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www.kuwaittimes.net NO: 16146- Friday, April 25, 2014 MPs to grill Premier

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KUWAIT: (Left to right) Kuwaiti MPs Hussein Qwaiaan Al-Mutairi, Riyadh Al-Adasani and Abdulkarim Al- Kindari address the press at the National Assembly in Kuwait City yes- terday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat Local2 FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014

Why you can’t drive a pickup truck in Kuwait

Expats unaware of the law are often surprised when they head to a showroom looking for the latest pickup.

By Nawara Fattahova those driving pickup trucks to have a special permission does not allow expats to register any pickup vehicle in to drive it. From 1983 until 2000, self-employed foreign- their name. So in order to buy a pickup I have to either o you have stuff to haul from a house? Do you ers could obtain this special permission to own a pickup register it in the name of a Kuwaiti citizen or if I am a want to buy a new bed but don’t want to pay the truck (often referred to locally as a 1.8) if they worked in partner in any business, then I can register it in the name Ddelivery charge? Are you thinking about starting a certain professions. But when the self-employment law of the company,” he told the Kuwait Times. small home catering service but need a pickup to trans- for expats was cancelled so were special permissions. As When he asked the salesman why, he was informed port tables, chairs and other items? Forget it. If you’re an of 2000, all foreigners are forbidden from driving the that the Interior Ministry prohibits foreigners from own- expatriate in Kuwait and need to have something hauled pickup truck in Kuwait and cannot be issued the special ing pickup trucks. “The salesman said that some people or moved, you’ll have to hire a half lorry or ask a Kuwaiti license, explained Lt Colonel Nawaf Al-Hayaan, Head of told him it may be to avoid expats transporting people friend. Do-it-yourself moving is not only difficult, but it’s Public Relations at the Traffic Department of the Ministry illegally. Although I think that it’s much easier to trans- illegal for expats in Kuwait. Foreigners are forbidden by of Interior. port them in a minibus or vanette,” Tony added. law from driving a pick-up without a special license. According to Al-Hayaan, the reason is simple. Pickup Indeed, vanettes may be bought and driven by expa- Article 28 B of the traffic law issued in 1983 requires trucks are used to transport people and goods and for- triates and are often used in illicit transport services eigners should not be doing either on their own. “When along with sedans. In some areas, like Jleeb Al- the law was issued in early 1980s, it was popular in Shuyoukh, smaller pickups and vanettes are commonly Kuwait to use pickup for illegal transportation. So, this used for illicit transport. Drivers will block a main road, law was issued in order to eliminate this phenomena; the stopping in front of busses and forcing the bus passen- same thing applies to lorries and camions (semi trucks),” gers to get off the bus and pay again to ride in the illicit Al-Hayaan explained. pickup or vanette in order to get home fast. Kuwait Expats unaware of the law are often surprised when Times has previously reported on this ‘traffic extortion’ they head to a showroom looking for the latest pickup. but it continues. Tony, an Indian who has lived in Kuwait for more than a With regard to trucks, the law remains in place. decade, had planned to buy a pickup as a gift to himself Salesmen from three different car agencies confirmed (his wife drives a sedan). But when he visited a showroom the same information on the banning of selling pickup and asked the salesman to give him details on a truck he vehicles to expats (to be used in Kuwait). The salesmen liked, the salesman immediately warned him off. “I was advised expats interested in driving a pickup in Kuwait to surprised by his response. He told me that the Kuwait law register it on the name of any Kuwaiti or a company. Local FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014

Conspiracy Theories The evil you can’t live without

By Badrya Darwish

[email protected]

have nothing against the advance- Sometimes I look at the disadvan- send each other messages through dif- online bullying and even torment that ment of technology. I am using it tages and negativity of this revolution. ferent means. People congratulate or end with suicide. Imyself every day. Gone are the days Technology has its pluses and also express condolences through mobile Don’t tell me that there is a system of when the mobile was only for the elite minuses. The minuses are increasing phones. Every member of the family is blocking sites. Parents cannot block and ultra-rich who boasted carrying a nowadays, especially for the young gen- busy with their own mobile life, sites. Nowadays kids are far smarter briefcase around with them and a heavy erations. Go to hashtag Kuwait and you Facebook, WhatsApp groups, etc. than adults when it comes to using a mobile phone. This is how it started in will get my drift. Check Instagram clips Even if the family meets, everyone is computer. They can break any code or the Arab world. Then they got rid of the of girls blowing kisses to strangers and holding their phone and following up system. briefcase but we still had to carry a 1- talking nonsense and vulgar matters. Instagram and messaging. Even when Modern technology to me is the evil kilo phone. This kind of behavior was considered friends meet for lunch in a café, they are you have to live with because we can’t It is beautiful and amazing. It is so taboo, at least in our part of the world, not talking because everyone is busy on live without it. nice to have a nice phone that I can slip which is a bit more conservative than their phone. I wonder why they even @BadryaD in my jeans’ pocket and a wireless head- the West. bothered to meet in the first place. set behind my ear. Now I can talk to the If you are a grownup and you are Facebook removed the world privacy whole world. Bless the soul of Steve responsible, it is OK. But the young gen- from the dictionary. People post every- Jobs, the guy who did not live to see the eration is going on a negative path thing for the world to see. They think advancement which took place with his starting with WhatsApp, Facebook etc. this is the new fad - to hang dirty linen. inventions. Now, every minute there is These serve our communication needs On the other hand, young innocent some new app or tech gadget. There is but hurt us too, influencing our social users could be lured by predators - Instagram, Twitter and many other and communication skills. People do regardless if they are girls or boys. We beautiful apps. not meet each other anymore. We just have heard about many incidents, Local FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 4 The ‘unknown soldiers’ are today’s airborne gypsies

TRAINING DAY: A file photo hanging in Kuwait Airways Training Centre shows part of the training that pilots and cabin crews undergo.—Photo by Joseph Shagra

By Velina Nacheva he baby was born in the skies, en route to Bombay, and was granted lifetime free tickets from Kuwait Airways. This is one of the most viv- Tid memories of Fahad Karam, senior cabin crew in-charge at Kuwait Airways. Karam assisted the cabin crew with the delivery of the baby of the Indian mother over Omani airspace - making the infant an Omani citizen as per international law.

Being ready to deliver a baby and to handle any kind of emergency, even a dying passenger, or to hold the hand of someone who has phobia of flying are part and parcel of the cabin crew experience. We are the unknown soldiers on any flight, says a veteran cabin crew member from Kuwait Airways who has many years of flight services as cabin crew and as a supervisor. Nasser Al-Jaber, 45, a group leader who has had long experience as a cabin crew member with Kuwait Airways explains that the job of the flight attendants and airhostesses is multidimensional and extremely important. They are doctors, nurses, babysitters, air police, life-savers, psychologists and LANDING IN WATER: A mock up of a plane in the train- ing centre shows part of the training that prepares the cabin crew for landing in water Local FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 5

sky marshals, he said. During Al-Jaber’s many years of experience in the air, he has undergo training once every six months. “Every six months we have an exam on seen it all. There have been passengers trying to cook their meals on gas cookers how to deal with an emergency situation,” he explained, pointing at a simulator in inside the cabin or others who come up with very creative tricks in order to light a the Kuwait Airways Training Centre. At the heart of the training centre is a mock up cigarette regardless of our warnings, he explained. of a plane that has landed in water. “We train how to land in water, too,” he said. “Unruly passengers are one of the most common disturbances in the air,” agrees In real life, should a technical failure happen in the air, Altoon explained he Nada Al-Azmi, 32-year-old assistant chief cabin at Kuwait Airways. We are trained immediately contacts the KAC Operations Control Centre. The time factor is the to cool down any passenger because this is something we face routinely, said centrifugal engine in the operations department of Kuwait Airways. This is the Karam, adding that that other such instances involve seat discrepancies and unruly place where mayday calls come in first and decisions about the itinerary of planes passengers. “Often passengers with economy seats insist to sit in first class,” Karam as well as the flight plans are handled round the clock. said. A high frequency radio keeps everyone in the operations room on alert every What is the recipe for addressing a problem airborne? ‘Let me check first’, Al- second of the day. This is the ultimate communication tool that transmits the Jaber said, are the magic words every crew member needs to use regardless of a incoming messages from every plane of the Kuwait Airways fleet which is airborne. passenger’s request. To this, Al-Azmi said, you need to add a smile which is a must All emergencies, problems, technical failures and some special requests are re- in any kind of emergency or unforeseen circumstances. “I often have arguments ceived first through that radio. This is the place that provides ground support and with passengers who refuse to fasten their seatbelts,” she added. assists with medical cases and sick passengers. “We basically prepare the flight plan and keep contact with the plane; we also Pilot-ground vital link communicate with all other sections prior to a plane’s departure,” said Abdulaziz Prior to takeoff, Captain Ali Altoon of Kuwait Airways establishes contact with Al-Rashed, specialist A of operations from the Operations Control Centre. “We don’t the airline’s Operations Control Centre and goes over the flight plan, fuel, passen- wait. Taking urgent decisions cannot be delayed, said Rashed, explaining that if ger numbers and calculating the speed of takeoff based on the cargo details of the an aircraft has a technical problem, the operations department needs to find an flight. Altoon has been a pilot for over 18 years, with the last four in the captain’s alternative considering the least impact and expense. The Quick Response Team seat. “I have a total of 10,500 hours in the air,” he said. Flying for him has been a decides the best scenario for different cases of mid-flight emergencies, such as dream come true. Altoon had a degree in petroleum engineering and used to work engine failure, a sick passenger or a malfunction in the landing gear. at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research when he came across an ad for pilots. “The moment I saw the ad, I knew that this was what I wanted to do,” he said, ex- plaining that it took him two years to complete his UK international pilot licensing in addition to a year of ground school and simulator training in Kuwait. According to Altoon, even after the completion of the two-year studies, pilots

Nasser Al-Jaber, 45, a Fahad Karam, Group Leader at KAC senior cabin crew explains the intrica- in-charge at KAC cies of being a cabin (right) and Nada crew member. Al-Azmi, assistant chief cabin at KAC discuss the allure of the airborne job.

ON THE GROUND: Abdulaziz Al-Rashed, Specialist A operations THIS IS THE CAPTAIN SPEAKING: Kuwait Airways Captain Ali Altoon from the Operation Control Centre of Kuwait Airways is demon- is seen in the simulator during training. He is pictured when land- strating the communication that goes between ground services ing a plane with engine failure. and any KAC plane which is airborne via the high frequency radio. Available at The Sultan Centre & Carrefour Local FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 7

Discovering the secret world of

By Ben Garcia

ave you heard of the amber features? There is no amber found in Kuwait and even some other parts of Asia, but Europe has it. It is as Hfamous - and for some as valuable - as precious metals and diamonds. But amber is neither stone nor metal. Traditionally, amber is used as an ingre- dient in perfumes, a healing agent in folk medicine and as jewelry. It is cre- ated by a resin that dripped from a tree millions of years ago. The sticky resin captured insects and other organic matter, which makes amber very valuable and expensive. It is now used for many purposes, as amulets, lucky charms, jewelry and decoration. In the Arab world, amber is used in misbahs, or prayer beads. A misbah is considered a timeless accessory in the Arab world and associated with religion. The misbah is almost similar to the rosary beads of the Catholic faith. Misbahs are used to keep track of counting in tasbih (an act of prayer), but nowadays people call them good ‘accessories’ for both men and women. Ismail Al-Hassan, 29, is a proud amber collector. He collects amber to make special misbahs. “I started collecting amber misbahs when I was 12. My father’s business, which is running now for over 40 years, is related to misbahs. I got fascinated with the charm of amber, so I started collecting amber to make mishbahs. Amber is a precious element from Europe, especially Poland, Russia and Ukraine. I believe in the health benefits and the luck it brings to collectors, so I have been collecting amber for a long time. It emits a natural scent, happiness and positive vibes. I sell my collection on Instagram and I make good money,” he said. Nowadays, Hassan is known to many in Kuwait as the ‘King of Amber’. “I have collections from all over the world, some of which I personally collected and bought from Europe. Some were from high-ranking government officials, and gifts too that I treasure a lot,” Hassan said. Hassan is a fulltime KOC employee, but his amber misbah business is becoming famous. “I started posting my collections on Instagram, and I got lots of requests. I only collect real amber - I don’t like other materials - so when I noticed the interest of my friends on Instagram, I continued posting my new collections. It became a habit that turned into a really lucrative business,” he said. Hassan meets his Instagram buyers at coffee shops around Kuwait. “Most of my customers are young people, but some are older too. I bring the misbahs they request, but I also bring others from my collection. Some change their mind, but many stick to the first choice they saw on Instagram,” he said. He hailed Instagram for providing a platform to showcase his amber collection. From the raw material he brings from Europe, he outsources the making of the misbahs to a third country. Hassan also orders products like cigarette holders, ashtrays, bracelets and other accessories made from precious amber.

Local9 FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 News Kuwait PM under fire in brief Three MPs file to grill PM over ‘all issues’ KAC employs female pilot, open for more KUWAIT: Kuwait Airways (KAC)’s chairwoman, Rasha Al- Roumi said that KAC has recently employed a female pilot and is open for more women wishing to study and join the aviation industry. Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the Youth Guidance Forum, Al-Roumi noted that KAC board was currently working on restructuring the corporation through a clear and transparent plan and in accordance to its needs. She said that KAC is still working on renovating its fleet and want to purchase 25 new planes by 2019, adding that KAC was recently awarded a 7-Star ranking in terms of

UN fund pays another $990 million to Kuwait GENEVA: A UN panel that settles claims for damages resulting from Iraq’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait has paid out another $990 mil- lion. The payment yesterday by the UN Compensation Commission brings the total paid so far to the government of Kuwait to $45.5 billion. The commission says the latest payment goes toward settling a claim by the Kuwait Petroleum Corp for production and sales losses resulting from damage to the coun- KUWAIT: (Left to right) Kuwaiti MPs Riyadh Al-Adasani, Hussein Qwaiaan Al-Mutairi, and Abdulkarim Al- try’s oil fields. The commission says another $6.9 billion remains to Kindari address the press at the National Assembly in Kuwait City yesterday. Three opposition MPs seek to be paid from that award, which at $14.7 billion was the largest the question Kuwait’s Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Sabah, accusing him of giving cash handouts to panel made. The Geneva-based commission was established by lawmakers and mismanagement in sovereign wealth fund investments. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat the UN Security Council in 1991 and is funded by a 5 percent tax on the export of Iraqi oil. It makes payments every three months. By B Izzak while the second and third were merged enough attention to the health of the and debated at the same time without public. Also, the grilling accuses the Kuwait students urged to KUWAIT: Opposition MPs Riyadh Al- any further action. The three MPs said the prime minister of being responsible for ‘focus more’ on sciences Adasani, Abdulkarim Al-Kindari and grilling includes all the issues because the violations committed in the award- KUWAIT: Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Hussein Al-Quwaiaan yesterday execut- these are general policy matters which ing process for the Al-Zour North Power Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah yesterday called ed their threats and filed a request to fall under the authority of the prime min- Plant saying the local company in the on secondary students to choose scientific specialties at the uni- grill the prime minister over 12 major ister who is responsible for them. winner consortium is not listed in the versity as the country is set to carry out major development proj- issues including cash handouts to MPs, On the housing crisis, the grilling Kuwait Stock Exchange as required by ects. Addressing a future youth guidance forum held under the the housing crisis, violations in Al-Zour holds the government responsible for the law. In addition, the awarding aegis of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- North Power Plant and others. Other forcing 110,000 Kuwaiti families to be on process was conducted in violation of Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, the minister said the government issues include deterioration in health the waiting list for a government house, the law. supports and spurs young people’s employment in the private services, unemployment, pollution, blaming the government of causing the It blames the government of failing to sector, noting that the workforce of the public sector makes up attempts to stifle freedoms and misman- artificial rise in land prices. It said that protect the country’s environment espe- 94 percent of the country’s manpower. He said it is important for agement in the country’s foreign invest- since 1974, the government has distrib- cially from radiation caused by the use of students to choose whatever specialty they want in order to be ments and investments run by the Public uted 97,000 houses to citizens but depleted uranium in ammunition by the able to achieve success and excellence in their future careers. Authority for Social Security. because it holds 92 percent of Kuwait’s Western Coalition that liberated Kuwait However, the minister reiterated the government’s commitment National Assembly Speaker Marzouk territory, 80 percent of which for oil, in 1991 from Iraqi occupation. The gov- to providing young people with jobs in both public and private Al-Ghanem said he has informed Prime there is scarcity in land available for ernment has also failed to take action sectors. As the development process in the country is going on Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al- housing that is the main reason for the against factories and plants not abiding at a fast pace, Kuwaiti young people need to exert more efforts by environment regulations. in all fields. On his part, Minister of Health Ali Al-Obeidi said six The grilling also accused the prime specialized hospitals would join the country’s health sector in minister of giving cash handouts to a five years’ time. Therefore, Kuwaiti secondary students should number of lawmakers based on a televi- choose scientific and medical specialties in order to make up for sion interview by MP Abdullah Al- shortage of staff in relevant sectors, the minister said. Tameemi who admitted having received cash grants from the office of the prime minister as charity. The grilling blames GCC needs comprehensive the prime minister of failing to establish defense strategy: Bahrain the corruption combating agencies MANAMA: The King of Bahrain’s advisor for diplomacy more than a year after a law was issued Mohammed Abdulghaffar said that Gulf Cooperation Council by the National Assembly to establish states need a “comprehensive strategy” aimed at developing the anti-corruption authority. “true joint defensive policies.” Abdulghaffar - who heads the It also holds the prime minister Bahrain Center for Strategic, International and Energy Studies, responsible for foiling an attempt by MPs also known as Derasat - drew a comparison with the NATO to raise the children allowance from KD alliance, which he said updates its strategy every 10 years. “This 50 per month to KD75 and for forcing strategy should be able to tackle threats and should possess a long-serving senior officials to go on wide scale network of cooperation with foreign partners,” he retirement selectively. The grilling accuses said in a speech at the opening of the GCC National and the government of adopting a policy Regional Security Conference, organized by Derasat. It does not KUWAIT: Kuwaiti Parliament Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem speaks to against public freedoms after it selectively necessarily have to mirror other international blocs, but should the press at the National Assembly in Kuwait City yesterday. used the law to shut down for two weeks cooperate with them, and Gulf states need only to work as a two newspapers for publishing news solid regional unit in order to achieve their stability and securi- about the so-called conspiracy videotape. ty. Separating or withdrawing from this is no longer possible, Sabah of the grilling and that it will be crisis. The grilling blamed the govern- Regarding foreign investments, the he said, “due to the huge strategic losses” this may inflict on listed on the agenda of the Assembly’s ment of failing to do what is needed to grilling alleges that Kuwait Investment each of the six countries - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi session on April 29 to set a date for its resolve the chronic problem, insisting Authority, which manages the $400 bil- Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - in the case of their debate. Pro-government MP Faisal Al- that if the government releases just 5.0 lion Kuwait sovereign wealth fund, has detachment. The region has been witnessing conflicts since the Kindari has called on the prime minister percent of the land, the problem will be incurred losses in at least three major for- 1980s up until the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which shock the stabil- to reject the grilling because it is uncon- solved. eign investments and despite that it ity of that country - with its repercussions felt in Gulf states, he stitutional. The grilling blames the government injected about $6 billion of fresh funds added. All these changes have pushed Gulf states to ponder This is technically the fourth grilling responsible for allowing thousands of into the said investments. It also accuses how best to protect their themselves from outside threats by against the prime minister since the start tons of expired foods to enter into the the public institution for social security of nations that do not want what is best for the region, said of the current parliamentary term in late country without taking any measures to posting losses in a number of investments Abdulghaffar. October. The first one was scrapped stop that, which indicates to not paying costing public funds huge losses. Local FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 Green economy Students slam MoE ‘vital’ for sustainable development for ‘false promises’ KUWAIT: Green economy is vital in achieving sustainable development without degrading the environment, Minister of Oil and Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Dr Ali Al- Students raise funds to repair school toilets Omair stressed yesterday. Al-Omair made this remark during a celebration at a public school marking Regional Environment KUWAIT: A group of secondary school students stormed Ministry students who are about to graduate. Al-Wetad had said that 6,000 Day, April 24, which also coincides with the signing of Kuwait of Education Undersecretary, Mariam Al-Wetaid with questions would be accepted at Kuwait University and 6,000 others would Regional Convention for Co-operation on the Protection of the about the deteriorating conditions of infrastructure in many get scholarships. Al-Kandari said Al-Wetaid evaded his question Marine Environment from Pollution in 1978. Al-Omair, who is schools. Speaking to the undersecretary on the sidelines of the about where the rest of the 32,000 students would go. also chairman of the Supreme Council for Environment, said Youth Guidance Forum, currently held under the auspices of His Al-Kandari added that the students also asked Al-Wetaid about that green economy provides a balance in ecological Highness the Premier Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, the stu- the deteriorating conditions of infrastructure in many schools economies where human economies and natural ecosystems dents expressed dissatisfaction over the terrible conditions of the including buildings, facilities, toilets, playgrounds and activities go hand in hand without overriding each other. toilets in their schools charging that they had to collect money and recreation halls. “Many MOE officials have been speaking The minister explained that a green economy reduces car- from students to pay for repairing the toilets. about talent-developing activities of the students....where are bon emissions and pollution, enhances energy and resource Speaking on behalf of the aggrieved students, Ali Al-Kandari, a they? We do not see such activities in real life schooling”, he reiter- efficiency, and prevents the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem student at Farhan Al-Kaheld School, Bayan, said that the students ated noting that students are given the choice between four or services. To utilize this economy in real life and derive the were fed up with the statements and false promises being made five free-choice subjects without actually benefiting from them. utmost benefit from it, policies and studies should be setup, he by the ministry officials, including Al-Wetaid herself, about main- “We only register our names and do nothing else”, he underlined. pointed out. On his part, CEO of the Regional Organization for taining and repairing school buildings. “They are nothing more Al-Kandari informed that the students have started some fundrais- the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME) Dr than mere statements without any seriousness or honesty”, he ing initiatives to collect money from schoolmates to repair toilets Abdullrahman Al-Awadi said that Kuwait regional environment said. Confronting Al-Wetaid further, Ali asked whether the MoE is since there was no support forthcoming either from the school convention that was signed in 1978 set the cornerstones for prepared to provide admissions to all the senior secondary school administration or the MoE. — Al-Qabas cooperation in the protection of marine environment in the Gulf region. Al-Awadi defined green economy as a means of fighting poverty, diseases and unemployment by improving human well-being and social equity, while significantly reduc- ing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. He pointed out that green economy is based on six main sectors: renew- able energy, green buildings, sustainable transport, water man- agement, waste management and land management. The school celebration included an exhibition of environment- themed art work done by male and female students. — KUNA

Lu & Lu Hypermarket launches ‘Taste of the World’ promotion

KUWAIT: Lu & Lu Hypermarket, the premier lifestyle shopping destination in Kuwait, launched ‘Taste of the World’ promotion, featuring cuisines and food products from around the world, at all the three branches of the Hypermarket. The 11-day food festival was inaugurated by renowned Indian Master Chef Ripudaman Handa, on 23 April at the Hypermarket’s Al-Rai outlet, in front of a large crowd of Lu & Lu customers, well-wishers, staff and top man- agement of the Hypermarket. The promotion, which will run till 3 May, provides a unique experience for food lovers in the country to enjoy the exquisite tastes of cuisines from around the world. In addition to witnessing the cooking creativity of Indian Master Chef Handa, and getting the opportunity to meet and have autographs signed by him, KUWAIT: Two birds are waiting for their new home on a busy shopping day at the Friday Market. — Photo by Yasser Al Zayyat shoppers will also have the opportunity to see demonstrations by celebrity chefs in other cuisines, including Arabic, Chinese, Continental, Filipino, Japanese, Italian and Thai. Besides observing the talented chefs crafting delightfully Fake detectives steal bike at knifepoint scrumptious foods using ingredients ranging from ordinary to the exotic, shoppers will also have opportunity to participate in sever- Sponsor molests Filipina al interactive experiences and competitions during the ‘Taste of the World’ campaign. By Hanan Al-Saadoun of the country, detectives at Shuwaikh Port Customs foiled an Among the events planned for the promotion period are jun- attempt to smuggle out 20 containers filled with 400,000 liters ior and senior chef contest, wow the Master Chef contest, cooking KUWAIT: A citizen reported to police that four unidentified of subsidized diesel. Security sources noted that the fuel was competitions, chit-chat with Master Chef and a taste-and-win con- people impersonating as police detectives threatened his son hidden in trucks owned by a local company that were heading test. Other highlights during ‘Taste of the World’ campaign is the with a knife and stole his bike in Hawally, said security sources. to a GCC state en route to India. creation of the longest pizza in Kuwait at 101 meters held in asso- According to him, a vehicle carrying four people blocked his Commenting on the case, the Northern Ports Customs ciation with Pizza Inn, and the making of a record 20 meter long son’s bike as he was riding. Two of them stepped out of the manager, Waleed Al-Nasser said that the custom detectives pasta. Taste of the World promotion is part of Lu & Lu vehicle and asked for the license and registration. “My son told had suspected an outbound shipment of oil exported by a Hypermarket’s initiative of regularly interacting with their cus- them that they were at home and that he would bring them if local company to India via a GCC state. A customs inspector tomers, to discern their preferences and fine-tune their product they wished,” said the man adding that his son also asked to noticed that the trucks had double-decks with an isolation offerings and services, in order to provide shoppers with best see the IDs of the two men. Instead of doing so, they pointed a layer in between. “Uncovering the tankers of the trucks, retail shopping experience in the country. knife to his face and one of them rode the bike away. inspectors found oil in the upper compartment while the lower one contained pure diesel the company was smug- Kuwaiti girl missing gling to sell abroad. The shipment was confiscated and a A citizen reported to Zahra police station that his 21-year- case was filed. Singing to the Lord old daughter had gone missing since Tuesday morning, said security sources. The father gave a full description of his Filipina harassed daughter and the attire she was wearing when she left, the A 35-year-old Filipina recently filed a complaint at Waha The St Peter’s CSI Congregation, Choir, Kuwait presents the sources added. A missing case has been registered. police station accusing her 25-year-old sponsor of sexually Passion and Resurrection Recital “HE IS RISEN” tomorrow at harassing her, said security sources. The woman claimed that 6pm, at NECK Church & Parish Hall. We invite you to join us Bid to smuggle oil the young man touched her body and asked her to accompa- with family and friends to glorify the Omnipotent God. In continuation of the crackdown on a racket which is ny him to an apartment. A case was field and further investiga- involved in stealing subsidized items and smuggling them out tions are in progress. Lu & Lu Hypermarket launches ‘Taste of the World’ promotion

u & Lu Hypermarket, the premier Italian and Thai. lifestyle shopping destination in Besides observing the talented chefs LKuwait, launched ‘Taste of the World’ crafting delightfully scrumptious foods promotion, featuring cuisines and food using ingredients ranging from ordinary to products from around the world, at all the exotic, shoppers will also have oppor- three branches of the Hypermarket. tunity to participate in several interactive The 11-day food festival was inaugurated experiences and competitions during the by renowned Indian Master Chef ‘Taste of the World’ campaign. Among the Ripudaman Handa, on 23 April at the events planned for the promotion period Hypermarket’s Al-Rai outlet, in front of a are junior and senior chef contest, wow the large crowd of Lu & Lu customers, well- Master Chef contest, cooking competi- wishers, staff and top management of the tions, chit-chat with Master Chef and a Hypermarket. taste-and-win contest. The promotion, which will run till 3 Other highlights during ‘Taste of the May, provides a unique experience for World’ campaign is the creation of the food lovers in the country to enjoy the longest pizza in Kuwait at 101 meters held exquisite tastes of cuisines from around in association with Pizza Inn, and the mak- the world. In addition to witnessing the ing of a record 20 meter long pasta. cooking creativity of Indian Master Chef Taste of the World promotion is part of Handa, and getting the opportunity to Lu & Lu Hypermarket’s initiative of regular- meet and have autographs signed by ly interacting with their customers, to dis- him, shoppers will also have the opportu- cern their preferences and fine-tune their nity to see demonstrations by celebrity product offerings and services, in order to chefs in other cuisines, including Arabic, provide shoppers with best retail shopping Chinese, Continental, Filipino, Japanese, experience in the country. FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 Clashes in east Parents seek Clashes in Ukraine leave autopsies Kashmir as at least 2 dead of Korea ferry India heads victims 15 16 back17 to the polls

TOKYO: US President Barack Obama, second left, and US Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, left meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, right, during their talks at the Akasaka State Guest House in Tokyo, yesterday. Facing fresh questions about his commitment to Asia, Obama will seek to convince Japan’s leaders that he can deliver on his security and economic pledges, even as the crisis in Ukraine demands US attention and resources elsewhere. —AP Obama poised for new sanctions on Russia Ukraine president calls on Russia to pull back troops

TOKYO/DONETSK: US President Barack Obama said ent approach.” Russian news agencies quoted nalists, including US citizen Simon Ostrovsky. This would have a knock-on effect on European cus- yesterday he was poised to impose new sanctions on Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying that he tomers further West, because many of the pipelines Moscow if it does not act fast to end an armed stand- expected “the Geneva accords will be implemented No way back? that deliver their gas run through Ukraine. off in Ukraine, but there was a first, tentative sign in practical actions in the near future”. Ukraine, a former Soviet republic, slipped into European and Ukrainian officials were to meet in that pro-Russian separatists were ceding ground. In NATO member Poland, the first group of a con- unrest late last year when Moscow-backed President Slovakia, which borders Ukraine, on Thursday to try Under an international accord signed in Geneva tingent of around 600 U.S. soldiers arrived on Viktor Yanukovich rejected a pact to build closer ties to work out ways to mitigate the impact if Ukraine is last week, illegal armed groups in Ukraine, including Wednesday. They are part of an effort by with Europe. Protesters took over the centre of Kiev, cut off. The options include reversing the usual east- the pro-Russian rebels occupying about a dozen Washington to reassure eastern European allies who eventually forcing him to flee in February. west flow of the pipelines to Europe to pump gas public buildings in the east of the country, are sup- are worried by a build-up of Russian forces near Days later, Russian troops seized control of back into Ukraine, but the volumes that could be posed to disarm and go home. Ukraine’s borders. Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula. Moscow then annexed supplied this way would be only a small fraction of Ukraine’s acting president Oleksander Turchinov In Ukraine, the Western-backed government said the region, saying it was protecting Russian resi- the amount that Ukraine needs. called on Russia to pull troops back from their bor- the city hall in Mariupol, which had been seized by dents, while the West called the action an illegal land der, stop interfering in Ukraine’s internal affairs and pro-Russian separatists, was now back under central grab. The focus has now shifted to eastern Ukraine, Bearded attacker end its “blackmail”. control. Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said the may- the industrial heartland and home to a large Russian- Unarmed mediators from the Organisation for Turchinov broadcast his brief address to the or was back in his office, and that explosives experts speaking community. Security and Cooperation in Europe are in eastern nation after Russia said it had begun military exercis- were checking the building to make it safe. With rhetoric building from the United States Ukraine trying to persuade pro-Russian gunmen to es near the border in response to escalation by “In this instance there were no casualties. And about the imposition of a new, tougher round of go home, in line with the Geneva accord. Though Ukraine. that is good and proper. The process of getting the sanctions, Russia suggested on Thursday that there was the possibility of progress in Mariupol, In what has become the worst stand-off between situation back to normal in the city will continue,” Western firms which pulled out of the country may there were also fresh indications of the violence that Russia and the West since the Cold War, Washington Avakov said in a post on his Facebook page. not be able to get back in. has flared several times since the accord was signed, accuses Moscow of fomenting unrest in Ukraine’s Mariupol, an industrial city on the Azov Sea, was “It is obvious that they won’t return in the near and threatened to torpedo it. east. Russia denies that and counters that Europe the scene of violent clashes last week when, accord- future if they sever investment agreements with us, I Interior minister Avakov said troops loyal to Kiev and the United States are propping up an illegiti- ing to the Kiev government, separatist attackers tried mean there are consequences as well,” Natural had repelled an overnight attack on their base in mate government in Kiev. to storm a base of the Ukrainian national guard. Resources Minister Sergei Donskoi told reporters. eastern Ukraine. In his Facebook post, he said the “So far at least we have seen them not abide by If the Mariupol city hall is indeed back under “Russia is one of the most promising countries in raid was led by a thickly-bearded man he alleged the spirit or the letter of the agreement in Geneva,” Kiev’s control, it would be the first substantial sign terms of hydrocarbons production. If some contracts was a Russian soldier who had been spotted previ- Obama said of Russia on a visit to Japan. that the Geneva accord is being implemented. are severed here, then, colleagues, you lose a serious ously helping the separatists. Reuters reporters have “We have prepared for the possibility of applying But Kiev also reported a shootout overnight in lump of your future pie,” the minister added. not been able to establish that any Russian troops or additional sanctions,” he told a news conference. another part of the east when a Ukrainian soldier Supplies of Russian gas to Europe are also, poten- special forces members are in the region, though “There’s always the possibility that Russia, tomorrow, was wounded, while pro-Russian separatists who tially, at risk from the crisis over Ukraine. Russia has Kiev and Western powers say they have growing evi- or the next day, reverses its course and takes a differ- control the city of Slaviansk were holding three jour- threatened to cut Kiev off unless it pays off its debts. dence that Moscow has a covert presence. —Reuters

International15 FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014

S Sudan rebels claim to be closing in on oil fields NAIROBI: Rebels in South Sudan said yes- He also said the rebels “once again of intelligence in the wake of the loss of locked in civil war since December 15, terday they were closing in on key oil fields renew calls for oil companies to stop pro- Bentiu, another northern state capital and when a clash between members of the and two state capitals, predicting an immi- duction and evacuate staff/employees to oil hub that fell to the rebels last week. presidential guard split the army and spi- nent collapse of the government and a avoid being caught in crossfire”. He also said the purge “marks the ralled into countrywide fighting. “bloodbath”. The rebel claims could not be inde- beginning of an imminent bloodbath, The war has left thousands and possibly A statement from rebel spokesman pendently confirmed, and the govern- escalation and regionalisation of the con- tens of thousands of people dead and General Lul Ruai Koang said forces battling ment’s army spokesman dismissed the flict” in the world’s youngest nation, which forced over one million to flee their homes. President Salva Kiir captured the town of statement as “a big lie”. According to the only won independence from Khartoum in Violence has also taken on an ethnic Renk, close to the border with Sudan, on rebel spokesman, anti-government fight- 2011. But the spokesman for the govern- dimension, pitting Kiir’s Dinka tribe against Wednesday and were advancing on the ers loyal to former vice president Riek ment’s army, Philip Aguer, told AFP that militia forces from Machar’s Nuer people. Paloich oil fields. Machar were advancing on Jonglei state the claims were lies and that any recent Both sides have been implicated in “The fall of Renk... leaves government capital Bor, situated just 200 kilometres clashes had left the rebels “completely atrocities and war crimes. Last week the troops trapped in Malakal with no supply (130 miles) north of the capital Juba. defeated” and forced to “jump into the riv- rebels were accused of murdering hun- and escape routes,” he said, referring to “While our forces are making steady er, take to the desert or run towards dreds of civilians in Bentiu last week, and a the strategic capital of Upper Nile state military gains... Kiir’s military leadership is Sudan.” pro-government mob killed dozens of civil- which has already changed hands several unravelling,” Koang said, the day after the As for a threatened attack on Bor, he ians in an attack on a UN base in Bor where times in the four-month-old conflict. president sacked his army chief and head said “let him come”. South Sudan has been they were sheltering. —AFP Clashes in east Ukraine leave at least 2 dead Putin warns Kiev with unspecified consequences SLOVYANSK: Ukrainian government troops the north of Slovyansk, while two helicopters bats stormed the building in the early hours yes- moved against pro-Russia forces in the east of were spotted circling over the area. Troops terday and started beating the protesters. It was the country yesterday and killed at least two of ordered residents in the surrounding area to not clear why the protesters, some of whom them in clashes at checkpoints manned by the keep away. Near the town of Makatikha, sev- were believed to be armed, did not offer resist- insurgents, the government and insurgents said. eral kilometers north of Slovyansk, pro- ance but called the police instead. Russian President Vladimir Putin decried what Russian militia at checkpoints set fire to barri- Five people were taken to a hospital, THESSALONIKI: Demonstrators shout slogans at the he described as a “punitive operation.” cades of car tires in an apparent attempt to Lasazan said. Lasazan said the police were con- annual rally to protest the mass killings of Armenians The fighting was the first since acting reduce visibility from the air. An Associated trolling the perimeter and were negotiating in Ottoman Turkey nearly a century ago in the north- President Oleksandr Turchynov on Tuesday Press reporter observed about two dozen with the remaining protesters to leave the build- ern Greek city of Thessaloniki, yesterday. Hundreds ordered the resumption of military operations in militiamen manning checkpoints along the ing. Ukraine is going through its biggest political of protesters, mostly from Greek-Armenian groups, eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russia protesters road earlier in the day. crisis since the fall of Soviet Union, set off by gathered outside the Turkish consulate. —AP and masked gunmen have seized government months-long anti-government protests and buildings and set up checkpoints on the roads. Putin threatened Kiev with unspecified con- Armenia accuses sequences. “If the Kiev government is using the army against its own people this is clearly a Turkey of ‘utter grave crime,” Putin said. The Ukrainian govern- ment and many in the West worry that Russia is denial’ on genocide seeking a pretext for a military intervention in eastern Ukraine. Putin insists he has the right to YEREVAN: Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian yesterday intervene to protect ethnic Russians, who make accused Turkey of an “utter denial” in failing to recognise World up a sizeable minority in Ukraine’s east. Russia War I mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as geno- has tens of thousands of troops arrayed along its cide, apparently brushing off Ankara’s first ever offer of conde- side of Ukraine’s eastern border. lences for the tragedy. Earlier in Tokyo, US President Barack Obama In an unprecedented move described by the United States as accused Moscow of failing to live up to “the spir- a historic gesture, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan it or the letter” of an agreement last week to on Wednesday offered condolences over the massacres, calling ease tensions in eastern Ukraine. If that contin- them “our shared pain.” ues, he said, “there will be further consequences But in a statement marking the 99th anniversary of the start and we will ramp up further sanctions.” of the killings and mass deportations, Sarkisian made no The Ukrainian Interior Ministry said in a state- acknowledgement of Erdogan’s move and instead accused ment that military and special police forces killed Turkey of continuing to ignore the facts. “up to five terrorists” while destroying three “The Armenian genocide... is alive as far as the successor of checkpoints north of Slovyansk, a city 160 kilo- the Ottoman Turkey continues its policy of utter denial,” he said. meters (100 miles) west of the Russian border “The denial of a crime constitutes the direct continuation of that that has emerged as the focus of the armed SLOVYANSK: A pro Russian masked militant directs traffic at a check- very crime,” he added. “Only recognition and condemnation can insurgency. One of the government troops was point following an attack by Ukrainian troops outside Slovyansk, prevent the repetition of such crimes in the future.” injured, the statement said. Ukraine, yesterday. Ukrainian government troops moved against pro- He said the looming 100th anniversary offered “Turkey a Stella Khorosheva, a spokeswoman for the Russia forces in the east of the country and killed at least two of them good chance to repent and to set aside the historical stigma in Slovyansk insurgents, said she could confirm in clashes at checkpoints manned by the insurgents. —AP case if they make efforts to set free their state’s future from this that two pro-Russia fighters had been killed at a heavy burden.” checkpoint in the village of Khrestyshche, about Protesters beaten President Viktor Yanukovych’s flight to Russia. He also stressed that the events of 1915 “should not prevent 10 kilometers (six miles) north of the city. Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said his forces Yanukovych’s ouster sparked wide anger in Turks and Armenians from establishing compassion and mutual- also have cleared city hall in the southeastern his support base in Ukraine’s east. The insur- ly humane attitudes towards one another.” Defend ourselves city of Mariupol of the pro-Russia protesters who gents, who claim Ukraine’s post-Yanukovych US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said The situation was quiet inside the city of had been occupying it for more than a week. government consists of nationalists who will Washington welcomed Erdogan’s “historic public acknowledge- Slovyansk itself, but Khorosheva said the fighters Local police officials and protesters, however, suppress the east’s large Russian-speaking pop- ment of the suffering that Armenians experienced in 1915.” were ready to repel any attack by government presented quite another picture of what hap- ulation, are demanding regional autonomy or Thursday was a day of national mourning in Armenia and troops. “We will defend ourselves to our last pened. even annexation by Russia. requiem masses were held in churches across the country mark- drop of blood. We are ready to repeat Avakov wrote in a Facebook post that the Ukraine and Russia reached a deal in ing the 99th anniversary of the massacres. Stalingrad,” she told The Associated Press, invok- Mariupol city hall “has been freed to resume Geneva last week to defuse the crisis, but pro- All national television channels ran live broadcast of the ing the memory of the Soviet army’s victory over work,” but did not describe the action. However, Russian insurgents in the east - and right-wing annual ceremony which saw thousands of Armenians flocking German forces in 1942-43. Yulia Lasazan, a spokeswoman for Mariupol’s militants in Kiev - have defied calls for all sides to a hilltop memorial above Yerevan to lay flowers at the eternal At least 10 Ukrainian government armored police department, told The Associated Press to disarm and to vacate the buildings they are flame. —AFP vehicles were seen parked on the road just to that about 30 masked men armed with baseball occupying. —AP International FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014

Jeddah residents jittery over spread of deadly MERS virus

JEDDAH: The first paper face masks appeared at check- the outbreak when rumours swirled around the city. Link to camels? in before the early morning flight from Saudi Arabia’s “There was lots of confusion. Relatives kept their chil- The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it is “con- capital Riyadh to Jeddah, where a sudden surge of infec- dren at home. People were worried about going to hos- cerned” and has offered to help investigate the outbreak in tions of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) has pitals for their appointments,” she added. Another Saudi Arabia and another in the United Arab Emirates. alarmed some residents. In Jeddah airport, a Mecca- Jeddah resident, 35-year-old Roula, who did not want to Since MERS first emerged in April 2012, some 253 labo- bound pilgrim with religiously prescribed white toga give her family name, said many of her friends were ratory-confirmed human cases have been reported to the and shaven head wore a mask under a pair of designer scared. WHO, including 93 deaths. While the vast majority are in sunglasses. On a nearby bench, a mother adjusted “My friend’s uncle died two days ago after going to a Saudi Arabia, there have also been cases in Jordan, Kuwait, masks on two small boys. hospital. I didn’t even go to the funeral because I’m wor- Oman, Qatar, as well as Europe, North Africa and Asia. The It was a sign of the alarm in this humid Red Sea city ried they might be carrying the virus. Everyone who did WHO said the source of infection remains “undetermined”, after a 47 percent jump in the past month in the number go wore a mask,” she said. Public concern has been but evidence is growing of a link to camels, believed by of confirmed cases of MERS, a virus identified in Saudi heightened by the spread of rumours on social media many experts to be the animal reservoir of the virus. MERS Arabia two years ago and which can cause coughing, that there were many undiagnosed cases, as well as is from the same virus family as SARS, which killed some fever and pneumonia. Of the 91 new cases announced accusations of government cover-ups and inadequate 800 people worldwide after emerging in China in 2002. On in the kingdom in April, 73 were in Jeddah. Many of hygiene procedures in some hospitals. Monday, King Abdullah replaced health minister Abdullah those infected were healthcare workers. “Everyone I The Health Ministry has denied such charges. But the al-Rabeeah, a noted surgeon whose attempts to reassure know, my friends, neighbours, relatives, it’s like we were authorities struggled in the early stages of the outbreak the public with reminders that MERS is not easily spread on the dark side,” said Lamya Gazzaz, a former nurse and to gain control of the public message, simply issuing between people were dismissed by many Saudis as an longtime Jeddah resident, speaking of the early days of stern warnings against the spreading of rumours. attempt to downplay the gravity of the situation.—Reuters Obama in Tokyo backs Japan in China island row ‘Maritime issues to be resolved peacefully’

TOKYO: US President Barack Obama vowed present, China yesterday said it had released “The peace and stability of the Korean yesterday to defend Japan if China attacks a Japanese ship seized after its owner paid peninsula is in the immediate interest of over a tense territorial dispute, but also urged $28 million compensation in a business dis- China,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Beijing to help stop North Korea from forging pute dating to Japan’s occupation of swathes Qin Gang told a regular press briefing. ahead with its “dangerous” nuclear pro- of the country in the 1930s. “We will by no means allow war or chaos gramme. Obama described as “critically Tokyo warned earlier this week that the to occur at the doorstep of China. And we’ll important” China’s role in keeping its way- seizure could have a chilling effect on the be encouraging all relevant parties to resolve ward ally in check after South Korea said huge trade relationship between China and relevant issues peacefully through dialogue heightened activity at the North’s main Japan. and consultation.” nuclear test site could point to an imminent Ministers fear a flood of Chinese compen- However, Qin dismissed Obama’s stance test-its fourth. sation claims over wartime wrongs, which on the Japan island dispute, saying that “no “China’s participation in pushing the they say were all dealt with under the 1972 matter what others say or do it cannot SEOUL: In this April 18, 2014 file photo, a Buddhist monk and DPRK (North Korea) in a different direction is normalisation of ties. Japan and other change in the slightest the basic fact that the relatives of passengers aboard a sunken ferry spray alcohols critically important,” the president told a joint Western-leaning countries say China is also Diaoyu Islands are China’s inherent territory”. during a Buddhist ceremony to pray for speedy rescue and their press briefing with Japanese Prime Minister throwing its newfound economic and mili- Progress on the Trans-Pacific Partnership safety at a port in Jindo, south of Seoul, South Korea. — AP Shinzo Abe. “It is the most destabilising, dan- tary weight around in pursuit of territorial (TPP) — a proposed 12-nation free trade gerous situation in all of the Asia-Pacific claims in the East and South China Seas. bloc-was stalled despite high hopes that the region.” Despite his call for China’s help, Along with Manila-the fourth stop on US president’s visit would result in a break- Parents seek autopsies Obama also underlined US support for Japan, Obama’s tour-Tokyo craved reassurance that through for a deal that is a vital prong of saying that islands at the centre of its bitter the US was prepared to support it if push Obama’s Asia pivot. of Korea ferry victims territorial dispute with Beijing are covered by comes to shove with Beijing over their sepa- Yesterday Obama said the two sides had a defence treaty that would oblige rate sovereignty rows. yet to find common ground, with high tariffs SEOUL: Some parents of the mostly teenage victims of South Washington to act if they were attacked. In response to Obama’s comments, China on Japanese agricultural products among Korea’s ferry disaster are pushing for autopsies that might show “Article five (of the US-Japan security said Thursday that it was working to avoid a the key sticking points. “Now is the time for their children were alive inside the submerged vessel and only treaty) covers all territories under Japan’s crisis on the tinderbox Korean peninsula. bold steps,” he said.—AFP died because the emergency response was so slow. administration including (the) Senkaku The confirmed death toll yesterday stood at 171, but 131 were islands,” he said, referring to the East China still missing as dive teams searched in near pitch-black conditions Sea archipelago which Beijing calls the for bodies trapped in the ferry’s interior. Diaoyus. “We do not believe that they should More than a week after the 6,825 tonne Sewol capsized and be subject to change unilaterally, and what is sank with 476 people on board, most of them high school stu- a consistent part of the alliance is that the dents, there is still widespread anger among the victims’ families treaty covers all territories administered by over the pace of the initial rescue effort. Japan.” Obama added that “this is not a new It took divers working in difficult and dangerous conditions position” and “there’s no red line that’s been more than two days to get into the sunken ferry and two more drawn”. days to retrieve the first bodies. “We stand together in calling for disputes Many relatives believe some of the victims may have survived in the region, including maritime issues, to be for several days in trapped air pockets, but perished in the cold resolved peacefully through dialogue,” he water after no rescue came. said. Relations between Tokyo and Beijing As a result some have asked for autopsies to be performed, to are at their lowest point for years. Some see if it would be possible to determine the precise cause and observers warn they might come to blows time of death. over the islands, where ships from both sides “We have received a number of enquiries about autopsies,” lurk to press claims for ownership. said a member of the forensic team on Jindo island working on Abe’s position on historical issues also identifying the bodies recovered from the disaster site. annoys the Chinese, who accuse him of play- “It seems they want some confirmation of the exact cause of ing down Japanese atrocities. They are par- death, but it’s only a minority that is asking,” he said. An official ticularly upset by visits he and his cabinet responsible for legal and medical issues at the emergency situa- ministers have paid to the Yasukuni Shrine, tion desk on Jindo said there was nothing to prevent families which honours war criminals among other TOKYO: US President Barack Obama (L) speaks as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo having an autopsy carried out. fallen warriors. Abe looks on during a bilateral press conference at the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo “But to my knowledge, nobody has so far actually brought a yesterday. Obama told a press conference in Japan that islands at the centre of a body to the National Forensic Service to have this done,” the offi- ‘Time for bold steps’ bitter territorial dispute with China are covered by a defence treaty that would cial said.—AFP In another sign of history influencing the oblige Washington to act if they were attacked. — AFP Opinion FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014

AAllll aatt sseeaa

Global shipping fleet exposed to hacking threat By Jeremy Wagstaff Identification System (AIS), and a system for view- of U-Ming Marine Transport, Taiwan’s second- Trend Micro last month showed that an attacker ing digital nautical charts called Electronic Chart largest listed shipping firm by market value. The with a $100 VHF radio could exploit weaknesses he next hacker playground: The open seas - Display and Information System (ECDIS). company owns and operates 53 dry cargo ships in AIS - which transmits data such as a vessel’s and the oil tankers and container vessels that “Increasingly, the maritime domain and energy and oil tankers. identity, type, position, heading and speed to Tship 90 percent of the goods moved around sector has turned to technology to improve pro- shore stations and other ships - and tamper with the planet. In this internet age, as more devices are duction, cost and reduce delivery schedules,” a Virus-Riddled the data, impersonate a port authority’s com- hooked up online, so they become more vulnera- NATO-accredited think-tank wrote in a recent A study last year by the Brookings Institution munications with a ship or effectively shut down ble to attack. As industries like maritime and ener- report. “These technological changes have of six US ports found that only one had con- communications between ships and with ports. gy connect ships, containers and rigs to computer opened the door to emerging threats and vulner- ducted an assessment of how vulnerable it was In January, a British cyber security research networks, they expose weaknesses that hackers abilities as equipment has become accessible to to a cyber attack, and none had developed any firm, NCC Group, found flaws in one vendor’s can exploit. outside entities.” plan to response to any such attack. Of some ECDIS software that would allow an attacker to Hackers recently shut down a floating oil rig by $2.6 billion allocated to a federal program to access and modify files, including charts. “If tilting it, while another rig was so riddled with Tip of the Iceberg beef up port security, less than 1 percent had exploited in a real scenario,” the company con- computer malware that it took 19 days to make it As crews get smaller and ships get bigger, they been awarded for cyber security projects. When cluded, “these vulnerabilities could cause seri- seaworthy again; Somali pirates help choose their increasingly rely on automation and remote moni- CyberKeel probed the online defences of the ous environmental and financial damage, and targets by viewing navigational data online, toring, meaning key components, including navi- world’s 20 largest container carriers this year it even loss of life.” prompting ships to either turn off their navigation- gational systems, can be hacked. A recent study found 16 had serious security gaps. “When you When the USS Guardian ran aground off the al devices, or fake the data so it looks like they’re by security company Rapid7 found more than look at the maritime industry there’s extremely Philippines last year, the US Navy in part blamed somewhere else; and hackers infiltrated computers 100,000 devices - from traffic signal equipment to limited evidence of systems having been incorrect digital charts. A NATO-accredited connected to the Belgian port of Antwerp, located oil and gas monitors - were connected to the breached” compared to other sectors, said think-tank said the case illustrated “the dangers specific containers, made off with their smuggled internet using serial ports with poor security. “The CyberKeel’s Jensen. “That suggests to us that of exclusive reliance upon electronic systems, drugs and deleted the records. lines get blurry, and all industries and all technolo- they’ve not yet been found out.” particularly if they are found vulnerable to cyber While data on the extent of the maritime indus- gies need to focus more on security,” said Mark Michael Van Gemert, a security consultant attack”. “Most of these technologies were devel- try’s exposure to cyber crime is hard to come by, a Schloesser, one of the authors of the study. to the oil and gas industry, said that on visits to oped when bandwidth was very expensive or study of the related energy sector by insurance Mark Gazit, CEO of ThetaRay, an internet secu- rigs and ships he has found computers and the internet didn’t exist,” said Vincent Berk, CEO brokers Willis this month found that the industry rity company, said an attacker managed to tilt a control systems riddled with viruses. In one of security company FlowTraq. “may be sitting on an uninsured time bomb”. floating oil rig to one side off the coast of Africa, case, he said it took 19 days to rid a drilling rig Globally, it estimated that cyber attacks against oil forcing it to shut down. It took a week to identify en route from South Korea to Brazil of malware No Quick Fix and gas infrastructure will cost energy companies the cause and fix, he said, mainly because there which had brought the vessel’s systems to a Fixing this will take time, and a change in close to $1.9 billion by 2018. The British govern- were no cyber security professionals aboard. He standstill. “The industry is massively in need of attitude. “Security and attack scenarios ment reckons cyber attacks already cost UK oil and declined to say more. Lars Jensen, founder of help, they have no idea what the risks are,” he against these technologies and protocols gas companies around £400 million ($672 million) CyberKeel, a maritime cyber security firm, said said. The main ship navigation systems - GPS, have been ignored for quite some time in the a year. ships often switch off their AIS systems when AIS and ECDIS - are standards supported by maritime industry,” said Rapid7’s Schloesser. In the maritime industry, the number of known passing through waters where Somali pirates are bodies such as the International Maritime Researchers like Fotios Katsilieris have offered cases is low as attacks often remain invisible to the known to operate, or fake the data to make it Organisation (IMO). Indeed, that body has ways to measure whether AIS data is being company, or businesses don’t want to report them seem they’re somewhere else. made AIS and ECDIS mandatory on larger com- faked, though he declined to be interviewed, for fear of alarming investors, regulators or insur- Shipping companies contacted by Reuters mercial and passenger vessels. saying it remained a sensitive area. One ers, security experts say. There are few reports that generally played down the potential threat from Researchers from the University of Texas Google researcher who has proposed hackers have compromised maritime cyber securi- hackers. “Our only concern at this stage is the pos- demonstrated last July that it was possible to changes to the AIS protocol wrote on his blog ty. But researchers say they have discovered signif- sible access to this information by pirates, and we change a ship’s direction by faking a GPS signal that he had been discouraged by the US icant holes in the three key technologies sailors have established appropriate countermeasures to to dupe its onboard navigation system. Marco Coastguard from talking publicly about its use to navigate: GPS, marine Automatic handle this threat,” said Ong Choo Kiat, president Balduzzi and colleagues at anti-virus vendor vulnerabilities. — Reuters FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014

Make food fun every day!

Coping with Smarter grief in water HollywoodSummer movie preview: bets big again Jamie Foxx as Electro in The Amazing Spider-Man 2.—AP Lifestyle FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014

This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Grimlock and Optimus Prime in ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction.’ Summer movie preview: Hollywood bets big again

ike jumbo jets on the runway, Hollywood’s sum- pressures of the season. “They try to take my movies mer movies are lined up, ready for takeoff. Will down every time,” says Bay. “The worse reviews I get, Lthey hit any turbulence? If the movie business the better the box office is. Go figure.” had a “fasten your seat belt” light, it was certainly Box office will be the chief barometer of success flashing last summer. A number of high-profile films for the nearly 50 wide releases to open between May tanked while onlookers like Steven Spielberg warned and Labor Day in Hollywood’s yearly rite of super- of a coming “implosion” for an increasingly block- heroes, sequels and spectacle. It’s the time of year buster-bound Hollywood. A kind of blood sport took when Hollywood bets big on seemingly can’t-miss hold where - even though the summer’s box office concepts that nevertheless occasionally miss. This ended up setting a record high - some took glee in summer kicks off with “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” the downturns of Hollywood’s roller coaster ride. (May 2), Sony’s second installment of its second Spider-Man series. With two sequels and two spinoffs (for Venom and Sinister Six) planned, Spider-Man proves the intensive, high-speed nature of franchise- making in today’s Hollywood: Sequels are now devel- oped by the bushel. Among the summer’s other biggest potential blockbusters: the monster re-do “Godzilla” (May 16), the time-traveling mutant thriller “X-Men: Days of Future Past” (May 23), the warped fairy tale “Maleficent” (May 30), the animated sequel “How to Train Your Dragon 2,” the Clint Eastwood-directed musical “Jersey Boys” (June 20), the gun-toting gorilla tale “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” (July 11), the demigod drama “Hercules” (July 25) and Marvel’s out- er-space adventure “Guardians of the Galaxy” (Aug 1).

Fewer but bigger movies The steady drumbeat of high-decibel drama will This image released by 20th Century Fox shows leave little room for error. “I’ve been the windshield Jennifer Lawrence in ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past.’ and I’ve been the bug,” says Jon Favreau, the director of the widely popular “Iron Man,” as well as the less and sneak-peaks. Whereas some studios have been successful “Cowboys & Aliens.” This summer, Favreau pulling back on their production schedules, focusing takes a break from tentpoles with “Chef “(May 9), an on fewer but bigger movies, Warner Bros is running Jamie Foxx, left, and Andrew independent film he wrote and directed about a big- the other direction. This summer, the studio will Garfield as Spider-Man in Blood sport name restaurant chef who loses his job and opens a release a leading eight movies. ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2.’ “‘Blood sport’ is the perfect word for what I saw food truck. For Favreau, it’s a happy hiatus from “the “The domestic box office and the worldwide box — AP photos last year,” says Michael Bay. This year, he’ll release politics of marketing and release schedules.” office are at record heights, and it’s continuing to “Transformers: Age of Extinction” (June 27), a cast The biggest summer films will be among the most grow, especially in the international world with China makeover for the franchise, and produce another test-screened, audience-tracked releases of the year, and Russia, in particular,” says Dan Fellman, head of reboot, “Teenage Mutant Nina Turtles” (Aug 8). A carefully shaped to entertain audiences whose social- domestic distribution for Warner Bros. “We’re going blockbuster veteran, he’s accustomed to the frenzied media appetites are whetted by months of trailers to let it fly this summer.” But unexpected events and Lifestyle FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 swift changes in taste have a way of interrupting involvement with all of my preparation and just hav- Hollywood’s increasingly finely planned release ing a huge budget.” Just as “Guardians” shows Marvel strategies. (Marvel president Kevin Feige recently said extending beyond its comfort zone, “Maleficent” he’s plotted its movies through 2028.) finds Disney pushing into darker territory. Starring This summer, two anticipated films - “X-Men” and Angelina Jolie in her first major on-screen perform- “Magic in the Moonlight” (July 25) - will have to navi- ance in years, it’s “Sleeping Beauty” from the villain’s gate recent sexual abuse allegations of its directors, perspective. Bryan Singer and Woody Allen, respectively. (Both have denied the allegations.) There are few non- Treacherous landscape superhero certainties in the movies right now, but It’s helmed by Robert Stromberg, the production Melissa McCarthy is one of them. The star of “The designer of “Avatar.” Even for a longtime visual effects Heat” and “Identity Thief” is virtually unparalleled in veteran, it’s a staggeringly large film for a directorial her ability to almost single-handedly open a movie. debut. “You enter into this position of directing one On July 2, she’ll debut “Tammy,” a road-trip comedy of these movies with the idea that there are potential- she wrote with her husband, Ben Falcone, who also ly a lot of people who feel maybe the better story is directs. watching the Hindenburg burn,” says Stromberg. “What I can do is be the best I can at something, with Huge budget a lot of great people, and present it, and let the chips “I feel like every day of my life I’ve been hit with fall where they may.” the lucky stick,” says McCarthy. “There’s not a point In between the blockbusters, releases like Seth where I’m like, ‘This seems normal.’ It’s all crazy. I’m MacFarlane’s “A Million Ways to Die in the West” (May crossing my fingers that it will continue as long as it 30) and “22 Jump Street” (June 13) will offer comic will. I’m just going to hang on until there’s a turn in relief. In “Neighbors” (May 9), Seth Rogen and Zac the universe.” Marvel expands its own all-powerful Efron star as next-door rivals. “For us, the summer is a universe with “Guardians of the Galaxy,” a more comi- treacherous landscape where the rewards can be big, cal twist for the comics maker about a gang of odd- but there’s a lot of competition,” says Rogen. “One of balls in the farthest reaches of space. Chris Pratt, the the hardest things to replicate at home is the feeling “Parks and Recreation” actor, transforms to big-bud- of seeing a really funny movie in the theater with get action movie star. hundreds of people. So that’s one thing we have “It really felt like being drafted by a major league going for us.” — AP baseball team,” says Pratt, who was given a personal trainer and a private gym to prepare. “It was unlike This image released by Disney - Marvel shows, from left, Zoe Saldana, the character anything I’ve ever done before in terms of their Rocket Racoon, voiced by Bladley Cooper, Chris Pratt, the character Groot, voiced by Vin Diesel and Dave Bautista in a scene from ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy.’

Caesar, performed by Andy Serkis, in a scene from ‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.’ Bryan Cranston, left, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson in a scene from ‘Godzilla.’

In US coming out party, Bollywood finds curious fans

eresita Alonso had never watched an Indian film until she the rest of the audience included both curious onlookers and ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and ‘Jai Ho’ caught fire the way they did, browsed the home-order television service Netflix and, budding Bollywood connoisseurs. Stands sold Indian dishes such it revolutionized everybody’s perspective globally on India,” Tnoticing the favorable reviews, took a chance on “My Name as crispy masala dosas and red-hot plates of chole batura, while Jakhotia said. Is Khan.” Several years later, Alonso was wearing a T-shirt with the others sold American staples including tacos and Bud Light beer. Still, while the United States has topped Britain in recent years likeness of the 2010 drama’s lead actor, superstar Shah Rukh Alonso’s brother Felipe, like his sister of Cuban descent, said that as the top overseas market for Bollywood, the growth has been Khan, and eagerly sat on a lawn chair as Bollywood’s premier Indian films’ narratives offered a refreshing change from US cine- due largely to the three million-strong Indian American commu- awards ceremony put on a public show in Tampa. “I can’t under- ma and were generally “more clean” in their content. “I don’t real- nity. While the Tampa extravaganza charmed the non-South stand the language, but I just love the colors, the culture and the ly like to admit it, but the Indian films often make me cry,” he said. Asian audience that showed up, some suggested that stories,” said Alonso, who has since also seen other Indian films Drummer and DJ Ravi Jakhotia, who was raised in the city and Bollywood’s appeal was mostly kitsch and unlikely to give lighter than the politically charged “My Name is Khan.” performed a new song “Do Da Tampa” for Wednesday’s party, Hollywood a run for its money in the world’s largest box office. The International Indian Film Academy has come to the city on said that Latinos offered a natural constituency for Indian culture. “Bollywood is a great spectacle and great for its cheekiness. I Florida’s west coast for its first-ever US edition, hoping to win over “Lots of things Indian and Latin aren’t too far off. They also like enjoy it, but for many people it may take awhile,” said Connie more fans like Alonso as the world’s most prolific film industry spicy food and big extravagant events. After Indian weddings, Franks, a theater performer in Tampa. Ashley Martin, 22, said that looks to make inroads in the most lucrative box office. Ahead of a nothing’s more raging than a Latin wedding,” said Jakhotia, who younger Americans may be more interested in Bollywood but star-studded awards ceremony tomorrow, Bollywood put on a performs under the name DJ Ravi Drums. that it may be too foreign for much of the audience in the United free performance Wednesday with more than 1,000 spectators Jakhotia saw a turning point with the popularity of the film States, where domestic films overwhelmingly dominate the mar- showing up to watch choreographed Indian dancers and DJs as “Slumdog Millionaire.” He performed at the 2009 Oscars as the ket. “These aren’t action films or even independent films or the sun set over the central city’s riverside Curtis Hixon Park. British movie’s track “Jai Ho,” composed by Indian music leg- French movies. Bollywood is totally different from what many While around half of the crowd appeared to be South Asian, end A.R. Rahman, won Best Original Song. “I think when people are used to,” she said. — AFP Lifestyle FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014

This image released by The Weinstein Company shows Guy Pearce, left, and Robert This image released by IFC Films shows Ellar Coltrane in a scene from ‘Boyhood.’ Pattinson in a scene from ‘The Rover’. — AP photos

Summer movie preview 10 anticipated indies

ore exotic creatures thrive in the shadows of summer 6. “Magic in the Moonlight” (July 25) - Woody Allen’s annual blockbusters. Here are 10 of the most anticipated indie offering this year is a comedy set on the French Riviera in the Mfilms due this summer, nary a caped superhero or city- ‘20s starring Colin Firth and Emma Stone. It promises a roman- crushing monster among them. tic lightness, but the question will be how audiences respond 1. “The Rover” (June 13) - David Michod’s follow-up to his Aussie to Allen following the renewed allegation of sexual abuse. Keira Knightley, left, and Adam Levine in a scene from crime drama “Animal Kingdom” qualifies as a must-see 7. “The Trip to Italy” (Aug 15) - Michael Winterbottom recon- ‘Begin Again.’ because of the rare quality of his feature film debut. This one, venes Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon for impressions-heavy which will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, stars Guy conversation over fine dining. As they showed in “The Trip,” Pearce and Robert Pattinson and is set in a near-future sometimes that’s all a movie needs. Australia where the world economy has collapsed and bandits 8. “A Most Wanted Man” (July 25) - Anton Corbijn’s adaption of roam the Outback. John le Carre’s novel is one of two posthumous releases for 2. “Boyhood” (July 11) - Richard Linklater spent 12 years making Philip Seymour Hoffman. The late actor also stars in “God’s this wholly unique film. It charts a fictional family over that Pocket” (May 9), the directing debut of John Slattery (“Mad time (Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette play divorced par- Men”). ents) and, remarkably, shows the maturation of 6-year-old Ellar 9. “Wish I Was Here” (July 18) - Zach Braff took a lot of criticism Coltrane (playing their son) from boy to man. for his use of Kickstarter to help fund his second directorial 3. “The Immigrant” (May 16) - Tales of immigrants arriving effort following 2004’s “Garden State.” Braff stars as a strug- through Ellis Island are a well-trod genre, but James Gray’s gling actor who homeschools his kids. 1920s drama is distinct in its portrait of the American Dream as 10. “They Came Together” (June 27) - David Wain and Michael both myth and reality. With Marion Cotillard and Joaquin Showalter deconstruct the romantic comedy with a cast led by Phoenix. Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler. — AP 4. “Life Itself” (July 11) - Steve James (“Hoop Dreams”) presents a documentary and tribute to the late film critic Roger Ebert. 5. “Begin Again” (July 4) - Much like John Carney’s “Once,” this is a naturalistic, street-level drama of musicians. Keira Knightley Joaquin Phoenix, left, and Marion Cotillard in a scene from stars as a British singer-songwriter discovered in New York by ‘The Immigrant.’ a down-on-his-luck music executive (Mark Ruffalo).

Chaz Ebert sits in her late husband Roger’s renowned This image shows Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon in a This image shows Philip Seymour Hoffman in a scene from recliner during the showing of ‘Life Itself’ a documentary scene from ‘The Trip to Italy’. ‘A Most Wanted Man’. of Roger Ebert’s life. Lifestyle FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014

Kate shows off new royal style in Down Under tour

hat to pack for a two-week trip, when your itinerary includes everything from state receptions and church services to tod- Wdler playdates and cricket games? For the Duchess of Cambridge, who’s rounding up her trip to Australia and New Zealand with husband Prince William and 8-month-old son George, there were additional sartorial challenges: Do royals take off their shoes at the beach? And what’s the most ladylike way to climb into a fighter jet while in a pencil dress and high heels? Here are the most talked-about fashion moments from Kate’s Down Under tour.

All grown up Over the past two weeks, Kate, 32, delighted fashionistas with a non-stop parade of stately suit dresses by top designers mixed with her favorite style staples: Blazers, wedges, simple court shoes and demure day frocks. Hems have crept below the knee, dresses are less figure-hugging, and sleeves also covered more of her arms. It’s a wardrobe that’s markedly more “grown up” and more regal than before, royal watchers say. There’s also much more color - bold, traffic- stopping hues - a choice that reflects her growing confidence, both as the face of a new generation of the British monarchy and as a style icon for women all over the world. Among the hits: A minimalist dove- Photo of Britain’s Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, as she- grey coat with structured shoulders by Alexander McQueen, worn plays cricket in Latimer Square in Christchurch, New with a matching hat to attend an Easter Sunday service. “Kate’s Zealand. Australian wardrobe choices has refined her take on regal chic, upping the polish and bringing a more ladylike and expensive sheen to her look,” said Katherine Ormerod, fashion editor at Grazia magazine. Kate, Duchess of Cambridge prepares to taking a ride on a Chic banana Kate mixed things up, with block color outfits in bright shades the Shotover Jetboat along the Shotover River, straight from the crayon box: Canary yellow, vibrant green, sky blue, Queenstown, New Zealand. bright red. The standout look from the tour had to be the pencil dress was adorned with a silver fern - the country’s national emblem. While in fluorescent yellow by Roksanda Ilincic. William wasn’t sure he liked sticking to her go-to British labels like LK Bennett and Hobbs, Kate also it: Kate told reporters he remarked that it made her “look like a showed off a white cotton dress from the Australian brand banana.” But fashion editors were thrilled by the choice. “It’s a color Zimmerman, as well as a navy tweed suit by New Zealand-born favored by the queen, and designed to allow her to stand out in a designer Rebecca Taylor. crowd,” said Avril Mair of Harper’s Bazaar. “I liked her Emilia Wickstead aquamarine dress for the same reason. She carries off color brilliantly Sporty casual and I’d like to see her wear more of it.” In between all those state dinners and solemn ceremonies, the duchess had outings to the beach, the vineyard and the zoo - as well Diplomatic dressing as a hands-on cricket match and a yachting challenge. Casual wear is Dressing for state visits isn’t just about glitz and glamor: It’s also a where Kate’s choice of attire didn’t get so much love from the fashion time-honored royal tradition of paying tribute to the host country. Like world. The British media noted that one of her dress-down outfits - This is a Wednesday file photo of Britain’s Kate, the Queen Elizabeth II and the late Princess Diana before her, Kate incor- skinny jeans, a navy nautical-style blazer, a striped top and wedge Duchess of Cambridge, as she meets with people on the porated elements of her host nations into her wardrobe. A bespoke shoes - was the exact same look she wore for at least two past sporty steps of the Sydney Opera House following a reception in black Jenny Packham dress worn to a state reception in New Zealand engagements in London. —AP Sydney, Australia. — AP photos Courteney Cox makes personal directorial debut at Tribeca

ourteney Cox’s directorial debut TV star, who readied herself for the Lifetime movie and 10 episodes of her I Go” stars Seann William Scott as a is uniquely personal. It features a opportunity by directing a short, a TBS sitcom “Cougar Town.” “Just Before depressive who plans to commit sui- Ccameo from her daughter, Coco, cide but first returns to his hometown songs by her boyfriend, Snow Patrol’s to get “my house in order.” He visits an Johnny McDaid, and a scene with her old crush, a school bully from his youth ex-husband, David Arquette. The film and others to unload his pain in a opens with 9-year-old Coco singing a strange kind of bucket-list mission. song of McDaid’s. Later, she briefly It may sound like a serious drama, appears to spray her father, Arquette, but “Just Before I Go” (written by David with a hose. As a proud mother, it’s Flebotte) has an offbeat humor that Cox’s favorite scene. “I couldn’t have clashes comically with its heavy outline. cut that out,” said Cox, who acknowl- Certainly, few movies have an emotion- edges their family dynamics are unusu- al spectrum that incorporates both sui- ally friendly. “If I needed four seconds, cide and a “sleep masturbator” (a twist that would be the last four seconds to on sleep walking). “It’s hard to get those go.” subject matters to gel and for people to Cox will premiere the film, “Just feel it’s OK to laugh here and it’s OK to Before I Go,” on Thursday at the Tribeca This image released by the Tribeca Film Festival shows Seann William Scott in cry there,” Cox said in a recent inter- Film Festival. It’s the first stab at fea- a scene from ‘Just Before I Go,’ a film directed by Courteney Cox and premier- view. “If I can laugh really hard and then ture-film directing for the 49-year-old ing at the Tribeca Film Festival today. — AP cry, it’s perfect for me.” — AP 24 FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 Make food fun every day! Change your kid’s

sing an insulated lunch box and frozen gel packs can be one of the most effec- lunch daily tive ways to keep food cold - and safe - till lunchtime. Anything that should Ube refrigerated, such as a sandwich made with lunch meats, yogurt, and milk, with these easy, should be kept cold in your child’s lunch box. Pre-chill your child’s lunch: healthy lunch If you’re making a sandwich with deli meats or giving your child cooked chicken, pasta salads, or other pre-made food, try to make it the night before so that it chills adequately before you put it into your child’s lunch box. An extra benefit: Making lunch box ideas the night before is a terrific time-saver for busy mornings. Keep warm food warm: It’s just as important to keep hot food at a safe temperature as it is to keep cold food at lower temperatures. Bacteria can quickly multiply in food that’s between 40 degrees to 140 degrees—the so-called “danger zone.” To keep food hot, use a Thermos or a similar insulated food container. Before placing food in the insulated Thermos, fill the container with boiling water and let it stand for a few minutes. When the container is thoroughly pre-warmed, place the hot food inside and close the top immediately. Use at least two frozen cold packs: The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends using at least two colds packs to make sure that food stays at an adequately safe level of coldness in the lunch box.

Put the most perishable foods right next to the ice pack: Some foods, such as crackers, bread, and whole vegetables and fruits (unpeeled bananas, apples, oranges, etc), don’t need to be kept cold. Put the foods that need to be kept cold right next to the ice packs so that they stay coldest. Use a frozen juice box: Another way you can keep your child’s lunch cold in her insulated lunch box is by freezing juice boxes. Pop them in the freezer the night before and voila! You have a cold pack for your child’s lunch that’ll thaw and be ready to drink by lunchtim Throw away leftovers: If your child brings home an uneaten container of yogurt, a partially-eaten sand- wich, or other food that she did not finish, throw it away. Any leftover food in her lunch box has been warm too long and is likely no longer safe to eat. The same goes for any warm food, which has most likely cooled to an unsafe temperature. –www.childparenting.about.com Kids FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 26

Smarter in water Why teaching your kids to swim could set them up for life

tudies show that swimming is an excellent activity for children evolution, with a lot of health benefits. Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise because it engages several body parts in an environment that doesn’t stress your joints. Swimming provides an aerobic exercise that has a range of health benefits. For children, it’s a fun form of exercise that should be intro- Sduced at an early age.

Emotional benefit Health problems Swimming can improve the mental well-being of your child. According to Swimming is beneficial for kids with health problems ranging from arthritis the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, swimming can improve your to asthma. Overweight children will find that swimming is an easier form of mood and decrease anxiety. Swimming is also an activity that can involve the exercise than others such as running or playing tennis. The movement in the whole family. The CDC also reports that parents of children with developmen- water makes exercising easier and more fun for overweight children. Those tal disabilities have found that group swimming improves family connections. with juvenile arthritis benefit from the weightlessness of being in water, mak- ing it easier for them to get a small amount of low-impact exercise. Similarly, Range of exercises kids with asthma are less likely to suffer from asthma attacks while swimming Swimming can provide children with a range of exercise, from a small than during other forms of exercise. Indoor swimming is especially beneficial amount of activity and movement to a full-on aerobic workout. The fun of as the moist air makes breathing easier. messing around in the water allows children to exercise without even know- ing it. It can provide stretching and toning exercises, or a full workout that can Overall improvement strengthen the lungs and the heart. It is also good as an individual activity or “Researchers have documented that the stimulating effect of child-paced as a team sport where kids compete in relay races. infant/toddler swimming lessons has the potential to increase intelligence, Kids FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 27

concentration, alertness, and perceptual abilities. Improvement in social, emotional and physical development has also been published. Of course, the manifestation of such inspired cognitive, personal and motor development takes time, patience and repeti- tion. Swimming is considered to be a healthy and relaxing activity. It tones the body and provides an excellent cardiovascular workout as well. Moreover, it also strengthens your heart muscles and improves the delivery of oxygen to the different parts of the body. Experts and trainers opine that this sport can be of extremely great help to your health and if included in the daily regimen, it is bound to yield marvelous results. –www.harrowswim.com Help kids get over fear of water Some children love the water from as early as their first bath and learn to swim al- most effortlessly. For others, taking the plunge into open water or learning to swim is terrifying. However, learning to swim from a young age can keep children safer around lakes and pools. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death among children between 1 and 4 years old and the third leading cause of death in children. It’s critical that parents help their kids get over their fear of the water at a young age.

Step 1 Recognize the fear. Talk to your child using age-appropriate language about why he is afraid of the water. Do not minimize his fear, or tell him he has nothing to be afraid of. However, while it is important to acknowledge his feelings, don’t let him manipulate you or others with his fear.

Step 2 Take it slow. Do not force your child into the pool if he is truly terrified. While watching him closely, let him play alongside the pool and let him watch you and other children have fun in the water. Provide him with pool toys and flotation de- vices, and let him gradually ease into the water as you support him.

Step 3 Make it fun. Get your child used to putting his face in the water by blowing bubbles and pretending to be a fish. Use a toy watering can to pour water over your child’s head to simulate taking a shower. Once your child is comfortable getting into the pool, pretend to be animals in the pool such as a bunny hopping up and down, or a crocodile snapping his arms or legs.

Step 4 Enroll in an age-appropriate swimming program. Swim lessons will help a child learn to be safe and confident in water. Know the environment that will be most comforting for your child. Many swim clubs offer a mommy-and-me class that allow the parent into the water with their child. Others require the parents to stay on the sidelines. Other factors to consider include the temperature of the pool, the class size and teacher personality.

Step 5 Give a lot of positive reinforcement. This will boost a child’s confidence and self- esteem without inflicting pain or punishment. Give plenty of specific praise, such as “you are so brave to put your head in the water” or “you are the best bubble blower!” –www.everydaylife.com Fashion FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 29

Suggest a theme: Today is… Backwards Day! Pinkalicious Day! Cheer-Up Day! Send kids to their closet to interpret the theme any way they want to. Now, instead of doing a job — “getting dressed” — they’re creating something. Whatever you do, don’t become the fashion police. Nothing crushes a child’s budding confidence more quickly than a parent saying, “Are you sure you want to wear that?”

Turn the tables: Let your child dress you (which means letting go of what you think you’re supposed to wear). That doesn’t mean you wear the party dress for school drop-off just be- cause your daughters like the sparkles. In that case, say, “I might ruin my fancy dress if I wear it all day. What could I wear that might be more comfy?” That way, she is coming up with the solution and also learning from your modeling about how to think about clothing choices.

–www.centerforchildhoodcreativity.org Fashion FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 28

Dressing up is child’s play!

etting kids dressed every day can be a chore, for them and for you. We consulted with Center for Childhood Creativity CEO, Elizabeth Rieke, Gfor a few simple ideas to make mornings more fun and less stressful. Her insight is that by introducing imaginary play to getting dressed for the day, kids won’t think of it as a chore. Instead, they’ll eagerly transform them- selves into other beings — like fairies, princesses and superheroes. Yes, this means you have to be okay with taking a superhero to soccer. This is good for them. Dress up plays an important role in childhood development. It allows them to explore roles they observe in the world, which is empowering.

Their body, their choice: This one starts with a parental ground rule: “Let go of what you think they’re supposed to wear,” Elizabeth says. “You have to relinquish some control if you want to raise creative children.” Kindergarten- ers and up can really be given free rein to choose whatever they want. And consider a four-year-old “in training” for this endeavor. But with little ones, it’s great to provide choices – two shirts to choose from for example. Relationship FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 30 Coping with grief Talking about Rover

or most kids, pets are more than just animals their losing the pet, and if the truth does come out, your child families own — they’re members of the family and will probably be angry that you lied. If asked what happens Fthe best of friends. Unfortunately, the joy of owning a to the pet after it dies, draw on your own understanding pet goes hand-in-hand with the heartbreak of losing one, of death, including, if relevant, the viewpoint of your faith. whether because of old age, illness, or an accident. And And since none of us knows fully, an honest “I don’t know” that can be very difficult. After all, family pets often are the certainly can be an appropriate answer — it’s OK to tell kids first to greet kids in the morning and after school. Your pet that death is a mystery. may be the one your child looks to for comfort and com- –www.kidshealth.org panionship when ill or feeling unpopular or upset. While it’s impossible to shelter kids from the loss of a pet, you can help them cope with it. And because a pet’s death might be their first time losing a loved one, the grieving process can help kids learn how to cope with other losses throughout life. How you can explain death to a Sharing the news child – without freaking him out One of the most difficult parts about losing a pet may be breaking the bad news to kids. Try to do so one-on-one in a hen a loved one dies, it can be difficult to know how to help kids cope place where they feel safe and comfortable and not easily with the loss, particularly as you work through your own grief. How distracted. As you would with any tough issue, try to gauge much kids can understand about death depends largely on their age, how much information kids need to hear based on their age, W life experiences, and personality. But there are a few important points to remem- maturity level, and life experience. ber in all cases. If your pet is very old or has a lingering illness, consider talking to kids before the death occurs. If you have to euthanize your pet, you may want to explain that. Again, a Explaining death in a child’s terms child’s age, maturity level, and questions will help determine Be honest with kids and encourage questions. This can be hard because you whether to offer a clear and simple explanation for what’s may not have all of the answers. But it’s important to create an atmosphere of going to happen. If so, it’s OK to use words like “death” comfort and openness, and send the message that there’s no one right or wrong and “dying” or to say something like “The veterinarian will way to feel. You might also share any spiritual beliefs you have about death. A give our pet a shot that first puts it to sleep and then stops child’s capacity to understand death — and your approach to discussing it — will the heart from beating.” Many kids want a chance to say vary according to the child’s age. Each child is unique, but here are some rough goodbye beforehand, and some may be old enough or guidelines to keep in mind. emotionally mature enough to be there to comfort the pet Until kids are about 5 or 6 years old, their view of the world is very literal. So during the process. explain the death in basic and concrete terms. If the loved one was ill or elderly, If you do have to euthanize your pet, be careful about for example, you might explain that the person’s body wasn’t working anymore saying the animal went “to sleep” or “got put to sleep.” Young and the doctors couldn’t fix it. If someone dies suddenly, like in an accident, you kids tend to interpret events literally, so this can conjure up might explain what happened — that because of this very sad event, the person’s scary misconceptions about sleep or surgery and anesthesia. body stopped working. You may have to explain that “dying” or “dead” means that If the pet’s death is more sudden, calmly explain what has the body stopped working. happened. Be brief, and let your child’s questions guide how Kids this young often have a hard time understanding that all people and living much information you provide. things eventually die, and that it’s final and they won’t come back. So even after you’ve explained this, kids may continue to ask where the loved one is or when the person is returning. As frustrating as this can be, continue to calmly reiterate Sticking to the truth that the person has died and can’t come back. Avoid trying to gloss over the event with a lie. Telling a –www.kidshealth.org child that “Buster ran away” or “Max went on a trip” is not a good idea. It probably won’t alleviate the sadness about Leisure FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014

tion. 5. Cosmopolitan genus of ferns. CROSSWORD528 6. A thin pliable sheet of material. 7. Cause annoyance in. 8. A person who acts and gets things done. 9. Aromatic bulb used as seasoning. 10. A yellow trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group. 11. A town in western Kentucky on the Ohio River. 12. A mutual promise to marry. 13. A fit of shivering. 14. A noisemaker (as at parties or games) that makes a loud noise when you blow through it. 20. English conspirator who claimed that there was a Jesuit plot to assassinate Charles II (1649-1705). 22. Variety of silica containing microcrystalline quartz. 24. Any of various dark heavy viscid substances obtained as a residue. 26. A native or inhabitant of ancient Etruria. 27. Dried bark of the cascara buckthorn used as a laxative. 29. Someone who admits or acknowledges openly and boldly. 30. Any plant of the genus Reseda. 32. A thin morbid discharge as from a wound or especially chronic gonorrhea. 33. Primitive chlorophyll-containing mainly aquatic eukaryotic organisms lack- ing true stems and roots and leaves. 35. A member of the Shoshonean people of Utah and Colorado and New Mexico. 37. By bad luck. 40. English illustrator of several of Dickens' novels (1815-1882). 44. Expletives used informally as intensifiers. 46. Feeling or showing extreme anger. 47. Goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment. 49. Seed of a pea plant. 51. United by being of the same opinion. 52. Type genus of the family Myacidae. ACROSS 54. An intensely radioactive metallic element that occurs in minute amounts in 1. The federal agency that insures residential mortgages. uranium ores. 4. The ninth month of the Moslem calendar. 56. (Babylonian) A demigod or first man. 11. A major god. 57. The cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one. 15. A former agency (from 1946 to 1974) that was responsible for research into 58. Of or relating to Attica or its inhabitants or to the dialect spoken in Athens in atomic energy and its peacetime uses in the United States. classical times. 16. Relating to or resembling lymphatic glands or lymphoid tissue n. 60. A member of an Algonquian people living in central Canada. 17. Formerly a large constellation in the southern hemisphere between Canis 61. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind. Major and the Southern Cross. 63. A Spanish unit of length (about a yard) having different values in different 18. The most common computer memory which can be used by programs to localities. perform necessary tasks while the computer is on. 64. Chief port of Yemen. 19. A crisp bread of fine white flour. 67. Hormone secreted by the posterior pituitary gland (trade name Pitressin) 21. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy and also by nerve endings in the hypothalamus. for the sale of petroleum. 68. Towards the side away from the wind. 23. Little known Kamarupan languages. 70. A condition (mostly in boys) characterized by behavioral and learning disor- 25. A unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is ders. produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second. 73. The syllable naming the fourth (subdominant) note of the diatonic scale in 28. Loggerhead turtles. solmization. 31. A particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving 74. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali metal group. some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography). 34. (often followed by `with' or used in combination) Troubled by or encroached upon in large numbers. 36. Be going to. Yesterdayʼs Solution 38. Characterized by the use of period costume or fancy dress. 39. A protocol developed for the internet to get data from one network device to another. 41. A human limb. 42. Be obliged to pay or repay. 43. Not only so, but. 45. A tricycle (usually propelled by pedalling). Yesterday’s Solution 48. A quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one). 50. The mountain peak that Noah's ark landed on as the waters of the great flood receded. 53. Reduction or lack of an immune response to a specific antigen. 55. A city in southern Turkey on the Seyhan River. 59. Singing jazz. 62. An anti-TNF compound (trade name Arava) that is given orally. 65. A nearly horizontal passage from the surface into a mine. 66. A severe or trying experience. 69. Not capable of being swayed or diverted from a course. 71. A unit of length of thread or yarn. 72. Put off to later. 75. United States architect (born in China in 1917). 76. A doctor's degree in education. 77. A band worn around or over the head. 78. Electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field.

DOWN 1. A card game in which players bet against the dealer on the cards he will draw from a dealing box. 2. A collection of objects laid on top of each other. 3. The highest level or degree attainable. 4. The network in the reticular formation that serves an alerting or arousal func-

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution Stars FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014

Aries (March 21-April 19) COUNTRY CODES Libra (September 23-October 22) Afghanistan 0093 Kuwait 00965 Today you could encounter a work colleague and suddenly feel Albania 00355 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Today would be best spent alone behind closed doors, if possi- Algeria 00213 Laos 00856 an unexpected romantic attraction, Aries. This could catch you off ble. There's a lot of tension in your household for some reason, Andorra 00376 Latvia 00371 guard because you never before thought about this person in Angola 00244 Lebanon 00961 Libra. Since there isn't much you can do about it, try to avoid it that way. Before jumping in with both feet, give yourself some Anguilla 001264 Liberia 00231 altogether. Let your family members fight it out among them- time to come down. You're feeling especially sensual today, so Antiga 001268 Libya 00218 selves. You have better ways to spend your time. Why not take Argentina 0054 Lithuania 00370 this might well pass by tomorrow. Stay grounded for now. If the in a movie? When you go by yourself, you don't have to share Armenia 00374 Luxembourg 00352 attraction is still there in a few days, think about it! Australia 0061 Macau 00853 the popcorn! Austria 0043 Macedonia 00389 Bahamas 001242 Madagascar 00261 Bahrain 00973 Majorca 0034 Bangladesh 00880 Malawi 00265 Barbados 001246 Malaysia 0060 Belarus 00375 Maldives 00960 Taurus (April 20-May 20) Belgium 0032 Mali 00223 Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Belize 00501 Malta 00356 Benin 00229 Marshall Islands 00692 This would be a good day to stay home and spend much of Bermuda 001441 Martinique 00596 A love partner could contact you out of the blue, Scorpio, per- Bhutan 00975 Mauritania 00222 the day in bed, Taurus! You've been working especially hard Bolivia 00591 Mauritius 00230 lately, juggling both home and work with your usual haps proposing that the two of you get together tonight - Bosnia 00387 Mayotte 00269 aplomb. But today you could feel a bit worn out and over- alone. You're in just the mood for this, since you're feeling Botswana 00267 Mexico 0052 whelmed by everything that remains to be done. Give your- especially sexy and not particularly afraid to show it. An Brazil 0055 Micronesia 00691 evening at home or in a dark corner of your favorite restaurant Brunei 00673 Moldova 00373 self a day of rest. Spend the day with a good book or some Bulgaria 00359 Monaco 00377 movies. You'll find this solitary time refreshing. might be just the ticket. Don't be surprised if your friend orders Burkina 00226 Mongolia 00976 champagne and shows up with flowers! Have fun! Burundi 00257 Montserrat 001664 Cambodia 00855 Morocco 00212 Cameroon 00237 Mozambique 00258 Canada 001 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Cape Verde 00238 Namibia 00264 Cayman Islands 001345 Nepal 00977 Gemini (May 21-June 20) Central African Republic 00236 Netherlands (Holland)0031 Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Chad 00235 Netherlands Antilles 00599 Chile 0056 New Caledonia 00687 China 0086 New Zealand 0064 Love is very much in the air today, Gemini, so take advantage of You feel that life would run more smoothly if money didn't Colombia 0057 Nicaragua 00505 this auspicious environment! Invite your loved one over to play exist! The amount of time and energy you spend sorting out Comoros 00269 Nigar 00227 hide and seek under the bedcovers! Or, if you don't have a play- Congo 00242 Nigeria 00234 your financial affairs is frustrating. Unfortunately, Sagittarius, Cook Islands 00682 Niue 00683 mate in your life at the moment, find other ways to fulfill the today will be a frustrating day. Today you need to sit down and Costa Rica 00506 Norfolk Island 00672 passion you feel. Spend the afternoon reading a good novel or sort out some neglected bills. It isn't fun, but at least by the end Croatia 00385 Northern Ireland (UK)0044 invite a friend to watch a movie with you. Have a good time! of the day you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you got it Cuba 0053 North Korea 00850 done. Cyprus 00357 Norway 0047 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Oman 00968 Czech Republic 00420 Pakistan 0092 Denmark 0045 Palau 00680 Diego Garcia 00246 Panama 00507 Djibouti 00253 Papua New Guinea 00675 Dominica 001767 Paraguay 00595 ) Dominican Republic 001809 Peru 0051 Cancer (June 21-July 22 Capricorn (December 22-January 19) Ecuador 00593 Philippines 0063 Egypt 0020 Poland 0048 El Salvador 00503 Portugal 00351 This is a day to stay close to home and organize the house. You You feel invincible, Capricorn, as though you can do any- England (UK) 0044 Puerto Rico 001787 might be thinking how you can best utilize your living space. thing. Enjoy this abundance of energy, for it's certainly Equatorial Guinea 00240 Qatar 00974 Eritrea 00291 Romania 0040 It's clear that some improvements are in order, Cancer. Perhaps unusual. Take care not to overdo it. If you haven't jogged Estonia 00372 Russian Federation 007 you could begin by tackling all those minor repairs that you've in a while, running five miles today will leave you pretty Ethiopia 00251 Rwanda 00250 been putting off. Once those are done, a fresh coat of paint will sore tomorrow. Similarly, don't try to finish all your house- Falkland Islands 00500 Saint Helena 00290 do wonders to brighten both your home and your outlook. hold repairs in one day. Remember that slow and easy Faroe Islands 00298 Saint Kitts 001869 wins the race and keeps you in shape for the long haul! Fiji 00679 Saint Lucia 001758 Finland 00358 Saint Pierre 00508 France 0033 Saint Vincent 001784 French Guiana 00594 Samoa US 00684 French Polynesia 00689 Samoa West 00685 Gabon 00241 San Marino 00378 Gambia 00220 Sao Tone 00239 Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Georgia 00995 Saudi Arabia 00966 Leo (July 23-August 22) Germany 0049 Scotland (UK) 0044 Ghana 00233 Senegal 00221 Gibraltar 00350 Seychelles 00284 You need rest, Leo. Even though you have a long list of tasks, This would be a good day to putter about the house, Aquarius. Greece 0030 Sierra Leone 00232 see if you can leave some for later. All signs indicate that you It isn't a good day to travel or begin any major projects. This Greenland 00299 Singapore 0065 shouldn't stray too far from home today if you can help it. could be just the excuse you've needed for taking a day off Grenada 001473 Slovakia 00421 from your life! You need not answer the phone or fulfill any Guadeloupe 00590 Slovenia 00386 You're easily distracted, which makes you prone to accidents. Guam 001671 Solomon Islands 00677 Being behind the wheel of a car isn't the place for you right obligations whatsoever. Simply stay put and tackle some minor Guatemala 00502 Somalia 00252 now. Stay home and tackle all those little chores you've been household chores. If even that proves too much, then curl up Guinea 00224 South Africa 0027 meaning to finish. with some tea and a good book. Guyana 00592 South Korea 0082 Haiti 00509 Spain 0034 Holland (Netherlands)0031 Sri Lanka 0094 Honduras 00504 Sudan 00249 Hong Kong 00852 Suriname 00597 Hungary 0036 Swaziland 00268 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Sweden 0046 Iceland 00354 Switzerland 0041 Virgo (August 23-September 22) Pisces (February 19-March 20) India 0091 Syria 00963 Indian Ocean 00873 Taiwan 00886 Indonesia 0062 Tanzania 00255 You're on your own when it comes to financial matters, Virgo. This isn't the best day for get-togethers, Pisces. What starts as a Iran 0098 Thailand 0066 friendly lunch could wind up a gossip-fest. No one wins in that situ- Iraq 00964 Toga 00228 This may not be what you want to hear, but it's how things are. Ireland 00353 Tonga 00676 Trust that your business acumen will pull you through. Don't ation. You could fear leaving the table because of what they'd say Italy 0039 Tokelau 00690 take anything at face value. Pay attention, write down the infor- about you. There's no upside to the situation, so your best strategy Ivory Coast 00225 Trinidad 001868 mation, but make no commitments and sign no contracts. The might be to stay home and work on chores. At least you'll have the Jamaica 001876 Tunisia 00216 environment isn't right for any deals. If a deal is valid today, it satisfaction of feeling that you've accomplished something. Japan 0081 Turkey 0090 Jordan 00962 Tuvalu 00688 will still be valid tomorrow. Kazakhstan 007 Uganda 00256 Kenya 00254 Ukraine 00380 Kiribati 00686 United Arab Emirates00976 TV listings FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014

05:00 BBC World Edition 20:10 Mythbusters 20:00 Situation Critical 06:00 BBC World 10:20 The Liquidator 21:00 Stem Cell 21:00 Doomsday Preppers 07:00 BBC World 10:45 How Stuff Works 21:50 Sci-Fi Science 22:00 Doomsday Preppers 08:00 BBC World 11:10 How Stuff’s Made 22:15 Sci-Fi Science 23:00 A Traveler’s Guide To The 09:00 BBC World 11:35 Sons Of Guns 22:40 Investigation X Planets 00:45 Whale Wars 10:00 BBC World 12:25 Destroyed In Seconds 23:30 Moon Machines 01:35 Untamed & Uncut 11:00 BBC World 12:50 Destroyed In Seconds 00:00 Devil’s Playground-18 02:25 Echo And The Elephants Of 12:00 BBC World 13:15 Destroyed In Seconds 02:00 The Incident-PG15 Amboseli 13:00 BBC World 13:40 Destroyed In Seconds 04:00 Lakeview Terrace-PG15 02:50 Echo And The Elephants Of 14:05 Border Security 06:00 Special Ops-PG15 Amboseli 14:30 Auction Hunters: Pawn Shop 08:00 The Expatriate-PG15 03:15 Call Of The Wildman Edition 10:00 Superman: Unbound-PG 03:40 Call Of The Wildman 00:20 Prehistoric Predators 14:55 The Liquidator 11:30 21-PG15 04:05 Extreme Animals 00:30 Scorned: Crimes Of Passion 01:10 Sharks of Lost Island 15:20 Robson’s New Extreme Fishing 04:55 Animal Cops Phoenix 01:20 Deadly Affairs 02:00 Animal Fight Club 13:45 The Expatriate-PG15 Challenge 05:45 ER Vets 02:10 True CSI 02:50 World’s Deadliest: Jaws & Sins 15:45 Prometheus-PG15 00:30 Crime Stories 16:10 Fast N’ Loud 06:10 ER Vets 03:00 Couples Who Kill 03:45 How Human Are You? 18:00 21-PG15 01:30 My Ghost Story 17:00 Ultimate Survival 06:35 Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors 03:45 Nightmare Next Door 04:40 Built For The Kill 20:00 My Soul To Take-PG15 02:30 Crime Stories 17:50 Wheeler Dealers 07:00 Escape To Chimp Eden 04:30 Dr G: Medical Examiner 05:35 Animal Fight Club 22:00 Wrong Turn 5: Bloodlines-18 03:30 The First 48 18:40 You Have Been Warned 07:25 Animal Maternity Ward 05:20 Disappeared 06:30 World’s Deadliest: Jaws & Sins 04:30 Private Crimes 19:30 Get Out Alive With Bear Grylls 08:15 Wild France 06:10 On The Case With Paula Zahn 07:25 How Human Are You? 05:00 Beyond Scared Straight 20:20 How Stuff Works 09:10 The Wild Life Of Tim Faulkner 07:00 Murder Shift 08:20 Ultimate Animal Countdown 06:00 The First 48 20:45 How Stuff’s Made 09:35 The Wild Life Of Tim Faulkner 07:50 Extreme Forensics 09:15 America The Wild 07:00 The FBI Files 21:10 Auction Hunters: Pawn Shop 10:05 Echo And The Elephants Of 08:40 I Was Murdered 10:10 The Real Serengeti 08:00 Crime Stories Edition Amboseli 09:05 Stalked: Someone’s Watching 11:05 America The Wild 09:00 The First 48 21:35 The Liquidator 00:15 Sightseers-18 10:35 Echo And The Elephants Of 09:30 Dr G: Medical Examiner 12:00 Alaska Fish Wars 10:00 Crime Stories 22:00 Fast N’ Loud 02:00 Bob Funk-18 Amboseli 10:20 On The Case With Paula Zahn 12:55 Built For The Kill 11:00 Beyond Scared Straight 22:50 Wheeler Dealers 04:00 Ghostbusters II-PG 11:00 Animal Precinct 11:10 Disappeared 13:50 World’s Deadliest: Jaws & Sins 12:00 Born To Kill 23:40 Extreme Car Hoarders 06:00 Hotel Transylvania-PG 11:55 Escape To Chimp Eden 12:00 Murder Shift 14:45 Shane Untamed 13:00 Model Killers 15:40 Ultimate Animal Countdown 08:00 The Sisterhood Of The Traveling 12:20 Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors 12:50 I Was Murdered Pants-PG15 14:00 Crime Stories 13:15 Stalked: Someone’s Watching 16:35 Let Elephants Be Elephants 12:50 Animal Clinic 15:00 Fred Dinenage: Murder 10:00 Barnyard-PG 13:45 Wild Things With Dominic 13:40 Extreme Forensics 17:30 The Real Serengeti Casebook 18:25 America The Wild 12:00 Ghostbusters II-PG Monaghan 14:30 Disappeared 14:00 Rookie Of The Year-PG 16:00 Curious & Unusual Deaths 15:20 Dr G: Medical Examiner 19:20 Built For The Kill 14:40 Echo And The Elephants Of 16:30 Private Crimes 16:00 Barnyard-PG 00:20 The Gadget Show 16:10 On The Case With Paula Zahn 20:10 World’s Deadliest: Jaws & Sins Amboseli 17:00 Homicide Hunter 18:00 Fun Size-PG15 00:45 How Stuff Works 17:00 Murder Shift 21:00 Shane Untamed 15:05 Echo And The Elephants Of 18:00 The First 48 20:00 Dude, Where’s My Car?-PG15 01:10 Freaks Of Nature 17:50 Extreme Forensics 21:50 Ultimate Animal Countdown Amboseli 19:00 The Devil You Know 22:00 You, Me And Dupree-18 01:35 Freaks Of Nature 18:40 I Was Murdered 22:40 Let Elephants Be Elephants 15:30 My Cat From Hell 20:00 Beyond Scared Straight 02:00 Human Body: Ultimate Machine 19:05 Stalked: Someone’s Watching 23:30 The Real Serengeti 16:30 Wild France 21:00 Private Crimes 02:45 Mythbusters 19:30 Dr G: Medical Examiner 17:25 Too Cute! 21:30 Born To Kill 03:35 Bang Goes The Theory 20:20 Disappeared 18:20 Bad Dog 22:30 Britain’s Darkest Taboos 04:00 Bang Goes The Theory 21:10 On The Case With Paula Zahn 19:15 Tanked 23:30 When Life Means Life 20:10 Treehouse Masters 04:30 Moon Machines 22:00 American Greed 21:05 Echo And The Elephants Of 05:20 Smash Lab 22:50 Desperate Measures Amboseli 06:10 How The Earth Works 23:40 Deadly Women 01:00 Cosmopolis-18 21:35 Echo And The Elephants Of 07:00 Moon Machines 00:30 The Daily Show With Jon 03:00 Meeting Evil-18 Amboseli 07:55 Super Comet: After The Impact Stewart 05:00 Marie Antoinette-PG15 22:00 Tanked 08:45 Bang Goes The Theory 01:00 The Colbert Report 07:00 Twist Of Fate-PG15 22:55 Treehouse Masters 09:10 Bang Goes The Theory 01:30 Family Guy 09:00 Encounter With Danger-PG15 23:50 Animal Cops Phoenix 00:30 Sons Of Guns 09:40 How The Earth Works 02:00 Brickleberry 11:00 The Lucky One-PG15 01:20 Amish Mafia 10:30 Mighty Ships 02:30 Hello Ladies 13:00 Darling Companion-PG15 02:10 Extreme Smuggling 11:20 Moon Machines 03:00 Last Man Standing 15:00 Snow Flower And The Secret 00:00 Chelsea Lately Fan-PG15 03:00 You Have Been Warned 12:10 Smash Lab 00:30 The Spin Crowd 03:30 New Girl 03:50 Border Security 13:00 How Stuff Works 04:00 All Of Us 17:00 The Lucky One-PG15 00:55 The Spin Crowd 19:00 The Forgotten-PG15 04:15 Auction Hunters: Pawn Shop 13:30 Bang Goes The Theory 01:25 Style Star 04:30 The Tonight Show Starring 00:00 Doctors Edition 13:55 Bang Goes The Theory Jimmy Fallon 21:00 The Iron Lady-PG15 01:50 Style Star 23:00 7 Days In Havana-18 00:30 My Hero 04:40 The Liquidator 14:20 Mythbusters 02:20 E! Investigates 05:30 My Boys 01:00 The Cafe 05:05 How Stuff Works 15:10 Smash Lab 03:15 Extreme Close-Up 06:00 The War At Home 01:25 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries 05:30 How Stuff’s Made 16:00 Mighty Ships 03:40 Extreme Close-Up 06:30 My Name Is Earl 02:10 Mad Dogs 06:00 Get Out Alive With Bear Grylls 16:50 Super Volcano 04:10 THS 07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 02:55 Incredible Journeys With Steve 07:00 You Have Been Warned 17:40 Human Body: Ultimate Machine 05:05 E!ES 08:00 All Of Us Leonard 07:50 Machines Of Glory 18:30 Freaks Of Nature 06:00 THS 08:30 My Boys 18:55 Freaks Of Nature 09:00 Last Man Standing 03:45 My Hero 08:40 Fast N’ Loud 07:50 Style Star 01:00 Good Day For It-PG15 19:20 One Step Beyond 09:30 The Mindy Project 04:15 The Weakest Link 09:30 Border Security 08:20 E! News 03:00 The Twilight Saga: Breaking 19:45 How Stuff Works 10:00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine 05:00 Tweenies 09:55 Auction Hunters: Pawn Shop 09:15 Scouted Dawn Pt. 2-PG15 10:30 My Name Is Earl 05:20 The Green Balloon Club 10:15 15 Remarkable Celebrity Body 05:00 The Intouchables-PG15 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring 05:45 Poetry Pie Bouncebacks 07:00 Down The Shore-PG15 Jimmy Fallon 05:50 Gigglebiz 12:05 E! News 09:00 Good Day For It-PG15 12:00 The War At Home 06:05 Charlie And Lola 13:05 Fashion Police 11:00 Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight- 12:30 All Of Us 06:15 Tweenies 14:05 Married To Jonas PG15 13:00 My Boys 06:35 The Green Balloon Club 14:30 Married To Jonas 13:00 Hide Away-PG15 13:30 My Name Is Earl 07:00 Poetry Pie 15:00 Keeping Up With The 15:00 The Music Never Stopped-PG15 14:00 New Girl 07:05 Gigglebiz Kardashians 16:45 Anna Karenina-PG15 14:30 The Mindy Project 07:20 The Weakest Link 16:00 Keeping Up With The 19:00 Silver Linings Playbook-PG15 15:00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine 08:05 My Hero Kardashians 21:00 Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy-PG15 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon 08:35 The Cafe 17:00 The Drama Queen 23:15 Peacock-18 09:00 Eastenders 18:00 E! News Stewart 09:30 Doctors 19:00 E!ES 16:00 The Colbert Report 10:00 Incredible Journeys With Steve 20:00 Eric And Jessie: Game On 16:30 The War At Home Leonard 20:30 Eric And Jessie: Game On 17:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 10:50 The Weakest Link 18:00 Last Man Standing 21:00 Giuliana & Bill 00:00 Steel Magnolias-PG15 11:35 The Cafe 22:00 Hello Ross 18:30 New Girl 12:00 My Hero 19:00 Enlisted 02:00 Pitch Perfect-PG15 22:30 E! News 04:00 Cirque Du Soleil: Worlds Away- 12:30 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries 23:30 Chelsea Lately 19:30 The Michael J. Fox Show 13:15 Eastenders 20:00 The Tonight Show Starring PG 13:45 Doctors Jimmy Fallon 06:00 The Wishing Well-PG15 14:15 The Weakest Link 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon 08:00 The Mortal Instruments: City Of 15:00 Incredible Journeys With Steve Stewart Bones-PG15 Leonard 21:30 The Colbert Report 10:15 Chimpanzee-PG 15:55 My Hero 12:00 Pitch Perfect-PG15 16:25 The Weakest Link 14:00 Interview With A Hitman-PG15 17:10 Eastenders 00:00 Inside 15:45 The Mortal Instruments: City Of 17:40 Doctors 01:00 Dangerous Encounters Bones-PG15 18:10 Casualty 02:00 World’s Deadliest Animals 03:00 True Blood 18:00 Moonrise Kingdom-PG15 19:00 Saxondale 03:00 Pirate Patrol 12:00 Emmerdale 20:00 This Is 40-18 19:30 The Vicar Of Dibley 04:00 Blowdown 16:00 Emmerdale 22:15 The Sessions-R 20:00 Incredible Journeys With Steve 05:00 Close Quarter Battle 21:00 The Client List Leonard 05:30 Diggers 22:00 Survivor: Cagayan 20:50 Getting On 06:00 Pirate Patrol 23:00 True Blood 21:20 Bedlam 07:00 Nat Geo Amazing! 22:00 The Town 08:00 Inside 01:00 Clear History-PG15 22:55 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 09:00 Dangerous Encounters 03:00 Red Dawn-PG15 23:40 Eastenders 10:00 Brave New World 05:00 The Call-PG15 11:00 Pirate Patrol 07:00 All In Good Time-PG15 12:00 Blowdown 09:00 Now You See Me-PG15 13:00 Diggers 01:00 Good Morning America 11:00 The Guilt Trip-PG15 13:30 Diggers 05:00 Good Morning America 13:00 The Words-PG15 14:00 Pirate Patrol 14:00 Live Good Morning America 15:00 You Will Meet A Tall Dark 00:00 BBC World 15:00 Nat Geo Amazing! 19:00 24 Stranger-PG15 01:00 BBC World 16:00 Inside 20:00 Covert Affairs 16:45 Now You See Me-PG15 02:00 BBC World 17:00 Dangerous Encounters 21:00 The Glades 18:45 Life Of Pi-PG 03:00 BBC World 18:00 World’s Deadliest Animals 22:00 Strike Back 21:00 Monsters University-PG 04:00 BBC World THE EXPATRIATE ON OSN MOVIES HD ACTION 19:00 Doomsday Preppers 23:00 Hannibal 22:45 Fast & Furious 6-PG15 FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 Kuwait KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY REQUIRED (24/04/2014 TO 30/04/2014)

SHARQIA-1 THE QUIET ONES (DIG) THE QUIET ONES (DIG) BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 10:30 PM 4:00 PM For International 1:45 PM THE QUIET ONES (DIG) TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 12:30 AM 6:00 PM 3:30 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED THE QUIET ONES (DIG) Restaurants Company BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 8:30 PM 6:00 PM FANAR-1 THE QUIET ONES (DIG) TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) SNOWPIERCER (DIG) 10:30 PM 7:45 PM 1:45 PM THE QUIET ONES (DIG) •Hosts Male - Female BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 4:00 PM 12:30 AM 10:15 PM SNOWPIERCER (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 6:00 PM • Home delivery Drivers 12:15 AM AL MA3DIYA (DIG) MARINA-3 NO SUN+TUE+WED 8:15 PM BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) SNOWPIERCER (DIG) 12:30 PM SHARQIA-2 10:15 PM TINKER BELL AND THE PIRATE FAIRY (DIG-3D) RIO 2 (DIG) SNOWPIERCER (DIG) 2:30 PM 1:30 PM 12:30 AM RIO 2 (DIG) Please send your CV THE QUIET ONES (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED 4:15 PM 3:45 PM TINKER BELL AND THE PIRATE FAIRY (DIG-3D) [email protected] RIO 2 (DIG-3D) FANAR-2 6:30 PM 5:45 PM RIO 2 (DIG) BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) or fax: 24319426 THE QUIET ONES (DIG) 1:00 PM 8:15 PM 8:00 PM TINKER BELL AND THE PIRATE FAIRY (DIG) IN THE BLOOD (DIG) THE QUIET ONES (DIG) 3:00 PM 10:15 PM 10:00 PM TINKER BELL AND THE PIRATE FAIRY (DIG) IN THE BLOOD (DIG) THE QUIET ONES (DIG) 4:45 PM 12:15 AM 12:05 AM RIO 2 (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED NO SUN+TUE+WED 6:30 PM IN THE BLOOD (DIG) AVENUES-1 SHARQIA-3 8:45 PM TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) TINKER BELL AND THE PIRATE FAIRY (DIG) IN THE BLOOD (DIG) 1:45 PM 12:45 PM 10:45 PM TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) SNOWPIERCER (DIG) IN THE BLOOD (DIG) 4:15 PM 2:30 PM 12:45 AM TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) TINKER BELL AND THE PIRATE FAIRY (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED 6:45 PM 4:45 PM TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) IN THE BLOOD (DIG) FANAR-3 9:15 PM 6:30 PM CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) SNOWPIERCER (DIG) 1:30 PM 11:45 PM FOR SALE 8:30 PM BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED FOR SALE IN THE BLOOD (DIG) 4:15 PM 10:45 PM CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) Due to Departure AVENUES-2 Doctor leaving Kuwait, excel- IN THE BLOOD (DIG) 6:15 PM SNOWPIERCER (DIG) lent condition, two sofas and 12:45 AM BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 12:45 PM two TVs. Phone: 99598324. New IKEA Product NO SUN+TUE+WED 9:00 PM SNOWPIERCER (DIG) (C BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 3:00 PM 4707) 23-4-2014 Kids bed,mattres MUHALAB-1 11:00 PM SNOWPIERCER (DIG) TINKER BELL AND THE PIRATE FAIRY (DIG) BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 5:15 PM 1:30 PM 1:00 AM SNOWPIERCER (DIG) Toyota Prado (4 clr) 2006, and desk TINKER BELL AND THE PIRATE FAIRY (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED 7:30 PM golden color, in very good 3:30 PM SNOWPIERCER (DIG) condition. KD 3,450. Tel: 50994848. ( Call BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) FANAR-4 9:45 PM C 4704) 66638563 or 97832060 5:30 PM THE QUIET ONES (DIG) SNOWPIERCER (DIG) BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 1:45 PM 12:05 AM Camry GLX (full option sun 7:30 PM THE QUIET ONES (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED roof) color-gray metallic, TRANSCENDENCE (DIG) 3:45 PM model 2010, km 75200, cash CHANGE OF NAME 9:30 PM THE QUIET ONES (DIG) KD 3750. Call: 97800987. AVENUES-3 Abdul Abubakar BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) 6:00 PM IN THE BLOOD (DIG) (C 4706) I, Mohmood S/O Mohmood Abdul Kareem 12:05 AM THE QUIET ONES (DIG) 2:30 PM 22-4-2014 NO SUN+TUE+WED 8:00 PM IN THE BLOOD (DIG) of Indian Passport No. THE QUIET ONES (DIG) 4:45 PM E8783786 hereby change my MUHALAB-2 10:00 PM IN THE BLOOD (DIG) SITUATION WANTED name to Mohammed Abdul SNOWPIERCER (DIG) THE QUIET ONES (DIG) 7:00 PM Abubakar S/O Mohammed 12:45 PM 12:05 AM IN THE BLOOD (DIG) An academic Arabic teacher Abdul Kareem R/O 12-11- CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED 9:30 PM 35 years experience in teach- 659/A Warasiguda, Sec-bad, 3:00 PM IN THE BLOOD (DIG) ing Arabic language for for- HYD - AP, India. (C 4705) SNOWPIERCER (DIG) MARINA-1 11:30 PM eigners. Tel: 99538080. 22-4-2014 5:45 PM IN THE BLOOD (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED (C 4702) AL MA3DIYA (DIG) 8:00 PM 1:30 PM 22-4-2014 SNOWPIERCER (DIG) AL MA3DIYA (DIG) AVENUES-4 10:00 PM 3:30 PM IN THE BLOOD (DIG) SNOWPIERCER (DIG) OCULUS (DIG) 1:30 PM 12:15 AM 5:30 PM BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) Prayer timings NO SUN+TUE+WED SNOWPIERCER (DIG) 3:45 PM 7:30 PM IN THE BLOOD (DIG) Fajr: 03:48 MUHALAB-3 SNOWPIERCER (DIG) 6:00 PM RIO 2 (DIG-3D) 9:45 PM SNOWPIERCER (DIG) Shorook 05:11 2:00 PM SNOWPIERCER (DIG) 8:15 PM THE QUIET ONES (DIG) 12:05 AM BRICK MANSIONS (DIG) Duhr: 11:46 4:15 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED 10:30 PM Asr: 15:21 RIO 2 (DIG-3D) IN THE BLOOD (DIG) 6:15 PM MARINA-2 12:45 AM Maghrib: 18:20 THE QUIET ONES (DIG) THE QUIET ONES (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED 8:30 PM 2:00 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED Isha: 19:42

Business

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014

Barclays profit falls on Spain grows at fastest rate in six years: CB fixed-income slump PAGE 39 Page 38

BEIJING: Visitors gathering around a BMW X6 concept sports utility coupe on the opening day of the 62nd International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. —AFP (See Page 40) Obama urges Japan to take ‘bold steps’ on trade Washington fails to wrest concessions in Pacific trade talks

TOKYO: US President Barack Obama urged Japan ing Obama’s Asia tour, which officially kicked off yes- Canberra this month, which will see tariffs on that sky-high Japanese tariffs-on rice they are nearly yesterday to take “bold steps” to seal a Pacific-wide terday in Tokyo, were dashed at a joint press briefing Australian beef slashed, would help bounce 800 percent-and non-tariff barriers, like overly-strict trade deal after Washington failed to wrest key con- following talks between the leaders of the world’s Washington into compromises, but US diplomats safety requirements, are naked protectionism. cessions from Tokyo. The Trans-Pacific Partnership number one and three economies. “Now is the time appear to have stood firm. Washington and many of Negotiators missed the end-of-2013 deadline they (TPP), a vast agreement that would cover about 40 for bold steps,” Obama told reporters. “I think it’s fair the other parties to the talks-including Chile, Mexico, had set themselves-a target that always looked percent of the global economy, is a key plank in to say that there are certain sectors of the Japanese Canada and several Asian countries-say Japan’s ambitious, but became much more so when Japan Obama’s bid for a renewed focus on Asia. It is also economy-the agriculture sector, the auto sector-in unwillingness to open its lucrative agricultural mar- got involved in the talks during the year. No new seen as crucial for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo which market access has been restricted historically.” ket is a deal-breaker. Critics have long complained end-date has been set. —AFP Abe’s pledge to shake up his country’s long-lumber- He added that those stumbling blocks “at some ing economy. But the ambitious 12-nation deal has point have to be resolved...(and) I believe that point is stalled as Tokyo and Washington lock horns over key now”. The deal is a crucial part of Abe’s promises to Kuwait 2013 CA surplus details, including Japanese tariffs on agricultural reform Japan’s economy and stoke long-tepid imports and US access to its ally’s major auto market. growth, the US leader said. “TPP is consistent with shrinks 8% to $72bn Speculation that a deal would be announced dur- those reforms and, as Prime Minister Abe said, there is a strategic importance to this as what’s happening KUWAIT: Kuwait’s current account surplus down from 43.0 percent, according to Reuters now is shaping the economic environment for the shrank by nearly 8 percent to KD20.3 billion calculations based on the latest official data. KFH CEO steps down fastest growing region in the world-not just for this ($72.2 billion) in 2013 compared with the Kuwait has not yet released 2013 GDP data. year or next year, but potentially for this decade and previous year, preliminary central bank data Analysts polled by Reuters in January esti- KUWAIT: The chief executive of Kuwait the next decade,” Obama said. showed yesterday, in line with market expec- mated Kuwait’s 2013 current account surplus Finance House, Kuwait’s largest Islamic tations. The 2013 surplus was equivalent to was 40.0 percent of GDP, and forecast it lender, has stepped down, two company Unresolved issues 39.6 percent of 2012 gross domestic product, would fall further to 37.8 percent in 2014. sources said yesterday. The two leaders told their trade delegations to Mohammed Al-Omar’s resignation is KUWAIT BALANCE OF PAYMENTS 2013 2012 (bn dinars) press on with talks to “settle the remaining issues and I CURRENT ACCOUNT 20.316 22.063 (22.174) linked to wider management changes at KFH, work for an early conclusion” of the agreement, Abe one of the sources said, adding that chief Trade balance (FOB) 25.442 26.762 (27.101) said. Japanese economy minister Akira Amari said Exports (FOB) 32.805 33.491 (33.389) operating officer Anwar Al-Ghaith would take negotiations were still moving forward, after holding up the CEO role on an acting basis. Comment crude oil 30.948 31.813 (31.608) the latest round of meetings with US Trade Imports (FOB) -7.364 -6.729 (-6.289) could not immediately be obtained from KFH. Representative Michael Froman in Tokyo yesterday. “I Omar had been CEO since 2008 and had II CAPITAL ACCOUNT 1.287 1.192 (1.176) think progress has been made, but there are still III FINANCIAL ACCOUNT -21.711 -23.566 (-24.108) spent most of his career at the company, gaps,” he told reporters. “We will continue negotia- according to its annual report. The company Direct investment -1.783 -1.453 (-1.598) tions. But the issues that remain unresolved include Kuwait abroad -2.293 -1.970 (-2.117) reported a 13 percent rise in first-quarter net some big ones,” Amari added, without elaborating. profit on Saturday. —Reuters Into Kuwait 0.511 0.517 (0.518) Japan was hoping that a free trade agreement with Portfolio investment (net) -8.749 -7.400 (-7.157) —Reuters اﻟﻴﻮم ا ول : ا ﺣﺪ 27 إﺑﺮﻳﻞ 2014 20:00 ا ﻓﺘﺘﺎح اﻟﻴﻮم اﻟﺜﺎﻧﻲ : ا ﺛﻨﻴﻦ 28 إﺑﺮﻳﻞ 2014 10:00 – 12:00 اﻟﺠﻠﺴﺔ ا وﻟﻰ: ﺗﺤﺪي اﻧﺘﺸﺎر .. ﺑﻴﻦ اﻋﻼم اﻟﺘﻘﻠﻴﺪي واﻋﻼم اﻟﺤﺪﻳﺚ 12:00 – 14:00 اﻟﺠﻠﺴﺔ اﻟﺜﺎﻧﻴﺔ: وﺳﺎﺋﻞ اﻟﺘﻮاﺻﻞ اﺟﺘﻤﺎﻋﻲ وﺗﻐﻴﺮ ﺗﺄﺛﻴﺮ اﻟﺮﺳﺎﻟﺔ اﻋﻼﻣﻴﺔ 14:00 – 15:00 اﻟﺠﻠﺴﺔ اﻟﺜﺎﻟﺜﺔ : ﺣﻮار ﻣﻔﺘﻮح ﻣﻊ ﻣﻌﺎﻟﻲ رﺋﻴﺲ ﻣﺠﻠﺲ ا ﻣﺔ اﻟﻜﻮﻳﺘﻲ اﻟﺴﻴﺪ/ ﻣﺮزوق اﻟﻐﺎﻧﻢ 17:30 – 19:00 اﻟﺠﻠﺴﺔاﻟﺮاﺑﻌﺔ : ﻓﺠﻮة اﻟﺘﻮاﺻﻞ ﺑﻴﻦ اﻟﺸﺮق واﻟﻐﺮب « دور اﻋﻼم ﻓﻲ دﻋﻢ ﺣﻮار اﻟﺤﻀﺎرات وا دﻳﺎن » اﻟﺠﻠﺴﺔ اﻟﺨﺎﻣﺴﺔ : ﺣﻮار ﻣﻔﺘﻮح 21:00 –19:30 ﻣﻌﺎﻟﻲ اﻟﺸﻴﺦ ﺻﺒﺎح اﻟﺨﺎﻟﺪ اﻟﺼﺒﺎح اﻟﻨﺎﺋﺐ ا ول ﻟﺮﺋﻴﺲ ﻣﺠﻠﺲ اﻟﻮزراء ووزﻳﺮ اﻟﺨﺎرﺟﻴﺔ

اﻟﻴﻮم اﻟﺜﺎﻟﺚ : اﻟﺜﻼﺛﺎء 29 إﺑﺮﻳﻞ 2014 ﻟﻘﺎء ﻣﻔﺘﻮح ﻣﻊ ﺻﺎﺣﺐ اﻟﺴﻤﻮ اﻟﻤﻠﻜﻲ ا ﻣﻴﺮ ﺑﺪر ﺑﻦ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﻤﺤﺴﻦ 19:00 Business FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014

Shares in Alstom leap on rumored GE bid

PARIS: Engineering giant Alstom, a top name in French industry, was caught in a swirl of speculation yesterday that US group General Electric is about to make a $13.0 bil- lion bid, and its shares leapt. Alstom, which builds high- speed trains and power stations, said it “is not informed of any potential public tender” to buy its shares. If a takeover does materialize, it would amount to the biggest ever by General Electric, which makes rail locomo- tives and aero engines. A deal would mark a big consolida- tion in the global engineering sectors targeted by the two groups in which players from emerging countries are becoming redoubtable competitors. The takeover talk also highlights a renewed appetite by big companies for acquisitions, financed with war chests built up during the recent post crisis years and with the help of cheap money. Alstom stock jumped at the opening of trading by about 17.0 percent, to settle back during morning trading for a gain of 11.63 percent to 27.17 euros. The financial news agency Bloomberg had reported on LONDON: Protesters wearing masks depicting chief executive of Barclays Bank Antony Jenkins stage a demonstration near the Wednesday that GE was in advanced talks to buy Alstom venue of the bank’s annual general meeting in London yesterday. — AFP for more than $13.0 billion (9.4 billion), and a deal could be announced next week. The report said that such a deal was believed to have Barclays profit falls the backing of French construction, media and telecom group Bouygues which became a main shareholder in Alstom when it bought the stake held by the French state in 2006. Alstom, which got into severe difficulties 10 years on fixed-income slump ago, is a political hot potato in France against a back- ground of deep concern about the decline and loss of competitiveness of industry and record high unemploy- Result reflects drop across investment banking sector ment. Alstom shares have had a bumpy ride recently in response to rumors that the group was running into finan- LONDON: Barclays Plc said its first-quarter profit fell after a “signifi- Goldman Sachs reported an 11 percent drop and Citigroup posted cial difficulties, in part because of competition from cant” drop in revenue from its investment bank’s fixed- income oper- an 18 percent fall. Jenkins is reviewing the size and shape of Barclays’ emerging economies. ations, extending an industry slump across that business. A cost-cut- investment bank and will unveil details of his plan on May 8. He is By contrast, GE has reported a net profit of $3.0 billion ting program was starting to show a “material benefit”, however, and expected to axe thousands of jobs to cut costs and improve returns. for the first quarter of 2014, a fall of 15.0 percent from the would help offset the drop in investment bank profits, Barclays said The bank could cut as many as 7,500 staff, mainly by shrinking its equivalent figure last year which was boosted by excep- yesterday. Barclays said it will report a “small reduction” in adjusted European fixed-income business, Bernstein analyst Chirantan Barua tional items. pretax profit compared with a year ago when it publishes first-quar- estimated this week. Barclays said its equities and investment bank- ter results on May 6. Most investment banks are expected to show ing advisory businesses in the first quarter performed broadly in line income fell at the start of the year as bond and interest-rate trading with a year ago. Barclays released the update before the start of its Alstom reviews options struggled. “Our fixed income, credit and commodities (FICC) busi- annual shareholder meeting in London, where a significant minority The French Socialist government, in a policy switch to ness continued to face many of the challenges seen in the second of investors are expected to vote against its executive pay, in protest help businesses and boost exports, laid out a new eco- half of 2013 with a significant year-on-year reduction in FICC income, after the bank increased bonuses for investment bankers last year nomic program on Wednesday, cutting planned public reflecting difficult market conditions and a strong comparative per- despite a one-third drop in profit. spending alongside measures to reduce taxes on business- formance for Q1 last year,” Barclays Chief Executive Antony Jenkins British Business Secretary Vince Cable this week wrote to banks es. Alstom said in a short statement yesterday, responding said in a statement. and other big companies warning them to rein in excessive execu- to the takeover speculation, that it was constantly review- Tougher regulations have made many areas of investment bank- tive pay or face tighter rules. His said banks, and Barclays in particular, ing its strategic options in different sectors of its activities ing less profitable and many bankers and analysts say the drop in needed to address “dangerous levels” of pay. Barclays is expected to and would provide information on this when it published FICC revenues is permanent and banks need to take more aggressive easily win a binding vote on being allowed to pay up to twice the annual results on May 7. — AFP action to shrink their businesses. US rival JPMorgan reported its FICC level of employees’ salaries as bonuses under new European Union revenues fell 21 percent in the first quarter from a year ago, while rules that cap pay. — Reuters

US durable New Qatar airport goods orders to open next week up 2.6% in March after delay WASHINGTON: Orders to US factories for long- lasting manufactured goods posted a solid gain DOHA: Qatar’s new Hamad International Airport, a key part of its for the second straight month in March. A key plans to become a regional aviation hub, will open to passenger category that signals business investment plans traffic next week after construction delays of more than a year, increased at the fastest pace in four months. the country’s Civil Aviation Authority said. Initially budget airlines The Commerce Department says that orders for will operate at the airport, while other airlines will start services durable goods increased 2.6 percent in March there in May, according to a circular from the authority. following a 2.1 percent rise in February. Those The new airport, part of Qatar’s preparations to host the soc- back-to-back gains followed two big declines in cer World Cup in 2022, was originally due to open in 2012 but December and January which had raised con- the project was slowed by delays among construction firms and cerns about possible weakness in manufactur- quality and cost issues, building industry sources said. As of May ing. 27, “all airlines shall entirely move to Hamad International Demand for core capital goods, considered a Airport,” the circular said. good guide for business investment plans, rose Qatar’s current airport, Doha International, handled 23.3 mil- 2.2 percent in March after a 1.1 percent drop in lion passengers last year, according to its website. Officials have February. It was the best showing since a 3 per- said Hamad International, projected to cost around $17.5 billion, cent rise in November. Manufacturing seems to STRONGVILLE: Charles Rajecky packs a completed blender for warehousing will ultimately be able to handle 50 million passengers and 2 mil- be recovering after a cold winter disrupted busi- at the Vitamix manufacturing facility in Strongsville, Ohio. The Commerce lion tons of cargo annually. —Reuters ness activity. — AP Department released durable goods for March yesterday. — AP Business FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014

UK’s Labor mulls moving loan from Co-op Bank

LONDON: Britain’s Labor Party is considering moving The BBC reported earlier that Labor would look to misconduct. The bank is a 27 percent shareholder in a 1.2 million pound ($2 million) loan with the trou- move all its current account facilities to the Unity Unity Trust Bank but said in January that it was in bled Co-operative Bank to Unity Trust Bank, which is Trust Bank once the loan had been moved. Co-op talks to sell its stake. controlled by the country’s trade unions, sources Bank hit trouble last year when a 1.5 billion pound The remaining stake is owned by trade unions. familiar with the matter said yesterday. capital shortfall was exposed, leading the mutually- The Conservative Party said moving the loan to Unity The sources said discussions were at an early owned Co-operative Group to lose control of the Trust Bank would give unions more control over the stage and emphasized Labor would continue to bank business to bondholders including US hedge funds. Labor Party’s finances. “The unions already pick the with the Co-op, a major lender to Britain’s main The bank’s problems were exacerbated when for- candidates, buy the policies and choose the leader. opposition party. “We constantly review our financial mer chairman Paul Flowers was charged with pos- Now (Labor leader) Ed Miliband wants them to hold arrangements and any decisions taken, including any sessing illegal drugs. The future of the bank remains the purse strings as well,” said Conservative consolidation of loans, are done for commercial rea- in question after it said in March it needed to raise Chairman Grant Schapps. Co-op Bank declined to sons,” a Labor party spokesman told Reuters. another 400 million pounds to cover the cost of past comment. — Reuters Spain grows at fastest rate in six years: CB Country moves back from brink of crisis

MADRID: Spain’s economy grew at the the central bank said. Exit door from crisis fastest rate in six years in the first quarter of On an annual basis, the Spanish economy Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s austerity 2014 as it pulled out of a long, job-destroy- grew 0.5 percent in the first quarter, the bank measures and labor market reforms helped ing downturn, the central bank said in a pre- estimated, the first year-on-year expansion in to consolidate financial market support liminary estimate yesterday. more than two years. Spain’s economy is set further. Economy Minister Luis de Guindos The euro-zone’s fourth-largest economy to grow by 1.2 percent in 2014 and 1.7 per- said Wednesday he expected the economy LAHORE: A Pakistani farmer harvests wheat crops in a expanded by 0.4 percent on a quarterly cent in 2015, the Bank of Spain said, confirm- to grow by an average of 1.5 percent in field on the outskirts of Lahore yesterday. Pakistan is in a basis, the Bank of Spain said in a monthly ing an earlier forecast. 2014 and 2015. position to produce bumper wheat crop this year but it report, citing initial data. It was the sharpest Spain emerged gingerly from a two-year “The goal is to achieve two years in a depends on weather conditions in March: if the tempera- quarterly growth rate since the first quarter downturn in mid-2013 but still suffers from row of growth, with net job creation, and ture remains average the country’s wheat output is of 2008 when a decade-long property bub- an unemployment rate of nearly 26 percent. that will be the exit door from the Spanish expected to cross 25 million tons, but if temperature is ble imploded, tipping the nation into a dou- The country managed to avoid an interna- crisis,” De Guindos said. Nevertheless, jobs above the average for the year wheat output is likely to ble-dip recession that wiped out millions of tional bailout in mid-2012, a risk that haunt- growth will be “clearly insufficient”, he remain 24.5 million tons. — AFP jobs and flooded the nation in debt. ed financial markets as the nation’s debt said. Latest revised data Thursday showed “In the first quarter of 2014, the Spanish soared. the unemployment rate in the final quar- economy continued on a path of gradual Investors have also taken heart from the ter of 2013 stood at 25.73 percent. “A recovery in the a context of increasing nor- European Central Bank’s vow in late 2012 to country with an unemployment rate of 26 Trade and travel ties malization on the financial markets and a come to the rescue of stricken euro-zone percent is starting at a terrifying level,” de grow for Cubans, gradual consolidation of the labor market,” members. Guindos said. —AFP Cuban Americans Aetna’s 1Q profit jumps HAVANA: A rise in trade and travel is helping bridge a gulf that has divided Cubans from expats in Florida for more than half a century, experts said. Some experts say relations are better than at any time since the rupture in diplomatic ties between Havana and 36%, forecast climbs Washington in the early 1960’s, in the aftermath of the Cuban Revolution-in part because of looser travel restrictions on both sides. The ties “have never been so diverse or so rich” between the 11 million inhabitants on the communist-run island and the 1.5 mil- NEW YORK: Aetna’s first-quarter net lion Cuban Americans in the United States, said Carlos Alzugaray, a income soared 36 percent, fueled by Cuban former diplomat and university professor. Denisse Delgado, gains from a multi-billion-dollar acquisi- a sociologist at the Catholic University in San Antonio, Spain, said tion, and the health insurer hiked its the current climate of increased travel offers greater opportunity 2014 earnings forecast above Wall for “the transmission of ideas, values and ways of living” that can Street expectations. help recreate common ground for the two communities seeking The Hartford, Connecticut, insurer to bridge a decades-long political divide. closed a $6.9 billion acquisition of fellow Starting in January 2013, Cuba opened its doors, allowing more insurer Coventry Health Care last May, of its citizens to travel abroad. In 2013, Cubans took some 300,000 and it said Thursday that deal was the trips out of the country-a 40 percent increase over the previous main factor behind its growth in this year-and about a third were to the United States. At the same time, year’s first quarter. Aetna Inc. is the the United States greatly increased the number of visas it issued to nation’s third-largest health insurer, and Cubans. It also extended their validity to five years, allowing visa its medical enrollment swelled 24 per- holders to make multiple trips. According to the Cuban Interests cent in the quarter to 22.7 million peo- Section here-Washington’s diplomatic and consular presence in ple, compared to last year. Havana in the absence of an embassy-the United States approved Coventry serves customers in two 19,500 tourist visas to Cubans in the second half of 2013, a 27 per- markets primed for growth. It adminis- cent increase over the same period in 2012. ters Medicaid, the state and federally US relatives fund Cuban startups funded program that covers the needy In the other direction, a record 173,550 travelers went to and disabled people, and it offers Cuba from the United States, many of whom had family mem- Medicare Advantage plans. Those are bers on the island. They came bringing hard currency that will be subsidized versions of the federal gov- An Aetna benefits card is photographed in Surfside, Florida. Aetna reported used to help improve the lives of their relatives. The dollars allow ernment’s Medicare program for the quarterly earnings yesterday. —AP Cubans to purchase sought-after commodities that otherwise elderly and also disabled people. would be out of reach, like bicycles, washing machines and tele- The health care overhaul expanded ping their retiree health coverage. a $92 million loss from the early retire- visions. Money from well-heeled American relatives also is pour- Medicaid eligibility in several states Overall, Aetna earned $665.5 million, ment of some long-term debt and costs ing into start-up businesses recently encouraged by the newly starting this year. Medicare Advantage or $1.82 per share, in the quarter that tied to the Coventry deal. Analysts fore- reform-minded Cuban government. For the first time, Havana is plans face funding cuts due to the over- ended March 31. That’s up from $490.1 cast earnings of $1.53 per share, accord- allowing a large number of free market enterprises to be created, haul, but retiring Baby Boomers are million, or $1.48 per share, a year earlier. ing to FactSet. Operating revenue and it is encouraging self-employment by enterprising Cuban sparking enrollment growth in these Adjusted earnings totaled $1.98 per excluding capital gains totaled $13.97 taxi drivers, barbers and restaurateurs. —AFP plans, as are employers who are drop- share, not counting one-time items like billion. —AP Business FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014

Three employees at Marubeni’s grain unit in China detained

TOKYO/BEIJING: Three employees at one of Marubeni Corp’s grain trading unit in China have been detained, Chinese customs said yesterday, a move prompted by allegations of tax evasion on soybean imports. The three local staff worked at a Chinese unit of Marubeni’s Columbia Grain, Inc, the Japanese trading house and Chinese customs in the port city of Qingdao said. The detentions could add to recent pressure on soy- bean prices after a wave of soybean cargo defaults in China, where a combination of poor crushing margins and difficulty getting credit has led to a spike in reject- ed cargoes. US soybean futures hit their lowest since April 14 yesterday, on concerns about defaults by top BEIJING: A staff cleaning the exhibition area by a new Cadillac CTS car on display at the China International Exhibition buyer China, which buys more than 60 percent of glob- Center new venue during the “Auto China 2014” Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in Beijing. — AFP al imports. The market has lost 3.5 percent in five straight losing sessions. The customs authority in Qingdao said the three employees were being Lincoln, Cadillac chase Audi detained on suspicion of smuggling. Chinese customs sometimes use smuggling as a broader term for tax evasion. in China luxury car market Industry sources said the allegations could be relat- ed to discrepancies on the reported valuation of imported soybean cargoes, which would affect cus- China auto market the largest in the world toms duty and value-added tax, since both are levied based on the cargo values. “People are wondering if BEIJING: Classic American luxury brands Lincoln and Cadillac are tak- show that the carmaker “has always been very honoured” at official the Chinese authorities are now clamping down on the ing on Germany’s long-dominant Audi in China, but face a market use of its vehicles.But the situation has changed, de Meo said, adding leader fortified by enviable brand awareness built over years as offi- that Audi has the “right strategy... to compensate for this”. John use of soybeans as a form of shadow currency,” one cialdom’s favorite car. Zeng, managing director of LMC Automotive Consulting, said that German trader said, referring to the practice of using Black Audis-with their four interlocking ring symbols, signifying Audi has sought to widen its customer base. “They have been put- commodities as collateral for loans. “This use of soy- the long-ago merger of four German auto companies-are ubiquitous ting their focus on the family car” over the past four or five years and beans may have inflated Chinese soybean imports at state events, such as the annual meeting of China’s legislature in are targeting younger consumers, he told AFP. recently despite slack Chinese domestic demand.” central Beijing. Audi, which last year celebrated its 25th anniversary Traders said the investigation appeared to be limit- in China, has benefited from its early entry into the market and the Seeking exclusivity ed to Marubeni and a local importer for now, prompt- prestige its badge holds among high-profile passengers, selling just Jim Farley, a top Ford executive, sees the dominance by a few in ing speculation that it could have been instigated by a short of 500,000 vehicles in 2013. German manufacturers-Audi, BMW, China as an opportunity. “The ubiquity of the product on the street tip off from a business rival in part to help cash- Mercedes and Volkswagen-dominate the premium segment, with 80 fights with the exclusivity of the brand... there are opportunities for strapped buyers delay shipments. International firms percent market share, the consultancy McKinsey said in a report last challenger brands,” he told reporters at the auto show. “But the selling beans and grains into China said their business year. Now other players are hoping to take advantage of what exec- responsibility of the challenger brand is they have to offer something had not been affected and that the investigation was utives and analysts call a “broadening” of the segment, such as better and different.” Lincoln will begin sales in China later this year unlikely to spread. General Motors’ Cadillac and Ford’s Lincoln-American luxury brands with the Lincoln MKZ, a midsize sedan, and the Lincoln MKC, a small The probe into Marubeni’s China unit comes days with illustrious traditions at home where they have served as official sports utility vehicle. China’s auto sales surged 13.9 percent to 21.98 after the seizure of a bulk carrier owned by Japan’s cars for American presidents. million vehicles last year. GM, for example, expects total auto Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd in a case related to a wartime China’s economy has surged to become the world’s second- demand to increase to 33-to-35 million vehicles by 2020. claim. Mitsui has paid almost $30 million to Chinese largest, and its auto market has overtaken the United States as the In differentiating itself, one card that Lincoln-named after the claimants and the ship was released, a Chinese court biggest. That means a growing middle class is increasingly able to 16th US president Abraham Lincoln-won’t be playing in China is said yesterday. The seizure of the vessel comes amid afford premium marques, while at the same time the government national origin. “We definitely will not present ourselves as an escalating tensions between China and Japan over a has been attempting to promote home-grown vehicles for official American brand,” Farley said. “We’ll present our brand with a her- use. The foreign ministry last year announced that minister Wang Yi itage, an authentic heritage, but we won’t be Ralph Lauren or other chain of uninhabited islands both countries claim. The was using a Hongqi, or Red Flag, vehicle-having switched from an brands that have used great American celebrities,” he said. impoundment has set off alarm bells in Japan and the Audi A6, according to Xinhua. Luca de Meo, Audi board member for “Americanness has all sorts of things in customers’ minds here,” he country’s top government spokesman warned this sales and marketing, told reporters ahead of the 2014 Beijing auto added, suggesting a disadvantage. —AFP week it may damage Japanese business in China.

Ploy to pressure prices? Two sources, including one with direct knowledge of the matter, said one of the Marubeni staff being held is Zhang Wenjing, a trading executive with Columbia Grain. Her detention followed tip-offs to customs alleg- ing that the company together with a local crusher were involved in evading taxes for soybean shipments, the sources said. “The customs received a tip-off that the company was suspected of evading taxes and smuggling by using provisional prices,” said one of the sources, who has close business dealings with Marubeni. Some industry analysts said the tip-off targeting Marubeni could be part of a ploy aimed at pressuring soybean prices. “Distressed cargoes sailing to China could then be bought by Chinese buyers at a discount- ed price,” said an industry analyst who declined to be identified. The investigation comes nearly a year after China raided GlaxoSmithKline’s offices in the country and detained four executives on suspicion of bribery and tax fraud. A 2010 crackdown by Beijing targeting wrongdoing in iron ore trading resulted in four staff of Rio Tinto being jailed for bribery and stealing state secrets. — Reuters BEIJING: Visitors checking out an Audi RS5 car on display at the China International Exhibition Center new venue during the “Auto China 2014” in Beijing. — AFP Sports41 FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 Red Sox D’backs tame Cubs pound Yankees CHICAGO: The Chicago Cubs marked St. Louis manager Mike Matheny four starts this season as a replacement BOSTON: Michael Pineda was ejected for using pine tar less than Wrigley Field’s 100th birthday in dra- challenged the call, which was upheld for the injured Mat Latos. Simon pitched two weeks after appearing to get away with using a foreign sub- matic fashion Wednesday, allowing following a replay review. Cardinals exclusively in relief the previous two stance in another game against Boston, and the Red Sox beat the the Arizona Diamondbacks to rally for right-hander Michael Wacha (2-2) set years. New York Yankees 5-1 Wednesday night. five runs in the ninth inning and a 7-5 career highs with 10 strikeouts and five Bruce had two hits and knocked in The right-hander was thrown out in the second inning when victory. walks in four innings, the shortest of his the final run of the decisive three-run plate umpire Gerry Davis found the substance on the right side of After an error by shortstop Starlin 14 regular-season starts in the majors. fifth inning against Charlie Morton (0-3) Pineda’s neck after Red Sox manager John Farrell asked him to Castro, Martin Prado hit a two-run single that gave the Reds a 4-2 lead. Billy check. Pineda walked from the mound without protest. off Pedro Strop (0-2), Miguel Montero BREWERS 5, PADRES 2 Hamilton also had two hits for Both Pineda and Davis said it was pine tar. Yankees general man- had a tying single against James Russell Jean Segura hit a three-run homer, Cincinnati, which has won seven of 10 ager Brian Cashman said Pineda and the organization were “embar- and Aaron Hill followed with a two-run and Milwaukee broke out of an offen- games since a 3-7 start. Jonathan rassed.” triple off Justin Grimm. sive slumber at home to support Kyle Broxton pitched a scoreless ninth John Lackey (3-2) allowed one run and seven hits in eight Trevor Cahill (1-3) pitched two Lohse. inning, despite allowing two hits, for his innings with 11 strikeouts and no walks. Koji Uehara struck out three scoreless innings for Arizona, which Segura homered for a 4-1 lead in the third save. in the ninth in a non-save situation. Mike Napoli had three hits and ended a four-game losing streak, and second. Khris Davis added a solo shot Boston scored two runs in the first and two more in the third. The Addison Reed got his fourth save. The for the Brewers, who have won five of INTERLEAGUE Yankees scored on Alfonso Soriano’s sacrifice fly in the sixth. game drew 32,323 - about 9,000 under six and are a big league-best 16-6. NATIONALS 5, ANGELS 4 capacity. Arizona said after the game Lohse (4-1) allowed five hits and no Adam LaRoche’s tiebreaking RBI sin- TWINS 6, RAYS 4 that outfielder Mark Trumbo will be Chris Colabello drove in four runs, including two on a 12th- sidelined for an unspecified extended inning single that lifted Minnesota past Tampa Bay. Colabello’s period because of a stress fracture in his game-winning hit came off Josh Lueke (0-1) after hits by Joe Mauer left foot. and Trevor Plouffe. Casey Fien (1-0) got the win and Glen Perkins pitched the 12th inning for his fourth save. Colabello drove in DODGERS 5, PHILLIES 2 Minnesota’s first two runs with a fourth-inning home run off Rays Zack Greinke outpitched Cole Hamels starter Jake Odorizzi, his third homer of the season and his second in with seven strong innings, Hanley two nights. The four RBIs gave the Twins designated hitter a league- Ramirez homered and Yasiel Puig drove leading 26 for the season and tied the franchise record for RBIs in in two runs for Los Angeles. April that Kirby Puckett set in 1994. Desmond Jennings had three Greinke (4-0) allowed two runs and hits, stole two bases and scored twice for the Rays. five hits while striking out 11 and walk- ing one batter intentionally. Manager MARINERS 5, ASTROS 3 Don Mattingly tried to squeeze one Kyle Seager hit a three-run homer with one out in the bottom of more inning out of Greinke, but lifted the ninth and Seattle rallied to snap an eight-game losing streak. him after Jayson Nix drove the right- Seager homered for his second straight at-bat after being mired hander’s 108th pitch to left-center for a in a slump for most of the season. Seager hit a two-run homer in the leadoff homer. JP Howell got three outs seventh off Jarred Cosart, then added the winning shot on the first in the eighth, and Kenley Jansen pitched pitch from Josh Fields (0-1) in the ninth. The five RBIs were a career a perfect ninth for his eighth save after high. Fernando Rodney (1-1) pitched the ninth for Seattle. the Dodgers picked up a couple of insur- ance runs in the eighth on Ramirez’s RANGERS 3, ATHLETICS 0 leadoff homer to center and Justin Martin Perez (4-0) pitched a three-hitter for his second consecu- Turner’s RBI single off Shawn Camp. tive shutout to extend his scoreless innings streak to 26, helping Texas complete a three-game sweep. BRAVES 3, MARLINS 1 Donnie Murphy homered and Michael Choice scored one run Pinch-hitter Evan Gattis broke an and drove in another for the Rangers, who moved a half-game eighth-inning tie with a two-run double ahead of Oakland in first place in the AL West with their first sweep off A.J. Ramos as Atlanta took two of of the A’s since August 2011. Sonny Gray (3-1) allowed three runs three from Miami and won for the ninth and five hits in seven innings. He had won six straight regular-sea- time in 12 games overall. The Marlins are son decisions dating to September. 1-8 on the road. Braves pitchers struck out 16, giving them 41 strikeouts and WHITE SOX 6, TIGERS 4 five walks one intentional - in the three- Marcus Semien’s seventh-inning grand slam lifted Chicago over game series. Miami pitchers struck out Detroit. Jose Abreu hit another long home run for the White Sox, 37 and walked nine. but it was Semien’s first career slam that turned around the game. David Carpenter (1-0) got the final Detroit starter Drew Smyly allowed two runs in six innings, but Evan out of the eighth, and Craig Kimbrel Reed (0-1) gave up two singles and a walk, and Ian Krol allowed the pitched a perfect ninth for his sixth save. home run to Semien. Andre Rienzo (1-0) gave up four runs in the Mike Dunn (1-3) was the loser. fourth inning, but kept the Tigers quiet otherwise in his first start this season. He allowed five hits and two walks in 6 1-3 innings, striking GIANTS 12, ROCKIES 10 out three. Matt Lindstrom pitched the ninth for his third save Hector Sanchez hit two of San CHICAGO: Cubs right fielder Justin Ruggiano misses the catch on a Francisco’s six homers, including a triple by Arizona Diamondbacks’ Aaron Hill, on which two runs scored INDIANS 5, ROYALS 3 grand slam in the 11th off Chad Bettis during the ninth inning of a baseball game at Wrigley Field. —AP Jason Kipnis drove in Nick Swisher with a two-out double in the (0-1). Michael Morse also hit two homers seventh inning, sending Cleveland past Kansas City. Kipnis ripped - a solo shot in the second and a three- walks in seven innings. The Brewers had gle off the first pitch from Fernando his double off Kelvin Herrera (0-1) into the gap in right-center, deep run homer the following inning - as two nine hits at Miller Park, where the team Salas capped a four-run rally in the bot- enough to easily score Swisher, who reached on a two-out single. Giants hit multiple homers in the same had been averaging just two runs and tom of the ninth inning that kept The Indians tacked on an insurance run in the eighth on pinch-hitter game for the first time since May 25, six hits entering the night. Washington from getting swept. Lonnie Chisenhall’s bloop RBI single. Bryan Shaw (1-0) finished the 2005. Brandon Hicks and Brandon Belt Francisco Rodriguez pitched a score- Los Angeles led 4-1 entering the seventh and got one out in the eighth. Cody Allen retired two, and also went deep as the Giants rallied from less ninth for his ninth save, his 313th ninth, and closer Ernesto Frieri (0-2) John Axford worked the ninth for his AL-leading eighth save. a 5-1, second-inning deficit. Jean Machi over 12 full big league seasons. Tyson went in, seeking his third save. Instead, Salvador Perez and Mike Moustakas hit back-to-back homers in the (4-0) got one out for the win. Ross (2-3) allowed a season-high five he left with his second blown chance, second for Kansas City. earned runs in six innings. charged with all four runs Washington METS 3, CARDINALS 2 scored in that inning. Jose Lobaton led ORIOLES 10, BLUE JAYS 8 Lucas Duda hit a long home run and REDS 5, PIRATES 2 off with his first homer of the season. Nelson Cruz hit two of Baltimore’s season-high four home runs New York threw out the potential tying Alfredo Simon pitched into the sev- One out later, Denard Span singled, and Chris Davis and Matt Wieters also connected fpr the Orioles. run at the plate in the ninth inning to enth inning despite erratic control and then Anthony Rendon walked. Frieri Cruz hit a solo homer off Dustin McGowan in the third and a hold off St. Louis. Jay Bruce drove in a run for a fifth con- then gave up Jayson Werth’s two-run grand slam off Todd Redmond (0-2) in the fifth, giving him six Jonathon Niese earned his first win of secutive game to lead Cincinnati. double to make it 4-all. homers this season and 11 career multihomer games. The slam was the season, and shortstop Ruben Tejada Simon (3-1) worked 6 2-3 innings and Salas entered, and LaRoche greeted his seventh. Davis hit a solo homer in the first, and Wieters added a cut down Matt Carpenter for the second allowed two runs on four hits and five him with a liner to left that scored solo drive off J.A. Happ in the seventh. —AP out of the ninth on a strong relay from walks while striking out four. He has Werth. Drew Storen (2-0) got one out in center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis. pitched at least six innings in each of his the ninth for the victory. —AP Sports FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014

OHIO: Columbus Blue Jackets’ Mark Letestu (right) chases a loose puck as Pittsburgh Penguins’ Matt Niskanen falls to the ice during the second period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series. —AP Blue Jackets sink Penguins

COLUMBUS: Brandon Dubinsky scored with 22.5 Dubinsky each had a goal and an assist and career postseason goal. Bryan Bickell tied it for od as the Stars beat top-seeded Anaheim in seconds left in regulation to force overtime Boone Jenner also scored for Columbus, making defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago with Game 4 to level the series 2-2. before Nick Foligno’s wrist shot just inside the only its second postseason trip. 3:52 left in regulaton after the Blackhawks blew Game 5 is tonight in Anaheim, and Game 6 blue line 2:49 into the extra session gave the a 2-0 second-period lead. Andrew Shaw also is Sunday in Dallas. Even without captain Ryan Columbus Blue Jackets a 4-3 victory over the BLACKHAWKS 4, BLUES 3 scored, Jonathan Toews had two assists and Getzlaf, a surprise late scratch with an upper- Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday. The Blue Patrick Kane scored his second goal of the Corey Crawford made 30 saves. Vladimir body injury, and healthy scratch Teemu Selane, Jackets overcame a 3-0 deficit for their first home game at 11:17 of overtime, and Chicago beat St. Tarasenko scored twice for St. Louis, and the Ducks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first playoff victory in the franchise’s 13 seasons, Louis to even the first-round playoff series at Maxim Lapierre added a goal. Game 5 is Friday period on goals by Bryan Allen and Patrick sending the series back to Pittsburgh for Game 5 two games apiece. night in St. Louis. Maroon. on Saturday night level at 2-2. Kane carried the puck down the left side as Dallas captain Jaime Benn scored off a face- Craig Adams, Chris Kunitz, James Neal scored teammates Ben Smith and Brandon Saad STARS 4, DUCKS 2 off only 27 seconds into the second period, his in a 5:01 span in the first period to stake the rushed toward the net, and beat Ryan Miller Cody Eakin and Alex Goligoski scored 1:22 third goal in the series. Vernon Fiddler tied it at Penguins to a 3-0 lead. But Ryan Johansen and with a well-placed wrist shot for his 32nd apart off Dallas’ first two shots in the third peri- 6:33 of the second. — AP Heat beat Bobcats

MIAMI: LeBron James scored 32 points and added after blowing a 10-point lead in the final eight min- eight assists, Chris Bosh scored 20 points and the utes of the series opener. San Antonio’s ineptness Miami Heat held on to beat the Charlotte Bobcats had as much to do with tying the series, however. 101-97 on Wednesday night to take a 2-0 lead in The Spurs averaged 14.4 turnovers during the reg- their Eastern Conference first-round series. ular season, but had 15 with 3 minutes left in the Dwyane Wade scored 15 points and had a steal first half. They finished with 22 turnovers, which in the final seconds to help seal the win for Miami. resulted in 33 points for the Mavericks. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scored 22 points for Charlotte, which got 18 points and 13 rebounds TRAIL BLAZERS 112, ROCKETS 105 from Al Jefferson, who played through a left plan- LaMarcus Aldridge scored 43 points and tar fascia strain and shot 9 for 23 from the floor. Damian Lillard made six free throws down the Kemba Walker added 16 and Gerald Henderson stretch to give the Portland Trail Blazers a victory scored 15 for the Bobcats. Game 3 is tomorrow in over the Houston Rockets and a 2-0 lead in the Charlotte. first-round playoff series. James Harden knocked down a 3-pointer with about 30 seconds left to get MAVERICKS 113, SPURS 92 the Rockets within three. Lillard made two free Monta Ellis scored 21 points and the Dallas throws before Harden fouled out about 10 seconds Mavericks rolled past San Antonio, snapping a 10- later. Mo Williams and Lillard both made a pair of game skid against the Spurs and evening their first- free throws after that to secure the win. round series at a game apiece. Aldridge became the first player with consecu- Shawn Marion scored 20 points, Dirk Nowitzki tive 40-point games in the playoffs since LeBron added 16, Devin Harris had 18 and Jose Calderon James did it in May of 2009 after scoring a career- 12 for Dallas, which never trailed after the opening high and franchise playoff-record 46 in an overtime MIAMI: Charlotte Bobcats’ Kemba Walker (15) passes the ball as Miami Heat’s Norris Cole minutes of the second quarter. Manu Ginobili had win in Game 1. Dwight Howard scored 25 points in (right) and another player defend during the first half in Game 2 of an opening-round 27 points, Tony Parker added 12 and Tim Duncan the first half, but managed just seven in the second NBA basketball playoff series. — AP 11 for the Spurs. Dallas didn’t relent in Game 2 half for Houston. — AP Sports FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 Brumbies, Chiefs face Anzac Day showdown

SYDNEY: Defending champions Waikato “You can never relax.” tional Benji Marshall may have been ing Australasian tour with a win over the Chiefs and Australia’s ACT Brumbies meet The Chiefs have only won twice in ten released after failing to hold down a regu- Western Force in Perth on Saturday. in this weekend’s rematch of last year’s trips to Canberra and the Brumbies lead lar place at the Blues, but coach John Van der Merwe was on Wednesday sus- Super Rugby final, with the winner keeping 11-7 overall in their meetings. “It is special Kirwan has recalled World Cup All Blacks pended for three games on a striking series leaders the Coastal Sharks in their to be playing a match against an Australian Piri Weepu and Ma’a Nonu for what is tra- charge in last week’s 19-12 loss to the sights. team on Anzac Day. It is a hugely impor- ditionally a fierce trans-Tasman contest. Waratahs in Sydney. The Brumbies and Chiefs trail the tant day for our two countries,” Chiefs Weepu has been cleared to return via The Pretoria-based Bulls have lost their Sharks by six points after eight rounds of coach Dave Rennie said. the bench after the scrum-half suffered a last six away games but have won two of the southern hemisphere provincial cham- The Chiefs have made six changes to stroke last month and underwent minor their three games in Perth. Bulls coach pionship and both need a win on Friday’s the starting line-up with Mahonri heart surgery. “To have Weepu back will Frans Ludeke has made five changes with Anzac Day to avoid falling further behind Schwalger at hooker and Ross Filipo get- probably spark some emotion and when suspension, rotation and injury forcing his the South African pacesetters. ting his first start for the year. he comes on late in the game, he’ll be try- hand. “We have to get back to winning The Sharks face the Otago Highlanders The Sharks can put themselves into an ing his best to have an impact and change ways and this is a final opportunity to turn on Friday in Durban, where they haven’t even stronger position with a victory over the result,” Waratahs fly-half Bernard Foley our tour into a positive,” Ludeke said. “If we lost to the New Zealanders for nine years. the eighth-placed Highlanders. “The chal- said. “You can’t take any player lightly. can bag a win here and add the losing Back-to-back champions Waikato have lenge for us is to focus on getting a result Even recent form goes out the window bonus points we collected earlier on tour, battled through this season with a heavy against the Highlanders,” Sharks coach when you play guys like that because they the reward would justify the hard work we injury toll and will have 11 players unavail- Jake White said. “We go away the next day- can come on and ignite something or do have put in.” able for the Anzac Day crunch game in it’s our last home game for a long while the things that only the world-class players In this weekend’s remaining games, the Canberra. Brumbies coach Stephen and we have to keep the momentum do.” The Waratahs have only won once in Hurricanes host the Queensland Reds in Larkham is aware of the danger of playing going.” The fourth-placed NSW Waratahs nine visits to Eden Park but this year the Wellington and the Central Cheetahs have with complacency against the Chiefs. have been boosted by Wallaby Kurtley Blues are struggling in 11th spot. South home advantage over the Western “There were periods in that (2013 final) Beale’s speedy recovery from an ankle Africa’s Northern Bulls will be without their Stormers in Bloemfontein. The Canterbury where I thought, ‘we’ve got this won’, and injury for Friday’s showdown with the skipper Flip van der Merwe through sus- Crusaders, Golden Lions and Rebels have a that’s the wrong attitude,” Larkham said. Blues in Auckland. Rugby League interna- pension as they attempt to finish their los- bye. — AFP

Andy Schleck seeking Super Rugby, a competition of slim pre-Tour results boost margins — Smith

LIEGE: Former Tour de France winner Andy Schleck is desper- WELLINGTON: This year’s Super Rugby competition is shaping ate to get a positive result at Liege-Bastogne-Liege on Sunday up to be the tightest in a decade, Wellington Hurricanes captain to boost his confidence ahead of July’s Grand Boucle. Conrad Smith said ahead of his side’s clash with the Queensland Schleck, who was awarded the 2010 Tour when Alberto Reds tomorrow. While both sides are already in a ‘must win’ situa- Contador was stripped of his victory for doping, has not had a tion halfway through the season, apart from the table-topping top 10 finish in any major race since the 2011 Tour. Sharks, who have 31 points, the standings are relatively com- There he finished second to Australian Cadel Evans but pressed. The second-placed ACT Brumbies are on 25 points, while since then, injury and other problems have seen Schleck lose the seventh-placed Hurricanes (21) are just one point behind the all semblance of the form he showed to finish in the Tour’s Canterbury Crusaders for the final spot in the top-six playoffs. top two three years running. And now he is desperate for a The 2011 champion Reds are on 16 points and one bonus- point win away from moving into contention, despite sitting a morale-boosting result before July. lowly 12th on the table. “I seem to be saying it every year,” Smith, “Of course I go in (to this year’s Tour) with high hopes,” who made his Super Rugby debut in 2004 and celebrated his Schleck told AFP. “I believe I’m on track, I do all the training I 100th appearance earlier this season, told reporters after an have to do. “Sunday (when he crashed in the Amstel Gold intense training session in a chilly Wellington yesterday. Race) I was really unlucky (but) I’m confident that after Liege “In the past, we might tell you guys that we treat all matches I’ll do (the Tour of) Romandie and then the preparation goes the same but in honesty there were a few teams where you well for the Tour. would rotate a few players,” he added of the opportunities to rest “For me, mentally, I train a lot and do a lot of hours and to players against weaker sides in previous seasons. do a result is also good for your head.” Schleck, 28, crashed “But I don’t see that being the case this year. The New Zealand hard just 80km into Sunday’s Amstel race in the Netherlands conference is tight and... the way the Aussie sides have played before pulling out around 40km later. and the form they’ve shown.” He also came down in a minor early incident at The Hurricanes lost their opening three games and local pun- Wednesday’s Fleche Wallonne in Belgium before once again dits and fans had begun to grow restless at a lack of consistency failing to finish. But he will be the Trek team’s leader this com- in their results with talk of coach Mark Hammett being moved ing Sunday for Liege-Bastogne-Liege and is hoping to prove along when his contract expired at the season’s end. he is returning to his best form. However, before the Fleche race he was still bothered by REDS THREAT the knee he injured when falling at Amstel. Schleck’s loss of The Wellington-based side, however, have won their last form, coupled with a clear dip in confidence, is one of the three games despite Hammett dropping a bombshell when he said he would not be seeking a contract renewal before they pro- most baffling recent developments in cycling. duced their best performance of the season, a 39-20 demolition He announced his potential to the world as a 21-year-old of the Auckland Blues last week. Hammett has not allowed his when he finished second in the 2007 Giro d’Italia, winning the side to rest on their laurels this week, pointing out they may have young rider’s classification, behind Italian Danilo Di Luca, who just as easily lost their last three games. “We are a team, and we later that year would fail the first of three doping tests that have said this openly, that if we drop (our performance) by five eventually resulted in a lifetime ban in 2013. percent, those scores are the other way around and we drop Schleck went on to finish 12th at the Tour de France the those last three games,” Hammett said. next year, winning the young rider’s classification to boot. “Whether we like it or not, that’s the reality of where we are as He also finished fourth in Liege-Bastogne-Liege that year a team.” The Reds have lost four of their previous five games and the 2008 Beijing Olympic road race. The next year Schleck Andy Schleck though both Hammett and Smith were refusing to read anything proved he was a potential star, coming second in the Tour de after failing a doping test-he had taken a diuretic-and eventu- into those results with three of the losses by three points. France behind Contador, winning in Liege and coming sec- ally copped a one-year ban, robbing his younger brother of an As such, Smith said they could not underestimate the quality ond in the Fleche Wallonne. important element of his morale support group. of the Wallabies-laden Reds, who will celebrate captain James The next year he landed a Tour victory, although only after Without Frank at his side, Andy spent 2013 earning under- Horwill’s 100th Super Rugby appearance tomorrow. “It’s not Contador was stripped of his success, while in 2011 Schleck whelming results-he finished 86th at Fleche Wallonne-and always reflective of where they sit (on the table). They’re a good was second again, with brother Frank third-the first time two failing to finish-such as the Amstel Gold Race-but he dis- side and pose a lot of threats,” Smith added. “They have been siblings had made the same podium at the Tour. played some measure of a return to form by finishing 20th at very competitive in their (recent) games and could have won a But that was the last time he threatened the podium in any the Tour. Now, a year on, many will be looking to Liege, a race couple. “I know what kind of hunger that creates because we probably went through it ourselves. “They’ll be up. They’ll be a major race. In 2012 a crash during the Criterium du Dauphine where Schleck has four times finished in the top six, to gauge very dangerous side and we have talked about that and that in June left him with a broken pelvis that forced him out of whether or not he is capable of recapturing his Tour-winning there is no complacency.” — Reuters the Tour. His brother Frank was suspended during that Tour form. — AFP Sports44 FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014

Michael Phelps Phelps plays down Rio prospects

PHOENIX: Michael Phelps is playing down expec- Under the surface, he is the fiercest competi- ing of his return to competition this week is the ‘HAVING FUN’ tations about his return to competitive swimming tor swimming has ever seen. In a sport where first real clue that he has his heart set on adding to Rumors of a comeback began to gather steam but the most decorated Olympian of all time, medals are decided by tiny fractions, he has an his golden stockpile in Brazil. last year when Phelps re-registered with the with a mind-boggling 18 gold medals, is finding it insatiable quest to always get his hand on the Even below his best, Phelps would be a strong United States Anti-Doping Agency, a mandatory tough to sell himself as an underdog. wall first. contender to add to his tally just on the strength of requirement before he could race again. On Wednesday, the 28-year-old fronted a the US relay teams. He has swum in each of the He began training under Bowman at their base packed media conference on the eve of his THE JOURNEY three relay events at the past three Olympics, col- in North Baltimore, initially just to get back into eagerly-awaited comeback at a US swimming Phelps already knew that after winning eight lecting seven golds from the team races. shape after piling on almost 40 pounds (18 kilo- Grand Prix meet in Mesa, Arizona. gold medals in Beijing the only forward for him The key lead-up event before Rio is next year’s grams), then more seriously in preparation to race He arrived unshaven, a little plumper than was down, so he began the process in London, world championships in Russia, where Phelps again. “My highest point was probably 225 normal and with no swimsuit sponsor, and with which he vowed would be his swansong. would be able to measure his progress against his (pounds). I raced at 187 in London, so the weight the news that he had already pulled out of yester- He cut back to seven events, winning four main rivals for Rio and decide his Olympic pro- came on pretty quick,” Phelps said. day’s 100 metres freestyle heats to concentrate golds, and plans to trim that back even further in gramme. “Last week I was about 194. I’ve lost a lot of on the 100m butterfly and today’s 50m freestyle. the future, though neither he nor his long-time But the selection process to make the US team weight and get in decent shape. We’ve been able “I haven’t signed any contracts, no one’s mak- coach Bob Bowman would elaborate on which for the world championships is more complicated to get some good work done in the pool.” ing me do this. I’m doing this because I want to,” events he would stick with. than usual and will start at this year’s national titles The history of sport is full of failed comebacks he explained. “I’m loving just being back in the “I always have goals and things that I want to in August, which will double as the trials for the but Phelps, who will be 31 by the time Rio rolls water and in a group. I’m even more relaxed than achieve and I have things that I want to achieve Pan Pacific championships in Australia. The per- around, said he was unfazed by what people think I ever was before. I’m smiling a lot, I’m happier, now,” he said. “Bob and I can do anything that we formances of swimmers at that meet will then about his return if he failed to live up to his previ- I’m joking a lot. put our minds to. largely determine who gets picked for the world ous standards. “I really am the grandfather of your group “That’s what we’ve done in the past so I’m look- championships. And despite everything he has “I’m doing this for me. If I don’t become as suc- now. I’m the old man.” But for a man who had ing forward to wherever this road takes me and I achieved, Phelps has yet to qualify for the US cessful as you all think I would be or should be, spent his life demolishing records and setting the guess the journey will start tomorrow.” While nationals because he has not swum in the official and you think this tarnishes my career, then that’s gold standard for Olympic success, it is a routine Phelps evaded questions about his chances of win- qualifying period, which commenced after he your own opinion,” he said. few are buying. Phelps did not reach Olympic ning more gold in Rio, he did break away from his retired. “I obviously knew that if I really wanted to “I’m doing this because I want to come back immortality through a devil-may-care approach mantra that he is just doing it all for fun. compete at a really high level then I have to do it and I enjoy being in the pool and I enjoy the sport to his sport. Rio is still more than two years ago but the tim- this summer,” he said. of swimming. I’m just having fun.” —Reuters F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone rejects bribery charges

MUNICH: Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone rejected Ecclestone’s trial, which is scheduled to last until Sept. 16. accusations of bribery as he went on trial yesterday in a case Gribkowsky was found guilty of corruption, tax evasion that could threaten his grip on the sport, telling a Munich and breach of trust in a trial led by the same judge who is court that he was blackmailed by a German banker who hearing Ecclestone’s case, Peter Noll. received a disputed $44 million payment. The defense made clear that it will attack Gribkowsky’s Ecclestone said at the beginning of a four-hour personal credibility, and Ecclestone said in his statement that the statement read out in German by his lawyers that he was banker didn’t tell the truth. “grateful” to be able to give his side of the story - though he In yesterday’s statement, Ecclestone reiterated testimony told judges that he would answer questions from the Munich he gave at Gribkowsky’s trial that he gave the banker the state court through his lawyers, rather than personally. The money because he was “blackmailed” and worried 83-year-old Ecclestone is charged with bribery and incite- Gribkowsky would falsely accuse of him of being in charge ment to breach of trust, and could face up to 10 years in of a trust fund set up for the Formula One boss’s former wife prison if convicted. The charges involve a $44 million pay- and their children - possibly incurring a huge British tax bill. ment to banker Gerhard Gribkowsky, who is serving an 81/2- Ecclestone said that “from today’s point of view, it was year sentence for taking the money. Ecclestone appeared in not a rational decision” to pay Gribkowsky. “I saw my life’s court in a dark three-piece suit and followed the proceedings work in danger” if Gribkowsky went to the British tax author- closely with help from an interpreter whispering into his ear. ities, he said, adding that he wouldn’t have been able to pay Prosecutors allege the payment was meant to facilitate the resulting bill. the sale of Munich-based bank Bayern LB’s stake in Formula Ecclestone said he had turned over his entire stake in One to a buyer of Ecclestone’s liking. Gribkowsky was in Formula One to his then-wife, Slavica, and their two daugh- charge of selling that 47 percent stake in F1 in 2005. ters in 1997 following a series of operations and a health Ecclestone testified during Gribkowsky’s trial in 2011 and scare that left him worried his wife would face a 40 percent MUNICH: Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone (center) arrives in Gribkowsky is expected to be the main witness during inheritance tax. —AP the regional court in Munich. —AP Sports FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014

Inzamam backs Waqar as Photo of the day Pakistan cricket coach

LAHORE: Pakistan batting legend Inzamam-ul Haq yesterday backed Waqar Younis to be given another chance as the coun- try’s national cricket coach, saying he had proved his credentials in the past. Pakistan is looking for a permanent coach after for- mer Australian batsman Dav Whatmore’s two-year tenure end- ed in February. Fomer Test wicketkeeper and captain Moin Khan was appointed interim coach, but his two-month contract was not extended by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after a poor showing at the World Twenty20 last month. Waqar, who served as coach in 2010 and 2011, is favourite to take over and Inzamam said he was the right man for the job. “Pakistan team benefited during Waqar’s last tenure so I think he is the best choice as he knows the players and is famil- iar with our culture,” Inzamam told reporters. Inzamam, who played 120 Tests and 378 one-day interna- tional during an illustrious career, demanded a change in Pakistan’s attitude. “I think it’s about time we change the culture of changing captains and coaches after one defeat because we need to cor- rect the wrongs and change is not the solution,” said Inzamam. Inzamam backed Misbah-ul Haq as one-day captain for next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. “Misbah should lead the team because we have less than a year for the World Cup and it would not be possible to groom a new captain.” Mohammed Al Attar performs in Kuwait. — www.redbull.com Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez stepped down after the team’s failure to reach the World Twenty20 semi-final in Dhaka earlier this month. Allrounder Shahid Afridi was tipped to take over but young Real ‘athletes’ too much for opener Ahmed Shahzad’s name was also mentioned in Pakistani media as a potential replacement. Inzamam said that with no T20 matches until August and no Bayern, admits Guardiola tournament in the format until 2016, now was the right time to bring in new blood. — AFP MADRID: Bayern Munich boss Pep week, the Italian believed his side had another glaring opportunity to make Guardiola said his side had struggled played to their strengths. “I don’t like it 2-0 when he blasted over soon after to contain Real Madrid’s pace on the to give up the ball. It is clear that you before being replaced by Gareth Bale Sharapova counter-attack as Los Blancos secured cannot control the ball for the whole with 20 minutes remaining. a 1-0 advantage from the first leg of game, but especially against Barca Ancelotti admitted Ronaldo’s with- their Champions League semi-final on and Bayern it is very difficult to con- drawal had been a pre-meditated Wednesday. trol it. measure to ensure he didn’t run the advances Karim Benzema scored the only “Football, though, is not just about risk of aggravating the injury, but goal of the game on 19 minutes from possession, but defending, counter- expects both he and Bale-who had STUTTGART: Defending champion Maria Sharapova defeated one of a series of Madrid counter- attacks and many other things. What been suffering from flu before the Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 6-3 yesterday to set up a Porsche attacks in the first-half that caught the we had tonight was the sacrifice of game-to be 100 percent fit for the Grand Prix quarterfinal clash with top-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska. European champions wanting at the the players, but I don’t like not having return leg. “It was a decision that we The sixth-seeded Sharapova needed little over an hour-and-a-half back. the ball because you have less chance took before the game because the to defeat her fellow Russian, keeping alive her bid to win the tourna- “Madrid have athletes. They are to score.” only risk with Cristiano would come ment for the third year-in-a-row. footballers, but they are real athletes,” Ancelotti had recalled World once the muscle got tired. “It is nor- Polish world no. 3 Radwanska was rarely troubled in wrapping up said the former Barcelona boss after Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo mal that after 20 days he is not 100 her 6-3, 6-2 win over Italy’s Roberta Vinci in 1 hour 19 minutes. suffering his first defeat in eight to his starting line-up after four percent but he sacrificed himself for Fifth-seeded Jelena Jankovic faces Italy’s Flavia Pennetta later games as a coach at the Santiago games out through injury. the team and both Cristiano and Bale Thursday for a quarterfinal place against Alisa Kleybanova, who upset Bernabeu. The Portuguese was involved in will be in perfect condition for the third-seeded Petra Kvitova on Wednesday. “It is easy to say we need to play the build up to the goal and had Tuesday.” — AFP Serbia’s ninth-seeded Ana Ivanovic was to play German wild card more vertically, but the quicker we Julia Goerges, with Germany’s highest-seeded Angelique Kerber (4), move the ball forward, the quicker it facing Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain. comes back and that can be very dan- Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia was scheduled to take on second- gerous for us.” seeded Simona Halep in Thursday’s late match. — AP Bayern enjoyed 63 percent of the possession, but failed to create many clear-cut opportunities as Madrid defended in numbers. And Guardiola expects more of the same when his side try to turn the tie around on home soil at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday. “I think the next game will be exactly the same. We need to control their counter-attacks, but it is a question of finding the right balance. “Madrid are a complete team and it is true that not scoring away from home makes the tie very difficult. “However, we will be at home, with our fans behind us, and we will give everything to reach the final.” Real boss Carlo Ancelotti admitted he didn’t like having to relinquish control of the ball for large spells to STUTTGART: Russia’s Maria Sharapova serves the ball to Russia’s the Germans. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in their match at the WTA Porsche However, just as in Madrid’s Copa Tennis Grand Prix. — AFP del Rey victory over Barcelona last Bayern head coach Pep Guardiola Sports FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014

No rest for weary Atletico

BARCELONA: Atletico Madrid must put their Champions League ambitions to one side when they look to maintain their surprise La Liga title surge in a tough trip to Valencia on Sunday. They are on the verge of winning their first league title for 18 years and breaking the stran- glehold of the country’s superpowers, Barcelona and Real Madrid. After a 0-0 draw against Chelsea in the semi- final first leg on Tuesday, a victory or a score draw in London would assure Atletico of a place in their first European Cup final for 40 years. Atletico have been a model of consistency this season under coach Diego Simeone’s “match by match” strategy and their progress in three competitions, having also reached the King’s Cup semi-finals, is all the more remark- able considering their limited squad. Tired legs will be the main concern for Simeone as they prepare for the difficult visit to Valencia’s Mestalla and they cannot afford to rest players. “We are in good spirits and motivated to wear the Atletico Madrid shirt. We are in privi- leged position,” Simeone told a news confer- ence. “We are only thinking about Valencia now and then we will consider next Wednesday (against Chelsea).” Atletico lead the way in La Liga with 85 points, four more than Barcelona and six ahead of Real Madrid, who do have a game in hand. However, a slip-up against Valencia would be costly especially as they still have to face Barcelona away on the final day of the season. Real, meanwhile, also have strong Champions League ambitions after beating Bayern Munich 1-0 in the first leg of their semi- final at the Bernabeu.

EASIER TASK They have an easier-looking task at home to Osasuna on Saturday and should also be fresher having benefited from a break last weekend as their game with Valladolid was postponed fol- ITALY: Juventus’ midfielder Paul Pogba controls the ball during the Italian Serie A football match in this file photo. — AFP lowing their King’s Cup win. With Barcelona out of Europe and off the pace in La Liga, attention has turned to rebuild- Roma running out of games ing for next season, although as they prepare to travel to Villarreal on Sunday they still have an outside chance of winning the title. in pursuit of relentless Juve A major blow for the Catalan side in the title race came in their last away game against Granada where coach Gerardo Martino ITALY: AS Roma have bravely kept the Serie A title race alive With four matches each to play, Juventus have 90 points appeared unable to motivate his players who by winning their last seven games but are now running out of from 34 games, and Roma, already guaranteed second place lacked the necessary intensity and went down matches as they chase relentless leaders Juventus. and Champions League football next season, are on 82. 1-0. The result meant that winning the champi- Juventus could wrap up their third successive title over the Roma are hoping that they can at least keep the title race onship was no longer in their hands. Talk course of a four-day Serie A weekend if Roma fail to win at going until they host Juventus on the penultimate weekend of turned to whether Martino will decide to stay in home to AC Milan on Friday and Antonio Conte’s side beat rel- the season. In the meantime, Garcia is making plans for the the job and the players have been criticised for egation-threatened Sassuolo on Monday. Champions League. “I want to stay at Roma but I want a squad a lack of effort, including suggestions that Roma coach Rudi Garcia, however, is banking on his side that is capable of taking on the Champions League and fight- Lionel Messi has been holding himself back for beating Clarence Seedorf’s Milan and on battling Sassuolo tak- ing for the scudetto at the same time,” he said. the World Cup. ing at least two points off Juventus. “We are not going to play in the Champions League for the “There is still the league and although it is “I still believe in the scudetto, of course I do,” Garcia told sake of playing in it.” “We won’t play to win (the competition) difficult we are a club where it would not be the the Mediaset sports channel. “Everything is possible now. Of because at this very moment it’s not possible, but we want to first time that we could win the league on the course, we must win every match, starting on Friday. If we do be serious competitors in the group stage and at least get to final day of the season. We are confident. Why that we can wait until Monday, hoping that Sassuolo do what the second stage.” In other matches, Napoli need a win at not?” defender Gerard Pique told reporters. they have to do because they are playing for their survival. fifth-placed Inter tomorrow to make sure of a third-place finish “We have an exciting situation ahead. I am “Sassuolo are a good team and it’s a positive moment for and the Champions League playoff round. confident in the people running the club and them. Of course, if Juventus win, the contest will be almost There is still plenty of drama in store at the bottom with the players because we have a squad which is over, but if they don’t win it will be open again.” only seven points separating Chievo in 16th (30 points) and mentally very strong. “Messi is the number one. Sassuolo, making their Serie A debut this season, are joint Catania at the bottom (23). In between are Sassuolo and He is a fundamental part of the team and it is 17th with Bologna on 28 points and they have already made Bologna (28) and Livorno (25). Catania visit Verona (Sunday thanks to him we have won what we have. The their mark, beating Milan 4-3 in January and prompting their 1030), Livorno host Lazio (Sunday 1300), Chievo are at team has contributed but we are talking about opponents to fire coach Massimiliano Allegri. Sampdoria (Sunday 1300) and Bologna entertain fourth- the best player ever and to criticise him is some- Roma have cut Juve’s 14-point lead to eight in the last placed Fiorentina tomorrow. thing that doesn’t make sense to me, I can’t month after winning a game in hand and seeing their rivals Davide Nicola, fired as coach by Livorno in January, returns understand it.”— Reuters lose 2-0 at Napoli. But that turned out to be a rare slip by to the hot seat, having been re-hired on Monday to replace Juventus, who have won 10 of their last 11 league games. Domenico di Carlo. — Reuters Sports FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014

Liverpool seek to land a Schalke aiming knockout blow on Chelsea to seal Champions LONDON: Liverpool can eliminate one of Premier League against any team. “We’ve Ryan Giggs’s debut as manager. The ever- their two rivals from the Premier League title seen with the points Chelsea and City have green Welshman, who could even name him- League spot race by beating Chelsea on Sunday and the dropped recently that every single game in self in the side, was put in charge for the final way the dice is rolling for them they might this league is tough. four games of the season following Tuesday’s GERMANY: Schalke 04’s season could even have one hand on the trophy by the sacking of David Moyes. have a happy ending at home to end of the weekend. NO NERVES Norwich, who are one place above the Borussia Moenchengladbach on If Brendan Rodgers’s side overcome sec- “There are no signs of nerves. There is no drop zone, could probably not have picked a Sunday when they hope to claim a ond-placed Chelsea at Anfield and notch a point making ourselves nervous before a worse time to visit Old Trafford where a back- Champions League spot after a roller- 12th consecutive league win it would knock match.” After playing Chelsea, Liverpool visit lash is expected now the shackles are off in coaster campaign punctuated by Jose Mourinho’s side out of the reckoning Palace and finish at home to Newcastle the wake of Moyes’s troubled 10-month injury problems. and should Manchester City then fail to beat United. City’s game in hand next week is reign. Below them bottom club Sunderland Schalke, who had several players Crystal Palace a little later a first title for 24 away to Champions League chasing Everton host fellow strugglers Cardiff City on Sunday including Marco Hoeger and Jan years would be almost assured. before home matches against lowly Aston in a match both sides will be desperate to win Kirchhoff back in training this week, ‘If’ is a notoriously fickle word in the often Villa and West Ham United. while defeat could spell doom in the fight to can seal an automatic Champions unpredictable Premier League, but Liverpool While City battle to keep alive their title stay in the top flight. Fulham, who are second League berth if they win and fourth- have built up a seemingly inexhaustible head hopes, outgoing Manchester United will aim from bottom, have a gilt-edged opportunity placed Bayer Leverkusen lose to of steam and with Chelsea having one eye on to end a tumultuous week with victory over to climb out of the bottom three if they Hull Borussia Dortmund tomorrow. next week’s Champions League semi-final relegation-haunted Norwich in what will be City tomorrow. — Reuters The Ruhr Valley club, who have against Atletico Madrid the omens look good lost only twice since the mid-season for the Anfield club. break, have 58 points, four ahead of What is more, City are up against a Palace Leverkusen with three games left. side on a five-game winning spin that has lift- “If we do our homework then we ed the threat of relegation - a run that will successfully defend the third includes wins over Chelsea and Everton. spot,” said midfielder Hoeger. “We With Chelsea having drawn 0-0 in Madrid have worked for this four-point lead on Tuesday but suffering injuries to keeper and we are not ready to give it up.” Petr Cech and skipper John Terry, Mourinho There was more bad news for has made no secret of the fact that the Schalke on Wednesday when central Champions League has now taken prece- defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos, dence over the domestic title scrap. who has missed much of the season While the Portuguese, known for his mind through injury, pulled out of training games, has not actually conceded the title, he with a shoulder problem. He looks set has said he wants to send out a weakened to miss Sunday’s match with the club side at Anfield on Sunday despite knowing saying tests will be carried out to victory there would put them within touching show how long he will be out. distance of Liverpool with two games remain- “We are still in control of our own ing. fate,” said Schalke sports director “I know what I would do, but I’m not the Horst Heldt. “I am totally convinced club. I have to speak with the club,” Mourinho we will clinch automatic Champions said after the Atletico draw. “I would play with League qualification. the players that are not going to play “The team will not start getting Wednesday.” nervous now. Gladbach also still have Having been deprived of striker Samuel some chances to finish fourth and Eto’o and Eden Hazard for the first leg in they will give it all they have. We have Madrid, Mourinho would be loathed to risk to invest everything into those last them against Liverpool and with Cech and three league games.” Gladbach, sixth Terry sidelined his starting line-up will likely on 49 points, have only themselves to have an unfamiliar look on Sunday. blame for leaving it so late, winning Whatever distractions Chelsea have, how- only four games since the mid-season ever, Liverpool will be acutely aware that they break in an erratic second half of the have a poor record against the west London season. club with Mourinho in charge. While the pair battle it out for The Portuguese has won six and lost just European qualification, four teams once in eight league meetings with Liverpool. are locked in a fight to avoid the Rodgers has steadfastly refused to get caught drop. Bottom club Eintracht up in title talk but should the best case sce- Braunschweig have their backs to the nario occur on Sunday his side would be nine wall when they travel to Hertha Berlin points ahead of City who would only have tomorrow, needing a victory to main- three games left to play, compared to tain realistic hopes of staying up. Liverpool’s two. Nuremberg, a point ahead in 17th The Northern Irishman’s calm assurance, place, are hoping a change in coach aligned with skipper Steven Gerrard’s influen- following the sacking of Gertjan tial displays at the heart of midfield and Luis Verbeek on Wednesday will provide Suarez’s goals have underpinned Liverpool’s the necessary jolt needed to lift them march. to safety when they take on Mainz 05 Results have also gone their way with bot- tomorrow. tom club Sunderland taking points off Hamburg SV, occupying the rele- Chelsea and Man City, but keeper Simon gation playoff spot in 16th position Mignolet stressed it also showed the dangers with 27 points, travel to in-form that lurk at every turn. Augsburg on Sunday looking to avoid “Three points was all that mattered at dropping out of the Bundesliga for Norwich (in their last game),” Mignolet told the first time in their history. Liverpool’s website. “Before the game the Stuttgart, on 31 points in 15th place, manager told us that Chelsea’s defeat aim to secure their safety with a win (against Sunderland) was a warning sign — over Hanover 96 today. — Reuters that it showed what can happen in the Chelsea’s manager Jose Mourinho FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014

Sharapova advances • Phelpsplays down • Liverpool seekto blow onChelsea land aknockout Rio prospects Rio Pavlyuchenkova intheirmatch at the WTA STUTTGART: Russia’s Sharapova Maria returns theball to Russia’s Anastasia Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.—AFP