left the game after hurting her left ankle with Abdul Rahman Albisher & Zaid Alkazemi Co. is hold- Championship (aka The British Open), travelling West Virginia didn’t take advantage. Sims scored 15 of 18:20 left in the first half and West Virginia leading 5-0. ing the 17th Kuwait National Final of the prestigious to the United Kingdom to play on the same her 19 points in the second half to help No. 9 Baylor defeat When she returned to action with 12:59 left in the half, the MercedesTrophy Golf tournament, taking place at course that world’s leading golfers were compet- No. 7 West Virginia 74-71 Monday night and earn an auto- Lady Bears had taken a 16-12 lead. the Sahara Golf and Country Club on Friday, 14 ing for the Claret Jug on just a day before. matic berth in the NCAA tournament. “I told the players, Sims subbed out again with 9:36 left in the first half. March 2014. “Over decades, golf has grown to become an remember how this feels because the next time going When she returned, West Virginia tested her. Brooke Lucky winners will qualify for the 25th Mercedes integral part of Mercedes-Benz engagements in down the stretch, we’ve got to execute,” West Virginia Hampton drew a foul on her and made two free throws, coach Mike Carey said. “We normally have executed well then made a jumper over her after a drive, leading to Sims’ Trophy World Final to be held in September 2014 in sport. Besides our partnership with the Masters, the going down the stretch. Today we just had a couple shots, return to the bench. Stuttgart, the birthplace of the automobile and PGA Championship and The Open Championship, missed them, and then defensively is where I was really dis- Sims re-entered the game, but committed her second headquarters of Mercedes-Benz. In celebration of Mercedes-Benz is very proud to provide the most appointed. We didn’t execute and get some stops.” foul with 2:16 left in the half. Through it all, Baylor main- the tournament’s 25th anniversary, a rule disallow- fascinating premium amateur golf series to dedicat- Niya Johnson had a career-high 19 points and made tained control. Davis scored in close to push Baylor’s lead ing previous winners will be suspended exclusively ed golfers worldwide,” said Michael Ruehle, CEO, four free throws in the final minute, and Davis added 16 to 36-25, but she committed her second foul with 41 sec- for 2014 so that the former participants can qualify Abdul Rahman Albisher & Zaid Alkazemi Co. “Every points for the Lady Bears (29-4), who have won 15 of their onds left. again and participate. year we look forward to hosting this tournament, past 16 games. Davis, a freshman, was named the tourna- West Virginia’s Asya Bussie stole the ball and Holmes ment’s most outstanding player. made a layup with 4.6 seconds left to cut Baylor’s lead to A Hole-in-One challenge will see participants and 2014 is the best yet for amateur golfers in Bria Holmes scored 24 points and Linda Stepney and 38-32 at halftime. Holmes scored 19 points in the first half eagerly compete to drive home a Mercedes-Benz C- Kuwait.” Players will compete to be one of the top Averee Fields each scored 10 for West Virginia (29-4), which to keep the Mountaineers in the game. She made 7 of 9 Coupe, won on the spot should any skilled golfer three finalists who will form Kuwait’s national team. had won 12 straight. shots in the first half while her teammates made 4 of 18. have the luck to ace a shot. The team of three will then go on to play at the 2014 “I think tonight we’ll feel the loss a little bit, but we just “I think we played a little bit tentative the first half, so The exciting programme also offers the oppor- Mercedes Trophy World Final held annually in have to learn from it,” Fields said. “Our season is not over, second half, coach Carey just told us to play our game to tunity to take part in the special ‘Drive to the Germany in September against national teams from and we want to make a good run in the NCAA tournament, do what we normally do,” Fields said. “I think we came out Major’ competition played during around the world. so we have to put it behind us. We have to move on from with a lot of energy and wanted to play the way we nor- wins and we have to move on from losses. So I think that mally do. We like running up and down the floor, so we we’ll get back together, get focused in practice, and we’ll tried to do that more the second half.” Davis committed her be ready for the tournament.” third foul with just over 15 minutes to play. Right after she The teams shared the regular-season Big 12 title and subbed out, West Virginia cut Baylor’s lead to 46-44 on a split their games during the regular season, with each win- baseline jumper by Stepney, then tied the game on its next ning on the other’s home court. West Virginia slowed Sims, possession when Bussie scored down low. The who had scored 48 and 39 points in the regular season Mountaineers finally took the lead on a 3-pointer by games, but the Bears supported her Monday by shooting Holmes with just under 12 minutes remaining. West 48 percent overall. Virginia extended its lead to five on a steal and layup by The lead went back and forth in the final minutes. Sims Fields. made a jumper with 50.4 seconds left to put Baylor up 70- Baylor regained the lead, 63-62, on a putback by 69. West Virginia misconnected on a post entry pass and Khadijah Cave, setting up the final 4 minutes. West Virginia turned the ball over. Baylor ran the clock down, forcing now will wait to see where the selection committee places West Virginia to foul. Holmes committed her fifth foul by the Mountaineers. Carey believes his team has earned a reaching in on Johnson, and Johnson made two free good seed. “I think we at least should be a three, at least a throws. three seed,” he said. “I said this yesterday: Two, three, I’m West Virginia’s Stepney made a layup with 5.4 seconds happy.”—AP SPORTS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 Photo of the day Nadal and Sharapova stumble at Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS: Rafa Nadal and Maria Murray lost the opening set despite el is. Even if I won 6 and 6 today, I just Sharapova were both knocked out of going up an early break but then strug- feel like I was calm and served for the the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells gled on serve against the left-handed set. on Monday after stunning upsets at Vesely, ranked 77th in the world. “Okay, got broken. Still managed to one of the world’s biggest tourna- The Scotsman was broken six times stay calm. Down ... in the second; ments outside the four grand slams. in the match and trailed in both the stayed calm and came back. So those Nadal was sent packing by Ukraine’s second and third sets but fought back are the moments where you feel there Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-5) each time, reeling off four consecutive is confidence around somewhere.” after Sharapova fell to Italian qualifier games to seal victory. Australian Open champion Stanislas Camila Giorgi 6-3 4-6 7-5 as last year’s “It was just one of those matches Wawrinka extended his unbeaten run men’s and women’s singles champions where there wasn’t one period where I this year to 13 matches with a ruthless both crashed out. Nadal blew a 4-2 thought that the level of tennis from 6-0 6-2 win over Italy’s Andreas Seppi lead in the deciding tiebreak after the both of us was high at the same time,” in just 49 minutes before joining forces Spaniard had fought his way back from said Murray. with Federer in the doubles. 5-2 down in the deciding third set. “That can create a lot of breaks and China’s Li Na, the top seed in the “I wanted to play very well here. I a lot of sort of back and forth swings in women’s draw, had no problems book- had good success in this tournament the match. It wasn’t just the start of the ing her place in the fourth round, beat- in the past, a tournament I always feel match that was frustrating. The whole ing Karolina Pliskova of the Czech good about,” said Nadal, who will now match was.” Republic 6-3 6-4. turn his attention to the Sony Open in Murray will play Canada’s big-serv- Despite dishing up nine double- south Florida. ing Milos Raonic in the next round as faults and having her own service bro- “I’m going to keep working hard to try to be ready to play better in Miami.” Nadal beat Dolgopolov in the final of the inaugural Rio Open last month but Aaron Hadlow performs during a road trip at Shark Bay in Cape Town, South Africa the Ukrainian got his revenge on the on February 13, 2014. — www.redbullcontentpool.com world number one in the Californian desert. “I feel great, as after every win, of course. I beat the defending champion and the number one in the world,” said Vettel lags behind off Dolgopolov, whose next opponent is Fabio Fognini after the Italian saved two match points in a 6-2 3-6 7-5 win track as well as on it over Frenchman Gael Monfils. Giorgi, a 22-year-old ranked 79th in the world, made the fourth round of LONDON: Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso Ferrari this season after leaving the highest levels of interest in any F1 the US Open last year as a qualifier, but is Formula One’s most marketable sport and then making a comeback team,” added Geach. her win over the world number five driver with Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel with Lotus, rated higher than Vettel in “With races screened across 160 Russian was the biggest of her career. only fourth despite winning the last awareness but below him in overall global markets to a cumulative global “I did not play a good match at all,” four world championships, according marketability. TV audience of 1.8 billion, one can said Sharapova, who dropped serve to a report published yesterday. The “It may be a surprise to some that see the importance this can have on eight times and committed 58 perception.” report by global sports marketing globally, Sebastian Vettel does not unforced errors. INDIAN WELLS: Rafael Nadal, of Spain, returns a shot to Alexandr The report said Alonso was known research firm Repucom found the score as highly in terms of public “(I’ve) never played against her, but Dolgopolov, of Ukraine, during their match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis by 71.14 percent globally, although Spaniard, a double world champion, opinion as the likes of Alonso, she’s someone that doesn’t give you tournament. —AP enjoyed the greatest worldwide Hamilton and Massa,” said Repucom’s only 12.76 percent of those in the much rhythm. She’s quite aggressive, recognition and celebrity impact Nigel Geach, senior vice president of United States were aware of him. but some shots she hits incredible for a while Germany’s Vettel ranked only motorsport, in a statement. Vettel’s global awareness rating was long period of time. he bids to win one of the few North ken twice, Li was far too strong and fourth. He said that was due in large part 54.30 percent. “Sometimes they go off a bit. But, if American hardcourt titles to have elud- streetwise for Pliskova, wrapping up Britain’s 2008 champion Lewis to Ferrari’s popularity and brand “Alonso is a very likeable driver I’m speaking about my level, it was ed him. the win with an ace. Hamilton, who drives for Mercedes, recognition - the Italian team are the and as the global appeal of the sport nowhere near where it should have Switzerland’s former world number “At least I could win the last point was second on the list and Brazilian most glamorous and successful in the increases, people seem to be rooting been.” Giorgi will play her country- one Roger Federer also advanced after and stay in the tournament,” Li said. “If Felipe Massa, who moved from Ferrari sport - as well as Alonso’s own inter- more and more for a new F1 champi- woman Flavia Pennetta in the next he was pushed all the way by Russia’s you’re a tennis player, you’ll make dou- to Williams at the end of last season, national sponsorship deals. “Despite on and as the results show, Alonso is round after she beat Australian Sam Dmitry Tursunov before winning 7-6 ble faults. At least I can improve my took third place. Red Bull’s recent successes, globally, starting to edge ahead as the fans Stosur 6-4 3-6 6-1. There were no other (9-7) 7-6 (7-2). serve even more from here.” Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 59 percent of F1 fans have an interest favorite,” Geach said. major surprises although Britain’s Andy Federer, who won his 78th career Li is looking to win her first Indian world champion who has returned to in the Ferrari team, representing the The season starts with the Murray was forced to dig deep to see singles title in Dubai earlier this month, Wells title and continue her great start Australian Grand Prix on Sunday and off promising Czech Jiri Vesely and will play either German Tommy Haas or to the year after capturing the Vettel’s Red Bull team are already on avoid a similar fate. Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the fourth Australian Open women’s title. the back foot after problems with The Wimbledon champion won 6-7 round. Her next opponent is Canada’s their new Renault V6 power unit in (7-2) 6-4 6-4 but only after clawing “I feel like I’m in a good place,” said Aleksandra Wozniak, who defeated testing. Hamilton and Mercedes are back from the brink of defeat against Federer, a four-time champion at Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1 the early bookmakers’ favourites. the 20-year-old Vesely. Indian Wells. “I know what my solid lev- 6-7 (3-7) 6-0. — Reuters Despite Hamilton’s global recogni- tion being second only to Alonso, the report found compatriot Jenson Button was more marketable to a Dallas Seavey British audience. “Button’s appeal, influence and clinches his second aspirational scores see him as a better product endorser and a more mar- Iditarod dog race ketable personality,” it said of the McLaren driver and 2009 world cham- NOME: Dallas Seavey ran a blistering pace to rally from third pion. place and win his second Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race early Massa enjoyed the highest domes- Tuesday in a record-breaking finish, after a sudden storm blew tic recognition of any driver, with a the front-runner out of the competition and kept another 99.2 percent rating in Brazil com- musher minutes away from her first win. pared to Vettel’s 97.58 percent in The victory was so strange that Seavey said he didn’t even Sebastian Vettel takes a curve in this file photo. Germany. — Reuters realize he won the race until about 90 seconds after he crossed the finish line. “Man, this is a lot of people coming out SWITZERLAND: Austria’s Anna Fenninger prepares to com- to see third place come in,” he thought about the hubbub pete on his way to clock the fastest time during an alpine when he arrived in Nome early yesterday. “I just found out that ski, women’s World Cup downhill training. — AP I won. I think you guys knew before I did,” he told a packed F1 POWER TO THE PEOPLE convention hall in Nome early yesterday. In fact, he thought he was “racing my dad for third,” he said. But in fact the trailing Hirscher, musher he thought was his father, defending champion Mitch Kuwait to host Infiniti Red Bull show run on March 28 Seavey, was actually Aliy Zirkle, and they were battling for first Fenninger aim for place. Only Zirkle knew it, though. The strange finish started Monday afternoon when four- KUWAIT: F1 Grand Prix are rare and elusive. Just 19 exist That’s what Infinity Red Bull Racing aim to remedy with time champ Jeff King enjoyed an hour’s lead over Zirkle and and gaining membership of the exclusive club to which its Live Demos and over the past number of years we’ve tra- World Cup double left the checkpoint at White Mountain. King wasn’t challenged they belong, the F1 calendar, is nigh on impossible. versed the globe, bringing F1 and Infiniti Red Bull Racing to as he maintained, and at times, extended his lead along the For some a trip to a grand prix is an attainable dream, countries, cities and people who’d otherwise only ever get LENZERHEIDE: After Austria easily topped the Alpine ski- Bering Sea coast. He was trying to become the race’s second particularly for those living in Europe where grand prix their F1 fix from television. From Colombo to Cape Town, ing medals table at the Sochi Olympics, Marcel Hirscher five-time winner. Then Safety happened. racing still has its heartland. Turin to Tokyo and Hong Kong to Heppenheim, Infiniti Red and Anna Fenninger aim to put the “Wunderteam” back on Safety is the last checkpoint in the race, 22 miles from the However, what the exclusive nature of grand prix rac- Bull Racing has taken its cars and drivers everywhere in a top of the World Cup standings. finish line in Nome. The area was buffeted by extremely high ing means for most is that they never get the chance to bid to bring F1 power to the people. Not since 2002 have the Austrians held both the men’s winds and a ground blizzard. A gust of wind blew King off see F1 up close and personal. That’s millions of people In addition to the Infiniti Red Bull Racing Formula and women’s overall titles, but Hirscher and Fenninger can course and into driftwood about 4 miles before Safety. He was in dozens of countries who’ve never heard the roar of a One Show Run, Kuwait will get a glimpse of Chris achieve just that at the World Cup Finals this week. Both able to get the team back together, but they wouldn’t run. Formula One engine or experienced the visceral thrill of Pfeiffer, a four-time World Stunt Riding Champion and face head-to-head contests - with Aksel Lund Svindal of So he sat for 2 1/2 hours until he flagged down a passing an F1 car blasting past within feet of where they’re one of the best Stunt Riders in the world who will be Norway and Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany - in tight races snowmobiler. He hitched a ride to the checkpoint at Safety standing. pushing the limits with his new tricks. Abdo Feghali, for the giant crystal globe trophies. If Hirscher and and scratched. Zirkle had made up the hour on King, and con- Fans in Kuwait will get the chance to see the Infiniti Middle East Hill Climb Champion and Holder of the Fenninger can win the titles, they will match the achieve- ditions were so bad, she decided to stay in Safety - a check- Red Bull Racing World Champion Car on an 800-meter Guinness World Record for the longest drift will also ment of Austrian duo Stephan Eberharter and Michaela point no one ever uses for a break. “I had to stop in Safety for a long urban track stretching from Bneid El Gar signal entertain the spectators with his unique drifting show. Dorfmeister 12 years ago. The last time one nation swept couple of dogs and myself,” said Zirkle, who had frostbite on light to the Kuwait Towers. The car which accelerates The event sponsored by Infiniti, Pirelli and is held the overall titles was Bode Miller and Lindsey Vonn for the her hands. When she went to sign in, the paper was blank. She from 0-100km/h in 2.4 seconds will reach speeds of under the organization of KMRC will take place on United States in 2008. “Anna will win the overall title,” said asked workers where King was, and they were surprised she 250km/h and above. March 28 at 2pm. Hirscher, the two-time defending overall champion. didn’t see him on the trail. The men’s side may be tougher. Svindal is looking for a “I never saw Jeff out there, but I wasn’t on the trail most of third overall title to add to his 2007 and ‘09 victories, the time. I don’t know where I was,” she said. Because of the though even he thinks Hirscher is the favorite. “But I’ll do blizzard-like conditions, she wasn’t going to continue. “I said, my best,” the easy-going Norwegian said. to heck with it, I’m staying,” Zirkle said.She had a cup of coffee, Svindal earned his overall titles by edging Benjamin talked to people in Safety about how bad the conditions were, Raich by a combined 15 points - a tiny margin when race took a nap. And after she woke up, she saw Seavey breeze wins are worth 100 and the champion typically totals through the checkpoint, staying only three minutes. —AP about 1,300 points. Hirscher starts the final four-race stretch with a four-point lead over Svindal, 1,050 to 1,046. The 25-year-old Austrian should make a rare super-G start on Thursday, but he skips the downhill races. That will give a boost to Svindal, who already has the season-long discipline title. “I feel pretty good. I have been in this situa- tion before,” Svindal said Tuesday. “Instead of looking at it in a negative way, I’m excited that I’m in this position. It means I had a good winter.” Yet Svindal, a four-race winner this season, has seen his results dip a little since being affected by allergies at the Olympics. “When that keeps happening it’s not a coincidence,” he said. “It means that I’m not as fast as I was at the beginning of the winter.” Hirscher, who took Olympic silver in slalom, has also had several fourth- and fifth-places podium finish- es recently. He lost the slalom points lead to Felix Neureuther of Germany, and can be overtaken by Ted Ligety of the United States in giant slalom on Saturday. With 10 World Cup trophies awarded this week, Hirscher and Fenninger can take a majority home to their native ALASKA: Dallas Seavey gets a kiss from one of his dogs region - adding to their combined three Olympic medals of after winning the 2014 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Austria’s nine.—AP Nome. — AP SPORTS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014

Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud honored during the dinner. — Photos by Sherif Ismail Egyptian Azmi Mohamed honored for winning first Obaid Al-Ossaimi honoring the winners in men’s place in Skeet shooting. ( Front left) Eng. Duaij Al-Otaibi individual rifle shooting (10 meters). Kuwait shooters top medals table

By Abdellatif Sharaa won the gold medal in the 10-m air rifle for men scoring 206 team event, China won the gold with a score of 1138 points given to Egypt and its people. points followed by China’s Cong Qin with the score of 204.5, followed by India with the score of 1137.5 and Taiwan with Omani shooter Baloushi said her achievement was possible KUWAIT: Kuwaiti shooter Saud Habeeb won a bronze medal while his compatriot Zhiguo Liu won the bronze with 183.7 1134. due to the good preparation for the championship. She said during the 3rd Amir International Shooting Grand Prix in the points. In the men’s team event, China was first with the score Egyptian shooter Rami Muhailba said competition in the this is her first participation in the Amir Grand Prix and hoped skeet event. Egypt’s Mohammad Azmi won the gold medal of 1869.1, followed by Iran with the score of 1860.9 and India individual skeet event was very strong and results were not to participate more in order to gain more experience and followed by Ramella Fabio of Switzerland. Kuwait remains on with 1856.1. known until the very last moment, adding that the participat- improve her skills. top with one gold, one silver and two bronze medals. In the women’s 10-m air pistol event, India’s Heena Sidhu , ing shooters showed a very high level. He expressed his pleas- Information Minister, State Minister for Youth Affairs, Meanwhile, the 7th Asian Airgun Championship got hotter who holds the world record, won the gold medal with a score ure for winning the gold medal, adding that the facilities the President of the Asian Shooting Confederation and Vice as India and China won two gold medals each. China tops the of 200.3 points followed by Taiwan’s Chia Ying Wu who scored organizing committee provided make shooters bring out their President of ISSF Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah lat- list with 5 golds compared to 3 for India. India’s Chain Singh 198.3 and Oman’s Wadha Al-Balushi with 177.3 points. In the best. He said that the gold medal is the least gift that can be er held a dinner for participating delegations.

Adnan Al-Ibrahim honoring the Chinese team, winners of 10 meter (Men). Heena Sidhu, India honored for winning first place in Eng. Duaij Al-Otaibi and head of KSA’s delegation on a tour. air-pressure pistol shooting.

Iraq’s ladies team First place winner ladies air-pressure pistol shooting, Kuwaiti shooter, Heba Erzouqi Kuwait shooter, Shyma Bu Hamad Heena Sidhu, India

Moroccan shooter Turkmen shooter Ayeda KSF’s secretarial team The Referees cmt. Supervisor Amina Ismail

Ashraf The protocol team member Mai Refs. Faisal Abdul Aziz and Ahmed Abdul Aziz SPORTS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 Kun the potential key to Man City’s salvation

MADRID: Sergio Aguero has a proven scoring record against Barcelona and the Manchester City forward may have a crucial role to play if his side are to upset the odds and reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time. City trail 2-0 ahead of today’s last 16, second leg at the Nou Camp, a Lionel Messi penalty and a late Daniel Alves goal in Manchester last month putting the Spanish cham- pions on the brink of their seventh consecutive appear- ance in the last eight of Europe’s elite club competition. Aguero, who missed the first leg through injury but returned for City’s English Capital One (League) Cup final victory on March 2, scored five goals in 10 La Liga games against Barca for Atletico Madrid between 2006 and 2011. They included a dramatic winner, his second of the match, in a 4-3 success at the Calderon in the 2008-09 sea- son that prompted the kind of wild celebrations he unleashed with the goal that sealed the Premier League title for City in 2012. The player, known as “Kun” after a Japanese cartoon character, also netted a double in the same La Liga fixture a year earlier, a 4-2 win for Atletico. He has never tasted vic- tory at the Nou Camp though in six visits but did score in a 1-1 draw in 2006-07. “As always in important games the individual perform- ance of players is key,” City coach Manuel Pellegrini, who has labelled Aguero the third best player in the world PARIS: Leverkusen Philipp Wollscheid controls the ball behind his Argentina team mate Messi and Portugal for- during a training session in Paris. Bayer Leverkusen will ward Cristiano Ronaldo, said on the club’s website play Paris Saint Germain during a Champions League (www.mcfc.co.uk) on Monday. “Of course it’s difficult,” round of the last 16, second leg soccer match today. — AP added the Chilean, in his first season in charge following stints in Spain with Villarreal, Real Madrid and Malaga. “But I don’t have any doubt that we are going to Mission impossible Barcelona thinking that we can do it, that we can beat SPAIN: Manchester City’s Kun Aguero, from Argentina (top right) attends a training session with his teammates at the them in Camp Nou and we will try to have our revenge Camp Nou Stadium. Barcelona will play against Manchester City in a Group H Champions League match today. — AP for Leverkusen there.” Pellegrini also has experience of Barca’s daunting arena, Europe’s biggest stadium. He faced them 22 times during PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain cannot afford to let their concen- his La Liga coaching career but only managed four victo- Pardew gets record seven tration slip as they prepare for their Champions League last 16 ries, most recently a 2-1 win for Villarreal at the Nou Camp second leg tie at home to Bayer Leverkusen today, their coach in March 2008. Laurent Blanc believes. The French champions stormed to a 4- He lost both “Clasicos” against Barca as Real coach in the match ban for headbutt 0 success in Germany, leaving the tie as good as over ahead of 2009-10 season, 1-0 away and 2-0 at home. “It’s difficult the Parc des Princes clash. because they are a very good team with great players and Added to that, PSG are on a run of five straight victories, LONDON: Newcastle United man- today (Tuesday 11 March 2014) ruled sible.” The incident occurred during that’s the most important thing,” Pellegrini said. having plundered 16 goals in that period, while Leverkusen ager Alan Pardew has been given a the first three matches imposed are a Newcastle’s 4-1 victory at Hull in the “We will try to get the tempo we need to score goals. If only ended a five-match losing streak in drawing 1-1 at record seven match suspension and stadium ban with the remaining four Premier League on March 1, with we can score a goal early Barcelona may be more nervous. Hanover 96 on Saturday. If form and precedence were taken a £60,000 ($100,000, 72,000 euros) a touchline ban. Pardew sent to the stands after into account, there would be no doubt this tie was already “There are so many things affecting the outcome of big games that it is very difficult to know what will be the key fine for headbutting Hull City mid- “Pardew was also fined £60,000 moving his head towards Meyler done and dusted-no team has ever overturned a 4-0 first leg fielder David Meyler, the Football and warned as to his future con- during a touchline confrontation in deficit in a Champions League knock-out tie-but Blanc is not factor. If we have a good day I am absolutely sure we can do it.” Association announced yesterday. duct.” Pardew learnt of his suspen- the second half. one to rest on his laurels. The 52-year-old will be banned sion after appearing before an inde- He apologised in a live television “You always have to be demanding with your team,” said STRANGE GAME from attending Newcastle’s games for pendent disciplinary commission at interview broadcast moments after Blanc. “In the Champions League, qualification is decided in the first three matches of the suspen- Wembley Stadium in London yester- the final whistle, describing his the second match. For now, we don’t have it yet so we have to Pellegrini’s players will take heart from a fine perform- sion, with the remaining four matches day and subsequently released a behaviour as “a heat-of-the- see through qualification. “Whoever plays, we have the desire ance in Germany in their last European away game when to win. That’s important because the biggest teams, even they came from two goals down to beat Group D rivals and to be served as a touchline ban. statement expressing regret for his moment thing”, but was given a when going through difficult periods, they need to concen- defending champions Bayern Munich 3-2 with both teams £100,000 fine and a formal warning trate.” The question of who plays will be an interesting one for already through to the last 16. History is against them, by his club. The stadium ban covers PSG, for whom record-signing Edinson Cavani is available however. Only twice in Champions League history has a Newcastle’s games against Fulham, again having missed Saturday’s 3-0 win at Bastia after going team recovered from a first-leg defeat at home to go Crystal Palace and Everton, while back to Uruguay for personal reasons. through, Ajax Amsterdam achieving the feat in 1995-96 Pardew will be banned from the But in his absence, young Brazilian Lucas Moura has put in and Inter Milan following suit in 2010-11. touchline for fixtures against a couple of impressive performances after a largely disap- Both City and Barca are coming into the match after sur- Southampton, Manchester United, pointing season. If Cavani comes back into the side, it will be prise defeats, Barca going down at lowly Real Valladolid Stoke City and Swansea City. either Lucas or Argentine Ezequiel Lavezzi, who bagged a and slipping to third in La Liga and City losing to second It is not the first time that the for- brace in Corsica, who sits it out. And it is perhaps Lucas’s lack tier Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup quarter-finals. “It was a mer Crystal Palace midfielder has strange game (at Valladolid), but we have to put it behind of goals that will count against him-he has managed just got himself in trouble over his con- us now and not feel sorry for ourselves,” Barca’s Chile for- three in 33 appearances this season. duct on the touchline. “His all-round play is a lot better but for a forward statistics ward Alexis Sanchez said on Monday. “We have to be posi- tive because we have an important game ahead,” he told a In 2006, while manager of West are important and you can’t say a forward is having a great Ham United, an exuberant goal cel- season if he’s not scoring,” said Blanc. news conference. “I am hungry to win and so are all my team mates. We want to win everything, La Liga, the ebration led to a shoving match COUNTER-ATTACK Champions League and the King’s Cup. I don’t know any- with Arsenal manager Arsene “Lavezzi is playing better than he was, he’s creating one in the squad who doesn’t want that.” — Reuters Wenger and in March 2012 he chances for himself and he’s finishing them off. He’s got eight clashed with Sunderland manager goals now so that’s allowing him to rediscover his confidence.” Martin O’Neill. Later that year he Although both players play out wide, their goalscoring shoved an assistant referee in a dis- records pale in comparison with Cavani’s 21 goals, and even pute over a throw-in during more against the 38 plundered by Zlatan Ibrahimovic this sea- Matches on TV Newcastle’s opening game of the son in just 37 league, cup and European matches. (Local Timings) season at Tottenham Hotspur, earn- Whichever three line-up against Leverkusen, the Germans LONDON: This is a March 1, 2014 file photo of Newcastle United’s manager ing him a two-game touchline sus- will have a hard task containing the free-scoring Ligue 1 lead- Alan Pardew (right) as he confronts Hull City’s David Meyler (left) during pension and a £20,000 fine. In ers. And Blanc is happy that whoever he picks will be ready. UEFA Champions League the English Premier League soccer match. — AP January, this year, meanwhile, he “Winning matches is always the best preparation,” he said. “But was obliged to issue an apology we can see that whoever plays, mentally they are ready.” It is the longest ban to be hand- behavior. “As I have made clear, I after being caught on camera Although Bayer have never been beaten over two legs on PSG v Leverkusen 22:45 ed to a Premier League manager deeply regret the incident and again shouting obscenities at Manchester the three previous occasions they have faced French opposi- beIN SPORTS 2 since the English top flight was wholeheartedly apologise to all par- City manager Manuel Pellegrini dur- tion in Europe, they are facing a team unbeaten at home in 27 beIN SPORTS 4 rebranded in 1992. ties for my conduct, which I under- ing a match at St James’ Park. European games, dating back to November 2006 and a 4-2 beIN SPORTS 2 HD “Newcastle United manager Alan stand was not acceptable,” he said. Meyler, a 24-year-old Republic of defeat to Hapoel Tel-Aviv in the UEFA Cup. And if Bayer do have any joy, it will likely have to be on the beIN SPORTS 4 HD Pardew will serve a seven match sus- “I will accept the punishment Ireland international, made light of counter-attack as PSG have played more than twice as many pension with immediate effect, sub- handed down by the FA today his altercation with Pardew when he completed passes in the competition to date than their Barcelona v Man City 22:45 ject to any appeal, after he admitted (Tuesday). My focus now turns to celebrated his goal in Hull’s 3-0 FA German opponents-with 4,592 compared to 2,269. beIN SPORTS 1 an FA misconduct charge,” read a preparing the team for this week- Cup win over Sunderland on statement on the FA website. “An end’s game against Fulham and fin- Sunday by headbutting a corner Leverkusen have also scored less than half as many goals- beIN SPORTS 3 nine to PSG’s 20. Their near-impossible task hasn’t been Independent Regulatory Commission ishing the season as strongly as pos- flag. — AFP beIN SPORTS 1 HD helped, either, by an injury to midfielder Jens Hegeler, who suffered a torn ankle ligament against Hanover and will likely beIN SPORTS 3 HD miss the rest of the season. Defender Emir Spahic is also sus- pended after being sent off in the first leg. — AFP US investment firm builds up stake in Man United

LONDON: A US. investment firm has bought nearly ment company.” a quarter of all the shares available to buy in New Even so, Baron Capital’s stock buildup helps York-listed English soccer club Manchester United explain why Manchester United’s share price has PLC. Shares in the club were up 0.1 percent at $15.85 been slowly rising despite the club’s struggles on in early Tuesday trading, near three month highs. the pitch this season. It has also been fuelled by In 2012, the Glazer family sold 10 percent of its expectation of an announcement of a new Nike kit holding in Manchester United via a stock listing. A deal worth hundreds of millions of dollars. filing on the Securities and Exchange Commission “The Nike deal is still expected to be signed, but showed Baron Capital now owns 24 percent of those has been pushed out from this fiscal year,” Baron shares, leaving it with an overall stake of 2.5 percent. said. Manchester United is one of the most lucrative Because the Glazers, who also own the NFL’s brands in the world of sport even though it’s strug- Tampa Bay Buccaneers, control 90 percent of the gling this season following the departure of long- shares and even more of the voting shares, Baron’s time manager Alex Ferguson. As well as winning last move is not being viewed as a bid to secure a con- year’s Premier League, Manchester United topped trolling interest in the club. On its website, Baron English soccer last season with 363.2 million pounds says it “remains positive” on Manchester United’s ($602 million) worth of revenues. prospects. Currently lying in sixth place in England’s Premier London-based financial analyst Andy Green, who League, it’s facing the prospect of not qualifying for writes a blog on football finance and advises the next season’s Champions League, Europe’s top club Manchester United Supporters’ Trust, said the move competition. Its best remaining chance of qualifying by Baron Capital appeared to be purely an invest- is to win the competition but it faces an uphill task Bin Edan ready for Kuwait Intl Rally ment strategy. of going further following a 2-0 first leg defeat to “This is absolutely not the start of any takeover,” Greece’s Olympiakos in the last 16. KUWAIT: Kuwaiti rally driver, Salah Bin Edan and his naviga- he would do his best to achieve top results in the champi- said Green. “You could buy all the shares available A failure to qualify could dent revenues next sea- tor, the Qatari, Nasser Al-Kawari were in top gear for the onship. “Though the race would be done on relatively easy on the stock market and you would still only have 10 son at a time when new manager David Moyes is Kuwait International Rally 2014 competitions due to kick off plain sandy terrain, it is not easy because a driver will have to percent of the club and about 1.3 percent of the widely expected to embark on an expensive rebuild on March 20. go through 13 phases of tough terrain covering over 500 votes. They have a reputation as a long-term invest- of the squad. — AP Bin Edan, the winner of Kuwait Rallies in 2014, said that, kilometers during which any emergency could sideline the despite being away from races for three years due to injuries, driver from completing the race”, he explained. Nadal and Kun the potential Sharapova key to Man City’s stumble at salvation Indian Wells

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 201417 19

Vettel lags behind off track as well as on it Page 17

MADRID: Atletico’s Diego Costa scores the opening goal during a Champions League, round of 16, second leg, soccer match between Atletico Madrid and AC Milan. — AP Costa propels Atletico into q-finals

MADRID: Atletico Madrid booked their Milan boss Clarence Seedorf had home at the back post by Kaka, though, it his fierce strike came back off the outside place in the quarter-finals of the insisted pre-match that the tie was still took a deflection off Miranda. of the post. Champions League for the first time in 17 open despite losing the first leg at home, The Milan captain then had a great Just as in the first-half Milan grew into Leading CL scorers years as they beat AC Milan 4-1 at the but it looked as if the Italian’s hopes had chance to put his side ahead in the tie on the game as the half progressed and Vicente Calderon to progress 5-1 on been killed off within minutes as Gabi away goal when he nodded Adel Thibaut Courtois had to dive low to his left aggregate yesterday. Diego Costa struck robbed the ball from on the right, fed Taarabt’s inviting cross just over. to parry substitute Robinho’s low drive 11 goals: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/ESP) the winner in the first leg three weeks ago Koke and his cross was hooked home on Just four minutes later, the seven-time across the box. 10 goals: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris Saint- and it took him just three minutes to dou- the volley by Costa for his 28th goal of European champions were left to rue that Diego Simeone’s men did finally get the Germain/FRA) ble Atletico’s advantage as he acrobatical- the season. miss as Garcia chested down for Arda on two-goal cushion on the night they craved 7 goals: Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Lionel ly turned home Koke’s cross. The hosts were dealt a blow moments the edge of the box and his shot can- when Garcia rose highest to power home Messi (Barcelona/ESP) Milan were given hope when Kaka later, though, as Garcia was shown a yel- noned off Adil Rami and past the helpless Gabi’s free-kick 20 minutes from time. 6 goals: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City/ENG), headed home Andrea Poli’s cross on 27 low card that will keep him out of the first Abbiati. Robinho nearly responded immedi- Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund) minutes, but Arda Turan restored leg of their quarter-final tie. Garcia then came within inches of ately as he blasted Kaka’s neat through 5 goals: Alvaro Negredo (Manchester City/ENG), Atletico’s lead on the night before half- After an early burst from Atletico, sealing the tie with a spectacular over- ball onto the bar with Courtois beaten. Arturo Vidal (Juventus/ITA) time when his volley from the edge of the Milan were enjoying plenty of possession head kick from Juanfran’s cross that flew However, it was Atletico who were able 4 goals: Gareth Bale (Real Madrid/ESP), Karim box deflected past Christian Abbiati. midway through the half, but didn’t look just past the far post Atletico had another to round off their first victory in a Benzema (Real Madrid/ESP),Edinson Cavani (Paris Raul Garcia’s header made it 3-1 before threatening until a lovely move opened great chance to put the tie to bed within knockout tie of Europe’s premier club Saint-Germain/FRA), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli/ITA), Costa rounded off a fine individual display up the Spanish side just before the half three minutes of the restart for the sec- competition since 1978 when Costa Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich/GER), Raul Garcia with his seventh Champions League goal hour. Mario Balotelli sprayed the ball ond-half as a rapid counter-attack from a arrowed in his second of the night off (Atletico Madrid). — AFP of the campaign six minutes from time. wide to Poli and his cross was headed Milan corner saw Costa tee up Gabi and the far post. — AFP Bayern advance, but Arsenal earn draw

MUNICH: Holders Bayern Munich booked their place in the first leg, switching from a 4-1-4-1 in London to the 4- the Champions League’s quarter-finals, despite Arsenal 2-3-1 formation used in last season’s European final. earning a 1-1 draw in Bavaria in yesterday’s last 16, sec- Bayern got off a bad start when centre-back Dante was ond-leg clash. booked for a clumsy challenge on Oxlade-Chamberlain A second-half Bastian Schweinsteiger goal gave after only eight minutes. Bayern a brief lead before Arsenal’s Lukas Podolski It was his third of Bayern’s European campaign and equalised with a thunderbolt of a shot as the tie finished means he is suspended for the quarter-final first-leg. 3-1 on aggregate. Bayern earned the first real chance when winger Franck Arsenal, who also went out at the same stage of the Ribery found space on the left and sent in a cross which competition to the same opponents last season, failed Arjen Robben fired over with 19 minutes gone. to overturn their 2-0 deficit from the first leg three Spain’s Javi Martinez had a goal disallowed for offside weeks ago. after 27 minutes, while at the other end Bayern’s Manuel But midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain told ITV they Neuer saved Olivier Giroud’s header. could be proud of their performance in Munich. “We Mario Mandzukic, who headed over, Robben, whose lacked a bit of quality with the final ball. We got into a lot shot was blocked, and Mario Goetze, who forced of dangerous positions but lacked that final cutting-edge Fabianski into a fine save, had chances as Bayern enjoyed ball,” he said. their customary 70 percent possession, although it stayed “The boys put in a great shift tonight, we can take away goalless at the break. positives and be proud of our efforts. “They (Bayern) are Wenger made a key change for the second-half as definitely up there with the best teams but there’s still lot Mesut Ozil, who had hamstring trouble, made way for of good teams in it.” Tomas Rosicky in the attacking midfield role. Amidst hopes of repeating last season’s shock 2-0 win It marked a miserable two legs for the off-form Ozil, MUNICH: Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (center) is tackled by Bayern’s Franck Ribery (left) and Dante during in Munich, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger made six changes who apologised to Gunners fans via Facebook after failing the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match yesterday. — AP from the team which lost to Bayern in London. to convert a key penalty in the first-leg. winger Lukas Podolski robbed Bayern captain Philipp against the backdrop of the court case against Bayern Lukasz Fabianski was named in goal for the suspended Soon after the break referee Svein Oddvar Moen Lahm and fired home from a tight angle giving Manuel president Uli Hoeness, which started Monday. The 1974 Wojciech Szczesny, who was sent off in the first-leg. There ignored Bayern’s penalty appeals when Robben went Neuer no chance. World Cup winner is fighting to avoid a jail term and were only six of the seven permitted replacements named down in the area just before the opening goal. There was drama in added time as Bayern replacement stands accused of having dodged 27.2 million euros amidst reports Japan’s Ryo Miyaichi flew to Germany Ribery found space on the left and crossed inside to Thomas Mueller had a penalty attempt saved by Fabianski ($37.6 million) in taxes by hiding his wealth in Swiss bank despite being ineligible for the Champions League’s Schweinsteiger, playing his first Champions League game after Robben was fouled by centre-back Laurent Koscielny. accounts. A verdict is expected tomorrow and major tax knock-out stages. since November, to drill home on 55 minutes. The result was welcome news in a dark week for the fraud carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in Bayern coach Pep Guardiola made three changes from The lead lasted just two minutes as Arsenal’s Germany Bavarian giants. The Allianz Arena clash was played Germany. — AFP Big housing deal may signal Gulf fund flow into Egypt

Page 22 Business India to cut Iran imports to meet N-deal terms WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 Page 23 All successful Bugatti BoJ holds off fresh easing measures as tax hike looms Legends sold: Al-Zayani Page 25 Page 26

TAIPEI: Taiwan Aborigines pose for a photo in front of a China Airline A330 Airbus during a promotional ceremony to launch the “Visiting Indigenous Tribes of Taiwan Liveried Aircraft “ in Taoyuan, near Taipei yesterday. There are 14 indigenous tribes, consisting of about 530,000 people or two percent of the population in Taiwan. — AFP Emerging economies holding back recovery: OECD Global economic growth remains sluggish

PARIS: The recovery in developed economies is major advanced economies in the first half of sales tax increase on April 1. on track although slowing activity in big 2014 will be somewhat slower than in the sec- The OECD gave its updated forecasts as part emerging markets means global growth will be ond half of 2013.” of an interim health-check for the global econ- only moderate at best in the near term, the The underlying trend for those economies, omy before its much more detailed Economic OECD said yesterday. Exceptionally bad winter however, continues to be of strengthening Outlook due in May. It did not update its esti- weather in North America and a sales tax hike growth, said the OECD, a think tank for the mates for US and Japanese growth in the sec- in Japan are also disrupting the pace of recov- world’s most developed countries, in an update ond quarter because one-off factors made it ery, the Paris-based Organization for Economic to forecasts made in November. too problematic, it said. Cooperation and Development said. Growth for major advanced economies in Turning to Europe, the OECD saw Germany’s Against that backdrop, the OECD urged the the first half of 2014 will be slower than in the quarter-on-quarter annualized growth rate European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan second half of 2013, but much improved from reaching 3.7 percent in the first quarter before to keep up their monetary stimulus, if not the sluggish rates of late 2012 and early 2013, slowing to 2.5 percent. France, the euro-zone’s increase it, while it said the US Federal Reserve the OECD said in an update of its views on the second biggest economy after Germany, was was right to begin winding down its bond-buy- global economy. seen growing only 0.7 percent in the first three ing program. “Given that emerging economies now months of the year, rising to 1 percent in the “The gradual recovery in the advanced account for over half the world economy, con- second quarter. economies is encouraging, even if temporary tinued sub-par economic performance for sev- Outside the euro-zone, the British economy factors have pushed down growth rates in the eral of the major EMEs (emerging market was seen growing 3.3 percent in both the first early months of this year, while the slowdown economies) is likely to mean that global and second quarters. Turning to emerging in emerging economies is likely to be a drag on growth remains only moderate in the near market economies, the OECD said some were global growth,” OECD acting chief economist term,” the OECD said. It estimated growth in seeing a marked loss of momentum as capital Rintaro Tamaki said in a statement. the United States would slow to 1.7 percent in outflows exposed vulnerabilities in some coun- Global growth is likely to remain sluggish as the first quarter from the previous three tries. a slowdown in the developing world undercuts months on an annualized basis, down from 2.4 It noted that Brazil, India, South Africa and gains in Europe and the United States, the percent in the fourth quarter when exception- Turkey among others have been forced to raise OECD warned. ally bad weather weighed on activity. Japanese interest rates to keep capital outflows in check. The OECD said one-off factors like the harsh growth would surge 4.8 percent in the first Meanwhile, weak balance sheets in China winter weather in North America and the US quarter from the previous quarter as con- raised the risk of a sharp slowdown there, the government shutdown mean “growth for the sumers brought forward purchases ahead of a OECD said. — Agencies EU eyes compromise on bank regulation

BRUSSELS: EU finance ministers met yesterday French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici said. games” when closing a bank requires speed to find a compromise with the European “There are only a few things left to do but and effectiveness. Parliament on how to wind up failing banks they are very technical,” Moscovici said, adding: Parliament is also unhappy with the plans for before they can damage the wider economy. “It is essential in my view to stick to the an accompanying fund, paid for by the banking Ministers going into the talks voiced cautious timetable.” After months of difficult negotia- industry, saying it is too unwieldy and its phas- optimism that some progress on ‘banking tions, EU leaders agreed in December what is ing-in period of 10 years too long. The fund is union’ was being made but stressed the need known as the Single Resolution Mechanism, also to be set up under a treaty between mem- to get an agreement they can put before MEPs designed to close failing banks in a safe and ber states, not under EU rules, effectively who oppose the current plans. orderly fashion to avoid a repeat of the debt excluding Parliament from the process. A “Today we will not leave the room unless crisis crash. recent vote in Parliament damned the propos- we get a revised mandate to negotiate with This SRM will work alongside a new regula- als as an “overly complex and politicized deci- the European Parliament,” Greek Finance tor, run by the European Central Bank, that is sion-making process for winding up banks.” Minister Yannis Stournaras said. Greece, current set to supervise the euro-zone’s 130 biggest Finance ministers arriving for yesterday’s holder of the EU’s rotating presidency and so banks starting in November. Closing down a meeting said they hoped for an accord and chair of the meeting, has submitted a compro- bank is a costly and politically charged step offered some leeway, especially on a shorter mise text, Stournaras said, without giving and so EU leaders agreed a decision-making introductory time for the bank closure fund details. “We must get a new mandate, time is structure which gives them the final say and and its legal basis. “I think we have a good running out,” he said, adding that a deal had to minimizes the role of the European chance of (getting) this new mandate and a be reached as soon as possible to allow time Commission, the EU’s executive arm. very good chance of agreement with the for Parliament to approve it before elections in Parliament objected strongly to this propos- European Parliament on a first reading,” May. al and warned again last week it could not Lithuanian Finance Minister Rimantas Sadzius “It is now time to conclude the talks,” accept a formula which allows “political power said. — AFP WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 BUSINESS Emirates REIT Big housing deal may signal to raise $135m in Dubai IPO Gulf fund flow into Egypt

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates’ first real estate investment $40bn contract is one of largest in Middle East trust, Emirates REIT, said yesterday that it planned to raise at least 500 million dirhams ($135 million) through an initial public offer of its shares on the Nasdaq Dubai bourse. The DUBAI/CAIRO: A $40 billion deal for Dubai firm Arabtec to may explain the relatively sluggish reaction of Arabtec Projects company will use the proceeds for possible future acquisi- build one million homes in Egypt may mark the start of shares to the news; they rose only 1.7 percent on Monday. Other areas where Gulf companies are likely to consider tions and investment in existing assets, Abdulla Al-Hamli, politically-inspired Gulf investment in the country’s creak- Local financial firm Arqaam Capital kept its “buy” rating government-backed investments in Egypt include power chairman of its Management Board, told reporters. ing infrastructure, from housing to transport, power gener- on the stock but said it feared Arabtec would enjoy only generation, which has been a constraint on industrial The equity listing would be only the second on either of ation and agriculture. Egypt’s economy is recovering only modest profit margins. It also said the company would face growth, oil and gas extraction, which would earn the coun- Dubai’s two stock exchanges since 2009; Bank of London slowly from the turmoil that followed its 2011 revolution. execution risks, since it had never managed a project near- try badly needed foreign exchange, and agriculture, since and The Middle East, Britain’s largest stand-alone Islamic Its government lacks the cash to build infrastructure, while ly as large. food price inflation threatens political stability. Saeed bank, listed on Nasdaq Dubai last October. New listings dried political and business risks are still far too high for most Ismaik himself indicated he was not counting on big Mohammed Al-Tayer, chief executive of state-owned Dubai up during Dubai’s financial crisis, which erupted in 2009, but companies to invest in projects. But with the Arabtec deal - profits: “We look at the project more as UAE aid to Egypt Electricity and Water Authority, said on Monday he stock prices are now soaring - the main Dubai index is up one of the largest construction contracts ever announced than we look at its expected revenue.” But Arabtec’s over- believed other UAE and Egyptian firms were discussing 153 percent since the end of 2012 - and several IPOs are in in the region - Egyptian and Gulf governments appear to riding motivation may not be commercial; its largest share- energy and petrochemical deals. He did not name the the pipeline, investment banking sources say. have found a formula to channel billions of dollars into the holder is Abu Dhabi state fund Aabar , which owns a 22 firms. REITs invest directly in properties and distribute profits as economy in a way that serves their political and economic percent stake. That makes it a logical vehicle for the UAE’s The UAE’s Dana Gas, a privately-owned firm, said last dividends. The Emirates REIT IPO could draw massive interest interests. economic diplomacy. Even if profits are slim, the firm may month that it was upgrading an Egyptian natural gas pro- because it would be a way for small investors to gain expo- The construction company said on Sunday that it had benefit in other ways from the project. The contract is duction plant to increase its capacity by 25 percent. sure to Dubai’s red-hot property market, where residential agreed with the Egyptian army to build the homes at 13 worth about $8 billion annually, more than five times The Egyptian government owes it $274 million in prices jumped over 20 percent last year and may hit their locations around the country on land provided free by the Arabtec’s 2012 revenues of $1.5 billion; by taking on the unpaid bills, according to Dana; investing in Egypt in line pre-crisis peaks next year. Emirates REIT, which was formed armed forces, which own a large amount of financial assets work, it may at a stroke become one of the largest con- with governments’ wishes could help it recover that mon- in 2010 and complies with Islamic investment principles, and real estate. The deal lets the army-backed government struction contractors in the region. ey. Gulf firms are already active in Egypt’s farm sector. appointed Shuaa Capital and Emirates NBD joint bookrun- tackle a housing shortage that has been a grievance bring- The deal effectively uses some of the UAE’s oil wealth to Since 2007 Abu Dhabi investment firm Jenaan has accu- ners for the IPO. Karim Schoeib, chief executive for investment banking at ing Egyptians onto the streets in the past three years. Army finance overseas growth of one of its leading firms, in mulated about 67,200 hectares of arable land there, grow- Shuaa, said an investor roadshow for the offer would start in chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi can tout the project much the same way that some Chinese construction firms ing wheat for Egyptian consumption. two weeks in Gulf Arab countries, Europe including Britain, in a presidential election campaign which he is expected have moved abroad by working on projects funded by The Arabtec deal “could mark the beginning of similar and possibly the United States. Current shareholders will not to mount this year. By using such deals to shore up the China’s government. Aabar may already be compensating infrastructure projects that involve GCC companies which sell their shares in the IPO; new shares will be issued for the popularity of the Egyptian army, governments in the six- Arabtec in markets other than Egypt; last month the Abu have experience and depth, but also the required financ- offer. The value of the company is not known yet and the IPO nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) can keep at bay the Dhabi fund said it would assign all future construction ing and at the same time the willingness to undertake will be conducted through a book-building process, officials Muslim Brotherhood, an arch-enemy of the Gulf monar- work in its $20 billion real estate portfolio around the such mammoth projects,” said Sfakianakis. — Reuters said. Nasdaq Dubai IPOs usually sell at least 25 percent of a chies. The Islamist movement ruled Egypt until its over- world to the Dubai company. company. As of last December, Emirates REIT had 10 proper- throw by the military last year. ties comprising 1.2 million square feet of net leasable area; Gulf companies awarded such projects can gain market its total assets were valued at about $333 million, it said. Net share in Egypt with only moderate risk, since they have the profit climbed to $34.8 million last year from $10.9 million in backing and protection of their governments. In Arabtec’s 2012 and $1.2 million in 2011. Emirates REIT focuses on case, the deal could help to transform it from a mid-sized properties within Dubai but its investments may extend to firm into a regional construction giant. other emirates in the UAE, officials said. Dubai Islamic Bank “We’ll see similar deals in the coming period, whether it currently owns 30.9 percent of the firm, two units of the is in energy, oil and gas, roads,” Karim Awad, co-chief exec- Dubai Holding conglomerate own a combined 27.1 percent, utive of EFG-Hermes, Egypt’s biggest investment bank, Emirates NBD owns 4.5 percent, Egyptian investment bank told Reuters. “Investors from the GCC are also showing EFG-Hermes has 4.2 percent and Dubai property developer interest in developing those sectors, including renewable Deyaar has 3.4 percent. — Reuters energy.” Egypt’s assistant minister of investment Neveen El Shafei said talks with potential Gulf investors “on various Aramco to produce levels and different sectors are ongoing, and we hope more deals will be concluded in the near future”. The gas for phosphate importance of the Arabtec deal goes well beyond its eco- nomic impact, said John Sfakianakis, chief investment project, power plant strategist at MASIC, a Saudi Arabian investment firm. “It’s a state capitalist project of trans-national magni- KHOBAR: Saudi Aramco plans to produce 200 million cubic feet tude that basically tells the world that the GCC will be per day (cfd) of unconventional natural gas by 2018 to supply a there to support Egypt no matter what,” he said. new phosphate project and a power plant, an industry source said. OPEC member Saudi Arabia aims to develop shale gas for pow- Aid er generation in order to save more of its crude oil for export. Aramco is keen to increase gas output as it can fetch $100 per bar- Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have rel by exporting crude oil versus around $4 if it sells it to a Saudi promised over $12 billion in aid to Egypt since last July, power plant. CEO Khalid Al-Falih said last year the company was when the army ousted President Mohammad Morsi, who ready to commit gas for the development of a 1,000 megawatt was backed by the Brotherhood. Large sums of additional power plant which will feed a phosphate mining project that Saudi aid are expected. In the initial months, the donors focused Arabian Mining Co (Maaden) is developing for the Waad Al-Shamal on averting a financial crisis, stabilizing Egypt’s foreign Mining City. “40 million cfd will go to the phosphate project of exchange reserves and helping the government to pay its Waad Al-Shamal while 160 million cfd will go to Saudi Electricity Co operating costs. The Arabtec deal signals they have now for a power plant,” the industry source said. begun trying to engineer stronger growth for the Egyptian Oil minister Ali Al-Naimi has said Saudi Arabia has estimated economy, hoping to ease political tensions by cutting CAIRO: The $40 billion deal by Arabtec to build one million homes in Egypt may mark the start of Gulf investment unconventional gas reserves of more than 600 trillion cubic feet, unemployment and raising living standards. in the country’s creaking infrastructure, from housing to transport, power generation and agriculture. more than double its proven conventional reserves. That would Construction of Arabtec’s “middle-income” homes is put Saudi Arabia fifth in a 32-country shale gas reserves ranking expected to start in the third quarter of this year, with the compiled for the US Energy Information Administration. Saudi first to be delivered in early 2017 and the whole project to Aramco is exploring and has made appraisals in the northwest be completed before 2020, the company said. Some Britain’s Close Brothers area, the Eastern Province and in the Empty Quarter. It is drilling in details of the plan have not been released and some have the south of Ghawar, the northwest and Jafurah which lies not been decided. But Arabtec’s chief executive Hasan profit lifted by lending between Al Ahsa and Qatar. Ismaik told Reuters that initial financing would be provid- One obstacle is finding water needed to release natural gas ed by the UAE government, while the rest would come in from rock, shale or compacted sand formations. Saudi Arabia aims MANAMA: British lender Close Brothers Group Plc posted a 21 tions continue on AIM, London’s junior exchange. Increased the form of advance payments and instalments paid by the to use either sea water or liquefied petroleum gas, the latter a tech- percent rise in first-half operating profit driven by growth in its primary market activity, stronger retail trading volumes and nique being developed by North American companies. home buyers. loan book at its core banking division. The company’s key rising equity markets all encouraged retail investors to “Water is always an issue, it is an issue in North America when The homes will be bought over periods of 10 to 20 banking business posted a 14 percent rise in adjusted operat- increase their risk appetite in the first half of the financial year, they have much more water than we have here in this region,” years, and Arabtec has reached agreements with 40 banks ing profit to 89.6 million pounds as its loan book grew 5 per- Close Brothers said in a statement. It added that Winterflood Amin Al-Nasser senior vice president of upstream at Aramco said at to provide financing to the buyers, Ismaik said. Last month, cent to 4.9 billion pounds. had benefited from this tentative revival in market sentiment an industry conference in Manama on Sunday. “We are looking at Egypt’s central bank said it would deposit low-cost funds The banking business, which accounts for 82 percent of as its adjusted operating profit rose 81 percent to 13.4 million using sea water, we are working with lots of companies. at banks so the money could be lent on as cheap mort- the company’s overall profit, lends to people and small and pounds. Winterflood, the backbone of Close Brothers’ securi- Schlumberger is one of them in terms of using water fracking. We gages. By giving a central role in the project to a UAE com- medium-sized businesses, and provides deposit-taking servic- ties unit, offers trading services to institutional investors. are confident that technology will be developed and if we have to pany, the Arabtec deal appears to ease at least partly a es. Close Brothers’ shares were up 2.7 percent at 1479 pence at Overall adjusted operating profit rose to 97.2 million use water as I said we are looking at using sea water,” said Nasser. concern of the Gulf donors: that their money could be 0853 GMT on the London Stock Exchange yesterday. pounds ($161.66 million) in the six months ended Jan. 31, “The focus area for us is unconventional gas....the cost of uncon- wasted through corruption or Egypt’s inefficient bureau- The company, whose services include merchant banking, from 80.5 million pounds a year earlier. Assets under manage- ventional is as you know on the high side and so the question is cracy. It is not clear that the project will be very profitable securities dealing and wealth management, said its ment rose 2 percent to 9.3 billion pounds. Close Brothers said how do we do it economically,” he told the conference. — Reuters for Arabtec, which is listed on the Dubai stock market. This Winterflood securities business would benefit from a stronger it would pay an interim dividend of 16.5 pence per share, a 10 cyclical recovery this year, particularly if current market condi- percent increase on last year. — Reuters EXCHANGE RATES

Philippine Peso 0.006358 0.006638 Syrian Pound 2.955 Sierra Leone 0.000062 0.000068 Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. UAE Exchange Centre WLL Nepalese Rupees 3.900 Singapore Dollar 0.219262 0.22562 Malaysian Ringgit 86.850 South African Rand 0.020184 0.028884 ASIAN COUNTRIES COUNTRY SELL DRAFT SELL CASH Chinese Yuan Renminbi 46.335 Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001865 0.002445 Japanese Yen 2.732 Australian Dollar 259.05 256.05 Thai Bhat 9.690 Taiwan 0.009189 0.009369 Indian Rupees 4.632 Canadian Dollar 257.62 258.62 Turkish Lira 127.050 Pakistani Rupees 2.729 Swiss Franc 326.02 324.02 Thai Baht 0.008381 0.008931 Srilankan Rupees 2.158 Euro 394.72 395.72 Bahrain Exchange Company Nepali Rupees 2.896 US Dollar 281.40 284.40 Arab Singapore Dollar 223.180 Sterling Pound 473.05 476.05 Bahraini Dinar 0.741953 0.749953 Hongkong Dollar 36.351 Japanese Yen 2.78 2.80 CURRENCY BUY SELL Egyptian Pound 0.036772 0.039872 Bangladesh Taka 3.623 Bangladesh Taka 3.622 3.892 Europe Iranian Riyal 0.000078 0.000079 Philippine Peso 6.355 Indian Rupee 4.607 4.907 Belgian Franc 0.007332 0.008332 Iraqi Dinar 0.000181 0.000241 Thai Baht 8.754 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.157 2.592 British Pound 0.462277 0.471277 Jordanian Dinar 0.393730 0.401230 Irani Riyal transfer 0.271 Nepali Rupee 2.894 3.429 Czech Korune 0.006264 0.018264 Kuwaiti Dinar 1.0000000 1.0000000 Irani Riyal cash 0.273 Pakistani Rupee 2.788 2.790 Danish Krone 0.048291 0.053291 Lebanese Pound 0.000137 0.000237 Euro 0.385259 0.393259 Moroccan Dirhams 0.024316 0.048316 GCC COUNTRIES UAE Dirhams 76.68 77.15 Bahraini Dinar 748.97 751.04 Norwegian Krone 0.043228 0.048428 Nigerian Naira 0.001114 0.001749 Saudi Riyal 75.257 Omani Riyal 0.726824 0.732504 Qatari Riyal 77.543 Egyptian Pound 40.42 41.02 Romanian Leu 0.086667 0.86667 Jordanian Dinar 400.50 406.15 Slovakia 0.008066 0.018066 Qatar Riyal 0.076790 0.078003 Omani Riyal 733.110 Saudi Riyal 0.074603 0.075303 Bahraini Dinar 749.570 Omani Riyal 731.82 739.12 Swedish Krona 0.040128 0.045128 Syrian Pound 0.002162 0.002382 UAE Dirham 76.856 Qatari Riyal 77.71 78.26 Swiss Franc 0.314266 0.324466 Saudi Riyal 75.17 75.57 Turkish Lira 0.125432 0.132432 Tunisian Dinar 0.175706 0.183706 ARAB COUNTRIES Turkish Lira 0.125432 0.132432 Egyptian Pound - Cash 39.250 Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Australasia UAE Dirhams 0.075837 0.076986 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 40.089 Australian Dollar 0.246149 0.257649 Yemeni Riyal 0.001281 0.001361 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.318 New Zealand Dollar 0.232670 0.241170 Tunisian Dinar 180.370 Rate for Transfer Selling Rate Jordanian Dinar 398.530 US Dollar 281.900 America Al Mulla Exchange Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.893 Canadian Dollar 256.355 Canadian Dollar 0.248103 0.256603 Syrian Lira 2.011 Sterling Pound 470.375 US Dollars 0.278050 0.282400 Morocco Dirham 35.709 Euro 392.508 US Dollars Mint 0.278550 0.282400 Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000) Swiss Frank 321.250 US Dollar 281.600 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES Bahrain Dinar 744.350 Asia Euro 391.900 US Dollar Transfer 282.100 UAE Dirhams 76.730 Bangladesh Taka 0.003293 0.003893 Pound Sterling 469.750 Euro 394.940 Qatari Riyals 78.280 Chinese Yuan 0.044791 0.048291 Canadian Dollar 254.850 Sterling Pound 475.200 Saudi Riyals 76.040 Hong Kong Dollar 0.034266 0.037016 Indian Rupee 4.633 Canadian dollar 256.450 Jordanian Dinar 397.280 Indian Rupee 0.004372 0.004773 Egyptian Pound 40.090 Turkish lira 127.970 Egyptian Pound 40.444 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.157 Swiss Franc 714.180 Indonesian Rupiah 0.000019 0.000025 Sri Lankan Rupees 2.157 Japanese Yen 0.002646 0.002828 Bangladesh Taka 3.625 Australian Dollar 258.250 Indian Rupees 4.648 Philippines Peso 6.330 US Dollar Buying 280.900 Kenyan Shilling 0.003256 0.003256 Pakistani Rupees 2.819 Korean Won 0.000254 0.000269 Pakistan Rupee 2.810 Bangladesh Taka 3.621 Malaysian Ringgit 0.082334 0.088334 Bahraini Dinar 749.850 GOLD Philippines Pesso 6.330 UAE Dirham 76.700 Nepalese Rupee 0.002842 0.003012 20 Gram 240.000 Cyprus pound 692.400 Saudi Riyal 75.200 Pakistan Rupee 0.002570 0.002850 10 Gram 121.000 Japanese Yen 3.725 *Rates are subject to change 5 Gram 62.500 p23_Layout 1 3/11/14 11:12 PM Page 1

BUSINESS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 Cyprus names new central banker

NICOSIA: Cyprus yesterday appointed a tough cam- woman to be appointed as the island’s top banker. down his rift with the island’s top banker saying Demetriades came under criticism for his han- paigner against government waste and corruption Demetriades, whose performance came under fire Demetriades wanted to pursue his academic career dling of a 10-billion-euro ($13.8-billion) internation- as new central bank governor after current chief over the island’s banking crisis last year, resigned on rather than remain in the eye of the storm. “We may al bailout last year to rescue the island’s banking Panicos Demetriades unexpectedly quit. Monday. In a statement, Demetriades said: “It is with have had different approaches at some point but system from collapse. The bank chief was at the Auditor general Chrystalla Georghadji has been mixed feelings that I have submitted my resignation we should be judged on our accountability rather helm during negotiations to navigate Cyprus appointed as new head of the Bank with effect from from the post of Governor ... mainly for personal than empathy,” Anastasiades told reporters. through the crisis that led to Nicosia agreeing a April 11, a government statement said. President and family reasons.” “During my tenure my actions The resignation of Demetriades, 55, less than painful bailout involving an unprecedented haircut Nicos Anastasiades earlier yesterday “contacted were always aimed at ensuring confidence and sta- two years into the five-year job, takes effect on April on deposits. Cyprus shut its banks for two weeks European Central Bank president Mario Draghi who bility in our financial system and I always acted in 10, in keeping with the month’s notice in his con- during the bailout crisis and introduced strict capi- was informed of the decision”, it said. Georghadji, the best interests of our country,” he added. tract. Last September, Anastasiades criticised the tal controls which have been relaxed but are still in 58, has been auditor general since 1998 with a brief Local media said the real reasons for his resigna- governor’s performance and said that he no longer place. Anastasiades accused Demetriades of being to monitor public spending. In her annual reports tion were his unworkable relationship with a hostile had confidence in him. The rightist leader said he slow to respond to the economic fallout. she has highlighted and campaigned against central bank board and his continued confrontation was seeking legal action to remove Demetriades, But the European central bank warned against unnecessary waste and corruption in public life. with Anastasiades who tried to have him sacked last since under the Cyprus constitution a central bank political pressure on the governor, who refused to The former finance ministry official is the first September. Yesterday, Anastasiades tried to play governor can only be dismissed by the courts. stand down. — AFP India to cut Iran oil imports to meet N-deal parameters Imports should average 195,000 bpd from Jan 20 to July 20

NEW DELHI: India has to cut its Iranian oil first quarter, according to loading figures provid- Private refiner Essar Oil will be the biggest imports by nearly two-thirds from the first quar- ed by one of the sources. The figures included Indian buyer of Iran’s oil this financial year, ter after the United States asked it to hold the lifting plans for 345,000 bpd during January. replacing state-owned Mangalore Refinery and shipments at end-2013 levels, in keeping with Tanker arrival data, meanwhile, compiled by Petrochemical. Essar will have lifted about 30 the nuclear deal easing sanctions on Tehran, Reuters put India’s January intake of crude from percent higher than its contract volume of Indian government sources said. Iran at 412,000 bpd, double the daily arrival 80,000 bpd, said another government source. A India, with the increases already made in the average for December. jump in Essar’s Iran oil imports comes as Iran is January-March loading plans from Iran, has to The sources said the loading increases mean giving India a discount on crude and offering cut its purchases of the crude to about 110,000 Indian refiners have to cut their buys of Iranian free delivery. Essar has offered to take about 5.36 barrels per day (bpd) to drop its intake average oil to about 110,000 bpd over the April 1-July 20 million barrels in March from Iran, taking its to 195,000 bpd for the six months to July 20. period to meet the ceiling of 195,000 bpd. For annual purchases to 105,000 bpd. MRPL’s oil Under the Nov 24 agreement between Iran the fiscal year to March 31, India’s oil purchases imports from Iran will average about 84,000 bpd and six world powers, the OPEC member was to from Iran are likely to be down about a fifth to this fiscal year versus contract levels of 80,000 BRUSSELS: An unidentified adviser speaks with German Finance Minister Wolfgan hold oil exports at “current volumes” of about 1 214,300 bpd, according to the loading data, bpd, the third government source said. No Schaeuble (right) prior to an Economic and Financial Affairs meeting at the EU head- million bpd, and a message delivered by a top sharper than a 15 percent reduction requested immediate comment was available from the quarters in Brussels yesterday. — AFP US energy policy official to Indian ministries in by Washington to win a waiver on sanctions. companies. — Reuters February was the first clear sign of low tolerance for any increases. German recovery on track Since the interim deal was signed, purchases of Iranian oil by its top four buyers - China, India, as imports, exports rise Japan and South Korea - have been creeping up and together they have taken 1.25 million bar- FRANKFURT: Economic recovery in stabilize at the start of the year,” said rels per day (bpd) in January against a daily aver- Germany appears to be on track as demand BayernLB economist Stefan Kipar. “Today’s age of about 935,900 bpd for all of 2013. for German-made goods increased both at data were better than expected, not just “It is a fact that they (the United States) have home and abroad, official trade data because exports rose more strongly than asked us that Iran’s exports to India should not showed yesterday. expected, but also because exports to the exceed 195,000 bpd between January to July After adjustment for seasonal blips, euro-zone were positive,” Kipar said. and we have said that we’ll take care of that,” Germany exported goods worth 94.5 bil- “The sharp rise in imports is similarly said one of the government sources, all of whom lion euros ($131 billion) in January, an positive because it points to a pick-up in requested anonymity because of the sensitivity increase of 2.2 percent from the level in domestic demand and takes ammunition of the issue. The US official could not be reached December, the federal statistics office away from the heated debate about the for comment. Tehran and Western world powers Destatis said. And imports-a yardstick of German current account surplus,” the are working through a landmark deal that runs domestic demand-rose even more strongly, expert said. Natixis economist Johannes from Jan. 20 to July 20 that requires Iran to curb climbing 4.2 percent to 77.3 billion euros. Gareis said the trade data were “in line with its nuclear program in return for a calibrated Because imports rose more strongly than our expectations of a strengthening global release of $4.2 billion it is owed in back pay- exports, the trade surplus-the balance recovery, while German imports growth ments for its oil. between imports and exports-narrowed. remains robust due to Germany’s healthy Tough international sanctions over the past Germany’s booming trade surplus has domestic economy.” Gareis noted that the two years have cut Iran’s oil exports in half, been the target of a great deal of interna- dynamic of imports in January was driven measures that starved it of hard currency and tional criticism in recent months, with crit- mainly by German demand for goods from helped lead it to the nuclear deal last November. ics arguing that its economic prowess its euro-zone neighbors. While relaxation of sanctions has made oil comes at the expense of the eurozone’s “In this respect, the data offer some exports easier to arrange and buyers no longer weaker members. relief for the German growth locomotive to have to keep reducing purchases, they were The critics argue that Germany needs to do more to rebalance the euro area,” Gareis meant to keep import volumes unchanged from boost domestic demand and so help its EU said. Last week, the EU Commission in the end of last year. PIRAEUS: A dock worker with a “Not for sale” sign on his vest takes part in a protest against partners by spurring export-driven growth Brussels said that Germany’s huge current India, though, is already on track to average government plans to further privatize the harbor of Piraeus, Greece’s busiest, in Piraeus, yes- in their economies rather than continue to account surplus is a source of economic crude loadings of 322,200 bpd from Iran in the terday. — AP rely mostly on its own exports for growth. imbalance in Europe. “Nobody wants to But the latest trade data, with the strong criticise Germany for having a strong exter- increase in imports, appear to suggest such nal demand and competitiveness,” the EU’s criticisms are misplaced. Commissioner for Economic and Monetary French business under no While German exports to its euro-zone Affairs Olli Rehn said on the presentation of partners rose by 3.2 percent year-on-year in a new report. “I want see every EU member January, exports to countries outside states be as competitive as Germany,” he Europe jumped by 9.1 percent. And said. But “at the same time, Germany-and illusions about challenges imports from the euro area climbed by 4.0 to some extent the rest of Europe-would percent, while imports from outside Europe benefit from stronger domestic investment contracted by 1.9 percent. and reinforced domestic demand in PARIS: French companies see little hope for while, is facing a predicted 10-12 percent “Will there be large projects in France in “The euro area economy continued to Germany,” Rehn said. — AFP domestic growth this year and are stepping up slide in sales of new homes this year, with the next few months or years? The answer is efforts to cut costs and fine-tune product lines Standard & Poor’s forecasting a 3 percent probably not very many, at least with the to contend with stubbornly tough market con- drop in house prices after a 2 percent dip in French government as the final client,” Vinci Boosting Ethiopia’s economic ditions. While the economies of Germany, 2013. Builders Bouygues, Vinci and Eiffage Chief Executive Xavier Huillard told analysts. Britain and even Ireland have made significant have all been pinning their hopes on orders One important exception is a pending 3.6 progress, France has produced a mixed bag of abroad while focusing on higher-margin proj- billion euro public-private deal to improve growth with building boom macroeconomic data and was warned by the ects at home. Bouygues, for example, is the country’s motorway network, involving ADDIS ABABA: Above Addis Ababa’s con- construction is also a symptom of the weak- EU last week that it is lagging behind euro zone revamping the Ritz Hotel in Paris. Vinci, Eiffage and Abertis unit Sanef. But for crete skyline, cranes tower high amid blasts ness of the financial system, which leaves peers and not doing enough to cut labor costs, Vinci and Eiffage acknowledged that a the time being, local elections this month from nearby drills and diggers. At the feet of the business community with few invest- trim public spending and boost competitive- large chunk of their domestic revenue came could prompt mayors to put projects on hold, buildings shrouded in bamboo scaffolding, ment opportunities outside of the sector. ness. from public projects, notably a high-speed especially road-building plans. excavators dig up dirt tracks, to be replaced “This is the most attractive investment Unveiling 2013 results over the past month, railway linking the central city of Tour to It should come as no surprise, therefore, by paved roads and a modern railway. opportunity in the country for the time the bosses of some of France’s top companies Bordeaux on the west coast. that French stocks dumped by investors dur- It is a scene common to most neighbor- being since we do not have a financial mar- had a common message on the euro zone’s sec- Eiffage said that small-to-mid-scale proj- ing the economic crisis have failed to match hoods in the Ethiopian capital, which has ket that is working properly,” said the head ond-biggest economy: they don’t expect the ects such as construction or repairs to hospi- the recovery of Germany’s DAX index. turned into a giant building zone and a city of the IMF mission in Ethiopia, Jan country to be worse off in 2014, but neither are tals and universities remain its bread and Yet the recent sell-off in emerging markets in transformation. “It looks like a construc- Mikkelsen. they counting on any clear improvement. Key butter, but Vinci warned that public orders has provided a silver lining for those stocks tion site when we compare from the previ- “There’s no financial markets, no stock industrial sectors are at 20-year lows and could dry up as President Francois Hollande’s with most exposure to the French market. ous time,” said Berhanu Kassa, manager of B exchange, so real estate investments seem unemployment is stuck above 10 percent, government seeks 50 billion euros ($69.31 Shares in companies from carmakers and B Construction in the Ethiopian capital. to be the most attractive from that point of crimping the household consumption that has billion) in budget savings from 2015 to 2017 builders to telecoms group Orange have “Especially in the past five years, it’s a view,” he added. been a traditional driver of growth. to bring public finances into line with EU tar- achieved gains of 16-24 percent since the really big change,” he added, speaking at The majority of the new buildings are Construction companies fear that state spend- gets. start of the year. — Reuters the site of his latest project, a mixed-use hotels, apartments and offices. Most are ing - the one factor supporting domestic busi- commercial building on one of the city’s being built by Ethiopian-owned construc- ness - will be a casualty of government efforts main thoroughfares where workers offload tion firms, though foreign-owned contrac- to reduce the public deficit. concrete slabs from a delivery truck. Addis tors from China or Turkey are cashing in too. There was more downbeat news on Monday Ababa’s construction boom-funded both The government said the big push in the when the French central bank forecast that the from private and public coffers-is being sector-which is bolstered by state-led incen- economy will grow by 0.2 percent in the first driven by the country’s recent rapid eco- tives such as tax breaks and ready access to quarter, down from 0.3 percent growth in the nomic growth. But the government hopes it land-is driven by the need to create jobs for fourth quarter of 2013. Separate data showed will attract further investment and help Ethiopia’s 91 million people, about one in industrial output fell 0.2 percent in January, industrialize the economy in order to reach four of whom are unemployed. against analysts’ expectations of a rise. middle income status by 2025. The public “We are struggling to eradicate poverty January consumer spending also shrank works projects, worth billions of dollars, and create jobs,” said Desalegne Ambaw, unexpectedly, with falling car sales weighing include new roads, railways and massive state minister for urban development and particularly heavily. The 2 percent decline in power generation schemes across the coun- construction. spending represented the biggest drop in two try. Meanwhile the majority of new build- Officials say four million jobs have been years. “We just have to get used to this environ- ings are owned by private investors, who by created in the last three years, including an ment and not hope for a way out of this crisis law must be Ethiopian citizens. increase in construction sector employ- that may not happen,” Xavier de Mezerac, The development promises to boost ment.But Mikkelsen warns that resources finance chief of supermarket chain Auchan, Ethiopia’s economic growth, officially 9.7 should not be pooled too heavily into infra- said on Monday as he forecast anemic domes- percent last year, though the International structure projects, no matter how crucial for tic demand this year. Like many rivals, France’s Monetary Fund (IMF) pegs it at closer to development. fifth-largest food retailer has been cutting seven percent. “The basic engine blocks of “There is a need for construction, but of prices and has even put smaller, cheaper goods economic transformation are the infrastruc- course there’s a limit to how much you can on its shelves at the end of each month to ture,” said Zemedeneh Negatu, managing get out of that and these are potential appeal to workers anxiously awaiting their pay partner and Ernst & Young in Ethiopia. “The resources that could have been used for cheques. Carmakers Renault and PSA Peugeot Achilles heel of Africa is power, lack of pow- other means and maybe more export-ori- Citroen have already cut staff and wages to er, lack of road networks, lack of the basic ented businesses as well given that there is adjust capacity to a demand slump that sent needs that you need to transform your an urgent need for more foreign output to a 20-year low in 2013, though economy.” exchange,” he said. Renault has enjoyed notable export success Imports outweigh exports by a factor of with its low-cost Dacia brand. Few other opportunities four, according to IMF data, which starves But analysts point out that the boom in the country of foreign exchange. —AFP Fewer ‘grand projects’ STUTTGART: Employees of German car producer Porsche work on a Porsche 918 Spyder in the The shrinking construction sector, mean- Porsche factory in Stuttgart, southwestern Germany, yesterday. — AFP BUSINESS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 Asian shares tick up after sell-off

HONG KONG: Asia’s markets rose yesterday fol- Shanghai advanced 0.10 percent, or 2.09 expecting it to hold steady on monetary policy Thieliant from London-based Capital In other markets lowing big losses in the previous session but points, to 2,001.16 and Hong Kong was almost but hoping it would give some idea of its plans Economics. Singapore closed up 0.09 percent, or 2.77 investors were largely unmoved by the Bank of unchanged, edging up 4.68 points to 22,269.61. for the scheme. points, at 3,129.40. DBS bank eased 0.31 Japan’s decision to stand pat on its stimulus pro- Global markets suffered a sell-off on Monday The bank said it would keep its powder dry US, Russia trade barbs percent to Sg$16.05, while oil rig maker gram. in response to a shock trade deficit in China that for now, adding the economy was picking up, The yen dipped slightly after the Keppel Corp rose 1.13 percent to Sg$10.76. The gains came despite a negative lead from raised fears about the world’s number two econ- despite slowing growth in the last quarter of announcement. The dollar was quoted at Kuala Lumpur’s main stock index gained Wall Street, while the dollar and euro edged up omy while Japan revised down its growth for 2013 and fears that a sales tax hike due next 103.30 yen in the afternoon, against 103.26 0.36 percent, or 6.49 points, to 1,828.55. slightly against the yen. Tokyo added 0.69 per- 2013. month will dent the recovery. yen in New York Monday, while the euro Telekom Malaysia added 0.2 percent to cent, or 103.97 points, to 15,224.11, Seoul On Wall Street, the Dow fell 0.21 percent, the “The Bank of Japan’s decision to stay the fetched 143.30 yen compared with 143.28 5.92 ringgit, while utility Tenaga Nasional climbed 0.48 percent, or 9.56 points, to close at S&P 500 dipped 0.05 percent and the Nasdaq course at today’s meeting came as no surprise, yen. The single currency was also quoted at was up 0.2 percent to 11.96. Budget carrier 1,963.87 and Sydney was flat, edging up 2.3 gave up 0.04 percent. Investors had been wait- but we remain convinced that further easing $1.3865 against $1.3875. AirAsia lost 0.4 percent to 2.51 ringgit. points to 5,413.8. ing for the BoJ’s two-day meeting to end will be required in coming months,” said Marcel Tensions in Ukraine also remain on the Bangkok rose 1.13 percent or 15.23 points radar as world leaders struggle to find a to 1,364.28. diplomatic solution to the crisis. On Coal producer Banpu fell 1.92 percent to Monday US Secretary of State John Kerry 25.50 baht while Bangkok Bank rose 1.15 refused to attend talks in Moscow after his percent to 176.50 baht. Jakarta ended up Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov snubbed 0.58 percent, or 26.97 points, at 4,704.21. Kiev’s interim leaders. State miner Aneka Tambang rose 1.36 Lavrov denounced Kerry for turning percent to 1,115 rupiah, while conglomer- down an invitation to meet but Washington ate Astra International lost 0.34 percent to hit back that the time was not right as there 7,250 rupiah. Mumbai fell 0.49 percent or was no sign that Russian President Vladimir 108.41 points to end at 21,826.42 points. Putin was prepared to negotiate. Tata Steel shed 5.52 percent to 344.15 Washington has led global efforts to defuse rupees per share and Financial Technologies tensions since Russian troops deployed last fell 4.99 percent to 382.60 rupees per share. week in Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula follow- Taipei rose 0.43 percent, or 37.09 points, ing the ouster of the pro-Moscow president to 8,702.33. Taiwan Semiconductor Viktor Yanukovych. Oil prices edged up. Manufacturing Co. rose 0.88 percent to New York’s main contract, West Texas Tw$114.0 while Hon Hai fell 0.47 percent to Intermediate for April delivery, was up 18 Tw$84.2. cents at $101.09 101.30 and Brent North Wellington fell 0.31 percent, or 15.90 Sea crude for April rose one cent to points, to 5,101.94. Fletcher Building slipped $108.09. 1.7 percent to NZ$9.69 and telecoms firm Gold fetched $1,348.55 an ounce at Chorus added 0.6 percent to NZ$1.57. 1050 GMT compared with $1,339.80 late Manila added 0.65 percent, or 42.35 points, Monday. to 6,529.58. -— AFP

NEW YORK: Glenn Kessler (left) works with fellow traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. World stock markets steadied yesterday after a sell-off the day before. —AP

Oil rises, spurred by new Ukraine tensions

LONDON: Brent oil futures rose above erendum on March 16 on joining Russia. $108.50 a barrel yesterday, supported by Kiev has branded the move illegal. building tensions in the Ukraine crisis as Oil is also drawing support from the the West threatened sanctions against worsening crisis in Libya. The North African Russia as early as this week. But concerns nation stopped a North Korean-flagged over demand growth in the world’s two tanker that had loaded oil from a rebel-held biggest oil consumers, the United States port, after naval forces briefly exchanged and China, kept prices under pressure. fire with the rebels, officials said. Brent futures traded 53 cents higher at But in a sign of the chaos and conflicting $108.61 a barrel by 1013 GMT. U.S. crude information typical for Libya, rebel leader was up 35 cents at $101.47 a barrel. Ibrahim Jathran denied in a televised state- In the worst East-West standoff since the ment broadcast from a ship that he had Cold War, France said sanctions against lost control of the oil tanker. Russia could be imposed as early as this week if Moscow failed to respond positively Demand risks to an initiative to calm the crisis. Indicating a weak demand outlook, US Ukraine said it would raise a new nation- crude inventories are expected to have al guard force in response to Russian risen last week as a bitter cold spell ends attempts to annex Crimea, a day after a and as refiners take down plants for sched- pro-Russian force opened fire while seizing uled maintenance. That forecast followed a Ukrainian military base there. data from China showing a sharp drop in “Although events in the Ukraine were exports, pointing to weak economic activi- not the headline maker yesterday there ty. Other risk assets such as Asian markets were no signs of any sort of diplomatic and base metals found their feet after a breakthrough. If anything the confronta- rocky ride the previous session, though tion worsened with Russia tightening its uncertainty about the true state of China’s grip on the Crimea. If the referendum goes economy kept the mood brittle. Traders ahead next Sunday a selloff later in the were also eyeing OPEC’s monthly supply- week has to be budgeted for,” PVM analyst and-demand report today, which will be David Hufton said in a note. The Crimean followed by that of the International regional assembly last week called for a ref- Energy Agency on Friday. — Reuters Gold firm on fund inflows; China SINGAPORE: Gold was steady near $1,340 ing their worst stand off since the Cold an ounce yesterday as fears of an econom- War. ic slowdown in China and Ukraine’s Weak Chinese exports data for geopolitical crisis keep investors seeking February is also making investors opt for safe-haven bullion. In a sign of investor safe-haven gold rather than equities. SPDR confidence in the precious metal amid Gold Trust said its holdings rose 7.50 tons global uncertainties, the world’s biggest to 812.70 tons on Monday - the biggest bullion-backed exchange-traded fund saw inflow since Feb 13. “We will be trading its largest inflow in a month on Monday. sideways for a while as Ukraine tensions Traders expect the metal to be well- remain high and these renewed China supported between $1,330 and $1,350, fears are making people nervous,” said a with the next big movement expected Singapore-based trader. from the US Federal Reserve’s policy meet- “Markets are now looking at the Fed. It ing next week. remains to be seen if the weather will have “Gold continues to be largely support- an impact on the Fed’s stimulus outlook.” ed above $1,329, and while prices are The Fed holds its next policy meeting on unlikely to break above $1,361.60 in the March 18-19 at which it is most likely to absence of war, underlying support from announce another $10 billion cut to its the Ukrainian crisis ... is likely to keep bond-buying stimulus. prices elevated above $1,320 for an Recent US economic data has shown extended time,” said Joyce Liu, an analyst that growth has been hurt by severe cold at Phillip Futures. weather. In the physical market, Chinese Spot gold had inched up 0.3 percent to prices continued to trade at a discount to $1,342.60 an ounce by 0725 GMT. It ended spot prices due to weak demand. Prices in flat on Monday after earlier dropping as Shanghai were at a discount of $3 an much as 0.8 percent. Gold traders are ounce to London prices, compared with a watching developments in the Ukraine cri- premium of over $20 at the beginning of sis, over which the West and Russia are fac- the year. — Reuters WEDNES DAY, MARCH 12, 2014 BUSINESS Carney: UK economy not close to overheating

LONDON: Bank of England Governor employment report, that it would proba- But Carney said productivity may be Mark Carney signalled he was not con- bly be slightly higher than that 1.5 per- moving towards its long-term trend. “The cerned that Britain’s economy was close cent.” most recent figures on productivity sug- to overheating, despite a strong recovery Britain’s unemployment rose to 7.2 gest around a 2 percent annualised since last year, putting himself in the percent in the three months to growth rate, which is coming for the first dovish camp among policymakers. December, ending a string of falls that time in a very long time towards trend.” Speaking to lawmakers yesterday, took the BoE by surprise. Sterling weak- When rate rises did come, they would Carney said the amount of spare capacity ened as Carney spoke. The pound has be gradual, Carney said. Carney said he in the economy was probably slightly outpaced many other currencies in agreed with comments from Deputy more than 1.5 percent of gross domestic recent months on expectations that Governor Charlie Bean on Monday that product, suggesting the BoE can hold off interest rates could rise in Britain before rates were unlikely to exceed 2.5 percent on raising interest rates for longer. other economies. over the next three years. Carney also said Britain’s natural rate In a sign of the different views among of unemployment could be less than the BoE policymakers on how long the econ- Natural rate Bank has estimated, meaning the labor omy can continue its recovery without In February, the BoE said the medium- market can strengthen further without fuelling inflation, Martin Weale - known term equilibrium rate of unemployment - pushing up inflation. Last month, the BoE as a hawk on the Monetary Policy meaning the lowest jobless rate the put its assessments of spare capacity in Committee - said he thought the amount economy can maintain - was probably the economy at the centre of its delibera- of spare capacity was probably “some- around 6 to 6.5 percent. tions on when it will raise interest rates thing under 1 percent.” Carney suggested it could be lower. from a record low 0.5 percent, where Financial markets have pointed to “What we’ve learnt over the course of the LONDON: Bank of England governor Mark Carney answers questions in front of they have stood since 2009 as Britain spring 2015 as a potential time for the last seven months since we put in place the parliamentary Treasury Select Committee in the House of Commons, cen- tries to recover from the financial crisis. first rate hike. Output is still just below its the first phase of forward guidance, or so tral London yesterday.—AP “We ranged in the February inflation peak in the first quarter of 2008 - a much what I’ve learnt, is that that equilibrium report (that spare capacity) was 1-1.5 weaker recovery from the financial crisis rate of unemployment has gone down,” around 6 now, potentially slightly lower.” mortgage providers are quite high...,” he percent,” Carney said in comments to the than in most other big advanced he said. Carney also said he was concerned said. “Our concern is that those under- Treasury Select Committee in Britain’s economies. The BoE is concerned that “It’s lower than we would have that an improvement in the housing writing standards will deteriorate and parliament. “I personally would be at the low productivity may limit Britain’s ability thought in August and in August we esti- market could lead to a worsening of that that deterioration itself would be fed upper end of that range and I would add to catch up without generating higher mated as a committee that it was about mortgage underwriting standards. by general improvement in the housing that the margin, given the most recent inflation in the medium term. 6.5 percent. I personally would mark it “Underwriting standards at present of market.” —Reuters BoJ holds off fresh easing measures as tax hike looms Kuroda sees pickup in business investment TOKYO: The Bank of Japan held off fresh mone- tary easing measures yesterday, saying the econ- omy was picking up, despite slowing growth in the last quarter of 2013 and fears that a looming tax hike will dent the recovery. The head of the central bank also indicated he was confident it would achieve its inflation targets by the end of next year but policy makers sounded a warning over exports. “Japan’s economy has continued to recover moderately,” the bank said in a statement after a two-day policy meeting, adding that spending had jumped ahead of the tax rise. “The pick-up TOKYO: This picture shows president of Japan’s Skymark Airlines, Shinichi Nishikubo in business fixed investment has become (center), and flight attendants posing for photographers during a press preview at increasingly evident as corporate profits have Haneda Airport in Tokyo. —AFP improved... Housing investment has continued to increase and private consumption has remained resilient.” Mini-skirt turbulence The dollar weakened slightly to 103.22 yen in afternoon trade from 103.28 yen before the at Japan budget carrier announcement. Bank governor Haruhiko Kuroda said a 2.0 percent inflation target, aimed at TOKYO: A Japanese budget airline has union’s website said attendants would not reversing years of deflation, was drawing closer. flown into rough air over its decision to carry out their duties effectively owing to “The consumer price index is steadily follow- outfit flight attendants in revealing mini- fears about leering stares or customers ing a path toward (the target), so we don’t see skirts, drawing criticism that it could invite shooting pictures up their skirts with a the need to make a policy adjustment at this sexual harassment. Skymark Airlines came mobile phone. The airline, which disputes time,” he told a press briefing. TOKYO: Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda gestures as he answers questions during a under fire from the cabin crew’s labor the union claims, plans to introduce the Recent data showed consumer prices logged press conference at the bank’s headquarters in Tokyo yesterday. —AFP union, which said the super-short skirt-with uniform as a temporary promotion for the their first annual rise for five years in 2013. The than initially thought last year, despite a boost in pricier. In January, Japan’s trade deficit swelled a distinctively swinging sixties look-barely launch of domestic routes its Airbus A330 bank aims to achieve its target by the end of spending ahead of the tax hike. The worry is to another monthly record. The 2.79 trillion yen covers wearers’ thighs. “We’re concerned planes in the spring. next year but there is growing skepticism that the sales tax rise-to 8.0 percent from 5.0 ($27 billion) shortfall also underscored a boost in that the design of this uniform may cause The carrier could not be immediately among analysts and even some BoJ board mem- percent-will weigh on consumer spending and purchases of foreign goods ahead of the tax rise, problems,” including sexual harassment, reached yesterday. But last week, Skymark bers about that ambitious timeline. put the brakes on growth in the wider economy. The economic growth figures underscore con- the Japan Federation of Cabin Attendants president Shinichi Nishikubo told reporters: Monday’s data showed Japan’s economy cerns about the pace of growth under Prime said in a statement late last month. “The air- “We won’t impose the uniform on any of Further easing ? expanded 0.2 percent in the quarter to Minister Shinzo Abe’s policy blitz, a mesh of big line is saying the uniform is meant to the cabin attendants who refuse to wear it.” Analysts had widely expected the bank to December and 1.5 percent through 2013. That government spending and BoJ easing measures. attract more customers, but this shows the “It is disappointing that the outfit designed stand pat yesterday as its easing program ripples was weaker than preliminary results showing Kuroda unveiled the asset-buying scheme- company is treating women like a com- in part for the ad campaign is being seen in through the economy, but were watching for gross domestic product grew 0.3 percent for the which aims to boost the money supply-in April modity,” it added. Comments posted on the a distorted way,” he added. — AFP signs from Kuroda of future policy moves. October-December period and 1.6 percent in as part of Abe’s broader plan to eradicate years The decision “to stay the course at today’s 2013. A key reason for the downward revision of falling prices that have held back consumer meeting came as no surprise, but we remain was weak exports, despite a dive in the value of spending and business investment. The program convinced that further easing will be required in the yen in the past year, while the BoJ said aims to add between 60 trillion yen and 70 tril- Firebrand UK trade union coming months”, said Marcel Thieliant from growth in overseas shipments had “recently lev- lion yen annually to Japan’s money supply. London-based Capital Economics. elled off more or less”. While it has not extended the monetary eas- leader Bob Crow dies Markets are looking for signs that the bank Japan’s trade imbalance has widened to ing since April, the bank after its February meet- will add to its vast stimulus program to counter LONDON: One of Britain’s most power- record levels as the weak exports were outpaced ing said it would tweak a loans scheme to com- any slowdown caused by April’s sales tax hike, ful and militant trade union leaders, by ballooning energy bills owing to the shut- mercial banks in a bid to stimulate borrowing. which critics fear will derail Japan’s nascent down of the country’s nuclear reactors following Among other measures was an extension of the Bob Crow, who led strikes that shut recovery. the Fukushima crisis. timeline for a program aimed at promoting down the London Tube on numerous Those concerns gathered pace Monday as Atomic power once supplied more than a development in parts of the country hammered occasions, died yesterday at the age of revised growth data showed the world’s third- quarter of the resource-poor nation’s energy, by the quake-tsunami disaster three years 52, his union announced. largest economy expanded at a slower pace and a cheap yen has made energy imports even ago.—AFP A colorful, left-wing Londoner with a dog called Castro and a passion for Millwall Football Club, Crow had been general secretary of the RMT transport China to experiment with private banks union since 2002. He was constantly involved in disputes and campaigns on BEIJING: China will launch a trial program for channel the bulk of their lending to state private firms to get a loan.”There was no behalf of his 80,000 members, winning private firms to set up banks, the country’s enterprises, often at the urging of local offi- good solution to the problem and so now the admiration of transport workers- banking regulator said yesterday, with cials, which can lead to the build-up of bad they are trying to open up (the sector),” he and the hatred of many commuters. “It Internet giants Tencent and Alibaba reported- loans. There is a widespread assumption that said. “This also will increase competition in is with the deepest regret that RMT has ly among the first applicants. Most Chinese the government would not let a state bank the sector that has long been criticized as to confirm that our general secretary lenders are state-controlled and banks found- fail. monopolized.” Bob Crow sadly passed away in the ed by private companies are extremely rare, The government previously recapitalized Shang did not give a timetable for the new hours of this morning,” the union said while access to lending is a key element of the the four major banks-Industrial and banks to start operations. “We will push for- in a brief statement. Communist authorities’ control of the econo- Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), Bank of ward the trial of the five banks in a prudent Crow, who had one daughter, died my. At a key meeting in November the ruling China, China Construction Bank, and manner, approving one only after it is ready in a hospital near his home in east party listed opening the banking industry to Agricultural Bank of China-to the tune of tens to go,” he said. “That means the timing of London after suffering a massive heart private investors as one of its major reform of billions of dollars and carved out their bad their launch of operation mainly depends on attack, according to the Evening Bob Crow, general secretary of Rail, policies for the financial sector to introduce loan portfolios before they listed minority themselves.” Maritime and Transport union speaks Standard newspaper. Crow was some- competition and help small enterprises obtain stakes on the stock market. Shang said the Another key item on Chinese authorities’ on his mobile phone in London. — AP thing of a working-class hero. He left loans. privately invested banks will focus on “serv- reform agenda is allowing banks to decide on school at 16 and worked on the rail- his salary, saying: “I think I’m worth it. “We have selected a few private capital ing small and micro-sized companies and the the interest rates they pay depositors, after ways before joining the management “Our members, in the main, have (investors) to jointly participate in the trial community”. they loosened controls on lending rates last of the RMT, promising always to do the had pay rises every single year right program of (the setup of) five banks in the Analysts welcomed the news as a step for- year. China’s central bank chief Zhou “very best” for his members. the way through austerity. They’ve got first batch,” Shang Fulin, chairman of the ward. “A big problem of China’s banking sec- Xiaochuan said at the same briefing that was He secured good salaries and condi- good pensions, good holidays-they China Banking Regulatory Commission, told tor is that state-owned banks extend most of expected within two years. “The liberalization tions for them through hard-nosed could be better.” Fellow union leaders reporters. He was speaking at a briefing on their lending to state-owned companies,” of deposit rates is definitely within our plan. I negotiating tactics including strikes, expressed shock at Crow’s death, while the sidelines of the annual session of the Shen Jianguang, a Hong Kong-based analyst personally think it is very likely to be realized most recently last month when parts of Conservative Mayor of London Boris National People’s Congress, China’s with Mizuho Securities, said. “It is very diffi- in the next one to two years,” he told the Underground network in the capi- Johnson paid tribute to a “fighter and a Communist-controlled legislature. cult for small and micro-sized companies and reporters. — AFP tal were shut down for 48 hours. “Bob man of character”. There was no love Alibaba and Tencent, which have been Crow was admired by his members and lost between Johnson and Crow, who expanding their online finance business in feared by employers, which is exactly held their first conversation for years recent years, Shanghai-based conglomerate Greek tax inspectors get how he liked it,” said Manuel Cortes, last month and accused each other of Fosun, auto parts maker Wanxiang Group and leader of the TSSA rail union, which holding a gun to their heads over the six other private owned companies have been anger management classes joined last month’s strike. strike. chosen to be the investors, the People’s Daily “It was a privilege to campaign and “Whatever our political differences, quoted Shang as saying in an interview. ATHENS: Greek tax inspectors are being the National Association of Employees at State fight alongside him because he never and there were many, this is tragic Each bank will have at least two “founders”, offered anger management classes after the Financial Services, said Tuesday that inspectors gave an inch.” Crow still lived in social news. Bob fought tirelessly for his Shang said at the briefing. The banks will government said they would have to continue were being offered places at four-hour semi- housing despite his £145,000 (175,000 beliefs and for his members,” the mayor operate “independently”, he said, and will enforcing a deeply unpopular emergency tax. nars funded by the European Union. euros, $240,000) annual pay and pen- said. “There can be absolutely no assume responsibility for risks and losses as The government last year extended the tax He described the classes as “unnecessary” sions package-two facts which his crit- doubt that he played a big part in the well as profits. on property owners, initially collected on elec- and “juvenile,” arguing that the time would be ics regularly used against him. In his success of the Tube, and he shared my tricity bills with the threat of disconnection for better used training employees to offer digital goal to make transport in London an those who didn’t pay. The tough conditions services. Greece has been raising taxes and final interview, broadcast on BBC radio Billion-dollar bailouts on Monday evening, Crow defended even greater success.” —AFP fueled protests, even from the tax inspectors cutting spending to stave off bankruptcy and China’s big state-owned lenders tend to themselves. Trifonas Alexiadis, deputy leader of keep receiving international rescue loans. —AP BUSINESS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014

All successful Bugatti Legends sold: Al-Zayani

KUWAIT: All nine vehicles of the three models pre- Our existing and potential customers know that sented so far in the “Les Legendes de Bugatti” edi- the opportunity to purchase one of these excep- tion have been sold. Bugatti will present a total of tional super sports cars is running out.” six models in this edition. All models are strictly To launch the “Les Legendes de Bugatti” edi- limited to three vehicles each. Bugatti honors tion last year, Bugatti presented the Jean-Pierre important personalities from its company history Wimille, named after two-time Le Mans winner for with each special edition. The net price of the first Bugatti, in Pebble Beach, California. The second three Legends was around € 2.2m. Legend model followed at the IAA in Frankfurt, “The Legends edition is a great success for where the Jean Bugatti, dedicated to the design Bugatti. The response from our customers is amaz- genius and son of company founder Ettore, was ing. These are automotive works of art, which presented. The third and latest vehicle shown was each tell a part of Bugatti’s history,” says Dr named after Meo Costantini, head of the Bugatti Wolfgang Schreiber, President of Bugatti factory racing team, and was unveiled in Automobiles SAS. November at the Dubai Motor Show. “The Legends edition is part of Bugatti’s suc- The Legends vehicles are based on the Bugatti cess story,” continued Schreiber. “After a very suc- Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, the world’s cessful year in 2013, more than 90 percent of the fastest production roadster. Bugatti presented the 450 planned Veyrons have been sold. We are con- fourth model of the Legends edition at the fident that we will be just as successful this year. Geneva Motor Show. Shurooq signs MoU with US Chamber of Commerce Agreement aims to promote investment in Sharjah

SHARJAH: The Sharjah Investment and the Shurooq will help us strengthen and grow Centre, the Roadshow saw the participation of Development Authority (Shurooq) and the US our commercial ties to the mutual benefit of over 20 entities and organizations from the emi- Chamber of Commerce have signed a memo- businesses in both nations.” rate’s public and private sector participating randum of understanding (MoU) aimed at pro- According to recent figures issued by the with the aim to promote Sharjah’s investment, moting investment, trade, technical and eco- American government, the UAE is one of the business, and cultural offerings while exploring DekaBank team nomic cooperation, enhancing exports, and the fastest growing trade partners of the USA. Total means of cooperation and enhancing bilateral exchange of visits by investment delegations bilateral trade between both countries has commercial relations. between the United States of America and grown from about $ 4.5 billion in 2002 to $ 24.8 Established in 2009, Shurooq strives to DekaBank presents case Sharjah. billion in 2012. In the first nine months of last encourage investment in the emirate of Sharjah The MoU was signed by Marwan bin Jassim year, the total value of trade between the UAE by adopting the best international standards in for investing in Europe Al-Sarkal, CEO of Sharjah Investment and and the USA rose by 12.5 per cent to $20,56 bil- providing quality services that help attract Development Authority (Shurooq) and David C lion (AED75.46 billion), compared with $18.27 investors from the region and the world. KUWAIT: DekaBank, one of Europe’s most ment decision making. Chavern, Executive Vice President and Chief billion (AED67.05 billion) in the first nine Shurooq’s key mission is to provide facilities respected providers of asset management serv- “Today’s seminar is as much about bringing Operating Officer of the US Chamber of months in 2012 - a strong growth that reflects and incentives to help overcome obstacles fac- ices, hosted a seminar for an invited audience of investors up to date with the latest develop- Commerce, in the presence of a number of offi- the desire of both countries to further expand ing investment activities in the Emirate, evalu- over 50 senior Kuwaiti business people and fin- ments in Europe and our views on the invest- cials from both Shurooq and the US Chamber of their bilateral relations. ate tourism and investment related infrastruc- anciers about the current and emerging invest- ment opportunities in this context, as it is about Commerce. The signing of this MoU follows the Sharjah ture projects, and lay down the necessary plans ment landscape in Europe. The seminar focused introducing the idea of investing in Europe to Under the terms of the MoU Shurooq and Roadshow in the USA that was organized by to complete such projects. on providing an overall update on the economic new audiences who may not have considered the US Chamber of Commerce will endeavor to Shurooq, and took place from 30 September to In recognition of its overall accomplish- health of European economies and a review of Europe as an opportunity before.” encourage, promote, and facilitate investment 4 October under the slogan ‘Sharjah - Promising ments, Shurooq has been named The Banking long term investment opportunities. From Dr Kater, provided an update on the euro- and development cooperation among their Opportunities, Global Horizons’. Led by Sheikh Awards 2013 - FDI Agency of the Year in the DekaBank, the event was attended by Oliver zone. During his presentation he noted that the respective business communities, in addition to Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of the MENA region in The European’s Global Banking euro-zone outlook as a whole continued to Behrens, deputy chairman, DekaBank, Rudiger establishing, coordinating, and expanding a Sharjah Media Corporation and Sharjah Media and Finance Awards. Daberkow, Head of International Institutional improve, with business also optimism increas- business network that facilitates the circulation Clients, DekaBank, Dr Ulrich Kater, DekaBank ing, even within those countries most affected Chief Economist, and Frank Hagenstein, Chief by the economic downturn. He said: “As of the business opportunities available in both Investment Officer at Deka Investment GmbH. European economies continue to recover from countries. The seminar took place at the JW Marriott the past global financial turmoil, we see some The agreement furthermore aims to encour- hotel in Kuwait and was followed by a buffet very positive signs in the region for long term age the exchange of statistics in the form of lunch to provide guests with the opportunity to investors to consider. Positive performance in economic and business data to facilitate invest- informally meet the DekaBank team and further manufacturing across the region, a hardening of ment and activate joint venture projects, as well discuss the topics raised in the presentations. the euro value against the US dollar, and the as joint research activities. The agreement also Behrens, who opened the session, said: “We continued downward trend inflation are all makes provision for the participation of each are delighted to be back in Kuwait to present strong indicators that the Eurozone economies party in conferences and trade shows organized our views on the economic health of the euro- as a whole are well into recovery.”In a separate by the other, working to overcome any obsta- zone. As one of Europe’s top rated banks and presentation, Hagenstein spoke about the cles facing the growth of investments and busi- one of Germany’s largest financial services bank’s investment philosophy, stressing how its nesses, exchanging expertise and training, and providers, with established relationships with analytical and organizational adaptability, broad encouraging reciprocal investments. the ECB and many other financial organizations investment spread and the dynamic utilization Speaking about the MoU, Sharjah and institutions, we are enthusiastic to share our of varying sources of performance have consis- Investment and Development Authority knowledge and expertise to inform your invest- tently yielded investors with positive results. (Shurooq) CEO, HE Marwan Al-Sarkal said, “The relationship between the UAE and the USA is both longstanding and highly mutually benefi- cial, and as economic, cultural, and artistic exchange between our countries continue to grow, so do our mutual ties. In this respect Sharjah plays a key role, both due to its strategic positioning and because of the well-established track record of the numerous US entities, organ- MasterCard celebrates izations, and corporations who have been pres- ent and successfully operational in Sharjah for many years now. As an emirate, Sharjah has a ‘Global Money Week’ great deal to offer American businesses looking to find a home base in the Middle East and our Global Money Week is a worldwide celebration ing micro-enterprises, over-indebtedness and aim with this agreement is to create awareness to empower the next generation to be confi- poverty. about Sharjah’s extensive offering and unique dent, responsible and skilled economic citizens. According to the World Savings Banks advantages amongst the American business Underscoring this week is the recognition that Institute “to achieve true financial capability, community.” every child and youth has a right to safe, acces- people need not only the ability to act, through All-new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado The Shurooq CEO went on to emphasize sible financial services, and we need to empow- financial education, knowledge, skills, confi- Sharjah’s ideal positioning as an investment hub er them to grow into productive economic citi- dence and motivation, but also the opportunity named best 4x4 of the year in the Middle East, pointing to its strategic loca- zens. to act through access to adequate banking serv- tion - it is the only emirate with direct access to There are 2.2 billion children and youth in ices and institutions. Without access to these New from hood to hitch, the 2014 Silverado full- V6 and V8 towing ratings, which is more than the Arabian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, its the world,1but on average in the Middle East, banking products they will not build the skills size pickup is engineered to be stronger, smarter any light-duty pickup currently on the market. incentive and flexible legislative structure, its only 12.9 percent of young people aged 15 - 25 necessary to learn how to use financial services and more capable than ever before. It features a The chassis of the 2014 Silverado includes a state-of-the art facilities and sophisticated have bank accounts at a formal financial institu- in a productive and responsible manner.” trio of all-new EcoTec3 engines- a V6 and two number of customer-focused updates. A revised logistics infrastructure, as well as its friendly tion. Most lack safe, secure and responsible While building these tools is good for young V8s, which provide the proven power, capabili- front and rear suspension and wider wheels pro- investment environment and its cultural, educa- financial products and services that can help people, it also makes good business sense for ties, refinement and efficiency. The vehicle also vide a more comfortable ride and more confi- tional, and artistic offerings. He further under- them start to save for tomorrow or take loans to financial institutions. Customers who have offers segment-exclusive safety features such as dent handling. Electric power steering improves lined that this agreement forms part of pursue goals such as higher learning and entre- banked with a provider throughout their teenage years are far more likely to extend this Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning steering feel and reduces fuel consumption. Shurooq’s establishing open and reciprocal preneurial ventures. The right tools can improve livelihoods and overall development of relationship into their student days and beyond with an Active Safety Seat, and Front and Rear New four-wheel-disc brakes with Duralife rotors communication channels with influential youth. when profit contribution increases significantly. Park Assist. improve brake feel and potentially double rotor investment parties, with the aim of driving “We are deeply honored to have received life. The 2014 Silverado Light Duty pickups are This is why Child & Youth Finance According to a recent University of Kansas bilateral cooperation forward in various fields International (CYFI) and MasterCard have creat- study, “young adults are two times more likely such recognition by Car and Driver Middle East, available in seven distinct trim levels, from a and ensuring broader collaboration in the Work Truck (WT) to the new premium level, High ed “Banking a New Generation: Developing to own savings accounts, two times more likely a highly-acclaimed auto publication here in the future. region,” Ahmed Soudodi, Regional Chevrolet Country. Responsibly Financial Retail Banking Products to own credit cards and four times more likely Commenting on the MoU signing, Mr David Brand Managerof General Motors Middle East. for Children and Youth”. The guide is intended to own stocks when they have savings accounts “The Chevrolet Silverado has been one of the Chevrolet care Chavern, Chief Operating Officer and Executive to help financial institutions, NGOs and govern- as children.” By starting with children and most popular full size pickups in the Middle East. All customers who purchase the All New Vice President of the US Chamber of Commerce, ments co-create and develop appropriate and young adults, banks have the opportunity to I am confident that the new 2014 Silverado will 2014 Chevrolet Silverado will receive the bene- said: “Today is a milestone in the relationship innovative banking and payment products for build customers for life. Global Money Week cre- further cement its reputation as a market leader fits of the Chevrolet Care program. Chevrolet between the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and children and youth, while respecting and sup- ates a moment in time to engage young people thanks to its muscular design, segment-leading Care is a high level customer service experience Shurooq. It speaks to our commitment to pro- porting their rights. in a conversation about their financial future. It capabilities, and advanced features.” based on four pillars: To provide customers with mote Sharjah as a leading investment destina- The social ramifications of not addressing also serves as a rallying call for financial institu- The Silverado’s all three EcoTec3 engines fea- the best in service pricing and cost transparen- tion, as well as our shared desire to take the US- the needs of children and youth for safe, secure tions to become more youth friendly and ture direct fuel injection, Active Fuel cy; booking service with same day delivery; UAE trade relationship to new heights. At the and responsible financial products and services ensure that young people have access to the Management and continuously variable valve quality service by certified technicians as well as US Chamber, we are very focused on expanding include financial exclusion, social exclusion, proper education and products they need to timing, a combination not found in competitive a regional 3 year/100,000 km warranty and 24x7 the economic relationship between our two school drop-out, increased unemployment, fail- succeed financially and economically. trucks. The vehicle also offers the class-leading regional roadside assistance. countries. We believe our new relationship with WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 TECHNOLOGY

LuLu Exchange, LOGOS IT ink deal for AML - Compliance Software

KUWAIT: Upping the ante against financial crime, right direction. The synergy between Pearl Data LuLu Exchange, the leading remittance and foreign and LOGOS ITS will help us continue to bring the exchange company operating in Kuwait, in associa- same spirit of innovation to this area that we use to tion with Pearl Data Direct, signed a contract with build our products and services,” Ahamed added. the Luxembourg-based LOGOS IT to procure the Francois Gourdon, the Chairman of the Board iDETECT compliance software in Abu Dhabi on and Chief Executive, LOGOS IT Services said, February 9. “iDETECT is built to ensure that our demanding The glittering ceremony was presided by Mrs customers are provided with the best-of-breed fea- Nicole Bintner-Bakshian, the Ambassador of Grand tures, and we always remember that, whatever Duchy of Luxembourg to the UAE. The signing cer- happens, their satisfaction shall come first. I am emony took place in the presence of senior man- convinced that great technology always meets agement of both companies. Also present in the great ambition. In our headquarters in ceremony were Marc Scheer, Deputy Head of Luxembourg, we gathered elite professionals Mission, Embassy of the Grand Duchy of deeply passionate about building beautifully Luxembourg and Executive Director, Luxembourg designed, innovative, and avant-garde software Trade and Investment Office. technology. Working with LuLu Exchange provides LuLu Exchange since its inception has empha- an opportunity to expand our business and reputa- sized on strict Anti-Money Laundering (AML) poli- tion in the GCC and further. cies and procedures, stringent compliance and yet Director of LuLu Exchange, Kuwait and Pearl Data to keep in line with newer anti financial crime laws. “iDETECT is known to be a unique enterprise risk safe and transparent business. The signing of the Direct said, “We have made a clear commitment to We are in fact studying the prospects of imple- management platform on the market, which allows contract is a bid to further strengthen its ongoing having truly differentiated risk, compliance and menting the new US-based FATCA to our compli- organizations to make sense of ever-growing effort towards this cause. The software has the rep- security functions with the procurement of ance list which already has UN Sanctions List, HM amounts of data and face the most complex busi- utation as the only software platform in the market iDETECT software. I look forward to seeing our Treasury, OFAC Sanctions List, EU Sanctions List ness challenges. With such technology, organiza- that provides end-to-end functional coverage and company set new benchmarks. We draw constant and others.” tions can effectively combat sophisticated forms of protection against the full financial crime spectrum inspiration from compliance wing of the Central “Partnering with the reputed Luxembourg money laundering and financing terrorism, prose- through secure browser-based solutions, which is Bank of Kuwait, which has been guiding us. The based LOGOS IT Services Company to further cute crimes, effectively fight fraud, and minimize also highly configurable by end-users. Regulatory Authority of the country, by updating strengthen the AML-compliance, financial crime risks, all in an integrated end-to-end platform”, Addressing the gathering, Adeeb Ahamed, and adapting itself to the changing times, drives us and risk management is a step forward for us in the Gourdon further added. US-Russian 3-man space station crew lands safely Back on Earth after half-year in space

KARAGANDA: Two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut yesterday landed back on Earth in Kazakhstan after a stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS) of over half a year, which saw the Olympic torch paraded in space. Russians Oleg Kotov and Sergei Ryazansky and NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins touched down in their Soyuz capsule at 0324 GMT out- side Dzhezkazgan in Kazakhstan, mission control said. The textbook landing in difficult weather con- ditions underlined the strength of space cooper- ation between the United States and Russia, despite the soaring diplomatic tensions over Moscow’s intervention in Ukraine. The undocking and landing had initially been postponed due to bad weather with heavy snow and high winds at the landing site. But just hours before the undocking, they were allowed to go AUSTIN: A fan celebrates the launch of “Titanfall” on Xbox One at SXSW on Monday, ahead and mission control said that the landing in Austin, Texas. — AP had proceeded on schedule. The three spacemen were extracted from the Microsoft pinning capsule in good shape and wrapped with blan- kets to protect them from the fierce early-morn- ing cold on the snowy Kazakh steppe. During hopes on ‘Titanfall’ their mission Kotov and Ryazansky had, in a spacewalk watched around the world, carried into space the torch that was used to light the WASHINGTON: Tech titan Microsoft-which the heart of digital home entertainment and Olympic Flame for the Olympic Winter Games in has struggled to keep pace with Sony and its consoles under pressure to prove their worth Sochi. PlayStation 4 — is pinning its hopes on a new as people increasingly turn to smartphones Kotov, one of Russia’s most experienced cos- action video game, ironically named or tablets for games and videos. monauts, has notched up a total of 526 days in “Titanfall.” The highly anticipated game for Microsoft and Sony both had strong holi- space, including previous expeditions in 2007 ZHEZKAZGAN: In this photo provided by NASA, Expedition 38 commander Oleg Kotov, of the the new generation Xbox One console lands day sales after the release of their new-gener- and 2009-2010. Ryazansky and Hopkins were Russian Federal Space Agency, center, joins hands with flight engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy, of this week in a major global release, with ation consoles last year. But so far in 2014 PS4 making their maiden flights. the Russian Federal Space Agency, left, and flight engineer Mike Hopkins, of NASA, as they sit Microsoft is betting it will keep the company has been leading, according to the research in chairs outside the Soyuz TMA-10M capsule shortly after they landed in a remote area near in the forefront of the battle for the living firm NPD. ‘The sparks fly’ the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, yesterday. — AP room and home entertainment. The trio underwent medical checks on the “The challenge is finding the ‘killer game,’” Empire strikes back conditions. Rescue crews stumbled around in entering the atmosphere. spot before being loaded into an all-terrain vehi- the heavy snow. Television pictures showed the After the withdrawal of the US space shuttle, says Avi Greengart of research firm Current Greengart said Microsoft is trying to show cle that took them to a helicopter for the flight Analysis. “Titanfall appears to be the first Xbox One has momentum, and Titanfall may burns and damage sustained by the capsule’s Russia is the sole nation capable of transporting to the Kazakh city of Karaganda. heat shield during re-entry. humans to the International Space Station (ISS), must-have, first-person mutliplayer game that help. “It’s not available on Sony, so this gives From there, the three are parting company, takes real advantage of the Xbox One’s addi- Microsoft a much-needed shot in the arm just The Soyuz capsule started undocking from and spaceflight is often hailed as the finest with Hopkins to be flown back to Houston and the ISS at 2345 GMT Monday, with the departing example of Russian-American cooperation. tional horsepower.” as Sony has announced a nice spike in sales the two Russians to Moscow. “You see the sparks Technology analyst Rob Enderle at Enderle after PS4 went on sale in Japan,” Greengart astronauts leaving on board the station Koichi NASA chief Charles Bolden said last week that flying, it’s pretty neat. It’s pretty exciting, incredi- Wakata of Japan, the new ISS commander; the US space agency’s relationship with Russia Group said the new game-featuring elite told AFP. Microsoft doesn’t want to be seen as ble,” Hopkins, sat in a chair to deal with the assault pilots and heavily-armored, 24-foot left behind, he explained. “If consumers think American Rick Mastracchio; and Russian Mikhail remained normal despite the rising tensions effects of the return to Earth after months of Tyurin. Wakata is the first ever Japanese astro- over the crisis in Ukraine. (six-meter) titans will be a critical test for one platform that has legs, sometimes it weightlessness, said in comments heard on Microsoft. “Titanfall is really the big title for becomes so. Right now it looks like Sony has naut to have command of the ISS. The Soyuz The next crew of NASA astronaut Steve NASA TV. “The one thing that hurts are my capsule lands according to principles little Swanson and Russians Alexander Skvortsov and Xbox One,” he said. “Game consoles live and pulled ahead.” knees,” he added. NASA TV said that the number die on blockbusters, so it is really important Titanfall was released yesterday in the changed since the first space flight of Yuri Oleg Artemyev are due to launch to the ISS from of personnel around the landing zone had been Gagarin in 1961, with a parachute helping the the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on that the audience likes this game.” Americas, Russia and parts of Asia, and on kept to a minimum due to the poor weather The game is produced by Respawn Thursday in India, Japan, Australia, New capsule to touch down safely on Earth after re- March 25. — AFP Entertainment, using designers of the “Call of Zealand and most of Europe. The release will Duty” blockbuster series, and distributed by be Friday in Britain, Ireland and Portugal. Electronic Arts exclusively for Microsoft’s Even with challenges facing the console Zap! Australian scientists look Xbox and PC platforms. It carries a US price games sector, there have been notable recent tag of $60. successes including “Grand Theft Auto V,” Set in the near future on a distant war-torn “Battlefield 4” “Just Dance 2014” and the latest part of space called “the frontier,” Titanfall installment of the “Call of Duty” franchise. at lasers to cull space junk drops players in the middle of a conflict “Despite the growth of mobile games, a between the Interstellar Manufacturing tremendous number of consumers are willing SYDNEY: It may sound like science fiction through the upper atmosphere. “There’s no international auspices but, right now, the Corporation and the Frontier Militia. to spend serious money on the hardware and but an Australian team is working on a proj- risk of missing and hitting a working satel- CRC is doing the research to make it possi- The main characters are the titans, the gaming experience,” Greengart said. “But ect to zap orbital debris with lasers from lite,” Colless said. “We can target them pre- ble. The CRC is made up of universities, space described as “descendants of present-day is this the last generation of consoles? That’s Earth to reduce the growing amount of cisely. We really don’t miss.” agencies and companies including Lockheed fledgling military exoskeletons,” and the the big question.” Greengart said Microsoft space junk that threatens to knock out satel- Colless said he imagines an eventual need Martin, Optus and EOS Space System pilots, who have varying degrees of certifica- and others have failed so far to bring gaming lites with a “cascade of collisions”. for a global network of stations set up under Australia. — Reuters tion. Players can shift back and forth between into the “ecosystem” that will encourage con- The project is very realistic and likely to be pilot and titan, change tactics on the fly and sumers to use the full range of products working in the next 10 years, Matthew attack or escape depending on the situation, including phones and tablets. “Neither according to the producers. The release Microsoft nor Sony nor Nintendo have done a Colless, director of Australian National comes with Microsoft’s Xbox One in intense good job of bridging the living room with University’s Research School of Astronomy battle with Sony and Nintendo’s Wii U to be at their mobile assets,” he said. — AFP and Astrophysics, told Reuters. “It’s important that it’s possible on that scale because there’s so much space junk up Europe IT security firms seize there,” he said. “We’re perhaps only a couple of decades away from a catastrophic cascade opportunity from spy scandal of collisions ... that takes out all the satellites HANOVER: European IT security firms have a knock-on effect from the leaks by rogue US in low orbit.” flocked to the world’s biggest high-tech fair analyst Edward Snowden. Scientists believe there are more than with hopes of benefiting from the fallout “Our core product is mobile voice encryp- 300,000 pieces of debris in space, made up from shock revelations of mass US and British tion. And mobile voice encryption was a of everything from tiny screws and bolts to spying. nerdy feature,” the head of the 2007-estab- large parts of rockets, mostly moving in low Exactly a year ago, Chancellor Angela lished company said in an interview at the orbits around Earth at tremendous speed. Merkel vaunted her new, ultra-secure five-day CeBIT with AFP. But he added: Australia now has a contract with NASA, Smartphone at the opening of the same fair, “Snowden has already changed things the US space agency, to track and map space the CeBIT, in the northern city of Hanover. because at that time (in 2013 when Merkel junk with a telescope equipped with an Revelations that US intelligence allegedly showed off her new phone) everybody infra-red laser at Mount Stromlo eavesdropped on her mobile phone conver- thought that only mobile networks are unse- Observatory. But $20 million from the sations and hoovered up vast amounts of cure. “But we learned with Snowden that all Australian government and $40 million in online data and telephone records from voice calls are unsecure.” Secusmart has this private investment will help the team set up average citizens have since sent shockwaves year teamed up with Britain’s Vodafone to as the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) to around the world. German firm Secusmart, create an app to allow businesses to keep all develop better lasers to track tiny pieces of which provides the security features for the telephone communications, including con- debris, importing techniques from astrono- German government’s telephones, says it has ference calls, secure. Thanks to this new app, my used to remove the blurring of the now been approached by several other gov- as well demand for the ability to ensure con- HANOVER: The lifesize humanoid robot “RoboThespian” interacts with fair visitors at the ernments. Secusmart chief Hans-Christoph versations are kept safe having increased atmosphere. Engineered Arts Ltd stand of the 2014 CeBIT computer technology trade fair yesterday in Quelle declined to name the governments in “dramatically”, Secusmart is banking on 20- The ultimate aim is to increase the power Hanover, central Germany. The robot, featured at the fair’s opening ceremony, is “a fully pro- question but stressed his business had seen percent growth, Quelle said. —AFP of the lasers to illuminate and zap pieces of grammable interactive humanoid robot designed to inspire, communicate, interact and enter- junk so they burn up harmlessly as they fall tain”. —AFP WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 HEALTH & SCIENCE

Ranbaxy scrambles for ingredients to make generic Nexium MUMBAI/LONDON: Indian drugmaker Retaining exclusivity on Nexium in looking very hard to find a commercial ure of $4.09 a share, assuming a 19 per- approval for the launch of a copycat ver- Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd is in talks with the all-important United States beyond solution,” said London-based analyst cent decline from 2013’s level of $5.05. sion of a branded drug. at least two companies on sourcing the end of May would not only limit a Savvas Neophytou at Panmure Gordon. The current outlook is based on the Ranbaxy, majority owned by Japan’s ingredients for a generic version of forecast decline in AstraZeneca’s 2014 Doubts about Ranbaxy’s ability to assumption that generic Nexium is Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd , is not expected to AstraZeneca Plc’s heartburn drug earnings but could also protect bonuses launch the drug grew after the FDA in launched from May 27 - but whether that give up without a fight. Another tactic Nexium, a source said, to ensure the pills for top management at the British com- January prohibited it from shipping to actually happens is a huge swing factor might be to sell its exclusivity for launch- can be sold in the United States. pany. the United States any pharmaceutical for the company, with even a few ing generic Nexium to another company, Washington in January prohibited Ranbaxy’s talks with ingredient mak- ingredient made at its Toansa plant in months of sales without generics yield- several analysts said. Ranbaxy, India’s top drugmaker by rev- ers are part of a scramble to ensure it can northern India. ing a big profit windfall. The launch of new drugs by Ranbaxy enue, from selling drugs in the United still be the first to sell a cheaper copy of Ranbaxy’s failure to launch generic has been in focus since its run-ins with States using ingredients from one of its Nexium in the United States after the Nexium soon after the patent expiry at High cost the FDA began in 2008. US import bans plants in northern India due to poor drug’s patent term ends on May 27, the end of May could benefit For Ranbaxy, any deal to buy in ingre- on two plants that year clouded launch manufacturing practices. despite the regulatory sanctions. AstraZeneca’s earnings per share (EPS) by dients will push up costs and reduce of a generic version of Pfizer Inc’s choles- This effectively barred it from selling The source, who has direct knowl- 10 cents a month, Barclays wrote in a profits. It could also delay the launch of a terol-lowering drug Lipitor in 2011. drugs made in its India plants in the edge of the matter, declined to give report. In the fourth quarter, EPS fell 28 Nexium generic as Ranbaxy would need In the event, it did manage to launch United States and has forced Ranbaxy to details and refused to be named due to percent to $1.23. to get regulatory approval for the new generic Lipitor, after partnering with look elsewhere for supplies. Ranbaxy’s the sensitivity of the issue. A Ranbaxy AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot and his raw material supply, some analysts said. Israel’s Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ohm Laboratories plant in New Jersey is spokesman said the company has no team are required to ensure that the “They would have to file a separate Ltd , and the drug was estimated to have now its only facility making generics for comment for now. Ranbaxy was the first company’s dividend cover ratio does not new ANDA based on the material which generated sales of nearly $600 million for the United States. to seek approval from the US Food and fall below 1.5 times “core” earnings, they are procuring from the third party, Ranbaxy in the first six months. Any delay in the launch of generic Drug Administration (FDA) for a generic which excludes certain items, implying along with a stability study data and all “They have had to pay a high cost for Nexium, AstraZeneca’s second-biggest version of Nexium, gaining exclusive an EPS target for 2014 of $4.20. that,” said Ranjit Kapadia, an analyst at some of these FDA opportunities, but seller, will have a big impact on the rights to sell it for six months after patent Hitting that figure is uncertain. Mumbai-based Centrum Broking. they have not missed any,” a top execu- British company’s profit. Nexium had expiry - potentially a huge opportunity. AstraZeneca’s current outlook for the ANDA refers to Abbreviated New tive at a rival Indian generic drugmaker global sales last year of $3.87 billion and “It’s one of the biggest generic oppor- year predicts that earnings will fall in the Drug Application, which generic drug- said, declining to be named due to the US sales of $2.12 billion. tunities ever. If I was Ranbaxy, I would be “teens”, translating into a worst-case fig- makers file with the FDA to seek sensitivity of the issue. —Reuters Two percent of Americans have new hips and knees 600,000 knees, 400,000 hips replaced in US each year

NEW YORK: It’s not just grandma with a new hip and your uncle with a new knee. More than 2 of every 100 Americans now have an artificial joint, doctors are reporting. Among those over 50, it’s even more common: Five percent have replaced a knee and more than 2 percent, a hip. “They are remarkable numbers,” said Dr KARACHI: Pakistani villagers tend to their children, affected by famine, at a govern- Daniel J. Berry, chairman of orthopedic surgery ment hospital in Mithi, the capital of Tharparkar district, some 300 kilometres from at the Mayo Clinic. Roughly 7 million people in Karachi yesterday. At least 62 children have died in a district of southern Pakistan the United States are living with a total hip or where thousands are suffering from malnutrition, officials said. — AFP knee replacement. He led the first major study to estimate how prevalent these procedures have become, using Japan stem cell scientist federal databases on surgeries and life expectan- cy trends. Results were reported yesterday at an calls for retraction of study American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons conference in New Orleans. TOKYO: A co-author of a Japanese study retracted now and re-published it if “they More than 600,000 knees and about 400,000 that promised a revolutionary way to cre- accumulate new facts” that prove its hips are replaced in the US each year. But until ate stem cells has called for the headline- authenticity. now, there haven’t been good numbers on how grabbing research to be retracted over Called stimulus-triggered acquisition of many people currently are living with new joints. claims its data was faulty. pluripotency (STAP) cells, the innovation The number is expected to grow as the popula- The findings, published by Japanese was touted as breaking new ground, sup- tion ages, raising questions about cost, how researcher Haruko Obokata and US-based plying a lower-cost and relatively straight- long the new parts will last, and how best to scientists, outlined a simple and low-tech forward technique. replace the replacements as they wear out over approach in the quest to grow transplant Stem cells are primitive cells that, as time. tissue in the lab. they grow, become differentiated into the The study was touted as the third great various specialised cells that make up the Why the boom? advance in stem cells-a futuristic field that different organs-the brain, the heart, kid- “People are aware that they’re a success” and aims to reverse Alzheimer’s, cancer and ney and so on. are less willing to put up with painful joints, CHICAGO: In this Wednesday, March 5, 2014 photo, Dr. Joshua Jacobs, orthopedics surgery other crippling or lethal diseases. But it The goal is to create stem cells in the lab Berry said. The term “replacement” is a little mis- chief at Rush University Medical Center and president of the American Academy of faced hard questions as the Japan-based and nudge them to grow into these differ- leading, said Dr Joshua Jacobs, chairman of Orthopaedic Surgeons in Chicago, holds a model of a tri-compartmental total knee replace- Riken institute, which sponsored the study, entiated cells, thus replenishing organs orthopedic surgery at Rush University Medical ment. About two of every 100 Americans now has an artificial joint, doctors are reporting. launched a probe last month over the cred- damaged by disease or accident. Center in Chicago and president of the orthope- That’s 2.5 million with a new hip and 4.7 million with a new knee, according to the first major ibility of data used in the explosive find- The researchers’ groundbreaking find- dic surgery association. What’s replaced is the study to look at how common these operations have become. Results were reported yesterday ings. ings said that white blood cells in newborn surface of a joint after cartilage has worn away, at an American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons conference in New Orleans. — AP At issue are allegations that researchers mice were returned to a versatile state leaving bone rubbing against bone and causing used erroneous image data for an article through a relatively simple process that pain and less mobility. walks along the beach. I could barely walk a implant products because of corrosion and oth- published in the January edition of British involved incubating them in a highly acidic In a replacement operation, the ends of block” by the time the operation was done, she er problems. Last month, another device maker, journal Nature. solution for 25 minutes, followed by a five- bones are removed or resurfaced and replaced said. “I’m very social, but I found going to cock- Biomet, agreed to pay at least $200,000 each to Teruhiko Wakayama, a Yamanashi minute spin in a centrifuge and week-long with plastic, ceramic or metal materials. tail receptions where you had to stand a long hundreds of people who received artificial hips University professor who co-authored the immersion in a growth culture. Arthritis is the main reason for these opera- time, I would just avoid them.” that were later replaced. article, called for a retraction. “It’s hard to Until now, only plant cells, and not tions, followed by obesity, which adds stress on And in November, Johnson & Johnson agreed believe the findings anymore after so many mammal cells, have been found to repro- knees and hips. Baby boomers are wearing out Amazing to pay $2.5 billion to settle roughly 8,000 mistakes in the data,” he told broadcaster gramme back to a youthful state through joints by playing sports and doing other activi- After the operation, “I felt better pretty much patients’ lawsuits over an all-metal hip implant it Nippon Television late Monday. simple environmental factors. ties to avoid obesity. Knee replacement surger- right from the beginning,” she said. “You don’t pulled from the market in 2010. Yesterday, the institute said it was A key obstacle in the field is ensuring ies have more than tripled in the 45-to-64 age even know you have it in there, which is amaz- Even good implants can fail over time - about mulling whether to pull back the study. that transplanted cells are not attacked as group over the last decade and nearly half of hip ing.” Cynthia Brabbit, a dental hygienist from 1 percent or fewer fail each year. After 10 years, “We are considering whether to retract the alien by the body’s immune system-mean- replacements now are in people under 65, feder- Winona, Minn., had hip replacement in 2007 more than 90 percent of them are still function- report based on its credibility and research ing they would have to carry a patient’s al numbers show. when she was 52. She developed hip problems ing, Jacobs and Berry said. ethics, even though our investigation is still own genetic code to identify them as “It’s not for anybody who has pain in the in her 20s that distorted her gait and even It costs about $20,000 for a knee or hip underway,” it said. friendly. joint,” Berry warned. Surgery won’t help people caused one leg to grow longer than the other. replacement, but a recent study suggests they In an e-mailed statement, the journal In 1998 came the first gain: the use of with pain and stiffness from arthritis but whose “I was running marathons, doing half save more, because they reduce lost work days said: “Issues relating to this paper have cloning technology-pioneered with Dolly joints are not damaged, said Berry, who gets roy- marathons, playing tennis,” but the problem and improve mobility. been brought to Nature’s attention and we the sheep-to harvest stem cells from early- alties from certain hip and knee implants. grew so bad she couldn’t even walk more than “There’s a cost for not doing the procedure,” are conducting an ongoing investigation. stage embryos grown from the donor’s Surgery also is not for people who haven’t half a mile, she said. Jacobs said. To help a joint replacement succeed We have no further comment at this stage.” own DNA. first tried exercise, medicines and weight loss, “Now I can walk an hour a day,” and is training and last, doctors recommend doing physical But Hitoshi Niwa, who also contributed But these “pluripotent” stem cells are Jacobs said.But for a growing number of people, for a 100-mile bike ride this summer, she said. therapy to strengthen bones, muscles and the to the article, dismissed what he described controversial as the method entails it can mean a big improvement in quality of life. “What a world of difference.” Not all patients new joint. Other tips include maintaining a as minor mistakes, Japanese media report- destroying the embryo, something Mary Ann Tuft, 79, who owns an executive have fared as well, though. Implant recalls and healthy weight, cross training so you don’t over- ed. Another co-author, Charles Vacanti, a opposed by religious conservatives and search firm, said her right knee was painful for a big patient lawsuits show the danger when a do one type of activity or sport, spending more tissue engineer at Harvard Medical School others. In 2006, a team led by Shinya decade before she had it replaced in 2005. device is flawed. time warming up and letting muscles and joints and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Yamanaka of Kyoto University, who was a “I live in downtown Chicago, take a lot of Last June, Stryker Corp. recalled certain hip recover between workouts. — AP Boston, told the Wall Street Journal: “It co-recipient of the 2012 Nobel Prize for would be very sad to have such an impor- Medicine, created so-called induced tant paper retracted as a result of peer pluripotent stem cells (iPS). pressure, when indeed the data and con- The team took mature cells and coded H7N9 bird flu comes home to roost in China clusions are honest and valid.” Harvard is them with four genes, “rewinding” the cells’ also investigating, reports said. genetic programmes to return them to a HANGZHOU: The handful of poultry ey,” said Li Guiying, local boss of the taste for freshly slaughtered food. ‘Chickens can’t talk’ juvenile state. The technique had to over- dealers lingering at Chengbei Market Xuancheng Shandi Poultry Co. But in the longer term the govern- Poultry dealers accuse the govern- Simple, low-cost technique? come an early hurdle of causing tumours in have had little to do since Chinese H7N9 avian influenza has returned ment needs to encourage a shift in ment of shutting the markets without Hakubun Shimomura, the Japanese cells and still faces efficiency problems-less authorities shut down their livelihoods to China with a vengeance, sickening behaviour of consumers and clean up scientific evidence and demand com- minister in charge of science and educa- than one percent of adult cells are typically after H7N9 bird flu began stalking the 226 people and killing 72 so far this the nation’s food supply chain, experts pensation for the birds they were forced tion, said Tuesday that the study should be reprogrammed successfully. —AFP country again, killing scores of people year, as the government girds for what say, which has been hit by a series of to slaughter or sell at rock-bottom this year. is likely to be a long battle to contain health safety scandals. Ultimately, fears prices. “Chickens can’t talk. Ducks can’t They spend their days counting the what one World Health Organization exist that the H7N9 virus could mutate talk. We don’t know where bird flu losses to their business, gambling at (WHO) official has labelled an “epidem- and become easily passed between came from: chickens, ducks or other Blood test can predict cards and cleaning the cages which ic”. people, rampaging through the world’s birds,” said Li, at the Chengbei market in once held thousands of live birds, hop- China has responded by aggressive- most populous country and crossing its Hangzhou. Alzheimer’s: Study ing the government will allow the trade ly closing down poultry markets in loca- borders to spread around the planet. Authorities in the city, capital of the to resume. tions believed to be at threat from the After subsiding following the first eastern province of Zhejiang, the centre PARIS: Researchers in the United States say Organization. “Our novel blood test offers the “The chickens lay every day and I virus, raising an outcry from the agricul- outbreak early last year, H7N9 resur- of the current outbreak, shut down the they have developed a prototype blood test potential to identify people at risk for pro- can’t sell the eggs. We are losing mon- tural industry and consumers with a faced in the autumn, then boomed. The market in January. The province has that can tell with 90-percent accuracy gressive cognitive decline and can change figures for the first two months of the announced radical plans to ban-forev- whether a healthy person will develop how patients, their families and treating year exceed the tallies of 144 infections er-all live poultry trading in urban areas, Alzheimer’s disease within three years. physicians plan for and manage the disorder,” and 46 deaths for the whole of 2013. according to state media, and replace it The test looks for 10 signatures of fatty said Howard Federoff, a professor of neurolo- The WHO and Chinese authorities with factory-slaughtered and frozen proteins called lipids, according to a study gy at Georgetown University Medical Center maintain there is no evidence of “sus- meat. China’s National Poultry Industry published on Sunday in the journal Nature in Washington. It could also help efforts to tained” human transmission with H7N9, Association estimates the sector has Medicine. It could help families of people treat the disease, he said in a press release. though there have been cases of family lost more than $3.0 billion so far this developing the cognitive disorder make early Attempts to develop drugs for Alzheimer’s members in close contact infecting year, on top of the impact of the out- decisions on how best to care for them and have failed possibly because they are tested each other. But they acknowledge a break last year as consumers shunned may also aid the search for treatment, the when the disease has progressed too far, seasonal spike in cases, possibly caused fowl and markets stopped business. authors said. Federoff said. These treatments may have a by the affinity of the virus for colder “Within the industry we call it a dev- Several years of clinical trials are likely to better chance of braking or reversing the dis- temperatures and humans’ greater sus- astating hit, a crowning calamity. With be needed to assess the prototype technique, ease if they are trialled at a much earlier ceptibility to illness in winter. “The big our backs to the wall, it seems one can- the first blood “biomarker” to predict the trag- stage, he said. question always is, ‘does it go down as not adequately depict the severity of ic degenerative disease. The researchers started by taking blood the season goes away or does it contin- the situation,” said the association’s sec- Alzheimer’s, caused by toxic proteins that samples from 525 healthy volunteers aged 70 ue?’” said the WHO Representative in retary general Gong Guifen. “The selling destroy brain cells, is a currently incurable and older. Three years later, they looked at a China, Bernhard Schwartl‰nder. “We of frozen chicken is more like an emer- and fatal degenerative disease. Around 35 group of 53 volunteers who had developed seem to start seeing a decrease again, gency response, whereas the industry million people have the disease, a tally that is symptoms of early Alzheimer’s or a memory- HANGZHOU: This photo taken on February 17, 2014 shows a woman which confirms the seasonal patterns, as well as the public’s consumption expected to reach 115 million people by affecting condition known as amnestic mild with organic eggs that she is banned from selling at a market closed due but there is of course no reason and no habits cannot be changed overnight,” 2050, according to the World Health cognitive impairment (aMCI).—AFP to an outbreak of H7N9 bird flu in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. — AFP space to relax,” he said. she said. —AFP WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 HEALTH & SCIENCE Volcanoes saw species survive ice ages: Study

SYDNEY: The steam and heat from volca- ice ages in other frigid regions, including in noes allowed species of plants and animals periods when it is thought there was little to survive past ice ages, a study showed or no ice-free land on the planet. Colorado made yesterday, offering help for scientists deal- Antarctica has at least 16 volcanoes ing with climate change. which have been active since the last ice $3.5m in pot tax in An international team of researchers age 20,000 years ago with around 60 per- first month said their analysis helped explain a long- cent of Antarctic invertebrate species running mystery about how some species found nowhere else in the world, largely LOS ANGELES: Marijuana sales in Colorado brought thrived, often in isolation, in areas covered due to the unique conditions that have in $3.5 million in tax revenues and fees in the first by glaciers, with volcanoes acting as an allowed them to evolve. month retail pot outlets were allowed, the western US oasis of life during long cold periods. “They have clearly not arrived on the state said Monday. “Volcanic steam can melt large ice caves continent recently, but must have been The figure included $2.9 million in taxes for recre- under the glaciers, and it can be tens of there for millions of years,” said Peter ational and medical marijuana in the month of degrees warmer in there than outside,” said Convey from the British Antarctic Survey. January, and nearly $600,000 in fees, said Colorado’s Ceridwen Fraser, the joint team leader from “How they survived past ice ages ... has Department of Revenue. the Australian National University. long puzzled scientists.” The Rocky Mountain state had legalized pot in “Caves and warm steam fields would Aleks Terauds from the Australian 2012, but made drug history on January 1 by inaugu- Antarctic Division, which ran the analysis have been great places for species to hang rating retail sales of marijuana for recreational use. It out during ice ages. that was published by the US-based journal levies a 15 percent excise tax and a 2.9 percent sales “We can learn a lot from looking at the Proceedings of the National Academy of tax. “The first month of sales for recreational marijuana impacts of past climate change as we try to Sciences, said the closer researchers got to fell in line with expectations,” said tax department deal with the accelerated change that volcanoes, the more species were found. humans are now causing.” “This pattern supports our hypothesis ANTARCTICA SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS: An undated handout photo obtained yes- chief Barbara Brohl, while cautioning that the size of The team studied tens of thousands of that species have been expanding their terday, taken by Peter Convey of the British Antarctic Survey and provided by the the industry might take a few months to become clear. records of Antarctic mosses, lichens and ranges and gradually moving out from vol- Australian National University media office, shows volcanic steam over fields of Initial projections had suggested 40 businesses would bugs, collected over decades by hundreds canic areas since the last ice age,” he said. mosses in Antarctica South Sandwich Islands. — AFP be up and running on January 1, but in fact only 24 of researchers, and found there were more Another team member, Steven Chown, human-induced environmental changes melt in areas of Antarctica which will free were by then. By the end of January, 59 businesses had species close to volcanoes, and fewer fur- from Monash University in Melbourne, said continue to affect Antarctica,” he said, with up ice-free space,” she said. “The most likely filed tax returns. ther away. the findings could help guide conservation Fraser warning that warming temperatures species to colonise this new space are After Colorado, Pacific Northwest state Washington While the study was based on efforts in Antarctica. will leave Antarctic environments vulnera- going to be species that come in on peo- is set to follow suit later this year-even though, under Antarctica, the findings will also help scien- “Knowing where the ‘hotspots’ of diver- ble to invasive species. ple, on the vessels that go down to federal law, marijuana remains as illegal as heroin, tists understand how species survived past sity are will help us to protect them as “As the climate warms, ice is going to Antarctica.” —AFP ecstasy and LSD.—AFP WHAT’S ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12 , 2014

The Indonesian ambassador Ferry Adamhar delivers (From left) Mrs. Eva Adamhar, the Indonesian Ambassador’s wife, Ferry (From left) Narjes Al-Shatti, former MP Salwa Al-Jassar, Nita Rosalina, Al-Hanouf a speech. Adamhar, Indonesia’s ambassador to Kuwait, the Swiss ambassador’s wife and Al-Sabah, Egyptian Ambassador’s wife Badriya Abu Bakr and Palestinian Ms Abeer Al-Mutair. Ambassador’s wife Rima Al-Khaldi. Indonesian Embassy organizes fashion show

The Indonesian Embassy organized a fashion show recently at the Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa, which was hosted by Indonesia’s ambassador to Kuwait Ferry Adamhar and his wife. Several spouses of ambassadors in Kuwait as well as society figures attended the event. —Photos by asserY Al-Zayyat

(From left) Iffat Atherkhash and Estefana Shukrallah.

(From left) Sable Tantora, Aisha Adka and Michelle Blacket. (From left) The Sudanese ambassador’s wife, former MP Salwa Al-Jassar and Narjes Al-Shatti.

Valentino Parory.

(From left) Sadeeqah Abbas and Zamzam.

(From left) Narjes Al-Shatti, Farah Attori, Rima Al-Khaldi, Anna and Sable (From left) ) The Sudanese ambassador’s wife, Narjes Al-Shatti, the Iraqi ambass- Greetings Tantora. dor’s wife and the Swiss ambassador’s wife.

Ranina Wedjojy. Teriyas Potry Nina Rosalinda

Happy birthday to you Taiwo. May the good Lord guide you as you grow to be a blessing to your family. Greetings from aunty Chika and family, friends and well-wishers.

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Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: [email protected] Fax: 24835619 / 20 WHAT’S ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12 , 2014

Palestinian embassy celebrates Kuwait’s national holidays

The Palestinian Ambassador to Kuwait Rami Tahboub hosted an event at the Arfaj Camp recently to celebrate Kuwait’s national holidays. Palestinian embassy staff, members of the Palestinian community in Kuwait as well as several ambassadors in Kuwait attended the event. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat TV PROGRAMS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014

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The network also announced that it will cut its 14:50 Bang Goes The Theory 10:15 Married To Jonas Edition programming day by one hour, starting March 31. It previ- 06:15 Bargain Hunt 15:20 Food Factory 10:40 Chasing The Saturdays Country 05:00 Good Morning America 07:05 Bill’s Kitchen: Notting Hill 15:45 How Tech Works 11:10 The Drama Queen 05:30 Now Is Good-PG15 ously aired from 6 am until 9 pm, and will now wrap up at 8 16:30 Endeavour 07:00 Emmerdale 07:35 Food & Drink 16:10 Junkyard Wars 12:05 Fashion Police 07:15 Girl In Progress-PG15 pm. “Over the Garden Wall” is a miniseries featuring Wood, 18:20 May The Best House Win 07:30 Coronation Street 08:00 Extreme Makeover: Home 17:00 Through The Wormhole With 13:35 E!ES 09:00 Midnight In Paris-PG15 among others, in a story about brothers trapped in a strange 19:10 Coronation Street 08:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show Edition Morgan Freeman 14:30 Style Star 11:00 Olympus Has Fallen-PG15 land. 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News 21:00 The Bling Ring-18 16:00 24 13:20 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 21:45 Deadliest Space Weather 19:00 Fashion Police 23:00 The Campaign-18 shows, as described by the network: 17:00 Castle 14:05 Antiques Roadshow 22:10 Food Factory 20:30 E!ES 18:00 Made In Jersey 15:00 Homes Under The Hammer 22:35 How Tech Works 21:00 The Drama Queen 1- Over The Garden Wall: Headlined by an all-star voice- 19:00 24 15:55 Homes Under The Hammer 23:00 Space Voyages 22:00 Eric And Jessie: Game On cast that includes Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings Trilogy), 20:00 Castle 16:50 Bargain Hunt 23:50 Deadliest Space Weather 22:30 E! News Collin Dean (The War at Home) and Melanie Lynskey (Two 00:30 The Daily Show With Jon 21:00 Made In Jersey 17:35 Cash In The Attic 23:30 Chelsea Lately 01:00 The Missing Lynx Stewart 22:00 Rescue Me and a Half Men), Over the Garden Wall is Cartoon Network’s 18:25 Antiques Roadshow 02:45 The Legend Of Sarila 01:00 The Colbert Report 23:00 Nip/Tuck first event mini-series, an animated comedy/fantasy story 19:15 Homes Under The Hammer 04:30 Free Birds about two brothers, Wirt and Greg, who are trapped in a mys- 01:30 The Big C 06:00 Olentzero Christmas Tale 20:10 Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard 02:00 South Park terious world. In this ten-part mini-series, Wirt and Greg must 20:35 Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard 08:00 Emperor’s Secret 02:30 Out There 09:45 Sky Force travel across this strange land until they find their way home, 21:00 The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook 00:00 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 03:30 Raising Hope 21:30 Come Dine With Me 11:15 Mrs. Doubtfire aided by a wise old Woodsman who gives them directions 00:20 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 04:00 Seinfeld 13:30 The Legend Of Sarila and a bluebird named Beatrice. Music plays an important 22:20 Antiques Roadshow 00:35 House Gift 00:45 Sonny With A Chance 04:30 The Tonight Show Starring 00:00 Stone’s War: War Of The 15:00 The Fantastic Adventure Of role in the series with a soundtrack full of Americana-influ- 23:15 Bargain Hunt 01:30 Emmerdale 01:05 Sonny With A Chance Jimmy Fallon Dead-18 The Ugly Duckling 02:25 Coronation Street enced original songs. Over The Garden Wall is created by Pat 01:30 Suite Life On Deck 05:30 Seinfeld 02:00 5 Days Of War-PG15 16:30 The Elf Who Stole Christmas 02:55 Holiday: Heaven On Earth McHale and produced by Cartoon Network Studios. 01:50 Suite Life On Deck 06:00 Two And A Half Men 04:00 Shadow Conspiracy-PG15 18:00 Sky Force 03:25 Agatha Christie’s Marple 02:15 Wizards Of Waverly Place 06:30 Arrested Development 06:00 Virtuosity-PG15 20:00 The Water Horse: Legend Of 05:15 Ade In Britain 2- Clarence: From creator Skyler Page and premiering 02:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place 07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 08:00 Darkman-PG15 The Deep 06:10 House Gift Monday, April 14 at 7 pm, Clarence is a new, original animat- 03:00 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 08:00 Seinfeld 10:00 The Marine-PG15 22:00 The Fantastic Adventure Of 07:05 Holiday: Heaven On Earth 00:30 Manhunt 03:20 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 08:30 Seinfeld 12:00 Dragonheart-PG The Ugly Duckling ed series about an optimistic boy who wants to do every- 07:30 Agatha Christie’s Marple 01:20 Survive That! 03:45 Sonny With A Chance 09:30 The Crazy Ones 14:00 Darkman-PG15 23:30 The Elf Who Stole Christmas thing. Because everything is amazing! Clarence was con- 09:20 Ade In Britain 02:10 Yukon Men 04:05 Sonny With A Chance 10:00 Trophy Wife 16:00 Justice League: Doom-PG15 ceived as part of the prolific shorts development program at 10:15 May The Best House Win 03:00 You Have Been Warned 04:30 Suite Life On Deck 10:30 Arrested Development 18:00 Dragonheart-PG Cartoon Network Studios, which has resulted in six original 11:10 Emmerdale 03:50 Border Security 04:50 Suite Life On Deck 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring 20:00 Graystone-PG15 series for the network: Regular Show, Uncle Grandpa, Steven 12:00 Coronation Street 04:15 Auction Kings 05:15 Wizards Of Waverly Place Jimmy Fallon 22:00 The Thing-18 12:30 House Gift Universe, Clarence, Over the Garden Wall and We Bare Bears. 04:40 Container Wars 05:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place 12:00 Two And A Half Men 13:25 Ade In Britain 05:05 How Do They Do It? 06:00 Austin & Ally 12:30 Seinfeld 14:20 May The Best House Win 00:00 Knuckle-PG15 3- We Bare Bears: We Bare Bears is a comedy about three 05:30 How It’s Made 06:25 Dog With A Blog 13:00 Seinfeld 15:10 Holiday: Heaven On Earth 02:00 Gambit-PG15 bear siblings, named Grizzly, Panda and Ice Bear. Each 06:00 Sons Of Guns 06:45 Suite Life On Deck 13:30 Arrested Development 15:35 Trevor Mcdonalds Queen & 04:00 Snowflake , The White episode follows their awkward attempts at assimilating into 07:00 You Have Been Warned 07:10 A.N.T. Farm 14:00 Raising Hope 00:00 Jackass: The Movie-18 14:30 The Crazy Ones Gorilla-PG human society, whether they’re looking for food, trying to 02:00 Revenge Of The Nerds-18 06:00 Dating Coach-PG15 15:00 Trophy Wife 04:00 The Beautician And The make human friends, or scheming to become internet 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon 08:00 The Greatest Movie Ever famous. Whatever the situation, it’s obvious that being a bear Beast-PG15 Sold-PG15 Stewart 06:00 Summer School-PG15 in the civilized, modern world is tough-but at least they have 16:00 The Colbert Report 10:00 Charlotte’s Web-PG 08:00 A Christmas Story 2-PG 12:00 Gambit-PG15 each other. Created by Annie Award-winner Daniel Chong 16:30 Two And A Half Men 10:00 A Heartbeat Away-PG15 (Toy Story of Terror!), We Bare Bears is produced by Cartoon 17:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 14:00 Barnyard-PG 12:00 The Beautician And The 16:00 The Greatest Movie Ever Network Studios. 18:00 The Simpsons Beast-PG15 19:00 The Mindy Project Sold-PG15 14:00 Raising Arizona-PG15 17:45 Iron Man 3-PG15 4- The Tom and Jerry Show: The iconic cat and mouse 19:30 Modern Family 16:00 A Heartbeat Away-PG15 20:00 The Tonight Show Starring 20:00 Killing Them Softly-18 rivals are back in The Tom and Jerry Show, a new, fresh take 18:00 I Think I Do-PG15 22:00 The Possession-PG15 Jimmy Fallon 20:00 Revenge Of The Nerds II: on the classic series. Preserving the look, characters and sen- 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Nerds In Paradise-PG15 sibility of the original, the all-new series shines a brightly col- Stewart 22:00 Jackass: The Movie-18 ored, high-definition lens on the madcap slapstick and nev- 21:30 The Colbert Report er-ending battle that has made Tom and Jerry two of the 22:00 Veep most beloved characters of all time. The Tom and Jerry Show 22:30 South Park 01:00 NRL Premiership 03:00 NRL Premiership is produced by Warner Bros. Animation and will premiere 23:00 Out There Wednesday, April 9 at 5:30 pm. 23:30 Late Night With Seth Meyers 05:00 NRL Full Time 05:30 Futbol Mundial 01:00 Shadow Dancer-PG15 06:00 Trans World Sport 5- Be Cool Scooby-Doo!: Be Cool Scooby-Doo! is an all- 03:00 The Twilight Saga: Breaking 07:00 Trans World Sport new 22-minute animated comedy series from Warner Bros. Dawn Pt. 2-PG15 08:00 LV Cup Animation. The Scooby gang is back with a modern comedic 00:00 Warehouse 13 05:00 Beneath Hill 60-PG15 10:00 Golfing World twist on the beloved classic. With high school over and one 07:00 Seeking Justice-PG15 11:00 World Golf Championship 01:00 Mistresses last summer to live it up, the gang hits the road in the 02:00 The Killing 09:00 Shadow Dancer-PG15 Highlights 10:45 Quiet Flows The Don-PG15 12:00 Super Rugby Mystery Machine, chasing fun and adventure. But monsters 03:00 World Without End and mayhem keep getting in the way. 04:00 Grey’s Anatomy 13:45 A Woman-PG15 14:00 Super Rugby 05:00 The Fosters 15:30 Courage-PG15 16:00 NRL Premiership 06:00 Warehouse 13 17:00 Red Lights-PG15 18:00 World Golf Championship 6- Wabbit-A Looney Tunes Production: The hilarious, 07:00 Drop Dead Diva 19:00 50/50-PG15 Highlights heroic and mischievous Bugs Bunny you love is back! From 08:00 Switched At Birth 21:00 Albert Nobbs-18 19:00 Golfing World Warner Bros. Animation, Bugs stars in an all-new series con- 09:00 The Killing 23:00 Buried-PG15 20:00 PGA European Tour Weekly sisting of comedic shorts that find the iconic carrot-loving rab- 10:00 The Fosters 20:30 Inside The PGA Tour bit matching wits against (and getting the best of) classic 11:00 Grey’s Anatomy 21:00 Trans World Sport characters like Yosemite Sam and Wile E. Coyote. Along the 22:00 LV Cup 12:00 Emmerdale way, Bugs will encounter brand-new foes and he’ll have some 12:30 Coronation Street help from new friends like Bigfoot and Squeaks the squirrel. 13:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 14:00 Switched At Birth 01:15 Surveillance-18 7- LEGO NINJAGO: Masters of Spinjitzu: Continuing its 15:00 Warehouse 13 03:00 The Last King Of Scotland-18 00:00 Golfing World 16:00 Emmerdale 05:30 Intolerable Cruelty-PG15 01:00 Premier League Darts robust partnership with The LEGO Group, Cartoon Network 16:30 Coronation Street 07:15 Hold Fast-PG15 04:00 LV Cup will re-introduce viewers to the awesome world of NINJAGO: 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 09:00 Alfie Boe: Bring Him Home 06:30 NRL Full Time Masters of Spinjitzu with six new half-hour animated specials 18:00 Switched At Birth Tour-PG15 07:00 NRL Premiership in 2014, followed by all-new episodes of the highly popular 19:00 Twisted 10:30 Someday This Pain Will Be 09:00 NRL Full Time series slated for 2015. 20:00 Scandal Useful To You-PG15 09:30 Dubai World Cup Carnival 21:00 House Of Cards 12:45 Earth-PG15 13:00 Trans World Sport 8- Sonic Boom : Sonic the Hedgehog has been one of 22:00 American Horror Story: 15:00 Offline-PG15 14:00 Golfing World the world’s biggest gaming icons for over 20 years and this Coven 17:00 Someday This Pain Will Be 15:00 World Golf Championships year a new branch of the Sonic universe debuts, entitled Highlights 23:00 World Without End Useful To You-PG15 Sonic Boom . With a new look for Sonic and friends, the 19:00 L’amour C’est Mieux A Deux- 16:00 Snooker PG15 19:00 NHL franchise’s first-ever CG animated television series, an 21:00 Arbitrage-PG15 21:00 HSBC Sevens World Series action-packed comedy adventure, will premiere on 23:00 Savages-18 23:00 HSBC Sevens World Series Cartoon Network with support from an extensive video Highlights game release of the same name. The Sonic Boom television 23:30 PGA European Tour Weekly series, coproduced by SEGA� of America, Inc. and OuiDO! 00:00 Made In Jersey Productions, will debut on Cartoon Network in the 01:00 Good Morning America 2014/2015 season.—Reuters 03:00 Nip/Tuck 01:15 Drift-PG15 VIRTUOSITY ON OSN MOVIES HD ACTION 04:00 Rescue Me 03:30 Olympus Has Fallen-PG15 Classifieds

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014

Kuwait KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY FOR SALE (06/03/2014 TO 12/03/2014) Galant 2013, fully auto- matic, like new, done km 13,600, doctor-owned, KD SHARQIA-1 NO SUN+TUE+WED Special Show “300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D)” 3,450 (price for new 5,450). 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 2:00 PM 7:15 PM Contact: 66572082. POMPEII (DIG) 4:15 PM MARINA-1 THU (C 4662) 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 6:30 PM REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG) 1:30 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D) 9:30 PM REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG) 8:45 PM 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 3:45 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D) 11:45 PM 12-3-2014 REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG) 10:45 PM REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG) :00 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED POMPEII (DIG) 12:45 AM 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 8:00 PM Black long leather coat, REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG) 10:15 PM 360º- 2 size M-L with removable SHARQIA-2 REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG) 12:30 AM 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 2:15 PM lining, made in Turkey, price 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D) 12:30 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 4:45 PM MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) 2:30 PM KD 55. Also new white arti- 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 7:15 PM MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) 4:30 PM MARINA-2 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 9:45 PM ficial fur coat knee length, 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D) 6:30 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 12:30 PM 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 12:15 AM price KD 50 (both KD 90). 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D) 8:30 PM PATRICK (DIG) 2:30 PM Tel: 66293005. 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D) 10:30 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 4:30 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D) 12:30 AM POMPEII (DIG) 6:30 PM 10-3-2014 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 8:45 PM 360º- 3 SHARQIA-3 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 10:45 PM WER (DIG) 2:30 PM Cooker Indesit gas 4 ring NON-STOP (DIG) 1:15 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 12:45 AM WER (DIG) 4:45 PM with oven, Linen box, iron- WER (DIG) 3:30 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED WER (DIG) 7:00 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 5:30 PM WER (DIG) 9:15 PM ing board, cloths hang rail NON-STOP (DIG) 7:45 PM MARINA-3 WER (DIG) 11:30 PM with shelf, dining table and WER (DIG) 10:00 PM MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) 1:30 PM 4 chairs, sofa 3 seats, office NON-STOP (DIG) 12:05 AM FRI AL-KOUT.1 desk, office chair, bookcase. NON-STOP (DIG) 1:00 PM 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 2:00 PM Personal trainer CPS with MUHALAB-1 MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) 3:30 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D) 4:30 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 1:30 PM heart monitor, dock station MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) 5:30 PM 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 6:30 PM for iPod, printer HP photos- 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 3:30 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D) 8:45 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 7:30 PM mart, safe. Tel: 94400865. Vandavasi Post. T.S Dist. 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 5:30 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 9:45 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D) 10:45 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 7:45 PM Tamil Nadu, 604408, shall MATRIMONIAL NON-STOP (DIG) 12:05 AM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D) 12:45 AM (C 4656) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 9:45 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED NO SUN+TUE+WED 6-3-2014 henceforth be known as Murugesan Uma MUHALAB-2 Pakistani Punjabi speaking AL-KOUT.2 MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG) 2:00 PM AVENUES-1 Mageswari. (C 4660) coming from landlord fami- POMPEII (DIG) 1:30 PM MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG) 4:00 PM POMPEII (DIG) 2:00 PM 11-3-2014 ly and working as Director POMPEII (DIG) 4:15 PM REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG) 3:45 PM CHANGE OF NAME WER (DIG) 6:00 PM Services in a company look- REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG) 8:00 PM PATRICK (DIG) 6:30 PM POMPEII (DIG) 5:45 PM REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG) 10:00 PM POMPEII (DIG) 8:45 PM REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG) 8:00 PM I, Safia Begum, D/O I, Aju Kurackuva Koshy ing for Pakistani girl resid- MUHALAB-3 Seats-419 12:30 PM POMPEII (DIG) 11:00 PM REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG) 10:00 PM Murugesan holder of Indian Mathew Indian Passport No ing in Kuwait for immediate POMPEII (DIG-3D) 2:45 PM POMPEII (DIG) 1:15 AM REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG) 12:05 AM Passport No. L0038265, H2014478 have changed marriage. Fintas P.O. Box NO SUN+TUE+WED NON-STOP (DIG) 5:00 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED date of birth 5-10-1969. my name to Aju Mathew. 1476, Code 51015 / zaidi- NON-STOP (DIG) 7:15 PM [email protected] NON-STOP (DIG) 9:30 PM AL-KOUT.3 Residing at no. 57 Tha (C 4659) AVENUES-2 (C 4661) 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 1:15 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 12:30 PM Krishnappa Vdiyar Street, 10-3-2014 FANAR-1 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 3:45 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 2:45 PM 12-3-2014 NON-STOP (DIG) 1:45 PM 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 6:15 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 5:00 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 4:00 PM 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 8:45 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 7:15 PM PATRICK (DIG) 6:15 PM 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 11:15 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 9:30 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 8:15 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED NON-STOP (DIG) 11:45 PM No: 16102 NON-STOP (DIG) 10:30 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED NON-STOP (DIG) 12:45 AM AVENUES-3 REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG) 2:30 PM BAIRAQ-1 FANAR-2 REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG) 4:45 PM MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) 12:30 PM 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 1:30 PM MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) 2:30 PM KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) 3:45 PM REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG) 7:00 PM MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG-3D) 4:30 PM 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 5:45 PM REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG) 9:15 PM KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) 8:15 PM REASONABLE DOUBT (DIG) 11:30 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D) 6:30 PM 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 10:15 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D) 8:30 PM 3 DAYS TO KILL (DIG) 12:30 AM AVENUES-4 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D) 10:30 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED NON-STOP (DIG) 1:45 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D) 12:30 AM NON-STOP (DIG) 4:00 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED FANAR-3 NON-STOP (DIG) 6:15 PM MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG) 1:00 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 8:30 PM BAIRAQ-2 MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG) 3:00 PM NO THU 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 1:30 PM MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG) 5:00 PM Special Show “300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG)” 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 3:30 PM MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG) 7:00 PM 8:30 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 5:30 PM WER (DIG) 9:00 PM THU MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN (DIG) 7:30 PM WER (DIG) 11:00 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 10:45 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 9:30 PM WER (DIG) 1:00 AM NON-STOP (DIG) 1:00 AM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE (DIG) 11:30 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED NO SUN+TUE+WED BAIRAQ-3 FANAR-4 360º- 1 NON-STOP (DIG) 1:15 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 1:30 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D) 12:30 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 3:30 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D) 4:00 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D) 2:45 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 5:45 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D) 6:00 PM KHOUTAT GIMI (DIG) 8:00 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D) 8:00 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D) 5:00 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D) 7:15 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 10:00 PM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D) 10:00 PM NON-STOP (DIG) 12:15 AM 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE DIG-3D) 12:05 AM NO THU

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

Arrival Flights on Wednesday 12/3/2014 QTR 1078 Doha 13:55 Departure Flights on Wednesday 12/3/2014 JZR 768 Riyadh 13:35 Airlines Flt Route Time KAC 672 Dubai 14:00 Airlines Flt Route Time JZR 176 Dubai 13:45 JAI 574 Mumbai 00:10 MSR 575 Sharm el-Sheikh 14:15 UAL 981 IAD 00:05 MRJ 4814 Mashhad 13:55 JZR 539 Cairo 00:40 KAC 790 Madinah 14:25 AIC 982 Ahmedabad/Hyderabad/Chennai 00:05 MSR 611 Cairo 14:00 THY 772 Istanbul 00:45 SVA 500 Jeddah 14:30 JAI 573 Mumbai 01:10 IRM 1189 Mashhad 14:05 QTR 1084 Doha 00:55 KNE 472 Jeddah 14:35 DLH 637 Dammam 01:10 IRC 6692 Mashhad 14:35 DLH 637 Frankfurt 02:10 UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 PGT 858 Istanbul 01:30 GFA 221 Bahrain 15:00 ETH 621 Addis Ababa 02:45 JZR 480 Istanbul 14:20 ETH 620 Addis Ababa 01:45 KAC 788 Jeddah 15:10 THY 773 Istanbul 02:55 IYE 827 Mukalla/Sanaa 14:30 GFA 211 Bahrain 02:10 KNE 462 Madinah 15:45 PGT 859 Istanbul 03:20 FDB 058 Dubai 14:30 THY 764 Istanbul 02:15 KNE 460 Riyadh 15:55 UAE 854 Dubai 03:50 CLX 792 Hanoi 14:45 JZR 267 Beirut 02:30 KAC 538 Sharm el-Sheikh/Sohag 16:05 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:00 QTR 1079 Doha 14:55 UAE 857 Dubai 16:40 UAE 853 Dubai 02:35 OMA 644 Muscat 04:05 MSR 576 Sharm el-Sheikh 15:00 ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 02:45 QTR 1072 Doha 16:40 MSR 613 Cairo 04:10 KAC 673 Dubai 15:05 JAI 576 Kochi/Abu Dhabi 02:50 JZR 787 Riyadh 16:50 OMA 643 Muscat 03:05 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 16:50 QTR 1085 Doha 04:15 KNE 473 Jeddah 15:30 MSR 612 Cairo 03:10 RJA 640 Amman 16:55 FDB 068 Dubai 04:40 KAC 617 Doha 15:30 QTR 1076 Doha 03:45 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 QTR 1077 Doha 05:15 IRC 6693 Mashhad 15:35 FDB 067 Dubai 04:00 ABY 127 Sharjah 17:25 JZR 560 Sohag 06:20 SVA 503 Madinah/Jeddah 15:45 THY 770 Istanbul 05:35 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 FDB 070 Dubai 06:30 GFA 222 Bahrain 15:45 JZR 357 Mashhad 17:55 DHX 170 Bahrain 05:40 JAI 575 Abu Dhabi/Kochi 06:45 KAC 773 Riyadh 16:05 FDB 069 Dubai 05:50 JZR 777 Jeddah 17:55 JZR 164 Dubai 06:55 KNE 463 Madinah 16:35 JZR 529 Asyut 06:20 KAC 542 Cairo 18:05 THY 765 Istanbul 07:05 KNE 481 Taif 16:40 BAW 157 London 06:40 RBG 553 Alexandria 18:15 KAC 412 Manila/Bangkok 06:45 JZR 177 Dubai 18:20 GFA 212 Bahrain 07:15 JZR 238 Amman 16:55 KAC 206 Islamabad 07:40 QTR 1080 Doha 18:40 THY 771 Istanbul 07:30 ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 17:35 FDB 053 Dubai 07:50 KAC 786 Jeddah 18:45 KAC 537 Sharm el-Sheikh/Sohag 08:10 QTR 1073 Doha 17:40 QTR 1086 Doha 07:50 FDB 063 Dubai 18:45 FDB 054 Dubai 08:30 JZR 538 Cairo 17:50 KAC 618 Doha 19:00 KAC 382 Delhi 07:55 BAW 156 London 08:45 UAE 858 Dubai 17:50 KAC 166 Paris/Rome 19:10 KAC 302 Mumbai 07:55 QTR 1087 Doha 08:50 RJA 641 Amman 17:55 KAC 352 Kochi 08:10 KAC 674 Dubai 19:25 KAC 787 Jeddah 09:25 ABY 128 Sharjah 18:05 KAC 344 Chennai 08:35 KAC 774 Riyadh 19:30 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15 UAE 855 Dubai 08:40 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:30 KAC 671 Dubai 09:30 KAC 362 Colombo 08:45 KAC 102 New York/London 19:35 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:40 GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 KAC 284 Dhaka 08:50 OMA 647 Muscat 19:55 KAC 789 Madinah 09:45 JZR 184 Dubai 18:40 ABY 125 Sharjah 09:00 MSC 405 Sohag 20:05 UAE 856 Dubai 09:55 JZR 266 Beirut 18:50 FDB 061 Dubai 20:05 IRM 1186 Tehran 09:15 KAC 117 New York 10:00 RBG 554 Alexandria 18:55 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:20 JAI 572 Mumbai 20:10 ABY 129 Sharjah 20:20 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:05 JZR 134 Bahrain 19:10 FDB 055 Dubai 09:40 KAC 521 Al Najaf 10:05 JZR 554 Alexandria 19:20 QTR 1070 Doha 09:55 ETD 919 Abu Dhabi 20:25 FDB 056 Dubai 10:20 FDB 064 Dubai 19:25 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 AXB 489 Kochi/Mangalore 20:35 MSR 606 Luxor 20:45 IRA 603 Shiraz 10:45 IRM 1187 Tehran 10:30 QTR 1081 Doha 19:40 DLH 634 Frankfurt 20:55 IAW 157 Al Najaf/Baghdad 11:00 KAC 175 Frankfurt/Geneva 10:45 GFA 218 Bahrain 20:15 ALK 229 Colombo 21:10 JZR 165 Dubai 11:30 QTR 1071 Doha 10:55 KAC 283 Dhaka 20:30 MEA 402 Beirut 21:20 MEA 404 Beirut 11:55 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:25 FDB 062 Dubai 20:45 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:35 MSC 403 Asyut 12:20 UAE 859 Dubai 21:40 KAC 541 Cairo 11:30 OMA 648 Muscat 20:55 MRJ 4815 Mashhad 12:25 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45 IRA 602 Shiraz 11:45 KAC 331 Trivandrum 20:55 IRM 1188 Mashhad 12:40 KNE 480 Taif 21:45 JZR 356 Mashhad 11:55 ABY 120 Sharjah 21:00 UAE 871 Dubai 12:50 FDB 059 Dubai 22:00 IAW 158 Baghdad/Al Najaf 12:00 KAC 381 Delhi 22:50 JZR 561 Sohag 12:55 QTR 1074 Doha 22:00 MSR 610 Cairo 13:00 KAC 103 London 12:20 KAC 205 Islamabad 22:55 JZR 135 Bahrain 22:05 CLX 792 Luxembourg 13:15 JZR 776 Jeddah 12:25 QTR 1075 Doha 23:10 JZR 481 Istanbul 22:15 IYE 826 Sanaa/Mukalla 13:30 MEA 405 Beirut 12:55 JZR 528 Asyut 23:25 JZR 239 Amman 22:20 KAC 522 Al Najaf 13:45 AIC 975 Chennai/Goa 22:30 KAC 785 Jeddah 13:00 JZR 502 Luxor 23:30 FDB 057 Dubai 13:50 JZR 185 Dubai 23:20 MSC 406 Sohag 13:20 KAC 415 Kuala Lumpur/Jakarta 23:55 DIAL161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION stars34 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014

STAR TRACK CROSSWORD 484

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

You begin your day with a good breakfast. This could be a very busy day. Take the opportunity to enjoy a little quiet time this morning because the You will find the flow of business positive. Someone older or in authority demand on your energy is about to increase. Someone appears aggressive needs your help and you are able to pitch in and lend a helping hand. You are appreciat- but you are aware and alert to the best answers with a difficult person this day. You may ed, even though it may be hard to see. Higher education, publishing, broadcasting or be very clever in allowing this person to talk out his or her thoughts. Listening and possi- advertising could play an unexpected role in setting new directions for you. A problem at bly requesting some time to think about an answer would be a wise choice today. With work that has gone on for a long time is finally at an end. Now it is time for new conquests. determination to succeed in helping a person, the required answer may not be beneficial You practice common sense when others would like to overindulge and celebrate the or helpful until he or she has a real need to know. Gather yourself to stay the course; you night away. You are just as happy when you are with loved ones. You and your loved ones are a successful friend, co-worker, teacher, etc. You will find yourself in demand as a coun- selor because you ignite the desire to learn in others. A beloved can be enjoyed tonight. enjoy celebrating by having dinner out this evening. You are most elegant.

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

Authority figures could be testy today. If possible, it might be a good idea to You demonstrate an urge to be recognized by co-workers today. Some of stay out of their way. Look for ways in which you can get your ideas across to higher-ups your push for success may come into competition with others-it might be without being too pushy. You could find that you are appreciated or valued for your busi- wise not to push for compliments-you could set up future problems for yourself. It is ness expertise and your ability to act and get things done. Others may disagree with what understandable that you want to feel secure in your job but seek your compliments from higher-ups. Make sure your progress is noted when it comes time for your six-month or you say or think or in some way oppose your ideas and thoughts. You cannot please yearly review. You enjoy good relationships with your family this evening. You could also everyone but your current situation may demand some reevaluation or otherwise chal- be receiving money, perhaps from a relative. You could find that you are appreciated or lenge your ideas. It may be very hard for you to communicate what you mean to others at valued for your feelings or your ability to act and get things done. Someone understands this time. A loved one may be feeling under the weather this evening. A helping hand will how you feel and is willing to lend a helping hand or listening ear if you need it. be appreciated this evening.

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

Big changes affecting your career, status and reputation are likely now. mind and may find yourself dealing with matters of much concern and responsibility. Your tendency to lean toward that ambitious tendency of Daring to be different gets you noticed and could get you ahead in ways yours is appreciated by higher-ups. Continue to keep tabs on breaks and make sure you ACROSS DOWN you never expected. It is difficult to find a middle ground when it concerns budgeting. take them! You are extremely communicative to associates around you whenever help, 1. A broad flat muscle on either side of the 1. The dried fibrous part of the fruit of a Perhaps it is time to seek the advice of an accountant-it could be worth the expense. You guidance or sharing experiences is indicated. This is a most beneficial time to exchange are either extremely extravagant or extremely tight. New technology plays a role in your ideas and seek out new ways to work. Because of something said or some action of anoth- back. plant of the genus Luffa. financial success. This is the perfect time for a new romance. If you are already involved, 4. Tropical American feather palm having a 2. A unit of dry measure used in Egypt. er person in the workplace, you pick up on the possibility that a change is in the works. this is a good time to show your affection. Spend more time with the family or your special This is probably something quite basic so it is best to go with the flow. swollen spiny trunk and edible nuts. 3. A general direction in which something sweetheart. Passion is prevalent this month and children seem cooperative as well. 11. A major god. tends to move. General good feeling with a loved one is positive. 15. Canadian hockey player (born 1948). 4. An artistic form of auditory communica- 16. Of or relating to or characteristic of tion incorporating instrumental or vocal Uganda or its people. tones in a structured and continuous man- 17. A narrow way or road. ner. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Capricorn (December 22-January 19) 18. United States playwright (1906-1963). 5. A soft white precious univalent metallic 20. A river in southeastern Australia that element having the highest electrical and The effort of your hard work pays off today. You find yourself talkative and New ways in which you or your company advertises products are important flows generally northwest to join the quick-witted much of this day. Ideas are clear and easily developed. This topics for discussion this morning. Others value you for your ability to make thermal conductivity of any metal. practical decisions concerning group issues. Clear decisions affecting others could be Darling River. 6. Airtight sealed metal container for food could be a good time to join in the activity of others or for thinking over your own affairs. 21. South American armadillo with three You may have a conversation with an older person or someone in authority. Your commu- made now. Sometimes you have to spend money to make money. In one well-known or drink or paint etc.. nication abilities are at a high just now. This is an excellent time to sway others to your business, a few new adjustments have begun to lower the cost of electricity and water, bands of bony plates. 7. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods. and to create a nature-friendly environment. You may decide to spend some time with an 22. (Norse mythology) An enormous wolf way of thinking-being careful not to go to extremes. Put a hold on an issue if people do 8. Designer drug designed to have the not understand your ideas right away. You can approach the subject again, later. This advisor to help you with some changes around your living area. After a very busy day, it that was fathered by Loki and that killed effects of amphetamines (it floods the brain evening you work to help an older person feel better by helping that person change his or may not be easy to relax. Encourage a friend or loved one to walk with you this evening Odin. her thoughts from negative to positive. and then enjoy a light dinner. A meeting with friends this evening is relaxing. 24. The value of a coordinate on the hori- with serotonin) but to avoid the drug laws. zontal axis. 9. African tree having an exceedingly thick 26. A small motor nerve supplying the lat- trunk and fruit that resembles a gourd and eral rectus muscle of the eye. has an edible pulp called monkey bread. Leo (July 23-August 22) Aquarius (January 20- February 18) 10. Liquorice-flavored seeds or oil used in 29. (in Gnosticism) A divine power or Do not let finances completely dominate your concerns. During this month, nature emanating from the Supreme Being cookies or cakes or pickles. If you have any vacation time coming to you, it is a good time to begin you will find that possibilities for financial gains fall apart and yet, some and playing various roles in the operation 11. A written statement of the grounds of thinking about a vacation. Today is a positive day for a loan if you decide a ideas for financial gains will materialize. This is a good time to take a wait and see attitude. complaint made to court law asking for the vacation is in order and a little extra money would be helpful. Keep up the good work in Be as realistic as possible. Plans for travel and higher education get good support from rel- of the universe. maintaining a balance in your life. Giving into imbalance can throw a kink in your physical 30. (computer science) The part of a com- grievance to be redressed. atives and friends. Use wise discrimination between your necessary expenses as opposed strength as well as your self-esteem. You may find your interest in communication will to the unnecessary expenses. Your loved ones will appreciate a little of your extra time puter (a microprocessor chip) that does 12. (military) Signal to turn the lights out. spur you to join a group with like interests. This could involve a computer group, poetry 13. Type genus of the Anatidae. today. You have a special way of communicating just how important each person is to most of the data processing. group or writer’s group, etc. Idealism, rationality and critical thinking become more and you, and now is a good time to express yourself. There is great confidence today. You have 31. A member of the beat generation. 14. Queen of the Olympian gods in ancient more a part of your mental patterns and the way you communicate. You have inventive, the opportunity to be of help to others this evening. 35. Inability to walk. Greek mythology. original and high-tech thinking. You are feeling good about yourself today! 38. Being ten more than one hundred nine- 19. (medical) A bandage consisting of a pad ty. and belt. 40. A metric unit of volume equal to one 23. A summary that repeats the substance Virgo (August 23-September 22) tenth of a liter. of a longer discussion. Pisces (February 19-March 20) 41. A strong emotion. 25. Mix together different elements. There is work to be done this afternoon and concentration on the work at This wonderful day of your birth, a wonderful feeling that spring is near cer- 42. An international organization of 27. A radioactive transuranic metallic ele- tainly has put a bounce in your step. You are in a good place today and your European countries formed after World War hand is your top priority. Use your own personal scrutiny with your work-it is important ment. for you to feel that you have covered all the bases and performed your duties in the best outlook is most positive. The energies that are around you are positive. You will be teach- II to reduce trade barriers and increase 28. Briefly giving the gist of something. possible ways. Properly channeled, your ambition is a powerful motivation and will result ing others through your own example, whether you realize it or not. Music, colors and cooperation among its members. 32. An effortful attempt to attain a goal. in fascinating achievements. You will receive recognition in the workplace this week. A lights are the things that stimulate you into creative thinking. If you consider your work 43. Large burrowing rodent of South and shopping spree this afternoon may find you wanting to spend more than necessary-avoid creative, you should be quite productive, particularly at this time of the year. If you do not 33. Feeling or showing extreme anger. consider your work creative, begin now to change a few things in your surroundings that Central America. 34. So adjusted as to be appropriate or extravagance. Relationships begun during this time will have long-lasting results. If you 45. An analytic or interpretive literary com- already have a love partner, you will have new insights into your partner’s needs at this will help encourage you to create. A clever friend wants to help you celebrate; put on a brought into harmony. time. There is a new adventure just waiting to unfold. new outfit and paint the town. Happy birthday! position. 36. A job in an organization. 47. The phenomenon of resistance to motion through a fluid. 37. Very small free-living arachnid that is 49. Of or relating to the stomach and intes- parasitic on animals or plants. tines. 39. A white metallic element that burns Challenging Mazes Yesterday’s Solution 52. A native or inhabitant of ancient Etruria. with a brilliant light. 55. Covered or protected with or as if with a 44. Title for a civil or military leader (espe- case. cially in Turkey). 56. The second great battle of the American 46. An ancient Greek city famous for mili- Civil War (1862). tary prowess. 57. A person who is pursuing and trying to 48. A Russian prison camp for political pris- overtake or capture. oners. 59. Herb of the Pacific islands grown 50. Showing the cunning or ingenuity or throughout the tropics for its edible root wickedness typical of a devil. and in temperate areas as an ornamental 51. Protect from heat, cold, noise, etc. by for its large glossy leaves. surrounding with insulating material. 60. Forbidden to profane use especially in 53. Make a solicitation or entreaty for South Pacific islands. something. 61. The basic unit of money in Bangladesh. 54. A stately Protestant (especially 65. The blood group whose red cells carry Lutheran) hymn tune. both the A and B antigens. 58. Capital and largest city of Cuba. 67. Prepare for a military confrontation. 62. Any property detected by the olfactory 69. A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug system. (trade name Voltaren) that is administered 63. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked only orally. on a skewer usually with vegetables. 71. An ugly evil-looking old woman. 73. An esoteric or occult matter that is tra- 64. (Jungian psychology) The inner self (not ditionally secret. the external persona) that is in touch with 75. A religious belief of African origin the unconscious. involving witchcraft and sorcery. 66. A small cake leavened with yeast. 76. The elementary stages of any subject 68. A software system that facilitates the (usually plural). creation and maintenance and use of an 77. A weakly magnetic black mineral found electronic database. in metamorphic and plutonic rocks. 70. (Greek mythology) The Titaness who 78. A member of a Mayan people of south- was mother of Helios and Selene and Eos in western Guatemala. ancient mythology. 79. The cry made by sheep. 72. Aircraft landing in bad weather in which 80. Testacean rhizopods. the pilot is talked down by ground control 81. A loose sleeveless outer garment made using precision approach radar. from aba cloth. 74. The money risked on a gamble.

Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 information

For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 Al-Madeena 22418714 Al-Shuhada 22545171 GOVERNORATE PHARMACY ADDRESS PHONE Al-Shuwaikh 24810598 Ahmadi Sama Safwan Fahaeel Makka St 23915883 Sabah Hospital 24812000 Abu Halaifa Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd 23715414 Al-Nuzha 22545171 Danat Al-Sultan Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd 23726558 Amiri Hospital 22450005 Sabhan 24742838 Maternity Hospital 24843100 Jahra Modern Jahra Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 24575518 Madina Munawara Jahra-Block 92 24566622 Al-Helaly 22434853 Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital 25312700 Capital Ahlam Fahad Al-Salem St 22436184 Al-Faiha 22545051 Chest Hospital 24849400 Khaldiya Coop Khaldiya Coop 24833967

Farwaniya Hospital 24892010 Farwaniya New Shifa Farwaniya Block 40 24734000 Al-Farwaniya 24711433 Ferdous Coop Ferdous Coop 24881201 Adan Hospital 23940620 Modern Safwan Old Kheitan Block 11 24726638 Al-Sulaibikhat 24316983 Ibn Sina Hospital 24840300 Hawally Tariq Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25726265 Al-Fahaheel 23927002 Al-Razi Hospital 24846000 Hana Salmiya-Amman St 25647075 Ikhlas Hawally-Beirut St 22625999 Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh 24316983 Physiotherapy Hospital 24874330/9 Hawally & Rawdha Hawally & Rawdha Coop 22564549 Ghadeer Jabriya-Block 1A 25340559 Kindy Jabriya-Block 3B 25326554 Ahmadi 23980088 Ibn Al-Nafis Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25721264 Mishrif Coop Mishrif Coop 25380581 Al-Mangaf 23711183 Kaizen center 25716707 Salwa Coop Salwa Coop 25628241 Al-Shuaiba 23262845 Rawda 22517733

Adaliya 22517144 Al-Jahra 25610011 Khaldiya 24848075 Al-Salmiya 25616368 Kaifan 24849807 Shamiya 24848913 INTERNATIONAL Shuwaikh 24814507 CALLS Abdullah Salem 22549134

Nuzha 22526804 Afghanistan 0093 Iran 0098 Albania 00355 Iraq 00964 Industrial Shuwaikh 24814764 Algeria 00213 Ireland 00353 Qadsiya 22515088 Andorra 00376 Italy 0039 Angola 00244 Ivory Coast 00225 Dasmah 22532265 Anguilla 001264 Jamaica 001876 Antiga 001268 Japan 0081 Bneid Al-Gar 22531908 Argentina 0054 Jordan 00962 Shaab 22518752 Armenia 00374 Kazakhstan 007 Australia 0061 Kenya 00254 Qibla 22459381 Austria 0043 Kiribati 00686 Bahamas 001242 Kuwait 00965 Ayoun Al-Qibla 22451082 Bahrain 00973 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Mirqab 22456536 Bangladesh 00880 Laos 00856 Barbados 001246 Latvia 00371 Sharq 22465401 Belarus 00375 Lebanon 00961 Belgium 0032 Liberia 00231 Salmiya 25746401 Belize 00501 Libya 00218 Jabriya 25316254 Benin 00229 Lithuania 00370 Bermuda 001441 Luxembourg 00352 Maidan Hawally 25623444 Bhutan 00975 Macau 00853 Bolivia 00591 Macedonia 00389 Bayan 25388462 Bosnia 00387 Madagascar 00261 Mishref 25381200 Botswana 00267 Majorca 0034 Brazil 0055 Malawi 00265 W Hawally 22630786 Brunei 00673 Malaysia 0060 Bulgaria 00359 Maldives 00960 Sabah 24810221 Burkina 00226 Mali 00223 Jahra 24770319 Burundi 00257 Malta 00356 Cambodia 00855 Marshall Islands 00692 New Jahra 24575755 Cameroon 00237 Martinique 00596 Canada 001 Mauritania 00222 West Jahra 24772608 Cape Verde 00238 Mauritius 00230 South Jahra 24775066 Cayman Islands 001345 Mayotte 00269 Central African 00236 Mexico 0052 North Jahra 24775992 Chad 00235 Micronesia 00691 Chile 0056 Moldova 00373 North Jleeb 24311795 China 0086 Monaco 00377 Ardhiya 24884079 Colombia 0057 Mongolia 00976 Comoros 00269 Montserrat 001664 Firdous 24892674 Congo 00242 Morocco 00212 Cook Islands 00682 Mozambique 00258 Omariya 24719048 Costa Rica 00506 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 N Khaitan 24710044 Croatia 00385 Namibia 00264 Cuba 0053 Nepal 00977 Fintas 23900322 Cyprus 00357 Netherlands (Holland) Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 0031 Czech Republic 00420 Netherlands Antilles 00599 Denmark 0045 New Caledonia 00687 Diego Garcia 00246 New Zealand 0064 PRIVATE CLINICS Djibouti 00253 Nicaragua 00505 Dominica 001767 Nigar 00227 Dominican Republic 001809 Nigeria 00234 Ecuador 00593 Niue 00683 Egypt 0020 Norfolk Island 00672 El Salvador 00503 Northern Ireland (UK) Plastic Surgeons Paediatricians Ophthalmologists Endocrinologist England (UK) 0044 0044 Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf 22547272 Dr. Khaled Hamadi 25665898 Equatorial Guinea 00240 North Korea 00850 Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman 25339330 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari 22617700 Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed 25340300 Eritrea 00291 Norway 0047 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Abdel Quttainah 25625030/60 Dr. Zahra Qabazard 25710444 Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Estonia 00372 Oman 00968 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Ethiopia 00251 Pakistan 0092 Family Doctor Dr. Sohail Qamar 22621099 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Falkland Islands 00500 Palau 00680 Dr Divya Damodar 23729596/23729581 Dr. Snaa Maaroof 25713514 Faroe Islands 00298 Panama 00507 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Physiotherapists & VD Psychiatrists Dr. Pradip Gujare 23713100 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Fiji 00679 Papua New Guinea 00675 Dr. Zacharias Mathew 24334282 Dr. Deyaa Shehab 25722291 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Esam Al-Ansari 22635047 Finland 00358 Paraguay 00595 Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan 22613623/0 (1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees 22666288 France 0033 Peru 0051 French Guiana 00594 Philippines 0063 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Gynaecologists & Obstetricians Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, Rheumatologists: French Polynesia 00689 Poland 0048 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 DrAdrian arbe 23729596/23729581 FRCS (Canada) 25655535 Gabon 00241 Portugal 00351 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dentists Dr. Verginia s.Marin 2572-6666 ext 8321 Dr. Adel Al-Awadi 25330060 Gambia 00220 Puerto Rico 001787 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan 22655539 Dr Anil Thomas 3729596/3729581 Georgia 00995 Qatar 00974 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah 25722290 Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami 25343406 Dr. Shamah Al-Matar 22641071/2 Germany 0049 Romania 0040 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 Ghana 00233 Russian Federation 007 Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly 25739272 Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed 22562226 Internist, Chest & Heart General Practitioners Gibraltar 00350 Rwanda 00250 Dr. Salem soso 22618787 Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer 22561444 Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 DR.Mohammes Akkad 24555050 Ext 210 Greece 0030 Saint Helena 00290 Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan 22619557 General Surgeons Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Mohammad Zubaid Greenland 00299 Saint Kitts 001869 Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash 22525888 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer 22610044 MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Grenada 001473 Saint Lucia 001758 Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan 25653755 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher 25327148 Assistant Professor Of Medicine Guadeloupe 00590 Saint Pierre 00508 Dr. Bader Al-Ansari 25620111 Guam 001671 Saint Vincent 001784 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Internists, Chest & Heart Head, Division of Cardiology Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Neurologists Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Guatemala 00502 Samoa US 00684 Dr. Adnan Ebil 22639939 Guinea 00224 Samoa West 00685 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri 25633324 Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Mousa Khadada 22666300 Guyana 00592 San Marino 00378 Urologists Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan 25345875 Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan 25728004 Dr. Farida Al-Habib 2611555-2622555 Haiti 00509 Sao Tone 00239 Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Gastrologists MD, PH.D, FACC Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Saudi Arabia 00966 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra 25355515 Dr. Sami Aman 22636464 Inaya German Medical Center Honduras 00504 Scotland (UK) 0044 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Mobarak Aldoub 24726446 Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly 25322030 Te: 2575077 Hong Kong 00852 Senegal 00221 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr Nasser Behbehani 25654300/3 Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali 22633135 Fax: 25723123 Hungary 0036 Seychelles 00284 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Sierra Leone 00232 Soor Center Iceland 00354 Singapore 0065 Psychologists [email protected] Tel: 2290-1677 Kaizen center William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 India 0091 Slovakia 00421 /Psychotherapists www.soorcenter.com Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688 25716707 Indian Ocean 00873 Slovenia 00386 Indonesia 0062 Solomon Islands 00677 lifestyle WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 GOSSIP Beyonce shuns Justin Bieber partying for family can’t be ‘broken’ eyonce “doesn’t really go out” since becoming a mother. The 32-year-old singer shunned a glitzy Bafterparty at The Wright Venue in Swords follow- ing her show in Dublin, Ireland, on Saturday to return to her penthouse suite at the Fitzwilliam Hotel with husband Jay Z and their daughter Blue Ivy, two, and insiders say it is usual for her to leave the post-concert celebrating to her crew, management, dancers and backing singers The Mamas. A source told Ireland’s Evening Herald newspaper: “Beyonce’s manager said that she doesn’t really go out anymore because she is a mum now. “They released 200 balloons into the crowd and were pouring vodka shots for people. A singer from The Mamas was also up performing her own songs so it was a great night.” During a day off from her Irish shows yesterday, Beyonce and Jay Z took their daughter to Dublin’s Phoenix Park, where they went virtually undetected by other families as they spent half an hour in the playground of the park’s visitors centre. The couple, along with their security team, then enjoyed dinner at fashionable eatery Coppinger Row. And it seems the pair have been enjoying the culinary delights of the city, as following the ‘Drunk in Love’ hit- maker’s show on Sunday, the “extremely humble” cou- ple dined at upmarket eatery Fade Street Social, which ustin Bieber has vowed he can’t be “broken”. by the photographer’s lawyer. The lawyer asked: opened late just for them. Beyonce dined on pumpkin The ‘Believe’ hitmaker insists he is “strong” “Have you ever talked with Selena Gomez and flatbreads garnished with fresh rosemary, parmesan, Jand has a right to “defend himself” in appar- discussed your feelings about paparazzi with onion purÈe, sliced chestnut and fried mushroom, ent response to criticism of his behavior in a her?” Justin replied: “Don’t ask me about her while her spouse had a classic strip steak and chips. A taped deposition - including being rude to a again. Don’t ask me about her again. Don’t ask me spokesperson for the restaurant said the couple arrived court clerk, admitting to taking anti-anxiety drug about her again.” At another point, the singer at 11pm. The representative said: “Usually the kitchen Xanax without a prescription and feigning sleep - laughs at a question, so the lawyer asks if he is closing around then but we held on for a few min- which leaked online. He tweeted: “Love how needs it reading back. He replied: “Well, I don’t Lindsay Lohan partied utes to accommodate them. They were extremely nice some people love to twist and justify the horrible know, Katie Couric. You tell me.” And later in the and friendly and left very happy.” action of others. We all have a right to defend footage, Justin is asked to “look at the film up ourselves and feel harassed. “They can’t break us. there”, but replies: “This is a film? This is a film? You They can’t get us down. We are too strong. We said it’s a film. You said watch the film. Is this a hard at Chateau Marmont love too much. #mybeliebers (sic)” Justin, 20, gave film?” He is asked to list the members of his team, the deposition in Miami on Thursday over a law- and after naming a few people, including manag- indsay Lohan partied for two days at Los Angeles’ Chateau suit from photographer Jeffrey Binion, who er Scooter Braun, he dismissively says: “The list Marmont this weekend. The 27-year-old star - who has been to claims one of the star’s bodyguard’s choked him goes on. It continues, for a long time.” Asked for Lrehab six times - has insisted she has given up drinking, but and stole his camera equipment in June 2013 on more names, he adds: “I don’t recall.” The lawyer headed for the nightspot on Friday and stayed there until the follow- the orders of the pop star. In the video, the then asked how often his team meet to discuss his ing morning, before heading to a party and then returning to the ‘Beauty and a Beat’ star was seen visibly angry bodyguards, with Justin replying “I don’t recall” famed venue until late on Sunday. A source told the Daily Mirror news- when asked about on/off girlfriend Selena Gomez before closing his eyes and pretending to sleep. paper: “Lindsay started on Friday night at the cocktail bar at the Beverley Hills Hotel, before moving on to the Chateau. “She was out in the garden until early in the morning and then the group moved on to a house party in the Hollywood Hills. Literally hours later she back in party mode at the Chateau again.” The hotel lifted its ban on Lindsay in 2012 after she was blacklisted for failing to pay a $46,000 bill - which she racked up buying cigarettes, mini-bar goodies and candles. The actress was recovering as fans watched the first episode of her eight- part reality series ‘Lindsay’ on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network on Sunday, in which she claimed she has now found “inner peace” and wants to change her lifestyle. She has also said: “There’s no party that I haven’t gone to, there’s no person that I haven’t hung out with, there’s no situation that I haven’t been exposed to. “There’s nothing left in having a drink for me.” Paloma Faith is ‘fine’ after being mugged he ‘Can’t Rely On You’ hitmaker Winslet to be honored was robbed in the street with a star on the Trecently, and though the thief made off with her bag, the singer - Hollywood Walk of Fame who insists she wasn’t targeted because of her fame - was thankful the situation wasn’t worse. She said: “I was mugged a few weeks ago in London, they came from behind me, they didn’t mug ‘me’, I don’t think Perry, One Direction and Sheeran they saw it was me, they just saw a person. “They got my bag but luckily my phone and keys were in my backs Global Citizen campaign pocket. A word of warning - always Radio 2 presenter Dermot O’Leary: separate. “I’m fine, I was scarily fine “I’m really good in a crisis if anyone aty Perry, One Direction and Ed Sheeran amount of hard work and foresight. “I have no but the person I was with was really ever needs me, if you want any are among 100 artists offering free con- doubt that we will match the successes that this shaken up. I was just like, ‘That’s advice or anything. I’ll turn up and cert tickets to UK fans in a bid to help initiative has already enjoyed in the USA, some- pretty standard in London’. Maybe sort everything out.” The 32-year-old K I’m desensitized.” Paloma insists her singer first revealed she had been global poverty. The pop stars have signed up to thing that could only have been achieved by our the Global Poverty Project and Global Citizen industry uniting for this very worthwhile cause.” cool-headed stance wasn’t unusual mugged on twitter, writing last Tickets initiative, which encourages fans to build Other acts to sign up include Kings of Leon, as she is often a useful person to month: “I got mugged last night. up points for actions they take to combat Jessie J, Neil Young, McBusted, Arcade Fire, and have around during a crisis. She Not fun. Thank you London. That’ll extreme hardship and then exchange their Katy’s ex-husband Russell Brand, as well as a added in an interview with BBC teach me to walk home.” points to buy tickets for gigs and festivals. Katy number of UK festivals, including Reading and said: “This is a simple, smart, modern initiative Leeds, Lovebox and Bestival. Each ticket will with potential for huge impact. “Global Citizen have a different points value, and those with provides people with doable opportunities to enough points are entered into a lottery to try Drake and Rihanna are make the world a better place, and rewards and secure a pass. Points can be earned from them for doing so.” The scheme already runs in activities including volunteering with charities Australia, New Zealand and America and will or contacting local MPs. Global Citizen aims to like a ‘loved-up couple’ launch in the UK soon. Emma Banks, chair of the help 1.2 billion people worldwide suffering from rake and Rihanna have been her as they sat. They were behaving UK Global Citizen Tickets initiative committee, extreme poverty, as well as looking to improve acting like a “loved-up cou- very much like a loved-up couple.” said: “The Global Citizen Tickets initiative in the gender equality, access to primary education, Dple” behind closed doors. The The pair were first spotted out UK marks the culmination of a tremendous and the life expectancy of children. ‘Take Care’ rapper is rumored to have together when Rihanna joined rekindled his romance with the Drake at Soixante Dix Neuf nightclub Bajan beauty - who he was first in Paris last month, where Drake was linked to in 2009 - and though they making a personal appearance for have mostly kept their union private, the venue’s first anniversary, and P Diddy buying TV channel they were spotted out together in they were also seen together in London restaurant Nobu together Amsterdam last week. However, the Diddy has reportedly bid $200 million on Saturday, where they walked in 27-year-old rapper has insisted he for a TV station. The 43-year-old music “hand in hand”, before joining a and the ‘Diamonds’ hitmaker are not Pmogul is one of several investors who group of friends for dinner. A source dating, though he admits he does ate Winslet is to be honored with a star have entered talks to acquire cable channel told The Sun newspaper: “Rihanna “think about” it. He said recently: “I on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The 38- Fuse, which is currently owned by New York- and Drake walked through Nobu mean, I think about it. Like, ‘Man that Kyear-old actress will be the 2,520th star based Madison Square Garden Company hand in hand and sat down with a would be good.’ We have fun togeth- to receive an honor, and the unveiling is set to (MSG), and incorporate it into his Revolt TV couple of friends for a meal. “She er. She’s cool and everything. But take place early next week with ‘Titanic’ director channel, which is backed by Comcast Corp looked completely at ease in Drake’s we’re just friends. That’s my dog for James Cameron and Kate’s co-star in the film (CMCSA), three sources told Bloomberg. company and he had his arm around life.” Kathy Bates presenting her with the accolade According to one of the sources, if Diddy - outside of the W Hollywood Hotel on whose real name is Sean Combs - purchases Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, on Monday Fuse, Revolt TV will gain wider distribution according to Hollywood.com. Producer of the and higher subscriber fees. The channel cur- Walk of Fame ceremonies, Ana Martinez, said of rently reaches around 22.8 million US homes the new addition: “We are so happy that Kate and is carried by Comcast and Time Warner Winslet will be here on our famous Boulevard Cable Inc. (TWC), compared with the 74 mil- of dreams receiving her well-deserved star. lion audience Fuse currently reaches through “We’ve seen Kate shine in her roles and fans pay-TV systems including Cablevision Systems around the world have been anxiously waiting Corporation (CVC) and DirecTV (DTV). MSG for this special day to come.” Other actresses refused to comment on the speculation as who have been added to the star-studded talks are still “ongoing”. Their spokesperson, pavement recently include ‘Non Stop’ star Kimberly Kerns, said: “As we have stated, we Julianne Moore and Glee’s Jane Lynch. The are exploring strategic alternatives for Fuse, news comes just weeks after Kate admitted and will have no further comment during that she doesn’t really know any celebrities, what is still an ongoing process.” As well as despite being good friends with ‘Titanic’ co-star Revolt TV, Diddy’s business interests have also Leonardo DiCaprio, because she doesn’t watch included clothing lines and fragrances, restau- reality television. She said previously: “I literally rants and he recently jointly purchased an stand at this bank of magazines going, ‘Who are upmarket tequila company. For the latter ven- ry alcohol brand DeLeon for an undisclosed all these people?’ Half the time, I don’t even ture, he again teamed up with Diageo PLC - sum. Diddy said: “With Ciroc, we dated. Now know who they are! “Now there’s a lot of focus with who he has a joint marketing and profit- with DeLeon, we’re married. This deal is way on television stars and soap stars and these sharing deal for Ciroc vodka - to acquire luxu- better. This makes me a true owner.” real-life Kardashian-type families.” LIFESTYLE37 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 GOSSIP Swift named Billboard’s ‘Top Money Maker’

aylor Swift has been named ‘Top Money Maker’ of 2013 by Billboard. TThe ‘I Knew You Were Trouble’ singer earned $39.7m from a combination of music sales, royalties, and touring last year, with the large sum placing her ahead of Beyonce, Justin Timberlake and The Rolling Stones on the annual list. Taylor previously held the title in 2012, before being beaten to the top spot by Madonna last year. However, the 24-year- old singer’s ‘Red Tour’ helped her to get ahead on the list this year, with six months in the US bringing in a reported $30m. The staggering sum is notwith- standing the three sponsorship deals which accompanied the tour - due to lack of data - but the trade publication esti- mates the deals totted up seven figures. Pixie Lott wants her Kenny Chesney has risen to second place, while Justin Timberlake sits behind in third, following his chart comeback last year with ‘The 20/20 Experience’, his first own record label album in seven years. Rock acts Bon Jovi and The Rolling Stones round up the top ixie Lott wants to start her own record label. celebrity party scene but admits it’s not always five coming in fourth and fifth place The ‘Nasty’ singer, who has launched her own glamorous. She explained: “I was at a party and respectively. Meanwhile, Beyonce’s sur- Billboard’s Top 10 music money makers 2013 Ptalent night in London, is looking to follow in Roll Deep were on the table next to me. “Next prise self-titled album released in Taylor Swift - $39.7m Beyonce - $24.4m the footsteps of ‘X Factor’ boss Simon Cowell as thing I knew one of the boys from the band stood December has earned her sixth place, gru- Kenny Chesney - $32.9m Maroon 5 - $22.3m she coaches undiscovered artists and helps to link up and was sick all over me, it was terrible. “I had elling 132 date ‘The Mrs.Carter Show Justin Timberlake - $31.5m Luke Bryan- $22.1m them up with professionals in the music industry. to go to the toilet, take my long socks off and World Tour’ bringing in an estimated Bon Jovi - $29.4m Pink - $20m She told the Daily Star newspaper: “Mainly it’s throw them in the bin.” But the 23-year-old star $19.9m in the US leg alone. Rolling Stones - $26.2m Fleetwood Mac - $19m about new artists getting out there, ‘cause it’s hard laughed it off and insists she can’t wait to attend when you don’t really know anyone. I get really more parties after the release of her self-titled excited hearing new people, especially if it’s amaz- third album in May, the follow-up to 2011’s ‘Young ing. Pixie went on: “I kind of know a bit about the Foolish Happy’. Pixie likes singing about heart- way this industry works after being in it for a few break and showing passion and emotion through Gawker urges court to drop years. I think in the future it would be amazing to her songs, despite being in a long-term relation- have my own label. ship with model Oliver Cheshire, 25. She said: “I look for amazing singers. I wouldn’t be both- “Even though I’m really happy, I think that as I’ve Quentin Tarantino lawsuit ered to have to market, like, a band that can’t sing experience being in a relationship I can relate to or something, I get motivated by good singers.” being passionate and being sad, or how it would awker is urging a federal The blonde beauty, who has returned to music feel if it broke off,” adding, “So I can relate to that court to drop Quentin after a break, is also back to being a regular on the more than I would have done before.” GTarantino’s ‘Hateful Eight’ lawsuit. The website - which stands accused of copyright infringement by linking to a leaked script of the director’s upcoming cowboy film, which Colin Farrell: ‘A New York he has since been forced to scrap - now claims the lawsuit should be dismissed because Winter’s Tale’ isn’t for everyone Tarantino hasn’t cited actual copyright infringement, only “contributory” factors. olin Farrell admits ‘A New York Winter’s Tale’ According to Variety.com, they isn’t for “everyone”. The 37-year-old actor said in a motion to dismiss filed Cappears in the film alongside former in US District Court in Los ‘Downton Abbey’ star Jessica Brown Findlay, who Angeles on Monday that the plays his love interest, and admits the romantic lawsuit “does no more than drama won’t be a favorite for everybody since it’s raise the possibility that some “too sweet”. He told HELLO! magazine: “It’s not for member of the public who everyone. I know that for some people it will be accessed plaintiff’s script using too sweet. But it’s also a very beautiful and very Gawker’s link subsequently vio- optimistic and very kindly intentioned film that lated Tarantino’s rights by com- has not a shard of malice in it, and I’m hoping that mitting an infringement. the people who will enjoy it, will really enjoy it.” “Because plaintiff did not allege any facts showing that an infringing act Farrell’s equestrian skills made it easier to film actually was undertaken by a third party - merely accessing the script by scenes where he rode Athansor, a mysterious clicking on the link is legally insufficient - plaintiff did not state a claim for Robbie Williams white horse who becomes his alter-ego’s contributory infringement.” Gawker also claims that linking to an online ver- guardian angel, but had concerns about having sion of the script was fair us because it hadn’t “reproduced” the material. Findlay on the horse behind him. He added: “That They said: “Gawker made minimal use of the script - it reproduced no part fears upsetting was a hairy ride, man. People can get thrown off of it but merely linked to another publication. Gawker’s use was, at most, horses, you know? And I don’t mind for myself incidentally commercial and did not usurp the primary market for and pur- because I’ve been thrown off horses before, and pose of the script: to make a movie.” The Oscar-winning ‘Django Unchained’ Gary Barlow it’s fine, it’s cool, you just get back on again. I director decided to pull the plug on the movie and is demanding at least $1 don’t even mind how wild the horse is - although million in damages for Gawker’s actions. the horse we used in the film was pretty cool and He said he had only given the script for ‘The Hateful Eight’ to six people Robbie Williams “doesn’t want to upset” Gary Barlow mellow. But I did fear riding with Jessica in the and believes one of them must have let their agent see it, who subse- by saying no to a Take That reunion. The 40-year-old back because I’m not that good a horseman.” quently sent it on. District Judge John Walter has scheduled a hearing in singer - who reunited with his former band in 2010 for the case for April 14. their sixth album ‘Progress’ - is said to be worried about upsetting Gary, who he’s had differences with in the past, and isn’t sure he’s ready to focus completely on Take That rather than his solo material. A source revealed: “Robbie isn’t against the idea, although he Wahlberg to receive doesn’t really have time this year to commit to Take That, although they have collaborated on composi- Lucas MTV Generation Award tions.”He also doesn’t want to upset Gary, given that they patched up their differences and are as close as ‘wouldn’t wish divorce’ ark Wahlberg will receive the Generation Award at the MTV ever.” The ‘Let Me Entertain You’ hitmaker has reported- Movie Awards. The ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’ actor will ly suggested to Gary, 43, that they take things slow by on ‘worst enemy’ Mbe presented with the prestigious honor at the MTV Movie working on material together - along with fellow Awards next month by the cast of ‘Entourage’, the show which he bandmates Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Howard served on as executive producer. Stephen Friedman, President of MTV, Donald - for now, and then discussing a world tour at a said: “Mark Wahlberg is the definition of a modern day Renaissance later date. The source told The Sun newspaper: “He’s Man: from Dirk Diggler to ‘The Departed,’ ‘The Basketball Diaries’ to suggested recording together, seeing how that goes ‘Ted,’ ‘Entourage’ to ‘The Fighter,’ in front of the camera and behind - then embarking on a world tour in 2015.” Gary himself he’s done it all and he’s always memorable. “Mark has captivated the is preparing to kick-off his own solo tour with dates in MTV audience for over 20 years, and for this rare feat, we’re proud to cities including Glasgow, London, Cardiff and recognize him with this year’s Generation Award.” The awards ceremo- Manchester starting later this month, and Take That are ny - which will be hosted by Conan O’Brien - will mark the first reunion already back in the studio working on a new album of ‘Entourage’ stars Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon and which is expected to be released later this year. Jerry Ferrara before the spin-off movie, which is released next year. The Generation Award is handed out to “an artist who has shown us a variety of impressive roles, a personal and professional flair and of course, an awesome level of talent” and previous recipients have Ciara’s luxurious nursery included Johnny Depp, Jamie Foxx, Reese Witherspoon, Sandra Bullock, Tom Cruise and Mike Myers. The 2014 MTV Movie Awards will iara has spent $20,000 on a safari-themed nursery for take place on April 13 at the Nokia Theatre in Hollywood. her unborn child. The ‘Goodies’ singer - who is due to Cgive birth to her first child with her fiance, rapper Future, next month - embarked on an extensive shopping spree at pricey baby store Petit Tresor in Los Angeles, coming away with a host of stuffed animals, lion bookends and art work, including a $1,800 8-foot stuffed giraffe, TMZ reports. The Evans wants a family extravagant spree isn’t the first time in recent months Ciara has been spotted flashing her hris Evans wants to get married and have children. The cash for her unborn baby. The osh Lucas “wouldn’t wish divorce” on his “worst ene- 32-year-old actor admits he’s ready to leave his partying 29-year-old star was spotted my”. The 42-year-old actor split up with his wife Jessica J days behind him and start building a family because he at another baby boutique, Bel Ciencin Henriquez in January - with whom he has 20- C doesn’t want to look back on his life later on and regret missing Bambini, with friend Kim month-old son Noah Rev and, although they are trying out on those things. He said: “I want to get married, though I Kardashian in Hollywood last their best to stay friends, he admits it’s a heartbreaking sit- want children-to me that’s the ultimate thing. When you’re old month. The reality TV star is a uation to go through. He explained: “We have been and on your death bed, looking back at your life it’s not going to “regular” at the store as she through a divorce and divorce isn’t something I would wish be the films you’ve made or what you’ve accomplished, it’s the regularly shops there for her on my worst enemy. Even when in our case we have man- relationships you have. You’re survived by things that matter-the and Kanye West’s nine-month- aged to do it not only amicably but as-hopefully in the people you love and those who love you back.” The ‘Captain old daughter North. A source end-great friends, particularly because we have a young America’ star admits he’d much rather spend his nights wrapped said: “Kim is a regular here and child that we both truly love.” Meanwhile, the hunky star up on the sofa at home, rather than out partying with his mates she was showing Ciara admits he’s more inclined to accept playful and funny roles and knocking back countless amounts of alcohol. He explained around, helping her pick out a that will benefit his son because becoming a father has not to the UK edition of Glamour magazine: “In your twenties you few items in anticipation of her baby’s arrival. They looked at a only changed his life, but his career as well. He explained think, ‘How will I ever not like going out?’. You have drinks, bud- few different cribs and bedding designs and also some feed- to People magazine: “Me becoming a father has changed dies, music-great! But in the last two or three years, I go to a ing apparatuses that we carry. They were both upbeat, smiling absolutely everything in my life, period. I am more and club and I kind of wish I was home. My idea of a good time has and sharing the joys of being pregnant. It was a nice moment more wanting to be a part of things that [are] playful and evolved a bit, so a night out with me might not be as exciting as for the girls and we adore them.” As well as planning for her more the things I see my son really responding to and it might have been a couple of years ago.” baby, Ciara is also getting ready for her wedding later in the enjoying.” — Bang Showbiz year but is yet to decide on all the details of her big day. lifestyle WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014

Music & Movies Amid economic crisis, a silver lining for Greek filmmakers

he economic crisis that has devastated Greece has also in the 1990’s. “The crisis has helped in an unexpected way. It taries and short films were crippled for lack of funding. This spurred the country’s filmmakers onto a prize-winning has brought together very creative people and it has com- acted as a wake-up call to the industry, unlike the past when Trenaissance in a rare success story from the eurozone pelled them to work together,” says George Corraface, one of many were content to wait for the next state payout. “Before nation. The same recession that brought misery to tens of Greece’s best-known international actors with a 30-year career the crisis, Greek filmmakers wanted 300-500,000 euros thousands of families since 2009 has fueled demand for tales in Europe and the United States. “People do amazing work ($200,000-$360,000) to make a movie,” said an industry source out of Greece-prompting the nation’s filmmakers not only to with very little money, and this has a huge effect. It creates a who declined to be named. adapt to the new economic realities but also rack up awards in buzz all over festivals,” he told AFP. “Now they do it with 100,000 euros,” he said, adding that the process. movie production is now better targeted too. “When the mon- Last year, 36-year-old Alexandros Avranas picked up a best Turmoil an inspiration ey was flowing, 15 Greek movies would be made in one year director prize at the Venice Film Festival with ‘Miss Violence’, a Social turmoil has traditionally inspired artistic expression, but only two would be shown in cinemas. The rest would nev- movie about a girl’s hushed-up suicide that also won a best said Karantinakis. In Greece, the economy has shrunk by a er see the light of day, and some of their creators didn’t even actor award. Two years earlier, ‘Dogtooth’ by 41-year-old quarter and unemployment shot up to over 27 percent. The care,” the source said. With less domestic funding, Greek film- Yorgos Lanthimos-a film about a dysfunctional Greek family- youth have been particularly hard-hit, with more than one in makers have been searching for new contacts and sponsors was nominated for Best Foreign Film at the Oscars, the first two without a job. “The younger generation of filmmakers abroad. Zois said most films in Greece are now done on a such accolade for a Greek film in over 30 years. “The crisis has feels the need to say things ...and urgently so,” says Yorgos shoestring budget, or are European co-productions. And put the spotlight on Greece, and this has spurred Greek film- Zois, an award-winning short film director now preparing his Greek directors have learned they need to move audiences if makers,” said Gregory Karantinakis, general manager of the first feature movie. “There are a lot of things simmering under they want to surmount problem of language, a barrier which Greek Film Centre, the state-supervised body supporting the surface in Greek society-existential, economic-so it is traditionally limited distribution of Greek-language films. Greek cinema. urgent for people to take a stand,” adds the 33-year-old, who “There’s very little room for Greek films,” said Corraface. “So it’s A flood of international media coverage of anti-austerity originally studied applied math and physics. necessary to make films that are a bit shocking, that wake protests, many of them violent, has paradoxically helped But while a source of inspiration, the crisis, unsurprisingly, people up. And I think (Greeks have caught onto that),” he pique interest. “People outside Greece have sought to discov- has also has ravaged finances. Before all fell apart, the industry added. — AFP er what is happening in the country,” he said. “Dogtooth” relied on state funding from the Greek Film Centre (GFC), and director Lanthimos also won best screenplay at Venice in 2011 ERT, the state broadcaster. But over the past five years, the with ‘Alps’-a movie about an underground organization that GFC’s funding has fallen by 35 percent while domestic ticket helps mourners by impersonating the deceased. He is now sales-another key money source-are down 45 percent. And directing his first English-language feature, ‘Lobster’, starring last year, the government axed ERT. The shutdown was Greek award-winning short Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz. The film is a dystopian love dra- designed to trim the state payroll-one of Greece’s obligations film director Yorgos Zois ma set in the future. under its multi-billion EU-IMF bailout-by more than 2,000 jobs. poses at the Greek Film Overall, Greek cinema is riding a wave of success unseen A downsized state broadcaster was set up to replace ERT, Archive premises in Athens since the European glory days of director Theo Angelopoulos but in the interim, scores of productions including documen- yesterday. — AFP ‘Believe’ review: A good girl in need of Darth Vader

elieve” is a great villain away from being a show I’d keep watching. Expectations “Bcouldn’t be much higher for the NBC drama, premiering tonight. It comes from Oscar- winner Alfonso Cuaron, the brilliant mind behind “Gravity,” and J.J. Abrams, who co-created “Lost” and now rules both the “Star Trek” and “Star Wars” universes. You know why people like “Star Wars” more than “Star Trek”? Because of Darth Vader. He was so ruthless, so composed, that you couldn’t help but root for anyone going up against him. When the prequels made Vader good, the saga lost all momentum. In lieu of a Vader, “Believe” has Kyle MacLachlan, whom, I’m sorry, I can’t stop loving. He earned a Beyonce, Garner want lifetime of goodwill playing Dale Cooper on “Twin Peaks,” and he’s delightful as the sturdily compe- tent mayor of “Portlandia.” I even liked him in to ban the word ‘Bossy’ “Showgirls.” It’s hard to root against him, and that’s on’t let Beyonce hear you using the word “bossy,” because a problem for “Believe.” The show went through she’s joining Lifetime in its mission to ban the label from two showrunners before settling on Jonas Pate, Dour vocabulary. “Being labeled something matters. By mid- which suggests it struggled to find its direction. dle school, girls are less interested in leadership than boys, and Hopefully it does in the next few episodes, because that’s because they worry about being called bossy,” Beyonce it has plenty going for it. helps a number of other successful women - and men - say in the It’s about a little girl, Bo (Johnny Sequoyah) who Lean In PSA. “We need to tell them it’s okay to be ambitious. We has Christ-like powers that may save the world. need to help them lean in. Words matter. Let’s just ban the ‘bossy,’ After her parents are killed in a horrifying opener - This photo released by NBC shows Sienna Guillory, left, as Moore, and Johnny Sequoyah as Bo, and encourage girls to lead.” Cuaron directs it as spectacularly as you would in the pilot of the new NBC television series, ‘Believe. — AP Jennifer Garner, Jane Lynch, Condoleezza Rice and Diane von expect - she falls into the care of a former death Furstenberg appear with NASCAR champ Jimmie Johnson, US row inmate, Tate (Jake McLaughlin). The mysterious Bo are nefarious? We also kind of admire his main aren’t even allowed to shoot her. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Girl Scouts USA CEO Anna Milton Winter (Delroy Lindo) breaks him of prison. apprentice, Moore (Sienna Guillory), for bringing Okay, granted: Bo is not a normal child, as we Maria Chavez in the #BanBossy campaign spearheaded by Winter leads a mysterious group dedicated to pro- some gender parity to the male-dominated assas- see in the show’s second big set piece. But her Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, who also takes a stand in the 60- tecting Bo, but not willing to use guns, because sin’s game. It’s also kind of endearing that she’s so strength makes us even less invested in her fate. It second spot that airs on Lifetime. that would make things too easy. bad at assassinating. feels like she’s going to be just fine, whether we The commercial for Lean In and Girl Scouts’ Ban Bossy move- Winter is wise, Bo is adorable and sweet, and Sure, she’s involved in killing the parents. But watch or not. So I’m hoping the show can make ment, which is supported by Lifetime and a number of other part- Tate has kind of an Owen Wilson thing going. We we’ve known the parents would die since the first Skouras a little more scary. Or Moore a little bit ners, aims to raise awareness for raising girls’ self esteem during like them all. And the no-guns thing, foolish as it is, preview for “Believe” months ago. Moore is one of faster. Or the Christlike orphan a little more of a early adolescence - a pivotal moment in their development. “I’m should make them feel even more like a ragtag those TV killers we’re told is relentless and unstop- martyr. Is that asking a lot? Yes. But Cuaron and not bossy,” Beyonce concludes. “I’m the boss.”— Reuters group of lovable underdogs. But I’m not totally pable, even though she’s always just a step or two Abrams can handle high expectations. — Reuters invested, because again: The Empire is run by the behind, even though her main opponents are a charming dude I can’t stop liking. MacLachlan is dude fresh out of jail and a small child. And they named Skouras here, and are we sure his plans for ‘Grand Budapest Hotel’ books record limited box-office opening es Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Budapest played at the Arclight Cinerama Dome Hotel” posted one of the best limited in Hollywood and at the Landmark in LA; in Wopenings ever this weekend. The quirky Manhattan, it played at the Regal Union Square ensemble comedy brought in a stunning and the AMC Lincoln Square. $800,000 for Fox Searchlight, from only two the- The plan for next week is to expand into 17 aters in New York and two in Los Angeles. That’s more markets and up the theater count to 65 or an eye-popping per-screen average of more than 70 theaters, Fox Searchlight’s distribution chief $200,000 per screen. That’s easily the best open- Frank Rodriguez told TheWrap. “We knew the ing weekend ever for writer-director Anderson, opening would be very good, but this perform- whose last film “Moonrise Kingdom” became a ance is really above anyone’s expectations. This sleeper hit in 2012 after opening in four theaters really seems to have come together because of a with $522,000. That one went on to take in $68 collaboration. Wes and his team have worked million worldwide. really hard to promote it, the theater owners “Grand Budapest” blew past the standard set embraced it and our publicity and marketing by “The Master,” the Phillip Seymour Hoffman people hit it out of the park,” Rodriguez said. “All drama which averaged $147,000 on five theaters that and the great reviews added up to terrific in 2012, and is among the top ten limited open- weekend for us.” Fox Searchlight was also cele- ings of all time, according to Box Office Mojo. brating “12 Years a Slave,” its Best Picture Oscar “Grand Budapest” focuses on an urbane winner that returned to theaters and cracked the concierge in Europe between the two World top ten with $2.1 million despite its release on This CD cover image released by RCA Nashville shows Wars, and features Bill Murray, F. Murray DVD last week. — Reuters “Slow Me Down,” the latest release by Sara Evans. —AP canceled Abraham, Ralph Fiennes, Adrien Brody, Willem ‘Raising Hope’ Dafoe, Saoirse Ronan and Tilda Swinton. It’s a hit Review: Sara Evans’ new by Fox after 4 seasons with critics and has a sterling 89 percent “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. ox has canceled “Raising Hope” after four “Getting to know and love the Chance fami- Word-of-mouth clearly helped “Grand album is worth the wait seasons. The sitcom’s last episode will run ly on ‘Raising Hope’ has been a sweet, hilarious Budapest,” which was up 14 percent from its strong first-night showing Friday. “Grand Fas a two-part, one-hour finale on April 4. ride,” Kevin Reilly, chairman of entertainment he cover of Sara Evans’ new album depicts her in The night will kick off at 9 pm, with the episode and Joe Earley, chief operating officer, Fox front of a giant clock above the title “Slow Me Down” “How I Met Your Mullet,” in which guest star Broadcasting Company added. “Thanks to the - an ironic statement for a country star releasing only Lesley Nicol (“Downton Abbey”) plays Jimmy incredibly talented cast - along with Greg, Mike T her second album in nine years. But taking her time bene- (Lucas Neff) and Sabrina’s (Shannon Woodward) and the entire crew - for making us laugh for fits Evans in one way: “Slow Me Down” ranks with such past new maid. four fantastic seasons.” gems as 2005’s “Real Fine Place” and 2000’s “Born To Fly,” Then, in separate a half-hour titled “The “Raising Hope,” created by Garcia (“The two of Evans’s best, and most successful, albums. She also Father Daughter Dance,” Virginia’s (Martha Millers”), premiered in the fall of 2010. Starring profits from working with one producer, Mark Bright, who Plimpton) dad (guest star Jeffrey Tambor, Emmy Award-winners Plimpton and Cloris also co-produced “Real Fine Place” with Evans, a move away “Arrested Development”) returns to Natesville Leachman - along with Garret Dillahunt, Neff, from the multiple producers found on Evans’ disappointing with a surprise for her and Burt (Garret Woodward and Gregg Binkley - the series fol- 2011 release, “Restless.” Dillahunt), including a musical performance by lows a lovingly dysfunctional family as they Bright adds particularly inventive and engaging Kenny Loggins (guest-starring as himself). raise an adorable yet unexpected addition to arrangements to such standout cuts as “Sweet Spot” and “On behalf of myself, Greg Garcia and the family: a little girl named Hope. In 2011, especially “You Never Know,” with its clever use of strings as ‘Raising Hope’s’ amazing cast and crew, I would Plimpton and Leachman were both nominated a rhythmic element set against drums, bass and guitars. like to thank our audience for tuning in and for Primetime Emmy Awards for their leading Evans’ maturity also informs her new songs, especially the supporting us over the last four seasons,” execu- (Plimpton) and guest (Leachman) roles on the title cut, the equally compelling “Better Off” (a duet with tive producer Mike Mariano said in a statement. show. — Reuters Vince Gill) and “A Little Revival.” Judging from the strength “We planned our Season 4 finale with this possi- of her new work, Evans should ignore her own advice and bility in mind, and hope our loyal fans enjoy the speed up recording efforts on the next round. — AP way we’ve chosen to say goodbye to the Chances and to Natesville. Thanks again, and we’ll see you in syndication.” lifestyle WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014

Music & Movies

‘12 Years a Slave’ spat: Ridley regrets not thanking McQueen

ess than a week ago, TheWrap first reported again this person people think I have beef with, for the perceived slight to McQueen blowing up to the details behind the rift between “12 Years a was the first guy to hug me, I know Meryl Streep the extent it did, and said that “12 Years” had been LSlave” screenwriter John Ridley and the direc- reached out and touched my arm.” Ridley didn’t drawing extra scrutiny from the time it became the tor of the Best Picture Oscar winner Steve mention it in this interview, but he and McQueen Best Picture front-runner until it finally won the McQueen. Now, in a new interview, Ridley sought had been at odds during the development of the Oscar. “From the jump, man, from the moment to clarify the situation. He said that he regrets not slavery saga. somebody said ‘Stop the year, this is the Best thanking McQueen when accepting the Academy The director had tapped Ridley to work on a Picture’ the story became ‘It’s torture porn. Why are Award for Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars, separate slavery-themed project that eventually Brits doing this? This movie is only geared at liberal but that it was an omission rather than a diss. led to “12 Years a Slave” after McQueen’s wife dis- whites.’ “In the end, I said to somebody else ‘At the “I do regret it,” Ridley told Entertainment covered the book, which Ridley subsequently very least, we weren’t ‘Zero Dark Thirty.’ Nobody set Weekly. “But just 24 hours earlier at the Spirit agreed to adapt on spec. McQueen had a hand in up a congressional investigation. This year it’s who Awards I sincerely went on and on about Steve and shaping the script that Ridley turned in, but when hugged and kissed who and who didn’t.”— Reuters my work with him. You know, the guy changed my he asked the writer for shared credit, Ridley politely life. At the Oscars you have 30 seconds to talk and declined. The disagreement forced distributor Fox it’s like the oxygen drops out of the room.” Ridley Searchlight and Brad Pitt, who had small role in the was in Austin, Texas, for the premiere of the Jimi film and produced, to mediate. The team behind Hendrix biopic “All is By My Side,” which he wrote the film kept the dispute from going public so as and directed. He said the Oscar moment was very not to hurt the film’s awards chance, but the rela- (From right) ”12Years a much a blur to him. tionship between Ridley and McQueen was Slave” screenwriter “I know when I heard my name called, I hugged strained throughout the awards season. John Ridley and direc- my wife twice,” he said. “I know David O Russell, Ridley blamed the media’s penchant for conflict tor Steve McQueen. ‘True Detective’: What we know about season 2

he next season of “True Detective” will be about “hard women, bad men and the secret occult history of the TUnited States transportation system,” says series cre- ator Nic Pizzolatto. That intriguing preview came in an interview with HitFix’s Alan Sepinwall, one of the very few Pizzolatto has done around the Season 1 finale of the HBO series. What else do we know about the show? Not much. It hasn’t officially been renewed, no actors have been cast, and Pizzolatto hasn’t even presented his idea to HBO. Why wouldn’t Season 2 be a mystery? We didn’t even find out until Sunday’s finale exactly what kind of show we were watching. A twist on the buddy-cop genre? A philo- sophical discourse on the meaning (or meaninglessness) of File photo made available by the Miami Beach Police Dept, shows Justin Bieber at the life? A serial killer yarn? It turned out to be a twisting, gar- police station in Miami Beach, Fla. — AP ish combination of the three, completely different from anything else. That said, here’s what we know so far. Or think we know. Matthew McConaughey won’t be back. The show was always intended as an anthology with a Norwegian jailed in new story each season. The surprise survival of both Rust Cohle and Marty Hart at the end of Season 1 suggested at Bieber least one could return, someday. But McConaughey has US over scam said he never planned to stay beyond one season. “It was a Season 2, as he did in Season 1. 450-page film, is what it was,” McConaughey said of the “We don’t have any plans to work with one director again,” Pizzolatto told Buzzfeed. “It would be impossible to Norwegian man who admitted trick- million to secure concert venues for the show’s first season during a January Television Critics ing an investor out of $1 million in a Justin Bieber Tour, using fake documents Association panel. “It was also finite. It didn’t mean we had do this yearly as we need to be able to do post while we’re Afake deal to promote Justin Bieber in and websites he had bought with domain to come back this year, next year if we were under con- still filming, like any other show. There’s some great guys Scandinavia was sentenced to 11 years in names suggesting they were part of the tract. It was finite. So in that way it was exactly a 450-page I’ve consulted, and we’re all confident we can achieve the jail, US prosecutors said Monday. Wahleed scheme. film script.” It could take place in Southern California. same consistency.” The format of the show is wide open. “I Ahmed was also ordered to repay the $1 He was charged with conspiracy to com- Pizzolatto said in an interview with BuzzFeed’s Kate tried to make the format as broad for my tastes as possible million, said the US Attorney’s office in Los mit wire fraud and pleaded guilty in March Authur that he’s “been reading about the last 40 years of in the sense that, yes, this is almost the ‘True Detective’ ver- Angeles and the FBI. 2013, admitting he had “taken the victim Southern California government.” He also signaled that the sion of a buddy cop movie hunting for a serial killer,” Ahmed presented himself as a success- investor’s money knowing that there was show is leaving his home state of Louisiana: He said he Pizzolatto said at TCA. “And in that way, it even touches on ful entrepreneur from Norway who had no contract for Justin Bieber tours and that hopes the new season “presents new characters in a new a lot of those tropes while, I hope, subverting and making invented solar-powered phone covers, and the victim would lose his money.” As well as place with authenticity and resonance and an authorial them entirely new through the character work. And, you he promised the victim would make $9 mil- serving 132 months in jail, he was ordered voice consistent with this season. Dominant colors will know, there could be a season that’s much more of a wide- lion in profit in three months. The 22-year- to make an immediate restitution payment change. South Louisiana was green and burnished gold.” spread conspiracy thriller, a season that’s a small town old used photos of famous dignitaries of $1,001,505.50. Judge Philip S Gutierrez Wherever the show goes, it will be places you don’t usu- murder mystery, a season where nobody is murdered and including the Crown Prince of Norway, ordered the prison term to be followed by ally see on TV: “We’re generally concerned with the places it’s a master criminal versus a rogue detective or some- Queen Rania of Jordan and others, and three years of supervised release. — AFP thing. —Reuters claimed to have multimillion dollar con- that don’t get much press and where you wouldn’t normal- tracts with large telecoms firms, to lend ly set a television show,” Pizzolatto said at TCA. There will credibility to his scheme. In August 2012, be more than one director this time. Season 1 owes much Ahmed convinced the victim to invest $1 of its gorgeous, moody aesthetics to Cary Fukunaga, but logistics will prevent him from shooting every episode in Dench and Law among Olivier Award nominees Lindsay Lohan is a ‘Prisoner’ on udi Dench and Jude Law are among the 2014 Olivier Award nomi- OWN series: ‘It’s my last shot’ nees. The British stars have earned Best Actress and Best Actor nomi- Best New Comedy Jnations, respectively, at the annual awards ceremony which recog- ‘The Duck House’ at the Vaudeville Theatre he much-anticipated OWN series star- press will really only want to ask her about nizes outstanding theatre productions and performances, ranging from ‘The Full Monty’ at the NoÎl Coward Theatre ring Lindsay Lohan, titled simply her recent stint in rehab. plays, musicals and dance. Judi - who was recently nominated for an ‘Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense’ at the Duke of York’s Theatre “Lindsay,” already sets the season’s sto- In turn, director Paul Schrader told Oscar for ‘Philomena’ - leads the Best Actress race for ‘Peter and Alice’, com- ‘The Same Deep Water As Me’ at the Donmar Warehouse T peting against Hayley Atwell (‘The Pride’), Anna Chancellor (‘Private Lives’) ryline on Sunday’s premiere episode: Who’s reporters that he felt like he “was held and Lesley Manville (‘Ghost’). Best Actor: the biggest threat to Lohan? The outside hostage” by the actress during the shooting Meanwhile, Jude is up for Best Actor for his regal performance in Henry Goodman for ‘The Resistible Rise Of Arturo Ui’ at the Duchess world or the actress herself? Director Amy of the film, clearly disappointed she was ‘Henry V’, however, he faces stiff competition from fellow screen star Tom Theatre Rice followed the “Mean Girls” actress as she skipping out on its promotion. Yet, there are Hiddleston for ‘Coriolanus’, as well as Rory Kinnear (‘Othello’) and Henry Tom Hiddleston for ‘Coriolanus’ at the Donmar Warehouse decided to relocate from Los Angeles to New some real challenges to being Lindsay Goodman (‘The Resistible Rise Of Arturo Ui’). Rory Kinnear for ‘Othello’ at the National Theatre, Olivier York City. The actress felt that a change of Lohan. The paparazzi are clearly out of con- Film director Sam Mendes’ new stage adaptation of ‘Charlie and the Jude Law for ‘Henry V’ at the NoÎl Coward Theatre scenery and being closer to her family would trol. They stood outside her hotel and fol- Chocolate Factory’ leads the way for most nominations this year, tying give her stability as she tries to stay sober. At lowed her to events. One boldly held up his Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ with seven nods apiece. Best Actress one point, Lohan acknowledged that the watch to OWN’s cameras and said, “Lindsay The boundary-pushing ‘The Book of Mormon’ from ‘South Park’ cre- Hayley Atwell for ‘The Pride’ at the Trafalgar Studios next few months are important ones. paid for it.” ators Matt Stone and Trey Parker has notched up six nods, as has ‘The Anna Chancellor for ‘Private Lives’ at the Gielgud Theatre At one point, she’s unable to attend her “It’s my last shot,” the actress said of her Scottsboro Boys’. Judi Dench for ‘Peter and Alice’ at the NoÎl Coward Theatre career. In setting up the series, it shared AA meeting because the paparazzi would Mark Rubinstein, president of governing body the Society of London Lesley Manville for ‘Ghosts’ at the Almeida Theatre & Trafalgar Studios Oprah Winfrey’s pre-interview with the star follow her there and she’s worried about the Theatre, said: “Congratulations to all of this year’s Olivier Award nominees ahead of the taping of her August interview other people at the meeting and their priva- whose incredible talents lit up the West End and contributed to another Best Actor in a Supporting Role on “Oprah’s Next Chapter.” Winfrey asked the cy. When Rice asked if she ever felt like a she’s record-breaking year.” Ron Cook for ‘Henry V’ at the Noel Coward Theatre question she poses to all her guests: What do a prisoner, Lohan answered, “Yes, all the The Olivier Awards take place on 13 April at London’s Royal Opera Mark Gatiss for ‘Coriolanus’ at the Donmar Warehouse you want from this interview? “Just to be me, time.” House. Jack Lowden for ‘Ghosts’ at the Almeida Theatre & Trafalgar Studios She also goes for more than a month in Ardal O’Hanlon for ‘The Weir’ at the Donmar Warehouse & the New York City unable to find an apartment. 2014 Olivier Awards, selected nominations Wyndham’s Theatre Lohan said that finding the place is the easy part, but then the building’s board finds out BBC Radio 2 Audience Award Best Actress in a Supporting Role who she is and doesn’t want her as a neigh- ‘Les Miserables’ at the Queen’s Theatre Sharon D Clarke for ‘The Amen Corner’ at the National Theatre, Olivier bor or they raise the rent. At one point, she’s ‘Matilda the Musical’ at the Cambridge Theatre Sarah Greene for ‘The Cripple Of Inishmaan’ at the Noel Coward Theatre, very close to signing a lease when a last- ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ at Her Majesty’s Theatre Katherine Kingsley for ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at the Noel Coward minute clause requiring her to purchase a ‘Wicked’ at the Apollo Victoria Theatre Theatre, Cecilia Noble for ‘The Amen Corner’ at the National Theatre, $10 million insurance policy gets added - Olivier something her realtor said is a standard MasterCard Best New Musical amount though Lohan argues that she isn’t ‘The Book of Mormon’ at the Prince of Wales Theatre Best Actor in a Musical your standard renter. Truth. ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane Gavin Creel for ‘The Book of Mormon’ at the Prince of Wales Theatre At other times, it’s clear Lohan may not ‘Once’ at the Phoenix Theatre Jared Gertner for ‘The Book of Mormon’ at the Prince of Wales Theatre know what she needs. She wants stability, ‘The Scottsboro Boys’ at the Young Vic Douglas Hodge for ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ at the Theatre yet she orders her personal assistant to Royal Drury Lane switch her hotel room and move her belong- Best Revival Kyle Scatliffe for ‘The Scottsboro Boys’ at the Young Vic ings (which are strewn all over her hotel ‘The Amen Corner’ at the National Theatre, Olivier room like an episode of “Hoarders”). The ‘Ghosts’ at the Almeida Theatre & Trafalgar Studios Best Actress in a Musical Lindsay be honest and open,” Lohan answered and show shoots only her second visit with her ‘Othello’ at the National Theatre, Olivier Rosalie Craig for ‘The Light Princess’ at the National Theatre, Lyttelton Lohan and Winfrey promised she’d call the actress out if mother since leaving rehab. Why has she ‘Private Lives’ at the Gielgud Theatre Zrinka for ‘Once’ at the Phoenix Theatre, Jenna Russell for ‘Merrily We Roll Oprah she felt she wasn’t sticking to that path. only seen her mother once since rehab if her Along’ at the Harold Pinter Theatre, Charlotte Wakefield for ‘The Sound of Winfrey The truth is probably the hardest thing to family is such a force for stability? And, her Best Musical Revival Music’ at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, discern on the premiere episode. We hear father? Well, he hasn’t quite been her best ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ at the Harold Pinter Theatre what Lohan wants, but we’re unsure what protector either and has yet to appear dur- ‘The Sound of Music’ at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical happens off-camera and just how much she ing Lohan’s first month in NYC. ‘Tell Me on a Sunday’ at the St James Theatre & the Duchess Theatre Stephen Ashfield for ‘The Book of Mormon’ at the Prince of Wales participates in situations where she feels oth- Theatre ers have wronged her. There are plenty of Best New Play Colman Domingo for ‘The Scottsboro Boys’ at the Young Vic examples of this on the episode. She prom- ‘1984’ at the Almeida Theatre Josefina Gabrielle for ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ at the Harold Pinter ised to be in London to do press for her ‘Chimerica’ at the Almeida Theatre & Harold Pinter Theatre Theatre movie, “The Canyons,” but pulled out ‘The Night Alive’ at the Donmar Warehouse Nigel Planer for ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ at the Theatre because she’s worried about how the pres- ‘Peter and Alice’ at the NoÎl Coward Theatre Royal Drury Lane sure will affect her sobriety and that the Beyonce, Garner want to ban the word ‘Bossy’

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 38

Young Iranian adults sit at a cafe, backdropped, with pictures of Western celebrities hung on a wall at a cafe in Tehran, Iran. Iranian coffee lovers flock to new wave of cafes rapidly, reflecting a change in a society where refuge for her and friends to enjoy each other’s tea was for centuries the main hot drink. company. houlder to shoulder, cheek to cheek, plain about it,” she said. Majid Rouhian, 24, sips lyst Saeed Leilaz believes cafes symbolize the young women and men sit next to each his double espresso while chatting with his network of young people who played an Western atmosphere Socializing freely Sother while a thick film of cigarette girlfriend Maryam. Both voted for Rouhani. “In essential role in bringing Rouhani to power. More than half of Iran’s 76 million citizens “We freely sit together here for talks about gal- smoke fills the dimly lit cafe in central Tehran. the past we had fewer chances to meet,” he “The role of the young people, those who sit in are under age 30. Many juice shop owners who leries, movies and celebrities, like we did in parks Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” blares said. “In recent years we have more chances cafes, was a significant ... part of Rouhani’s suc- have watched those young customers flock to or private places in the past,” she said. from the speakers. Young Iranians with slick simply because of increasing number of public cess,” he said. Leilaz said authorities learned cafes have converted their businesses to coffee Azemoudeh’s deputy, Mohammad Khoshniat, smart phones and packs of American-made places, like this.” they had to give youth more freedom and a shops to keep up with the changing times. added that the cafes provide a place for young cigarettes who frequent the cafe come for the bigger role in society as the economic failures Authorities tolerate loud Western music in the couples who have few options. “Those who want chance to hang out, away from the eyes of Limited cafes of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s cafes - a pleasure once outlawed as un-Islamic to meet ... or get engaged choose cafes for the first moralizing elders. They also form a bloc of For years, Iranian authorities kept the num- administration grew more acute in recent after the 1979 Islamic Revolution that brought steps,” he said. Mehrdad Khadir, a social columnist strong support for moderate President Hassan ber of cafes limited since they were seen as a years. The allowance of more and more cafes Islamists to power. Many of the new shops are for the moderate Asr-e Iran news website, said Rouhani as he works to allow greater social symbol of Western influence and places to symbolizes that opening. decorated with replica paintings and pictures cafes provide “fewer restrictions on relations freedom in the Islamic Republic. It is a reflec- spread non-Islamic beliefs. But reports of cafes “If getting government permits for cafes of local and foreign celebrities. They typically between the genders,” compared to other places in tion of a boom in cafe culture that has led to a being shut because they violate “Islamic digni- gets easier, then their number would match offer free high-speed Wi-Fi - a major draw for the Iranian society. “Girls and boys feel secure mushrooming of similar coffee shops over the ties” have dropped markedly in recent months, the number of mosques in Tehran,” said Leilaz. many customers. The loosening of the reins there,” he said, adding that cafe goers “supported past two years, providing an outlet for young suggesting a growing tolerance by the authori- There are some 2,000 mosques in Tehran, started even before Rouhani’s election. The Rouhani in the 2013 elections simply because middle-class Iranians who suffer from a lack of ties. During his campaign, Rouhani vowed that according to official statistics. Cafe association number of Western-type cafes - which first Rouhani promised more social freedom.” Pejman public places to meet. young people would have more social free- head Eskandar Azmoudeh said the number of appeared in Iran in 1920s - began to increase in Mousavi, another Tehran-based social columnist With a box of black Marlboros on his table, dom. “We should not intervene in private life. ... cafÈs has roughly quadruped over the past two 2011, two years after Ahmadinejad’s controver- working for pro-reform Etemad daily, said young Mahnaz Ghassemi, 20, who voted for Rouhani We should know that young people are ener- years, from around 20 or 30 up to around 80. sial re-election that led to a massive crackdown middle class people seek nontraditional lifestyles. in June, said she comes to the cafe for the free- getic so we should not be tough on them. It Fashid Aslani, sitting in one of the branches of on opposition activists. In another cafe on “A new generation of middle class young people is dom it offers. “Here, I can smoke freely. At will not lead to positive results,” he said. his Raees chain of coffee shops in northern Tehran’s Gandhi Street, Anahita Kazemi, a 21- after a new version of life, different from their par- home, both my mom and dad regularly com- Tehran-based economic and political ana- Tehran, said the number of cafes is growing year-old painting student, said the place is a ents,” Mousavi said. — AP South American ‘mate’tea a long-time Lebanese hit

team rises from a gourd filled with yerba mate as Wissam Al-Halabi takes a sip, Sseated on a Lebanese mountain slope where the South American drink has become a local tradition. For more than a century, the mountain folk have been enjoying the slightly bitter hot drink, pronounced “yer-bah mah-tay,” far from its origins half-way around the world. It is particularly popular among adherents of the secretive Druze faith, who are scattered throughout the eastern Mediterranean’s Levant region, mostly in Lebanon and Syria. “It’s from Argentina originally and we’re told it came here hundreds of years ago, brought by Lebanese migrants who came back from there,” says Samah Halawi, a Druze sheikh. Latin A Lebanese Druze man prepares ‘mate’ at his house in Lebanon’s mountain village of America became a prime destination for eco- Barouk, on March 4, 2014. — AFP photos nomic migrants from the Levant, particularly in the late 19th century, and a large community of their descendants still exists in Argentina and elsewhere in the region. Halawi sports the white knit hat, thick moustache and loose pleated sherwal trousers that are traditional attire for the religious class of the Druze community. And he considers the been affected by the conflict and even crosses fee or tea. “We don’t feel like we’ve woken up signature mate gourd and silver bombilla battle lines, with both regime troops and rebel until we drink it!” she laughs, preparing both (bahm-bee-zha) straw to be just as traditional fighters spotted imbibing. For Halabi, who bitter and sweetened versions in traditional as his clothing. “Mate is something that’s very works at a hotel in the bucolic mountain set- gourds that some locals make at home from traditional here, something that we grew up ting of the central Lebanese town of Barouk, a dried out squash shells. She also keeps a with and saw our family drinking,” he says. “It’s midday break for mate is as necessary as a cof- ceramic Amanda-branded gourd on hand to a social drink; we drink it together. Me and the fee or tea break anywhere else. prepare mate with hot milk instead of water, guys get together often and drink as a group.” “Usually, if I know my friends are in the area, saying the milk flavor spoils squash gourds. I’ll call them up and say I’ve put the kettle on Crosses Syria battle lines and I’m getting ready to make some mate. ‘Mate-karaoke nights’ Yerba mate, made from the leaves of a rain- Come over and let’s drink together.” On a brisk Wissam Hamdan, who grew up drinking forest holly tree, has been cultivated in South afternoon, he sat with three friends around a mate in his village, decided to introduce the America for centuries. It is particularly popular small fire encircled by several bricks support- drink to a wider audience. In 2005, he opened in southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and ing a kettle. They passed around biscuits and The Mate Factory, a restaurant in the pictur- Argentina, which dominates exports of the tea sweetened bread as they discussed their esque mountain town of Aley, near Beirut. “A to Lebanon and neighboring Syria. In 2012, favorite brands and the health benefits of the very big percentage of our customers are peo- Argentina exported nearly 1,500 tons of mate drink. Halabi and several other locals prefer the ple who want to try it, because it’s something successful, and on weekends he also offers with two pieces of lemon rind, which lightly to Lebanon, making it the country’s third- Argentinean brand Amanda, because it has a that’s specific to certain areas in Lebanon,” he “mate-karaoke” nights, serving mate-infused flavor the straw. The drink is best enjoyed with biggest market, according to the International mild taste and can be drunk with or without told AFP. He imports around five tons a year alcoholic drinks. Such innovations are far from guests, she says, and she begins heating water Trade Centre, a UN and World Trade Centre sugar. from Argentina, blending his preferred leaves, the ritual observed in Ghada al-Halawi’s home. as soon as visitors arrive at her house near a agency. He recommends a bitter preparation for a and offers peach and lemon flavoured mate She likes to serve the drink with the dried forest of Lebanon’s famed cedar trees. “When Syria, with a population more than five post-meal digestive aid, and insists that the along with traditional types. figs, raisins and nuts that are traditional snacks someone comes to your house, you have to times that of Lebanon, is Argentina’s biggest drink also helps “clean the kidneys”. Ghada Al- For a little less then $7 (five euros), cus- in the area, though she adds that chips and bis- make mate for them,” she insists. “If you haven’t mate market, importing more than 24,000 tons Halawi, another Barouk local, likes to drink tomers get a tray with the tea, hot water and cuits that have become more common. In served them mate, it’s like you haven’t served in 2012. The drink’s popularity there has not mate first thing in the morning, instead of cof- snacks. Hamdan says the formula has been between each drinker, she cleans the bombilla them anything.” — AFP