RAJAB 18, 1439 AH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018

Max 30º 32 Pages Min 21º 150 Fils Established 1961

ISSUE NO: 17498 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net

MPs approve rights body, refuse UN raises $2bn for Yemen; Sudan ‘sister coach’ takes Ronaldo powers Real to Juve win; 3 to debate Muwaizri’s complaint 4 Kuwait pledges $250,000 31 love of football to field 11 Bayern come back to beat Sevilla

MoI lifts ban on recruiting Ethiopian domestic workers MoCI sets fixed rates of KD 990 and KD 390 for hiring helpers

KUWAIT: Kuwait will begin rehiring ministry’s general department of res- Ethiopian domestic workers after a idency affairs. The Philippines Kuwaiti properties in Basra ‘safe’ ban that lasted for years, the interior banned its citizens from working in ministry announced yesterday. The Kuwait after the body of 29-year- decision was made after a series of old Joanna Demafelis was found in a meetings with representatives from freezer earlier this year, bearing the Ethiopian government, the interior signs of torture. Ethiopia five years ministry’s assistant undersecretary for ago instituted a similar ban, follow- citizenship and passports affairs Maj ing reports of abuse and complaints Gen Sheikh Mazen Al-Sabah said in a that employment agencies lured its statement. He pointed out that this is citizens to work under illegal and being done on compassionate appalling conditions. The ban was grounds as well, as the holy month of lifted last Thursday. Ramadan is approaching, which Maarifi said there were more than invariably means more household 15,000 Ethiopians currently living chores for Kuwaiti families. and working in Kuwait. Kuwaiti Sheikh Mazen made clear police in March 2017 detained a Ethiopian delegates were apprised woman for filming her Ethiopian maid Maj Gen Sheikh Mazen Al-Sabah of a raft of measures the govern- falling from the seventh floor without ment has taken to protect the rights trying to rescue her. The 12-second Al-Roudhan, those who prefer to of domestic workers. Kuwait has video shows the maid hanging out- handle the process on their own are long been a magnet for migrant side the building, with one hand tight- required to provide the office with a BASRA: The Kuwaiti media delegation meets head of Basra governorate council Waleed Kitan domestic workers, he said, adding ly gripping the window frame, as she copy of the domestic worker’s pass- yesterday. — KUNA (See Page 2) that the country is keen on explor- begs for help. port, and the cost will be KD 390 ing new opportunities in the domes- Meanwhile, anyone seeking to hire ($1,287). These charges are fixed and BASRA, Iraq: Kuwaiti properties in tively on Kuwaiti-Iraqi relations. The tic work market. the services of a domestic worker not subject to change, the commerce Basra are safe and there is no power situation in Basra, especially within “We aim to open the door to the through any government-accredited ministry stressed in a statement, that can change the status of the the security domain, has improved recruitment of Ethiopian workers to offices throughout the country will warning violators of legal action. It properties’ ownership, an Iraqi official tremendously due to the defeat of the fill the deficit of domestic servants now have to pay KD 990 ($3,267). added the decision will be in effect said yesterday. Speaking to KUNA so-called Islamic State, the Iraqi offi- and reduce prices,” said General According to a decision by Minister for a trial period of six months pend- while meeting a visiting Kuwaiti cial said. Talal Al-Maarifi, head of the interior of Commerce and Industry Khaled ing reevaluation. — Agencies media delegation, Basra Governor Meanwhile, the Kuwaiti media Asaad Al-Eidani said properties delegation also met head of Basra’s belonging to prominent Kuwaiti fami- governorate council Waleed Kitan, sized the need to advance lies still exist and are protected by who briefed them on various service documentation and official statistics. projects in the governorate. The offi- MBS says Israelis the Middle East peace Any attempt to change real estate cial said Basra is eager to witness process in a phone call with ownership must go through the the participation of Kuwaiti have right to land; Trump, which came after Kuwaiti consulate in Basra and the investors in numerous ventures in Israeli forces killed 17 Iraqi authorities, said Eidani, who the city. The Kuwaiti media delega- Palestinians last week dur- affirmed that such a process can only tion arrived on Sunday for talks with Houthis attack ing a demonstration on its be done via original documentation local officials and to visit archeologi- border with Gaza. and authorized procedures. Basra Governor Asaad Al-Eidani cal sites in the nearby Thi Qar gov- Saudi oil tanker Saudi Arabia and Israel He affirmed that Kuwaitis eager to ernorate. The delegation includes have no formal diplomatic the Reconstruction of Iraq (KICRI), RIYADH: Saudi King Salman reaffirmed support for visit their properties in Basra are wel- KUNA Deputy Director General for relations, but behind the Prince Mohammed come to do so, adding that many attended by 75 nations, reflected Editorial Affairs Saad Al-Ali, Editor- Palestinians to US President Donald Trump, state media scenes their ties appear to Kuwaiti families refused to sell their Kuwait’s strong interest in the welfare in-Chief of Al-Anbaa Yusuf Al- said yesterday, after his son and heir apparent said Israel have improved in recent years against what they see as a properties; therefore, they are the of Iraq. Marzouq, Editor-in-Chief of Kuwait has a “right” to a homeland. The king “reaffirmed the common Iranian threat. Israel’s conflict with the rightful owners of the sites. The gov- Eidani welcomed Kuwaiti involve- Times Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan, kingdom’s steadfast position towards the Palestinian Palestinians has long proved an obstacle to a full rap- ernor lauded Kuwait for all its efforts ment in investment and business ven- Media Advisor at HH the Prime issue and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people prochement, however, as Riyadh still supports the to assist Iraq, noting that the recent tures in Basra and elsewhere in Iraq, Minister’s Diwan Hassan Al-Sayegh to an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital,” the Kuwait International Conference for affirming that this will reflect posi- and others. — KUNA Palestinian claim to sovereignty. official Saudi Press Agency said. The king also empha- Continued on Page 11

Russia-Turkey ties last week when Crown Prince Mohammed bin Oil to solar: Saudis Salman unveiled plans to develop the globe’s biggest tighten with nuclear solar power project for $200 billion in partnership with Japan’s SoftBank group. The memorandum of project, Syria talks push to be renewable understanding to produce up to 200 gigawatts of power by 2030 - about 100 times the capacity of the ANKARA: Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday energy powerhouse current biggest projects - was the latest jaw-drop- embarked on a two-day visit to Russia’s increasingly ping statement as the Saudis look to wean them- close partner Turkey to launch the construction of its AL UYAYNA, Saudi Arabia: Saudi engineers whip selves off oil. first nuclear power plant and coordinate policy on the up a simulated sandstorm to test a solar panel’s dura- If built on one site, the solar farm would cover an war in Syria. Putin held an afternoon of talks with his bility at a research lab, the heart of the oil-rich king- area twice the size of Hong Kong, according to a counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, before the two dom’s multibillion dollar quest to be a renewable Bloomberg News calculation. While the scale of the strongmen leaders are joined today by Iranian President energy powerhouse. The world’s top exporter of plan has stirred some disbelief - the agreement Hassan Rouhani for a summit devoted to Syria. crude seems an unlikely champion of clean energy, announced in the US was greeted with determination Their meeting in Ankara opened with Putin and but the government lab in Al Uyayna, a sun-drenched at the laboratory. “We can do it,” said Adel al- Erdogan, via video conference, launching construction village near Riyadh, is leading the country’s efforts Sheheween, director of the solar laboratory under the of Turkey’s first nuclear power station in the for solar power as it seeks to diversify. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. Mediterranean Mersin region, a massive project that will A dazzling spotlight was shone on those ambitions Continued on Page 11 come online in half a decade. In a sign of the importance of the alliance, Putin’s visit to Turkey is his first trip abroad since he won a historic fourth presidential man- date in March 18 polls. Putin and Erdogan - who have both led their post- ANKARA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left) imperial states out of economic crisis but also into a and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin attend a sym- new era of confrontation with the West - have forged an bolic groundbreaking ceremony for Turkey’s first nuclear increasingly close alliance in recent months. The Russian power station at the Presidential Palace yesterday. — AFP leader was driven to the vast presidential palace sur- rounded by an escort of Turkish troops in ceremonial troubled Turkey’s NATO allies, Ankara has agreed to dress on horseback and was warmly greeted by buy S-400 air defense missile systems from Russia. Erdogan who was waiting in person at the gate. But Ankara-Moscow relations were also tested by a Their meeting comes as ties between Russia and the severe crisis from Nov 2015 when Turkey shot down a West are nosediving to post-Cold War lows after the Russian war plane over Syria, a confrontation both March poisoning of Russian ex-double agent Sergei sides are trying to put behind each other. Despite being Skripal and his daughter in the UK. While EU powers on different sides of the Syrian civil war, key regime have rushed to join Britain in condemning Russia and backers Russia and Iran have joined with rebel-sup- expelling diplomats over the attack on Skripal, Turkey porting Turkey to push forward a peace process but has been much more circumspect. Erdogan, who in 2017 also to ensure influence in Syria once the conflict ends. held eight face-to-face meetings with Putin and has “We are also in close cooperation with Russia to end as already spoken to the Russian leader seven times by soon as possible the terror threat and clashes in Syria,” phone this year, has said that Ankara will not act against said Erdogan. AL UYAYNA: A Saudi man talks on his mobile under the shade of a solar panel at a solar plant on March 29, 2018. — AFP Moscow “based on an allegation”. In a move that has Continued on Page 11 2 Established 1961 Local Wednesday, April 4, 2018 Detention center rules abide by human rights standards Kuwait, Morocco okay judicial cooperation protocol implementation

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Interior Ministry has stressed jointly signed a working program for the implemen- that it is eager to uphold the rule of law at detention tation of a protocol on judicial cooperation, during a centers, with full respect for international human Kuwaiti official’s visit to the North African country. rights standards, an official said yesterday. The The two-year program, which falls in line with the Ministry’s Assistant Undersecretary for Criminal protocol signed in 2008, aims to strengthen bilateral Justice Major General Khaled Al-Deen made the cooperation on the exchange of expertise related to remarks after meeting the deputy head of the the training of judges, law clerks and judicial assis- International Committee of the Red Cross’ (ICRC) tants. It also approves the co-organization of forums regional delegation Ralph Wehbe, read a statement and the exchange of know-how in relation to judicial by the ministry. The Kuwaiti official pointed out that work, the issuance of annual public notices, authen- his country’s partnership with the ICRC has proven tication and information management. Kuwait’s fruitful for both sides, saying that Kuwait is a propo- Minister of Justice and Minister of Awqaf and nent of a number of international human rights con- Islamic Affairs Fahad Al-Afasi alongside Morocco’s ventions and agreements. He went on to say that Minister of Justice Mohamed Ojar signed the docu- Kuwait has introduced various legislations that ment on behalf of their respective countries. The underline its commitment to human rights, including Kuwaiti minister arrived in Marrakech on Sunday a regular report submitted to the UN in that regard. heading a delegation that attended an international KUWAIT: The Ministry’s Assistant Undersecretary for Criminal Justice Major General Khaled Al-Deen meets In another development, Kuwait and Morocco conference on justice. —Agencies the deputy head of the ICRC regional delegation Ralph Wehbe.—KUNA

Media delegation News in brief Ramadan donation guidelines promotes, boosts KUWAIT: Kuwait Ministry of Social Affairs said yes- terday it issued a number of guidelines aimed at better organizing charity during upcoming Holy Month of Iraq-Kuwait ties Ramadan, and affirmed collection of donations was ille- gal unless permitted by Ministry. Hanaa Al-Hajri, BASRA: The Kuwaiti media delegation’s visit to the city of Assistant Undersecretary for Social Development, said Basra will lead to the bolstering of relations between 31 charitable societies have expressed desire to partici- Kuwait and Iraq, said a Kuwaiti diplomat yesterday. pate in a ministry-supervised donation campaigns dur- Speaking to KUNA, Kuwait’s consul to the southern Iraqi ing Ramadan. She added the ministry was coordinating city Ambassador Yousef Al-Sabbaq said that the Kuwaiti with Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and Ministry media delegation’s visit to Basra, which began Sunday, of Interior, Kuwait Municipality and the Manpower included several meetings with senior local officials. He authority to have a better control over collection of indicated that finding ways to boost investments was one donations and those who manage them. Al-Hajri said of the major issues discussed during the meetings, adding cash collection was forbidden, and the only means to that a proposal was made to open a commercial bureau at pay any grant would be via debit cards, online pay- the Iraqi embassy in Kuwait, which will be directly tasked ments or bank transfer. Material donations, she said, with handling the affairs of mutual Iraqi and Kuwaiti enter- should be registered in invoices. — KUNA prises and businesses. The Kuwaiti diplomat indicated that Basra used to be a destination for Kuwaitis seeking tourism in the past, saying 15% renewable energy that to revive this aspect, local authorities in the southern KUWAIT: The Ministry of Electricity and Water yes- Iraqi city must work on measures to attract visitors from terday affirmed its keenness on realizing His Highness Kuwait. The Kuwaiti media delegation arrived last Sunday the Amir’s vision as to securing 15 percent of domestic for talks with local officials and visit archeological sites in power demand from renewable energy by onset of the nearby Thi Qar Governorate. The delegation also 2030. Mounting power demand in Kuwait should includes KUNA Deputy Director General for Editorial Saad prompt all stakeholders to come up with practical solu- Al-Ali, Chief Editor of Al-Anbaa Newspaper Yusuf Al- tions to minimize dependence on oil to produce energy, Marzouq, Chief Editor of Kuwait Times Abd Al-Rahman Al- said Mohammad Al-Sharhan, the assistant undersecre- Alyan, Media Advisor at His Highness the Prime Minister’s Kuwaiti media delegation and Iraqi officials pose for a group photo. —KUNA tary for technical services. Employing the renewable Diwan Hassan Al-Sayegh, and others. —KUNA energy is one of these solutions, he said, also noting that his department had inked a deal with South Korea to install small solar energy panels. He was speaking in a statement during inauguration of Kuwait Technology Man ingests KIB sponsors and Sustainable Energy Conference. —KUNA World Down gasoline Arab League applauds Kuwait CAIRO: The Arab League yesterday praised relentless KUWAIT: An Egyptian was admitted to Adan Syndrome Day event efforts that had been exerted by Kuwait when it served Hospital’s ICU after he ingested gasoline while as member of the United Nations Security Council last attempting to siphon it from a boat with his mouth. A KUWAIT: Kuwait International Bank (KIB) sponsored an supporting activities that raise public awareness and February in support of the Palestinian cause. The citizen told police he saw an expat lying next to his event for World Down Syndrome Day, which was organized advocate for their rights, needs, inclusion and overall well- Kuwaiti efforts were appreciated in a statement issued boat with a hose inside the gas tank. When paramedics by the Ministry of Health’s Kuwait Medical Genetic Center being. Additionally, the event provided families with a plat- after the extraordinary meeting that grouped delegates arrived, they found he had ingested the gasoline. (KMGC) in cooperation with a Down Syndrome support form to meet and exchange experiences, thereby reducing at the Arab organization to demonstrate solidarity with group and the Kuwait Down Syndrome Society. Held at Gulf parents’ doubts and anxieties, as well as introducing them the Palestinians in face of latest Israeli attacks. The ses- Endangering lives Square, the event featured a range of exciting and fun-filled to valuable information.” sion final statement affirmed support for a request by An adolescent was arrested while showing off in his activities for children with Down Syndrome and their fami- Najia added that KIB strongly believes that children Palestine to the International Criminal Court to hold car near Sabah Al-Nasser Co-op roundabout. The lies, seeking to mobilize community support and promote affected by Down Syndrome should be treated equally urgent investigation into the Israeli crimes against suspect was sent to the traffic department and inclusion. to other children, as they are fully capable of living nor- peaceful Palestinian demonstrators. The conferees charged with endangering his and others’ lives. He On his part, Manager of the Corporate Communications mal lives with the right opportunities, necessary support affirmed the Palestinians’ right to pursue their struggle confessed to violating the traffic law. Unit at KIB, Nawaf Najia, said: “This sponsorship comes from the community and proper health care services. It through whatever means against the occupation, called as part of KIB’s unwavering commitment to enhancing is worth noting that KIB’s sponsorship falls under the on the UN to form a panel to prosecute the Israeli offi- Drug suspect nabbed communication and collaboration between health care umbrella of its leading social responsibility program. cials for the latest crime, alluding to Friday’s deadly A citizen in his 40s was sent to the Drugs Control providers and children with Down Syndrome and their Accordingly, the Bank is committed to supporting global shooting by Israeli troops against Palestinian protes- General Department for possessing what is suspected families. On the occasion of this global event, we hoped to events and initiatives that contribute to the development tors on Gaza’s fringes.— KUNA of being drugs. The man was seen sitting on the pave- bring joy and happiness to the lives of these children by of all segments of the local community. ment, and when his ID was checked, he was found wanted for a KD 2,067 debt. While getting inside the Qualitative educational center police car, he threw out a joint, so police picked it up another reason: Introducing new American restaurants to as evidence. BEIRUT: The Kuwaiti International Center for US ambassador Kuwaitis was - and still is - a good business investment,” Qualitative Education, an affiliate of the International he said. Drug overdose Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO), yesterday Silverman said US businesses have strived to offer a opened its new headquarter in Tripoli north of An Egyptian abused a large amount of heroin, then launches ‘American wide variety of foods to the public to allow them to enjoy threw what was left out of fear of police. He then col- Lebanon. Following the opening, head of the center the flavors and also maintain a healthy lifestyle. “That’s and the Kuwaiti delegation Khaled Al-Subaihi said that lapsed and was rushed to a medical center, where he important for an increasingly selective and educated cus- confessed. A police patrol noticed a man in a Restaurant Guide’ the delegation met with the UK-headquartered Islamic tomer base. We encourage healthy options,” he added. He Relief Worldwide’s members and discussed with them Farwaniya street unable to control himself, who then also announced that a delegation looking for additional collapsed and hurt himself. An ambulance took him to the strategic partnership for the education of the By Ben Garcia franchise opportunities at the International Franchise Expo Syrian refugees. The meeting also tackled number of the medical center, where it was found out he suffered in New York to be held on May 31-June 2 will be headed a sharp drop in blood pressure due to drug use. The strategic projects including education for the disabled KUWAIT: US Ambassador to Kuwait Lawrence by Rasha Al-Muhtaseb from the embassy’s commercial Syrian refugees, teachers’ preparation during emer- Egyptian confessed to using drugs and told police he Silverman launched the ‘American Restaurant Guide’, a section. “This is the top franchising show in the United threw some of it in the area where he collapsed. Police gencies, and reading program projects in Dubai for the booklet that will showcase 26 restaurants from the United States. The show will exhibit more than 400 concepts and refugee’s children. The delegation also inspected went to the area and found a bag full of powder. The States. The launch was held at the US Embassy premises host a number of seminars. There currently are about 15 case is in the hands of concerned authorities. refugee’s schools in Tripoli supervised by the center on Monday night with the participation of various compa- people in the delegation,” the ambassador added. and concluded the tour with honoring outstanding stu- nies, CEOs and owners listed in the catalogue. “I some- US exports of food products form a significant portion Maid disaapears dents and participants in Quran recitation and memo- times joke that there are more American restaurants here of US-Kuwait trade, totaling approximately $240 million in rization competition. — KUNA A citizen accused her maid of stealing money and in Kuwait than I know from living in the US. There’s a good 2017. Silverman said the Sultan Center alone stocks 4,000 jewelry and disappearing. The citizen said her maid reason for that: Kuwaitis have developed a taste for different US food items. “Your restaurants import numer- was missing when she returned home, then discovered American food and the style of American restaurants. They ous menu items from the United States. We will continue that jewelry worth KD 2,700 and KD 900 were also liked the food they ate during their visits to the US and to support you and promote a smooth, efficient and safe Lifting sports ban missing. She said the maid’s phone is switched off. wanted to bring some of it home with them. There is customs procedure for the importation of your food items Police are working on the case. — Al-Rai/Al-Anbaa KUWAIT: Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Mohammad Al-Jabri stressed yesterday the keenness of relevant authorities to con- tinue efforts to lift suspension of sports to all games - affirming the need for concerted efforts so as to Shabu farm in Kabd achieve this goal. Al-Jabri made his remarks at a cere- mony, honoring Minister of Commerce and Industry Khaled Al-Roudhan, the former Minister of State for By Hanan Al-Saadoun Youth Affairs, organized by former President of Kuwait Football Association Sheikh Ahmad Al-Yussef Al- KUWAIT: Drugs Control General Department arrested a Sabah. Al-Jabri added that the Kuwaiti people would citizen who manufactured shabu in a farm he owns in be very happy to see the ban lifted, adding they will Kabd. Authorities were tipped off about his activity and a continue exerting all efforts to lift ban to all sports warrant was obtained. The farm was raided and 10 kg of shabu was found ready for sale. The suspect said the liquid because this was task entrusted to him by His Highness raw material was delivered by a driver from a neighboring the Amir when he took over the Ministry of State for country, but did not give any information about him. Youth Affairs. —KUNA Established 1961 3 Local Wednesday, April 4, 2018 MPs pass rights body, refuse to debate Muwaizri letter An independent body to defend human rights By B Izzak Muwaizri later submitted an official request to make the debate but it was rejected by the assem- KUWAIT: In its regular session yesterday, the bly as only 17 out of 49 MPs present supported Assembly passed without discussion the establish- the move. MPs Abdulkarim Al-Kundari and Salah ment of Kuwait Human Rights Commission, an inde- Khorshid threatened to grill the oil minister and pendent body to defend human rights in the country. the oil minister over the appointment of expatri- It also approved in the first reading a law to grant ates in the oil sector. The Oil Minister said that additional benefits to Kuwaitis who retired from the two mega oil projects underway, the new refinery oil sector between 2010 and last year. The govern- and the clean fuel project, will create 2,000 jobs ment said it accepts the law in principle but it needs for Kuwaitis but added that 25 percent of the total more time to resolve some legal issues associated jobs will go to foreigners who are supplied by with the legislation. contractors. The Assembly is expected to approve the law in But Khorshid said that if the minister does not the second and final reading in the next session. rectify this issue - the appointment of expatriates - Opposition MP Shuaib Al-Muwaizri requested that within two weeks, he will file to grill the minister. the issues relating to a complaint he had submitted Kundari however said he will not hesitate to grill the to the International Parliamentarians Union against prime minister over this vital issue. Health Minister speaker Marzouk Al-Ghanem over the jailing of three Sheikh Basel Al-Sabah said the ministry is currently MPs while enjoying parliamentary immunity be studying the idea of setting up a specialized debated. Ghanem rejected the request because it advanced hospital for the treatment of cancer. The KUWAIT: Kuwait lawmakers are pictured at the National Assembly yesterday. MPs passed without discussion was not in line with the assembly charter and insisted announcement came after MPs said the existing can- the establishment of Kuwait Human Rights Commission, an independent body to defend human rights in the that constitutional experts also supported this view. cer hospital is in bad shape and deteriorating. country. — KUNA

Ministry to launch Award for Quran Memorization and Recitation

By Meshaal Al-Enezi

KUWAIT: Assistant Undersecretary at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic affairs for Quran and Islamic Studies Affairs Waleed Al-Shuaib said the ministry will launch the 9th Kuwait International Award for Quran Memorization and Recitation under the auspices of HH the Amir on April 10, 2018. “Kuwait is playing a leading role as a country caring for the Quran,” he added, noting that the award aims at introducing various Quran recitations to the Muslim and Arab nations. Shuaib also stressed that the award enhances competition amongst participants, whom he urged to exert more effort and spend more time in preparation. He also urged younger generations to partici- pate, noting that 138 competitors from 79 countries are expected to take part this year.

Job opportunities During its ordinary session yesterday, the parliament discussed a number of inquiries and relevant ministers’ responses to them, said parliamentary sources. In one of the inquiries, Oil Minister and Minister of Electricity and Water Bakheet Al-Rasheedi said the new refinery in Al- Zour will provide 1,000 job opportunities for citizens, in addition to 1,000 more in the biofuel project. “The execut- ing company and the contractor are responsible for appointing 25 percent expats,” he remarked.

Infertility centers Health Minister Sheikh Dr Basel Al-Sabah said a joint committee has been formed with elements from MoH and MPW to study remarks over Jaber Hospital and work on avoiding them, pending launching it soon. Sheikh Basel added that the ministry is studying a project to build a specialized hospital for cancer treatment, in addition to two infertility centers at the maternity hospital. Minister of State for Housing Affairs and Minister of State for Services Jenan Boshehri said infrastructure contracts are proceed- ing according to schedule.

General Department of Traffic honors NBK

KUWAIT: The General Department of Traffic hon- ored National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) for its support during the GCC traffic week. NBK Public Relations Executive Manager, Abdulmohsen Al Rushaid received Colonel Ibrahim Soud Al Jallal, Captain Yousof Abdullateef Rabah and Line Officer Ali Taha Bou Rabiei at NBK. The General Department pre- sented a trophy in appreciation to the bank’s annual contribution in this occasion. In his turn, Al Rushaid praised the efforts showed and great dedication as well as the helpful hand offered to NBK team during the bank’s initiatives all year round. NBK has a long tradition supporting social and community oriented activities in the country. NBK continues to promote a range of philanthropic missions and social welfare programs as part of its corporate social responsibility to assert its leadership in support- ing Kuwait’s social development, standing as a model in serving all aspects of the community. 4 Established 1961 Wednesday, April 4, 2018 Local

Photo of the Day

KUWAIT: A coffeepot maker poses for a photo at the Nayef Palace Expo.—KUNA Kuwait pledges $250,000 to assist war-ravaged Yemen UN raises $2 billion in Yemen appeal

GENEVA: Kuwait is pledging $250,000 to international coalition for Yemen in its efforts to provide assistance to relief aid efforts in Yemen this year, said a Kuwaiti top the Yemenis and also expressed gratitude towards the diplomat yesterday. During the United Nations Office for Swiss Confederation, Kingdom of Sweden, and OCHA for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ (OCHA) 2018 organizing the one-day high-level pledging event. Yemen High-Level Pledging Event, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Khaled Al-Jarallah said that this donation UN raises $2 billion would hopefully help the Yemenis survive the upheavals Meanwhile, the United Nations raised more than $2 bil- they are facing in their lion yesterday to help civil- country. The donation ians in Yemen, with half the came in line with His funds pledged by govern- Highness the Amir of ments that are bombarding Kuwait and UN humani- Kuwait urges the war-ravaged country. tarian leader Sheikh Sabah UN secretary-general Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Houthi militias Antonio Guterres hailed the Sabah’s directives to aid to abide by donor conference in the fellow Yemenis, said Geneva as a “remarkable Al-Jarallah who indicated international success”. The target for the that the pledge came on 2018 Yemen humanitarian time especially with the laws appeal was set at $2.96 bil- nearing of the month of lion (2.4 billion euros). Ramadan in mid-May. Guterres told reporters that The Kuwaiti top diplo- in addition to the $2 billion mat said that his country took all necessary steps to find a already committed, multiple countries had promised more resolution to the Yemeni crisis, indicating that several donations in the coming months, leaving him “optimistic that inter-Yemeni meetings were organized by Kuwait to find a we will be able to reach the level that corresponds to the political solution to the dilemma. He said that the solution needs”. Last year’s Yemen appeal for $2.5 billion, which was 73 percent funded, but the needs have intensified in a country to the Yemeni crisis must be based on the tenets of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Khaled Al-Jarallah battered since 2015 by a Saudi-led military offensive aimed at GCC peace initiative, the results of the national Yemeni repelling Iran-backed Huthi rebels who control the capital. dialogue, and UNSC resolution 2216 regarding the end of The UN has labeled Yemen “the world’s worst humanitarian according to figures provided by the UN. Asked if he saw Guterres underscored that the only way to ensure that violence in Yemen. Al-Jarallah called on the Houthi militias crisis” and said that three-quarters of its population-around a contradiction in the Saudi stance towards Yemen, Yemen donor conferences do not continue year after year to abide by international laws and stressed that national 22 million people-need some form of aid. Guterres said a country’s humanitarian commitments and is for the sides to negotiate a peace deal. unity is the only way to end the situation in Yemen. military actions should be kept separate. “There was never a humanitarian solution for any The top diplomat took the chance to condemn the Pay for what you break? “We all know that there is a war. We all know who the humanitarian crisis,” he said. “The solution has always Houthi’s ballistic missile attacks launched from Yemeni ter- Saudi Arabia and its allies have repeatedly been parties (are) to the war but the two things need to be seen been political” The UN’s Yemen envoy, Martin Griffiths, ritories towards Saudi Arabia, affirming that Kuwait was accused of hitting civilians targets including hospitals and separately,” the UN chief told reporters. “Independent of has recently visited Riyadh and Sanaa in hopes of revital- against such vile acts. Al-Jarallah urged the international markets in their three-year campaign against the Houthis. the fact that there is a war, there are humanitarian obliga- izing sputtering peace talks. “I believe there is an opportu- community to gather three billion dollars to support relief The kingdom and its coalition partner, the United Arab tions that are assumed by countries,” he said. “The coun- nity and that opportunity must be seized,” Guterres said, aid efforts in Yemen this year, saying that it is a humanitar- Emirates, were also the largest donors at yesterday’s con- tries that are also party to the conflict were party to these explaining that Griffiths was “encouraged” by his trip and ian obligation. Al-Jarallah thanked the Saudi-led Arab ference, jointly pledging $1 billion in humanitarian relief, international efforts to support the people of Yemen.” sees a window for further talks. —Agencies

tive of the core values at Ooredoo, Ooredoo concludes which is empowering youth. He noted that the support for youth-centric initiatives reflects the 3rd Jahzeen program company’s wishes to embrace the directions of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who not- KUWAIT: Ooredoo Kuwait concluded the activities of ed on several occasions the impor- Jahzeen training program in its third edition, graduating 40 tance of investing in youth and sup- students in different fields and specialties. The program, porting them reach their potential. which was launched three years ago was sponsored by Alayoub added: “We are proud of all Ooredoo from its first edition. The program is also sponsored Mijbil Alayoub the participants in the program, and by the Manpower and Government Restructuring Program, Al wish all the best of luck to the 40 Mulla Group, and the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs. graduates. We certainly hope that they benefited from the pro- The program, which features training courses and semi- gram’s seminars and training courses.” nars, targets fresh graduates as well as newly recruited youth. The program helped 400 students since its launch in 2015. The sponsorship stems from Ooredoo’s core values of caring It targets three segments: University students in their final and connecting with the community, especially as youth in year, university graduates, and newly recruited youth no Kuwait compromise more than 60 percent of the population longer than 3 years working. The program is divided into four framework. The second segment consists of success stories followed by one-on-one sessions to assist applicants in and are certainly an important asset worth investing in. segments. The first segment consists of training courses and told through seminars by exemplary Kuwaiti professionals, choosing their career paths. The fourth segment consists of Commenting on this, Ooredoo Kuwait’s Senior Director of programs that cover career essentials, such as succeeding in while the third segment consists of an assessment test, which job fairs organized in association with a number of private Corporate Communications noted that the program is reflec- job interviews, writing CVs, team work, and workplace legal will be conducted in cooperation with Profile International, sector entities. Established 1961 5 Local Wednesday, April 4, 2018 Kuwait showcases health products and services at medical exhibition

Philippines promotes medical tourism

KUWAIT: MoH undersecretary Dr Muhammad Al-Khasti (second left) poses with the Medical City Clark staff along with Renato Villa (third left) Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait. — Photos by Joseph Shagra

By Ben Garcia parts of the world. Medical City Clark (Hospital) from the Philippines is one of the gold sponsors. The medical city year. The sources added that the Capital prose- KUWAIT: A three-day international health exhibition encourages Kuwaitis and expats to visit their booth for 110 reports cutor Nasser Bader referred the reports to opened yesterday at the Kuwait International Fair Ground free medical consultations, especially for people who are courts and that the concerned officials might be in Mishref. The Kuwait Health Exhibition & Conference overweight. “We want to share our expertise in bariatric filed by penalized by imprisonment, fines and dismissal showcases various local clinics and international hospitals, surgery - we offer free assessment to overweight patients from office. The sources also noted that officials along with health products and services. The event from in Kuwait. The good thing is that if you sign up until April who fail to submit their statements within 90 April 3-5 is being held under the patronage of Health 5, we will provide a special promo package. Medical City anti-corruption days after leaving office despite being warned Minister Sheikh Dr Basel Al-Sabah, who was represented Clark is committed to partnering with Kuwaitis and expats several times will also be prosecuted. by MoH Undersecretary Dr Muhammad Al-Khasti, who to share the best of our medical expertise,” said Dr inaugurated the event. Emanuel Astudillo, a bariatric and metabolic surgeon from authority Continuous rain The health exhibition is held for buyers, decision mak- Medical City Clark. Meteorologist Essa Ramadan forecast contin- ers and others from various medical fields searching for Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Villa said the uous rain from Wednesday till Saturday. He the best products and health services. This year’s expo Philippines is participating in the health expo for the third By A Saleh added that both Kuwait and parts of Saudi focuses on sports and fitness products, and features semi- time. “Thanks to Medical City Clark for actively promoting Arabia might witness scattered thunderstorms. nars and conferences on the future of healthcare, Philippines medical tourism, which is world-class. This is KUWAIT: Well-informed sources said the public advancement of surgery and hospital care. “This is my another proof how the Philippines is competing in the prosecution has received over 110 reports filed New employment lists second time opening this expo, and it’s very exciting to be medical world right now. We are proud, and I know that by the anti-corruption authority against officials The CSC is currently preparing new lists of part of it. Kuwaitis want the best healthcare providers, the Kuwaiti market is searching for the best partners. We who failed to submit their financial statements on citizens to be employed in the public sector, said products and services. A lot of companies and products want to showcase this hospital in our country. We are not time, and said that the number will probably informed sources, expecting that the list will are here, so I wish everyone a very successful venture in only world-class in caring for people, but also in terms of increase, compared to only 10 reports filed last include at least 3,000 citizens. our market,” Khasti said. technology and experts in the field. We are now in the Around 100 participants in the expo hail from various forefront,” he said. InternationalWEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018 Chinese, N Korean dignitaries meet ahead Netanyahu cancels deal on African migrants of major summits Page 9 Page 8

GHOUTA: Pro-government forces drive past destroyed buildings in the recently conquered area of Jobar. — AFP Syria regime eyes Ghouta re-conquest ‘There are divisions among the Jaish Al-Islam group’

WAFIDEEN CHECKPOINT, Syria: Buses of territory seized by rebels during Syria’s exit Eastern Ghouta. The Observatory, Sunday, leader Essam Al-Buidani told men flee into regime-held territory. Aid workers entered the last rebel holdout of Syria’s seven-year civil war. Buses entered the which relies on sources on the ground, said in a mosque: “We will stay in this town and have criticized the living conditions in the Eastern Ghouta yesterday in preparation enclave yesterday to prepare for a second the evacuations were set to continue on will not leave.” But “those who want to temporary camps in government-controlled for a possible second day of evacuations as day of evacuations, a military source and Tuesday but that divisions continued within leave should leave”, he said. territory receiving the displaced. the regime eyed the total re-conquest of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for the group. Monday’s evacuation came after more Yesterday, SANA quoted a military the enclave. Evacuations of Jaish Al-Islam Human Rights monitoring group said. But “There is still a hardline wing in Jaish al- than 46,000 people-including fighters from source as saying more than 40,000 people fighters and their families from the former there were no reports of any having other areas of Eastern Ghouta-left on have returned to their homes in areas of the bastion’s main town of Douma started exited at the start of the afternoon. “The buses to the northwestern province of former rebel enclave. Syria’s war has killed Monday under a Russia-brokered deal. operation could continue today or not. Idlib, the last in Syria to remain largely more than 350,000 people and displaced Jaish Al-Islam has not yet confirmed the There are divisions among the Jaish Al- outside regime control. Backed by millions since starting in 2011 with the bru- accord, amid reports hardliners within the Islam group on their leaving but we are Russia, Assad’s forces have scored a tal repression of anti-government protests. group were refusing to leave their posi- continuing preparations,” the military Those who series of victories over rebel forces in Eastern Ghouta lies within mortar range of tions. The reported deal is the latest in a source said. recent years, often through campaigns the capital, and last month the deadliest string of agreements that have seen tens of want to leave of siege, aerial bombardment and rebel rocket attack on the capital in months thousands of people-rebels and civilians- ‘Will not leave’ ground offensives that have drawn killed 44 civilians. leave the onetime stronghold outside In a firstwave of the evacuations should leave widespread international condemnation. Rebels have left behind a labyrinth of Damascus for the north of the country. from Douma under the deal, more than tunnels under Eastern Ghouta, fitted with Russia-backed regime forces have retaken 1,100 people-Jaish Al-Islam fighters and ‘Spider’s web’ hospitals and military headquarters, and control of 95 percent of Eastern Ghouta family members-set off late Monday to Before February 18, some 400,000 some of them wide enough to drive a car since February 18 through a combination of the rebel-held town of Jarabulus in people in Eastern Ghouta had lived through. A Syrian army official who escort- a deadly air and ground assault and evacu- northern Syria, state news agency SANA Islam that refuses the deal,” Observatory under regime siege for five years, facing ed journalists on a visit Monday described ation deals. said. In the morning, an AFP reporter saw chief Rami Abdel Rahman said. Jaish Al- severe food and medicine shortages. The them as “a real spider’s web”. SANA said The re-conquest of Eastern Ghouta dozens of empty buses waiting by the side Islam has around 10,000 fighters in its regime assault on Eastern Ghouta since the military also found two underground would mark a major milestone in President of the highway and near a government-held ranks, the Observatory says. In video mid-February has killed more than 1,600 field hospitals, equipped with medical Bashar Al-Assad’s efforts to regain control checkpoint used by the buses to enter and footage published by the group online on civilians and caused tens of thousands to equipment and medicine. — AFP

about London’s rising murder rate, which is driven by a London murder surge in knife crime. Of the 47 murders in London so far this year, 31 have been committed with knives. Britain’s interior ministry said it was consulting on a first offence would have led to a six-month sus- rate overtakes new laws to further restrict dangerous weapons, includ- India withdraws pension of government accreditation. A second case ing banning online stores from delivering knives to resi- would attract a year’s suspension followed by a per- New York’s dential addresses and making it an offence to possess manent withdrawal for a third offence. About 2,000 certain weapons in public. “This government is taking ‘fake news’ order journalists with leading Indian media have a Press action to restrict access to offensive weapons as well as Information Bureau card from the information min- LONDON: London police investigated more murders working to break the deadly cycle of violence and pro- istry, which eases access to government departments than their New York counterparts did over the last two tect our children, families and communities,” a Home after backlash and ministries. months, statistics show, as the British capital’s mayor Office spokesman said. The Indian Express newspaper in a front-page vowed to fight a “violent scourge” on the streets. There Khan, who has been in office since May 2016, is from NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi headline on Tuesday said, “In the name of fake news, were 15 murders in London in February against 14 in the opposition Labour Party. Before him, Conservative yesterday reversed an order to punish journalists govt frames rules to blacklist journalists.” “Move New York, according to London’s Metropolitan Police Boris Johnson was mayor for eight years. The national found guilty of reporting “fake news”, after an outcry comes in election year,” it added. Several journalists Service and the New York Police Department. For government has been run by the Conservatives since over a perceived government crackdown on the and activists, while acknowledging the problem of March, 22 murders were investigated in London, with 21 2010, with Prime Minister Theresa May previously press. The media sanctions, issued late Monday, fake news, criticized the government intervention. reports in New York. serving as interior minister from 2010 to 2016. Britain’s stated that the government would withdraw the offi- Audrey Truschke, assistant professor of South Asian In the latest bloodshed, a 17-year-old girl died on most senior officer, London police chief Cressida Dick, cial accreditation of any journalist responsible for history at Rutgers University in the United States, Monday after she was found with gunshot wounds in said gangs were using online platforms to glamorize repeated reporting of “fake news”. India is the latest called the sanctions “a shocking and unacceptable Tottenham, north London, a day after a man was fatally violence, adding that disputes between young people government to act against what it calls “fake news”. attack” on freedom of the press in India. “It’s not stabbed in south London. “The Mayor is deeply con- could escalate within minutes on social media. Malaysia is passing a law allowing for up to six years about #fakenews. Rather, it’s about controlling a cerned by violent crime in the capital - every life lost to The Ben Kinsella Trust, an anti-knife crime charity in jail for publishing allegedly misleading information. notably vibrant press that often sheds light where violent crime is a tragedy,” a spokeswoman for Mayor named after a young victim, said social media ampli- The government said it needed to curb the spread those in power would prefer darkness,” Truschke Sadiq Khan said in a statement yesterday. “Our city fied a range of other factors that have contributed to of misinformation in the media. But Modi’s office posted on Twitter. remains one of the safest in the world ... but Sadiq the crisis. The charity’s CEO Patrick Green said there rescinded the directive just hours later amid allega- “Accreditation is not essential to the practice of wants it to be even safer and is working hard to bring had been extra funding to tackle knife crime, which he tions India’s vibrant press was being muzzled. “PIB free journalism but to me this debate is Trumpian in an end to this violent scourge.” welcomed, but added that the government needed to (Press Information Bureau) Press release titled its othering of the media as enemy,” Barkha Dutt, a Including January’s figures, New York had still expe- act with more urgency and that budget cuts affecting ‘Guidelines for Accreditation of Journalists amended veteran Indian journalist and editor of the Mojo digi- rienced more murders so far this year than London. The youth services had played a part. “This has been a tal news platform said. “I don’t deny that fake news to regulate Fake News’ issued on 02 April 2018 cities have a similar-sized population. Gun violence is horrendous year. It’s looking like it’ll be worse that last is a hugely valid concern and the media should take stands withdrawn,” the information and broadcasting much less of a problem in Britain, which has strict gun year, which was worse than the year before,” he told steps to weed it out,” she said, adding self-regulating ministry said in a statement Tuesday. control laws, than in the United States, and most British Reuters. “The response so far has been too slow... It industry bodies, not the government, should decide Under the withdrawn guidelines from the ministry, police are not equipped with firearms. But British politi- feels like we’re in a crisis and we need to respond in penalties. — AFP cians and police are increasingly expressing concern that way.” — Reuters Established 1961 7 International Wednesday, April 4, 2018 ACT CONGRESS: Trump outraged over Mexico migrant ‘caravan’ US President vents on Twitter for second day running

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump lashed out in fury “must stop the big drug and people flows, or I will stop Monday over immigration, an outburst triggered by images their cash cow, NAFTA.” of a “caravan” of hundreds of Central American migrants During his 2016 election campaign Trump called the headed toward the US border. For the second straight day, North American Free Trade Agreement a disaster, and last Trump took to Twitter to attack Mexico for allowing the year triggered a renegotiation of the 1994 pact which he 1,500-strong group to march unimpeded toward the United has threatened to pull out of unless the US gets a better States, their daily progress mapped out by US media. deal. The next stage of those talks could take place next He threatened to abrogate NAFTA-the US-Mexico- Sunday in Washington, after possible meetings between Canada free trade pact-while Mexican, Canadian and US demanding Congress pass negotiators this week in an tougher immigration legisla- effort to try to resolve remain- tion and support his plan for ing differences, sources said on a wall along the Mexican Monday. frontier. He also declared he Big wasted no longer supported a 1,500 headed to border replacement for DACA, the procedure Mexican President Enrique program that had offered Pena Nieto demanded that the protection against deporta- must take United States respectfully pur- tion for about 700,000 sue the continuing NAFTA undocumented immigrants, place trade talks, despite disagree- most of them Mexicans, who ments over immigration. “We came to the US as children. have been conducting serious negotiations,” he said, express- ‘An Obama joke’ ing hope that “this spirit of positivity, mutual respect and Since taking office more than a year ago, Trump has cordiality” will continue, while looking for areas “that really sought to crack down on legal and undocumented immigra- favor the development of the three countries.” tion, but some of his proposals have become tied up in Organized each of the past five years by activists of court and Congress. “As ridiculous as it sounds, the laws of Pueblo Sin Fronteras, or People Without Borders, the 1,500 our country do not easily allow us to send those crossing migrants say they have fled El Salvador, Guatemala, our Southern Border back where they came from. A whole Honduras or Nicaragua because of poverty and widespread big wasted procedure must take place,” Trump tweeted in violence from criminal gangs. They set off on March 25 the evening, following similar comments in the morning and from the southern Mexican state of Chiapas for the US bor- on Sunday. “Mexico & Canada have tough immigration der, where many hope to apply for asylum. Mexico’s gov- laws, whereas ours are an Obama joke. ACT CONGRESS.” ernment “under no circumstances” promotes irregular The administration’s own statistics showed that arrests migration, the government said in a statement late Monday. TIJUANA: View of murals reading “In the sky there are no borders” on the US-Mexico border wall. —AFP of undocumented migrants soared in the first year of It described the caravan as “a public demonstration that Trump’s presidency, while illegal border crossings plum- seeks to draw attention to the migratory phenomenon and meted. Data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement the importance of respecting the rights of Central American suggested, however, that processes to deport arrested migrants.” The Mexican statement said “it is not the respon- illegal immigrants have become even more backed up sibility of this government to exercise immigration decisions of the local legislative assembly,” he told reporters. than before. of the United States or any other nation.” According to a survey by Yekaterinburg-based pollster “Honduras, Mexico and many other countries that the On Monday, the caravan was passing through the moun- Sotsium released last week, 62 percent of respondents U.S. is very generous to, sends many of their people to our tainous southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. Trump appears Russian city scraps did not support the measure. country through our WEAK IMMIGRATION POLICIES. to have become aware of them over the weekend from a Caravans are heading here. Must pass tough laws and build report on Fox News, which he regularly watches. He direct mayoral vote Odd man out the WALL. Democrats allow open borders, drugs and accused the migrants of seeking to benefit from DACA, but Roizman, a tough-minded, free-wheeling 55-year- crime!” The president has repeatedly tried to link immigra- a leader of the caravan countered that Trump is using it as old, has become a popular figure in Russia’s opposition tion with crime but immigrant defenders say many immi- an excuse to stop any deal on Deferred Action for MOSCOW: Regional lawmakers voted yesterday to can- circles, attending protests and urging ordinary people to grants are fleeing poverty and violence. Activists accuse Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The program would provide cel direct elections in Russia’s fourth-largest city in a participate in local politics. Roizman has also made him- authorities of rounding up longtime residents with families those qualified-as many as 1.8 million people a path to citi- blow to the opposition mayor as the Kremlin intensifies self unusually accessible to his constituents, regularly and jobs on minor infractions. On Sunday he said Mexico zenship. — AFP a crackdown on dissent. Yekaterinburg Mayor Yevgeny receiving the city’s neediest people such as the elderly Roizman has been the only top regional official to pub- and orphans to help them solve their everyday problems. licly voice criticism of Putin, elected for a fourth Kremlin He first shot to prominence as founder of a foundation term last month. called City Without Drugs and a drug rehab centre in West imposed sanctions on us”. He said he would seek The regional legislature in the Urals city of nearly 1.5 Yekaterinburg to fight Russia’s severe narcotics epidem- Xi hails Mugabe’s to sell Zimbabwe as a destination for Chinese invest- million people voted to scrap direct mayoral elections ic. Human rights activists have questioned the centre’s ment and take part in economic forums aimed at despite protests by several thousand people on Monday. methods, which included handcuffing addicts to their attracting business to the country. The new mayor will be elected by city lawmakers. beds and forcing heroin addicts to go cold turkey. Its successor as ‘old Zimbabwe was China’s largest foreign supplier of Yekaterinburg until now has been one of several large supporters however have reported a significant drop in tobacco, with some 40 percent of the product import- Russian cities with direct mayoral elections. drug-related deaths since the foundation was set up in friend of China’ ed by the Asian country coming from the African Roizman-who was elected in 2013 for five years and the late 1990s. Roizman then channeled his energies into nation. China also set up a joint venture with openly supports opposition leader Alexei Navalny-said politics, beating a Kremlin-friendly candidate in a may- Zimbabwe in a diamond mining company, but Mugabe the cancellation of direct polls was a “direct offence to oral election in 2013. BEIJING: President Xi Jinping greeted Zimbabwean announced the nationalization of the nation’s diamond residents of Yekaterinburg”. “The bill is very half- In one of his most recent posts, he slammed the re- counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa as an “old friend” mines in 2016. baked,” he told Echo of Moscow radio station. “But it election of Putin for a fourth Kremlin term. “Life will of China on Tuesday as the African leader visited Chinese companies have also been involved in was bound to sail through, therefore it was so brazen.” become even worse but the turnout will grow even larger Beijing, which previously backed his ousted prede- projects to install a cellular phone network, expand a He said he was certain that he would not be considered with every new election, the president’s approval ratings cessor Robert Mugabe. Mnangagwa, who received hydropower station and build a coal-fired power for the post again and added that he himself had no will be even higher and we’ll be even closer to North military training in China when he was a young libera- plant. Mnangagwa will meet Premier Li Keqiang on plans to run for a new term, implying however that he Korea,” he wrote on Facebook. Since first being elected tion fighter in the 1960s, was met with a military hon- Wednesday, then visit the eastern provinces of Anhui would remain active in politics. as president in 2000, Putin has stamped his total authori- or guard at the Great Hall of the People on his first and Zhejiang before his visit ends on Friday. The “The word ‘give up’ does not belong in our vocabu- ty on Russia, crushing opposition and muzzling inde- state visit outside of Africa. Zimbabwean leader gave a nod to his host’s political lary,” tweeted Roizman, who is an active blogger and has pendent media. Gubernatorial elections were scrapped in The two leaders oversaw the signing of six docu- philosophy, “Xi Jinping thought on socialism with more than 630,000 followers on Twitter. Putin’s 2004 under the pretext of the fight against terror, after ments, including a letter on economic and develop- Chinese characteristics for a new era.” “I will take this spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin could “nei- the Beslan school massacre that claimed more than 330 ment cooperation and another on emergency food mantra to Zimbabwe and hope to develop some ther interfere nor comment”. “This is the absolute right lives, more than half of them children. —AFP assistance, as Mnanangwa seeks help from a major socialism in Zimbabwe with Zimbabwean characteris- ally with historic ties to Zimbabwe. “I heartily wel- tics,” he said. —AFP come President Mnangagwa on his visit to Beijing,” Xi said as the two sat down for talks. “You are an old friend of China and I appreciate your efforts to devel- op relations in all areas,” he said. Mugabe sacked Mnangagwa from his job as vice president in November over a succession tussle with the first lady Grace Mugabe, leading to a military intervention that culminated with the veteran presi- dent’s ousting and Mnangagwa taking office. The country’s then-army chief, General Constantino Chiwenga, had visited Beijing shortly before the mili- tary action, leading to questions about whether China had any role in the power transfer. Chiwenga was named vice president in December. China denied it played any part in the transition. Beijing had long been one of Mugabe’s most powerful allies and a major trade partner, as the West shunned him over his government’s human rights violations, but it avoided publicly taking sides during his ousting. “Last November Zimbabwe achieved a peaceful, smooth transfer of power that was broadly recognised by the international community,” Xi said. “I am willing to work with Mr. president (Mnangagwa) to jointly map out our future cooperation and write a new chapter in China-Zimbabwe relations for the benefit of our two peoples.” Mnangagwa, wearing a scarf in the the colours of Zimbabwe’s flag, told Xi he appre- ciated China’s “political support and goodwill” follow- ing the “peaceful political transition in Zimbabwe”.

‘Socialism with Zimbabwean characteristics’ Mnangagwa has also been accused of playing a key role in his mentor Mugabe’s authoritarian regime that left the economy in ruins and under sanctions. He was targeted by EU and US measures imposed on Mugabe and his close allies over vio- lence and intimidation during Zimbabwe’s 2008 presidential campaign. The visit comes as China takes a more proactive role in Africa, where it has long invested in infrastruc- ture projects and sought resources. It has recently built its first overseas military base in Djibouti. Relations between China and Zimbabwe date back to the liberation struggle of the 1960s, when Beijing pro- vided arms and trained some of the top guerrilla lead- ers including Mnangagwa. Before his arrival on Monday, Mnangagwa told China’s official Xinhua news agency that his trip was aimed at thanking Xi and the Chinese people for sup- porting his country “during the hard times when the 8 Established 1961 International Wednesday, April 4, 2018 Chinese, N Korean dignitaries meet ahead of major summits A flurry of diplomacy that has eased regional tensions BEIJING: China’s foreign minister told his North Korean friendship between China and North Korea is very impor- counterpart yesterday that Beijing appreciates tant for both countries and regions,” Wang said, according Pyongyang’s efforts to ease nuclear tensions ahead of to the statement. State media images showed Wang and Ri planned summits between the isolated country’s leader smiling as they shook hands and sat for talks. North Kim Jong Un and the South Korean and US presidents. Korea’s official KCNA news agency said Ri was heading a North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho met China’s government delegation that left yesterday for a conference chief diplomat Wang Yi in Beijing just a week after Kim of foreign ministers of the Non-Aligned Movement in made a surprise trip to the Azerbaijan. Ri will also Chinese capital to meet visit Russia and other President Xi Jinping. former Soviet states. China and North Korea are trying to repair their Eliminate ‘Eliminate interference’ own relations, which have Kim last week met been strained as Beijing has interference President Xi Jinping on backed a slew of United his first trip abroad since Nations sanctions to pres- and continue inheriting power from his sure Pyongyang to stop its father Kim Jong Il in nuclear activities. China is dialogue December 2011. Kim’s North Korea’s sole major secretive visit was ally and trade partner. The dubbed “unofficial” but latest visit is part of a flurry bore all the trappings of of diplomacy that has an official state occasion, eased regional tensions after months of bellicose rhetoric with honor guards, bouquets, red carpets and meetings between the United States and North Korea over with most of China’s top leaders. Pyongyang’s nuclear program. Kim is now due to hold a summit with South Korea’s “China appreciates the North’s commitment to the Moon Jae-in on April 27 and a landmark meeting with US denuclearization of the peninsula and its important efforts President Donald Trump is also planned-events that give to ease the situation on the peninsula, and supports the both Pyongyang and Beijing new incentives to repair their North’s leader’s meeting with the leaders of South Korea strained relationship. Wang struck a note of caution about and the US,” Wang told Ri, according to a Chinese foreign the diplomatic developments during a press conference PYONGYANG: South and North Korean musicians perform during a joint show at the 12,000-seat ministry statement. Ri said Pyongyang was willing to with Switzerland’s visiting foreign minister yesterday. Ryugyong Jong Ju Yong Gymnasium. —AFP develop the traditional friendly relations between the Cold “Of course, historical experience tells us that when the War-era allies, and the ministry quoted Ri as saying the situation on the (Korean) peninsula eases and peace talks trust,” Wang said. South Korea said last month after Xinhua news agency that the issue of denuclearization of North “will also maintain close and strategic communica- usher in the light of dawn, there are often all types of dis- talks with Kim in Pyongyang that he would consider the Korean peninsula “can be resolved if South Korea and tion with China on Korean peninsula issues”. turbances,” he said, calling on all parties to “eliminate abandoning his nuclear weapons in exchange for US the United States respond to our efforts with goodwill, Wang told his counterpart the two foreign ministries interference” and continue dialogue. “We hope the lead- security guarantees, and would halt weapons tests while create an atmosphere of peace and stability while taking should increase exchanges at all levels. “Under the current ers of the US and North Korea can successfully meet talks were under way. progressive and synchronous measures for the realization situation, maintaining and developing the traditional and enhance mutual understanding and establish basic In Beijing, Kim had been quoted as saying by China’s of peace”. —AFP

Bangladesh college Rohingya boats suspends professor for arrive in Malaysia ‘defaming’ PM’s father KUALA LUMPUR: A boat carrying dozens of Rohingya DHAKA: Bangladesh’s most prestigious university has sus- from Myanmar arrived in Malaysia yesterday and the pended a professor for writing a column critical of Prime refugees will be allowed to enter the country, but an Minister Sheikh Hasina’s father, as the ruling party cracks expert played down fears of a new exodus. down on dissent in a tense election year. Morshed Hasan It has been rare for Rohingya migrants to attempt the Khan was “suspended until further notice” from Dhaka sea routes south since Thai authorities clamped down on University, its vice-chancellor said yesterday, after the stu- regional trafficking networks in 2015, sparking a crisis dent wing of the Awami League staged angry rallies on across Southeast Asia as large numbers were abandoned campus. at sea. But there have been concerns desperate migrants University head Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman said Khan might start taking to the high seas again after mainly defamed Bangladesh’s first post-independence president Buddhist Myanmar launched a new crackdown last year and Hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in the contro- that forced about 700,000 members of the stateless versial article published in a Bengali daily. The professor of Muslim minority to flee to Bangladesh. Malaysian authori- marketing was also accused of “distorting the history” of ties intercepted the Rohingya boat off the northwestern Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971, the legacy of island of Langkawi, after it was first spotted at the week- which remains contentious today. end off Thailand, said navy chief Ahmad Kamarulzaman Dhaka University is regarded as a stronghold of liberal- Ahmad Badaruddin. ism and secularism in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, which “All 56 passengers, mostly children and women, are safe has been ruled by Hasina’s Awami League for more than but tired and hungry,” said the navy chief. “We have pro- nine years. Hasina jailed her political rival, Khaleda Zia, in vided them with water, food and other humanitarian assis- February for corruption in a move seen by critics as an tance. The boat and its passengers will be handed over... to attempt to remove opposition ahead of a general election the immigration authorities.” The coastguard said there This undated handout photo released by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency on April 3, slated for December. The jail sentence handed to Zia, a were 19 men, 17 women, 12 girls and eight boys on the boat. 2018 shows members of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency detaining a boat carrying two-time former premier and erstwhile ally of Hasina, Rohingya refugees in Malaysian territorial waters off the island of Langkawi. —AFP sparked angry clashes between police and supporters ‘End of sailing season’ The navy and coastguard had stepped up patrols from her Bangladesh Nationalist Party. —AFP around Langkawi-where Rohingya have come ashore in der and launched a crackdown on the brutal networks that sands have been allowed into the country, where they toil in the past-after the boat was spotted of Thailand’s west ferry migrants to Malaysia. Unable to offload their human low-skilled industries such as agriculture and construction- coast at the weekend and its passengers said they were cargo in Thailand anymore, traffickers abandoned them at earning low wages and with little hope for the future. trying to reach Malaysia. Chris Lewa, of Rohingya advoca- sea in large numbers, leaving them trapped on boats with The situation is however much worse for the hundreds cy group the Arakan Project, said the vessel was thought little food and water. Images of emaciated Rohingya plead- of thousands of Rohingya who have fled the latest crack- to have left a week ago from the Rakhine state capital ing for help from overcrowded boats drew global condem- down in their homeland. They are living in cramped and Sittwe. But she did not expect many more to be following. nation, and forced Indonesia and Malaysia to allow hun- often squalid conditions in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar dis- Pakistan party linked “April is the end of the sailing season so we don’t expect dreds of Rohingya to come ashore after initially refusing. trict, where many Rohingya who fled previous waves of many boats now,” Lewa told AFP. Muslim-majority Malaysia has long been a favorite des- persecution are already living. An agreement to repatriate to Mumbai attacks The 2015 crisis began when Thailand discovered mass tination for Rohingya, as the country is relatively affluent Rohingya from Bangladesh to Myanmar’s Rakhine state rips US blacklisting graves in a human-trafficking camp along its southern bor- and authorities are sympathetic to their plight. Tens of thou- has yet to see a single refugee returned. —AFP

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan political party linked to the and body parts everywhere”. Afghan television alleged mastermind of the Mumbai attacks blasted UN investigates showed anguished relatives standing outside the hos- Washington yesterday for violating the country’s “sover- pital yelling “shame on you”. So far the defense min- eignty and constitution”, hours after the United States istry has denied civilians were among the casualties. blacklisted the group. The move by the US comes as the Afghan airstrike “Twenty Taleban, including the commander of their White House continues to ratchet up pressure on Red Unit in the district, and also a key member of the Islamabad to crack down on extremist groups operating in KUNDUZ: The United Nations said yesterday it was Quetta Shura were killed,” defense ministry the country after suspending military aid to Pakistan in investigating “disturbing reports of serious harm to spokesman Mohammad Radmanish told said. The Red January for inaction. civilians” in an Afghan airstrike on a religious school Unit is the insurgent group’s elite unit and the Quetta The Milli Muslim League (MML) was launched last that security sources say left dozens of children dead Shura is its leadership council. The same number were August by Hafiz Saeed’s Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) — the wounded, Radmanish added. charity wing of militant group Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT). or wounded. Hundreds of people were attending a graduation ceremony at the madrassa in a Taleban- LeT is accused of masterminding the 2008 Mumbai Police deny madrassa hit controlled district in northeastern Afghanistan on attacks that left nearly 166 people dead and brought Kunduz police chief General Abdul Hamid Hamidi Monday when Afghan Air Force helicopters struck, nuclear-armed India and Pakistan to the brink of war. Since said yesterday that “72 of the enemy” had been killed witnesses have told AFP. launching, the MML has struggled to officially register with in the airstrike. Hamidi added that five civilians also Pakistan’s Election Commission over its links to JuD. “Human Rights team on ground establishing facts. died and another 52 were wounded but he denied a The task is likely to be harder after the US State All parties reminded of obligations to protect civilians madrassa or mosque had been hit. Security forces Department amended its designation of LeT Monday to from impact of armed conflict,” the United Nations have donated large quantities of blood to the hospital. include the political party. “(The) US has no right to inter- Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said in a brief The Taleban on Monday confirmed the attack on vene in Pakistan’s internal political matters and label terror statement. At least 59 people, including Taleban com- the religious school but denied that any militants had allegations against people who themselves are against manders meeting at the compound in the Dashte been there. The madrassa was run by Islamic scholars extremism,” said MML’s Information Secretary Tabish Archi district in Kunduz province, were killed in the sympathetic to the Taleban but the facility was open Qayyum. “Such designations are aimed to undermine attack, Afghan security sources told AFP on condition to the public, a senior Taleban commander speaking Pakistan’s sovereignty and constitution.” The decision of anonymity. Most of the civilian victims were chil- comes after Pakistani officials began seizing assets from from an unknown location in Pakistan told AFP yes- dren, they said. Government officials in both Kabul terday. He said as many as 2,000 people were at the JuD in February. The crackdown followed a vote by mem- and Kunduz have given conflicting figures, with some bers of the Financial Action Task Force a global anti-money school on Monday, including 750 students, for a grad- denying any civilians had been killed or that a uation ceremony, but insisted there were no senior laundering watchdog-to place Pakistan on its grey list of madrassa had been hit. Afghan officials have been nations which are not doing enough to combat terror Taleban leaders present. known to minimize civilian casualties. financing in June. He estimated that 400 people had been killed and Saeed, who operates freely in Pakistan despite a $10 “I myself counted 35 bodies,” Abdul Khalil said at an unknown number wounded. The Taleban are million US bounty on his head, has denied involvement in the hospital in the provincial capital Kunduz-more known to exaggerate battlefield claims. Several boys terrorism and the Mumbai attacks. Six Americans were than 50 kilometers from the airstrike-where health with their arms and legs bandaged were seen lying in among those killed during the three-day rampage in officials said 57 injured had been taken. “I arrived at beds and along the corridors of the hospital. One of Mumbai, when gunmen who arrived by sea sparked battles the scene right after the airstrikes-it was like a butch- the security sources said the Taleban had started with Indian commandos. Saeed, was listed by the UN in er’s shop. Everywhere was covered with blood, the meeting at madrassas in the hope of avoiding December 2008 for being associated with LeT, as well as ground was littered with body parts, heads, limbs and airstrikes. US and Afghan forces are increasing having links to the Al-Qaeda terror network and Taleban KUNDUZ: An Afghan boy receives treatment at a other parts.” ground and air offensives against Taleban and Islamic militants. —AFP hospital. —AFP A man called Yousuf, who was at the ceremony State insurgents as they try to get the upper hand in when the airstrikes happened, told AFP he saw “blood the 16-year war. —AFP Established 1961 9 International Wednesday, April 4, 2018 US-backed fighters, Kurds on alert in Syria’s Manbij Turkey threatens to overrun the northern city

MANBIJ: On the outskirts of Syria’s Manbij, Kurdish-led SDF commander Khalil Mustafa said. The Syrian fighters have dug trenches and US-led coalition soldiers Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor with patrol from land and sky after Turkey threatened to overrun sources on the ground, says around 350 members of the the northern city. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan US-led coalition-mostly American troops-are stationed has repeatedly threatened to launch an attack on the city, around Manbij. near which US troops are stationed as part of their support Military sources on the ground, the Observatory and pro- to a Kurdish-led alliance fighting jihadists. regime newspaper Al-Watan say the coalition has sent in Pro-Ankara Syrian rebels reinforcements, heavy artillery control territory to the north and other military equipment and west of the city held by the to the area. An AFP corre- Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic spondent saw the US troops Forces (SDF) alliance. The There are even after President Donald rebels control Jarabulus near Trump said Thursday that he the Turkish border to the north, always would pull forces out of Syria as well as Al-Bab to the west of “very soon”. Manbij. On its northern flank, skirmishes Trump was speaking the only a few hundred meters sep- same day that two members arate the positions of the pro- at night of the coalition-an American Ankara rebels and the SDF, and a Briton-were killed by an which has spearheaded the improvised explosive device fight against the Islamic State in Manbij. Since 2014, the jihadist group. coalition has provided weapons, training and other support Outside Manbij, as spring turns the surrounding hills bright to forces fighting IS jihadists in Syria and neighboring Iraq. green, Kurdish fighters have been consolidating their posi- Turkey-led forces last month seized control of the Kurdish tions in preparation for a possible assault. On the front line, enclave of Afrin to the west of Manbij after a two-month the facade of a derelict home sheltering SDF fighters was rid- assault that killed dozens of civilians and displaced tens of dled with bullet holes. “We’re on high alert. There are always thousands of civilians. skirmishes at night,” Kurdish fighter Shiyar Kobane said. MANBIJ: A picture taken yesterday shows vehicles of US-backed coalition forces driving in the northern “They fire mortar rounds and shell our positions.” At a US ‘Taking threats seriously’ Syrian town of Manbij.— AFP military base near the city, three armoured cars bearing the Ankara views the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) US flag were driving back to camp after completing a mission. militia that controlled Afrin as “terrorists”, although the YPG of the Manbij Military Council-a part of the SDF-said. “The added, referring to IS fighters. Two offensives-one by the SDF formed the backbone of the US-backed SDF that has ousted international coalition has increased the number of its forces and another by the regime-have expelled the jihadists from US base between olive trees IS from much of Syria. Erdogan has warned that Turkey could in Manbij,” he said. Abdelkarim Omar, a top foreign affairs much of Syria. But IS fighters still cling to pockets of territory A helicopter flew overhead after taking off in a swirl of extend the Afrin offensive to Manbij. Trenches have been dug official with the Kurdish semi-autonomous administration in in eastern Syria and maintain the ability to launch deadly dust from the base, fortified with mounds of rubble between outside the city and checkpoints erected to thoroughly scan northern Syria, said US forces were not likely to leave the attacks. They carried out a spate of attacks that killed 19 pro- olive trees. Coalition forces carry out regular patrols on the the identity papers of those entering the city. “We’re taking country any time soon. “It’s premature to speak of any government fighters last week in eastern Syria, and in March frontline and “have increased their patrolling tours recently”, the Turkish threats seriously,” Mohammed Abu Adel, the head American withdrawal,” he said. “Terrorism is still present,” he seized a district of the capital. —AFP

Netanyahu cancels News in brief deal on African Arab Israeli man shot dead migrants in shock JERUSALEM: An Arab Israeli man was shot dead by sol- diers yesterday after crashing into a hitch-hiking stop in the reversal occupied West Bank and then attempting to flee, officials said. No other injuries were reported and officials said the crash was still being investigated. It was not for now being JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labelled an attack. Israel’s military said the incident occurred cancelled an agreement with the UN refugee agency yes- near the Jewish settlement of Ariel, south of the Palestinian terday aimed at avoiding forced deportations of thousands city of Nablus. The driver was in a stolen car and being pur- of African migrants only hours after having announced the sued when he crashed into the hitch-hiking spot, the army deal himself. The stunning turnaround after Netanyahu said in a statement. It was not clear if anyone was at the announced the accord in a televised address on Monday time present at the hitch-hiking stop, one of the designated afternoon came as he faced mounting pressure from his locations for hailing a ride common in Israel and near Israeli right-wing base. settlements. He then attempted to flee on foot and was shot The UN refugee agency urged Netanyahu to reconsid- by soldiers in the area, the army said. It did not provide er. Monday’s announcement drew immediate anger from details on the driver’s identity, but official Palestinian news right-wing politicians, including Netanyahu allies, and agency WAFA identified him as an Arab Israeli. —AFP many of his traditional supporters. After the deluge of crit- icism, the premier said in a late-night Facebook post on Monday he was suspending the agreement that would China cracks down on spoofs have allowed thousands of the migrants to remain in Israel at least temporarily. Yesterday, he said the deal was being BEIJING: China’s culture watchdog has slapped fines on cancelled outright after having held discussions on it. websites that posted parodies of “Communist classics and “After having heard numerous comments on the agree- heroes”, as the authorities further restrict what people can ment, I have examined the pros and cons and have decided TEL AVIV: African migrants and Israelis demonstrate in the city of Tel Aviv on April 3, 2018, against the Israeli gov- say-or even laugh at-online. Major video sites iQiyi and to cancel the agreement,” Netanyahu said in a statement. ernment’s policy to forcibly deport African refugees and asylum seekers. —AFP Sina were handed undisclosed fines for “distorting or mocking” classic works, the culture ministry said, less than ‘Playing with our minds’ held talks with residents of southern Tel Aviv, where many for a win-win agreement that can benefit Israel, the inter- two weeks after new rules were issued to ban online The agreement was designed to end the possibility of of the migrants live. A group of southern Tel Aviv residents national community and people needing asylum and we spoofs. The ministry did not describe the offending videos. forced deportations of thousands of migrants to Rwanda had harshly criticized the deal. Dozens of migrants and hope that Israel will reconsider its decision soon,” But another company in southwest China’s Sichuan under a controversial plan put forward by Netanyahu in their supporters also protested outside Netanyahu’s office spokesman William Spindler said in an email. province, Sichuan Shengshi Tianfu Media, was given “the January. Under the agreement with the UN, a minimum of in Jerusalem and in Tel Aviv. “We thought that if we came Netanyahu said he was forced to resort to the deal with highest fine according to law” for creating a popular paro- 16,250 migrants would have instead been resettled in here, there is democracy and Israel will defend our rights, the UN after Rwanda indicated it would not be able to fol- dy of a revolutionary ballad, the ministry said in a Monday Western nations. In return, Israel would grant temporary but they are playing with our minds and our lives,” Sernai low through on the previous plan. Uganda, another country statement. “Yellow River Cantata”, a patriotic song written residency to one migrant for each one resettled elsewhere. Dori, a 28-year-old mother of three from Eritrea who has widely thought to be a destination for those deported, had in 1939 encouraging youth to fight during the Sino- The presence of the primarily Sudanese and Eritrean been in Israel for a decade, said at the protest in Jerusalem. also said it could not accept those sent involuntarily. Under Japanese war, has inspired several humorous remakes that migrants in Israel has become a key political issue, and Netanyahu’s previous plan, migrants who entered illegally have chafed the authorities. One viral video this year fea- Netanyahu is already under heavy pressure due to a string ‘Reconsider its decision’ would face a choice between leaving voluntarily or facing tured employees from the Sichuan company in panda hats, of graft probes. He has repeatedly referred to them as “not The UN refugee agency meanwhile said it had found indefinite imprisonment with eventual forced expulsion. lamenting delays in year-end bonuses. —AFP refugees but illegal infiltrators”. A range of Netanyahu’s out about Netanyahu’s initial suspension of the agreement According to interior ministry figures, there are currently own ministers spoke out strongly against the deal, with through news reports. The agency, known as the UNHCR, some 42,000 African migrants in Israel, half of them chil- Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon saying he had known said yesterday it hoped Netanyahu would change his mind dren, women or men with families who are not facing Fresh Papua violence nothing of it until Monday. Yesterday morning, Netanyahu about the cancellation. “We continue to believe in the need immediate deportation. —AFP JAYAPURA: An Indonesian soldier and at least one sepa- ratist rebel have been killed near a huge US-owned mine in Papua, the latest in a string of deadly clashes, authorities and separatists said yesterday. Papua on the western half of Iraq scouts make a New Guinea Island has been the scene of a simmering insurgency since it was annexed by Indonesia in the late comeback in Mosul 1960s. Freeport McMoRan’s gold and copper mine has been a frequent flashpoint in the struggle for independence and a bigger share of the region’s rich resources. The MOSUL: Scouts are making a symbolic comeback in deaths happened during a Sunday shootout in which a sol- Mosul after a three-year absence from the city that dier was killed. The military, citing drone footage, said at used to serve as the Islamic State jihadist group’s capi- least two rebels had died while dozens were injured. “A tal in Iraq. With white shirts and neckerchiefs, more than soldier died... and the footage from the drone showed two 200 male and female scout leaders from across Iraq separatists were also killed,” military spokesman recently converged on the city that was devastated by Muhammad Aidi said in a statement. A spokesman for the three years of jihadist rule and nine months of heavy West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-OPM), linked urban warfare. to the Free Papua independence movement, said just one It was “a message to Iraq and the world: The scouts of rebel had died. — AFP Mosul and Iraq are back,” Mohammed Ibrahim, head of scout activities in Mosul said. The rally took place at Mosul’s scout camp set in the heart of a wooded area pop- Massive crystal meth seizure ular with locals for family outings on Fridays, the weekly day of rest in Iraq. Iraq was one of the first Arab countries BANGKOK: Thai authorities have seized a massive to join the World Organization of the Scout Movement in methamphetamine haul worth almost $38 million near the 1914 when it was still part of the Ottoman Empire. Laotian border, officials said yesterday, highlighting the But in 1999, the world scout body evicted the Iraqi kingdom’s role as a pipeline for drugs flooding through chapter because it was allegedly being used by former Southeast Asia. Early yesterday authorities found some dictator Saddam Hussein’s regime for military training. 788 kilograms of crystal meth-a high-purity form of the But the Iraqi scouts kept operating. In 2017, they were stimulant-in an abandoned pick-up truck in northern readmitted into the international scouting world and have Chiang Rai province, the heart of the notorious “Golden MOSUL: Iraqi female scout leaders parade with national flags during training at the “Al-Hadbaa” scout camp in the since grown to 25,000 members across the country. Triangle” drug producing zone. More than nine million northern city of Mosul on February 25, 2018, with the participation of scout teams from various parts of Iraq. —AFP Loudspeakers blasted nationalist songs at full vol- meth tablets were also found in fertilizer bags inside the ume as children from local schools paraded in tradition- vehicle, some 100 meters away from the Mekong river that al Iraqi dress at the Mosul rally. For Qassima Mohsen, a later-after the US-led invasion, the fall of Saddam, years in the area. The rally also provided a space for leaders divides Thailand and Laos. “Both type of drugs were found 42-year-old scout leader in the southern province of Zi of sectarian violence, the jihadist occupation of nearly a and organizers from across the country to network and in the abandoned pickup truck... in Wiang Kaen district in Qar, the 800-kilometer trip to Mosul had both symbolic third of the country and its subsequent recapture by discuss future projects. “We will organize camps in Chiang Rai province,” a military official said. He said the and personal value. Iraqi forces-she is back. With the ouster of the jihadists Mosul to lend a hand with its reconstruction,” said Ali drug smugglers had already fled the scene while authorities In the early 2000s, she used to come regularly to from Mosul last July, she has returned to the northern Latif, a 34-year-old scout leader from Kirkuk, a multi- have detained three Thai men suspected of preparing to Mosul’s scout camp for gatherings. More than 15 years city to help build an activities centre for young scouts ethnic northern province. — AFP move the cache to the next destination. —AFP 10 Established 1961 Analysis Wednesday, April 4, 2018

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Senegal city races to move families as sea swallows homes

um, mum, get up - the water’s here!” Fatou Ndiaye’s children shook her awake “Min the night, as waves crashed against their house on the coast of Saint-Louis, a city in northern Senegal. They were used to sleeping with the sound of the ocean a few feet away - but this time Ndiaye stretched out her hand and felt water rising inside the room. They fled. Two weeks later, she told the story standing by a pile of rubble where her child- hood home used to be. The disaster surprised no one in this crowded fishing neighborhood. Since 2016, two or three times a year, the ocean has swelled and knocked another row of houses off the coast. Saint-Louis, a city that spans a thin peninsula between the Senegal River and the Atlantic Ocean, is particularly vulnerable to the rising sea levels and Sierra Leone ‘little gifts’ incite graft fight urban crowding that are putting pressure on West Africa’s coast. With damage now unavoidable, Senegal’s government and the World Bank are mobiliz- hether you want to sit an exam, was the police. “Whenever they want us to most telling cases, such as a nurse who have been meted against them,” Banduah ing to resettle nearly 10,000 people from the city’s get electricity or just drive in give the money, they always stop us, and demanded the equivalent of 25 euros said, noting that police officers have been riskiest zone. The effort reveals the challenges other Wtown, life in Sierra Leone is they say that you commit(ted) a crime last before she would give a blood transfusion sacked and civil servants face legal action. countries will also face as their shorelines retreat due punctuated by endless “little gifts” to those week, or this week, without no reason. And to a young child, and police who fleece car Teacher Abioseh remains far from con- to a combination of higher seas linked to global warm- with power. In defiance of government there is no proof,” Ellie said. Drivers have drivers and motorcyclists the equivalent of vinced. “I know about the free phone line, ing and coastal erosion driven by natural processes anti-bribery campaigns, the sticky fingers no choice but to cough up, since otherwise a euro per day in central Freetown. but I don’t contact them,” he said. “It’s just and manmade factors, such as poorly planned infra- of officialdom are a wearisome fact of life the police immobilise their bus for hours, Banduah believes that the combined efforts a waste of time.” Meanwhile, tackling graft structure and sand mining. for many in this poor West African country. the young man said. of the Anti-Corruption Commission and beyond petty bribery is another matter. In Saint-Louis’ dirt streets, crisscrossed with laun- The nation of a little more than seven mil- the courts are starting to bear fruit. Corruption in the higher echelons of state dry lines and filled with sheep, residents described lion people holds 128th place out of 180 on Sexual favors “From what we’ve been following, a lot remains the hardest kind to fight “since we their predicament. “They took people to Khar Yalla, the latest Corruption Perceptions Index In another district, a 28-year-old man of public officials... have been found want- don’t see the money changing hands,” but Khar Yalla is not good,” said Ndiaye, referring to a compiled annually by Transparency who wished to go only by his first name, ing and in most cases punitive measures Banduah said.—AFP temporary relocation site about 6 km inland that now International, an NGO that focuses on the Abioseh, has painful memories of his houses about 1,000 people. Not wanting to go to a misuse of public power for private benefit. efforts to get his teaching qualifications. place where most people are living in tents without The run-off of a presidential election “The one I vividly remember is when I was electricity or running water, she instead moved in with took place on Saturday, with both candi- asked to pay a fee for certain subjects. I neighbors whose house was still standing - but could dates contending with allegations of graft. couldn’t afford the 500,000 leones (52 be the next to go. Samura Kamara, the candidate of the ruling euros/$64) to pay as I was asked. Even Other residents near the water’s edge said they All Peoples’ Congress (APC), was tagged though I did study hard, I was withheld on were afraid and ready to leave, but had not received “Mr Ten Percent” by contractors when he one subject because I didn’t pay that one,” help. “For two years now, the water has been rising. It ran the finance ministry. His rival Julius he declared. Bribery perhaps would be less doesn’t recede,” said Soda Mbengue, eight months Maada Bio of the opposition Sierra Leone of a problem if teachers weren’t usually pregnant, walking through her shell of a home. “The People’s Party (SLPP) is accused of misap- paid five or six months late, Abioseh said. government told us they’d come here to help us, and propriating $18 million (14.6 million euros) But, he also noted, from secondary give us houses, but up until today we’ve seen nothing,” during his brief time as head of state in school through university, some payments she said. Water seeps into her bedroom all the time. 1996 after a coup. are made “in kind”-a euphemism for sexual “Whether you want to get electricity services. With financial support from the Fishermen commute connection, whether you want to get land, British government, authorities in Sierra Tourists still stroll through art galleries in the center whether you want to get scholarship for Leone have founded an Anti-Corruption of Saint-Louis, the former French capital of colonial studies abroad,” graft is everywhere, Commission, charged with cracking down West Africa, but it is in the poor neighborhoods, just Lavina Banduah, the director of on graft and taking preventive steps includ- across a short bridge, that buildings are disappearing Transparency International’s small Sierra ing in education. In recent years, members into the ocean. A school and a large mosque have Leone office in Freetown, told AFP. For bus of the public have been able to report cases already succumbed to the waves, with pupils redistrib- driver Tamba Ellie, speaking at the main of corruption via a free phone service. public transport terminus in the capital Every three months, the commission In this photograph taken on March 30, 2018, a moneychanger holds a bundle of Sierra Leone uted to other packed classrooms. Khalifa Faye, 21, was currency notes on a pavement in Freetown. —AFP among the first to lose his home to a storm, two years beside the central market, the biggest bane publishes statistics illustrated with the ago. After living in a tent for a few months, he and his family were given a small concrete house at the relo- cation site in Khar Yalla. “In the beginning it was bad. he said. Public television and radio channels were merged Yourself” website, people can download the latest issue, We didn’t know this place,” said Faye, standing in a Hungary media soon after Orban swept into power and given the same print it at home and distribute it in their own locality, or yard where his aunts made couscous and children content from the now tightly controlled state news agency. Laszlo’s team can give a helping hand with printing. played. Now he is happy, he said, though he wishes squeeze triggers In recent years most commercial media critical of the “We’ve just sent 10,000 copies down to Szeged (southern they had plumbing. government have been bought by business interests close Hungary),” he told AFP. But other residents, especially those newly dis- ‘samizdat’ revival to the ruling Fidesz party. All 18 regional papers are owned In Szekesfehervar, a city of some 100,000, most by either Orban’s hometown mayor Lorinc Meszaros, passersby accepted a copy, although one man stopped to placed, were less content. The temporary settlement Hollywood film producer and casino magnate Andy Vajna rip it up and hand back the pieces with a grin. “When sits on the side of a highway, surrounded by barren s a student in 1980s communist Hungary, Janos or Austrian tycoon Heinrich Pecina. Most of the papers’ Fidesz supporters are confronted with scandals and strong fields. Tauty Fall lifted the flap of a blue canvas tent to Laszlo used to help out in the famous “samizdat” staff have left or been fired, while their political content headlines it winds them up,” Laszlo said. Another local, reveal a small space where she lives with her husband, Amovement that published underground, homemade closely follows the government’s relentless anti-immigra- Eva Tolvaj, sat on a bench folding copies and said she their five children, and another family. “Life is not good news in Soviet Bloc eastern and central Europe. Fast-for- tion agenda. “There are hardly any literate people left at agreed “with every word” in this “little piece of samizdat”. here,” she said. Almost all the men earn a living from ward to 2018 under strongman Prime Minister Viktor the paper, there’s certainly no real news anymore,” Erno Back in the 1980s Laszlo helped to circulate periodicals fishing and must now commute to the sea, said their Orban - who is running for re-election on Sunday and Klecska, former editor of the Fejer Megyei Hirlap, the and banned books printed by “samizdat” publishers. For wives. They take a bus for 150 CFA francs ($0.30) but dominates Hungary’s media landscape - and Laszlo is back Szekesfehervar-based county paper, told AFP. “It’s like the Roza Hodosan, who ran an underground publishing house in the off-hours they have to take expensive taxis. at it with his “Print it Yourself” venture. Armed with a stack powers-that-be want to close down every channel of specializing in works banned by the communist authorities, Deputy Mayor Balla Gueye said the people shifted of A4-sized news pamphlets that he puts together and potential criticism that exists,” he said. Laszlo’s initiative is “important”. to Khar Yalla are living in “precarious, very difficult prints at home or at friends’ print shops, once or twice a week he sets off for the countryside to spread the word - “This is something at least, but it can’t reach enough conditions”. The city is working to provide them with literally. Samizdat people to compensate for the overwhelming dominance of better temporary lodging, such as mobile homes, before “There aren’t many independent media outlets left in As polling day approaches, government-friendly media the government media,” the 63-year-old sociologist told the permanent relocation scheme gets underway, he Hungary anymore,” the 60-year-old told AFP aboard a have intensified warnings over Orban’s main campaign AFP in Budapest. “Then, we could see the end as commu- added. In the meantime, the government is ordering train to the provincial city of Szekesfehervar. “So I bring themes: immigration and interference by Brussels and US nism got milder toward the end of the decade. But now it more tents. Another 59 families lost their homes in the their content to people outside Budapest who are particu- billionaire George Soros. Laszlo says demand for his seems as things are getting more restrictive again, and that most recent storm at the end of February, and some larly isolated,” he said. According to Laszlo, a former jour- newsletter has also been increasing. On the “Print it the world is entering dark times,” she said. —AFP don’t even have a canvas roof yet, Gueye said. nalist, people outside the capital, especially the elderly, get their news mainly from regional newspapers or state tele- West Africa funding vision and radio. But all have been under strict central con- The World Bank project in Saint-Louis aims to trol since a radical overhaul of media under Orban, in pow- relocate about 10,000 people at a cost of $30 million. er since 2010. It covers residents within 20 m of the waterline on a Readers of Laszlo’s weekly paper though can catch up 3.5 km stretch of shore, said the deputy mayor. But on six or seven stories - from corruption scandals to street erosion threatens thousands of kilometres of coast protests - that are reported only in independent outlets, from Mauritania to Gabon. About 105 million people typically Budapest-based news websites. “We felt a moral live in West Africa’s coastal areas, which generate 56 obligation to provide a balance to the distortions else- percent of the region’s gross domestic product, where in the media,” said Emese Nagy, 48, one of five according to the World Bank. In some places, the land helpers on the train folding the newsletter pages in two. “If is receding as much as 10 m a year, it said. an ordinary person sees something in a newspaper or on To deal with the larger problem, the bank has TV then chances are he thinks it must be true, even if it is launched a West Africa Coastal Areas Management not,” she said. Once off the train the team hand the pam- Program (WACA), with a first funding round of about phlets to pedestrians, leave them at busy spots like train $220 million due to be approved this month. The mon- stations or underpasses, or drop them in mailboxes along ey will be used to build sea walls and other defenses, village lanes. plant vegetation along shores and support communi- ties, said Benoit Bosquet, WACA manager at the World Takeover Bank. But it will not be enough to move everyone out Laszlo says he decided to act last August after business of harm’s way. “When it comes to relocation, it’s very interests close to Orban completed the takeover of tricky,” Bosquet told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Hungary’s popular regional newspapers with circulations “It’s not clear that we will have the time or money suf- often exceeding those of national titles. “That was the last A picture taken on Feb 16, 2018 at the southern railway station of Budapest shows activists of civil organization ficient to do relocation everywhere.” —Reuters straw, even though it was just the latest stage in the sys- ‘Nyomtass te is!’ (Print it yourself!) preparing their own printed leaflets in a train on their way to the provincial city tematic elimination of the free press here in recent years,” of Szekesfehervar. —AFP Established 1961 11

News Wednesday, April 4, 2018

An Indian mahout washes his elephant in the Yamuna River in New Delhi yesterday. — AFP

moment.” The project was launched with Erdogan Russia-Turkey ties declaiming “in the name of God!” and work immediately began on the site, with the first concrete pouring as cel- Oil to solar: Saudis ebratory fireworks were let off. tighten with nuclear... Once completed the power station will provide 10 push to be renewable... percent of the electricity needs of Turkey, which has few Continued from Page 1 energy resources of its own. The first stage is due to Continued from Page 1 come online in 2023, the 100th anniversary of modern The Akkuyu power station - a project costing over Turkey’s founding, and be completed entirely in 2026. “This may take time, but we have all the raw materials $20 billion and heavily disliked by environmentalists - Russia and Turkey are also building the TurkStream gas - sunshine, land and most importantly, the will,” he was already launched once before in Feb 2015 but then pipeline under the Black Sea that will allow Moscow to added, giving AFP a tour of the facility widely known as put on hold due to the row over the downed Russian pump gas to Europe avoiding Ukraine and increase Solar Village. Engineers were working away testing solar plane. “The scale of this project is difficult to exagger- Turkey’s importance as a transit hub. Half of the offshore panels under harsh conditions. A miniature sandstorm ate,” Putin said at the ceremony. “This marks a new section of the pipeline has already been installed. “We inside a cylindrical chamber battered one panel. A stage in the development of Turkey’s economy.” are realizing a number of strategic projects with the machine with what appeared to be a large boxing glove Erdogan declared: “We are witnessing a historic Russian Federation,” said Erdogan. — AFP punched another. Saudis work at a solar panel factory in Uyayna on The site, which also includes a solar field that supplies March 29, 2018. — AFP electricity to neighboring villages, was established some a series of missile strikes on Saudi Arabia, including the three decades ago. But the push for renewables only now kingdom would require huge investments to upgrade its MBS says Israelis capital Riyadh, in recent days. In a statement carried by appears to be gaining momentum. It is driven by a key grid and set up large-scale battery storage facilities. Saudi media, the coalition said the oil tanker was in incentive - to free up more oil reserves for export, the The solar push appears to be driven by geopolitics as international waters when it came under “Houthi-Iranian kingdom’s chief revenue earner. Saudi Arabia currently much as economics. “Saudi Arabia’s problem is that have right to land... attack” at around 1330 local time (1030 GMT). A coali- draws on oil and natural gas to both meet its own fast- (rivals) Iran and Qatar have the gas reserves it does not,” Continued from Page 1 tion warship conducted a “swift intervention” foiling the growing power demand and desalinate its water, con- said James Dorsey, a Middle East expert at the S attack, it said, without identifying the type of weapon suming an estimated 3.4 million barrels of oil daily. That Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. But Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman indicated a used in the assault. “As a result of that attack, the tanker number is expected to rise to 8.3 million barrels in 10 “That is one reason why renewables figure prominently notable shift in the kingdom’s position in an interview was subjected to a slight but ineffective hit and it years, according to the King Abdullah City for Atomic in Prince Mohammed’s reform program, not only to pre- published Monday with US news magazine The Atlantic. resumed its naval course northwards, escorted by a and Renewable Energy, eating up the bulk of Saudi pare Saudi Arabia economically for a post-oil future but The prince was asked by the magazine whether the coalition warship,” the statement said. Arabia’s crude production. also to secure its continued geopolitical significance.” “Jewish people have a right to a nation-state in at least A European Union naval force that operates in the “Saudi Arabia has long had a vision for becoming... an Saudi Arabia also harbors atomic ambitions, with part of their ancestral homeland?” “I believe that each region confirmed the ship was underway, adding that exporter of oil and of gigawatts of power,” Ellen Wald, a plans to build 16 reactors over the next two decades for people, anywhere, has a right to live in their peaceful the crew was safe and unharmed. The media department scholar at pro-Saudi think tank Arabia Foundation and $80 billion, despite concerns over nuclear proliferation in nation,” said the prince, who is on a three-week US tour. of the Houthi-run Yemeni military said naval forces had author of the book “Saudi Inc”, told AFP. “That vision the Middle East. But the economics favor solar power. “I believe the Palestinians and the Israelis have the right “targeted a battleship belonging to the coalition in requires solar power installations of a massive scale. My Electricity from solar sources costs less than half that of response to the bombardment of displaced people in to have their own land,” he added. “But we have to have understanding is the project will be rolled out in pieces nuclear power. SoftBank’s Vision Fund would invest $1 Hodeidah”. It gave no further details. The department’s a peace agreement to assure the stability for everyone and not as one giant plant.” But the sheer scope of the billion for the first phase of the deal, but it is unclear text message was referring to an air strike by the Saudi- and to have normal relations.” Since 2002, Saudi Arabia project, which aims to produce well above the kingdom’s where the rest of the investment will come from. Saudi led coalition on Monday in Houthi-controlled Hodeidah has been the main sponsor of the Arab Peace Initiative, own projected requirement of 120 gigawatts by 2032, Arabia has dazzled investors with several plans for hi- which envisions a two-state solution to the Israeli- that destroyed a house and killed 12 civilians from the tech “giga projects”, funded in part by its sovereign same family, including seven children. A coalition has prompted skepticism. “Although Saudi Arabia has Palestinian conflict. No senior Saudi official is known to more than enough vacant, non-arable desert land... (it) wealth fund, but skeptics question their viability in an era have previously accepted that Israel has a right to any spokesman said the alliance takes the report very seri- of cheap oil. ously, promising a full investigation. really does not need so much solar power,” said Bart land beyond the practical need to secure a lasting deal. Lucarelli, a managing director for power and utilities at The kingdom has unveiled blueprints to build Separately, Yemen’s Houthi group hit a Saudi oil Last week, Saudi air defenses intercepted a flurry of NEOM, a mega project billed as a regional Silicon missiles, and falling debris caused the first death in the advisory firm AWR Lloyd. tanker off the main port city of Hodeidah yesterday, the “There has been speculation about whether this Valley, in addition to the Red Sea project, a reef-fringed Saudi-led coalition said, in an attack that could compli- capital Riyadh. Saudi Arabia accuses Iran of supplying resort destination - both worth hundreds of billions of missiles to the Houthis, who have taken over the Yemeni amount of new solar capacity can even be built in that cate a new United Nations push to end a war that has time frame within a single country. The consensus view is dollars. “Throwing money at a project, be it a solar killed more than 10,000 people. The Iranian-aligned capital Sanaa and other parts of the country. Tehran and project or a tech city, won’t make it work unless it’s the Houthis deny the charge. Earlier yesterday, UN that the 200 gigawatt figure is excessive.” Lucarelli said Houthis said they had targeted a coalition warship in Saudi Arabia instead “needs a balance” between renew- accompanied by technology that works and effective response to an air strike on Hodeidah on Monday that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the warring project management,” said Wald. “Most likely, the end sides in Yemen to reach a political settlement to end a ables and fossil fuels - and pointed out that the solar killed at least a dozen civilians, including seven children. result of mega projects will be markedly different than conflict now in its fourth year that has left 22 million memorandum is non-binding for now. To handle the Tensions have been rising in recent days after the the vision expressed today. That is not to say worse, people in urgent need of aid. — Agencies amount of power the project envisions, experts say the Houthis, who control most of northern Yemen, launched but different.” — AFP

Established 1961 13 Sports Wednesday, April 4, 2018 Australia’s swimmers can ride wave of home crowd to glory

Australia’s swimming team expected to top medals table in the pool

GOLD COAST: A fervent home crowd is expected to ker Emily Seebohm. While the Games should provide a help propel Australia’s swimming team to the top of the massive boost for coach Jacco Verhaeren’s planning as medals table in the pool for the 10th successive they build towards the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, they Commonwealth Games but also banish memories of a are not expected to have it all their own way. poor return at last year’s world championships. Olympic and world champion breaststroker Adam Locals are expected to comprise much of the Peaty will lead a fired-up England squad, while the 10,000-strong crowds in the temporary stands at the rejuvenated Canadian women’s team that includes Gold Coast Aquatic Centre for the April 5-10 competi- 100m backstroke world record holder Kylie Masse and tion, which Scotland coach Alan Lynn said would pro- 100m freestyle Olympic champion Penny Oleksiak are vide a psychological boost for the home team. expected to provide some thrilling racing. “This is the spiritual home of swimming as far as “There are always a lot of medals involved in a cam- we’re concerned,” he said of the open-air venue. “It’s paign like this,” Verhaeren said. “(But) to think it will be like playing rugby against an easy run would be under- New Zealand in estimating what is coming Auckland.” Defending towards us.” women’s 100m freestyle champion Cate Campbell, TOUGH CONDITIONS who lives and trains in Psychological The outdoor venue, a rar- nearby Brisbane, added ity for a major international that she had witnessed boost for the championship, is also likely how the Glasgow crowd to throw up some challenges had lifted the Scotland home team for the swimmers, particu- team four years ago. larly the backstrokers, who “There was something have no visual cues to fol- in the air that got them low. “It’s a huge challenge ready to swim fast,” and is a bit frustrating,” said GOLD COAST: Australia’s Matt Wilson trains ahead of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games at the Optus Campbell said. “I’m really Masse, who has been incor- Aquatic Centre swimming pool in Gold Coast yesterday. — AFP hoping that we feel that same energy out there on pool porating outdoor training for a year to grow accus- deck in a couple of days.” Campbell took last year off tomed to the conditions. after missing out on a medal in her signature event at “You can be doing a really fast set then all of a sud- difficult in the heat,” he told Britain’s Guardian newspa- trying to stay cool before I race and cooling down the Rio Olympics and her absence was sorely missed at den, wham, you hit the lane rope, its a bit frustrating, to per. The water temperature, however, has created some faster after heats,” said Horton, who will race the 200m, the world championships in Budapest. say the least.” The wind, sun and expected rain will also issues with Olympic 400m freestyle champion Mack 400m and 1500m freestyle. Australia, traditionally one of the sport’s powerhous- affect the swimmers, with the light-skinned Peaty jok- Horton overheating during the Australian trials and the “I think we will have ice baths at the pool and we’ve es, finished eighth on the table with 10 medals, their ingly worrying about his complexion. team looking to utilise ice baths for the distance swim- got some in the basement of the village as well, so when lowest tally since 1991, with a solitary gold to backstro- “I’m a ginger kid from Uttoxeter, so it might be a bit mers. “It’s just about managing my body temperature, we get back we can cool down.” — Reuters

Kyokushin Karate championship dles are required to be stored in a Indian doctor central secured location, access to begins on Friday which is restricted to authorised reprimanded medical personnel of the CGA (Commonwealth Games Association) By Abdellatif Sharaa delegation. “The needles in question for needle were not disposed of until he had KUWAIT: Chairman of the Higher Organizing made two trips to the Polyclinic.” Committee of the Second All-Asia Weight infringement The Court added that the doctor Category Championship I.K.O (International had failed to provide a mandatory Kyokushin Organization) karate Khalid declaration form for the needles but GOLD COAST: An India boxing Abdellatif Al-Munaye said all is ready for the had provided “information substan- team doctor was found by a championship on Friday which will be held at tially similar” to what was required. Commonwealth Games Federation Kuwait Sports Club under the patronage of “In the circumstances, the Federation (CGF) Court to have breached the Public Authority for Sports (PAS). Court’s decision is that CGF should event’s “No Needle Policy” by failing Al-Munaye was speaking during a press issue a strong written reprimand to to store syringes properly in the run- conference in the presence of the Kyokushin the Doctor for the breaches,” the up to the quadrennial showpiece in Committee Duaa Hussein, International statement added. Australia. Kyokushin Organization representative Bahaa “A copy of the letter of reprimand The needles, which are banned Omran and Committee rapporteur Dr Haidar should be served on the Chef de without specific medical exemptions Kamal. and supporting the championship. He also Singapore, Bahrain, India, UAE, Mongolia, Mission of the Indian Team, who as part of the fight against doping, Al-Munaye said delegations will start thanked Kuwait Sports Club and its Deputy Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malaysia, Iran and host should be advised to ensure that no were discovered in a plastic bottle arriving today as the draw will be made Chairman Khalid Al-Ghanim to ensure the country Kuwait. over the weekend. The doctor, Amol further infractions of CGF Policies tomorrow. He added a course will be held for success of the tournament. Bahaa Omran said there will be four Patil, had administered a Vitamin B occur by any member of the Indian referees in presence of the President of the Meanwhile, Duaa Hussein said the Asian weights under 70kg, 80kg, 90kg and over complex injection to an unwell boxer Team.” Asian Federation of the game, as well as the championship in one of the strongest that 90kg in the competition, adding that Kuwait and left needles in the room in contra- The matter was not defined as an secretary general. qualify for world championship and Tokyo is the first Arab country that organizes such vention of CGF rules, the authority anti-doping rule violation, the CGF Al-Munaye thanked PAS and its Director 2020 Olympics. She said twelve countries will an event. Competitions will start at 3 pm on said in a statement yesterday. said on Monday. India’s boxing high General Dr Humoud Fulaiteh for approving participate, including Saudi Arabia, Friday at Kuwait Sports Club Hall. “The Federation Court found that performance director Santiago Nieva there was a breach of Paragraphs I told local media on Monday that one and II of the No Needle Policy in that of his athletes felt ill and received a the Doctor left needles in the room “vitamin substance” from a doctor. Norway’s while he went to the Polyclinic to The 21st Commonwealth Games for obtain sharp bins for the disposal of mostly former British colonies get the needles,” it said. underway at Gold Coast today and legendary “Under the No Needle Policy, nee- run to April 15. — Reuters Bjorndalen to

serious injury as “super scary”. retire at 44 Australian diver “I thought of every scenario to try and continue diving till at least the end of the OSLO: Norway’s biathlon superstar Ole Einar retires on eve season, however the risks highly out- Bjorndalen, the most decorated male Winter weighed the options of continuing to dive Olympian in history, said yesterday he would of Games over and sadly had to make the heartbreaking retire at the end of the season, at the age of decision to stop diving,” she wrote on 44. “I would have liked to continue a few Instagram. more years, but this is my last season,” a tear- paralysis fears Australian team diving manager Michael Hetherington said that he sus- ful Bjorndalen told a news conference, citing GOLD COAST: Heartbroken Australian health and family time as reasons behind the pected Kovchenko was still in shock at diver Taneka Kovchenko retired on the her sudden forced retirement. “She has retirement. eve of her home Commonwealth Games Since making his professional debut in been amazing, she really has,” yesterday after medical experts warned Hetherington said. “Whether it has sunk March 1993, Bjorndalen went on to win 13 that she risked severe paralysis if one Olympic medals (eight gold, four silver and OSLO: File photo shows Norway’s Ole Einar Bjorndalen with his championship’s medals after in, I’m not fully sure as yet. She came and more dive went wrong. spoke to the team in camp and very emo- one bronze). That leaves him as the men’s the Men 15 km Mass Start event at the IBU World Championships Biathlon competition in The 23-year-old, who was a serious record medal holder in the Winter Olympics Oslo Holmenkollen, on March 13, 2016. — AFP tionally broke the news to the team. “But medal contender in the women’s synchro- she also realises there wasn’t really a and number two overall behind compatriot nised 10m platform at the Gold Coast, has Marit Bjorgen, the cross-country skier who choice... it wasn’t like she was just injured. 95 individual victories in the World Cup, atrial fibrillation, which could lead to blood been suffering chronic headaches and Unfortunately the choice was made for set a new record of 15 medals after starring at neck pain since the end of last year. last month’s Pyeongchang Games in which he including one in cross-country skiing, and 179 clots, stroke and heart failure. her.” Kovchenko and Wu had been podium finishes. He also claimed the overall “I would have liked to say that I’m fed up Scans showed two vertebrae have com- expected to light up their event at the didn’t compete. pressed her spinal cord and her doctor He realised a remarkable “grand slam” at World Cup biathlon title six times. and jaded, but I’m not. Now, I wish to slow Commonwealth Games, having taken gold down on the advice of the medical team and and neurologist said another bad landing at November’s FINA Diving Grand Prix at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games, win- could leave her quadriplegic and depend- ning four gold medals in each of the events. PYEONGCHANG DISILLUSIONMENT my family,” he added. Thomas Bach, presi- the Gold Coast. But poor results this season meant he dent of the International Olympic Committee ent on a ventilator. “I have had an amazing “I’m going to miss you so much up on Bjorndalen said the “the rawest experience of 14 years diving, chasing my dream of rep- (his) life” was four years earlier during the missed out on a seventh Olympics in (IOC), hailed Bjorndalen as a “role model”. the platform... I’m so proud of you and Pyeongchang. Instead, he coached his “Ole Einar Bjorndalen is one of the great- resenting Australia,” said Kovchenko, who everything you’ve achieved,” an emotional Nagano Games in Japan. hails from nearby Brisbane. “I am grateful While tough weather conditions deprived Belarussian wife (and biathlete) Darya est of all time,” Bach told AFP. “He has proven Wu told Kovchenko following her sudden Domracheva, who left South Korea with a this time and again in competition, but more for every experience and opportunity I retirement. “This is only the beginning of him of a first Olympic title on the 10-kilome- have been given. I am leaving the sport as tre (six-mile) sprint, he managed to overcome relay gold medal and an individual silver importantly, he has established himself as a what you will continue to achieve in life. medal. “The season did not go as planned true Olympian and a role model for young an athlete proud of my accomplishments Thanks for being such a great team-mate his disappointment and win the race the fol- and with so many life skills.” lowing day. This was also around the time that with performances not as good as I and oth- athletes around the world.” While some and for always inspiring me to get the ers had expected,” Bjorndalen told a news already see Bjorndalen as a candidate to head Kovchenko, who with team-mate best out of myself.” Teju Williamson will his fierce duels with France’s Raphael Poiree Melissa Wu finished fifth at last year’s started, drawing broad media attention to the conference on Tuesday. The Norwegian, up the International Biathlon Union (IBU), he replace Kovchenko in the 10m individual known for his thoroughness and diligent said he wanted to spend some time thinking world championships in Budapest in the event, and could also join up with Wu in sport. During his exceptional career, synchronised 10m, described the threat of Bjorndalen, dubbed “the Cannibal”, amassed preparation, said he had been diagnosed with about his future. — AFP the synchronised discipline. — AFP 14 Established 1961 Sports Wednesday, April 4, 2018 Philander bowls South Africa to record win over Australia Australia’s second biggest defeat against any opponent

JOHANNESBURG: Vernon Philander grabbed six played international cricket for a very long time and wickets in a devastating spell of seam bowling as South they will have to step up again now that we have lost Africa crushed Australia by a record 492 runs to clinch two of the best players in the world for the foreseeable the four-match series 3-1 yesterday, leaving the tourists future.” with much soul-searching to do. The scandal-hit tourists had promised to fight for a MORKEL WICKETLESS draw on the final day to end a controversial tour on a Philander took six wickets for three runs in 32 balls positive note but their resistance lasted just 83 minutes to carve through the tourists and keep fellow seamer as Philander ripped through the batting order to finish Morne Morkel (2-28) wicketless on his final morning of with career-best figures international cricket of 6-21. Australia were before his retirement. bowled out for a paltry Australia resumed on 119 in their second 88 for three, but lost the innings to succumb to Marsh brothers in the their heaviest ever loss Home side clinch opening over as Shaun to South Africa in terms (seven) got an inside of runs, their second controversial edge on to his pad and biggest defeat against was caught by Temba any opponent and the series 3-1 Bavuma, and Mitchell fourth biggest loss in was snatched by wicket- Test cricket. keeper Quinton de Kock, By contrast, South both off Philander. Peter Africa completed their Handscomb (24) was biggest victory over the bowled after chopping Australians in tests by runs, and sealed their first home on to his stumps and Paine (seven) edged to De Kock series win over the demoralised visitors since 1970. as the tourists struggled to cope with Philander’s seam The Australian side have been rocked by a ball-tam- movement. Pat Cummins (one) left a delivery that can- pering scandal in which former captain Steve Smith, his noned into his off-stump and Chadd Sayers (zero) JOHANNESBURG: South African team celebrates winning the fifth Test cricket match between South Africa deputy David Warner and batsman Cameron Bancroft edged to Dean Elgar at gully as the Australian innings and Australia and the Test Series against Australia for the first time since admission at Wanderers cricket were sent home after the third test before being ended in a rush of failures. ground yesterday in Johannesburg. — AFP slapped with hefty bans. Since that incident in Cape The match ended when Nathan Lyon (nine) was run Town, they scored 447 runs for the loss of 30 wickets out, a chaotic end to what has been a shambolic series as the “mental disintegration” they are so famous for for the Australians. inflicting on opponents proved to be their own down- “This means a lot to us,” South Africa captain Faf du SCOREBOARD fall. “I don’t think it was one day too many, it was prob- Plessis said. “And I believe this is the best we have been ably a few _ but there has been enough spoken about right through a series. Credit to everyone that played JOHANNESBURG: Final scores on the fifth day of the fourth Test between South Africa and Australia at the Wanderers Stadium the week that we have had and we are disappointed their part, at various times a lot of guys put their hands yesterday: with the way we handled it,” new captain Tim Paine told up so we can say this was a collective team effort. reporters. “We all know there were a lot of incidents in this South Africa, first innings, 488 N. Lyon run out (Markram) 9 “This group had a chance to show some fight and series, but after each day I would sit in the dressing- Australia, first innings, 221 C. Sayers b Philander 0 determination today and we weren’t able to because room and sense that there was a calmness to our emo- South Africa, second innings, 344-6 dec J. Hazlewood not out 9 mentally we weren’t quite there. tions and we were really just focused on winning games Extras (lb1, nb7) 8 “At the moment there is a fair bit of disappointment of cricket.” Tempers boiled over in the series on a num- Australia, second innings (overnight 88-3) Total (46.4 overs) 119 and borderline embarrassment in our change room.” ber of occasions, but Paine said he was looking forward M. Renshaw lbw b Morkel 5 Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Renshaw), 2-34 (Khawaja), 3-68 (Burns), Paine conceded that South Africa had been the bet- to sharing time with the South Africans. “We have been J. Burns lbw b Morkel 42 4-88 (S. Marsh), 5-88 (M. Marsh), 6-95 (Handscomb), 7-99 ter side since Australia claimed a 118-run win in the invited in (for a beer), though it’s a bit early, it might be U. Khawaja lbw b Maharaj 7 (Paine), 8-100 (Cummins), 9-100 (Sayers) opening test in Durban and that the tourists had wilted a coffee,” Paine said. P. Handscomb b Philander 24 Bowling: Rabada 8-3-16-0 (4nb), Philander 13-5-21-6 (1nb), S. Marsh c Bavuma b Philander 7 Maharaj 13-2-47-1 (1nb), Morkel 10.4-5-28-2 (1nb), Markram under the pressure. “The performance is concerning, no “We have got some young players in our team who M. Marsh c De Kock b Philander 0 2-0-6-0. doubt about that. From the Durban test match, South will learn a lot from going to have a beer with some of T. Paine c De Kock b Philander 7 Result: South Africa won by 492 runs Africa outplayed us purely on skill,” he said. the experienced players in the South Africans have got. P. Cummins b Philander 1 Series: South Africa won 3-1 “But we have also got some guys here who have We are very happy to do that.” — Reuters

Sodhi, Wagner Cricketers’ union ‘heroes’ as wants Smith, Warner draw gives ‘disproportionate’ NZ series win bans reduced CHRISTCHURCH: Ish Sodhi and Neil Wagner were hailed as heroes yesterday after their gritty 188-ball SYDNEY: Bans handed to Steve Smith, David Warner stand secured a second Test draw and series win for New and Cameron Bancroft should be reduced, the Zealand against England. Battered and bruised after a Australian cricketers’ union said yesterday, arguing the torrid time from a desperate England attack, the pair punishment was disproportionate to previous ball- tampering cases. Disgraced former captain Smith and hung on until bad light stopped play with Wagner’s dis- his deputy Warner were suspended from international missal in the penultimate over. and domestic cricket for 12 months and Bancroft for The second Test draw in Christchurch gave New nine months over a plot to alter the ball during the Zealand the series 1-0 after they won the first Test by an third Test against South Africa in Cape Town. innings and 49 runs and it stretched England’s winless All three players have apologised and accepted away record to 13 Tests. “Neil Wagner and Ish Sodhi responsibility in emotional press conferences after were heroic,” captain Kane Williamson said. “If it wasn’t being kicked off the tour and returning home last for them putting their hand up, weathering the storm week. Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) presi- bumps and bruises and all, this series result could have dent Greg Dyer said “justice which is rushed can been so different.” Any hopes New Zealand had of reach- sometimes be very flawed”, referring to Cricket ing 382 to win disappeared when they slumped to 42 for Australia (CA) handing out its punishment so soon two at the start of the final day when England took two CHRISTCHURCH: New Zealand players celebrate winning the NZ Cricket Test series after day five of the second cricket after the incident. He urged a relaxation of the bans to wickets with the first two balls. Test match between New Zealand and England at Hagley Oval in Christchurch yesterday. —AFP allow the men to return to domestic action sooner, England had New Zealand six for 182 when the second saying of the dozen or so previous cases the ACA had new ball was taken before tea, but the series-defining studied, the most severe punishment was a ban for final session belonged to New Zealand. After Colin de two one-day internationals. Grandhomme (45) was the seventh wicket to fall, Wagner SCOREBOARD “These proposed penalties are disproportionate and Sodhi added 37 runs in 31.2 overs, but by that stage relative to precedent,” he told a press conference. only survival mattered for New Zealand who finished on Dyer pointed to the International Cricket Council CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand: Completed scoreboard at the end of the second and final Test between New 256 for eight when the close came after Wagner’s dis- sanction, which suspended Smith for one Test and Zealand and England in Christchurch yesterday: docked him his match fee after he admitted responsi- missal.Sodhi, who feared he may have finished with a bility for the ball-tampering scandal. broken finger, said it was a difficult period to bat through. England first innings 307 (J. Bairstow 101, M. Wood B. Watling c Anderson b Wood 19 He also said the contrition expressed by players 52; Southee 6-62, Boult 4-87) C. de Grandhomme c Leach b Wood 45 has been “extraordinary” and should be taken into ‘A BIT OF LUCK’ New Zealand first innings 278 (B. Watling 85, C. de I. Sodhi not out 56 account. A wave of sympathy for Smith, in particular, “I was trying to figure out which balls to play and Grandhomme 72, T. Southee 50; Broad 6-54, N. Wagner c Vince b Root 7 has been gathering pace since a heart-wrenching which to get under and it started to become a bit diffi- Anderson 4-76) Extras: (lb2, nb1) 3 public apology on Thursday, in which he broke down cult through the middle period when the odd one would England second innings 352-9 dec (J. Vince 76, M. Total: (for 8 wickets; 124.4 overs) 256 in tears. “Their distressed faces have sent a message jump,”he said. “There was a bit of luck. I had a couple Stonemn 60, J. Root 54, D. Malan 53; De Fall of wickets: 1-42 (Raval), 2-42 (Williamson), 3-66 across the globe as effective as any sanctions could of balls went through the slips and over the gully a cou- Grandhomme 4-94) (Taylor), 4-91 (Nicholls), 5-135 (Watling), 6-162 be. I think Australia cried with Steve Smith last ple of times and you could sense their frustration as a (Latham), 7-219 (de Grandhomme) 8-256 (Wagner) Thursday, I certainly did,” said Dyer. bit of fortune went our way.” It ended an arduous and New Zealand second innings (overnight 42-0) Anderson 26-8-37-1 (1nb), Broad 24-6-72-2, Wood “We consider that the players need to return to unsuccessful tour for England who lost the Ashes series T. Latham c Vince b Leach 83 22-10-45-2, Leach 32-15-61-2, Root 12.4-5-28-1, domestic cricket earlier and as part of their rehabilita- 4-0 before coming to New Zealand. “It’s been very dis- J. Raval c Stoneman b Broad 17 Stokes 4-3-2-0, Malan 4-1-9-0. tion.” With the 2019 World Cup and an Ashes series in appointing in terms of results... we’ve not performed to 2019, supporters of the players believe they need to our ability and not got the results we wanted,” said cap- K. Williamson c Bairstow b Broad 0 Did not bat: T. Southee, T. Boult be playing state cricket to be in the type of form that tain Joe Root. But, despite England holding the upper R. Taylor c Cook b Leach 13 Result: Match drawn could warrant selection. All three men have until hand for two sessions on the final day, Root did not H. Nicholls c Cook b Anderson 13 Series: New Zealand 1-0 tomorrow to inform Cricket Australia whether they believe they could have done any more to win. “We accept their punishment or will opt for a hearing, as is tried a number of different things and we couldn’t have their right. Dyer also said the “win-at-all-costs” cul- tried much more,” he said. ture of Australian cricket must be addressed by inde- wicket and then Sodhi and Wagner saw New Zealand golden duck for Kane Williamson in his 65-Test career, pendent inquiry examining the game from top to bot- through to stumps. wickets fell at regular intervals. Ross Taylor avoided the tom, reporting to both the ACA and CA. ‘VERY FRUSTRATING’ Sodhi ducked, weaved, slashed and took hits to the hat-trick, was dropped on six by James Vince and pro- “Organisational culture comes from its leadership “It’s very frustrating. I thought we had a very good body as he produced his third Test 50, facing 168 balls, gressed to 13 when he saw Leach place Alastair Cook at and it comes from the top. It cannot be grafted onto opportunity coming into today, we had fantastic start and while Wagner faced 103 balls for his seven. Joe Root short backward leg and promptly chipped the ball the bottom,” he said, as pressure grows for cricket’s we threw absolutely everything at them.” After Stuart stacked fielders round the bat, and spinner Jack Leach straight to him. top brass to also come under the spotlight. “Let us Broad dismissed Jeet Raval and Kane Williamson with the had eight in close catching positions as the number of Henry Nicholls went for 13 and BJ Watling was out for identify all the causes of the tipping point that first two balls, Tom Latham was the first to stand up for remaining overs sank below six. But edges flew just wide 19. Vince, who had dropped Latham on 23, made amends occurred in Cape Town.” — AFP New Zealand with a patient 83. of outstretched arms, adding to England’s frustration. with a diving catch at square leg to end Latham’s near De Grandhomme and Sodhi put on 57 for the seventh After Broad’s early breakthrough, which included the first five-hour stay in the middle. — AFP Established 1961 15 Sports Wednesday, April 4, 2018 Make your own European history, Klopp challenges Liverpool

City can wrap up title earlier than any team has done before

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp urged line drawing comparisons with the all-time great his players to write themselves into the club’s storied Premier League sides. European history when they face runaway Premier However, their only league defeat of the season came League leaders Manchester City in the first leg of their at Anfield in a thrilling 4-3 Liverpool win in January and Champions League quarter-final today. Klopp welcomed the challenge. “I like the difficult jobs, While City currently have the upper hand domesti- that is the most interesting thing for a manager,” added cally as they sit 18 points clear of third-placed Klopp. “What to do in this or that moment? How to Liverpool in the Premier League and just one win away prepare your boys as good as possible from the mental from a third title in seven and physical side?” seasons, five-time European Guardiola has won all seven champions Liverpool have of his previous Champions far more pedigree in conti- League quarter-finals as a nental competition. I like the coach at Barcelona and However, the Reds haven’t Bayern Munich. reached the Champions difficult However, no opposing League last four for a coach has beaten Guardiola decade and Klopp wants jobs more in his trophy-laden modern day memories creat- career than Klopp. In 12 pre- ed at Anfield. vious meetings, Klopp has “This club is already so six wins to Guardiola’s five. full of history and we have to The Liverpool boss write our own history,” said the German yesterday played down the significance of that personal record, when quizzed whether he was seeking inspiration from but did cite it as reason to believe that beating what he Liverpool’s glory days in Europe. described as possibly the best side in Europe at the “People meet me in the street and they can tell me moment is feasible. “I didn’t beat Pep, my teams did and each goal Liverpool who scored 37 years ago in the I was lucky with them doing what they did,” said Klopp. 56th minute... we need to be proud of our history but “It’s really difficult, but I think we can beat the best. we need to create our own history. But only if we work really hard and smart.” “I did that a lot in the past with my former teams, but Klopp confirmed centre-back Joel Matip will miss at one point you need to do your own things. The boys the rest of the season with a thigh injury, while Adam are ready, they are really looking forward to it.” Lallana will miss both legs against City due to a ham- LIVERPOOL: Liverpool players attend a team training session on the eve of the UEFA Champions League City can wrap up the title earlier than any team has string injury suffered in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Crystal first leg quarter-final football match between Liverpool and Manchester City, at Melwood Training Ground before if they beat local rivals Manchester United on Palace. German midfielder Emre Can missed that match in Liverpool, north west England yesterdau. — AFP Saturday, with Pep Guardiola’s men’s march to the finish and remains a doubt with a back injury. —AFP

Indonesia’s footless goalkeeper kicks Returning emperor home powerful message Messi can put

INDRAMAYU: When Eman Sulaeman begged his par- ents to let him play football, the couple worried their Roma to the sword young son-born with no feet and just one full leg- would be mocked. But two decades later, the 30-year- BARCELONA: “Welcome Romans, 100,000 gladia- old Indonesian goalkeeper is wowing crowds at home tors await you,” warned Barcelona in a preview video and abroad with his “cat-like” reflexes, and sending a ahead of their Champions League quarter-final first powerful message about people with disabilities. leg against AS Roma yesterday. One warrior stands “I cried for days, begging them (my parents) to buy head and shoulders above the rest. me a ball,” he told AFP at a recent match in the small Lionel Messi is fit again and expected to start town of Indramayu, some 220 kilometres (135 miles) against the Italian side after rising from the bench to east of Jakarta. “They relented and went out to find me rescue Barcelona a point in a 2-2 draw with Sevilla on a cheap plastic ball.” Sulaeman’s fans came out in force Saturday. Messi missed Argentina’s friendlies during at a recent match at a local court for futsal-a five-a- the international break with muscular problems, a 2-0 side game played on a hard pitch with hockey-sized win over Italy and a humiliating 6-1 thrashing by goals and a less bouncy ball. Spain in Madrid. They snapped pictures and cheered as Sulaeman Thrown on by Ernesto Valverde just before the protected his net by shifting quickly on stumps and his hour mark as Barcelona trailed Sevilla 2-0, Messi one leg-the other limb is missing from the knee down. turned the tide in his team’s favour and drove home Cheers turned into a roar as he kicked the ball into the an 89th-minute equaliser from outside the area. back of the other team’s net, capping off a win for his “He didn’t start the game as a precaution,” coach side. Young fans waited for a selfie with their hero. “He Valverde said. “We think he will be fine for is very inspiring,” said 18-year-old Muhammad Faisal INDRAMAYU: This picture taken on February 3, 2018 shows goalkeeper Eman Sulaeman (C) attempting pos- Wednesday but we will see how he feels after Bahri. “Although he’s physically very different from the session of the ball during a futsal (five-a-side indoor football) match in Indramayu, West Java.—AFP tonight’s effort. “Of course, he’s an important player. rest of us, his spirit remains strong. He really motivates He makes a difference every time he touches the ball.” me.” It hasn’t been easy for Sulaeman-a big fan of for- The last time Roma faced Barcelona was in the mer Manchester United keeper Edwin Van Der Sar and wore shoes was for a match in Scotland,” he said, Java’s sports agency, lifting hopes that the government Champions League group stage in November 2015, Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo-who had to train adding that it was to allay organisers’ safety concerns. might boost its so-far lacklustre support for disabled with the Catalans registering a thumping 6-1 home tirelessly to get where he is. “I spent a long time learn- In 2016, he joined the Indonesian team at the Homeless athletes. win over the Italians. Messi made his return from a ing to walk in balance before I was able to kick the World Cup in Glasgow. The annual football tournament “We’ve recently learned that our disabled athletes two-month injury layoff in that game, running the show and scoring twice, as well as setting up Gerard ball,” he said. is aimed at raising awareness about homelessness and have extraordinary skills and they have opened our usually involves homeless players as well as drug eyes that if they’re given equal opportunities, they can Pique. Luis Suarez, who also struck twice against Roma in that match, was pleased with the team’s atti- ‘REALLY TOUCHED’ addicts, asylum seekers and disabled athletes. achieve anything,” said agency spokesman Dani An instant sensation, Sulaeman was crowned the Ramdan. Sulaeman-who runs an electronics repair tude against Sevilla. “It’s to Messi’s credit that he Sulaeman’s perseverance paid off, with friends ask- keeps on demonstrating (his class),” the Uruguayan competition’s best goalkeeper. “It was unreal. My first shop-is determined to spread his love for the sport by ing him to join the local football team as he completed forward said. “But the work of the whole team, to time ever being abroad and I was named the best establishing a futsal lover’s community in his hometown an electronic engineering degree. “Football for me is keep going and not give up, is what stays with me.” goalie,” he said. “The crowds and even all the organis- Majalengka and coach football at several local junior just like my wife. My girlfriend is even jealous of it Barcelona looked lost at Sevilla until Messi arrived, because I love it too much,” he laughed. ing committee members clapped for me. I was really high schools. He dreams of competing in a major event especially without Sergio Busquets anchoring the Still, some were not convinced. “At my first tourna- touched.” British media at the time praised Sulaeman like the Paralympic Games one day, and hopes that he team and controlling the game. The Catalan holding ment, the other team’s manager doubted me and asked and his “cat-like reflexes”. “Football really embraces will continue to be an inspiration for other disabled ath- midfielder is back in training after a toe injury and if I really could play,” he said. Despite the challenges every part of our society,” he said. “People with dis- letes. “We must stay confident and motivated to bring could also start as Barcelona welcome Roma to their posed by his birth defect, Sulaeman never considered abilities like me and poor people can all unite without out the potential in ourselves,” he said. “Although we Colosseum for the first leg. wearing prosthetic legs. being looked down upon or stigmatised.” (disabled people) have limitations, within those limita- “Andres Iniesta, our Michelangelo, Leo Messi, our “I don’t even like wearing shoes. The only time I Sulaeman’s talents have caught the attention of West tions there are extraordinary things.” — AFP emperor,” Barcelona declared in the video. While vet- eran playmaker Iniesta’s brush strokes in midfield paint the path, it is only with Messi leading the Suwon Samsung Bluewings stay second in charge Barcelona can be confident of putting Roma Shanghai Shenhua Group H despite losing 4-1 at home to Sydney to the sword and taking another step towards a Media rights ensure FC, a first win for the Australians in the tourna- potential treble. — Reuters ment. Goals from Milos Ninkovic, Alex Brosque, crash out of Adrian Mierzejewski and Bobo delivered the another big pay day points for the A-League champions who now AFC Champions move into third with five points, two behind Suwon with the final group game taking place on Matches on TV for Indian board April 17. (Local Timings) League It was a disappointing evening all-round for MUMBAI: The world’s richest cricket board is poised to get even wealthier after media rights to Indian cricket for the next five years China as seven-time champions Guangzhou Evergrande failed to seal their progress to the ITALIAN CALCIO LEAGUE brought spirited bidding yesterday. Benevento v Hellas Verona 18:00 The e-auction of television and digital rights, a first in cricket, was SEOUL: Big-spending Chinese club Shanghai second stage after being held to a 1-1 draw with beIN SPORTS HD 5 not concluded but the Indian board (BCCI) received a bid of 44.4 bil- Shenhua were eliminated from the 2018 AFC Buriram United in Thailand. Chievo Verona v Sassuolo Calcio 19:30 lion Indian rupees ($683 million) for consolidated global rights from an Champions League with a game to spare yester- A first half-goal from Zheng Long looked to beIN SPORTS HD 3 unidentified bidder. “The online auction will now resume on day after drawing 2-2 with Kashima Antlers of have given the Group G leaders and two-time orino FC v Crotone 19:30 Wednesday...from the same stage,” the BCCI said in a statement. Star Japan at home. winners the points in a hard-fought clash. The beIN SPORTS HD 7 India paid 38.5 billion rupees for the rights to broadcast India’s home Milan v Internazionale Milano 19:30 Giovanni Moreno shot Shanghai ahead from Thai champions were rewarded deep into injury beIN SPORTS HD 4 matches for the 2012-2018 cycle. The BCCI had consolidated its posi- the spot after 13 minutes and Mao Jianqing, an time however as Yoon Jun-su fired home the tion as the world’s richest cricket board in September with the game’s early replacement for injured striker Obafemi equaliser. FRENCH LEAGUE biggest TV deal when it sold Indian Premier League’s (IPL) global Martins, headed home a second just before the Buriram moves onto six points after five Stade Rennais v Monaco 19:45 media rights to Star India for a staggering $2.52 billion. half-hour. But Yuma Suzuki and Leandro hit back games to drop to third, two behind Cerezo beIN SPORTS HD 6 Six companies, including Facebook and Google, initially entered the for Kashima after the break to send the Japanese Osaka in second. The Japanese team defeated fray to bid for 102 matches in India from June, 2018 to March, 2023. UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE team into the knockout stages and Shanghai out Jeju United 2-1 to eliminate the South Koreans “Following scrutiny, Star India Private Ltd, Reliance Industries Limited, Barcelona v Roma 21:45 and Sony Pictures Networks India Private Limited were found eligible of the tournament that sees 32 teams from to ensure that a victory in the final group game beIN SPORTS HD 1 to submit online financial bids,” the BCCI said. — Reuters around Asia divided into eight groups of four. at Guangzhou will be enough to move into the Liverpool v Manchester City 21:45 Only the top two progress to the next round. knockout stages. —AFP beIN SPORTS HD 2 Established 1961 Sport

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018

Australia’ s swimmers can ride Philander bowls South Africa Indonesia’s footless goalkeeper 13wave of home crowd to glory 14 to record win over Australia 15 kicks home powerful message

Ronaldo’s bicycle kick caps Real win Red card for playmaker Paulo Dybala

TURIN: Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (C) scores during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg football match between Juventus and Real Madrid at the Allianz Stadium in Turin yesterday. — AFP

TURIN: Cristiano Ronaldo scored with a bicycle get as Juve’s five-year unbeaten home record in post was flicked into the net by Ronaldo for his eighth teristic mix-up between Buffon and veteran defender kick which was outrageous even by his standards to European competition crumbled. goal in six meetings against Juventus. Chiellini started a Real attack which ended with lead Real Madrid to an emphatic 3-0 win away to A red card for playmaker Paulo Dybala completed a Juventus responded well to the setback, launching a Ronaldo’s astonishing goal in the 64th minute. Juventus in their Champions League quarter-final, miserable evening for the Serie A champions, beaten 4- series of dangerous attacks, and Real goalkeeper Keylor Two minutes later, Dybala, booked in the first half for first leg yesterday. 1 by Real in last season’s Champions League final. Navas prevented what seemed a certain goal with a a dive in the penalty area, was given a second yellow With his back to goal, Ronaldo launched himself into Juventus had not lost at home in Europe since Bayern superb point-blank save from Gonzalo Higuain’s volley. card for a clumsy challenge on Carvajal. Marcelo the air to meet Dani Carvajal’s chipped ball and pro- Munich’s 2-0 win in April 2013, a 27-match run, but that Defender Giorgio Chiellini also missed a good applied the coup de grace in the 72nd minute as he duced a perfectly-executed bicycle shot which flew record was quickly under threat as their usually chance when he misdirected a header from a corner but switched passes with Isco and then Ronaldo before past keeper Gianluigi Buffon and put Real 2-0 ahead. impregnable defence was split open with nonchalant Real were always menacing and Toni Kroos thumped a rounding Buffon to score into an empty net. Ronaldo had got Real off the mark with a third- ease after only three minutes. rising shot against the bar from 25 metres. Ronaldo nearly grabbed a hat-trick and although minute goal, scoring for a record 10th successive Marcelo flicked the ball between two defenders to Juve also began the second half in lively mood but Juve escaped further damage they face an almost Champions League game, and Marcelo was also on tar- set Isco free on the left and his low cross to the near lost their way in a dramatic eight minutes. An uncharac- impossible task in next week’s return. — Reuters

awarded a penalty when Joaquin Correa was Bayern come felled by Jerome Boateng but instead he was booked for diving. Sarabia should then have put the hosts from behind to ahead but fired just wide after the ball dropped perfectly for him in front of goal. The beat Sevilla Spanish attacking midfielder made amends with the opening goal before Navas’s own goal SEVILLE: Bayern Munich fought back with a levelled the scores. deflected own goal and a late header from With Bayern’s usual left-back David Alaba Thiago to claim a 2-1 win at Sevilla in an excit- injured, Bernat was given a torrid time by ing Champions League quarter-final, first leg Sarabia who he was booked for fouling clash yesterday. shortly after the opener before being with- Pablo Sarabia had put Sevilla ahead in the drawn at halftime. 32nd minute when he got the better of Juan The hosts nearly scored just after the break Bernat to control Sergio Escudero’s cross and but Javi Martinez made a superb tackle on fire home at the back post. However, five min- Franco Vazquez in the area. After that Sevilla utes later Bayern levelled when Sevilla’s Jesus ran out of steam and Soria had to make a fine Navas deflected Franck Ribery’s cross past save to deny Martinez before Thiago grabbed home goalkeeper David Soria at the near post. the wiinner. With Sevilla tiring, five-time European Having let the lead slip, as they did in the champions Bayern took advantage and Thiago 2-2 draw with Barcelona in La Liga on headed the winner with the help of a deflection Saturday, Sevilla never looked like pulling lev- off Escudero in the 68th minute. Vincenzo el and Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski fired Montella’s Sevilla were unlucky to go in level narrowly wide as the visitors, now in control, at the break, having had the better of the first looked for a third. half and demonstrating the spirit that saw them Sevilla now need an unlikely triumph against knock out Manchester United in the last 16. the experienced Jupp Heynckes’ side in Despite the absence of suspended play- Munich in next Wednesday’s second leg to SEVILLA: Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski (L) vies with Sevilla’s French defender Clement Lenglet during the UEFA maker Ever Banega, the Andalusians defied reach the Champions League semi-finals for Champions League quarter-final first leg football match between Sevilla FC and Bayern Munich at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in their underdog label and might have been the first time. — Reuters Sevilla yesterday. — AFP Established 1961

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018 Business

UK manufacturing growth Wall Street higher as tech, VIVA and Careem sign strategic 18cools to 1-year low: Survey 20 consumer stocks recover 21 partnership with exclusive offers

LILLE: Students demonstrate with striking SNCF (French National Railway Corporation) employees near the Lille Flandres railway station yesterday in Lille, on the first day of a two-day strike. — AFP French unions kick off huge rail strike Three-month-long strikes a litmus test for Macron

PARIS: Commuters across France faced severe of industrial unrest since Macron came to power some energy workers staged separate walkouts who lives in Lille and commutes to Paris. Pascal would operate. Further walkouts are planned at disruption yesterday as rail workers launched last May. The railways are a bastion of trade yesterday in a growing atmosphere of social Lasnier, a banker waiting at the same station, the airline for April 7, 10 and 11. three months of rolling strikes, a major test of unionism in France and have forced governments strife 11 months after 40-year-old Macron came added: “I understand that they want to defend President Emmanuel Macron’s resolve to into U-turns in the past during major stoppages. to power. Public support for the rail strike stands their piece of the pie, but maybe there are other Huge debts, high stakes reshape the country through sweeping reforms. “For Macron, the test is really starting today,” at just below half, according to an Ifop poll ways of doing it.” As commuters took to the Thanks to the internet and mobile phone More than three-quarters of train drivers labor market economist Andrea roads instead, the streets of Paris were apps, many French commuters were able to work joined the first day of the walkout, according to Garnero from the Paris-based snarled with an “exceptional” 370 kilome- from home or arrange car-pools-though extra the SNCF, the heavily indebted state rail opera- Organization for Economic ters (230 miles) of traffic jams during the seats were in high demand. On the Blablacar tor which Macron wants to overhaul. Cooperation and Development (OECD) morning rush hour before easing, accord- car-pooling site Tuesday morning, 80 of the 95 Only one in eight high-speed TGV trains and told AFP. “Unions are still able to gather ing to traffic website Sytadin. At the capi- listed trips from the northern city of Lille were a fifth of regional trains were running on what support when they go on strike in Travellers tal’s busy Gare du Lyon station, the plat- booked solid. “I kept updating the site to find a French media have dubbed “black Tuesday”. And France, although maybe less so than in forms were so crammed that a woman fell ride and as soon as this one came up I clicked with stoppages planned two days out of five the past,” he added. Prime Minister across France onto the tracks and had to be helped out immediately,” said Pierre, a 24-year-old in Lille until June 28, weeks of disruption lie ahead for Edouard Philippe said yesterday that by fellow passengers. on his way to Paris. Macron says the SNCF, sad- France’s 4.5 million daily train passengers. the government would push ahead with frustrated But major regional stations including dled with 46.6 billion euros of debt, needs to “We have been asking for the same thing for its planned overhaul for the SNCF, Nice, Lille and Marseille were virtually drastically improve its efficiency and cut running several weeks-that the government completely which he said required 14 billion euros deserted as travellers anticipated cancel- costs as EU countries prepare to open passen- reconsider its plan. They need to start again ($17.2 billion) of public money each lations. Three-quarters of Eurostar trains ger rail to competition by 2020. from scratch,” Philippe Martinez, head of the year. “I must say that I hear the strikers, to London and Brussels were running yes- His government is planning to stop granting the CGT trade union, told France Inter radio. who speak fervently at times, as much as I hear released Sunday, and commuters expressed a terday and Thalys trains towards Belgium and rail workers’ special status-which guarantees jobs those who do not accept this strike,” Philippe mixture of sympathy and frustration with the the Netherlands were operating almost normally, for life and early retirement-to new SNCF hires. It Big test for Macron told lawmakers in parliament. A second day of reduced service. but there were none at all to Spain, Italy or also wants to combine the three bodies that make The strike was accompanied by demonstra- strikes today is set to cause a similar level of dis- “I start work at 1:00 pm. Do you know what Switzerland. At Air France, where staff are strik- up the SNCF into a single state-owned company, tions by several hundreds of rail workers in Paris ruption as the first day, the SNCF warned. time I had to get up? 5:00 am,” complained Jean ing for the fourth time in a month to demand a prompting fears among unions that it could be a and other cities and represents the biggest wave Staff at Air France, garbage collectors and Nahavua, a manager at a wholesale company pay rise, managers said 75 percent of flights step towards privatizing the rail operator. — AFP

ations and he reiterated pledges to ease would be logical for China to respond, China notifies access for American businesses, as China because countries do,” Blackstone Group scrambles to avert a trade war. Li told a con- Chief Executive Stephen Schwarzman told European air traffic control operators, said the ference that included global chief executives Reuters on Monday on the sidelines of the Half of European cause “has been identified and action is under- WTO of tariffs that China would treat foreign and domestic Beijing conference at which Li spoke, the way to return to normal operations” but that firms equally, would not force foreign firms to China Development Forum. that would not happen until “late this evening”. transfer technology and would strengthen “That’s why I view this more as a skirmish, flights face The breakdown comes a day after the Easter against US intellectual property rights, repeating promis- and I think the interests of both countries are holidays when many travellers are on the move GENEVA: China has notified the World Trade es that have failed to placate Washington. served by resolving some of these matters.” delays after around Europe, and as commuters across Organization it is imposing $611.5 million The United States asked China in a letter Fears of a trade war mounted this month France faced disruption from a massive rail worth of retaliatory tariffs on $2.75 billion last week to cut a tariff on US autos, buy more after Trump imposed tariffs on steel and alu- computer failure strike in protest at President Emmanuel worth of US imports including pork, nuts and US-made semiconductors and give US firms minum imports, and then on Thursday specifi- Macron’s reforms. ethanol in response to US duties on aluminium greater access to the Chinese financial sector, cally targeted China by announcing plans for BRUSSELS: European air travellers faced mass “We have never had anything like this and steel, a WTO document showed. The doc- the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, tariffs on up to $60 billion of Chinese goods. disruption yesterday with around half of all before,” a Eurocontrol spokesman said. Brussels ument, dated last Thursday but posted only citing unidentified sources. Alex Wolf, senior emerging markets econo- flights at risk of delays following a technical airport said departures were limited to 10 flights after the Easter public holidays, came after Alarm over a possible trade war between mist at Aberdeen Standard Investments. “This problem at Eurocontrol, the agency in charge of an hour. The Belgian airport manages 650 flights China said late on Sunday it has increased tar- the world’s two largest economies has chilled could put US companies such as Apple, the continent’s skies. Several of the EU’s biggest a day, according to its website. Several airports iffs by up to 25 percent on 128 US products, financial markets as investors anticipated dire Microsoft, Starbucks, GM, Nike, etc in the fir- airports, including Amsterdam’s Schiphol, across the continent warned of problems, with escalating a dispute between the world’s consequences should trade barriers go up due ing line,” Wolf said in a note. warned of problems and advised passengers to Schiphol saying that the “system failure” at Eurocontrol could have “possible consequences” biggest economies. China has fulfilled its legal to President Donald Trump’s bid to cut the US China can increase the regulatory burden check on their flights because of the computer for departures. Helsinki, Prague and Copenhagen duty to notify the WTO and other member deficit with China. Chinese officials are also on US companies through new inspections breakdown. airports also said traffic was facing delays. states of its retaliatory measures.* China’s working to finalize rules by May - instead of and rules; ban travel; stop providing export “Today 29,500 flights were expected in the Eurocontrol said that there had been a “failure of premier pledges market opening in bid to the end of June - to allow foreign financial licenses of key intermediate goods; raise the European network. Approximately half of those the Enhanced Tactical Flow Management avert US trade war. groups to take majority stakes in Chinese tax burden on US multinationals in China; or could have some delay as a result of the system securities firms, the Financial Times said. block US companies from the government outage,” said a statement from Eurocontrol. The System”, which tracks and manages traffic Meanwhile, Premier Li Keqiang said China demand across the continent. — AFP and the United States should maintain negoti- “I anticipate that for political reason it procurement market, he said. — Agencies Brussels-based agency, which coordinates 18 Established 1961 Wednesday, April 4, 2018 Business UK manufacturing growth cools to 1-year low: Survey Price pressures easing across British factories

LONDON: Britain’s buoyant manufacturing inflation after June 2016’s Brexit vote to the EY ITEM Club consultancy. At 55.1, industry lost some steam in the first three knocked sterling lower. A PMI published the British factory PMI remains comfortably months of 2018, according to a survey yes- earlier yesterday showed growth in euro above its post-financial crisis average of terday that suggested the economy remains zone manufacturers slid to an eight-month 53.4. “The outlook for manufacturing looks on a slow but steady course a year ahead of low in March, although they continued to decent on the foreign demand side, but Brexit. The IHS Markit/CIPS UK outpace their British peers. domestic conditions could prove challenging Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ over the coming months,” Archer Index (PMI) inched up to 55.1 in March said. The PMI’s new business index from a downwardly revised 55.0 in hit a nine-month low in March, February, beating the 54.7 consensus marked by a tailing-off in growth in forecast in a Reuters poll of economists. export orders-possibly reflecting But January’s reading was also revised Economy on sterling’s recent rally. lower and for the first quarter as a The pound has gained more than whole, the PMI was its lowest in a year, steady course 4 percent against the US dollar though above its average since Britain since the end of 2017. A exited recession in the third quarter of ahead of Brexit Confederation of British Industry 2009 following the financial crisis. survey last month also suggested This suggested factory output rose growth in manufacturing moderat- at a quarterly rate of about 0.4 percent ed recently. Yesterday’s PMI to 0.5 percent, slowing from 1.3 percent showed growth in cost pressures in the fourth quarter of 2017, IHS for factories and their selling prices Markit said. Sterling and British government bonds cooled in March, something that may reas- LONDON: HSBC’s headquarters stands beyond Billingsgate Fish Market in east Manufacturing, which accounts for about were little moved by the figures. “Despite the sure Bank of England officials who are keep- London. Scandal-hit bank HSBC said yesterday it would cut its global headcount 10 percent of Britain’s economy, was a rela- resilient March performance, the overall ing an eye on inflation pressures. by up to 50,000 as part of a restructuring that entails its withdrawal from Brazil tive bright spot late last year, when econom- impression is that the manufacturing sector Most economists polled by Reuters think and Turkey, while it also mulls abandoning London as its HQ. — AFP ic growth was the weakest among the Group had a decent first quarter but has lost some the central bank will raise interest rates to a of Seven rich nations. momentum compared to the strong perform- post-financial crisis high of 0.75 percent in gins, the sector looks set to make further PMI compiler IHS Markit, said. PMIs cover- The slowdown was due in large part to ance seen through the second half of 2017,” May. “With cost inflationary pressures also slow and steady progress as we head ing the construction and services sectors are weaker consumer demand caused by higher said Howard Archer, chief economic adviser moderating to provide some respite for mar- through the spring,” Rob Dobson, director at due today and tomorrow. — Reuters

negotiations are underway to form a coali- date basis, the index is still positive at 1.1 Global equities tion government. On the monetary policy percent, due to the stellar performance ear- Al-Najma account offers front, the ECB’s Mario Draghi assured mar- ly in the year. China’s Shanghai Composite ket participants of continued monetary eas- Index dropped 2.8 percent during the continue negative ing well into the year-end at least. In terms month, bringing its Q1 62018 performance the biggest draw prize in world of economic activity, the Eurozone’s Markit to -4.2 percent. South Korea’s KOSPI 200 Manufacturing PMI and Services PMI for Index was slightly positive up 0.6 percent performance March, on a preliminary basis, came in low- although on a year to date basis the index is for KD 1,500,000 er than previous readings although remain down 3.1 percent. China has responded to KUWAIT: Commercial Bank of Kuwait closing Q1 in red above 50 at 56.6 and 55.0, respectively. US tariffs by introducing its own set of tar- announced the launch of the 2018 revamped iffs on US products. Over the course of the prize scheme of Al-Najma Account by adding KUWAIT: Global equities closed the month Brexit woes month, the US Treasury has indicated that several benefits to the prizes of Al-Najma of March broadly in the negative. The MSCI In the UK, the FTSE 100 posted a loss of both governments have been in negotia- Account which now provides its customers the All Country World Index dropped 2.4 per- 2.4 percent in March, marking its third con- tions to avoid a trade war. In China, the chance to win the biggest annual cash prize cent closing Q1 2018 in the red down 1.4 secutive month of poor performance. On a Non-Manufacturing PMI came in slightly offered by a bank in Kuwait and over the globe percent. US equities continued their down- year to date basis, the index is down 8.2 higher than the previous month at 54.6 as much as KD 1 million and half (1,500,000) so ward trend as both the S&P 500 and Down percent, making it one of the worse devel- while the Caixin Manufacturing PMI regis- that customers’ dreams can easily turn to reality. Jones Indices posted losses of 2.7 percent oped markets in terms of performance. The tered a slight drop from 51.6 to 51.0. Commenting on the revamped prize scheme and 3.7 percent respectively. The negative Bank of England held interest rates at 0.50 of Al-Najama Account, Sahar Al-Rumaih performance for the past two months has percent but did signal tightening is not far Oil bullish General Manager - Corporate Credit Division & wiped out the gains of January, with Q1 out. On Brexit, the UK has agreed with Brent Oil, unlike equities, ended March in Acting GM - Retail Banking Division explained 2018 performance at -1.2 percent for the Europe to a 21-month Brexit transition the green up 6.8 percent. Year to date, that the Bank always endeavors to improve & S&P 500 and -2.5 percent for the Down beginning in March 2019, brining relief to March has been the best month in term of revamp its retail Jones Index. The Global markets sell-off performance, with Q1 2018 closing up product offerings and subsequent volatility were trig- 5.1 percent. During the month, Brent & services with a gered by the announcement by prices fluctuated between a high of view to meet cus- President Trump of his intention to $71.05pb on March 26 and a low of tomers’ aspira- impose tariffs steel and aluminum $63.19pb on March 1. Brent performed tions & expecta- tions and this led imports to the US. This was mostly well on the back of an unexpected draw draws on Al-Najma Account prizes. As for the the Bank to chances of winning, Al-Rumaih explained that directed at China, which threatened to on crude inventories in the US, talk of a revamp Al-Najma the more balance a customer maintains in Al- do the same on a list of US imports. long-term cooperation between OPEC prize scheme to Najma Account, the more chances the account This sparked fears of a global trade war. corporations that a hard exit is off the table. and Russia, and on the back of a continued offer the biggest holder will get to win, where each KD 25 will Adding to the worries was the resignation The UK economy has shown slight weak dollar. Gold also closed in the green in prize ever provid- give the customer one chance to win, referring of the top white house top economic advi- improvement in terms of consumer confi- March slightly up 0.5 percent with year to ed by a bank in to the other additional benefits of Al-Najma sor and the replacement of Rex Tillerson dence with Gfk Consumer Confidence date performance up 1.7 percent. the world (KD Account like the ATM card, a credit card against Sahar Al-Rumaih signaling a more aggressive US foreign pol- reading coming in at -7 compared to the GCC equities recovered following last 1,500,000), in customer’s account and all CBK banking servic- icy. Moreover, and as expected, the Fed previous reading of -10. Also, year on year month’s losses posting gains of 3.9 percent addition to other es that customer can enjoy. increased rates by 25 bps in its first meeting GDP for Q4 was flat at 1.4 percent com- as measured by the S&P GCC Index. This valuable prizes offered throughout the year. Al-Rumaih further said that CBK existing under Chairman Powell. It also increased its pared to the previous quarter’s reading. was mainly driven by Saudi Arabia, up 6.1 According to Sahar Al-Rumaih Al-Najma customers can open Al-Najma Account through forecast of economic growth over the com- Japan’s Nikkei 225 continued its negative percent, followed by Kuwait, up 0.43 per- Account prizes this year is featured by the high- Al-Tijari Online and enter all draws without vis- ing years an indicated a slightly steeper rate performance for the second month running. cent, given the recent developments with est cash prizes as well as diversity of the prizes iting the Bank branch. However, CBK non-cus- hike path for 2019 and 2020. Powell also In March, the index was down 2.8 percent the FTSE Russell stock market status throughout the year clarifying that Al-Najma tomers can submit account opening application indicated that he expects inflation to reach bringing the Q1 2018 performance to a neg- upgrades. Account will offer weekly & monthly prizes and via the Bank’s website where the Bank’ Sales the Fed’s target of 2.0 percent over the ative 5.8 percent. The rest of the GCC equity markets end- a semi-annual prize of KD 500,000 for which Unit will call them to arrange visit to the cus- medium term. During the month, the Bank of Japan ed the month in the red. The worst perform- the draw will be held on 1st July 2018 in addition tomers to complete the account opening formal- In Europe, the Stoxx Europe 600 posted maintained its key interest rate at 0.1 per- ing index was Oman’s MSM 30 Index down to the grand prize (the biggest prize in the ities. Customers can obtain further information a loss of 2.3 percent in March with the Q1 cent while holding overall policy steady. 4.6 percent, followed by Dubai down 4.2 world) of KD 1,500,000 for which the draw will on Al-Najma Account by either calling the 2018 performance coming in at a negative Japan’s Nikkei Manufacturing PMI for percent, Bahrain down 3.8 percent. Qatar be held in January 2019. Service Center or by visiting the Bank’s website Speaking about Al-Najma Account and how 4.7 percent. The two largest markets within March came in at 53.1, just under the previ- and Abu Dhabi retreated by 0.9 percent www.CBK.com and they can also visit their to open it and the eligibility for entering the nearest CBK branch where the Bank staff will be continental Europe also performed poorly ous month’s reading of 53.2. and 0.3 percent respectively. MENA equi- draws and winning the valuable prizes, Sahar Al- ready to serve them and respond to their during March, with the DAX 30 Index In terms of Emerging Markets, the MSCI ties, as measured by the S&P Pan Arab Rumaih said that anyone can open Al-Najma queries. It is known that all details and informa- shedding 2.7 percent and the CAC 40 Index Emerging Market Index posted a loss of 2.0 Composite Index, also recovered in March Account by depositing KD 100, emphasizing tion related to the latest offers & services shedding 2.9 percent. Over in Italy, and as percent in March, its second month in a row up 3.5 percent with Egypt’s EGX 30 regis- that the customer should maintain a minimum launched by the Bank is also available on the the election didn’t result in a clear winner, with negative performance. On a year to tering significant gains of 12.8 percent. amount of KD 500 to be eligible to enter all Bank’s social sites.

EXCHANGE RATES

Euro 373.570 Japanese Yen 3.840 Asia Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Sterling Pound 427.630 Syrian Pound 1.585 Bangladesh Taka 0.003189 0.003773 Canadian dollar 234.790 Nepalese Rupees 2.892 Chinese Yuan 0.046331 0.049831 ASIAN COUNTRIES Turkish lira 76.120 Malaysian Ringgit 78.580 Hong Kong Dollar 0.036210 0.038960 Japanese Yen 2.857 Swiss Franc 318.960 Chinese Yuan Renminbi 48.185 Indian Rupee 0.004120 0.004761 Indian Rupees 4.631 Australian Dollar 233.780 Thai Bhat 10.595 Indonesian Rupiah 0.000017 0.000023 Pakistani Rupees 2.640 US Dollar Buying 299.100 Turkish Lira 75.740 Japanese Yen 0.002751 0.002931 Srilankan Rupees 1.922 Korean Won 0.000273 0.000288 Nepali Rupees 2.897 GOLD Malaysian Ringgit 0.073694 0.079694 Singapore Dollar 229.850 20 Gram 249.070 BAHRAIN EXCHANGE COMPANY WLL Nepalese Rupee 0.002999 0.003169 Hongkong Dollar 38.265 10 Gram 127.450 Pakistan Rupee 0.002499 0.002789 Bangladesh Taka 3.591 5 Gram 64.570 CURRENCY BUY SELL Philippine Peso 0.005671 0.005971 Philippine Peso 5.749 Europe Singapore Dollar 0.223896 0.233896 Thai Baht 9.654 Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd British Pound 0.416689 0.424189 Sri Lankan Rupee 0.001605 0.002185 Czech Korune 0.006565 0.015865 Taiwan 0.010185 0.010365 GCC COUNTRIES Danish Krone 0.045552 0.050552 Thai Baht 0.009279 0.009829 Saudi Riyal 80.133 Rate for Transfer Selling Rate Euro 0. 364417 0.371647 Qatari Riyal 82.534 US Dollar 299.850 Georgian Lari 0.124699 0.124699 Arab Omani Riyal 780.405 Canadian Dollar 233.465 Hungarian 0.001091 0.001281 Bahraini Dinar 0.790717 0.799217 Bahraini Dinar 797.930 Sterling Pound 426.935 Norwegian Krone 0.034046 0.039246 Egyptian Pound 0.014076 0.019794 UAE Dirham 81.837 Euro 373.535 Romanian Leu 0.062355 0.079205 Iranian Riyal 0.000083 0.000084 Swiss Frank 286.765 Russian ruble 0.005222 0.005222 Iraqi Dinar 0.000202 0.000262 ARAB COUNTRIES Bahrain Dinar 797.410 Slovakia 0.008923 0.018923 Jordanian Dinar 0.419359 0.428353 Egyptian Pound - Cash 19.300 UAE Dirhams 82.040 Swedish Krona 0.031767 0.036767 Kuwaiti Dinar 1.000000 1.000000 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 17.026 Qatari Riyals 83.270 Swiss Franc 0.307933 0.318933 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.206 Saudi Riyals 80.855 Lebanese Pound 0.000148 0.000248 Tunisian Dinar 126.980 Jordanian Dinar 424.195 Australasia Moroccan Dirhams 0.023282 0.047285 Jordanian Dinar 423.600 Egyptian Pound 17.000 Australian Dollar 0.222653 0.234653 Omani Riyal 0.774461 0.780141 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 2.002 Sri Lankan Rupees 1.923 New Zealand Dollar 0.210768 0.220268 Qatar Riyal 0.078277 0.083217 Syrian Lira 0.000 Indian Rupees 4.622 Saudi Riyal 0.079073 0.080373 Morocco Dirham 33.330 Pakistani Rupees 2.598 America Syrian Pound 0.001273 0.001493 Bangladesh Taka 3.598 Canadian Dollar 0.227733 0.236733 Tunisian Dinar 0.122076 0.130076 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES Philippines Pesso 5.740 US Dollars 0.296500 0.300920 Turkish Lira 0.070705 0.081005 US Dollar Transfer 300.300 Cyprus pound 17.850 US Dollars Mint 0.297000 0.300920 UAE Dirhams 0.080417 0.082117 Established 1961 19 Business Wednesday, April 4, 2018

KAMCO GCC Markets Monthly Report Saudi defies global downtrend on FTSE upgrade, rest of GCC drops

Boursa Kuwait falls on bearish trend in large cap sectors

KUWAIT: Global equity markets declined during positive returns for NBK and ABK were offset by March-18 with all the key financial markets recording decline in shares of most of the other banking stocks. negative returns for the month. However, Saudi Arabia On the other hand, the decliners side was led by the had the best monthly performance since June-17 with Technology index with a decline of 12.2 percent, fol- the TASI up 6.1 percent on investor enthusiasm sur- lowed by Consumer Services and Oil & Gas indices with rounding the FTSE upgrade. As expected, the index declines of 6.8 percent and 6.7 percent, respectively. compiler upgraded Saudi Arabia to the Emerging The Real Estate index was also one of the decliners with Market status, which is expected to attract $5.5 billion a fall of 5.1 percent during the month. On the regulatory in passive index-linked funds, in addition to an even front, Boursa Kuwait underwent significant changes by larger flow of capital from actively managed funds. the end of the month with the implantation of planned The surge in TASI pushed the monthly returns for the changes under the MD2 (Market Development Phase 2) overall GCC index by almost 5 percent during March- including the changes to market segmentation, new cir- 18, further raising Q1-18 gains to 8 percent, primarily on cuit breakers and trade rules. The closing of the month the back of 8.9 percent returns for TASI. On the other also saw FTSE announcing a tentative list of 10 Kuwaiti hand, the rest of the GCC markets declined in March-18, stocks that will be included in its Emerging Market included in the FTSE Secondary Market Index. cap Aldar’s share price, while Ras Al Khaimah partly due to dividend declarations during the month index in two phases in September-18 and December-18 According to the index compiler, $5.5 billion in passive Properties declined by 17.1 percent m-o-m. further pressured by weaning fundamentals in con- with a projected weight 0.4 percent in the index. funds are expected to flow to Saudi market after the sumer-specific sectors like consumer staples, consumer Trading activity recovered during the month after upgrade that will start in 2019. The Kingdom is expect- Dubai Financial Market durables and services and insurance, especially in the witnessing a steep decline during February-18. The ed to attract an even higher inflow of capital once the After declining by 4.4 percent in Feb-18, the DFM UAE. The Real Estate sector was also one of the worst recovery was backed by higher trades in large-cap foreign ownership limits are gradually raised in line with index continued to decline in the month of Mar-18, and performers during the year with a decline of almost 10 stocks resulting in 10 percent growth in monthly value GCC neighbors. The enthusiasm is expected to continue was the worst performing index in the GCC. The index percent. traded that reached KD 227.3 million as compared to to remain high as the MSCI decision would be declined by 4.2 percent m-o-m and closed at 3108.53 Weak demand trends in UAE real estate markets KD 207.3 million during the previous month. On the announced by June-18, that would further boost the points, as all sectoral indices barring Industrials closed pushed the DFMGI down by 4.2 percent during the other hand, volumes traded continued to decline during Kingdom’s attractiveness in the GCC. lower during Mar-18. Consumer Staples was the main month making it the worst performing market during the the month, falling by 12 percent to 1.2 billion shares as laggard yet again after plunging by 12.8 percent in Feb- year with a decline of 7.8 percent. In Qatar, the raising compared to 1.3 billion shares in the previous month. Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange 18, as the index further declined by 12.7 percent m-o-m of foreign ownership limits had minimal impact on the NBK topped the monthly value traded chart recording The ADX index remained broadly range bound in in Mar-18 and is the worst performing index YTD. DXB benchmark QE20 index that was down 1 percent during trades worth KD 44.3 million, followed by KFH and Zain Mar-18, similar to Feb-18, as the index marginally Entertainment was again the main reason behind the the month, although this was also due to dividend decla- with KD 32.3 million and KD 20.1 million worth of declined by 0.3 percent m-o-m. The index closed at decline, as the stock dropped by 12.4 percent m-o-m in rations, as seen from the 1.5 percent positive monthly shares changing hands during the month. The monthly 4585.4 points as sectoral performance was mixed for Mar-18, after declining by 13.3 percent in Feb-18. The return for the Qatar Exchange Total Return Index. gainers chart was topped by Americana with a return of the month. The Energy sector was the best performing other large stock in the index, Dubai Refreshments also Meanwhile, banks in the region have performed posi- 36.7 percent with minimal trades in the stock, followed index, as the index was up by 10.7 percent m-o-m, driv- fell by 11.7 percent m-o-m. The Services index also fell tively since the start of the year supported by resilient by double digits (-11.1 percent m-o-m), as National earnings and improving fundamentals on the economic General Cooling and Amanat Holdings closed signifi- front. This performance was reflected in the almost 20 cantly lower and witnessed declines of 13.4 percent and percent or higher returns for some of the larger banks in 9.5 percent respectively. The financials pack also saw the region, including First Abu Dhabi Bank, NCB, ENBD m-o-m declines in Mar-18 as Financial and Investment and Al-Rajhi. Services names (-5.3 percent) led the move down, fol- lowed by the Insurance (-4.1 percent) and Banks (-2.9 Boursa Kuwait percent) indices. KSE price index declined by 2.1 percent during March-18 following declining trends in key large cap Qatar Exchange sectors. The weakness was broad-based that was evi- Qatar Exchange continued its decline in Mar-18, but dent from the almost flat return for the Kuwait Weighted remained relatively stable as compared to its other GCC Index. That said, the large-cap Kuwait-15 index record- counterparts and a sequential m-o-m basis. The QE 20 ed a gain of 1.4 percent supported by surge in shares of index declined by 0.9 percent m-o-m to close at 8573.99 Viva Kuwait (especially on the last day of the month and by Jiyad Holding and Viva with returns of 25.3 percent en by a 22.7 percent jump in the share price of Dana points in Mar-18. The Qatar All Share index which maps declined on the following day), Ahli Bank (+8.1 percent), and 19.0 percent, respectively. On the decliners chart, Gas. Telecoms (+2.6 percent m-o-m) and Investment & the broader market however gained by 3.2 percent m-o- NBK (+4.2 percent) and Humansoft (+5.8 percent). In Sultan Center topped with a decline of 56.9 percent fol- Financial Services (+1.3 percent m-o-m) indices fol- m, as sectoral performance included both gainers and terms of YTD-18 performance, all the three Kuwaiti lowed by Gulf Investment House and Hilal Cement with lowed the sectoral gainers list. Etisalat drove the losers for the month. Real Estate was the best performing indices continue to remain in the green. declines of 40 percent and 33.7 percent, respectively. increase in Telecoms as the stock gained by 2.6 percent index during Mar-18 as it gained by 7.9 percent m-o-m, The monthly sector performance chart was topped The monthly market breadth was heavily skewed m-o-m, while Waha capital (+1.4 percent) was responsi- driven by Ezdan Holding as the stock was up by 15.4 per- by the Consumer Goods index that surged 19.7 percent towards decliners that included 98 stocks as against 46 ble for the gains in the Investment & Financial Services cent for the month. Industrials names also gained by 6.5 solely on the back of gain in shares of Americana that gainers. index. The Insurance index was the main laggard as it percent m-o-m, driven by Qatar Electricity & Water and surged 36.7 percent during the month, topping the went down by 4.2 percent m-o-m, led by declines of Aamal as their stock prices jumped by 9.9 percent and monthly gainers chart, while the other three stocks Saudi Arabia (Tadawul) Abu Dhabi National Insurance (-11.2 percent) and 9.0 percent m-o-m. Transportation was the worst per- recorded negative returns Saudi Arabia benchmark recorded the best monthly Emirates Insurance (-6.7 percent). Industrials was also forming sectoral index as it declined by 4.0 percent m-o- for the month. The Basic Materials index was the sec- performance during March-18 with the TASI surging 6.1 down in Mar-18 led by over 12 percent declines each in m as all stocks in the index declined. Insurance names fol- ond-best performing index with a gain of 3.4 percent percent on the back of investor enthusiasm surrounding stock prices of Ras Al-Khaimah Ceramic and Arkan lowed as the index declined by 2.4 percent m-o-m in led primarily by 8.5 percent surge in shares of Boubyan the FTSE upgrade. The month saw increased buying in Building Materials. The Real Estate index declined by Mar-18, as all stocks barring Doha Insurance (+1.4 per- Petrochemicals. The banking index was almost flat as the key large-cap stocks that have the possibility to be 3.0 percent m-o-m, driven by a 1.4 percent fall in large cent) saw lower levels for the month.

and Comcast’s proposed offer, signalling investors Comcast said it would pay 12.50 pounds a share to Murdoch offers to expect any suitor will have to pay more. buy Sky, although it has not yet made a formal bid. Loss-making Sky News is the last regulatory hur- Fox said its new concessions went beyond the dle in 87-year-old Murdoch’s long campaign to buy steps that Britain’s media regulator Ofcom said sell Sky News to Sky, which has grown from its UK beginnings to would mitigate concerns about Murdoch’s influence. become Europe’s biggest pay-TV group. The company, however, needs to persuade Foreign investment Disney to win “We look forward to concluding this acquisition - another regulator, the Competition and Markets finally - in a timely and expeditious manner,” Fox Authority (CMA), and the government. in France hit 10-yr senior vice president Gerson Zweifach said, adding A CMA spokeswoman said yesterday it had until pay-TV prize the proposed solutions addressed all concerns about May 1 to provide its report on the proposed deal to high last year the transaction. Fox agreed in December 2016 to buy Britain’s minister for digital matters, culture, media the 61 percent of Sky it does not already own, but and sport. The minister, Matt Hancock, is due to LONDON: Rupert Murdoch ratcheted up the pres- the deal has been repeatedly delayed by the UK make the final decision by June 13. PARIS: Foreign investment in France rose 16 percent in sure on Britain to approve his $15 billion-plus bid for government and regulators, allowing Comcast to 2017 to levels not seen for a decade as President pay-TV group Sky by offering to sell or legally sep- gate crash the deal in February. Matching Comcast? Emmanuel Macron’s bid to attract money from abroad arate Sky News, aiming to head off objections the Fox had already promised that Sky’s 24-hour Fox said it could sell Sky News to Disney, or gains pace, a government report said yesterday. Public deal could give him too much political influence. news service would remain independent under the legally separate Sky News within the wider Sky agency Business France said 1,298 foreign investment Murdoch’s Twenty-First Century Fox said yester- ultimate control of Murdoch, but critics, including group, so it would operate independently with guar- projects were announced last year, allowing some 33,500 day that Walt Disney Co was interested in buying some high-profile politicians, remain adamantly anteed funding for 15 years. One London-based jobs to be saved or created. Sky News. Alternatively, Fox said, Sky News could opposed due to Murdoch’s record of influence hedge fund said the measures should be sufficient, The figure is “the best in 10 years”, the report said, up be legally separated within the Sky group. Even if through owning the Sun and the Times newspapers. but that “the price issue is not going away,” suggest- from 1,117 last year. Fox’s proposals satisfy Britain’s government and As the Sky deal remained in regulatory limbo, Fox ing Fox would have to raise its bid. Analysts at “This is the most concrete proof yet that France is competition regulator, however, it may still need to separately agreed to sell a string of assets, including Liberum said two factors pointed to Fox coming back,” Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire said as he pre- raise its recommended offer for Sky after US cable its 39 percent stake in Sky, to Disney, potentially tak- back with a revised bid to match Comcast. First, Fox sented the report. In a positive sign for Macron’s govern- group Comcast Corp said it intended to make a ing Murdoch out of the Sky equation. Some Sky must have received approval from Disney to offer ment, which sees boosting France’s attractiveness as an higher counter-bid. At 1350 GMT, Sky shares were shareholders, frustrated by the delay, had already the concession, they said, and second, Sky said its investment destination as a priority, 412 new companies up 2 percent at 13.24 pounds, the biggest rise on said Fox should increase its 10.75 pounds-a-share independent directors remained focused on maxi- decided to invest in France, accounting for a third of the Britain’s FTSE-100 index and above both Fox’s bid offer. Their view appeared vindicated when mizing value for shareholders. — Reuters projects. Half of the announcements were for completely new projects while 42 percent will expand existing ones, with takeovers accounting for the rest. conditions in Europe, both within and across backed up by stronger labor legislation and training Investors from elsewhere in Europe were behind 58 national borders,” said Siobhan Mullally, head of for labor inspectors to cover the whole economy Labor trafficking percent of the projects, but the report said American firms the CoE’s anti-trafficking group. and identify victims, the CoE said. accounted for more of the jobs, retaking the top spot from “States across Europe need to work closely “No trafficking law alone will have effect unless Germany a year earlier. India meanwhile notched up a 73 rises across Europe together with NGOs, trade unions and the private it is accompanied by policies and regulation in oth- percent rise in investment projects in France-notably the sector to help end this heinous exploitation and er relevant areas,” Klara Skrivankova, UK and decision by IT giant Infosys to open a development center abuse,” Mullally said in a statement. Europe manager for the London-based Anti- as laws fall short in the southern port city of Marseille. Most victims of labor exploitation in Europe are Slavery International, told the Thomson Reuters Other flagship announcements include Toyota’s plans men working in sectors including fishing and manu- Foundation. About 25 million people globally were to expand its site near Valenciennes on the Belgian border, facturing, while women tend to be trapped in isolat- trapped in forced labor in 2016 - working in facto- LONDON: Labor trafficking is on the rise across unveiled by Macron to great fanfare in January as part of ed settings such as domestic or care work, accord- ries, farms and fishing boats, and as domestic or sex Europe and has overtaken sexual exploitation as his “Choose France” campaign. Manufacturing accounted ing to the report by the France-based CoE. Victims workers - say the International Labor Organization the predominant form of modern-day slavery in for the biggest chunk of the projects — 343 — with engi- are often reluctant to seek help because they may (ILO) and rights group Walk Free Foundation. The several countries including Britain, Belgium and neering making up a tenth. depend on their traffickers for work, food and Strasbourg-based CoE promotes human rights and Portugal, a leading European human rights body The report did not, however, include a count of how housing, and fear deportation or retaliation if they democracy in its 47 member states, which include said yesterday. many foreign investors may have left France over the same speak out, activists say. most European nations. But a lack of prosecutions and convictions, limit- period. Consultancy Trendeo said the closure of 30 sites “Coming forward to the authorities is a risk The council’s legally-binding anti-trafficking con- ed labor laws and inspections, and fear among vic- operated by foreign companies had been announced last many victims feel they are unable to take,” said vention has been signed by all European states except tims are hindering efforts to tackle trafficking in year, including a Tupperware factory in Joue-les-Tours, Kate Roberts, head of office at the Human Russia and obliges countries to take a wide range of industries from agriculture to construction, said a western France. But that figure was lower than the 37 reg- Trafficking Foundation, which is based in Britain. steps aimed at preventing human trafficking, protect- report by the Council of Europe (CoE). “More and istered in 2016. — AFP more people are being trafficked to work in awful European nations’ anti-trafficking laws must be ing victims and prosecuting offenders. — Reuters 20 Established 1961 Business Wednesday, April 4, 2018 Wall Street higher as tech, consumer stocks recover

Tesla rises after robust Model 3 production numbers

NEW YORK: Wall Street’s main indexes were higher Swedish music streaming service Spotify in the New yesterday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising York Stock Exchange’s first-ever direct floor listing. more than 100 points, helped by a recovery in the bat- Viacom Inc fell 4.2 percent after Reuters reported tered technology and consumer discretionary stocks. CBS Corp planned to make an all-stock offer that valued Amazon and Tesla, the top drags on Monday, rose, with the media company below its current market valuation. the Dow and the S&P opening above their 200-day CBS shares rose 0.9 percent. moving averages. World markets battled to regain their poise yesterday The S&P 500 on Monday broke below that important after another round of tech and trade war worries had level for the first time since Britain’s vote to leave the clobbered shares and oil prices tumbled on signs of ris- European Union in June 2016. At 9:34 a.m. ET, the Dow ing Russian supply and Saudi price cuts. was up 0.4 percent at 23,738.31. The S&P 500 rose 0.37 percent to 2,591.43 and the Europe down Nasdaq Composite gained 0.57 percent to 6,909.08. Europe’s main markets in London, Paris and Frankfurt Amazon.com rose nearly 2 percent, after closing down were all down more than 0.5 percent, after being closed more than 5 percent on Monday after President Donald on Monday when the pace of selling had pushed US Trump’s latest attack on the online retailer. Tesla shares markets below pivotal technical levels. gained 2.6 percent after the electric automaker said it Tech stocks remained the pressure point, dropping need not raise more capital this year while announcing it more than 1 percent, after more criticism of Amazon by built 2,020 of its cheaper Model 3 sedans in the last sev- US President Donald Trump and as reports that Apple en days of March. “At some point you have to return to intended to make more of its own parts burnt European fundamentals and we’re still looking at a pretty good chipmakers like ams AG and STMicroelectronics. earnings growth,” said Scott Brown, chief economist at Some signs of stability were emerging, though. Wall Raymond James in St. Petersburg, Florida. Street futures pointed higher, the dollar steadied against Investors have also been wary about a trade war after the yen after three days of decline and gold and govern- China decided to impose extra tariffs on 128 US prod- ment bonds were in reverse. HONG KONG: Pedestrians walk past an electronic sign displaying the closing stock numbers for the ucts over the weekend, in retaliation to Trump’s decision “There is actually very little contagion from all the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong yesterday. — AFP to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum. equity market moves that are grabbing all the head- The Trump administration is expected sometime this lines,” said Saxo Bank’s head of FX strategy John Hardy. week to publish a list of Chinese goods that could be Asia’s shares had stumbled overnight, too, although Japan’s Nikkei ended down 0.45 percent, after falling Bank strategist Christian Lenk. subjected to new US tariffs. “What’s going on with the less than Wall Street, where the S&P 500 closed below as much as 1.6 percent. China’s Shanghai Composite Among the main commodities, Brent oil futures trade policy is a real concern for investors,” said Brown. its 200-day moving average for the first time since index eased 0.9 percent and the blue-chip CSI300 was nudged back up towards $68 a barrel. They had fallen “It goes back and forth almost everyday and when you Britain’s 2016 vote to leave the European Union. As well off 0.7 percent. US Treasuries, German Bunds and UK more than 3.7 percent on Monday after news of rising back away from the paradigm of free trade, then the as the tech problems, investors were also wary after Gilts all saw a bit of selling, with yields on 10-year notes Russian output and the escalating US-China trade dis- markets move unfavorably.” China imposed extra tariffs on 128 US products, deep- off two- to three-month lows. “The big question is how pute weighed on sentiment. US crude gained 14 cents to Nine of the 11 major S&P sectors were higher, led by ening a dispute between the world’s two biggest far the current tremor in the equity market will affect $63.15, copper jumped 1.4 percent for its fourth straight a 0.75 percent gain in the consumer discretionary index. economies and stoking concerns about the impact on bonds, given it is driven by a single company - even if it gain and spot gold ticked down 0.2 percent to $1,338.08 Investors will be able to buy and sell shares in the global growth. is a tech giant having a huge market weight,” said DZ an ounce. — Reuters

Discontent towards Macron’s reforms China has offered to buy more US US seeks China semiconductors by diverting some pur- chases from South Korea and Taiwan, spreads beyond the Financial Times reported, citing trade moves on people briefed on the negotiations. French railways China imported $11 billion of semicon- autos, financials, ductors - comprising chips, diodes and transistors - from the United States last PARIS: Rail workers began a three-month year. Chinese officials are also working rolling strike yesterday, causing travel chaos chips to finalize rules by May - instead of the and presenting the toughest challenge yet to end of June - to allow foreign financial President Emmanuel Macron’s resolve to groups to take majority stakes in reform the French economy. WASHINGTON/BEIJING: Top Trump Chinese securities firms, the Financial However, discontent towards the former administration officials are asking China Times said. investment banker’s economic policies to cut tariffs on imported cars, allow “I anticipate that for political reasons spreads beyond the railways. Yesterday, uni- foreign majority ownership of financial it would be logical for China to respond, versity students protested at new, tougher services firms and buy more US-made STRASBOURG: Trains stand stationary along the tracks on the outskirts of the eastern French because countries do,” Blackstone entry requirements, garbage collectors city of Strasbourg, yesterday at the start of three months of rolling rail strikes. -—AFP semiconductors in negotiations to avoid Group Chief Executive Stephen blocked access to incinerators, and a small plans to slap tariffs on a host of Chinese Schwarzman told Reuters on Monday number of energy workers downed tools. goods and a potential trade war. A per- on the sidelines of the Beijing confer- Air France Garbage workers say they object to “gov- son familiar with the discussions said ence where Li spoke. Here’s a rundown on the SNCF A strike by Air France workers added to ernment announcements on the breakup of these were among the asks from “That’s why I view this more as a and other protests: travel misery. The national airline said it was public services and public workers’ benefits”. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin skirmish, and I think the interests of Nearly one in two train drivers, conductors operating 75 percent of flights, with long- and and US Trade Representative Robert both countries are served by resolving and signal-box workers went on strike yes- medium-haul out Paris Charles De Gaulle the Students Lighthizer as they pursue talks with some of these matters.” terday, bringing widespread disruption to hardest hit. Unions are calling for a 6 percent Student demonstrations against university Beijing. The Wall Street Journal first China called on World Trade Paris commuter lines and France’s high-speed salary hike. One in three pilots were expected reforms continue. In the southern city of reported the demands from US officials, Organization members on Monday to TGV network. to join cabin crew and ground staff in the walk- Montpellier, where protesting students were saying they came in a letter sent to unite to oppose Trump’s proposed tar- Macron wants to transform the heavily- out. Company bosses reject the demand and violently ejected from university buildings on Beijing last week. iffs targeting alleged intellectual prop- indebted, state-run SNCF into a profit-mak- have instead offered to compensate workers for March 22, the law faculty reopened yester- White House trade adviser Peter erty theft, saying they should “lock this ing public service able to stand up to foreign any reduction in spending power since 2011. dayesterday under police surveillance after a Navarro confirmed that President beast back into the cage of WTO competition when its monopoly ends in line They say the unions’ demands are impossible to 10-day occupation by students. Donald Trump asked Mnuchin and rules.” On Friday, China responded to with EU regulations. The SNCF loses 3 billion meet without compromising its growth strategy. At Montpellier’s Paul-Valery University and Lighthizer to try to resolve trade differ- the US tariffs on steel and aluminum by euros ($3.7 billion)annually. The government Toulouse University, students are preventing ences with China. “We’re hopeful there declaring plans to levy additional duties wants an agreement on scrapping special Garbage collectors access to lecture halls. They are protesting that China will work with us to basically on up to $3 billion of US imports, employment benefits enjoyed by rail workers, Rubbish collectors from the hard-left CGT against reforms to university enrolment. address some of these practices,” including fruit, nuts and wine. including job-for-life guarantees and early union went on strike in greater Paris yesterday. Students in France who pass high school Navarro told CNBC television. China could also inflict pain on US retirement, before discussing how much They blocked access to three out of the four exams have the right to go to university in their Chinese Foreign Ministry spokes- multinationals that rely on China for a SNCF debt the Treasury absorbs. incinerators serving the Ile de France region. home area. But this led to popular subjects woman Hua Chunying said China’s door substantial - and growing - portion of SNCF boss Guillaume Pepy estimates each Rubbish processing sites were also blocked in being oversubscribed and prompted the intro- was always open to talks, but that this their total revenues, said Alex Wolf, strike day will cost the SNCF 20 million the Bouches-du Rhone, Seine-Saint-Denis, duction of an unpopular lottery system where needed to happen on the basis of senior emerging markets economist at euros. Yvelines and Seine-Maritime areas. demand is highest. — Reuters equality and mutual respect with a “win-win” outcome. Premier Li Aberdeen Standard Investments. “This Keqiang said earlier on Monday that could put US companies such as Apple, information on their website and phone app, China and the United States should Microsoft, Starbucks, GM, Nike, etc in tinue to be active users even when there is which helped reduce frustration at stations. maintain negotiations and repeated the firing line,” Wolf said in a note. Start-ups, not a strike,” he said. As a result, instead of the scenes of pledges to ease access for American China can increase the regulatory BlaBlaCar had a record number of new chaos on overcrowded platforms seen during businesses to China’s markets. burden on US companies through new users sign up last Friday when 1.4 million smartphones major strikes in the past, most stations were Li told a conference that included inspections and rules; ban travel; stop people visited their website, a spokesman surprisingly orderly during rush hour yester- global chief executives that China providing export licenses of key inter- told AFP. day morning. “I thought it would be chaos,” a would treat foreign and domestic firms mediate goods; raise the tax burden on help French young optician in Nice, Chloe, told AFP at the equally, would not force foreign firms to US multinationals in China; or block US Embracing the strike? station in the southern city. “People have transfer technology and would companies from the government pro- Others simply decided to stay away from anticipated it,” she added. strengthen intellectual property rights, curement market, he said. dodge rail strike the office altogether, using their laptops and Others turned to new car-sharing compa- repeating promises that have failed to internet connections at home to work in a Car tariff differential nies like market leader BlaBlaCar or competi- way that would have been unimaginable dur- placate Washington. PARIS: French railway unions used to be able The Trump administration has tor Karos, which connect drivers offering ing the big rail strikes of 1995, 1986 or 1968. Despite a steady stream of fierce to cripple the country by blocking the train demanded that China immediately cut space in their cars to commuters needing a The practice is being encouraged by the cen- rhetoric from Chinese state media lam- network. But when workers walked off the job its $375 billion trade surplus with the ride. Trips can be booked in a few seconds on trist government of President Emmanuel basting the United States for being a yesterday, new technology helped reduce the United States by $100 billion. China has a mobile phone. That helped keep down traf- Macron which passed new labor laws last “bully” and warning of retaliation, misery for commuters and companies. In a 25 percent tariff on US cars and has fic jams around major cities, which were larg- year that give workers the right to ask their Chinese and US officials are busy 1995, when drivers and other staff on the talked recently of lowering it, while er than normal in the morning rush hour but companies to work remotely. A range of negotiating behind the scenes. national network downed tools, commuters Trump has often complained that the far from record levels. start-ups offering shared work spaces in faced hellish traffic jams for nearly three US import tariff on passenger vehicles “We’ve seen an explosion in new users,” cities around the country also used the Tariffs to proceed weeks, while companies struggled with In an interview aired on Sunday, is only 2.5 percent. China’s imports of a co-founder of Karos, Olivier Binet, told AFP. opportunity to promote their services to absent staff and lost working hours. “In terms of the number of people using our employees and companies alike. Mnuchin told Fox News that he was US-built motor vehicles totaled $10.6 Some Parisians remember hitch-hiking pursuing an agreement with the billion in 2017, about 8 percent of the system, we’ve seen a four-fold increase today Beewake, a company based in Paris, around the capital, standing on roads with compared with before the strike.” offers 2,000 work spaces that can be Chinese “for them to open up their mar- country’s overall US imports by value, their thumbs up and waiting for a ride. Just kets, reduce their tariffs, stop forced according to US government data. He said 380,000 drivers were offering booked online, as well as an IT platform over twenty years later, the internet, mobile spaces in their vehicles and the company allowing managers to monitor and track technology transfer. These are all the On the reported offer to increase US phones and new ways of things we want to do.” “We are pro- semiconductor imports, it is unclear how expects many new passengers to become their team members working from shared working meant that staff and travellers long-term users of the service having discov- offices or at home. “We’ve had almost twice ceeding with these tariffs, we’re not US chips would replace South Korean were better informed and better prepared as putting them on hold unless we have an and Taiwanese chips, since there is mini- ered its advantages. the number of users between Sunday and the massive rail disruption began. After days During a one-day rail stoppage on March Monday and we’ve also had a lot of compa- acceptable agreement that the presi- mal overlap between US chips and those of warning travellers about mass cancella- dent signs off on,” Mnuchin added. of the two Asian producers. — Reuters 22, “a few thousand people tried car-sharing nies contact us,” co-founder Sebastien tions, state rail giant SNCF issued real-time for the first time and 50 percent of them con- Trouillet told AFP. — AFP Established 1961 21 Business Wednesday, April 4, 2018 VIVA and Careem sign strategic partnership with exclusive offers Customers to get 25% off on first 10 trips

KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s fastest-growing On his part, Khaled Nuseibeh, Careem’s of the most advanced fourth generation and most developed telecom operator, and General Manager, said: “After several months “4G LTE” network in Kuwait resulting in Careem the region’s leading ride-hailing of operation in Kuwait, we are turning our superior coverage, performance and relia- company and only Middle East tech unicorn, focus into making an impact on the local bility, and has been recognized as signed a strategic partnership agreement that communities. What better way to make our- “Speedtest Award Winner 2017 - Kuwait’s offers exclusive discounts and promotions to selves a part of people’s lives than to tie up Fastest Mobile Network”, based on VIVA customers in Kuwait, allowing them to with the leading telecom company and add Ookla’s analysis of Speedtest Intelligence use the ride hailing app at preferential rates. value to their customers. data in Q2-Q3 2017. Customers to Careem in Kuwait will be enti- Many more customers will discover our Careem is the region’s leading ride-hailing tled to 25 percent off their first ten trips. service and how it can positively impact their service that provides reliable, safe and Commenting on the partnership, day to day routine.” VIVA’s quest is to be the affordable transportation choices via a Abdulrazzaq Bader Al-Essa, Corporate mobile brand of choice in Kuwait by being mobile app, on the web and through a call Communications Director at VIVA said: “As transparent, engaging, energetic and fulfilling. centre. Careem is a pioneer in the region’s VIVA heads towards its first decade of oper- VIVA continues to take a considerable share ‘sharing economy’ - its mission is to make ation, we believe it is vital to continue to fos- of the market by offering an innovative range people’s lives simpler and build an institution ter close partnership with prominent leads of best value products, services and content that inspires. Established in July 2012, Careem such as Careem. Augmented by our cus- propositions; a state of the art, nationwide is now the only unicorn in the region and tomers’ trust in us, VIVA formulates creative network and world-class service. operates in more than 90 cities across 13 VIVA’s CCO Andrew Hanna shakes hands solutions that address the specific telecom VIVA offers internet speeds of more countries in the broader Middle East, includ- with Careem’s GM Khaled Nuseibeh. needs of customers.” than 100 Mbps, due to the implementation ing North Africa, Turkey and Pakistan.

great attention to sports, specifically football”, Al-Roudan honors KGL for said Al-Awadhi when accepting Al-Roudan’s honoring; noting that “the sponsorship of Kuwaiti football players is the least that KGL Nissan Al-Babtain aftersales sponsoring retirement can offer for their efforts to shine Kuwait’s name, and KGL is a firm believer in the sup- service campaign continues! ceremony of Ahmad Al-Jasim port and development of the Kuwaiti youth talent in sports.” KUWAIT: Abdulmohsen Abdulaziz Al- loyal customers, the popular brand presently At the end, Al-Awadhi hoped that the KUWAIT: Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport The ceremony was attended by a number Babtain Co, the sole authorized agent of owns 9 Nissan service centers and 14 Parts youth would utilize their sports passion or Company (KGL) was honored by the Minister of KGL officials, along with other companies, Nissan in the State of Kuwait, announces the Outlets located in strategic locations around other developmental disciplines that support of Commerce and Industry Khaled Al-Roudan in addition to a large number of Al-Jassim and special aftersales service campaign that is Kuwait. Al-Babtain Group was founded in His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- for sponsoring the retirement ceremony of the Samir Said’s fans and supporters of the applicable on all Nissan models prior to 1948 to present a model of honesty, integrity Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s vision to achieve March 2015 will end mid-April. Exceeding and total dedication and to gain bright reputa- former Al-Arabi and Kuwait national football Kuwait National Football Team. “KGL pays a prosperous society with the youth’s help. customer expectations and needs, the new tion in Kuwait and the Middle East area. team goalkeeper Ahmed Al-Jasim during the offer is part of an ongoing effort to facilitate Al-Babtain Group has licensing rights for friendly match between Kuwait and Cameroon the requirements of all of its owners. some of the world’s leading brands stretching at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium. Owners of Nissan models prior to March the globe from the USA to the Far East. For Engineer Fahd Al-Awadhi, received the 2015 owners will now be entitled to a 30 per- more than 60 years Al-Babtain Group has honorary plaque on behalf of KGL during the cent discount on car parts, 15 percent off on experienced continued success, and large opening ceremony of the friendly match service labor with 13 points free checkup. measure of this success came from the Nissan Al Babtain provides the perfect Group’s advanced flexible management style opportunity for customers to equip their car and long term vision. These astounding before the summer. results were achieved due to a versatile Nissan Service centers are equipped with strategic formula focusing on growth the latest tools and devices and is managed by amongst its sphere of activities; including skilled, and trained service advisors. Nissan automotive, technology, investment, informa- Al-Babtain in an effort to accommodate its tion, industrial and Finance. between the two teams in the social media channels. Al-Jasim said that this slogan is the least he could’ve done in remembering his late mentor, one of the most prominent goalkeep- ers in the history of Kuwait Samir Said, who helped lead the Al-Arabi team and the Kuwait national team to win several titles, notably the 1990 Gulf Cup, during which he was chosen as the best goalkeeper in the tournament.

Maintenance is covered KFH.com/cars unique electronic throughout the leasing period with full Takaful insurance and road assistance service, in platform to all KFH auto addition to providing alterna- tive car when necessary. Customers may also travel and services and offers cross the borders as per terms and conditions. KUWAIT: Kuwait Finance House (KFH) The main menu of this plat- Lease to own program uniquely offers an electronic platform that rep- form encompasses new cars, offers brand new cars with resents a destination for browsing through a used cars, lease with mainte- suitable monthly installments wide range of vehicles, KFH auto financing nance, lease to own, insurance, up to 5 years, in addition to services, offers and much more. This platform offers, subscribe, showrooms, sell benefits of full Takaful insur- KFH.com/cars comes as part of the Bank’s your car and finance calculator. ance valid throughout the yields were up 1-3 basis points on the day. The strategy of embracing technological innovation Lease with maintenance serv- contract duration, and the Eurozone bond yield on Germany’s 10-year government bond, and utilizing it for the best interest of cus- ice offers wide range of benefits. It gives the guarantee of the agent. By end of leasing period, the benchmark for the bloc, was up 2 bps at 0.51 tomers especially that technology is paramount opportunity to customers to ride a brand new customers can own the car by paying the rem- percent, having hit a 2-1/2 month low of 0.473 to superior customer service. cars of their choice from different models. nant value or simply return back the car. yields off lows percent last week. Bouvet attributed some of this to profit-taking, after a strong rally in bond as surveys signal prices in March, when 10-year Bund yields dropped nearly 17 bps. “The outlook for rates is still fairly benign but Gulf Bank solid growth over a short period of time it makes sense we get this pullback,” he said. announces winners LONDON: Eurozone government bond yields Earlier in the session, bond yields had dipped nudged off recent multi-month lows yesterday as a global stock market sell-off led by US tech giant Amazon sparked interest in safe-haven as manufacturing surveys from the bloc’s largest of Al-Danah assets. Shares of Amazon.com Inc fell 6 percent economies showed that expansion remains on Monday after US President Donald Trump broad-based. Government debt across the sin- attacked the online retailer over the pricing of its daily draws gle currency bloc has been in demand on con- deliveries through the US Postal Service and KUWAIT: Gulf Bank held its Al-Danah daily cerns over a potential trade war between the promised unspecified changes. Ten-year US draw on Sunday announcing the names of its United States and other major economies. Treasury yields dropped to a near two-month low winners for the week of 25 - 29 March, 2018. But solid economic data has taken the edge of 2.71 percent on Monday, but were also higher The Al-Danah daily draws include draws every off the rally. Though a Purchasing Managers’ yesterday as stock markets recovered ground. Index (PMI) survey showed the bloc’s manufac- “The big question is how far the current working day for two prizes of KD 1,000 per turing boom stumbling in March, output was tremor in the equity market will affect bonds winner. However, from 15 April onwards, Al- robust. Manufacturing surveys from the four Danah’s draw lineup will be replaced with week- Sayed Abdulrahman Mahmoud, Wafaa the 3rd quarterly draw for the prize of given it is driven by a single company - even if it Mamdouh Al-Hraki KD500,000, will be held on 26 September. The largest eurozone economies also showed expan- is a tech giant having a huge market weight,” ly draws, in which five winners will receive KD sion, even if the Italian and German PMIs were 1,000 each, every week. (Wednesday 28/03): Maleeha Salem Al- final Al-Danah draw for KD 1 million will be held said DZ Bank strategist Christian Lenk. Dalmany, Taibah Nader Abdulaziz Al-Nouri on 10 January 2019, where the Al-Danah mil- slightly below expectations. “We had a strong Elsewhere, Olli Rehn, a former top EU economic phase of economic acceleration late last year, The winners are: (Thursday 29/03): Salah Sulaiman Othman Al lionaire will be announced. Gulf Bank encour- official, said he will seek to become Finland’s Nasralla, Munahi Sultan Rafaa Al-Mutairi ages you to increase your chances of winning this has eased somewhat in the first three months central bank governor and a member of the (Sunday 25/03): Mariam Fakher Sayed Jawad Gulf Bank Al-Danah’s 1st quarterly draw for with Al-Danah by depositing more into your of the year so that’s why you are seeing the PMIs European Central Bank’s Governing Council Al-Naser, Murtaza Hakeem Aldeen Vasen KD 200,000 prize, was held on 28 March, and Gulf Bank account using the new ePay (Self- still healthy but not as strong as they were a few from July when Erkki Liikanen completes his (Monday 26/03): Sabeeha Othman Essa Al- the 2nd Al-Danah quarterly draw, for the prize Pay) service, which is available on Gulf Bank’s months ago,” said Mizuho strategist Antoine second and final seven-year term as Finnish Asfoor, Kholoud Sultan Bekhit Al-Bekhit of KD 250,000 will be held on 27 June while Online and Mobile Banking. Bouvet. In late trade, 10-year eurozone bond central bank chief. — Reuters (Tuesday 27/03): Bader Mohammad Al-

goods in response to US tariffs on imports by Fed Chairman Jerome Powell at the end analyst at ING in London. The dollar also Dollar gains as risk appetite of aluminum and steel, a skirmish that of the week, which should help determine advanced versus another safe haven, the investors fear is a prelude to a broader the short-term direction of the dollar. Swiss franc, rising 0.3 percent to 0.9584 trade war. The Trump administration is Against the yen, which tends to benefit in franc. The euro tumbled after a survey improves, but outlook remains weak expected to announce this week US tariffs times of economic uncertainty, the dollar showed the euro zone’s manufacturing on $50 billion to $60 billion in Chinese snapped three days of losses to trade 0.5 boom faltered for a third month in March, NEW YORK: The dollar rose yesterday, led “At the moment, support from high imports. Yesterday China’s ambassador to percent higher at 106.43 yen. although output remained robust. by gains against the yen and Swiss franc, as expectations for further monetary policy the United States said Beijing will take Traders though are still betting on a The euro was last down 0.3 percent at risk appetite improved and Wall Street’s tightening from the Federal Reserve has counter-measures of the “same proportion” stronger yen and a broadly weakened dollar $1.2258. The Australian dollar, meanwhile, main indexes advanced, helping the curren- been offset by ongoing political pressures and scale if Washington imposes further if the trade tensions escalate. rose 0.4 percent to US$0.7685 versus the cy stabilize after sharp declines the previ- and global trade uncertainties,” Fawad tariffs. “US protectionist measures implicitly dollar, above a three-month low set last ous day. The outlook for the dollar, howev- Razaqzada, market analyst at Forex.com in In mid-morning trading, the dollar rose signal the administration’s desire for a week. The currency reacted little to the er, remains murky due to global trade ten- London, said. 0.2 percent against a basket of currencies weaker dollar - and such expectations are Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to sions. The greenback has lost 2 percent in China on Sunday announced tariffs on $3 to 90.218. Analysts said investors were also likely to be entrenched in FX markets until keep its cash rate at a record low 1.5 per- the year so far. billion in imports of US food and other focused on US payrolls data and comments credibly broken,” said Viraj Patel, currency cent as expected yesterday. — Reuters 22 Established 1961 Technology Wednesday, April 4, 2018 With paper and phones, Atlanta struggles to recover from cyber attack City officials decline to discuss extent of damage

ATLANTA: Atlanta’s top officials holed up in Ransomware typically corrupts data and phone to search for details of current projects their offices on Saturday as they worked to does not steal it. The city of Atlanta has said it mentioned in emails stored on that device. Not restore critical systems knocked out by a nine- does not believe private residents’ information all computers were compromised. Ten of 18 day-old cyber attack that plunged the is in the hands of hackers, but they do not know machines in the auditing office were not affect- Southeastern US metropolis into technological for sure. City officials have declined to discuss ed, Noble said. chaos and forced some city workers to revert to the extent of damage beyond disclosed outages paper. On an Easter and Passover holiday that have shut down some services at municipal Old-school analog weekend, city officials labored in preparation offices, including courts and the water depart- Atlanta police returned to taking written for the workweek to come. ment. Nearly 6 million people live in the Atlanta case notes and have lost access to some inves- Police and other public servants have spent metropolitan area. tigative databases, department spokesman the past week trying to piece together their The Georgia city itself is home to more than Carlos Campos told Reuters. He declined to digital work lives, recreating audit spreadsheets 450,000 people, according to the latest data discuss the contents of the affected files. “Our and conducting business on mobile phones in from the US Census Bureau. City officials said data management teams are working diligently response to one of the most devastating “ran- that police files and financial documents were to restore normal operations and functionalities somware” virus attacks to hit an American city. rendered inaccessible by unknown hackers who to these systems and hope to be back online in Three city council demanded the very near future,” he said. By the weekend, staffers have been $51,000 worth of he added, officers were returning to digital sharing a single bitcoin to provide police reports. Meanwhile, some city employees clunky personal digital keys to complained they have been left in the dark, laptop brought in unlock scrambled unsure when it is safe to turn on their comput- after cyber extor- files. “Everything ers. “We don’t know anything,” said one frus- tionists attacked Everything on my hard drive trated employee as she left for a lunch break on Atlanta’s comput- is gone,” City Friday. er network with a on my hard drive Auditor Amanda virus that scram- is gone Noble said in her Feeble bled data and still office housed in Like City Hall, whose 1930 neo-Gothic prevents access to Atlanta City Hall’s structure is attached to a massive modern wing, ATLANTA: A view of Atlanta’s City Hall, in Atlanta, Georgia. — Reuters critical systems. ornate tower. the city’s computer system is a combination of “It’s extraordinarily frustrating,” said City officials have not disclosed the extent to old and new. “One of the reasons why munici- surreal experience to be shut down like that.” A Department of Homeland Security Councilman Howard Shook, whose office lost 16 which servers for backing up information on palities are vulnerable is we just have so many Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who took office spokesman confirmed the agency is helping years of digital records. One compromised city PCs were corrupted or what kind of informa- different systems,” Noble said. The city pub- in January, has declined to say if the city paid Atlanta respond to the attack, but declined to computer seen by Reuters showed multiple tion they think is unrecoverable without paying lished results from a recent cyber-security audit the ransom ahead of a March 28 deadline men- comment further. corrupted documents with “weapologize” and the ransom. Noble discovered the disarray on in January, and had started implementing its tioned in an extortion note whose image was Hackers typically walk away when ransoms “imsorry” added to file names. Ransomware March 22 when she turned on her computer to recommendations before the ransomware virus released by a local television station. are not paid, said Mark Weatherford, a former attacks have surged in recent years as cyber discover that files could not be opened after hit. The audit called for better record-keeping Shook, who chairs the city council’s finance senior DHS cyber official. Weatherford, who extortionists moved from attacking individual being encrypted by a powerful computer virus and hiring more technology workers. subcommittee, said he did not know whether previously served as California’s chief informa- computers to large organizations, including known as SamSam that renamed them with gib- Councilman Shook said he is worried about the city is negotiating with the hackers, but that tion security officer, said the situation might businesses, healthcare organizations and gov- berish. “I said, ‘This is wrong,’” she recalled. how much the recovery will cost the city, but it appears no ransom has been paid to date. The have been resolved with little pain if the city ernment agencies. Previous high-profile attacks City officials then quickly entered her office that he supports funding a cyber-security over- Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is help- had quickly made that payment. “The longer it have shut down factories, prompted hospitals to and told her to shut down the computer before haul to counter future attacks. For now his staff ing Atlanta respond, typically discourages ran- goes, the worse it gets,” he said. “This could turn away patients and forced local emergency warning the rest of the building. Noble is work- are temporarily sharing one aging laptop. somware victims from paying up. FBI officials turn out to be really bad if they never get their dispatch systems to move to manual operations. ing on a personal laptop and using her smart- “Things are very slow,” he said. “It was a very could not immediately be reached for comment. data back.”— Reuters

management, said the booster had previously launched in SpaceX launches August 2017, and the Dragon flew to the space station in April 2016. SpaceX’s first such double-recycle resupply mission for NASA flew to the orbiting outpost in cargo to space station December 2017. The effort is part of SpaceX’s mission to lower the cost of space flight by re-using costly, multimil- Gay dating app using recycled lion-dollar components that typically have been discarded into the ocean after each launch. “What is really neat about this is it is becoming the norm,” Jensen said. Grindr scorched rocket, spaceship Monday’s trip marked SpaceX’s 14th resupply mission TAMPA: SpaceX blasted off a load of supplies Monday for NASA under a $1.6 billion contract that aims to guar- for handling of for the International Space Station aboard a rocket and a antee much-needed supplies and equipment to the astro- cargo ship that have both flown before, marking the sec- nauts living in orbit. The capsule is packed with about HIV data ond such flight for the California-based company. “Falcon 5,800 pounds of food and science experiments, including 9 is on its way,” a SpaceX commentator said as the white one to study thunderstorms and another to test drug SAN FRANCISCO: Gay dating app Grindr was rocket surged skyward over Cape Canaveral, Florida at development in space. The cargo ship is scheduled to latch under fire on Monday for sharing information 4:30 pm. onto the space station early today, and will stay in orbit for about users’ HIV status or locations with two SpaceX’s Jessica Jensen, director of Dragon mission about a month before returning to Earth.—AFP companies enlisted to optimize its software. Grindr chief technology officer Scott Chen said in a Tumblr post that sharing data with partners such as Apptimize and Localytics was “industry practice” and that steps were taken to protect people’s privacy. CHICAGO: Pedestrians walk past a Tesla showroom in “As a company that serves the LGBTQ com- Chicago, Illinois. — AFP munity, we understand the sensitivities around HIV status disclosure,” Chen said. “Our goal is and always has been to support the health and safety of our users worldwide.” Grindr users have Elon Musk makes the option of sharing their HIV status and when they were most recently tested. Researchers wor- ried that including the health information with light of Tesla’s other data such as location and email address could result in people being identified. Online rights champion Electric Frontier woes in April 1 Foundation called Grindr’s response “disap- pointing.” The Los Angeles-based company Twitter prank said that it uses Apptimize and Localytics to test and validate its platform, and that data it WASHINGTON: Elon Musk, the flamboyant boss of shares with them could include users’ HIV sta- Tesla and SpaceX, took to Twitter on April Fool’s day FLORIDA: This image still obtained from NASA video shows the liftoff of the recycled tus or location fields. Sensitive data are to joke the electric car-maker, which has been rocked Falcon 9 rocket and unmanned Dragon cargo ship from Cape Canaveral, Florida. — AFP encrypted when sent, and vendors are under by bad news, was going bankrupt. “Despite intense strict contractual terms to keep it secure and efforts to raise money, including a last-ditch mass sale confidential, according to Chen. of Easter Eggs, we are sad to report that Tesla has gone raised their own concerns. The split among Google employ- Norwegian nonprofit research group SINTEF completely and totally bankrupt. So bankrupt, you can’t Google employees ees reflects growing polarization across the United States uncovered the data sharing, and concern spread believe it,” he wrote. since President Donald Trump was elected. Other companies in the US after Buzzfeed reported the findings. He later posted a picture of himself pretending to be and industries have also been hit by corporate scandals “Grindr has never, nor will we ever sell personally passed out with his head on a Tesla Model 3 while organize to fight cyber involving diversity and harassment. Google counts on open identifiable user information-especially informa- holding a sign that read “Bankwupt!” The prank came dialogue to strengthen products and morale, and prides itself tion regarding HIV status or last test date-to third amid reports of significant risks ahead for the manufac- bullying at work on fostering an environment in which subordinates can chal- parties or advertisers,” Chen said. He noted turer, which is heavily indebted and has not turned a lenge managers. Debates about politics and science flow though that Grindr is a public platform, and that profit since it began operating in 2003. It has lost about SAN FRANCISCO: About 100 Google US employees freely on its private, online discussion boards. should be kept in mind when deciding what to put a quarter of its share value since the end of February, concerned about cyber bullying inside the company have But discussions have become more hostile and abusive in profiles. and is also currently under investigation by the US organized into a group proposing new policies for con- since an engineer on internal forums last summer wrote that The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) called National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) follow- duct at the unit of Alphabet Inc, five people involved in the women are biologically unsuited for technology jobs. Google Grindr’s data sharing “an egregious breach of ing a fatal accident involving one of its cars in effort said in recent interviews. Three current employees fired the engineer, James Damore, for perpetuating stereo- confidentiality laws,” demanding it “immediately California on March 23rd. and two others helping to organize the group said it types, sparking more heated conversations. Organizers of cease and desist the reckless practice.” “It is Tesla confirmed on Saturday its “Autopilot” feature formed last fall. They said that among its proposals, which the campaign said at least 100 employees have taken part in extremely unfortunate that those men who have was engaged during the accident but said the driver have not previously been reported in detail, are that private and online discussions of potential fixes. —Reuters been courageous enough to share their HIV sta- ignored repeated visual and audio warnings and his Google should tighten rules of conduct for internal forums tus, be it positive or negative, on their Grindr pro- hands were not detected on the wheel for six seconds and hire staff to enforce them. files, may have now had that most personal data prior to the vehicle’s collision with a highway barrier. They said they want to stop inflammatory conversations indiscriminately shared by Grindr,” said Michael The car caught fire before two other cars struck it. and personal attacks on the forums and see punishment for Weinstein, the AHF president. The driver was identified by The Mercury News as a individuals who regularly derail discussions or leak conver- “We laud those Grindr members for their 38-year-old man, Wei Huang, an engineer for Apple. He sations. The group also wants Google to list rights and courage and challenge Grindr to quickly get its later died in hospital. According to reports in the US responsibilities for accusers, defendants, managers and act together to restore the confidentiality all media, the NTSB was unhappy that Tesla had released investigators in human resources cases. The group also members deserve.” News website Axios reported information before a final investigation was completed. desires greater protection for employees targeted by what it that Grindr’s security chief said the company has A spokesman told The Washington Post: “At this time views as insincere complaints to human resources used as a stopped sharing users’ HIV status with its third- the NTSB needs the assistance of Tesla to decode the bullying tactic and goading. party vendors. “You guys should just close up data the vehicle recorded. The organizers said Google should be more attuned to now,” read one of the few comments in an online “In each of our investigations involving a Tesla vehi- when people seeking to stir animosity or expressing views chat forum under the Grindr post at Tumblr. “No cle, Tesla has been extremely cooperative on assisting opposite the company’s stated values try to take over dis- one cares about your efforts or industry stan- with the vehicle data. However, the NTSB is unhappy cussions about race, gender and other sensitive subjects. The SAN FRANCISCO: Silhouettes of laptop and mobile dards. You betrayed the LGBT community in with the release of investigative information by Tesla.” group is speaking informally to mid-level executives, hoping device users are seen next to a screen projection of more than just the one way.”—AFP The NTSB previously investigated a crash involving an they will take up the cause with senior management, organ- Google logo.—Reuters autopilot-equipped Tesla in Florida in 2016.—AFP izers said. Self-described conservatives at Google have also Established 1961 23 Health Wednesday, April 4, 2018 Oh deer: Japan park issues tips as animals nibble tourists Visitors advised to avoid teasing animals while feeding

TOKYO: Faced with a growing number of injuries from deer bites, authorities in Japan’s Nara Park have issued tips on feeding the hundreds of animals that attract tourists Indonesia because of rapid deforestation, which has led from around the world. The picturesque park in Japan’s Indonesians to habitat loss. The four bears were caught in traps set by ancient capital is home to more than 1,000 deer, which can the suspects who later beat or shot them to death, said even be found roaming the streets in search of special local police chief Christian Rony. tasty crackers offered by tourists. But their cute and calm nabbed over The men, who range in age from 33 to 51, demeanor can be deceptive and tourists can find them- skinned the bears and cooked their meat. “They selves surrounded by aggressive animals when they try to sun bear slaughter also distributed the meat to other villagers,” Rony feed them. said, adding that police had seized a gun and air- So authorities have erected a sign written in Chinese, gun pellets from the suspects. Human-animal con- English and Japanese entitled: “A polite request from the PEKANBARU, Indonesia: A group of Indonesians has flicts are common across the vast Indonesian archi- deer when feeding them” at the stalls where crackers are been arrested after a video emerged of them skinning pelago, especially in areas where the clearing of sold. Small children should be accompanied by adults and and cooking four sun bears that they had slaughtered, rainforest to make way for palm oil plantations is “deer sign language” should be employed, showing both police said yesterday. The men on the island of Sumatra destroying animals’ habitats and bringing them into hands to the animals when feeding time is over. “As they were charged under Indonesia’s environment law and closer contact with people. are wild animals, they get angry if people tease them,” could face five years in prison and 100 million rupiah in But attacks by the bear are rare in Indonesia. Last Nara official Yuichiro Kitabata said. fines, if convicted, authorities said. October a sun bear mauled a couple in Sumatra, killing “For example, if you keep them waiting when feeding, The sun bear-listed as vulnerable by the International the wife and seriously injuring her husband. In 2015 a they can bite you ... but not all of tourists know they are Union for Conservation of Nature-is the smallest of the man died when a sun bear mauled him in South wild, believing they are kept in the park,” he added. The bear species and lives in Southeast Asia’s tropical forests Sumatra and in 2009 another lost his fingers and left sprawling park that also includes wooden temples and and swamps. But their population is in decline in eye in an assault.—AFP shrines built centuries ago is a major tourist attraction, welcoming some 13 million visitors annually. But with a rise in the number of foreign tourists, the number of those injured by deer surged to a record 180 in the last fiscal year to March from 118 the previous year, according to Kitabata. The deer at the park-numbering on average TOKYO: This picture shows foreign tourists taking a pic- about 1,200 — are protected as a national treasure.—AFP ture with a deer at the Nara Park in Nara.—AFP

over the roof and vanished out of sight,” police sub- Baby believed snatched inspector S M Baral said. “We launched a search along with the forest officers. On Sunday, the baby was spotted inside the well dead,” by monkey in India she said. A post-mortem showed the infant died of asphyxia due to drowning, Baral said. “Since there were no is found dead injury marks on the baby, maybe the monkey dropped him in the well.” No case was registered as the “family is con- vinced it’s the monkey that killed their child”, the officer NEW DELHI: Indian police say a 16-day-old baby boy said. The incident happened in the village of Talabasta in believed to have been snatched by a monkey has been found drowned in a well. The infant was sleeping under a Cuttack district. mosquito net at his home in the eastern state of Odisha on Media reports said monkeys have become a growing Friday when he was taken by a rhesus macaque, a species nuisance in the area where the child was taken. In March last year, schools were closed in Odisha’s Kendrapada dis- INDONESIA: A suspect shows the remains of a sun bear in the village of Kerta Tunas Jaya in Riau province with a reddish-pink face common across India. “The after being caught by authorities.—AFP mother is saying that she saw a monkey take away her trict because of frequent monkey attacks, the Hindustan child. She raised an alarm but the monkey quickly leaped Times said. —AFP 24 Established 1961 What’s On Wednesday, April 4, 2018 Ibtikar Al-Kuwait contest announces its winners

ayan Girls Secondary School won the first place Sabah in order to support Arab students and express of 123 projects which were presented by 288 students in the Ibtikar Al-Kuwait contest of researches their talents in the field of innovation and scientific in the Ibtikar Al-Kuwait for students research and proj- Band projects for secondary students, and were research. ects. She thanked all those who contributed towards qualified for the contest at the gulf level. Al-Surra Girls She added that HH the Amir supports the initiative this activity at the local level. As well as the education Intermediate School won the intermediate stage con- that includes three contests on school level. After over- ministry and Gulf University who sponsored the award test in “recycling electronic leftovers”, while Ishbelia coming the challenges, the contest has reached to its and hosted it for the third consecutive year. Elementary School bagged the first place in the ele- current level and has a new management to help devel- She appreciated the students’ efforts for participat- mentary stage contest “science fiction stories”. op it further. She said the development in management ing in the contest which seeks to enhance their knowl- Chairperson of Alsaad knowledge and Scientific of the initiative was clearly seen with the number and edge. She said that the two most important sectors in Research Foundation Sheikha Fadiya Saad Al-Abdallah quality of projects that were presented this year, as well the country that needs continuous efforts and develop- Al-Salem Al-Sabah said that the contest will further as the way they were dealt with. ment are education and health because they touch the expand to reach Arab horizons under the patronage of Sheikha Fadiya said 37 participations were accepted human life directly. Sheikha Fadia Al-Saad Al-Sabah HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- by the officiating committee on three school levels, out

‘Shining Hope 6’ Festival and Exhibition

he Commercial Real Estate CO (Al-Tijaria) conclud- ed “Shining Hope 6” Festival and Exhibition for the Tspecial needs - highlighting their slogan for the event -”Building Hope Together... Share Their Joy With Us”. With this celebration a fruitful partnership resulted between pri- vate and governmental schools along with Public Benefit Associations. Symphony Style Mall was decorated with the talents and creations of the special needs kids. The Event took place under the patronage of Sheikha/Sheikha Al- Abdullah Al-Khalifa Al-Sabah, and with the presence of the Honorary Chairperson of Kuwaiti Disabled Sports Club and Al-Tijaria chairman Abdulfatah M R Marafie. This celebration was coincided with the Mother’s Day and Family Day in recognition of all the mothers and the fundamental role they play in shaping Kuwait’s society. The festival included showcasing the talents and creations of people with special needs, which was admired by the visi- tors. Guests and participants also enjoyed theater and artistic performances by the children and adults of special needs. The festival was successful with the participation of many private and governmental schools. The event helped in creating a fruitful partnership between the sponsors and all the participants in the event and this led to successful contribution towards creating better environment and brighter future for the special needs kids. Rawan Adnan, Marketing and Leasing Department Manager stated that: “The presence and par- ticipation of more than 30 governmental and community bodies emphasizes the importance and success of this fes- tival. Aiming to direct the private sector in allocating their resources to serve, support and care for the special needs in Kuwait. As part of Al-Tijaria’s commitment to our ‘We Care’- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, we in Al- Tijaria, recognize the importance of integrating citizens with special needs in society to emphasize the important role they play in the development of society. It is worth mentioning that the Sixth version of the festival achieved a great success on all levels thanks to the massive efforts undertaken by the amazing team and the relevant bodies to support this social group, in addition to the media support, the sponsoring companies and the participant companies. The festival was concluded by thanking all the spon- sors, participants and media sponsors. To name a few: Marafie Foundation, Media Consultant: Thamer Al Dakheel (Known as Bou Rashed), Kuwait Resorts Company, Al Mutajara Real Estate Company, Al-Salmiya Group for Enterprise Development, United Entertainment Company, Different Vision Media and Advertising Agency, Symphony Style Hotel, Six Senses Spa, Al Salam Hospital, Dr Nael Al Hazeem Clinic, Fatima Clinic, Care Direct and Regional Center for Development of Educational Software “Red Soft”. Established 1961 25 TV Wednesday, April 4, 2018

16:30 Friendszone 10:10 Keeping Up With The 17:15 A Is For Apple 05:35 The Day Henry Met 09:55 A Date With Miss Fortune 16:55 Friends Kardashians 17:40 A Is For Apple 05:40 Blaze And The Monster 11:35 Made In America 17:20 Friends 11:05 Keeping Up With The 18:10 Carnival Eats Machines 13:30 Christmas Trade 17:45 Disaster Date Kardashians 18:35 Poh & Co. 06:02 Rusty Rivets 15:15 Aquamarine 18:10 Disorderly Conduct: Video On 12:00 E! News Middle East 19:05 Lyndey Milan - Taste Of 06:14 Paw Patrol 17:00 Breaking The Bank 00:35 The Rock Patrol 00:00 Trulli Tales 12:15 WAGs Atlanta Australia 06:37 Dora The Explorer 18:50 Barbershop: The Next Cut 02:55 Star Wars: Episode IV - A 19:00 Friends 00:30 PJ Masks 13:10 WAGs Atlanta 19:30 Lyndey Milan - Taste Of 07:00 Nella The Princess Knight 20:45 Fatal Instinct New Hope 19:25 Friendszone 00:55 Trulli Tales 15:00 E! News Middle East Australia 07:21 Kiva Can Do! 22:20 Good Kids 05:00 Somnus 19:50 Real Husbands Of Hollywood 01:20 Henry Hugglemonster 15:15 E! News: Daily Pop 20:00 Croatia’s Finest 07:33 Kiva Can Do! 23:50 Fired Up! 06:30 I Am Number Four 20:12 Friends 01:35 Calimero 16:15 Keeping Up With The 20:30 Croatia’s Finest 07:44 Blaze And The Monster 08:25 Boerning II 20:35 Friends 01:50 Henry Hugglemonster Kardashians 21:00 Mega Food Machines 10:10 Star Wars: Episode IV - A 21:00 The Daily Show With Trevor 02:05 Art Attack 17:10 Keeping Up With The 22:00 John Torode’s Korean Food 08:07 Paw Patrol New Hope Noah 02:30 The Hive Kardashians Tour 08:29 Shimmer And Shine 12:20 Crossfire 21:30 The Opposition With Jordan 02:40 Loopdidoo 18:05 Keeping Up With The 22:55 A Is For Apple 08:53 Nella The Princess Knight 13:55 I Am Number Four Klepper 02:55 Henry Hugglemonster Kardashians 23:20 A Is For Apple 09:15 The Day Henry Met 00:45 Crisscross 15:50 Street 22:00 Kristen Schaal: Live At The 03:10 Art Attack 19:00 E! News 23:50 Carnival Eats 09:21 Paw Patrol 02:35 The New Adventures Of 17:20 Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV Fillmore 03:35 Loopdidoo 20:00 Hollywood Medium With 09:44 Rusty Rivets Aladin 19:20 Virtual Revolution 22:50 Why? With Hannibal Buress 03:50 Calimero Tyler Henry 10:07 Wallykazam! 04:35 Lawrence Of Arabia 21:00 Terminator Genisys 23:15 Real Husbands Of Hollywood 04:05 Art Attack 21:00 Hollywood Medium With 10:30 Bubble Guppies 08:15 Tini - El Gran Cambio De 23:15 Gun Shy 23:40 The Daily Show With Trevor 04:30 Henry Hugglemonster Tyler Henry 10:54 Team Umizoomi Violetta Noah 04:45 Henry Hugglemonster 22:00 Hollywood Medium With 11:17 Kid-E-Cats 10:05 Waiting For Superman 05:00 Art Attack Tyler Henry 00:10 Yukon Gold 11:22 Shimmer And Shine 12:10 The New Adventures Of 05:30 Henry Hugglemonster 23:00 E! 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Unbeatables 15:02 Max & Ruby 05:35 Operation Arctic 07:50 Swamp Brothers 07:00 Bear Grylls: Born Survivor 11:30 The Lion Guard 07:10 The Chase 16:00 Miracle Hospital 15:25 Dora The Explorer 07:15 The Fairy Tales Tree 08:15 The Animals’ Guide To 07:50 How It’s Made 12:00 Sofia The First 08:05 Murdoch Mysteries 17:00 For The Love Of Fashion 15:48 Sunny Day 08:40 The Happy Cricket And The Survival 08:15 How It’s Made 12:30 Sofia The First 09:00 Murdoch Mysteries 18:00 Years Of Living Dangerously 16:10 Nella The Princess Knight Giant Bugs 09:10 Preposterous Pets 08:40 Kids Do The Craziest Things 13:00 PJ Masks 09:55 Royal Recipes 19:00 Showdown Of The 16:32 Shimmer And Shine 10:20 Swan Princess: Royally 10:05 Wildest Latin America 09:05 Kids Do The Craziest Things 13:30 PJ Masks 11:00 Who’s Doing The Dishes? Unbeatables 16:55 Wallykazam! Undercover 11:00 Snake Sheila 09:30 Tanked 14:00 P-King Duckling 11:50 The Chase 20:00 Miracle Hospital 17:18 Zack & Quack 11:50 The Emperor’s Secret 11:28 Swamp Brothers 10:20 Nextworld 14:30 Vampirina 12:45 Emmerdale 20:50 For The Love Of Fashion 17:29 The Day Henry Met 13:25 Gamba 11:55 Pit Bulls & Parolees 11:10 The Know It All Guide To... 15:00 Puppy Dog Pals 13:15 Coronation Street 21:40 Years Of Living Dangerously 17:35 The Day Henry Met 15:10 Micropolis 12:50 Cat vs Dog 11:35 Outrageous Acts Of Psych 15:30 Sofia The First 13:45 Coronation Street 22:30 Showdown Of The 17:40 Blaze And The Monster 16:45 Nur And The Dragon’s Temple 13:45 Preposterous Pets 12:00 What Happened Next? 16:00 PJ Masks 14:15 Who’s Doing The Dishes? Unbeatables Machines 18:05 Swan Princess: Royally 14:40 Wildest Latin America 12:25 What Happened Next? 16:30 Mission Force One 15:10 The Chase 23:20 India’s Mega Kitchens 18:02 Rusty Rivets Undercover 15:35 Untamed & Uncut 12:50 How It’s Made 17:00 The Lion Guard 16:00 Victoria 18:14 Paw Patrol 19:35 The Happy Cricket 16:30 The Animals’ Guide To 13:15 How It’s Made 17:30 Puppy Dog Pals 16:55 Broadchurch 18:37 Dora The Explorer 21:05 Azur & Asmar: The Prince’s Survival 13:40 Kids Do The Craziest Things 18:00 Trulli Tales 17:50 Royal Recipes 19:00 Nella The Princess Knight Quest 17:25 Tanked 14:05 Kids Do The Craziest Things 18:30 Mickey And The Roadster 18:50 Emmerdale 19:21 Kiva Can Do! 22:50 Nur And The Dragon’s Temple 18:20 The Pool Master 14:30 Tanked Racers 19:15 Coronation Street 19:33 Kiva Can Do! 19:15 Preposterous Pets 15:20 Bear Grylls: Born Survivor 19:00 Sofia The First 19:45 Coronation Street 19:44 Blaze And The Monster 20:10 Swamp Brothers 16:10 Nextworld 19:30 The Lion Guard 20:10 The Chase Machines 20:38 Swamp Brothers 17:00 The Know It All Guide To... 20:00 Vampirina 21:00 Victoria 00:20 Blood Rivals: Lion vs. Buffalo 20:07 Paw Patrol 21:05 Tanked 17:25 Outrageous Acts Of Psych 20:30 PJ Masks 21:55 Broadchurch 01:10 Monster Fish 20:29 Shimmer And Shine 22:00 The Pool Master 17:50 You Can’t Lick Your Elbow 21:00 Trulli Tales 22:50 Emmerdale 02:00 Lion Warrior 20:53 Nella The Princess Knight 00:00 Alfie 22:55 Wildest Latin America 18:40 Kids Do The Craziest Things 21:30 Sofia The First 23:15 Coronation Street 02:50 Hooked 21:15 The Day Henry Met 01:50 The American President 23:50 Untamed & Uncut 19:30 How It’s Made 22:00 P-King Duckling 23:40 Coronation Street 03:45 Snakes In The City 21:21 Paw Patrol 03:50 Life On The Line 19:55 How It’s Made 22:30 Puppy Dog Pals 04:40 World’s Weirdest 21:44 Rusty Rivets 05:30 The Guilt Trip 20:20 Tanked 23:00 Mission Force One 05:35 Lion Warrior 22:07 Wallykazam! 07:15 The American President 21:10 Outrageous Acts Of Psych 23:30 PJ Masks 06:30 Hooked 22:30 Bubble Guppies 09:15 Healing 21:35 Outrageous Acts Of Psych 07:25 Snakes In The City 22:54 Team Umizoomi 11:15 Chloe And Theo 22:00 You Can’t Lick Your Elbow 08:20 World’s Weirdest 23:17 Kid-E-Cats 12:45 Hoosiers 00:45 Programme To Be Confirmed 22:25 You Can’t Lick Your Elbow 00:00 Ancient Top 10 09:15 Inside The Pack 23:22 Shimmer And Shine 14:45 The Cable Guy 01:40 Death In Paradise 22:50 Nextworld 01:00 Brad Meltzer’s Decoded 10:10 Philly Undercover 23:44 Sunny Day 16:25 Creed 02:40 Top Of The Lake 23:40 Bear Grylls: Born Survivor 02:00 The Universe 11:05 World’s Weirdest 18:45 Money Monster 03:45 EastEnders 00:15 Ice Cold Gold 02:50 Ancient Aliens: The Ultimate 12:00 Wild Dolphins 20:30 Central Intelligence 04:15 Father Brown 01:05 Street Justice: The Bronx Evidence 12:55 Bite, Sting, Kill 22:20 Dirty Grandpa 05:10 The Coroner 01:50 Goblin Works Garage 03:40 Ancient Aliens 13:50 Monster Fish 06:00 Holby City 02:35 Cuban Chrome 05:20 How 2 Win 14:45 Snakes In The City 06:55 The Coroner 03:20 Impossible Engineering 06:10 How 2 Win 15:40 Natural Born Monsters 07:45 Doctors 04:05 Flying Wild Alaska 07:00 Ancient Top 10 16:35 Africa’s Deadliest 00:15 How I Met Your Mother 08:15 EastEnders 00:45 A Crime To Remember 04:50 Dirty Jobs 08:00 Brad Meltzer’s Decoded 17:30 Animal Fight Club 00:40 How I Met Your Mother 08:45 EastEnders 01:40 True Conviction 05:35 Storage Hunters 09:00 The Universe 18:25 Ultimate Animal Countdown 01:05 Seinfeld 00:30 How Do They Do It? 09:15 Holby City 02:35 Shadow Of Doubt 06:00 Factory Line 10:00 Ancient Aliens: The Ultimate 19:20 Snakes In The City 01:30 Seinfeld 00:55 Food Factory 10:10 Holby City 03:30 The Perfect Murder 06:23 Dallas Car Sharks Evidence 20:10 Natural Born Monsters 01:55 According To Jim 01:20 Extreme Engineering 11:05 Death In Paradise 04:25 Blood Relatives 06:45 Storage Hunters 11:00 Ancient Aliens 21:00 Africa’s Deadliest 02:20 According To Jim 02:10 The Big Brain Theory 12:00 The Coroner 05:20 I Almost Got Away With It 07:10 Storage Wars Canada 13:00 Ancient Top 10 21:50 Animal Fight Club 02:45 According To Jim 03:00 Prototype This 12:45 Stella 06:10 Evil Stepmothers 07:35 Flying Wild Alaska 14:00 The Universe 22:40 Ultimate Animal Countdown 03:10 Late Night With Seth Meyers 03:48 Mythbusters 13:35 Holby City 07:00 Who On Earth Did I Marry? 08:20 Factory Line 15:00 Ancient Aliens: The Ultimate 23:30 Wild Dolphins 04:00 The Tonight Show Starring 04:36 How Do They Do It? 14:30 Holby City 07:25 Betrayed 08:45 Dallas Car Sharks Evidence Jimmy Fallon 05:00 Food Factory 15:25 Death In Paradise 08:15 Blood Relatives 09:10 Dirty Jobs 16:00 Ancient Aliens 04:50 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 05:24 Extreme Engineering 16:25 The Coroner 09:10 Evil Stepmothers 09:55 Goblin Works Garage 18:00 Ancient Top 10 05:40 Bette! 06:12 The Big Brain Theory 17:10 Stella 10:05 I’d Kill For You 10:45 Goblin Works Garage 19:00 Brad Meltzer’s Decoded 06:05 The Bernie Mac Show 07:00 How Do They Do It? 18:00 Doctors 11:00 Gone 11:30 Cuban Chrome 20:00 The Universe 06:30 People Of Earth 07:26 Prototype This 18:30 EastEnders 11:55 Betrayed 12:20 Factory Line 21:00 Ancient Aliens: The Ultimate 00:12 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 06:55 Mom 08:14 Mythbusters 19:00 Death In Paradise 12:50 I Almost Got Away With It 12:43 Dallas Car Sharks Evidence 00:36 Rabbids Invasion 07:20 Late Night With Seth Meyers 09:02 The Big Brain Theory 20:00 Programme To Be Confirmed 13:45 Evil Stepmothers 13:05 Storage Hunters 22:00 Pirate Treasure Of The 01:00 Rabbids Invasion 08:10 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 09:50 How Do They Do It? 20:50 An Inspector Calls 14:40 I’d Kill For You 13:30 Storage Wars Canada Knights Templar 01:24 Sanjay And Craig 09:00 The Tonight Show Starring 10:14 Food Factory 22:20 Death In Paradise 15:35 Chandra Levy: A Mistress 13:55 Dirty Jobs 23:00 The Lost Evidence 01:48 Sanjay And Craig Jimmy Fallon 10:38 Extreme Engineering 23:15 Doctors Murdered 14:40 Ice Cold Gold 02:12 Winx Club 09:50 Speechless 11:26 Prototype This 23:45 EastEnders 16:30 Betrayed 15:30 Goblin Works Garage 02:36 Winx Club 10:15 Great News 12:14 Mythbusters 17:25 Blood Relatives 16:15 Goblin Works Garage 03:00 Harvey Beaks 10:40 Bette! 13:02 How Do They Do It? 18:20 I Almost Got Away With It 17:05 Cuban Chrome 03:24 Harvey Beaks 11:05 The Bernie Mac Show 13:26 Food Factory 19:15 Evil Stepmothers 17:50 Flying Wild Alaska 03:48 Rabbids Invasion 11:30 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 13:50 The Big Brain Theory 20:10 I’d Kill For You 18:40 Dirty Jobs 04:12 Rabbids Invasion 12:20 People Of Earth 14:38 Prototype This 21:05 Forbidden: Dying For Love 19:25 Ice Cold Gold 00:20 Forged: Iron & Fire 04:36 Breadwinners 12:45 Mom 15:26 Extreme Engineering 22:00 Evil Lives Here 20:15 Impossible Engineering 00:45 Pawn Stars 05:00 Breadwinners 13:10 How I Met Your Mother 16:14 Mythbusters 00:00 Evil Up Close 22:55 Bride Killa 21:00 Heavy Rescue 01:10 Swamp People 05:24 The Loud House 13:35 How I Met Your Mother 17:02 The Big Brain Theory 01:00 Evil Up Close 23:50 Deadly Sins 21:50 Railroad Australia 02:00 American Pickers 05:48 SpongeBob SquarePants 14:00 Seinfeld 17:50 Prototype This 01:55 Killers: Behind The Myth 22:40 Outback Truckers 02:50 Who Killed Tupac? 06:12 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 14:25 Seinfeld 18:40 Mythbusters 02:50 It Takes A Killer 23:30 Flying Wild Alaska 03:40 Forged In Fire 06:36 Harvey Beaks 14:50 Marry Me 19:30 Secrets Of The Underground 03:15 It Takes A Killer 04:30 Swamp People 07:00 Breadwinners 15:15 Speechless 20:20 How Do They Do It? 03:45 Evil Up Close 05:15 Swamp People 07:24 Get Blake 15:40 Great News 20:45 Food Factory USA 04:30 Evil Up Close 06:00 Ice Road Truckers 07:48 Sanjay And Craig 16:05 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 21:10 The Big Brain Theory 05:15 The First 48 06:50 Forged In Fire 08:12 Rabbids Invasion 17:00 People Of Earth 22:00 Secrets Of The Underground 06:00 Live PD: Police Patrol 00:00 Hank Zipzer 07:40 The Curse Of Oak Island 08:36 The Loud House 17:30 Mom 22:50 Prototype This 06:30 Live PD: Police Patrol 00:25 Alex & Co. 06:00 Penn Zero: Part Time Hero 08:30 Forged In Fire 09:00 Regal Academy 18:00 How I Met Your Mother 23:40 Mythbusters 07:00 It Takes A Killer 00:45 Disney Mickey Mouse 06:25 Penn Zero: Part Time Hero 09:20 Ice Road Truckers 09:24 Winx Club 18:30 How I Met Your Mother 07:20 The First 48 00:50 Evermoor Chronicles 06:50 Den Brother 10:10 Alone 09:48 100 Things To Do Before High 19:00 Seinfeld 08:05 Cold Case Files 01:15 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 08:20 Disney Mickey Mouse 11:00 Forged In Fire School 19:30 Seinfeld 08:50 Homicide Hunter Witch 08:25 Milo Murphy’s Law 11:50 The Curse Of Oak Island 10:12 Game Shakers 20:00 Modern Family 09:35 The First 48 01:40 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 08:35 Mech-X4 12:40 Forged In Fire 10:36 School Of Rock 20:30 Will And Grace 2017 10:30 Crimes That Shook Australia Witch 09:00 Walk The Prank 13:30 Ice Road Truckers 11:00 Henry Danger 21:00 The Tonight Show Starring 01:00 Nurse Betty 11:25 Crimes That Shook Britain 02:05 Binny And The Ghost 09:25 Marvel’s Spider-Man 14:20 American Pickers 11:24 The Thundermans Jimmy Fallon 03:00 Meet Bill 12:20 Cold Case Files 02:30 Binny And The Ghost 09:50 Milo Murphy’s Law 15:10 Alone 11:48 I Am Frankie 22:00 Life In Pieces 04:30 Sparkle 13:15 Leah Remini: Scientology And 02:55 Hank Zipzer 10:20 Lab Rats Elite Force 16:00 American Pickers 12:12 Rank The Prank 22:30 Life In Pieces 06:30 Christmas Truce The Aftermath 03:15 Disney Mickey Mouse 10:45 The Suite Life On Deck 16:50 The Curse Of Oak Island 12:36 Massive Monster Mayhem 23:00 Wrecked 08:15 Sleepwalking 14:10 The First 48 03:20 Hank Zipzer 11:10 Gravity Falls 17:40 Forged In Fire 13:00 Hunter Street 23:25 Late Night With Seth Meyers 10:00 Cinderella 15:05 Crimes That Shook Australia 03:45 Alex & Co. 11:35 Pair Of Kings 18:30 Ice Road Truckers 13:24 Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn 11:45 Strange Magic 16:00 Homicide Hunter 04:10 Alex & Co. 12:00 Marvel’s Spider-Man 19:20 Forged: Iron & Fire 13:48 Toon Marty 13:25 London 17:00 When Life Means Life 04:35 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 12:25 Two More Eggs 19:45 Pawn Stars 14:00 Toon Marty 14:45 Nurse Betty 18:00 When Life Means Life Witch 12:30 Mighty Med 20:10 American Pickers 14:12 Harvey Beaks 16:30 Grace Of Monaco 19:00 When Life Means Life 05:00 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 12:55 Kirby Buckets 21:00 Counting Cars 14:36 Breadwinners 01:45 Oz The Great And Powerful 18:15 A Walk To Remember 20:00 Live PD: Police Patrol Witch 13:20 Kirby Buckets 21:25 Car Hunters 15:00 Sanjay And Craig 04:00 101 Dalmatians 2 20:00 Foxcatcher 20:30 Live PD: Police Patrol 05:25 Binny And The Ghost 13:45 Supa Strikas 21:50 Project Impossible 15:24 Rabbids Invasion 05:45 The Parent Trap 22:15 The Conspirator 21:00 Crimes That Shook Britain 05:45 Disney Mickey Mouse 14:10 Disney Mickey Mouse 22:40 Forged: Iron & Fire 15:48 SpongeBob SquarePants 08:00 Tarzan II 22:00 Jo Frost On Britain’s Killer 05:50 Rolling With The Ronks 14:15 Supa Strikas 23:05 Pawn Stars 16:12 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 09:30 High School Musical 3: Senior Kids 06:00 Elena Of Avalor 14:40 Right Now Kapow 23:30 Ice Road Truckers 16:36 The Loud House Year 23:00 Homicide Hunter 06:25 Bunk’d 15:05 Right Now Kapow 17:00 Toon Marty 11:30 Oz The Great And Powerful 06:50 Bunk’d 15:30 Milo Murphy’s Law 17:12 Toon Marty 13:45 Finding Dory 07:15 K.C. Undercover 15:55 Two More Eggs 17:24 Massive Monster Mayhem 15:45 Snow White And The Seven 00:00 Project Runway 07:40 K.C. Undercover 16:00 The Suite Life Of Zack & 17:48 Hunter Street Dwarfs 03:00 Married At First Sight 08:05 Raven’s Home Cody 18:12 Henry Danger 17:30 Herbie Fully Loaded 04:00 Project Accessory 00:05 Nightcap 08:30 Miraculous Tales Of Ladybug 16:25 Lab Rats 00:15 Poh & Co. 18:36 Nicky, Ricky, Dicky And Dawn 19:30 The Princess Diaries 05:00 Devious Maids 00:30 Another Period & Cat Noir 16:50 Walk The Prank 00:45 David Rocco’s Dolce India 19:00 School Of Rock 21:30 Finding Dory 06:00 Project Runway 00:55 This Is Not Happening 08:55 Star vs The Forces Of Evil 17:15 Mech-X4 01:10 Lyndey Milan - Taste Of 19:24 Game Shakers 23:30 Snow White And The Seven 07:00 Project Runway 01:20 Nightcap 09:20 Tangled: The Series 17:40 Marvel’s Spider-Man Australia 19:48 The Thundermans Dwarfs 08:00 Grey’s Anatomy 01:45 The Opposition With Jordan 09:45 Elena Of Avalor 18:05 Kickin’ It 01:40 Food Lover’s Guide To The 20:12 SpongeBob SquarePants 09:00 Married At First Sight Klepper 10:10 Hotel Transylvania: The Series 18:30 Randy Cunningham: 9th Planet 20:36 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 10:00 Project Accessory 02:10 South Park 10:35 Stuck In The Middle Grade Ninja 02:05 Maximum Foodie 21:00 Harvey Beaks 11:00 Devious Maids 02:35 Real Husbands Of Hollywood 11:00 Stuck In The Middle 18:45 Kickin’ It 02:35 Lyndey Milan - Taste Of 21:24 Breadwinners 12:00 Project Runway 03:00 The Daily Show With Trevor 11:25 Liv And Maddie 19:10 Mini Ninjas Australia 21:48 Get Blake 00:00 Riverdale 15:00 Married At First Sight Noah 11:50 Liv And Maddie 19:25 Walk The Prank 03:00 Lyndey Milan - Taste Of 22:12 Sanjay And Craig 01:00 Grimm 16:00 Project Accessory 03:25 Tosh.0 12:15 Bizaardvark 19:50 Marvel’s Rocket And Groot Australia 22:36 Rabbids Invasion 01:50 The Last Kingdom 17:00 Devious Maids 03:50 South Park 12:40 Bizaardvark 19:55 Mech-X4 03:30 Croatia’s Finest 23:00 The Loud House 02:40 The Voice 18:00 Cedar Cove 04:15 Nathan For You 13:05 Jessie 20:20 Penn Zero: Part Time Hero 03:55 Croatia’s Finest 23:24 Regal Academy 04:20 Riverdale 19:00 Cedar Cove 04:40 Key And Peele 13:30 Teen Beach 2 20:45 Gamer’s Guide To Pretty 04:25 Mega Food 23:48 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 05:20 Prison Break - Event Series 20:00 Grey’s Anatomy 05:05 Catch A Contractor 15:10 K.C. Undercover Much Everything 05:20 John Torode’s Korean Food 06:10 The Night Shift 21:00 Married At First Sight 05:30 Disaster Date 15:35 K.C. Undercover 21:10 Kid vs. Kat Tour 07:00 Good Morning America 22:00 Project Accessory 05:55 Ridiculousness Arabia 16:00 Raven’s Home 21:35 Marvel’s Rocket And Groot 06:15 Confucius Was A Foodie 09:00 The View 23:00 Devious Maids 06:20 Comedy Central Presents 16:25 Miraculous Tales Of Ladybug 21:40 Disney Mickey Mouse 07:10 Food Lover’s Guide To The 10:00 Star Comedy 3alwagef & Cat Noir 21:45 Lab Rats Planet 11:00 Prison Break - Event Series 06:50 Hillbillies For Hire 16:50 Miraculous Tales Of Ladybug 22:10 Lab Rats 07:35 Maximum Foodie 00:07 Max & Ruby 12:00 The Night Shift 07:15 Hillbillies For Hire & Cat Noir 22:35 Phineas & Ferb 08:05 Lyndey Milan - Taste Of 00:30 Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom 13:00 Chicago Fire 07:40 Lip Sync Battle 17:15 Stuck In The Middle 23:00 Programmes Start At 6:00am Australia 00:40 Kiva Can Do! 14:00 Riverdale 08:05 Key And Peele 17:40 Hotel Transylvania: The Series 08:30 Lyndey Milan - Taste Of 00:52 The Day Henry Met 15:00 The View 00:20 Too Ugly For Love? 08:30 Disaster Date 18:05 Hotel Transylvania: The Series Australia 00:57 Blaze And The Monster 16:00 Live Good Morning America 01:05 Erick: The Boy With No Face 08:55 Workaholics 18:30 Tangled: The Series 09:00 Croatia’s Finest Machines 18:00 The Night Shift 01:50 Bizarre ER 09:20 Nathan For You 18:55 Tangled: Short Cuts 09:25 Croatia’s Finest 01:19 Blaze And The Monster 18:50 Prison Break - Event Series 02:35 90 Days To Wed: Before The 09:45 Lip Sync Battle 19:00 Tangled: The Series 09:55 Mega Food Machines 19:35 Prison Break - Event Series 90 Days 10:10 Catch A Contractor 19:25 Liv And Maddie 00:05 Keeping Up With The 10:50 John Torode’s Korean Food 01:41 Paw Patrol 20:20 Chicago Fire 03:20 Outdaughtered: Busby Quints 10:35 Friends 19:50 Liv And Maddie Kardashians Tour 01:52 Kid-E-Cats 21:05 The Voice 04:05 My Extreme Excess Skin 11:00 Key And Peele 20:15 Disney Mickey Mouse 00:55 Keeping Up With The 11:45 Confucius Was A Foodie 01:58 Kid-E-Cats 22:00 The Flash 04:50 Two In A Million: Boys Of 11:25 Disaster Date 20:20 Elena Of Avalor Kardashians 12:40 Food Lover’s Guide To The 02:04 Shimmer And Shine 23:00 Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D Steel 11:50 Ridiculousness Arabia 20:45 Elena Of Avalor 01:50 E! News Planet 02:26 Nella The Princess Knight 05:35 Say Yes To The Dress 12:15 Friendszone 21:10 Bizaardvark 02:50 WAGs 13:05 Poh & Co. 02:38 Paw Patrol 06:00 Say Yes To The Dress UK 12:40 Key And Peele 21:35 Bizaardvark 03:40 WAGs 13:35 Lyndey Milan - Taste Of 03:02 Max & Ruby 06:22 Say Yes To The Dress UK 13:05 Friends 22:00 Miraculous Tales Of Ladybug 04:35 WAGs Australia 03:25 Dora The Explorer 06:45 Too Ugly For Love? 13:30 Friends & Cat Noir 05:30 Celebrity Style Story 14:00 Lyndey Milan - Taste Of 03:48 Sunny Day 07:30 The 685-Lb Teen 13:55 Nathan For You 22:25 Miraculous Tales Of Ladybug 06:00 Second Wives Club Australia 04:10 Nella The Princess Knight 01:30 A Short History Of Decay 08:15 Outdaughtered: Busby Quints 14:20 Workaholics & Cat Noir 06:55 E! News Middle East 14:30 Croatia’s Finest 04:32 Shimmer And Shine 03:05 Step Dogs 09:00 Cake Boss 14:45 Disaster Date 22:50 Lolirock 07:10 Second Wives Club 14:55 Croatia’s Finest 04:55 Wallykazam! 04:35 A Date With Miss Fortune 09:25 My Extreme Excess Skin 15:10 Friends 23:10 Sabrina Secrets Of A Teenage 08:10 E! News: Daily Pop 15:25 Mega Food 05:18 Zack & Quack 06:15 Made In America 10:10 Say Yes To The Dress UK 15:35 Key And Peele Witch 09:10 Keeping Up With The 16:20 John Torode’s Korean Food 05:29 The Day Henry Met 08:10 Christmas Trade 10:32 Say Yes To The Dress UK 16:00 Nathan For You 23:35 Binny And The Ghost Kardashians Tour 26 Established 1961

Wednesday, April 4 , 2018 Stars

CROSSWORD 1875 STAR TRACK

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

A deep need and desire to be shown respect could cause you to do Your opinions are highly respected and appreciated by someone you have something you wouldn’t normally do; remember that some people are gotten out of some trouble. A kind person comes to your rescue when you find yourself only takers and can’t give without resentment. A social event interests you but you in need of something you can’t take care of. Changes through the years have made you could undergo problems if your accept. Going against the wishes of a controlling who you are now; you work really hard not to have regretsan event you attend let s peo- person could result in an unpleasant confrontation; be aware that you’re the one in ple see who you really are; this is very complimentary for you! Taking a certain route at charge of your life. The energy of improvement is prominent at this time; this pertains the right time creates positive energy. Learning something new holds your attention; this to your environment as well as yourself. You’re at your best when working with oth- could indicate organic gardening or some other type of interaction with things that’re ers who admire your practical views and effective methods. Someone complements alive. Nothing makes you happier than being able to broaden your knowledge. Someone your looks and fine belongings; this confirms that you have found the correct path to tries to engage you in an argument about something controversial. abundance and health.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Scorpio (October 23-November 21) You could feel a need to remove yourself from someone on an emotional A certain circumstance threatens to block your journey of evolution and level; this could be best for both parties. You have an opportunity to become involved in enlightenment. You learn a hard lesson involving someone older and very difficult. Even some major drama; you can avoid having anything to do with this if you choose. Your a feeling of being blocked doesn’t stop the progress you make today; your ambitions independence extends to the growth you re experiencing in spiritual areas; new beliefs and determination are most admirable. You become aware of someone trying to thwart aren’t welcomed by those who re close-minded. An elder or someone in authority rubs you behind your back; this person soon understands you re a force to be reckoned you the wrong way causing insult and some pretty negative energy! Your mood is one of with. You could feel stressed because someone doesn’t appreciate your political or being talkative and causal, even when your work is involved. You’re in a good place religious views; this person is well known for being a closed-minded fanatic. Looking regarding an investment you researched heavily; this could indicate finances or investing back over your life shows you how far you have come; positive changes are empower- time and energy. Relish your many successes tonight. ing. You spend the evening with a person who loves and respects you.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Gemini (May 21-June 20) You have a strong need to grow things; this could indicate gardening, An urge to travel or spend more time outside is indicated. Routine children or pets. When you let a need be known, someone steps up; this seems almost offensive and you work hard to find new, refreshing ways person also benefits from your assistance. You figure out how to make your dreams ACROSS 4. Israeli religious philosopher (born in to do things. You re able to gain understanding about what makes something work. As come true. Making professional or domestic decisions should be held off on until a bet- 1. A river in north central Switzerland that Austria) (1878-1965). a new cycle starts for you, intimacy and close relationships become more important; ter time. You do a beautiful job representing your company and receive praise for a job runs northeast into the Rhine. 5. A nucleic acid that transmits genetic you become thankful for your connection to those you can trust with anything! You well done. You experience a rare moment of self-appreciation. Looking at your own life 4. Hindu sacred text instructing the information from DNA to the cyto- could find yourself being too concerned about what people think. You step in and and taking a different view proves interesting. A break in routine is indicated. Being Brahmins to perform the Vedic rituals. plasm. make a bad situation better for those involved; you’re a true friend. A group you’re a kind to someone you dislike is hard, but you manage it. An exotic person from a foreign 12. Blood cells that engulf and digest bac- 6. Midwife toads. member of holds a special event you find yourself deeply involved in; your talents and land captivates you. A peaceful evening spent with someone dear brings laughter. teria and fungi. 7. A very light colorless element that is one approach to things become valuable. Good food, fun and friends for you tonight. 15. A member of the Shoshonean people of of the six inert gasses. Utah and Colorado and New Mexico. 8. A mountain in the Himalayas in Nepal Capricorn (December 22-January 19) 16. Not treated with lead. (27,790 feet high). Cancer (June 21-July 22) 17. 10 hao equal 1 dong. 9. A port city in southwestern Turkey on You long for the stimulation of new theories and ideas; you could find this 18. Late-spring-blooming rhododendron the Gulf of Antalya. Taking a different path may not serve your best interests at this time; in a most unexpected place. If you want drama, it s made available with a of eastern North America having rosy 10. A colorless odorless gaseous element think this one over very carefully. Compassion for others is prominent and capital d ! Keeping your distance from petty people and their issues is what you have to pink-purple flowers. that give a red glow in a vacuum tube. could lead you to help someone you barely know. Circumstances occur that demand wanted, isn’t it someone would like to rattle your cage regarding politics, religion or 20. Unknown god. 11. Someone whose business is advertising. you become more conservative. You could feel shy about confiding in someone that some other controversial topic; you’re able to keep your cool while standing your 21. A Bantu language spoken in southern 12. A simple machine consisting of a circu- wants to help; listen to this and do what feels right! You consider a hardship a teacher ground! You come across modern ideas as you research a certain topic; this could per- coastal Tanzania. lar frame with spokes (or a solid disc) and friend instead of feeling sorry for yourself; you have come to understand that this is tain to methods of spiritual or physical healing. As the day unfolds you see progress in 23. Administer an oil or ointment to. that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in a far more productive way of thinking. Someone seems petty, complaining about noth- the area of health. Someone shares a funny story. Plans for the evening come together vehicles or other machines). ing. You want things to be balanced and not favoring one side; a boss or supervisor easily. You re able to laugh, spend valuable time with like-minded people. 24. Hypothetical universal solvent once may disagree with this opinion. You accept an invitation to join friends in a fun outing. sought by alchemists. 13. Gymnastic apparatus consisting of two 26. Someone who has retired from active parallel wooden bars supported on uprights. working. Aquarius (January 20- February 18) 27. Of or relating to the spleen. 14. An outer garment that has sleeves and Leo (July 23-August 22) 28. Short and fat. covers the body from shoulder down. Your mind is on go; ideas, theories, possibilities of all kinds are abun- Daydreams could be prevalent as you force yourself to work on a domes- 32. Shift from one side of the ship to the 19. Leave or strike out, as of vowels. dant. The fast progress you make is impressive and you become more certain you tic task; you could actually come up with a fabulous new idea. Reality other. 22. A very large person. have made a correct choice. You’re happy listening to new ideas from many places doesn’t appeal to you until you learn something new about your situation; there’s nothing 36. Apathy and inactivity in the practice of 25. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked about how to make things work better; like-minded people have a lot of power! Your like good news to snap you back into reality. You re able to complete something some- virtue (personified as one of the dead- on a skewer usually with vegetables. journey up the career ladder is rising to new heights and you’re finally beginning to one else started and gain the respect of someone on your team; enjoy this well-deserved 29. Silklike nylon fabric. feel secure; congratulations! You become certain you’re capable of attracting any out- ly sins). praise. Someone who enjoys high drama tries to pull you into it; you make your feelings 30. Small yellowish moths whose larvae comes you desire. An interesting career move could become known; when it rains, it 38. An implement used to propel or steer a against this well known. Taking the high road means more to you now than ever. You’re feed on wool or fur. pours! You couldn’t care less about opinions; cold, hard facts are you seek. A new boat. tapped into the feelings of someone you care for and this makes you happy. You decide 31. The arrangement of the hair (especially invention that could change the lives of many is presented later tonight. 39. The capital of Morocco. to step out with someone new and discover some very interesting information. 42. Black tropical American cuckoo. a woman's hair). 43. (informal) Exceptionally good. 33. An account describing incidents or events. 45. The capital and largest city of Yemen. Virgo (August 23-September 22) Pisces (February 19-March 20) 47. (a dated Briticism) A serious difficulty 34. (Norse mythology) God of poetry and music. with which one is suddenly faced. Feeling stressed out seems prominent but you re able to deal with this Your planning and budgeting skills shine brightly as a long-awaited event 49. Any tree or shrub of the genus Inga 35. The state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by. by focusing on the tasks at hand. You accept an invitation from someone who always takes place; your exemplary representation of the company doesn’t go having pinnate leaves and showy usu- unnoticed. Energy flows easily as you clearly explain things to interested parties; being 37. The capital and largest city of lifts your spirits. An interesting new recipe entices you enough that you go shopping ally white flowers. for the required ingredients. A mentor contacts you regarding investments or another involved on this level recharges your self-esteem and confidence. There may be a sensi- 50. South African plant widely cultivated Bangladesh. tive topic of conversation at home; if you avoid this remember that it keeps coming up 40. An indehiscent fruit derived from a sin- new endeavor you definitely want to know more about. You may decide to have a for its showy pure white spathe and massage later when you just need a little help getting over the hump. You re forming a and doesn’t see to go away! Not reaching personal goals doesn’t mean failure; every yellow spadix. gle ovary having one or many seeds attempt is a step in the right direction. You unknowingly help someone that you have within a fleshy wall or pericarp. new attitude about, and opinion of, someone who’s slowly winning you over; this could 52. Harsh or corrosive in tone. be to your advantage. Wanting more out of life leads you to a certain place for more barely met; isn’t it amazing how karma works without our being aware later, you try 53. (Old Testament) The second patriarch. 41. An exchange of ideas via conversation. something new with a friend; new memories being made become treasures. 44. A volatile flammable mixture of hydro- information about getting it. You demand some time to yourself this evening. 56. A constellation in the southern hemi- carbons (hexane and heptane and sphere near Reticulum and Pictor. octane etc.) derived from petroleum. 58. A highly unstable radioactive element 46. A silvery ductile metallic element found Wordsearch Puzzle Yesterday’s Solution (the heaviest of the halogen series). primarily in bauxite. 60. English scholastic philosopher and 48. American professional baseball player assumed author of Occam's Razor who hit more home runs than Babe (1285-1349). Ruth (born in 1934). 63. A soft silvery metallic element of the 51. Any of various insects that feed and alkali earth group. form galls on conifers. 64. A chronic inflammatory collagen dis- 54. (informal) Of the highest quality. ease affecting connective tissue (skin 55. A radioactive element of the actinide or joints). series. 65. A translucent mineral consisting of 57. A Russian river. hydrated silica of variable color. 59. Genus of tropical plants with creeping 67. (Babylonian) God of wisdom and agri- rootstocks and small umbellate flow- culture and patron of scribes and ers. schools. 61. (sociology) The conventions that 71. A dull persistent (usually moderately embody the fundamental values of a intense) pain. group. 76. A periodic paperback publication. 62. The basic unit of money in Nigeria. 77. The act of scanning. 66. The fleshy part of the human body that 78. Of or relating to or composed of fat. you sit on. 79. The address of a web page on the 68. An Asian river between China and world wide web. Russia. 80. Stable gear consisting of either of two 69. An aggressive remark directed at a curved supports that are attached to person like a missile and intended to the collar of a draft horse and that hold have a telling effect. the traces. 70. Large sweet juicy hybrid between tan- 81. A flat tortilla with various fillings piled gerine and grapefruit having a thick on it. wrinkled skin. 82. A run that is the result of the batter's 72. Thigh of a hog (usually smoked). performance. 73. Standard time in the 7th time zone west of Greenwich, reckoned at the DOWN 105th meridian west. 1. 100 aurar equal 1 krona. 74. A member of the Siouan people inhab- 2. Make amends for. iting the valleys of the Platte and 3. Device for resetting instruments or con- Missouri rivers in Nebraska. trols v 1. 75. Fiddler crabs.

Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution ClassifiedsWednesday, April 4, 2018

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

Arrival Flights on Wednesday 4/4/2018 KAC 692 Muscat 14:15 Departure Flights on Wednesday 4/4/2018 SAW 702 Damascus 13:30 Airlines Flt Route Time FDB 059 Dubai 14:20 Airlines Flt Route Time JZR 176 Dubai 13:40 JAI 572 Mumbai 00:05 QTR 1078 Doha 14:20 AIC 976 Goa/Chennai 00:05 MSR 611 Cairo 14:00 JZR 607 Kochi 00:10 KAC 672 Dubai 14:25 JZR 528 Asyut 00:15 UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 JZR 539 Cairo 00:50 KAC 412 Bangkok 14:35 JAI 573 Mumbai 00:30 AXB 394 Kozhikode 14:15 KAC 102 London 00:50 GFA 221 Bahrain 14:40 MSC 406 Sohag 00:30 JZR 124 Bahrain 14:30 PGT 858 Istanbul 00:55 KNE 529 Jeddah 14:55 FDB 072 Dubai 00:35 KAC 661 Abu Dhabi 15:00 THY 772 Istanbul 00:55 KAC 662 Abu Dhabi 14:55 MSC 412 Asyut 01:00 KAC 673 Dubai 15:05 DLH 625 Bahrain 01:45 KNE 683 Madinah 15:05 JAI 571 Mumbai 01:05 FDB 060 Dubai 15:10 THY 764 Istanbul 01:50 KAC 788 Jeddah 15:10 JZR 504 Luxor 01:30 QTR 8512 Doha 15:25 ETH 620 Addis Ababa 02:15 KAC 304 Mumbai 15:10 JZR 142 Doha 01:45 GFA 222 Bahrain 15:25 QTR 1086 Doha 02:20 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 15:15 KAC 677 Dubai 01:50 KAC 785 Jeddah 15:25 GFA 211 Bahrain 02:30 KAC 562 Amman 15:30 KAC 285 Dhaka 01:55 QTR 1079 Doha 15:30 KLM 446 Bahrain 02:30 JZR 787 Riyadh 15:30 KAC 417 Manila 02:00 SVA 501 Jeddah 15:45 WAN 548 KTM 02:40 OMA 645 Muscat 15:35 KAC 363 Colombo 02:00 KNE 530 Jeddah 15:45 OMA 643 Muscat 02:55 UAE 857 Dubai 15:45 THY 773 Istanbul 02:30 KAC 775 Riyadh 15:50 KKK 1268 Istanbul 02:55 QTR 1072 Doha 15:55 PGT 859 Istanbul 02:30 KAC 283 Dhaka 15:50 RJA 644 Amman 03:05 SAW 705 Damascus 16:00 DLH 625 Frankfurt 02:45 KAC 743 Dammam 16:05 ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 03:10 KAC 118 New York 16:00 AXB 396 Kozhikode 02:55 PAL 669 Manila 16:10 FEG 931 Alexandria 03:15 JZR 535 Cairo 16:00 ETH 621 Addis Ababa 03:05 KAC 563 Amman 16:10 MSR 612 Cairo 03:15 ABY 127 Sharjah 16:00 UAE 854 Dubai 03:40 KAC 619 Doha 16:10 QTR 1076 Doha 03:50 SVA 504 Madinah 16:00 QTR 1087 Doha 03:40 ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 16:20 KAC 796 Madinah 03:50 WAN 436 Al Najaf 16:10 KLM 446 Amsterdam 03:55 OMA 646 Muscat 16:35 KAC 382 Delhi 04:15 JZR 357 Mashhad 16:25 KKK 1269 Istanbul 03:55 ABY 128 Sharjah 16:40 KAC 1544 Cairo 04:25 JZR 779 Jeddah 16:25 OMA 644 Muscat 03:55 KAC 615 Bahrain 16:40 KAC 418 Manila 04:25 FDB 051 Dubai 16:40 THY 765 Istanbul 04:00 FDK 802 Damascus 16:55 UAE 873 Dubai 04:25 KAC 522 Al Najaf 16:45 MSR 607 Luxor 04:05 QTR 1073 Doha 17:15 KAC 784 Jeddah 04:35 RJA 640 Amman 16:55 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:05 JZR 240 Amman 17:15 KAC 284 Dhaka 04:50 KAC 542 Cairo 17:05 MSR 613 Cairo 04:15 JZR 266 Beirut 17:15 FDB 069 Dubai 04:55 WAN 954 Baku 17:15 LMU 5511 Cairo 05:00 FDB 052 Dubai 17:40 JZR 609 Hyderabad 05:10 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 QTR 1091 Doha 05:05 UAE 858 Dubai 17:45 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 DHX 170 Bahrain 05:20 KAC 205 Islamabad 05:20 KAC 361 Colombo 17:45 JZR 777 Jeddah 17:40 JZR 143 Doha 05:25 QTR 1077 Doha 05:30 RJA 641 Amman 17:55 UAE 875 Dubai 18:00 THY 770 Istanbul 05:25 FDB 070 Dubai 05:45 SYR 342 Damascus 18:00 KAC 332 Trivandrum 05:40 FDB 063 Dubai 18:10 KAC 303 Mumbai 06:05 JZR 483 Istanbul 18:15 KAC 331 Trivandrum 18:00 KAC 344 Chennai 05:50 JZR 560 Sohag 06:25 KAC 343 Chennai 18:00 KAC 302 Mumbai 06:10 JZR 177 Dubai 18:15 JZR 786 Riyadh 06:25 MSR 620 Cairo 18:30 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15 KAC 362 Colombo 06:25 THY 771 Istanbul 06:50 JZR 538 Cairo 18:15 KAC 678 Dubai 06:30 QTR 1080 Doha 18:50 JZR 164 Dubai 06:55 KAC 744 Dammam 19:10 GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 WAN 338 Alexandria 06:40 RJA 645 Amman 07:05 JZR 184 Dubai 18:30 KAC 206 Islamabad 06:50 KAC 776 Riyadh 19:20 GFA 212 Bahrain 07:15 JZR 608 Hyderabad 18:40 BAW 157 London 07:10 ABY 123 Sharjah 19:25 KAC 167 Paris 07:35 WAN 115 Bahrain 18:50 FDB 053 Dubai 07:35 KAC 156 Istanbul 19:30 KAC 501 Beirut 08:00 KAC 381 Delhi 18:50 KAC 384 Delhi 08:00 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:30 KAC 171 Frankfurt 08:00 FDB 064 Dubai 19:10 KAC 358 Kochi 08:05 KAC 674 Dubai 19:45 THY 6376 Dubai/Istanbul 08:10 JZR 554 Alexandria 19:20 UAE 855 Dubai 08:35 FDB 057 Dubai 19:50 KAC 165 Rome 08:15 KAC 616 Bahrain 19:55 UAE 876 Dubai 19:30 JZR 605 Ahmedabad 08:45 FDB 054 Dubai 08:35 KNE 381 Taif 20:00 MSR 621 Cairo 19:30 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:05 KAC 787 Jeddah 08:40 KAC 166 Rome 20:10 QTR 1081 Doha 20:00 ABY 125 Sharjah 09:05 BAW 156 London 08:55 KAC 620 Doha 20:15 RBG 556 Alexandria 20:05 QTR 1070 Doha 09:10 KAC 117 New York 09:00 OMA 647 Muscat 20:20 ABY 124 Sharjah 20:05 FDB 055 Dubai 09:40 JZR 534 Cairo 09:10 KAC 512 Mashhad 20:40 GFA 218 Bahrain 20:15 IRC 6552 ABD 09:50 QTR 1088 Doha 20:45 KAC 561 Amman 09:40 KIS 6032 Mashhad 10:00 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:45 FDB 058 Dubai 20:35 DLH 624 Frankfurt 20:45 NIA 162 Cairo 20:40 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 WAN 136 Doha 21:15 KAC 671 Dubai 09:45 IRA 665 Shiraz 10:40 KAC 101 London 09:45 KAC 301 Mumbai 20:50 ALK 229 Colombo 21:20 KAC 357 Kochi 21:00 WAN 114 Bahrain 11:00 MEA 402 Beirut 21:20 ETD 9882 SGN 09:50 AXB 890 Mangalore/Bahrain 11:10 UAE 856 Dubai 10:00 OMA 648 Muscat 21:20 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:20 KAC 1543 Cairo 21:20 IRM 1188 Mashhad 11:15 KAC 786 Jeddah 21:25 KAC 515 Tehran 10:00 QTR 1074 Doha 11:20 KAC 541 Cairo 10:00 DLH 624 Bahrain 21:30 KAC 172 Frankfurt 21:30 DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50 JZR 165 Dubai 11:30 UAE 859 Dubai 21:35 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:10 WAN 134 Doha 11:55 KAC 773 Riyadh 10:10 QTR 1089 Doha 22:00 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45 KAC 411 Bangkok 22:05 MEA 404 Beirut 11:55 KLM 445 Amsterdam 21:50 KAC 617 Doha 10:15 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:10 IAW 157 Al Najaf 12:00 WAN 116 Bahrain 21:50 QTR 1071 Doha 10:20 MEA 403 Beirut 22:20 RBG 553 Alexandria 12:15 KAC 564 Amman 22:00 KAC 155 Istanbul 10:25 ALK 230 Colombo 22:25 KAC 286 Dhaka 12:35 QTR 1082 Doha 22:05 FDB 056 Dubai 10:35 KAC 798 Taif 12:45 ETD 309 Abu Dhabi 22:15 JZR 778 Jeddah 10:40 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:30 JZR 561 Sohag 12:45 AIC 975 Chennai/Goa 22:25 ZAV 4101 IQA 11:00 KAC 783 Jeddah 22:35 KAC 742 Dammam 12:50 SVA 514 Riyadh 22:30 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:25 KAC 383 Delhi 22:40 UAE 871 Dubai 12:50 JZR 241 Amman 22:40 IRA 674 Lar 11:40 KLM 445 Bahrain 22:50 MSR 610 Cairo 13:00 SVA 502 Jeddah 22:45 WAN 953 Baku 12:00 UAE 860 Dubai 23:00 CLX 792 Luxembourg 13:20 JZR 185 Dubai 23:10 JZR 776 Jeddah 12:00 KAC 795 Madinah 23:05 KAC 774 Riyadh 13:40 JAI 574 Mumbai 23:15 MSC 404 Asyut 12:15 ICV 675 Hong Kong 23:10 KNE 231 Riyadh 14:10 PIA 239 Sialkot 23:40 QTR 1075 Doha 12:30 QTR 1083 Doha 23:20 SVA 500 Jeddah 14:15 FDB 071 Dubai 23:45 JZR 606 Kochi 12:45 PIA 240 Sialkot 23:35 KAC 618 Doha 14:15 MSC 411 Asyut 23:55 MEA 405 Beirut 12:55 WAN 337 Alexandria 23:45 28 Established 1961

Wednesday, April 4, 2018 Lifestyle Gossip Steps happy to prove people wrong

laire Richards is delighted Steps you.’ “It was really difficult last year have proven people wrong with when they were at school. “They love it Ctheir comeback. The 40-year-old - Charlie said he’d rather come to a star thinks audiences were skeptical Steps gig than go to his football pres- when the five-piece got back together entation. “Reece loves it as well, which for their 20th anniversary last year for a is a bit embarrassing! Someone posted tour and new LP ‘Tears on the a video from our show at Wembley and Dancefloor’ - which hit number two on he was doing all the moves.” While the UK charts - but admitted that hap- Claire’s kids like singing, she would pened throughout their career. She never push them into following in her said: “I think when everybody first footsteps. She told Britain’s OK! maga- heard we were releasing another album, zine: “They do like it but they don’t go they were like, ‘Pffft’. But they just have to stage school and I’m not pushy. “I to eat their words, which has kind of feel quite uncomfortable about it. “I happened throughout our career. The feel protective - I don’t want them to statistics speak for themselves.” The ever be criticized, I can’t bear it. I just ‘5,6,7,8’ hitmakers will be hitting the want to keep them at home with me all road again this summer and Claire - the time! “Whatever they want to do, who has Charlie, 10, and Daisy, eight, we’ll support them, but I think it’s with husband Reece Hill - is pleased her important to be realistic. “If they’re family will be able to join them for most tone deaf, then I’m going to sit down of the dates. She said: “I think [they’ll and say, ‘Listen, it’s not going to hap- come] because most of the dates are at pen for you. You can go and embarrass the weekends. “Daisy said ‘Mummy, it yourself on ‘X Factor’ if you want but will be fine because we’re coming with I’m not coming.’ Ne-Yo’s new album will Kylie Minogue’s drop on June 8 new album is about e-Yo’s new album will drop on June 8. NThe ‘So Sick’ hit- ‘accepting’ herself maker hasn’t released an LP since 2015’s ‘Non-Fiction’ and, although it was initially ylie Minogue’s new album is when she started penning new thought his new set of tracks about “accepting” herself. music. She said: “When I first went would be available to down- KThe ‘Dancing’ hitmaker into the studio [this time], I was a bit load last year, the 38-year- insists her new LP ‘Golden’ isn’t a broken. I wasn’t so heartbroken - I old singer has finally heartbreak album but instead is was just a bit broken. And there’s a revealed ‘Good Man’ will be about learning to live herself and difference there. I just needed to get out this summer. Taking to accepting herself for who she is. a few songs out, get the words out his Twitter account, Ne-Yo Speaking in The Dan Wootton of my system. “I suppose it’s like, in updated his bio to read: Interview podcast, she said: “I love any situation, if you hold onto some- “New album, #GOODMAN singing those lyrics. I probably thing, as soon as you say it out loud out June 8th. Watch the new could not have sung them at the to a friend or a therapist or a lyric video for “Push Back”, beginning of the year but certainly, stranger, it just takes the weight off featuring @BebeRexha and once I was feeling great, I was so once you verbalize it.” And Kylie @StefflonDon (sic)” The happy to sing them. “It was just tak- had likened songwriting to “thera- announcement comes just ing a very honest look at where I am py”. She explained: “I hadn’t been hours after his new single in my life. I’m definitely not alone. there. I said to a few people, ‘I’m ‘Push Back’ was released People understand. That’s part of going to Nashville. Have you been eghan Trainor is desperate to Beyonce, like everybody. Justin and he recently admitted life. People want to simplify it and there?’ They spoke with such record a duet with Harry Styles. Timberlake- I’m dying to work with him. that Bebe Rexha and say it’s a heartbreak album, it’s actu- excitement and love for the city, lit- MThe 24-year-old singer previ- “Bruno Mars - legend. I’m not going to be Stefflon Don, who feature on ally not. There’s some songs about erally. They were giving me advice ously teamed up with the former One OK when I meet him one day, I’m just the new track, weren’t the that but I think it’s about acceptance on which bar to go to and where to Direction star to pen ‘Someday’ for going to crumble and ruin the whole only artists he’s worked with of yourself. That to me is what the eat and blah blah blah ... Michael Buble, on which she thinks they thing.” Meghan almost got her chance to on ‘Good Man’. He said: strongest emotion is.” Meanwhile, Songwriting can be a bit like thera- had “chemistry”, so she’d love for them to approach Bruno recently, but when he got “We came up with a lot of Kylie previously revealed she felt the py; you have to feel comfortable to collaborate further in the future. She said: locked in conversation with broadcasting good stuff, actually. “There’s “weight” of her heartbreak leave her talk about personal things.” “My manager works with Harry Styles so legend Oprah Winfrey, she was too afraid actually a collection of songs that I have, that I’m holding on to for a this is great. We already wrote a song to interrupt. She explained: “I was at Ellen little side project later on, but there was one of that bunch that I liked together so the chemistry is already there DeGeneres’s 60th birthday party and I so much, that I decided to put on this album. Myself, PartyNextDoor, we just need to put out a song together. saw Bruno Mars talking and I was like and Eric Bellinger are on that record... “This album focuses on the jour- One day Harry! If you can hear this, that ‘This is my night, I can feel it, I’m going to ney of what it is to be a good man: a good man to your spouse, a good would be amazing. Any one of [One go up to him and start talking’ because I’d brother to your brother, a good person to the world. I am not pro- Direction], they’re all so talented, but spoken to everyone else but he was talk- claiming to be perfect. A good man makes mistakes, learns from those Harry is my fave.” And the ‘No Excuses’ ing to Oprah for so long! “And I’m not mistakes, therefore to not then repeat those mistakes. Being a good singer admitted there are “so many” other going to be that girl who was like ‘Excuse man is a journey.” Last year, Ne-Yo debuted four new singles - includ- artists she’d love to work with - though me Oprah, I need to meet him’ like no. So ing ‘On Your Mind’, ‘Push Back’, ‘Nights Like These’ and ‘Good Man’ - she’s not convinced she could stay com- it just didn’t happen that night. “And I during his gig at London’s O2 Brixton Academy. posed in front of them all. Asked who want it to be professional, I want his man- she’d like to work with, she exclusively ager to take him and be like ‘You have to told BANG Showbiz: “So many people, meet Meghan’ not just me being like ‘Yo! yes! Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, Adele, Please look over here.’ Sheryl Crow slams music industry

rampolene didn’t tell Liam Gallagher’s sworn enemy Pete Doherty they were supporting the Oasis star. The Welsh group’s Tfrontman Jack Jones, who is also Libertines rocker Pete’s gui- tarist in his band Puta Madres, decided to keep his lips sealed when Trampolene opened for Liam on his tour in support of his debut solo LP ‘As You Were’ last year. Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz at their Red Stripe gig in London last month, Jack confessed: “I don’t know if Pete knows. I am sure he does. He’s always been really sup- portive of me and Trampolene. He’s like an older brother to me.” Asked what he talked about with the ‘Some Might Say’ singer at the gigs, Jack un-D.M.C. won’t release anymore albums. The legendary hip-hop duo said:”We had a good man to-man. He was very complimentary. “Most - comprised of Joseph ‘Run’ Simmons and Darryl ‘D.M.C.’ McDaniels - people mention my poems and the poetry side of the band which gave Rdon’t feel its necessary to add tunes to their back catalogue as they us a foot in the door I suppose, but the first thing he wanted to talk are able to live off their huge hits, including 1986 Aerosmith collaboration about what the guitar playing and how we are keeping the fight for ‘Walk This Way’ and ‘It’s Tricky’ from their seminal LP ‘Raising Hell’. rock ‘n’ roll going.” And when asked if he’s offered to help Liam with Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, Joseph ‘Rev Run’ Simmons said: his second solo album, he replied: “Of course, along with the 50,000 heryl Crow doesn’t think she would beats and top-lines. I really love the tradi- “People want to see the hits and when I come to town I bring what I know other people, can you imagine the list? “I’d love to do that though, I’ve have succeeded as a music artist if tion of songwriting and rocking out so they want to hear. “Our legacy lies within the catalogue.” Asked if there is been thinking about it and writing some songs and hopefully I’ll get to she started out now. The ‘If It Makes you know it is what it is. I still love the any desire to release any new songs, he replied: “No. I don’t need to. I have play some of the songs to him before makes the next record.” Liam and S You Happy’ hitmaker thinks everything is kind of music I listened to my whole life.” the arsenal of ‘Walk This Way’, ‘My Adidas’, ‘It’s Like That’. “It’s pretty solid. Pete have been at loggerheads for years, most recently the ‘Can’t Stand “so brand-orientated now” and says she The 56-year-old singer desperately want- I don’t need to try to make something else. “I don’t see myself making a Run- Me Now’ hitmaker said he was stressing out because Liam has pinched “couldn’t stomach” the idea of “selling her ed her most recent release ‘Be Myself’ to D.M.C. album.” As for who is carrying on their torch in the hip-hip world, his Babyshambles bass player Drew McConnell for his touring band. He life” in order to make popular music. She feel “authentic”. She told New Zealand’s Rev says power couple Jay-Z and Beyonce, who recently announced a sec- said: “Stressification on the band front, Drew playing bass guitar for said: “Everything is so brand-orientated Stuff: “I wanted to make a record that felt ond ‘On The Run II World Tour’. He said: “Jay-Z is really doing good. “I am Liam Gallagher’s new tour.” The pair have another mutual person in [now]. You practically have to prostitute authentic and that had the spunk and the loving that he put out this ‘4:44’ album and it was very age-appropriate for common as they both have children by 90s indie rocker Lisa Moorish. your personal life in order to have people spontaneity of the old records. We literal- him, talking about stuff that is going on in his life now. “But he’s one to watch The ‘Live Forever’ hitmaker has 20-year-old daughter Molly with the interested in you - and then hope they like ly went in and a month later come out and then the ‘On The Run II’ tour with his wife Beyonce, so it’s very exciting former Kill City singer and Pete has 14-year-old son Astile. They have your music. If I had to come out now, I with something that’s inspired by what’s watching someone who has matured and at the place Jay-Z is at, still playing feuded several times over the years, one of the most notable though know I wouldn’t [succeed]. I couldn’t happening here in America and the huge places and making an impact and still have people pay attention to was At V Festival in 2005. Liam labelled the Babyshambles star “one stomach the scrutiny selling my life in urgency that I felt being a mom of two what he is rapping about.” Run-D.M.C. split in 2002, following the murder of big c***” on stage after he didn’t turn up for his support slot with order for someone to care about my kids who are going to inherit the mess third member Jam Master Jay - real name Jason William Mizell - but the pair Oasis at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, South West England. He said songs.” And Sheryl doesn’t think the “tra- that we’ve created. But it is also fun. It’s a reunited at Jay-Z’s Made In America Festival in September 2012, and have on stage at the event held in Chelmsford, Essex: “It’s good to see Pete ditional” song exists anymore. She added: very celebratory record, it’s upbeat and it made select performances ever since. Run-D.M.C. will return to the UK this Doherty turned up. One big c***.” “There aren’t really very many songs any- talks about social media and how difficult summer where they’ll perform at London’s Hammersmith Eventim Apollo on more in the popular world - it’s more that is to navigate.” July 5 and at NASS Festival in South West England on July 6. Established 1961 29

Wednesday, April 4, 2018 Lifestyle Gossip Bryan Cranston not worries about box office success

ryan Cranston doesn’t worry about ratings or box even though he didn’t know at the time he wouldn’t office success. The ‘Breaking Bad’ star holds his appear on screen. He told Radio Times magazine: “I Bown work to a “high standard” so is only interested absolutely loved Anderson’s ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ in taking on projects that bring him personal satisfaction, so when the word came through that West wanted me, I rather than what will be a hit critically and commercially. was more than ready. “It was only later I found out it was He said: There’s so much product out there, all the time, stop-motion animation.” But Bryan insists the news didn’t it’s ‘Do this!’ ‘Do this!’ ‘Do this!’ “But, for me, it’s not about come as a disappointment. He said: “Not for a moment. I how much a movie makes or the TV ratings or the awards. don’t have that sort of prejudice, which regards animation “I hold myself to a high standard. “I want to reach a level as only for kids. “Good storytelling is good storytelling of accomplishment with the characters I take on and the and this material is best told in an animated version. “If stories I tell. “I can only be true to myself, so my measure you tried to do it as live action, I don’t think it would work of success is entirely personal.” The 62-year-old actor so well as a parable. “It opens you up to a different cul- voices Chief in Wes Anderson’s new animation ‘Isle of ture, a different language and environment and that’s Dogs’ and he jumped at the chance to work on the movie, exactly what art should be doing.” Emily Blunt thinks Mary Poppins is ‘creepy’

Lena Waithe is always learning egally Blonde’ almost had a test-screening audience didn’t feel completely different ending. like it was an exciting enough ending ena Waithe “learns” from people every day. The ‘Ready Player The popular 2001 romcom for her, success-wise. The kiss made One’ star loved watching director Steven Spielberg work on the followed‘L pink-loving diva Elle it seem like it was a rom-com. They Lset of the hit movie. She said: “I got to kind of watch Steven at Woods (Reese Witherspoon) as she knew that this was not a movie work, and he really is a master. He’s really just fun to watch because attempted to win back her ex- about a girl getting a guy.” After the he also just has a wonderful time directing and doing what he does ... boyfriend Warner Huntington disappointing response, McCullah, I continue to be a student. I learn from people every day. There’s (Matthew Davis) by proving she’s the film’s director Robert Luketic places of inspiration everywhere, and so my thing is to always be intelligent enough for him by study- and producer Marc Platt spent authentic and be myself and put in the work.” And with this being the ing law. But, after she succeeds at hours coming up with the graduation 33-year-old actress’ first big role, she thinks “patience” in this indus- Harvard Law School, she realizes speech to finish with. She explained: try is “extremely important”. She told MTV News: “I think patience is she’s far too good for her ex, bags “The whole movie is painstakingly extremely important, especially for anybody who wants to be in this business. Sometimes people, you know, write a script and go, herself a new man called Emmett written over many drafts in two mily Blunt thinks Mary Poppins is just gonna reject my version of Mary ‘Where’s my million bucks?’ The truth is, this is a lot of time and ener- Richmond (Luke Wilson), makes years and then the ending is quick.” “creepy.” The 35-year-old actress is Poppins. I think it’s strange for the kids of gy you gotta put into it. You gotta fall down a few times before you some new friends and gives a gradu- But that wasn’t the only dilemma playing the iconic English nanny in actors to see their parents in stuff ... I think learn to walk, and then you start to run.” Meanwhile, Lena previously E ation speech in front of a standing they faced. McCullah added: “At that an upcoming Disney film, but has admitted it’s weird for Hazel ‘cause she’s also young revealed how helping people in the film and TV industry felt like part ovation. However, co-writer Karen point [Reese] was in England shoot- she finds her alter-ego slightly unnerving. - they’re really young, my kids, and so it’s of her activism. She said: “I have a ton of mentees [people that I men- McCullah has revealed the movie ing ‘The Importance of Being Speaking on ‘The Late Show’, the pro- disconcerting for them to see you as some- tor]. They’re all people of color. Some of them are poor. And I’m just almost ended differently. Speaking Earnest’. She’d cut off her hair gram’s host Stephen Colbert said: “I always one else behaving in a way that’s not natu- trying to help them learn how to be great writers; and for those that to Entertainment Weekly, she said: because it had gotten damaged from thought Mary Poppins seemed a little sin- ral.” The upcoming ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ have become really good writers, I help them get representation; and “Originally it ended at the court- all the hot rollers, so they put her in a ister.” To which Emily replied: “Well, I also features an appearance from Academy those that have representation, I want to help get them jobs. That to house right after the trial. Everyone wig ... Luke [Wilson] had on a wig think she’s creepy.” Stephen said: “She is, Award-winning actress Meryl Streep. The me is a form of activism. I was doing this before Time’s Up was creat- was congratulating Elle, and Emmett because he’d shaved his head for because she comes unannounced, takes duo both previously starred alongside each ed. I am doing it now. Activism is me paying for a writer to go to a tel- came up and gave her a big kiss. ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’. “The whole over the house.” Emily joked: “Disney right other in 2006’s ‘The Devil Wears Prada’, evision-writing class.” — Bang Showbiz Then there was a tag where it was a graduation scene is shot in London, now are just like, ‘Noooooo!’ But I loved and Emily has joked that the acclaimed year in the future and she and [Elle’s but all the reaction shots were in doing it, it was just the best. It really was actress is now stalking her. Teasing Meryl’s friend] Vivian, who was now blonde, Burbank in a soundstage. If you look awesome.” The film will hit the big screen role in the new film, Emily said: “We have had started the Blonde Legal really closely, you’ll notice the light- at the end of this year but Emily is con- really set a tone that we never play charac- Defense Fund and they were in the ing’s a little bit different. But the new cerned about how her children - Hazel, ters that like each other very much. And so quad handing out pamphlets. “The ending was way more satisfying.” four, and 22 -month-old Violet - will react we are continuing with that tradition in this. to her portrayal. Emily - who is married to I don’t know if we could ever play like best John Krasinski - said recently: “Hazel loves pals in something. It’s just not what works Cena wants to join Dwayne Julie [Andrews] so much that I worry she’s for Meryl and I.” ‘The Rock’ Johnson in Fast and Furious franchise

Naomi Harris backs Danny Boyle for James Bond

aomie Harris would “love” Danny Boyle to direct the next James Bond movie. The 41-year-old actress has Nportrayed Eve Moneypenny in the most recent outings of the spy saga, ‘Skyfall’ and ‘Spectre’, and though she insists she’s “easy” about who she works with behind the camera, she’d be thrilled if speculation the ‘Trainspotting’ filmmaker has landed the job on the 25th film in the series are true. But Naomie would be just as happy if ‘Spectre’ director Sam Mendes came back for another stint. She told Total Film maga- ohn Cena would love to join on the wish list.” Although Cena has zine: “I’d love it if Danny Boyle would [direct ‘Bond 25’]. He’s Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson as focused on comedies more recently - extraordinary. I think he’d have an amazing twist. “I’d love to essica Chastain wants to play “real” ting in the rooms where decisions are Jpart of the ‘Fast & Furious’ fran- including the likes of ‘Daddy’s Home 2’ have Sam back as well. But yeah, who knows. “Just as long as women. The ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ actress made. “We don’t have many female direc- chise. The ‘Blockers’ actor and WWE and ‘Ferdinand’ - he is set to join the they’re brilliant and they understand what Bond’s about and Jthinks movies portray female charac- tors and few screenwriters. I don’t know superstar - who feuded with the Hall world of action blockbusters in they understand what the fans want and they’re nice to work ters in an “unrealistic” way and she is furi- about the exact statistics of the past year, of Famer in the build-up to ‘Transformers’ spin-off ‘Bumblebee’ as with, I’m easy really.” And the ‘Rampage’ actress’ wish might ous a lot of films don’t have “strong” ladies but I know that the number of women in Wrestlemania 28 and 29 - has admit- Burns. He added: “It’s going to be a come true as Danny recently revealed he’s working on a script depicted in them because that isn’t true to those positions is just too low. “I firmly ted he and his on-screen rival have wonderful piece of this franchise that I for the film, which will see Daniel Craig return again as the life. She said: “I want to play characters believe: If we create a balance there, then “chemistry”, and he would love to think people are going to enjoy. I was suave spy. He said: “We are working on a script right now. And that are real. The film industry portrays we’ll also see stories about women on the share the screen with him as he con- very intrigued being able to meet the it all depends on that really. “I am working on a Richard Curtis women in an unrealistic way. Movie the- big screen that are realistic.” The ‘Molly’s tinues to branch out into the world of team around the movie. “[Director] script at the moment. We hope to start shooting that in six or atres are full of women, which do not at all Game’ actress recently spoke of her own Hollywood. On the possibility of join- Travis [Knight] is such a passionate seven weeks. “Then Bond would be right at the end of the year. remind me of the women I have around me plan to direct one day. She said: “Every day ing the ‘Fast & Furious’ film saga, he man. The role they were talking to me But we are working on them both right now. Boyle - who won in my life... “I regard every women to be I feel like there is something new I never told EW: “That stuff is beyond my about doing was very intriguing to me the Best Director Oscar in 2009 for his drama ‘Slumdog strong and it makes me mad that the cine- imagined I’d be doing. “If anything, I think control, but I would absolutely love because it’s a road I’ve never been Millionaire’ - is currently working on a musical based around ma hasn’t portrayed them as strong in the in the future I’m going to step back and I’m that opportunity. That, for me, would down before, but a road I felt like I the music of the Beatles for Curtis. But revealed he has an idea past.” The 41-year-old actress blames film- probably going to produce more. I may be a dream. “I’m never really like, ‘Oh, could accomplish. “And then put that for a story for the iconic British 007 spy but refused to give makers for the lack of realistic representa- even direct. “I’m interested in taking the I’d like to work with this person,’ but I together with the context of the any spoilers away. He said: “We’ve got an idea, John Hodge, the tion of women on screen and called for light that has been shined on me and just think between our chemistry in movie, the way that the consumer will screenwriter, and I have got this idea, and John is writing it at more of a “balance” between genders maybe shining it on some other people. I the live performance setting, there’s now view Bumblebee, all of that stuff the moment. “And it all depends on how it turns out. It would be working behind-the-scenes. She added to don’t feel like I’m having to sacrifice any- something certainly there with The was very interesting to me. And then foolish of me to give any of it away.” Germany’s GQ magazine: “Filmmakers are thing because in reality this world is bigger Rock. So that would be my one name they were stupid enough to say yes.” responsible. There’s rarely any women sit- than what my dream was.” 30 Established 1961 Wednesday, April 4, 2018 Lifestyle Music & Movies ‘Chappaquiddick’ retells scandal that changed America

In this file photo Director John Curran arrives on the red car- This file photo taken on August 01, 1968 shows US Senator pet for the premiere of ‘Chappaquiddick’ at the Samuel Edward M Kennedy. — AFP photos Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California.

Senator Edward Kennedy went to his death in Heavy drinking 2009 haunted by his role in the drowning of a Critics have long speculated that the last of the four USyoung woman 40 years earlier after he Kennedy brothers was drunk-driving and left the dead or crashed their car. The accident at a bridge on dying 28-year-old campaign worker behind to cover his Chappaquiddick Island, an upscale resort off Cape Cod, tracks and save his fledgling career. Kennedy, who had Massachusetts, indelibly stained Kennedy’s reputation and offered Kopechne a ride home from a party, swam to safe- destroyed his chances of entering the White House. “It was ty after the crash but left her trapped in his Oldsmobile, the event that changed the course of Teddy Kennedy’s lying on its roof in shallow water. In his memoir Kennedy career,” said John Curran, the director of described his despair and heavy drinking after the assassi- “Chappaquiddick,” a new movie delving into the mysteri- nations of both John and Robert Kennedy, in 1963 and ous events surrounding a tragedy that has enthralled 1968. He admitted it was “inexcusable” that he did not In this file photo (From left) Jason Clarke, Kate Mara, Entertainment Studios CEO/Co-Founder Byron Allen and Ed Helms arrive America for half a century. report the accident to police until Kopechne’s body was on the red carpet for the premiere of ‘Chappaquiddick’ at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California. Speaking at the premiere in Beverly Hills ahead of the recovered the following day but denied driving under the movie’s US release on Friday, Curran described himself as influence of alcohol, or any affair. what we did, what we’ve made,” said Jason Clarke er apologized directly to them for the death of their only a fan of Kennedy. He ultimately won sympathy for the extraordinary litany (“Everest,” “Mudbound”), who plays Kennedy. “This film is daughter. “When I was sent this script I couldn’t put it “I do realize I’ve had this sort of blind spot about this of tragedies in his family, but his hopes of following JFK going to stand the test of time.” Clarke, 48, described the down,” said Kate Mara (“Fantastic Four,” “The Martian”), episode in his life and it just felt time to re-examine it hon- into the Oval Office were figuratively and literally dead in senator’s fleeing the scene as “hard to forgive, if it’s forgiv- who portrayed Kopechne. estly,” said the 57-year-old film-maker. Kennedy boasted the water. He did make a White House run in 1980, but able” but added, “that’s human and that’s life.” The actor “I think like a lot of people from my generation, I didn’t a rich family political legacy linked to an era of civil rights failed in his bid to challenge then-president Jimmy Carter said Kennedy’s legislative accomplishments stood the test know very much about this specific incident and I thought gains as brother of President John F. Kennedy and for the Democratic Party nomination. Before age slowed of time. “What he stood for is on the right side of history: it was an important story to tell.” Mara, 35, said she was Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. The Massachusetts him down, Kennedy was known for years as a cavorter and education, civil rights, so many things.” proud to be part of a movie providing a glimpse-albeit senator’s own legislative achievements since his election in skirt-chaser, infamous for his drinking and disastrous Kennedy admitted leaving the scene of an accident at brief-into the life of a woman who, half a century after her 1962 at age 30 helped craft his legacy as one of the most divorce after a stormy marriage to his first wife, Joan Chappaquiddick and received a suspended two-month jail death, has been largely forgotten by history. “I think she accomplished lawmakers in US history. In “True Bennett Kennedy. sentence. Kopechne’s parents-who both died before has been treated unfairly in the past with the press and the Compass,” his memoir published weeks after his death in Kennedy-received a $141,000 settlement from the sena- way she was portrayed after her death,” Mara said. “So 2009, Kennedy stuck to his assertion that Mary Jo ‘Hard to forgive’ tor’s insurance company. But they revealed on the 25th I’m happy to tell just a part of her story.” — AFP Kopechne’s death on July 18, 1969 was an accident. “I was desperate to play this part and I’m very proud of anniversary of the accident in 1994 that Kennedy had nev-

‘Ready Player One’ more-than-ready atop box office

teven Spielberg’s high-octane futuristic homage to films of the 1980s, “Ready Player SOne,” debuted in top spot at the North American Easter Weekend box office, industry data showed on Monday. The film about a teenage gamer, who finds himself inside an addictive virtu- al reality world in the year 2045, scored $41.8 mil- lion in its opening weekend, industry tracker Exhibitor Relations said. Starring Tye Sheridan as the gamer Wade Watts, the all-star support cast features Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, TJ Miller and Simon Pegg. Waked to visit the Premier Cinema Band in April he Egyptian movie star, Amr Waked recently es. “In view of the success achieved and in response to focus on the inner feelings of the character played by expressed willingness to visit Kuwait this April to many young artists’ wish to undergo further training, the trainee. He added that the workshop would also Tpresent a workshop in collaboration with the we agreed to hold a new workshop in April”, he said. focus on imagination, storytelling and improvisation Premier Cinema Band. In this regard, Waked said that Further, Waked stressed that the workshop would skills as well as utilizing all physical potentials during he had heard about presenting the first workshop on be on the French approach of acting which focuses on the narration. acting in Kuwait last February through which he actor preparations, care for his/her physical fitness, watched dozens of young talented actors and actress- facial impressions, body language and the ability to

Reviewers have framed “Ready Player One”-in which Wade encounters 1980s pop culture icons including Freddy Krueger-as something of a cine- Premiere for ‘A Quiet Place’ matic autobiography for Spielberg, the veteran director of a number of successes including “E.T.” and “Jaws.” Another newcomer, Lionsgate thriller “Tyler Perry’s Acrimony,” displaced Marvel’s box office juggernaut “Black Panther” at number two, with $17.2 million in receipts over the three-day weekend. The film stars Taraji P. Henson as a vengeful wife. At third place, “Black Panther” pulled in $11.5 million, bringing its cumulative total to $650.9 mil- lion in the US and Canada. The Marvel smash hit, starring Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan and Lupita Nyong’o, had already overtaken “The Avengers” (2012) as the highest-grossing super- hero film in US history. Telling the story of Wakanda’s King T’Challa, “Black Panther” was also the first film since “Avatar” (2009) to notch five consecutive top spots, and is the fifth-highest grossing movie ever in the United States. Low-budget faith-based dra- ma “I Can Only Imagine,” fell to fourth place, earning $10.4 million. Made for a modest $7 mil- lion, the movie stars J. Michael Finley as the lead Paramount Pictures premiere for ‘A Quiet Place’ at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on April 2, (From left) John Krasinski, Noah Jupe, Millicent Simmonds and Emily Blunt attend the singer of a popular Christian band. Dennis Quaid 2018 in New York City. — AFP photos Paramount Pictures premiere for “A Quiet Place” at AMC Lincoln Square Theater. and Cloris Leachman also star. Dropping from first to fifth place was smash- ’em up sequel “Pacific Rim: Uprising,” which has attracted mixed reviews and gained a measly $9.4 million after a massive 67 percent drop on its first weekend earnings. Set 10 years after “Pacific Rim” (2013), “Uprising” follows a new generation of pilots of the first film’s giant “Jaeger” military mechanoids fending off enormous Kaiju monsters aiming to end humanity. The Universal movie cen- ters on “Star Wars” sensation John Boyega as Jake Pentecost, son of Idris Elba’s character Stacker, who died to save the world in the first film. Rounding out the top 5 were: “Sherlock Gnomes” ($7 million) “Tomb Raider” ($4.9 million) “A Wrinkle in Time” ($4.8 million) “Love, Simon” ($4.8 million) “Paul, Apostle of Christ” ($3.5 million)—AFP

Paramount Pictures presents the New York premiere of ‘A Quiet Place’ Brandon Victor Dickson attends the Paramount Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds attend the Paramount Felicity Blunt and Stanley Tucci attend the Paramount Pictures premiere Pictures premiere for “A Quiet Place” at AMC Pictures premiere for “A Quiet Place”. for “A Quiet Place” at AMC Lincoln Square Theater. Lincoln Square Theater. Established 1961 31 Lifestyle Feature Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Salma Al-Majidi, acknowledged by FIFA as the first Arab and Sudanese woman to coach a men’s football team in the Arab world, coaches the Salma Al-Majidi poses for a photo with players of the Al-Ahly Al-Gadaref club after coaching a training session Al-Ahly Al-Gadaref club during a training session in the town of Gedaref, east of Khartoum. — AFP photos in the town of Gedaref, east of Khartoum. Sudan’s ‘sister coach’ takes love of football to field n Sudan, where a women’s national football team 1983, six years after which President Omar al-Bashir remains a distant dream, Salma Al-Majidi knew the seized power in an Islamist-backed coup. only way to take part in her beloved sport was to There is no legal ban on women’s football in Sudan, but Icoach... and that the players had to be men. Majidi, 27, a conservative society coupled with the Islamist leanings acknowledged by FIFA as the first Arab and Sudanese of the government have left it in the shadows. Women do woman to coach a men’s football team in the Arab world, is play football but there are no competitions or women’s a pioneer in a sport that dominates the region. clubs, and they do not play much in public. “There are “Why football? Because it is my first and ultimate restrictions on women’s football, but I’m determined to love,” said Majidi, clad in sports gear and a black head- succeed,” Majidi, whose dream is to coach an international scarf, as she led players of the Al-Ahly Al-Gadaref club at team, said, as her players kicked up clouds of dust practis- a practice session in the town of Gadaref, east of ing free kicks. Khartoum. “I became a coach because there is still no scope for women’s football in Sudan,” said Majidi, who is Salma Al-Majidi coaches players of the Al-Ahly Al-Gadaref affectionately called “sister coach” by her team. Daughter club. of a retired policeman, Majidi was 16 when she fell in love with football. It came about as she watched her younger My message to Players from the Al-Ahly Al-Gadaref club men in general is to take part in a training session coached by give women a chance Salma Al-Majidi. to do what they want Salma al-Majidi coaches players of the Al-Ahly Al-Gadaref club.

brother’s school team being coached. She was captivated by the coach’s instructions, his moves, and how he placed the marker cones at practice sessions. “At the end of every training session, I discussed with him the techniques he used to coach the boys,” Majidi told AFP, as she watched her own players practicing on a hot day at a dusty ground in Gadaref. “He saw I had a knack Salma Al-Majidi (left) coaches for coaching... and gave me a chance to work with him.” the Al-Ahly Al-Gadaref club Soon Majidi was coaching the under-13 and under-16 during a training session. teams of Al-Hilal club in Omdurman, the twin city of Khartoum on the west bank of the River Nile.

Limits on women players Questions like whether she understood football or had ‘Kids of Salma’ give women a chance to do what they want,” she said as the skills to coach men were all put to rest over time, said Majidi’s journey has not been easy. “Sudan is a commu- she prepared tea after a grueling practice session. Majidi, speaking in a soft but confident tone. Named in nity of tribes and some tribes believe that a woman’s role the BBC’s 2015 list of “100 inspirational women”, Majidi is confined only to her home,” said Majidi, a university ‘She was different’ has coached the Sudanese second league men’s clubs of graduate in accounts and management. “There was this Coming from a traditional family, it was a challenge for Al-Nasr, Al-Nahda, Nile Halfa and Al-Mourada. Nile one boy who refused to listen. He told me he belongs to a Majidi to prove herself to their relatives, recalls her Halfa and Al-Nahda even topped local leagues under her tribe that believed men should never take orders from father, Mohamed Al-Majidi. “Then one day, her uncle coaching. She currently holds the African “B” badge in women,” she said. It took months before he finally accept- who used to criticize her saw crowds shouting ‘Salma! coaching, meaning she can coach any first league team ed her as coach. “Today, he is a fine player,” said Majidi, Salma!’ during a match,” he told AFP at the family’s mud- across the continent. who works full-time and receives a salary that is equiva- and-brick home in Omdurman. “These same relatives The only other woman to have gained recognition in lent to that of a male coach. now pray to Allah to support her.” From early on, Majidi’s Sudan’s footballing world was Mounira Ramadan, who ref- At first, “people in the streets used to call us ‘Salma’s mother knew her daughter was different. “She always ereed men’s matches in the 1970s. Sudan joined FIFA in kids!’” said Majid Ahmed, a striker and an ardent fan of preferred wearing trousers... And even when crossing the 1948 and established the Confederation of African Football Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi. “In school we have street, she would watch the boys playing football,” said (CAF) along with Egypt, Ethiopia and South Africa. It won female teachers, so what’s the problem having a female Aisha Al-Sharif. — AFP Salma Al-Majidi coaches players of the Al-Ahly Al-Gadaref the CAF trophy in 1970. Women’s football has faced an coach?” Majidi said her entrance to what was a male pre- club during a training session in the town of Gedaref. uphill task since the country adopted Islamic sharia law in serve is just a start. “My message to men in general is to

Salma Al-Majidi coaches players of the Al-Ahly Al-Gadaref club. Players from the Al-Ahly Al-Gadaref club take part in a training session coached by Salma Al- Salma Al-Majidi coaches players of the Al-Ahly Al-Gadaref Majidi. club. Established 1961 Lifestyle WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018

A view of the Kuwait Towers facing the Persian Gulf in Kuwait City. —Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat Japanese enjoy cherry blossom viewing parties

t is cherry blossom viewing season in Japan now. Until mid-April, the country is covered with pinkish cherry Iblossoms (Sakura), Japan’s national flower. Many peo- ple enjoy cherry blossom viewing parties under the Sakura trees with their families, friends or colleagues and cele- brate the coming of spring. The blossoms usually reach their peak in only a week after blooming starts, and famous viewing spots are crowded with visitors on weekends at this time. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the cherry blossoms this year have bloomed about 10 days earlier than average in many parts of the country, due to the recent warm weather. — Photo feature by Miyoko Ishigami

Kristen Bell narrates cuddly IMAX documentary ‘Pandas’

nyone who has seen Kristen Bell break ing pandas live. The film, out Friday, focuses in tions, like how much do they weigh (“150 down in (happy) hysterics over a sloth on one, Qian Qian (pronounced Chen Chen), pounds”), how much do they feel like they Aknows the actress’ affinity for animals, from cub stage to her supervised release in the weigh (“about 300 pounds”) and what do they especially those of the cute and cuddly variety. wild and the humans trying to make that hap- smell like (“sweet grass and milk”)? An avid So when the people behind the new IMAX pen. Hou Rong, the director of research at watcher of nature documentaries, Bell said that original film “Pandas” asked “The Good Place” Panda Base since 1994, has raised over 200 she and her young daughters Lincoln and Delta star if she would consider narrating the docu- baby pandas during her tenure and hopes that particularly love David Attenborough and the mentary, it was a no-brainer. “I’m not un- one day their work will help pandas thrive out- “Planet Earth” series. The girls saw an early cut secretive about the fact that I’m an animal side of captivity. In an inspiring display of of “Pandas” and “loved it,” which makes Bell all lover, or an IMAX lover to be totally honest cross-cultural solidarity, she travels to New the more excited for additional kids and fami- with you,” Bell said. “I think they produce some Hampshire to observe how a man named Ben lies to experience “Pandas,” too. “It’s inspiring of the best content out there and I take my kids Kilham has for 20 years been successfully rais- the next crop of biologists and conservation- to the science center every time there’s a new ing orphaned black bear cubs for eventual ists,” she said. She thinks the film will connect IMAX movie. I just think the patience with release in the wild. At Kilham’s suggestion, beyond animal die-hards, too. “It makes you which they produce particularly their animal Panda Base hires American conservation biolo- feel good,” Bell said. “It’s inspiring, it’s beauti- documentaries is kind of astounding.” gist Jake Owens, whom Douglas calls “the ful, it’s adorable, it’s educational and personally “Pandas,” from David Douglas and Drew Indiana Jones of biologists” to help supervise I think currently the world could use more Fellman (“Born to Be Wild” and “Island of Qian Qian’s transition from city panda to coun- things that feel good, you know?”—AP Lemurs: Madagascar”), takes audiences to the try panda. Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Bell, who got involved later in the process, Breeding in China where scientists are working didn’t get to meet the pandas but hopes that This image released Warner Bros Pictures toward a goal of releasing captive-born pandas one day she will. But that didn’t stop her from shows giant pandas in a scene from the into the wild, where only about 2,000 remain- peppering the scientists like Owens with ques- IMAX documentary “Pandas.” — AP