LONDON: InthisJune20,2014photo,womenwalkaroundashoppingmallinwestLondon.—AP Iraq relations boost Kuwait, Tangible efforts to supportcommunities hostingrefugees. bours Iraq,Jordan,Lebanonand Turkey,and Initiative tobolsterstabilityinSyrian neigh- is partofa$1.5-billionRegional Stabilisation the moderateSyrianopposition”. Therequest Thursday itintendsto“rampupUS supportto administration, theWhite House said recent weeksbyUSPresidentBarack Obama’s long backed.Followingseveralsignalsin rebels, whomtheSunniGulfkingdomhas greater USmilitarysupportfortheSyrian ters onthewideningcrisisinIraqandSyria. the Saudi,JordanianandUAEforeignminis- a dayafterhostingurgenttalksinPariswith in theafternoon,alsometSaudiKingAbdullah mat, wholandedintheRedSeacityofJeddah million inarmsandtraining.ThetopUSdiplo- plans toboostSyria’soppositionwith$500 Kerry saidyesterdayasWashingtonunveiled jihadists inIraq,USSecretaryofStateJohn JEDDAH: Syria rebelscanplay role inIraq:Kerry

King Abdullahhasconsistentlycalledfor SUBSCRIPTION Syrian rebelscanhelppushback 2 150 Fils AUDY UE2,21 SABN3,13 HNo:16210 1435 AH SATURDAY, SHAABAN30, JUNE28,2014 descend onLondon Kuwaiti shoppersbiggestspendersinRamadanrush Continued onPage 13 Mega-rich Kuwaitis Sea city.—AFP of StateJohnKerry attheking’sprivateresidence yesterdayinthisRed JEDDAH: SaudiKingAbdullah binAbdulazizAl-SaudmeetsUSSecretary customers. Eastern shopperslastyearcamejustbehindtheChinese,itstop nesses incentralLondon.ItsaidtheaveragespendfromMiddle Quarter, agroupthatrepresentssomeofthehighest-endbusi- ($2,275) pertransactionlastJuly,Clarksaid. Kuwaitis arethebiggestspenders,shellingoutsome£1,340 came secondintotalspend-£888million($1.5billion).The ranked just19thintermsofnumberspeoplelastyear,but average. OfficialfiguresshowthatMiddleEasterntourists and Europe,theytendtobemuchmorelavishspenderson age oftotalvisitstoBritaincomparedwiththosefromtheUS Kuwait, SaudiArabiaandQatarmakeuponlyasmallpercent- previous year. Ramadan saleslastJulyjumped60percentcomparedwiththe based retailresearchfirm.Thecompanyestimatesthatpre- Gordon Clark,UKmanageratGlobalBlue,theSwitzerland- visitor shopsthemost.Itisalmosttheirsecondhome,”said Hajj”. “LondonistheplaceinEuropewhereMiddleEastern some havejokinglydubbedthephenomenon“Harrods has beensoregularandnoticeableonLondon’sstreetsthat Ramadan. Thespikeinshoppersduringthesummermonths takes placeduringtheEidholiday,whichmarksendof of fastingandincreasedreligiousobservance.Anothersurge indulge inbuyingluxurygiftsbeforeflyinghomeforamonth Arabs whotraveltoBritainescapethedesertheatand hugely lucrativeandfast-growingmarketdrivenbywealthy occasion. Gulf-registered Rolls-RoycesandFerrarisflowninjustforthe complete withanentourageofbodyguards,chauffeurs,and shoppers arrivesandtakesretailtherapytoawholenewlevel- wave ofspectacularlyrichKuwaitiandotherMiddleEastern year aroundtheholymonthofRamadan,whichstartstoday,a Mayfair, Londonhaslongattractedbigspenders.Butevery Harrods inKnightsbridgetotheglitteringdiamondstores LONDON: banknotes until theirwithdrawaliscompleted. —KUNA The currentbanknotes willruninparallelwith thenew Kuwait (CBK)announcedthenew issuancefromJune29. replacing thecurrentbills.OnMay 19,theCentralBankof edition ofthenationalcurrency inthedomesticmarket, serving themasusual. local banks’readinesstomeet citizens’ bankingneedsand new banknotesonSundayorthe followingdays,affirming there wouldbenosuchstoppageduringthelaunchof lation tomorrow.Theassociationsaidinastatementthat porarily switchedoffwhenthenewbanknotesgoincircu- reports thatATMs(automatedtellermachines)willbetem- KUWAIT: continue asusual That correspondswithdatafromtheLondonLuxury Although touristsfromtheoil-richUnitedArabEmirates, Retailers calltheboostinbusinessRamadanRush:A ATM serviceswill Kuwait willwitnesstomorrow the issuanceofsixth Before thefast,lettherebeashoppingfeast.From Kuwait BankingAssociationyesterdaydenied Continued onPage13 Min Max 29º 46º LOCAL SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014 Tangible efforts boost Kuwait-Iraq relations Iraqi envoy optimistic on ties

KUWAIT: Iraqi Ambassador to Kuwait Chapter VII Mohammad Bahar Al-Oloum has voiced satis- On issues that need to be thrashed out after faction at the distinguished and positive the “Saddam aggression”, Oloum said the UN improvement of Iraqi-Kuwaiti relations and had issued 70 resolutions regarding Iraq as a the two countries’ mutual cooperation to result of Kuwait’s invasion, and a large number “close the chapter of the past”. In an interview of these resolutions were under the UN with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) marking Chapter VII, including three that tackle “the the 10th anniversary of the restoration of rela- Kuwait-Iraq situation concerning the borders, tions, the Iraqi ambassador said the two compensations, the POWs and the missing as countries succeeded in making substantial well as Kuwaiti properties.” improvement in relations, particularly during In early 2012, a UN team maintained border the last three years. marks, numbering from one to 106, and later, He urged Kuwait and Iraq to work further the international organization announced that to heal strains resulting from the 1990 the relevant UN resolution concerning the bor- “Saddam aggression on dear Kuwait,” stress- ders had been fully implemented. ing that the Iraqi people should not bear “Accomplishment of this historic task,” Oloum brunt of the evil actions of the ousted regime said, “was the cornerstone for building future KUWAIT: Workers clean up Al-Shamlan Harbor in this recent photo. — KUNA ties on clear bases between Kuwait and Iraq. Iraq has authenticated its good and positive intentions toward its neighbor Kuwait, and the Harbor closure deferred international community and has affirmed its resolve to respect its neighbors through KUWAIT: Despite the failure of all attempts to Notably, EPA, Ports Authority and coast- respect and full implementation of internation- postpone or call off the closure of the Al- guards’ officials went to the harbor Thursday to al resolutions.” Placing a nation such as Iraq Shamlan Harbor in view of the Environment close it while fishermen gathered in an attempt under Chapter VII “means that this country Public Authority’s persistence, the fishermen’s to prevent the closure. Maj General Mohammed poses a threat to international peace and secu- union’s chairman Hasan Al-Sebaghah said that Al-Yousif arrived and advised all parties to confer rity - thus the measure restricts its activities, an agreement was reached with EPA Thursday with relevant authorities to discuss the matter, development and progress and financial trans- evening to defer an immediate closure pending especially since the fishermen’s union had filed a actions and a lot of other activities,” the Iraqi a meeting to be held tomorrow between the formal demand to prevent unlicensed private ambassador told KUNA. fishermen’s union, EPA and the Ports Authority boats from using the harbor. He added that to discuss the matter. Sheikh Sabah Al-Ali had promised to provide Compensation Sebaghah said Ports Authority Chairman fishermen with an alternative location if they With respect to the UN resolution on the Sheikh Sabah Al-Jaber Al-Ali had met fishermen were evicted from the harbor. The fishermen’s compensations, he said United Nations Security and promised them that the harbor would not union lawyer Yousif Al-Harran criticized EPA’s Council (UNSC) had adopted compensations be closed, and urged them all to protect and persistence to close down the harbor without resulting from the aggression, and a UN panel keep the environment clean as well as enhance even giving a notice to fishermen, since the was formed in 1994, and “Iraq was compelled fishermen’s and laborers’ awareness, especially removal of all the boats will take a lot of time to pay $52 billion (as compensation) for the since EPA had issued the closure decision in view along with efforts to provide an alternative har- Mohammad Bahar Al-Oloum aggression.” Iraq has paid most of the required of the many environmental violations detected. bor for them. — Al-Watan sum but $9 billion has not been paid yet, of Saddam Hussein, whose forces invaded Oloum said. Iraq currently pays some $1.25 bil- and occupied Kuwait for seven months. “The lion every three months to Kuwait, thus the No plans to cut aggression was a crime committed by a man whole compensation will be paid by 2015, and who broke all bonds of Arab brotherhood, Iraq would be relieved of the Chapter VII rul- neighborliness, friendship and compassion ... ings. As to the issues of the Kuwaiti POWs, the such acts are neither taught by Islam nor Arab missing and the properties, Oloum said the rel- expat numbers values; nor they are synonymous of the Iraqis’ evant UN resolution stipulates release of 605 traits, morals, traditions and nature,” he said. Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti prisoners, and Iraq has KUWAIT: Kuwait plans to use its large number of cap for certain nationalities could be set sometime Oloum lauded Kuwait’s role in liberating to search for them “and hand over their foreign manpower to ‘activate’ the labor market in the future. the Iraqi people from suppression of Saddam’s remains to Kuwait” he said, reaffirming that instead of cutting its expatriate population as pre- Hiring foreigners from abroad to work in the tyrannical regime and re-affirmed that the two many of the prisoners died after being nabbed viously intended. Former social affairs and labor private sector is currently closed pending a deci- countries have made concrete strides forward by the occupation forces in Kuwait. minister Thekra Rashidi announced in March 2013 sion from the Public Labor Authority which was for cementing bilateral ties, recalling in partic- Due to the mutual cooperation, embodied that Kuwait targets sending 100,000 foreigners out formed earlier this year. No timetable is set when ular Kuwait’s stance at the Arab League meet- with formation of a joint commission under of the country every year as part of a plan to drop the state-owned body will work on controls to reg- ing in 2003, when the issue of reaccepting Iraq auspices of the International Committee of the the expatriate population by one million within a ulate the process and determine its main actions, as a member state was raised. He also hailed Red Cross (ICRC), remains of some 247 dead decade. which are said to include sponsoring expatriate Rashidi later explained that any measures taken labor forces while phasing out the kafala (sponsor- HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber prisoners had been located, he said. “The one will only affect illegal residents. Nevertheless, the ship) system in the process. Al-Sabah during the Arab summit in Sirte, responsible for this cause was the head of the plan seemed extremely difficult if not impossible to Subaih has launched extensive efforts against Libya, where he affirmed Iraq’s right to host regime Saddam Hussein along with his hench- carry out since the dominant majority of expatri- visa traffickers since she assumed her position in the 2012 summit, Moreover, the visit by HH men, so there was scarcity of information ates live legally in the country. But it appears that January. Since then, more than 2,500 companies the Amir to Baghdad had given a substantial about the missing,” the ambassador added, Kuwait has dropped those plans, at least for now, were referred to the public prosecution on human boost to the efforts for restoration of bilateral noting that both Kuwaitis and Iraqis had tasted as it prepares for development projects that trafficking charges or for violating labor regula- relations. Several senior Iraqi leaders, namely the bitter experience of losing loved ones at require trained and skilled manpower. “Decisions tions, compared to only 250 during the past few President Jalal Al-Talbani and Prime Minister hands of the ousted regime. will be announced soon in order to employ the years. Nouri Al-Maliki, have paid visits to Kuwait. On He acknowledged that there are Kuwaiti expatriates’ numbers in activating the labor mar- the other hand, top Kuwaiti leaders, namely properties that should be given back to Kuwait, ket, especially since we are heading towards devel- Development plan HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- indicating that some items had been given opment projects,” said Hind Al-Subaih, the current Subaih, who is also the state minister of plan- Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Sheikh back to the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry. Two Minister of Social Affairs and Labor. ning and development, announced that the new Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah weeks ago, 4,500 books, three valuable paint- development plan is with the Cabinet and will be have visited Iraq. ings and some other priceless items were Comprehensive study referred to the parliament soon. She said that the These reciprocal visits by the Kuwaiti and brought back. Regarding the issue between the Subaih added that a ‘comprehensive study’ of plan focuses on the private sector “which will take Iraqi leaders had resulted in resolving some Kuwaiti and Iraqi airlines, he affirmed that the the demographic structure is currently being car- part in all fields, including the health, education sticky issues and led to the formation of a Kuwaiti company had demanded $500 million ried out in coordination with the Central Statistical and housing sectors”. Prime Minister HH Sheikh joint commission “that constituted the cor- in compensation from the Iraqi side. The whole Bureau. She confirmed that the study does not Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah had assigned Subaih nerstone for the ties’ new chapter”. The com- sum has been paid to Kuwaiti Airways. A US-led include cutting expatriates’ numbers “in the first as general coordinator for a newly-formed work stage”, but indicated that the ministry seeks to team whose duty is to diagnose problems that mittee later held three rounds of talks, during international alliance drove the occupiers out stop the numbers at a certain limit. She did not cause delays in executing governmental projects which two accords for tourism and business of Kuwait in Feb 1991, ending the occupation elaborate more, but she could be referring to earli- and find ways to remove obstacles to achieve that cooperation were signed. that began on Aug 2, 1990. — KUNA er statements in which she hinted that a maximum goal. — Al-Rai LOCAL SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014 Omair accused of profiteering PIFSS strike completes one month

By A Saleh security personnel, but a ministry source said that the istry adopted a new system that requires first to fifth grade employees were hired through private companies and students to pass final exams in order to move up to the KUWAIT: The labor union at the Kuwait Oil Tanker Co their contacts simply expired, Al-Rai reported. next stage. The disgruntled parents said that the decision demanded explanations from Oil Minister Ali Al-Omair on The same daily also reported that 309 grievances were was ‘atrocious’, and called on the ministry to find solutions rumors that link him to profiteering suspicions over a KD 2 filed as of Thursday by parents of elementary school stu- that does not involve forcing their children to repeat the million contract. The rumors speculate that the project’s dents whose children failed in the first grade, after the min- year. tender was awarded to a company owned by the minister’s son, bypassing two or three more qualified companies, union chairman Yousuf Al-Shayji said. Shayji added that the tender was awarded on ‘direct orders’, likely from the minister himself, and accused Omair of wanting to force ‘strange agendas’ on the oil sector. The unionist also criticized Omair over what he said was a plan to limit hiring in the oil sector through the Ministry of Oil, reiterating the independence of oil companies.

Strike ongoing Separately, the labor strike at the Public Institution for Social Security completed one month Thursday as workers insisted that work stoppage will continue until their demands are met. Head of the PIFSS labor union Manal Al- Rashidi argued meanwhile that their action fulfills the call made by HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah in his address to the nation on Wednesday, when he called for fighting corruption and violators of public funds. Rashidi called for “eliminating corrupt individuals and those who exploit public funds” from the PIFSS manage- ment, saying that their strike is also “an attempt to save the institution from corruption and favoritism”. Finance Minister Anas Al-Saleh is refusing to meet the labor union until workers return back to their offices.

Education protests In other news, dozens of education ministry employees organized a sit-in outside Undersecretary Mariam Al- Wutaid’s office Thursday to protest the ministry’s decision to scrap lunch meals in elementary schools. The workers, who were hired a year ago to prepare meals at public schools around Kuwait, urged the ministry to reconsider its decision which they said will leave around 800 employees without a job or income. The protesters offered to work in other jobs in the ministry as CCTV camera supervisors or MoI warns of public eating in Ramadan

KUWAIT: The Interior Ministry’s security media department congratulated both citizens and expatriates on the holy month of Ramadan reminding them of observing all values and traditions associated with the month’s solemnity and respecting others’ feelings, namely in terms of eating in pub- lic during Ramadan daytime hours while others are fasting as stipulated in law number 44/1968 that states that such peo- ple will be “penalized with a maximum of KD 100 fine and/or a one month imprisonment”. Moreover, the department also noted that teams from the ministry’s operations and police patrols have been formed to make sure all areas, especially crowded ones such as markets, malls, parks and beaches, would be completely secure during Ramadan and traffic flows easily. The department warned that very strict legal measures would be taken against beggars who make use of the holy month to take advantage of Muslims’ charitable nature and practices by pretending to be needy. The department also warned that all donations must only be paid to authorized bodies to make sure they really reach the needy.

LOCAL SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014 Border security raises alert over ISIL threat

KUWAIT: The Interior Ministry has informed border security personnel at land checkpoints and seaports to increase their level of alert in anticipation of potential smuggling of militants into the country. The step follows instructions given recently by the State Security Service to the Customs General Department to carefully inspect all trucks and vehicles coming into Kuwait. The new instructions contain the same warnings in the ini- tial letter, about possible attempts by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to smuggle members via land and sea into Kuwait, based on intelligence received. Border security and coastguards were informed to inspect individuals and truck drivers coming into Kuwait carefully “in order to protect the national interest”. The State Security Service had also urged customs officials to be extra cautious for explosives that ISIL KUWAIT: A Ministry of Electricity generator truck tipped over while navigating a U-turn at the junction of King Faisal and could smuggle into the state. — Al-Rai Third Ring roads yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014 Crisis in Iraq - many Obama seeks $500 m Sarajevo remembers players, few options 8 to equip Syria rebels 9 spark for Great War 14

SALAHEDDIN: A file image uploaded from the jihadist website Welayat Salahuddin shows militants of the Islamic State of Iraq andthe Levant (ISIL) executing dozens of captured Iraqi security forces members at an unknown location in the Salaheddin province. — AFP ISIL stages ‘mass executions’ in Tikrit Death toll mounts; videos show, beheadings, shootings

LONDON: Photograph and satellite imagery higher but the difficulty of locating bodies been killed and roughly the same number trench with between 35 and 40 prisoners indicate that Islamic State in Iraq and the and getting to the area had prevented a full injured in fighting and other violence in Iraq shot but Human Rights Watch said it had not Levant (ISIL) insurgents have carried out investigation. this month as ISIL swept through the north. been able to pinpoint the site. A UN human mass executions in the northern Iraqi city of Pictures posted on HRW’s website showed Victims included a number of confirmed rights spokesman said on Tuesday that ISIL Tikrit, Human Rights Watch reported yester- a row of men lined up face-down in trenches summary executions committed by ISIL as had broadcast dozens of videos showing cru- day. ISIL, radical Islamists who want to re-cre- being shot by gunmen. “The photos and well as prisoners killed by retreating Iraqi el treatment, beheadings and shootings of ate a mediaeval-style caliphate straddling satellite images from Tikrit provide strong forces. captured soldiers, police officers and people Iraq and Syria, has stormed largely unop- evidence of a horrible war crime that needs Human Rights Watch said ISIL posted apparently targeted because of their religion posed across much of northern Iraq, taking further investigation,” Human Rights Watch about 60 photographs on its Twitter feed on or ethnicity, including Shiites and minorities cities including Mosul and Tikrit, seizing bor- emergencies director Peter Bouckaert said in June 14, showing fighters loading captives in such as Christians. der posts with Syria and advancing to within a statement. “They and other abusive forces civilian clothes onto trucks and then forcing Northern units of Iraq’s million-strong some 100 km of the capital Baghdad. New should know that the eyes of Iraqis and the them to lie in three shallow trenches. army, trained and equipped by the United York-based Human Rights Watch said that world are watching.” It was not immediately HRW counted the bodies visible in the States, largely evaporated after Sunni Islamist between 160 and 190 men were killed in at possible to get comment from ISIL. available photographs, and estimated that fighters led by the ISIL launched their assault. least two locations in and around Tikrit - the ISIL killed between 90 and 110 men in one In Tikrit yesterday, Iraqi army helicopters hometown of late Iraqi dictator Saddam 1,000 killed this month trench and between 35 and 40 men in the fired on a university campus in an effort to Hussein - between June 11 and 14. The United Nations said on Tuesday that second. dislodge ISIL fighters, a day after launching It said that the death toll could be much at least 1,000 people, mainly civilians, had A further photograph shows a large an airborne assault on the city. — Reuters INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014

Crisis in Iraq - many players, few options

WASHINGTON: The crisis in Iraq, sparked by a lightning offensive from Sunni jihadists led by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), finds heavily armed players on opposite sides. But there is no clear military solution and the conflict risks dragging on, experts say.

Can ISIL keep pushing? With 4,000 to 8,000 men, ISIL is “not an incredibly large organization, but it’s very well trained,” according to Rick Brennan, a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation who spent five years in Iraq as a US military advisor. For Daniel Byman of the Brookings Institution, the fighters, who earned their stripes battling the forces of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, are an “irregular army that does not rely on tanks or other mechanized forces to achieve victory, making it hard for air power to deal a deci- sive blow.” Until now, ISIL has primarily made inroads in Sunni Arab areas, Byman noted, adding: “It will face a much tougher fight as it approaches Baghdad and the Shiite heartland.” As the militants get closer to the capital, they will face tougher and tougher divisions of the Iraqi army. “Those divisions are almost 100% Shiite, they’re loy- al” to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, Brennan told AFP. “Those organizations are in and around Baghdad, Baquba and some portions of Diyala province.” Brennan saiid the most likely scenario is that ISIL will start to target Shiite shrines-in Samarra, Najaf or Karbala-”with the explicit intent to reignite sectarian warfare.”

Can army regain ground? NINEVEH: Iraqi Christian families fleeing the violence in the village of Qaraqush and Bartala, about 30 kms east of the On paper, Iraq has a fearsome army: a budget of $17 northern province of Nineveh, are pictured at a community center in the Kurdish city of Arbil yesterday. — AFP billion (a 40 percent increase as compared with 2011), 193,000 men, more than 330 tanks, 3,700 armored troop carriers and 26 Mi-17 attack helicopters, according to the Despite jihadist drive, Mideast International Institute for Strategic Studies. Baghdad is awaiting the delivery of 36 F-16 fighter jets and 24 Apache helicopters. But sometimes, it all collapsed in the face of colonial borders seen intact the ISIL onslaught. “Around 60 of 243 Iraqi army combat battalions cannot be accounted for, and all of their equip- ment is lost,” said Michael Knights, of the Washington ‘Smashing the Sykes-Picot border’ Institute for Near East Policy. “It will be a mammoth task to put these units back together and re-arm them.” For Byman, “the size and strength of the Iraqi army is not the BEIRUT: A blistering jihadist offensive has sparked debate the Prophet Mohammed in accordance with Islamic sharia problem-it outmans and outguns ISIL by orders of magni- on the Middle East’s colonial-era borders being redrawn, law. Jihadists nostalgic for the Golden Age still aspire to cre- tude. Rather, the Iraqi army’s problems involve leadership but experts say this is unlikely as Arabs have grown accus- ating an empire like the one that grew through conquest to and morale.” tomed to their nation states. The Islamic State of Iraq and include the Middle East, North Africa and Spain. the Levant posted pictures online this month of militants For Sluglett, the jihadist offensive that this month cap- Not combat-ready. Why? bulldozing a berm dividing Iraq and Syria, symbolizing its tured tracts of land linking Syria and Iraq is little more than The Sunni and Kurdish commanders were sacked, there goal of uniting its forces in the two countries. ISIL entitled a “symbolic gesture”. “Most people in Iraq and Syria are far is rampant corruption among officers, and there is a dire the photo series “Smashing the Sykes-Picot border”-a refer- more interested in peace, and the vast majority are lack of training and maintenance. Above all, the army is ence to the secret deal that Britain and France signed on absolutely fed up with Islamic extremism.” Syria specialist seen as the personal militia of Maliki, a Shiite loathed by May 16, 1916, carving up the Middle East, with the former Fabrice Balanche also believes the borders drawn up under Sunnis. Though security forces on Thursday launched heli- taking Iraq and the latter Syria. Sykes-Picot will be difficult to erase. “New states will appear copter-borne assaults on Tikrit and the army can count on the help of Shiite militias, “it’s unlikely you’ll see significant To this day, the agreement remains a symbol of the in the Middle East, but within the current borders,” said advances made by the ISF into Sunni dominated areas,” duplicity of the world powers across the volatile region. Balanche. “I don’t think that a piece of Syria and a piece of according to Brennan. From the ruins of the Ottoman empire, the birth of a greater Iraq would constitute a new state. “Iraq will undoubtedly Arab kingdom as promised by the Britons never eventuat- break up eventually, with the Kurds in the north the first to What role can Kurds play? ed, with nation states persisting. “I’m not sure how much claim independence and the Sunni-Shiite Arab federation The Kurdish Peshmerga forces - 35,000 of them inte- people are attached to the borders they have, but they eventually bursting,” he added. grated in the Iraqi army are well trained and equipped by have become used to them,” said Peter Sluglett of the the United States and Russia. Another 80,000-240,000 Middle East Institute at the National University of ‘No change without violence’ fighters are at the disposal of Massoud Barzani, the presi- Singapore. “If you look at Middle Eastern borders, there But Pierre-Jean Luizard of the Paris-based Centre dent of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region. Positioned have been no major changes since 1920... After nearly 100 National de la Recherche Scientifique thinks the region is within striking distance of key ISIL strongholds, the years, I think these boundaries are probably here to stay. about to get new borders. “I fear we are on the eve of very Kurdish forces could play a “major role,” Knights said. But “Pan-Arab nationalism has had its day,” said Sluglett. The important changes that challenge states seen as colonial the question remains: will they agree to work with Maliki? Sykes-Picot Agreement, which was endorsed at the San creations,” said Luizard. Remo Conference in April 1920, riled Arab nationalists and “As we come up to commemorations of World War I, the Will US launch air strikes? Islamists, but the leaders of these new states have jealously state and political order of 1920 is being questioned. We are US President Barack Obama has not ruled out air strikes held on to power and decolonization has changed little. seeing a great new game at play, one that delegitimizes but has asked Maliki to offer signs of political openness. The only attempt to form a united Arab republic between states-not only Iraq and Syria, but also Lebanon. “Such With ships positioned in the Gulf, Washington could easily Egypt and Syria proved to be fleeting. Initiated by Gamal change won’t come without violence.” launch Tomahawk missiles and air strikes from the aircraft Abdel Nasser, it only lasted between February 1958 and But for Waddah Abed Rabbo, chief editor of Syria’s pro- carrier USS George HW Bush or from drones. But for now, September 1961. “The Arab nationalists called for Arab uni- regime Al-Watan newspaper, ISIL serves the interests of Washington has sent 300 military advisors to help the Iraq army and has carried out surveillance flights over Iraqi ter- ty and for the elimination of the arbitrary borders... but American neo-conservatives. “They want to create entities ritory. Byman says air strikes “must be sustained to have a failed dismally,” said Raed Fahmi, an Iraqi former minister. hostile to each other that will lead the region in endless strategic effect” and would have to be carried out in coor- wars, driving out the brightest and setting Syria back hun- dination with advances on the ground. But so far, ‘Most want peace’ dreds of years,” he said. “Behind the scenes in the US Obama’s condition has not been met. And ISIL fighters And “later on all leaders focused on enhancing their administration, there is much debate between different would likely adapt by mixing in with the civilian popula- power within each individual Arab country,” said Fahmi. streams, with some believing that if ISIL manages to settle tion, making air strikes even more complicated. —AFP Rather than Arab nationalism, the jihadists of ISIL are driven in western Iraq, it would be an opportunity to cut the by the goal of a caliphate, as established after the death of Tehran-Baghdad-Beirut axis and isolate Syria.”— AFP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014

Son-in-law admits involvement in murder of Monaco’s heiress MARSEILLE: The son-in-law of an elderly Monaco Pastor’s eldest daughter, was also detained for ques- morning leaving police headquarters in Nice for heiress gunned down in a Mafia-style hit has admitted tioning but released on Thursday without charge. Ten Marseille, where he was due to be brought before a to a role in her murder, in the latest twist to a case others were released on Wednesday. Prosecutors had judge to be charged. that has shaken the principality’s super-rich. Wojciech until the end of the day Friday to charge those still Janowski’s personal trainer, who was also detained, Janowski, a 64-year-old who served as Poland’s hon- being held or release them. Robin said earlier that was seen separately leaving the police station for orary consul in Monaco, “recognized his involvement” police had identified two suspects alleged to have Marseille. Prosecutors have refused to confirm press in last month’s killing of 77-year-old Helene Pastor been hitmen hired to kill Pastor. reports that the trainer acted as a go-between for while in detention this week, Marseille prosecutor Janowski with the alleged killers. Brice Robin said yesterday. He said more details would ‘Suspicious financial flows’ Sources close to the case have said it involved a be revealed at a press conference in Marseille at 1500 The two men-a 31-year-old and a 24-year-old origi- contract killing with a payment in the range of GMT. Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Marcin nally from the Comoros islands and living in 140,000 euros ($190,000). Pastor had inherited a huge Wojciechowski announced on Twitter yesterday that Marseille’s rough northern districts-had been identi- real estate and construction business set up by her Janowski’s honorary title had been withdrawn fied as being “present at the location of the killing”. Italian grandfather Jean-Baptiste Pastor, a stone “because of the loss of his good reputation and trust- They were found thanks to surveillance cameras, mason who moved to Monaco in 1880. As the sleepy worthiness”. mobile telephone records and traces of DNA found in principality in the French Riviera slowly grew into a Janowski has been in custody since Monday, when a Nice hotel where they stayed on the day of the playground for the world’s rich and famous, the fami- he was arrested along with 22 others by police investi- killing. ly’s fortune skyrocketed. gating the shooting of Pastor multiple times with a Police are also said to be investigating “suspicious The real jackpot came in 1966 when Prince Rainier, sawn-off shotgun as she was leaving a hospital in the financial flows” in Janowski’s accounts. Janowski, who whose fairytale wedding to Hollywood actress Grace French Riviera city of Nice. Her driver, Mohammed did not enjoy diplomatic immunity, heads a Monaco Kelly helped catapult Monaco to international fame, Darwich, 64, also died from injuries sustained in the nanotechnology firm and is involved in numerous gave permission to Helene Pastor’s father Gildo to May 6 attack. Janowski’s 53-year-old partner Sylvia, charities in the principality. He was seen on Friday build high-rise buildings along the seafront. — AFP

Obama seeks $500 million to train, equip Syria rebels

WASHINGTON: The White House has asked lawmakers for $500 million to train and equip vetted Syrian rebels, in what would be a significant escalation of US involvement in a con- flict that has spilled into Iraq. Following several signals in recent weeks by President Barack Obama’s administration- and months of pressure from lawmakers like Senator John McCain-the White House said Thursday it intends to “ramp up US support to the moderate Syrian opposition.” The request is part of a $1.5 billion Regional Stabilization Initiative to bol- ster stability in Syrian neighbors Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, and to support communities hosting refugees. In a clear acknowledgement that Syria and Iraq face a SEPANG: A woman looks at Malaysian planes common threat, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki earlier next to a sign made and written by the public, “welcomed” strikes by Syria’s air force on the Syrian side of wishing for safe return of passengers aboard the Al-Qaim border crossing, controlled by Islamic State of In this map provided by the Joint Agency Coordination Centre, details the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 plane Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fighters. The proposed US funding are presented in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in would serve “vetted elements of the Syrian armed opposition the southern Indian Ocean. — AP Sepang, Malaysia. to help defend the Syrian people, stabilize areas under oppo- sition control, facilitate the provision of essential services, counter terrorist threats and promote conditions for a negoti- MH370 passengers likely ated settlement,” the White House said in a statement. But Damascus ally Moscow lashed out at the move, saying “there are better uses for these 500 million dollars.” The Americans “are moving things in their own direction, suffocated, Australia says they keep the fire burning instead of doing something politi- cal,” Russian ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin told reporters during a reception at the Russian mission. The Undersea search to resume in August proposal was part of the $65.8 billion overseas contingency operations request to Congress for fiscal year 2015, which SYDNEY: The passengers and crew of the also said, leading them to announce a shift Warren Truss told reporters in Canberra. begins October 1. The bulk of that amount, $58.6 billion, was missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 most farther south within the prior search area. Truss said the area was determined after a allocated to the Defense Department. In a separate state- likely died from suffocation and coasted life- The new analysis comes more than 100 days review of satellite data, early radar informa- ment, National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin lessly into the ocean on autopilot, a new after the Boeing 777, carrying 239 passen- tion and aircraft performance limits after the Hayden said the funding “would build on the administra- report released by Australian officials on gers and crew, disappeared on March 8 plane diverted across the Malaysian peninsu- tion’s longstanding efforts to empower the moderate Syrian Thursday said. In a 55-page report, the shortly after taking off from Kuala Lumpur la and headed south into one of the opposition” and allow the Pentagon to increase its support to Australian Transport Safety Board outlined bound for Beijing. remotest areas of the planet. “It is highly, vetted armed rebels. how investigators had arrived at this conclu- Investigators say what little evidence they highly likely that the aircraft was on autopilot sion after comparing the conditions on the have to work with suggests the plane was otherwise it could not have followed the Next steps for US aid flight with previous disasters, although it deliberately diverted thousands of kilome- orderly path that has been identified Washington has been studying options for providing contained no new evidence from within the ters from its scheduled route before eventu- through the satellite sightings,” Truss said. additional assistance to rebel forces beyond the existing aid, jetliner. The report narrowed down the pos- ally plunging into the Indian Ocean. The The next phase of the search is expected which includes mainly “non-lethal” support. While US officials sible final resting place from thousands of search was narrowed in April after a series of to start in August and take a year, covering normally publicly refuse to comment on details of training for possible routes, while noting the absence of acoustic pings thought to be from the some 60,000 sq km at a cost of A$60 million opposition groups, Obama’s National Security Advisor Susan communications and the steady flight path plane’s black box recorders were heard along ($56 million) or more. The search is already and a number of other key abnormalities in a final arc where analysis of satellite data put the most expensive in aviation history. The Rice acknowledged early this month that the Pentagon was the course of the ill-fated flight. its last location. But a month later, officials new priority search area is around 2,000 km providing “lethal and non-lethal support” to Syrian rebels. “Given these observations, the final conceded the wreckage was not in that con- west of Perth, a stretch of isolated ocean fre- About $287 million in mainly non-lethal support has been stages of the unresponsive crew/hypoxia centrated area, some 1,600 km (1,000 miles) quently lashed by storm force winds and cleared for the rebels since March 2011, and the CIA has par- event type appeared to best fit the available off the northwest coast of Australia, and the massive swells. Two vessels, one Chinese and ticipated in a secret military training program in neighboring evidence for the final period of MH370’s search area would have to be expanded. one from Dutch engineering company Jordan for the moderate opposition. Included in the latest flight when it was heading in a generally “The new priority area is still focused on Fugro, are currently mapping the sea floor request was a $5 billion Counterterrorism Partnerships Fund southerly direction,” the ATSB report said. All the seventh arc, where the aircraft last com- along the arc, where depths exceed 5,000 helping build counterterrorism capacity in allies from South of that suggested that the plane most likely municated with satellite. We are now shifting meters in parts. A tender to find a commer- Asia to Africa’s Sahel region. —AFP crashed farther south into the Indian Ocean our attention to an area further south along cial operator to conduct the sea floor search than previously thought, Australian officials the arc,” Australian Deputy Prime Minister closes on Monday. — Reuters INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014 Juncker picked for top EU job in bitter blow for UK Cameron warns EU could ‘live to regret’ the move

BRUSSELS: Jean-Claude Juncker was named as the next Britain should leave the EU in 2017. Jean-Claude Juncker as the next President of the European president of the European Commission yesterday, dealing Cameron forced an unprecedented vote on the issue at Commission,” he wrote. The move has to be rubber-stamped in a a bitter blow to Britain after David Cameron warned the EU a high-stakes Brussels summit despite having the support European Parliament vote next month. Downing Street confirmed could “live to regret” the move. of only Hungary among the other 27 EU members. the outcome but had no immediate reaction. Cameron was defiant European leaders now face having to repair the rela- Juncker’s nomination was confirmed on Twitter by as he arrived for the summit, insisting Juncker was “the wrong per- tionship with Cameron after a very public row over one of Herman Van Rompuy, who heads the European Council of son” for the role. the EU’s top jobs ahead of a slated referendum on whether leaders. “Decision made. The European Council proposes “I know the odds are stacked against me, but that doesn’t mean you change your mind-it means you stand up for what you believe and you vote accordingly,” he said. The British leader later wrote on Twitter: “I’ve told EU leaders they could live to regret the new process for choosing the Commission President. I’ll always stand up for UK interests.” Leaders are expected to try and appease Cameron, potentially by offering London a top job in Brussels, but the dispute threatens to fuel eurosceptic sentiment in Britain ahead of the refer- endum, to be held if Cameron’s Conservatives win next year’s gener- al election. Cameron could also “retaliate” against the nomination of Juncker-who he sees as too federalist and unable to deliver reform- by refusing to sign the conclusions.

BRUSSELS: British Prime Minister David Cameron (center) arrives for the second day of the EU summit yesterday at the EU headquarters in Brussels. — AFP

The disagreement comes a month after anti-EU parties made sweeping gains in European elections, with outright victories for the UK Independence Party in Britain and the National Front in France. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Europe’s most powerful leader, on Thursday urged EU colleagues to “compromise” with Britain. “I think we can find compromises here and make a step towards Great Britain,” she said. “I repeatedly spoke of a European spirit which is needed and which will help us to find good solutions.” She and Cameron met briefly for talks before the main discussions yesterday, officials said.

‘Europe needs Britain’ Other European leaders seemed to be heeding Merkel’s advice as they arrived for the summit yesterday. “Europe needs Britain to be part of us,” Danish Prime Minister Helle-Thorning Schmidt told reporters. “I hope that after today that we can get back on track.” European leaders enjoyed a lunch of fresh tomato gazpacho, turbot with chervil and baby vegetables and chocolate and apricot mille- feuille before an afternoon of tough negotiations. Facing rising euroscepticism at home, Cameron is demanding EU reforms including the repatriation of powers from Brussels ahead of the planned referendum. A string of senior jobs in the EU are up for grabs this year which could be used in an overall package to sweet- en the pill of Juncker’s nomination for Cameron. Another summit is set to take place on July 16 to decide the positions, and analysts say a British politician could be offered a senior job. Other compromises could include naming Thorning-Schmidt-who made headlines with a selfie with Cameron and US President Barack Obama at Nelson Mandela’s funeral last year-as Van Rompuy’s successor as European Council president. Away from disagreements over top jobs, European leaders also signed landmark association and trade accords with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. The pact, inked by Ukraine’s new President Petro Poroshenko, has been at the heart of a months-long crisis in Ukraine and is fiercely opposed by Russia. Poroshenko described the move as “a historic day, the most important day since independ- ence” from Moscow in 1991. It was then Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych’s decision to put the agreements on ice in November, under pressure from Moscow, which led to protests in Kiev and his ouster, followed by Russia’s annexation of Crimea and subsequent unrest in east Ukraine. — AFP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014 Tiger leaps onto boat, snatches man in east India KOLKATA: A Bengal tiger snatched a son, Jyotish. poor Indians who make a living by scav- Sunderbans, wildlife officials said. India man off a fishing boat in eastern India, The tiger “quickly flung my father on enging in forests and rivers, often at risk has more than half of the 3,200 tigers dragging him away into a mangrove his back and gave a giant leap before dis- from wild predators. Many villagers fish believed to be left in the wild in the swamp as his children looked on in appearing into the forest,” Jyotish said by for crabs in the Sunderbans - even world. But as the country undergoes horror, the man’s son said yesterday. telephone from his village of Lahiripur in though it’s illegal in the protected breakneck development to accommo- The attack happened Thursday as West Bengal state. He said he and his sis- reserve - because they fetch a good price date the growth of its 1.2 billion people, Sushil Manjhi and his son and daugh- ter tried to beat the animal with sticks at markets in nearby towns. tiger habitats have been shrinking. The ter were crab fishing in a stream in the and a knife, but the thrashing had no The national park is one of the largest big cat’s numbers have also dwindled Sunderbans National Park. The tiger effect. His father was dragged away and reserves for the royal Bengal tiger. because of rampant poaching to feed a leaped aboard the boat and clamped was presumed dead. The attack under- Thursday’s attack was the fourth deadly flourishing market for tiger organs and its jaws on Manjhi’s neck, said Sushil’s lines the difficult existence of millions of assault by a tiger this year in the bones in China. — AP

Abdullah rouses protesters in Afghan election stand-off

KABUL: Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah led several thousand demonstrators through Kabul yesterday, upping the stakes in his protest against alleged election fraud that has triggered a political crisis. Abdullah has vowed to reject the election result, saying he was the victim of massive ballot-box stuffing in the June 14 poll, while his rival Ashraf Ghani has claimed vic- tory by more than one million votes. As tensions rise between opposing supporters, the United Nations has expressed fears of spiraling ethnic violence at the same time as US-led troops pull out after their 13-year war against Taleban insurgents. “Death to Ashraf Ghani! Death to the election commission!” Abdullah’s supporters chanted near the presidential palace as he was carried through the rowdy crowds on the roof of a truck. Yesterday’s protest was the biggest since the fraud dispute erupted and was the first that Abdullah attend- ed, sending a public signal that could fuel further angry demonstrations and increase the risk of civil unrest. “If our demands are not met, we will continue our protest as long as fraud votes are not separated from clean votes,” said Ahmad Zia, 22, waving an Abdullah poster and the Afghan national flag. Shaperai, 55, one of the few female protesters, said: “The government and the election com- mission have stolen our votes. They are traitors and cheats.”

Ghani team claim victory Abdullah went into the second-round run-off election ANDHRA PRADESH: People gather at the site of a pipeline explosion in Nagaram village, India yesterday. — AP as the favorite to succeed President Hamid Karzai, who came to power after the Taleban regime was ousted by a US-led offensive in 2001. But, with no result due until July Gas pipeline explosion 2, Ghani’s campaign released unofficial figures late Thursday saying that their candidate had won 4.2 million votes (59 percent) to Abdullah’s 2.9 million (41 percent). Ghani put his improved performance down to targeting kills 16 in south India women, workers, farmers and other social groups, rather than relying on ethnic loyalties. “These cross-cutting ties bind us, and our campaign deliberately focused on them,” he said, accusing Blast destroys scores of homes Abdullah of desperate maneuvering to avoid defeat. “The economy is imploding, governance is at a standstill, people want certainty not ambiguity,” Ghani said. “The HYDERABAD: A massive explosion yesterday on a state- gas processing and distribution company and its website people need clarity.” A smooth Afghan election is seen as owned gas pipeline running through the southern Indian shows it has a pipeline that transports liquefied natural crucial by the US-led alliance that has fought the insur- state of Andhra Pradesh killed at least 16 people and gut- gas in the area of the explosion. Witnesses contacted by gents since 2001 and donated billions in aid in the hope ted scores of homes, a state minister said. “At least 16 peo- phone told AFP that angry locals had entered an office of fostering a functioning state to replace the harsh ple are dead. We have recovered 13 bodies so far,” state belonging to GAIL near the site of the accident, pelting it Islamist rule of the Taleban. UN Afghanistan mission chief home minister N Chinna Rajappa said after the blast near a with stones and vandalizing property. Prime Minister Jan Kubis warned on Wednesday of “rising tensions fol- refinery in the East Godavari district. Television pictures Narendra Modi said he had asked the petroleum minister lowing the second round (of elections), including showed flames at least 10 meters (30 feet) high leaping and other senior officers to ensure immediate relief at the increasing ethnic overtones”. into the dawn sky, scorching trees in a surrounding accident site. “My thoughts with the families of those who A contested election result “might lead to protracted coconut grove in the coastal area where many live in flim- lost their lives in the GAIL pipeline fire. Prayers with the confrontation with a danger of a slide into violence,” he sy huts. injured,” he tweeted. added. Any clashes between supporters could ignite The fire on the 18-inch (45-centimetre) pipeline owned Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told reporters wider trouble as Ghani attracts much of his support from by the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) was extin- that an investigation had begun. “Our first priority is to take the Pashtun tribes of the south and east, while guished by mid-morning and the gas had been cut off, a care of the rescue, relief and restoration efforts there and to Abdullah’s loyalists are Tajiks and other northern Afghan senior administrative officer told AFP by telephone from see that the fire does not flare up further,” he said. The state groups. The government yesterday said the army and the scene. At least 15 people were hospitalized with government has ordered an enquiry and will set an action police were successfully beating back a major Taleban injuries from the explosion, which occurred around 06:30 plan to avoid similar accidents in future, Chief Minister N offensive in the southern province of Helmand, with at am (0100 GMT), the company said, while the cause of the Chandrababu Naidu said. Earlier this month six people were least 250 insurgents killed in five days of fighting. NATO’s blast was not yet known. “We are currently focused on res- killed by a poisonous gas leak at one of India’s largest gov- 50,000-strong combat force will leave Afghanistan by December, though about 10,000 US troops will stay into cue and relief operations,” GAIL chairman B C Tripathi was ernment-owned steel plants in central Chhattisgarh state. next year before all exit by the end of the 2016. —AFP quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India (PTI) news India’s biggest offshore gas fields are located in the Bay of agency. GAIL is the country’s largest state-owned natural Bengal to the east of Andhra Pradesh. — AFP

NEWS SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014

Mega-rich Kuwaitis descend... Continued from Page 1 pers, there is a “hands-free” service, which involves helpers who collect the shopping Unsurprisingly, the bestsellers are exclusive bags and help pack them in the car. Other cos- designer handbags and shoes, watches and mopolitan cities, like Paris or Dubai, also see jewelry, though a Harrods spokeswoman said their share of pre-Ramadan shopping. But food gifts like luxury fruit baskets and extrava- analysts say London has become the favorite gantly packaged dates and cocoa-dusted destination. Language is one reason - most of almonds also sell briskly. the shoppers can speak English. But that’s just Ramadan falls on the ninth month of the part of it. “London has got the cultural aspects, Islamic lunar calendar. Muslims around the the history, and it’s a wonderfully inclusive city world fast from dawn to sunset for a month, to visit,” Ryan said. “The temperature’s com- starting from today. The weeks surrounding fortable. And because the Middle Eastern cus- the month offer retailers an opportunity they tomer is so important, hotels and the tourism can’t afford to miss, and many brands have industry are also very adept at making them responded to the trend by rolling out VIP serv- comfortable.” ices just for the period. “We have been work- All that may leave the average British or ing with luxury retailers who offer exclusive American shopper feeling a bit left out. But products during pre-Ramadan,” said Myf Ryan, the Ramadan Rush does bring one direct ben- marketing director at west London’s Westfield efit to the masses: Earlier sales. Many of shopping center. “Dior has limited-edition Britain’s department stores and fashion exotic skin handbags, and Louis Vuitton and brands have been adjusting their summer Burberry are offering private client services.” sales schedule to make sure the high rollers The Westfield mall - one of Europe’s largest get to shop new stock when they arrive. - hopes to bring in record sales with the help “They’re not interested in sales, because the Chinese honor guards prepare for the arrival of Myanmar President U Thein Sein and of extra Arabic-speaking concierges and per- stores are too busy,” Clark said. “It’s not a good Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony outside the Great Hall of the sonal chauffeurs. For the really prolific shop- shopping experience for them.” — AP People in Beijing yesterday. — AFP Syria rebels can play role in Iraq: Kerry Continued from Page 1 of excluding Iraq’s Sunni Arab minority and has played down Islamic state straddling Iraq and Syria. Washington has been Western concerns that the insurgents are led by jihadists. The increasingly concerned that the jihadists’ battlefield role on Ahmad Jarba, leader of the Syrian National Coalition, wel- US assistance would go to what the White House has called both sides of the Iraq-Syria border will play into the hands of comed the huge US boost to his forces, battling to oust Syrian “appropriately vetted” members of the Syrian opposition. the Assad regime. President Bashar Al-Assad. “The situation is very grave and Although the United States has provided some $2 billion in Those fears were highlighted Thursday when Maliki “wel- there are sectarian leaders ruling the country so we have to humanitarian aid, Obama has so far shied clear of providing comed” Syrian government air strikes against ISIL fighters who have greater efforts on the part of the US and regional powers heavy weapons, fearful that they could fall into the hands of control both sides of the Al-Qaim border crossing. Washington to address the situation in Iraq,” Jarba said. Kerry said “the jihadists. Jarba visited Washington in May to plead for arms, responded that military action by Assad’s government would moderate opposition in Syria... has the ability to be a very especially anti-aircraft missiles, to help the rebels defend them- not be “in any way helpful to Iraq’s security”. US officials say important player in pushing back against (Islamic State of Iraq selves from air strikes and barrel bomb attacks by Assad’s Washington is calling on its Sunni allies to use their influence and the Levant) ISIL’s presence... not just in Syria, but also in regime. About $287 million in mainly non-lethal support has with Iraqi leaders to unite and quickly form a government, on Iraq”. “Jarba represents a tribe that reaches right into Iraq. He been cleared for the rebels since March 2011, and the CIA has the heels of April elections. knows people there, and his point of view and that of the participated in a secret military training program in neighbour- The United States has also urged Arab nations to work to Syrian opposition will be very important going forward.” ing Jordan for the moderate opposition. The rebels have found stop the flow of funds and recruits joining the jihadists in the The Saudi king has also been an outspoken critic of Iraqi themselves fighting on two fronts, as jihadists belonging to Al- battles in Iraq and Syria. King Abdullah on Thursday ordered Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, whose Shiite-led government Qaeda and the ultra-hardline ISIL have flourished in the chaos. authorities in the oil-rich kingdom to take “necessary meas- has seen Sunni insurgents sweep up a huge swathe of territory, ISIL has now triggered international alarm by capturing parts of ures” to defend the country from the jihadists battling in including second city Mosul, since June 9. Riyadh accuses Maliki five Iraqi provinces, pressing ambitions to set up a wider Iraq. — AFP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014 Sarajevo remembers spark of Great War

SARAJEVO: Sarajevo marks 100 years loathed empire-will perform today in of the Serb part of Bosnia, the Republika since the assassination that triggered the newly-rebuilt national library, Srpska, and the filmmaker Emir World War I today, but without the lead- destroyed during the 1992 siege of the Kusturica. Counter-commemorations ers of Europe and with its people still city by Bosnian Serb forces. The concert will include the unveiling of monu- torn over the legacy of that fateful day. is the highlight of a series of cultural ments to Princip in a Serb area of Five weeks after a Bosnian Serb nation- and sports events, most run with out- Sarajevo as well as in eastern Bosnia and alist shot dead the Austrian Archduke side funding from France and the EU. in Belgrade. “The events in Sarajevo on Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Europe’s But there will be little sign of official- June 28 are not meant as an attack on great powers were sucked through a dom, from Europe or the Balkans. Serbia or the Republika Srpska,” insisted complex network of alliances into four Joseph Zimet, head of the French cente- horrific years of war. Hero or terrorist nary mission in charge of this week’s The former foes marked the cente- The Muslim majority in today’s commemorations. “And they are not a nary of the attack at Ypres in Belgium, Sarajevo see Princip as a terrorist-all the referendum on Gavrilo Princip,” he said. where German forces infamously made more loathed for being associated with first use of mustard gas in 1915, with a the Bosnian Serb forces that besieged ‘Our own war’ low-key ceremony Thursday during an the city in the 1990s. “Within the army Ethnic rivalries aside, ordinary peo- EU summit. But plans for heads of state bombing Sarajevo, Gavrilo Princip was a ple in Sarajevo-where memories of and government to come together in cult figure,” said the Bosnian Muslim his- Bosnia’s 1992-95 war and its 100,000 the Bosnian capital on June 28 turned torian Husnija Kamberovic. Two plaques dead are still sharp-view the centenary out to be wishful thinking, in light of the in the city commemorating Princip have with some skepticism. “We have war old Balkan divisions stirred up by the been ripped up and a bridge named commemorations here nearly everyday- centenary. “It would have been impossi- after him has reverted to its pre-1914 for our own war of the 1990s,” said ble to bring everyone (Serbs Muslims name. But for Serbs he was a hero seek- Jasmin Bukaric, a 34-year-old computer and Croats) together on June 28 in ing to “liberate” Slavs from the Austro- technician. “One day it’s for the Sarajevo,” said the Bosnian Serb histori- Hungarian occupier. In 1920, two years Muslims, the next day it’s the Serbs, an and diplomat Slobodan Soja. after he died in prison, Princip’s bones then the Croats. All it does is increase Wildly differing interpretations of were dug up and brought to Sarajevo to the divisions” between the three com- 20th-century history endure in a region be buried. Until the Balkan wars he was munities, he said. Badema Besic, a 63- scarred by the conflicts that marked the the city’s favorite son. year-old pensioner, said her main con- break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Serbian leaders have refused to join cern was “how to get by on 300 marks And the figure of the archduke’s assas- the ceremonies in Sarajevo, resenting (150 euros) each month.” “They are sin, the 19-year-old Serb nationalist the notion that Serb nationalism was to going to have fun and spend money. Gavrilo Princip, is particularly divisive. In blame for triggering the Great War. Yes, they are commemorating a terrible SARAJEVO: Bosnian people gather to touch a statue of late Sarajevo the Vienna Philharmonic-sym- Instead they will hold their own events, war. But we remember a war that is far Bosnian Serb Gavrilo Princip, during an unveiling ceremony in bolic envoy from the capital of a once- backed by Milorad Dodik the president more recent.” —AFP Istocno, Sarajevo yesterday. — AFP Shootings rise as China gives policemen guns North Korea tests new

BEIJING: A string of shooting incidents involving Chinese police - leaving at least four people dead - has the public wondering if tactical guided missile rank-and-file officers are really ready to carry guns, as mandated by new regulations. Last month, two policemen brought a loaded gun to a kindergarten show-and-tell. The handgun mis- takenly went off, injuring four parents and one child. The next Army threatens ‘devastating’ retaliation against South day, an officer responded to a village quarrel and fatally shot a man in murky circumstances. SEOUL: North Korea announced yesterday the successful test preparations for a “devastating strike” in retaliation. “All they Police also fired repeatedly at a knife-wielding man driving a of a new high-precision, tactical guided missile, as its army are waiting for is the order to be given by the Supreme truck, killing him, even though witnesses said he posed no real threat. The incidents - which have generated widespread media threatened a “devastating” retaliation against South Korea for Command,” it said. The South’s defense ministry declined to coverage and social media buzz - come after authorities decided carrying out live fire drills near their maritime border. The confirm that any particular drills had taken place, but said rou- in April to issue guns to patrolling officers to better protect the launch of the “cutting-edge” missile was watched by North tine exercises in the area of the maritime border were com- public and improve police response to crime and attacks. Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, according to the North’s official mon. Some analysts have suggested that North Korea might The trigger seems to have been a brazen attack by a group of KCNA news agency, which hailed the test as a “breakthrough” seek to raise tensions ahead of an expected visit to South assailants who stabbed 29 people to death and wounded 140 in national defense capability. Korea next week by Chinese President Xi Jinping. others in train station in the southern province of Yunnan. North Korea is not known to have a tactical guided missile, But others said yesterday’s announcement was simply Officials blamed the attack on extremists from the western but analysis of a recent propaganda film suggested it may aimed at talking up the North’s military capabilities as the Xinjiang region. For decades, Chinese police were unarmed because the country has very little gun violence and firearms are have acquired a variant of a Russian cruise missile, the KH-35. international community seeks ways to curb Pyongyang’s hard to obtain. The change leaves Britain, Norway and New KCNA did not specify the timing of the test, but it appeared to nuclear weapons program. KCNA said the test was carried out Zealand among developed countries where patrolling police coincide with the firing on Thursday of what South Korea at a time when “attempts to isolate and suffocate us and officers generally aren’t armed. described as three short-range projectiles into the Sea of Japan provocations to start a war of aggression by the US and its “Broadening the right (to carry guns) to more police officers (East Sea). The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the puppets are reaching a new height”. Yun Duk-Min, a professor could bring more harm than good if they do not follow the North’s ruling party, published pictures yesterday of the new at the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security in laws,” said Liu Zhirong, an independent scholar who was once a missile being tested with Kim in attendance. Kim reportedly Seoul, said the development of a tactical guided missile would researcher at an elite Chinese military police academy. “Police stressed the weapon’s importance in providing a credible “pre- be an “obvious military hazard” to South Korea and the US must learn to minimize use of force.” The Public Security Ministry has the daunting task of training hundreds of thou- emptive” strike capability. South Korea’s defense ministry relat- bases it hosts. A precision weapon would also be a response sands of local police on how to handle a deadly weapon in the ed the latest test to Pyongyang’s efforts to improve its large- to South Korea’s hyped development of an indigenous cruise line of duty. caliber multiple rocket launching (MRL) systems. “The MRL missile that was displayed during a military parade in Seoul The Chinese police force is 1.7 million strong, and it isn’t ranges have been extended and guidance capabilities added last October. clear how many will be armed. In Shanghai, about 1,000 of its to the projectiles,” spokesman Kim Min-Seok said. Washington According to the South’s defense ministry, the Hyeonmu 40,000 police began carrying standard-issue revolvers during said it was looking into the technical specifics to determine the 3’s accuracy made it capable of striking the “office window” of routine patrols in April. Experts worry that the training will focus threat level. “Technically, obviously any launch of anything is the North’s command headquarters in Pyongyang. Inter- too much on technical aspects, such as firing accuracy, and not problematic, is escalatory in nature, is threatening,” said US Korean relations have been tense for some months following enough on psychological and legal aspects, such as when to draw the gun and how to quickly size up chaotic situations. “I State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf. On Thursday, the annual South Korea-US military exercises that Pyongyang reg- even wonder if some police officers have ever seen a gun,” said Korean People’s Army (KPA) released a statement on KCNA ularly condemns as provocative rehearsals for invasion. Before Hong Daode, a professor of criminal law at China University of condemning recent South Korean live fire exercises near their the new missile test, there had been hopes that the atmos- Political Science and Law. “We are basically starting from zero.” disputed maritime border in the Yellow Sea. phere was calming as the two sides held their first talks for six Before they can take aim at a suspect, police are required by law months on running their joint industrial zone in Kaesong. to identify themselves, issue verbal warnings and shoot into the A ‘devastating strike’ Because the 1950-53 Korean conflict ended with a ceasefire air. If they do fire at a person, they are supposed to aim for non- The statement described the drills as a “reckless provoca- rather than a peace treaty, the two Koreas remain technically vital body parts. —AP tion” and warned that frontline KPA units had rounded off at war. — AFP Petrol crisis bites in16 Saudi Arabia suspects17 Inspection tensions add to 20 BusinessIraq’s Kurdish region African camel imports Bangladesh garment industry’s woes SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014 Ukraine inks trade agreement with EU 16

CUIABA: Colombia’s fans pose for a photo prior to the Group C football match between Japan and Colombia at the Pantanal Arena in Cuiaba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. — AFP World Cup boosts Brazil economy, but what next?

RIO DE JANEIRO: With a goofy sales pitch, pierc- $11 billion the government spent on the event. mentor, the popular Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. through some sort of change of DNA. Now it has ing vuvuzela solos and giant green and yellow And many economists warn World Cup spending Economic growth, after hitting a blistering 7.5 to be about more investment, it has to be about hat, Brazilian entrepreneur Josimar Barbosa was is fueling inflation that may not end with the percent in 2010, slowed sharply over the next more exports, more connection to global mar- wooing customers and raking in a World Cup tournament. “The hosting of a major sporting three years, coming in at just 2.5 percent in 2013. kets, it has to be about competitiveness becom- windfall. “You too can be this sexy while you root event has not and will not have a major positive Economists polled by the central bank are fore- ing a second religion.” for Brazil! Get your hats, vuvuzelas, flags!” he impact on Brazil’s economy,” said French insurer casting 1.2 percent this year. The slowdown is all called to the crowd checking out the football Euler Hermes, a subsidiary of Germany’s Allianz, the more painful because the boom years lifted ‘Delaying the fall’ merchandise displayed outside his store on a in a recent report. 36 million Brazilians out of poverty, about 18 per- But Rousseff is unlikely to overhaul the current busy street in central Rio de Janeiro. The World Cup will bring “more inflation than cent of the population. economic model while on the campaign trail. Wheeling and dealing, the charismatic 27- growth for Brazil,” predicted the firm’s economic Innovative social programs helped foster that Troyjo said the World Cup and the elections were year-old closed one sale after another. “It’s like research arm. Consumer prices rose 6.4 percent in exodus by paying people to do things like send delaying needed reforms. “It’s as if time is just this all the time,” he told AFP, estimating his sales the 12 months to mid-June, nearing the central their children to school, a bid to break the cycle of standing still, and it will only move away from this are up 90 percent. “Everything about this event is bank’s target limit of 6.5 percent. poverty. But households that got used to having freeze after the October elections,” he told AFP. good for Brazil, including for us small businesses,” Brazilians-fearful of a return to the hyperinfla- disposable income now find their buying power Brazilians who are making money off the he said, winking at a middle-aged woman buying tion that gutted salaries in the 1980s and 90s- slashed by rising prices, which is fueling social World Cup say they fear what will happen after. 65 reais’ worth of merchandise for 60 reais ($25). often complain their money doesn’t go as far as it unrest. Eduardo Blumberg, a partner in Brazilian clothes- The World Cup is adding 30 billion reais ($13.4 did a few years ago. That is a problem for leftist And the government’s books are over- maker Dimona, said his sales are up 20 to 30 per- billion) to the Brazilian economy, according to a President Dilma Rousseff, who is up for re-elec- stretched. Economists say Brazil has relied too cent thanks to the Cup. But he said he has also government-commissioned study by FIPE, the tion in October and has to persuade voters she much on consumption and not saved enough, been feeling the pressure of inflation, and he University of Sao Paulo’s economic research insti- can reboot the sluggish economy. channeling money to social programs at the fears things will get worse before they get better. tute. The institute says hosting the tournament expense of badly needed investment in areas like “Every time we place an order our suppliers have has created one million jobs in Brazil-the world’s Save vs spend infrastructure. a higher price,” said Blumberg, 53. “It’s true the seventh largest economy, with a GDP of $2.4 tril- Brazil’s economy has lost the aura it had in “The consumer-led model has probably run World Cup is helping us. It’s a festive event, peo- lion in 2013. But not all experts agree. Other esti- 2007, when the country was picked to host the out of steam,” said Marcos Troyjo, economist at ple are out spending money. But it’s just delaying mates say the boost is far smaller-less than the World Cup under Rousseff’s predecessor and New York’s Columbia University. “Brazil has to go the economic fall.” — AFP BUSINESS SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014 Petrol crisis bites in Iraq’s Kurdish region ARBIL: The shutdown of Iraq’s biggest refin- Baiji, south of the militant-held city of Mosul. where. The crisis has also been exacerbated by “If everyone only came and filled up once, ery, roads blocked by fighting, and skyrocket- The crisis is a “perfect storm of supply and a burgeoning black market and rationing instead of coming several times and selling it ing demand have created the worst oil crisis in demand problems,” said Patrick Osgood, the imposed by the Kurdish government. Outside in Kirkuk and Mosul, there wouldn’t be a cri- years in the country’s autonomous Kurdish Kurdistan bureau chief for Iraq Oil Report. “On the city of Dohuk, on the road to Mosul, sis.” “This is a crisis that the people have creat- region. At petrol stations across the three the supply side, the Kurdistan region isn’t dozens of young men call out to drivers as ed, not the government.” In Arbil, some say provinces of the northern region, but particu- entirely self-sufficient on refined products they pass. “We have petrol, we have petrol!” they are angry with the regional government larly in and around the city of Dohuk and the including gasoline,” he said. they shout, some holding syphons in their for failing to set aside reserves to forestall such Kurdish regional capital Arbil, lines extend for hands. The gasoline on offer is stored in plastic a crisis. Many also direct their anger at the fed- hours, sometimes even days. “I’ve been here Black market booming water containers lined up on the side of the eral government in Baghdad, accusing it of for two hours, and I’m hoping I’ll be able to fill “It probably produces 60 percent of its road and costs four time as much as the offi- withholding petrol from elsewhere in the up in about another half hour,” said 34-year- demand, but 40 percent it was getting from cial price in Kurdish territory of 500 Iraqi dinars country. old engineer Raad, who was queuing in Arbil. Baiji.” On the demand side, there has been (40 US cents) a liter. But Osgood said without the Baiji refinery, He is even lucky to have found a station panic-buying, he said, but also shortages Most people cannot afford to spend that there simply is not enough petrol to go with gasoline in the city. Many have shut because petrol has been diverted to the city of much and those who can say they avoid it around. “There’s no plan B in terms of supply down after running out, blocking entrances Kirkuk. Long disputed between the Iraqi feder- because they fear it has been adulterated and within Iraq,” he said. “Even before this crisis, and exits with plastic chairs to keep out hope- al government and the regional Kurdish will ruin their cars. The Kurdish government is Iraq was a net importer of gasoline.” ful customers. The crisis began shortly after authorities, Kirkuk is now being protected by allotting days for cars to fill up depending on Neighboring Turkey has offered to send petrol Sunni militants, led by jihadists from the Kurdish peshmerga forces ringed around it their license plate number and is also limited to Kurdistan but it would cost double the sub- Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, launched after Iraqi army troops abandoned their posts the amount customers can buy to 30 liters at a sidized 500-dinar rate even at wholesale a lightning offensive that has overrun major during the militant onslaught. Osgood said time. This has not prevented people from fill- prices, Osgood said. Another alternative is to parts of five Iraqi provinces. after the peshmerga forces moved in, the ing up and then selling the petrol. “There bring petrol in from Tajikistan, Turkmenistan As the militants advanced, supply routes Kurdish government began routing petrol shouldn’t even be a petrol crisis,” 63-year-old and Azerbaijan, but setting up those supply were cut and fighting led to a shutdown of the from one of two refineries in the Kurdish north Abdulkarim Othman said angrily as he stared chains will take time. “This problem isn’t going country’s largest oil refinery near the town of to Kirkuk, creating shortages in Arbil and else- at the line in front of him. away anytime soon,” Osgood said. — AFP

ECB to regulate units Ukraine inks trade of two Russian banks

FRANKFURT: The European Central Bank will supervise and agreement with EU run health checks on the Austrian arms of Russia’s two largest banks, giving officials in Frankfurt unprecedented control over their activities in Europe. The ECB said yesterday that it had added Russia’s biggest bank, Sberbank, and second-largest, Georgia, Moldova also sign trade accords VTB Bank, to the 120-strong list of lenders it will police. Their cross-border operations are so significant they could create a BRUSSELS: Ukraine signed yesterday a his- risk for the euro zone, the central bank said. The ECB is prepar- toric free-trade agreement with the ing to supervise the euro zone’s biggest banks, a key part of a European Union that has been at the heart wider banking union. The system is designed to keep tabs on of months of violence and upheaval in the banks and avert the kind of financial crisis that shook the country, drawing an immediate threat of industrialized world in 2008. Banking supervision will widen “grave consequences” from Russia. Georgia the central bank’s reach, and it may worry Moscow. The and Moldova signed similar deals, holding announcement came as European Union leaders warned out the prospect of deep economic inte- Russia they were ready to impose further sanctions over gration and unfettered access to the EU’s Ukraine. 500 million citizens, but alarming Moscow Sberbank is run by German Gref, an ally of President which is concerned about losing influence Vladimir Putin, and VTB is majority-owned by Russia. Their sub- over former Soviet republics. sidiaries will both be subject to individual health checks by the All three countries have made clear ECB next year, a spokeswoman said. VTB declined to comment their ultimate goal is membership of the and Sberbank could not immediately be reached. The move bloc but Brussels, under pressure from vot- follows warnings by the ECB about the impact on Europe from ers weary of further EU expansion, has the crisis in Ukraine. In a recent report, ECB staff cautioned that made no promise it will allow them in. the main spillover in Europe would be through “trade and Ukraine’s former pro-Moscow President financial linkages with Russia, rather than with Ukraine.” Viktor Yanukovich turned his back on sign- Russia has ties with many countries throughout Europe and ing the EU agreement last November in particularly with Austria. Vienna, positioned on the edge of the favor of closer ties with Moscow, prompt- BRUSSELS: Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko gives a press conference on Iron Curtain that divided Europe until the 1989, was a gateway ing months of street protests that eventu- the sidelines of the EU Council yesterday. — AFP to the eastern bloc and became a base for doing business with ally led to his fleeing the country. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was short of the prospect of ultimate EU mem- the former Warsaw Pact countries. Russia is Austria’s ninth- Soon afterwards, Russia annexed quoted yesterday by Interfax as saying bership. Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie biggest trading partner. Ukraine’s Crimea region, drawing outrage Glazyev’s comments “do not reflect the Leanca has also set his sights on EU mem- and sanctions from the United States and official point of view”. bership, saying on Thursday that he hoped Paring back EU, and pro-Russian separatists began an his country would apply to join in the sec- The ECB will become the watchdog over big banks across uprising in eastern Ukraine that has Russian response ond half of 2015. the 18 countries in the euro zone this November. Yesterday, claimed hundreds of lives. “Over the last Still, Peskov said Russia would take Russia, which fought a five-day war with the ECB published a list of the top euro zone banks that it will months, Ukraine paid the highest possible measures to protect its economy if it is Georgia in 2008, has met previous police. A final list will come out by Sept 4. It differs from an ear- price to make her European dreams come negatively affected by the agreements, RIA attempts by its neighbors to move closer lier list published last year of 128 banks that the ECB is putting true,” Ukrainian President Petro news agency said. “As soon as the imple- to the EU with trade reprisals and EU offi- through a health check. Twelve banks dropped off that watch- Poroshenko told EU leaders at a signing mentation starts, there can be talk of some cials fear the same thing could happen list, among them three in Germany. Those taken off include the ceremony in Brussels, calling it the most protective measures,” he said. “Everything again. EU officials say that, in diplomatic German corporate financier IKB, which was among the first big important day for his country since inde- needed to protect our economy will be talks, Russia has threatened to withdraw banking collapses during the crisis. An export financing arm of pendence from the crumbling Soviet undertaken.” the duty-free treatment that Ukraine cur- German state bank KfW has also been removed. Peugeot’s car Union in 1991. Symbolically, he signed the European Council President Herman rently benefits from as a member of the financer Banque PSA Finance in France and DNB Bank in agreement with the same pen that had Van Rompuy said there was nothing in the Commonwealth of Independent States Estonia were removed as well. been prepared for Yanukovich to sign the agreements that would harm Russia in any (CIS) free trade pact. The clearing houses LCH Clearnet in France and document last year. Russia’s Deputy way. Poroshenko urged the EU to reward One senior EU official called the Russian Clearstream in Luxembourg were also taken off the list of insti- Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin immedi- Ukraine for its sacrifices by promising the threat “deeply shocking” while another tutions to be supervised. Two other banks were added to the ately said the signing would have “grave country would be eligible for membership said such a move would violate the CIS list along with the Austrian subsidiaries of the Russian banks: consequences” for Ukraine, Interfax news of the EU once it was ready. The pledge agreement and World Trade Organization Banque Degroof in Belgium and Barclay’s Italian subsidiary. agency reported. Sergei Glazyev, a senior would “cost the EU nothing but would rules. If Russia imposed customs duties, it Degroof will also be put through a health check by the ECB adviser to Russian President Vladimir mean the world to my country”, he said. would put at risk some of Ukraine’s next year. “The ECB has been made much more powerful polit- Putin, described Ukraine on Thursday as a Van Rompuy said the agreements with exports, which mainly consist of base met- ically by the fact that it has supervision,” said Nicolas Veron of fascist regime, accusing EU leaders of cre- the three countries were “not the final als, grains, machinery, equipment and Brussels think tank Bruegel. “It is just doing its job.” — Reuters ating a “Nazi Frankenstein”. However, stage of our cooperation”, but this fell processed food. —Reuters Business SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014 Bulgarian central bank says banking system under attack

SOFIA: Bulgaria’s central bank warned yesterday of a systematic attempt to destabilize the country through attacks on the bank- ing system and vowed to use everything at its disposal to protect citizens’ savings. Shares in Bulgarian banks fell sharply for a sec- ond day on speculation that a run on deposits at the country’s fourth-biggest bank, Corporate Commercial Bank (Corpbank) , could spread to other lenders and shake Bulgaria’s already weak economy and those of its neighbors. The central bank took control of Corpbank last week and said its problems were isolated. Economists and Fitch Ratings agency have also played down the risk of contagion, while foreign banks with subsidiaries in Bulgaria insist their operations are safe. But comments by a deputy from the country’s ruling party on Thursday that another bank may suffer a similar fate further jolt- ed confidence and left investors scrambling to ditch Bulgarian bank stocks. “In recent days there has been an attempt to destabilize the state through an organized attack against Bulgarian banks with- out any reason,” the central bank said in a statement. It said First Investment Bank had been a major target. The central bank urged all state institutions to work together to protect financial stability and take legal action against those spreading “untrue and ill-intentioned rumors” about the health of Bulgaria’s banks. BELGRADE: Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic (center) flanked by Belgrade’s major Sinisa Mali (right) and Interior Minister Tsvetlin Yovchev said the government was Mohammed El-Abbar, head of Eagle Hills company, attend a presentation of the Belgrade Waterfront project yestedray. investigating attempts to destabilize the banking system. Prime Vucic announced the multi-billion euro construction of the “Belgrade on Water” project to develop the city’s waterfront Minister Plamen Oresharski said there was no cause for concern. with residential buildings, offices, shopping malls, hotels and a spectacular, 200-meter high “Belgrade Tower.” It should Reuters witnesses saw queues of between 15 and 30 customers be built in seven years in partnership with a United Arab Emirates company headed by Mohammed El-Abbar, known for build gradually after some bank branches opened yesterday in the construction of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, currently the world’s tallest tower. — AFP the capital Sofia. By late morning, 65 people were queuing out- side a central branch of First Investment Bank, with a further 12 queuing at one of the bank’s ATM cash machines. Saudi Arabia suspects “I was told to come here and take my money out,” said a 32- year old woman in the queue who did not want to be named. “I hope they do not close the doors in front of our noses.” Shares in First Investment Bank were down 23 percent as of 0926 GMT. African camel imports Bulgaria’s third-largest bank said yesterday it had not imposed any restrictions on operations and would shortly publish a state- ment. Other bank shares were also down sharply. “The whole banking sector is being sold off due to the problems around Any Saudi ban would hurt Somali economy badly Corporate Bank. Investors are worried the problems can spread,” said Boyan Gatsev, a trader with Varchev Finance. LONDON: Saudi Arabia suspects a virus stop that until we get more information over the country, with some arriving that has killed hundreds of people there on whether they are infected or not,” he across porous borders with southern ‘Criminal actions’ may have arrived in camels from the said. Saudi Arabia has previously been Ethiopia and northern Kenya. Madani Although the cost of insuring Bulgarian government debt rose Horn of Africa, and could ban such criticized for its handling of the MERS said that while Saudi Arabia does have last week, the government has managed to launch a 1.5 billion imports until it knows more, the king- outbreak, which public health experts some domestic camels, most of those euro bond sale needed to roll over existing bonds and finance dom’s chief scientist told Reuters. Any say could have been under control by used for meat and trade are imported the budget deficit. But the bank run, sparked by media reports of ban on the camel trade with the region now if officials and scientists there had from the Horn of Africa. suspect deals involving Corpbank and its top shareholder, has would badly hurt the already fragile been more willing to collaborate on Lisa Murillo, an expert in virology and revived painful memories of a sector meltdown in the 1990s that economy of Somalia, which is a major studies into how the virus operates and affiliate scientist at the Los Alamos bankrupted 14 banks, and comes at a bad time for a minority livestock exporter to Saudi Arabia. where it is coming from. National Laboratory in the United States, government that has struggled to revive economic growth and Tariq Madani, who heads the scientif- Much more scientific research is said she had analyzed data on human stem a sharp drop in foreign investment. ic advisory board of the Saudi health needed to nail down the source of the MERS cases in the Middle East and The affair has highlighted persistent concerns about poor ministry command and control centre MERS infections in humans and exactly camel imports from the Horn of Africa - governance and shadowy ties between state officials and private (CCC) - set up to handle the outbreak of how it makes the leap, but preliminary and found striking correlations that cry business in Bulgaria, which joined the European Union in 2007 Middle East Respiratory Syndrome or studies suggest the virus’s animal reser- out for further investigation. As a result but remains its poorest member state and one of the most cor- MERS - said scientists are currently test- voir is likely to be camels. Viruses fre- of her findings, Murillo says she has rupt. Ongoing political instability prompted Standard and Poor’s ing camels at sea ports before authori- quently jump from animals into people developed what she acknowledges is a to downgrade Bulgaria’s sovereign credit rating to one notch ties allow them in. MERS was first identi- in what are called zoonotic events - and “very speculative hypothesis” - that the above junk earlier in June. fied in humans in 2012 and is caused by while many of them peter out, some can number of MERS cases in Arabian Both Corpbank and its biggest investor, Bulgarian business- a coronavirus from the same viral family develop into human epidemics. “Since Peninsula countries is related to the man Tsvetan Vassilev, have denied any wrongdoing. The chief as the one that caused a deadly out- this is a zoonotic disease we are collabo- number of camels imported into those executive of Greece’s National Bank said it had not seen any break of SARS in China in 2003. More rating with the ministry of agriculture to countries. deposit outflows at its unit in Bulgaria. —Reuters than 700 people in Saudi Arabia have answer the question of whether these “That correlation just leaps off the contracted it and 292 of them have died, camels imported from the African Horn page,” she told Reuters in a telephone according to latest data from the Saudi are possible sources of infection,” interview. “The most important thing we health ministry. Madani said. need to be doing right now - outside of “We do have suspicions that the dis- Saudi Arabia and the UAE - is looking for ease may have been imported through Livestock exports human and camel cases of MERS in the camel trade from the Horn of Africa, but Saudi Arabia is by far the biggest Horn of Africa - particularly in the ports we haven’t proved it yet,” Madani told market for livestock from Somalia, with of Somalia,” she said. “If it turns out to Reuters in a telephone interview from at least 70 percent of Somali exports be in camels there, why wouldn’t it be in Jeddah. He said the final decision on a going to the kingdom. The rest go most- humans there as well?” ban on camel imports from the region ly to other Middle East states such as the Madani said teams of scientists work- lies with the agriculture ministry. United Arab Emirates (UAE), Yemen, ing under his leadership at the CCC were Officials there could not be reached for Qatar and Egypt. Somalia exported doing exactly that in Saudi. “As we comment but Madani said the ministry about 4.7 million animals in 2013. Sheep speak we are doing a study on camels “hasn’t yet released an official ban for and goats account for roughly 80 per- imported from the Horn of Africa,” he the importation of camels”, although cent, followed by camels and some cat- said. “We are taking samples from them colleagues there had told him such a tle. Most exports go via two Gulf of in the sea ports before they are allowed move is “under consideration”. Aden ports - Bossaso and Berbera - in in, and we’re also taking samples from SOFIA: People queue in front of a branch of Bulgaria’s “We have always imported camels two breakaway regions of northern people handling them to test them for First Investment Bank yesterday. — AFP from the African Horn.... but we will Somalia, but the animals come from all antibodies.” —Reuters BUSINESS SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014 Investcorp ends talks on Cavalli stake

LONDON: Gulf investment firm Investcorp has ended talks to buy a majority stake in Italian fashion house Roberto Cavalli, several sources familiar with the deal said, as it was unwilling to pay the 450-million-euro ($612 million) price tag. The 73-year-old designer was hoping to receive an offer from Investcorp by a June 30 deadline, but the Bahrain-based private equity com- pany walked away from the negotiation table, said two sources close to the deal. “The company lacks appeal and there is a discrepancy between the asking price and the cost of turning around the business,” said one of the sources, who declined to be named. Price expecta- tions for around 60 percent of the com- pany were based on a multiple of 18 times earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of 25 million euros. MILAN: Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli (center) acknowledges the applause of the audience after presenting Both Cavalli and Investcorp declined the Roberto Cavalli men’s Spring-Summer 2015 collection. — AP to comment. The sources said Cavalli “Permira’s best bid would not even for years,” said one sector banker, who Russia and Eastern Europe, the Middle had approached Bahrain-based match Cavalli’s minimum threshold and recalled a series of failed attempts to sell East and Latin America, it has yet to take Investcorp in May after negotiations the designer would not lower the bar,” Cavalli to investment funds such as off in China and other fast growing with London-based buyout firm Permira said one of the sources. Permira, head- Clessidra in 2009. Cavalli is facing declin- Asian markets. stalled over valuation disagreements. quartered on London’s Pall Mall close to ing growth, partly due to a steep con- The sources said this was because the Permira was prepared to offer more than Buckingham Palace, declined to com- traction in Russian orders caused by the Florentine fashion house has a weaker 300 million euros to secure control of ment. rouble’s depreciation after the crisis in distribution network in Asia and has the company but the designer was “Investors have become wary of a Ukraine. experienced a general lack of enthusi- adamant on pricing, the sources said. company which has been on the market While the brand is well established in asm for its exuberant style. — Reuters Russia’s Rosneft signs oil products supply deal with BP Rosneft to get at least $1.5bn in pre-payment

KHABAROVSK/MOSCOW: Rosneft signed yesterday its sec- nature, to learn their culture, show my kids their nature,” he ond major agreement with BP since sanctions were imposed said. “I wanted to take a motorbike trip across America but this on the Russian oil company’s chief executive, a close ally of decision denies me such an opportunity.” President Vladimir Putin, over Russia’s involvement in the Eight banks have signed a $2-billion prepayment facility Ukraine crisis. The five-year agreement will supply BP with up backing the long-term delivery of crude oil products between to 12 million tons of refined oil products and involves a pre- Russian oil giant Rosneft and BP, Rosneft said yesterday. The WASHINGTON: A passenger jet flies past the FAA control tow- payment of at least $1.5 billion arranged by leading global banks include Deutsche Bank, Bank of China, Societe Generale, er at Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport. — AP financial institutions, Rosneft said. Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Rosneft refined nearly 90 million tons of oil last year, Corporation, two banking sources close to the deal said. FAA seeks lower building according to company figures. Some Western firms have been Rosneft also said the prepayment facility will increase fur- wary of investment and business in Russia since sanctions ther as several other banks also have shown interest in joining height limit near airports were imposed over the crisis in Ukraine, where Moscow denies the deal, adding that supplies to BP could start next month. accusations of orchestrating a rebellion by pro-Russian sepa- Bankers earlier this month said partly state-owned UK lender WASHINGTON: The US government wants to dramatically ratists. But the sanctions have had only a limited impact on Lloyds Bank had pulled out of the $1.5-$2 billion trade finance reduce the allowable height of potentially thousands build- the Russian energy industry, a cornerstone of the country’s $2- deal to avoid risking any political embarrassment for its gov- ings near airports around the country - a proposal that is trillion economy, resulting mostly in higher borrowing costs ernment. Under the terms of the latest deal, Rosneft said oil drawing fire from real estate developers and members of for domestic companies. product deliveries could be substituted for supplies of oil but Congress who say it will hurt property values. The Federal Since the sanctions were imposed, executives from Total , gave no explanation of the circumstances under which this Aviation Administration proposal, supported by airports and BP, Statoil and ExxonMobil have visited Russia, underlining the could happen. airlines, is driven by encroaching development that limits safe importance they attach to business with the world’s leading flight paths for planes that might lose power in an engine dur- oil producer with current output of around 10.5 million barrels Limited impact ing takeoff. Planes can fly with only one engine, but they have per day (bpd). Last year, Rosneft announced deals worth more Such pre-payment supply deals have raised billions of dol- less power to climb quickly over obstacles. than $15 billion to sell crude oil and other products to BP, lars for Rosneft, which borrowed $30.1 billion in two separate Local business leaders, who see airports as a means to which now owns almost a fifth of Rosneft following Rosneft’s loans in 2012 and 2013 to help finance last year’s $55 billion attract development, say they fear office towers and condo- acquisition of Anglo-Russian oil firm TNK-BP last year. acquisition of TNK-BP, once Russia’s third largest oil producer. minium complexes will have to be put on hold until develop- Yesterday’s signing also follows an agreement by BP and Last year Rosneft also agreed an $8.32 billion loan with com- ers and zoning boards can figure out what the agency’s pro- Rosneft in May to jointly explore in Russia for hard-to-recover modity traders Glencore and Vitol and a $1.5 billion pre-pay- posal means for their communities. In Tempe, Arizona, for shale oil. Such deals do not violate sanctions over the Ukraine ment loan with Swiss-based trading house Trafigura. example, local Chamber of Commerce President Mary Ann crisis because Rosneft has not been included on any sanctions However, some Russian energy companies have recently Miller said she fears almost any new building in the city’s list, but Rosneft’s chief executive Igor Sechin had a visa ban been talking to their customers about a possible switch to downtown would face new restrictions because the commu- and asset freeze slapped on him by the United States after using currencies other than the U.S. dollar in transactions to nity is located near the edge of Phoenix Sky Harbor’s runways. Russia annexed the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea from minimize sanction-related risks. “Coming out of a very long recession, we hate the idea of Ukraine in March. Other companies could also now follow the example of stopping some growth,” she said. But airlines have to plan for “I am working here with Rosneft. It’s a business between Surgutneftegas, Russia’s fourth-biggest oil producer with an the possibility that a plane could lose the use of an engine the companies. I don’t comment on personal sanctions,” BP’s average daily output of 1.2 million barrels of crude, which during takeoff even though that doesn’t happen very often. chief executive Bob Dudley told reporters in Khabarovsk in according to its accounts has stockpiled over 1 trillion roubles As more buildings, cellphone towers, wind turbines and other Russia’s far east after attending the signing ceremony with ($30 billion) of cash instead of paying out higher dividends or tall structures go up near airports, there are fewer safe flight other members of the Rosneft board of directors. Sechin told making large acquisitions. Meanwhile Lukoil, Russia’s second- paths available. Current regulations effectively limit building reporters that he had no accounts or assets in the United biggest oil producer, has postponed an up to $2 billion heights based on the amount of clearance needed by planes States but he felt the impact from sanctions. Eurobond issue until the autumn because of a spike in bor- with two operating engines. —AP “Sanctions don’t allow me to see the beauty of their (U.S.) rowing costs. — Reuters BUSINESS SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014

SHANGHAI: Diners are suspended from a crane as they enjoy a meal organized by the “Dinner in the Sky” over Lujiazui Financial District in Shanghai yesterday. Dinner in the Sky kicked off with 22 diners enjoying their meal in a sky box sus- pended from a crane about 50 meters above the ground, at a price that varies from 1,888 yuan ($302) to 8,888 yuan ($1,423). — AFP photos Japan tax hike boosts inflation Jobless rate at 3.5%; lowest level in 17 years

TOKYO: Inflation hit a three-decade high and unemployment join the workforce and “companies will only be able to attract Capital Economics said in a note that it believed “underlying infla- dipped further in Japan, data showed yesterday, as the govern- those workers with higher wages,” he told Dow Jones Newswires. tionary pressure has eased”. ment’s bid to jumpstart the economy takes hold, but analysts Minami of Norinchukin said that with the latest data the govern- The sluggish spending data also prompted Credit Suisse to say warned it was too early for celebrations. Japanese consumer infla- ment and the Bank of Japan can afford to maintain a wait-and-see it now sees a risk that April-June quarter real-term personal con- tion, stripping out volatile fresh food prices, rose 3.4 percent year- stance for now. sumption would be weaker than expected. “It has appeared that on-year in May, the fastest pace in 32 years, according to data from But he added it was important to watch whether wages will personal consumption correction (after the tax rise) has been the internal affairs ministry. increase to make up for the higher sales tax as the employment deeper than the 1997 episode” when the rate was raised to 5.0 The rise, which matched market expectations, was largely driv- situation is tight only in limited sectors such as construction, retail percent from 3.0 percent, it said in a report, adding the continuing en by a consumption tax hike in April that took the rate from 5.0 and services. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe indicated the Japanese sluggishness of wages was an issue. The Bank of Japan is aiming at percent to 8.0 percent. Other data from the ministry showed economy has coped well with the tax hike but said “it is too early 2.0 percent inflation, excluding the tax hike effect. Abe’s govern- household spending plunged 8.0 percent in May on-year after a to give such a verdict”. Excluding the effect of the higher tax on ment has put conquering deflation and stoking growth in the pre-rise shopping spree. The tax rise was seen as crucial for shrink- prices, Japan’s core consumer prices were estimated to have risen world’s third-largest economy at the top of its agenda with a poli- ing Japan’s mammoth national debt, proportionately the worst 1.4 percent in May, just below a 1.5-percent increase for April. cy blitz dubbed “Abenomics”. — AFP among wealthy nations. However there have been fears it will derail a budding economic recovery by taking a bite out of con- sumer spending. Separate data from the ministry of economy, Big Four warns investors could leave HK trade and industry seemed to bear that out, showing retail sales edged down 0.4 percent in May following a 4.3 percent fall in April. HONG KONG: The Big Four accounting firms have taken out international business centre over the long term,” read the ad But economists say the downturn in consumption in the after- adverts in Hong Kong newspapers, urging organizers of a civil that appeared in three Chinese-language newspapers. math of the tax rise was largely a simple displacement. Consumers campaign seeking greater democracy to resolve disputes It urged those involved in the movement to settle disputes had gone on a spending spree ahead of the first sales tax jump in through dialogue, saying they oppose any moves to shut down through consultation and dialogue. The ads were signed by Ernst 17 years, snapping up everything from big-ticket items such as the city in protest. The move comes ahead of the results of an & Young, KPMG , Deloitte Kwan Wong Tan & Fong, the compa- cars and refrigerators to everyday goods like toilet rolls and rice. unofficial referendum, which has been branded illegal by the for- ny’s Hong Kong unit, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. PwC con- Takeshi Minami, economist at Norinchukin Research Institute, told mer British territory and by Beijing, on proposed electoral firmed the advertisements were placed by its Hong Kong unit in AFP that “the belief is that the drop will be temporary and that reforms related to a vote in 2017 to elect Hong Kong’s next Ming Pao, the Hong Kong Economic Journal and the Hong Kong labor shortages in some sectors will continue”. leader. Economic Times in Chinese, and scheduled to run only yester- Occupy Central with Love and Peace, the organizers of the day. Jobless rate at 17-year low referendum, have threatened to lock down the Central area of KPMG also confirmed the ads were placed by its Hong Kong Other official data showed Japan’s jobless rate edged down to Hong Kong, home to some of Asia’s biggest companies and unit but declined to comment further. Deloitte and EY confirmed 3.5 percent in May, the lowest level in nearly 17 years. The jobs-to- banks, as part of its campaign to demand greater democracy in that the ads were real but declined to comment further. “It applicants ratio stood at 1.09, the highest in more than two elections for the city’s leader, or chief executive, in 2017. Chinese means China is exerting all possible influence over all groups decades, meaning there were 109 job offers to every 100 job seek- authorities are keen to ensure that only pro-Beijing candidates they can influence,” said Benny Tai, associate professor of law at ers. The improved ratio and unemployment figures will add pres- make it on to the ballot. Democracy activists want the nomina- the University of Hong Kong and one of the organizers of the ref- sure on firms to raise wages to attract workers, said Junichi tion process to be open to everyone. erendum. The ads come as hundreds of lawyers marched Makino, economist at SMBC Nikko Securities. “We are worried that foreign multinationals and investors will through Hong Kong yesterday to protest against a white paper “That’s good for households, and will also help add to infla- leave their Hong Kong headquarters because of this, or even released by Beijing this month that says “loving the country” is a tion,” as companies have to raise prices to account for higher withdraw their business, and shake Hong Kong’s place as an basic requirement for judicial personnel. — Reuters wages, he said. There are about one million workers who can still BUSINESS SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014

Special Report Western inspection tensions add to Bangladesh garment industry’s woes Clothes trade accounts for 80% of exports

DHAKA: It took Western safety inspectors only about an hour to The groups, which have a mandate to recommend the clo- Mart in 2013, according to a report published by the US retailer tour a factory the size of three football fields before ordering a sure of dangerous factories and demand repairs, are now in November last year. The Western inspection groups, between partial shutdown of Sonia & Sweaters Ltd, a Bangladesh cloth- embroiled in a debate over the inspection process and the them, have so far shut 14 factories and asked five factories to ing supplier to Wal-Mart Stores Inc and Debenhams. Two weeks question of who pays for upgrades and wages while factories partially close, according to government data. Senior advisor to later, the group that the inspectors represented changed its stand idle. Making the situation worse, almost all global retail the Alliance Ian Spaulding said the group has been careful with mind and allowed the factory to stay open, even though none brands have opted to stay out of the arguments between the issue of factory shutdowns and has been working closely of the repairs they suggested had been carried out. inspection agencies and suppliers, according to industry offi- with the government on the issue. Five factories have been shut Such erratic decision-making poses a new set of problems cials. down as a result of their recommendations, he said. for Bangladesh’s $22 billion garments industry, whose safety When the inspection groups were set up, retailers did not record has been under the microscope since the collapse of a commit to pay for improvements they demanded - some Foreign vs local factory near Dhaka that killed more than 1,100 workers last year. Bangladesh factory owners are very wealthy and politically con- The legal authority to shut factories rests with the More than a year after the public outcry that spurred Western nected - but agreed to discuss assistance with wages and Bangladesh government, and decisions to do so are reviewed retailers into demanding better standards from the factories improvements if owners could not afford them. Wal-Mart by a government-appointed panel that includes one member that make their clothes, it also highlights the practical complexi- spokesman Kevin Gardner said, as a founding member of the each from the Accord and Alliance and two civil engineers from ties of improving the conditions of millions of poor workers Alliance, the company’s contributions have made funds avail- the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology whilst also safeguarding their jobs. able to help factory owners make necessary repairs and to sup- (BUET). That process has led to friction between local and for- Export growth in the sector has slowed as buyers turn to port workers who may be temporarily displaced. This includes eign members. Four Wings Ltd operated a factory that supplied India, Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia because of concerns an initial worker safety fund of nearly $50 million and growing, clothes to Swedish fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) over workshop safety, higher wages and political instability. and more than $100 million in access to low-cost capital fund- until March, when it was closed down on the recommendation Now factory owners say they are concerned about arbitrary ing to improve fire and structural safety. Debenhams declined of Accord inspectors who feared the load-bearing capacity of shutdowns and meeting the cost of demands for remedial work, to comment. the building was inadequate. The two BUET engineers on the while workers worry about who will pay their wages if their review panel opposed an immediate closure, but were stopped workplace is temporarily closed. Safety shutdowns from making recommendations and asked instead for an opin- “We went through inexplicable harassment during this Reuters obtained copies of two inspection reports on Sonia ion with either a “yes” or a “no”, according to a senior official at whole process, and I am sure they don’t care about that,” said & Sweaters which showed the factory’s civil engineer tried to Four Wings and a professor from BUET who had direct knowl- Sonia & Sweaters Director Mahabubur Rahman, of his experi- warn Accord inspectors that their assessment that insufficient edge of events. Both spoke on condition of anonymity. ence of the inspection. “But with their trigger-happy attitude, I steel had been used in the building columns was inaccurate. “Everybody appreciates the fact that they are working hard am left wondering if they at least care about the workers, who The steel was later found to be adequate for operations to con- to make this industry safe, but everybody they are working with they are meant to protect, because nobody has to explain to tinue. Company managers told Reuters that documents on the will agree they are extremely arrogant and have a high-handed them what the implication of one factory shutdown is.” The gar- building’s load-bearing capacity sent to the inspectors after attitude,” said the BUET professor. Ananta Garments Ltd’s ment industry accounts for 80 percent of Bangladesh’s exports, their assessment were overlooked. That oversight was only Mirpur factory, which employs 1,600 workers, was also shut and turmoil in the sector has put at risk the livelihoods of nearly acknowledged after the factory’s senior management physically down by the Accord on concerns over the buildings load-bear- 4 million garment workers, mostly women. carried the documents to the Accord’s Dhaka office. ing capacity. The Accord assessed the number of steel bars in each col- “They found problems, they shut it down and we realized Factory inspections umn as 14-20, the lower range of which would be considered the repairs they have suggested will take eight months,” said The collapse of the eight-storey Rana Plaza building in April unsafe, whereas company officials said it was 32-35. “We Inamul Haque Khan, managing director of Ananta Garments. 2013 brutally exposed the inadequacy of the safety regime in advised them to close down the top floor immediately and go “Nobody had an answer to what happens to the workers, who Bangladesh, where 5,600 garment factories are inspected by for a detailed engineering analysis,” Brad Loewen, chief safety pays their salaries.” He said he would pay workers’ salaries for different local agencies that often lack sufficient technical inspector of the Accord, said. Loewen said the owners returned one more month before laying them off as he could not afford equipment and the required expertise. The disaster led to the and challenged the numbers with their own documents. The to pay more. Several garment factory owners said they were creation of the Accord on Fire and Building Safety, an inspection Accord stuck with its findings, but decided to consider the steel already absorbing most of a 79-percent increase in the mini- group led by European retailers, and the North American strength of each column was 20 bars, at the top of its range, mum monthly wage to $68 that was imposed by the govern- brands-led Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, which rather than 14, which meant operations could continue, he said. ment last December, because global brands are baulking at together are scrutinizing around 2,100 factories. Sonia & Sweaters had cleared a safety inspection by Wal- paying higher prices.—Reuters

Obama pitches economic priorities in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS: President Barack Obama is pitch- tunity to argue that Democrats have not forgot- ing his ideas to boost the American middle class ten the middle class. Although his push to get in Minnesota, a state that already has embraced a Congress to raise the federal minimum wage to key component of the president’s economic $10.10 an hour has sputtered, a half-dozen states agenda by moving to raise its minimum wage. have responded to Obama’s call to action by rais- Obama was closing a two-day trip to the ing state wages on their own. Minneapolis area yesterday with a speech on the Lawmakers in Minnesota recently approved economy at a castle-shaped bandshell on pictur- raising the state’s minimum wage from $6.15 an esque Lake Harriet. He’ll seek to frame his agenda hour to $9.50 an hour by 2016, and added protec- in terms that resonate for Americans still strug- tions for women in the workplace. Obama’s aides gling financially despite the recovery, reinforcing say increasing momentum on the state level can a populist “on your side” economic push that put pressure on Congress to ensure all Americans Obama and Democrats are making in the run-up are paid a wage that lets them live middle-class to the 2014 midterm elections. lives if they work full time. “It must feel kind of discouraging, because it Obama opened his Minnesota swing Thursday doesn’t feel like what’s being talked about in by launching what the White House has dubbed a Washington has anything to do with what’s going “Day in the Life” tour whereby Obama will spend on in your lives day today,” Obama said Thursday time this summer with Americans across the during a town hall meeting in a Minneapolis park. country who are fighting uphill battles to enter or “And it must feel as if sometimes you’re just for- stay in the middle class despite their best efforts gotten.” Minnesota offers Obama a prime oppor- to be responsible and productive citizens. —AP MINNEAPOLIS: President Barack Obama waves to people yesterday. — AP 28, 2014 SATURDAY, JUNE JUNE SATURDAY,

www.kuwaittimes.net

Lebanese Diva Magida El-Roumi holds a national flag as she bows to the public during her concert on the opening night of the Beiteddine fes- tival in the Lebanese Shouf moun- tains, southeast of Beirut, on Thursday. — AFP

Mexico City circus acts fear animal ban

SEE PAGE 27 SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014

Conrad Murray felt like a ‘father figure’ to Michael Jackson

he disgraced physician - who was convict- view with CNN: “I have suffered a lot. There is ed of the involuntary manslaughter of the no doubt about it. But I don’t hate Michael. TKing of Pop following his death from acute Michael did not do me wrong. He did not want Propofol intoxication five years ago - is this to happen to me. “Whatever happened to “remorseful” over the star’s passing, but still Michael when I was not there is probably his insists he wasn’t involved in his death. He said: own misjudgment. And I believe that that clear- “I’m not [a murderer]... “You know, I am very ly happened because he was illogical, he was remorseful that Michael has passed away. irrational, and he was in the withdrawal state Michael was a friend. “And he touched me in so from Demerol.” The 61-year-old medic claims he many ways, that I felt like a father figure to still grieves the star every day and longs to Michael, though I wasn’t old enough to be his speak to his children Prince, 17, Paris, 16, and dad. I felt as though I was protecting Michael all Blanket, 12, again. He said: “The loss is monu- the time. I did. “I give Michael a sense of confi- mental. I grieve for Michael every day and I dence and protection that he never had. And grieve for those children. “They would come he was not about to lose that.” Although Murray into my arms every day. That warmed his heart. - who can no longer practise medicine - claims Maybe there will be a day when they would like to have “suffered” a lot since the star’s passing, to speak to me.” he insists he doesn’t blame the ‘Thriller’ hitmak- er, who he is adamant administered the lethal dose of painkillers himself. He added in an inter-

Keira Knightley says karaoke is her ‘idea of hell’

he ‘Begin Again’ actress - who plays aspiring Robert De Niro singer Greta in the upcoming comedy-drama - Ttook vocal lessons for the movie and insisted she won’t be seen singing in a bar. She told the New halts filming to York Post newspaper’s Page Six column: “I hate karaoke. It’s my idea of hell.” Keira recently joked while she was pleased with her voice in the movie, watch World Cup she wanted to “sound like Adele”, adding that when she sings in the shower she likes to think she’s the he 70-year-old actor took a break from shooting ‘Rolling in the Deep’ hitmaker. She previously said: “I ‘The Intern’ in Brooklyn to watch the USA play had actually done it on one other movie but in a very TGermany in the World Cup after finding a group different style, but no, I’ve never sung like this. I was of fans in a nearby house who were hosting a viewing actually quite disappointed that I didn’t sound like party. Executives on the movie had originally asked Adele. “You know when you’re in the shower and officials at a nearby apartment building to help the you’re just singing and you think, ‘Wow, I sound really movie legend be able to see the game in his trailer. good right now. I sound so good I could totally do An email was sent which read: “Our lead actor, Robert that Adele thing’. And then you get into a recording De Niro, would very much like to watch the World studio, as I did, and you think, ‘Oh, no, I can’t do the Cup game, today at 12 pm. Would it be possible to Adele thing.’ “ place a small portable satellite on the building rooftop ASAP and run a cable to the street to help facilitate this request?” However, following the request, a resident stepped in to invite the ‘Taxi Driver’ star to watch it with them. A neighbour told the Business Insider: “We got another email from a he ‘What We Did On Our Holiday’ stars were neighbour saying he talked to the crew and appar- Rosamund Pike, joined by their young co-stars Emilia Jones, 12, ently he found a house of people watching it and TBobby Smalldridge, nine, and six-year-old joined them.” Production was halted for two hours so Harriet Turnbull at Chessington World of Adventures the legendary actor could enjoy the game. David Tennant in Surrey, South England, and though they had a “lovely” day, it wasn’t as fun as it could have been have a ‘bonding day’ because the former ‘Doctor Who’ star kept getting mobbed by fans. Rosamund said: “We had a lovely, at a theme park but quite difficult day.” However, the 35-year-old actress believed the trip was worthwhile because it helped when shooting the movie, which follows a divorcing couple who travel with their children from London to Scotland to celebrate the kids’ grandfa- ther’s birthday. She said: “I really believed in us as a family-I believed in the five of us.” And the on-screen family were sad when filming in Scotland came to an end. She told the Daily Mail newspaper: “We made the grounds of that house our own, and had our base camp there. We had a sitting room where we’d read the papers, watch YouTube, muck around with the children. We’d go for dinner in the evenings. “Everybody was tearful when it became time to go and I think it was a really profound experience for those children. Harriet, the little one, had never done any filming before, and Bobby and Emilia were love- ly, too.” SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014

Susan Sarandon knew Brad would be ‘something special’

he 67-year-old actress starred alongside the actor in his breakout movie ‘Thelma & Louise’ and says even so early Tin his career he made performing look “easy”. She said: “He’s told stories about how professional I was and how I made him a professional-I don’t remember any of that! “It seemed like it was absolutely, absolutely easy for him. When I saw the movie and I saw him in the scene in the police station, that’s when I knew that he really was something special. “There was really something there. He’s a very smart guy.” Meanwhile, Susan’s co-star Geena Davis, 58, admits she found it difficult shooting a love scene with Brad. She said: “ It was very challenging! I just didn’t know how to get into it.” And Geena also worried she’d ruined the ‘Moneyball’ star’s audi- tion before he even got the part. She told The Hollywood Reporter: “I actually read with him first-there were five candi- dates for the role. “And then he came in-this is so embarrass- ing-but I got a little distracted during the scene, you know? I was forgetting my lines. I was like, ‘I’m totally screwing up this kid’s audition’.”

Cheryl Cole’s new Olivia Palermo boyfriend planning married he 28-year-old beauty reportedly secretly tied the birthday party knot with German model Johannes Huebl - who Tshe has been in a relationship with since 2008 - at he ‘Crazy Stupid Love’ hitmaker will turn 31 next Monday Manhattan’s City Hall last Saturday, with just three and her French lover Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini is guests in tow. The couple had reportedly planned to tie Teager to help her celebrate in style by throwing a lavish the knot in St. Barts - where Johannes proposed last bash for her over the weekend. The 33-year-old restaurant December - later this year but brought the date forward owner is hoping to reserve new celebrity hotspot Chiltern as the model had been experiencing issues with his visa Firehouse in west London for the exclusive party, which will be which may have meant he had to leave the US sooner. A catered by his own eatery, Cosy Box. Guests are expected to seems the star is hoping for a simpler affair than her raucous source told the New York Post newspaper: “They were include ‘X Factor’ boss Simon Cowell and Cheryl’s closest getaway to Las Vegas for her 30th birthday last year. The planning a big wedding in the fall, but Johannes left friends, her former Girls Aloud bandmates Kimberley Walsh insider added: “The best thing about this birthday for Cheryl is Wilhelmina Models last year, and he currently isn’t with and Nicola Roberts. A source told the Daily Star newspaper: that she’ll have Jean-Bernard on her arm for the whole week- an agency, and was told he would have to leave the US “Cheryl knows there’s going to be a party, but doesn’t know all end. “She’s excited to show him off to her nearest and dear- in September. “Olivia’s friends were surprised when they the details yet. “But she’s excited and has already invited her est. However, she doesn’t want it to be as boozy as her 30th got married at City Hall on Saturday, with the only guests friends along, including Simon Cowell and former Girls Aloud was last year.” being his friend Ulli Saeuberlich and her parents, who bandmates Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts.” Cheryl can’t weren’t happy with the rush, but decided to be there at wait to celebrate her 31st birthday with her new man, but it the last minute.” However, a spokesperson for the for- mer ‘City’ star insisted they are “not married yet”, though she did admit they were planning a small ceremony this month ahead of a bigger celebration later. Barbara Saint-Aime insisted: “They had always planned to have a Ellie Goulding finds it hard to maintain a relationship small civil wedding in June. The whole visa thing is not relevant. They have been together for six-and-a-half he 27-year-old singer admits it’s a constant battle to keep the years, they got engaged this past January. They travel so romance alive in her relationship with McFly musician Dougie much during the summer, they really don’t have much TPoynter, 26, as she’s required to jet around the world for her pop time to plan things. They are not married yet. They are career. She explained: “I’ve definitely met someone. You get to know doing a much smaller civil ceremony in the States this someone who makes you very happy and then you go away on tour, month and they are planning to do something much right when it was just getting somewhere awesome. It’s not fun, but larger later on.” Olivia previously hinted she planned to we can make it work. Love is beyond everything, beyond the uni- marry outside of the US. She said recently: “Johannes’ verse.” The ‘Beating Heart’ songstress - who recently earned a BRIT friends and family are all over Europe and my parents are Award for Best Female Solo Artist - also confessed she only discovered happy to travel, so it will probably be somewhere in the her passion for music after taking up guitar playing to impress a love middle. Then you will always have a special place in your interest. She told Self magazine: “I started playing guitar to impress a heart for the destination where you got married.” guy, but all of a sudden I was more engrossed in the guitar than the guy and playing it became my everything. It was a big deal, because I started singing my own songs.” Ellie’s road to pop stardom wasn’t without its difficulties, however, as the singer was crippled by anxiety while recording her debut album ‘Lights’. She recalled: “I’d have these faux heart attacks that felt real. There was so much adrenalin.” SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014

This photograph shows members of the Afghan national women’s cycling team riding their road bikes in Paghman district of Kabul province. Trundling down dun-coloured mountain slopes, they disregard hard stares and vulgarities from passing men, revelling in an activity that seemed unthinkable for previous generations of Afghan women — riding a bicycle. The sight of a woman on a bicycle may not be unusual in most parts of the world, but it is a striking anomaly in Afghanistan where strict Islamic mores deem the sport unbecoming for women. The countryís 10-member national women’s cycling team is challenging those gender stereotypes, often at great personal risk, training their eyes not just on the 2020 Olympics but a goal even more ambi- tious — to get more Afghan women on bikes. — AFP photos Bicycle a new metaphor of freedom for Afghan women

rundling down dun-coloured mountain slopes, they ignore ‘Living my dream’ injured her back in the incident, which drove Mohammed Sadiq, hard stares and vulgarities from passing men, revelling in an Fully cloaked in black, the mother of one cyclist came out to head of the Afghan Cycling Federation who was trailing the women Tactivity that seemed unthinkable for previous generations of cheer them on the way to Paghman, waving, applauding, and exud- in his SUV, into a paroxysm of fury. Afghan women-riding a bicycle. The sight of a woman on a bicycle ing enthusiasm that is not shared by most of her extended family. He chased down the men-the two pillion riders escaped, but he may not be unusual in most parts of the world, but it is a striking “My daughter is living my dream,” said Maria Rasooli, mother of 20- caught the driver by his collar and hauled him over to the police anomaly in Afghanistan where strict Islamic mores deem the sport year-old university student Firoza. headquarters. Sadiq, who established the team in 2003 after his own unbecoming for women. “My parents never allowed me to ride a bicycle. I can’t let the daughter expressed an interest in cycling, said the women’s safety The country’s 10-member national women’s cycling team is chal- same happen,” she said, adding that she and her husband kept rela- was a constant concern-and plans for international troops to pull lenging those gender stereotypes, often at great personal risk, train- tives and neighbours in the dark about their daughter’s sport out of Afghanistan by 2016 has perpetuated those anxieties. ing their eyes not just on the 2020 Olympics but a goal even more because “they just won’t understand”. “If the Taleban return, the first casualty will be women’s rights,” ambitious-to get more Afghan women on bikes. “For us, the bicycle Thirteen years since the Taliban were toppled from power in a he said in an interview in Kabul’s old city. As he spoke, half a dozen is a symbol of freedom,” said Marjan Sidiqqi, 26, a team member US-led invasion, Afghan women have taken giant strides of progress young women, some sporting kohl-accented eyes and henna-dyed who is also the assistant coach. “We are not riding bikes to make a with access to education and healthcare. Female lawmakers are no hair, convened in his living room for a discussion about nutrition political statement. We’re riding because we want to, because we longer an anomaly in Afghan politics and the ongoing election saw and diet with Shannon Galpin, an American competitive cyclist who love to, because if our brothers can, so can we.” the participation of the country’s first woman vice presidential can- is coaching the team for the forthcoming Asian Games in South One crisp morning, dressed in tracksuit bottoms, jerseys and hel- didate. That marks a sea change in women’s rights from the Taliban- Korea. Back on the training ride, the exhausted girls gathered by a mets, Marjan and half a dozen team members, all aged between 17 era, when women weren’t allowed to leave their homes without a freshwater stream in Paghman to refuel on naan bread, raisins and and 21, set out for a training ride from Kabul to the hills of neigh- male chaperone and were brutally repressed and consigned to the cottage cheese. Near a roadside kiosk where fresh plums, cherries bouring Paghman. Mindful of turning heads and ogling eyes, they shadows. But gender parity still remains a distant dream as conser- and mulberries dangled from strings, a curious Afghan man sidled rode in the amber light of dawn through a landscape of grassy vative attitudes prevail. That sentiment is portrayed in a mural by up to Marjan. “Are you with those cyclists going around the moun- knolls, fruit orchards and tree-lined boulevards. A little boy dressed graffiti artist Shamsia Hassani on the walls of a Kabul cafe: burqa- tain?” he asked. Startled, Marjan’s eyes darted around as she braced in a grubby shalwar kameez stopped by the wayside and stared at clad women trapped in a watery universe-an allegory of women in for trouble. “Yes,” she replied hesitantly. “Are they boys or girls?” the the girls with wonder and amazement. the post-Taliban era who have a voice but still cannot be heard. man enquired. Marjan’s face lit up with bravado. “Girls,” she beamed Up ahead, dour-looking bearded men in a Toyota minivan pulled proudly. — AFP up parallel to the cyclists-their stares were more menacing. But the ‘Boys or girls?’ wheels continued to spin as the women powered ahead undaunt- It’s hard to reason with self-proclaimed arbiters of “morality” who ed. They have become accustomed to the hostility, often accompa- regard a woman mounted on a bicycle as unconceivably risque, say nied by insults: “Wh....” “Slut.” “You’re bringing dishonour to your members of the cycling team. On a recent training session outside families.” “Go home.” But the team say they are emboldened despite Kabul, three young Afghan men riding a motorbike swooped out of such attitudes-partly due to the encouraging support from unex- nowhere and sideswiped one of the cyclists, 18-year-old Sadaf pected quarters. Nazari, who tripped and tumbled on top of Marjan. Marjan badly

This photograph taken on June 9, 2014 shows members of the Afghan national women’s cycling team having breakfast following their training in Paghman district of Kabul province. — AFP SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014

Yellow tang aquarium fish swim in a tank at a store in Aiea, Hawaii, on June 25, 2014. Scientists say the aquarium fishery off the Big Island is among the best managed in the world, but it’s nev- ertheless become the focus of a fight over whether it’s ever appropriate to remove fish from reefs for people to look at and enjoy. — AP Hawaii at center of battle over aquarium fish

he waters off the Hawaii’s largest island are home to a half-mil- trade. Robert Wintner, the owner of the Hawaii dive shop chain New rules lion brightly-colored tropical fish that are scooped up into nets Snorkel Bob’s and vice president of Sea Shepherd’s board, lobbied The population growth has spilled over into areas where fish col- Teach year and flown across the globe into aquariums from the state Legislature for years to ban aquarium fish collecting but lecting is allowed. A local fisheries advisory council - made up of Berlin to Boston. Scientists say the aquarium fishery off the Big the bills didn’t pass. Wintner and others sued the state in 2012, say- environmentalists, divers, fish collectors, tourism industry officials Island is among the best managed in the world, but it has neverthe- ing environmental studies should be conducted before collection and others - recently moved to strengthen the regulations. Their less become the focus of a fight over whether it’s ever appropriate permits are issued. A state judge rejected the lawsuit, but the plain- new rules limit species that collectors may capture to a list of 40. to remove fish from reefs for people to look at and enjoy.Activists tiffs are appealing. Arielle Levine, a San Diego State University marine conservation have launched a campaign to shut down the buying and selling of Long said Sea Shepherd came to Hawaii to help Wintner and expert who recently co-authored a paper on the success of the no- fish for aquariums, saying the practice from Hawaii to the other local activists. He said the group doesn’t intend to “harass, collection zones, said they’re doing “an impressive job” of protect- Philippines is destroying coral reefs. “In this day and age, where the attack or engage an individual fisherman who is trying to put food ing and increasing fish populations. ocean faces a crisis ... there’s absolutely no justification for a fishery on the table.” The group is focusing on filming and documenting to Other factors harming the area’s coral reefs haven’t been as well for hobby,” said Mike Long of Seattle-based Sea Shepherd bring attention to what he called “a very fragile ecosystem out there managed, she said. Reefs are being smothered when sediment and Conservation Society, which is spearheading the campaign. A coali- that is being depleted for the sole benefit of a multi-billion dollar nutrients like fertilizer wash into the ocean from coastal housing and tion of fishermen, state regulators and even local environmentalists industry for the home and business hobbyist.” Fish collectors say the hotel developments. Algae-eating fish that would prevent excessive say the group should focus its attention elsewhere, noting compre- filming isn’t harmless, saying it could scare away skittish fish. West plant growth from choking the reefs are heavily fished for food. hensive aquarium fishery regulations and scientific research that Hawaii’s aquarium fish collecting rules date to the late 1990s, when Andy Rhyne, an assistant professor at Roger Williams University and shows fish stocks there are rebounding. the state Legislature, responding to concerns about declining fish New England Aquarium research scientist, said the fishery’s man- stocks, banned fish collecting along sections of the coastline. agement could still be improved but regulations have “really Cyanide Today, collecting is prohibited on 35 percent of the coast. worked.” “This is not a debate or data or science. It’s an emotional “We don’t have a problem here anymore,” said Tina Owens of Scientific surveys show yellow tang populations have jumped 88 argument,” Rhyne said. — AP the local environmental group Lost Fish Coalition. Scientists esti- percent in these areas since the regulations went into effect, said mate the aquarium trade removes about 30 million fish from reefs Brian Tissot, a Humbolt State University conservation biologist who around the world. Hawaii accounts for less than 2 percent, while the has studied the fishery for decades. Numbers of goldring surgeon- vast majority comes from Indonesia and the Philippines. fish, the second most-caught aquarium fish, climbed 57 percent. Some fishermen in these countries capture fish by pumping cyanide into the water to make fish sluggish and easier to catch. The chemical may also harm nearby marine life, as well as shorten the captured fish’s life span. The Philippines has long prohibited cyanide fishing and in April banned certain types of fishing gear that destroy coral reefs and other marine habitat, said Asis Perez, director of the government’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Hawaii collectors use nets to capture fish. Local collectors may sell one yel- low tang - the most commonly caught species on the Big Island’s west coast - for about $3 or $4. With middlemen adding costs to store and ship them, the fish may retail for anywhere between $30 and $60. Long said Sea Shepherd would take the campaign to Indonesia and the Philippines as well, but didn’t offer details. The group is known for using aggressive tactics - even violence - to achieve its aims, as when its members rammed Japanese whaling ships in Antarctica and hurled glass containers of acid at the vessels. A federal judge called them pirates. Conflict over the aquarium fish industry shot into the limelight last month when Sea Shepherd activists wearing cameras approached two fish collectors working underwater in West Hawaii. One collector swam to one of the activists and ripped her scuba air regulator out of her mouth. Both the fish collector and the activist filed complaints against each another. Prosecutors are reviewing evidence but haven’t decided whether to file charges.

Shut down Local activists have long pushed to shut down Hawaii’s aquarium This undated file photo from Oregon State University shows a school of yellow tang off the coast of Hawaii. — AP SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014

Maison Martin Margiela Assange asked to model during London Fashion Week

ulian Assange has been asked to star in a fashion show by British designer Ben Westwood at Ecuador’s JLondon embassy, where the WikiLeaks founder is cur- rently holed up in a bid to avoid extradition to Sweden. Former erotic photographer Westwood, son of leg- endary British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, wants “good looking” Assange, 42, to appear with six other mod- els as part of a fringe event during London Fashion Week in September. “Julian is a popular hero,” the designer said in a state- ment given to AFP. “He has done a great deal to change public opinion. “Through WikiLeaks people have been able to compare the facts with the official version of the story. “He is a good-looking man and I hope he is going to model,” he added. Mother Vivienne is also a keen support- er of Assange, and wore a T-shirt with the slogan “I am Julian Assange” when she paid him a visit at the embassy in 2012. Other celebrities to visit Assange have included Lady Gaga and director Oliver Stone. Hollywood A-lister George Clooney has been invited to the show, which is inspired by Clint Eastwood’s costume in the spaghetti western films, according to Westwood’s PR spokesman. Assange first sought refuge at the embassy on June 19, 2012, to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is under investigation on allegations of sexual assault. Anti-rape campaigner Jill Saward criticised the decision to ask Assange to model as “distasteful”. “It’s fashionable to get on board (with his cause),” she told the Times. “I find it really distasteful. What they should be saying is go and clear your name and then we will support you, but to hold this event for a man who has cost this government millions of pounds is wrong. “The message that’s going to come across is ‘We don’t care what he might have done’.” — AFP Junya Watanabe SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014

The entrance to the circus is vacant between performances in Mexico City. Sandwiched between a Samís Club and a Wal-Mart on the outskirts of the city the circus has been in existence in one location or another in the city for five generations. — AP photos Mexico City circus acts fear animal ban he small audience claps as Alex Fuentes dances to Michael transport, along with small enclosures and aggressive training Jackson’s “Billy Jean,” as he does every night. His lackluster methods. Tmoves wouldn’t get much attention were it not for his part- Mexico City and six of Mexico’s 32 states have now banned cir- ner - a 300-pound Bengal tiger perched on two paws bobbing cus animals. Nationwide bans on circus animals have swept alongside him. through Latin America recently, and Fuentes, along with other Armed with a whip, Fuentes coaches his five tigers through a performers at his family’s circus, fear a Mexican federal law is sure series of surreal acts as parents and children ooh and aah. to follow the capital’s law goes into effect. For five generations, Fuentes’ family has been running the Fuentes says he worries people won’t come to the circus just Fuentes Gasca Brothers Circus in Mexico City, but a new law has for their acrobatic, trapeze and clown acts. “It’s the circus, it’s him worried about its future. Last week Mexico City’s legislative magical,” the 32-year-old Fuentes said. “It’s what I’ve dedicated assembly banned the use of animals in circuses, responding to my life to since I was 15 and now they want to take away from months of pressure from animal activists. me.”— AP A circus clown participates in a protest against approved leg- The law is set to take effect a year from now, and it promises islation that bans the use of animals in circuses, in Mexico steep fines for noncompliance. Anima Naturalis, one of the City. Circus performers in Mexico City fear that without their groups supporting the measure, say the exotic animals used in animals they will not survive because they believe people the circus are often exposed to long periods of uncomfortable won’t want to come to only see the clowns, the acrobats and trapeze artists.

Trapeze artists Bebeto Fuentes, left, and his brothers, Alex, center, and A tiger jumps through a ring of fire during a Circus performers ride a horse during one of their routines Juventino, right, perform at the Fuentes Gasca Brothers Circus in Mexico City. performance of the Fuentes Gasca Brothers with the Fuentes Gasca Brothers Circus in Mexico City. Circus. SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014

Mark Tyoe and his wife Linda pose in the gallery of their Wintergreen Knoll business on A bear sculpture that is in progress is seen on Thursday, in Salisbury, NY. Thursday, in Salisbury, NY. The upstate New York artist’s detailed renderings of curious bears, soaring eagles and other wildlife scenes have won him acclaim and earned him a living for many years. — AP Photos Bear sculptures A man, a plan, a log, a chainsaw

embrandt worked in oils. Michelangelo carved marble. Full-time occupation Mark Tyoe chainsaws big tree trunks. At his home just south Chainsaw art has been growing in popularity and Tyoe is Rof New York’s Adirondack Mountains, Tyoe carves soaring among more than 100 artists nationwide who make it a full-time eagles, grizzled mountain men and wolves from white pine. But occupation, said Milton Lowden, who runs the chainsawsculp- he mostly carves bears, his specialty. Tyoe earns a living as a tors.com website from Iron River, Michigan. Lowden, whose site chainsaw artist, turning big logs into improbably fluid sculptures lists artists who take commissions from Arkansas to Azerbaijan, with nothing more than a tool that some use to cut firewood. said Tyoe is the rare artist who sculpts solely with chainsaws, On a recent day, Tyoe worked on his rural property transform- avoiding other tools for detail work (afterward, his wife will burn ing a phone booth-sized piece of white pine into a woodland off splintery bits, buff the char into the wood grain and help with scene of a mama bear reaching for a honeycomb in a tree trunk the finish). with her cub at her feet. Over the whine of a two-stroke engine, Tyoe carefully zigzagged his saw tip to create the texture of the mama bear’s fur. “I try to be realistic, a lot of details, correct pro- portion, anatomy, bone structure, posture,” he said during a break. Bears are to chainsaw art what bowls of fruit are to ama- teur still-life painters: a lot of people try their hand at it with vary- Mark Tyoe uses a chainsaw as he carves a bear sculpture ing degrees of success. Many of the bears found at state fairs and from white pine on Thursday, in Salisbury. roadside stands are rough-cut creatures with overalls or fishing poles that look like they could be plotting to steal picnic baskets at Jellystone Park.

Fascinate Tyoe is more of a naturalist. He aims to capture a detailed essence of Northeast wildlife, especially bears. “Bears always fasci- nate people. I mean, if I could have a real bear for a pet, even, for a model, for inspiration, I would,” he said. “But it wouldn’t be the right thing to do - for the bear.” At age 54, Tyoe has Popeye forearms from two decades of chainsaw sculpting. He works outside across the road from the A spool of chain for chainsaws sit on a table in Mark Tyoe’s log home where he and his wife Linda raised their family. He work area on Thursday, in Salisbury, NY. prefers to work with white pine, a medium soft wood that resists cracking and rotting. The raw material for this his current sculp- “He and a few others are purists that way, and that’s what sets ture was a 19th-century white pine that towered in the them aside,” Lowden said.Tyoe can turn out hundreds of thigh- Adirondacks until it was cut earlier this year. high bear statues a year that sell for $225 and up. He doesn’t even Though always good at art, Tyoe only started chainsaw art in need to plan them out. “I just use my imagination,” he said. “No his 30s. Intrigued by a chainsaw carver he’d watch on family vaca- sketching. Stand up a piece of wood and visualize what I want tions at Lake George in the Adirondacks, he finally tried it himself and start on the tip of the nose.” Larger, commissioned “master- after a seasonal layoff from welding. piece” sculptures like the woodland scene of the mama bear and Tyoe made more than $1,000 at his first show and soon started her cub take weeks to complete and cost around $3,500. It is racking up awards in regional carving competitions. He never headed for a private home not far from the forest where the tree looked back. His chainsaws are not much different from the ones once stood. — AP used by weekend warriors. They’re stripped down to cut down on weight and the metal bar the chain whizzes around comes to a Mark Tyoe poses with a chainsaw in his work area. rounded point to accommodate detailed carving. SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014

Michael Jackson has sold more albums since his death ichael Jackson passed away on June 25, 2009 but beyond that he struggled to sell a million albums and, as might have been expected, has had per year. Since his death, he’s averaging more than Mtremendous album sales since. In the imme- two-and-a-half million per year. The numbers are diate aftermath of his death, Jackson’s album and dig- somewhat front-skewed, though, as Jackson sold ital sales skyrocketed, but that strong sales trend has more than 2 million albums in the three weeks imme- continued for the past five years. diately following his death. In fact, the past five years have been some of the Digital singles saw a similar posthumous jump.In strongest in sales for Jackson since Nielsen the five years since his death, Jackson has sold 24.168 SoundScan’s inception in 1991. According to the com- million digital tracks, averaging 4.83 million per year, pany’s data, Michael Jackson has sold 13.228 million understanding again that the data is front-loaded as a albums since his death. In the five years prior to his result of the immediate sales spike following the death (2004-2008), he sold a combined total of 3.934 singer’s death. million, less than 30% of his sales since his death. Jackson sold almost as many digital tracks in the Even adding in the six months of album sales prior first two weeks after his death than he did in all of to his death in June 2009 only raises the total to 4.231 2008. He sold 2.3 million digital singles the week end- million albums. ing June 28, 2009, and 2.016 million the following That’s a remarkable increase of 68% in album sales week. His total for 2008 was 2.8 million. for the five year period following his death. In fact, it Jackson passed away while rehearsing for a series takes Jackson’s combined sales from 1996 to 2008 to of 50 concerts in London titled “This Is It,” with the even come close to his sales in the past five years. In singer suggesting retirement after the show. The pre- that 13-year span, Jackson sold 13.152 million albums. vious years had seen financial struggles for the singer, Jackson’s annual sales took a huge hit in the mid- but the tremendous interest in the concert series, ’90s when the first child sexual abuse allegations were which was extended from an original 10-concert plan brought against him. Jackson settled the case out of due to record-breaking ticket sales, was poised to court in 1994, but the impact on his sales was tremen- bring in millions. — Reuters dous and mostly continued throughout the rest of his life. Sales dropped from more than 2 million in 1993 to 555,000 in 1994. He would face additional accusa- tions in the 2000s, for which he would ultimately be acquitted, but his sales never recovered from these scandals. Egyptian actress Basma talks to fellow actor Hisham Slim during Album releases in 1995 (“HIStory”) and 2001 the shooting on April 10, 2014 in Cairo of one of the episodes of (“Invincible”) boosted Jackson’s sales for those years, “Ahl Alexandria” (the people of Alexandria, in Arabic), a televi- sion soap opera featuring a corrupt police officer, that was banned days before it was to be aired because the censors believe it shows police in a negative light. — AFP photos

Egyptian actress Basma talks to fellow actor Hisham Slim dur- Egyptian actor Amr Waked, playing the role of a policeman, talks on the phone while Lebanese actress Darine Hamzeh sits ing the shooting on April 10, 2014 in Cairo of one of the next to him during the shooting in Cairo of one of the episodes of “Ahl Alexandria” (the people of Alexandria, in Arabic). episodes of “Ahl Alexandria” (the people of Alexandria, in Arabic). TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014

Powerful body that runs Internet backbone mulls future

LONDON: Some came in suits, some came in stilettos, and some came in sci-fi t-shirts, but together they could shape the future of the Internet. In a London hotel, over 3,300 technicians, government representatives, academics and members of the domain name industry gathered this week for the largest ever meeting of the powerful body that runs the Internet’s key infrastructure: the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Its name is one of numerous acronyms that can make the world of the Internet’s managing forces seem impene- trable to outsiders. But its policies are of enormous impor- tance, deciding what addresses like .com, .org or .fr exist, and who has the right to use them. Over the last two years, ICANN has overseen the highest ever expansion of these generic Top-Level Domains-it awarded .catholic to the Vatican, but opted to give .amazon to the South American region rather than the online business. It must balance the demands of myriad corporations, interest groups and governments, eking out compromises to ensure the system sticks to one set of rules and does not split into regional ‘internets’. To this end, ICANN is trying to transform itself from an institution overseen by the US gov- ernment into a globally representative body-and some say This product image provided by Harmon Kardon shows the HTC One M8 smartphone and AE-S Premium headphones. The now is the time to change how it is run. phone features Clari-Fi, a new technology from Harman Kardon, which aims to restore some of the audio signal that is lost “ICANN’s procedures highlight its inability to take into because of digital compression in today’s download and streaming formats. — AP account the legitimate concerns of states,” the French dele- gation to ICANN said in a statement Wednesday. “Today ICANN is not the appropriate forum to discuss Internet governance.” The attack followed a standoff over the .wine and .vin domains, which France believes should US seeks resumption of be legally protected, in a similar way to how the European Union limits who can use the drink label ‘Champagne’. ICANN’s leadership dismisses the French characterisa- tion that it is opaque and lacks accountability, contending cyber talks with China that it is a pioneer in transparency that needs little advice from governments. “When I prepare a draft budget, let alone a draft plan, even before it’s vetted by my leaders it’s WASHINGTON: The United States next month will urge China to efforts on our agenda in the region,” Russel added, “and that put on the Internet for anyone to comment on,” said Jean- resume discussions on cybersecurity that were suspended applies to the president and vice president as well.” Jacques Sahel, ICANN’s Vice President of Stakeholder abruptly after the US charged five Chinese military officers with Kerry and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew will lead the US delega- Engagement for Europe. “Tell me what corporation, interna- hacking into US companies to steal trade secrets, a US official said tion at the talks in Beijing, which are an annual fixture and viewed tional organisation or government consults on its draft Thursday. as important in forging a more cooperative relationship with budget and draft plans at such a detailed level?” Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel told The Associated Beijing, notwithstanding current frictions and China’s growing Press the US would push for a resumption of the cyber working challenge to America’s post-World War II military predominance Strange contraption group when Cabinet-level officials of both sides meet at the in the Asia-Pacific. ICANN’s complex and unusual structure grew out of the annual US-China Security and Economic Dialogue in Beijing in the The two sides will discuss issues including turmoil in the peculiarities of the early Internet, when its core job was second week of July. Middle East, North Korea’s nuclear program and cooperation on done by just one man: Jon Postel, a California computer sci- After the indictments against the five officers were unsealed in climate change, and the US will raise human rights. They’ll also entist known as the ‘God of the Internet’. May, Beijing pulled the plug on the group. It had been set up a address a slew of economic and trade issues, including progress “It’s a strange contraption. It’s a private corporation but year ago in what Washington viewed at the time as a diplomatic on a bilateral investment treaty that China agreed to negotiate in it’s making public policy,” said Milton Mueller, a professor at coup after President Barack Obama and China’s President Xi earnest at last year’s talks. the Syracuse University School of Information Studies who Jinping held a summit in California, aiming to set relations While the cyber working group remains on hold, Russel said has worked in ICANN’s decision-making process. between the two global powers on a positive track. the US side will raise concerns over cyber-enabled theft of US cor- “It’s like what Winston Churchill said about democracy- Those ties have come under growing strain, also because of porate data and intellectual property that the US contends is it’s the worst system apart from all the others.” Its board of China’s assertive actions in the disputed South and East China shared with Chinese state-owned enterprises for commercial 21 directors is partly appointed by an independent commit- seas. Russel, the top US diplomat for East Asia, reiterated those gain. tee, and is split between various stakeholders and industry concerns Thursday, saying the US views it as essential that China bodies, with governments and ‘Internet users’ represented show greater restraint and use diplomacy to manage its differ- Tactics by a board member each. Decisions are made through ences on territorial issues. “That’s an economic problem as well as a bilateral problem, ‘rough consensus’, according to which suggestions that are Asian nations, particularly treaty allies like Japan and the and that kind of behavior risks undermining the support for the put to ICANN are developed into a report by a committee, Philippines, look to the US to counter China’s increasingly muscu- US-China relationship among the US and international business which is then put out for public review, and discussed and lar actions, but some in the region have voiced doubts about community,” Russel said. “It’s a problem we believe the Chinese revised until a consensus is reached, or as a last resort the whether the second-term Obama administration can follow must and can address.” board decides. Currently under debate: the question of who through on its commitment to focus on the Asia-Pacific, because Although the revelations from former National Security should have access to the contact details of anyone who of its preoccupation with the chaos in the Middle East. Agency contractor Edward Snowden on US surveillance tactics registers a website domain name-currently searchable Russel said Asia remains a strategic US priority, even as have embarrassed Washington - leaving it open to accusations of through a system called Whois. Police, governments and Washington considers some form of military action to combat the hypocrisy when it accuses others of cyber espionage - the Obama copyright lawyers, not to mention journalists, have a huge rapid advances of Sunni militants in Iraq who now straddle the administration has taken an increasingly trenchant stance on interest in the data, and it raises obvious questions about border with Syria. intrusions from China. privacy. But the technical nature of the issues at stake can “The fact that events conspired to demand high-level US The indictment accused the Chinese officers of targeting US be an obstacle. A Japanese promotional video for the .jp attention in the Middle East or elsewhere is simply a fact of life,” makers of nuclear and solar technology, stealing confidential domain name manager JPRS made light of the problem, Russel said. “It’s always been thus. The strategic imperative, business information, sensitive trade secrets and internal commu- featuring an employee who brings on instant narcolepsy to though, that’s made the Asia-Pacific region a priority for us in nications for competitive advantage. But after the indictments all who overhear him describe his job. “Those jargons might security, economic and political terms is unaffected by the short- were unsealed, the five men were not placed on a public, interna- put you to sleep but this job is really important,” he tells a term demands of crises here and there.” tional list of wanted criminals. There is no evidence that China sufferer of chronic insomnia, who promptly slips into would even entertain a formal request by the US to extradite the unconsciousness.—AFP Cooperation five officers. It has rejected the charges and demanded they be “I have no trouble in enlisting Secretary (of State John) Kerry’s withdrawn. — AP TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014 Google shows off Android Auto, wearables

SAN FRANCISCO: Some 1 billion people are now the forefront of innovation by taking gambles on using Android devices, Google said as the company new, sometimes unproven technologies that take kicked off its two-day developer conference years to pay off -if at all. Driverless cars, Google Wednesday in San Francisco. But the online search Glass, smartwatches and thinking thermostats are leader’s effort to broaden its focus beyond smart- just some of its more far-off bets. phones and tablets was on full display as the com- On the home front, Google’s Nest Labs -which pany unveiled far-reaching plans to push further makes network-connected thermostats and smoke into the living room, the family car and the TV set. detectors- announced earlier this week that it has As part of a nearly three-hour opening presenta- created a program that allows outside developers, tion, Google gave more details about Android from tiny startups to large companies such as Wear, a version of the operating system customized Whirlpool and Mercedes-Benz, to fashion software for wearable gadgets such as smartwatches. The and “new experiences” for its products. Integration company also introduced Android Auto, which has with Mercedes-Benz, for example, might mean that been tailored to work with cars. Android TV, mean- a car can notify a Nest thermostat when it’s getting while, is optimized for TV-watching, aided by a rec- close to home, so the device can have the home’s ommendation system and voice searches for things temperature adjusted to the driver’s liking before like “Breaking Bad” or “Oscar-nominated movies he or she arrives.Nest’s founder, Tony Fadell, is an from 2002.” About 6,000 developers, bloggers and Apple veteran who helped design the iPod and the journalists flocked to the event. Following Google’s iPhone. Google bought the company earlier this recent revelation that showed that just 30 percent year for $3.2 billion. Opening the Nest platform to of its employees are women, the company touted outside developers will allow Google to move into that the number of women attending its confer- the emerging market for connected, smart home In this screenshot made Wednesday, June 25, 2014 shows The War Channel as viewed on FilmOn’s ence grew to 20 percent this year from 8 percent a devices. Experts expect that this so-called “Internet ipad app. FilmOn offers over-the-air TV channels through a website and mobile apps. — AP year earlier. of Things” phenomenon will change the way peo- “We were joking, that we’re at a tech conference ple use technology in much the same way that and there is a line to the bathroom,” said developer smartphones have changed life since the introduc- After Aereo, what’s Tricia Barton, referring to a common occurrence at tion of Apple’s iPhone seven years ago. In March, tech events - long lines to the men’s bathrooms Google released “Android Wear,” a version of its while the women’s facilities sit mostly empty. operating system tailored to computerized wrist- next for Internet TV? Barton was one of some 1,000 female I/O attendees watches and other wearable devices. Although that Google invited to networking dinners the there are already several smartwatches on the mar- night before the conference, at restaurants around ket, the devices are more popular with gadget LOS ANGELES: The Supreme Court shot down understanding that over-the-air is free,” said Mark San Francisco. Wednesday’s three-hour keynote geeks and fitness fanatics than regular consumers. Aereo’s business model this week, but that doesn’t Buff, CEO of Mohu, a company that makes flat address was interrupted at several points by pro- But Google could help change that with Android mean customers’ desire for a better TV experience indoor antennas that attach to walls. testers who were quickly escorted out. Google has Wear. Android, after all, is already the world’s most is gone. Americans are still fed up with huge chan- Mohu has sold 1.5 million antennas since it been the subject of disapproval for its use of shuttle popular smartphone operating system. nel bundles, high prices, poor service and the lack began in 2011 and they work in the kind of dense buses to ferry its employees from San Francisco to of ability to watch all their shows on all their urban areas like New York where Aereo is believed its Mountain View headquarters. The buses have Andriod One devices. That’s part of why Aereo was attractive: It to have had a small subscriber base. It is about to become a symbol of the divide between Silicon At I/O, the company announced three new offered a few dozen local broadcast channels and launch Mohu Channels, a device that blends Valley’s tech millionaires and those left out of the smartwatches running Android Wear. The LG G and the Bloomberg TV financial channel on multiple Internet video services like Netflix with free-to-air latest boom. Nonetheless, Google loyalty was the Samsung Gear Live are available on devices for just $8 a month. Industry watchers say TV in a single channel guide. apparent among conference attendees, many of Wednesday. A third one, Motorola’s Moto 360, is the pay TV business must continue to evolve to “We certainly do see and believe that the cord- whom wore Google Glass, sported Google shirts coming later this summer - an announcement that win over unhappy customers, even if the nation’s cutting movement is on the rise,” he said. Alki and collected Android-themed freebies in between drew groans from the audience, which had hoped top court said grabbing signals from the airwaves David, the CEO of online streaming company workshops, which range from the likes of “Large for an earlier date. Intent on reaching the billions of and distributing them online without content- FilmOn, said the Supreme Court’s ruling actually scale data processing in the Cloud” to “Polymer and people who don’t have a smartphone or even owner permission isn’t the way. “Even without creates an opportunity for startups because the the Web Components revolution.” Internet access, Google also unveiled an initiative Aereo, the reason people were cutting the cord, court said that Aereo bears an “overwhelming like- Google’s I/O event -a rally of sorts designed to called Android One, designed to help manufactur- for cost reasons and so on, those don’t go away,” ness” to cable companies. According to David, that get developers excited about creating apps and ers build low-cost smartphones for emerging mar- said Robin Flynn, an analyst with market research means online video companies can compel broad- devices for Google’s ecosystem- comes at a time of kets such as India. The company also showed off firm SNL Kagan. Last year, the number of pay TV casters to license their TV signals under the transition for the company, which makes most of its features of the next version of Android, which goes subscribers in the US fell for the first time, dipping “retransmission consent” rules outlined in the money from advertising thanks to its status as the by the temporary code name “Android L.” It’s been 0.1 percent to 94.6 million, according to Leichtman 1976 Copyright Act. world’s leader in online search. The company is try- designed to work across all devices as long as the Research Group. SNL estimates that 5 percent of Bundles ing to adjust to an ongoing shift to smartphones gadgets are running the operating system, so a homes will substitute pay TV with one or more That could help online video companies create and tablet computers from desktop and laptop PCs. user can check email on a smartwatch, answer the Internet video services by the end of the year, ris- small broadcast-channel only bundles for con- Though mobile advertising is growing rapidly, message on a smartphone and then delete it on a ing to 10 percent in 2017. sumers rather than 100-plus channel packages advertising aimed at PC users still generates more computer, for example. Android L will also look dif- Many companies are offering quality TV con- from traditional pay TV operators that cost more money. ferent, include more animation, colors and a feature tent online for low cost to meet that rising than what some consumers are willing to pay. called “material design,” which lets developers add demand. They include Netflix and Amazon. Hulu, “This might be the undoing of the bundling sys- Far-off bets shadows and seams to give visuals on a phone’s which is owned by major broadcast networks ABC, tem,” David said. “The only compulsory license At the same time, Google is angling to stay at screen the appearance of depth. — AP NBC and Fox, offers full episodes of popular shows we’re after are the four or five local channels in the like “The Colbert Report” the next day for free. city we’re in. Of course it would be great. What else can it mean?” Substitute But it’s not like the pay TV industry is standing While that’s not live TV, which Aereo offered, still. Satellite TV company Dish Network Corp. for many it’s a good-enough substitute. The deci- said it’s preparing to launch an online TV service sion against Aereo is a setback, but not a fatal one with channels like ESPN, ABC, Disney Channel for people who want to break away from tradition- and others for about $20 to $30 a month before al TV, said Bill Niemeyer, senior analyst at TDG the end of the year. The target audience is young Research. “While the content on the major broad- urban professionals who don’t want to watch cast networks is very important for some people, more than 20 or 30 channels. Since last year, it’s not important for everyone,” Niemeyer said. Comcast Corp. has offered a slimmed down pack- “So it’s a dent, but I don’t think it’s going to signifi- age combining Internet service, a little more than cantly change the trends.” 10 local TV channels and HBO for $40 a month for If anything, the rise and fall of Aereo has high- 12 months. That’s just $10 more than getting the lighted an important fact - that high-quality TV sig- Internet alone. Niemeyer says the incremental nals are available on the airwaves for free - some- $10 charge for broadcast TV and HBO seems like thing that might have been forgotten if Aereo a very Aereo-like offering, especially because the SAN FRANCISCO: A man looks at the Samsung Gear Live, an Android Wear smartwatch, on the hadn’t insisted that its technology simply repli- HBO GO app allows for online viewing, and hav- demo floor at Google I/O 2014 in San Francisco, Wednesday. As the Internet giant’s Android cates the antenna and wire that an average person ing a pay TV subscription will allow customers to operating system stretches into cars, homes and smartwatches, this year’s annual confab will could set up on their own. “What Aereo has really sign in to different online offerings by net- expand on its usual focus on smartphones and tablets. done in our perspective is to address the lack of works.—AP TV listings SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014

01:55 Come Dine With Me Food 16:50 Alien Encounters 07:35 Good Luck Charlie 05:50 Tastiest Places To Chowdown 02:50 Bargain Hunt 19:40 Homes Under The Hammer 17:40 Alien Encounters 07:55 Jessie 06:10 Chopped 03:35 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 20:35 Homes Under The Hammer 18:30 The Future Of... 08:20 Mako Mermaids 07:00 Tastiest Places To Chowdown 04:25 Come Dine With Me: South 21:30 Bargain Hunt: Famous Finds 19:20 Close Encounters 08:45 Liv And Maddie 07:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 00:45 Monsters Inside Me Africa 22:15 Bargain Hunt: Famous Finds 19:45 Close Encounters 09:05 I Didn’t Do It 07:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 01:35 Untamed & Uncut 05:15 Come Dine With Me 23:00 Bargain Hunt: Famous Finds 20:10 Uncovering Aliens 09:30 Dog With A Blog 08:15 Food Network Challenge 02:25 Shamwari: A Wild Life 06:10 Come Dine With Me 23:45 Bargain Hunt: Famous Finds 21:00 Joe Rogan Questions Everything 09:55 Austin & Ally 09:05 Fast Food Gone Global 02:50 Shamwari: A Wild Life 07:00 Celebrity MasterChef 21:50 Alien Mummies 10:15 Jessie 09:55 Fast Food Gone Global 03:15 Tanked 07:55 Celebrity MasterChef 22:40 When Aliens Attack 10:40 Cloud 9 10:45 Fast Food Gone Global 04:05 Treehouse Masters 08:20 Celebrity MasterChef 23:30 Deadliest Space Weather 12:05 Cars Toons 11:35 Fast Food Gone Global 04:55 Animal Cops Houston 09:15 Celebrity MasterChef 12:15 Gravity Falls 12:25 Fast Food Gone Global 05:45 Animal Clinic 10:10 Celebrity MasterChef 12:35 Dog With A Blog 13:15 Fast Food Gone Global - Special 06:35 Breed All About It 10:35 Celebrity MasterChef 00:20 Tech Toys 360 13:00 A.N.T. Farm 14:05 The Next Food Network Star 07:00 Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors 11:30 Celebrity MasterChef 00:45 How Does That Work? 13:25 Jessie 15:20 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 07:25 My Cat From Hell 12:25 Celebrity MasterChef 01:10 The Future Of... 13:45 I Didn’t Do It 15:45 Chopped 08:15 Too Cute! 12:50 Antiques Roadshow 02:00 Alien Encounters 14:10 Good Luck Charlie 16:35 Siba’s Table 09:10 Gator Boys 00:00 Violetta 13:45 Antiques Roadshow 02:45 Mythbusters 14:35 Mako Mermaids 17:00 Siba’s Table 10:05 Call Of The Wildman 00:45 The Hive 14:35 Food & Drink 03:35 Sci-Trek 15:00 Dog With A Blog 17:25 Guy’s Big Bite 10:30 Swamp Brothers 00:50 Art Attack 15:00 Food & Drink 04:30 Deadliest Space Weather 15:25 Liv And Maddie 17:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 11:00 Tanked 01:15 Art Attack 15:30 Food & Drink 05:20 Unchained Reaction 15:50 Gravity Falls 18:15 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 11:55 Treehouse Masters 01:40 Wolfblood 15:55 Food & Drink 06:10 Meteorite Men 16:10 Austin & Ally 18:40 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 12:50 O’shea’s Big Adventure 02:05 Wolfblood 16:20 Food & Drink 07:00 Close Encounters 16:35 A.N.T. Farm Basics 13:45 O’shea’s Big Adventure 02:30 Violetta 16:45 Food & Drink 07:25 Close Encounters 17:00 Good Luck Charlie 19:05 Aarti Party 14:40 Rogue Nature With Dave 03:15 The Hive 17:10 Lorraine’s Fast, Fresh And Easy 07:55 Sci-Fi Science 17:20 Jessie 19:30 Siba’s Table Salmoni 03:20 Art Attack Food 08:20 Sci-Fi Science 17:45 Dog With A Blog 19:55 Hungry Girl 15:35 Rogue Nature With Dave 03:45 Art Attack 17:35 Lorraine’s Fast, Fresh And Easy 08:45 Meteorite Men 18:10 Liv And Maddie 20:20 Chopped Salmoni 04:10 Jungle Junction Food 09:40 Meteorite Men 18:30 I Didn’t Do It 21:10 Chopped 16:30 Rogue Nature With Dave 04:35 Jungle Junction 18:00 Lorraine’s Fast, Fresh And Easy 10:30 Meteorite Men 18:55 Mako Mermaids 22:00 Fast Food Gone Global - Special Salmoni 05:00 Art Attack Food 11:20 Meteorite Men 19:20 Violetta 22:50 Barefoot In London 17:25 Rogue Nature With Dave 05:25 Art Attack 18:25 Lorraine’s Fast, Fresh And Easy 12:10 Meteorite Men 20:05 Austin & Ally 23:40 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Salmoni 05:50 Mouk Food 13:00 How Does That Work? 20:30 Good Luck Charlie 18:20 Tanked 06:00 Austin & Ally 18:50 Lorraine’s Fast, Fresh And Easy 13:30 Sci-Trek 20:50 Dog With A Blog 19:15 Preposterous Pets 06:25 A.N.T. Farm Food 14:20 Sci-Trek 21:15 Jessie 20:10 Too Cute! 06:45 Mako Mermaids 19:15 Lorraine’s Fast, Fresh And Easy 15:10 Joe Rogan Questions Everything 21:40 Shake It Up 21:05 Summer Of The Shark 2 07:10 Suite Life On Deck 16:00 Ultimate Power Builders 22:00 Austin & Ally 22:00 Preposterous Pets 22:25 A.N.T. Farm 22:55 Too Cute! 22:50 Good Luck Charlie 00:35 Big Star’s Little Star 23:50 Untamed & Uncut 23:10 Wolfblood 01:30 Take On The Twisters 23:35 Wolfblood 02:25 Blandings 02:55 Emmerdale 05:00 Coronation Street 07:05 Breathless 08:00 Lewis 00:25 Doctors 09:45 The Syndicate 00:55 Casualty 00:00 Chelsea Lately 10:40 Take On The Twisters 01:45 Bedlam 00:30 Party On 11:35 Take On The Twisters 02:30 Jam And Jerusalem 00:55 Party On 12:30 The Hungry Sailors 03:00 Fawlty Towers 01:25 Style Star 13:20 The Hungry Sailors 03:30 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 01:50 Style Star 14:10 Seven Dwarves 04:15 The Weakest Link 02:20 E!ES 15:00 Big Star’s Little Star 05:00 Balamory 03:15 Extreme Close-Up 15:55 Shetland 05:20 Mr Bloom’s Nursery 03:40 Extreme Close-Up 16:55 Joe Maddison’s War 05:40 Bobinogs 04:10 THS 18:30 Blandings 05:50 Teletubbies 05:05 THS 19:00 Breathless 06:15 Balamory 06:00 THS 19:55 Shetland 06:35 Mr Bloom’s Nursery 07:50 Style Star 20:50 Big Star’s Little Star 06:55 Bobinogs 08:20 E! News 21:45 Joe Maddison’s War 07:05 Teletubbies 09:15 Fashion Police 23:15 Coronation Street 07:30 The Weakest Link 09:45 Eric And Jessie: Game On 08:15 Doctor Who: Best Of The Doctor 10:15 THS 09:00 The Impressions Show With 11:10 E!ES Culshaw... 12:05 E! News 09:30 The Job Lot 13:05 The Drama Queen 09:55 My Family 14:05 The Drama Queen 00:00 Secrets Of The Taj Mahal 10:25 Last Woman Standing 15:00 Giuliana & Bill 01:00 The Truth Behind 11:15 The Cafe 16:00 Giuliana & Bill 02:00 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 11:40 The Weakest Link 17:00 Eric And Jessie: Game On 02:30 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 12:25 Doctor Who: Best Of The Doctor 17:30 Eric And Jessie: Game On 03:00 The Numbers Game 13:10 Casualty 18:00 E! News 03:30 The Numbers Game 14:00 Eastenders 19:00 E!ES 04:00 Situation Critical 14:30 Eastenders 20:00 Fashion Police 05:00 Doomsday Preppers 15:00 Eastenders 20:30 Keeping Up With The 06:00 Armageddon Outfitters 15:30 Eastenders Kardashians 07:00 Mega Breakdown 16:00 The Job Lot 21:30 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 08:00 Secrets Of The Taj Mahal 16:30 The Job Lot 22:30 E! News 09:00 The Truth Behind 16:55 The Job Lot 23:30 The Soup 10:00 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 17:25 Last Man Standing 10:30 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 18:15 Doctor Who: Best Of The Doctor 11:00 The Numbers Game 19:00 Being Erica 11:30 The Numbers Game 19:45 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 12:00 Situation Critical 20:30 Bedlam 13:00 Doomsday Preppers 21:15 Threesome 14:00 Armageddon Outfitters 21:40 Him & Her 00:05 Fast Food Gone Global 15:00 Naked Science 2.5 22:10 Hunderby 00:55 Jeni & Olly’s West Coast Wine 16:00 Cradle of The Gods 22:35 Ideal Adventure 17:00 The Truth Behind 23:05 BBC Proms 2011: Film Music 01:20 Roadtrip With G. Garvin 18:00 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos Night 01:45 Throwdown With Bobby Flay 18:30 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 02:10 Throwdown With Bobby Flay 19:00 Hard Time 02:35 Pizza Cuz 20:00 Family Guns 03:00 Pizza Cuz 21:00 The Border 03:25 Andy Bates American Street 22:00 Somewhere In China Feasts 23:00 Hunter Hunted 00:15 Celebrity MasterChef 03:50 Iron Chef America 01:05 Come Dine With Me: South 04:40 Chopped Africa RITES OF PASSAGE ON OSN MOVIES HD ACTION 05:30 Unwrapped TV listings SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon 05:00 Good Morning America 05:30 Steel Magnolias-PG15 17:30 Total Rugby Stewart 15:00 Live Good Morning America 07:00 Zambezia-PG 18:00 Live International Rugby Union 01:00 The Colbert Report 09:00 Monsters University-PG 18:00 Trans World Sport 02:00 The League 10:45 Oz The Great And Powerful-PG 19:00 This is PGA Tour 02:30 Ja’mie: Private School Girl 13:00 Planes-PG 19:30 Inside The PGA Tour 03:00 Baby Daddy 01:00 The Key Man-PG15 15:00 The Great Ghost Rescue-PG 20:00 Live PGA Tour 03:30 Arrested Development 03:00 The Words-PG15 17:00 Monsters University-PG 00:10 Secretly Pregnant 04:30 The Tonight Show Starring 00:00 Rites Of Passage—PG15 05:00 Matching Jack-PG15 19:00 Grown Ups 2-PG15 01:00 Iyanla, Fix My Life Jimmy Fallon 02:00 Dead Before Dawn-PG15 07:00 Love And Honor-PG15 21:00 Chasing Mavericks-PG15 01:50 Too Fat For 15: Fighting Back 07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 04:00 Terminal Velocity-PG15 09:00 The Key Man-PG15 23:00 Taken 2-PG15 02:40 I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant 00:00 Super Rugby 09:00 Baby Daddy 06:00 Dick Tracy-PG15 11:00 Argo-PG15 03:05 I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant 08:00 Battlestar Galactica: Blood & 02:00 PGA Tour 09:30 Enlisted 13:00 Red Lights-PG15 03:30 I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant Chrome-PG15 15:00 Cheerful Weather For The 05:30 This is PGA Tour Canada 10:00 The Michael J. Fox Show 03:55 I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring 10:00 Unbreakable-PG15 Wedding-PG15 06:00 Golfing World 04:20 What Not To Wear Jimmy Fallon 12:00 Pizza Man-PG 17:00 Dark Tide-PG15 00:00 Sacrifice-18 07:00 Live AFL Premiership 05:10 What Not To Wear 14:00 Arrested Development 14:00 Battlestar Galactica: Blood & 19:00 The Company You Keep-PG15 02:00 The Runway-PG15 10:00 ICC Cricket 360 Chrome-PG15 21:00 50/50-PG15 04:00 What To Expect When You’re 10:30 Live NRL Premiership 06:00 Oprah: Behind The Scenes 15:30 Armageddon-PG15 Expecting-PG15 12:30 Live NRL Premiership 07:00 Oprah: Behind The Scenes 18:00 Pizza Man-PG 06:00 One Life-PG15 14:30 Live PGA European Tour 07:50 Jon & Kate Plus 8 19:45 Miami Vice-18 08:00 Jack The Giant Slayer-PG15 18:30 Trans World Sport 01:00 The Client List 08:15 Jon & Kate Plus 8 22:00 Diggstown-PG15 10:00 Lego Batman: The Movie - DC 19:30 NRL Premiership 08:40 Jon & Kate Plus 8 02:00 Killer Women Super Heroes Unite-PG 21:30 IndyCar Highlights 03:00 Nip/Tuck 09:05 Jon & Kate Plus 8 01:00 Wind Chill 12:00 What To Expect When You’re 22:30 Live IndyCar Series 04:00 Killer Women 09:30 Extreme Cheapskates 03:00 Seven Pounds Expecting-PG15 05:00 Covert Affairs 09:55 Extreme Cheapskates 05:00 Hamlet 14:00 The Expatriate-PG15 09:00 Switched At Birth 09:00 Hold Fast 16:00 Jack The Giant Slayer-PG15 10:20 Craft Wars 10:00 Killer Women 00:00 Cottage Country-PG15 10:30 Regarding Henry 18:00 Bernie-PG15 11:10 Say Yes To The Dress 11:00 Covert Affairs 02:00 Tough Guys-PG15 12:15 Treasure Island 20:00 The Cold Light Of Day-PG15 11:35 Say Yes To The Dress 13:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 04:00 The First Wives Club-PG 15:15 Alfie Boe: The Bring Him Home 22:00 Silent Hill: Revelation-18 00:30 IPL Highlights 12:00 Say Yes To The Dress 19:00 Bones 06:00 Hotel Transylvania-PG Tour 01:30 ICC World T20I Highlights 12:25 Say Yes To The Dress 20:00 Criminal Minds 08:00 Charlie And The Chocolate 17:00 Regarding Henry 02:30 IPL Highlights 12:50 Say Yes To The Dress 21:00 Castle Factory-PG 18:45 Amour 03:30 ICC Cricket 360 22:00 Treme 13:15 Brides Of Beverly Hills 21:00 Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy 01:00 This is PGA Tour 04:00 ICC World T20I Highlights 23:00 Nip/Tuck 10:00 Daddy Day Camp-FAM 13:40 Brides Of Beverly Hills 23:15 Ed Wood 01:30 Super League 05:00 ICC World T20I Highlights 12:00 The First Wives Club-PG 14:05 Oprah’s Next Chapter 03:00 Super Rugby 14:00 Dr Seuss’ Cat In The Hat-PG 06:00 ICC World T20I Highlights 03:30 NRL Premiership 07:00 ICC Cricket 360 14:55 Cake Boss 16:00 Daddy Day Camp-FAM 05:00 Super Rugby 07:30 IPL Highlights 15:20 Cake Boss 18:00 Paranorman-PG 05:30 Trans World Sport 08:30 IPL Highlights 15:45 Cake Boss 20:00 Midnight Run-PG15 01:00 Paranormal Activity 4-18 01:00 Good Morning America 06:30 This is PGA Tour 09:30 ICC Cricket 360 16:10 Cake Boss 22:15 Cottage Country-PG15 03:00 Lincoln-PG15 07:00 European Tour Weekly 10:00 ICC World T20I Highlights 16:35 Cake Boss 07:00 Live NRL Premiership 11:00 IPL Highlights 17:00 Iyanla, Fix My Life 07:30 Inside The PGA Tour 12:00 ICC Cricket 360 17:50 Oprah’s Next Chapter 08:00 Super Rugby 12:30 Best of ICC World T20I 18:40 Say Yes To The Dress 09:00 Inside The PGA Tour 13:00 IPL Highlights 19:10 Say Yes To The Dress 09:30 Live WEB.COM Tour 14:00 IPL Highlights 19:35 Say Yes To The Dress 10:00 Live Super Rugby 15:00 IPL Highlights 20:05 Say Yes To The Dress 10:00 Total Rugby 16:00 ICC Cricket 360 11:30 Live Championship Tour 16:30 Live Natwest T20 Blast 20:30 Say Yes To The Dress 12:30 Live Super Rugby 20:00 IPL Highlights 21:00 Oprah Presents: Master Class 13:30 Live PGA European Tour 21:00 IPL Highlights 21:55 Oprah’s Next Chapter 14:30 Live Super Rugby 22:00 IPL Highlights 22:50 Long Island Medium 16:30 Trans World Sport 23:00 IPL Highlights 23:15 Secretly Pregnant ‘Snowpiercer’ reviews By Greg Gilman one of the third-class rebels attempting to battle from the very back of the train to the front, f fans of science fiction, action and adventure where the privileged - like Tilda Swinton’s villain- are wondering whether they’ll get more ous character - live in peace and excess. Ibang for their buck by purchasing a ticket for A.V. Club critic Ignatiy Vishnevetsky gave Michael Bay’s “Transformers: Age of Extinction” Bong’s English-language debut an “A-,” citing or Joon-ho Bong’s “Snowpiercer,” the answer is “shocking violence and black humor,” plus a most definitely “Transformers.” According to pronounced “pessimistic political conscience.” critics, the Paramount release is easily louder - Vishnevetsky also seemed impressed with the but “Snowpiercer” is better. ending “that isn’t conventionally satisfying, but The Radius-TWC limited release has gar- displays a too-rare sense of integrity” - even if it nered an 89 percent “fresh” rating on Rotten will be up for debate amongst viewers. Tomatoes with 39 out of 44 reviews praising the “Any revolution that happens aboard is a post-apocalyptic film is as exciting and smart. byproduct of the train’s enclosed system, and TheWrap’s Inkoo Kang, however, was among changing the direction of political power only the minority who found “nothing connects” in helps to preserve its existing layout. The only the social inequality tale that she described as “a solution involves disrupting the momentum surprising experiment in tone and character that and focus of the narrative. That’s bound to also works as a self-conscious action flick, simul- peeve some viewers, but that’s the point,” taneously embracing and rejecting Hollywood Vishnevetsky wrote. “‘Snowpiercer’s’ self- blockbuster conventions.” destructive ‘no gods, no masters’ politics aren’t “In superlative previous films like ‘The Host’ meant to be agreeable - they’re meant to upend and ‘Mother,’ Bong elevated, then transcended, the movie itself. Whether they succeed is a mat- the humble genres of the monster movie and ter of debate.” the murder mystery by refashioning them into New York Post critic Lou Lumenick called exquisitely heart-wrenching human drama. “Snowpiercer” a “wild sci-fi epic” that is worth Disappointingly, then, his alchemical touch is the time it may take some viewers to track down absent here,” Kang wrote in her review. an art house theater playing it in their area. “‘Snowpiercer’ warms the heart, but doesn’t “Don’t miss it - this is enormously fun vision- penetrate it.” ary filmmaking, with a witty script and a great “Snowpiercer” stars Chris Evans as the leader international cast,” Lumenick wrote. of a social uprising taking place 17 years in the New York Observer critic Rex Reed also future, where what’s left of the world’s popula- wholeheartedly endorsed “Snowpiercer” for tion lives on a long train speeding around the movie lovers, in particular, as “it’s too gruesome now-frozen world after an attempt to combat to recommend to everyone without reserva- global warming backfires. Jamie Bell co-stars as tion.”—Reuters MIDNIGHT RUN ON OSN MOVIES COMEDY WHAT’S ON SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014

IIS pays tribute to mothers

other’s Day was celebrated with lot of enthusiasm at ment of the children. She requested the mothers to join hands Chef Contest’ organized under different categories. Indulekha India International School, Mangaf from May 6 to 12 in with the teachers and school authorities to provide quality- val- Suresh, Vice Principal, supervised the Master Chef competition. Mdifferent sections. It was celebrated to honor mothers, ue based education to the students. Following this Sapna had The Director, Malayil Moosa Koya encouraged the partici- motherhood, their unconditional love and their influence in the an Interactive session with the mothers. Sophy John translated pants and distributed the prizes to the winners of the cooking society. the main points and answered some parent’s queries in Hindi. competition and games. Mothers enjoyed the variety cuisine. On Saturday, May 10, a celebration on Mother’s Day was The session highlighted the responsibility of each mother and The day was full of fun and excitement for the mothers and chil- organized for mothers of class I,II and III by Sridevi Neelakannan the school in helping the child to protect himself, distinguish dren and will definitely be a memorable one. and team. The program started with the recitation of the Holy between right and wrong, to set clear goals and to utilize his full Special assemblies were conducted by the students of all Quran. The Principal F M Basheer Ahmed welcomed the gather- potential. sections. Activities such as ‘Best Mom’ certificate making, ing and spoke about the importance of mothers. The tiny tots of Class II, with their action song on mothers Mother’s Day card-making and hand-print wreath making were The Director, Malayil Moosakoya inaugurated the Mother’s made everyone emotional. Athiriya and Varsha amazed the conducted for students of Class 1- 5. An essay writing competi- Day celebration. The powerpoint presentation by the Section gathering with their energy-filled dance performance. The pres- tion on ‘Mother, My Only Friend’, card making and poem writing Vice-Principal, Sapna Raoof urged the mothers to understand tigious mothers and their children participated in many fun competitions were conducted for the students of senior sec- the emotional needs of their children and emphasized the vital filled games organized by Dhanya. Mothers with zeal and tions by Feroza, under the guidance of Salim and Indulekha role of mothers in character building and all round develop- enthusiasm exhibited their talent and creativity in the ‘Master Suresh.

Johnarts honors Shabana Azmi Rongali Bihu celebrations in Kuwait

he Assamese community of Kuwait celebrat- Bornali Kalita. It was followed by lighting of the ed Rongali Bihu this year with much fanfare ceremonial lamp by them. President of the Asom Tunder the aegis of Asom Association Kuwait. Association Kuwait Anup Bora in his inaugural Rongali Bihu was celebrated over two days, on speech welcomed the gathering and outlined the April 18 and May 29, 2014. The onset of Bohag, importance of this celebration. the Assamese spring season was celebrated by Sunil Jain in his speech lauded the efforts of organizing a day long festivity of ‘Khel-dhemali’ in the association and spoke about our beautiful the Al-Fintas Park where the Assamese communi- Assam and the mighty Brahmaputra. He also ty gathered for outdoor fun and games activities expressed his pleasure in seeing the display of on April 18. The members were welcomed with a handicrafts and artifacts from Assam arranged as plateful of different varieties of pithas, larus, doi, an exhibition by Jayanta Bardalaye and his team. chera, kumol saul and other snacks prepared by The annual Souvenir of the Association “Jetuka” the ladies. The bright sunny morning in this edited and published by Chinmoy Dutta and his expansive park was a perfect setting for the mem- team was released by the ambassador. He com- bers to relax and network, while the children mended the effort and appreciated the available played to their heart’s content. The attraction of literary talent. He also distributed the prizes of the the morning was the innovative games devised drawing competitions to all winning children and by Dr Anjol Saikia and Anjan Tamuli. The program to the members for on-the-spot creative writing ended with a wide array of delicious lunch pre- competition. The children amply demonstrated pared by the members. their talents by performing their beautiful tradi- The main Rongali Bihu function was celebrat- tional Bihu dance (Trishala, Shreya, Upasana, ed as “Bornali Kalita Xondhiya” on May 29 2014. Ananya), Tiwa Bihu by Mehr, Runa, Ruhi and rtist Johnarts Kalabhavan presents a caricature of Shabana Azmi to the renowned actress The venue for the celebrations was the magnifi- Bagoromba Dance by Anchita, Anuska, Ashmita, during a function at American International School, Maidan Hawally. Johnarts is the India cent Indian Embassy Auditorium. The program Diksha, Meghna, Isha. A fusion of our traditional ABook record holder of presenting the highest number of presenting caricatures to the started at 5:30 pm with the felicitation of the and modern dance was performed by Rudrakshi, prominent personalities visiting Kuwait. He has so far presented 485 caricatures. guests, Ambassador of India to Kuwait, Sunil Jain Jigyasa, Taniya, Rinky, Subhangi, Riya, Riha and and the guest artist - melody queen from Assam Devanshi. WHAT’S ON SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014

KNES primary KS1 Summer Concert

uwait National English School (KNES) hosted yet another The school’s director, Chantal Al-Gharabally, highlighted the successful KS1 (Years 1and 2) Summer Concert on May 27. schools latest achievements and proudly announced to parents KThe theme of the concert this year was “Fun In The Sun”, in an important comment made by the BSO (British Schools keeping with summer. The event was very colourful and the audi- Overseas) inspecting team that Kuwait National English School ence thoroughly enjoyed the performances.The concert culmi- was rated outstanding in the area of Spiritual, Moral, Social and nated with a rendition of a medley of songs, “I have a Dream- Cultural” development of pupils.Hats off to all pupils of Year 1 Daddy Cool-Celebration”, a rousing conclusion to a varied and and 2 and staff who were involved in making the show a great entertaining evening of music and dance. success.

Greetings

appy birthday to our beloved son, Jayden! May the Hjoy of the Lord always be with you forever. You shall grow in good health, long life and prosperity, Amen. Greetings from daddy, mummy, aunties, uncles and cousins. HEALTH SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014 US high court curbs state limits on abortion clinic protests

WASHINGTON: The US Supreme Court handed a victory to anti-abor- side clinics from approaching within 8 feet (2-1/2 meters) of another new state law. Abortion remains a divisive issue in America. The tion activists on Thursday by making it harder for states to enact laws person without their consent. Montana has a similar law. Supreme Court in its landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling legalized abor- aimed at helping patients entering abortion clinics to avoid protesters, The Massachusetts law was enacted in part because of safety con- tion. In recent years, some Republican-governed states have sought to striking down a Massachusetts statute that had created a no-entry cerns highlighted by violent acts committed against abortion impose new restrictions on abortion. Boston said it will boost police zone. In a 9-0 vote, the court said the 2007 law violated freedom of providers in the past. In 1994, two abortion clinic workers were killed presence around abortion clinics on Friday morning before assessing speech rights under the US Constitution’s First Amendment by pre- outside a clinic in Brookline, Massachusetts. The protesters say their the next steps. “There is always concern when a measure that has venting anti-abortion activists from standing on the sidewalk and main aim is to counsel women to try to deter them from having abor- been put in place for public safety is removed,” said Kate Norton, speaking to people entering the clinics. The law allowed only patients, tions. Eleanor McCullen, the abortion protester who was the lead plain- spokeswoman for Mayor Martin Walsh.The case specifically concerned staff, passersby and emergency services to enter the 35-foot (11-meter) tiff in the case, welcomed the decision, saying it allows her to “offer lov- people who wanted to protest outside three Planned Parenthood facil- zone. ing help to a woman who wants it” without facing the threat of jail. ities that offer abortions in addition to other health services for women The ruling casts into doubt similar fixed buffer zones adopted by Although the court did not say buffer zones are always unconstitution- in Boston, Springfield and Worcester. Planned Parenthood said it plans several municipalities around the country, including San Francisco and al, the decision could make it more difficult for states to pass similar steps to ensure public safety at the clinics. Marty Walz, executive direc- Pittsburgh. The court did not specify under what circumstances other laws in the future, said Marcia Greenberger, president of the National tor of Planned Parenthood in Massachusetts, said the group will train types of restrictions aimed at keeping public order outside clinics Women’s Law Center. new “escorts” to get patients through picket lines at clinics. “We have would be deemed lawful. The court sent a signal that some laws might people calling and emailing and volunteering to be escorts for our be acceptable by declining to overturn its ruling in a 2000 case that Divisive issue patients to make sure that they can come in to our health centers safe- upheld a less restrictive law in Colorado. That law prevents people out- Thursday’s decision could give Massachusetts a chance to fashion a ly,” she said at a news conference in Boston.—Reuters

More countries adding graphic warnings to smokes

JAKARTA: Indonesia became the newest coun- but the country’s highest court upheld it. Figures try to mandate graphic photo warnings on ciga- released this month by the country’s Bureau of rette packs on Tuesday, joining more than 40 Statistics found that cigarette consumption fell other nations or territories that have adopted about 5 percent from March 2013 to the same similar regulations in recent years. The warnings, period this year. The World Trade Organization which showcase gruesome close-up images has agreed to hear complaints filed by several ranging from rotting teeth and cancerous lungs tobacco-growing countries, but other govern- to open tracheotomy holes and corpses, are an ments have expressed interest in passing similar effort to highlight the risks of health problems laws. Smokers make up 17 percent of Australia’s related to smoking. Research suggests these population. images have prompted people to quit, but the World Health Organization estimates nearly 6 UNITED STATES million people continue to die globally each year THE LAW: No graphic pictures on packs. from smoking-related causes. The tobacco TIMING: The government stepped away from industry has fought government efforts to intro- a legal battle with tobacco companies in March duce or increase the size of graphic warnings in 2013. some countries. Here are a few places where pic- BACKGROUND: There are currently no pictori- torial health warnings have made headlines: al warnings on cigarette packs in the U.S. After the tobacco industry sued, a Food and Drug INDONESIA Administration order to include the graphic THE LAW: 40 percent of pack covered by labels was blocked last year by an appeals court, graphic photos. which ruled that the photos violated First TIMING: Deadline to be on shelves was June 24. Amendment free speech protections. The gov- BACKGROUND: Many tobacco companies ernment opted not to take the case to the U.S. missed Tuesday’s deadline to comply with the Supreme Court, but will instead develop new MANILA: In this May 29, 2009 file photo, Philippine Health Secretary Franccisco Duque III new law requiring all cigarette packs in stores to warnings. About 18 percent of adult Americans shows pack of cigarettes with pictures of the bad effects of smoking during a news con- carry graphic warning photos. Indonesia, a coun- smoke. ference to mark World No Tobacco Day in Manila, Philippines. Duque urged legislators to try of around 240 million, has the world’s highest pass the bill implementing the picture-based health warning on packs of cigarettes, rate of male smokers at 67 percent and the sec- PHILIPPINES which they claimed to be more effective in educating people. — AP ond-highest rate overall. Its government is THE LAW: Graphic warning legislation among the few that has yet to sign a World approved this month requires 50 percent of bot- Health Organization treaty on tobacco control. tom of the pack to be covered by graphic warn- Bigger health warnings ings. THAILAND TIMING: Legislation awaits president’s signa- THE LAW: Portion of cigarette packs that ture. for Thai cigarette packs must be covered with graphic health warnings BACKGROUND: The Philippines is expected to rising from 55 percent to 85 percent. join a handful of other countries that put graphic BANGKOK: Cigarette packs in Thailand will the warnings to 85 percent of packs from 55 TIMING: Change will take effect in warnings at the bottom of their packs, meaning be 85 percent covered with graphic health percent. September. they are not visible when displayed on store warnings and a quit smoking hotline tele- A court temporarily suspended the meas- BACKGROUND: Last year, the Public Health shelves. Anti-smoking advocates say labels on phone number by September, the public ure but, on Thursday, the Supreme Ministry issued a regulation increasing the level the bottom of the packs are less effective, and health ministry said yesterday. Administrative Court ruled it could take of coverage to 85 percent. Tobacco giant Philip have denounced tobacco industry involvement The ministry issued its announcement a effect. Morris and more than 1,400 Thai retailers sued, in the implementation process. Health officials day after a Thai court gave the green light Lung cancer rates are on the rise for both and a court temporarily suspended the order. On said around 17 million people in the country of for the new regulation and days after men and women. The disease has become a Thursday, the Supreme Administrative Court 96 million, or 18 percent, smoked in 2012. regional neighbour Indonesia, one of the leading cause of death in Thailand, where a ruled that the regulation can take effect before a world’s biggest tobacco markets, began packet of cigarettes costs, on average, less lower court reaches a final verdict in the lawsuit. URUGUAY printing graphic health warnings on pack- than the equivalent of $3. THE LAW: Graphic warnings cover 80 percent ets. Opponents of the regulation say the warn- AUSTRALIA of packs. Narong Sahametapat, permanent secre- ings are ineffective and Thais are aware of the THE LAW: No cigarette brand logos permit- TIMING: Regulations implemented in 2010. tary for public health, said the regulation health risks associated with smoking. ted; graphic health warnings required on 75 per- BACKGROUND: Uruguay, a leader in strict would help reduce the number of smokers Australia introduced strict packaging rules cent of front and 90 percent of back. tobacco controls, mandated what were the in the Southeast Asian nation and deter oth- in 2012, with a combination of photos of TIMING: Plain packaging law went into effect largest graphic warnings ever in 2010. Eighty ers from starting. smoker illnesses overlaid on plain brown in 2012. percent of packs must be covered by the labels, “This will help our campaign to lower the packs with no branding or logos. The country BACKGROUND: Australia became the first including one depicting a person smoking a bat- number of smokers in Thailand. We will start is being closely watched for signs of success country in the world to mandate plain cigarette tery to show that cigarettes contain the toxic checking tobacco retailers from September as others, including Britain and New Zealand, packs with no brand logo or colors permitted. metal cadmium. Uruguay has backed Australia at onwards to make sure they comply,” Narong explore similar measures. Instead, the packs are solid brown and covered the WTO, telling the trade body that smoking is told reporters. Tobacco use is among the leading pre- in large graphic warnings. Tobacco companies “the most serious pandemic confronting human- International tobacco companies last year ventable causes of death in the world, accord- fought the law, saying it violated intellectual ity.” Philip Morris International sued Uruguay sued the Thai government after the health ing to the World Health Organization, killing property rights and devalued their trademarks, over the law; the case is still pending. — AP ministry ordered an increased in the size of nearly 6 million people every year. — Reuters HEALTH SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014 SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014

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In case you are not travelling, your proper cancellation of bookings will help other passengers use seats

Arrival Flights on Saturday 28/6/2014 JZR 177 Dubai 17:45 QTR 1071 Doha 11:00 Airlines Flt Route Time KAC 176 Geneva/Frankfurt 17:45 KAC 521 Al Najaf 11:15 QTR 1084 Doha 00:05 JZR 777 Jeddah 17:50 KAC 671 Dubai 11:20 JZR 239 Amman 00:20 IZG 4161 Mashhad 18:00 KAC 541 Cairo 11:30 JZR 267 Beirut 00:25 KAC 542 Cairo 18:15 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:35 JZR 539 Cairo 00:30 MSC 407 HRG 18:20 KAC 501 Beirut 11:40 DLH 637 Dammam 00:35 QTR 1080 Doha 18:25 JZR 356 Mashhad 11:40 JZR 555 Alexandria 01:25 FDB 063 Dubai 18:35 KAC 165 Rome/Paris 11:45 PGT 858 Istanbul 01:25 KAC 104 London 18:45 IAW 158 Al Najaf/Baghdad 12:00 SAI 441 Lahore 01:35 CLX 732 Luxembourg 18:50 JZR 776 Jeddah 12:15 THY 764 Istanbul 01:40 JAV 621 Amman 18:50 MSC 402 Alexandria 12:20 RJA 642 Amman 01:45 IRA 669 Mashhad 18:50 SYR 342 Damascus 13:05 GFA 211 Bahrain 01:55 ABY 129 Sharjah 18:55 JZR 176 Dubai 13:10 UAE 853 Dubai 02:25 KAC 618 Doha 19:00 IRM 1189 Mashhad 13:15 ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 02:30 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:05 FDB 072 Dubai 13:15 JAI 576 Kochi/Abu Dhabi 02:35 KAC 774 Riyadh 19:15 FDB 056 Dubai 13:20 PIA 239 Lahore 03:05 KAC 502 Beirut 19:20 JZR 124 Bahrain 13:30 FDB 5067 Dubai 03:05 KAC 674 Dubai 19:25 MSR 580 Sohag 13:50 RJA 644 Amman 03:10 KAC 742 Dammam 19:30 MSR 611 Cairo 14:00 MSR 612 Cairo 03:15 KAC 614 Bahrain 19:35 THY 767 Istanbul 14:10 OMA 643 Muscat 03:20 JAI 572 Mumbai 19:35 UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 QTR 1076 Doha 03:25 OMA 647 Muscat 19:55 KAC 561 Amman 14:45 MSC 401 Alexandria 04:00 KAC 562 Amman 20:00 QTR 1079 Doha 14:55 THY 770 Istanbul 04:35 KNE 474 Jeddah 20:00 FDB 058 Dubai 15:00 DHX 170 Bahrain 05:10 FDB 5061 Dubai 20:05 MSR 576 Sharm el-Sheikh 15:00 KAC 412 Manila/Bangkok 06:15 DLH 634 Frankfurt 20:15 GFA 222 Bahrain 15:05 BAW 157 London 06:35 MEA 402 Beirut 20:15 IRC 527 Mashhad 15:30 JZR 563 Sohag 06:35 ABY 121 Sharjah 20:20 KAC 617 Doha 15:30 KAC 416 Jakarta/Kuala Lumpur 06:40 JZR 189 Dubai 20:25 KNE 473 Jeddah 15:35 FDB 053 Dubai 07:00 MSR 618 Alexandria 20:30 KAC 773 Riyadh 15:50 KAC 382 Delhi 07:30 KLM 415 Amsterdam 21:05 JZR 188 Dubai 15:50 KAC 204 Lahore 07:35 ALK 229 Colombo 21:10 SVA 505 Jeddah 16:00 JZR 503 Luxor 07:40 UAE 859 Dubai 21:15 ABY 128 Sharjah 16:15 KAC 302 Mumbai 07:50 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:30 KAC 741 Dammam 16:30 KAC 206 Islamabad 07:50 QTR 1074 Doha 21:30 KNE 471 Jeddah 16:30 QTR 1086 Doha 07:55 FDB 059 Dubai 21:40 KNE 463 Madinah 16:30 KAC 352 Kochi 08:05 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45 KAC 613 Bahrain 16:35 KAC 344 Chennai 08:20 KNE 480 Taif 22:00 KNE 481 Taif 16:40 UAE 855 Dubai 08:25 AIC 975 Chennai/Goa 22:25 RJA 641 Amman 16:55 KAC 362 Colombo 08:45 KAC 786 Jeddah 22:40 IRM 1187 Tehran 17:00 ABY 125 Sharjah 08:50 UAL 981 Bahrain 22:40 KAC 785 Jeddah 17:00 KAC 284 Dhaka 08:55 JZR 185 Dubai 22:55 JZR 266 Beirut 17:05 IRM 1186 Tehran 09:10 JAI 574 Mumbai 23:20 JZR 512 Sharm el-Sheikh 17:15 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:30 JZR 513 Sharm el-Sheikh 23:30 QTR 1073 Doha 17:20 FDB 5055 Dubai 09:35 MSR 614 Cairo 23:30 TBZ 5484 Mashhad 17:30 QTR 1070 Doha 10:00 THY 772 Istanbul 23:45 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 FDB 052 Dubai 17:40 IAW 157 Baghdad/Al Najaf 11:00 Departure Flights on Saturday 28/6/2014 JZR 538 Cairo 17:40 MSC 405 Sohag 11:20 Airlines Flt Route Time ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 17:45 IRM 1188 Mashhad 11:50 AIC 976 Goa/Chennai 00:05 NIA 252 Alexandria 17:50 JZR 151 Dubai 11:50 JZR 562 Sohag 00:10 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15 SYR 341 Damascus 12:05 JAI 573 Mumbai 00:20 UAE 858 Dubai 18:15 FDB 071 Dubai 12:35 MSR 615 Cairo 00:30 GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 FDB 055 Dubai 12:40 NIA 264 Alexandria 00:50 JZR 184 Dubai 18:20 JZR 241 Amman 12:40 KLM 413 Amsterdam 00:55 UAL 982 Bahrain 18:40 UAE 871 Dubai 12:45 JZR 502 Luxor 01:30 JZR 238 Amman 18:45 MSR 610 Cairo 13:00 DLH 637 Frankfurt 01:35 IZG 4162 Mashhad 19:00 MSR 579 Sohag 13:05 THY 773 Istanbul 02:20 MSC 408 HRG 19:20 THY 766 Istanbul 13:10 SAI 442 Lahore 02:35 QTR 1081 Doha 19:25 QTR 1078 Doha 13:45 PGT 859 Istanbul 02:55 KAC 287 Dhaka 19:30 FDB 057 Dubai 13:50 FDB 5068 Dubai 03:45 ABY 120 Sharjah 19:40 MSR 575 Sharm el-Sheikh 14:15 RJA 645 Amman 03:55 FDB 064 Dubai 19:50 KAC 546 Alexandria 14:15 MSR 613 Cairo 04:15 GFA 218 Bahrain 19:50 GFA 221 Bahrain 14:20 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:20 IRA 666 Esfahan 19:55 JZR 779 Jeddah 14:20 OMA 644 Muscat 04:20 JAV 622 Amman 19:55 SVA 500 Jeddah 14:30 QTR 1077 Doha 04:25 KAC 363 Colombo 20:05 IRC 526 Mashhad 14:30 PIA 240 Sialkot/Islamabad 04:35 CLX 732 Hong Kong 20:20 KNE 472 Jeddah 14:40 MSC 406 Sohag 05:00 JAI 571 Mumbai 20:35 KAC 522 Al Najaf 14:55 QTR 1085 Doha 05:20 KNE 475 Jeddah 20:45 JZR 257 Beirut 14:55 UAE 854 Dubai 05:30 FDB 5062 Dubai 20:50 KAC 788 Jeddah 15:00 THY 765 Istanbul 06:00 KAC 331 Trivandrum 20:50 ABY 127 Sharjah 15:35 JAI 575 Abu Dhabi/Kochi 06:30 OMA 648 Muscat 20:55 KNE 470 Jeddah 15:35 RJA 643 Amman 06:35 ABY 122 Sharjah 21:00 IRM 1180 Mashhad 15:45 THY 771 Istanbul 06:50 KAC 351 Kochi 21:05 KNE 462 Madinah 15:45 GFA 212 Bahrain 07:00 MEA 403 Beirut 21:15 TBZ 5483 Mashhad 15:50 JZR 240 Amman 07:05 JZR 552 Alexandria 21:15 RJA 640 Amman 15:55 JZR 150 Dubai 07:15 MSR 607 Luxor 21:25 KNE 460 Riyadh 15:55 KAC 545 Alexandria 07:20 KAC 543 Cairo 21:30 KAC 118 New York 16:00 JZR 256 Beirut 07:30 DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50 KAC 672 Dubai 16:00 FDB 054 Dubai 07:50 KLM 415 Dammam/Amsterdam 22:05 JZR 535 Cairo 16:05 BAW 156 London 08:25 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:15 QTR 1072 Doha 16:15 JZR 778 Jeddah 08:45 ALK 230 Colombo 22:20 JZR 125 Bahrain 16:25 QTR 1087 Doha 08:55 UAE 860 Dubai 22:25 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 16:45 JZR 534 Cairo 09:15 KAC 381 Delhi 22:30 NIA 251 Alexandria 16:50 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:30 QTR 1075 Doha 22:40 UAE 857 Dubai 16:55 KAC 787 Jeddah 09:35 KAC 301 Mumbai 22:40 FDB 051 Dubai 16:55 UAE 856 Dubai 09:50 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:45 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:15 KNE 461 Riyadh 22:50 UAL 982 IAD 17:25 FDB 5056 Dubai 10:15 FDB 060 Dubai 23:00 JZR 357 Mashhad 17:30 IRM 1181 Mashhad 10:20 KAC 205 Islamabad 23:35 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 KAC 101 London/New York 10:25 KAC 411 Bangkok/Manila 23:40 Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw) SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014

Mexico. 3. Found along western Atlantic coast. CROSSWORD592 4. A city in western California on San Francisco Bay opposite San Francisco. 5. Winning all or all but one of the tricks in bridge. 6. A light strong gray lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong light- weight alloys (as for airplane parts). 7. Device for resetting instruments or controls v 1. 8. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods. 9. An esoteric or occult matter that is traditionally secret. 10. A member of the Siouan people formerly inhabiting the Black Hills of western South Dakota. 11. United States industrialist who manufactured plows suitable for working the prairie soil (1804-1886). 12. A fencing sword similar to a foil but with a heavier blade. 13. Denuded of leaves. 14. The act of scanning. 19. American professional baseball player who hit more home runs than Babe Ruth (born in 1934). 24. A metric unit of volume or capacity equal to 10 liters. 26. A member of the Semitic speaking people of northern Ethiopia. 27. A movie with synchronized speech and singing. 31. Muslims collectively and their civilization. 32. A man who serves as a sailor. 33. A republic on the Isthmus of Panama. 35. A river in southeastern France. 36. (law) A defense by an accused person purporting to show that he or she could not have committed the crime in question. 38. Not only so, but. 39. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group. 43. Gully or streambed in North Africa and the Middle East that remains dry except dur- ing rainy season. 46. (of a young animal) Abandoned by its mother and raised by hand. 47. Related on the mother's side. ACROSS 49. The basic unit of money in Bangladesh. 1. A workplace for the conduct of scientific research. 50. The capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the Congo river opposite 4. Tiny marine and freshwater crustaceans with a shrimp-like body enclosed in a bivalve Brazzaville. shell. 55. Spin or twist together so as to form a cord. 12. The compass point that is one point south of due east. 57. Resinlike substance secreted by certain lac insects. 15. Leaf or strip from a leaf of the talipot palm used in India for writing paper. 60. Having help. 16. The quality of being alien. 61. (medieval Europe) A person who is bound to the land and owned by the feudal lord. 17. Committee formed by a special-interest group to raise money for their favorite politi- 63. Type genus of the Percidae. cal candidates. 65. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind. 18. United States writer of poems and plays about racial conflict (born in 1934). 66. A small cake leavened with yeast. 20. Dark somewhat brownish black n 1. 68. A shop selling delicatessen (as salads or cooked meats). 21. A period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event. 69. (used especially of vegetation) Having lost all moisture. 22. Preserve a dead body. 70. A flat-bottomed volcanic crater that was formed by an explosion. 23. American physicist who won the Nobel Prize for physics twice (1908-1991). 71. A French abbot. 25. Sorghums of dry regions of Asia and North Africa. 73. The most common computer memory which can be used by programs to perform 28. In operation or operational. necessary tasks while the computer is on. 29. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism. 75. The United Nations agency concerned with international maritime activities. 30. A speech defect that involves pronouncing s like voiceless th and z like voiced th. 34. A choice or delicious dish. 37. Type genus of the Hylidae. 40. Relating to or characteristic of or occurring on the sea or ships. Yesterdayʼs Solution 41. The sign language used in the United States. 42. A branch of the Tai languages. 44. A local computer network for communication between computers. 45. Make or become free of frost or ice. 48. An Indian side dish of yogurt and chopped cucumbers and spices. Yesterday’s Solution 51. Relating to or concerned with a city or densely populated area. 52. Having the leading position or higher score in a contest. 53. (Islam) The man who leads prayers in a mosque. 54. A family of fish in the order Zeomorphi. 56. A large oven for firing or burning or drying such things as porcelain or bricks. 58. A silvery soft waxy metallic element of the alkali metal group. 59. An inactive volcano in Sicily. 62. Of southern Europe. 64. A light touch or stroke. 67. Leave or strike out, as of vowels. 72. The sixth month of the civil year. 74. Medium-sized penguins occurring in large colonies on the Adelie coast of Antarctica. 76. An Arabic speaking person who lives in Arabia or North Africa. 77. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad. 78. A cavity in the mesoderm of an embryo that gives rise in humans to the pleural cavity and pericardial cavity and peritoneal cavity. 79. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike. 80. (Old Testament) In Judeo-Christian mythology. 81. A person responsible for the editorial aspects of publication. 82. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

DOWN 1. Having deeply indented margins but with lobes not entirely separate from each other. 2. The mission in San Antonio where in 1836 Mexican forces under Santa Anna besieged and massacred American rebels who were fighting to make Texas independent of

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution SPORTS SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014

MLB CAPSULES Angels complete a perfect homestand

ANAHEIM: Mike Trout and Albert Pujols Peralta (9-5) allowed three straight singles in drove in two runs apiece, Jered Weaver the fourth before Ryan Wheeler hit a grand pitched seven strong innings, and the Los slam that gave the Rockies a 4-3 lead. In the Angeles Angels completed a perfect homes- fifth, Weeks doubled and scored on Jonathan tand with a 6-4 victory over the Minnesota Lucroy’s single. A sacrifice fly by Khris Davis Twins on Thursday. Pujols had three hits and put the Brewers ahead 5-4. Pinch-hitter Josh Hamilton drove in a run to help the Scooter Gennett connected for a two-run Angels win their sixth straight and move a homer in the eighth. Peralta went six innings season-best 11 games over .500 (44-33). Trout for his second win over the Rockies in less had two doubles, including a two-run drive than a week. Francisco Rodriguez earned his down the left-field line in the seventh. The major league-leading 26th save. Angels have won 15 of 17 in Anaheim, where they have the majors’ best home record. Los PHILLIES 5, MARLINS 3, 14 INNINGS Angeles swept Texas and Minnesota to com- Chase Utley hit a two-run homer in the plete its first unbeaten homestand with at 14th inning to lift Philadelphia over Miami. least six games since May 2004. Weaver (8-6) Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Giancarlo Stanton and yielded eight hits - all singles - and struck out Marcell Ozuna homered for the Marlins, who six to improve to 7-0 in eight career starts managed only two hits from the ninth inning against Minnesota. The right-hander, who on. After the Phillies squandered chances to threw a no-hitter against Minnesota in 2012, score in the 10th, 11th and 12th, Jimmy Rollins has given up one run in 24 innings while strik- led off the 14th with an infield single. Utley fol- ing out 24 in his last three home meetings lowed by driving an 0-2 pitch from Chris with the Twins. Joe Mauer hit a three-run dou- Hatcher (0-1) deep into the right-field seats. ble with two outs in the ninth for Minnesota. The game lasted 4 hours, 41 minutes, and the Ricky Nolasco (4-6) was the loser. teams combined to use 13 pitchers. Justin De Fratus (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings, part TIGERS 6, RANGERS 0 of an impressive display by the Phillies Rick Porcello pitched a three-hitter for his bullpen. Philadelphia tied it in the seventh on first career shutout and 10th victory this sea- a two-out error by first baseman Jeff Baker. son as Detroit beat skidding Texas to win its seventh consecutive game. Miguel Cabrera PIRATES 5, METS 2 had four hits and Austin Jackson hit a two-run Hot-hitting rookie Gregory Polanco home- single for the AL Central leaders, who com- red and drove in four runs, and resurgent pleted a three-game sweep. While the Tigers right-hander Vance Worley pitched have the longest winning streak in the majors, Pittsburgh past New York. Polanco drove in Texas has the longest losing streak at eight in the first run with a groundout in the first a row. Porcello (10-4) limited the Rangers to inning, then hit a three-run homer off Daisuke three singles and benefited from three double Matsuzaka (3-2) in the fifth to put the Pirates plays. He struck out six and walked three, ahead 5-1. Worley (2-0) scattered seven hits throwing a season-high 115 pitches. It was and struck out three. He has given up four only the second complete game for Porcello runs in 20 2-3 innings over three starts since in 164 major league starts - all for the Tigers coming up from the minors on June 15. Mark since 2009. The right-hander has won at least Melancon pitched a perfect ninth for his 14th 10 games in each of his six seasons. Rangers save. Lucas Duda homered and David Wright rookie Nick Martinez (1-5) allowed six hits and had an RBI double for the Mets. walked five of the 18 batters he faced in 2 1-3 innings. Texas has its longest losing streak CUBS 5, NATIONALS 3 since dropping eight in a row in August 2005. Justin Ruggiano’s two-out, two-run double broke a tie in the seventh inning and sent BLUE JAYS 7, WHITE SOX 0 Chicago to a victory over Washington. Starlin Adam Lind had three hits and three RBIs, Castro had two RBIs and Anthony Rizzo went and J A Happ pitched a season high 7 2-3 3 for 4 with two doubles and a run. The Cubs innings in Toronto’s shutout of Chicago. Jose had dropped four of five. Denard Span went 2 Reyes had four hits and scored twice as the AL for 4 with two doubles and two RBIs for the East leaders handed the struggling White Sox Nationals. Cubs reliever Neil Ramirez (1-1) got their seventh loss in eight games. Chicago lost the win, and Hector Rondon pitched a perfect for the 10th time in 11 road games. Happ (7-4) SAN FRANCISCO: Brandon Phillips #4 of the Cincinnati Reds throws to first base after ninth for his ninth save. Craig Stammen (0-3) allowed four hits and won for the third time in fielding a ground ball hit for a single by Gregor Blanco (not pictured) of the San Francisco took the loss. Chicago center fielder Junior five starts. The left-hander struck out a sea- Giants during the third inning at AT&T Park on June 26, 2014. — AFP Lake left in the second inning after crashing son-high eight. Chicago center fielder Adam into a door in the Wrigley Field wall while Eaton left in the first inning with cramps in his Turner, batting for reliever Brian Wilson, came Reds player since Dave Parker did it in eight chasing a drive by Ryan Zimmerman. The left leg. Starting for the first time since May through with his 20th RBI of the season. straight in 1986. Adam Duvall homered in his Cubs said Lake showed no signs of a concus- 19, White Sox right-hander Scott Carroll (2-4) Wilson (1-2) pitched a perfect inning and major league debut for the Giants, who lost sion but had some bruises, including one on gave up five runs and nine hits in five innings. Kenley Jansen got three outs for his 24th save. for the 12th time in 16 games. Ryan his head. Wainwright (10-4) took a hard-luck loss. He Vogelsong (5-4) allowed one run and five hits DODGERS 1, CARDINALS 0 gave up five hits while going the distance for over six innings one day after teammate Tim ASTROS 6, BRAVES 1 Pinch-hitter Justin Turner delivered an RBI the 19th time in 201 regular-season starts. Lincecum threw a no-hitter against San Matt Dominguez broke out of a slump with single in the eighth inning off Adam Diego. Jean Machi gave up Phillips’ homer a three-run homer and rookie George Wainwright, and Los Angeles edged St. Louis REDS 3, GIANTS 1 leading off the seventh, ending his scoreless Springer also went deep to back seven strong in their first meeting since last year’s NL Brandon Phillips homered among his three streak at 25 1-3 innings. Zack Cozart and Ryan innings by Jarred Cosart in Houston’s victory championship series. hits and scored twice in his return to the line- Ludwick also drove in runs for the Reds, who over Atlanta. Dominguez helped the Astros Josh Beckett pitched seven sharp innings up, leading Mike Leake and Cincinnati over have won eight of their last 10 games, includ- avoid a series sweep, snapping an 0-for-23 in a tight duel with Wainwright, who held the San Francisco. Leake (6-6) allowed four hits in ing playoffs, in San Francisco. skid with his two-out shot to left-center off Dodgers hitless through five. Left fielder Matt eight innings. He had a career-high 12 strike- Mike Minor (2-5) that made it 5-1 in the fifth. Kemp threw out a Cardinals runner at the outs and walked one, which was intentional. BREWERS 7, ROCKIES 4 Cosart (8-5) allowed six hits and a run for his plate in the seventh. Juan Uribe, just off the Aroldis Chapman worked the ninth for his Rickie Weeks had three hits, including a fourth straight victory. Springer hit a solo disabled list after missing 34 games with a 15th save in 16 chances. Jay Bruce and Todd leadoff home run, and Wily Peralta won his drive off Juan Jaime in the seventh. He has 15 right hamstring strain, led off the eighth with Frazier each added two hits for the Reds, who fifth consecutive start as Milwaukee defeated homers this season, the most by a rookie in a single and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by have won five of six. Bruce doubled in the Colorado. Weeks homered on the first pitch franchise history before the All-Star break. Drew Butera before rookie Miguel Rojas’ seventh and has an extra-base hit in each of from Christian Friedrich (0-2). Aramis Ramirez Lance Berkman had the previous mark with infield single put runners at the corners. his last seven games, the longest streak by a added a two-run shot later in the inning. 12 in 2000. — AP SPORTS SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014 Li crashes out of Wimbledon Djokovic survives horror fall

LONDON: Chinese superstar Li Na crashed out of Wimbledon yesterday in another twist to her love-hate relationship with the tournament while Novak Djokovic made the last-16 but only after surviving a painful fall. Second seed Li lost 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/5) in the third round to Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic with the defeat coming hot on the heels of her shock first round exit at the French Open. In eight appearances at Wimbledon, the 32-year-old Li has still never got beyond the quarter-finals, comfortably her least successful Grand Slam tournament. The match ended in bizarre circumstances with Li, fac- ing match point, successfully challenging a forehand which had been called long.But the 28-year-old Zahlavova Strycova, the world number 43 who will next face Caroline Wozniacki, was able to quickly celebrate victory for real when Li served up a seventh double fault on the replayed point. Victory represented a first last-16 spot at a major for the Czech in her 32nd Grand Slam appearance. “I am very happy. I played a great match and I believed I could do it. It’s my biggest win,” said the player whose low-key career only previously hit the headlines when she served a six- month doping ban in 2013. Zahlavova Strycova said she did not hear Li challenge ASSEN: Marc Marquez of Spain (right) competes on his Honda with Karel Abraham of Czech Republic on his Honda (cen- on match point against the background of noise in Court tre) and Andrea Iannone of Italy on his Ducati during qualifying for the Dutch MotoGP Grand Prix, in Assen, northern One.”I thought it was over. I had to get my concentration Netherlands yesterday. — AP back but happily, for me, she served a double fault.” Top seed Djokovic survived a shoulder injury scare to reach the fourth round for the eighth time with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 win Marquez aims for magic eight over Gilles Simon, his seventh successive victory over the Frenchman. Djokovic, the 2011 champion, needed a med- ASSEN: Spanish world champion Marc Jorge was looking fast here last year at the Marquez, second last year in Assen, ical timeout to receive treatment and take a painkiller Marquez is targeting a record eighth con- beginning before his injury,” Rossi said. said: “The weather is always unpredictable after hurting his left shoulder in a spectacular diving secutive win at this weekend’s Dutch “Last year was also my best qualifying and and we have to as usual get the right set- attempt to reach a Simon drive in the sixth game of the motorcycle Grand Prix, with Italian veteran starting on the front row would help here, tings from the practice session.” Marquez’s third set on Centre Court. Valentino Rossi hoping to deny him at one but the top five is the target in qualifying.” teammate Dani Pedrosa, fourth last year But the Serb overcame the scare to set up a clash with of his favorite tracks. Second-place Rossi, Lorenzo, sitting fourth in the standings, after leading for five laps, won the first of French 14th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for a place in the who Marquez edged out to claim a spec- won the MotoGP race in Assen in 2010, the his 47 Grand Prix races as a 16 year old on quarter-finals. Djokovic admitted he was shaken by his fall tacular seventh victory in front of a home same year he won the first of his two world the track in 2002. Following the Dutch TT- and finished the match in some discomfort, but the world crowd in Catalunya 12 days ago, will have a titles. “I look forward to racing in Assen; it’s run on a Saturday instead of a Sunday number two hopes the damage isn’t severe enough to point to prove in today’s clash at a track maybe my favorite circuit,” said Lorenzo, because of religious reasons in the strongly impede his chances of continuing in the tournament. “Yes where he has won six GP races. although he has struggled at the track Prostestant Netherlands-the MotoGP then it was a sharp pain when I fell. It was an awkward fall. I was A win would also put Rossi-currently 58 since 2010. “It’s a nice layout defined by moves on to the Sachsenring in Germany just hoping nothing was going on bad with the joint,” he points adrift of Marquez’s perfect score of some quick corners and a short straight in two weeks. Marquez made his early said. “There was no damage in the joint, so I could play a 175 — ahead of his illustrious compatriot that looks good for us, and especially for intentions clear on Thursday, finishing sec- few games after that. The muscle was still quite sore Giacomo Agostini, a six-time winner in the Yamaha. “Last season I finished fifth ond in early free practice behind Spaniard because of the impact, so all in all I’m just glad to get motorcycling’s top category at Assen after surgery on my collarbone and I suf- Aleix Espargaro, who set a blistering fastest through.” between 1968-74. Rossi will be defending fered a lot but finally I could conclude a lap ever recorded at the current Assen his 2013 Assen GP victory against a ram- very special race.” track of 1min 33.653sec. — AFP New mark for S Africa pant Marquez. Rossi returned to his win- Djokovic has won 10 of his 11 meetings with the big- ning ways here last year following a two- serving Tsonga, including in the 2011 Wimbledon semi- and-a-half year drought, notching up his Boks, Scotland bring in finals and the quarter-finals at the 2012 Olympic Games, only victory of the season. which were staged at the All England Club. Tsonga made Rossi is also looked at by many to try new blood for Test clash the last 16 by beating Jimmy Wang of Taiwan, 6-2, 6-2, 7-5 and halt the Spaniard’s spotless eight-win Kevin Anderson, the 20th seed, defeated explosive Italian campaign, something a young Rossi him- PORT ELIZABETH: South Africa and and Lwazi Mvovo also come into the 16th seed Fabio Fognini 4-6, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 to become self achieved as world champion back in Scotland are both hoping that new starting XV, as both coaches seek to the first South African man to reach the Wimbledon fourth 2002. “Assen is a great track and a good blood in their starting XVs will give blood new players ahead of next round for 14 years. Anderson fought back from two sets to track for Yamaha,” the 35-year-old Rossi them the edge in a one-off World year’s World Cup. one down to emulate Wayne Ferreira’s run to the last 16 in told the organizers of the circuit that is bet- Cup-tinged Test in Port Elizabeth “Our plans had always been to try 2000 and in the process secured only his second win over ter known as “The Cathedral” of motorcy- today. South African coach Heyneke a few new combinations this week a top 20 seed in a Grand Slam. The 28-year-old will play cle racing. Rossi warned that the unpre- Meyer has selected world junior play- against Scotland and I’m looking for- defending champion Andy Murray or Spanish 27th seed dictable Dutch weather played a huge fac- er of the year and baby Bok star fly- ward to see the guys grab their Roberto Bautista Agut for a place in the quarter-finals. tor. “You never know if it will be hot or half Handre Pollard to start for his first opportunities,” said Meyer. Four pos- Third seeded Murray is bidding to become the first cold or dry or wet,” he said of the 4.542 cap, a huge vote of confidence in the sible new caps are also on the bench: British man to successfully defend the Wimbledon title kilometer track, the only one in the promising 20-year-old. prop Marcel van der Merwe, lock since Fred Perry successfully retained his 1935 crown in Netherlands to stage a grand prix race Pollard, who led South Africa to Stephan Lewies, back row forward 1936. Former women’s world number one Wozniacki since the start of the world championship runners-up spot in the recent under- Teboho ‘Oupa’ Mohoje and fly-half reached the last 16 for the fourth time with a 6-3, 6-0 win in 1949. “Last year’s race was unforgettable 20 World Championship in New Marnitz Boshoff. Scottish coach Vern over Croatian 16-year-old Ana Konjuh, the world number but honestly this year I feel I am strong in Zealand, will start in a side that sees Cotter has made four changes for 189. Belinda Bencic, the 17-year-old Swiss won her almost every regard, so we have to try hard five other changes from that which today’s clash from the side that nar- delayed second round tie, 6-4, 7-5 against America’s and beat the competition,” Rossi said. narrowly beat Wales 31-30 last week. rowly beat Argentina in Cordoba last Victoria Duval and next faces third-seeded Simona Halep Rossi’s teammate Jorge Lorenzo finished “Handre is a very talented player and week. Henry Pyrgos will start at who clinched a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 win over Ukrainian qualifier fifth last year after breaking his collarbone has a big opportunity this week, but scrum-half in Port Elizabeth in place Lesia Tsurenko. French Open runner-up Halep will be play- during practice, losing his chance of win- he’ll have Fourie du Preez’s experi- of Grayson Hart, while Tim Swinson ing in the third round for the first time. Later yesterday, ning his third MotoGP world title on a track ence next to him, while he’s played a and Chris Fusaro start in the pack and five-time women’s champion Venus Williams faced 2011 that’s traditionally been good to the lot with (centre) Jan Serfontein 20-year-old Glasgow Warriors number winner Petra Kvitova, the only Grand Slam champion born Yamaha team. “Marc is strong this season before.” Coenie Oosthuizen, Lood de eight Adam Ashe makes his Test in the 1990s. — AFP with one more year of experience, and Jager, Marcell Coetzee, Schalk Burger debut. —AFP SPORTS SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014

Red Bull Runners up - Desert Knights TACK introduces pathbreaking helicam technology TACK-MG CRICKET WEEKEND A GRAND SUCCESS

KUWAIT: Teams Association for Cricket in Kuwait faced a few hiccups initially while chasing but Aamir (TACK) and MG Cricket Club, continuing with their Javed and Nikhil Kulkarni steadied the ship and mission of serving and enhancing the game of ensured there was no upset, scoring 48 and 28 cricket in Kuwait; successfully hosted and conduct- respectively. By the time Division A finals started, ed the weekend Cricket Bonanza where 8 finals the ground was already buzzing with energy as the were played out on Thursday and yesterday. 16 crowd had started to build up and preceding teams, more than a 100 players along with over 500 matches setting up the atmosphere perfectly. The cricket loving audience were part of the grand players were seated in the newly implemented Cricket weekend bonanza. international standard dug-outs that can accommo- The successful completion of these two tourna- date as many as 32 players at any given time. DTDL ments ie TACK-MG Division League (TMDL) and Division A finals again saw Aroma and Safety Plus DOHA-TURF Division League (DTDL), has further facing each other. cemented the fact that TACK-MG combination is a However, it looked Safety Plus had not recov- name to be reckoned with when it comes to run- ered from the shocking loss of Thursday’s finals and ning quality domestic cricket in Kuwait and with the looked uninspired during the final. Batting first, kind of show put up over on 19th-20th June. One they were dismissed for a cheap 124 all out in 19.5 cannot wait for their next tournament, T-10 overs with no one apart from Farooq (58 off 43 RAMADAN LEAGUE to begin. balls) firing for Safety Plus. Once the opening stand Living up to their reputation of setting standards Winners - Aroma Cricket Club of 68 runs was broken, Safety Plus could not get any and benchmarks for others to follow, TACK-MG by Lahore Badshahs; Black Mambaz emerged victo- Warriors winning by 1 wicket. Batting first KRH momentum or build partnerships as Aroma bowlers offered the perfect mix of food, music and enter- rious in Division B finals while Division A finals saw could only muster a meager 119 from their 20 overs put in an extremely disciplined performance. tainment packed T-20 cricket to people who turned the mighty Aroma Cricket Club beating Safety Plus with Mahmood Alam being the chief destroyer Aroma’s latest find Raveja Desilva was in superb up in huge numbers to feel at home, away from Dashers by a hair splitting margin of1 wicket. grabbing 4 wickets. It was a tough chase for the form as he took 4 wickets, 3 of which were in the home. True to its image of being trendsetters, TACK Imran Ali played the innings of a lifetime and his Warriors as they lost 9 wickets on the way and won same over, for just 29 runs. Aroma’s fielding was introduced yet another new concept to Kuwait 83 not out snatched victory for Aroma from the the match with just one delivery to go. also top notch especially Imran Ali and Raveja who cricket during the finals - Helicam. This path break- jaws of defeat. After dismissing Safety’s formidable Arif Mumtaz lead the chase scoring crucial 34 took blinders at long off and long on respectively. ing technology that has recently been introduced in batting lineup for 149 on cement wicket, everybody runs in a low scoring match. Division C final, played Aroma’s chase was led by Kashif Shareef who Kuwait was used by TACK to capture a bird’s eye on the ground including Aroma thought they had between Skylark and Channels Media, was another scored a mature and patient 50 as Aroma did not view of the action at the picturesque TACK the match in the bag. Khalid Butt was dismissed close encounter with Skylark winning the match by want another thriller while chasing a small target. Entertainment City Cricket Ground in Doha. cheaply after Ali Talib took a blinder catch hurting just 10 runs in the end. After winning the toss and They started cautiously and chased down the target DJ Flames, now an integral team member at himself in the process. It was left to Farooq who batting first, Skylark put up a mammoth total of 190 in 18.4 overs for the loss of just 3 wickets. TACK finals and a renowned name in Kuwait music played a brilliant knock and with support from low- runs on the board with Akilesh Rao smashing 79 off As has become the norm with TACK-MG and the fraternity was present playing the latest tunesand er middle order helped his team to put up 149 runs just 47 deliveries with 3 huge sixes. Channels Media one aspect where they are head and shoulders perfectly captured the mood and vibe of all the on the board. in reply looked comfortable to chase down the big above any other in terms of serving the game of matches and the attendees. The attendees included At the halfway stage everybody thought Aroma target as their openers put up 86 runs in 8 overs. cricket in Kuwait, the players were rewarded gener- people from cricket loving south Asian countries would cruise through the finals and chase the tar- However, Skylark bowlers persisted with good ously with cash prizes worth $15000 distributed along with the locals thus demonstrating the popu- get comfortably but the dream quickly turned into line and length as Channels Media lost wickets in among the finalists. larity and love TACK-MG enjoy amongst a wide a nightmare as Aroma lost 6 wickets for less than 30 cluster and could not build another partnership The runners-up of six finals got $210 cash prize range of communities. runs on the board. Aroma skipper Amjad Ashraf after the massive first wicket stand. Akilesh Rao per- along with a trophy and the winners walked away DTDL and TMDL, under the auspices of Touristic steadied the ship along with Imran Ali but with 26 formed with the ball as well picking up 2 wickets with $425 in addition to the winner’s trophy. Man- Enterprises Company & leadership of TACK required off the last 2 overs and only 1 wicket in and Hassan also grabbed 3 wickets for just 28 runs. of-the-finals were rewarded $140 along with a tro- President Mohammad Ashraf and Patron-in-Chief hand Safety Plus had the game in the bag. MG7 and Kharafi National battled it out for top slot phy as well. Apart from the patron-in-chief of TACK Mahmoud Abdullah saw more than 75 teams com- However, Imran Ali had other ideas as his combina- in Division B which turned out to be a completely Mahmoud Abdullah, presentation party also includ- peting for more than three months spread across tion of flicks and switch hits saw Aroma over the one-sided affair. Kharafi National batting line up ed corporate giants such as the GM of ISO Plus four divisions; A, B, C and D depending upon each line and clinch the TMDL Division A trophy. was completely blown away as they were dismissed Middle East Andreas Kerner and Sadakat Ali from team’s strengths and standing in TACK rankings. In In DTDL, the finals saw KRH and ISO Desert for a nothing score of 99. Channels Media. Pro Sports, the official sports TMDL, UCC won the Division D championship by Warriors fight it out for top spot in Division D. It was Simon Pramodh was the chief destroyer as he equipment partner of TACK provided the trophies beating Abbasiya Royals, Division C finals were won another nail biter of a match with ISO Desert picked up 3 wickets at less than 4 runs an over. MG7 and medals.

Runners up - SSH Safety Plus Dashers Runners up - Royal Masters SPORTS SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014

IOC warns Tokyo over potential venue switches

TOKYO: Any plans Tokyo has to more temporary venues. We would like IOC. “The issue of cost is a critical one,” which critics slammed as too expensive change venues for the 2020 Olympics to see this done as soon as possible, said the former Japanese prime minis- and a potential eyesore on the skyline. will first have to be approved by the rel- and we would like to know where we ter. “The taxpayers are footing the bill. Tokyo officials estimate the total evant sport’s world governing body, are going with the venues.” Tokyo, We will look to see if there is any over- cost of venues at around 150 billion the International Olympic Committee which staged Asia’s first Olympics in lap of waste in terms of venues. yen ($1.47 billion), including the con- (IOC) said yesterday. Tokyo Governor 1964, beat Madrid and Istanbul for the “We will see if some venues can be struction of 10 new facilities, although Yoichi Masuzoe recently ordered a rights to host the 2020 Games in last used for more than sport. We have until some assembly members fear the price review of venue plans because of con- September’s IOC vote. February to submit our foundation could double. cerns about costs, but IOC vice-presi- The city’s “compact” bid, with 85 plan.” One of the venues set to be Coates, meanwhile, refused to be dent John Coates insisted Japanese percent of the venues located inside an moved is the canoe slalom course at drawn on reports that Mori wanted officials would need to go through the eight-kilometer (five-mile) ring, was Kasai seaside park following opposition overseas athletes to set up training correct channels for any revisions. popular among IOC members after from environmental groups, while bas- camps near Fukushima, site of a triple “There will be no changes unless years of sky-rocketing Olympic costs. ketball and badminton could also be nuclear meltdown following the devas- there is the full sign-off from all the However, Tokyo’s organising commit- bumped well outside the main water- tating tsunami in March, 2011. “We international federations,” Coates told tee president Yoshiro Mori insisted a front area near the Olympic village. In have no details of specific locations,” he reporters at the end of the IOC’s first review of existing venue plans was nec- addition to the issue of venue switches, said, asked about a possible risk of three-day visit to the 2020 Olympic essary in order to keep Olympic spend- there is a groundswell of opposition to exposure to radiation. “But I’m sure host city. “We want to see the use of ing in check, putting Japanese officials architect Zaha Hadid’s design for the national Olympic committees would be more existing venues and the use of on a potential collision course with the rebuilding of Tokyo’s National Stadium, mindful of that.”— AFP

Cavs choose Canada’s Wiggins with first pick

NEW YORK: Canada’s Andrew Wiggins from the University of Kansas was taken with the number one pick of the 2014 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday launching a great night for Canada and international players. Four of the first eight players selected into the world’s leading professional basketball league came from outside the United States. The 19-year-old Wiggins, an athletic, 6-foot-8 (2.03m) guard with great leaping ability who averaged 17.1 points and 5.9 rebounds last season as a freshman, joins a Cavs team that was 33-49 last season in the National Basketball Association. “Just going in and creating impact off the bat,” Wiggins, nick- named “Maple Jordan” for his explosiveness, said about coming to the NBA. “Just playing my game and have confidence in myself because I have to believe in myself before anyone else can.” The choice of Wiggins made it back-to-back number ones from Canada, after Cleveland chose forward Anthony Bennett first overall in 2013. Bennett struggled in his rookie season as he averaged 4.2 points and three rebounds per game. Jabari Parker of Duke University was the second pick made by the Milwaukee Bucks. The 19-year-old Parker, a polished offen- sively-minded forward who averaged 19.1 points and 8.7 rebounds as a freshman last season, was happy to join Milwaukee, which is about a 90-minute drive from his hometown MARYLAND: Greg Chalmers, of Australia, hits out of a bunker onto the 11th green during the first round of the Quicken of Chicago. “I’m really excited,” said Parker. “You know I get to Loans National PGA golf tournament on Thursday, June 26, 2014. — AP represent the city of Chicago but also the city of Milwaukee and the whole Midwest, those Great Lakes, Lake Michigan. It feels real good.” Cameroon’s Joel Embiid from the University of Kansas, the Chalmers sets pace at potential defensive ace of the draft, was taken with the third pick by the Philadelphia 76ers. Embiid, a 7-foot center with outstand- ing defensive skills, averaged 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game as a freshman despite missing the postseason Congressional Country tournaments because of a back injury. The 20-year-old Embiid, who had been projected as the possible number one pick, had recent foot surgery but it did not diminish his NBA appeal by much in being the third player taken. “I just can’t believe it,” Rusty Woods eight shots off the pace Embiid, who could not come to New York because of his surgery, told NBA TV. “It just shows that anything is possible.” Power forward Aaron Gordon of Arizona was selected fourth MARYLAND: While Tiger Woods mainly struggled in his first com- Title defense by the Orlando Magic before the Utah Jazz continued the inter- petitive round in three months, Australian Greg Chalmers birdied Defending champion Bill Haas launched his title defence with a national trend by taking 18-year-old Australian guard Dante his last three holes to seize control of the Quicken Loans National 68, ending the day level with fellow Americans Patrick Reed and Exum with the fifth pick, despite no college experience. The in Bethesda, Maryland on Thursday. Erik Compton, and South African Tyrone Van Aswegen. Eight play- Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, not accustomed to pick- Chalmers, at the age of 40 still seeking his first victory on the ers, including twice former US Open champion Retief Goosen of ing so high in the annual draft that rewards teams with poor PGA Tour, fired a five-under-par 66 on a difficult Congressional South Africa and South Korean KJ Choi, were knotted on 69. records the higher picks, followed in the order. Boston took Country Club layout bristling with thick rough to take a one-shot Woods, playing in a high-profile grouping with compatriot Jordan bruising point guard Marcus Smart of Oklahoma State, while the lead in the opening round. The Australian left-hander picked up Spieth and Australian Jason Day, initially looked rusty and strug- Lakers chose power forward Julius Randle from Kentucky. three shots in his first nine holes after teeing off at the par-three gled with seven bogeys in his first 12 holes before recording three Canada then claimed another spot in the top 10 when the 10th, then bogeyed the second before ending his round in style birdies in his last six to shoot a 74. “I made so many little mistakes,” Sacramento Kings picked shooting guard Nik Stauskas from with birdies at the seventh, eighth and ninth. That left Chalmers a Woods, who had surgery to repair a pinched nerve in his back in Michigan with the eighth choice. stroke in front of long-hitting American Ricky Barnes and Swede March, told reporters after finishing the round tied for 83rd in a A third Canadian player, Syracuse guard Tyler Ennis, was tak- Fredrik Jacobson, who carded matching 67s. field of 120. “But I played a lot better than the score indicated, en 18th by the Phoenix Suns. “Great thing for Canada,” Wiggins “I really drove the ball well, probably the best I have driven it all which is good. said. In all 10 foreign players were taken in the first round, includ- year,” Chalmers told PGA Tour Radio. “That kind of set up the rest “The hard part was just getting into the rhythm of playing com- ing Croatian Dario Saric (12), Jusuf Nurkic of Bosnia and of the round, and finishing with three straight birdies is always petitively. You play with your buddies all day for cash and stuff but Herzegovina (16), Bruno Caboclo of Brazil (20), Clint Capela of nice.” Chalmers, who has twice finished second on the PGA Tour it’s just not the same. It’s not the same as tournament golf, differ- Switzerland (25) and Bogdan Bogdanovic of Serbia (27). Two during his career, felt he was very fortunate to escape with pars on ent level.” Woods’ playing partners also failed to break par in the trades were confirmed by the NBA, with Denver dealing Anthony the only two occasions when he missed the fairway by more than a tough scoring conditions, Spieth carding a 74 and Day signing for Randolph and the rights to 11th pick Doug McDermott to couple of feet off the tee, at the third and fourth. “It’s nasty,” he a 73. “It was a great group,” said Woods, whose opening 74 was Chicago for the rights to Nurkic, No 19 pick Gary Harris and a said of the lush rough at Congressional. “I drove it in the rough also matched by US Open champion Justin Rose of England and 2015 second-round pick. Philadelphia dealt the rights to 10th twice, on my 12 and 13th holes, and I had real trouble. I had to lay reigning PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner. “Unfortunately, pick Elfrid Payton to Orlando for the rights to Saric and a future it up and luckily I got them up and down (for par). “You just have to we didn’t see a lot of each other on the front nine. We were all kind first-round and second-round pick. — Reuters be coming out of the fairway here (with second shots), and I did do of looking to break 80. It was a bit of a fight for all of us but we that the majority of the time today.” hung in there.” — Reuters SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014 45

Penalty shootouts: Tricks of the trade

PARIS: The penalty shootout is a mind most effective colour for keepers. Put it over here Jens Lehmann cunningly tucked a piece game-and here are some of the favorite Experiments at Chichester University, Dutch researchers found that goal- of paper down his sock from his coach ploys: southern England, found that a keeper let keepers who positioned themselves just ahead of a quarter-final shootout against in only 54 percent of penalties when slightly off centre-no more than 10 cen- Argentina. Look at me wearing red, compared to 69 percent for timeters (four inches) off the centre of the The note successfully predicted which Watch for goalkeepers with wobbly yellow, 72 percent for blue and 75 percent line-give a subconscious prompt to the way each striker liked to angle the short legs and a goal-line jiggle, all intended to for green. striker as to where to place the ball. (low left, high right and so on). The crum- distract the striker. The tactic is also The kicker is 10 percent likelier to go pled paper later fetched a million euros helped by fluorescent or bat-winged jer- Be my friend for the slightly wider side of the goal ($1.35 million) for charity. seys and outsized gloves, designed to A keeper classic: Go up and shake the mouth, giving the keeper a useful predic- make the keeper look bigger and the striker’s hand in a sporting gesture, pick tive advantage. All in good time goalmouth smaller. up the ball and stroke or pat it-and then Time favors the striker. Researchers put it back slightly off-centre. All this Do your homework have found that if he takes the penalty Seeing red takes control away from the striker, forc- Prep work can be a neat guide to the within three seconds after the whistle has Scientists say red-associated with dan- ing him to look at the keeper and aban- taker’s preferences or a goalkeeper’s blown, he gets an element of surprise; if ger or anger, which is why at times of don his preparatory rituals to readjust the weakness. he waits at least 13 seconds, the agoniz- stress we pay more attention to it-is the ball. In the 2006 World Cup, German keeper ing delay unsettles the keeper. — AFP

RIO DE JANEIRO: A tourist jokes in front of an advertisement with the portrait of Uruguay’s forward Luis Suarez at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. Sportswear giant Adidas said it would stop using Luis Suarez for World Cup adverts after his four-month ban from football activities for biting Italian Giorgio Chiellini. (Right) A tourist jokes in front of an advertise- ment with the portrait of Uruguay’s forward Luis Suarez at Copacabana beach. — AFP Adidas, Nike battle for social media WCup Brands bid to be ‘most talked about’

RIO DE JANEIRO: Adidas might be attracting bad Logic, which advises big brands on social media World Cup marketing - but stopped short of ending possibly because it is paying more to promote online buzz for its sponsorship of biting Uruguayan strategy including World Cup sponsor Visa. its sponsorship deal with him. The German compa- posts. The US firm said its marketing expenses rose footballer Luis Suarez - but in the tussle to win the Determined to be the most talked-about brand, ny is aiming for soccer sales of $2.7 billion this year, 36 percent last quarter, mainly due to World Cup most World Cup social media play, the German firm Adidas has set up a “newsroom” in the clubhouse of and needs a World Cup boost because its revenue spending, and are expected to increase by 30 per- says it is winning plenty of positive attention too. soccer club Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro, where so far has been dented by volatile currencies in cent in the current quarter. With every tackle, save and goal, a simultaneous off- around 50 Adidas staff generate real-time online emerging markets and by tensions in Russia. By Further evidence that its spending is bearing the-pitch marketing battle is being fought between content, including for the Twitter account of the comparison Nike, which only got going in the sport fruit: two of its adverts have together attracted 380 official FIFA World Cup sponsor Adidas and arch- World Cup’s official match ball - made by Adidas - in the 1994, reported soccer revenue of $2.3 billion million online views - making them three times rival Nike Inc to dominate social media to promote the Brazuca. Tom Ramsden, Adidas marketing direc- for the year to end May on Thursday, helping its more popular than Adidas ads, according to mar- their brands. tor for football, said up to 80 percent of people shares jump 3.2 percent. keting technology firm Unruly. So far Nike has also The stakes are high: Despite being a World Cup watching the World Cup will engage in social media Nike Chief Executive Mark Parker told analysts provided more than half of the boots worn on the sponsor since 1970, Adidas is seeing its leadership at some point while watching a game. “It is the key that day: “The combination of the world’s best play- pitch in the tournament - and after it said it would in soccer challenged by Nike, especially after the platform for us to engage with our target audience, ers and teams, our most innovative performance give Brazilian player Neymar a pair of golden ones world’s biggest sportswear company dominated that young teenage footballer,” he told a news con- products and new levels of consumer engagement to wear in the second round, the player’s Facebook marketing at the 2010 competition through its ference back at the firm’s German headquarters on through social media is truly extraordinary.” There is post was shared or liked 1.2 million times. savvy use of social media. But with Brazil’s World Tuesday. hope for Adidas though. Data from German soft- But players wearing Adidas boots have so far Cup on track to be the most tweeted event ever - ware firm SAP shows it is the most-talked about of scored more goals. Alongside Neymar, the top the social media network expects far more than the Suarez bite the official World Cup sponsors so far, with over scorers so far - with four apiece - are Adidas-spon- 150 million tweets sent during the London Adidas publicity has not always been the type it 67,000 mentions on social media, compared with sored Lionel Messi of Argentina and Thomas Olympics in 2012 - Adidas has the perfect arena to can control however, such as when Uruguay and over 40,000 for Sony and over 36,000 for Coca-Cola. Mueller of Germany. fight back. Liverpool striker Suarez - its key brand figure - bit The same survey showed that Nike-sponsored And the Adidas Twitter account for its A Reuters survey of the Twitter handles @adidas- Italian Giorgio Chiellini on Tuesday. In the ensuing Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo were the “Brazuca” match ball, has attracted over two mil- football and @nikefootball, using analytics website furore, Adidas campaign shots of Suarez baring his most talked about players in the first two weeks of lion followers and continues to generate publici- Tweetchup.com, shows Nike is slightly ahead so far teeth went viral. But so, as online commentators the tournament - but then fell in the ranking when ty: A Brazuca Tweet featuring singer Pharrell in some key metrics including most retweets and were quick to point out, did the brand logo. “Do England and Portugal were both eliminated. Williams and another about a contested French the most favorite tweets during the event. “Nike is you think Adidas are regretting this World Cup pro- goal against Honduras together collected more perceived by a lot of folks as if they were a sponsor motional ad... or reveling in it?” wrote Twitter user Liking Nike than 20 million retweets and favorites. “Brazuca even though they are not spending as much as @aspiringnomads. Marketing expert Kahane says while Adidas has truly is the jewel in the crown of what we have Adidas has with FIFA,” said Opher Kahane, chief After FIFA suspended Suarez on Thursday, upped its game to be more active on Facebook and right now,” Adidas marketing director Ramsden executive of marketing intelligence firm Origami Adidas said it would not use him in any further Twitter, Nike is getting more “Likes” or “Favorites” - said. — Reuters SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014 46

World Cup first round leaves Europe all at sea

RIO DE JANEIRO: Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Andrea Pirlo and Xavi have left Brazil with their tails between their legs high- lighting the hard times for Europe at the World Cup. Having pro- vided seven of the last eight World Cup semi-finalists, Europe’s dominance appears to be on the wane after a brutal group phase for the continent’s teams. Where Latin American sides such as Chile and Costa Rica created sensations, Europe’s powerhouses flopped, with Italy, England, Portugal and defending champions Spain among seven teams from the UEFA zone eliminated in the first round. European superstars disappointed. In sharp contrast, World Cup crowds have thrilled to the virtuoso performances of Neymar and Lionel Messi, the swashbuckling football of Chile and Colombia, and the daring displays of giant-killing Costa Rica. While France, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and Greece remain in contention for glory, the tournament has done little to encourage hope of a first European World Cup success in the Americas. “It cannot be a coincidence that a European team couldn’t win a World Cup held in South America,” declared Switzerland’s deco- rated German coach Ottmar Hitzfeld before the tournament. “Not in Uruguay, not in Mexico, not in Argentina, and for sure not in Brazil.” Europe’s World Cup difficulties may be part of an emerg- ing trend. Whereas European teams filled 10 of the last-16 places in five of the first six tournaments after the round was introduced in 1986 (with nine getting there in 2002), only six made it in 2010 and this year. BRASILIA: Ghana’s Jonathan Mensah helps Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo to get up after he missed a chance to score dur- Preparation pays off ing the group G World Cup soccer match between Portugal and Ghana at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia on Thursday, With tens of thousands of fans from neighboring countries June 26, 2014. — AP flooding into Brazil, the South American teams have clearly bene- fited from home advantage. Supporters from Argentina and Chile took over Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana when their sides played there in the group phase and France coach Didier Deschamps Supersubs break records and believes such mass support can make a difference. “We are in Brazil, so the South American teams certainly accli- matize better, and maybe the fact that they are playing so close hearts with late goals galore to home and have so many supporters with them gives them added strength and energy,” he said on Wednesday. SANTO ANDRE: Substitutes have been light- using all three substitutes is a good way to teenager’s goal sent Belgium through to the Developing Deschamps’s theme, Brazil striker Fred said: “I ing up the scoreboards at the World Cup with really hurt your opponent,” said Loew. “I’m second round. “The substitutions paid off,” think the climate can make a bit of a difference, because we are dazzling performances that have sparked glad I’ve got so many good players. It can be Wilmots said. “I took risks to win the match better adapted to it. “The tactical aspect makes a difference, too. their teams back to life and secured wins or a big advantage here.” Brazil’s heat and and it worked. Once again we snatched a We see Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Chile all playing technically draws that have made their coaches look like humidity has taken a toll in particular on the win.” good football. And as they are used to the very hot climate, it can geniuses. When Germany fell 2-1 behind to defense and the heavy legs open up space for end up helping a bit.” —AFP Ghana late in the second half of their Group G late chances. Dutch supersubs match, Miroslav Klose came off the bench to On top of that, using all three substitutes Both goals in Russia’s 1-1 draw with South equalize with his first touch less than two strategically is becoming a part of smart mod- Korea were scored by substitutes. After Russia minutes later. Klose’s goal not only saved his ern soccer. “I tend to focus just as much on goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev inexplicably fum- Brazil rails at notion of team from humiliating defeat but it was also those that aren’t playing,” said Belgium coach bled a shot from Lee Keun-ho, Russia’s the striker’s 15th World Cup goal, putting him Marc Wilmots, whose team came from a goal Aleksandr Kerzhakov saved the day with a World Cup referee bias level with Brazil’s Ronaldo atop the all-time down to beat Algeria 2-1 - with both goals late equalizer. Netherlands got both their late scorers list. An unusual accomplishment for a scored in the final half hour by substitutes goals in the 2-0 victory over Chile from substi- BELO HORIZONTE: Chile’s concerns over the impartiality of bench warmer? Not at this World Cup. Marouane Fellaini and Dries Mertens. “We tutes - Leroy Fer and Memphis Depay, who the referee for their World Cup round of 16 game against There are several theories as to why there have a very good backroom with very good now has two goals off the bench after scoring Brazil yesterday are an insult to the people of the host nation, have been so many goals scored by substi- substitutes.” Wilmots pulled another rabbit the winner in the 3-2 victory over Australia. Brazil’s Football Federation said yesterday. Chile players were tutes at the finals in Brazil. The record-break- out of the hat when he sent Divock Origi into Humble Depay has an ideal attitude for coach repeatedly asked this week whether they were concerned ing 24th goal was scored on Tuesday and 18 a scoreless match against Russia and the Louis van Gaal. —Reuters about the referee and his ability to be impartial in a game percent of the total 133 goals scored after the that could potentially see the hosts eliminated from a tourna- last group stage match on Thursday were by ment they are favored to win. substitues. The previous World Cup record for goals scored by players off the bench was 23 At the time the referee’s name had not yet been in 2006 - or 16 percent of 147 goals. By com- announced. England’s Howard Webb, among the most expe- parison, in 2010 in South Africa 15 of the 145 rienced referees who also officiated the 2010 World Cup final, goals (10 percent) were scored by substitutes. has since been picked for the game in Belo Horizonte. “We Some coaches have talked openly about the are going to talk about this only once. The press and Chile need to have 14 top players - not just the have insisted on this issue. This is immature in this moment in starting XI - primed and ready for action in football,” federation spokesman Rodrigo Paiva told reporters. this tournament in part due to the tropical “This kind of pressure is even ridiculous. heat. “Talking about this is not just a lack of respect towards (world soccer’s governing body) FIFA or the referee alone or Best players the Brazilian selecao (team) or to the people who work here Germany have used some of their best in a very serious manner with a 100 years of football history, a players off the bench in Klose, Lukas Podolski winning history. “We think that this is a lack of respect for the and Bastian Schweinsteiger. “With tempera- Brazilian people. Brazil does not need the help of the referee tures over 30 degrees and the high humidity, to win a match,” said Paiva. Chile striker Alexis Sanchez said substitutes have special importance here and on Thursday that the Chileans were indeed concerned about we need to use all three to bring new energy the referee but did not elaborate. Team mate Arturo Vidal has and impulses for the team - and not just also touched on the issue saying he hoped there would be replace someone,” said Germany coach RECIFE: Germany’s Miroslav Klose heads the ball towards the goal which goes wide “balanced” refereeing today. — Reuters Joachim Loew. “It’s simply impossible to go past United States’ goalkeeper Tim Howard during the group G World Cup soccer all out for 90 minutes in these conditions, and match between the USA and Germany on Thursday, June 26, 2014. — AP SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014 47

Rodriguez, Cavani cast off supporting roles

RIO DE JANEIRO: The absence of their team’s star strikers has allowed Colombia’s James Rodriguez and Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani to take centre-stage for today’s World Cup last-16 clash in Rio de Janeiro. Rodriguez has assumed responsibility for leading the Colombian attack after a kneed injury robbed Colombia of his Monaco team-mate Radamel Falcao. Luis Suarez’s biting ban leaves Cavani carrying the burden of expectation for Uruguay. Both players alighted in France’s Ligue 1 amid great fanfare a year ago, but while Cavani’s Paris Saint-Germain pipped Rodriguez’s Monaco to last season’s title, the boot has been on the other foot so far in Brazil. Rodriguez scored in each of Colombia’s three victories over Greece, the Ivory Coast and Japan and laying on three assists as his side swept into the last 16 for only the second time. Blessed with a gloriously dextrous left foot, the 22-year-old-also known as James (pronounced ‘HAM-es’) - is an extravagantly gifted play- maker whose emergence as a world-class player has longed seemed a simple matter of time. He made his professional debut for Colombian second-tier side Envigado when he was just 14 years old and scored the goal that gave Argentine club Banfield their first ever league title at the age of 17. Former Colombia coach Bolillo Gomez described him as “the number 10 that Colombia has been waiting for”. Rodriguez’s performances in his country’s colours have prompted comparisons with Colombia’s ALGIERS: Algerian soccer fans celebrate after their team qualified for round of 16 following the Group H World Cup soc- last great playmaker, Carlos Valderrama, who captained the team cer match between Algeria and Russia in Algiers, Algeria. Algeria drew with Russia 1-1, and advanced to the round of 16 that reached the last 16 at the 1990 World Cup in Italy. He is not for the first time in their World Cup history. — AP the first talented young Colombian to be identified as the heir apparent to ‘El Pibe’ (The Kid), but in this instance, Valderrama has given the comparisons his personal seal of approval. Algerians savoring chance ‘See you next season’ “Colombia doesn’t need a new ‘El Pibe’ anymore because of revenge over Germans James is that ‘kid’ that the national team has been missing in recent years,” Valderrama said in 2011. “James has the potential to be the greatest Colombian player to have ever lived, and per- CURITIBA: Algeria coach Vahid Everyone talks about Algeria and Germany to July 5 1962, and independence for haps one of the greatest to have ever played the game.” Halilhodzic said the country is ecstatic at from 1982,” said Halilhodzic. “Thirty-two Algeria (from France), in order to recall Rodriguez’s 45 million euros ($61 million) move to Monaco from not only making the second round of the years ia a long time, but I am very proud of such fervor and such an explosion of joy,” Porto made him the second most expensive Colombian player in World Cup for the first time but of getting what we have achieved tonight and we it rejoiced. Halilhodzic, a much-travelled history behind Falcao (60 million euros), but both transfers were a chance of revenge against Germany next deserve to be here.”Algeria played a hero- coach who numbers among his former eclipsed by Cavani’s switch to Paris from Napoli for 64 million Monday. Bosnian Halilhodzic-who has ic match and our qualification for the sec- employers Paris Saint Germain and Ivory euros. rewarded the loyalty of the Algerian foot- ond round is perfectly deserved.” Coast, said he did not believe that Algeria The most expensive player in Ligue 1 history, Cavani enjoyed ball authorities for not sacking him last “This is the result of what we have was the flag bearer for Arabic countries a fine start to his maiden season at Parc des Princes, only for his year despite a poor showing in the Africa done for the past three years, we have but for all those who cheered for the form to fall away in the second half of the campaign. Although he Cup of Nations-said the infamous 1982 progressed a lot. This is the reward. “I love underdog. scored both goals as Paris sank Lyon in the French League Cup match between Austria and neighbours it as a coach when I see my team fighting “After our match against South Korea (a final in April, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic established as the team’s the then West Germany remained like this.” Halilhodzic, who played for the 4-2 victory which was their first at a World number-one striker, he found himself exiled on the right flank in ingrained in Algerians memories. then Yugoslavia in the 1982 World Cup, Cup finals since beating Chile in 1982), we Laurent Blanc’s 4-3-3 system. “For a forward used to scoring who Thirty-two years ago Algeria were con- admitted, however, that the present received congratulations from all over the now has to do defensive tasks, it is not easy,” he admitted earlier troversially eliminated from the World Cup German side looks a formidable opponent. world,” he said. “Algeria has not only this year. The straggly-haired 27-year-old has also endured tur- on goal difference when West Germany- “I saw the game against the United States gained the sympathy of the Arab countries moil in his private life, divorcing his wife last year shortly after she whom the Algerians had sensationally (Germany won 1-0 on Thursday to top but also in my homeland of Bosnia, in gave birth to his second son. The matter obliged him to make a beaten 2-1 in their group game-and their group). They are an outstanding Croatia... here in Brazil people appreciate number of mid-season trips to Uruguay, but he ended the cam- Austria played out a mutually beneficial 1- team, so it will be difficult, indeed I would our behavior. “There are better teams than paign with a smile, telling PSG’s fans “see you next season” at the 0 win for the Germans. The match became go further and say extremely complicat- ours, but this team has won a lot of sup- club’s Ligue 1 trophy presentation party. Cavani has not found known as ‘the game of shame’. Algeria set ed.” porters in these finals. “Against Germany the net at the World Cup since opening the scoring with a penal- up what is bound to be a highly-charged The Algerian press didn’t care two we will be the small team against the ty in his side’s 3-1 loss to Costa Rica, but at the Maracana today he game with a 1-1 draw with Russia on hoots about that with the official Algerian giants and the Brazilian fans will be on our will have the main central striking role that he craves. Rodriguez, Thursday to secure their historic qualifica- agency APS reaching for the skies in terms side. We will do everything in our power however, will be determined to make sure that he does not keep tion. “We have not forgotten about it. of hyperbole. “Perhaps one has to go back not to let them down.”— AFP all the limelight to himself. — AFP Messi and Neymar stay on Matches on TV (Local Timings) course for Maracana date RIO DE JANEIRO: Three matches, four pantheon of the game’s greatest players-if FIFA World Cup goals and one dream: Argentina star he isn’t there already-has produced man- Lionel Messi and Brazilian idol Neymar of-the-match performances in each of his Brazil v Chile 19:00 remain on collision course as the most three games. beIN SPORTS 1 HD entertaining World Cup in decades enters A jinking individual goal against beIN SPORTS 2 HD the knockout rounds today. The mouth- Bosnia, an inspired injury-time winner beIN SPORTS 11 HD watering possibility of Brazil and against Iran and a two-goal contribution beIN SPORTS 13 HD Argentina meeting in the July 13 final has against Nigeria have dispelled the theory beIN SPORTS 1 HD FR loomed closer ever since the South that Messi may buckle under the weight American giants were kept in opposite of expectation. Colombia v Uruguay 23:00 sides of the draw. So far Barcelona team- “Now we can’t make any mistakes as beIN SPORTS 1 HD mates Messi and Neymar have done any error will see us getting knocked out,” RIO DE JANEIRO: Combination of file images shows beIN SPORTS 2 HD everything in their power to stick to the said Messi after Argentina’s win over Uruguay’s forward Edinson Cavani (left) and Colombia’s beIN SPORTS 11 HD script, almost single-handedly steering Nigeria. Messi and his team-mates now midfielder James Rodriguez in Cuiaba. Colombia faces beIN SPORTS 13 HD their teams through the first round into travel to Sao Paulo to face Group E run- Uruguay during the 2014 FIFA World Cup round of 16 in beIN SPORTS 1 HD FR the last 16. Messi, who began the tourna- ners-up Switzerland in the last 16 on Rio de Janeiro today. — AFP ment looking to cement his place in the Tuesday. —AFP Penalty shootouts: Tricks of the trade SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014 SATURDAY, SportsSports 45

WIMBLEDON: A combination of pictures shows (left to right) a sequence of Serbia’s Novak Djokovic falling awkwardly and ending up lying on the court holding his shoulder during a game against France’s Gilles Simon yesterday. — AFP (See Page 42) Djokovic survives horror fall

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