ologist fromStony BrookUniversity Abdulamir Hamdani, anIraqiarchae- waiting forthe video.It’ssad,” just amatteroftime,nowwe’re ate Iraq’srichheritage. campaign bythejihadiststoobliter- what appearstobeasystematic said. Nimrudwasthelatestvictim of extent itwasdestroyed,”oneofficial “Until now,wedonotknowtowhat east oftheirmainhubMosul. River, 30kilometres(18miles)south- the site,whichoverlooksTigris tants hadmovedtruckslastweekto tourism andantiquitiesministrysaid. nearby ruinsofNimrudThursday,the library lastmonth,IS“bulldozed”the sledgehammers andtorchingits through Mosul’smuseumwith cultural treasures.Afterrampaging jihadists’ latestdemolitionofIraqi of theancientcityNimrud, the IslamicStategroup’sbulldozing demned asa“warcrime”yesterday BAGHDAD: Prophet Jonah(PBUH)-andtheMosqueofJirjis,tworeveredancientshrinesinMosul.—AP tants havedestroyedthecenturies-oldMosqueofProphetYounis(PBUH)-believedtobeburialplace the MOSUL: AbicyclistridesbythedestroyedoldMosqueofTheProphetJirjis(PBUH)incentralMosul.IslamicStatemili- death inKuwait main causeof Heart diseases IS “I’m reallydevastated.Butitwas Antiquities officialssaidISmili- SUBSCRIPTION

b The UnitedNationscon- 3 ulldo 150 Fils AUDY AC ,21 JMD LWA 6 46A No:16452 SATURDAY, 1436 AH JAMADA MARCH7,2015 ALAWWAL 16, ‘Jihadi John’linkcauses Kuwait atpainstopointEmwazi’sradicalization unease amongKuwaitis and Easterninfluences. temples blending Hellenistic,Roman known foritsbeautifully preserved 100 kilometressouthofMosul year-old UNESCO-listedsiteabout next,” headded,referringtoa2,000- Hamdani. “Hatraofcoursewill be itage, onesiteatatime,” said tury. archaeological findsofthe20thcen- described asoneofthegreatest royal tombin1988hasbeen and preciousstonesdiscoveredina pieces ofgoldjewelry,ornaments the 19thcentury.Acollectionof613 gates filledtheworld’smuseumsin with humanheadsguardingpalace and colossalstatuesofwingedbulls the Assyrianera.Itsstunningreliefs was onceconsideredthejewelof founded inthe13thcenturyBCand denied accesstoNimrud,whichwas likely release. film ofthedestructionthatISwill in NewYorksaidofthepropaganda z “Their planistodestroyIraqiher- He saidthesite’sguardswere es ancient —AFP crash survives plane Harrison Ford 25 more inSaudi Syndrome coronavirus(MERS-CoV). the countryworst-hitbyMiddleEastRespiratory their campaigntohaltitsspread.SaudiArabiais death tollabove400,ashealthofficialsbroaden in SaudiArabiaoverthepastweek,pushing RIYADH: Affairs spokesman CharlesJose.—Agencies medical technician,saidDepartment ofForeign said yesterday.Twoarenursesand thethirdisa pitals inSaudiArabia,thePhilippine government piratory syndromewhileworking atseparatehos- virus. tion campaigntohelppreventthe spreadofthe istry saiditstartedanewphaseofpubliceduca- of themhavedied.OnWednesdaythehealthmin- was firstidentifiedinthekingdom2012,and402 936 peoplehavebeeninfectedwithMERSsinceit were inRiyadh,healthministrydatashow.Atotalof 30 peopleinFebruaryalone.Sixofthosedeaths and March5,addingtoasurgeofcasesthatkilled MERS kills10 Three FilipinoshavecontractedMiddle Eastres- The latestdeathsoccurredbetweenFebruary27 The MERSvirushaskilled10morepeople Ir a q

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raids, usingtheir ownairfields.—Reuters Arab Emirateshave gonefurther,actuallytaking partinair ing IslamicState.Kuwaitiallies SaudiArabiaandtheUnited attacks bysomemembersofa Western-Arabcoalitionfight- has providedintelligence,funding andtheuseofairfieldsfor closures willlikelyreinforce.Government officialssayKuwait backed effortstofightIslamic State,apositiontheEmwazidis- approach inforeignaffairs,but isawillingsupporterofUS- and wellawareofitsdependenceonoutsidepowers. 1.2 millionofthemKuwaiti,isfixatedonstabilityandsurvival seat atthe1980-88Iran-Iraqwar,stateof3.5million,only lingers. tightened curbsonsuchfinancing,butWesternconcern Officials andaninternationalwatchdogsaythestatehasnow country-sent fundsopenlytohardlinefactionsforyears. Saudi-style Islamwhichsomesayhasbeenontherisein “epicenter offundraisingforterroristgroupsinSyria.” es theappealforthosewhofeelalienatedathome. supporting theUS-ledfightagainstIslamicStateonlyincreas- profile personalitywithwhomtoidentifyandKuwait’srole knife overWesternhostagesgivespotentialrecruitsahigh the militantgroup’sdeclarationofacaliphate. fight forIslamicStateinIraqandSyria,asignofthepotency trekked intheirhundredsto from GulfArabstateshave acknowledge thatyouths added. Securityofficials answer isofcoursenot,”he Britain asawhole?The represent thetrueidealsof does apersonlike(Emwazi) ly flipthequestionaround: minister, toldReuters. Sabah, aKuwaitigovernment Mohammed Al-MubarakAl- were born,”Sheikh nishes thereputationofcountriesinwhichpeoplelikethis unfortunately somethingnostatecantotallycontrol.Ittar- mander inSyria,MuhsinAl-Fadhli. many tohavebeenbornthereaswastopAl-Qaedacom- of the9/11attacksKhaledSheikhMohammedisbelievedby spokesman SulaimanAbuGhaithwasacitizen,thearchitect file anti-WesternmilitantfromKuwait:BinLaden’sAl-Qaeda where hegrewupasacitizen.Butisnotthefirsthighpro- calized inBritain,thecountry’sformercolonialprotector point outthatMohammedEmwaziappearstohavebeenradi- become combatants. nearby IraqandSyriainwhichsomeoftheirAraballieshave Kuwaitis aboutthevulnerabilityoftheircountrytowarsin tioner wasbornontheirsoilhavestirreddeepuneaseamong KUWAIT: quarter-final Windies; book India scrapepast 48 The countrynormallystrives toadoptaconciliatory Scarred byIraq’s1990-91occupation,andaringside Kuwaiti financiers-especiallythosefollowingthestrict The UStreasurylastyeardescribeditsallyKuwaitasan The identificationofEmwaziasthemaskedmanwieldinga “But wecouldalsological- “It’s alwaysshockingtoseerevelationslikethis,andit’s People withinthegovernmentandbeyondarequickto Reports thatIslamicState’smostnotoriousexecu- Mohammed Emwazi Max Min 28º 13º LOCAL SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015 UN hopes donors’ conference adopts multi-dimensional approach Kuwait III hoped to collect $8.4 billion

KUWAIT/BEIRUT/AMMAN: The UN is tabling a new like Gaza reconstruction, Ebola virus and Sahel. approach to address Syrian refugees’ crisis during an upcoming donors’ conference for Syrian people, Lack of hope due in Kuwait on March 31, in yet another bid to The Syrian refugees, over a million of them were address their multi-dimensional needs. children, lack hope of an early solution, said Suffering from lack of funding resources for Gonzalez, and noted that the social fabric of the needy Syrian people, the UN is desperate in facing Syrian society has been undermined as a result. multi-dimensional needs of Syrian people who have “The crisis is not compromising this generation but been either internally displaced (IDPs) or refugees in future ones. The capacity of people in having hope neighboring countries since the conflict broke out and trust is in jeopardy,” he said. in March 2011. Gonzalez has met during his visit with senior To appeal for up to $8.4 billion during the officials from the government, Kuwait Fund for Arab donors’ conference, better known as Kuwait III, the Economic Development (KFAED), the Foreign UN launched the Regional Refugee and Resilience Ministry and Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRSC) as Plan 2015-16 (3RP) late last year in order to address part of the preparation for Kuwait III. suffering of Syrian refugees in host communities in On the other hand, UN Special envoy to Syria neighboring countries at humanitarian and devel- Staffan de Mistura is trying hard to enforce on a opment levels. plan to freeze the fighting in the northern city of Aleppo, aimed seizing every opportunity to build Donors Fatigue trust between conflicting parties. The Syrian conflict is entering its fifth year now with no solution looming in the horizon, thus caus- Sufficient support ing what has become to be known as Donors Meanwhile, UN Undersecretary General for Fatigue, triggering social problems irrelevant to sole Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos expressed hope humanitarian needs. The Syrian refugees are AMMAN: Kuwait Red Crescent Society workers distribute relief aid to Syrian refugees in Lebanon would get sufficient support during the becoming helpless and lack financial resources thus Jordan yesterday.— KUNA forthcoming international conference for Syrian seeking all means to survive, like forcing early mar- $3.9 billion, of which Kuwait contributed $800 mil- Consolidated framework refugees due in Kuwait on March 31. riage of girls and sell basic belongings. lion. Kuwait III is about partnership, he said. UNDP, The 3RP, designed to help the host communities In a statement at end of her visit to Lebanon, “We are very much concerned that four years of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and UN Office for in neighboring countries, provides a consolidated Amos hoped the country would get ample backing crisis is not only challenging conflict resolution the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) framework to address refugee protection needs, during the forthcoming Kuwait-hosted convention process, but the way we address the impact of the are mobilizing humanitarian and development humanitarian needs of most vulnerable, and longer- to help most impoverished people in Lebanon, crisis,” said Gustavo Gonzalez, Sub-Regional communities to make sure the conference succeeds term socio-economic impacts of Syria crisis on including citizens and Syrian refugees. Development Coordinator, Sub-Regional Response thus guarantee additional resources. neighboring countries. The 3RP has two inter-con- Lebanon is hosting the highest proportion of Facility - Syria Crisis, of the UN Development nected components: the refugee protection and refugees in the world, as compared to the number Program (UNDP). “We expect that we come up with Critical milestone humanitarian aid, and resilience-stabilization-based of the population, Amos said, adding that local utili- 3RP and Syria Response Plan (SRP) to have develop- “Kuwait III is important in itself because it is a development assistance. ties have declined and joblessness has soared since ing partners to come around the table to address critical milestone because the participants will dis- The fact that the international community fails flare-up of the Syrian crisis in 2011. Amos held talks these crises,” he added. cuss beyond Kuwait III. Many donors trying to com- to far to find a political solution for the Syrian crisis during the visit with top leaders namely Prime The 3RP is dedicated to Syrian refugees in five bine security, humanitarian and development” caused “what we called the donors fatigue,” basical- Minister Tammam Salam on prospected aid for the neighboring countries - Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, needs of refugees, said Gonzalez. ly generating a feeling among donors of a never- country. She also toured regions in the south and Iraq and Egypt, combined hosting some 3.3 million “The International community recognize that ending conflict which on the other hand deepening Mount Lebanon. The government is striving to Syrians, while SRP is for some 6.5 million IDPs. this is a protracted crisis, lasted more than expected refugees’ crisis. Gonzalez said that Kuwait has been secure $2.1 billion to aid the most impoverished “There is a huge demographic shock in neighboring thus we need to have a different approach, new playing a major humanitarian role vis-a-vis the residents of the country, half of whom are countries, fueling competition for jobs, access to funding instrument, operate on field in a different Syrian crisis, which was causing, among others, Lebanese. It has worked out a plan to secure water, housing and buying of lands,” Gonzalez said way, better use of resources,” he added. unemployment of youth and security problems. humanitarian assistance for Syrian families, simulta- in an interview with KUNA. “What is new in Kuwait III is that it is the first “Without the support of Kuwait, I don’t know any neously with boosting investments in social servic- time that we have a pledging conference with new other way that this response could have been es, infrastructure and other key sectors. Largest conference approach. There is a general understanding that affected. We need to recognize the leadership of The UN hope donors will be generous during this is not just a humanitarian crisis but a develop- Kuwait in gathering all these humanitarian efforts Relief aid Kuwait III, and will appeal for some $8.4 billion, of ment crisis, providing the level of destruction of for crises requesting huge resources. That is a lead- In other news, Kuwait Red Crescent Society them $5.5 billion for neighboring countries and Syria has drawn the country back 40 years,” said ership widely recognized at a global level,” said (KRCS) continued yesterday to deliver relief aid to $2.9 billion for IDPs. Gonzalez. The Syrian conflict, which killed more Gonzalez.“We expect Kuwait III to be a new starting Syrian refugees in Jordan with the recent campaign “Kuwait III will have two documents, one is the than 200,000 people and inflicted $139.8 billion in point in the way we address the Syrian crisis (and) providing necessities to some 250 families. Syrian Response Plan and the 3RP 2015-16,” noted losses to economy in 2011-13, created the largest making sure that it capture this multi-dimensional The campaign to alleviate the suffering of the Gonzalez, who paid a two-day visit to Kuwait this displacement of people since the second World sides of the crisis,” which has been undermining Syrian refugees in Jordan was in line with Kuwaiti past Wednesday and Thursday.Neighboring coun- War, the number of people in need in Syria regional stability, discouraging investment and eco- government and people’s desires to aid their tries will submit their appeals in Kuwait III, the increased 12 times since the beginning of the crisis. nomic activities, he added. brethren, KRCS Deputy Board Chairman Anwar Al- largest conference organized by the UN with “This is a devastating crisis, one of the most chal- He said the UN was getting some 45 percent of Hasawi said. He affirmed that the KRCS will continue regards to the magnitude of the crisis. Kuwait host- lenging crises we have in contemporary history,” he total pledges which caused strains on the capabili- its humanitarian mission in Jordan to help the ed the first and second donor conferences in 2013 said, but the UN is improving its response via SRP ties of the UN agencies to provide services for Syrian refugees fleeing the crisis in their country and 2014, with total pledges amounting to some and 3RP. refugees, coupled with emergence of other crises since 2011. — KUNA Kuwait supports UN human rights efforts

GENEVA: Kuwait supports UN human rights with through cooperation amongst world the conflict in Syria, Ghunaim called for just efforts around the globe, said Kuwaiti perma- countries. solutions to prevent the degrading of human nent delegate to the UN and international Regarding Kuwait’s stance on issues connect- rights in both Palestine and Syria. organization headquarters in Geneva ed with human rights, Ghunaim said that A just solution must be found to end the 60 Ambassador Jamal Al-Ghunaim. In a speech to Kuwait’s annual report to the council back in years of injustice against the Palestinian people the high lever segment of the 28th session of January reflected its utter commitment to and the same goes to the Syrians who have the Human Rights Council yesterday, Ghunaim improve the status of human rights in the coun- been suffering from a conflict that is ongoing affirmed that Kuwait supports the UN High try. The Kuwaiti diplomat also addressed since 2011, said Ghunaim, noting that Kuwait Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Ibn Kuwait’s involvement in the fight against Ebola, backed and will continued to up all efforts with- Al-Hussein, saying that his urges to not to lose noting that the Kuwaiti leadership had donated in such frame. grasp of the human rights principles was $5 million to WHO to counter the disease. Ghunaim took the chance to invite the inter- important. He also commended the UN senior national community to partake in the third official on stance on conflict, disease, and secu- Just solution donors’ conference for Syria which will be held rity, noting that each problem such be dealt On the issues of the Palestinian cause and in Kuwait on March 31st. — KUNA Ambassador Jamal Al-Ghunaim LOCAL SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

GCC rail’s Heart diseases main cause deadline might be pushed to 2020 of death in Kuwait: Minister

DUBAI: The 2018 deadline for the delivery of KUWAIT: the GCC-wide rail network is unlikely to be met, Heart diseases are the primary cause of through the three specialized heart facilities according to the UAE’s Minister of Public death in Kuwait, representing more than 40 per- which are staffed by a group of exceptional doc- Works, Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi. cent of the total deaths annually, Health Minister tors and nursing staff, technicians and adminis- Dr Al Nuami, who is also chairman of the Dr Ali Al-Obaidi said on Thursday. trators. UAE Federal Transport Authority’s Land and The minister made his remarks in a speech at Maritime (FTA) unit, told a Middle East Rail the opening ceremony of the Fourth Conference Risk factors press conference that when GCC leaders met of Kuwait Cardiologists Association and the 12th Meanwhile, the head of Kuwait Heart Doctors three years ago in Kuwait and drew the 2018 Gulf Heart Association Conference, under the Association and president of the organizing baseline, they knew that some countries would auspices of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah committee for the conference Mohammad Zbaid not be able to meet it. “And now it looks that Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The minister added said that risk factors for causing heart diseases way. The UAE will not have a problem meeting that the ministry is proud of the great efforts are high in Kuwait compared with other coun- the deadline. Saudi Arabia recently announced exerted and achievements it made in cardiology tries around the world, including the rate of they will meet it. 2020 is my best estimate on a healthcare which are illustrated by figures and being diagnosed with heart disease, which is six more appropriate date when all GCC countries statistics published by the ministry. years ahead of patients in America and Europe. would be ready,” said Dr Al Nuaimi. Obaidi said Sabah Al-Ahmad Heart Center is a Zbaid added that the rate of heart diseases He said that he believed it would more like- great testament to the keenness by HH the Amir among women in Kuwait do not exceed 15 per- ly be 2020 until the network is complete, but to provide support and care for heart patients, cent, but noted an increase in the causes of heart said the GCC transport ministers will meet in including providing the latest services and new disease in Kuwait, where a recent local study has October/November this year to discuss their technologies in the areas of diagnosis and treat- shown that overweight and obesity has progress in the rail and will then announce the ment of heart conditions in Kuwait. Health Minister Dr Ali Al-Obaidi increased to 60 percent. project’s true state of affairs, Construction The minister explained that the center oper- Furthermore, Zbaid said “if we compare the Week Online reported. ates around-the-clock, seven days a week, and for heart patients. 100 heart patients in Kuwait with the same num- the center’s staff performs their duties to the He added that the number of cardiac ber from Europe, for example, we find that 40 Kuwait section fullest, including critical heart cardiac operations, catheterization conditions in the Chest Diseases percent of Kuwaiti patients are smokers, while Kuwait’s Municipal Council last January diagnostics and therapeutic operations. Hospital reached last year 7,693 cases, and that the proportion of smokers in Europe amounts to approved the first phase of a $7 billion Kuwait 972 heart surgeries took place there. Meanwhile, only 20 percent, which means higher causes of section of a pan-GCC railway system. The first Catheter operations the number of catheter diagnoses in Al-Daboos heart disease in Kuwait from other countries.” stage of the Gulf railway cuts through Kuwait Obaidi added that during 2014, approximate- Center reached 2,000 cases, with more than On the conference, he noted that it hosted from the south and stretches to Abdali in the ly 4,200 catheter diagnostic and therapeutic 1,200 inner catheter operations taking place, more than 200 doctors from the Arabian Gulf, north. The railway tracks span 70 meters in including 200 open-heart surgeries. width, while an extra 200 meters will augment operations took place, including 335 immediate Yemen, Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and The minister expressed the ministry’s willing- it pending further studies on the final look of heart catheterization operations at the center as Iran, in addition to 42 speakers from Europe, ness, devotion, and care for heart patients the system when completed. Having approved well as surgical procedures and other procedures America, Canada, and the Middle East. — KUNA the first stage of the mega project, the council turned the matter over to the Ministry of Communication to coordinate its plans with other government ministries and agencies regarding the path of the railway tracks in Kuwait. As part of the changes that would have to be made for the Gulf railway, the council agreed to set aside an alternative location for a livestock project run by the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources. The council also approved appropriating over two million square meters from the location of the southern airbase and endorsed the relocation of the ministry of education’s boy scout camp- site. Also to be relocated is a storage ware- house belonging to the Kuwait Flour Mills Company and another belonging to the Public Authority for Industry. Other relocations involve moving the site of a town set for hous- ing blue-collar labor, a truck stop in Um Al-Aish and TV transmission towers belonging to the Ministry of Information, all seen as obstacles in the way of the railway tracks. The Council stressed that farm owners whose properties are in the way of the tracks in Wafra should be US ambassador duly compensated for the relocation of their farms. joins beach Oil prices clean-up Construction of Kuwait’s section of the GCC railway system is part of the state’s mega proj- KUWAIT: ect, which the government stated would go US Ambassador to Kuwait Douglas through despite falling oil prices. Dr Al Nuaimi Silliman participated in a clean-up campaign echoed those sentiments, saying that works in at the Sulaibikhat beach yesterday morning. the UAE would not be derailed by declining oil The activity was carried out in coordination prices. “We have approved budgets in the with the Dow Chemical Company and the UAE, but other countries might see it fit to Kuwait Society for the Protection of Animals. delay. We are ahead, and we will deliver the It saw participation of involving US embassy links on time but what we are really concerned staff, and volunteers from schools and envi- about is working in coherence on the network, ronmental groups. making sure we use the same language, same The volunteers teamed together to relieve technology, and same governing laws. That’s the vital beach of some environmental con- our focus for the moment,” he said. The tamination and hazards. Kuwaiti authorities Middle East Rail conference will take place at and associations get involved regularly in Dubai World Trade Centre on March 17-18. such activities to rid national territories and — Material from Construction Week Online waters of polluting materials. The effort were used in this report includes clean-up of the sea bed of sunken or dumped objects and vessels. — KUNA KUWAIT: US Ambassador to Kuwait Douglas Silliman during the campaign. — KUNA photos LOCAL SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015 Grillings filed in Tuesday’s session? Crime Report By A Saleh increase their attacks on Public Works Minister Abdelaziz Al- Ibrahim, Commerce Minister Abdelmohsen Al-Mudej and Oil KUWAIT: This Tuesday’s parliamentary session, which desig- Minister Ali Al-Omair, sources said, adding that these MPs are nated to discuss the answers of ministers to the Audi waiting for the right time to submit their grilling. The start Man forced to kiss Bureau’s report, will probably result in grillings filed against will be with Ibrahim, because it is easy to secure 10 signa- three ministers, whose grilling motions were prepared earli- tures for a non-confidence motion against him, the sources girl’s shoes at gunpoint er. MPs will find the next session an opportune time to indicated. By Hanan Al-Saadoun

KUWAIT: A bedoon man told police that an unidentified gun- man along with two women stopped him on Salmy road. The gunman then forced him to kiss the shoes of one of the girls while filming him with his phone after threatening him with his weapon, before firing in the air and escaping.

Drug possession Farwaniya police arrested a citizen and an Egyptian man with various drugs and drug paraphernalia. Police saw a car with two persons in it in an open area in Khaitan, and when they searched them, they found that the citizen is wanted for a KD 11,000 debt, while the Egyptian is want- ed by a telecom company for KD 500.

Man held for offending Amir A police force from the sentences implementations depart- ment filed a case against a wanted person for insulting His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. The offi- cers went to arrest him at his home, where he made the insult and escaped through the window. Separately, a ruling family member complained against a person for insulting him at Shuhada police station. Investigations are ongoing.

Probe in woman’s death A 45-year-old Filipina woman’s body was sent to the coroner to determine the cause of death. The woman was taken by her relative to the hospital, where she was pro- nounced dead.

Thief at large A citizen in Surra told police that an unidentified person snatched her bag which contained KD 450, three watches and an ATM card that the suspect used to withdraw another KD 100 from her account.

Liquor possession Ahmadi police arrested a Korean man with 120 liquor bottles while driving in Sabah Al-Ahmad. He was sent to concerned authorities. Meanwhile an Indian taxi driver was arrested with 26 liquor bottles in Fahaheel near a mosque in block 10. Woman arrested with 25gm meth KUWAIT: A Filipina woman was arrested with 25 grams of meth, the Interior Ministry announced yesterday. The arrest was made following information about the suspect trading in drugs, so investigations were made, a warrant was issued and her residence was raided, where the drugs were found.

SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015 EU ready for more Russia Indian mob breaks into jai, Security probed in attack sanctions if necessary 9 lynches rape suspect 10 on US envoy to Seoul 12

DOUMA: Syrian children reenact scenes, they said to have seen in Islamic State jihadist group videos, in the rebel-held Damascus suburb of Douma on Thursday. Syria’s conflict began as a popular uprising but evolved into a multi-front civil war that has divided the country into a patchwork of fiefdoms controlled by different factions, including the extremist Islamic State group. — AFP Top Qaeda leader, commanders killed UN says 28,000 flee drive to retake Iraq’s Tikrit

BEIRUT: The military chief and several top com- February 27 by the US-led coalition attacking East Centre think tank. “Because it operates in a Thursday. “Field reports indicate that additional dis- manders of the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front jihadists in Syria. An official Nusra statement that decentralized manner, not top down, the loss of a placements are under way and that yet more fami- have been reported killed in northwestern Syria, day named two commanders killed in the strike but leader is something that Nusra can recover from lies remain stuck at checkpoints,” it said. The newly where the jihadist militia has been making major did not mention Shami. Local Syrian activist Ibrahim with minimal damage,” she said. Thomas Pierret, a displaced Iraqis join what the International gains in recent months. Al-Idlibi said Shami had been killed in the February lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, called Organization for Migration says are 2.5 million peo- Syrian state media, a monitoring group and a raid but that Nusra had not published his name due Shami’s death a “severe blow” but said that the ple already forced from their homes in the country. local activist reported that Abu Hammam Al-Shami to the “sensitivity” of the information. impact should not be overstated. “Organizations of Some 30,000 Iraqi security forces members and had been killed, but provided contradictory informa- this type are very well structured and prepared for allied fighters launched the operation to retake tion on the circumstances of his death. Official Nusra ‘Hit to morale’ the loss of important leaders,” he said. But Idlibi, the Tikrit on Monday, the largest of its kind since IS sources did not announce the death of the jihadist, a Reports of Shami’s death came as the Al-Qaeda local activist, disagreed. overran swathes of territory last June. Syrian national believed to have fought with Al- affiliate consolidates gains in northern Syria. “We have urged all Iraqi forces to avoid and Qaeda in Afghanistan. “Shami... was killed with a Already the most powerful military force in Idlib Thousands flee prevent the abuse to civilians of any kind of activity number of other leaders during a special operation province, Nusra handed a major defeat to one of its Some 28,000 people have fled the Tikrit area as that violates international norms, fuels sectarian by the army” in Idlib province, Syrian state news rivals-the Western-backed Hazm movement-at the Iraqi forces battle the Islamic State jihadist group in fears, and promotes sectarian divides, and that agency SANA reported, without specifying a date. weekend when it seized Hazm’s base in Aleppo a massive offensive aimed at retaking the city, the includes Iran in terms of their activities,” US Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Syrian province. Nusra also claimed to have led a spectacu- UN said. The involvement of Shiite militiamen in the Secretary of State John Kerry said Thursday in the Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group, lar assault against a regime intelligence headquar- operation, which has been dubbed an attempt to Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh. Kerry confirmed that also said the commander had been killed but that ters in Aleppo city on Wednesday, blowing up a avenge the IS massacre of hundreds of mainly- the US had information indicating the commander the circumstances of his death were unclear. “Shami tunnel near the building before storming the sur- Shiite recruits last year, has raised fears of sectarian of Iran’s powerful Quds force, General Qassem died of injuries on Thursday, but it is not clear when rounding area.Attacks on the group’s leadership are killings targeting Sunni Arabs. Suleimani, was on the ground in Iraq aiding the he sustained them,” Abdel Rahman said. He said “an indication of the rising strength and influence “Military operations in and around Tikrit have offensive. “We’ve got information to that effect,” he Shami may have been one of five Nusra leaders of Nusra on the ground in Syria in recent months,” precipitated displacement of an estimated 28,000 said, insisting however that the operation was wounded in an air strike in Idlib province on said Lina Khatib, director of the Carnegie Middle people to Samarra,” the UN said in a statement Iraqi-led. —Agencies INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

US draft urges UN to condemn use of chlorine in Syria

UNITED NATIONS: The United States has circulated a draft resolution in the UN Security Council that condemns the use of toxic chemicals such as chlorine in Syria without assigning blame, while threatening militarily enforced action in the case of further violations. The council will vote on it yesterday morning. The draft obtained Thursday by The Associated Press follows last month’s condemnation by the world’s chemical weapons watchdog of the use of chlorine in Syria as a breach of international law. While its fact-finding mission concluded “with a high degree of confidence” that chlorine was used on three villages in Syria last year, killing 13 people, the executive council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons did not assign blame. Some council members such as Britain and France have blamed Syria’s government for the attacks, point- ing out that OPCW reports have linked chlorine attacks to heli- copters and that only Syria’s government has helicopters. “There are clear and abundant evidence that point to the responsibility of Syrian authorities,” French Ambassador Francois Delattre told reporters yesterday evening. Syrian Ambassador Bashar Ja’afari did not comment to reporters. The new draft threatens action against further violations under a Palestinian militants from the Islamic Jihad’s armed wing, the Al-Quds Brigades, squat in a tunnel, used for ferrying rockets council resolution in 2013 that banned Syria’s use of chemical and mortars back and forth in preparation for the next conflict with Israel, as they take part in military training in the south of weapons. The resolution also applies to any party in the Syrian the Gaza Strip. — AFP conflict, which is about to enter its fifth year and has killed an estimated 220,000 people. The draft says such actions should be imposed under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, meaning After Gaza war losses, they could be militarily enforced. Syria joined the OPCW in 2013 and declared a 1,300-ton chemical weapon arsenal that has since been destroyed, though some council members worry that the government didn’t declare everything it had. Islamic Jihad returns Chlorine is not a chemical that has to be declared to the OPCW because it is also used for regular purposes in industry. The fact-finding mission’s report on last year’s attacks said Conflict killed 2,200 Palestinians, 73 Israelis 32 of 37 people interviewed “saw or heard the sound of a hel- icopter over the village at the time of the attack with barrel GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories: In a “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. dents were permitted to enter a tunnel, pro- bombs containing toxic chemicals.” —AP tunnel dug deep underneath the besieged We’re gathering all our strength since it’s a vided they were blindfolded whilst being Gaza Strip, masked gunmen from Islamic war that never ends. We’re ready to go to taken to them, so as not to give away its Jihad ferry rockets and mortars back and another level against the Zionist occupation location. Inside, placards had been erected forth, preparing for the next conflict with and carry out actions we’ve never done on the concrete walls, naming “streets” to Israel. Six months ago, the Palestinian mili- before,” he said, without elaborating. help militants navigate the network. tant group emerged battered and bruised The war ended on August 26 with a frag- Quds fighters said the group had a net- from a 50-day conflict with Israel, where it ile Hamas-Israel ceasefire brokered by Egypt. work of tunnels of “different lengths, some fought alongside fellow Islamist movement In the meantime, Islamic Jihad has sought to with several entrances”. But they were silent Hamas, which controls Gaza. replace its fallen comrades, and its manpow- on the network’s location or how it was Islamic Jihad’s armed wing the Al-Quds er is estimated at between 10,000 and 15,000 built. Their weapons were made inside Brigades lost 123 men, but fired 3,249 rock- fighters. Gaza, they said, but without elaborating on ets at the Jewish state, it says, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad refuse to specify how the parts were obtained or purchased. Iranian-made Fajr 5 missiles which reached the number of fighters, or rockets, they cur- It was an open secret before July 2013 Tel Aviv and even northern Israel. rently possess, but both were severely that smuggling tunnels underneath the The conflict, where Israel tried to flush out depleted by the Israeli assault, which includ- Egyptian border brought in much of Gaza’s Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants by bom- ed fierce ground combat. construction and fuel needs, money, and barding the coastal enclave, killed nearly weapons, or the material to make them. 2,200 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and 73 ‘Abu Bakr street’ But Egypt destroyed the vast majority SYDNEY: HMAS Melbourne, one of the Royal Australian people on the Israeli side, mostly soldiers. Israel’s ground invasion was aimed at after the military ousted Islamist president Navy’s four Adelaide Class guided missile frigates, sits in But the group says it is resurgent. destroying the hundreds of tunnels Gaza’s Mohamed Morsi and a crackdown was Sydney Harbour yesterday. Australia announced yester- “We’re at our highest level of alert to two main Islamist groups had built, both for launched against his Muslim Brotherhood, day that it will send another 300 troops to Iraq in a joint counter any attack. We’re used to the occu- smuggling supplies and for attacks inside Hamas’s ally. Islamic Jihad, founded like mission with New Zealand to help train local forces fight- pation (Israel) breaking its ceasefires,” senior Israel. Islamic Jihad and Hamas staged Hamas in the 1980s, traditionally has its ing the Islamic State group. — AFP commander Abu al-Bara told AFP from one deadly assaults on Israeli troops using the closest ties with Tehran, having been of the group’s tunnels. tunnels. For the first time, AFP correspon- inspired by the Iranian revolution. —AFP 7 killed as Egypt train South Sudan rivals fail to reach deal crashes into school bus ADDIS ABABA: South Sudan’s warring parties failed to reach a Machar had been given a March 5 deadline to finalize issues CAIRO: A train crashed into a school bus east of the Egyptian breakthrough in peace talks in Ethiopia, mediators said yesterday, including power sharing, but mediators extended the talks until capital yesterday, killing at least seven people including chil- expressing disappointment following months of discussions Friday in hopes the rivals could reach an agreement. dren, police and health officials said. The collision occurred at attempting to stop violence in the world’s newest country. The threat of UN sanctions hangs over Kiir and Machar, as the an unauthorized railway crossing on the Cairo-Ismailiya Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said in a state- UN Security Council this week unanimously approved the cre- desert road, police said, adding that the bus had failed to ment yesterday that he regretted “the talks did not produce the ation of a system to impose sanctions on those blocking peace in stop at the crossing and was hit by the moving train. Health necessary breakthrough,” adding that the failure was disappoint- their country. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people ministry spokesman Hossam Abdel Ghaffar told AFP that 26 ing for mediators and observers who had tried their best to urge since December 2013, when the armed forces in the South people were also wounded in the accident, seven of them, the warring factions to make concessions for peace. Sudanese capital of Juba appeared to splinter along ethnic lines. including three children, in critical condition. “The consequences of inaction are the continued suffering of Since then, there has been sporadic violence as government Abdel Ghaffar did not specify how many of those killed you, the people of South Sudan, and the prolonging of a sense- forces loyal to Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, try to put down rebel forces were children. Deadly train and vehicle accidents are common less war in your country,” the statement said. “This is unaccept- loyal to Machar, an ethnic Nuer who used to be Kiir’s deputy in Egypt, and some have sparked protests amid allegations of able, both morally and politically.” The statement did not say before he was fired in July 2013. government negligence in enforcing traffic safeguards. Road whether there was another round of talks planned, but noted that The political rivalry between Kiir and Machar is widely believed accidents alone account for nearly 12,000 deaths annually, mediators “remain hopeful that the promise of peace will be ful- to have sparked the current crisis, the reason international diplo- according to World Health Organization. — AFP filled in the near future.” mats and observers have been calling for a political solution in South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek the form of a unity government in South Sudan. — AP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

Biker had no link to French Alps murder mystery

ANNECY, France: French authorities said yesterday that a biker wanted in connection with the mysterious 2012 mur- ders of a British-Iraqi family and a cyclist in the French Alps had been identified but had no link to the killings. “We are certain that we have identified the biker,” Annecy prosecutor EricMaillaud told AFP. “He is the head of a business in the Rhone-Alps region, with a good reputation and above any suspicion, who had gone to do some paragliding and was on his way home.” Police had been looking for the mystery biker, seen by for- est rangers shortly before the gruesome murders, since the start of the investigation. An identikit image of the man, with a goatee and wearing a rare type of helmet, was released in November 2013. “He said he did not pay attention to all the media hype around the biker and the helmet at the time,” said Maillaud. The man “said he saw absolutely nothing” on the day of the killings, the prosecutor added, but will be re-interviewed at a later date in case he remembers anything. He was finally tracked down after a lengthy process of telephoning around the region by police. Saad Al-Hilli, a 50- RIGA: Participants of an Informal Meeting of EU Foreign Ministers pose for a family picture in Riga, Latvia yesterday. — AFP year-old Iraqi-born British tourist in France, was gunned down along with his 47-year-old wife Iqbal and her 74-year- old mother in a woodland car park close to the village of EU ready for more Russia Chevaline in the hills above Lake Annecy. Each was shot sev- eral times in their British-registered BMW estate car and more than two dozen spent bullet casings were found near the sanctions if necessary vehicle. The couple’s two daughters, aged seven and four at the time, survived the gruesome attack, but the older girl was shot and badly beaten. The younger girl survived unscathed Foreign policy chief sees progress in Ukraine truce after hiding under her mother’s skirts for hours after the killings, initially escaping the notice of police. RIGA: The European Union is ready to needed,” Mogherini told a conference. like it. So we have to be united on doing A 45-year-old French cyclist, Sylvain Mollier, was also killed step up sanctions on Russia over the “So far the ceasefire has been start- something,” he told reporters. after apparently stumbling upon the scene. The identikit Ukraine conflict, but its priority is to bol- ing, not perfect with some violations Violence is continuing in eastern image of the biker led to the arrest in February 2014 of a for- ster a fragile ceasefire agreed in Minsk, still, but for sure the trend is a positive Ukraine despite the ceasefire accord, mer municipal policeman, who was found with firearms, EU foreign policy chief Federica one,” she added. “We need ... to which calls for the withdrawal of heavy grenades, explosives and detonators in his home. Although Mogherini said yesterday. strengthen the OSCE mission that is on weapons. Russia denies accusations by he was suspected of involvement in arms trafficking, investi- Mogherini, attending a meeting of the ground now.” The EU has joined the Ukraine and Western governments that gators ruled him out as a suspect in the murders since his hel- EU foreign ministers in Latvia, said the United States in imposing sanctions on it has been sending troops and weapons mets did not match the one described by witnesses, nor did need now was to strengthen ceasefire Russia but has found it increasingly diffi- to support separatists. his weapons fit those used in the killings. monitors from the Organization for cult to agree on tougher measures as Mogherini warned against a return to A source close to the investigation said also that DNA Security and Co-operation in Europe many member states rely heavily on a Cold War mentality. “Any attempt to from the former policeman did not match samples from two (OSCE), a rights and security watchdog. Russia for energy. The truce has eased go back to a logic of confrontation that unknown individuals taken at the crime scene. Saad Al-Hilli’s Despite some signs of improvement in pressure for new sanctions, but the EU recalls the 50s ... is not a European logic. brother Zaid was arrested in Britain in June 2013 on suspicion eastern Ukraine since a new ceasefire must decide soon whether to extend And if someone else in Moscow falls into of conspiracy to commit murder, but police said the follow- was agreed last month, there was no economic curbs on Russia that expire in that trap or promotes that trap it is not ing January that there was insufficient evidence to press question of the EU easing sanctions July. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas for us to follow that mistake.” Britain’s charges. Investigators had been looking at an inheritance dis- now, she said. Linkevicius, an EU hawk on Russia, said Foreign Minister Philip Hammond said pute between the two brothers. French and British police “They will not be lifted until some- extending sanctions to the end of the in Warsaw yesterday the EU would pre- have so far failed to make any real progress in the case thing really good happens on the year was “the least we can do”. pare possible new sanctions on Russia despite a massive effort involving officers on both sides of ground and on the other side we are “Everyone is for unity but you know uni- that could be imposed quickly if the the English Channel. — AFP always ready to increase the pressure if ty to do nothing is not for me. I don’t Minsk deal was broken. — Reuters Man dies in Bosnia landslide as bad weather hits Balkans

BELGRADE: A man died yesterday in a Maric. “We are on alert.” landslide in Bosnia as a wave of storms In Croatia, most roads connecting the also closed down roads, flooded villages Adriatic coast with the central parts of and disrupted power supplies through- the country have been closed due to out the Balkan region still recovering strong winds and snow. Bad weather from record flooding last year. Bosnian yesterday halted air traffic to and from authorities said the man was killed by a the tourist city of Dubrovnik, while pile of mud, rocks and trees that strong winds damaged a hall and strand- smashed into his car while he was driv- ed two cargo boats in Split. Croatian ing in central Bosnia early yesterday. authorities said winds in some areas More than two dozen people were along the coast were the strongest ever forced to leave their flooded homes in recorded, overturning trucks, sending western Serbia, as rain-swollen rivers garbage containers into the sea and spread over the farmland and several vil- stopping ferry lines. Several people suf- lages. Heavy, wet snow burdened power fered minor injuries, they said. distribution lines in many areas, leaving In Montenegro, blizzards blocked thousands without electricity. roads toward the north of the country. A Emergency officials sought to dispel landslide near the border with Bosnia fears that the rain and snow could lead late on Thursday kept a bus and two cars to massive flooding similar to that of last stranded for hours. Also late on May, when nearly 80 people died in the Thursday, emergency crews unblocked a Balkans and about 140,000 had to leave snow-covered tunnel in the north, reach- SARAJEVO: A Bosnian man pauses after shoveling snow near Sarajevo yesterday. Heavy snowfall has their homes. “There is no reason to pan- ing more than two dozen people caused transport problems and electricity supply breakdown in most of Bosnia Herzegovina. — AP ic,” said Serbian police official Predrag trapped inside. — AP INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

Myanmar defends rally crackdown as police arrest more protesters

YANGON: Myanmar authorities have defended a crackdown on a Yangon rally that saw police and men in civilian clothes beat unarmed protesters, as security forces made fresh arrests yester- day. In a defiant statement as authorities launched a third day of action against several demonstrations, the state-run Mirror news- paper said police acted legitimately to disperse a rally on Thursday in the heart of Yangon. Several people were wounded in the incident and eight briefly detained. “The authorities repeat- edly asked the people to disperse. But because the protesters fought back against the authorities, there was a crackdown and some protesters were detained,” the report said. Activists have insisted it was a peaceful protest. Their rally in Yangon, held in solidarity with a rolling student demonstration calling for education reform, comes as several groups of workers also staged strikes over pay. In the latest arrests early yesterday, authorities in the central town of Letpadan detained five student protesters, according to activists. “Some students sneaked out through police barriers and joined with the people who came to support our strike,” student leader Min Thway Thit told AFP, adding that the situation had since calmed. Around 50 students also gathered in Yangon in the DIMPAPUR: Members of a mob raise their hands to take photos of a man (top center) accused of rape after he was lynched and afternoon for a peaceful demonstration that passed without inci- hung in the city landmark Clock Tower in Dimapur in the northeastern Indian state of Nagaland. — AP dent. Observers fear democratic reforms in Myanmar, which is gradually emerging from decades of authoritarian rule, are stalling in the run-up to a breakthrough general election slated Indian mob breaks into jail, for the end of this year. —AFP lynches rape suspect Indians welcome City in Nagaland state under curfew Holi festival in NEW DELHI: Authorities in a northeastern Indian city said yester- lowed by attacks on Bangladeshi-owned businesses. Nagaland’s riot of color day they had imposed a round-the-clock curfew, a day after a indigenous tribal groups have for years accused the growing rape suspect was pulled out of jail and lynched by a mob and population of Bengali-speaking Muslims from nearby Bangladesh another man was killed in the subsequent police firing. of illegally settling on their land and eating into their resources. PHALEN, India: Millions across India welcomed spring with their The suspect, who stood accused of raping a woman multiple Jamir said the situation was “very tense”, but they were trying annual “festival of colors” yesterday, celebrating by covering each times and was arrested in late February, was dragged out of the to “restore order”, with hundreds of riot police personnel other in water and dazzling paint. The ancient Hindu festival of prison in Dimapur city in Nagaland state before being beaten to patrolling the streets. An inquiry was also under way over the Holi, which heralds the end of winter and the victory of good death and strung up to a clock tower on Thursday. “A 25-year-old prisoner’s killing, Zeliang told AFP by telephone. “The curfew will over evil, is marked with a national public holiday and sees rev- youth suspected to be part of the mob was injured in police fir- continue until the situation improves. We will do whatever possi- ellers pour onto the streets. ing, who later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital,” Meren ble to stop any escalation,” he said. “Happy Holi to everyone. May this festival of colors fill your Jamir, superintendent of police in Dimapur, told AFP. The violence comes as India is in the midst of a raging con- lives with lots of joy,” tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on He said police were “trying to bring the situation under con- troversy over a government order to ban the broadcast of a Thursday, the start of the two-day festivities. Celebrated mainly trol”. Tensions had been rising in the district since February 24 documentary about the December 2012 gang-rape of a young in India, Nepal and other countries with large Hindu populations, when police arrested the alleged rapist over the assault of a 19- student. The incident, which sparked outrage both within India Hoil falls on the last full moon of winter. year-old tribal woman. and around the world, highlighted the frightening level of vio- In the northern village of Phalen, a Hindu priest ran over a Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang said the suspect was a lence against women in the world’s second most populous huge fire before cheering crowds to mark the burning of the Bangladeshi immigrant, and Jamir said his killing had been fol- country. — AFP demon Holika.—AFP Bangladesh seizes $1.4m in gold from N Korean diplomat

DHAKA: Bangladeshi customs officers caught “Later we informed our foreign ministry and a North Korean diplomat trying to smuggle an he was released on Friday under the Vienna estimated $1.4 million worth of gold into the Convention,” Najibur told Reuters. A case has country, a senior official said yesterday. been filed against him with the customs “We recovered the gold both in the form of department, Khan said. “We have also initiated bars and ornaments from Son Young Nam, the the process to file a criminal case against him.” First Secretary of the North Korean Embassy in The North Korean embassy in Dhaka was Dhaka,” said Moinul Khan, Director General of not available for comment on the issue. the Custom Intelligence department, adding Khan said Pyongyang would soon be the gold weighed about 27 kg (60 pounds) in informed of the case and further action total. The diplomat was released after his con- would be taken via government channels. fessional statement, but Bangladesh is seeking The smuggling of gold, mainly from Dubai, to press charges. “What he did is beyond diplo- has increased in recent months but this is the matic norms,” Khan told Reuters, adding that a first instance of a diplomat being involved, visitor can legally bring up to $1,282 worth of the official said. North Korea is internationally gold into Bangladesh. isolated and under economic sanctions over Khan said the diplomat had passed through its nuclear tests. Sanctioned by the United the green channel at Dhaka international air- States since the 1950s and later by the port on a late arriving Singapore Airlines flight United Nations, North Korea has been shuf- from Singapore. Customs officials then asked fling money for decades from illicit drugs, to scan his hand luggage. “He told our officials arms and financial scams and is now more there was nothing to scan,” said Najibur expert at hiding it to fund its weapons pro- AHMADABAD: Indians, their faces smeared with colored powder, take a selfie as they cele- Rahman, chairman of the National Board of grams and its leaders’ opulent lifestyles, brate Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, in Ahmadabad yesterday. — AP Revenue. diplomats say. — Reuters

INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015 Australia protests Indonesia’s treatment of death row men

SYDNEY: Australia issued a formal protest to Indonesia Friday after photos emerged of a smiling senior police officer posing with the two men due to face the firing squad, as it was confirmed that the execu- tions would not happen this week. Prime Minster Tony Abbott expressed outrage over the photographs taken on board the plane used to transport Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran from Bali to the so-called “execution island” of Nusakambangan. “I thought they were unbecoming and showed a lack of respect and dignity and we have protested to the Indonesian ambassador here in Canberra,” Abbott told reporters of the pictures that were widely published in Australia. The two men were the ringleaders of the so-called “Bali Nine” drug trafficking gang and were moved on Wednesday to the place where they are due to be killed, amid intense protest from Canberra. They are among a group of drug convicts, SEOUL: In this Thursday, March 5, 2015 image taken from video and released by Yonhap News TV via Yonhap News Agency, US including foreigners from France, Brazil, the Philippines, Nigeria and Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert (second from left) arrives at Severance hospital after undergoing surgery to his face Ghana, who are expected to be executed at the same time on the and arms in Seoul. — AP prison island of Nusakambangan. Authorities confirmed yesterday at the executions would not take place this week. The convicts must be given 72 hours’ notice before they are shot dead and the spokesman Security probed in attack for the Indonesian attorney-general’s office Tony Spontana said that the legal process for Filipina Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso was not yet com- plete. on US envoy to Seoul ‘Incredibly insensitive’ The pictures that sparked the upset showed a smiling Denpasar North gloats about ‘knife slashes of justice’ police chief commissioner Djoko Hari Utomo apparently posing with his hand on the back of a seated Chan, who was ashen-faced. SEOUL: Police yesterday investigated the motive of the anti-US although all but four were on standby outside the building, the Another showed the commissioner placing his hand on the shoulder activist they say slashed the US ambassador to South Korea, as officer said. of Sukumaran, who was looking up at him. questions turned to whether security was neglected. Even before the attack on Lippert, Kim was well-known among Treasurer Joe Hockey added that the treatment of the pair had The attack Thursday on Mark Lippert, which prompted rival police and activists as one of a hard-core group of protesters willing been inappropriate. “It was incredibly insensitive, it’s almost macabre North Korea to gloat about “knife slashes of justice,” left deep gash- to use violence to highlight their causes. He received a three-year the way this has been handled by the Indonesian authorities,” he said. es on his face and hand and damaged tendons and nerves. It also suspended sentence in 2010 for throwing a piece of concrete at the Australia also expressed dismay at the level of security laid on for the raised safety worries in a city with a reputation as a relatively low- Japanese ambassador to Seoul while protesting Japan’s claim to transport of the two men, with dozens of armed police on hand. risk diplomatic posting, despite regular threats of war from North small disputed islands that are occupied by South Korea. The Australians, in their early 30s, were sentenced to death in 2006 Korea. While an extreme example, the attack is the latest act of More recently, Kim had been under investigation by Seoul pros- for trying to smuggle heroin out of Indonesia. They recently lost their political violence in a deeply divided country where some protest- ecutors after allegedly assaulting at least one public employee at appeals for presidential clemency, typically the final chance to avoid ers portray their causes as matters of life and death. an outdoor pop concert in January. the firing squad. Australia on Thursday proposed a prisoner swap in Lippert, 42, was recovering well but complaining of pain in the Officials at Seoul’s Jongno police station said they were aware of an 11th-hour bid to save them, but it was rejected by Jakarta which wound on his left wrist and a finger where doctors repaired nerve Kim’s violent history, but did not consider the possibility that he said the men had “poisoned our nation”. Indonesian President Joko damage, Severance Hospital official Yoon Do-Heum said in a tele- would show up at the breakfast meeting, despite his ties to the Widodo yesterday brushed aside concerns about Australia’s mount- vised briefing. Doctors plan to remove the 80 stitches on Lippert’s group that hosted it. When Kim entered the hall where the attack ing anger at plans to execute the pair. “It doesn’t matter,” he respond- face on Monday or Tuesday and expect him to be out of the hospi- occurred, a police officer asked one of the event organizers ed when asked about the issue in East Java. —AFP tal by Tuesday or Wednesday. Hospital officials say he may experi- whether he should be allowed to enter, Jongno district police Chief ence sensory problems in his left hand for several months. Yun Myung-sung told reporters. The organizing official answered Police, meanwhile, searched the offices and house of the sus- that Kim could enter because he was associated with an organiza- pect, Kim Ki-jong, 55, and seized hundreds of documents, books tion that had been invited to the meeting. — AP and computer files. Police also obtained Kim’s telecommunication and financial transaction records to help investigate how the attack was planned and whether others were involved, police officials said More Filipinos in a televised briefing. Seoul Central District Court was expected to decide later whether to grant a police request for Kim’s formal arrest. Police said pushed into poverty the potential charges against Kim include attempted murder, assaulting a foreign envoy, obstruction, and violating a controver- by Haiyan, rice prices sial law that bans praise or assistance for North Korea. Police are also looking into Kim’s past travels to North Korea - seven times MANILA: Super typhoon Haiyan and surging rice prices between 1999 and 2007 - during a previous era of inter-Korean pushed the number of Filipinos living in poverty to 25.8 per- cooperation, when South Korea was led by a liberal government. cent in the first half of last year despite strong economic Kim, who has a long history of anti-US and violent protests, said growth, official data released yesterday showed. The 1.2 per- he acted alone in the attack on Lippert. He told police he was cent rise was compared to the 24.6 percent of people in the protesting annual US-South Korean military drills that started Philippines who were considered poor a year earlier, the Monday - exercises that the North has long maintained are prepa- Philippine Statistics Authority said in a statement. rations for an invasion. Kim said the drills, which Seoul and The increase followed Haiyan which struck in November Washington say are purely defensive, ruined efforts for reconcilia- 2013, killing more than 7,350 people and ravaging an area as tion between the Koreas, according to police officials. big as Portugal in the nation of around 100 million people. Security for Lippert was another focus. US ambassadors have The government agency deemed a family of five who security details, but their size largely depends on the threat level of lived off 8,778 pesos ($199.3) a month — roughly $1.33 per the post. It’s not clear how many guards Lippert had at the down- person a day-to be poor. Nevertheless the Philippines, one of town venue where he was attacked, but Asia’s fastest-growing economies, saw the average income of since Seoul is seen as fairly safe, the number of guards would Filipinos rise by 6.4 percent in the first six months of 2014, have been fewer than for American ambassadors in most of the Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said in the Middle East. The US Embassy, citing security reasons, only informed statement. “The very high prices of food wiped out the gains South Korean police of what Lippert was doing a little before in per capita income,” he added. YOGYAKARTA: Philippine death row prisoner Mary Jane Thursday’s event, and it provided its own security detail for the The areas ravaged by Haiyan saw the most substantial Fiesta Veloso, arrives in a court in Sleman in central Java ambassador, according to a Seoul police officer who spoke on con- jumps in poverty levels, he said. Notwithstanding the ravages of island for a hearing of judicial review after a plea for clemen- dition of anonymity, citing office rules. The US Embassy in Seoul Haiyan, the Philippine economy expanded by 6.1 percent last cy was rejected by Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Veloso didn’t immediately respond to emailed questions about security year, second only to China among Asian economies according had his appeal for clemency rejected by President Widodo, a for the ambassador. By law, South Korea provides police protection to the government. The biggest rises in per capita income, per- vocal supporter of capital punishment for drug offenders and for a US ambassador only when the American Embassy requests it, centage-wise, occurred amongst the poorest sections of the awaiting imminent execution by firing squad in according to South Korean police. The US Embassy didn’t request Philippines during this period, Balisacan said. —AFP Nusakambangan prison island. — AFP security for Lippert, but 29 officers were deployed as a precaution, INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015 Thousands stranded S African woman accused of on Ky Interstates for 24 hours kidnapping baby gets bail

arry Weas spent a cold night hunkered down in his car after getting JOHANNESBURG: caught in a logjam along a Interstate 65 in Kentucky. To conserve fuel A South African doing fine,” she said in a statement read the same area as her biological family. L woman who allegedly kidnapped a by her lawyer, Ann Skelton of the “She was blessed, she had every- during his 11-hour ordeal, he kept his car turned off for long stretches and scooped snow into a bucket to have something to drink. A stranded baby from a hospital and raised her for Centre for Child Law, a South African thing, she never missed out on any- couple gave him a bottle of Gatorade and candy until a rescue worker took 17 years was released on bail yesterday organization that represents children. thing,” said Judith Wasserfall, a friend of him to town. “This has been a lesson of survival,” said the 54-year-old in a sensational case in which authori- The group asked media not to pub- the alleged kidnapper. Elizabethtown man, who is diabetic. Thousands of stranded motorists ties are struggling to protect the privacy lish the name of the alleged kidnapper The biological parents have said they endured agonizingly long waits Thursday lasting nearly 24 hours for some as of a girl who apparently had no idea of for fear it could reveal the girl’s identity. never gave up hope. Each year, her sib- a winter storm walloped Kentucky with up to 2 feet of snow and frustrated what had happened. The girl was raised by the accused and lings blew out candles on a birthday travelers dealt with gas tanks and stomachs close to empty. The massive traf- Magistrate Mark Engel said the her husband as an only child, living in cake for their missing sister. —AP fic jam stretched for about 26 miles, from just north of Elizabethtown past accused woman is not a flight risk and Shepherdsville. There were no reports of storm-related deaths or wide- has no previous convictions, but spread power outages. Still, National Guard soldiers and emergency workers ordered her to stay away from the girl were dispatched to make safety checks on the frustrated travelers. she raised, the South African Press “You see miles and miles of tail ends and tail ends. It’s not a very good Association reported. She was freed on sight,” National Guard Spc Jeriel Clark said as his group of soldiers handed out $425 bail. The 50-year-old woman, who food and water while patrolling along snowbound Interstate 24 in far west- lives in Cape Town, was arrested last ern Kentucky. By Thursday evening, state highway officials said interstate week after the biological parents of the routes in Kentucky were open again. Snow plows kept up their fast pace as girl, who turns 18 next month, figured dropping temperatures created the risk of icy highways. out her identity. The woman faces Yesterday, flooding was likely to be a threat in some parts of the state hit charges of kidnapping and pretending worst by the snow. With rising temperatures, the snow could melt and to be the child’s mother, police said. become a hazard. Gov. Steve Beshear said flash flooding was the bigger con- The girl was reunited last week with cern, not river flooding. Overnight into Thursday, Kenny Thompson huddled her biological parents, Morne and in his car on I-65 with snacks he grabbed for a trip home to Louisville and his Celeste Nurse. She had unknowingly smartphone to keep him connected to his family. Thompson said people befriended her younger biological sister would dash quickly out of their cars to go to the bathroom, even hiding after the two attended the same high behind cars. school. Shocked by their resemblance, “There’s no privacy out here,” said Thompson, who had been stuck in the the Nurses alerted police, who conduct- logjam since 9 pm Wednesday. After being stranded along the same inter- ed DNA tests that proved she was the state for 21 hours, Mike Gee had enough fuel in his truck for another 10 min- baby kidnapped from Groote Schuur utes of heat. “We’re in trouble out here. We’re in big trouble out here,” said hospital in 1997. the 53-year-old from Clarksville, Tennessee, who was trying to get to Ohio “My daughter is back and that’s it,” with his wife for a weekend vacation. Among the stranded along I-65 were Morne Nurse, the girl’s biological father, the Rev Jesse Jackson’s wife and other members of his Rainbow/PUSH said yesterday. “Look, she is broken and we will fix Coalition staff. The group was on its way to join Jackson in Selma, Alabama, CAPE TOWN: Morne Nurse, second right, the father of a girl that was for this weekend’s events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the civil it.” The girl, who has not been identified rights march led by Dr Martin Luther King Jr. The Rev. Janette Wilson, the because she is a minor, thanked the kidnapped as a baby 17 years ago, and his wife Celeste Nurse (center) coalition’s senior adviser, told The Associated Press in a phone interview that public for their support earlier this arrive at court for the appearance of a woman suspected of the kidnap- staffers had been stuck on I-65 since 2:30 a.m. Thursday. —AP week. ping in Cape Town, South Africa yesterday. —AP “Under the circumstances, I am INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

Racial bias in Ferguson police dept ‘not isolated’ Obama Selma march rekindles Ferguson comparisons

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama College, a historically black college. The by police on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Several Ferguson protesters also plan to said the type of racial discrimination found White House said Obama plans to speak Selma, Alabama, dragged the inhumanity go to Selma, hoping to ensure that more in Ferguson, Missouri, is not unique to that about efforts young people made of Southern segregation into America’s liv- Americans will draw parallels between yes- police department, and he cast law throughout history to expand opportunity. ing rooms as never before. terday’s and today’s struggles. “It is clear enforcement reform as a chief struggle for Obama’s visit to Columbia is his first trip The images were unforgettable: police that the struggle continues,” said human today’s civil rights movement. to South Carolina as president. Obama has tear-gassing kneeling protesters, clubbing rights attorney Nicole Lee, who was in Obama said improving civil rights and just two other states to reach his goal of them and attacking them on horseback Ferguson during the unrest after police civil liberties with police is one of the areas decided not to charge officer Darren that “requires collective action and mobi- Wilson in Brown’s death. lization” 50 years after pivotal civil rights A grand jury declined to indict Wilson, marches brought change to the country. and the Justice Department said The president made his first remarks about Wednesday that it also would not seek to this week’s Justice Department report of prosecute him. It did issue a scathing racial bias in Ferguson, which found offi- report that called Ferguson’s law enforce- cers routinely discriminating against blacks ment practices discriminatory and uncon- by using excessive force. stitutional. “I don’t think that is typical of what hap- Similar things were said about Selma pens across the country, but it’s not an iso- after the police killing of Jimmie Lee lated incident,” Obama told The Joe Jackson, 26, who died a few days after Madison Radio Show on Sirius XM radio’s being shot in the stomach by Alabama Urban View channel. “I think that there are state trooper James Bonard Fowler while circumstances in which trust between trying to protect family members during a communities and law enforcement have melee following a voting rights protest in broken down, and individuals or entire February 1965. A grand jury declined to departments may not have the training or indict Fowler. the accountability to make sure that Rep. John Lewis, then a student activist they’re protecting and serving all people who was severely beaten in Selma, sees and not just some.” Obama’s interview was parallels between the 1965 marches and to preview his trip Saturday to Selma, WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama hosts a lunch with “My the #BlackLivesMatter movement that Alabama, where he plans to speak from Brother’s Keeper” mentees in the Map Room of the White House in sprang up after Brown’s death. He also the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where white Washington. Even more money than expected has been committed to sees a major distinction. police officers beat civil rights protesters on Obama’s initiative aimed at helping young men of color, White House “The only thing that is so different (is March 7, 1965. Obama last visited Selma in that) today, I don’t think many of the 2007, when he was running for the officials said Thursday. —AP young people have a deep understanding Democratic presidential nomination and of the ways of nonviolent direct action,” spoke about the responsibility of those traveling to all 50 in office - South Dakota behind a civilian posse. Five decades later, said Lewis, D-Ga. who came after the civil rights generation and Utah. many recalled that moment when police Other Selma veterans say they fear of the ‘60s to carry on the struggle. lobbed tear gas at protesters in Ferguson, their sacrifices are being wasted by those Yesterday, Obama was kicking off the Memories Missouri, after the police shooting death whose failure to vote leads to lack of rep- weekend’s 50th anniversary with a town In only a few minutes on national televi- last year of black 18-year-old Michael resentation in government and on police hall meeting at South Carolina’s Benedict sion, the beatings of civil rights marchers Brown. forces. —AP

Two mummified Republicans build 2016 bodies spotted on Mexico’s peak campaign machines PUEBLA, Mexico: A team of Mexican climbers searching NEW YORK: Asked last week about his agen- sumptive candidates this year are setting up the amount they can give to help elect or for a frozen body on the country’s highest mountain stum- da if elected, presumptive Republican presi- and working closely with so-called super- defeat candidates. The Supreme Court’s bled onto a second mummified cadaver during their expe- dential candidate Scott Walker began: PACS and other funding vehicles before they 2010 Citizens United decision gave rise to dition on Thursday. “Should I choose to be a candidate...” Then launch official campaigns. That promises an super-PACs, which can’t contribute directly The 12 local civil protection mountaineers had he added with a grin: “My lawyers love it advantage to some big-name candidates to candidates, but have no limit on their embarked on their mission after climbers reported seeing when I say that.” Like the other would-be who take an aggressive early approach, and spending independent of the campaign. a frozen skull 310 meters (1,000 feet) from the peak of the Republican candidates who took the stage to those who do not currently hold office, Under federal campaign rules, once can- over three days in Washington at the since they face fewer restrictions. “There’s a didates officially declare they are testing the 5,610-meter Pico de Orizaba on Monday. The second body Conservative Political Action Conference, the wealth primary underway and a clear sense waters or running, they must stop accepting was found 150 meters away, and it was also frozen and Wisconsin governor studiously avoided men- that they have to maximize their own viabili- “soft money” - donations from corporations mummified, said Juan Navarro, mayor of the town of tioning any plans for the 2016 presidential ty and the only way to maximize viability is and unions - and limit individual campaign Chalchicomula de Sesma, near the mountain in central election. money,” said David Donnelly, executive donations to $2,700. Puebla state. The pantomime is crucial - it allows can- director of a non-profit group, Every Voice, They must also stop any coordination of “It was impossible to conduct the rescue this time. Fog didates to work closely with their funding which supports campaign finance reform their public messages with the PACS, though prevented the work,” Navarro told AFP, adding that only organizations to rake in big money dona- efforts. the PACS can continue accepting unlimited two of the climbers were able to reach the location of the tions without breaking campaign finance Election watchdog groups say the would- donations from individuals and corporations. bodies. After the first body was spotted, Mexican authori- laws. Once they launch their campaign or be candidates are making a mockery of cam- A spokeswoman for Bush, Kristy ties received phone calls from people in Spain and even say they are “testing the waters”, they paign finance rules by clearly “testing the Campbell, said his “Right to Rise” super-PAC Germany who believe it could be a relative, he said. But face far tighter restrictions on their fundrais- waters” for a run even as they strenuously was not paying for any “testing the waters” local officials suspect that the cadavers correspond to two ing. Such verbal coquetry is not new in the avoid saying so. expenses, which the Federal Election of three Mexicans who went missing after an avalanche 55 four-yearly battle for the Republican and The strategy has allowed former Florida Commission (FEC) defines as a range of activ- years ago. Democratic presidential nominations. Gov. Jeb Bush, for example, to embark on an ities from travel to determine a candidate’s Pieces of clothing found on both bodies could help But donors, campaign sources, and cam- undeclared national campaign that has vac- viability to expenses for carrying out polling. identify them, Navarro said. The recovery effort will paign finance reform advocates say it is hav- uumed up what media reports have said is a A spokeswoman for Walker said he was resume Friday with the help of a helicopter. The bodies ing a much bigger payoff than in the 2012 huge sum, though his aides refuse to discuss not a candidate and that his PAC was only a will be taken to the Puebla state prosecutor’s office to election, allowing would-be candidates to how much he has raised. Some have charac- vehicle to help him talk about his “bold undergo DNA identification tests. The mountain, also delay their campaign launches, build up big- terized Bush’s fundraising push “shock and reforms” as governor. A spokeswoman for known as the Citlaltepetl volcano, is popular among ger war chests and forge close ties with their awe” offensive to deter his rivals. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, another pre- climbers, though some have got lost or suffered fatal acci- donor groups earlier than ever. PACs are advocacy groups that pool cam- sumed front-runner, declined comment. dents in the past. —AFP In a new development that is adding to paign contributions. Traditionally, donors A spokeswoman for the FEC declined to fundraising and organizational clout, pre- who contribute through PACs face limits on comment. —Reuters Oil climbs on Middle 16 Emirates forges special17 US labor market flexes 19 BusinessEast supply concerns relationship with Egypt muscles in February SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015 BP unveils $12bn investment in Egypt 17

ATHENS: Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (left) talks with the chairman of the Bank of Greece Yiannis Stournaras during their meeting yesterday after Athens got no help from the European Central Bank to address a cash squeeze. — AFP Greek PM seeks EU talks Tsipras says ECB has ‘rope round our neck’

ATHENS: Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has agreed to temporarily extend its EU-IMF bailout, cut off a key channel of financing for Greek banks, will be back to the thriller we saw before Feb 20,” requested a meeting with European Commission but until Athens wins approval for its plans for a saying it would no longer accept Greek sovereign he told Der Spiegel, referring to the date Greece chief Jean-Claude Juncker, a government source four-year economic recovery blueprint it has no bonds as collateral for loans. That means they now agreed a four-month bailout extension with its said yesterday, after Athens got no help from the access to funds remaining in the Ä240-billion rely solely on emergency liquidity assistance (ELA) euro zone partners. “The ECB has still got a rope European Central Bank to address a cash squeeze. ($272-billion) rescue program. which is more expensive than normal central bank round our neck,” Tsipras said, according to excerpts “The prime minister called Mr Juncker to arrange a The government has said it will present a first refinancing operations. ELA funds are also limited of the interview released yesterday. The leftist meeting next week,” a government source said. The batch of concrete proposals to eurozone ministers by the ECB, as well as the amount of short-term prime minister said he did not want Greece to government later said in a statement: “The meeting on Monday in a bid to break the deadlock. “It is treasury bills that Athens can issue. leave the euro “because I love Europe” and said he will discuss how Greece will utilise European funds very important that the Eurogroup be successful. Stournaras insisted yesterday that Greek banks had asked all his cabinet ministers - not just his to address the humanitarian crisis and unemploy- We are all working to this end,” Bank of Greece are “sufficiently capitalised” and have “secure liq- combative Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis - for ment.” German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung had governor Yannis Stournaras told reporters after uidity”. “There is no danger...there is no absolutely “fewer words and more deeds”. earlier reported that Tsipras had wanted to see seeing the prime minister. He added that the gov- no problem with deposits,” he said. There have The head of the European Stability Juncker today, but his request was turned down. ernment would work “non-stop” over the weekend been concerns that without ample support from Mechanism, Klaus Regling, yesterday expressed Athens is scrambling to find cash to address a to secure a “positive result” on Monday. the ECB that Greeks could view the banks as being concern about the state of Greek government cof- daunting debt repayment schedule this month. The government had pinned its hopes on the vulnerable, triggering a run on deposits that could fers and urged Athens to concentrate on tax col- Greece this month needs to find around Ä6.0 bil- European Central Bank giving more leeway to provoke a crisis that leading to Greece’s exit from lection as revenues were “plummeting”. “We are lion ($6.8 billion) for debt repayments. A finance Greek banks to buy state bonds. But the ECB on the euro if no help was forthcoming. Tsipras wants left to hope that the government will soon pull ministry source yesterday said Athens had repaid Thursday maintained a tough line on Athens, say- to issue short-term debt such as treasury bills to the emergency brake. It must urgently explain to the International Monetary Fund a first debt instal- ing it was prepared to give more room on financ- plug his government’s financing gap and warned its citizens that they must pay their outstanding ment of Ä310 million. Greece’s new anti-austerity ing once the Greek government reaches a debt in a German magazine that if the ECB objected, it taxes,” Regling told German business daily government last month reversed course and deal with its eurozone partners. The ECB recently would be assuming a grave responsibility. “Then it Handelsblatt. — Agencies BUSINESS SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015 Euro tumbles to new 11.5-year low

LONDON: The euro dived yesterday to another Capital Markets analyst Nick Stamenkovic told amid optimism over the American economy. Foley told AFP. “The ECB has indicated that it is 11.5-year low, one day after the European Central AFP. “By contrast, ECB president (Mario) Draghi “Diverging policy stances between the Fed prepared to throw the kitchen sink in with its Bank announced it would launch its massive signalled an open-ended aggressive asset pur- and ECB look set to persist for some time, push- attempts to beat deflationary risk and the result- stimulus package next week. The single currency chase program aimed at restoring price stability ing the euro towards parity over the medium- ant weakness of euro/dollar will undoubtedly sank to $1.0963 - the lowest since Sept 2003 - as over the medium-term.” term as the search for yield drives euro area help with the policy’s success.” She added: “We investors also awaited US non-farm payrolls data The ECB on Thursday said its Ä1.1-trillion ($1.2 investors to increase exposure to overseas do not think that the Fed will hike until that, if strong enough, could support a Federal trillion) quantitative easing stimulus would be assets,” Stamenkovic told AFP. However, December, based on weak inflation. Reserve interest rate increase. Analysts expect launched early next week. Some analysts predict Rabobank analyst Jane Foley cautioned that the Consequently we think that euro/dollar will avoid growth of 240,000 jobs in February and a fall in the eurozone unit could reach parity against the Federal Reserve was mindful of weak US inflation. parity.” the unemployment rate to 5.6 percent from 5.7 dollar amid a growing policy divergence In later morning London deals, the euro percent. between the ECB and the Fed. The Frankfurt- ECB ‘will Throw Kitchen Sink’ stood at $1.0969 down from $1.1028 late in New “The euro has fallen to fresh lows versus the based central bank is battling deflation risks “The combination of yesterday’s speech from York on Thursday. Meanwhile, European stock dollar as investors anticipate another solid US across the 19-nation eurozone, while its US coun- Draghi and today’s US payrolls report have markets mostly edged higher, extending employment report in February, increasing the terpart exited its own QE program in October, focussed attention on the divergence between Thursday’s gains after the ECB revealed it will likelihood of a Fed tightening by mid-year,” RIA and is mulling an interest rate hike later this year the policy directions of the ECB and the Fed,” launch its vast QE stimulus on Monday. —AFP Apple to replace AT&T in Dow index NEW YORK: Apple Inc, the largest US company by market val- ue, will join the Dow Jones Industrial Average on March 18, replacing AT&T Inc, S&P Dow Jones Indices said yesterday. With a market capitalization of about $736 billion, Apple is the largest publicly traded company in the world. AT&T, by con- trast, has a market value of $176.5 billion. The iPhone and iPad maker had been notable by its absence in the 30-stock aver- age, and it had been excluded because its stock price was too high for the price-weighted index. The move by S&P Dow Jones Indices had been widely anticipated since a seven-for- one stock split in June 2014. “This is a sign of the times, and it might get everyone to look at the Dow more than they have been,” said Richard Sichel, who oversees $2 billion as chief investment officer at Philadelphia Trust Co. “It would be difficult to pick any 30 companies that would cover the entire economy, especially compared with the S&P 500, but it does give the Dow more credibility.” In premarket activity, shares of Apple were higher, gaining 1.4 percent to $128.15, while AT&T’s shares fell 1.4 percent to IN-SALAH, Algeria: Algerians walk past a wall on which a graffiti reads in Arabic “no to hydraulic fracturing“ on Thursday $33.53. Since its split, had Apple been substituted for 29 of the during a protest at Somoud Square in this Sahara desert village in south Algeria, against the exploration of shale gas. Anti- 30 Dow components last June, the index would have been shale gas demonstrations have increased in the cities of the Algerian Sahara since late December, when Algerian oil compa- higher. Visa is the only Dow component that would have ny Sonatrach announced it had successfully completed its first pilot drilling in the In-Salah region. Sonatrach announced in helped the Dow more during that time, in part because of its high stock price. early February that its exploratory drilling for shale gas using hydraulic fracturing would continue despite mounting hostil- S&P Dow Jones Indices said that Visa’s impending four-for- ity among people living nearby. —AFP one stock split will reduce its weighting in the Dow. Despite Apple’s size, it would currently only have a 4.66 percent weighting in the Dow because of its price, the index company Oil climbs on Middle said in a statement. AT&T has had two stints in the Dow. It was added in 1916 and removed in 2004. After SBC Communications renamed itself AT&T following a 2005 merg- East supply concerns er, it was reinstated in the index. —Reuters Islamic State attacks oil wells in Tikrit ITE Group dials in to Africa LONDON: Brent crude oil rose towards $60.68 by 1400 GMT. US light crude Iran’s foreign minister has suggested a $61 a barrel yesterday as fighting in was down 20 cents at $50.56. 10-year moratorium on some aspects Libya and Iraq stoked output worries, “Supply disruptions have certainly of the nuclear program might be events market while traders kept a close eye on Iran come back into focus for now,” acceptable, although he declined to LONDON: Trade exhibition organiser ITE Group Plc nuclear talks that could eventually Virendra Chauhan, oil analyst at con- discuss the issue in detail. bought a majority stake in a portfolio of events, mostly bring more supply to world markets. sultancy Energy Aspects, told Reuters Iran’s semi-official Mehr news in Africa, as the company looks to reduce its depend- Fighting has escalated in northeast Global Oil Forum. “Libya is noteworthy agency on Friday quoted National ence on Russia, its biggest market. ITE acquired a 50.1 Iraq, where Islamic State militants have because militant attacks on infrastruc- Iranian Oil Co’s head of international percent stake in the portfolio from GPP Energy Advisors set fire to oilfields to deter Shiite militi- ture are increasing.” Tamas Varga, ana- affairs, Mohsen Ghamsari, as saying Ltd for £16 million ($24 million), the company said yestr- amen and Iraqi soldiers from advanc- lyst at London brokerage PVM Oil Tehran would increase crude exports if day. The portfolio includes events such as Africa Oil ing. In Libya, worsening security has Associates, agreed: “The Libyan and sanctions were lifted. Oil services com- Week - an oil and gas conference to be held in Cape led to the closure of 11 oilfields. Iraqi oilfield skirmishes are worrying ... pany Baker Hughes was due to release Town in October. Gains were pared slightly by a rise There are serious supply issues there.” on Friday a weekly survey of the num- ITE, which gets around 59 percent of its revenue from in the dollar, which jumped after US Investors watched for more details ber of US rigs drilling for crude, an indi- Russia, has been hurt by tensions across the country’s jobs data boosted expectations of a of nuclear talks between Iran and cator used by some investors to gauge western border with Ukraine and a weaker rouble. Chief sooner-than-expected rate increase in major world powers. Western diplo- whether shale producers are cutting Executive Russell Taylor said the deal with GPP would the world’s largest economy. US mats say there are some signs of output after prices slumped. “Given help to reduce the contribution from its Russian opera- employment accelerated in February progress in discussions with Tehran the higher production cost for shale tions to about 40 percent of the total profit for the year and the jobless rate fell to 5.5 percent, over its nascent nuclear industry. Any oil, we view that the supply-demand ending September 2016. Russia accounted for 61 per- signs that could encourage the Federal sign of a deal between Iran and world matrix will adjust itself accordingly to cent of ITE’s 2014 profit before central overheads in the Reserve to raise interest rates in June. powers could result in a flood of eventually lift oil prices,” analysts at fiscal year ended Sept 2014. —Reuters Brent was up 20 cents a barrel at Iranian crude returning to the market. OCBC said in a note. —Reuters Business SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015 BP unveils $12bn investment in Egypt gas fields

LONDON: British energy giant BP unveiled plans yesterday to invest a record $12 billion in Egyptian gas fields with Russian partner DEA in a “vote of confidence” for the troubled nation. The investment-equivalent to 11 billion euros-will be on the West Nile Delta (WND), the company said in a statement, and comes despite concern over a surge in deadly militancy in Egypt. The London-listed group holds a 65-percent stake in the project, while DEA owns the remaining 35 percent. BP is seeking to rebalance its capital expenditure (capex) program to combat the impact of slumping oil prices, which have slashed its profits and revenues. “The project underlines BP’s commitment to the Egyptian market and is a vote of con- fidence in Egypt’s investment climate and economic poten- tial,” BP said in a statement. The aim is to develop five trillion cubic feet of gas resources and 55 million barrels of conden- sates, with production expected to begin in 2017, it added. BP - which has been in Egypt for 50 years with investments totalling more than $25 billion - is the biggest foreign investor in the key African energy hub. “The WND project investment is the largest foreign direct investment in Egypt,” BP Chief Executive Bob Dudley said after final agreements were signed. DUBAI: In this Feb 11, 2015 photo, Emirati officials read a friendship memorandum at a UAE Egypt stand during the last “WND production is key to Egypt’s energy security,” he said, day of the Government Summit. — AP with BP announcing that all the gas would be fed into the national grid and would eventually double BP’s supply to the domestic market. Emirates forges special relationship with Egypt UAE key organizer of economic conference

DUBAI: This small Gulf nation, known for its aviation, banking and energy industries will earmarked for Egypt since Morsi’s ouster. In soaring skyscrapers and mercantile bent, is be there too. Oct 2013 it opened a hospital named after making itself into the most stalwart ally of Emirati construction giant Arabtec the federation’s founder, Sheikh Zayed Al- the Arab world’s biggest country. The United Holding has ambitious plans for a $40 billion Nahyan, in the Manshiyat Nasser slum on the Arab Emirates has pumped billions of dollars project to build 1 million middle-income outskirts of Cairo. In contrast, before Morsi’s into Egypt and is lining up investors to try to homes across Egypt. It has said the project fall, Egypt had been in talks for several years stabilize its damaged economy, while build- will create more than a million jobs in Egypt. with the International Monetary Fund for a ing military cooperation. In their deepening Arabtec helped raise Dubai’s record-breaking $4.8 billion loan, but the talks never reached Gas will be produced by two BP-operated offshore blocks - relationship, an economically exhausted Burj Khalifa skyscraper. Its biggest sharehold- a deal. Egypt benefits from the UAE’s finances, and er is Aabar Investments, which is controlled North Alexandria and West Mediterranean Deepwater - with a the US-allied Emirates gets a heavyweight by the government of the oil-rich Emirati Patron potential for future exploration. “This is a critical milestone in with extensive manpower on its side in a capital, Abu Dhabi. Minister of State Sultan For Egypt, the benefit of an enthusiastic, the Egyptian oil and gas history,” said Hesham Mekawi, BP region deeply unstable with threats of mili- Al-Jaber, an Emirati official with one of the deep-pocketed patron is obvious. But the North Africa regional president. However, BP’s share price tant violence and Iranian expansion. few seats on the conference’s steering com- Emirates stands to gain, too. The seven-state dipped 0.49 percent to 450.40 pence in afternoon deals on “We are among the vanguards calling for mittee, promised the event will be “a first federation sees Egypt as central to regional the London stock market, as investors mulled the announce- stability in Egypt, whose security represents step in the implementation of a larger strate- security given its location, the size of its pop- ment. a cornerstone of Arab world security,” Emirati gy that will ensure Egypt’s economic revival.” ulation and its outsize historical and cultural “Clearly, oil majors are still willing to take on geopoliticial Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed role. As the Arab world’s second biggest risk,” said equities analyst Mike McCudden at online broker Al-Nahyan told a full house during his speech Economy economy - after Saudi Arabia - the Emirates Interactive Investor. “Pretty much every bit of capex carries at a governance conference held in Dubai Egypt’s economy has been gutted by tur- has plenty to spend on its defense budget some kind of country risk, just some more than others. And last month. “We cannot keep our fingers moil since the 2011 uprising that ousted and boasts one of the region’s best- Egypt cannot be ignored. “It is, after all, one of the biggest crossed about achieving stability and devel- autocrat Hosni Mubarak. Foreign investment equipped militaries. What it doesn’t have is players in Africa, both in terms of oil and natural gas, and so opment in Egypt.” and tourism revenues dried up, depleting Egypt’s manpower. The UAE is home to only highly lucrative.” Analyst Atif Latif at Guardian Stockbrokers in That conference put the UAE-Egypt rela- foreign currency reserves and driving up about 9 million people, fewer than one in London forecast that investor confidence in Egypt would tionship front and center among the 80 unemployment, and frequent rounds of vio- five of them citizens with the foreign workers improve further. “The deal is important as it shows that nations attending. A slick, museum-worthy lence in the country have frustrated attempts and their families making up the rest - com- display outside the vast conference hall spot- to rebuild. The Emirates, Saudi Arabia and pared to Egypt’s 90 million people. geopolitical/macroeconomic risks in Egypt are starting to lighted the countries’ close ties, declaring in Kuwait pumped billions of dollars into Egypt “Egypt is the No. 1 strategic partner for improve,” Latif told AFP. “It allows Egypt to manage the severe a logo, “Among its many brotherly neigh- following the military’s ouster of Islamist the UAE outside the Gulf itself. It’s partly crisis it faces after production declines, and shows that BP are bors, Egypt holds a special place with the President Mohammed Morsi in July 2013. because they share a very similar vision for looking at other heavy investment in alternatives” to oil. “We United Arab Emirates.” Egypt’s prime minis- Like Saudi Arabia and new Egyptian the region, and a very similar threat percep- have seen some concerns about a lack of investor confidence ter, Ibrahim Mahlab, had a prime speaking President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, the Emirates tion,” said Jane Kinninmont, a Middle East in Egypt (and other Middle East regions) but this will allay spot, which he used to praise the Emirates’ sees Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood as a threat expert at British think tank Chatham House. investor concerns and in time should result in more inflows “wise leadership” and the two nations’ and moved aggressively to stamp out sym- “Their defense and security establishments and other inward investment.” friendship. pathizers of the group in the wake of the really see eye to eye,” she added. “Muslim The global energy sector is grappling with oil prices that The Emirates is also a key organizer of an Arab Spring. It followed Cairo’s and Riyadh’s Brotherhood concerns have brought them plunged by about 60 percent between June and January, economic development conference aimed at lead in branding the group a terrorist organi- closer together.” largely on global crude oversupply. “With oil prices looking set enticing investors to Egypt and reviving its zation in November. A UAE government The growing ties were on display in a to remain at their current lows for the foreseeable future, a economy, to be held next week in the Sinai report shows that Egypt is by far the biggest series of bilateral military exercises last year. further push into gas seems like a sensible diversification for resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. The Egypt the single recipient of donor cash from the Photos released following one set of drills the energy giant,” added Spreadex analyst Connor Campbell. Future investment conference’s speakers list Emirates, with $4.6 billion distributed just in showed el-Sissi, clad in fatigues, peering off BP has existing operations in the Gulf of Suez and the East Nile presents a who’s who of the Emirati corpo- 2013, the most recent year for which data is the deck of a warship, with Emirati Prime rate elite. Executives from Western blue-chip available. Egypt’s aid share was 29 times Minister Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Delta. DEA was meanwhile the former oil and gas unit of names like General Electric and Coca Cola more than that of the next largest recipient, Maktoum and Abu Dhabi’s powerful crown German power giant RWE. The division was sold to Russian- will share the stage with UAE-based heads of Jordan. prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al- controlled investment fund LetterOne in a deal that complet- telecom Etisalat Group, private equity firm In addition to providing direct cash aid, Nahyan, at his side. The training may well ed earlier this week. LetterOne is based in Luxembourg, but Abraaj Capital, and the real estate developer the OPEC member has been building have paid off when, according to American controlled by Russia’s Alfa Group which belongs to billionaire behind the world’s tallest skyscraper, Emaar schools, clinics, wheat silos and tens of thou- officials, the two nations teamed up in August entrepreneur Mikhail Fridman. — AFP Properties. Executives from the Gulf nation’s sands of homes as part of at least $10 billion to bomb Islamic militants in Libya. —AP Business SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015 Germans’ holiday romance with Greece BERLIN: German holidaymakers are increasingly flocking Germany has prescribed strict austerity measures for the although Spain, Italy, Turkey and Austria still remain far to Greece, leaving the acrimonious wrangling between eurozone’s debt-mired members while it has largely ahead in their affections. Around a quarter of Germans the two capitals over Athens’ debt mountain, halting shrugged off the turbulence to continue to post overall said in a poll at the beginning of the year that a holiday in reforms or fears of a “Grexit” to the politicians. “Little by growth with one of the bloc’s lowest unemployment Greece was appealing - 67 percent said the sun and heat little, people do realise that politics has nothing to do rates. “What affects us more is the German economy, were decisive factors in choosing their destination. with the reality of tourism,” George Trivizas, of the tour more than the politics,” Trivizas, who is also a board mem- With its weather, natural assets and tourism track operator Kentavros, said at the Berlin tourism fair, running ber of GePoet, a Greek federation of tourism businesses, record, Manos Iatrou, of Hellenic Island Services which until Sunday. The allure of Greece’s picturesque beaches, told AFP. organises trips to Greek islands, said there was no “secret azure skies and diverse islands drew around 2.5 million recipe” for Greece’s popularity. Tensions between Athens Germans in 2014, an 8.5-percent rise on the previous year, No Secret Recipe and Berlin, effectively the eurozone’s paymaster, are according to the Bank of Greece. Rolf Schrader, of ReiseAnalyse, a Berlin-based tourism “purely political” and have nothing to do with tourism, he For package holidays alone, the increase was 17 per- analysis company, said Greece had dropped off as insisted. However he acknowledged that sales had tem- cent, Germany’s DRV federation of travel agents said. And Germans’ holiday destination of choice in the early 2000s, porarily flattened out over a two-week period around the for 2015, the DRV expects more growth despite recent well before the eurozone crisis began. He compiles an time in late January when Greece’s radical left Syriza party barbed exchanges between Greek and German ministers annual survey among 8,000 Germans with Ipsos market won elections on the back of promises to roll back the as bailed-out Athens wrestles to bring down its debt that research company. “For two years, it has been going up country’s painful austerity program. now equals about 175 percent of annual economic out- again,” he said, adding Greece was now nearly back up to It hasn’t stopped some trying to mix up tourism and put. Sporting a badge with overlapping Greek and its 3.5-percent market share from 2002. Last year vaca- politics, though. Two conservative German lawmakers, German flags, Trivizas said bookings from Germany were tions in Greece accounted for 2.9 percent of destinations Axel Fischer and Ruediger Kruse, have suggested a com- already up in the first few months of this year. for Germans, compared to 1.8 percent two years earlier. pensation scheme for German tourists whose expenditure The trend, and especially its timing, may surprise Back in 2012, the eurozone crisis was at its height and while in Greece helps boost the economy. Under the pro- some. The same period has seen Greece’s new anti-aus- Greece’s image was marred by frequent strikes and vio- posal, a German holidaymaker on their return would be terity government face scepticism in Europe’s top econo- lence on the sidelines of anti-austerity demonstrations. reimbursed Ä500 ($551) by the German state on presenta- my as it negotiated an extension to its huge bailout amid Greece could even soon overtake France in the table of tion of restaurant and hotel bills - on condition that the German taxpayers’ fears of having to stump up more aid. Germans’ top holiday spots if the trend continues, hotel and eatery in question have paid their taxes. — AFP Bruisers limber up for ‘rumble in eurozone’ Schaeuble-Lafazanis clash unavoidable

ATHENS: They are both tough men of a certain age used to getting their way. In one corner stands Wolfgang Schaeuble, the dry 72-year-old German Finance Minister and self-appointed guardian of the European Union’s fiscal orthodoxy. And at the opposite end of Europe’s austerity divide glowers former Communist Panagiotis Lafazanis, Greece’s obdurate new energy and output minister. Schaeuble and Lafazanis, 63, have not yet sat down togeth- er around a negotiating table in Brussels, but a clash between them is unavoidable nonetheless as Athens and Berlin square up for another bailout showdown. Lafazanis is responsible for some of Greece’s main state companies that were slated to be privatised under the res- cue plan agreed with the EU and the International Monetary Fund. These include dominant electricity provider PPC, state gas distributor DEPA and leading refin- ers HELPE. State stakes in all three were to be sold to pri- vate investors as part of the Greece’s bail-out deal until January, when the new hard-left Syriza government pulled the plug on the plan. “No privatisation will be held in the energy sector - nei- ther at PPC, nor at DEPA nor at HELPE,” Lafazanis said at the time. When electricity workers were given a pay rise this week - to general consternation - the ministry did not object. Schaeuble, however, insists on the new Greek gov- ernment honouring the country’s existing pledges, and he has castigated Syriza for making promises they cannot afford to keep.

Schaeuble v Lafazanis In one notable remark, the former German tax official Wolfgang Schaeuble Panagiotis Lafazanis professed to “feeling sorry” for the Greeks for having elect- ed a government that is “acting irresponsibly”. “Being in At the closed-door meeting days later, Lafazanis com- management of Germany’s public purse -comes from the government is a rendez-vous with reality. Quite frequently plained that the government was “adopting language rem- same region as the proverbial Swabian housewife praised it is not as nice as the dream,” he said last month. The iniscent of its creditors”, in a strong message to Prime by German Chancellor Angela Merkel as a paragon of thrift German minister has been repeatedly caricatured in the Minister Alexis Tsipras, Syriza’s chairman. Left Platform in and self-control. So far he has not acknowledged Lafazanis’ Syriza daily Avgi wearing a Nazi-era German army uniform. the past has also called for a controlled Greek exit from the presence, never mind crossed swords directly with him. But Like many top Syriza members, Lafazanis’ political pedigree eurozone and the nationalisation of Greek banks. Nikos his Greek opposite is not going away. comes from being persecuted as a youth by the US-backed Konstandaras, managing editor of Greek liberal daily Lafazanis even upbraided the government’s maverick military dictatorship that ruled Greece four decades ago. Kathimerini, says Lafazanis could be seen as the “antithesis” Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, who is trying to negoti- But the former mathematician has come a long way of Schaeuble. ate a new four-year reform plan with Greece’s creditors. since the 1970s. Elected to parliament five times in the last “Schaeuble is a politician of consensus. (Whereas) “We will apply our radical program to the letter,” the ener- 15 years, he held senior posts in the communist party Lafazanis is a prime example of a lack of experience in gy minister told parliament last month. “Merkel and before joining Syriza, and now controls its main left-wing reaching consensus,” he notes. “His view is, ‘If we are right, Schaeuble will not be able to blackmail us into backing faction, known as Left Platform. At a Syriza central commit- the laws must bend to our will,’” Konstandaras said. “He is down... the Greek people cannot be blackmailed,” he said. tee meeting last month, Left Platform strongly criticised a one of the torchbearers of the leftist movement and he will “I wonder if Varoufakis and Lafazanis have actually spoken. compromise loan deal reached between the government not back down.” I don’t think they have even exchanged glances in the cabi- and Greece’s EU-IMF creditors last month. Schaeuble - who has described himself as “pitiless” in his net,” said Konstandaras. — AFP BUSINESS SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

Europe dairy US labor market flexes farmers fear muscles in February ‘roller coaster’ BELVIEW PORT, Ireland: Billions of euros and thousands of 295,000 jobs added; jobless rate falls to 5.5% jobs will flow from the historic deregulation of Europe’s dairy sector, a string of Irish ministers promised at the open- WASHINGTON: US employers extend- remains nearly twice the US level. But companies focus more on con- ing this week of a vast new plant to make dried milk for ed a healthy streak of hiring in February The US economy expanded at a sumer demand in making hiring deci- developing markets. But elsewhere in the European Union, by adding 295,000 jobs, the 12th breakneck annual pace of 4.8 percent sions, and demand was strong in the many farmers are less sanguine, fearing their liberation from straight monthly gain above 200,000. in last year’s spring and summer, only October-December quarter. Americans 30 years of milk production quotas will only expose them to The Labor Department said yesterday to slow to a tepid 2.2 percent rate in stepped up their spending by the most a new world of competition and an increase in already that the unemployment rate fell to 5.5 the final three months of 2014. Many in four years. And though consumers sharp price volatility. percent from 5.7 percent. But the economists estimate that growth is are saving much of the cash they have decline in the rate occurred mainly picking up slightly in the current quar- from cheaper gas, spending in January On April 1, farmers will for the first time since 1984 have because some people out of work ter to an annual rate of 2.5 percent to still rose at a decent pace after adjust- no legal restrictions on the amount of milk they can pro- stopped looking for jobs and were no duce. The European Union is hoping the reform, one of the longer counted as unemployed. The biggest in a generation, will unlock vast new markets in Asia strong job gains weren’t enough to and South America, currently supplied by rivals like New boost wages by much. The average Zealand and the United States. Plans for expansion are hourly wage rose just 3 cents in underway on individual farms. Bill O’Keefe, a 36-year old February to $24.78 an hour. farmer from Ireland’s southeast said he wanted to double Still, over the past 12 months, 3.3 his herd to 320 cows in a year. In the 1990s his family had to million more Americans have gotten pay more than Ä50,000 ($55,000) to buy the quotas to go jobs. More jobs and lower gas prices from 120 cows to 160. have led many consumers to step up But people working with farmers in other areas said spending. That’s boosting the econo- many were waiting to see what the real impact will be, at my, offsetting sluggish economies least in the short to medium term. “Some farmers see April overseas and giving employers the 1 as liberation day, but others fear it,” said Frans Keurentjes confidence to hire. The strengthening a board member of Dutch dairy cooperative Friesland job market could give the Federal Campina. “The roller coaster is coming and we will proba- Reserve room to move toward raising bly have to get used to that.” Average prices in the EU fell interest rates from record lows. Most by 19 percent last year, nudged down by increasing pro- analysts expect the Fed to pave the duction, less stockpiling of dried milk in China and a way for higher rates by adjusting the statement it issues after its March poli- Russian import ban. cy meeting, to be followed by the first hike in June or September. Production Hike After the jobs report was released MIAMI: In this Feb 6, 2015 photo, US Marine Corps veteran Arlington Ireland’s plans to boost milk production by 50 percent by yesterday morning, investors sold ultra- the end of the decade are by far the most ambitious in the Robertson of Fort Lauderdale (left) hands his resume to an Internal safe US Treasurys, a sign that many Revenue Service special agent at the annual Veterans Career and Resource bloc, with other member nations seeing growth under 20 anticipate a Fed rate hike. The yield on percent and forecasts for the EU as a whole in the single dig- the 10 year Treasury note rose to 2.18 Fair in Miami. The Labor Department released its employment data for its. Rabobank sees an increase of 7-8 percent by 2020 with percent from 2.11 percent before the February yesterday. —AP impact on prices heavily dependent on how fast the new report was issued. The US job market production comes online. “The long-term trend is upward, and economy are easily outpacing nearly 3 percent. Still, economists ing for lower prices. Mark Zandi, chief but the journey is going to be very, very bumpy,” said ana- those of other major nations. Though remain bullish about hiring despite the economist at Moody’s Analytics, lyst Matthew Johnson. Farmers groups say producers in Europe and Japan are showing signs of slowdown in growth. The fourth quar- expects the economy to grow 3 per- mountainous areas and in the far north and south fear they growing more than last year, their ter’s slowdown occurred largely cent this year, which would be first will struggle to deal with increased competition from large economies remain feeble. The euro cur- because companies reduced their time it’s reached that level in a decade. farms in more temperate areas.—Reuters rency union’s unemployment rate has stockpiles of goods, which translated That’s fast enough to support hiring of started to fall, but at 11.2 percent it into lower factory output. about 250,000 a month, he said. —AP

‘Made in China’ nuke reactors a tough sell

HONG KONG/BEIJING: As China signs global deals to export its al standards and safety in some other areas such as mining. trainmakers are now emerging as global competitors for Siemens, nuclear power technology, it faces a huge obstacle: It still needs to China’s first Hualong 1 project, in Fujian province, may not be Alstom and Bombardier. Under a hotly-fought multibillion-dollar show it can build and safely operate these reactors at home. Aided completed until 2020, assuming it breaks ground this year and nuclear power deal struck with Pittsburgh-based Westinghouse, by foreign technology acquired during three decades of develop- construction goes smoothly, said Li Ning, dean of the School of China secured a significant technology transfer agreement in ment, China has the highest number of reactors being built and Energy Research at Xiamen University. 2007. ambitions to export its home-grown models to an overseas mar- China has been absorbing and localising the technology to ket worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Premier Li Keqiang told Technological Problems develop the CAP1400 and says it has full intellectual property an annual parliamentary meeting this week that the China aimed China has been slow to approve new nuclear projects after a rights on the model and Hualong 1. The Beijing office of to increase its share of global sales in a range of advanced indus- year-long safety review following Japan’s Fukushima disaster in Westinghouse, which is now controlled by Japan’s Toshiba Corp, tries, including implementing major projects in nuclear power. 2011. Beijing has promised to stick to the highest safety standards, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. While And in a sign of progress on exporting its own nuclear technol- using so-called “third generation” reactors like Hualong 1 and technology rights may not stoke tensions, Beijing’s pledge to aid ogy, China signed a preliminary agreement last month to sell its CAP1400, another home-grown model identified for future export. the overseas expansion of Chinese firms risks raising the hackles of flagship Hualong 1 reactor to Argentina. But despite state media Due to be based on technology transferred from Westinghouse, competitors if sectors like nuclear are deemed unfairly subsidised. describing the deal as the model’s “maiden voyage”, China has not the launch of CAP1400 will depend on the completion of a pilot A fax sent to China’s National Development and Reform yet built Hualong 1, raising questions about the country’s capacity Westinghouse third-generation reactor in Zhejiang province, which Commission seeking comment on the country’s nuclear strategy to deliver reactors for the global market. “Our fatal weakness is our is facing a three-year delay because of technological problems. was not responded to. management standards are not high enough. There is a big gap Reflecting the obstacles of breaking into a market dominated with international standards,” said Xu Lianyi, a senior expert at by the likes of France’s Areva and Russia’s Rosatom State Nuclear Confidence China’s State Nuclear Power Technology Corp (SNPTC), referring Energy Corp, Beijing is encouraging consolidation to cut internal Along with Argentina, progress was being made on potential to the challenges China faces expanding its nuclear power sector. rivalry and pool intellectual property and financial resources. Plans nuclear deals with Turkey and South Africa, said Wang Zhongtang, SNPTC, which was set up to receive technology transferred for a merger between SNPTC and state-run electricity producer chief engineer at SNPTC. But an official at the China National from Westinghouse Electric Co, is trying to develop another reac- China Power Investment were unveiled on Feb 3, potentially creat- Nuclear Corporation, which is leading efforts to export Hualong 1 tor ultimately targeted at the world market. Although China has ing a firm with total assets of more than 600 billion yuan ($96 bil- to Argentina, said China still has “huge amounts of work to do” operated Western-designed reactors at home for more than 20 lion), industry experts estimate. before it can become a nuclear powerhouse, including rolling out years, it will need to convince buyers of the reliability of its own The strategy is similar to one used in the high-speed rail sector. Hualong I at home. The official declined to be named because he technology, particularly given a chequered reputation on industri- By adapting foreign technology for a huge home network, China’s was not authorised to speak to the media. —Reuters BUSINESS SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015 Honda Alghanim test drive event at Marina Crescent KUWAIT: Honda Alghanim has recently launched an entertain- ing event that welcomes all family members at Marina Crescent on the occasion of test driving the all-new, feature-rich, luxuri- ous 2015 Honda. The event started yesterday and still ongoing until today. The event is part of Honda Alghanim’s constant effort to involve all customers and fans of Honda with the newest mod- els of the year with distinguished designs, powerful perform- ance and various new features. The event will feature many entertaining activities for all family members including face painting, balloon give- aways and popcorn stand all of which will be encir- cled with the upbeat sounds of national day songs on the occasion of the recent National and Liberation Day of Kuwait. Honda Alghanim will also provide anyone who test drives the brand new 2015 Honda a chance to win a PlayStation 4 + FIFA First-ever BMW 2 Series 15, iPhone 6, iPad Mini 3 and an amazing 47-inch Philips Smart HD LED television. Test drivers will also benefit from the exclusive offer being provided only on the Marina Crescent event, which includes cash-back convertible has arrived up to KD 1,000 and exclusive attractive offers that will last for one more day. All Honda cars at the event are available for anyone to test Most emotive, classy, agile car in its segment drive including the all-new 2015 Honda City, an elegant car that has been enriched with a multitude of exceptional features, the KUWAIT: Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive, the exclusive ment features as well as increased space, comfort and function- fun-filled and edgy Honda Civic which has been enhanced with importer for BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce has announced the ality and a more premium character for the interior; a combina- smart technology and outstanding performance as well as the arrival of the most emotive, classy and agile car in its segment - tion of contemporary aesthetics and sportiness with convert- sporty Accord Coupe, a dynamic ride that comprises the perfect the BMW 2 Series Convertible. Taking driving pleasure into a ible-specific functionality, high-quality materials and exception- harmony between design, power and technology. new dimension for a drop-top model in this class, the four- al workmanship. In addition to a multitude of BMW Individuals may also try the CR-V, a four-wheel drive that has seater is the successor to the BMW 1 Series Convertible and ConnectedDrive features, the BMW 2 Series Convertible been equipped with a rearview camera, 18-inch aluminum builds on the strengths of the most successful premium car in includes an exclusive new addition - it is the first model to offer wheels, two-point air conditioning, rear air vents and eight its class. The third car in the all-new BMW 2 Series line-up, the the new-generation Navigation System Professional, which leather passenger seats. Lastly, Honda offers the spaciously luxe Convertible joins the Coupé and Active Tourer models. With its allows navigation data to be updated “over the air” via the and family-friendly Odyssey that has proven to be the most overall dimensions increased over those of its predecessor, the embedded SIM card. fuel-efficient choice in its category, a feature that is also shared BMW 2 Series Convertible combines the sporting and athletic The BMW 2 Series Convertible comes with a choice of three with the all-new Pilot, a four-wheel drive that can seat up to shape of the BMW 2 Series with the elegance and aesthetics of engine variants, all members of the latest BMW Efficient eight passengers. an open-top BMW. Dynamics generation and with BMW TwinPower Turbo technol- Honda invites its customers, fans and anyone to not miss the Eye-catching, graceful design and a low waistline, which ogy. The BMW 220i Convertible 2.0 litre four-cylinder engine has chance to test drive and know more about any Honda model emphasises the car’s “boat deck” character with the roof down, an output of 184 hp and top speed of 231 km/h. Meanwhile, the before the end of today, as well enjoy everything the exciting serve up a distinctive appearance and a refreshing brand of BMW 228i Convertible 2.0 litre four-cylinder engine with 245 hp event has to offer including amazing prizes and exclusive pro- open-air driving pleasure. The electrically operated soft-top roof has a top speed of 250 km/h. The sportiest and most powerful motions. Customers are encouraged to take advantage from can be opened or closed in 20 seconds when travelling at a model variant comes in the shape of the BMW M235i this limited-time offer. Alghanim Motors, the sole distributor of speed up to 50 km/h. A new folding mechanism and revised Convertible M Performance featuring a 3.0 litre BMW M Honda automobiles, power products, marine and motorcycles headliner ensure a considerably more elegant, high-quality look Performance TwinPower Turbo straight-six engine. With an out- in Kuwait is committed to providing customers with idea solu- from inside and out. Noise insulation has also been significantly put of 326 hp to deliver 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.2 seconds and a tions and unmatchable service. improved. specially tuned M suspension, it delivers characteristic M The BMW 2 Series Convertible also offers innovative equip- dynamism and power. MoneyGram increases reach in Saudi Arabia Al Mulla Exchange provides JEDDAH: MoneyGram, a leading global money transfer com- pany, continues to expand its reach in Saudi Arabia through a successful collaboration with Bank Al Jazira through its money services through Payit app transfer unit; Fawri money transfer services. MoneyGram serv- ices will be available at the bank’s twelfth Fawri remittance KUWAIT: Al Mulla International ern design allows users to transfer Additional loyalty points are also added center which just opened in the country. Exchange, the leading money remit- money and make payments easily and when the client uses the Payit app,” “We are moving forward with Bank AlJazira on an ambi- tance company in Kuwait, launched its conveniently, especially that the com- Joshi said. “The company adopted the tious strategy to rapidly expandour cash-to-cash service Payit smartphone app on both pany offers through the app easy latest payment methods as part of con- throughout the country,”says Maher Haddad, MoneyGram’s senior regional director for the Middle East, Pakistan and Android and iOS devices. It provides access to all information that the client stant efforts to provide innovative and Afghanistan. “This new location, along with others slated to easy payments at any time, as well as needs. The Payit app, produced in easy payment ways and save clients’ open, are strategically placed in communities where residents easy and safe money transfer services cooperation with ISYS group, provides time,” Joshi added. “The app offers easy need fast financial transaction access - and over-the-counter at the best exchange rates. Al Mulla flexibility as it can be downloaded and ways to purchase recharge cards, pay cash services.” “Our relationship with MoneyGram has been International Exchange is the first used on smart phones or tablets that phone bills, and make bill inquiries invaluable to Bank Al Jazira and more importantly for our cus- company in its field that launches an run Android or iOS operating sys- using a fast and safe payment service tomers,” said Sami Al Rjahi, senior vice president of app that offers services to clients at tems.” through K-Net and credit cards.” Al AlJazira’s Fawri money transfer Group. “We offer world- class customer service in our Fawri money transfer services this advanced level. “Al Mulla International Exchange Mulla International Exchange also remittance centers, we also offer unique marketing cam- On behalf of Al Mulla International made sure to provide all e-payment offers insurance and loyalty points serv- paigns promoting MoneyGram’s product.We will also contin- Exchange, Rakesh Joshi, General services that the client needs through ices on every transaction free of charge, ue toexpand our center network throughout Saudi Arabia.” Manager, commented on this achieve- the Payit app, in order to offer easy and in addition to SMS confirmation for Plans for further growth follow an increase in demand for ment by saying: “The Payit app’s mod- simple services to our clients. transfer operations. reliable and fast money transfers in Saudi Arabia. 2015 SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 7, MARCH SATURDAY, www.kuwaittimes.net

SEE PAGE 28 A model presents a creation by Issey Miyake during the 2015-2016 fall/winter ready- to-wear collection fashion show in Paris. — AFP SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015 Kardashian West dyes hair platinum blonde

he 34-year-old reality TV star, who recently had her Kris Jenner, 59, and half-sister Kendall Jenner, 18. She cap- Tchocolate locks chopped into a shorter do, took to her tioned the shot: “Blonde at Balmain.” Meanwhile, Kim, who Instagram account on Thursday to debut her new eye- dyed her hair caramel blonde last year before changing it catching tresses and to thank her beauty team for getting back to brunette just weeks later, recently admitted she has the bold color “in one try.” She uploaded a ‘selfie’, which the “hairiest forehead” ever and has to have her fuzzy hair- showed off her new look, online and captioned it: “So I went line lazered to keep her baby flicks at bay. She said: “I have platinum! I have the best team! Thank you to @joycebonelli the hairiest forehead you could ever imagine, and I would for being my inspiration and introducing me to always break out and get all crackly on my forehead just @GregoryRussellHair who cut my hair & put this team from all the hair that I had.”So in high school, I would wax it together! Thank you @LorriGoddard_ who dyed my hair & off because there was just so much hair, and then I would got this color in one try! Not an easy task!” The ‘Keeping Up laser it off a little bit.” With the Kardashians’ beauty later posted another photo of her bleached hair as she watched the Balmain show at Paris Fashion Week with her husband Kanye West, 37, mother

Timberlake and Biel excited to become parents he ‘Total Recall’ actress, who married the ‘SexyBack’ hitmaker in Italy in T2012, is set to give birth to their first child in “late March or early April” and the couple plan to take some time off to bond with their baby. A source said: “They are both so excited for this new chapter and ready to be par- ents. They are such a great team and will both be very hands on and involved with everything.” The duo are making the most of their final few weeks alone and the actress’ best friend Estee Stanley threw her a dinner party to celebrate her 33rd birthday at her home in Los Angeles Wednesday. An insider told E! News that they enjoyed a very mellow meal with under 10 of Jessica’s closest friends. The couple were spotted leaving the bash at 11:30pm with big smiles and Justin carried several gifts. Jessica completed filming her upcoming movie, ‘The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea,’ in New Orleans late last week and refused to let her pregnancy slow her down on the set. A source recently said: “She’s very pregnant but she’s really been a good sport. She’s working long days with 5 a.m. call times and doesn’t complain at all. She doesn’t seem to be uncomfort- able. “She’s very low-maintenance and hasn’t required anything extra at all. She is the opposite of a diva.”

Jenner says Kanye West ‘awesome’ he 19-year-old model - whose half sister Kim Kardashian TWest is married to the 37-year-old rapper and fashion designer - loves having the Grammy Award-winner as part of her family and sees him as an inspiration. She said: “It’s awe- some. He inspires us in a lot of ways.” The brunette beauty added that the couple’s lavish nuptials in Florence in May last year - which was also attended by her younger sister Kylie and half sis- ters Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian - have prompted her to think about settling down in the future, although she insists that she is currently single. When asked if Kim and Kanye’s ceremony made her think about her own dream wedding, Kendall told HELLO! magazine: “Of course. We are girls and we are always dreaming of that kind of stuff and that just heightens it. So, yeah, for sure.” SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015 Kristina Brown still ‘strategically Fergie planning’ another child fighting for her life he 22-year-old beauty’s auntie Patricia family previously admitted: “This is a horrible THouston updated fans on the young- setback. Everyone was hopeful that this was ster’s condition on Thursday night as the sign that she’d turned the corner. We she remains on life support at Emory were so optimistic.” The daughter of the late University Hospital in Atlanta. Taking to the Whitney was rushed to hospital on January 31 late Whitney Houston’s official website, after she was found unresponsive in a bath- Patricia wrote: “Today is Bobbi Kristina’s 22nd tub at her home in Atlanta by her boyfriend birthday and we ask you to continue to keep Nick Gordon. The hunk has reportedly been her in your prayers as she is still fighting the banned from seeing his girlfriend at the hos- battle of her life. Patricia Houston, President.” pital and has lashed out her family for block- It is also believed the aspiring actress’ father ing him. He tweeted recently: “My heart is full Bobby Brown organized a special bedside of angry after the Browns have shut me out. vigil to mark her annual milestone and invit- They don’t even know her. “I miss her so ed several members of her extended family to much. I seem so weak right now. You all have join him at the medical centre as he marked been so supportive! Thank you for every- the occasion. Meanwhile, doctors attempted thing.” to bring Bobbi Kristina out of a medically- induced coma last week, but were forced to abandon their efforts after she reportedly started having seizures. A source close to the

he singer and her husband - who already have 18-month-old son Axl Ttogether - want to expand their family further but need to do so at the right time. Josh said: “We’ve got to be very strategic in our planning for it. But the plan was to always have at least two.” The 42-year-old star also admitted he is in awe of his little boy and finds it “crazy” that he is a father. He told ‘Entertainment Tonight Canada’: “It’s still crazy to think that kid is mine and that we made him. It’s like, ‘Holy crap! We made him!’ “Josh recently admitted he would prefer to have another son because being raises with three sisters taught him girls can be tricky when they get to their teens. Talking about growing up with sisters, he said: “They taught me that I would be really happy to have another son.”Girls are great. I would be totally happy to have a girl, but... they get to be those teenage years and [want] independ- ence, you know? It isn’t always easy - especially for the mother.” Josh and Fergie have been together 10 years - married for six - and he believes their relationship really works because they actually enjoy being around one anoth- er. He said: “I would say its working because we have a lot of fun. I genuinely like her! She likes me, you know? “I’m nobody to give advice on relationships, but for whatever reason, we just really like each other.” Jackman was embarrassed when he met his wife he ‘Wolverine’ star - who is celebrating his 19th Tanniversary with Deborra-Lee Furness this year - has admitted he was so embarrassed about having a “mad crush” on his ‘Corelli’ co-star that he refused to talk to her for a week in the hope his feel- ings would go away. He said: “I was really embar- rassed when I realized I had a mad crush on her, I didn’t talk to her for a week. I was like, ‘This is just humiliating.’ “I was like, young guy, first job, she’s the star - everyone loved Deb. Literally the whole crew, producers; everyone was in love with her.”I just didn’t talk to her for about a week and she finally called me on it and said, ‘What’s the deal?’ And I he 59-year-old actor will make his debut in New York’s theatre dis- owned up - I said ‘Listen, I’ve got a crush on you. It’s Ttrict this autumn, when he stars in the stage adaptation of Stephen embarrassing. I’ll get over it.’ And she went, ‘Oh no.’ King’s novel ‘Misery’. The ‘Die Hard’ star will star opposite Elizabeth And I was like dying and she said, ‘I’ve got a crush on Marvel in the production, which tells the tale of a murderous fan who you too.’ Done.” The 46-year-old actor - who has kids, rescues her favorite romance novelist, Paul Sheldon, after he is involved Ava, nine and Oscar, 14 with the 59-year-old actress - in a car accident. All is well as she nurses him back to health, until she admitted he fell for Deborra-Lee when they had weekend rehearsals for their TV series ‘Corelli’ at her

is heading finds his new manuscript and discovers he plans to kill off a beloved character named Misery Chastain. The author is forced to write a new home. Speaking on ‘Live! With Kelly and Michael’, he story while plotting to outwit his captor. William Goldman is writing the shared: “We met on a TV series called ‘Corelli’ that play, having previously adapted the novel with the author for a 1990 about 11 people saw but the best thing that came out of it was, I met my wife. She was the star of the movie, which starred James Caan and Kathy Bates. The production will series... “I liked Deb first. It was my first show and I be directed by Will Frears, who previously took charge when the play was nervous so we became really fast friends; very debuted at Bucks County Playhouse in 2012. Warner Bros. are co-pro-

to Broadway quickly we worked together a lot and she used to ducing the show with Raymond Wu and Castle Rock Entertainment but say, ‘Let’s rehearse on weekends,’ and I remember not venue or dates have been set yet for the “strictly limited engage- going round to her house on a Sunday to rehearse Willis ment”. While this is Bruce’s Broadway debut, he previously understudied and I was like, ‘I love this rehearsal.’ “I’m thinking all Ed Harris in 1983 off-Broadway show ‘Fool for Love’. ‘House of Cards’ the time, ‘I wanna kiss her. Is that appropriate?’ I was actress Elizabeth most recently appeared on Broadway in 2013, in a mad about her.” — Bangshowbiz revival of ‘Picnic’. SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015 A jumbled machine, ‘Chappie’ never clicks

eill Blomkamp’s “Chappie” is a curious NFrankenstein. It’s set in a near-future Johannesburg policed by robots, but it’s not about law enforcement or social order. It focuses on the first creation of a sentient artificial intelligence, yet it’s not about the consequences of this radical invention or the nature of consciousness. Instead, though “Chappie” bears all the hall- marks of a “RoboCop” retread or a grungier “AI” (or heaven help us, “Transcendence”), it’s actually more like a warped, sci-fi version of “The Jungle Book” in which a child robot must survive the urban wilds of a gang-rid- den Johannesburg. If it sounds like “Chappie” has some peculiar, crisscrossed circuitry, it most certainly does. The movie’s mismatched parts - which includes possibly the most unlikely co-star- Film review ring combo of all time: the South African rap duo Die Antwoord and Hugh Jackman - fit together about as well as Johnnie Five, the “Short Circuit” bot, and a blender. “Chappie” is the third feature from Blomkamp, who broke through with the alien refugee thriller “District 9” and fol- lowed that up with “Elysium,” a big-budget allegory in which the 1 percent live on an orbiting space station. His dystopias aren’t so unfamiliar. They marry great technologi- Actors Dev Patel, from left, Sharlto Copley, Sigourney Weaver and writer/director Neill Blomkamp participate in AOL’s cal evolution with stunted social progress, BUILD Speaker Series to discuss their new film ‘Chappie’. — AP organically placing sci-fi elements amid rec- ognizable bureaucracies and urban decay. More music video than film time. A trio of gangsters kidnaps him in an of Chappie, born into gangsters, pulls in two Blomkamp likes to invert tropes. Aliens Dev Patel (“Slumdog Millionaire”) plays a attempt to take out the police robots. directions: the caring tenderness of Yolandi come not to invade but as desperate immi- wide-eyed, ambitious engineer named They’re led by Ninja and Yolandi of Die and the tough love of Ninja, who wants him grants. Robots evolve not to annihilate but to Deon whose droids have already become Antwoord, the wild, manic hip-hop act who to help in a heist. Yolandi gives him a doll, love. Both need our help. In short, Blomkamp the front lines of Johannesburg’s police essentially play themselves (or rather, their while Ninja drops Chappie next to a gang, makes action-heavy sci-fi that’s animated by force. But he dreams of making a fully extreme stage personas). leaving him to fend for himself. Another les- political ideas and frustrated urgency more human robot, even though his boss, the They make Deon build his robot. With a son on the dog-eat-dog world is told literal- than most Hollywood science fiction com- CEO of a weapons company (Sigourney few keystrokes, he uploads consciousness ly with dogs. And so “Chappie,” against all bined. It’s deservedly won him a following, as Weaver) shrugs that there’s no money in it. and suddenly the bucket of bolts is cowering odds, is a parable of parenting about the well as the helm to the next “Alien” film. A few cubicles down from him sits a rival like a frightened fawn. To the disappoint- raising of a metal child by a pair of wacked- “Chappie,” too, is more spirited, more engineer (Jackman), whose gargantuan, ment of the gang but the glee of Deon, out faux-gangsters in a tough universe. It bizarrely composed than most, but its oddly heavy artillery “Moose” machine has been Chappie (whom Yolandi names) comes out feels it could, at any time, turn into a come- jumbled machinery never clicks. The logic of outshined by Deon’s more nimble, human- not a menacing enforcer but an innocent dy or an outlandish music video, and maybe “Chappie” gradually disintegrates, becoming like “Scouts.” Slavishly tinkering at his home, toddler in titanium. They collectively raise it should have. “Chappie,” a Sony Pictures increasingly farcical. Eventually, characters Deon’s AI software finally succeeds, and he him, teaching him with children’s books, release, is rated R for “violence, language are speaking lines as finely scripted as: “I have sneaks out a damaged droid to use as its paints and guns. He coos “Mommy” to and brief nudity.” Running time: 112 min- authorized the launch of the Moose.” body. His discovery, though, comes at a bad Yolandi and “Daddy” to Ninja. The education utes. Two stars out of four. — AP Harris doubts he will host the Oscars again eil Patrick Harris said in an inter- Gonzalez Inarritu got his green card. the Oscars, which was the third time in five Nview with the Huffington Post that “It’s so difficult for one who’s simply years the telecast had more than 40 mil- after hosting the 2015 Oscars, he watching the show to realize just how lion viewers, according to Nielsen. Other doesn’t know if he could bear it again. “I much time and concession and compro- criticisms of the show stem from those don’t know that my family nor my soul mise and explanation has gone into who were snubbed, including the absence could take it,” he said with a laugh. “It’s a almost every single thing,” Harris said. of recognition for Ava DuVernay’s “Selma,” beast. It was fun to check off the list, but “And I’m not saying that to defend every- which took home one award for Original for the amount of time spent and the thing I said as if it was the absolute best Song, and Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood,” understandable opinionated response, I choice, but it’s also an award show, and which took home one award for Patricia don’t know that it’s a delightful balance to you’re powering through 14 acts filled Arquette’s supporting actress role. But do every year or even again.” The “How I with 20 plus awards. So, my job was to try Harris said the Dolby Theater audience Met Your Mother” star says that every and keep things as light and specific to appeared to be enjoying themselves. He laugh was planned meticulously for the this year’s set of films as possible. And if was warned prior to the ceremony that show, despite criticism that the show people are critical of that, it’s a big giant the room would get less enthusiastic as seemed too improvised and featured an platform, so I would assume that they winners were awarded. Oddly enough-it abundance of unnecessary jokes on race. would be.” was last week’s viral sensation #TheDress The jests ranged from Harris’ kick-off joke, Still, the 87th Annual Academy Awards that brought Harris the most relief since “Today, we honor the best and whitest. show saw a 16% decline in viewership, the the Feb 22 telecast. “It was a nice reprieve Sorry, brightest” to Sean Penn later ques- lowest rating for total viewer count in six from all the Oscar bereavement, so I was Neil Patrick Harris in a promotional image for the 87th tioning how “Birdman” director Alejandro years. Last year, Ellen DeGeneres hosted thrilled that it exists.” — Reuters Academy Awards. SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015 Harrison Ford survives plane crash

arrison Ford added a plane crash to by the website LiveATC.net. The plane had Han aviation record that includes both been flying at about 3,000 feet and hit a mishaps and public service. Ford, 72, tree on the way down, according to wit- who as dashing archaeologist Indiana nesses and officials. Ford had a cut to his Jones battled Hitler’s henchmen in “Raiders forehead and scraped arms, but it wasn’t of the Lost Ark,” was flying a vintage plane clear what internal injuries he may have of that era when it lost engine power short- had, Los Angeles Assistant Fire Chief Patrick ly after takeoff from Santa Monica Butler said. “He wasn’t a bloody mess. He Municipal Airport. was alert. He had good vitals,” Butler said. The plane crash-landed on a golf course near Santa Monica Municipal Airport where Unbelievably well-trained pilot Ford houses the craft. He was pulled from The plane, a yellow 1942 Ryan the plane and given initial help by doctors Aeronautical ST3KR with stars on its wings, who happened to be playing golf on the was upright and with damage mostly con- course, Los Angeles fire officials said. He fined to the front. No one on the ground was then taken to a hospital. “He had no was hurt. “I would say that this is an other choice but to make an absolutely beautifully exe- emergency landing, which cuted - what we would call - he did safely,” Ford spokes- a forced or emergency land- woman Ina Treciokas said. ing, by an unbelievably well- “He was banged up and is in trained pilot,” said Christian the hospital receiving med- Fry of the Santa Monica ical care.” His condition was Airport Association. The air- described as fair-to-moder- port’s single runway sits ate. The injuries are not life- amid residential neighbor- Officials work on the scene of Harrison Ford’s vintage plane that crash-landed on the threatening and he is hoods in the city of more Penmar Golf Course in the Venice area of Los Angeles. — AP expected to make a full than 90,000 on the Pacific recovery, Treciokas said in a Ocean. City leaders and eighth hole.” Kuprycz estimated the plane climber in Jackson, Wyoming. In 2000 in statement. No one on the many residents advocate was about 200 feet (60 meters) overhead Lincoln, Nebraska, a gust of wind sent a six- ground was hurt. closing the airport, citing when it plunged to the ground. “There was seat plane Ford was piloting off the runway. Ford, who shuns atten- noise and safety concerns. no explosion or anything. It just sounded He and his passenger were not injured. tion to his private life, has Other airplanes taking off or like a car hitting the ground or a tree or He has also volunteered his services dur- been publicly effusive about landing there have crashed something. Like that one little bang, and ing forest-fire season, when rescue helicop- his love of flying. After arriv- into homes, and in that was it,” Kuprycz said. Charlie Thomson, ters are busy fighting blazes. The actor, ing in his own plane at a September 2013 four people a flight instructor at the airport who saw who is married to Calista Flockhart of “Ally 2001 fundraising gala for Harrison Ford died when their small jet Ford take off, said engine failure does not McBeal” fame, has said his rescues “had Seattle’s Museum of Flight, veered into a hangar and make the plane harder to maneuver. “It just nothing to do with heroism.” “It had to do Ford said he was glad to help “engage kids caught fire. Ford came down on a fairway means you have to go down,” he said. Ford with flying a helicopter. That’s all,” he said. in the romance and the mystery and the of Penmar golf course. got his pilot’s license in the 1990s and has The National Transportation Safety Board adventure of flying.” Ford took off from the “Immediately you could see the engine made headlines with his flying before, will investigate the crash in a process that LA area airport at 2 pm Thursday. About 20 started to sputter and just cut out, and he though he had never been significantly could take up to a year before a final report. minutes later, he told the tower that he had banked sharply to the left,” said Jeff Kuprycz, injured doing it. In 2001, he rescued a miss- NTSB investigator Patrick Jones said “we’re engine failure and was making an immedi- who was golfing when he saw the plane tak- ing Boy Scout with his helicopter. Nearly a going to look at everything: weather, man, ate return, according to a recording posted ing off. “He ended up crashing around the year before, he rescued an ailing mountain the machine.” — AP

Indian Film Festival of LA announces line up

he 13th annual Indian Film TFestival of Los Angeles has announced its kick-off and clos- ing films. The world premiere of “Haraamkhor,” written and directed by Shlok Sharma and starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui, will show at the opening gala on April 8. The US pre- miere of Nagesh Kukunoor ‘s award- winning “Dhanak (Rainbow)” will close the festival on April 12. Kukunoor, Sharma, Siddiqui, and “Haraamkhor”‘s producer Guneet Monga will also be in attendance at the fest. “Haraamkhor” tells the story of a young student falling for a 15-year-old classmate and his efforts to win her affection. However, she’s having an affair with her teacher, played by Siddiqui. “Dhanak (Rainbow)” is a story about a sister leading her blind 9-year-old brother across Rajasthan in an attempt to meet Shah Rukh Kahn, with the promise that he’ll get his vision back before his birthday. The festival’s com- plete lineup will be announced March A blocked message is displayed on YouTube in the place of a BBC documentary on the victim of a December 2012 gang-rape. 10. — Reuters India said it had asked YouTube to block access to a documentary about a savage gang-rape in Delhi, after barring broadcasters from airing the film. — AFP SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015 The Tissot T-Touch Expert Solar

issot’s pioneering spirit is what led to the creation of With these you will be geared up for anything that comes tactile watches in 1999. Today, it is the first to present a your way. Ttouch-screen watch powered by solar energy, confirm- ing its position as leader in tactile technology in watchmak- Straight to the design ing. The rays of light on the dial not only allow the Super- In touch with the technology it bears, the Tissot T-Touch LumiNova indices and hands to glow in the dark but to Expert Solar’s design is truly modern and dynamic with strong recharge the watch. It is a very powerful watch in every lines, whether straight or angular. The push buttons are given aspect, offering essential functions for everyday use such as an ergonomic aspect, while the milling provides the strap with a perpetual calendar with indication of day and week num- further modernity and a better grip to the bezel on which it ber to keep track of busy schedules, two alarms; one for the also features. You will still find the iconic features of the classic week, the other for the weekend, two time zones for holiday T-Touch Expert such as the lugs, shaped in a triangular shape, trips, weather forecast with relative pressure, altimeter with which detach from the case and are unique to that collection. difference meter, chronograph lap and split with logbook, compass, timer, azimuth, regatta function and backlight. Austria keeps looted Klimt masterpiece

ne of Austria’s most treasured artworks looked safe to remain in the country for now after a government Saved from the trash Oexpert panel yesterday rejected restitution claims by Since Austria passed a law in the 1990s covering the resti- the descendants of its Jewish former owners robbed by the tution of vast numbers of artworks stolen by the Nazis, thou- Nazis. The Art Restitution Advisory Board “recommended sands have been returned-including major works worth mil- unanimously ... not to return the ‘Beethoven Frieze’ by Gustav lions of euros (dollars). The most famous case in recent years Klimt to the heirs of Erich Lederer,” the body’s chair Clemens concerned Maria Altmann, who after a lengthy legal battle Jabloner told journalists in Vienna. secured the return of five Klimts in 2006. One of them, The fresco, 34 meters long, two meters high and weighing “Portrait of Adele Bloch Bauer I,” auctioned for $135 million several tons, is widely regarded as a central masterpiece of dollars, set a record at the time. Klimt (1862-1918) is probably Viennese “Jugendstil” art nouveau from the early 20th centu- best known for his painting “The Kiss.” The style and liberal ry. The panel rejected arguments that an export ban had use of gold paint the “Beethoven Frieze,” inspired by the com- forced Lederer to sell the artwork to the Austrian Republic in poser’s ninth symphony, is also instantly recognizable as 1972 at what his heirs say was a knock-down price of 15 mil- Klimt’s work. The piece, made for a 1902 exhibition, was lion schillings, around $750,000 at the time. But Marc Weber, a meant to be temporary. But it was saved from the trash, sawn lawyer from Swiss law firm Lanter Rechtsanwaelte represent- into eight pieces, stored in a furniture depot for 12 years and ing some of the heirs, told AFP that the panel had “muddled eventually added in 1915 by August Lederer to his extensive up the facts.” “We are now considering taking their case to the collection. European Court of Human Rights and/or to the United States,” Lederer died a few years before Hitler “annexed” Austria in Weber said. 1938, and the family lost the lot. Many, including several Klimt pieces and old masters, went up in flames in 1945 when the SS set fire to the castle where they were being stored. The works that survived, which included the frieze, were then returned- English musician Paul McCartney performing during on paper at least-to August’s son Erich Lederer, who had fled the opening concert of his ‘Out There’ tour in Nazi Austria and ended up in Switzerland. Montevideo. — AFP As was the common and dubious practice, in exchange for an export licence for some works Erich Lederer relinquished ownership of others. These were restored to his descendants after a 2009 amendment to Austrian law. His descendants say McCartney returns that the frieze should be covered by the same law, arguing Lederer only agreed to sell it to Austria in 1972 because he was unable to take it out of the country. The government pan- to Liverpool el on Friday rejected that reasoning, using comments from then-chancellor Bruno Kreisky from the minutes of a 1972 cab- aul McCartney is extending a world tour with nine inet meeting to suggest that export was indeed an option. dates in Europe, including an emotional return to Pthe Beatles’ native Liverpool and a headline Final decision appearance at Denmark’s Roskilde Festival. The 72-year- After the sale, the fresco was restored over almost a old British icon will play his first shows in his native coun- decade. In 1986 it went on show in a specially built basement try since 2012 with three shows in May in London, in Vienna’s Secession Building, the work’s original and badly Birmingham and Liverpool, he said in a statement Friday. war-damaged 1902 home. There it has pride of place, attract- The first date-on May 23 at The 02 — will mark the for- ing hoards of visitors. The gallery, itself a Jugendstil master- mer Beatle’s 50th show in London as a solo artist. piece topped by a golden dome, says that returning it would McCartney will also be the major draw at Roskilde, one of be “unjustified both legally and morally.” Europe’s largest music events, in his first time in five The final decision on whether to return the work falls to years on the continent’s summer festival circuit. Culture Minister Josef Ostermayer, though until now the gov- The other concerts will take place between June 5 ernment has always followed the panel’s recommendations. and July 9 in Amsterdam, Marseille, Oslo, Paris and “This will be the case with the Beethoven Frieze too,” ministry Stockholm — all cities he has not hit on the “Out There” spokeswoman Kerstin Hosa told AFP before the panel’s rec- tour that opened in May 2013 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. ommendation was announced. — AFP Organizers recently announced that McCartney will also headline the Firefly Music Festival, a growing music event in the eastern US state of Delaware. The “Out There” tour has been marked by giant screens and pyrotechnics, with McCartney playing a range of Beatles A visitor of the Secession Museum classics as well as newer songs. — AFP looks at a part of the so-called Beethoven Frieze Painting entitled ‘Kiss to the Whole World’ (1902) by Austrian painter Gustav Klimt. — AFP SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

Stylists and models show designs as they demonstrate against the cancellation of the Rio Fashion Week at Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro. — AFP photos Models strut in Rio streets after fashion week fail

rustrated over the cancellation of Rio Fashion Week, several cancelled as well,” said Nadine Gonzalez, founder of ModaFusion, cousin to Sao Paulo’s. The Rio models were planning to unveil young models took their runway strutting to the streets, venting her frustration. “It’s a disaster.” confections for summer 2016 and hope that their outdoor fashion Fdefiantly showing off the creations they had planned to Gonzalez also runs a school for youth from Rio’s favelas aspir- parade and performance draws at least some attention to the wear on the catwalk. The models-students at a local fashion ing to careers in fashion, whose models were left without a cat- clothing. One of the young designers, Wast Pereira, 22, told AFP school-paraded in cropped tops and flirty pencil skirts in the city’s walk after the cancellation of Fashion Week. “All that’s left for us that the act of taking their fashion to the streets was somehow chic Ipanema neighborhood late Thursday. to do is to take to the streets!” Gonzalez declared. But the young heartening. “It’s important to invest in Rio fashion, which will cre- The women and their designers said they were happy to have designer had little hope of garnering many orders for her cre- ate jobs in the region,” she said. The models also took part in a a chance to showcase the creations they would have worn if next ations “without fashion store buyers, without press, without the fashion flash mob. “We couldn’t do nothing,” Gonzalez explained. month’s Fashion Week had gone on as planned. “We were sup- financial backing” that would have been part of a true Fashion “Not after a whole year of hard work.” — AFP posed to have a fashion show in November but it was cancelled, Week outing. and now the show that was supposed to be held in April has been Rio Fashion Week-when it happens-is very much the poor

Singer Ann Sophie performs during a qualification Austria’s 2014 Eurovision Song Contest winner Conchita Wurst performs. show for the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest. Uproar after Germany’s Eurovision hopeful exits he Eurovision song contest has had its fair share of controversy, but a radio and television news yesterday “TV uproar,” said popular mass daily shock move on live national TV by Germany’s entry to bow out even Bild on its front page, adding “Winner doesn’t want to sing for Germany” in Tbefore the event sparked a media storm yesterday. Rock and blues what it said was an unprecedented decision. “It’s the biggest effrontery in singer Andreas Kuemmert was picked by TV viewers in Germany’s pre-con- the history of the contest,” it added. test Thursday evening to represent the country at the Eurovision final in News weekly Spiegel’s website commented that Kuemmert certainly Vienna on May 23. wouldn’t be forgotten in a hurry “as the grand singer who didn’t want to But to all-round surprise-and boos from the audience-instead of cele- win”. It praised him as an “independent, headstrong, genuine artist” who brating his win on stage the 28-year-old said he couldn’t accept. “I’m a chose in the end to have nothing to do with the Eurovision “entertainment small singer,” the performer said, announcing he was “overwhelmed” but machinery”. “It’s just a pity for us... The man could have won.” The singer’s would cede the title to second-placed Ann Sophie, 24, who ran up, record label indicated that the build-up over the Eurovision contest had stunned, and hugged him. “I just think that she’s simply much more quali- apparently become too much for Kuemmert.—AFP fied and suited,” said the auburn-bearded singer, whose soulful style has Singer Andreas Kuemmert performs during a been compared to late British singer Joe Cocker. qualification show for the 2015 Eurovision Bespectacled Kuemmert has grown in popularity since winning reality Song Contest. — AFP photos talent show, “The Voice of Germany”, in 2013 and his decision topped SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015 Paris Fashion Week

Models present the creations of Chalayan during the 2015-2016 fall/winter ready-to-wear collection fashion show in Paris. — AFP photos SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

Models present the creations of Loewe during the 2015-2016 fall/winter ready-to-wear collection fashion show in Paris. — AFP photos TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

How to track your kids by smartphone

BARCELONA: Is your toddler being mean to his baby the product is getting smaller.” the traditional baby monitor,” said Anselmo Trejo, a D- sister while you’re out of the room? Is your eight-year- Link marketing representative in Spain where he said old making unauthorised detours to the sweetshop Don’t Trust the Babysitter 50,000 such cameras were sold last year. “Of course, after school? Chill. Mobile entrepreneurs have got For those who miss their child while away - or who you will still leave the child with a babysitter. But I don’t your back, with smartphone-controlled baby cameras just don’t trust the babysitter - Taiwanese firm D-Link trust all babysitters,” he said. “From a hotel on the other and wristwatch tracking devices that let you spy on showcased its latest home baby-monitoring camera, side of the world you can see if the children are alright. your kids via your handset. Among countless new You can see your child playing, or if they’ve had dinner “wearable” gadgets presented this week at the Mobile and done their homework.” World Congress trade fair in Barcelona, several com- panies were peddling brightly-coloured rubber wrist- Selling Peace of Mind watch devices for four to 11-year-olds. A typical connected child tracker or monitoring The watches let parents track their child’s move- camera costs about $150. Few figures were available ments on the screen of their smartphone and receive for how many child wrist trackers have been sold. Ben alerts if the child wanders outside a pre-set “safety Wood, an analyst at tech research consultancy CCS zone”. Spanish phone firm Telefonica announced the Insight, said FiLIP was thought to be the biggest-sell- launch in Europe and Latin America of the FiLIP, a ing child tracker watch in the United States, “but with wrist device that has taken off in the United States relatively small volumes”. “Connected devices for chil- since 2013. The watch lets the child talk via their wrist dren have always been a popular concept but they to authorised adults who have the app on their smart- remain problematic,” said Wood. phone. “Numerous issues exist, not least privacy but also “The idea is before they have their first smartphone, health-related implications, particularly on cellular which is full of dangers for a small child, to have a way devices. This makes retailers nervous. “Companies were of locating and contacting them,” said Carla Becker, a careful to market their watches as a kind of telephone, project manager at Telefonica, presenting the FiLIP in BARCELONA: The “FiLIP” watch by Telefonica to overcome concerns about privacy and surveillance. Barcelona. “The idea is not to be able to track them all during the 2015 Mobile World Congress “It’s more to do with a sense of comfort,” said Bobby the time. It is for when you need it.” Other smaller (MWC) on March 3, 2015. —AFP Moore, one of the directors of US-based company companies trying to market child trackers included B- Trackimo. His firm has a range of smartphone-linked On, a multinational firm that presented a purple proto- trackers for kids’ or adults’ wrists as well as tags for pets’ type of its Amigo child watch in Barcelona. “There are the EyeOn Baby. From an application on a smartphone, collars or luggage. “You feel more safe and secure more and more tracking devices on the market, for the parent can view and talk to the child, play lullabies, knowing where your children are, or your pets or old kids, pets, cars,” said B-On vice-president Ishay Shani. take pictures and videos and set the app up to deliver people,” he said. “There is a security aspect, but we try “Now is exactly the right time. Tracking is growing and alerts if the baby cries or moves. “It’s the next step for to take out the Big Brother element.” —AFP

‘Homebrew’ email servers: Got a phone Genius as well as sneaky charger? No, just a wireless pad WASHINGTON: No, it’s not always a room filled ated her own mail server and has set them up for ogist and a vocal opponent of government sur- BARCELONA: with wires and glowing blue lights. It’s probably clients. Setting up your own email server might veillance, Soghoian is exactly the type you’d “Got a phone charger you can lend me? No, I need the not even the size of your furnace. The personal only cost a few hundred dollars. A common and expect to operate his own email server. But he new type... Oh, forget it.” To ease the stress of a dying mobile phone email server used by Hillary Rodham Clinton dur- inexpensive solution might be to take an old says he’s not comfortable with his technical abili- battery and the hassle of bundling wires into your bag, designers are ing her time as secretary of state was probably computer running Windows; replace the guts of ty to keep sophisticated hackers out and won- hoping to make 2015 the year of the wireless charger. Companies at about the size of your office desktop computer the machine with a free Linux operating system ders what risks Clinton was taking. You could the Mobile World Congress, a top telecom fair which wrapped up and could have been tucked quietly in a corner like Ubuntu; and install mail server software that probably work around the clock to fend off spam Thursday in Barcelona, Spain, promised that soon you will just place somewhere. She’s come a long way since 1997, lets you send and receive emails without the help and teenage hackers, he says. But what about your phone on a table or lamp stand for it to absorb electricity when Clinton’s staff bought the then-first lady a of companies like Google or Yahoo. the Chinese military? through a wireless surface. copy of the book “E-Mail for Dummies.” Before you get any ideas, Fennelly and other “What may be a fun activity for a 20-year-old South Korean giant Samsung included wireless charging capabili- Setting up your own email server is some- tech experts say there are so many headaches tech whiz is probably a bad idea for the secretary ty in its new flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S6, unveiled on March 1 thing only the geekiest of tech geeks do because involved with “homebrew” email servers that it’s of state,” Soghoian said. So what’s the point? In in Barcelona. Swedish furniture-maker Ikea meanwhile announced a of the serious hassles involved, including spend- almost never worth it. The cable companies that one word, control. Think of computer servers a line of bedside tables, lamps and desks equipped with wireless charg- ing every waking hour fending off spam. Like provide most people their Internet connections bit like post offices. Every time you send an ing spots to be launched in Europe and North America in the coming brewing your own beer, it’s typically done just for don’t like them and will often block them email, that message is stored on a server physi- weeks. “This is probably the year of the wireless charger,” said Kevin fun - a way to challenge your smarts and fill the because homebrew email servers tend to spew cally located at a facility owned by Yahoo or Curran, a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics time. It also appeals to those who fear the gov- out lots of spam. So you’d have to buy a business- Google, for example. That server connects with Engineers, ahead of the mobile fair. “A lot of the top-end phones now ernment is sniffing around and could compel class connection or pay a hosting service. Even other networks on the Internet and sends a copy by default are coming with a wireless charger. You just have to put companies like Google or Yahoo to release cus- then, servers can crash and power outages occur, to the intended recipient. At work, your employ- the phone onto a mat or onto a stand.” tomer data. requiring backup generators and constant main- er probably runs its own email server, storing If a phone has a wireless charging receptor, just placing it over the “It’s not trivial to do it, but if you understand tenance. and sending copies from a computer system charging pad on one of these items will transfer power to it. The piece how all this works, you can certainly do it your- “It’s a huge, huge headache,” said maintained by tech support staff. of furniture itself is not wireless, drawing its power from the mains, but self,” said Carole Fennelly, a New York City-area Christopher Soghoian of the American Civil Either way, every time you write something no wire is needed to plug into the phone. information security consultant who once oper- Liberties Union. As the ACLU’s principal technol- online, a third party - Yahoo or Google or your employer - has a copy. Standard Adapters This is what makes what Clinton did both Different rival technologies for wireless charging have emerged sneaky and, some might say, genius: Instead of over recent years. For their devices, Samsung and Ikea opted for the setting up an email account with the govern- Qi standard-a system developed by the Wireless Power Consortium, ment - for example, [email protected] - an alliance of some 200 different companies founded in 2008. The Qi she operated a computer email server on an consortium claims its standard is the most widely used in the world Internet connection that has been traced back to with charging points in 3,000 hotels, restaurants, airports and public her family’s hometown in New York. (The email, spaces. It says its system can be used in 80 models of mobile phone [email protected], appears to be a nod to and various types of car. The product announcements at the her middle name, Diane.) Barcelona show “will allow a big step forward,” eventually freeing No Yahoo employee with ambitions to users of cumbersome charging wires, said Inge Tauber of the German become the next Edward Snowden could ever company L&P Automotive, part of the Qi project. “People have no quietly search its server and leak her emails to need to fear that their chargers will become obsolete, because these the public. Google couldn’t be compelled by bases will be compatible with the new generations of smartphone.” congressional investigators to hand them over. If Even smartphones that were not made with a wireless charging reporters were to ask the government for email WASHINGTON: Cables are connected to a server capable of handling an email receptor can be fitted with adaptors in the form of an outer case or records during Clinton’s time as secretary of other minor accessory costing from about Ä10 ($11). —AFP server at the Washington bureau of AP on March 5, 2015. —AP state, none would be found. —AP TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

Google handset reconstructs smartphone

BARCELONA: With a smartphone that Emerging Markets such a product would be. “The trend in mobile phones is to have slots together piece by piece like Lego, Ara “could reshape the mobile land- “Google is not looking to make mon- small, thin, really integrated products. If US Internet giant Google is trying to scape,” said Paul Eremenko, director of ey directly with Ara,” said Jerome Colin, you make a product modular it immedi- reinvent the mobile as most phone mak- the Ara Project, in a presentation to a telecom expert at French consultancy ately means that you’re going to have ers are honing sleeker handsets. The experts in January. He said it aimed to group Roland Berger. “It is basically to make compromises on that,” said Ben company aims to challenge its rival gain six billion potential clients - the cur- looking to spread smartphones in coun- Wood, head researcher at consultancy Apple’’s thin iPhones with the Google rent billion people who currently use tries with low purchasing power, and to CCS Insight. “The other question mark I Ara project, giving smartphone aficiona- have is: beyond geeks, who really dos the option to build their phone knows about components?” he added. themselves. Anlysts say tech boffins will “If I said to you, which processor do you love it but remain cautious about how want in your smartphone, I think you popular it may be compared to polished could stop people in the street and conventional smartphones that sit snug- they’d just look at you like you’d landed ly in the palm. Google says the Ara from Mars.” phone is part of its bid to widen Internet Eremenko acknowledged that con- access to users in developing countries sumers risked being overwhelmed by and could create a new industry for too many technical options when it assembly-ready handset parts. comes to choosing components. “We Google’s associate, US firm Yezz, pre- need to resolve the paradox of choice,” sented a prototype of the build-your-own he said in January. Google plans a test device this week at the Mobile World launch of the device in Puerto Rico by Congress in Barcelona, the world’s biggest the end of this year. “We will have to see wireless telecom trade fair. The phone if the public takes to it,” said consists of a base structure on which vari- Zimmerman. Google dominates the ous square, magnetic modular parts can BARCELONA: The mobile device “Ara” by Yezz is displayed during the world of Internet searches and its be attached: screen, battery, camera, 2015 Mobile World Congress (MWC) on Mar 3, 2015. —AFP Android operating system can be used speakers and more. Google plans to on 80 percent of the world’s smart- release it in three sizes. Ara would allow phones. It also holds a large market users to replace individual components smartphones “and five billion future unify the telecom world around its share in wireless tablet devices. Its sen- rather than throwing the whole thing users”, most of them in emerging mar- Android system.” ior vice-president Sundar Pichai said in away and buying a new handset. It says kets. Google says a mid-range Ara Barcelona on Monday that it was in talks the base unit will last at least five or six phone could cost between $50 and ‘Paradox of Choice’ with telecom companies about possibly years. “That is good for the environment,” $100 to produce, but has not given Tech fans and bloggers queued up using their networks to operate its own said Annette Zimmermann, a telecom details of the likely sales price, leaving to see the prototype presented in mobile phone services in the United specialist at German consultancy Gartner. questions marks over how sustainable Barcelona, but analysts were sceptical. States. —AFP Health checks Can Etsy keep its folksy by phone raise brand and make money?

privacy fears NEW YORK: If craft seller Etsy goes public later very, very difficult to stay true to core values.” An pads and car seat covers, on Etsy since 2011. She BARCELONA: Authorities and tech developers must stop sensitive health this year it will be a test of how well the company Etsy spokeswoman declined to comment citing said she understands that an IPO will help Etsy data entered into applications on mobile phones ending up in the wrong can balance an explicit social mission with share- the company’s quiet period ahead of the IPO. grow, but expects it will bring some changes to hands, experts warn. As wireless telecom companies gathered in holder expectations for making money. Founded But the cash infusion that an IPO brings could the site. When she heard about the expected IPO, Barcelona this week at the Mobile World Congress, the sector’s biggest in 2005, Brooklyn-based Etsy sells everything from juice Etsy’s growth. And some Etsy sellers wel- she signed up for Shopify to host a shopping cart trade fair, specialists in “e-health” said healthcare is fast shifting into the a $110,000 antique desk from the 1800s to a $20 come the added awareness an IPO would bring. “I on her own site so she can sell her goods outside connected sphere. “It’s an inexorable tide that is causing worries because handmade antler pendant, and everything in people are introducing their data into the system themselves, without between. In 10 years it’s grown from a scrappy necessarily reading all the terms and conditions,” said Vincent Genet of startup offering craftspeople a way to sell neck- consultancy Alcimed. “In a few years, new technology will be able to moni- laces and needlepoint online to a marketplace of tor numerous essential physiological indicators by telephone and to send 54 million members that generated $1.93 billion alerts to patients and the specialists who look after them.” in sales in 2014. And on Wednesday, Etsy filed for More and more patients are using smartphone apps to monitor signs an initial public offering of stock valued at up to such as their blood sugar and pressure. The European Commission esti- $100 million. The company is more than a folksy, mates the market for mobile health services could exceed Ä17.5 billion funky brand. It’s a B Corporation, which is a for- ($19 billion) from 2017. The Chinese health ministry’s deputy head of “digi- profit company with a stated social mission certi- tal health”, Yan Jie Gao, said at the congress on Wednesday that the min- fied by a nonprofit organization called B Lab. In its istry planned to spend tens of billions of euros (dollars) by 2025 to equip prospectus filed with the SEC, Etsy says its mission 90,000 hospitals with the means for patients to contact them online is to build a “human, authentic and community- securely. centric global and local marketplace,” and cites Patients are entering health indicators and even using online health any loss of its B Corp status as a risk factor to its services for long-distance consultations with doctors whom they do not brand. know. “There is a steady increase in remote consultations with medical There are only about 1,000 such B- practitioners,” particularly in the United States, said Kevin Curran, a comput- Corporations worldwide, including Warby Parker, er scientist and senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Patagonia and Ben & Jerry’s. But none of them are Engineers. “Your doctor can be someone who’s based in Mumbai. We have public companies on their own (Ben & Jerry’s is to be very careful about our data, because they’re the ones who probably owned by Unilever). If Etsy does go public, it will will end up storing your data and keeping a record of it.” be the first test of how well certified B Corps can work on Wall Street. Analysts agree it makes sense Etsy CEO Chad Dickerson talks during an interview in New York. If craft seller Etsy Cloud-Based Healthcare for Etsy’s growth to go public or seek a buyer, but goes public later this year it will be a test of how well the company can balance an Other users are entering personal health data into applications on their some say it is difficult for companies to maintain explicit social mission with shareholder expectations for making money. —AP smartphones. This kind of “e-health” could save governments money and their entrepreneurial or social spirit in the face of improve life expectancy, but authorities and companies are looking to Wall Street pressure for financial returns. “It’s going am excited about the additional attention the site of Etsy. “I was a little nervous and I wanted to pro- strengthen security measures to protect patients’ data before such servic- to be a tall order for a management team in the will be receiving,” said Michael Webb, 41, a tect my brand,” said the Portland, Oregon, resi- es become even more widespread. “I think tech companies are becoming future to be true to its core company values while Colorado artist who sells his art through Etsy and dent. But she added that she has no plans to close more concerned with privacy and encryption now,” said Curran. “The also delivering shareholder value,” said Forrester other sites and galleries. her Etsy shop. “I’m positively curious about how problem quite often is that a lot of this data is stored not on the phone or analyst Sucharita Mulpuru on Thursday. “When Others are playing wait-and-see. Holly things are going to go,” she said. Etsy Inc plans to the app but in the cloud,” in virtual storage space provided by web com- companies go public they’re held accountable for Marshmueller, 32, has sold her line of new mom list its shares on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol panies, he added. —AFP quarterly goals that shareholders want and it’s and baby products, like handmade changing “ETSY”. —AP TV listings SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

08:30 Gold Rush 21:20 Alien Mysteries Witch 06:10 Sweet Genius 11:25 Lewis 09:20 Gold Divers: Under The Ice 22:10 Close Encounters 23:10 Wolfblood 07:00 Tastiest Places To Chowdown 12:10 Lewis 10:10 Alaska: The Last Frontier 22:35 Close Encounters 23:35 Wolfblood 07:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 13:15 Remember Me 11:00 Street Outlaws 23:00 Alien Encounters 07:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 14:05 Who’s Doing The Dishes 11:50 American Muscle 23:50 How The Universe Works 08:15 Chopped 15:00 Sunday Night At The Palladium 00:50 River Monsters 12:40 How It’s Made 09:05 Siba’s Table 15:55 The Chase: Celebrity Specials 01:45 Ten Deadliest Snakes 13:05 How It’s Made 09:30 Have Cake, Will Travel 16:50 The Jonathan Ross Show 02:40 Gorilla Doctors 13:30 How It’s Made 09:55 Have Cake, Will Travel 17:45 Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night 03:35 Saving Africa’s Giants With 16:50 Baggage Battles 00:30 Fashion Bloggers 10:20 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Takeaway Yao Ming 17:15 Baggage Battles 00:55 Fashion Bloggers Basics 19:00 Sunday Night At The Palladium 04:25 Tanked 17:40 Backroad Bounty 01:25 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills 10:45 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 19:55 Who’s Doing The Dishes 05:15 Alaskan Bush People 18:05 Backroad Bounty 01:50 #RichKids Of Beverly Hills Basics 20:50 The Jonathan Ross Show 06:02 Gorilla Doctors 18:30 Backroad Bounty 02:20 E! News 11:10 Siba’s Table 21:45 Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night 06:49 Saving Africa’s Giants With 18:55 The Carbonaro Effect 00:00 Violetta 03:15 Eric And Jessie: Game On 11:35 Siba’s Table Takeaway Yao Ming 19:20 The Carbonaro Effect 00:45 The Hive 03:40 Eric And Jessie: Game On 12:00 Guy’s Big Bite 22:50 Get Your Act Together 07:36 Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors 19:45 The Big Brain Theory 00:50 Art Attack 04:10 Beyond Candid With Giuliana 12:25 Unique Sweets 08:00 Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors 20:35 You Have Been Warned 01:15 Art Attack 05:05 E!ES 12:50 Unique Sweets 08:25 Treehouse Masters 21:25 Gold Rush 01:40 Jungle Junction 06:00 Keeping Up With The 13:15 Chopped SA 09:15 Treehouse Masters 22:15 Gold Divers: Under The Ice 02:05 Jungle Junction Kardashians 14:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 10:10 Treehouse Masters 23:05 Alaska: The Last Frontier 02:30 Violetta 06:55 Keeping Up With The 14:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 11:05 Treehouse Masters 23:55 Overhaulin’ 03:10 The Hive Kardashians 14:55 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 00:00 Mad Scientists 12:00 Secret Life Of Pets 03:20 Art Attack 07:50 Style Star 15:20 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 00:30 Mad Scientists 12:30 Secret Life Of Pets 03:45 Art Attack 08:20 E! News 15:45 Chopped 01:00 Big, Bigger, Biggest 12:55 Jurassica 04:10 Jungle Junction 09:15 House Of DVF 16:35 Barefoot Contessa 02:00 Perilous Journeys 13:50 Ten Deadliest Snakes 04:35 Jungle Junction 10:15 House Of DVF 17:00 Siba’s Table 03:00 Apocalypse World War I 14:45 Rogue Nature With Dave 05:00 Art Attack 11:10 Fashion Bloggers 17:25 Guy’s Big Bite 04:00 Expedition Wild Salmoni 05:25 Art Attack 11:35 Fashion Bloggers 17:50 Guy’s Big Bite 05:00 Beyond Magic with DMC 15:40 River Monsters 12:05 E! News 00:15 How Do They Do It? 05:50 Mouk 18:15 Guy’s Big Bite 06:00 Car SOS 16:35 The Wild Life Of Tim Faulkner 06:00 Kim Possible 13:05 THS 18:40 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 07:00 Science of Stupid 17:05 The Wild Life Of Tim Faulkner 00:40 How It’s Made 14:05 Kourtney And Khloe Take The 01:05 How It’s Made 06:25 Girl Meets World Basics 07:30 Science of Stupid 17:30 Saving Africa’s Giants With 06:50 Binny And The Ghost Hamptons 19:05 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 08:00 Mad Scientists Yao Ming 01:30 The Unexplained Files 15:00 Kourtney And Khloe Take The 02:20 Through The Wormhole With 07:15 H2O: Just Add Water Basics 08:30 Mad Scientists 18:25 Ten Deadliest Snakes 07:40 Jessie Hamptons 19:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 09:00 Big, Bigger, Biggest 19:20 Rogue Nature With Dave Morgan Freeman 16:00 Giuliana & Bill 03:10 How Do They Do It? 08:10 Princess Protection Program 19:55 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 10:00 Perilous Journeys Salmoni 09:45 Good Luck Charlie 17:00 Giuliana & Bill 20:20 Jenny Morris Cooks The 11:00 Last War Heroes 20:15 The Wild Life Of Tim Faulkner 03:35 How Do They Do It? 18:00 E! News 04:00 Invent It Rich 10:10 Gravity Falls Riviera 12:00 Apocalypse: The Second 20:45 The Wild Life Of Tim Faulkner 10:35 Jessie 19:00 Christina Milian Turned Up 20:45 Jenny Morris Cooks The World War 21:10 Sharks Of Palau 04:48 Game Changers 20:00 Christina Milian Turned Up 05:12 Game Changers 11:00 Dog With A Blog Riviera 13:00 Dangerous Encounters 22:05 Alaskan Bush People 11:25 Austin & Ally 20:30 Christina Milian Turned Up 21:10 Amazing Wedding Cakes 14:00 Situation Critical 23:00 River Monsters 05:36 How We Invented The World 21:00 Christina Milian Turned Up 06:24 Rise Of The Machines 11:50 Liv And Maddie 22:00 Chopped 15:00 Air Crash Investigation 23:55 Jurassica 12:15 Hank Zipzer 21:30 Christina Milian Turned Up 22:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 16:00 Wild Sri Lanka 07:12 How Do They Do It? 22:00 Christina Milian Turned Up 07:36 How Do They Do It? 12:40 Jessie 23:15 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 17:00 Swamp Men 13:05 Jessie 23:00 Fashion Bloggers 23:40 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 18:00 America’s Lost Treasures 08:00 Food Factory 23:30 Fashion Bloggers 08:25 Food Factory 13:30 Jessie 19:00 Air Crash Investigation 08:50 Food Factory 13:55 Jessie 20:00 Wild Sri Lanka 09:15 Food Factory 14:20 H2O: Just Add Water 21:00 Swamp Men 09:40 Food Factory 14:55 Hank Zipzer 22:00 America’s Lost Treasures 00:25 Masterchef: The Professionals 10:05 Food Factory 15:20 Binny And The Ghost 23:00 Last War Heroes 15:45 Jessie 00:55 Nigellissima 10:30 How Do They Do It? 00:05 Coronation Street 16:10 Austin & Ally 01:20 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 10:55 How Do They Do It? 00:30 Coronation Street 16:35 Girl Meets World 02:10 The Hairy Bikers: Mums Know 11:20 How Do They Do It? 00:55 Coronation Street 17:00 Liv And Maddie Best 11:45 How Do They Do It? 00:05 Chopped SA 01:15 The Chase 17:25 Dog With A Blog 03:00 Extreme Makeover: Home 13:00 How It’s Made 00:55 Siba’s Table 02:00 Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of 17:50 Hank Zipzer Edition 13:25 How It’s Made 01:20 Siba’s Table Dogs 00:30 The Daily Show Global Edition 18:15 Jessie 04:20 Bargain Hunt 13:50 How It’s Made 01:45 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 02:25 Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of 01:00 The Nightly Show Global 18:40 Binny And The Ghost 05:05 Bargain Hunt 14:15 How It’s Made 02:10 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Dogs Edition 19:05 H2O: Just Add Water 05:50 Bargain Hunt 14:40 How It’s Made 02:35 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 02:55 Emmerdale 01:30 Saturday Night Live 19:30 Austin & Ally 06:35 The Hairy Bikers: Mums Know 15:05 How It’s Made 03:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 03:20 Emmerdale 02:30 Getting On 19:55 Dog With A Blog Best 15:30 Curiosity: Mars Landing 2012 03:25 Charly’s Cake Angels 03:55 Emmerdale 03:00 Enlisted 20:20 I Didn’t Do It 07:25 The Roux Legacy 16:20 Invent It Rich 03:50 Siba’s Table 04:20 Emmerdale 03:30 Baby Daddy 20:45 H2O: Just Add Water 08:00 Come Dine With Me 17:10 Game Changers 04:15 Siba’s Table 04:45 Emmerdale 04:00 Community 21:10 Good Luck Charlie 08:25 Come Dine With Me 17:35 Game Changers 04:40 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 05:00 The Jonathan Ross Show 04:30 The Tonight Show Starring 21:35 Jessie 08:50 Come Dine With Me 18:00 How We Invented The World Basics 05:55 Get Your Act Together Jimmy Fallon 22:00 Gravity Falls 09:15 Come Dine With Me 18:50 Rise Of The Machines 05:05 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 07:05 Sunday Night At The Palladium 05:30 My Name Is Earl 22:25 Sabrina: Secrets Of A Teenage 09:40 Come Dine With Me 19:40 How Do They Do It? Basics 09:10 Murdoch Mysteries 06:00 Til Death Witch 10:05 Extreme Makeover: Home 20:05 How Do They Do It? 05:30 Reza Spice Prince Of Vietnam 09:55 Murdoch Mysteries 06:30 Dads 22:50 Sabrina: Secrets Of A Teenage Edition 20:30 Man vs The Universe 05:50 Siba’s Table 10:40 Murdoch Mysteries 07:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers 11:25 Extreme Makeover: Home 08:00 Community Edition 08:30 My Name Is Earl 12:05 Masterchef: The Professionals 09:00 Enlisted 12:35 Masterchef: The Professionals 09:30 2 Broke Girls 13:30 Masterchef: The Professionals 10:00 Cougar Town 14:25 Masterchef: The Professionals 10:30 Dads 15:15 Masterchef: The Professionals 11:00 The Tonight Show Starring 15:45 Come Dine With Me Jimmy Fallon 16:10 Come Dine With Me 12:00 Til Death 16:35 Come Dine With Me 12:30 Community 17:00 Come Dine With Me 13:00 My Name Is Earl 17:25 Come Dine With Me 13:30 Dads 17:45 Bargain Hunt 14:00 Baby Daddy 18:30 Bargain Hunt 14:30 2 Broke Girls 19:15 Antiques Roadshow 15:00 Cougar Town 20:05 Come Dine With Me 15:30 The Daily Show Global Edition 20:55 New Scandinavian Cooking 16:00 The Nightly Show Global 21:20 New Scandinavian Cooking Edition 21:45 The Roux Legacy 16:30 Til Death 22:20 Extreme Makeover: Home 17:00 Late Night With Seth Meyers Edition 18:00 Enlisted 23:40 Vacation Vacation Vacation 18:30 Melissa & Joey 19:00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine 19:30 Men At Work 20:00 The Mindy Project 20:30 Veep 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore 22:00 Married 00:45 Hellriders 22:30 Married 01:35 How It’s Made 23:00 Tracy Morgan: Black And Blue 02:00 How It’s Made 02:25 How It’s Made 02:50 How It’s Made 03:15 How It’s Made 03:40 How It’s Made 04:05 How It’s Made 01:00 Resurrection 04:30 How It’s Made 02:00 Salem 05:00 How It’s Made 03:00 True Detective 05:30 How It’s Made 04:00 The Blacklist 06:00 Overhaulin’ 05:00 Graceland 06:50 Overhaulin’ 08:00 Franklin & Bash 07:40 Fantomworks ON OSN MOVIES ACTION HD 09:00 Graceland Red 2 10:00 The Blacklist TV listings SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

12:00 Emmerdale 12:30 Coronation Street 14:00 Franklin & Bash 16:00 Emmerdale 16:30 Coronation Street 18:00 Franklin & Bash 19:00 Castle 20:00 Scandal 21:00 Better Call Saul 22:00 House Of Cards 23:00 Top Gear (UK)

00:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 02:00 Good Morning America 03:00 Supernatural 04:00 Sons Of Anarchy 06:00 Good Morning America 07:00 Emmerdale 07:30 Coronation Street 08:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 09:00 Switched At Birth 10:00 Emmerdale 10:30 Coronation Street 12:00 Intelligence 13:00 Downton Abbey 14:00 Switched At Birth 15:00 Live Good Morning America 17:00 Intelligence 18:00 Downton Abbey 19:00 Switched At Birth 20:00 Intelligence 21:00 Killer Women 22:00 Supernatural 23:00 Sons Of Anarchy

00:00 The Recruit 02:00 Darkness Falls 04:00 Brave 06:00 Code Of Silence 08:00 Red 2 10:00 The Recruit THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS- CITY OF BONES ON OSN MOVIES ACTION HD 12:00 Marvel’s Doctor Strange 14:00 Brave 16:00 Babylon A.D 18:00 Code Of Silence 02:25 Extreme Couponing Zahn 06:00 Julius Jr. 19:45 Red 2 02:50 Extreme Couponing 09:40 Real Emergency Calls 06:10 Calimero 21:45 The Mortal Instruments: City Of 03:15 Extreme Couponing 10:05 Real Emergency Calls 06:25 Henry Hugglemonster Bones 03:40 Extreme Couponing 10:30 Who On Earth... 06:35 Zou 00:00 Streetdance: All Stars-PG15 04:05 Craft Wars 10:55 Who On Earth... 06:50 Mouk 00:00 Rust And Bone-18 02:00 Closed Circuit-PG15 05:00 Craft Wars 11:20 Who On Earth... 07:00 Jungle Junction 02:00 Carrie (1976)-18 04:00 Vehicle 19-PG15 06:00 18 Kids And Counting 11:45 Who On Earth... 07:10 Art Attack 04:00 The Chateau Meroux-PG15 12:10 The Will 07:35 Julius Jr. 06:25 Super Soul Sunday 05:45 Ray-PG15 06:00 Endless Love-PG15 13:00 The Will 07:45 Calimero 08:30 Unstrung Heroes-PG15 08:00 Peeples-PG15 07:15 Say Yes To The Dress 13:50 Nightmare Next Door 08:00 Jungle Junction 00:00 Darkness Falls-PG15 07:40 Little People, Big World 02:00 Brave-PG15 10:30 Twist Of Faith-PG15 10:00 Holidaze-PG15 14:40 Deadly Affairs 08:10 Zou 08:05 Bakery Boss 04:00 Code Of Silence-PG15 12:30 For Greater Glory-PG15 12:00 Vehicle 19-PG15 15:30 Deadly Affairs 08:25 Henry Hugglemonster 06:00 Red 2-PG15 15:00 Ray-PG15 13:45 The Host-PG15 08:55 Extreme Cheapskates 16:20 Disappeared 08:35 Julius Jr. 08:00 The Recruit-PG15 18:00 Unstrung Heroes-PG15 16:00 Peeples-PG15 09:20 Extreme Cheapskates 17:10 Real Emergency Calls 08:50 Mouk 10:00 Marvel’s Doctor Strange-PG 20:00 Life Happens-PG15 18:00 Last Vegas-PG15 09:45 Cake Boss 17:35 Real Emergency Calls 09:00 Calimero 22:00 The Insider-PG15 10:10 Sister Wives 12:00 Brave-PG15 20:00 RoboCop-PG15 18:00 Stalked: Someone’s 09:15 Jake And The Never Land 11:00 Craft Wars Watching Pirates 14:00 Babylon A.D-PG15 22:00 Sinister-18 16:00 Code Of Silence-PG15 11:50 Oprah Presents: Master Class 18:25 Stalked: Someone’s 09:40 The Many Adventures Of 17:45 Red 2-PG15 12:40 Super Soul Sunday Watching Winnie The Pooh 19:45 The Mortal Instruments: City Of 13:30 Say Yes To The Dress: The Big 18:50 I Was Murdered 11:00 Sofia The First Bones-PG15 01:00 A Fighting Man-PG15 Day (Specials) 19:15 I Was Murdered 11:25 Sheriff Callie’s Wild West 22:00 Kill Em All-PG15 03:00 The English Teacher-PG15 19:40 Forensic Detectives 11:55 Zou 01:00 Live ICC Cricket World Cup - 14:20 Sister Wives 05:00 The Numbers Station-PG15 15:10 Cake Boss 20:30 Forensic Detectives 12:10 Calimero NZ v AFG 07:00 The Pretty One-PG15 15:35 Little People, Big World 21:20 Forensic Detectives 12:30 The Adventures Of Disney 09:00 The Legend Of Hercules-PG15 13:00 Live PGA European Tour 22:10 Forensic Detectives Fairies 16:00 Hoarding: Buried Alive 11:00 Temptation: Confessions Of A 18:00 Super Rugby Highlights 23:00 Devil In The Details 12:55 The Adventures Of Disney Marriage Counselor-PG15 16:50 Say Yes To The Dress 23:50 Blood Relatives Fairies 00:15 Monty Python’s Meaning Of 20:00 Live World Golf 17:15 18 Kids And Counting 13:00 Great Expectations-PG15 Championships 13:25 The Adventures Of Disney Life-18 15:15 Step Up Revolution-PG15 17:40 Sister Wives Fairies 02:15 Big Daddy-PG15 17:00 The Legend Of Hercules-PG15 18:05 Sister Wives 13:50 The Adventures Of Disney 04:00 Syrup-PG15 19:00 Escape Plan-PG15 18:30 Craft Wars Fairies 06:00 Son Of The Mask-PG 21:00 Welcome To The Punch-PG15 19:20 Cake Boss 14:20 The Adventures Of Disney 08:00 Held Up (1999)-PG15 23:00 CBGB-18 19:45 Cake Boss Fairies 02:30 Super Rugby Highlights 10:00 Three Men And A Baby-PG15 20:10 Super Soul Sunday 14:45 Jake And The Never Land 12:00 Son Of Rambow-PG 08:00 Live NRL Premiership Pirates 21:00 Cake Boss 00:10 Zou 14:00 Chalet Girl-PG15 10:30 Live NRL Premiership 15:15 Doc McStuffins 21:25 Cake Boss 00:25 Mouk 16:00 Held Up (1999)-PG15 15:00 Live Darts U.K Open 15:40 Sheriff Callie’s Wild West 21:50 Bakery Boss 00:35 Jungle Junction 18:00 So Undercover-PG15 19:00 NHL 16:05 Sofia The First 22:40 Extreme Couponing 00:50 Art Attack 20:00 Hello Ladies: The Movie-PG15 16:35 Zou 22:00 Live Darts U.K Open 23:05 Mob Wives 01:15 Julius Jr. 22:00 Every Day-PG15 01:00 Everyone’s Hero 16:50 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 23:55 Cake Boss 01:25 Calimero 02:45 Barbie As Rapunzel 17:15 Lilo & Stitch 01:40 Henry Hugglemonster 04:30 Krazzy Planet 17:40 Adventures Of The Gummi 01:50 Zou Bears 06:00 Dino Time 02:05 Mouk 18:05 Chip n Dale Rescue 08:00 The Missing Lynx 05:30 ICC World Cup H/L: IRE v ZIM 02:15 Jungle Junction Rangers 01:00 Grace Of Monaco-PG15 09:45 Skateboy And The Voyage To 06:30 Live ICC World Cup: AUS v SL 02:25 Art Attack 18:30 Ducktales 03:00 Capital-PG15 Monster Island 14:30 ICC Cricket 360 02:50 Julius Jr. 19:00 Art Attack 05:00 Dawn Rider-PG15 03:00 Calimero 11:30 Jelly T 15:00 ICC World Cup H/L: NZ v AFG 19:25 Sofia The First 06:45 The Mortal Instruments: City 03:15 Henry Hugglemonster 13:00 Barbie As Rapunzel 19:30 ICC World Cup H/L: AUS v SL 19:55 Calimero 00:40 Deadly Sins 03:25 Zou Of Bones-PG15 14:30 The Happets 22:30 ICC Cricket 360 20:10 Doc McStuffins 01:30 Serial Killers 03:40 Mouk 09:00 Won’t Back Down-PG15 16:00 Speed Racer 20:25 Jake And The Never Land 02:20 Diabolical 03:50 Jungle Junction 11:00 August: Osage County-PG15 Pirates 18:15 Skateboy And The Voyage To 03:10 True CSI 04:00 Art Attack 13:00 There Be Dragons-PG15 20:50 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Monster Island 04:00 Deadly Affairs 04:25 Julius Jr. 21:25 Sofia The First 15:00 Grand Piano-PG15 20:00 Barbie And The Magic Of 04:45 Deadly Sins 04:35 Calimero 21:50 Adventures Of The Gummi 17:00 Won’t Back Down-PG15 Pegasus 05:30 Serial Killers 04:50 Henry Hugglemonster Bears 19:00 The Immigrant-PG15 06:20 Fatal Encounters 05:00 Zou 21:30 The Happets 22:20 Chip n Dale Rescue 21:00 Out Of The Furnace-PG15 00:45 Alaskan Women Looking For 07:10 Fatal Encounters 05:15 Mouk 22:45 Speed Racer Rangers Love 08:00 Deadly Affairs 05:25 Jungle Junction 23:00 American Hustle-18 22:45 Ducktales 01:35 Body Bizarre 08:50 On The Case With Paula 05:35 Art Attack WHAT’S ON SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

Free seminar - ‘MAA’ pre - post natal care on March 13

ndian Women In Kuwait (IWIK) is organizing an Iexclusive Pre and Post Natal Seminar “MAA” [Motherhood Advice and Awareness] for the Indian women in Kuwait. This exclusive seminar for the women community will be held on Friday, 13th March 2015 from 4:30 pm at Indian Embassy Auditorium. This event is conducted to commemo- rate the Women’s Month. “MAA” seminar will guide women through the various stages of their pregnancy, childbirth and beyond. It will also teach women about the impor- tance of staying fit during pregnancy as well as what is safe and effective. We will also expose cer- tain fitness and nutrition myths which women need to follow during and after pregnancy. In this semi- nar, specialists in Yoga, Counseling, and Gynecologist will give general awareness to the ladies. In this Seminar the Gynec part will be conducted by Dr Sarita [MD, MRCOG] and Dr Jyoti Rani H R [MBBS, DNB (OBG)]. The counseling part will be con- ducted by Leena Sanal [Masters in Applied Psychology and Clinical Psychology] and Yoga will be instructed by Jayshree Shetty [PG in Economics, LLB, TTC in Yoga, Reiki, Pendulum and Pranik heal- ing Therapist]. Dr Sarita has 16 years of experience and is in Kuwait since 2001. Dr Jyoti Rani H R is in Kuwait since 2010, worked in various hospitals, including New Mowasat Hospital, British Medical Center and Alia Medical Center. At present, she is an Obstetrician and Gynecologist in Apollo Clinic, Mahboula Branch, Kuwait. Leena Sanal has exten- sive experience in her field as an educator and counselor. Jayshree Shetty is working as Yoga Instructor for NYF Kuwait. The Indian Women In Kuwait- IWIK, under the aegis of Indians in Kuwait (IIK) till date, has success- Notice for fully organized a series of offline events such as the Rangoli Competition, X-Mas Tree Contest, Live cookery show by Tarla Dalal, Kuwait Darshan, Blood Indian Social Donation Camp, ICE - In Case of Emergency and a range of other competitions and programs. Forum released Indian Women living in Kuwait who are interest- n behalf of the launching ceremony of Indian Social ed to be part of this seminar can register at Forum, various language notices were published at http://www.indiansinkuwait.com/Campaign/Maa. O Pineal Auditorium, Abbasiya recently. The English edi- Entry to this event is free. This seminar is only for tion was issued by Ashraf Kalathode to Nithin. The Kannada women above the age of 18 and no children are edition was issued by Rafeek Manji to Sivadasan. The allowed. Husbands can accompany their wives. Malayalam notices were issued by Shanavas Chunda to Seats are limited for the event. Navas and the Tamil notices by Sikhander Pasha to Said Bhukhari on this occasion. The program committee’s co-ordi- nator Thayif Ahmed presided over the function. Yathra Kuwait Joint Secretary Rasheed Naha also attended the pro- gram. Publicity coordinator Sikhander Pasha delivered the What’s On - Submission Guidelines welcome speech and the vote of thanks was delivered by Majeed Oorakam. All photos submitted for What’s On should be minimum 200dpi. Articles must be in plain text and should include name and phone numbers. Articles and photos that fail to meet these requirements will not be published. Please send them to [email protected] WHAT’S ON SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Dino Park opened recently at the Kuwait International Fairground in Mishref, under the patronage of Sheikha Amal Al-Hmoud Al-Sabah. The park features several activities, including a theater where interactive shows and competitions are held. The park is open until April 30, 2015. —Photos by Joseph Shagra HEALTH SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

Health officials perplexed by US vaccination skeptics

NEW YORK: Certain that they are right, cases jumped back into the hundreds as seemed persuaded. But they also said they still protect them. Opposition seemed to plum- struggling to find ways to get their message infected travelers sparked outbreaks in poor- did not intend to vaccinate their kids. “People met for several decades, as vaccines got bet- across, public health officials are exasperated ly vaccinated communities. are really good at coming up with reasons to ter and succeeded in beating back diseases by their inability to persuade more US par- Right now the number of cases remains believe what they already believe,” said Jason that had long terrified families, including ents to vaccinate their children. “I think we’re relatively small. But health officials fear that if Reifler, a political scientist at the University of polio, measles and whooping cough. all kind of frustrated,” said Stephen Morse, a the number of unvaccinated families keeps Exeter who co-authored the study. But parental concern has seemed to be Columbia University infectious disease growing, sustained spread of measles will be on an upswing in the last 20 years. Family expert. “As scientists, we’re probably the re-established in the United States, and it will Side effects decisions about vaccinations have always least equipped to know how to do this.” They become a native virus once again. Scientists In fact, vaccines can have side effects - involved a cost-benefit analysis, in which par- say they are contending with a small minori- have long assumed the problem is that some very severe ones, in extremely rare cases that ents weight the danger of the disease ty of parents who are misinformed - or mere- against side effects or other potential risks ly obstinate - about the risks of inoculations. from the vaccine itself. As overall vaccination The parents say they have done their own rates hit high levels and diseases became research and they believe the risks are rare, some families have decided the risks of greater than health authorities acknowledge; vaccination outweigh the benefits to their they are merely making their own medical children, observed Massachusetts General choices, they say. Hospital’s Dr Stephen Calderwood, president Most parents do bring their children for of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. shots, and national vaccination rates for It also may not help that when vaccine kindergarteners remain comfortably above opponents raise an unlikely concern, govern- 90 percent. Experts aren’t even sure the ranks ment scientists have often declined to of families who don’t vaccinate are growing debate them or say they were flat-out wrong to any significant degree. But in some states, if there was no medical evidence available the number of parents seeking exemptions yet to answer a claim. “It probably hurts” the from school attendance vaccination require- cause of vaccination, Reifler said, when ments has been inching up. In some commu- opponents sound certain in their alarms nities, large proportions of household skip or about vaccine while scientists more cautious- delay shots. The rise has come despite unset- ly say “all the evidence that we have is that’s tling outbreaks of some vaccine-preventable not true,’” but the hypothesis can’t be com- diseases that had nearly disappeared from pletely ruled out, he said. the United States. Rare illnesses Things getting worse? Meanwhile, scientists are finding it harder “Part of the reason everyone is so con- MARYLAND: Danielle Holland reacts as she is given a FluMist to make a case for new childhood vaccines. cerned about this is because they don’t know influenza vaccination in St Leonard. The CDC and its Advisory Committee on whether things will get worse,” said Dr Immunization Practices are currently weigh- Walter Orenstein of Emory University, consid- parents are simply misinformed, and provid- doctors can’t always anticipate. “It may be ing whether to recommend vaccinating all ered one of the nation’s leading experts on ing them “corrective information” will clear one in a million or one in 2 million, but I can’t youths with two newly licensed shots against vaccines. Measles is a leading worry. A little things up. tell you that it won’t happen to your child,” B strain meningococcal bacteria, a bug that over 50 years ago, measles caused nearly a But some studies have shown that doesn’t Morse said. Some parents say, “I’m not will- can cause meningitis and blood infections. half a million illnesses in the United States seem to work. For example, in the last 15 ing to take that chance with my child,” he The diseases are horrible - even with antibi- each year, including about 450 deaths. But years, a leading concern of many vaccine added. Parents have been nervous about otic treatment, an alarmingly high 10 to 15 decades of vaccination campaigns put an opponents is that shots trigger autism in chil- vaccines for as long as vaccines have been percent of people who get meningococcal end to homegrown measles transmission by dren. One recent study found that some vac- around - at times with good reason. More disease die, and about 15 percent of sur- 2000. Annual reported illnesses dropped as cine-opposed parents could be presented than 100 years ago, vaccines were unregulat- vivors have long-term disabilities, including 34, in 2004. But in the last five years or so, with medical evidence disproving that, and ed and could be as likely to harm a child as loss of limbs or brain damage. —AP Mysterious dwarf planet ‘Ceres’ in the spotlight

The mysterious dwarf planet Ceres is ready for its close-up. deemed a comet when it was first discovered. Then it was pro- Located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, Ceres is moted to a planet and later downgraded to an asteroid. Since the largest unexplored space rock in the inner solar system. But 2006, it has been classified as a dwarf planet like Pluto, the one- that distinction will soon end when NASA’s Dawn spacecraft time ninth planet. Dwarf planets are spherical in shape like arrives after nearly an eight-year journey, which included a planets, but they share the same celestial neighborhood with stopover at the asteroid Vesta. Dawn has already beamed back other similar-sized objects. images of Ceres from its approach. Here are five things to know about Ceres. The bright spots Ceres - with a diameter of about 600 miles - is thought to have The discovery a rocky core surrounded by an icy mantle. Long ago it might Ceres was spotted on New Year’s Day in 1801 by Italian have harbored an underground ocean. As Dawn approached monk and astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi who was searching for a Ceres, it spotted a pair of puzzling bright spots inside a crater. star. It was the first object discovered in the asteroid belt, a Scientists think the shiny dots may be exposed ice or salt. zone littered with rocky debris left over from the formation of the sun and planets 41/2 billion years ago. The mission Launched in 2007 and powered by ion propulsion engines, The name Dawn will make the first close-ups of a dwarf planet. It will Piazzi named the object “Ceres Ferdinandea” after the study Ceres for 16 months from varying altitudes, getting as Roman goddess of harvest and in honor of King Ferdinand IV of close as 235 miles above Ceres’ surface, or the distance of the Naples and Sicily. Other astronomers shortened it to Ceres. The International Space Station above Earth. The spacecraft will word cereal also has its origins in Ceres. The chemical element take sharper images of the mysterious spots and use its instru- cerium, discovered in 1803, was named after Ceres. ments to confirm whether Ceres’ surface is still active and HOUSTON: This file image provided by NASA shows spewing plumes of water vapor. This summer, another NASA the dwarf planet Ceres, taken by the space agency’s The identity crisis spacecraft dubbed New Horizons will make the first visit to the Dawn spacecraft from a distance of nearly 29,000 Located about 250 million miles from the sun, Ceres was dwarf planet Pluto. —AP miles. —AP HEALTH SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015 Mars ocean was bigger than the Arctic: NASA

WASHINGTON: Mars once had a body of regions, water depths were greater than a “With Mars losing that much water, the planet atmosphere. One is the familiar H2O, made water bigger than Earth’s Arctic Ocean and mile NASA scientists said. The study also was very likely wet for a longer period of time with two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen. vast enough to cover the entire surface of the showed that the vast majority of Martian than was previously thought, suggesting the The other is HDO, a naturally occurring varia- planet, NASA scientists said in a study water — 87 percent has been lost to space. planet might have been habitable for longer.” tion in which a single hydrogen molecule is released on Thursday. The new research, pro- “Our study provides a solid estimate of NASA scientists said new estimates of vol- replaced by a heavier form, called deuterium. viding estimates on the quantity of water on how much water Mars once had,” said ume of water on Mars, and the differing By comparing the ratio of HDO to H2O, scien- the Red Planet, is based upon detailed obser- Geronimo Villanueva, chief author of the chemical signatures of the two types of water, tists were able to measure the enrichment vations of two slightly different forms of water study. “With this work, we can better under- were discovered using the Keck Observatory’s and determine how much water has escaped in Mars’ atmosphere, and was published in stand the history of water on Mars,” said 10-meter Keck II telescope, NASA’s Infrared into space. NASA said its researchers were the journal Science. The study said that the Villanueva, a scientist at NASA’s Goddard Telescope Facility, and ESO’s Very Large especially interested in regions near the north Red Planet was once covered in a liquid layer Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Telescope located in Chile. The new estimate and south poles, because the polar ice caps 450 feet (137 meters) deep, occupying almost Michael Mumma, a senior scientist at is based on detailed observations of two are the planet’s largest known reservoir of half of Mars’ northern hemisphere. In some Goddard who was also a lead author, added: slightly different forms of water in Mars’ water. —AFP Suicides by girls and young women continue to climb

NEW YORK: The suicide rate for girls when such tracking began. The rate for and young women in the US continues young males went from 10.7 to 11.9 to rise, at a pace far faster than for per 100,000, although the rate seems young males, health officials said to have leveled off in the last few years. Thursday. The rate for boys and young The Centers for Disease Control and men increased since 2007, too. And it Prevention released the report remains three times higher than the Thursday. Suicide rates for younger female rate for ages 10 to 24. But the people have ebbed and flowed since female increase has been steadier. Why 1981, with a recent upward trend start- is not clear; one expert said it may be ing around 2007. There were 4,320 sui- because more girls and young women cide deaths in 2007; the toll was 5,264 are hanging themselves or using other in 2013. Suicide rates for older adults forms of suffocation. tend to be higher, in the range of 15 or That way is more lethal than drug 20 per 100,000. Since 2007, suicide overdose - the method used the most rates have increased for older age ADDIS ABABA: People take pictures of a piece of jawbone that was uncovered in by younger females. From 2007-2013, groups, too. Some experts believe the Ethiopia and is the earliest known fossil of the genus Homo. The discovery sug- the rate for young females went from trend was ignited by the economic gests that humankind’s ancestors were living in what is now the Ledi-Geraru 2.2 to 3.4 per 100,000. That’s the high- recession from December 2007 until research area of Afar Regional State, Ethiopia almost 400,000 years earlier than est since the 3.1 rate recorded in 1981, June 2009. —AP previously thought. —AFP SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

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HEINEKEN 1:00 PM CUT BANK 11:45 AM CUT BANK 4:30 PM AMERICAN HEIST 12:15 AM KIDNAPPING MR. HEINEKEN 3:00 PM AL TIJARA SHATARA (Kuwaiti Film) 1:45 PM information SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015 DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

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Arrival Flights on Saturday 7/3/2015 JZR 777 Jeddah 17:55 FDB 056 Dubai 10:35 Airlines Flt Route Time UAL 982 IAD 17:55 IRM 1181 Mashhad 10:50 JAI 574 Mumbai 00:10 UAE 875 Dubai 18:00 QTR 1071 Doha 11:00 JZR 239 Amman 00:25 SVA 500 Jeddah 18:00 KAC 541 Cairo 11:05 JZR 267 Beirut 00:30 JZR 177 Dubai 18:20 KAC 165 Rome/Paris 11:15 JZR 539 Cairo 00:40 KAC 542 Cairo 18:25 GFA 214 Bahrain 11:25 KLM 413 Amsterdam/Dammam 00:40 KAC 118 New York 18:30 KAC 741 Dammam 11:45 THY 772 Istanbul 00:45 FDB 063 Dubai 18:40 RBG 554 Alexandria 11:55 FDB 069 Dubai 00:55 ABY 121 Sharjah 18:40 KAC 501 Beirut 12:00 QTR 1084 Doha 01:00 CLX 856 Luxembourg 18:50 JZR 776 Jeddah 12:20 RJA 642 Amman 01:05 QTR 1080 Doha 18:50 MSC 402 Alexandria 12:25 DLH 637 Dammam 01:15 KAC 774 Riyadh 19:15 UAE 874 Dubai 12:30 SAI 441 Lahore 01:30 KAC 618 Doha 19:15 IRM 1189 Mashhad 13:10 PGT 858 Istanbul 01:35 KAC 674 Dubai 19:25 JZR 176 Dubai 13:45 ETH 620 Addis Ababa 01:45 GFA 217 Bahrain 19:30 MSR 611 Cairo 14:00 GFA 211 Bahrain 02:30 KAC 176 Geneva/Frankfurt 19:45 MRJ 4814 Mashhad 14:10 UAE 853 Dubai 02:35 IRA 669 Mashhad 19:50 UAE 872 Dubai 14:15 JZR 553 Alexandria 02:45 KAC 502 Beirut 19:50 IAW 158 Al Najaf 14:20 JAI 526 Chennai/Abu Dhabi 02:50 KAC 104 London 19:55 JZR 324 Al Najaf 14:25 FDB 067 Dubai 02:55 KAC 614 Bahrain 20:00 AGY 685 Sohag 14:40 JAI 572 Mumbai 20:00 MSR 612 Cairo 03:10 IRC 527 Mashhad 14:55 MSR 618 Alexandria 20:05 ETD 305 Abu Dhabi 03:10 KAC 785 Jeddah 15:00 KKK 6507 Istanbul 03:20 OMA 647 Muscat 20:05 JZR 189 Dubai 20:15 KAC 673 Dubai 15:00 OMA 643 Muscat 03:25 QTR 1079 Doha 15:05 QTR 1076 Doha 03:45 FDB 061 Dubai 20:20 FDB 058 Dubai 15:10 MSC 401 Alexandria 04:05 KNE 474 Jeddah 20:25 KAC 546 Alexandria 04:10 ABY 123 Sharjah 20:35 KAC 617 Doha 15:15 JZR 503 Luxor 05:25 DLH 634 Frankfurt 20:50 KNE 473 Jeddah 15:20 THY 770 Istanbul 05:35 KAC 786 Jeddah 21:05 IZG 4168 Mashhad 15:35 DHX 170 Bahrain 05:40 ALK 229 Colombo 21:10 JZR 188 Dubai 15:40 BAW 157 London 06:40 MEA 402 Beirut 21:20 GFA 222 Bahrain 15:45 JZR 563 Sohag 06:45 ETD 307 Abu Dhabi 21:30 KAC 773 Riyadh 15:50 KAC 416 Kuala Lumpur/Jakarta 06:45 FDB 073 Dubai 21:35 KNE 471 Jeddah 15:50 KAC 412 Manila/Bangkok 07:10 UAE 859 Dubai 21:40 RJD 136 Abu Dhabi 16:05 FDB 053 Dubai 07:45 GFA 219 Bahrain 21:45 OMA 646 Muscat 16:25 KAC 204 Lahore 07:45 QTR 1074 Doha 21:55 ABY 128 Sharjah 16:25 QTR 1086 Doha 07:50 KNE 480 Taif 22:00 KNE 463 Madinah 16:30 KAC 352 Kochi 08:10 JZR 135 Bahrain 22:05 KAC 613 Bahrain 16:35 KAC 382 Delhi 08:15 KLM 415 Amsterdam 22:15 KNE 481 Taif 16:50 KAC 302 Mumbai 08:20 ETD 309 Abu Dhabi 22:15 FDB 052 Dubai 17:00 KAC 206 Islamabad 08:25 FDB 059 Dubai 22:30 JZR 266 Beirut 17:05 UAE 855 Dubai 08:40 AIC 975 Chennai/Goa 22:30 NIA 252 Alexandria 17:15 KAC 362 Colombo 08:45 MSC 403 Sohag 22:45 QTR 1073 Doha 17:40 KAC 344 Chennai 08:45 UAL 981 Bahrain 23:10 UAE 858 Dubai 17:45 KAC 284 Dhaka 08:50 JZR 185 Dubai 23:15 JZR 538 Cairo 17:45 ABY 125 Sharjah 09:00 AGY 684 Sohag 23:15 ETD 304 Abu Dhabi 17:50 ETD 301 Abu Dhabi 09:20 THY 764 Istanbul 23:35 SYR 341 Damascus 17:50 IRM 1186 Tehran 09:40 FDB 071 Dubai 23:45 RJA 641 Amman 17:55 FDB 055 Dubai 09:40 IRM 1187 Tehran 18:15 QTR 1070 Doha 10:00 Departure Flights on Saturday 7/3/2015 SVA 511 Riyadh 18:15 GFA 213 Bahrain 10:40 Airlines Flt Route Time GFA 216 Bahrain 18:20 UAE 873 Dubai 11:00 AIC 976 Goa/Chennai 00:05 JZR 184 Dubai 18:40 RBG 553 Alexandria 11:15 JZR 562 Sohag 00:05 IZG 4162 Mashhad 18:45 MSC 405 Sohag 11:25 PIA 206 Lahore 00:40 JZR 238 Amman 18:50 JZR 165 Dubai 11:30 FDB 072 Dubai 00:45 JZR 134 Bahrain 19:10 IRM 1188 Mashhad 11:45 JAI 573 Mumbai 01:10 UAL 982 Bahrain 19:15 UAE 871 Dubai 12:50 KLM 413 Amsterdam 01:55 ABY 122 Sharjah 19:20 JZR 241 Amman 12:55 DLH 637 Frankfurt 02:15 SVA 505 Jeddah 19:30 MRJ 4815 Mashhad 12:55 SAI 442 Lahore 02:30 UAE 876 Dubai 19:40 MSR 610 Cairo 13:00 ETH 621 Addis Ababa 02:45 QTR 1081 Doha 19:50 IAW 157 Al Najaf 13:20 THY 773 Istanbul 02:55 FDB 064 Dubai 19:55 JZR 779 Jeddah 13:35 PGT 859 Istanbul 03:25 GFA 218 Bahrain 20:15 AGY 680 Alexandria 13:40 UAE 854 Dubai 03:50 CLX 856 Hong Kong 20:20 IRC 526 Mashhad 13:50 FDB 068 Dubai 03:55 KAC 283 Dhaka 20:30 KAC 672 Dubai 13:55 IRA 666 Esfahan 20:50 QTR 1078 Doha 14:05 ETD 306 Abu Dhabi 04:05 MSR 613 Cairo 04:10 KAC 361 Colombo 20:50 KNE 472 Jeddah 14:25 JAI 571 Mumbai 21:00 FDB 057 Dubai 14:30 KKK 6508 Istanbul 04:10 OMA 644 Muscat 04:25 OMA 648 Muscat 21:05 IZG 4167 Mashhad 14:35 MSR 607 Luxor 21:05 KAC 742 Dammam 14:45 QTR 1085 Doha 04:30 MSC 406 Sohag 05:05 JZR 554 Alexandria 21:05 KNE 470 Jeddah 14:55 KNE 475 Jeddah 21:10 RJD 135 Abu Dhabi 14:55 QTR 1077 Doha 05:15 THY 765 Istanbul 05:40 KAC 331 Trivandrum 21:10 GFA 221 Bahrain 15:00 ABY 124 Sharjah 21:15 OMA 645 Muscat 15:25 FDB 070 Dubai 06:30 JAI 525 Abu Dhabi/Chennai 06:35 KAC 351 Kochi 21:15 KAC 788 Jeddah 15:40 FDB 062 Dubai 21:20 KNE 462 Madinah 15:45 JZR 164 Dubai 06:55 RJA 643 Amman 07:05 DHX 171 Bahrain 21:50 UAE 857 Dubai 15:45 KAC 381 Delhi 22:00 ABY 127 Sharjah 15:45 GFA 212 Bahrain 07:15 JZR 240 Amman 07:15 ALK 230 Colombo 22:10 FDB 051 Dubai 16:00 ETD 308 Abu Dhabi 22:15 KNE 460 Riyadh 16:00 THY 771 Istanbul 07:30 JZR 778 Jeddah 07:55 KAC 301 Mumbai 22:15 JZR 535 Cairo 16:10 MEA 403 Beirut 22:20 FDB 054 Dubai 08:25 NIA 251 Alexandria 16:15 FDB 074 Dubai 22:30 BAW 156 London 08:45 KAC 562 Amman 16:20 GFA 220 Bahrain 22:30 QTR 1087 Doha 08:50 JZR 357 Mashhad 16:30 UAE 860 Dubai 22:50 QTR 1072 Doha 16:40 JZR 534 Cairo 09:15 KNE 461 Riyadh 22:50 SYR 342 Damascus 16:50 KAC 671 Dubai 09:25 KAC 205 Islamabad 22:55 RJA 640 Amman 16:55 ABY 126 Sharjah 09:40 ETD 310 Abu Dhabi 23:00 ETD 303 Abu Dhabi 16:55 KAC 787 Jeddah 09:50 IRM 1180 Mashhad 17:00 QTR 1075 Doha 23:05 KAC 101 London/New York 09:50 KLM 415 Dammam/Amsterdam 23:15 SVA 510 Riyadh 17:15 UAE 856 Dubai 09:55 GFA 215 Bahrain 17:30 KAC 543 Cairo 23:20 ETD 302 Abu Dhabi 10:20 KAC 411 Bangkok/Manila 23:30 IZG 4161 Mashhad 17:45 KAC 561 Amman 10:25 JZR 325 NJF 17:50 MSC 404 Sohag 23:45 JZR 356 Mashhad 10:30 FDB 060 Dubai 23:55 Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw) SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

5. A period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event. WORDSEARCH PUZZLE 6. A transparent optical device used to converge or diverge transmitted light and to CROSSWORD834 form images. 7. Any strong feeling. 8. Greek anatomist whose theories formed the basis of European medicine until the Renaissance (circa 130-200). 9. A distinct part that can be specified separately in a group of things that could be enu- merated on a list. 10. A radioactive element of the actinide series. 11. Thorny shrub or small tree common in central Argentina having small orange or yel- low flowers followed by edible berries. 12. An African river that flows northwest into Lake Chad. 13. Relating or near the pubis. 14. Collect or gather. 21. The quarter of many North African cities in which the citadel is located. 23. Covered with or resembling small bubbles as from being agitated by beating or heating. 27. A collection of facts from which conclusions may be drawn. 29. African tree having an exceedingly thick trunk and fruit that resembles a gourd and has an edible pulp called monkey bread. 31. A member of an agricultural people of southern India. 33. The lean flesh of a fish similar to cod. 36. A member of a formerly tribal people now living in south central India. 37. An ancient port city in southwestern Spain. 39. (archaic or Scottish) Faithful and true. 40. A dress worn primarily by Hindu women. 41. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the sale of petroleum. 44. Covered or protected with or as if with a case. 47. A city in south central California in the San Joaquin Valley. 49. Based on or told of in traditional stories. 52. The content of cognition. ACROSS 53. A cloth used as a head covering (and veil and shawl) by Muslim and Hindu women. 1. An inhabitant of Lappland. 55. The sacred city of Lamaism. 5. Resembling or characteristic of or appropriate to an elegy. 57. The syllable naming the fourth (subdominant) note of the diatonic scale in solmiza- 12. An accountant certified by the state. tion. 15. Type genus of the family Unionidae. 60. Marked by or showing unaffected simplicity and lack of guile or worldly experience. 16. Something (especially a game) that is played again. 61. A deceitful and unreliable scoundrel. 17. A humming noise. 62. A subsidiary proposition that is assumed to be true in order to prove another propo- 18. A form of entertainment that enacts a story by a sequence of images giving the illu- sition. sion of continuous movement. 63. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables. 19. Small arboreal tropical American insectivorous lizards with the ability to change skin 64. A city in southern Turkey on the Seyhan River. color. 66. Harsh or corrosive in tone. 20. Jordan's port. 67. An international organization created in 1949 by the North Atlantic Treaty for pur- 22. A movable airfoil that is part of an aircraft wing. poses of collective security. Yesterday’s Solution 24. (linguistics) The form of a word after all affixes are removed. 68. A woman hired to suckle a child of someone else. 25. Any of the openings to the nasal cavities that allow air to flow through the cavities to 71. The 19th letter of the Greek alphabet. the pharynx. 74. A unit of information equal to 1024 bytes. 26. A bitter quarrel between two parties. 75. One thousand grams. 28. Not out. 30. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens. 32. A state in the Rocky Mountains. Yesterdayʼs Solution 34. A white linen liturgical vestment with sleeves. 35. A Moslem republic in southern Asia. 38. In addition. 42. An artificial language that is a revision and simplification of Esperanto. 43. Noisy talk. 45. A collection of objects laid on top of each other. 46. Young of domestic cattle. 48. (Old Testament) In Judeo-Christian mythology. 50. A unit of surface area equal to 100 square meters. 51. Fungus used in the preparation of punk for fuses. 54. Resembling or characteristic of a prophet or prophecy. 56. The 12th letter of the Hebrew alphabet. 58. The fifth day of the week. 59. The upper house of the parliament of the Republic of Ireland. 65. A Dravidian language spoken in southern India. 69. The United Nations agency concerned with civil aviation. 70. The shorter of the two telegraphic signals used in Morse code. 72. Tropical American feather palm having a swollen spiny trunk and edible nuts. 73. Injured by bites or stings. 76. An adult male person (as opposed to a woman). 77. The capital and largest city of Japan. 78. Flemish painter of landscapes (1525-1569). 79. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth. DOWN 1. Sailing close to the wind v 1. 2. A blue dye obtained from plants or made synthetically. 3. Rice cooked in well-seasoned broth with onions or celery and usually poultry or game or shellfish and sometimes tomatoes. 4. Ancient city southeast of Naples that was buried by a volcanic eruption from Vesuvius. CHALLENGING MAZE Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution SPORTS SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015 Holmes tames Blue Monster with record-tying 62

MIAMI: American JB Holmes tied the tournament record Fellow American Ryan Moore was alone in second place with a sizzling 10-under 62 to surge into a four-shot lead after firing a six-under 66. Moore was tied for the lead with over a world-class field in the opening round of the WGC- Holmes late in the round, but he found water off the tee at Cadillac Championship on Thursday. The 32-year-old from the 18th and that led to a closing double-bogey. Until Kentucky tamed Doral’s Blue Monster course by hitting 15 then he was nearly flawless, with five birdies in his first of 18 greens as he goes for his first title of the season. “You nine holes, followed by three birdies at 10, 11 and 12.His get a lot of adrenaline and everything going in a round drive at 18 bounced in the fairway but hit the water and like this,” Holmes said. “I am pretty sure it is pretty good he was in a bunker with his third shot. “I controlled my ball right now.” Holmes, who shared second place at the beautifully today and putted great on top of that,” he said. Farmers Insurance Open in early February, started on the “I made a lot of 10- to 15-footers. Honestly, I haven’t done back nine.He got off to a flying start with two birdies fol- that a lot lately and that’s probably the best round of golf lowed by an eagle on the par-five 12th. I’ve played in a little while,” said Moore. He two-putted for a birdie on the 10th then drained a Rickie Fowler, former runner-up Dustin Johnson and 35-foot birdie putt on the 11th. His approach at 12 landed France’s Alexander Levy share third place at four-under. a foot away from the cup for an eagle. “We had a game Henrik Stenson of Sweden and Brooks Koepka of the US plan,” Holmes said. “I hit all my shots where I needed to. “I were a further stroke back at three-under 69. Former made sure I tried to stay below the hole. I had a day where Masters champion Adam Scott, who is making his first I made a lot of putts. I hit great shots. My tee ball was right PGA Tour start of the season, carded a two-under 70. The where I wanted it to be and I just didn’t have that many Australian was joined in eighth place by Jim Furyk, Charley bad swings. “I had a couple of bad swings with the driver,” Hoffman, Gary Woodland and Jamie Donaldson, who he added, “but I made birdie on those two holes.” shared second place last year. World number one Rory Holmes’s 62 matched the tournament record on the McIlroy bounced back from a tough opening nine holes to FLORIDA: JB Holmes plays a shot on the seventh hole during the first round of redesigned Blue Monster set by Bubba Watson in the sec- post a one-over 73. He is tied for 27th with 11 others, the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship at Trump National ond round in 2012. including Keegan Bradley, Matt Kuchar, Justin Rose, Sergio Doral Blue Monster Course on March 5, 2015. — AFP Stephen Ames fired a 61 on the old layout in 2000. Garcia and Graeme McDowell. — AFP China’s Zou confident High hopes; African minnows of ‘dream’ world title take on Tour de France elite MACAU: China’s Zou Shiming declared yester- IBF belt back to Thailand because my family day that he would achieve his “dream” of come here to support me,” he said. Amnat won JOHANNESBURG: MTN-Qhubeka’s ambi- focus the African riders on the second part becoming world champion against Amnat once and lost twice to Zou in their amateur days tions are modest in their maiden Tour de and the mountains.” MTN-Qhubeka are Ruenroeng, predicting that the IBF flyweight and said that he would even up the lifetime France but team manager Douglas Ryder reaping the benefits of investment in bout in Macau would be a “great show”. Both record, despite being on Chinese soil. “I feel OK predicts the African outfit will be on the Africa by cycling’s governing body UCI fighters made the 112lb flyweight limit with no about the fight even though it is in Macau, in podium of the world’s most famous and Ryder believes the continent can drama and promised an explosive 12-round China,” Amnat said. “I went to fight in the cycling race within five years. The first become a cycling power. “What’s happen- contest between the two undefeated men at Olympic Games in Beijing so I’m used to it. And African team to compete in the Tour de ing in running will definitely happen in Cotai Arena today night. “My body’s in good the people here have been very good to me.” France which gets underway in Utrecht in cycling. I don’t think so, I know so. But shape,” said challenger Zou after tipping the One of the men will lose their unbeaten record July, Ryder believes Africans can be as suc- cycling is not that simple, it’s more techni- scales at 111.6lb. “So I hope I will perform well on Saturday and Zou is the more inexperienced cessful in cycling as they are in world ath- cal, tactical, there’s many things to learn.” and I’m hoping Amnat will also so we put on a with only six professional fights and one knock- letics. “Stage wins are the big objective for great show for all the fans.” out since his debut in the same Cotai Arena ring us (this year) and to try and wear a leader’s ‘Experience you can’t buy’ Zou confidently predicted that he would add in April 2013. jersey,” said Ryder. Team leaders will be counting on the a professional world title to his three amateur His Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach said “We don’t have a rider that can go for experience of the European riders to con- global crowns and two Olympic gold medals that his transformation from top amateur to the overall classification, but we are hop- struct a winning team. “Will we ever be “This is my dream. It also the dream of all the world professional title contender has been ing that in two to three years we can have 100percent African, the answer is no,” boxers in China and tomorrow I will realize this rapid but there was still improvement to come a rider that can potentially stand on the Ryder said. “Because if you look at them, dream and become world champion,” said the for the 33-year-old. “He’s punching a lot better podium. “It has been a European sport for Boasson has been on two Tour de France man from Guizhou, in the vast country’s south- and he’s developed more power,” Roach said. 100 years but why can’t we get African rid- winning teams, that’s experience you west. Amnat, who weighed in exactly on the “But I want him more defensive. I think he gave ers to break through and to make a big can’t buy. “You can only learn from people 112lb flyweight limit, agreed that the contest up too much for going on the offensive and impact in world cycling.” One of five wild- like that if we want to move forward could turn into a classic. “We will put on the best he’s gotten hit a little bit too much in previous card teams chosen to race in this year’s quickly. The European riders have a lot of fight,” he said. But he vowed there was no way fights. “So we’ve been working on putting both event, MTN-Qhubeka already have experi- value to add. “They can really help teach he was going to relinquish his crown, especially those aspects together for this fight. “He won’t ence of top level international cycling hav- the African riders the way it is to be living as his family had travelled from Thailand to see sit in the pocket too long anymore and let the ing competed in last year’s Vuelta a in Europe and to race on those roads.” his third world title defense. other guy fire back at him. This fight will be: Espana. They have several promising Former South African rider Jean-Pierre van “I would like to confirm that I will bring the score, get out.” —AFP young African cyclists and reinforced their Zyl believes that although there is a sym- ranks by signing Norwegian sprinter bolic aspect in allowing a young African Edvald Boasson Hagen, one of the top team compete, they can also make an names in the successful Sky team. impact. “Surely it’s marketing, but I also But it is the home-grown African talent think that the riders in the Tour de France starting to emerge that is striking at will be competitive,” said van Zyl. Qhubeka, whose name means progress in “They’ve showed themselves that zulu. “We’ve taken the best talent we they were good in the Vuelta Espana so I could find in Africa into our team and I can’t see it being a problem. I can’t see it think the Eritrean riders could make a big being bad for either.” Qhubeka’s rise has impact on the Tour in 2015,” Ryder pre- been meteoric since being created in dicted. Climber Natnael Berhane, who 2007. In 2013 they became the first pro- won the Tour of Turkey in 2013, has joined fessional African team when joining the the group and will race alongside fellow second division of cycling and being Eritrean Daniel Teklehaimanot. Another included on the Continental Tour. “Their Eritrean, 20-year-old Merhawi Kudus, is participation in the Tour will help accel- considered a promising prospect, along erate the progression of African cycling,” with South Africa’s Louis Meintjes, 22. the Tour’s director Christian Prudhomme “The first part we will focus on our said. “The opening up to the world (of European riders in a classic style racing on the Tour) continues.” Qhubeka will also the cobblestones in France and in north- take part in June’s Criterium du ern Europe too,” explained Ryder. “Our Dauphine, which alongside the Tour of MACAU: China’s double Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming (left) poses with Thailand’s African riders are very good at climbing, Switzerland is one of the two main pre- Amnat Ruenroeng for photos during the weigh-in for their IBF flyweight title boxing match at they are very light, very strong, so we’ll Tour warm-up events. — AFP the Venetian Macao in Macau yesterday. Zou waited until his 30s to begin his professional boxing career, and he has been in a hurry ever since. — AP SPORTS SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

LOS ANGELES: Montreal Canadiens defenseman Tom Gilbert (right) scores on Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick during the second period of an NHL hockey game on Thursday, March 5, 2015. — AP Philadelphia Flyers top Blues 3-1

PHILADELPHIA: Michael Del Zotto and Wayne Simmonds rebounded from back-to-back losses in California with its first lift Dallas over Florida. Sceviourís goal came on a backhand scored third-period goals to rally the Philadelphia Flyers to a 3-1 point on a four-game West Coast trip. The Canadiens have lost shot past goalie Dan Ellis in the third round. The Stars won their win over the St Louis Blues on Thursday night. Del Zotto and three straight for the first time since early December. second game in a row after losing the previous six. The Simmonds helped the Flyers erase a 1-0 hole and give them an Panthers have lost two straight. Alex Goligoski, Shawn Horcoff important two points in the Eastern Conference playoff chase. FLAMES 4, BRUINS 3, SO and Curtis McKenzie scored in regulation for the Stars. Kari Michael Raffl scored an empty-net goal to seal the victory. Steve Sean Monahan scored Calgaryís first goal at Boston in more Lehtonen allowed three goals on 14 shots before being Mason stopped 28 shots for the Flyers Jaden Schwartz scored than eight years, and the Flames earned their first road win removed from the game at 12:28 of the second. Jhonas Enroth his 21st goal for the Blues. Brian Elliott was stout in making 28 against the Bruins since 2003 with a shootout victory. David stopped 10 shots. Jonathan Huberdeau, Dmitry Kulikov and saves for a Blues team trying to gain ground in the Central Schlemko ended the shootout in the eighth round with a series Brandon Pirri scored for the Panthers. Ellis, called up from San Division and Western Conference. of fakes on Boston goalie Tuukka Rask, who wasnít ready for the Antonio of the AHL on Wednesday, due to injuries to goalies last one as Schlemko tapped the puck into the net to clinch Roberto Luongo and Al Montoya, made 29 saves in his first NHL ISLANDERS 4, PREDATORS 3 Calgaryís first win at Boston since December 2003. Jiri Hudler appearance this season. Brock Nelson scored with 6:08 left, helping the New York and Johnny Gaudreau also scored for the Flames in regulation, Islanders rally after blowing a two-goal lead in the third period and Karri Ramo made 34 saves, then allowed just one puck past LIGHTNING 4, MAPLE LEAFS 2 with a win over slumping Nashville, which lost its season-worst him in the shootout when Patrice Bergeron scored to open the Ben Bishop made 25 saves, and Tampa Bay topped Toronto. fifth straight game. The Islanders moved back atop the seventh round. Brad Marchand and Milan Lucic scored for the Nikita Kucherov, Ryan Callahan, Vladislav Namestnikov and Alex Metropolitan Division ahead of the idle Rangers and swept the Bruins, and Loui Eriksson added a third-period goal to tie at 3-all Killorn scored for Tampa Bay. Steven Stamkos added two assists. season series with Nashville for the first time. The Islanders had and force overtime. Rask finished with 29 saves. David Booth and Richard Panik had goals for the Maple Leafs. been 2-7 in Nashville, is second in the Western Conference. Kucherov opened the scoring at 4:25 of the first, snapping a Jaroslav Halak made 28 saves as the Islanders snapped a two- WILD 2, CAPITALS 1 wrist shot past goalie Jonathan Bernier. Callahan added a first- game skid. John Tavares had a goal and an assist, and Anders Jason Pominville scored two third-period goals, Devan period goal on a deflection off the stick of defenseman Eric Lee and Nick Leddy also had goals. Johnny Boychuk added two Dubnyk made 24 saves, and Minnesota rallied to edge Brewer for his 21st of the season. assists. Colin Wilson, Craig Smith and Mike Ribeiro scored goals Washington. Pominville tied it with his 14th goal of the season for the Predators. off a scramble in front of the net at 9:19, then blasted a high COYOTES 3, CANUCKS 2, SO shot past Braden Holtby from the left circle with 5:32 left after a Sam Gagner scored the lone goal in the shootout, helping KINGS 4, CANADIENS 3, SO Washington turnover in the neutral zone. Holtby made 28 saves Arizona snap a 10-game losing streak with a victory over Marian Gaborikís second power-play goal tied it with 45 sec- for the Capitals, who were without NHL goals leader Alex Vancouver. Mike Smith kept the Canucks off the scoreboard in onds left in regulation, and he scored again in the shootout as Ovechkin, who is day to day with a lower-body injury. Zach the shootout after the Coyotes allowed two third-period goals Los Angeles rallied to beat Montreal. Jeff Carter also scored in Parise had two assists for Minnesota, which has won four to relinquish a 2-0 lead. Smith finished with 32 saves for Arizona, regulation and the shootout, and Anze Kopitar scored in the straight and 15 of 18. Curtis Glencross scored for the Capitals, which hadnít won since Feb. 9 at Chicago and hadnít earned a fourth round before Lars Eller put a shot off the post to end Los his 10th of the season and first since coming to Washington victory at home since Jan. 8 against Winnipeg. Tobias Rieder and Angelesí second shootout victory in eight tries this season. The from Calgary in a trade on Sunday. The Wild have allowed just BJ Crombeen scored in regulation for the Coyotes, who have defending Stanley Cup champions have won 10 of 13 overall, 12 goals in eight games. Dubnyk has started a franchise-record four straight wins at home over the Canucks, dating to last sea- staying even with Calgary in third place in the Pacific Division. 22 straight games with the Wild. He is 17-3-1 with a 1.62 goals- son. Vancouverís Eddie Lack stopped six shots in overtime, but Max Pacioretty scored in the third period and again in the against average in that span. couldnít get to Gagnerís hard forehand in the shootout. Lack shootout for the Canadiens, who rallied from an early two-goal had 33 saves, and Chris Higgins and Radim Vrbata had goals for deficit. Tom Gilbert and Brendan Gallagher scored 94 seconds STARS 4, PANTHERS 3, SO the Canucks. Vrbataís goal came with 53 seconds left in regula- apart to tie it in the second period for the Canadiens. Montreal Colton Sceviour scored the winning goal in the shootout to tion.— AP SPORTS SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015 McLaren braced for troubled start to new Honda era

LONDON: McLaren start the Formula One season in Australia with was sure to encounter teething problems along the way. Even with no memory of the last 20 years and talking as if he was a 13-year-old star signing Fernando Alonso absent and recovering from concussion, the dominant Mercedes engine on board last year, McLaren still failed kart racer. This was not the start envisaged when Alonso’s return to a Honda engine that has yet to run sweetly and a car that has spent to win a race and have not won a championship since Lewis McLaren, the team he left under a cloud in 2007, was trumpeted as more time in the garage than testing on track. Hamilton’s first in 2008. “Of course we’re prepared for a steep learning the start of a brave new era. Jenson Button, the 2009 champion, will curve,” Spaniard Alonso said in January when the tightly-packaged instead be partnered by Danish reserve Kevin Magnussen-a flashback Crisis? What crisis? new car was presented. “You don’t expect to be at the top of the to 2014 when they were together-with Alonso scheduled to return in The team’s racing director Eric Boullier, a Frenchman with enough mountain the day you start climbing,” added group head Ron Dennis Malaysia. McLaren have said they do not expect to be fully competi- sangfroid to match any English stiff upper lip, is certainly not about to at a launch in Tokyo last month. tive until at least the start of the European season in Spain, round five panic even if others are already predicting a long, hard slog ahead. “We are very much preparing for the climb, and it’s going to be a of the championship, but they had expected to do more in testing. “It’s true that we didn’t do as many laps as we wanted. It’s true that it’s challenging climb. But it’s a climb that both Honda and McLaren have The figures from the final four days in Barcelona made depressing going to hurt the development of the car... but we will recover,” he made several times together.” Alonso’s accident in the second reading: While Sauber completed a whopping 545 laps, and all the assured reporters at the end of the final pre-season test in Barcelona. Barcelona test, with the double champion spending three nights in other teams managed at least 350, McLaren put in only 177. Button “It’s not that negative or disappointing... all the systems on the engine hospital, has made the climb that much steeper and left the team bat- did 100 of those on one day, saying it felt more like 1,000 after all the are working, cooling is working. The base is exactly as per plan.” ting off conspiracy theories and speculation about what happened. team’s previous troubles. “We won’t be as ready as we would like but McLaren, the second most successful team in the sport after Ferrari in McLaren have ruled out mechanical failure and dismissed speculation we will do our best, obviously,” said Boullier. “The positive is that terms of race wins, always knew 2015 would be a difficult year. that the driver was rendered unconscious by an electric shock from everything is working as per design and plan. The reliability is still a A new partnership with Honda, the Japanese engine manufacturer the car’s energy recovery system. concern, clearly. I don’t know how long it is going to take (to improve). that powered the team in some of their greatest years with Ayrton But the stories keep coming. One newspaper report emerging “I think it is going to take a few races but we should be at least maybe Senna and Alain Prost, may take McLaren back to the summit but it from Spain on Thursday suggested Alonso woke up in hospital with by Europe ready to be more competitive.” — Reuters Trail Blazers extend lead One year after changes, men’s PORTLAND: Portland pulled away in the second half to beat Dallas 94-75 on Thursday, as the Trail Blazers extended their lead in the NBA basketball back Northwest Division. The Blazers widened their advantage over Oklahoma City, which lost a close contest against Chicago in the day’s other game. LaMarcus Aldridge had 17 points and 12 rebounds for to old form Portland. It was Portland’s fifth straight win but it was costly: Starting guard Wesley Matthews had to be helped off the court with a left foot CINCINNATI: One year after the NCAA injury early in the third quarter. He did not return and the extent of changed how rules were enforced to open up the injury was uncertain. Nicolas Batum added 15 points and a sea- the game, men’s basketball looks a lot like it son-high 12 rebounds for Portland, which had four players in double once did. Fouls, free throws and scoring figures despite coming off back-to-back games. Monta Ellis and increased at the start of last season with a new Amare Stoudemire each had 12 points for the Mavericks, who saw emphasis on eliminating some of the physical the return of veteran center Tyson Chandler after a three-game play, especially around the basket. Those statis- absence. tics leveled off as the season went along - and they are now back to near where they were BULLS 108, THUNDER 105 two years ago. It’s like college basketball has E’Twaun Moore’s go-ahead three-pointer with 2.1 seconds gone back in time. “It’s almost like when you remaining helped Chicago withstand another monster night from clean out your garage in the spring, get it nice Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook in a 108-105 NBA triumph over and orderly and it looks great, and then over the Thunder on Thursday. Moore, whose on-court time has been time you put the bicycle here, throw a couple boosted by the Bulls recent spate of injuries, scored 13 of his career- of balls there,” Xavier coach Chris Mack said. high 19 points in the fourth quarter. Fellow reserve Nikola Mirotic, an “You don’t have time to clean it again and NBA rookie from Montenegro, added 14 of his 216 points in the final the next thing you know, it looks like your period while Pau Gasol and Mike Dunleavey contributed 21 points garage from a year ago. I think that’s literally apiece for Chicago. The Bulls notched their third straight win, despite what has happened to our game.” The NCAA trailing by as many as 16 and by 10 with less than nine minutes left to decided to crack down on physical play after play. All-Star guard Westbrook rode a streak of four successive triple- the 2012-13 season, when scoring ended up at doubles into the contest-the longest such stretch since former Bulls just 66.8 points per game, according to STATS. great Michael Jordan had seven on the trot from March 25-April 6, That was its lowest since 1951-52, before the 1989. shot clock and long before the 3-pointer. Westbrook did notch a franchise-record third straight 40-point Officials were told to stop defensive players performance, pouring in 43. But he was shy of double-digits in two from using their forearms or hands to gain other statistical categories with seven assists and eight rebounds. All advantage. They couldn’t impede a player cut- but unstoppable early in the game, Westbrook connected on just two ting through the lane. The block-charge call of nine shots from the floor in the fourth and turned the ball over was tweaked. after Moore’s three-pointer put the Bulls ahead. “Just try to make him Fouls, free throws and scoring all went up, shoot tough shots,” Moore said of the Bulls’ strategy for slowing though the numbers leveled off and began Westbrook. “He’s a great player. He was on a streak with the triple- receding as the season went along, according doubles. I know he wanted it tonight, but we needed the victory.” to STATS. Now, the numbers are much closer Serge Ibaka added 25 points and nine rebounds for the Thunder, to where they were two years ago. After the who battled to a 123-118 overtime win over Philadelphia on crackdown, scoring jumped to 74.5 points the Wednesday. Whether fatigue was setting in or not, the Thunder went following November. It was back down to 67.8 scoreless for more than four minutes of the final 5:11. Chicago scored last month, according to STATS. Personal fouls eight straight points in that span to pull within 100-99, and Oklahoma and free throws also are down noticeably from City were still up by one, 105-104, with less than 30 seconds remain- the start of last season, though still slightly ing. After a Westbrook miss, the Bulls called timeout with 4.9 seconds higher than before the rules were tweaked. remaining. On the ensuing inbounds pass to Gasol, the Spaniard After foul fests at the start of last season that made a quick throw to Moore in the corner. Moore, with Westbrook averaged 24.1 free throws per team in bearing down on him, sank the long-range shot to give the Bulls a November, the number is down to 20.5. 107-105 lead. On the Thunder’s next possession, Westbrook, trapped by So, what happened? Chicago’s Joakim Noah and Moore, accidentally stepped out of Coaches and players think that everyone - bounds and Chicago held on as the clock ticked down. Gasol pulled fans and referees included - quickly tired of down 12 rebounds for the Bulls while an energetic Noah scored those hard-to-watch games with all the free four points with 12 rebounds and nine assists for Chicago, who throws at the start of last season. “I think they were without former NBA Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose, All- saw maybe a little backlash: ‘Hey, we’re not Star Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson, all nursing injuries. The Thunder here to watch people shoot free throws,’” were without reigning MVP Kevin Durant, while Westbrook played Xavier center Matt Stainbrook said. “Although in a clear plastic protective mask for the second straight game. He PORTLAND: Portland Trail Blazers’ Alonzo Gee scores against Dallas the points go up, the excitement doesn’t nec- had missed one contest after surgery at the weekend to repair a Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki, (left) during the second half of an NBA basketball essarily go up with that.”—AP facial fracture. — Agencies game in Portland on Thursday, March 5, 2015. — AP SPORTS SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

Spanish League Preview New-look Valencia threaten La Liga elite

BARCELONA: Quietly and efficiently Valencia which runs most and wins back most balls in are building up steam under new owner Peter the opposition half,” Nuno told Marca. “(My Spanish League table Lim and tomorrow face champions Atletico dream) is to see Valencia competing with the Madrid ready to fight for third place in La Liga. best clubs in the world. To be in the elite.” MADRID: Spanish La Liga table ahead of this Valencia are a new-look side thanks to the Before Lim’s arrival, Valencia were a debt-rid- weekend’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, investment of Singapore billionaire Lim and, den club who sold their best players, but are goals for, goals against, points): through solid displays rather than dashing now building for the future. “They (the play- Real Madrid 25 20 1 4 75 23 61 football, they are on course to complete their ers) have been able to overcome the problem- Barcelona 25 19 2 4 70 15 59 aim of qualifying for the Champions League. atic situation that the club was in before and I Atletico Madrid 25 17 3 5 50 22 54 Atletico drew 0-0 with Sevilla last weekend find myself with a team that is completely Valencia 25 16 5 4 45 21 53 to leave Valencia, who won 2-0 at Real willing and with a lot of drive,” Nuno said. “All Sevilla 25 14 4 7 42 30 46 Sociedad, just one point behind on 53 ahead I do is challenge the players to push them- Villarreal 25 13 6 6 39 23 45 of their showdown at the Calderon. Under selves to their limit.” Malaga 25 12 5 8 29 29 41 pragmatic coach Nuno Espirito Santo, they Lim, who was linked with other clubs Celta Vigo 25 8 8 9 26 25 32 have concentrated on building from the back including Atletico Madrid prior to buying Espanyol 25 9 5 11 32 36 32 with Nicolas Otamendi and Shkodran Mustafi Valencia, has always sought to keep himself Athletic Bilbao 25 8 6 11 22 31 30 providing a formidable centre-half pairing. out of the limelight. “He is someone who Rayo Vallecano 25 9 2 14 28 43 29 Youth product Jose Luis Gaya has established knows a lot about football,” Nuno said. “He Real Sociedad 25 6 9 10 28 36 27 himself as one of the top left backs in La Liga watches a lot of football including all Eibar 25 7 6 12 25 34 27 and their defense is the second meanest in Valencia’s matches even though they are at Getafe 25 7 5 13 22 35 26 the top flight behind Barcelona, having con- crazy times for him in his country. He enjoys Deportivo La C 25 6 7 12 20 38 25 ceded just 21 goals. them and has his opinions.” Lim hopes to build Almeria 25 6 6 13 22 39 24 In attack Alvaro Negredo was their mar- a team capable of winning the Champions Elche 25 6 6 13 22 45 24 quee signing from Manchester City and he is League and Nuno says the future is bright. “We Levante 25 5 7 13 21 48 22 now starting to deliver after a slow start ham- have the youngest squad in the league who Granada 25 3 10 12 16 40 19 pered by injury. “Our concept of playing is haven’t yet realized their potential and this Cordoba 25 3 9 13 18 39 18 clear for everyone to see. We are the team gives me a lot of optimism.”—Reuters

Tough trip to euphoric Athletic awaits Madrid Matches on TV MADRID: Real Madrid’s search for a return to form will be severely tested when the La the club remains hopeful he will be fit to face Madrid and Manchester City later this (Local Timings) Liga leaders travel to face an Athletic Bilbao side still high from reaching the Copa del month. Rey final today. Madrid saw their advantage over Barcelona at the top of the table cut Luis Suarez extended his scoring streak to five goals in five games in that match as ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE to two points after being held 1-1 at home by Villarreal last weekend. Los Blancos he becomes an increasingly important part of a deadly front three also including QPR v Tottenham have dropped seven points in their 10 La Liga matches since ending a trophy-laden Argentina and Brazil captains Lionel Messi and Neymar. “Every week I try to help the 18:00 2014 on a 22-game winning run. team and I feel better on the pitch all the time,” said Suarez. “For a striker, it always beIN SPORTS 11 HD And with a potentially decisive El Clasico clash with Barcelona now just two weeks makes you happy to score to help the team no matter what the competition is. The away, Madrid can’t afford many more slip-ups in their quest for just a second La Liga most important thing is to be useful.” The game of the weekend, however, comes at SPANISH LEAGUE title in seven seasons. However, Bilbao is often a treacherous destination for the the Vicente Calderon as third faces fourth when Atletico Madrid host Valencia. A run Deportivo v Sevilla 18:00 European champions with last season’s 1-1 draw in which Cristiano Ronaldo was sent- of four consecutive wins has brought Valencia to within a point of the champions as off a case in point. After a difficult campaign, Athletic also come into the game in high they edge closer to a return to the Champions League next season. beIN SPORTS 13 HD spirits having set up a Cup final against Barcelona for the third time in seven years “The goal is to get into the Champions League; that is paramount. It’s what we on beIN SPORTS 1 HD thanks to a 2-0 win at Espanyol on Wednesday. the team have in our minds,” Valencia striker Paco Alcacer told the club’s website. Athletic de Bilbao v Real Madrid 20:00 The Basques have also managed back-to-back league wins against Rayo Vallecano “Obviously we are playing against the reigning champions, which makes things very beIN SPORTS 14 HD and Eibar to ease any relegation fears.Madrid will again be without the injured trio of difficult. “What is perfectly clear is that we will try to get what we can from the game. beIN SPORTS 2 HD James Rodriguez, Sergio Ramos and Sami Khedira, whilst Luka Modric remains unlike- We want to take the three points, but they are the favorites.” Atletico will be without Elche v Almeria 22:00 ly to feature despite stepping up the intensity of his training after a three month their top scorer in La Liga Antoine Griezmann due to suspension, so Fernando Torres absence due to a thigh muscle problem. Barcelona have an easier task on paper when is expected to partner Mario Mandzukic in attack. However, Diego Simeone’s men will beIN SPORTS 2 HD they entertain Rayo Vallecano in the tomorrow’s lunchtime kick-off. The Catalans will be boosted by the return of Spanish international Koke to the starting line-up after he beIN SPORTS 14 HD be without Sergio Busquets, who suffered a high ankle sprain in the 3-1 win over made his comeback as a substitute from a hamstring injury last weekend in a 0-0 draw Villarreal in midweek which sealed a 6-2 aggregate victory in their Cup semi-final, but at Sevilla. —AFP ITALIAN LEAGUE Sampdoria v Cagliari 20:00 German League table German League Preview beIN SPORTS 3 HD AC Milan v Hellas Verona 22:45 BERLIN: German Bundesliga table ahead of this beIN SPORTS 3 HD weekend’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, Bayern Munich wary of ‘tough’ goals for, goals against, points): GERMAN LEAGUE Bayern Munich 23 18 4 1 63 10 58 Hanover trip as Shakhtar loom Schalke 04 v Hoffenheim 17:30 VfL Wolfsburg 23 15 5 3 53 27 50 BERLIN: Bayern Munich, fresh from reaching the Sebastian Rode is not anticipating an easy ride. “It’s Bor. Moenche 23 11 7 5 31 18 40 beIN SPORTS 8 HD German Cup quarter-finals, tune up for next week’s fine- going to be tough,” he told Hanover’s official website. Hannover 96 v Bayern Munich 17:30 Bayer Leverkusen 23 9 9 5 37 29 36 ly-balanced Champions League tie with a trip to Hanover “They (Hanover) are in a bad run of form at the moment Schalke 04 23 10 5 8 32 27 35 today. Pep Guardiola’s men host Shakhtar Donetsk next but have lots of quality in their ranks. We need to con- beIN SPORTS 4 HD Augsburg 23 11 2 10 32 30 35 Wednesday in the Champions League last 16 return leg, centrate throughout the game and give it our all.” With Hamburger v Dortmund 17:30 Hoffenheim 23 9 6 8 36 35 33 a fortnight after the first leg in Ukraine ended 0-0. While Shakhtar looming, Guardiola may well tinker with his beIN SPORTS 2 HD Eintracht Frankfurt 23 8 7 8 42 45 31 goals were absent in Lviv, it’s been an altogether differ- team line-up. Werder Bremen 23 8 6 9 39 49 30 ent story on the domestic front, with 20 goals in their last Like Bayern, Borussia Dortmund are also through to FRENCH LEAGUE four Bundesliga run outs. February wins against Stuttgart the Cup last eight and have a Champions League last 16 Borussia Dortmund 23 8 4 11 31 31 28 PSG v Racing Club de Lens 19:00 (2-0), Hamburg (8-0), Paderborn (6-0) and last weekend’s second leg against Juventus later this month. Bottom of Hanover 96 23 7 6 10 26 34 27 4-1 defeat of Cologne have seen Bayern go eight points the table at the start of the month, Dortmund have beIN SPORTS 5 HD Mainz 05 23 5 10 8 30 33 25 clear of Vfl Wolfsburg at the top of the Bundesliga. climbed to 10th after four consecutive wins. They are on Evian Thonon v Monaco 22:00 Cologne 23 6 7 10 21 29 25 If the match goes according to the form book and the road at a Hamburg side hovering precariously one beIN SPORTS 8 HD Hertha Berlin 23 7 3 13 28 42 24 Bayern brush aside a Hanover team that is winless in point above the relegation zone. Dortmund coach Bastia v Nice 22:00 Hamburg 23 6 6 11 16 33 24 2015 then it will mark a personal milestone for Arjen Jurgen Klopp will likely be without star player Marco Paderborn 23 5 8 10 23 43 23 Robben. If the 31-year-old Dutch international makes an Reus, who had to come off after 25 minutes of Tuesday’s beIN SPORTS 7 HD Caen v Girondins de Bordeaux 22:00 Freiburg 23 4 10 9 24 32 22 appearance he will have established a new Bundesliga Cup win with a bruised knee. Despite their progress VfB Stuttgart 23 4 7 12 24 41 19 record for a player of 100 wins in only 126 games. Klopp this week dismissed talk of sealing Champions beIN SPORTS 5 HD Despite the apparent gulf in class Bayern midfielder League qualification next season. —AFP SPORTS SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

Italian League Preview French League Preview Juve look to PSG firing on four fronts as tighten lead battle at the Bridge looms

MILAN: The coaching future of former AC Milan star Filippo Inzaghi PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain have the perfect opportunity to go top of could hinge on the ailing Italian giants’ home fixture with Verona Ligue 1 today, when they host lowly Lens ahead of their Champions French League table today, as Juventus look to tighten their grip at the top of Serie A. League showdown against Chelsea in London next Wednesday. Laurent Two days before Juventus host Sassuolo looking to reinforce their Blanc’s expensively assembled unit, have flattered to deceive with PARIS: French league table ahead of the weekend’s matches nine-point lead over Roma - in action away to Chievo tomorrow - inconsistent league performances as they bid to defend their French (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Milan host Andrea Mandorlini’s visitors in full crisis mode. Despite title, but are still in four competitions as the season enters its decisive Lyon 27 16 6 5 51 21 54 avoiding defeat in their past two games, a win against relegation- phase. A domestic treble remains on track after a 2-0 French League Paris SG 27 14 11 2 46 23 53 threatened Cesena and a scoreless draw last week away to Chievo Cup win in midweek over Monaco put them into the semi-finals and the have done little to appease Milan’s detractors. team already have the League Cup final to look forward to against Marseille 27 15 5 7 50 30 50 The injury list is growing, too, with captain Riccardo Montolivo Bastia. Monaco 26 12 8 6 26 19 44 and fellow midfielder Nigel De Jong expected to be sidelined today And in Ligue 1 PSG only trail Lyon in the league by one point with 11 Saint-Etienne 27 11 10 6 30 22 43 after suffering thigh injury knocks last week. Milan are already 24 matches to play as PSG continue to pursue their dream of winning the Montpellier 26 12 6 8 35 25 42 points behind Juventus and 11 behind Napoli in the third and last Champions League. Meaning their clash at Stamford Bridge will be the Bordeaux 27 11 9 7 32 32 42 Champions League qualifying place, prompting an emergency visit biggest match of their season so far. Blanc has managed to focus his Nantes 27 9 9 9 21 26 36 to the club’s Milanello training ground by joint CEO Adriano Galliani squad in domestic play but admits his players are all thinking about the Lille 27 9 8 10 23 24 35 in midweek. battle against Jose Mourinho’s Premier League leaders. A 1-1 draw at Rennes 27 9 8 10 27 34 35 Galliani was said to have left unimpressed with Inzaghi’s expla- the Parc des Princes, puts the Blues ahead on away goals, but the match Guingamp 27 11 2 14 30 39 35 nations for the club’s current mediocrity, with some reports sug- is still well balanced. Caen 27 9 7 11 42 40 34 gesting the former Rossoneri striker could be sacked if Milan fail to “Everyone has the Chelsea match on their minds but there is also a Nice 27 9 7 11 29 32 34 beat Verona.Verona have conceded defeat to Milan on their last complicated match against Lens on Saturday afternoon for which I Bastia 27 8 9 10 28 30 33 two visits to the San Siro but veteran striker Luca Toni is in fine fettle hope to get back (Yohan) Cabaye and Thiago Motta,” said Blanc, who Reims 27 8 8 11 31 43 32 having scored the winner in a precious 2-1 away defeat of Cagliari added he would rotate the squad ahead of the Chelsea match. PSG Evian/Thonon 27 10 2 15 29 41 32 last week. Milan defender Luca Antonelli warned: “The match defender Lucas Digne also admitted the challenge of winning four com- against Verona will be tough. Toni is deciding matches at the Lorient 27 9 4 14 31 35 31 petitions is fuelling motivation to the squad. “At the moment we’re the Toulouse 27 8 5 14 28 41 29 moment.” Antonelli is under no illusions about Milan’s work load if only club in Europe competing on all fronts and it’s very important for they are to return to European competition next season: “From here Lens 27 5 7 15 25 39 22 us to achieve all of our objectives.” Lyon’s grip at the top of the pack, has Metz 27 5 7 15 20 38 22 to the end there will be thirteen finals for us, we’ll do everything we wobbled after a poor showing last weekend when they were deserved- can to get back into Europe.” ly beaten 2-1 by Lille, and they will be tested on the road again this Juventus host Sassuolo on Monday looking to maintain their Sunday when they travel to in-form Montpellier. charge towards a fourth consecutive title, but the visitors will be The south-coast club, who won their only French title in 2012 under The team are six points behind Marseille, with a game in hand, while buoyed after Fiorentina beat the champions 2-1 in the first leg of current Lille coach Rene Girard, have risen to sixth place in the table as they will go into the return leg against Arsenal, on March 17, as strong their Italian Cup semi-final on Thursday to end the Bianconeri’s 42- the chasing pack that includes Monaco, Saint-Etienne and Bordeaux favorites to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2004 when game unbeaten run at home. Juve drew 1-1 away to injury-hit continue to haunt faltering Marseille in third. Monaco, while they were they lost the final against Mourinho’s Porto. Saint-Etienne, a further Roma last week to further underline their status as champions-in- beaten in Cup action in Paris on Wednesday, are a true threat to Marcelo point back in fifth, scraped through to the French Cup last four with a waiting and could end the weekend with an even bigger cushion if Bielsa’s feuding side and their 3-1 Champions League win at Arsenal ten penalty shootout win at third division Boulogne on Tuesday, but can the Giallorossi fail to account for Chievo in Verona. Like Milan, days ago went down as one of the shocks of the European season. now focus on Ligue 1 objectives on friendlier territory at home to Roma are counting the costs of a growing injury list and with Leonardo Jardim, their Portuguese coach in his first season at the Louis Lorient on Sunday. Marseille will raise the weekend curtain at relega- defenders Vasilis Torosidis and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa both serving II stadium, has fended off his critics with a string of excellent results tion-threatened Toulouse on Friday while Bordeaux travel to improving one-game suspensions English defender Ashley Cole could be in since Christmas as they get set to travel to Evian. Normandy side Caen as part of a six match slate today. —AFP line for a rare start. Now with seven draws from their last eight league outings, Roma are desperate to get back to winning ways.”We can’t lose focus because this season is far from over,” said Roma’s French coach Rudi Garcia, whose side beat Feyenoord over two legs to Spurs are back on qualify for the last 16 of the Europa League last week. “We still have everything to give in this championship race, plus we still have the Europa League to play for. There’s no quitting now.” Defeat in Verona would allow Napoli to close to within a point of Roma, pro- track says Mason viding Rafael Benitez’s men account for Inter Milan at the San Paolo in Sunday’s late game. —AFP LONDON: Ryan Mason believes Tottenham six days, it was huge for us to get back to win- midweek home defeat to Arsenal leaving Italian League table have overcome the disappointment of last ning ways,” Mason said. “Wembley was disap- Rangers in the bottom three, three points week’s cup failures and are back on track in pointing. We felt during the game we were a adrift of safety. And Sandro knows the visit the race to qualify for the Champions League. bit naive at times but it’s a learning curve and of Spurs will present an equally testing MILAN: Italian Serie A table ahead of this weekend’s games Mauricio Pochettino’s side face QPR at Loftus hopefully we’ll get the chance to play in more challenge. “Of course, I’m looking forward (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Road this weekend with a Premier League top finals and to win at Wembley.” to it. But it won’t be any easier. Arsenal and Juventus 25 17 7 1 52 14 58 four spot their sole remaining target after exit- Spurs are much the same level,” he said. ing the Europa League at the hands of Better statistics “We played well in the first half against Roma 25 13 10 2 38 19 49 Fiorentina three days before tomorrow’s Mason struck his first Premier League Arsenal, but they have two chances and Napoli 25 13 6 6 44 31 45 League Cup final defeat against Chelsea. goal against Swansea while Nacer Chadli score from both. “We show we can play Lazio 25 13 4 8 43 27 43 Tottenham’s bruised morale was at least par- took his season tally to eight league goals, well against the top teams - but we cannot Fiorentina 25 11 9 5 37 24 42 tially restored with the 3-2 midweek victory and the Belgium winger is targeting double keep losing. We need a win to rebuild confi- Sampdoria 25 9 12 4 32 28 39 over Swansea that ensured Spurs kept pace figures. “I have much better statistics than dence in the changing room, and if we can Genoa 24 9 9 6 36 29 36 with their main rivals towards the head of the last season and I want to improve, I want to score an early goal, we can win.” Torino 25 9 9 7 28 25 36 table. That result left them in seventh place, be a better player,” he said. “I’ve played the And Rangers forward Bobby Zamora Inter Milan 25 9 8 8 39 32 35 six points behind Manchester United who lie last two games, played 90 minutes and I believes Chris Ramsey’s side must learn AC Milan 25 8 10 7 35 30 34 fourth, but having played a game less. feel better and better every week and I quickly if they are to avoid another defeat Palermo 25 8 10 7 38 39 34 And with Louis van Gaal’s side on FA Cup think there is more to come. “I want to that will leave them deeper in trouble. “The Sassuolo 25 6 11 8 29 38 29 duty on Monday, victory over struggling QPR score more than 10 goals and help the manager has worked on some bits and Udinese 24 7 7 10 26 32 28 today will close the gap and give Pochettino’s team to win games. I’m very happy to score pieces with us and I don’t think we did our Empoli 25 5 13 7 25 27 28 team another timely lift. It may take more and it’s a good feeling to win again. “We job as he planned against Arsenal,” Zamora Verona 25 7 7 11 29 44 28 than a couple of wins to get the 2-0 Wembley had to win, we had to bounce back and we said. “Performances have been good. We Chievo 25 6 7 12 18 30 25 defeat against Chelsea completely out of the did that. That was most important.” have been so close in so many games but Atalanta 25 5 8 12 22 37 23 system, but young midfielder Mason believes Tottenham face a reunion with Sandro who close isn’t enough really. “We could do with Cagliari 25 4 8 13 32 47 20 the hard-fought victory over Swansea was a left White Hart Lane to join QPR at the start not playing well and not working hard but Cesena 25 4 7 14 24 47 19 major step in the right direction. “The win of the season. getting three points as we are doing that Parma 23 3 2 18 20 47 10 against Swansea was massive after Wembley The Brazilian midfielder is locked in a rel- every week but not getting the points we and going out of two competitions in the last egation battle with the Hoops, with the deserve.” —AFP SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

Jos Buttler backs N Zealand faces selection England recovery

ADELAIDE: Jos Buttler expects England to resur- dilemma at Cricket WCup rect their World Cup campaign, saying playing under pressure may just be what the struggling NAPIER: team needs ahead of the last two must-win New Zealand’s Cricket World Cup games. Eoin Morgan’s side, who have just one match against Afghanistan tomorrow, which win in four Pool A matches, must defeat shaped as one of its least demanding in Pool Bangladesh in Adelaide on Monday and min- A, might instead become one of its most nows Afghanistan in Sydney on March 13 if they compounding. Afghanistan is unlikely to dis- to have a chance of staying afloat in the tourna- turb New Zealand’s unbeaten progress ment. Even that may not be enough if through the tournament - the tournament Bangladesh, who have five points to England’s co-hosts top the group with four wins - but two, upset co-hosts New Zealand in Hamilton on there are issues around the match which may March 13 to squeak through to the quarter- have to be carefully negotiated. The largest of finals. those is around selection. New Zealand has But Buttler said England were confident they used the same 11 for every match so far, leav- could turn their fortunes around. “We are confi- ing the four additional members of its squad dent about ourselves and back the quality we without match practice. have,” said the England wicket-keeper, who is Its campaign has been carefully planned also vice-captain to Morgan. “We have not and it is likely coach Mike Hesson and captain played as well as we should have, or would have Brendon McCullum will know the lineup for liked to, but if we get near our best in these two Sunday but it hasn’t yet been revealed pub- games you would think we’re strong enough to licly, and there will be interest in seeing come out on top. “We have got to win two whether New Zealand gives fresh players a games of cricket and maybe it’s good to have run. McCullum indicated earlier that the four that pressure on ourselves. Hopefully, that will squad members who haven’t yet played - his bring out the performance that we need. “In brother Nathan, veteran seamer Kyle Mills, simple terms, we have got to play better than Mitchell McClenaghan and batsman Tom we have so far to get through to the quarter- Latham - will play during the pool stages. finals.” England have played the same combina- With matches remaining against Afghanistan tion in all four games, but Buttler suggested that and Bangladesh, that rotation now seems changes could be in the offing due to the des- possible. perate situation the team finds itself in. Mills and Latham are widely expected to Hard-hitting batsman Alex Hales, who pun- play against Afghanistan, Latham in place of dits said should have been in the XI from the all-rounder Corey Anderson and Mills for the start and who has played in Australia’s domestic young speedster Adam Milne. But the selec- Twenty20 Big Bash League, is expected to tion issues are delicate. Most importantly, it replace Gary Ballance. Buttler said the players has been eight days since New Zealand beat sidelined so far were waiting to get a chance Australia by one wicket at Eden Park and it and hoped the competition for places would will be another seven days, after Sunday’s benefit England. “The guys who are not in the match at McLean Park, before it plays its last side are desperate to put their hand up to say pool match against Bangladesh at Hamilton. they should be playing, and the guys who are in That means that any frontline players the side and have not performed as well as they stood down at Napier will go two weeks with- would have liked, want to get some form,” he out cricket before they have the chance to said. “That makes for healthy competition for return against Bangladesh. At the same time, the team.” coach Hesson is aware of giving the members Buttler backed Hales to come good-if he was of his squad who haven’t yet played a chance selected. “He is an explosive player and will be a to do so, should they be needed later in the fantastic player for England in the future,” said tournament. Hesson will also be conscious PERTH: Afghanistan’s Afsar Zazai jumps to avoid a bouncer during their Cricket Buttler. “I think he enjoys the big occasion. that batsmen such as Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott World Cup Pool A match against Australia in Perth. — AP There was that fantastic hundred he got against and Luke Ronchi have spent very little time at are up and doing what’s best for the team.” Scotland for its first ever victory in the World Sri Lanka in the World Twenty20 last year the crease - Brendon McCullum and Kane Veteran spinner Daniel Vettori wouldn’t Cup, had been “quite impressive.” “They have against what turned out to be the champions. “If Williamson have scored more than half of speculate Friday on selection, but said he a balanced line-up and ... a really good team,” he gets his chance I am sure that having sat on New Zealand’s runs - and they have to be giv- was sure Hesson and McCullum would have a he said. “Frontline bowling will be difficult the sidelines for a while he will be desperate to en the chance to bat whenever possible. decent plan. and they have some very good batters, so I do well.” England have lost just two of their 15 Fast bowler Tim Southee told reporters “The fact is most of the guys won’t have think there is a bit of desperation (for the New one-day internationals against Bangladesh, but that the four squad members who haven’t played for a week anyway so everyone’s in Zealanders) to get out there and play again. one of those defeats came in the previous World yet played were still a vital contribution to that situation where they’re ready for some “It’s been a long time between games and it’s Cup four years ago when the co-hosts won in the campaign. “They are training the house game time,” he said. “Whichever way Mike something that we are not used to. We play Chittagong by two wickets. — AFP down, bowling exceptionally well in the nets and Brendon go, the whole (squad) is ready every couple of days so once a week is a little and offering lots,” he said. “Yeah, their heads for it.” Vettori said Afghanistan, which beat bit of a challenge.”— AP Sri Lanka batsman Karunaratne out of WCup Spinner Prasanna approved as replacement

SYDNEY: Sri Lanka have suffered a double injury blow probably needs an operation,” Jayawardene told been approved as a replacement for Karunaratne, allow- with batsman Dimuth Karunaratne ruled out of the reporters at the ground. “I’m not sure how bad or long it ing the Sri Lankans the option of fielding a specialist spin- World Cup and spinner Rangana Herath likely to miss at will take but he’s definitely going back home. “With ner against Australia. Leg-spinner Prasanna has taken 21 least a week of action, Mahela Jayawardene said yester- Rangana, he’s had stitches in his fingers so we need to wickets in 22 internationals. Kusal Janith Perera, a left- day. Finalists at the last two World Cups, the Sri Lankans give him five or six days for him to heal properly then the handed batsman who has an average of 23.30 from 41 are second in Pool A behind New Zealand heading into stitches will come off then we’ll see how he progresses.” one-day internationals, has also been put on standby to tomorrow’s crunch match at the Sydney Cricket Ground The absence of Herath, who split the webbing in his bowl- replace Herath if required. Injury replacements for squad against Australia. They will have to take on the co-hosts ing hand trying to take a return chance off Jos Buttler in members are allowed at the discretion of tournament without left-handed batsman Karunaratne and left-arm the thumping defeat of England last Sunday, will be more organisers the ICC but must be permanent. Sri Lanka have spinner Herath, however. sorely felt on a ground which maintains a reputation for already lost leg-spinning all-rounder Jeevan Mendis and “Dimuth is unfortunate, he fractured his finger in field- offering something for the spinners. The International fast bowler Dhammika Prasad from their original squad ing practice yesterday so he’s been declared unfit, he Cricket Council confirmed that Seekkuge Prasanna had for the tournament. — Reuters SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

Opening woes continue to haunt Pakistan

ADELAIDE: A pair of comfortable wins after two losses to start his struggles with the bat, Jamshed has been extremely poor Khan had said wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed would fill the slot the World Cup have given a more settled look to Pakistan but in the outfield, his dropped catches making him the target of if required. While Pakistani media have called for the dashing the 1992 champions still seem to have no clue as to how to barracking from the crowd. Coach Waqar Younis said Pakistan Sarfraz to be given a chance as Shehzad’s partner, Younis is solve their opener problem. would need to go back to the drawing board. “We need an not convinced the 27-year-old has the right technique for con- Pakistan’s troubles started when all-rounder and regular opener as we don’t have a third option after the return of ditions in Australia and New Zealand. opener Mohammad Hafeez was ruled out with a calf muscle Hafeez,” Younis told reporters after Pakistan’s 129-run win “Sarfraz is a wicketkeeper-batsman and plays at number six injury a week before the World Cup, and the team flew out over United Arab Emirates in Napier on Wednesday. “It’s a or seven,” the former Pakistan fast bowler added. “You have to Nasir Jamshed as a replacement. Senior batsman Younus problem, there’s no doubt about that. We have two days see the conditions and no doubt Sarfraz is an asset. But you Khan, desperately in need of runs, was moved up to partner before our next match and we will sit down and rework our can’t bet on his career and what if his technique is not suited Ahmed Shehzad at the top in Pakistan’s opening match strategy on what our best 11 is.” to the conditions here?” Sarfraz has played 36 ODIs for against arch-rivals India but the experiment failed as the 37- Pakistan and his inclusion will also be a relief for Umar Akmal, year-old managed just six runs. Right blend who has been far from confident with the gloves. While the The out-of-form Younus lost his place in the wake of the 76- The string of failures at the top have meant Pakistan man- coach did not rule out a future role for the experienced run loss to their bitter rivals, giving Jamshed the chance to aged just 11, 0, 1 and 10 for the opening wicket in their four Younus, Pakistan must soon find the right blend with impor- claim the spot of the second opener. However, the 25-year-old matches at the World Cup thus far. When asked about the lack tant fixtures against South Africa and Ireland coming up in has since scored just five runs in his three outings. Adding to of a third opener in the Pakistan squad, chief selector Moin their campaign. — Reuters Zimbabwe target ‘crunch’ clash with Ireland in WCup

HOBART: Zimbabwe are convinced their clash with Ireland in Hobart today is the “crunch” game of their World Cup cam- paign. The Africans have won just one of their four games and are sixth in Pool B, but victory against William Porterfield’s side will put them back in the hunt for a quar- ter-final place. “It’s a crunch game for us, and it is for them too,” Zimbabwe wicket- keeper Brendan Taylor told reporters yes- terday. “We certainly targeted this game. We’re not taking them lightly. They’re a quality side when the game gets going.”So we need to win this and try to push for India as well. But we’re just not looking too far ahead. “We’re just focused on tomorrow, and hopefully the result will take care of itself.” An out-of-sorts Pakistan are in fourth on the table on four points, the same as Ireland, but face a fired-up South African side in Auckland also on Saturday and could be struggling if they lose that match. Pakistan face Ireland on March 15 in Adelaide, so the match at Bellerive has ram- PERTH: Indian supporters cheer during the 2015 Cricket World Cup Pool B match between the West Indies and India yesterday. — AFP ifications for all three sides heading into the final week of pool play. “Every game is pressure. If you are in a World Cup, you want to S Africa’s Steyn confident win everything. You want to be competi- tive at least,” Taylor said. “But I think there is always pressure. I think they’re going to feel a lot of pressure. They also need to win World Cup luck will turn this game.” Zimbabwe’s performances have been mostly productive, though they AUCKLAND: South African spearhead Dale don’t have anywhere to hide.” “There are only against the West Indies at Sydney last week. have not been able to get over the line Steyn said yesterday he believed a good person- ten wickets to take, and when Imran takes five Steyn said the shorter boundaries at Eden Park when in a position of strength. They let al return in a World Cup match was just around or Abbott takes four, there is not much for the would mean little to his skipper. “I really don’t South Africa off the hook in their opening the corner. The Proteas will head into today’s other bowlers to take. “So you have to do what think it (the dimensions) matters really. It game when David Miller and JP Duminy pool clash against Pakistan in Auckland with you have to do in order for your team to win. doesn’t matter if it’s a big ground or small put on a 256-run partnership to drive them Steyn, widely regarded as the world’s best fast I’m happy with that. I feel if we make our way ground, you’ll still find a way. That is the beauti- past 300. bowler, having taken just five wickets in four all the way to the final, I’m due to have a good ful thing about really good players. They don’t Pakistan also were pushed all the way matches at the tournament. Steyn, 31, has been game somewhere in there.” rely on conditions. before Zimbabwe fell 20 runs short of the overshadowed by Morne Morkel (nine wickets), “Great fast bowlers don’t have to worry victory target. Taylor, who will replace leg-spinner Imran Tahir (nine) and Kyle Abbott ‘Phenomenal’ De Villiers about whether the track is flat or green. They’ll injured captain Elton Chigumbura after the (six in two matches) in South Africa’s three wins Asked how will he handle bowling to South find a way to get wickets. And great batsmen all-rounder tore his quadricep muscle while fielding against Pakistan, said their failure in four Pool B games. Africa captain and dynamic batsman AB de don’t worry if the field is small or big, they’ll find to convert opportunities had been dis- South Africa will, however, still look to Steyn Villiers, Steyn jokingly said: “I’d trip him on his a way to score runs.” cussed at length this week. to exploit Pakistan’s top-order frailties at Eden way out of the hotel tomorrow morning and Steyn denied Pakistan’s struggling top order “We’ve been playing some good crick- Park. And Steyn said he was not too far off his hope that he breaks his ankle. “I don’t know,” he would make his job easier. “It’s never an easy et,” Taylor said. “Eighty percent of the best form. “I don’t think I’ve bowled too badly. I added with a laugh. job, I can promise you. I’m sure Pakistan will be games we’ve been playing winning cricket think against Zimbabwe I actually wanted to “He’s a phenomenal player and seeing the as determined to come out and win,” said Steyn and probably just letting it slip that other bowl quite quick and run in and try to knock ball like no other player has seen a cricket ball of a side who have won their last two pool 20 percent. “So if we can just sort of narrow them over,” said Steyn of a match in which he before, and he’s playing shots that I don’t think games after two defeats. “They are in a situation that gap a bit, we’re going to be a lot more had figures of one for 64 in nine overs. “I just most people have seen before. “Hopefully, he where I think they have to win a couple of consistent and get over the line more ignored that (basic) instinct, and just wanted to comes out and executes those same skills games. So we will come out guns blazing and often. “We know we need to win this game. run in and blast them where it didn’t work. tomorrow and going forward in this competi- they’ll come out looking to pull off a win. We There are no grey areas there. We need a After that I think I got better and better. “I tion. It’s like watching ‘The Matrix’ movie, really.” know that. “We just have to prepare the way we good performance.”— Reuters haven’t taken the wickets that I want to take, De Villiers smashed the fastest 150 in one-day know against a team like that, and we’ll take it but that’s the World Cup. In a World Cup you international cricket during his 66-ball 162 very seriously.”— AFP Trail Blazers extend lead SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015 SATURDAY, SportsSports 43 India book quarter-final place Dhoni, bowlers shine; India scrape past Windies

PERTH: Mahendra Singh Dhoni made a calm (13) and an unbroken 51 for the seventh with unbeaten 45 to guide India to a four-wicket victory Ravichandran Ashwin (16 not out) to take India over West Indies yesterday which sent the holders home. Virat Kohli also contributed with a confident into the World Cup quarter-finals. Fast bowler 33 off 36 balls and added a crucial 43 for the third Mohammed Shami (3-35) returned from injury to wicket with Ajinkya Rahane (14). Jerome Taylor (2- torment West Indies with three wickets as the 33) dismissed openers Shikhar Dhawan (nine) and Caribbean side were bundled out for 182 after opt- Rohit Sharma (seven) cheaply to boost West Indies’ ing to bat first. West Indies captain Jason Holder chances of defending the low score. The Caribbean (57) hit his second half-century and highest score bowlers were also guilty of bowling 19 wides and in one-day internationals to give his team some three no-balls. Shami, who missed India’s win sort of a total to defend against India, who won against the United Arab Emirates with a knee their fourth match in a row at the tournament. injury on Saturday, put West Indies on the back- India also struggled on a pitch offering plenty foot early by dismissing hard-hitting openers of bounce for the tall West Indies fast bowlers and Dwayne Smith (six) and Chris Gayle (21) with the kept losing wickets during the chase before hold- new ball. ing their nerve to get over the line with 65 balls to Shami and fast bowling partner Umesh Yadav spare. Dhoni showed why he is known as ‘Captain (2-42) started well, bowling fast and short on the Cool’ and top-scored for his side, who were WACA pitch, considered the quickest in the world, reduced to 107-5 at one stage. The right-hander as India dominated the explosive West Indies bat- added 27 for the sixth wicket with Ravindra Jadeja ting lineup. Gayle, who hit the World Cup’s highest SCOREBOARD

Scoreboard at close of play in the World Cup match between India and West Indies yesterday in Perth, Australia West Indies Innings 8.2-0-27-2(w-1). Dw. Smith c Dhoni b Shami 6 India Innings C. Gayle c M. Sharma b Shami 21 Ro. Sharma c Ramdin b Taylor 7 M. Samuels run out (M. Sharma, Kohli) 2 S. Dhawan c Sammy b Taylor 9 J. Carter c Shami b Ashwin 21 V. Kohli c Samuels b Russell 33 D. Ramdin b U. Yadav 0 A. Rahane c Ramdin b Roach 14 L. Simmons c U. Yadav b M. Sharma 9 S. Raina c Ramdin b Dw. Smith 22 D. Sammy c Dhoni b Shami 26 M. Dhoni not out 45 A. Russell c Kohli b Jadeja 8 R. Jadeja c Samuels b Russell 13 J. Holder c Kohli b Jadeja 57 R. Ashwin not out 16 J. Taylor c&b U. Yadav 11 Extras (b-1 lb-3 nb-3 w-19) 26 K. Roach not out 0 Total (for 6 wickets, 39.1 overs) 185 Extras (lb-5 w-16) 21 Fall of wickets: 1-11 S. Dhawan, 2-20 Ro. Total (all out, 44.2 overs) 182 Sharma, 3-63 V. Kohli, 4-78 A. Rahane, 5- Fall of wickets: 1-8 Dw. Smith, 2-15 M. 107 S. Raina, 6-134 R. Jadeja Samuels, 3-35 C. Gayle, 4-35 D. Ramdin, 5- Did not bat: M. Sharma, M. Shami, U. Yadav 67 L. Simmons, 6-71 J. Carter, 7-85 A. Russell, 8-124 D. Sammy, 9-175 J. Taylor, Bowling: J. Taylor 8-0-33-2(w-1), J. Holder 10-182 J. Holder 7-0-29-0(w-1), K. Roach 8-1-44-1(nb-2 w-5), Bowling: M. Shami 8-2-35-3(w-5), U. A. Russell 8-0-43-2(nb-1 w-5), Dw. Smith 5- Yadav 10-1-42-2(w-5), R. Ashwin 9-0-38- 0-22-1(w-3), M. Samuels 3.1-0-10-0. 1(w-1), M. Sharma 9-2-35-1(w-4), R. Jadeja Result: India won by 4 wickets.

individual score of 215 against Zimbabwe last with an older ball to take out former captain week, offered two difficult chances before he Darren Sammy (26) to end a promising 39-run pulled Shami straight to Mohit Sharma at stand for the eighth wicket before Holder deep square leg. He was also guilty of run- added 51 for the ninth with Taylor (11). ning out Marlon Samuels (2). Holder hit four boundaries and three sixes With their talisman gone, West Indies were before becoming the last man to fall for West reduced to 35-4 and then 85-7 on the first ball Indies off the bowling of Jadeja. It was one of PERTH: India’s Virat Kohli (center) celebrates with teammates after taking an outfield catch to dis- of the 25th over before some resolute batting two wickets for the left-arm spinner to com- miss West Indies batsman Andre Russell (not in photo) during the 2015 Cricket World Cup Pool B from the tail saw them through to the 45th plete another strong bowling display by the match between India and the West Indies yesterday. — AFP over. Right-arm paceman Shami came back two-time champions. — Reuters